A military veteran who served in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Kosovo is developing plans for a luxury off-grid glamping retreat in Somerset, England, with the proposed business aiming to combine nature-based stays, year-round accommodation, and partnerships with local suppliers.
Andrew Phillips, 45, founder and director of Iron & Earth Wilderness Escapes Ltd., is seeking land for the project, which he hopes to establish in or around Shepton Mallet. The development remains in its early stages, with land acquisition and investment among the key outstanding requirements.
Phillips spent 16 years in the British Army after enlisting in 1999. During his service, he was deployed to Kosovo, Iraq twice, and Afghanistan three times, as well as serving in Northern Ireland. After leaving the military, he moved into the railway industry but said the transition to civilian life brought personal challenges, including ongoing mental health difficulties.
Speaking to the Somerset County Gazette, Phillips explained that the idea for Iron & Earth developed after a vacation to Belgium left him feeling “so claustrophobic, so stuck”.
He said: “I just said enough’s enough. I’ve got to get control of this. I need to start doing something that I can make an impact and help people that suffer with the same thing that I suffer with, and find a place that I’ve been seeking for all my life.”
The proposed retreat is intended to provide guests with a setting where they can disconnect from everyday routines and spend time in nature. Phillips said his own experiences helped shape the concept, although the business is being developed as a commercial tourism venture.
Somerset emerged as the preferred location after Phillips and his partner considered sites in Scotland, Wales, and overseas. Phillips has family connections to the county, including childhood visits to his grandmother in South Petherton, and said the area’s meadows, woodlands, and quieter surroundings made it a suitable location for the project.
“Knowing that I’ve grown up there and knowing that I’ve been there a long time, it just seemed like out of all the places that we looked at it just seemed like the right place,” he told the Somerset County Gazette.
Although the final site has not been secured, Phillips said offers had been made on potential properties and preparations for the business were progressing. He said accommodation suppliers had already been identified and were ready to work with the project once a location is confirmed.
The concept differs from a conventional tent-based campground. Phillips described the planned accommodation as “high-end, off-grid luxury, 365 days of the year tourism units.” The intention is to operate throughout the year, although the number of units, final accommodation types, opening date, and specific location have not yet been confirmed.
Infrastructure plans include an off-grid energy system, a bespoke sewage treatment plant, and access to natural water. Phillips also wants to incorporate landscaping and biodiversity measures, including planting trees and wildflowers. He said the project would use alternative foundation systems intended to reduce the need for permanent concrete foundations.
For outdoor hospitality operators considering similar developments, the proposed approach highlights several factors that can influence the feasibility of an off-grid accommodation business. Energy generation, wastewater treatment, water access, and construction methods can affect both initial investment and ongoing operating costs. The site’s planning requirements, environmental constraints, and the practicality of maintaining utilities throughout the year will also need to be assessed once a location is selected.
Phillips also intends to make local businesses part of the retreat’s supply chain. Plans include hiring local tradespeople during development and potentially employing residents for cleaning, maintenance, and site management. He hopes to source products such as barbecue food, handmade soaps, and candles from Somerset businesses.
“I really want to create local trade, local tourism to get people into this area even more and to showcase what is available in Somerset,” he said.
The business has launched a crowdfunding campaign to help secure land for the development. At the time of the Somerset County Gazette interview, Phillips reported receiving 13 pledges totaling more than £1,000. The amount reflects the campaign’s position at the time of the interview and does not establish its current fundraising total.
Phillips said the campaign was intended to raise awareness of the project as well as generate financial support. He also described receiving offers of volunteer assistance and other forms of encouragement from supporters.
“If we can hit our target on Crowdfunder, absolutely amazing. If I can find my best investor, amazing, but it’s the support that comes with it.
“It’s just as valuable as the financial gain, and just getting the word out there to everyone and showing what this project is really about, which is connecting to nature, resetting and unplugging.”
The crowdfunding campaign is available through the Build Iron & Earth project page.
The venture’s next steps depend on securing a suitable property and the investment needed to move from planning to development. Until those requirements are met, the retreat’s opening timeline and operating capacity remain undetermined.
“There’s still a couple of big hurdles, but once these are crossed, there’s no stopping me,” Phillips said.
“I’m on my way and I’m going to build something for Somerset that I really hope people will love and cherish, and come and visit as many times as they can.”
