Glamping at Lantern and Larks Rutland

Last weekend we were invited to spend the weekend with Lantern & Larks at their wonderful site in Rutland, Leicestershire. Sat in what I think would have been the walled garden of Exton Park, it is a wonderfully secluded spot surrounded by trees.

On arrival we were greeted by June the host at this site, she was lovely and took us down to our tent for the weekend, she made sure we knew where everything was and how everything worked. We then set about bringing down our bags for the weekend, since cars aren’t allowed on site, you leave them in the car park and then use the wheelbarrows provided to bring your luggage and bags down. This means that with no cars you can spend your time free of the worry that they might run near traffic.

It is also really fun and the children spent many happy journeys back and fourth to the log shed, helping Daddy to pick the best logs for the firepit and fire in the tent itself.

With a double bed, bunk beds and twin room there was plenty of space for everyone, all kitted out with beautiful wood furniture. The comfy sofa made it the perfect place to relax whatever the weather.

The kitchen had a small hob and since there is no electricity, the fridge was instead two cool boxes which you kept cool with frozen ‘hot’ water bottles, it worked really well and we had no problems with our food being kept cool and fresh and we only had to change them a few times.

The kitchen was well stocked with utensils and crockery and had everything we needed to be able to cook proper meals. There is an oven which is part of the range that also acts as the heating for the tent, it is easy to get going and once all the doors are closed kept the tent nice an warm. There is an honesty shop stocking things such as cereal, drinks, marshmallows and just down the road is the fabulous Hambleton Bakery so great for fresh bread.

Outside is a fire pit which doubles as your bbq, it was a welcome spot in the evenings as well as allowing us to cook a hearty meal, there is plenty of outside space too with a picnic table and outdoor seating under the tent entrance which allowed for you to be outside come rain or shine. Two super bright deck chairs were the perfect spot for some reading and relaxing and when the sun shined it was a real sun trap.

The grass around the tents had been left long and it was great for the children to run around and play in, with a couple of mown areas for football they were soon playing with some of the other children on the site, although the other children were slightly younger, it was still sweet to see them so easily make friends. There is no park but they didn’t need one, it was so easy for them to kick a ball about, play Pokemon or lions in the grass.

We toasted marshmallows on the fire and the children both stayed up until late, you forget that once the sun has gone down there is no light other than from the many candles I had lit in the welcome hurricane lamps and lanterns that were dotted around the tent, it is strange how we become so used to putting on a light and is such a natural reaction to reach for the light switch, but it was lovely to be free from the confines of a normal house.

Over the course of the weekend we experienced every weather possible, but it didn’t dampen our spirits only made us appreciate spending time doing nothing. As the rain fell and the sun shone with a rainbow flying high above, us we sat in the window of the tent, it was so warm and was a lovely way to spend time with a book or just appreciating the swishing grass.

The Friday night we hadn’t really got the fire going and so it was cool but with our Mountain Warehouse base layers and some snuggly duvets we kept warm, so my top tip would be get the fire going inside so it keeps you warm once the doors are closed, with the sound of the tent gently flapping in the breeze and some owls made for a peaceful nights sleep.

Saturday was a little different but at no fault of Lantern and Larks, a wedding party for one of the girls from the local village meant loud music was being played until early morning. It was one of those things and very unfortunate it was whilst we were there. I spoke with Lantern and Larks and I was assured it was not from the Exton Park estate as they have an agreement in place to ensure music is not played after 12, they confirmed it wasn’t them and was in the village itself. Exton Park have spoken with the relevant people to make sure it doesn’t happen again. They have had people staying here for a while now and this is the first time something of this nature has occurred, I am mentioning this only because I am here to write an honest and transparent review.

The tent was clean and beautifully decorated, as it was my birthday they had put up banners for me, it was a wonderful way to spend my birthday weekend, so would I go again? Definitely, it was a truly wonderful experience, the children were able to run about and be free, we could sit and enjoy watching the children play whilst we had a little bottle of champers. The lake at the bottom of the site was fenced off, they had thought of everything to make sure it was a safe and relaxed environment.

Whilst we could have spent plenty of time exploring the local area from the tent we did venture into nearby Oakham, it has some wonderful independent shops and restaurants so if you have forgotten anything it is well worth a visit.

Then of course there is Rutland Water itself, with water sports, bike hire, parks and plenty of walking it is a great place to while away a few hours, and then the tent is the perfect place to come back to and sit and enjoy the sunset.

We had an amazing time here and I would love to go back, they have some other fabulous locations around the country including Lancashire, Suffolk and Somerset, so wherever you are in the country there isn't one too far away.

