When I told my daughter that we were off to stay in a treehouse for this Dittisham Hideaway review, she looked half excited, half anxious – but if you’re visualising a rickety wooden structure in the branches as I suspect she was, this Devon luxury glamping break couldn’t be further from that picture.
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Set just outside Dartmouth, this secluded little site is definitely not for those who enjoy roughing it. And while luxury and children don’t always go together, a stay at Dittisham Hideaway with kids manages the trick of feeling like an indulgent break but still being family friendly.
So if you’re tempted by the idea of luxury glamping in Devon (is anyone not tempted?!), here’s my review of what it’s really like staying in a treehouse.
Dittisham Hideaway: vital statistics
Set in a quiet slice of Devon countryside near Dittisham, and around a 15-minute drive from Dartmouth, there are only 10 places to stay at Dittisham Hideaway.
As well as four recently refurbished luxury treehouses (including Owl, where we spent two nights), there is an airstream trailer and five new shepherd’s huts.
Part of the Peter de Savary group, along with The Beachcroft hotel in Felpham, where we stayed in the penthouse, the emphasis is definitely on luxury – this is so far from basic camping, I’ve stayed in hotels which could have taken tips from our treehouse.
Set on the edge of a wooded valley, the treehouses are staggered along the side of the hill, all tucked away within the trees and looking out across the valley – you could easily believe you’re the only people there at times.
The shepherd’s huts are further down the hill, spaced out in a line, with the airstream trailer a little way off from the other accommodation.
The site also has its own boules pitch and ping pong table, as well as a circular walking route through the woodland and if you visit at the right time of year, you can pick your own runner beans and peas from the vegetable garden.
Our luxury Devon glamping experience
After a Friday-night drive down to the south west, complete with some of the narrow high hedge lanes that Devon specialises in, I don’t think I’ve ever relaxed quite so quickly as when we walked into our treehouse – Owl.
A house in the trees is perhaps a better description, tucked away down a woodland path: even our walk to the front door was punctuated by happy exclamations.
Look, a pheasant statue on the path, perched on the lights to illuminate the way. And ooh, a table football table and outdoor chess – that’s our Saturday morning sorted – plus a proper Weber barbecue around the corner.
And look at that gorgeous view across the valley… Ooh ooh ooh, and a hammock! Which means that this must be the wood-fired hot tub over here…
Which set the tone for the rest of our stay, a series of delightful surprises wherever you looked, with plenty of attention to even the smallest details.
The deck area
The deck outdoors quickly became one of my favourite places to relax: my daughter instantly claimed the hammock as her territory, lounging with a book, and discovering new ways to swing (as well as how to get in and out without getting tipped on the ground).
And while I managed to claim it occasionally, I did have a choice of a couple of loungers or the outdoor table with its cushioned chairs, all looking across the valley with the shepherd huts below and the golden hills through the trees opposite.
At the end of the day, we could watch the sun setting and listen to the calls of the pheasants in the woodland – that, plus the occasional sheep and cow, as well as a string of songbirds, was all you could hear in this peaceful spot.
You can also enjoy the views while lounging in the wood-fired cedar hot tub: allow a couple of hours for it to heat up, although the cover then keeps the heat in for a few hours (especially in summer), and there are instructions for setting up and cleaning out the ash afterwards.
Back around the other corner are the games: table football (or fussball) and an outdoor chess set (bigger than the standard game but easier to lift than giant chess) – I taught my daughter both during our stay, and she came alarmingly close to thrashing me at football before we left.
Inside the treehouse
There’s plenty to tempt you indoors as well though – walking in through the main door, there’s a helpful hallway for bags, with the main space of the treehouse off to the left, and a couple of rooms to the right.
The main section of treehouse is open plan, but cleverly designed to break it up into different areas – all under a curved beamed roof with a circular skylight window in the centre, mimicking a tent (but without being open to the elements).
The living area has its own collection of board games and puzzles, as well as a few books, Smart TV and there’s Wi-Fi as well to keep you entertained as you relax on the sofa or chairs, along with some complimentary sloe gin to sip.
There’s also a wood-burning stove here if you’re not visiting mid heatwave, as we were. The first bag of logs is included, and there are more available to help yourself if you need, which are charged afterwards. There’s also central heating and underfloor heating, if you don’t want to fire it up though.
Beyond the living area is the kitchen, including a proper oven and hobs (if you don’t fancy using the barbecue outside), microwave, giant retro-style fridge freezer and a dishwasher, plus all the usual utensils, crockery, cutlery, glassware and so on.
Best of all there’s a coffee machine too (taking Nespresso-style capsules), and some lovely retro jars for coffee, tea and sugar – we had milk (and butter) awaiting us in the fridge, along with a very welcome bottle of wine.
There’s also a welcome hamper, with snacks, crisps, biscuits, bread, cereal and orange juice, so you’re sorted for breakfast on the first day. You can even help yourself to herbs in pots on the deck.
If you don’t fancy cooking at all, the welcome booklet also has details of places to eat nearby, plus details of private chefs which you can book in advance.
The main bed is also within the open plan section, enormously comfortable with huge squashy pillows and a duvet that’s guaranteed to give you a good night’s sleep – hand-crafted in Devon, it’s made from 100% natural, sustainable and responsibly sourced materials by a company on the edge of Dartmoor.
