Picture the scene.

You wake up gently, stirred from a deep sleep by the sound of leaves rustling gently in the wind.

Birds chirp in the green canopy overhead as you leave your king-size bed and step out of your bell tent into a storybook forest clearing.

After months of lockdown in the city, Two Green Shoots Botanical Bell Tent is the kind of nature-drenched release most of us are dreaming of right now and here’s the good news: they’re open for bookings after July 20th.

Nestled in a secret location in the hills above gorgeous Glengarriff, West Cork, the Botanical Bell Tent is not just any old country escape; it’s set up smack bang in the middle of the whimsical and wonderful Garden of Re-Imagination, which guests can enjoy all to themselves after hours.

Bring a book and curl up in the hammock chair or sip wine while you gaze at dragonflies dancing over the half-moon pond.

Fill your days with a wander along the re-discovered stone stairway, say hello to the hens, or while away an afternoon cloud spotting on the meadow lawn; time all but stops in this magical part of the world, which makes it perfectly suited to resting and recharging.

When night falls, put a match to the pre-made fire in the fire pit and settle in for an evening of stargazing.

In the morning, as you stroll through the trees to the Garden Room, you’ll catch the first mouthwatering scent of a breakfast made with wild ingredients foraged from the surrounding meadows and woodlands.

The brekkie menu, served from the kitchen of the Botanical B&B nearby, is well worth rolling out of bed for; you could be treated to warm pancakes filled with homemade jams and wild berries, seaweed scones with local cheddar, Irish oat porridge drizzled with Glengarriff honey and fushia flowers or a cooked breakfast with fresh eggs from the free-range hens.

All in all, if you’re on the lookout for a luxury self-catering getaway that’s not too far from home, this is an irresistible option if ever there was one.

The Botanical Bell Tent sleeps two people and it’s available to book now at €120 per night via Airbnb here.

Keep in mind that reopening is entirely dependent on Government Covid-19 guidelines. Green Shoots has a new flexible cancellations policy whereby you can choose to either cancel with a refund or re-book your escape for any available dates in the following 12 months.