Staying at The Woodsman with Unique Hideaways: Our Staffordshire Glamping Break

Sometimes the best trips are the ones where you deliberately make very few plans. After our short break at Clumber Park Lodges, we drove around two hours to Staffordshire for the second part of our break. Our home for the next two nights was The Woodsman, a small countryside hideaway at Copper Beech Glamping.

This part of the trip was always meant to be different. We had no sightseeing planned and no list of places we wanted to squeeze in. All we really wanted was some time in nature, somewhere quiet where we could slow down.

The Woodsman had caught our attention for two main reasons: the countryside setting and the site's approach to sustainability. We have stayed in wigwams and rustic shacks before, so this wasn't our first experience of alternative accommodation, but The Woodsman felt quite different. It was compact and rustic, yet still had enough home comforts to make it easy to settle in.

As it turned out, the stay was even better than we had expected.

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Where is The Woodsman?

The Woodsman, available to book through Unique Hideaways, is one of three places to stay at Copper Beech Glamping, a small rural site near Woodseaves in Staffordshire. It sits on a working farm, surrounded by grassland, trees and open countryside.

We drove there from Clumber Park and the journey took around two hours. The directions sent to us before the stay were useful, especially for the final stretch. The signs for Copper Beech Glamping are quite small, but clear enough once you know what you are looking for.

As soon as we turned onto the site, the setting changed. It felt properly rural. There is a dedicated parking area and, from there, The Woodsman was less than a minute's walk for us. We had to cross a small wooden gate and negotiate a couple of steps, but moving our bags from the car was easy.

There is a road nearby, but it wasn't something we really noticed. Over the whole stay, I can only remember hearing a vehicle pass three or four times.

Arriving at The Woodsman

Check-in was simple. We had been sent the arrival information beforehand, so this was essentially a self check-in and we could let ourselves in and start settling down straight away.

We also happened to see Tabitha, one of the owners, working nearby. She stopped to chat and gave us plenty of useful information about the site, which was a nice welcome.

My first thought when I saw The Woodsman was that it looked cosy. Compact, certainly, but not cramped. Everything was clean, ready for us and very inviting, and the cabin looked just as it had in the photographs we had seen before arriving.

The other two accommodation options at Copper Beech Glamping are The Potting Shed, a rustic wooden lodge, and Shepherd's View, a shepherd's hut. They are all on the same site, but there is a good amount of space between them. Guests were staying in Shepherd's View while we were there and we only caught sight of them a couple of times.

So no, you are not completely isolated in the middle of nowhere. But it still felt private enough for us.

There were also a few welcome gifts waiting inside from Unique Hideaways. A small touch, but a lovely one.

Inside The Woodsman

The Woodsman has an open-plan layout, with the kitchen, living space and sleeping area all sharing the main cabin. There is a separate en-suite shower room.

There is a lot of wood inside, which gives it that rustic cabin feel, but it doesn't feel basic. In many ways, that balance was one of the things I liked most about it. You still feel as though you are staying somewhere a little unusual, without giving up the comforts that make a short break relaxing.

For two people, we had enough room. The bed was comfortable, the bedding felt good quality and both of us slept very peacefully. There was also enough space around the bed to move without having to squeeze past furniture.

If I had to pick one area that could be improved, it would probably be storage. For two nights it wasn't a problem at all, but if we were staying for four or five nights, a bit more space to put clothes and bags away would have been useful.

At the other end of the cabin is the living area, with two comfortable armchairs and a wood-burning stove. We didn't need to use the stove in August, but I could immediately see the appeal of coming back in autumn or winter. I suspect The Woodsman would feel completely different with the fire lit and colder weather outside.

Even without it, the cabin was very cosy in the evening. The lighting is soft rather than harsh, so it is easy to settle down with a book and lose track of time.

Cooking at The Woodsman

The kitchen area is small, but for a short stay it worked well for us. We mainly used the two-ring hob and had brought our own food, so we didn't need anything elaborate.

There is also a small fridge, kettle, toaster and raclette grill, while tea, coffee, milk, oil and basic seasonings were already provided. The fridge was perfectly adequate for our two nights, although again, for a longer stay you would probably need to plan a little more carefully.

There is a small oven compartment within the wood burner, but we did not use it. For us, the hob was enough for the meals we had planned.

The bathroom

The en-suite bathroom is compact, with a shower, toilet and washbasin, but we never found it uncomfortably small.

Towels and toiletries were provided and there was plenty of hot water. The only thing we noticed was that the shower pressure was a little slow. It wasn't a major issue and certainly didn't affect our stay, but it is worth mentioning.

