A camping spot outside Derry (Ireland) was voted the best glamping site in Northern Ireland despite the disadvantage of being hit with the COVID-19 pandemic just weeks after opening.
As per a report, Ness Wood Glamping won the award at the second annually held Glampitect Awards ceremony.
Situated in the Burntollet Valley at the foot of the Ness Wood Country Park on the outskirts of Derry, the site is home to four luxurious pods complemented by a barbeque hut and an outdoor hot tub.
This award is an uplifting boost for the owners Isabel Gartlan-Ferguson and husband David Ferguson, who opened the business in February 2020, a mere few weeks before the outbreak.
It came as a big surprise just to be nominated for the best glamping site as we are new and not yet fully established in comparison to some of the amazing sites in Northern Ireland,” Isabel said.
“To then actually win the award made us so proud. We had just opened on Valentine‘s weekend two years ago when the pandemic hit us hard with numerous cancellations of bookings, so I couldn’t have imagined winning something like this back then.”
Isabel said that they have opened their doors to NHS staff, allowing them to stay for free, amid the peak of the pandemic.
She also emphasized the hard work they put in to achieve a unique glamping site where guests can relax and create happy memories.
According to her, the award had given them the confidence to go forward and expand their service and make the glamping site a place to remember.
Future plans include expanding the site to seven luxurious pods and creating custom wedding packages, as well as team-building activities that Isabel hopes will aid in boosting Derry and Strabane‘s economy.
“I am confident there are now brighter times ahead after the two dark years of Covid,” added Isabel, who is also deputy registrar for births, deaths, and marriages at Derry City & Strabane District Council.
“We have exciting plans for the future, and I can’t wait to see how the site develops and the benefits it will bring to the community.”
Glampitect, one of the UK’s leading glamping site design consultancies, was founded in Edinburgh in 2019.
Glampitect Co-founder Ali Young said that Ness Wood Glamping is a newcomer to the Glampitect Awards.
Having been nominated by satisfied guests, they won the public vote for Best Glamping Site in Northern Ireland thanks to their ability to offer a quiet retreat for those wishing to reconnect with nature.
Young added that Ness Wood Glamping is a great base for those exploring the area’s attractions while offering very comfortable lodgings.
“The addition of some great perks like hot tubs, a BBQ hut, and a communal indoor snug meeting area are what make this glamping site so desirable and a worthy recipient of the 2021 Glampitect Award for Best Glamping Site in Northern Ireland.”