Menu

Kate Newton

About Kate Newton

Posts by Kate Newton:

Modern glamping tee pees at camp site in the Yorkshire dales national park.

Booking for Next Year: A Guide to a Covid Friendly Holiday

,

Whether you managed to get a holiday in 2020 or not, we could all do with some downtime and a change of scenery.  Without being able to know exactly what situation we’ll face in the next 12 months it’s hard to know what sort of holiday to aim for, but we can make some educated guesses based on the picture over the summer we’ve just endured.

Glamping and camping holidays seemed to be the top choice, alongside self-catering and managed apartment holidays.  The issues around contamination and disinfecting surfaces are much easier to manage when you’re self-contained. We don’t have to worry about who else has been in the same space and what they’ve touched; also as we are responsible for wiping down and cleaning up, we know that the job has been done to our satisfaction.

With this in mind, we think that booking a glamping or camping holiday is the safest bet for a holiday in 2021, and if we stay in the UK we shouldn’t need to worry about quarantining on our return.  That said, with a motorhome and a flexible job a holiday abroad could be an option.  You’re self-contained in a caravan or camper van and if you can work from home you don’t need to take extra leave to cover a self-isolation period after your holiday.

 

The key things to look out for when booking a glamping holiday in the UK are:

  • The Covid measures the site is taking regarding shared shower and toilet facilities, as well as shared cooking and washing up facilities.  It’s best to take your own dishcloth, sponge and tea towel, so you know that only you have used it.
  • The space each pitch has and the proximity to other glampers.  Most sites have enlarged their pitches to allow for social distancing this year and we expect that to be the case next year too.  For this reason it’s best to book early so you can be sure of getting a pitch
  • What is provided at the site in terms of towels and bedding.  This should be safe, as sites use commercial laundry facilities to clean these items between guests, but if you’re concerned at all then you may feel happier taking your own.  It might be that you are used to supplying your own bedding and towels anyway, as not all sites offer a full linen service
  • Terms and conditions around cancellation.  If you find yourself having to self-isolate during the period you’re supposed to be on holiday then you’ll have to cancel.  This is a risk only you can calculate; so work out whether you could afford to lose the money and the holiday, or whether you can isolate the family in the week leading up to your holiday to ensure you can go.

If you don’t always buy travel insurance or holiday insurance, now is the time to start.  You’ll need to do your research and read the fine print when looking for insurance to cover the cost of your holiday should you have to cancel, but it’s worth having that peace of mind. 

One last thing you can do to ensure your 2021 holiday runs smoothly is to have a backup plan should it fall through at the last minute.  If you have to stay home, you’ll find it less of a chore if you’ve already got a plan for activities you can do as a family that will give you that feeling of holiday freedom in your own home.

Cup of tea and warm plaid blanket on wooden rustic bench in the autumn forest.

Winter Glamping Ideas For A Well-Earned Break

,

When you think of glamping what springs to mind?  For most of us we picture a lazy sunny day in a picturesque meadow filled with wild flowers, with a fully kitted out yurt, bell tent or tipi complete with bedding, storage and mood lighting.  We imagine sitting around in the evening sun with a cold drink, catching up with friends, watching the kids run around, or a romantic couples retreat in privacy.

Not many people instantly picture bare trees, frosty mornings and the need for a campfire to keep warm, but winter glamping can be just as enjoyable as summer glamping as it’s a totally new angle.  Yes, the spring and summer in the British countryside are a stunning times of year when the flowers are in bloom and the trees are lush and green, but the striking winter landscape is just as beautiful in a different way.  There’s something pleasing about walking through crunchy leaves on a frosty morning, and you can’t deny that the dark evenings help create a cosy atmosphere, aided by a roaring campfire outside, and a log burner inside warming up your accommodation.

Not all sites are open all year round, but some are and for the adventurous glamping fan, winter is a great time to go.  You’ll have much more seclusion with fewer people around so it can be a much more private experience, and it will give you a back to nature experience you can’t get at any other time of year.  Glamping in the winter obviously requires a log burner and/or open fire for warmth, but there’s something pleasingly primal about lighting a fire to cook or heat water and this helps restore our connection with the natural world and with the basics of survival – winter glamping can be a perspective shifting experience that helps boost your self-esteem.

