Hi Glampers!

It's that time of year again, mince pies, mulled wine and Christmas markets. I am a huge Christmas fan and I am always the first one to get into the Christmas spirit. December the 1st couldn't come quick enough for me as it meant it was okay to start talking about Christmas, listening to Christmas Carols and to put up my Christmas tree (I will pretend I didn't actually put it up on November 29th !).

I attended a few Christmas markets/fairs this year and my experience was that some were better than others. I personally prefer the more organised ones, if tickets are booked in advance then the amount of people turning up can be better controlled so you know it is not going to be too over crowded and they generally have some form of organised parking, as driving around for half an hour trying to find a parking space is not my idea of fun! I really enjoyed Ripley Christmas Fair this year, there was plenty of stalls and yes it was busy but not too busy and I could still look at all the stalls and speak to stall owners if I wanted too and try samples etc. The only problem was they had so many tasty food stalls that I ended up buying more for myself that I did getting on with my Christmas shopping.

There was the Camp Hill Christmas Fair here on the Estate itself, it was a lovely relaxed atmosphere, everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves and I bought some lovely Damson Vodka from a local company that will defiantly be my choice of tipple over the festive period and I got a few more bottles for gifts too.

I also went to Harrogate to visit their Christmas market, which was extremely busy, so busy in fact that I didn't stay very long just long enough to get my German Sausage! It was so busy with people trying to get round it in both directions that I couldn't even get to any stalls to see what they were selling. It was a real shame as the market has the potential to be brilliant but it could just do with more space so people can spread out more and maybe a one way system to control the traffic volume. I could see there was some nice things there but unfortunately I just couldn't get to them to have a look which was a shame.  

 

I always like to buy fun, quirky gifts for my family and friends so sticking with our glamping and festival theme, here are a few little unique gems I have found that would be perfect for anyone who loves the great outdoors. 

                                                       The North Face Men's Tent Slippers

These slippers are perfect for Dads and Brothers who love Camping. They give warmth and protection and would be much easier to slip on for a quick step out of your tent instead of trying to put your wellies on ! Priced at £36.00 there not the cheapest gift out there but you cant put a price on warmth and comfort when enjoying the great outdoors! Buy from  http://www.thenorthface.co.uk/ .

 Personalised Camping Mallet 

What a great gift for a family who loved camping or  glamping. This will make bashing in those tent pegs a lot more fun ! The mallet can be personalised with one or two lines of wording as well as a few icons. At £20.00 as well this is bargain. Buy from www.notonthehighstreet.com . 

         

Camper Van Wash Bag

Ideal for people always on the go this Camper Van wash bag would be a perfect gift for camper van, festival and camping lovers. It is quite a good size too for carrying all your toiletries and bits and bobs around in.  It is £16.95 and also comes in blue or red.  Buy from www.geniegadgets.com .

               

Dude, Where's My Tent T-Shirt

This men's t-shirt is great for camping fans, its funny and stylish and would be look great on someone walking around a camp site in the summer. It comes is 5 different colours so there is a choice for everyone. It is priced at a very reasonable £9.99 and comes with free delivery. Buy it from www.amazon.co.uk . 

               

The Tent Finder

Never loose your tent again ! This is one of my favourite finds and such a great idea. Just leave the light in your tent before you go off at night and then use the remote control on your return and your tent will light up showing you the way, perfect for festivals when one to many tipples might make you forget where you pitched up! It works at a distance of 50 meters and cost £23.89 to buy from http://www.camperdeals.co.uk/ . 

Vango Inflatable Flocked Armchair 

This deluxe inflatable chair is perfect for chilling out in outside your tent or in your garden. An essential part of any glamping kit ! You will be the envy of your mates with their regular camping chairs. It costs £21.19 and it also comes with its own repair kit should you get a puncture.  You can buy this from http://www.funkyleisure.co.uk/ . 

