Nettle & Dock, a nature-based accommodation business located in Spreyton, mid-Devon, is providing guests with a low-impact glamping experience that emphasizes environmental sensitivity, privacy, and immersion in the local landscape.
The retreat, owned by Ilona and Mitch, spans over 18 acres and currently offers just four accommodation units, allowing guests to experience what the owners describe as “sustainable accommodation, totally immersed in nature and using a light-touch approach to limit their impact on the land.”
Among the accommodation types are two geodesic glamping domes set within a seven-acre meadow planted with wildflowers and native grasses.
Ilona maintains the area using minimal mowing to preserve biodiversity, with simple paths leading to key amenities, including a pondside seating area and a woodland bath zone featuring a wood-fired hot tub.
The site also includes a family-friendly converted barn and a shepherd’s hut, each with its own outdoor kitchen and Kamado barbecue.
The business has incorporated on-site amenities to enhance the visitor experience. A small honesty shop beneath the barn stocks essentials such as firewood, kindling, fresh eggs, and locally sourced charcoal.
Ilona also plans to expand offerings in the future, potentially adding a games room and launching pottery workshops.
“She is also an excellent potter and a large and well-stocked pottery is situated below the Barn accommodation where she plans to hold pottery classes and workshops in the future,” an article by Muddy Stilettos notes.
“You feel like you are still under canvas, but you can look out at the countryside through the panoramic windows and have a lovely piping hot shower, an indoor wee, and a cup of tea.”
Sustainability is reflected not only in the site’s physical footprint but also in the guest experience. Power in the domes is battery-based, encouraging limited energy use, and guests are advised to pre-plan outdoor baths, as the wood-fired heating system requires time.
There is no Wi-Fi on-site, which aligns with the retreat’s goal to offer a digital detox in a quiet, natural setting.
From a business perspective, Nettle & Dock is an example of a small-scale glamping operation that prioritizes privacy, simplicity, and ecological stewardship.
For outdoor hospitality professionals, the site highlights a model that balances guest comfort with environmental awareness, relying on curated outdoor infrastructure and localized resources rather than high-density development or high-tech amenities.
Nearby attractions bolster the appeal of the site. It is situated near the Two Moors Way walking route and popular Dartmoor destinations such as Castle Drogo, Wistman’s Wood, and Fingle Bridge.
The location is also within driving distance of dining options like The New Inn in Coleford and The Duck in Yeoford.
The accommodations are priced from £120 per night for two people in either a dome or shepherd’s hut, and from £130 for the Acorn Barn, with modest increases during peak season.
Dogs are welcome in select units, and while children are allowed in the Fern Dome and Barn, the space may be better suited to families with younger children. Accessibility is limited, as all units require navigating steps and compact bathroom facilities.
For business owners in the outdoor hospitality industry, Nettle & Dock provides a case study in developing a nature-based, low-impact tourism product that aligns with growing consumer demand for sustainability, experiential travel, and meaningful offline connection.
Its approach illustrates how thoughtful land management and personalized touches can help create a memorable guest experience while remaining small in scale and true to place.
Featured image by Nettle & Dock via nettleanddock.com