Posted by
James Trenchard
What is Hen Party Glamping?
A very good question indeed and to answer; hen weekend glamping is getting into the great outdoors with your favourite people, while still having some of the luxuries of staying in a hotel. Glamping is really popular within the UK and for a hen party weekend, it's a great way to relax, get some fresh air and spend some quality time with friends and loved ones.
In this article we're going to run you through some of the most frequently asked questions about glamping and specifically relating to hen weekend glamping.
By the time you've read everything, you should have all the answers, however, if you still have any questions (or whilst you're reading) then the best thing to do is to get in touch with us and we'll be more than happy to help.
So that's the formalities out of the way, let's get down to business...
1. What is the difference between camping and glamping?
This is key, as people may be put off by the idea of glamping if they don't like camping, but they shouldn't be! Camping and glamping certainly do share similarities but they have many differences, most of which will add comfort and luxury to your hen weekend glamping experience.
- Hen Weekend Glamping Facilities -
The main difference between camping and glamping is what you have access to in terms of the facilities. With camping, things can be extremely basic, but with it's called glamping because it's 'glamorous camping'. On a glamp site, you're likely to have access to shower facilities, fully equipped kitchens (crockery, utensils, ovens etc), log burners, fire pits, BBQs and possibly more. Glamping is designed to give you the 'get outdoor' experience of camping but with very little of the faff.
Also, instead of sleeping under a couple of thin layers of nylon and polyester, you'll generally be sleeping in a Mongolian-style yurt, made from wooden poles and felt. Couple this up with log burners for warmth and you have yourself a very cosy little place to stay for the weekend.
- Bedding -
Another big difference between camping and glamping is the bedding situation. With camping, you'll most likely find yourself stuffed inside a sleeping bag with the possible luxury of a ground mat for some kind of comfort. Glamping says NO to bad backs, NO to waking up finding that someone has slid on top of you and says YES to double beds, duvets and pillows, YES to comfort and YES to a great night of sleep.
- Comfy cosy glamping set up -
- Private Hire -
With any hen weekend glamping trip, you'll have the option to hire out the entire site so that you don't get members of the general public elbowing their way in to the special weekend. This is great as it means you can really relax and just focus n having a good time. Most sites can accommodate up to around 24 people, so even if you're a larger group it shouldn't be an issue.
In general, the facilities on a hen weekend glamping site will make sure you can pretty much carry on like normal and in comfort whilst staying outside of any dirty town or city centres.
- Hire it all for yourself -
2. What should I bring to glamping?
Glamping is pretty much aimed to be an outdoor house for a weekend and here's a quick list of things you can bring along:
- Clothing for hen weekend glamping -
There's nothing to say you can't take your entire wardrobe if you so choose. The yurts that you most commonly find on hen weekend glamping sites will easily accommodate plenty of clothing, so you could take a suitcase or two. Weather is not going to get inside of a yurt unless you leave the door open, much like a house, so you won't have to worry about leaving clothes inside. It's really up to you how much and what you take, based on what your plans are for the weekend.
You may need to bring your own towels and this is worth checking when enquiring.
- Dress however you want -
- Food for hen weekend glamping -
You're likely to have use of a fridge on a glamping site and so you can normally take whatever food you like. Whether you're planning BBQs, cooked breakfasts or any other cooked meals, you should have the facilities to allow you to bring any food. A lot of hen weekend glamping sites do offer their own food options such as farm produce boxes, pizza ovens and more, so check what is available when you make an enquiry.
- Fresh is best wherever you stay -
- Electronics for hen weekend glamping -
It is a common feature that hen weekend glamping sites have electricity supplies, so you'll be able to charge everything whilst you're away, meaning you can use all of your gadgets and technology as you would normally. It's worth checking for where you're interested in though, as you don't want to get caught out and miss out on some great photos.
- Grab some chill time with your favourite down-time tech -
3. What should you not bring glamping?
There are some things that you don't need to take with you if you're going for a hen weekend glamping trip and here they are;
- Bedding for hen weekend glamping -
All glamping sites are fully furnished with beds, bedding, many have seating and cushions too, so you won't need to bring anything unless you are very specific about bedding and/or cushions.
- Cooking equipment for hen weekend glamping -
It's most likely that you'll have access to kitchen facilities so you won't need to worry about heaving around any kind of pans/crockery/cookers.
- This is a common sight for hen weekend glamping -
4. Do glamping tents have toilets?
An important thing to know for your hen weekend glamping trip.