Other than that, there really wasn't anything we would have changed in the bathroom.

The outdoor space

This was where we spent a huge amount of our time.

The Woodsman has its own outdoor seating and dining area, along with a barbecue and wood-fired hot tub. The space felt private enough for us, with views across trees, grass and the surrounding site.

Every morning, we ate breakfast outside. There was no rush. No reason to get ready early, check opening times or decide which attraction we were heading to next. We could simply sit there, have breakfast and watch what was going on around us.

The mornings ended up being some of my favourite moments from the stay.

You can see the other accommodation in the distance, but it didn't feel intrusive. Most of the time, it was just us, the landscape and whichever animals/birds decided to make an appearance.

What about the wood-fired hot tub?

The Woodsman comes with a private wood-fired hot tub, but we didn't use it during this particular stay.

Normally that might sound like a missed opportunity, but we were booked for a separate wellness experience which included a sauna and cold plunge, so we didn't feel the need to fit the hot tub in as well.

I still think it is a lovely extra, especially if you visit during the colder months. There is something about sitting in a hot tub outside when the weather is chilly that seems much more appealing to me than doing the same thing on a warm August afternoon.

If we returned in autumn or winter, I suspect we would make much more use of it.

Doing very little at The Woodsman

Before we arrived, we had already decided that we weren't going anywhere during these two days.

No sightseeing. No day trips. No itinerary.

And once we were there, we knew we had made the right decision.

Our days were very simple. We had slow breakfasts outside, read books, sat around the cabin, wandered around the site and watched the animals. I spent some time taking photographs. We looked at the vegetable patch, bug hotel and grassland areas, then went back and sat down again.

It sounds uneventful. But it was brilliant.

There is no Wi-Fi provided at The Woodsman. We had our own personal Wi-Fi with us and used it when we needed to check a few important emails, but otherwise we found ourselves using our phones far less than normal.

That wasn't really something we had to force. There was simply less reason to pick them up.

The animals helped. We could hear the sheep and horses from time to time, but the hens were the real characters of the stay. They visited regularly, wandered around outside and occasionally decided that the open cabin door was an invitation to come in and investigate.

We became quite used to seeing them.

Early mornings were probably my favourite time, closely followed by the evenings. Both were incredibly quiet. At night we heard practically nothing, and that sense of calm was a big part of why we enjoyed being there so much.

At no point did we feel restless. Quite the opposite. Two nights suddenly felt very short.

Breakfast hampers

Breakfast hampers are available to order separately from Copper Beech Glamping, and we had one during our stay.

Ours included granola, milk, yoghurt, seasonal fruit, bread, butter, jam, home-produced apple juice and a few other treats. Everything was suitable for us as vegetarians and there was more than enough for two people.

The quality was very good, but I think the best thing was simply having everything there ready for a slow breakfast outside. We made use of pretty much all of it.

For lunch and dinner, we cooked the food we had brought with us.

If you don't want to cook, there are local pubs and places to eat nearby, like I mentioned earlier on. I would just decide before your stay what kind of break you want. If you plan to stay put, bringing a few simple meals with you makes things very easy.

Guests can also use seasonal produce from the vegetable garden. We didn't need anything from it ourselves, but I liked that it was there and actively being used rather than simply being decorative.

Our Copper Beech Wellbeing experience

This is a separate wellness area called 'Copper Beech Wellbeing' on the site and it costs extra, but it is private. When your session is booked, you get the space to yourselves rather than sharing it with other guests.

That made a big difference.

Our experience included access to the sauna, drench shower and cold plunge, along with the open-air lounge area. There was a changing area and a toilet as well. 

Inside the safari tent were yoga mats, botanically infused water for rehydration and some healthy snacks.

Bhavin used both the sauna and the cold plunge and enjoyed the experience.

I didn't need much convincing about the setting. It was lovely. The whole area looks out across the countryside and feels completely separate from normal day-to-day life. There were no people walking backwards and forwards, no noise and no sense that we needed to hurry.

You could easily spend a couple of hours there.

Would we pay extra for it ourselves? Yes. For this particular trip, where relaxing was the whole point, it fitted perfectly.

Sustainability at Copper Beech Glamping

The sustainability side was one of the reasons we chose The Woodsman, so I was interested to see whether it actually felt meaningful once we arrived.

It did.

We saw recycling facilities, refillable toiletries, composting, solar panels on the wider farm site, wild areas, flowers for pollinators and a bug hotel. There is also the vegetable garden, and guests are encouraged to recycle and reduce waste during their stay.

None of it felt forced.

