Brook Meadow review: The luxury lakeside retreat where I discovered a love of wild swimming

I'm not into camping. It's probably something to do with a leaky tent and a torrential storm in a Gloucestershire field more than 20 years ago that put me off for life.

So an invitation to visit Brook Meadow, a lakeside holiday site in Leicestershire, didn’t exactly have me jumping for joy. Small tent, I thought. At best, a large tent.

That was until I looked properly at the website and realised this was no ordinary campsite.

And so I went. And now I'm back and, well, you really need to go.

This is an award-winning, fun-filled, memory-making retreat that completely changed my perception of campsites.

In the space of two joyous days I felt closer to nature than ever before. The highlight? An unforgettable open-water swim in a stunning, tree-lined lake.

Brook Meadow feels miles from anywhere yet you’re just 20 minutes from the historic town of Market Harborough, and minutes from the pretty village of Sibbertoft.

Accommodation ranges from spacious camping and touring pitches to glamping tents and charming bird-themed wooden lodges overlooking the lake. For something a little more unusual, you can even stay in a beautifully restored Airstream trailer.

Whether you arrive with a tent, a touring caravan or simply an overnight bag, there's a stay to suit almost every kind of outdoor enthusiast.

Our home for a weekend was Woodpecker, one of three lodges which overlook the water. It sleeps four and you can expect an array of creature comforts, from a fully equipped kitchen including a Smeg coffee machine, a walk-in shower in the bright white bathroom and oodles of seating, including - our favourite spot - a corner sofa on the huge decked terrace.

Two of the three lodges are dog friendly and we saw several well-behaved pooches enjoying the great outdoors with their families in all areas of the campsite. In fact, in summer, dog shows are part of the entertainment here.

Claire Hart, the visionary behind Brook Meadow and a talented architect with a creative eye for interior design, let her imagination run wild in these lodges, with the wildlife theme popping up at every turn - even the ceiling lights somehow look like birds.

Facilities for campers are super-impressive and the shower blocks wouldn't look out of place in a boutique spa hotel.

Families are brilliantly catered for here. Children can spend hours in the organic play area, collect eggs from the hens (delightful sessions run by Claire’s 81-year-old mother), meet the farm animals on guided tours or settle down with popcorn for a moo-vie in the quirky Cowshed Cinema.

There's also a packed programme of activities, from lakeside wellness sessions and a wood-fired sauna to live music events that bring everyone together on warm evenings.

There is no on-site restaurant but artisan food vendors and cocktail evenings give the site a fabulous festival vibe without ever feeling overcrowded or commercial. It's the sort of place where children run around safely, or swing from ropes in the trees, while adults sit back with a drink and watch the sun set over the lake or climb trees with their little ones.

What struck me most, though, was the atmosphere. Everyone seemed genuinely happy to be there. We didn’t hear a single child cry or complain and never once spotted a games console. Just good, old-fashioned outdoor fun.

Because the campsite is in the middle of a farm, you’ll spot plenty of hay bales and grazing cows. You can go pond dipping and the walk around the perimeter of the lake is just long enough to walk off dinner, which for many was a barbecue.

The five-acre lake is stocked with carp, tench and perch and fishing is available to guests.

Sarah Wilkes, who lives on site and heads up the entertainment programme at Brook Meadow, did a fantastic job of supervising my first open-water swim. For a few magical minutes, I was experiencing the lake from exactly the same perspective as the resident ducks. It’s a moment that will always stay with me, as will the laughs I shared with my new swimming friends - “Viking Michael”, Claire and Sian who were seasoned open-water swimmers and watchful chaperones.

Perfectly positioned next to the open water swimming spot is the Wild Sauna Club, which is on site for the summer and welcomes swimmers, indeed all guests, to enjoy a muscle-soothing sauna and the chance to take a dip in cold plunge baths.

Owner Laura Mayfield has created a wonderful addition to Brook Meadow, giving guests another memorable way to relax and unwind. I braved a few minutes in one of the 14-degree baths before and after sauna and had one of the best night’s sleep I’ve had in a long time, which Laura had predicted might happen.

A freshly brewed coffee from Nicola Ash's La Fête Fleurie coffee pop-up was the perfect way to round off an amazing morning by the lake. And if you can, order one of her hampers. Our was packed with locally sourced products and homemade treats including the prettiest granola we’ve come across.

On the morning we left, we joined a yoga class with a difference. Held at the side of the lake, we listened to birdsong as our calming instructor Megan Gilbride talked us through an hour of gentle moves. A soothing end to a great few days.

It is these extras that make this site special and authentic. There is a simplicity and charm to Brook Meadow that has visitors returning again and again.

• Prices start from £160 per night (2 people) for a luxury lakeside lodge for a min 4-night midweek stay in peak season. Non-electric camping pitches cost from £32 a night in peak.

• The Wild Sauna & Lakeside Plunge: £20 for 1-hour session. A 1-hour Wild Swim session costs £8, or 3-Day Pass (Staying Guests) costs £15. For day visitors a 3-Day Pass costs £20, with monthly membership available for £38.

• For more details, pricing and special discounts and offers, visit the website.