Woodland glamping spot on Liverpool's doorstep is best in the country

A luxury glamping site, on Liverpool's doorstep, has been named the best in the country.

The Secret Garden Glamping, in Skelmersdale, has won Camping, Glamping and Holiday Park of the Year at the prestigious Visit England Awards for Excellence 2024. The annual awards ceremony is known for championing the travel and customer service industry.

Dad of two Derry Green started The Secret Garden Glamping in 2020, after his hobby in lockdown spiralled into a full blown business. Nestled in four acres of woodlands, the luxury spot started out as a play area for his children during the pandemic.

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One tent, quickly turned into a living pod and before he knew it, Derry had built a glamping site in his Skelmersdale garden. Now the site features handcrafted pods, lodges, yurts, and even a tree house, each with private hot tubs.

Speaking about the award, Derry said: "We are incredibly proud to receive this award, it is a testament to our team’s hard work and our guests’ continuous support. We are committed to pushing the boundaries of what we offer and look forward to introducing new features and experiences in the near future."

He added: "Winning the 'Camping, Glamping and Holiday Park of the Year' award is an honour that motivates us to continue our mission of providing exceptional hospitality. We thank VisitEngland for this incredible recognition."

Guests have 12 units to choose from including the wilderness spa, the oasis, the tree tops and the lodge. The site, which boasted stunning views of the Lancashire countryside, is described as being perfect for a relaxing getaway for two or for an adventure for the entire family to enjoy.

He told the ECHO: "It started as something to do with the kids and snowballed before I knew it. I put it on Airbnb as a bit of a side hustle because I travel so much and people said they wanted to stay in it.

"I found it odd but was happy to oblige. I made an Airbnb account, went to sleep and the next morning bookings were through the roof." You can find out more about Secret Gardens and booking information here.