A huge thank you to June and the team at Lantern and Larks for having us and if you fancy glamping then why not take a look at Lantern & Larks fabulous Ultimate Guide to Glamping

NB: We were given a weekend break here in return for our honest opinion, all words and pictures are my own.

Keeping Warm with Mountain Warehouse - Review

Just before we went away glamping, I was chatting with Mountain Warehouse about the chilly evenings and mornings on the farm, so they kindly offered to send me some bits to keep us warm.

We were sent some fabulous merino wool base layers that we could wear both as pyjamas and under our clothing if it was cold in the day.

They proved to be a hit, with the bright colours making sure that the children wanted to wear them, I was a bit worried about the wool being itchy on their skin but they both loved wearing them and the stretch gave them the freedom to run about. They even wore them to pop down to the chickens and check for eggs in the morning without the need for any clothing on top.

Not at any point did they need any extra blankets on their bed and both were quite happy to get up and run around in morning without extra layers. We were lucky to have sunny days so they didn't need to be used as base layers but they'd be perfect if you were going somewhere cold and needed to put clothing on top after you'd got up.

I get cold quite easily but thanks to the merino base layer and Hebridean melange fleece hoody I was kept snuggly and warm on those cool mornings, it hasn't left my side since and I have been wearing it every evening at home instead of turning the heating up.

As we sat on the edge of the pod decking looking at the sheep, it made me realise how well insulated we all were and that the pyjamas had done their job.

We were also sent some other goodies including a fabulously huge beach towel, which proved handy for some sandy toes and hands and to wrap round us on those cooler beach moments, as well as a super cool flying missile, the children both spent hours throwing this to each other, trying to get it to whistle.

Mountain warehouse also have a range of Steve Backshall clothing, which my son, who is a massive fan, absolutely loved. He jumped with excitement when he saw them and has loved wearing them ever since, he lost a tooth whilst we were away hence the cheeky closed mouth smile.

Thank you to Mountain Warehouse for sending us these goodies to keep us warm during our trip, we'll be using them to head out into the garden for some weekend outdoor breakfasts and hopefully if we get some camping gear they will come in handy too.

NB: We were sent these items to form the review, all words and opinions are my own.

Loveland Farm Glamping - A Week Away from it All

Our week at Loveland Farm was by far one of the best holidays I have ever had, the peace and tranquility was second to none and getting back to nature was just what we all needed.

No electrical appliances to distract us in the day and only the projector to watch a film on in the evening, whilst snuggled under the blankets together. It was a beautiful holiday and I cannot fault any of it, there wasn't one thing I would have changed. When we arrived at the dome on the Monday evening after a rainy drive down, it was sunny and the blue sky made for a beautiful arrival. The pod was filled with a wonderful warm air and we sat down to cheese and cold meats on the table outside with a glass of wine for the adults, listening to the chickens clucking it was bliss.

I had been worried about the composting toilet and I held my first wee in for as long as I could but it wasn't bad at all, there was no smell and apart from the oddness of peeing in a shed, it was quite pleasant, especially since the toilet was shaped like a throne. After you'd been to the toilet you chucked on a bit of compost from the bucket next to the loo and off you go, there is a hot tap in case you were wondering, heated using electricity generated by the solar panels next door to the pod.

The shower room was next door and being used to outdoor showers from my days camping as a child I loved the cool breeze and warm water being rained down on me at the same time, it was certainly the best way to be woken up in the morning.

This isn't just camping though, this is glamping and it wouldn't be glamping without touches like a king size bed, table and chairs and a big log burner to ensure you have those creature comforts, wonderfully thick local duvets, as well as Loveland Farms own blankets ensured we were all kept warm at night.

The detail within the pod was beautiful, the wonderful pink 'spinny' chair as the children called it being a particulate favourite of us all, a place to sit and read, watch the world outside or be silly on. Wonderful festoon lights around the pod were beautiful once it got dark and the sun had gone down behind the hills.

Each morning, I would wake up and be amazed at the stillness mixed in with the sounds of nature, everything from the chickens, to seagulls, pheasants, sheep and even the occasional moo from the wonderful water buffalo over near the other pods.

The kitchen, although basic allowed us to cook a fry up every morning and we had one meal in the evening in it, we were out for one other evening and had another cheese supper on our final night but had we thought about it more and been there longer, we would have used the BBQ, we never felt like we needed an oven.

We had ordered a welcome pack, which contained everything we needed for breakfast so you could arrive with no food and be ok until the next day, the local shop in Hartland, called The Pop In had everything you need so you don't need to venture far for supplies, several of the major supermarkets also deliver to Hartland, so you could pre-order for delivery whilst you are in the pod.

