It’s no secret that glamping is my favorite type of holiday to spend with kids. I love the gorgeous outdoor camping atmosphere, complete with hot showers, comfy beds, private bathrooms, kitchenettes, and electrical outlets without having to pitch a tent!
Last week I had the chance to try out a new style of glamping at Wigwam Holidays in North Yorkshire. Yes, that’s right, we stayed in a wigwam!
We traveled to Richmond in North Yorkshire and stayed in a fairly new glamping property at Wigwam Holidays Fawcett Grange.
Let me tell you about Wigwam Holidays and Forcett Grange
Wigwam Holidays is a national company with 80 locations across the UK. We were staying at Fawcett Grange in Richmond, North Yorkshire. It’s a gorgeous place on the grounds of an old quarry.
With 12 wigwams and lodges clustered in different areas, guests can see the lodges right next to them, but we had no idea about the other lodges within Fawcett Grange.
We stayed in a family area with 6 lodges on top of a small hill surrounded by trees. At the foot of this hill is a small protected playing field, surrounded by high stone walls. Definitely one of the benefits of being in an old quarry. The perfect green grass reminded me of the rolling hills from the Teletubbies (no, I watch too much CBeebies!) and my kids didn’t waste a second sliding down the hill!
This was clearly a popular spot for guests with children, and within minutes kids were gathering to play soccer or ride scooters along the smooth paths.
Other areas of the property seemed relatively quiet, so no need to worry if you’re looking for a quiet place without kids. They obviously prefer to keep the kids together, but this was perfect for all the families in our area!
What was the Wigwam like?
The lodge is surprisingly spacious. Although it looks quite small from the outside, it is actually large and can sleep 5 people comfortably. He has 3 simple sofas, 2 double beds and 1 single bed. There is a small folding table and chairs and a large wet room at the back with toilet and shower. I was really impressed as the bathroom was very spacious and luxurious by glamping standards!
There is a small kitchenette with fridge, freezer, two stoves, microwave, kettle, toaster, sink, all pots and pans and crockery, with plenty of space to store your food.
There are also plenty of plug sockets with USB sockets and a small TV. There is no WiFi and limited cell phone reception, making it a great place to escape. There’s enough signal to make calls, and maps and social media apps load very slowly. So while it’s not completely disconnected, it’s slow enough that you can’t scroll mindlessly.
Wigwam Holidays hot tubs
Each of Fawcett Grange’s 12 lodges has its own private wood-fired hot tub, which was the highlight of our holiday. The smell of burning wood is really delicious and gives the whole place this gorgeous, woody, cozy vibe.
I’m no fire starting expert, but the stove is easy to light and the bathtub heats up quickly. OK, we got a mini lesson from the ladies who were waiting for us when we arrived! They went over everything I needed to know, gave me a bonfire demo, and gave me all the inside information about the local attractions. Oh, and answered her million questions from kids about hot tubs!
Things you need to know about Wigwam Holidays
Please note that you must bring your own bedding and towels. This was the same at almost every glamping site I’ve ever stayed at, so this wasn’t a huge surprise, but especially since glamping isn’t really a cheap vacation option, their inclusion I’m a little shocked that it hasn’t.
You may only burn locally purchased logs and fire starter kits. Honestly there’s a shop where you can buy the Fire Pit Pack for £10. I found it to be of very good quality and easy to ignite.
What to do in the area?
There are many things to do in this area. So much so that I’m actually going to write a whole separate blog post about the nearby tourist attractions. This is his fifth visit to North Yorkshire so he has lots of ideas. That post will be published soon, so keep an eye out for it.
One thing I’m going to tell you is that Forcett Grange is only a 10 minute drive from the main road, so it’s very easy to get to, but it’s one of those perfect places that feels like it’s somewhere in the middle of nowhere. That means there is. You can’t hear anything and there are only trees and fields around you for miles.
We spent the day at the toddler-friendly Lightwater Valley Theme Park. My kids loved it!
The beautiful town of Richmond is nearby
Wigwam Holidays Review: Final thoughts
I would go so far as to say that Wigwam Holiday was the easiest and most practical glamping holiday I have ever experienced. If this is your first time glamping, it’s a great way to relax. The wigwam is simple but comfortable and with a great outdoor area, you’ll want to spend all your time outdoors.
I love that there is a spacious canopy in front of the wigwam so you can sit outside even when it’s raining, and the fire pit and hot tub make it feel so cozy even on cold nights. The rooms are fully equipped with heating, so you can stay comfortable even if you visit in winter.
This is one of the most spacious accommodations I have stayed in and having a large wet room included in the lodge was a huge bonus. The small kitchenette also had everything we needed.
The location of Fawcett Grange was fantastic, we were in an old quarry surrounded by trees and it really had a magical feel to it.
Our stay at Wigwam Holidays Fawcett Grange was a complimentary media stay. As always, all opinions and preferences regarding glamping are my own!
light water valley
read more:
What to bring for a family glamping vacation