Cornish Tipi Holidays, North Cornwall

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Best for… a real eco-friendly, native American-style break.

Why? A tipi is camping at its coolest and greenest. Think roomy, light and romantic - a tipi roof soars to 20 feet. You can cook on an open fire, fish in the lake, and shower in water heated by solar and wind power.

Where? North Cornwall, in 16 acres of woodland around a disused quarry, now a lake. To cut down on pollution, cars are not allowed onto the site itself but there's a central car park down the road. The coast is a 10-minute drive away, but you can swim in the lake and paddle in the stream.

Staying in: Proof that camping does not mean slumming it. For starters, these tipis are spacious, sleeping four or six, and fully equipped. Step inside and you're hit by the nostalgic whiff of canvas, lanterns hang from the support poles. Turkish rugs cover the floors, and there's a cooker, fridge and everything you need to get a fire started. The tipis are made from unbleached canvas, the lodge poles are sourced locally, and the logs for the fires come from sustainable sources. The site runs on solar and wind power, plus gas and a generator when needed. It's truly low-impact, and camping here is so charmingly simple you'll feel like child again.

Style steal: String up North Africna lanterns in your garden for twinkling light at dusk. Head to London's Golbourne Road for Moroccan paraphernalia.

Going out: Boscastle and Tintagel are short drives up the coast, or head 15 minutes inland and you're on Bodmin Moor. You can surf at Polzeath and Daymer Bay, seven miles away or, for a carbon-saving, car-free day out, hire bicycles in Wadebridge for trips along the Camel Trail to Padstow or up onto the moors. There are three farm shops nearby, a monthly farmers' market in Wadebridge, a fishmonger in Port Isaac selling fish fresh off the boats, and an emporium selling the best of Cornish food at Fraddon.

More info Prices start at £225 for a short break of up to three nights and £375 for a week. Call 01208 880781 or visit www.cornish-tipi-holidays.co.uk.

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