If the constant threat of plane and train strikes are putting fear into your getaway this summer look no further than Chegworth Mill Glamping. Just 20 minutes from Kings Hill!
Back in May we were lucky enough to spend a whole weekend as a family at Chegworth Mill Glamping near Leeds Castle. The weather was certainly on our side and we just had the best time.
A small, intimate site there are just 3 bell tents (all brand new for this year) and a Shepherd’s Hut, meaning it’s perfect to rent for a peaceful, family weekend or you could rent the whole site for larger groups of families or friends.
This was our first experience of glamping and we were just blown away by the whole experience. Site owners Ken and Alison could not have been more hospitable and went out of their way to make sure we had everything we needed for the perfect stay. That started with Alison emailing me a children’s ‘bedding menu’ a week before we arrived. Choices on offer included dinosaur, unicorn, festival, bees and animal prints. My six year old was thrilled with his dinosaur set up and Alison was too kind to subject my 15 year old son to the llamas I requested for him! The attention to detail was phenomenal. Each bed was beautifully made up with co-ordinating blankets, cushions and fairy lights (see pictures overleaf).
I arrived a couple of hours before the rest of the family on Friday afternoon and quickly set ‘to work’ by pouring myself a gin & tonic and sitting under our own private gazebo with views across the apple orchards (just to check out how relaxing it was for the purpose of this article, you know?). Each bell tent has its own gazebo with bistro furniture, a picnic style table and benches, a barbecue and a firepit. There is also a large communal area with a gazebo in case the weather isn’t so kind. That is where you find a larger barbecue and a brilliant pizza oven. Plenty of seating options on offer too plus an array of outdoor games such as swing ball and Jenga to keep the kids amused whilst you barbecue.
As well as the private areas around the tents each tent also has its own bathroom. This certainly wasn’t camping as I know it. The bathrooms had ‘proper’ toilets, mirrors, showers and even hairdryers (that was a relief).
We opted to barbecue on the first night and try out the pizza oven the next but should you fancy cooking a meal or heating something up in the microwave, there is a fully equipped communal kitchen with breakfast bar and stools. Each family has their own fridge and there is a kettle and toaster to use as well as all the plates, glasses, mugs, pots, pans and cutlery you could think of.
Breakfast is also included in the price. This was laid out for us each morning in the kitchen. A selection of cereals, croissants, fruit, pastries, preserves and fruit juice was on offer as well as the eggs from their own chickens (more about them to come!). Honestly, I could have just sat outside the kitchen eating breakfast all day.
The bantam hens had their own large house and run in the orchard. Our host, Ken was brilliant with the children in taking them into the run to meet them, feed them and collect the eggs which they then had for breakfast the next day. There really is quite a difference between a supermarket egg and a freshly laid one. Being bantam hens, the eggs were small but much tastier and fresher.
We spent our evenings in the communal area barbecueing or cooking our pizzas and playing games. It was just so nice to watch all of my children running around in the fresh air playing with each other, swing ball, football or building football stadiums out of Jenga! Each night was then finished off by our tent with hot chocolate and toasting marshmallows over our firepit and the glow sticks that Alison just conjured out of nowhere for them.
Bedtime was just bliss. I’m a bit of a homebird at heart and never sleep as well when I’m not in my own bed but the king size was like sleeping on air and so I slept like a baby. Rather than being a bit of a nightmare, having all five of us sleeping in one area, it was really cosy and fun. We were lucky with the weather and didn’t need to use it but there was a gorgeous ‘water vapour smoke effect’ electric log burner which would make the tents extra cosy if the temperature dropped. There were also plenty of electric power points so everyone could charge their mobile phones! Rechargeable lamps and torches were also supplied.
There are some lovely walks to be had in the area around the orchards and Leeds Castle is just a couple of minutes drive away. We chose to spend a day there, having not been for years. When my eldest two children were small I had annual passes and used to spend so much time there but my six year old had never been. We really had forgotten what a great day out it was plus there have been a lot of additions since my last visit. We had so much fun on the mini-golf course (though I won’t live my performance down in our family for a long time!). The play areas which I thought were pretty fab eight years ago have improved hugely too.
All in all I just can’t rate Chegworth highly enough. We wanted for absolutely nothing and the whole weekend felt really special, fun and relaxing. We will absolutely be returning. ■
To book, head to chegworthmill.co.uk or call Alison on 07764 475354.
