Our Story

 

Our journey in sustainable tourism began back in 2001, when we bought a tired B&B on the Northumberland coast. Over the next decade we lovingly restored it, building eco-friendly practices into everything we did, from switching to low-energy lighting and washing all linen in-house with eco products, to replacing single-use toiletries with refillable bottles and filling rooms with refurbished furniture.

In 2011 we returned to the family farm as Sarah’s parents retired, adding solar panels to the house and letting the B&B as a holiday cottage while we settled into farm life. By 2019 we were ready to begin a new chapter: opening a small, peaceful campsite on the farm. A £40,000 quote for a mains electric connection pushed us to embrace what we wanted all along - an off-grid, low-impact site. After two seasons we moved from The Caravan and Camping Club to The Greener Camping Club, whose ethos matched our own.

Growing Our Glamping

In 2022 we added our first glamping space: a handcrafted shepherd’s hut built from sustainably sourced oak, insulated with sheep’s wool and powered by solar. Later that year we renovated two old Wigwam pods, giving them new life with cosy log burners and simple, efficient layouts.

Our biggest step came in 2023 with the arrival of our larch-clad eco lodges. Powered entirely by solar and designed around low-energy living, they stay warm and inviting thanks to efficient Penguin log stoves (complete with little ovens!). Thoughtful choices, A-rated appliances, low-power lighting and sustainably sourced timber to keep their footprint small while providing a wonderfully comfortable stay.

Nature at the Heart of Everything

Tranwell Farm has been cared for by our family for over 60 years. In that time we’ve planted around 10,000 trees, created around 30 miles of hedgerows, restored habitats, and developed our own nature reserve. Wildlife thrives here: hares, deer, owls, bats, butterflies and even orchids blooming between the pitches.

We wash all linen on-site using eco-friendly products, reuse and recycle wherever possible, and source timber directly from our own sustainably managed woodland.

When you stay with us, whether camping, glamping or relaxing in a lodge, you are experiencing a place shaped by nature, sustainability and simple pleasures. Why not switch off, slow down, and enjoy a true off-grid detox?