The yurts themselves don't have loos. In most cases though, glamping sites will have shower/toilet blocks for the group to use or at least somewhere less basic than a wild camp site (hole in the ground). It of course depends on the site itself as to what toilet facilities are actually available, so definitely one to check when you make your enquiries, especially if it's a deal-breaker.
- Be comfortable with your trips to the loo -
5. What do you wear for glamping?
A hen weekend glamping trip can include as many activities as a standard hotel or house-based hen weekend, so knowing what to wear isn't much different. Here are a couple of important things to consider:
Hen Weekend Activities
What you are planning to take part in will dictate some of your clothing choices. If you've chosen something like a brilliant school sports day then you're going to want to pack clothes which let you move freely, water-based activities will, more often than not, require swimwear and so on.
You might choose some night time activities too, so make sure to pack clothes worthy of a great night out.
On this note also, if you're thinking of incorporating fancy dress anywhere, make sure you plan it in plenty of time. We've got a huge list of hen party themes to look through here, if you're unsure.
It's fundamental stuff, but we'd suggest a list (may be worth making one amongst the whole group) so that you're not left looking like a fool when you realise you've forgotten a key item of clothing.
Casual Hen Do Clothes
You're probably going to find that you have some down-time and/or hungover time. For these rest periods on the hen weekend glamping trip, you'll most probably want to have some clothes that mean you can chill to the max.
Hen Weekend Weather
Keep an eye on the weather forecast. Hopefully, if it's a spring or summer hen party, hopefully it'll just be glorious sunshine, but you might be wise to pack a few 'just in case' items; it is the UK after all. Quite a lot of the hen weekend glamping spots are on farms and/or in fields, so it could also be possible that you'll require some waterproof footwear (wellies/walking boots etc).
- The weather will be something you remember -
Hen Do Duration
Wherever you choose to go and whatever you choose to do, make sure you don't catch yourself out. Double check how many nights and days you'll be away for and make sure to pack enough clothes (plus some spare). If this is utterly obvious then we're sorry, but you know of someone in the group who may benefit from this kind of tip!
A lot of hen weekend glamping sites do have washing machines and if this is the case, you won't have to worry quite as much, but this is worth checking before you go. You may not get time to do full washes over a weekend if the itinerary is busy either, so make sure to consider all of your plans/options.
6. Where is the best place to go glamping?
Very much an opinion, but we have two hen weekend glamping sites which we love and recommend. They are:
Devon Yurt Camp Site
Based within easy driving distance from Exeter, this yurt campsite offers a superb hen weekend glamping experience. A working farm with rolling hills means that there is plenty of fresh produce on offer. They make hampers and sell them, so you don't have to worry about what food to take with you.
On this site there is a barn housing shower and toilet facilities as well as a fully equipped kitchen and snug with games and comfy chairs. All this plus the yurts with stunning views and super-comfy bedding makes it a special place to stay.
Being close to Exeter also means that you can make the most of what Devon's capital has to offer, giving you the best of both worlds.
Dorset Yurt Camp Site
Again based on a farm, this hen weekend glamping site is slightly further away from a major town or city. This means that you'll have to travel a little further for some activities, but there are loads of great hen party activities which can come to you.
You'll have access to a fully equipped kitchen, individual showers (one per yurt), dining space and lounge whilst being able to spend the rest of the time admiring the stunning surroundings and breathing in some of the freshest air ever.
There are six yurts in close proximity to one another with firepits, BBQs and the possibility of pizza evenings (ask upon enquiring for more details), so you won't have to go anywhere!
7. How much does it cost to glamp?
Hen weekend glamping prices vary just like any hotel or private accommodation, but generally speaking glamping weekends are good value-for-money. You can see some great cheap hen do ideas to go along with your glamping weekend, to make sure you have loads and loads of fun.
As glamping sites often have terms that hen weekends must book the whole site (some groups can get a bit too noisy and mischievous for families), one of the possible downsides is that there is a minimum price to cover. This means that if you book the site for 20 people and then 3-4 people drop out, you'll have a bit of extra money to cover. Normally this isn't much, but it depends on how many people (if any) actually drop out.
If the hen loves the great outdoors, the price isn't going to play a huge part as it's unlikely to cost you much more per person than a nice hotel or private house anyway!
A summary of hen weekend glamping.
Glamping hen party weekends offer something a little bit different from standard hen party houses and the best parts are:
- Fully furnished yurts
- Indoor toilets and showers
- Kitchens with all utensils
- Fresh air
- Fresh produce
- Do the same great activities
- Just your group
- Lots of space
- Al fresco dining
- Great value-for-money
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