We had the BEST weekend, the one just gone. Obviously, we didn't get away last year and having only two weeks annual leave this summer, and only one which co-incides with Rachel's two weeks off, we have only booked in two days at Legoland, with an over night stop for then. And we'd accepted that would be it, but I did occasionally get lured by the Cool Camping Instagram grid, and had looked early in the year to see if anywhere not to far away had availability during the summer holidays. But I'd given up.
But then, one day between online lectures, I clicked on the instragram link again and thought... why not check for availability one weekend in July? I'm not currently working weekends, Rachel doesn't and there might be somewhere... and there WAS! So we booked it. That afternoon. Two nights away at a little glamping site with just 3 tents, behind a garden centre with plant-based cafe. Such a good decision.
On Friday, with the headteacher's blessing, we collected the small folk at lunchtime and walked home through a torrential rainstorm. Rach and I had spent the morning packing the car, but only with clothes, toys and basic toiletries, because so much was provided by the lovely Sunrise Eco-Glamping. We had a good journey, munching sweets, singing and reading Harry Potter, with just one stop for a quick wee.
We arrived and let ourselves in the gate, and located out tent using the signs... it was utterly beautiful. Such a beautiful tent design, and with a double bed for me and Rach, and a double futon bed for the kiddies. There was also a wardrobe, where we hung our damp coats, and a table with chairs, and a log burner (which we didn't need on this occassion). We unpacked, while the children ran around exploring, watching the alpacas and following the paths through the wildflower meadow. We had our own toilet just for our tent, and the Grill and Chill Shack was brilliantly stocked with cereals, pulses and grains, herbs and spices, teas and coffees AND a box of veg just for us. There was also vegan milk of three varieties in the fridge, which was just sublime. Usually, we pack food heavy, because locating dairy free produce somewhere unfamiliar can be hit and miss. But this was so easy.
We cooked up pesto pasta, sweetcorn and salad for our dinner, melted marshmallows for smores on the firepit, read stories in bed and then Rach and I played card games for an hour or so after the children were slumbering. It started to pour with rain once they were asleep, so we had to use brollies to get to the toilet for our teeth cleaning and wee before bed! Quite the adventure.
The next morning, I woke early, as I often do when somewhere unfamiliar. The birds were singing all around, which was glorious. I was just drifting back to sleep when the kiddos woke, at around 6am, so we whispered our way down to the toilet, then made some porridge/muesli for first breakfast. We enjoyed showering in the Shower Shack, and by then the campers in the other tents were beginning to rouse themselves. At 9am, our breakfast hamper was deposited in the kitchen for us to collect and we pretty much inhaled vegan filled croissants and pastries AND then slathered bread in jam. Cor, it was good.
Then we played outside, and the kids kept hanging over the fence talking to the alpacas, trying to tempt them nearer. Chris, one of the owners, suggested that now would be a good time for our "Meet the Alpacas" experience, so he returned with food for them and the chickens. Master R and Miss O loved letting the chickens out, feeding them, then feeding Billy, Gerry, Leo and Freddy carrots and pellets. They do love coaxing an animal near and getting to know them.
Soon after, it was time for our afternoon tea in the Sunrise Cafe. Wow. Just wow. I've had a vegan afternoon tea before, which was pretty good. This was amazing though. The children ate most of the components, which is astonishing, because they're just the fussiest buggers! We had to find out the ingredients and brands of various elements, so we can try to re-create at home. I've got the lobster-salad-tasting dish down to a tea already.
We went off to explore Idle Valley Nature Reserve, which was lovely for a wander and a play, even if the toilets and cafe, from whence we'd promised to acquire a lollipop. Luckily, we managed to find a lollipop elsewhere, and some wee gifts for the lovely folk looking after our pets while we were galavanting away.
For the rest of the afternoon we simply played. We played hide and seek. We played tag. We played catch, which gradually descended into a raucous version of piggie in the middle, complete with wrestling and wild giggling. It was perfect. It was just what we needed. We let the children stay up quite late, and then they fell asleep fairly rapidly, while I read my magazine outside. A game of travel scrabble, and then Rach and I turned in too.
I slept until later on Sunday, only waking around 6am with the kids. This time, in order to enjoy the veg box and Susan the chicken's eggs, we made a cooked breakfast. I had scambled egg, fried mushrooms and tomatoes and a slice of toast. Master R had a boiled egg and toast. Miss O had chocolate porridge, because she is a creature of consistency and habit. Rach had much the same as me, but I think she boiled her egg. It was LUSH, eating it in the fresh morning air. We showered, dressed and then played Quidditch (yes, really) on the wildflower meadow.
On Sunday, the breakfast hamper contained vegan sausage rolls, which we saved for later, and more sweet pastries. Yum scrum.
We read more Harry Potter by the (unlit) firepit, and then headed off to Sherwood Forest. It did not disappoint. I've never SEEN so many oak trees in one area, and NEVER one so large. Astonishing. Master R and Miss O had a great time scampering round.
We lunched there (they had vegan pastries! I was in bliss! Burnt tongue, happy belly), let the kiddos play a bit longer in the play area, then wended our way back home to Suffolk.
Perfect in every way. We will DEFINITELY be back!