When looking for accommodation for a winter glamping break your best options are cabins, shepherds huts and yurts or tipis with log burners inside.  Safari tents are also great for winter glamping and are often so well equipped inside; it’s like being in an actual building rather than a tent.  All these options will create a magical winter glamping break for the whole family, or for a couple to get away from it all together.  Everyone should try winter glamping at least once in their lives – it may become a habit you can’t break.

Young mother embracing her kid with a blanket while sitting near a bell tent

Bring The Glamping Spirit Into Your Garden This Autumn

,

We have looked at ideas on how to bring the glamping spirit into your home, so now we turn your attention to your outside space …

As for your outside space, there are many ways you can turn it into a glamping haven with all your home comforts.  If you don’t already have a fire pit or chiminea now is the time to get one.  This allows you to create a campfire atmosphere at home, and you can invite friends and family over to socialise and spend time together outdoors, especially if you’re not permitted to have people inside your home. 

Some decent camping chairs are a must, although if you already have garden furniture you can simply use this for seating.  Add a pile of blankets for comfort and warmth, together with some outside lighting (either solar powered fairy lights or lanterns) and you’ve got a bit of glamping magic right outside your back door.

If you really love spending time outdoors why not build a sheltered area so you can enjoy the fresh air and a fire even if it’s raining?  This is a great DIY project to keep you busy and it gives you some useable outdoor space for all weathers.  In the summer it will provide a shaded space, while in the winter it’ll keep the rain off, making it a worthwhile project for any garden.  You can even incorporate climbing plants into the structure so it will blend in and become a natural looking feature of your garden.

For the serious glamping enthusiast it makes sense to invest in a bell tent with a log burner.  There are a few models out there, so have a look at what’s available and what suits your family and lifestyle (and what fits in your garden!) and go from there.  There are also companies that hire out bell tents for events, so you don’t need to buy one if your budget won’t stretch that far.  The beauty of having a bell tent with a log burner is that you can glamp all year round at any site that’s open, or in your own garden.  The log burner will keep you toasty and provide the hot water for hot water bottles and hot drinks; it also helps create that authentic glamping experience.

There are lots more ways you can bring the spirit of glamping inside your home and garden, including playing the games you play on holiday at home, and having some of those special treats reserved for holidays in the comfort of your own surroundings.  You might even spend an evening talking about your favourite glamping holidays and planning the next one, the sky is the limit.

A rear view of young family with two small children and a dog on a walk in autumn nature.

Bring The Glamping Spirit Into Your Home This Autumn

,

If you can’t get away for a magical autumn glamping break why not bring the spirit of nature into your home, and the spirit of glamping into your garden?  The natural world provides endless opportunities for learning and creativity for all ages, from foraging walks to craft projects with items found in the countryside.  Making art and decorations with leaves, pine cones, conkers and acorns can give you hours of fun and permanent pieces of home décor that will always remind you of spending time outdoors, even in the depths of winter.

When the leaves start changing colour it’s time to get out for a leaf collecting walk.  Pick up dry leaves of all colours, shapes and sizes and thread them on string to make pretty garlands to hang around your home.  You can also find leaves with interesting colours and patterns and use them to make collages, or paint the leaves to turn them into printing blocks to make artworks or wrapping paper – this is a great one for Christmas.

Pine cones also make great decorations.  Dip them in glue and then (environmentally friendly!) glitter for sparkly pine cones, or paint them green to make little trees for festive scenes and playtime.  If you have an open fire or log burner you can melt down the ends of old candles, add a couple of drops of essential oils and dip pine cones into the wax mixture to make natural firelighters.  The essential oils will make the pile smell nice and fill your room with fragrance when you use them to light the fire.

Even conkers can be used to make art – dip conkers into different coloured paints, then place a sheet of paper in a shallow baking dish and let the conkers roll around to create a marbled, Jackson Pollock like effect.  This is also a lovely idea for wrapping paper.  If you want to add even more fun to the gathering of these objects why not turn it into a scavenger hunt?  Make a list of tasks such as “find 10 leaves the same colour” or “pick up 5 pine cones” and let the kids tick them off as they go.  When you get back from your walk you’ll have a bounty of natural items to make decorations and even gifts with.

