Like many of us, I often envisage my fantasy "wild" life: camping on hillsides; falling asleep under the stars; maybe even living off-grid in a van, sustained entirely by foraged mushrooms.
Sadly, the real me requires powerful showers, cloud-like bed linen and barista-level coffee in order to thrive. After one too many analogue adventures derailed by the horrors of compostable loos, I’ve accepted that my communions with nature must come with certain luxuries.
Enter Elmore Court. Set on the banks of the River Severn, this 1,000-acre Gloucestershire estate is the ancestral home of Anselm Guise, who in 2020 began a rewilding project inspired by Knepp in Sussex. For the past three years, guests have been invited to immerse themselves in nature here, without sacrificing style and comfort.
The results are extraordinary. Beyond the gates lie clouds of wildflowers, with fine-leaved water dropwort back after a 70-year absence. English Longhorn cattle graze the wetlands, and 250 acres of wildland now support brown hares, butterflies and rare birds, such as spotted redshanks and redstarts.
I can vouch for the birdlife. I'm staying in one of six architect-designed treehouses that overlook the wetlands. Each is reached via a boardwalk through the canopy – my childhood fantasy – and when I open the French doors each morning, I’m met with rousing birdsong.
My cabin, Adder, features vast windows with panoramic views; I feel like I’m floating. There's a super-king-sized bed (designed by Anselm’s cousin, Anselm Fraser), a log burner and, joy of joys, a palatial bathroom with a walk-in shower and Commune toiletries. Not a compostable loo in sight.
Its clever design champions alfresco living, with an outdoor lounge, firepit and open-sided kitchen-dining area. It's impeccably equipped (including my favourite Always pans), but I'd advise pre-ordering supper. My caramelised shallot and beef shin hotpot with home-grown vegetables was delicious after a day of exploring and greatly enhanced by the lack of cooking effort.
The pièce de résistance? A vast outdoor bathtub. About 90 minutes into my sunset soak, I began to worry that I’d dissolved. Golden light, rustling leaves and Welsh hills in the distance: this wasn’t just bathing, it was soul-enriching. There’s also spring-fed Madam’s Pond for wild swimming, a sauna and signposted walking routes. But, weeks later, it’s the bathtub that I'm still dreaming about.
Treehouses from £250 per night. Find out more at rewildthings.com and elmorecourt.com.
Cara is Commissioning Editor at Country Living, covering everything from style and interiors to sustainability, artisans and the great outdoors. She has previously worked for Good Housekeeping, Homes & Gardens, House Beautiful, Prima and Red, and has an MA in Magazine Journalism from City University and a BA in Music from the University of Oxford. Follow Cara on Instagram @caralaskaris or Linkedin.
