I recently spent a night in a treehouse. No ordinary night, and certainly no ordinary treehouse. We had been to Glyndebourne (25 minutes away) and after the magic and passion of Der Rosenkavalier, and blubbing most of the way through the final act, we sped back to our leafy retreat – the Buzzardry – opened a bottle of champagne and drank in the moonlight, perched high in our nest among the branches. Oh, the life I lead!
The Buzzardry is certainly a very classy treehouse. The first sight of its two shingled domes peering through the tree canopy, promised something special. A spiral staircase took us, like Jack up his Beanstalk, to a wide verandah which wraps around the living area and looks out through ancient woodland to a lake.
Inside, the high-pitched roofs with their intricate supporting timbers make the space light, airy and calm. As comfortable as a hotel, spacious and well-equipped, the Buzzardry has a large, open plan living area with a well-equipped galley kitchen, and two luxurious double bedrooms with en suite bathrooms (the master bedroom even has a copper bath!).
This takes glamping to another level. For visitors in chillier times, there is underfloor heating and a wood-burning stove. Provisions for breakfast were provided – plus a few treats – and almost anything can be bought from Heathfield – less than 10 minutes away.
Personally my inner child and I like camping in almost any form – being at one with nature and simply being in the open air – and yet I increasingly appreciate comfort too. For who hate the very idea of camping, who detest the thought of billy-cans, sleeping under canvas and a longdrop loo, but who like the countryside, and a bit of an adventure – I commend The Buzzardry to you. It really isn’t camping.
Our visit was very fleeting and we brought nothing with us, so had the chocolate brownies for breakfast and just enough time for a walk in the beautiful grounds before we left. I’m keen to go again, for longer next time, and maybe I’ll go in winter, with walking boots and a pile of books, and make the most of that wood burner.
The Buzzardry, near Heathfield, East Sussex
From £230 a night
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