As the season draws into winter you can turn these found objects into centrepieces and wreathes, including pieces of holly, spray painted acorns and pine cones and even feathers – the only limits are your creativity.  It’s nice to have some foods you would normally eat if you were glamping, such as baked apples or banana/chocolate melts as a treat while you’re getting crafty.  You might be at home, but you can still act as if you’re on holiday, even camping out in the living room to add another dimension of fun.

If you like the ideas for bringing the glamping indoors, coming soon is a blog on bringing the glamping spirit into your garden – don’t miss it.

A jar of granola sitting on a checked napkin

Top Tips for Keeping Your Glamping Food Store Simple

,

One of the great joys of glamping is packing light compared to going wild camping or staying at a traditional campsite.  Naturally, you won’t want to pack loads of food but it does pay to think ahead and pack your food sensibly, even purchasing most of it at your destination from local businesses so you can help the rural economy at the same time.

Most glamping sites with a communal kitchen will provide things like salt, pepper, oil, flour and sugar, but the rest is up to you.  We recommend taking the basics with you, such as condiments, jam, tea/coffee and milk, plus ingredients that can be used in multiple recipes.  Granola is great for glamping as it can be used as breakfast, in recipes such as campfire baked apples and sprinkled on other desserts as a topping.  It’s also a great snack in its own right.  Yoghurt is great for the same reasons.  Decant cooking oil into a small bottle, and take enough teabags to last your trip, rather than the whole box to save space.

On your first night you’re likely to be tired from travelling, so it’s nice to take something from your freezer, such as a pasta dish or something that can easily be reheated.  The frozen item can also keep everything else in your cool box cold, so it’s a very efficient way of approaching your first dinner.

Many camping and glamping sites have a shop on site selling essentials and sometimes even beer and wine, so you shouldn’t be left short wherever you are.  With that said, it’s nice to support the rural economy by purchasing from independent farm shops, bakeries and butchers where you might find things you can’t get at home, or new flavours you wouldn’t have discovered otherwise.  It might be a little more expensive than the supermarket for some things, but you’re on holiday, so treat yourself to some indulgent meals you wouldn’t make every week at home.

It’s a good idea to take food that doesn’t need to be refrigerated and buy little and often – it’s really easy to fill a cool box with milk, yoghurt, salad items and meat and be left with no room for anything else, and while you might not need to keep bread, cereal and other such foods in a cool box, you may want to keep them in a pest-proof box (like a cool box) when you’re glamping in nature right alongside wildlife.

You’ll probably eat out as much as you self-cater, so try to plan your meals out around your daily activities and aim to always have enough breakfast items in to start the day.  You can then pick up whatever you need while you’re out and about if you’re eating in that evening.  Depending on the time of year and where you go there’s also the opportunity to catch fish or go crabbing, as well as foraging for easily identifiable wild foods.  You might even enrol in a foraging course as an activity to do during your break, and this is a useful skill to have.

Check out our article on glamping and campfire recipes for some foodie inspiration, and treat yourself to some delicious local produce to really encompass the holiday spirit.  Every area has its own particular delicacies and these also make great gifts for friends and family when you return.

A romantic couple walk towards a tipi

I’m In The Mood For Glamping…Romancing…

,

If you’re looking for a romantic getaway then glamping is the answer.  More rustic than staying in a hotel, glamping allows you to get away from the hustle and bustle of modern life to the more relaxed pace of life in nature.  It’s a great way for new couples to get to know each other better and it’s ideal for people who don’t like camping because they miss their luxuries.  It’s also a way of making some lovely memories to treasure and look back on – some couples have a favourite glampsites and return year after year and it’s quite a popular place to pop the big question.

There are lots of glamping sites without electricity or 4G mobile signal, so if you want to cut yourself off from the world these are ideal.  There are also sites with good reception and electricity if these are important, so whether you’re after the more rustic end of the experience or the high-end luxury glamping there is something for you.  When you’re on a romantic retreat it’s quite nice not to be connected to the outside world, and to focus on each other instead but we know that the demands of life are such that some of us can’t be incommunicado for too long.

Glamping can be really romantic, with hot tubs available at many sites for an indulgent evening under the stars with something cold and bubble by your side.  In the warmer months it’s fantastically relaxing to sit in the hot tub and stargaze, but this is equally romantic on dry land too, whether you’re cuddled up under a blanket by the fire, or you’ve walked to a secluded corner to get the best unpolluted view.

