A CAMPING site is investing in luxury ‘glamping’ pods to attract those who wish to enjoy the outdoors in luxury Rossendale Holidays is bringing a touch of glamour to their site in Dean Lane, Water, by investing in a new glamping site.

Jonny Wilson, who runs Rossendale Holidays along with Rachel Wilson and Michael Armstrong, have invested £100,000 on state-of-the-art glamping pods, shower block and their children’s activity park.

They aim to offer an upmarket and fun twist on the traditional camping adventure, without some of the traditional drawbacks.

Jonny said: “We currently let holiday cottages and ensuite bedrooms but we also want to offer something slightly different, more quirky.

“Glamping has been around for several years and is now fairly established in many parts of the UK, but there didn’t seem to be anyone offering it in Lancashire.

“The demand is there for people to go on holiday, to be close to nature and in the great outdoors, without the hassle of having to bring their own tent and also to places where they can still enjoy a few luxuries.

“It is about giving people more choice, appealing to those holidaymakers who want to escape the confines of a hotel or B&B.”

The investment has been given support by Barclays bank.

John Darkes, business manager for Barclays in Rossendale, said: “Glamping is certainly a sector within the tourism industry which has gained momentum and significant media profile over the last couple of years.

“The industry has marketed itself as bringing all the excitement of the great outdoors with the benefits of home comforts, a long way from many consumers’ camping perceptions of leaking tents and interesting toilet arrangements.

“With the rise in ‘staycation’ by holiday makers over the last few years and the increasing number of businesses looking to diversify their income streams and generate additional revenue from existing assets, ‘glamping’ has proved a viable business proposition for relatively little capital investment.

“With a generation of youngsters refusing to go on holiday without access to social media, the internet or the luxury of home comforts, perhaps glamping could be the stepping stone to creating the next generation of camping enthusiasts.”