I go on UK glamping breaks in the winter… rooms are a bargain and the kids love having the place to themselves
MOST people aren’t rushing to go glamping at the coldest time of the year, but I’m not most people.
This January, I took my boys to a cosy cabin and it was the perfect introduction to glamping.
Not only was it cheap as chips, costing less than £50, but we had the three acres of grounds to ourselves and could enjoy lots of family fun as well as plenty of peace and quiet in nature.
We stayed in a deluxe pod at the back of YHA Stratford-upon-Avon, which had its own wet room and kitchenette plus two double beds to sleep four.
You also have full access to the hostel facilities, including a bar, restaurant, self-catering kitchen, TV lounge and games room.
So you have the choice to either hole up in your little holiday home and keep cosy in your cabin or to head over to the converted Grade II listed Georgian mansion to chill out, cook or have a drink.
It really is the best of both worlds as you’ve got your own separate space but plenty of communal facilities just a stone’s throw away.
You can also make the most of family-friendly deals like kids eat for £1 with a paying adult, which is valid for both breakfast and evening meals at most YHA sites which offer food.
If the camping pods are fully booked, there are family rooms inside the main building and bell tents in their own walled garden during the summer months.
But what’s great about the cabins is that they are insulated, have a heater and come complete with their own toilet, so glamping in the winter doesn’t involve freezing in a sleeping bag overnight or trekking to a toilet block in the night if it’s raining or pitch black.
January is a cheap month for a YHA stay as there’s a New Year sale that drops the price down at various hostels around the UK.
If you’re a member or travelling with young people under the age of 26, you automatically get a discount, but often the promo code will take even more money off your stay.
The first time we visited, we paid the princely sum of £17.25 for our family of four for a night, thanks to a combination of different discounts.
And later the same year, we paid £20.75 for a night of glamping.
More recently, promo prices around £40 a night have been more typical, especially if you choose a midweek stay rather than a Friday or a Saturday night, when costs can be 50 per cent higher due to demand.
I’ve just booked a night away on a Saturday in March for £80 instead of £100, so it’s worth booking before February 3, when the sale ends.
The hostel is about two miles away from Shakespeare’s home town so we often take an amble into Stratford on our arrival day and then head to nearby Warwick Castle for a full day out once we’ve slept over.
It’s a great alternative to booking a night at the castle itself, which can cost quite a bit.
But there’s always loads to do there, including falconry shows, the Zog trail and playground, the Horrible Histories maze and inside the castle itself, telling tales from different centuries, including its role in the Wars of the Roses.
You do need to be aware that if you go in the winter months, there will be fewer shows than in the busy summer season, but there’s still enough to keep all ages entertained, in my experience.
While a night under canvas in freezing temperatures might be a step too far with small children, a night in a log cabin near one of the UK’s top tourist spots could be the perfect winter adventure.
So why wait for warmer weather?
Three camping tips from an expert
David Scotland owns camping equipment retailer Outdoor World Direct and knows all about how to make a camping trip run smoothly.
When visiting any campsite this summer it’s important to make sure you’re not making simple mistakes that could ruin your holiday.
Check your tent
David recommends putting your tent up a couple of weeks before you’re due to travel to give you enough time to repair or replace any damaged parts.
He told Sun Online Travel: “You’d be surprised how many people turn up with broken tents.”
Test the ground
Picking a good spot to pitch your tent is difficult, with lots of things to consider.
One of those should be the condition of the ground you’re putting your tent on top of, according to David.
He said: “Once you’ve found the perfect spot, test the ground with your pegs before you commit to camping there to make sure the ground is soft enough.”
Don’t nap in your tent
It may seem the perfect place for it, but a nap in a tent could end badly, if it’s done at the wrong time of the day.
David explained: “If the sun’s shining and it’s hot inside your tent – don’t do it!
“One of our friends nodded off in his tent during a heatwave at Glastonbury and ended up at the medical tent with heatstroke.”
Instead, he recommends finding some shade outside or somewhere well ventilated.
Last year, travel writer Catherine Lofthouse revealed the little-known way to save hundreds on attractions in England.
Travel writer Catherine Lofthouse has also used Blue Peter Badges to save hundreds of pounds on family days out.