By: Blonde Two
What is glamping?
Glamping is a version of camping that has a few more luxuries than you would usually expect from a night in a tent. If you choose to glamp instead of camp, you’ll probably find yourself with actual bed linen, a decent coffee pot, and exciting options such as running water and lighting. The best thing about glamping though is that it allows you to avoid the bother of packing your camping equipment. With glamping, everything you need for a comfortable camp will be there waiting for you when you arrive at your location.
Top glamping tip: pack your own bunting in case your hosts have forgotten this essential glamping item.
How do I find a glamping location?
Glamping has become more popular over the last few years, with plenty of organisations like the YHA and Nearly Wild Camping have plenty of options to offer. If however, you don’t feel you can wait for this lockdown to end for your glamping experience, you need to look no further than your garden shed.
Top location tip: you’re far less likely to be sharing your garden shed with ‘other creatures’ if you choose a brand new one.
Isn’t all glamping just sleeping in a shed?
Glamping websites don’t use the word ‘shed’ preferring instead ‘hut’, ‘shelter’ or ‘pod’ but they all essentially mean the same thing. Anywhere with four walls (more if you’re really posh), a roof (hopefully waterproof), and space to hang the bunting will do the trick. For example, your garden shed.
Top sleeping tip: heirloom hand-crocheted blankets that weigh loads when wet are far better suited to a glamping experience than those easy-dry, throw-around fleecy ones.
Will there be a glamping toilet?
One of the most important things about a back-to-posh-nature experience is the early morning walk to the loo in your (very smart) wellies. It’s a little-known rule that glamping toilets have to be situated at least six metres from their hut-pod-shelter, and usually involve additional quirky accommodation (think shepherd’s hut, toll booth, or TARDIS). The very best glamping loos also involve the sawdust experience (self-composting toilet). You can of course also enjoy early morning sawdust, walking, and wellies from the comfort of your garden shed.
Top toilet tip: practice pooing onto a piece of paper before you set off. That way you won’t be disconcerted by the ‘plop’ rather than ‘splash’ experience.
Who will do the glamping cooking?
Cooking over a campfire is a compulsory ingredient of a good glamping experience so you need to arrive prepared. Make sure you pack enough avocados, truffles, and fresh pasta before you set off. As well as locating the nearest M&S or Waitrose, watch out for signs that say Farm Shop along the lanes. These represent your best option for a wild sausage foraging experience. Of course, if you glamp in your garden shed, your husband will probably bring you a cup of tea and a slice of sourdough in the morning.
Top cooking tip: be careful with the Farm Shop signs. Farm Foods will give you an entirely different authentic experience.
Happy glamping!
That’s really all I have to say about glamping. I spent a very happy night in my shed but was ousted the next night because Mr. B2 wanted a turn. I enjoyed morning birdsong, a flickering campfire, and a good book. It’s probably best not to mention here that I forgot the bunting!