Each morning, the children went to check whether or not their were any eggs from the chickens, it was not only a great way for them to see where they come from, it also completely in awe at the whole process. They loved the wonderful chickens and cockerel who were in the pen, the cockerel kept escaping, much to their delight. There are piggies too over near the other pods, as well as the water buffalo and up until recently the sheep were cutting the grass in the main area.

We did pop over to see the other pods, they have a great vantage point and although they are all in close proximity to each other, the windows all face away, so you do get some privacy, the Loveland Pod, which is where we stayed was completely separate from the rest and apart from the chickens was very private.

The beautiful enamelled plates, concrete worktops and attention to detail flows through all of the pods, the Eden Pod has a teepee in the centre as well as table football, it really is beautiful. The kitchens all have toasters, kettles and everything you need for your stay.

As the night drew in, we watched the sun set from the balcony, it was beautiful and really took us back the basics of life. Watching the day come to a close together before heading into the pod to get warm and snuggle up together. 

It is so utterly dark outside that on a clear night you could see thousands and thousands of stars, the completely blackness of being in the middle of nowhere really hit home and if I hadn't of been so cold stood in the darkness I would have stopped and gazed for ages. As you have to pop outside to go to the kitchen and toilet there are automatic lights that come on so you don't really need a torch either.

In the day, you can lounge around the pod, there is plenty of space to just stay and kick a ball, sunbathe and read a book, or you could walk down the to the coast, the walk to the lighthouse at Hartland Point is beautiful and if you fancy a going a bit further you could walk to the quay where there is a pub, shop and museum. We went rock pooling there, but as we have two small children, we drove down to the quay.

Further afield there are so many beautiful towns, Bideford has a pannier market as does Barnstaple. We went into the beautiful fishing village of Appledore just round from Westward Ho for a spot of crabbing, it is cheap enough to buy a bucket, line and some bait and we spent a good few hours sat in the quay catching crabs and then having some yummy fish and chips. It was a great way to while away the hours and the children and adults all loved it.

I could keep on writing about our holiday at Loveland Farm until the cows, or in this case water buffalo, come home, its charm and simple but glamorous beauty has me hooked and everyone who has seen my pictures has asked where it was and what it was like, as they are intrigued by the dome.

Without a doubt, the children got on better without the distraction of the telly and iPads and I felt a sense of calm the whole week, waking up to beautiful sunrises and the cool spring air on my face then standing with a hot chocolate on the deck admiring the wonderful surroundings.

Thank you to Fleur, Karina and Jeff at Loveland Farm for making us feel so welcome and for showing us around the farm, it was great to have some space and away time and the pods are fantastic for that.

Have you ever been glamping? If so where did you go?

NB: We were given a small discount in return for a blog post about our stay, however all opinions and pictures are my own.

Glamping at Loveland Farm

I used to go camping a lot when I was younger and have fond memories of the sounds, the fun and laughter of being outside but inside and the snuggling up because it was really cold. So when we were looking for somewhere for a break to get away from it all, it was fate that I spotted Loveland Farm over on Instagram.

I fell in love with the beautiful pods instantly, and knew this was the place I wanted to go, in one of my favourite parts of the world too, what more could I ask for. Here is what Loveland have to say about themselves.

"Loveland farm is the result of an ever-evolving dream which to this day continues to unfold. A campsite, but with a difference, a place where sustainability comes first, the beautfiul basics are encouraged and life is just that little bit simpler. A space that’s inspiring and completely unique, a solution to the busy modern world. 

The dream began back in 2007 when fashion designer Jeff Griffin and his family took a trip to Canada, whilst there they met a man who hung wooden pods in trees. This got Jeff thinking….If he could combine his love for the outdoors and our passion for what they do across areas other than fashion, they could create something really unique. 

Three years on Jeff put those ideas into action. Loveland Farm is a creative place where people come to relax in an environment that is fun and at one with the outdoors. They dream of building a sustainable future and have developed the campsite using green technologies, for instance the composting toilets."

I was excited and a little apprehensive about staying here, coming from a new build that was warm and well insulated, to having an outdoor kitchen, toilet and shower and living in a tent for a week.But I needn't have worried, getting back to basics has made us all slightly better people, we've all taken it turns to cook and clean, we've all wrapped up in blankets instead of putting the heating up higher and we've managed well with the composting toilet which in fact wasn't as bad as I had imagined.

With nature well and truly on our doorstep, waking up to the sound of chickens clucking and seagulls calling out it has made our week different to a normal cottage stay.

I shall be doing a more in depth write up of our stay but this is why there has been a radio silence this week on the blog but to see what we've been up too and just how amazing our time has been then pop over and follow me on Instagram or Loveland Farm as I have been doing an Instagram takeover for them.

NB: We were given a small discount in return for a blog post about our stay, however all opinions and pictures are my own.