Glamping with Maserati & Wild Luxury

“It’s here! It’s here!” the kids shout and here it is, in all it’s –‘please don’t let it be red’ shining red glory.  “It’s a convertible!” (GranCabrio Sport to be exact) my 9 year old shouts, I look at my wife and I can already sense her anxiety at the size of the boot. We are after all going glamping in it and need to fit in at least 4 pairs of Hunters. My first nervous question to the lovely lady who delivered the car as we stand and gaze at its beauty is “Um, is it petrol? I’m not too au fait with super cars”. “Yes, of course” she answers. At this point I’m glad to see sumptuous black leather upholstery. I was dreading cream, or worse, white with the kids messing around on the back seats.  And mess around they definitely could, as the space back there is really quite roomy.

She meets a partner at “the white horse” Brancaster

So how did I get to the point where I am test-driving a Maserati you might ask?  I casually suggested I test drive a Maserati for Law and More for a half term break. “Sure” they said, “How about ‘glamping’ on the North Norfolk coast” they said. “Great idea” I said because of course it is a great idea to take a super car camping!  Luckily, this isn’t just any ordinary camping, this is “Wild luxury” (wildluxury.co.uk) Thornham Bay on the stunning North Norfolk Coast. Suddenly a whimsical idea becomes reality.  And off we must go, said in my best ‘Clarkson voice’.  It’s red, Rosso Trionfale to be precise, a deep Burgundy. It’s stunning, every bit of it.

You don’t have to be a petrol head to appreciate this car’s beauty. It’s not angry looking or macho like some super cars are designed. ‘She’ is warm and serene looking, which cannot be said for the growl of the engine as we fire her up. Curtains are twitching, neighbours gather, a wolf in sheep’s clothing here. “My god it’s sexy” a quiet unassuming neighbour comments. A Maserati, I’m soon to learn, does this to people.

My wife is very keen to see the boot space as the detailed fact sheet that you get with “Wild luxury” states ‘Wellingtons are a must, torches and blankets too’. Gulp. Thankfully we opted for the VIP package and this includes all bedding, a food starter kit, wood and candles. The boot is small, but we travelled light and got a large rucksack in there with wet weather gear either side. There is a great little farm shop a short walk from the camp so all food can be bought there beforehand or pre ordered for delivery.  If it were summer of course there would be no need for wet weather gear and therefore plenty of room.

The first aspect one notices about the Maserati is the ease with which it drives.  In automatic it growls along beautifully, despite its low front negotiating the bump riddled streets of North London.  We had the roof down most of the way but as we hit the M11 the kids could take no more. So, with my daughter’s hair looking like something from a Lady GaGa video, we briefly pulled over to put it up. The roof machinery is fast, efficient and solid, so you are able to drive at 10 mph whilst it is in action.   Had it just been my wife and I on an adult only road trip we could have styled out the roof being down the whole way.

On the motorway she feels steady, smooth and easy to drive just like a top of the range saloon. Overtaking it kicks down. It’s fast, my god it’s fast.  It could be very easy to speed in this beast. An example of how fast; I overtook a car at 65mph, by the time I’d passed it we had hit 95 mph. Fast. (0-62 in 5.0 seconds to be precise.)

So after cruising up the A14 we finally arrived at Wild Luxury and what a perfect place this is for the die hard ‘non-campers’. It really does have everything a non-camper would use as an excuse not to go camping and much MUCH more too.

Dinner Glamping Style

 “Does it have a toilet?” I hear them ask? Not just any toilet, each tent has a fully functioning mains fitted W/C with a fully flushing cistern.  “Well, surely not a shower?” yes again; in it’s own separate cubicle fitted to the back of a vast, fully floor boarded tent.  You have your own gas heater producing constant piping hot water – in the middle of a field!

“Beds?”- Oh, just 2 doubles and 2 singles. One of the doubles is in it’s own tongue and grooved clad cabin, boxed off and with hearts cut out of its wooden frame.  This little room is the perfect den for kids to snuggle up in or for adults without kids to enjoy a perfect romantic hideout (lucky them!!).

“What cooking facilities?” you may ask – Oh, now this was my favourite aspect of our lodge. There is a huge wood-burning stove (with plenty of wood on hand) to not only heat the place, but with a large hob for cooking and even a wood-burning oven.  It’s placed perfectly betwixt the kitchen and the lounge. Yes, that’s right I said kitchen (fitted sink with running water) and lounge! Sumptuous leather sofas with plenty of cushions and a dining table with ample chairs placed so one can look out over ones very own terrace.  Each lodge comes with a terrace and luxury seating, perfect for sundowners and watching the kids in field. These tents/lodges really are genius!  OK so we’re not in the wilds of the Serengeti where these tents are so at home, we’re actually in Thornham Bay on the North Norfolk Coast.  There can be no better description than “Wild Luxury”, for when we were there at the very end of their season, “wild” is exactly what it was becoming and zipping up that zip of your tent flap behind you there is no question of the “luxury” inside. However in warmer spells there are logs to sit on and areas with each tent to have an open fire outside too.

Watching the seals at Blakeney

North Norfolk as you probably know by now is fast becoming our “Brittany” and there are good and bad dining options popping up everywhere. Highly recommended is Marco Pierre White’s Wheelers at The Lifeboat pub just up the road. St James meets Norfolk pub with great panache; superb food and good value.  More than can be said for The Orange Tree pub – now a restaurant, not a pub. We went for a drink and although half empty weren’t allowed ‘just’ a drink.  It certainly won’t be winning any design awards; it looks more like a wine bar in Romford from the 80’s. Then there’s, of course, the firm favourite down the road in Burnham Market. The Hoste Arms. Great buzz, absurd prices, but like visiting an old relative; it simply has to be done. It’s worth noting that their burger was almost £5 more than the Marco Pierre White one!

That Maserati turned some heads. That noise it makes rattling those gorgeous red brick country piles is unforgettable. The paddles on this sexy beast to change gear in ‘Sport mode’ are easy peasy. The dashboard is a bit boring and a bit old fashioned but nothing about this car is hard to cope with. The only real problem with this car (apart from the cost £102,615, which is very competitive and the worry of vandalism) is other men’s jealousy. Two incidents where “men” couldn’t cope with being behind the Maserati nearly resulted in each of them overtaking and accelerating at great speeds almost causing accidents so, beware of that. But oh, the noise! If you’ve got the money, don’t hesitate to buy one.

Neil Stuke

Images courtesy of Neil Stuk, Maserati & Wild Luxury