Family nights out

With school holidays and warm summer days (and nights) on the horizon, there’s no better time to start planning family adventures. Why not extend the fun of a day out in the countryside, and spend a night or two at a glamping site?

To find out more about family glamping, we spoke to first time glamper and mum-of-three Ellie about her experience staying in a bell tent in the Lake District.

First thing’s first, just you, a tent and three kids… what sparked this idea?!
A sunny bank holiday was approaching, with no plans made. I wanted to get out and about and I thought the children would see it as an adventure to sleep in a tent. I didn't fancy having to pack a car full of camping gear though, so arriving at a site with a large tent already up sounded ideal.

What made you decide on the Lake District as a holiday spot?
I didn’t want to drive hours but still to go far enough for it to feel like a real break. Windermere, in the Lake District, is about an hour’s drive from home for us, and is a popular tourist hotspot, so I knew it was accessible and geared up for families - there are plenty of shops nearby if we’d forgotten to pack anything. The site itself had been recommended by another family. It was in a gorgeous spot, overlooking the lake yet away from the town itself, so was quiet and chilled.

How did glamping compare to regular camping?
I definitely wouldn’t have gone regular camping on my own; I can’t imagine trying to pitch a tent myself while supervising kids! The fact that these bell tents were large with proper beds in made all the difference. I knew we’d stand a fighting chance of a decent night’s sleep if we each had a comfy bed. The facilities on site were very welcome too - hot showers and clean toilet blocks.

As my first family glamping experience, I was doing everything I could to make things easy - so the winner for me was the food available on site. The glamping field was in the grounds of a youth hostel, which had a café that served pizza in the evenings and hot sandwiches in the mornings. We still ate outside so it didn’t feel like we were totally cheating!

What were the kids' favourite activities?
There was an area of woodland on the site which they enjoyed exploring in the evening, and plenty of space in the field for games, throwing a frisbee or kicking a football. There were other families around, and if we were staying longer then I think the kids might have played with others a bit.

Did the kids embrace the glamping lifestyle or wish they had WiFi?
They enjoyed it, but I must admit to taking tablets as a backup and for times when I needed them to simply stay put in the tent for a few minutes - like when I went for a shower!

What’s your favourite memory from this trip?
Getting down to the lakeshore early in the morning, before the crowds arrived, for a paddle.

Would you return to this spot for another glamping holiday?
Yes, and this time I’d like to embrace outdoor living even more by cooking our own food.

Have you got your eye on other glamping spots around the UK?
There are loads of great glamping sites all over the UK, offering all sorts of experiences from pods and hobbit holes to yurts and shepherd's huts. Top of my list to try next though is a treehouse - I think it'll transport me right back to childhood!

Tips for glamping with children:

• Take plenty of snacks - there will be many occasions when they come in useful.

• Research the glamping site to see if it is family-oriented. You can’t beat personal recommendations.

• Take some home comforts, especially for younger children. A few soft toys could be the difference between your child settling and sleeping well, or anxious and awake half the night.

• Don’t put any pressure on yourselves. Take things as they come and don’t worry about sticking to normal routines.