Cupola Farm glamping near Thetford Forest – review
Cupola Farm is a small family-run glamping site on the borders of Suffolk, Cambridgeshire and Norfolk. Cupola Farm is perfect for families looking for a traditional farm stay holiday – you can tour the farm, feed the animals and the kids are free to roam around the extensive gardens. We loved our stay and we are already planning a return visit.
We enjoyed a two night stay at Cupola Farm at the end of the 2023 October half term.
Note: we paid full price for our stay at Cupola Farm – £100 per carriage (sleeping four) per night.
I think Cupola Farm represents excellent value for money – it offers all of the benefits of camping without any of the hassles – everything is included and you need only bring your food and clothes.
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What’s Cupola Farm glamping like?
Cupola Farm is how farm glamping and camping should be. There’s lots of space for the kids to run around and there’s plenty of opportunity to see how the farm works.
The owners – Stuart and Penny – are so kind and hospitable. Stuart ensured we had the perfect campfire every evening with an endless supply of wood. Penny gave us an extensive tour of their farm, explaining about the lives of the various animals they keep – including pigs, chickens, goats and alpacas. Apparently the alpacas make excellent guard animals and take their job of protecting the goats very seriously.
The meat from the goats is available to buy so we enjoyed goat kebabs on the BBQ and fresh eggs for breakfast – sorry alpacas (and goats!).
Facilities at Cupola Farm glamping
There are three converted railway carriages and three bell tents. It’s also possible for campers to pitch a tent in one of the fields.
There are three bathrooms, each with a spacious wet-room style shower and a toilet and sink. There’s also a separate toilet next to the three bathrooms. During our stay – the end of the season – the bell tents had been taken down and we were the only people staying there – three families- so we each had a bathroom. Having exclusive use of the site was a real luxury.
Next to the bathrooms is a communal kitchen with fridges (for the bell tents as they don’t have electricity), freezer, kettle, toaster and sink for washing up.
In the garden area there’s a large fire pit which Stuart kindly set for us both evenings. There are lots of chairs around the fire pit – it was a lovely spot to enjoy a drink and watch the sun set over the fields. The views were extensive and the sky was wide. The hooting of owls was a constant refrain during the evenings.
There’s a marquee in the garden which came in handy on our second night when it rained – it contains a big table and plenty of chairs so it’s a great shelter from the elements.
There are various play things for the kids – a big trampoline, climbing frame and a little Wendy house. The kitchen also has a stash of games (and books) – archery proved popular with our kids.
The railway carriages at Cupola Farm
I’ve stayed in quite a few different glamping places over the years, of varying prices and standards. I think Cupola Farm is very good value for money. The carriages were cosy and comfortable – proper beds, warm duvets and even a heater.
If you’re travelling with tech-addicts, you’ll be pleased to hear there’s even a USB charging point in the carriages.
Two of the carriages have a double bed fitted over two singles below, the third carriage has bunk beds at one end of the carriage and a separate double bed at the other end. I liked the arrangement of the beds on top of each other as it made the carriage more spacious with a table and bench at the other end.
The carriages come with a fridge and kettle and everything you need to self cater – there’s a gas BBQ with a gas hob outside each carriage along with table and chairs. Crockery (plastic but good) and cutlery plus cooking equipment is all included so you only need to bring your food.
The bell tents at Cupola Farm
We didn’t see the tents as they had been taken down but they sound good. Again, proper beds and your own fridge in the kitchen. Unlike the carriages, there’s no electricity in the tents.
Campsite location
Cupola Farm is in a very rural location, midway between Thetford and Ely – half an hour from each.
Distances:
- Thetford High Lodge (Forestry Commission) 11 miles
- Ely 14 miles
- Downham Market 23 miles
- Cambridge 25 miles
Cupola Farm is well positioned for lots of family days out including several National Trust properties and lots of countryside for walks and bike rides. The open air museum of West Stow, an Anglo Saxon village, is 20 minutes away.
If you’re keen to explore the region’s cities and towns, Ely, Cambridge and Bury St Edmunds are all under an hour away.
We chose Cupola Farm as our base for a cycling weekend with some friends. We enjoyed a day at High Lodge in Thetford Forest, Brandon Country Park and Wicken Fen – all great destinations for family bike rides.
Check out my article about family bike rides across the UK.
Pros and Cons of Cupola Farm
The good bits:
- The attentive owners – Stuart and Penny – have really hit the nail on the head when it comes to family-friendly glamping.
- Cupola Farm makes glamping easy – everything is included from sheets to wine glasses so you only need to bring your food and clothes.
- Kids will love all the farm activities, cuddling the baby goats and the space to run around.
- The farm is in a peaceful location with lots of animals – both farm and wild!
Worth bearing in mind:
- The farm is quite remote – there are not any pubs nearby, but with such an unbeatable setting, there’s no need to venture out.
- There are some air bases nearby so there is aircraft noise from time to time. This didn’t affect the quality of our stay.
Check availability on the Cupola Farm website.
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Have you had any glamping adventure? Let me know in the comments below.