                             

 Ladies Camping Flask

This cute flask is is a great gift to get your friend who enjoys camping and travelling. She can take the tipple of her choice away with her in this handy portable flask with a fun design on the front. Priced at £23.25 you can but this from http://www.zazzle.co.uk/ .

  

Well I hope you got some ideas for your Christmas shopping from this blog, with only 2 weeks to go to Christmas day itself don't forget to get all your online ordering done in time. I have nearly finished all mine and I am determined not to spend the week before Christmas doing my shopping! I hope you all have a lovely Christmas and a Happy New Year. 

Bye for now

Girl in the Cupboard   xxxxx 

Pictures taken from:

www.montpellierharrogate.com

www.thenorthface.co.uk

www.notonthehighstreet.com

www.geniegadgets.com

www.amazon.co.uk

www.camperdeals.co.uk

www.funkyleisure.co.uk

www.zazzle.co.uk 

  

Hi Glampers !

Autumn is one of our favourite times of year. I love all the different coloured leaves on the trees and the feeling of getting all wrapped up to go outside on a cold crisp morning. For me nothing beats taking my pooch for an early morning walk looking at all the pretty autumn colours in the fields and then coming home to a nice warm cosy house, whilst enjoying warm soups and crusty bread for lunch before snuggling up on an evening with the fire crackling under a warm blanket. and  glass of mulled wine.

Two of my favourite things happen in Autumn too, Halloween and Bonfire Night. I have always been a big fan of Halloween, I think it stems from watching horror films when I was younger with my best friend and I love Bonfire Night, standing around a bonfire eating toffee apples and watching the fountain of fireworks whilst trying not to burn my own hands with a sparkler!

Every year we go conker picking with my partners daughter. She loves trying to find the biggest and shiniest conkers and will collect carrier bags full of them, I'm too sure what she does with them all afterwards but she did inform me they can be used to keep spiders away from your house in the winter. Having not heard this before I decided to ask my good friend Mr Google! and it turns out she was right. It stems from an old wives tale that putting conkers in the corners of your rooms, on the window ledges and by your doors will deter our 8 legged friends from coming into your house. It is believed that the conkers contain a noxious chemical that spiders don't like. So as I hate all things creepy crawly I will be now placing the conkers firmly in my house and picking them daily!  

The Estate looks beautiful this time of year and glamping in autumn takes a whole new meaning. Instead of BBQ's, Pimms  and sunbathing in the hammocks we have guests cooking soups on the gas stoves, toasting marshmallows around the crackling fire pits and drinking hot chocolate and Baileys . All our accommodation here on Camp comes with either gas heaters or log burning stoves so there is no reason why Glamping cant be enjoyed throughout the autumn months too, just remember to pack extra blankets and wellies! Nothing beats waking up under your duvet in one of our unique abodes with the log burner keeping you toasty and breathing in the fresh crisp autumn air. We are only open for another two weeks so not long left to come and enjoy a night under the stars before we close for winter months. 

As always if any of you wish to send me any feedback or ideas of your own they are always welcome.

Bye for now

Girl in the cupboard
xxxx

Hi Glampers ! 

Recently I have been introduced to some unique ways to take tours and see our beautiful county of Yorkshire. Some of these adventures make great days out for you and your friends, or a romantic day for you and your loved one. With Yorkshire being voted the third best region in the world to visit in 2014 by the Lonely Planet Travelers Guide, why not explore it in style ! 

Yorkshire Trike Tours

This family run business provide a quirky way to travel around the Yorkshire Dales National Park. They describe riding on a trike as giving you the freedom and exhilaration of a motorbike, with the safety and comfort of a car. They offer a variety of tours from 1-3 hours, half a day or a full day. Some tours can include stop offs at different places including reservoirs, Malham Cove and Stumpcross caves and some tours also include stops for lunch and refreshments. Prices start from £49.00 per person based on two people sharing. The different tours are all listed on their website www.yorkshiretriketours.co.uk .  