One tip: it’s worth bringing your own eye-mask if you’re easily awoken by light – the circular skylight in the roof flooded the treehouse with sunshine as soon as dawn broke. After 10 years of parenthood, a mere sunrise can’t stop me catching up on a decade of lost sleep but worth knowing if you’re visiting in summer.
Along with wardrobe and drawers for storage, plus bedside tables with proper reading lamps (and a washing machine tucked away in a cupboard too), one of the showers leads off this bedroom.
Yes, showers plural. Along with this one next to the bedroom area, there’s a separate bathroom with shower and toilet, plus another separate toilet.
And with blissfully powerful showers, toiletries provided, plus neutral tiles and natural materials at the back of the shower, and plenty of room to put your own toiletries nearby, it’s also been really nicely designed (which most regular travellers will know isn’t a given in any accommodation, let alone a treehouse!)
For those wondering if the early daylight is going to have their kids up early, there’s a separate room with three bunkbeds at the other end of the treehouse, along with a stash of children’s books.
Inside the Shepherd’s huts
We also had a sneak peek inside the shepherd’s huts, brand new for this year – most sleep two (although you could also get a cot inside if you’re staying with a baby or toddler), but one has an adjoining second hut for families.
With four bunks inside, plus their own toys and books, it’s connected to the main hut by camera and intercom.
While it wouldn’t be safe to let younger ones stay there alone, it’s great for older kids to have some privacy and independence (and parents potentially to get a lie-in…)
The main huts have their own king bed, along with a small living area and kitchen, as well as a separate bathroom. There’s also a private terrace with hot tub, loungers, fire pit for toasting marshmallows, and Weber BBQ (to go with the fully-equipped kitchen).
Surrounded by wildflower meadows, it feels slightly like you’ve stepped back in time – but with the luxurious touches found in the treehouses as well, including the hamper, wine, WiFi and TV.
Dittisham Hideaway review: need to know
The treehouses sleep up to two adults and three children under 16, plus one infant in a cot. All the shepherd’s huts sleep two adults, plus there’s room for one cot, unless you book into the adjoining family huts.
Pheasant and Owl treehouses are both dog-friendly (maximum two small owdogs, or one large dog), as are the huts.
There’s parking for cars a short walk from the accommodation, including charging points for electric cars: you’re given a code for the gate and for the keybox in advance, and there are two entrances depending if you head to the treehouses or shepherd’s huts.
If you’re nervous of driving in Devon, it’s worth knowing the last stretch is down narrow lanes but they’re very quiet and while Google Maps did try to send me off through the countryside at every opportunity, it is possible to avoid most of the rest along your route.
There are electric wheelbarrows to help transport your belongings to the accommodation from the parking – especially useful for the downhill section as they have brakes. With just two of us staying, we didn’t have a lot of luggage, so carried it myself – it’s definitely doable and the path to the treehouse was generally fine for a small wheeled suitcase.
The site is also close to the village of Dittisham: you can walk down (although the walk back up the hill is obviously a bit less fun) and from there, there’s a ferry to Greenway for Agatha Christie’s old home, as well as a ferry to Dartmouth.
Dartmouth itself is an easy 15-minute drive with more things to do with kids (as well as places to eat), plus you have a Sainsbury’s and Lidl in driving distance.
There are also a string of attractions nearby, including plenty of beaches – Blackpool Sands, one of my favourite beaches in Devon is very close, plus Woodlands Adventure Park.
For more ideas of the best things to do in Devon with kids, check out my top picks, as well as my ultimate guide to Devon for families
A stay at Dittisham Hideaway with kids: my verdict
Hideaway by name, hideaway by nature – it was very tempting to stay in this secluded valley forever, and I’m not sure I’ve ever seen my daughter quite so grumpy at having to check out before.
Left to her own devices, I’m fairly sure she’d have spent the entire weekend switching between swinging in the hammock, playing table football and listening out for pheasants – not to mention making the most of the hot tub.
And it was just as relaxing for me too: it felt like we’d completely escaped from all the stress of daily life, but without any of the faffing around of camping – there was chilled rose in the fridge, a proper coffee machine for the morning, and I could just switch the oven on when I wanted to make dinner.
With the hamper provided, I didn’t even have to worry about breakfast for our first morning (fortunately, as my daughter was very loath to leave, even to get some food!)
Wandering to a toilet block in the pitch dark is rarely my idea of a good time either, so having two toilets and not one but two showers inside, plus the super comfy bed, was fantastic.
And while we visited Dittisham Hideaway in the middle of a mini heatwave, so wasn’t remotely concerned about central heating, it’s reassuring to know that’s in place if you don’t want to fiddle around with a wood-burning stove (although a lovely touch to have that crackling away on a cool evening).
Unsurprisingly, it’s not a budget option, but for the quality, it’s not as expensive as you might expect, especially for a real treat of a staycation.
Best of all, despite only staying for two nights, I felt like I’d had a proper holiday. This is a proper slice of heaven in Devon.
Disclosure: My stay was free for the purposes of this Dittisham Hideaway review – all opinions are my own (and my daughter’s, who is now angling for a hammock and table football at home)
Images copyright MummyTravels
