Seven Years On: The Fuselage at Lypiatt Hill Stands the Test of Time

Seven Years On: The Fuselage at Lypiatt Hill Stands the Test of Time 

Tucked away in the Gloucestershire countryside, Lypiatt Hill Campsite is the definition of serenity. This week, our Head of Sales, Jazz, visited Kate, the site owner of this Cotswolds escape. Read on to hear why Kate says, “we haven’t regretted our investment 7 years in”!

The site is home to one structure, and one structure only: The Fuselage - one of our most striking Tree Tents accommodations. The Fuselage is inspired by aerospace design yet brings its guests firmly down to Earth, immersing them in breathtaking panoramic views over the infamous Five Valleys, a serious ‘Wow’ factor for guests.

And then there’s Kate. Warm, welcoming, and full of thoughtful touches, she makes every stay feel special. After just an hour and a half with this powerhouse of a site-host, we can already see how guests feel incredibly looked after for their stays. Whether you’re after a mental health reset, a creative retreat, or celebrating a big moment, she’ll go the extra mile to make the Fuselage feel like home.

Book a stay at the Fuselage with Kate at https://www.lypiatthill.com/#mainbookform or book via Canopy & Stars https://www.canopyandstars.co.uk/britain/england/gloucestershire/lypiatt-hill/the-fuselage

The Fuselage at a Glance

The Fuselage is listed on Canopy & Stars, where the essence of our all-terrain accommodation, designed and created in our Sussex workshop, is captured perfectly: “Fittingly for its aviation-inspired design, The Fuselage seems to float above the hills, looking out on miles of the Cotswolds from its lofty perch. You wake up in the curved bedroom space with the fields stretched out in front of you, then wander over to the kitchen to get the coffee going.”

● Sleeps 4 / One double and one bunk bed

● Underfloor heating & wood burner stove

● Suitable for children of all ages

● Pets welcome

● Stroud, Gloucestershire, United Kingdom

Choosing The Fuselage: Love at First Sight

The moment Kate and her husband saw The Fuselage, they knew it was special. “The design and attention to detail are faultless, while the eco-cred is also important to us and, increasingly so, to guests.”

More than just beautiful, it’s incredibly practical. “Navigating the space is easy. The connection between the indoors and the natural surroundings is seamless.” Thanks to underfloor heating and a wood burner, it’s warm and cosy year-round.

During their search for their first glamping structure, nothing else compared. “We looked at so many options. Nothing matched The Fuselage’s durability, year-round warmth, design ‘Wow’ factor, and respect for the environment.” We agree!

Kate notes that “the Fuselage has allowed us to stand out in an ever-growing crowd.” Noting that even 7 years into a thriving glamping market, “the Fuselage still holds it own - against the competition - in terms of uniqueness”.

Designed to be either mounted on stilts or suspended from trees, the Fuselage makes light work of even the most challenging terrain, allowing you to maximise areas of woodland, sloping sites or water’s edge. Kate shares that “every element of the design is extremely well thought out. It’s

robustness has certainly been put to the test as its location is relatively high up and exposed to the elements.”.

Our team can install on-site over 1-2 days, adjusting the structure’s footing to suit the trickiest of sites - an important decision factor for viewpoints like Lypiatt hill!

You can read more about our Fuselage accommodation structure here.

Working with Tree Tents 

“We remain very grateful to Tree Tents. The Fuselage just keeps on giving! And we even get to enjoy it ourselves here and there, inbetween guests. Thank you, Tree Tents!”

A Creative Escape

Kate mentions that Lypiatt Hill draws in families and couples but also has a pull for solo writers, artists, and dreamers.

“Guests often tell us that they book because of the design - i.e. that it’s different enough to other glamping structures e.g. shepherd’s huts, yurts, domes etc.”

The striking panoramic rear window of the Fuselage is the perfect backdrop to let the chaos of everyday life fade away. Woodland walks (Kate recommends a walk up Swift Hill), wild deer, and total seclusion make it the perfect place to unwind and create. As a poet herself, Kate understands this well, many guests return year after year for inspiration.

Thoughtful Touches 

Kate’s attention to detail is unmatched. Mention a little one’s birthday, and she’ll leave a children’s poetry book in a gift basket. Celebrating an engagement? Expect a handpicked selection of local treats from The Green Store, down the road. It’s no wonder she was named Canopy & Stars’ Owner of the Month—guests absolutely love her, and the 5-star reviews speak for themselves: “We would like to say a big Thank You for being so welcoming! Our stay at the Fuselage was perfect. Kate showed us around and made us feel at home straight away. The Fuselage is an awesome design, the log burner kept us very warm, and the bed was extremely comfortable.” “Kate was so friendly and helpful ahead of our trip, and this continued on our arrival. The accommodation was larger than I was expecting, with great ceiling height and the dining table which converts into a big comfortable bed with very cosy bedding (we slept so well on both nights).”

A recent guest shared with Kate that she read the poem’ Such Silence’ by Mary Oliver, whilst watching the sun going down from The Fuselage. She wrote a card saying that it felt so appropriate as she really had found silence on her stay. “Feedback like this is wonderful”, she says.

Read more testimonials on Google: Lypiatt Hill Lodgings

Repeat custom is becoming incredibly powerful for Lypiatt Hill. Kate sees about 40% of bookings come through their own website, as guests come back again and again. After 7 years of hosting at the Fuselage, word of mouth and repeat visits have built a strong base business. With the remaining 60% of bookings coming from Canopy & Stars, where Kate is supported with marketing and more by the brilliant team there.

Wild Bathing in Natural Beauty 

What do 85% of Canopy & Star’s top-performing stays have in common? An element of wild bathing! For Lypiatt Hill, that takes the form of a wood-fired fiberglass tub—perfect for a soak under the stars. Kate jokes that there’s many guests who’ve turned ‘prune-like’ after getting carried away admiring Stroud’s sparkling lights in the distance, and enjoying the night skies over vast valleys enveloping the site. They have future plans to add wildflowers to the field, making this already breathtaking setting even more magical. And if you’re lucky, you might spot wild deer grazing from your tub, or from the Fuselage’s window.

A Place for Special Moments

Guests don’t just stay at Lypiatt Hill—they make memories here. Engagements, anniversaries, birthdays… all marked with corks tucked into The Fuselage’s alcoves. A tradition that started

spontaneously, but guests have diligently followed the lead of the original trend-setters, from many celebrations ago. It makes for a nostalgic feel to the space, knowing folks before you have exuded joy and celebration into the curved walls of this structure.

For the finer details, Kate’s digital Touch Stay information pack makes settling in super easy, she even shares a map with her favourite local haunts and walks. So, adventure-folks or prospective Fuselage-owners, if you’re looking for a peaceful retreat with heartfelt hospitality, Lypiatt Hill’s Fuselage is a must-visit. Weekends in this sanctuary book up fast, but weekday stays offer a quieter, last-minute getaway option.

You could be the next to add a cork to the growing collection of memories in this incredible structure!

Book with Kate at https://www.lypiatthill.com/#mainbookform or book via Canopy & Stars https://www.canopyandstars.co.uk/britain/england/gloucestershire/lypiatt-hill/the-fuselage

To discuss what a Fuselage cabin could bring to your site, get in touch with Jazz at jazz@treetents.co.uk & the Tree Tents team.

Check out our ROI calculator to see the value for yourself.