4 x 4 Experience Day

This company offer a fun day out as well as seeing some fantastic scenery. You get to drive your own fully prepared Land Rover Defender 100 Tdci County Utility Wagon. You will tour the North Yorkshire National Park both on and off road. You get to be in the driving seat all day and you can bring up to three friends to share the experience with you. You can stop for lunch along the way or take a packed lunch with you. These Experience days cost £225.00 and last approximately six and a half hours. More details can be found on their website, www.uklandroverevents.com 

Sutton Bank Gliding Experience

Gliding at Sutton Bank, Thirsk is something I personally have first hand experience of and I can honestly say it is brilliant. As a nervous flyer myself when this gift was given to me for my 30th birthday I was more than a little nervous, but once they got me in the glider and up in the air I thought it was fantastic. The views you can see from up in the sky are amazing, I could see for miles. The pilot did a few acrobatics too which was fun. I would recommend the taster flight to anyone. Details can be found on their website, http://www.ygc.co.uk/ .

Hot Air Balloon Ride  

What a great way to surprise someone for a birthday or anniversary. A champagne flight seeing the sights over Yorkshire and Lincolnshire would be a real treat for someone special , creating a memorable event and for most people it would be a once in a life time experience. This company offers different flights from York and have some cheaper mid week flight options available. Details and bookings can be done on their website, https://www.balloonridesltd.co.uk/

Chauffeur  Driven Tours of Yorkshire

This is a way to explore Yorkshire in style in your very own chauffeur driven Range Rover. The great thing about the Yorkshire Chauffeur Company is that they tailor their tours to suit you and what you want to see. They do half day and full day tours but are flexible to your requirements as to what you want to see and do, whether it be visiting Abbeys and Castles, stopping for lunch and afternoon tea or visiting the North Yorkshire Moors and the Coast. The choice is yours. For more information you can visit their website at www.theyorkshirechauffeurcompany.co.uk .

Yorkshire Belles 

This is a bus tour company with a difference. It prides itself on being humerus and quirky, offering riders an introduction to the city of York and seeing the local museums and attractions, and seeing where the Kit Kat is made.  Yorkshire Belles also offers the bus for private hire so if there was a group of you wanting to tour York and the surrounding areas then this would be a fun way of doing it. It seats up to 55 passengers and they also allow you to bring your own food for your journey or can hire in caterers to supply food for you. For special family events or Hen and Stag parties this would be perfect. For more information you can visit their website at www.yorkshirebelles.co.uk .

If any of you know any other unique ways of exploring Yorkshire or have been on any of these experiences yourselves I would love to hear from you.

Bye for now

Girl in the Cupboard
xxxx

Pictures taken from,

www.yorkshiretriketours.co.uk .  

www.uklandroverevents.com 

www.ygc.co.uk/ .

www.balloonridesltd.co.uk/
www.theyorkshirechauffeurcompany.co.uk .
www.yorkshirebelles.co.uk .

Hi Glampers,

We are all getting ready here at Camp Katur to open up for our new season and getting things ready for all our guests. We are opening in time for Easter and already have the bookings pouring in.

Here at Camp we regularly get asked if there are any great days out nearby and what there is for children to enjoy. Obviously here on the Estate we have Camp Hill with their wide range of activities for all ages such as Quad Biking, Segways, Zip Wires, Climbing Walls, Gemini Buggies and not forgetting Aerial Extreme but there are also many local attractions only a short drive away.

The Forbidden Corner 

This is an amazing labyrinth full of mazes, chambers, tunnels and follies. There are tricks and surprises in every corner and its your job to locate everything on the map and find your way around the beautiful gardens looking for many structures on the way. You can navigate around the paths, some of which lead to nowhere, inside the Temple of the Underworld, through the mazes and across the stepping stones. This is a great day out with a difference which will challenge both adults and children of all ages. 

Distance from us : 18.4 miles, 40 minutes drive

www.theforbiddencorner.co.uk

Big Sheep Little Cow

This children's farm offers a great day out for all the family and it is not far away from Camp Katur at all. They offer hands on informal guided tours allowing children to meet some of the farm animals. There is a large outdoor play area and go-karts which children will love. 

