Days of Wonder: irresistible family glamping breaks in Kent and the Cotswolds

New to UK family glamping holidays, Sam Bradley can’t say enough good things about his recent adventures on the Kent Coast and in the Cotswolds.

Port Lympne Safari Park, Kent

“Seeing the world through the eyes of a child is the purest joy anyone can experience,” wrote Constance Zimmer. As parents we’ve all seen wonder in our children’s eyes at some point, probably for something we’ve normalised into the mundane but they still find new and exciting. Motivated for our children to see more of the world, we set off for a weekend on the Caravan and Motorhome Club’s (CAMC)  ‘Experience Freedom’ programme, which offers comfortable, nature-based getaways across various UK locations.

Daleacres Campsite, Kent

The Kent Coast is perfect for UK family glamping holidays

For us parents the drawcard was the promise of well-priced accommodation in a good location, meaning we could easily explore the nearby attractions; for the children it was the excitement of camping!

As this was our first foray into UK family glamping holidays we were pleasantly surprised to have a choice of glamping pods, cabins, yurts or safari tents, and after much debate we agreed on a safari tent. Priced from just £39 per night for up to five people, I expected the bare minimum, but seeing the look of wonder on our children’s faces on arrival was the first moment of accomplishment.

“How do they make it this big?” was the first question, followed by the usual “Can I sleep on the top bunk?”

The accommodation come equipped with everything you need and nothing you don’t, so that even those who have never camped can enjoy a hassle free experience. Bedding and kitchenware is all included, no one needs to pitch a tent, heaters are provided so everyone will be snug and warm, and there are even little luxury items such as hot chocolate and disposable BBQ sets (crucial for toasted marshmallows).

Camber Sands, Kent Coast

The nearest beach is Camber Sands, such a score

Our destination, the Daleacres CAMC site in Kent, provided the perfect base for exploring. Within a stone’s throw (read: within a short drive) awaited the beaches of Camber Sands and Dymchurch, as well as two of our essentials on UK family glamping holidays: a waterpark and go-karting. Port Lympne Safari Park and Leeds Castle are nearby too but, combining the children’s motto of “sandcastles are fun” and my motto of “the best things in life are free,” we made a beeline for the beaches first.

Camber Sands is slightly further away (a 30 minute drive) but has the drawcards of lots of dunes for sandboarding, a long sandy beach with plenty of pretty seashells, and great swim areas (not to mention a cheeky seagull who nabbed my youngest’s snack right out of her hand, much to her surprise). Dymchurch beach is closer to the campsite, but its amusement rides and promenade walk weren’t quite as enchanting, resulting in a shorter visit.

Action Watersports, Kent

UK family glamping holidays, just add water

Also nearby, Action Watersports is a great place to spend a sunny day. The lake setting is beautiful and the options of toys are endless, ranging from inflatable rides behind the boat to flyboarding, foiling, paddleboarding or water-skiing.

We started in the Aqua Park (which I loved just as much as the kids) and all the splashing, jumping and sliding ensured everyone would sleep well that evening. There were lots of opportunities to wipeout off the slides and climbs, and the higher jumps into the water were a big attraction. For the rides behind the motorboat all equipment is provided and the instructors are really knowledgeable, and encouraging: this was my first attempt at water-skiing in over a decade!.

Now we’re hooked on UK family glamping holidays, we’ll be back for the banana ride next time. This time, happily exhausted, we headed home to camp for a well-earned BBQ and a stunning sunset.

Port Lympne Safari Park, Kent

Wild times were had at Port Lympne Safari Park

“There are no seven wonders of the world in the eyes of a child; there are seven million”, wrote Walt Streightiff, and this proved true at Port Lympne Safari Park. The park is home to more than 900 animals, and the 600 acres of greenery they call home makes it all feel wonderfully natural. The highlights are endless, from watching the gorilla feedings to seeing everything from rhinos and lions to wallabies and tapirs. There’s even Dinosaur Forest for the very adventurous.

In the afternoon we enjoyed a fun safari truck tour, particularly loving the stop to watch a tower of giraffes socialising. There’s so much to see in one day we have plenty of reasons to return soon, notably the wide choice of restaurants and the lure of staying overnight in the park in one of the many lodgings: treehouse, lookout bubble, or lodge close to the animals.

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Go Ape Leeds Castle, a family glamping holiday high spot

Our final highlight was stopping off on the drive home to explore Go Ape Leeds Castle. Set in the scenic woods surrounding Leeds Castle, the whoops and yells of excited children soon led us to the treetop courses. There are various loops to complete and participants can go at their own pace and explore as much as they can in an hour.

It’s a wonderful form of exercise and fresh air, and a good way to push kids out of their comfort zone. Although they’re safely strapped onto a continuous belay the whole time, they’re up high enough in the trees to be challenged. Seeing the exhilaration on my children’s faces as they completed a new challenge or whizzed down a zipline was incredible, and we spent the rest of the drive home enthusiastically describing our favourite obstacles.

Moreton-in-Marsh High Street

Glamping without kids in the romantic Cotswolds

CAMC sites aren’t just for family glamping holidays. A few weeks later my wife and I managed to leave the children with friends and escape for our anniversary weekend. We chose a yurt tent in Moreton-in-Marsh, this time wonderfully located in the idyllic Cotswolds.

Moreton-in-Marsh itself is a charming market town, complete with a square lined with 17^th century buildings, quaint coffee shops, and cosy pubs (The Bell Inn is said to be the inspiration for the Prancing Pony in Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings). It’s also home to Batsford Arboretum (a beautiful 56-acre botanical garden which could have kept my wife mesmerised for a week) and Cotswold Falconry Centre, home to many birds of prey who perform daily flying displays.

The charm of the Cotswolds lies in its small country lanes, stunning honey-coloured stone architecture, timeless villages, rolling green hills, and the chance to slow down, relax and breathe it all in.

Bourton-on-the-Water, Cotswolds

The nearby Bourton-on-the-Water (the ‘Venice of the Cotswolds’, well complemented by sumptuous local ice creams) and Chipping Campden (with its historic wool church, local bakeries and coffee shops) are just the right mood for UK family glamping holidays where you want to while away a sunny day with a slow meander and a relaxed meal. CJ Heck wrote, “May you always see the world through the eyes of a child,” and by the end of the weekend we knew what she was getting at.

We’re now converts to UK family glamping holidays

We were proud of our travels, but in reality we’d only scratched the surface of UK family glamping holidays. CAMC has a total of 12 ‘Experience Freedom’ sites across the UK, including two new glamping locations in Wales and Norfolk.

The sights of Isle of Wight, the Lake District, London and Yorkshire all beckon, not to mention the other 2,700 CAMC motorhome sites across Europe and the UK. Our holidays normally end up being quite busy so it makes sense to pick budget friendly accommodation in a good location, and the fact the children loved the campsites was the cherry on top. Here’s hoping there’ll be many more child-like moments of wonder up ahead.