“Passion pod” poetry to feature in arts festival

Romantic poems inspired by love-nests set in a forest glade are to form a new category in a Lake District park’s annual arts and crafts festival.

Skelwith Fold in Ambleside says that its super-luxury Hideaway glamping pods opened last year are winning an enthusiastic following from amorous couples across the country.

Set amid wooded seclusion in the park’s 130-acre grounds, the park originally chose the setting as the perfect place to enjoy an intimate encounter with its extensive wildlife.

But according to park director Henry Wild, Skelwith Fold’s deer, badgers and red squirrels are proving less of a draw than communing of a more human kind.

Glowing social media comments, he said, suggest that couples are regarding the Hideaways as Lakeland’s most dreamy location for nights together.

Now the park is challenging guests to turn their romantic experiences into words or pictures for entering into its summer arts festival which attracts hundreds of entries.

This year, for the first time, a new category of “Hideaway Raptures” has been created for poetry, paintings or photographs inspired by the setting of the glamping pods.

Accommodating two people, each pod features a comfortable double bed, shower and loo, kitchen zone with microwave, oven and fridge, TV, and lounge-cum-dining space.

Measuring just 14ft x 10ft, the “posh pods” also boast large picture windows, and folding fully-glazed doors leading onto a timber decking area with a pull-out sunshade.

“It’s hard to conceive of a more romantic setting for a few nights away, not least because there’s a sense of perfect peace and nearness to nature in the forest,” said Henry.

“Couples of all ages have said it represents the type of escape they’ve always fantasised about: the romance of camping with none of the cold or uncomfortable bits.

“I think we’re going to be receiving some amazing entries from those who feel inspired by these surroundings, and the best will be featuring on our website,” he added.

This August, Skelwith Fold’s arts festival will be celebrating its tenth anniversary and is likely once again to attract scores of visitors from across the UK.

More about the glamping Hideaways, including a recently made video, can be seen at www.skelwith.com