Is glamping with a hot tub in Derbyshire actually worth it? (Honest answer from us at Hill Farm)
- Hill Farm
- 14 hours ago
- 6 min read
Spoiler: it really, really is. But let us tell you why.
If you've been searching for glamping with a hot tub in Derbyshire, there's a decent chance you've already spent twenty minutes down a rabbit hole of listings, wondering whether the hot tub photos are accurate, whether it's shared with other guests, and whether it's really worth the extra cost over a regular glamping stay.
I'm Tara, and I run the day-to-day at Hill Farm Caravan, Camping and Glamping in South Derbyshire. So I'm going to answer all of that honestly. Because I think you deserve a straight answer before you book, not just pretty pictures. 😊
First things first: what is a woodfired hot tub, and is it different from a regular one?
Yes, and in the best possible way. A woodfired hot tub heats up using a log burner built into (or alongside) the tub. There are no electric pumps whirring away, no chlorine smell, and no flashing control panel. Just you, fresh water, the crackle of the fire underneath, and the sky above.
At Hill Farm, every hot tub is woodfired and private to your accommodation. That means:
Nobody else is sharing it with you
It's right outside your bell tent or pod, not a walk across the site
You fire it up yourself when you want it (we show you how on arrival and it genuinely takes minutes)
The water feels softer and the whole experience feels more... earthy, grounding is a better word, maybe.
There's a warmth to a woodfired hot tub that an electric one just doesn't quite replicate. You can hear the fire. You can feel the heat building. And when you finally climb in, it is GORGEOUS. ✨
OK but is glamping with a hot tub in Derbyshire actually worth the extra cost?
This is the question I get asked most, and I always give the same answer: if you're booking a break to properly switch off, it is absolutely worth it.
Here's how I think about it. A hot tub at Hill Farm isn't a bolt-on extra you use once and forget about. It is the routine behind your whole stay: you wake up, put the wood on to heat up for later, go off and do the washing up or take a walk to the pond, come back, and climb straight in. The worries of the week quite literally float away. (That's not just me saying it), that's what guests tell us again and again.
One couple told us recently that they sat in the hot tub for two hours on their first night and didn't say a single word. Just sat there. Decompressed. That's the kind of reset that's very hard to put a price on.
For families, it's a different kind of magic. The kids think it's the best thing that's ever happened to them. You sit in warm bubbling water while the stars come out and someone inevitably says 'can we come back next week?' 🌟
What hot tub glamping at Hill Farm actually looks like 🔥
Let me paint you a picture, because I think this is where it gets good.
It's April in South Derbyshire. The evenings are cool and clear and the sky is enormous out here. You've had a long walk along the canal to Mercia Marina, the kids have had ice cream, and you've back at Hill Farm with that lovely kind of tired that only comes from a proper day outside.
The hot tub has been heating up since late afternoon. By the time you've eaten, it's ready.
You step outside in your swimwear and the cool air hits you for about three seconds before you're in. The water is deep and hot and the wood fire crackles quietly underneath the tub. There might be a glass of something in your hand. There might not. Either way, the sky is full of stars in a way it never quite is at home, and everything feels very, very good.
That's a Tuesday night at Hill Farm Glamping.
How does that sound? 🌿
Which Hill Farm accommodation comes with a hot tub?
We have a few options, all of them gorgeous and all of them with that Hill Farm quality stamp that Ollie insists on. If he wouldn't stay in it himself, it doesn't go on site.
Book our Plus, Deluxe or Deluxe Plus belles for a hot tub. OR any of the pods.
Bell tents with woodfired hot tubs
We have 6 thermal-lined, fully insulated bell tents with their own private woodfired hot tub under a gazebo outside.
When you book, select our Deluxe, Plus or Deluxe PLUS bell tents to get a hot tub.
So even if April decides to be very April about things (you know, a bit drizzly - known as showers), you're under cover and perfectly comfortable.
Bell tents sleep up to six people, which makes them brilliant for families or a group of friends. They're warm, beautifully furnished, and feel a million miles from a regular camping trip. No tent poles. No damp sleeping bags. Just gorgeous.
Glamping pods with woodfired hot tubs
Our insulated glamping pods come with their own hot tub too, sitting under a covered structure outside so rain is never a problem. Pods sleep two adults and two children, which makes them ideal for couples or small families.
Pods feel snug and cosy in a way that's hard to describe until you've been in one. Warm, comfy, properly lovely.
Tips for making the most of your hot tub glamping stay at Hill Farm 🛁
A few things I always tell guests when they arrive:
Fire the hot tub up early. It takes a couple of hours to reach the best temperature, so get the wood on in the afternoon for a perfect evening soak.
Bring a good robe or some big fluffy towels. That moment of stepping out of a hot tub into the cool night air is bracing but brilliant. You'll want something cosy to wrap up in.
Hot tub on your first night. Some guests save it for the last night as a treat and then it rains. First night, always. You’ll love it so much, you’ll hop in it every night after that too, obvs.
Stargaze. Hill Farm is surrounded by open countryside and the sky at night out here is properly something. Take a minute to just look up.
Don't bring too many things outside with you. A drink, maybe a snack, good company. The hot tub does the rest.
Is hot tub glamping at Hill Farm good all year round? 🌦️
Yes, and honestly? Some of our favourite guest stories come from the cooler months. There is something SO special about a hot tub when it's cold outside. The contrast between the cool night air and the hot water is even more dramatic. Spring and autumn nights, especially, are absolutely magic.
Our winter glamping accommodation is heated and insulated for year-round use, which means you're never relying on the weather to have a lovely time. April and May are gorgeous months to stay, the countryside is greening up beautifully, there are spring flowers everywhere, and the evenings are starting to stretch out again. It's one of our favourite times of year at Hill Farm.
Any questions before you book? 👋
I'm always around. Genuinely. If you want to know which accommodation would suit your group best, whether your dog is welcome (they are, leads on site please!), or what the difference between a Deluxe and Standard bell tent is, just give us a ring or drop us a message.
Glamping with a hot tub in Derbyshire should feel easy and exciting to book, not complicated. That's our home from home vibe!
Spring and early summer dates are going fast. Go on, grab yours. 🌿
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Disclaimer: Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information at the time of writing, things can change, so please do check directly with us or our booking platform details before making any booking decisions based on the contents of this article.
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