Distance from us: 5.7 miles, 15 minutes drive

www.farmattraction.co.uk/Big-Sheep-Little-Cow.html

Lightwater Valley

A theme park for all ages, Lightwater Valley is is perfect for all the family. If it is thrill seeking rides your after it has got plenty including Europe's longest roller coaster- The Ultimate. It has also got many rides for small children and is home to the UK's first Angry Birds Activity Park which offers over 30,000 square feet of  interactive indoor and outdoor adventure play. You can take a walk through Eagles Creek Farm and meet lots of farm yard friends and discover the Lightwater Valley Falconry which is home to many types of Owls, Falcons, Eagles and Hawks. Lightwater Valley also has its own Shopping Village if you fancy something a bit more relaxing you can enjoy a stroll around looking at the many gift, toy, craft and clothing shops.

Distance from us: 7.9 miles, 17 minutes

www.lightwatervalley.co.uk

Newby Hall and Gardens

Set in 25 acres of award winning gardens you will find many beautiful and rare plants plus one of Europe's largest herbaceous borders. There is an enchanting woodland walk, miniature railway and adventure garden which is great for your little ones to enjoy too. Newby Hall also has a restaurant and picnic area great for those summer days ahead. 

Distance from us: 9.6 miles, 20 minute drive

www.newbyhall.com

Fountains Abbey

This world heritage site set in 800 acres of beautiful countryside make a brilliant day out for both adults and children. Discover the magnificent 12th century abbey ruins, explore the medieval dear park and walk around the Georgian Water Garden of Studley Royal, complete with its classical statues, follies and breathtaking views. There is a lovely little cafe here as well with some delicious cakes.

Distance from us: 15 miles, 30 minute drive

www.nationaltrust.org.uk/fountains-abbey/

Brimham Rocks

Set in Nidderdale, Brimham Rocks really is nature's best playground. It hosts an amazing collection of weird and wonderful rock formations. Spot the dancing bear and the eagle and crawl through the smartie tube. You can get lost in the labyrinth of paths finding your own rocks to climb and explore.  

Distance from us : 20 miles, 40 minutes

www.nationaltrust.org.uk/brimham-rocks/

Aysgarth Falls

Near the village of Aysgarth the River Ure tumbles over a series of broad limestone steps known as Aysgarth Falls. Although not particularly high the waterfalls are one of Wensleydale's most famous beauty spots and have even been featured in the Kevin Costner film, Robin Hood- Prince of Thieves. There are many wildlife to be seen here throughout the year including a variety of birdlife, salmon, many species of butterfly as well as dragonfly and damselfly. 

Distance from us: 23.2 miles, 42 minutes drive

www.thefalls-aysgarthfalls.co.uk

The Black Sheep Brewery

The Black Sheep Brewery offers guided tours demonstrating how they brew their famous ales. Afterwards why not make a day of it and relax in their Bar and Bistro and enjoy a delicious meal. There is also a shop full of goodies including of course their range of award winning ales to stock up on before you go home. 

Distance from us: 8.3 miles, 20 minute drive. 

www.blacksheepbrewery.com

So whether you are staying with us this year or just planning for things to do in the up coming Easter Holidays, I hope I have given you plenty of ideas. Personal favourites of mine are the Forbidden Corner ,because I am a big kid at heart,  and Fountains Abbey because I can take my pooch and it is just beautiful .

Girl in the Cupboard  xxx:) 

Pictures taken from; 

www.theforbiddencorner.co.uk

www.farmattraction.co.uk/Big-Sheep-Little-Cow.html

www.lightwatervalley.co.uk

www.newbyhall.com

www.nationaltrust.org.uk/fountains-abbey/

www.nationaltrust.org.uk/brimham-rocks/

www.blacksheepbrewery.com

www.thefalls-aysgarthfalls.co.uk