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Winter Glamping

A tray of hot chocolate and a book in front of a roaring fire.

Glamping Tips We Can Use Indoors

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There are many glamping options where the only difference between that accommodation and a hotel or holiday cottage is that there is no central heating – instead you’re provided with a log burner for heat.  This is a really romantic aspect of glamping, cuddling up by the flickering flames with your special someone creates a beautiful atmosphere.  When you’re at home without central heating (either due to a power cut, or because the cost of turning it on is prohibitive) it seems much less romantic to be huddled around a log burner, if you’re lucky enough to have one for heat.

Whether you have a log burner or not, there are some tips we can take from glamping to help keep us warm at home this winter.  Firstly, get out and about more; when we’re on holiday we enjoy long walks and visiting attractions, so you can keep warm simply by moving about.  Walking is free, and there are many free car parks out in the countryside where you can start and end a circular walk.  Search online for walking routes in your area, you won’t be disappointed.

If you’re heading out for the day, take a flask of something warming with you.  Tea, coffee, soup – these are all great options.  Using a thermos to keep things hot even when you’re in all day means not boiling the kettle as often.  You can even pour a lukewarm remainder into a hot water bottle – hot water bottles are ideal for keeping warm in cold temperatures whether you’re glamping or not.  Use one to stay warm during the day, then fold your pillow over one to warm it before you get into bed.  Electric blankets can be a massive help; often provided in year-round glamping accommodation an electric blanket is a cheap way of heating your bed, or even to put on a sofa.

A holiday in the great outdoors often requires layering your clothing for cold days, so invest in some thermal base layers and a body warmer.  If you keep your core warm then the rest of your body will follow.  Double up on socks if needed, and wear a light scarf, even indoors, to keep your neck warm.  You may be surprised at the difference these small actions make.

Solar lighting is often a feature of glamping – for off-grid sites this is the best option for lighting.  Solar lanterns can be charged outdoors or on a sunny windowsill during the day and brought inside at night to provide lighting around the home.  This is much safer than using candles during power cuts or to save money, and you get the added bonus of that glamping ambience.

What many people love about glamping is the nesting aspect with pillows and blankets – the interior of so many glampsite accommodations is strewn with scatter cushions, sheepskin rugs and warm throws so take this idea and bring it indoors to make staying warm seem like a fun thing rather than a hardship.  If you have an electric blanket, incorporate it into a cushion and blanket nest to keep you and your family toasty.

Finally, when the weather gets really cold you can use a tent indoors to provide a warm place for sleeping – tents offer a smaller space to heat and the double skin helps trap warmth in for longer.  Once you’re in bed and under the covers you will heat up in no time, and have a warm and snug night’s sleep.

We hope this has given you some ideas on how to stay warm this winter, and that you’ll approach next year’s glamping holiday with a renewed appreciation for all the thought that goes into providing the right amenities for glampers.

Close up of a fire pit

Portable Fire Pits Make Great Gifts

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A fire pit is an essential part of the glamping experience.  It’s one of the things which sets it apart from traditional camping as lots of traditional campsites don’t allow fires.  Sometimes, they will allow fires that are raised off the ground but you usually have to bring your own or pay extra to rent one from the site – some fire pits can be very heavy and it’s not ideal to be transporting a big, ashy, sooty fire pit home in the car with you as it takes up a lot of room and can make all your luggage dirty.

Happily there are now many lightweight and portable fire pits you can use for camping, for adding an extra fire to your glamping experience, for taking to the beach on a nice evening and for using in your own garden.  Although we don’t know for sure if we’ll be locked down again over autumn and winter, outdoor socialising is much safer than being indoors so having a fire provides the essential warmth and ambience you need for a night “out” with friends.  A portable, folding fire pit is ideal for use in small back yards and gardens as it can be collapsed and stored out of the way when you’re not using it so it won’t take up any of your usable outside space.

When choosing a portable fire pit consider whether you’re just after heat, light and atmosphere or whether you want to be able to cook over it.  Some fire pits come with a grill that you can use to turn the fire pit into a barbecue while others are suitable just for fires.  Of course, seasoned campers and hikers may have all the kit needed to cook over an open fire without the need for a separate grill, so in those cases a grill isn’t the most important factor.  Portability varies with portable fire pits, with some designed to fit into a rucksack and others more suited to trips with a car.