Sharing a bottle of champagne with a campfire cooked meal is such a lovely way to spend an evening, accompanied by some conversation and also those comfortable silences where you’re just enjoying each other’s company.  When you’re in the middle of nowhere without street lighting and traffic noises the rest of the world simply melts away and you can feel like it’s just the two of you together, on your own schedule and with your own priorities.

There’s often the chance to try a new skill or craft when you’re glamping, so why not take the opportunity to have a go at something you’ve always wanted to try?  It’ll make even more precious memories to look back on in years to come and you might even find a new hobby you love, as well as a keepsake from your romantic holiday.

Glamping in the UK can be cheaper than the traditional romantic city breaks, but if you want to blow the budget there are also some very upmarket glamping destinations that are just as indulgent as a weekend in Venice.  Glamping is also the perfect setting for a proposal to remember.  Asking the big question during a romantic getaway is a popular choice as it will ensure a memorable occasion and you won’t be observed by crowds of people, which is possible should you propose in a restaurant or a busy Parisian street.  Granted, some people like the audience but lots of people prefer their proposal to be a private, intimate moment.

Glamping is also the perfect place to celebrate a birthday or anniversary; even better if it’s just as a surprise, especially so if it’s a return to somewhere you’ve been glamping before which holds special memories.

Dinner cooking in a cast iron pan over a fire

Simple Recipes Perfect For Glamping

,

Glamping is the perfect opportunity to indulge in some campfire cooking.  We’re all familiar with barbecues and we may have barbecued on an open fire; Lots of people shy away from cooking a whole meal on an open fire but there’s no reason why you can’t make some inventive, tasty meals on an open fire – you can treat it like a hob and boil vegetables or pasta in a sturdy pot, use it as a char grill and even stick a frying pan on the fire for a cooked breakfast, making pancakes or even quesadillas.

Quesadillas are a great lunch food, quick, easy and with very little cooking required.  You’ll need two tortilla wraps for each person, plus grated cheese and whichever veggies or other ingredients you like.  Start out by heating the frying pan up without any oil.  Place a wrap in the pan and top with grated cheese and your other ingredients (top tip: chop the fillings finely, so they heat quickly and melt into the cheese), then lay another tortilla on top.  After a couple of minutes turn the quesadilla over to toast the other side.  When both sides are lightly crunchy and the cheese has melted you’re ready to eat.  These delicious treats can be eaten by hand, which also saves some washing up!

Baked potatoes are a classic campfire food and are often made on Bonfire night by wrapping potatoes in foil and leaving them in the embers of the fire to cook.  A double layer of foil is recommended, so that the ash from the fire doesn’t get inside and taint the spuds.  Depending on the size of your potatoes and the heat of your fire they should take between 40 minutes and 2 hours – you can speed this up by parboiling the potatoes before you wrap them in foil and place them around the outside of the fire.

Foil is your friend when it comes to campfire cooking.  The classic campfire banana dessert is a winner with all ages – slice the banana lengthways and stuff pieces of chocolate and marshmallows inside it.  Wrap the banana (it’s a good idea to leave the peel on while cooking as it helps protect the banana flesh) in foil and lay them on the grill or around the edge of the fire for 10 minutes.  Peel off the foil and you’ll find a gooey, delicious dessert waiting for you.

Baked apples are also fantastic for campfire cooking, especially in the autumn when the apple harvest is at its peak.  Score the skin around the middle of the apple to prevent the skin bursting in the heat, core the apples and fill the void with berries, chocolate or whatever takes your fancy, then wrap each apple in a double layer of foil and place them around the edge of the campfire.  They should cook in 20 minutes, but do turn them every 5 minutes to ensure an even cook. 

If you want to try something on the adventurous side, campfire damper bread is a fun recipe to make.  You can use any basic bread recipe, or for convenience use a pre-made bread mix where you only need to add water and some fat.  The dough doesn’t need proving; instead it is wrapped around a stick and baked over the fire in around 10 minutes.  You can get creative with the bread flavour by using different bread mixes or adding olive, sundried tomatoes or even dried fruit to the mix to make it a sweet version for a dessert.

