During the Easter holidays we were lucky enough to be able to fit in a mini adventure to one of our favourite places to visit in the Lake District, Windermere. This in itself was enough to get the boys excited beyond belief but what I hadn’t told them was that we would be camping in a teepee, courtesy of the YHA Lake District.
This, I was keeping a surprise until we arrived.
I have always been aware of the YHA but it wasn’t until last year that we first experienced their accommodation and was pleasantly surprised at what they had to offer. If I am honest I when I imagines the YHA’s I would conjure up images of dirty beds in derelict buildings with only one room for all the guests and a grubby shared bathroom, however these were firmly dismissed after our stay. So, when we were invited to try out some of their alternative accommodations I couldn’t resist. There are plenty of options to choose from including camp sites, pods and teepees.
With two boys a teepee was the obvious choice for us. I simply knew that being able to re-enact cowboys and Indians for the duration of our stay would be a huge hit and so I chose the teepees at YHA Windermere in the Lake District.
Camping in teepees at YHA Windermere
The YHA Windermere was easy to find as it is sign posted from the main road and then again as you get closer to the site. The boys were delighted when they saw “the mansion” and were excited to be sleeping in it all night, so much so I was worried the actual teepee would be a disappointment. Thankfully it wasn’t and when we walked up to the field the boys faces were a picture, they were full of wonder and curiosity and couldn’t wait to get in to explore.
There are 4 teepees at the Windmere site, raised up on the hill with the most amazing views overlooking the lake below with plenty of greenery for the children to run free and explore. Ours even created their own fossil factory where they were finding stones and, apparently, creating fossils. It was a total joy to watch them play in the open field knowing they were safe and happy. In the evening we played variations of rugby and football, hide and seek and even hill rolling till the sun started to set.
The teepees in Windermere are set up with 4 beds and an open space in the middle. Had the weather been bad we certainly could have stayed inside and played games with the boys without feeling cooped up as they are surprisingly spacious, but as luck would have it we were able to play outside late into the evening, much to the delight of the children.
As a family we love the great outdoors, camping and family friendly festivals. The freedom it gives the children to explore, run and enjoy nature is priceless. But when you are only staying for one night or you simply don’t want the hassle of putting up a tent then glamping in the YHA Lake District is most definitely the answer as everything is set up and ready for your arrival so you can start exploring straight away.
The teepees are spacious, already set up with beds and bedding, close to camping amenities like showers and toilets but also only a short walk away from the main house and the bar and restaurant. They are very affordable, this one was £59 for a family of 4 for one night, meaning the majority of families can afford to go. so if you and your family are looking for mini adventures, ways to explore England and Wales and most importantly, make those precious family memories that will last a life time then check out the YHA website for some cracking deals.
There are loads of things to do in the Lake District to keep the whole family entertained for the duration of your stay, whether that’s one day, one week or even a month and if you are happy to travel up to an hour then have a look at Kirkby Stephen too.
If you prefer a city break to a weekend in the lakes then check out our review of the YHA Oxford.
Why not check out the YHA lat minute deals to bag yourself a bargain break in some quirky accommodation.
The YHA is, of course, a charity so if you are looking for ways to help them then why not visit one of their pop up shops next time you get chance.
(The accommodation was provided for us by the YHA in exchange for a review. All opinions our my own.)