La Hacienda is a well-known brand which makes outdoor cooking and heating solutions, including chimineas and fire pits.  Their camping fire bowl is perfect for families and small groups and includes a grill and barbecue tools so you can cook over it.  A mesh lid allows you to get the heat you want without any spitting sparks posing a risk to little ones.  Their most popular model has folding legs which support the rigid bowl, so although it’s portable and comes with a carrying bag, it isn’t particularly compact. 

The Uttora portable barbecue has a similar concept although it is rectangular rather than round.  This is a little smaller, but again, not suited to a long hike.  The grill allows for easy cooking and because the distance between the fire and the grill is uniform (unlike bowl shaped options where the temperature will vary at different points on the grill) it will be easy to cook on.  If you’re more concerned with cooking and aren’t after something that will house a fire late into the evening, this model is ideal for you.

One of the most compact options is the folding mesh style which is available from several brands.  This fire pit is raised a little higher than the others on a folding tetrapod (four legged tripod) frame so it’s ideal for a back garden soiree where people may be standing or sitting on garden furniture rather than the ground.  The mesh top holds the fire in safely although you won’t be able to use very big logs with this style.  Because the mesh allows air to flow in from underneath it’s a doddle to get this fire pit lit and keep it that way.  This is a great option if you want something very compact and lightweight.

For something a little sturdier but still as compact for travel the Lixada camping stove fits the bill.  This sits quite close to the ground so it’s ideal for a group with kids – this is really hard to knock over.  It is also very enclosed so there’s a lower risk of sparks flying out.  The holes in the side walls let the heat and light out and allow you to slide in more wood when needed.  It is quite small, and doesn’t have a grill making it better suited to a small garden for socialising rather than a group day out.

Finally, the Fenner Hexagon camping fire pit deserves a mention due to its ingenious folding, clip-together design.  This model is also quite small so better suited to garden use rather than a big beach group day out, and it sits directly on the ground – be careful where you set this up as it could damage the grass beneath it.  Bricks can be used to provide a base and a bit of extra height.  We just love the unique shape and the fact this will fit into a rucksack so it’s perfect for adventurous types who love outdoor living – it would make a great addition to a winter DIY glamping trip and for a back garden drinks event.

If you didn’t see the perfect portable fire pit in this article, don’t despair as there are so many options on the market that the hardest thing is making a final decision!

A boy in a blue sleeping bag

Stay Cosy with a Heated Sleeping Bag

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If you managed to bag yourself a glamping pitch for the summer season, well done!  Demand was at an all-time high, so there are a lot of us who will have to get a bit creative when it comes to having a glamping holiday this year.  The lower seasons, such as the spring and autumn, are often cheaper but you can’t rely on the weather to keep you warm.  While some glamping options have wood burning stoves that will keep the chill at bay all night, not every glampsite offers this, and this means dealing with the cold overnight temperatures.

When you get cold overnight at home it’s an easy fix – electric blankets or hot water bottles can quickly warm you up but it’s not so simple when you’re glamping.  The last thing you want to do is get colder while you go to the kitchen to refill a hot water bottle, or light a storm kettle for hot water, and without an electric point you can’t plug in an electric blanket.  Happily, heated sleeping bags are now available to add a real touch of luxury (and much needed heat) to off-season glamping getaways.

There are a couple of options on the market – first we’ll look at the Radiate option from well-known camping brand Vango.  This heated sleeping bag runs off a USB power bank (not included) which you can slip inside a special pocket.  In the Radiate bag the heated area is towards the feet, and as this is where we tend to get coldest first, it’s easy to see how having snuggle feet will make a big difference.  If you’d love the option of a heated zone in the torso/lower back area, you can always use a hot water bottle; a simple way to create two heated areas.

The Radiate heated sleeping bag is fully machine washable (just remember to take the power bank out first!).  The duration of use, and which of the four heat settings you use affects the amount of power it uses, so if you’re glamping in the cold you may use up all the available power on the first night.  Check whether you can recharge your power bank at the glampsite, or invest in a solar charger for an off-grid friendly option. 