A close up of 2 glasses of red wine with a fire in the background

Why Autumn Glamping Beats The Summer Holiday

We’ve had a record breaking summer this year with several hot spells and the relaxing of lockdown restrictions to boot.  That said, the summer holiday that we had all been looking forward to has been quite different, whether that’s due to quarantine, over-crowding or prices rising in line with demand, we’ve all had to compromise a bit.

The good news is that camping and glamping in the UK are pretty safe, especially glamping accommodation with personal facilities.  There’s no risk of having to quarantine on your return or deal with exchange rates, just a nice relaxing family, or romantic couples holiday.  Glampsites across the UK have been fully booked throughout the summer, but there’s a lot to be said for an autumn or even winter glamping holiday, in fact some prefer it to the hotter summer season.

Sure, you might need to pack extra clothing, for a few more layers on an autumn glamping holiday, but you can leave the sun cream, bucket and spade at home.  Worries about being cold overnight can be assuaged by booking accommodation with a log burner – some of the more well served sites have electricity to power an electric blanket or for a kettle to make a hot water bottle.  You’d be surprised at how warm you can be camping in the colder months; it’s just a matter of preparation.

In the glorious sunshine the landscape and scenery of the UK can be utterly breath-taking, but the autumn light paints just as pretty a picture.  The long evening shadows create a lovely ambience and a cue to get back to the campfire, while the colours of the leaves changing and the hedgerow fruits add to that natural beauty.  Long walks on a crisp autumnal day are one of life’s simple (and free) pleasures and when you’re glamping in the natural environment you feel a much closer connection with your surroundings.

It’s going to be quieter than during the peak summer season, so you won’t have crowds to worry about.  You can actually have a more restful, peaceful holiday by glamping in autumn than any other type of holiday throughout the year, so if you like the idea of getting away from it all you’ll love glamping at this time of year.  Even though the summer is the busier time for events there are still plenty of things to do and see in the autumn, and they’re probably less busy and cheaper to boot.

The country pubs will be a little quieter too, perfect for replenishing your energy after a long walk and relaxing by the fireside.  Local attractions, cafes and tearooms will also be glad of the business when the main tourist season is over, so by holidaying in the UK and glamping in rural areas you can really help the local economy survive through the winter, traditionally their leanest time.

Many glamping sites provide a fire pit, and this really comes in handy for autumn glamping.  In the summer it can be too hot to build a big fire, but the colder autumn evenings are the perfect excuse.  Stock up on marshmallows and skewers to toast treats in the flames, and bring a few blankets for when the chill starts.  You can tell stories, play music, have a sing-song or just sit quietly gazing at the stars while you soak up the atmosphere and that lovely authentic wood-smoke smell.

We hope this has whetted your appetite for an out-of-season glamping holiday in the UK, and you’ll enjoy many more to come.

An interior shot of a luxury tipi tent

Glamping In A Tipi – What You Need To Know

, ,

Tipis (sometimes spelled tepee) are conical tents made from thirteen poles tied together at one end, then raised and spread out to create a frame around which animal skins (canvas in the modern day) are stretched and wrapped around it.  The difference between a tipi and a wigwam is that a wigwam usually has a bark covering rather than a pliable fabric one.  The main feature which sets tipis apart from other types of conical tent, such as bell tents, is the smoke flaps at the top which can be adjusted for the wind, strength of the fire and other factors to keep the interior warm but not smoky.  The covering of the tipi can also be raised up at the bottom to provide air flow for removing smoke and ventilating the interior in hot weather.

Tipis are a very popular glamping option because they carry with them the mystique of the Wild West and awaken that childhood instinct in all of us.  They are available to purchase if you love the idea and want one of your own, and with a little practice two people can erect a tipi within half an hour, quickly creating a comfortable, sheltered space in which to cook, eat, sleep and socialise.  You would be hard pressed to find a tipi with animal skin covering nowadays – canvas is a durable option which can be easily cleaned if necessary, and is simple to waterproof. 

Many different glamping sites offer tipi accommodation, with some places specialising in the structure.  The big draw of a tipi glamping holiday is being able to light an open fire inside the tent (please check with your preferred site that this is allowed), an experience that cannot be recreated inside any other temporary structure like this.  Many bell tent and yurt glamping sites offer log burners inside their accommodation, and there are some tipi glamping options with log burners, but for the authentic Native American experience you can’t beat having a fire inside the tipi.

