Longlands Luxury Glamping Awards!
Glamping Business of the Year at the South West Tourism Awards
Well we said that we weren’t going to blow our own trumpet again.. but then this happened…
We won Glamping Business of the Year at the South West Tourism Awards (different to our win at the recent Devon Tourism Awards!).
The Judges summed us up rather well:
“Longlands was already a national winner but with new owners has somehow become better still! It is a beacon of imagination, vision, excellence and passion. Well done!”
Visit soon to see what all this fuss is about!
Visit Devon Tourism Awards 2021/22 Gold Winners
We’re extremely proud to announce that we won Gold in the Glamping Business category at the Devon Tourism Awards last week!
It’s wonderful that our sustainability efforts have been recognised, as well as our continued relationships with our outstanding local business suppliers who never fail to bring the best of the South West to our guests.
South West England Tourism Awards 2021/22 Finalist
We’re Finalists in the Glamping category at the South West Tourism Awards which will be held in April. Watch this space to find out how we do!
Longlands awarded Green Tourism Silver!
Longlands has gained official recognition from the Green Tourism Business Scheme for its efforts in sustainable tourism, achieving the Silver Award!
Green Tourism is a national company that has been in business for over 20 years, and runs a certification programme for the hospitality industry. They offer a Green Check assessment of 18 sustainability goals covering People, Places and the Planet.
Businesses are awarded a Bronze, Silver or Gold award based on their level of achievement, and are graded once every 2 years. This is the first time that Longlands has been graded under the scheme.
Longlands was assessed by a qualified grading advisor against sustainability goals which included reducing consumption of electricity, water efficiency, reducing food miles, biodiversity conservation and more.
Jez says “We have been operating as a ‘green business’ since we took over at Longlands, so it’s great to see that our efforts have been recognised. Our decision making is influenced by the people, places, planet framework provided by Green Tourism. We’re committed to supporting our local community and protecting the environment, and we’ll continue to look at ways in which we can improve.”
Longlands: Pure Gold!
We are over the moon to have won Gold for The Best Glamping in the South West for a third consecutive year! This makes for six consecutive Gold wins for best Glamping: 3 at the Devon Tourism Awards and 3 at the SouthWest awards. We believe that we are the only site in the country to have achieved this. It certainly makes us pure gold!
We were particularly delighted with the comments that we received as part of the judging process, which is one of the toughest in the country:
“It’s what dreams are made of”
“Luxury at its best!”
“Anyone staying at Longlands is in for a real treat”
“A location and view that are normally only seen in your dreams.”
“Standing by the hot tub looking over the lake felt like a fairy tale.”
“Every last detail is thought of.”
“The photos on the website are inspiring but it’s not until you see the location and the tents with your own eyes that you see the magic.”
“Simply Outstanding”
The 2019 SouthWest Tourism Awards had 651 entries from Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Somerset, Bristol, Bath, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire all of whom went through a rigorous 3 phase judging process with 6 finalists selected for our category. Congratulations to our fellow award winners
Gold: Longlands, Devon & Railholidays, Cornwall
Silver: The Roundhouse, Cornwall
Bronze: Devon Yurt, Devon, Middle Stone Farm Luxury Glamping, Somerset & Orchard Retreats, Devon
Best Glamping in the South West 2019 Finalist
As this is our last award entry so we are particularly thrilled to have been selected as a finalist for best Glamping and Alternative Accommodation in the SouthWest. The competition is definitely hotting up as there are more finalists for this category than ever before. The awards take place in February at the annual SouthWest Tourism Awards dinner in Bristol. Please keep everything crossed for us as we would so love to bow out with a full set of Golds! But whatever colour of award we get we will enjoy celebrating with our fellow finalists at our last awards dinner.
Devon Yurt Silver winner of the Devon Tourism Awards
The Orchard Retreat Silver winner of the Devon Tourism Awards
Longlands Gold winner of the Devon Tourism Awards
Middle Stone Farm Luxury Glamping Gold winner of the Dorset Tourism Awards
Railholiday Gold winner of the Cornwall Tourism Awards
The Roundhouse @ East Thorne Silver winner of the Cornwall Tourism Awards
Longlands scores a hat trick of GOLDs!
