OUR SLEEPING STRUCTURES
THE BIRD HOUSES
Built on an ‘A’ Frame design our Bird Houses are the simplest structures at Bradmoor Woods. They are supremely comfortable though and are incredibly strong as well as being the perfect low-impact woodland structure. A bit less swanky than the others but in them you really are closer to nature.
All of our Bird Houses feature raised beds and are constructed with a solid wooden roof that extends down the sides of the building, forming 2 of the walls. The other 2 walls are made from canvas which has the added benefit of giving a light airy feel to the structures and keeps them cool during the height of the summer.
The Bird Houses are dotted amongst the trees behind the Meeting House just far enough away from the main hub of the camp to offer peace and quiet, whilst also being close enough to all the amenities.
THE RAILWAY CARRIAGES
The Railway Carriages have either a double bed, a double and a single bed or a double bed and a bunk and sleep up to 3 people in immense comfort.
More than 100 years old, our first Converted Railway Carriage was originally bought from the Station Master at Swaffham station – It was transported to West Acre in the 1970’s on its steel wheels. Pulled by four Shire Horses which used to plough the fields at WestAcre and was once a welcome location for shooting lunches on the estate.
We have repurposed and refurbished these beautiful original carriages and turned them into fantastic places to stay and sleep in the woods.
It was so popular we have dredged a couple more decrepit boxcars from their not quite final resting place and converted a further 2 carriages, all featuring solid wood panelling, huge glass windows and classic French enamel stoves to keep you toasty in the night.
THE SILOS
Perhaps the ultimate repurposed camping structures, we currently have 2 silos at Bradmoor Woods that originally served as grain storage on one of the estate farms. Now completely redesigned as sleeping structures, these fantastic metal buildings give a large yurt like experience.
Fully insulated and then wood lined, the silos make a great place for families to stay. They have each have a double bed, a small single and a large floorspace so if you wish to bring an extra mattress etc for a child to bed down on the floor you may. They are heated with a french enamel stove. This extra floorspace is due to the round nature of the structure and makes for a great place to escape any bad weather and play board games or draw.
The silos are situated a little bit further away from the Round House and the Loo/Shower block but are lovely and peaceful.
ZENIA –
THE UPTURNED BOAT
A favourite with all who stay in her, Zenia is constructed with a reclaimed boat hull as a roof. Salvaged from Blakeney, the roof of the hut dates from around 1900, now transformed into an incredible sleeping hut, definitely for the more agile of us as you climb up ladders into the beds which are in the roof.
She can happily sleep 4 people – 2 at either end – making it perfect for a family or 2 couples who want to share. Great for allowing your imagination to run riot, the hut provides a fantastic place to stay at Bradmoor Woods. It’s one of our favourites and we think you’ll love it as well.
The hut also features a classic French enamel stove, which makes ‘her’ super toasty and warm on cold nights in the woods, a table to sit around and some old theatre seats to watch the woods go by.
THE TEEPEES
A teepee was often called a lodge in older English writing and is essentially a very big tent, traditionally made from animal skins upon wooden poles. Ours is the newest addition to the accommodation at Bradmoor Woods and is a very large wooden structure that provides a comfy, warm and ultimately fun place to sleep.
The Dorm Teepee at Bradmoor Woods has been provided as additional accommodation to our range of sleeping structures. Sleeping up to eight people in one double and six single beds, that are all centred around a cosy wood-burning stove.
We also have a sitting room teepee for a great cozy hang out spot for cooler or wetter nights.
OUR COMMUNAL STRUCTURES
THE ROUND HOUSE
Of all the fabulous things in the woods the thing we love is the ‘Round House’. All the timber to make it came from these woods, for the nerds among you it is technically a ‘Reciprocal Frame Building’ and it was built using a new – old technique. The reciprocal frame, also known as a Mandala roof, has been used since the twelfth century in Chinese and Japanese architecture although little or no trace of these ancient methods remain.
Our design was based on the building created by the founders of the hippy colony at Findhorn, Scotland in the 1970s. Constructions there could be erected by two people. Our scaled up version at Bradmoor Woods took three people and telehandler!
The Round House is basically a big open space that you can lounge about in, play cards and boardgames, shelter from the rain, dance, play charades, or if you’re feeling properly energetic, re-enact the whole Normandy Landings strategy using chairs, children and some leftover cans of anchovies and bottles of balsamic vinegar.
It is also where you can find the camp kitchen and as such is where people tend to congregate during the day when they’re not outside exploring. It very much forms the hub of our site and makes for a fantastic place to sit and watch the world go by and your fellow guests get on with their day to day activities.
By night you can light the kitchen and round house with LED solar powered lighting.
VALKYRIE
Definitely one to get the imagination running wild, our broads cruiser is a real favourite with kids. It’s a classic Norfolk Broads cruising boat, dating to the end of the last century. We modified the old pop-top roof into something more substantial and then set her ‘adrift’ in our beautiful woodlands.
Although Valkyrie is no longer available as ‘onboard’ sleeping accommodation, she makes a wonderful place for kids to explore and play. ‘She’ makes a wonderful sight as you walk through the woodland, appearing in a somewhat dreamlike quality. You never expect to find a boat sitting upright in the middle of the woods!
THE SHOWER &LOO BLOCK
Fairground Carousel-Style Loo/Shower block
Made from loads of old doors and looking like a fair ground carousel inside this imaginative building contains Flushable loos & power showers – yes actual power showers, basins and a super supply of hot water.
There are four showers and four loos. This facility, like the kitchen is solar powered (everything is) and water comes from a bore hole drilled specially to feed the site. While bears may happily sh*t in the woods we’d so rather you didn’t, and to that end have created a woodland washing/bathing facility like no other.