A former British Army serviceman is seeking land and investment to establish a luxury, off-grid glamping retreat in Somerset, with plans for year-round accommodation and a strong emphasis on nature, wellbeing and local businesses.
Andrew Phillips, 45, is founder and director of Iron & Earth Wilderness Escapes Ltd. After serving 16 years in the Army, including deployments to Kosovo, Iraq and Afghanistan, he later moved into the railway industry.
The idea for the retreat emerged from his own experiences of mental health challenges and a desire to create a place where people could step away from everyday pressures.
In the mission statement on its website, Phillips says: “Navigating life with ADHD and service-related Complex PTSD, I spent years searching for a place to just stop. I needed a place where the grid couldn’t reach me. A place where my mind could finally power down.”
Speaking to the Somerset County Gazette, Phillips said the concept developed after returning from a holiday feeling confined by modern life. He wanted to create the kind of peaceful, nature-focused environment he had been seeking himself.
Somerset is a natural choice for the project, with Phillips having spent much of his childhood in the county. He is particularly interested in land around Shepton Mallet, although the final location has not yet been secured. Offers have been made on potential sites, and he says accommodation suppliers and other partners are already lined up.
“This isn’t a tent business. This is high-end, off-grid luxury, 365 days of the year tourism units,” he told the Somerset County Gazette.
The plans include an off-grid energy system, bespoke sewage treatment, access to natural water and landscaping designed to encourage biodiversity. Phillips also wants to use alternative foundation systems that reduce the need for permanent concrete structures, alongside planting trees and wildflowers.
Local businesses are expected to play a central role in the development. Phillips hopes to source products such as food, soaps and candles from Somerset suppliers, use local tradespeople during construction and create jobs in areas including housekeeping, maintenance and site management.
The project is still at an early stage, with land acquisition and investment remaining the main obstacles. A crowdfunding campaign has been launched to help secure a site, while Phillips is also open to finding an investor to support the development.
For glamping operators, the proposal reflects growing interest in accommodation that combines comfort with nature, while positioning wellbeing and environmental considerations as part of the overall guest experience. Its eventual viability will depend on securing a suitable site and progressing the plans from concept to development.
Phillips hopes the retreat will ultimately attract visitors to the area while supporting local businesses and giving guests a place to disconnect from their usual routines.