The whole Longlands team were in attendance at the VisitDevon Tourism Awards, held at High Bullen Hotel on the 22nd November 2018. We had plenty to celebrate winning GOLD for a third consecutive year! Thank you team Longlands: Pam, Ester, Trudie, Karen, Jake & Diddy. You are brilliant and without you this would not be possible, nor would it be nearly as much fun!
Thank you to MiHi for sponsoring our category and congratulations to our fellow winners:
Orchard Retreats – Silver
Devon Yurt – Silver
Cuckoo Down Farm – Bronze
Visit Devon Tourism Awards Finalist 2018
With two Golds from the Devon Tourism Awards, in 2017 and 2016, I cannot pretend that we don’t want to make it a hat trick! We are thrilled to be a finalist and now have to wait until the evening of the 22nd November, when the awards dinner will take place at High Bullen. Please cross everything for us!
Best Glamping in the South West for a second consecutive year!
In a year when the the SouthWest Tourism awards saw more entries and more finalists than ever before, we feel enormously honoured to have been awarded Gold and recognised as the best Glamping site in the whole of the SouthWest.
The 2018 SouthWest Tourism Awards had 647 entries from Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Somerset, Bristol, Bath, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire all of whom went through a rigorous 3 phase judging process with 5 finalists selected for our category.
Gold: Longlands, Devon
Silver: O’Connors Campers, Devon
Bronze: Dimpsey Glamping, Somerset
Loose Reins, Dorset
Tor View Shepherds Huts, Somerset
Congratulations to all our fellow award winners!
TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence 2018
We are delighted to have been awarded a Certificate of Excellence for the last 4 years, along with a Green Leaders Platinum Award! Thank you to all our wonderful guests who have taken the time to recommend us and share their experiences! We are very grateful!
Best Glamping in the South West 2018 Finalist
As the best Glamping site in Devon for a second consecutive year, we are delighted to have been selected as one of the 5 finalists for best Glamping and Alternative Accommodation in the SouthWest. Wish us luck for the 1st February when the awards are announced at the annual SouthWest Tourism Awards dinner in Torquay. The competition is going to be tough with the other finalists being Gold winners of their own county awards.
- Dimpsey Glamping – Gold winner of the Somerset Tourism Awards
- Longlands – Gold winner of the Devon Tourism Awards
- Loose Reins – Gold winner of the Dorset Tourism Awards
- Tor View Shepherds Huts – Gold winner of the Somerset Tourism Awards
- O’Connors Campers – Silver winner of the Devon Tourism Awards
Longlands Takes Double Gold for Devon
Luxury glamping site, Longlands, North Devon has been named best Glamping Business at the Devon Tourism Awards
Visit Devon Tourism Awards Finalist 2017
We are thrilled to have been selected as a finalist for this year’s Visit Devon Tourism Awards. We will have to wait until the evening of Thursday 23rd November to find out the colour of our award: Gold, Silver or Bronze. If we do well we will go through to the South West Tourism awards which take place in February. Crossing everything! Wish us luck!
Longlands: one of the Top 3 Glamping sites in the country
The Oscars of the Tourism Industry took place on Monday 24th April at the Waldorf Hilton in London: VisitEngland’s Excellence in Tourism Awards.
This is the very first year that there has been a Glamping category and we were one of just three sites selected for the honour of being a finalist. The other two sites were the Dandelion Hideaway, Osbaston, Leicestershire and Secret Meadows, Woodbridge, Suffolk.
Whilst we didn’t win the top prize, that honour went to The Dandelion Hideaway, we are extremely proud to have been recognised as one of the three best Glamping sites in the country. And we were thrilled with what the judges had to say about us:
“Unplug, Reconnect, Revive is the promise on the website. Longlands, nestled in its own little Devon valley offers the peace and serenity to achieve this, but it is Bella’s planning, drive and commitment to quality and really makes it happen.”