In fact, one of the nicest things about the site is that parts of it are deliberately allowed to stay quite natural. Grass is not clipped into perfect little lawns everywhere. There are areas left for insects and wildlife, which suits the setting far better.

And, of course, there are the animals.

The sheep, horses and hens are not attractions put there for guests. They are simply part of life around the farm, which makes seeing them all the more enjoyable.

For us, the sustainability message felt like something built into the place rather than something added for marketing.

Do you need to go sightseeing?

There are things to do nearby if you want them.

The Cock Inn at Woodseaves is around a mile away, while Loynton Moss Nature Reserve is also close by. Eccleshall is a short drive away and has shops, places to eat and a farmers' market. Aqualate Mere National Nature Reserve is another option for anyone wanting a gentle walk and some wildlife spotting.

We visited none of them. And we are perfectly happy with that.

For a two-night break, staying at The Woodsman was exactly what we wanted. If we had driven off to spend half a day sightseeing, I actually think we would have enjoyed the stay less.

If you are visiting for three, four or five nights, things are different. I would absolutely explore the surrounding area then. But even on a longer trip, I would recommend leaving at least one whole day empty.

No bookings. No timetable.

Just stay there and enjoy it.

Practical information for The Woodsman

The Woodsman is designed for two adults and has a minimum stay of two nights. Check-in is from 3pm and check-out is by 11am.

There is a dedicated guest parking area a very short walk from the cabin. We found access easy, although there are a few steps and a small wooden gate between the parking area and The Woodsman.

There is no Wi-Fi provided on site. We used our own personal Wi-Fi when we needed it and found the mobile signal good during our stay.

Bedding, towels and toiletries are provided. The cabin has electric heating as well as the wood-burning stove, and the kitchen includes a two-ring hob, fridge, kettle and toaster along with other basic cooking equipment.

Outside, there is seating, a barbecue and the wood-fired hot tub. Breakfast hampers and other food options can be ordered separately, while the Copper Beech Wellbeing experience also needs to be booked in advance and costs extra.

At the end of the stay, rubbish and recycling can be taken to the site's bin shed.

Prices naturally vary depending on dates, so I would check the current rate before booking.

Who would enjoy staying at The Woodsman?

Couples are the obvious fit.

It would work well for an anniversary or birthday, but I don't think you need an occasion. Sometimes simply wanting two or three quiet days away is reason enough.

I would particularly recommend it to people who like nature, enjoy countryside stays or feel they need a bit of a digital break. It could also work well for first-time glampers because you are not giving up your own bathroom, proper bed or kitchen.

Despite the rustic look, this isn't roughing it.

At the same time, I wouldn't recommend The Woodsman to someone looking for nightlife, organised entertainment or a packed list of activities. You have to enjoy the fact that very little is happening.

For us, that was precisely the appeal.

Is two nights enough?

Technically, yes.

Emotionally, I wasn't ready to leave.

Two nights gave us enough time to slow down and enjoy the place, but when checkout morning arrived, I would happily have stayed longer.

One night would definitely feel too short to me. By the time you arrive, unpack and start relaxing, you would almost be thinking about leaving again.

I think somewhere between two and five nights works well. For a quick reset, two or three nights is enough. If you want to explore Staffordshire as well, four or five would give you more freedom to mix days out with time doing absolutely nothing.

Is The Woodsman worth staying at?

Absolutely.

The cosy cabin was part of it. So were the surroundings. But the animals, oddly enough, are probably what I will remember most.

Those hens turning up every day became part of our routine. Seeing one wandering towards the cabin, apparently determined to find out what we were doing, made us smile every time.

There wasn't anything about the stay that disappointed us. Yes, storage could be a little better and the shower pressure was slower than we are used to. But those are minor practical points, not things that took away from the experience.

I would stay at The Woodsman again, and I would also happily try one of the other hideaways at Copper Beech. Tabitha mentioned that repeat guests sometimes come back and stay in a different one each time. After spending two nights here, I can see the appeal.

If you want somewhere packed with things to do, this probably isn't the place.

But if you want a cosy cabin, countryside all around you and a couple of days where nobody expects you to be anywhere, The Woodsman works beautifully.

Go for at least two nights. Then do less than you normally would.

 

Ready to book The Woodsman?

If The Woodsman sounds like your kind of break, you can check availability and book your stay directly through Unique Hideaways.

We loved the chance to slow down, spend time in the countryside and simply enjoy the cabin and its surroundings. For us, two nights worked well, although we could easily have stayed longer.

If you are looking for a peaceful couples' break in Staffordshire, The Woodsman is well worth considering.

Check availability and book The Woodsman with Unique Hideaways.