Have yourself a merry little ‘glamping’ Christmas

Cosy glamping breaks from Pitchup.com

If Last Christmas you stayed at home for the whole of December, why not make 2015 a Wonderful Christmastime and enjoy a Happy Christmas holiday with Pitchup.com?

The outdoor holiday specialist has a great selection of wonderful Winter Wonderland accommodation throughout the UK and Europe to ensure a Merry Christmas is had by all.

Enjoy some winter walks around the coast and countryside of north Cornwall then snuggle up nice and warm in the cosy on-site pub (which also serves food) at St Tinney Farm, on the edge of the tiny hamlet of Otterham, four miles from the coast in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Two-bedroom lodges are ideal for winter getaways as they have gas central heating throughout with radiators in all rooms, plus an additional electric coal-effect fire in the lounge.

Price: From £490 for seven nights for up to four people.

Ever wondered what one of Britain’s best seaside resorts looks like in the midst of winter? Clacton-on-Sea is a brisk winter walk away from Lee Wick Farm Cottages and Camping, a working potato farm and horse stables with a fishing reservoir close to the Essex Wildlife Trust Colne Point Nature Reserve. There are plenty of nature spotting and birdwatching opportunities in the area, with regular local sightings of the once rare marsh harrier bird of prey. Stay in a mega pod, which has a double bed and double sofa bed, kitchen area, iPod station and digital radio, loo and shower, barbecue area outside. Up to two dogs allowed.

Price: From £380 for seven nights for four people. 

A breakfast hamper of home-produced sausages, eggs and free-range bacon is included in the price during a stay in a shepherd’s hut at Teifi Meadows to get guests ready to explore the local Ceredigion coast, Cardigan Bay and nearby National Trust sites. The bothy is in a hidden garden bordered by woodland and a stream, with loo and shower facilities – fluffy towels included – in the Ty Bach (little house) alongside. Linen, fridge, kitchen utensils, a gas barbecue and indoor woodburning stove are all included.

Price: From £455 for seven nights for two people.

Pack a bathing costume and enjoy long soaks in the hot tub while admiring the beautiful Conwy Valley and mountains while staying at Fron Farm Shepherd's Huts. Located on a hillside farm, it’s just a short drive from the historic walled town of Conwy and its twelfth-century castle. Fancy skiing or a visit to the panto? Four miles away is the seaside town of Llandudno, which has a dry ski slope with a 500-yard toboggan run and the North Wales Theatre. Fresh eggs can be purchased daily on site. A shepherd’s hut is suitable for two adults and two small children.

Price: From £350 for seven nights for two people.

Eat, drink and be merry at Castelwood Vacances, where you can tuck into regional delicacies like potted duck, wild mushrooms, local cheeses and other produce sold at regular farmers’ markets nearby, plus the wines of local vineyards such as Bergerac, Buzet, Thézac and Cahors. Explore fortified castles, medieval towns, old country churches and prehistoric sites in the Dordogne and Vézère valleys. Stay in a spacious two-bedroom chalet at the foot of the Castle of Biron with an open-style kitchen and living room.

Price: From £287 for seven nights for four people.

Experience German glamping at its best at Camping Resort Zugspitze, a modern alpine campsite (which only opened in 2014) that has stunning panoramic views of the surrounding mountains. For foodies, there is a wine bar and the Schmölzer Wirt restaurant on site providing culinary delights. Over-indulgers can work out in the fitness room then relax in the sauna.

Price: From £403 for seven nights for two people in a luxury heated one-bedroom bungalow.

For some winter sun book a cabin at Camping Villasol near Benidorm. The campsite, only 1.3km from Levante beach, has an indoor pool that’s open year round and a restaurant serving Spanish and international dishes with a terrace offering fabulous views over the city. On site there’s a multisports area with a basketball court, a playground and a pétanque court, plus a well-stocked mini market.

Price: Seven nights in a two-bedroom cabin starts from £423 for up to four people.

The Quiet Site in the Lake District has lovely views of Ullswater and is available to book throughout the Christmas period until the beginning of January. Spend snowy days and evenings in the Quiet Bar – the well-provisioned on-site pub in a magnificent seventeenth century barn with its own games room (with table football, pool, air hockey, and table tennis), television room, and an upstairs playhouse and soft play centre for the kids. Outdoors, there are fantastic walks and bike rides, castles, Roman forts, and stately homes to discover. Ullswater Steamers runs regular festive special cruises on the Water over Christmas.

Price: From £255 for seven nights for two adults (or two adults and two under 15s).

Camping Le Valjoly is the ideal place to relax and recharge. Located by the largest lake in the Avesnois and in a wooded natural setting, it has a bakery, a mini market, a souvenir shop and four restaurants including a brasserie, burger house, and a pizzeria. A wide range of outdoor activities on land and water are available within 15 minutes' walk, including sailing, archery, horse riding, treetop adventure trails and much more. Also within 15 minutes' walk are a large indoor and outdoor swimming pool, and a spa with sauna and hammam.

Price: Seven nights in a one-bedroom lodge start from £184 for up to four people; from £223 in a two-bedroom lodge for up to six people. 

All prices are based on December breaks and are correct at time of writing. For more ideas and information visit www.pitchup.com.

-Ends-

For media information:

Contact Samantha Marsh or Jardine Howlett  at White Tiger PR

samantha.marsh@whitetigerpr.com 07711 265666

jardine.howlett@whitetigerpr.com 07866 508737

About Pitchup.com

Founded in 2009 by former lastminute.com man, Dan Yates, multi-award winning Pitchup.com is a free guide to all types of outdoor accommodation in the UK, Ireland, France, Spain, Italy, Germany, Portugal, Croatia, Luxembourg, Austria, Poland and Switzerland.  Pitchup.com, which currently lists over 5,800 sites, provides users with a simple platform in which they can search and book an outdoor holiday with total ease: the customer journey from landing on the homepage through to booking a holiday can be completed in as little as four pages.  The site also goes beyond traditional searches by allowing users to search for accommodation based on more than 80 criteria, such as adults only and campfires allowed, and view nearby events, Good Pub Guide pubs and VisitBritain attractions.  It’s also possible to check out water bathing water quality in the surrounding area with data provided by the European Environment Agency.  Users can also search on the offers page to find the best deals available.

In 2013 Pitchup.com became the first business of its type to launch a bookable mobile app and site, making the site easily accessible to users of mobile and tablet devices.  The mobile site, m.pitchup.com, now accounts for 21% of bookings.

Pitchup.com enables users to search for all types of parks and sites from the major brands right through to one-off campsites and unique outdoor accommodation options, which may not have previously had a web presence.

Awards include Best UK Travel Website of the Year at the British Travel Press Awards 2011, and most recently Best Travel / Leisure / Sports / Mobile Strategy / Campaign at the Marketing on Mobile Awards 2014.