Although the traditional camping holiday is still widely available for those who seek it, the industry has recognised gaps and jumped to fill them. Camping used to mean a basic, budget holiday which involved going without a few home comforts. But times change and now those seeking luxury, comfort and glamour have camping options too and there has even been a phrase coined to describe these holidays – 'glamping'.

Many of the camping holidays with a difference also carry a pretty price-tag but some of the options listed here can work out even cheaper than the traditional tent on a camp site. So, if you are looking for inspiration for a holiday with a difference then check out the choices here which range from those which still very definitely involve 'roughing' it to the top-end luxury, glamping choices.

Camping Barns and Bunk-houses

These are available all over the country but seem to be ten a penny around the Lake District and the Peak District in particular. They can work out as one of the cheapest camping options available and work well if you are with a large family or group.

Camping 'barns' are not always barns but generally involve a large shared space in a rustic building and also have large shared sleeping space that can cater for anywhere from 8 people to 20+. As the sleeping, living and cooking areas are all communal they suit those in a larger group who hire the whole barn or those who aren't finicky about sharing with strangers. Even if your group isn't large enough to fill the whole barn it may still be possible to hire the building out for your exclusive use otherwise the prices are generally per person per night.

Facilities vary but most will have heating or open fires, cooking facilities and electric lighting. You may also get a mattress and hot water, showers and toilets although these will most likely be in a separate building.

Bunk houses are about as basic as you can go and will sometimes provide just a shelter and nothing else. Bunkhouses tend to be a little smaller than camping barns and will cater for 2 people to larger groups, again within a shared space. Some places describe themselves as bunkhouses rather than camping barns and have better facilities than traditional bunkhouses. Check what is on offer as the line between bunkhouses and camping barns has now become a little vague and sometimes crosses over.

These options are sometimes called the reluctant camper's choice as they offer a sturdy shelter, guaranteed escape from the weather and warmth.

Cost – from £5 per person per night / approx £112 for exclusive use of whole barn for 8 people

Camp Pods

These seem to be springing up everywhere as part of a new trend in camping and as camp site owners begin to respond to the demand. They are effectively camping minus the tent providing a small wooden shelter instead which has a window, door and normally a small projecting porch or patio. They tend to come in two sizes – 'small' which is suitable for 2 adults and 'family' which can accommodate 2 adults and 2 to 3 children depending on their age. They are often designed to provide heat retention if the weather is cooler but also to keep interior temperatures down on hot days. You will still need to take all your camping gear as pods provide shelter only.

Cost – approx £37 per night per pod

Tipis and Wigwams

This is another rapidly expanding market and allows you to camp in a traditional wigwam or tipi exactly like the ones seen in old black and white cowboy films. Tipis are conical structures made from heavy duty canvas over a wooden pole structure and many of the companies offering this camping option adhere strictly to the traditional Native American construction methods complete with a hole in the top which has been fitted with a rain cap to allow for the whims of the British weather.

Most of the companies offering tipis and wigwams for hire include within them all your camping needs from mattresses, cooking facilities and equipment, barbecues, lanterns, tables and chairs etc. Sizes vary but normally you can choose from 2, 4 or 6 person options. Choices also range from the basic to the highest luxury end of the market where you can expect to find sumptuous carpets, rugs, hangings and even a tribal head-dress or two.

In addition to all this, tipi and wigwam hire often means very secluded locations so whether you are an anti-social camper, some-one fed up with other campers late night drunken returns to camp or just seeking romantic solitude then this option could be perfect for you.

 Cost – from £300 per week for 2 people

Yurts

Yurts are the traditional shelter of the Mongolian people and are constructed with layers of heavy fabric around a circular wooden structure with a flat top (think giant round of cheese). Yurts are pretty much available UK wide now and most English counties offer at least one option. Despite their outer 'rustic' appearance many of the yurts available for hire fall into the luxury category. Once inside not only are they big but you can expect thick rugs, real, comfortable beds, furniture, stoves, kitchens and in fact all you could possibly need and much, much more. More basic options may have shared toilets and kitchen areas with other campers.

Cost –  from £320 per week for 2 people, £430 per week for 4 people.

Pre-erected Tents

This is a good option for those who want to experience some of the things about traditional camping but don't want the hassle of bringing and setting up their own equipment. They also offer a few comforts that traditional camping doesn't such as electricity supply, camp beds and mattresses, refrigeration, furniture and proper cooking facilities. The pre-erected tent for hire has long been a feature of continental European camp sites but is now available in the UK. Companies such as Eurocamp offer fully equipped tents for up to 6 people. Other companies offer more luxurious options which may include wooden furniture, real beds, sumptuous soft furnishings, drinks cabinets and generally a bit of camping glamour.

Cost – Eurocamp from £250 per week

Lodge Tents

These are, as the name suggests, somewhere between a lodge and a tent. These non-permanent structures are another option for the reluctant camper. Companies such as Jolly Days offer large fully equipped lodge tents for up to 6 people which feature rug covered wooden floors, wood-burning stove, integral bathroom and toilet, real beds and mattresses. There are even those with four poster bed options.

Cost – from £14 per person per night.

And There's More...........

If your imagination can conjure it, the chances are there is a company which can supply it.

Tree-houses

Geodomes – modelled on the Eden Project structures with beds suspended from the ceiling)

VW Camper-van hire

Fisherman's huts

Old railway carriages

Gypsy caravans

Shepherd's huts

Iron age roundhouse

Gothic Ark

All of those listed above are available in the UK but be warned some of the options can cost hundreds of pounds for just one night. If you are really after something special there is a company called Canopy and Stars who offer many unique choices but perhaps not for those on a budget.