Glamping places with plunge pools

The large plunge pools at Caban Eric in North Wales are dug to 4.5ft deep and fed by the stream – perfect for a refreshing dip on a hot day or an early morning blast of cold water. If your travelling companion doesn’t fancy it, they can loll in the nearby hammock and shout words of encouragement. The shepherd’s hut is perched in a picturesque clearing in the woods with views over the Clwydian Hills and a friendly assortment of badgers, foxes and partridges for neighbours.

Inside is rustic and charming, decorated in creams and duck egg tones with checked fabrics, a king size bed, modern kitchen and ensuite. There are walks from the front door including the Pen Y Cloddiau section of the famous Offa’s Dyke trail, and an undulating stomp to the local pub in Nannerch. If you’ve bought your bikes you’ll find brilliant mountain biking trails and the coast is just over half an hour away.

Box Barn is one big party in a Monmouthshire field. A festival without sleeping under canvas or dealing with portaloos. It accommodates 15 across a byre, a bunkhouse and a yurt, with atmospheric spaces for the group to congregate including an open plan dining/living space, oodles of outdoor seating and a large hay barn full of games and dressing up gear. Wellbeing is prioritised just as much as communal meals, so get ready to transition from a workout in the gym to a yoga session on the deck, followed by a soak in the hot tub and an invigorating dip in the plunge pool.

This one is a traditional barrel filled by a cold-water tap (add ice if you’re brave) so take a few deep calming breaths before submersion. There’s even a bucket provided, so your mates can drench you while you’re in there. With so much to do it’ll be a miracle if you leave the golden fields of camp, but Raglan castle and The Black Mountains are within easy reach.

You’ll immediately see why Nantseren in Carmarthenshire is a Visit Wales Gold Award winner. The wild west of the Brecon Beacons is a magical landscape, part of a UNESCO Global Geopark that was sculpted into glacial lakes and craggy mountains in the last ice age. Under vast dark skies, 16 of you can glamp in four stylish bell tents sharing a big communal barn with a kitchen, sofas, table tennis and a pool table.

There’s a Scandi hot tub and a cold shower in the wild spa, but for an invigorating experience you won’t forget, head for the hills to find the hidden plunge pools and waterfalls. You don’t literally have to find them, helpful owners Ceri and Rebecca will tell you where to go. They can also arrange guided walks from archaeologists and wildlife experts, photography courses, yoga sessions or you can join them to feed the lambs and herd the sheep.

Plunge into ancient Welsh legend at Ffynone Bach in Pembrokeshire. Follow the footpaths through the estate and you’ll stumble upon the Ffynone Waterfalls, believed to be an entrance to legendary ‘Annwn’, an idyllic parallel universe where no one gets old. Even if you don’t find yourself transported, the emerald waters of the plunge pool are like something from a fairy tale, surrounded by trees and steep gorge walls.

You’ll feel ten years younger as you scamper back to warm up in the hot tub at your tiny house in a willow enclosure. Spend blissful hours exploring the lanes and bursting hedgerows, gazing at the stars by night, cooking over the outdoor firepit and wandering to the village shop for supplies. If you’d rather someone else did the catering, walk the mile to the 18th-century Ffynone Arms for a real ale and classic pub grub. They often serve handmade pizzas on Fridays.

If your prerequisite for a dip in a plunge pool is baking sunshine, head to Fonte Lodge in central Portugal. Set among olive groves and fruit trees, the safari tent has its own private spring fed plunge pool next to the wooden deck (Fonte is Portuguese for spring), as well as a larger eco-filtered natural swimming pool with a bar for afternoon drinks. Owner Menno, cooks a sumptuous four-course evening meal every other night, all made from fresh produce and you’re provided with a continental breakfast every morning.

When you’re not reading in the sun or napping in the shade, hike in the protected natural park or ask owner Jacqueline to take you for a ride in the hills on her horses. Explore ancient villages, prehistoric rock art and Moorish fortresses and castles. You’ll be booking a return visit before you’re on the flight home.