On a practical note, you’ll want to check the internal dimensions of the tipi before you book if you are tall.  Bell tents and yurts have an upright portion of the wall before the roof starts, which creates a larger volume of space inside for standing up.  In a tipi, however, all the sides are sloping, leaving standing room only in the centre.  Tall people and those not able to sit on the ground for long periods of time may find smaller tipis a little cramped, so when in doubt book a larger option.  We think you can’t have too much space when you’re glamping, so go large and enjoy the space you have.

Some tipis have the traditional canvas flaps for doors, while others on more permanent sites have a wooden door, inspired by the wooden doors on yurts, another traditionally nomadic dwelling.  Scaldersitch Farm in the Peak District has some of the most luxurious tipis out there, with full sized beds, log burners, wood fire hot tubs and sheepskin floor rugs in each tipi, perfect for a romantic getaway.  Little Dewchurch in Herefordshire has luxury tipis and yurts, with chimineas in the tipis for heating, which is very close to the authentic experience, but suitable for those glamping with children because it’s not a totally open fire.  There are fire pits outdoors as well as hot tubs for relaxing in of an evening.  For a more rustic experience try Fuzzy’s Farm in Hertfordshire, which has three hand painted tipis with a communal fire pit, ideal for booking a getaway with a couple of other families for a large group trip (and shared childcare!).

The behind view f a man and a woman sitting in camping chairs by a lake.

The Best Camping Chairs

,

Having a decent camping chair can make a big difference to your enjoyment of a holiday outdoors.  While spritely people and kids can handle sitting on the ground for long periods of time, some of us might not be suited, or simply may not want to sit on lumpy ground with crossed legs for longer than a few minutes and prefer to have a little home comfort.  A good camping chair can make a camping holiday much more accessible for everyone, especially people with mobility issues or other underlying health problems such as; arthritis, ME or fibromyalgia.

When you hear the words “camping chair” most people immediately think of the folding style with four legs, backrest and seat (possibly with fabric armrests incorporating a cup holder).  These are the most commonly used types because they’re cheap, lightweight and easy to carry.  For long periods of use, however, they are less suitable because you’re sitting in a less supported position than if you were in a chair at home – prolonged use can cause joint pain.  A good camping chair for longer periods of use should give you more support.

The Vango Kensington camping chair is a great contender and has the look of a garden chair (and they can certainly be used in the garden or at a park, anywhere you want to sit and spend time).  Adjustable armrests allow you to change the angle of the backrest from a recline position to an upright one ideal for eating.  The armrests are solid and allow for easy rising from the chair – perfect for the older person and excellent if you’ve had a couple of campfire drinks.  At just under 5kg these chairs are easily portable, but not ideal for carrying long distances.

The Trekology Yizi Go foldable chair is built for hot weather.  This is more of a bucket style chair without armrests, but the mesh panels in the sides allow for good airflow around you while you are seated, meaning you don’t end up getting sweaty in the sun.  The deep bucket style seating doesn’t lend itself to easy rising, but the legs are adjustable so it’s a great chair for cooking, especially as the mesh panels will keep you cooler while you cook, and the legs can be adjusted so you’re closer to the fire or stove.  This chair weighs just over a kilo, making it an easily transportable chair for day trips.

Moon chairs are made by many of the big names in camping, and these chairs are padded and round, offering a comfy place to curl up and enjoy a good book or a campfire.  Because the seating part wraps around you these chairs keep you toasty round a fire – no cold lower back for you.  The construction of moon chairs makes them much more stable and reliable on uneven ground and the level of support you get on the backrest is great for a variety of seating positions.  These chairs tend to be heavier than other designs but if you’re camping near your car, or you want something comfy for a full day at the park, or in the garden, then moon chairs are perfect.

If you’re not fussed by comfort and just need something to keep you off the ground then there are many budget options, including folding chairs without armrests.  For a festival, short trips out or fishing trips these can be ideal and won’t break the bank.  If you’re hiking while camping you will want to prioritise weight over anything else, so a lightweight chair is the order of the day.  There are also tripod stools available which aren’t great for a relaxing on, but for a picnic, fishing trip or even a day out at an event these provide a quick, very portable way to take a break.

Load More