Shaun Ascough

AWARD SUCCESS FOR HAMPSHIRE HILLS

Posted on August 3, 2026

TRIPADVISOR WILL NOW signpost Hampshire Hills as a top glamping destination for visitors to the county.

Hampshire Hills Glamping Park, near Winchester, is celebrating after receiving Tripadvisor’s prestigious Travellers’ Choice Award 2026, recognising it among the world’s highest-rated tourism businesses.

The annual awards are based on millions of traveller reviews and place winners within the top 10% of listings worldwide for outstanding service, quality and customer satisfaction. The accolade will also give Hampshire Hills greater visibility on the Tripadvisor platform, helping showcase the park as one of Hampshire’s leading glamping destinations.

Located in the village of Bighton on the edge of the South Downs National Park, Hampshire Hills is owned by Shaun and Michele Ascough, who transformed the former Two Hoots Camping Site after acquiring it in 2020. Their investment has created a peaceful retreat offering luxury glamping accommodation alongside facilities for campervans and touring caravans.

Shaun Ascough said the award is especially rewarding because it is based entirely on guest feedback, recognising both the quality of the accommodation and the exceptional service provided by the team. He thanked everyone who had taken the time to leave positive reviews and support the business.

The award adds to an impressive list of recent achievements for Hampshire Hills, including being named the UK’s Best Small Site, the Best Adult-Only Site in South East England and earning a place in the UK’s Top 150 Outstanding Holiday Parks.

BEST ADULT-ONLY DESTINATION IN SOUTH EAST

Posted on February 9, 2026

THE PARK PROVIDES A NUMBER OF GLAMPING options, hopefully soon to be joined by luxury safari tents

Two Hoots Glamping Site, near Winchester, has been named the Best Adult-Only Site in South East England at this year’s Camping and Glamping Awards. The accolade recognises parks that offer high-quality, peaceful experiences for adults seeking a tranquil escape.

Judges praised owners Shaun and Michele Ascough for providing guests with a “truly great experience” in stunning surroundings. Set in Brighton, close to the South Downs National Park, Two Hoots occupies five acres of countryside rich in wildlife, from hares and red squirrels to deer, pheasants, red kites, glowworms, and pollinators in the park’s wildlife meadow.

Shaun Ascough said the award was a fitting end to a busy year welcoming guests from across the UK and Europe. “There are many superb parks catering to families, but our focus is on peaceful surroundings for adults,” he said. “We attract visitors who want to relax, enjoy the countryside, and leave the stresses of everyday life behind.”

The park has built a loyal following of teachers, childcare professionals, young professionals in campervans, and mature couples. Plans are underway to expand with new luxury safari-style holiday homes. Two Hoots is the only South East England member of the Tranquil Parks consortium and is affiliated with the Holiday and Residential Parks Association. Shaun added: “Our aim has always been to create memorable experiences in an away-from-it-all setting, and this award shows we are on the right track.”

CELEBRATING HAMPSHIRE’S TOURISM STARS

Posted on May 16, 2024

Winchester MP Steve Brine has marked this spring’s English Tourism Week with a visit to a family’s wildlife-friendly glamping park near the village of Bighton near Winchester in Hampshire. Mr Brine was the guest of Two Hoots Glamping Site where he was welcomed by Shaun Ascough and his wife Michele who say they put sustainability at the top of their business agenda.

The couple acquired the park three years ago as their “dream project” after spending a career in property development both in the UK and South Africa. Now, they told the MP, their ambition is to embark on a new holiday park development of super-luxury accommodation which will include eco-lodges with a minimal carbon footprint.

Mr Brine was shown around the five-acre grounds which, said Shaun Ascough, are a ‘wildlife wonderland’ for a host of different animal, bird and plant species. The hilltop site, where guests can enjoy panoramic views across the Hampshire countryside, includes hare, red squirrels, deer, pheasants, red kites and even glowworms among its residents.

The MP was also shown an oak-frame barn which the family is converting as their new home, and which will use solar power and an air source heat pump to generate much of its own energy.

EV charging points for guests with electric cars are hoped to be installed soon, and the couple – who have three grown-up children – will be creating extra wildlife habitats around the park. There is also a wildflower meadow with many different native blooms which, said Shaun, provide vital foraging for honey bees, butterflies and other pollinators.