The Active Sport heated sleeping bag is a little cheaper.  Again, the heated area is by the feet so if you get a cold back you might want to augment a heated sleeping back with a hot water bottle – the great thing about doing that is you won’t be fighting with yourself in the night trying to shuffle the hot water bottle to your feet and back again, this way you are keeping you warm all over with no hassle.  The bag is machine washable and waterproof, so it’s a great option for festivals too.  It is made in the mummy style with a hood, which is naturally warmer style than standard rectangular sleeping bags.

Geertop have a mummy style heated sleeping bag with three heated zones, at your feet, mid-section and shoulders, so it’s perfect for keeping you warm all over.  This is ideal for people with medical conditions that are exacerbated by the cold, as well as adventurous glampers who want to get the true winter experience without the chill factor.  This option has three heat settings and runs off a USB power bank, and again which setting you choose affects how long you can run it for before needing to recharge the power bank.

If you’ve just upgraded your sleeping bag and don’t want to shell out for another one so soon, there is the option of a heated liner from Mcota.  This heated liner has four heating zones, so even at the coldest overnight temperatures you’ll stay snug, even if it drops below freezing.

There’s no need to miss out on cheaper pitches and quieter times just because the weather is colder; so keep your mind open to autumn and winter glamping in style with a heated sleeping bag.

 

View out of the window from a cabin across a bed.

Is it Too Early to Go Glamping?

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We don’t think it’s ever too early to go glamping.  Sure, some people might find the prospect of glamping in the depths of winter a little strange – why leave your warm cosy house to sleep in a tent in January?  The key to winter glamping is to go for accommodation which has heating, such as a glamping pod, tree house or sturdy yurt with a log burner inside.  There are many glamping sites open over the winter and while some do close down over the colder months there are always options for people keen to experience the magic of winter glamping.

Some of the benefits of having a winter or even early spring glamping break include the privacy and seclusion of having few other guests at the same site – one of our team went glamping in a yurt in January, and had the whole site to themselves for a couple of days before two more guests turned up, and they were on the other side of the site!  If you want peak peace and quiet then glamping in the winter is ideal.

While some people find the leafless trees stark and unwelcoming, we think this affords extra opportunities for wildlife spotting.  With little food around the wildlife will be foraging further afield for their dinner, meaning you’re almost guaranteed to see some animals you wouldn’t normally catch sight of during the summer; this could either be due to the site being that much quieter, or the lack of undergrowth coverage making animals easier to spot.  A brisk walk through a wintery wood is also a great way to warm up and spend the day reconnecting with nature.  So, if you’re up for some activity then winter glamping is for you.

If you have a health condition that’s exacerbated by the cold then winter glamping might be a difficult choice for you.  However, it is still worth considering it and researching your options – some sites have electricity in their accommodation this means you can take an electric blanket (if they’re not provided by the site).  Going with someone who’s able to get out of bed and light the fire, make tea and get breakfast on the go, is also ideal as you can be waited on hand and foot, and that’s a proper holiday!

After a year where we’ve all faced some incredibly hard times, winter glamping could be exactly the reset button you need to improve your outlook.  We may have little or no control over the events of 2020, but when we’re glamping we are totally in control of whatever happens.  Having to start a fire to boil a kettle or cook helps connect us back to that primal instinct for survival.  The sense of achievement we feel when we’ve successfully lit that fire and cooked a meal is second to none for boosting our self-esteem.  Just getting away from the hustle and bustle of life can be a great tonic when life feels too busy, so we’d recommend winter glamping to anyone who needs a boost.

Glamping in the winter is often cheaper than in the summer.  You can save a pretty penny or even blow the budget on something you couldn’t afford in the summer for an extra special holiday.  With the prospect of holiday’s abroad still in doubt, and many of us feeling the pinch of the economic slump, glamping is the way to go for an enjoyable holiday.   Why not get yours glamping holiday booked up for this winter/early spring and get 2021 off to a good start?

Do remember that glamping in the winter/early spring does mean packing accordingly, and you’ll want sturdy boots, thermal layers and a couple of pairs of gloves (so you can change them if they get wet) to keep you snug while you’re out and about.  Having this kit means you can have a lovely wintery walk to a country pub and warm yourself up before returning to your glampsite to light the fire for the evening.  We hope this has convinced you to give winter glamping a go; we’re sure you’ll love it.

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

Winter Glamping Ideas For A Well-Earned Break

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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.