Karma Farm

Will Taylor bought the land here a generation ago and built his farmhouse from scratch: a carbon-neutral, ‘earth-sheltered’ dwelling that must have seemed quite revolutionary at the time – which indeed it was. Its turf roof and ultra-high-tech insulation keeps him and his family toasty throughout the winter without any sort of heating – no mean feat in the Fens. The house sets the tone for the rest of Karma Farm, which straddles the Suffolk-Cambridgeshire border on the river Lark. There are roughly 40 tent pitches, unmarked and indeed dotted all over the place so you can simply stroll around and choose the nook you most fancy. There is also a tipi and a yurt – both basic enough to challenge the use of the term ‘glamping’. In keeping with the rustic vibe; campfires are permitted, but you have to use the wood at the farmhouse, which costs just £8 for a very generous wheelbarrow load. Facilities are pretty basic – there’s a ‘games field and covered shed for rainy days, a lovely large electric shower pod into which you could fit your whole family (or a very friendly group), two toilets and a solar-powered shower nearby, and a newer toilet block with toilets and washbasins. But perhaps the best thing about Karma Farm is its location right by the river, across which lie Will’s beef cattle. You can just sit and contemplate the birdlife from the dyke that runs by the water but the site also has bikes for guest use (just make a ‘donation’ to the farm) and there are plenty of opportunities for walks. A track follows the river for around 7 miles to Prickwillow, while in the other direction a riverside path takes you to the Jude’s Ferry Inn about 2 miles away – choices you can contemplate over a breakfast of Will’s free-range pork sausages and bacon.