Swallow

Why you'll love staying here

Situated five miles from Romsey, Swallow is a luxurious safari tent on a mixed working farm, with spectacular views across the Test Valley and Salisbury Plain. Ideal for a family or group of friends looking to explore Hampshire’s beautiful countryside and coastline.

The safari tent has been thoughtfully designed to offer a comfortable, off-grid glamping experience while allowing guests to immerse themselves in nature and farm life. Furnished in a rustic style and well equipped throughout, it includes a wood burning stove, hot water shower, and proper flushing toilet.

Outside, Swallow benefits from a decked veranda and a lawned area with a Weber barbecue, picnic table, and fire pit. Glamping essentials such as logs, coal, firelighters, marshmallows, barbecue meat packs, and breakfast hampers can all be bought on site.

Gambledown Farm has been in the same family for more than 50 years and is managed using regenerative farming practices that promote sustainability, biodiversity, healthy soils, and the production of highly nutritious food. The farm is home to pedigree Shortland cattle, a small flock of sheep, pigs, and free-range chickens. It also grows a mix of cereal crops and forage brassicas, and includes areas of ancient woodland with plenty of opportunities for walking and bird watching.

Each spring, Gambledown welcomes several orphaned lambs from a neighbouring farm, giving guests the opportunity to help with bottle feeding. Guests can also hire their own chicken coop and collect freshly laid eggs for breakfast each morning.

The farm offers a wide range of facilities. For those looking for a restorative break, there is a studio suitable for yoga, pilates, and meditation with classes led by experienced instructors, as well as a wood-fired sauna and cold plunge bath.

Guests can also join occasional supper clubs celebrating local produce and seasonal ingredients, weekly pizza nights, and cookery demonstrations.

Gambledown Farm is well placed for exploring the ancient woodlands and heathlands of the New Forest National Park. Visit the village of Brockenhurst, where free-roaming ponies wander along the high street, or explore the historic maritime village of Buckler’s Hard. Other nearby attractions include the National Motor Museum at Beaulieu, Bolderwood Deer Sanctuary, and Paultons Park, home to Peppa Pig World.

The coast can be reached in under an hour. Southsea is a classic Victorian seaside resort with a shingle beach, pier, fairground rides, and a canoe lake. Milford-on-Sea is excellent for walking, with colourful beach huts and views across to the Needles on the Isle of Wight. Studland Bay, which marks the start of the Jurassic Coast, boasts a beautiful stretch of sand backed by dunes.

The market town of Romsey is home to a magnificent Norman abbey, award-winning gardens, and a good selection of shops, restaurants, cafés, and pubs.

For self-catering grocery essentials, local treats like ice cream, honey, and jams, and Gambledown’s own meat and eggs, the farm shop is open 6 days a week.