“Everywhere on-site, the attention to detail is excellent. Be it flower containers outside the shop, wetsuits hanging rails or simple bike racks below each tent. Bella appears to have a relentless drive towards perfection.”
We wish The Dandelion Hideaway in Leicestershire, many congratulations along with the other finalist, Secret Meadows in Suffolk.
Longlands: the best for Glamping in the South West
Longlands in North Devon has been named as the best Glamping Business in the South West.
Receiving her Gold Award at the South West Tourism Awards, held in Bristol on Thursday 2nd February, Longlands’ owner Bella Given said “We are thrilled and honoured to have won such a prestigious award, particularly in light of the high standards and quality of all the other finalists. We are particularly proud to be the very first Gold Winners of this brand new Glamping Category. Staying in luxurious surroundings under canvas, listening to the sounds of Mother Nature is a totally different experience to staying in a cottage or hotel. It is tremendously gratifying that Glamping is now recognised in its own right and is testament to the hard work of everyone in this new sector.”
Longlands’ five luxurious safari lodges nestle in a private secluded valley on the western border of Exmoor National Park and look out over the North Devon coast. The team at Longlands have thought of everything you could possibly need for your stay; from natural aromatherapy products in the bathroom to a detailed adventure book about the area. They even provide home cooked meals using the best West Country ingredients and an onsite shop stocked with delicious local produce.
Longlands now looks forward to the national Visit England awards which take place in London on the 24th April.
Longlands wins Visit Devon’s first Glamping Business of the Year award
Longlands luxury safari lodges in North Devon, has been named as Glamping Business of the Year at the Devon Tourism Awards 2016. Glamping is a new category for the 2016 awards which are run by Visit Devon, and the ceremony took place at The University of Exeter on Thursday 10th November 2016.
The Visit Devon report concluded “This is glamping excellence in every respect. The location is beautiful, overlooking the coast of Exmoor and surrounded by immense wild natural beauty the safari tents look appropriate on the side of the hill. The owners have thought of every detail possible to give the most luxurious experience to every guest – whilst sleeping under canvas. The continued repeat and advance bookings are a great testament to the experience had by all.”
“We are so delighted that our hard work over the past five years has been recognised,” says Bella Given, owner of Longlands which lies in the North Devon AONB and overlooks the coast. “The entire Longlands team has put their hearts and souls into making it a success, so it is wonderful to celebrate with them tonight. This accolade is all the more special because it is the first competition we have ever entered. It’s brilliant that glamping is a standalone category for the first time because it is a totally different experience to staying in self-catering accommodation, and one that is increasing in popularity every year.”
Longlands offers five six-person luxury safari lodges that are available for weekend, mid-week or full week stays from mid-March to the end of October. Bella has seen a big increase in demand for glamping holidays since opening in 2011 “It’s wonderful that more people are choosing to holiday closer to home and make the most of beautiful places right here on our doorstep in the Westcountry. Some of our guests come from as close as just ten minutes down the road whilst others have journeyed all the way from New Zealand!”
As Devon winner of the glamping category, Longlands has been nominated to represent Devon in the Visit England awards in April 2017
Visit England – Glamping Accreditation and a Gold Accolade
It is hardly surprising that the future bookings are Longlands are so strong, as the quality and attention to detail in every area of the business is excellent. Safari tent businesses are now more common around the country and it is about standing out. I think Longlands achieves this.
The site offers natural beauty and the facilities provided allow guests to make best use of it with access to the lake, private BBQ areas with great views and playing areas for children.
The exterior of the tents are maintained in excellent order and first impressions of the accommodation are excellent with the furnished verandas.
Internally, the tents are attractive and well equipped. It is the attention to detail that is most impressive. For example, excellent beds, great thought given to the lighting, well equipped kitchens and great shower rooms etc.
It is not just the accommodation and grounds that guests will enjoy. The communal meeting room with its excellent kitchen make the site a great place for extended families and groups. The honesty shop with its additional services also offers an excellent facility for guests.
It is difficult to offer advice and recommendations to a business that is this well organised and managed.