Romantic camping - is this possible?

[anchovies]

It's our wedding anniversary in a couple of weeks and due to major house renovation we don't have a lot of spare cash. We weren't going to do anything this year but MIL is having the dcs and it feels like a shame to stay at home. Dh suggested we camp somewhere nice, walking distance to nice pubs/restaurants and somewhere with good walking/cycling. This isn't the kind of thing I normally like (we camp with the dcs but if I could choose I would be in a boutique hotel!)

Am I going to be disappointed and wish I hadn't bothered? Has anyone got any suggestions as to where we could go? We are in the North West but we like a drive so not too fussed on location.

[toddlerama]

It can be beautiful - we used to camp on our anniversary before the DDs. Bring candles, a bottle of port (or whatever), lots of blankets to put under your airbed (makes it nice and warm) and enjoy! We didn't use camp sites, but just hiked out into the woods. Lovely.

[PandaG]

we camp with the DC, and on years when money has been a bit tight we have had a couple of nights away in a tent on our own. TBH it has been lovely - walking, cycling, cooking 3 course dinners in a tent, sitting drinking tea or wine with a book or playing cards without the the kids.

For me it is about spending time with DH, not the where. (have to admit am really looking forward to small hotel 3 weeks today for my 40th birthday treat though!)

[Quodlibet]

We went here and it was AMAZING. We got a last-minute yurt and it was incredibly romantic. This place also has a camping field which is cheaper but also with kitchen/showers/fried breakfast if you want. There's a great pub/restaurant a couple of miles yomp down the road and of course hiking etc all around.

Camping can definitely be romantic!

[Suncottage]

yurts

[sighs]

[Pootles2010]

It can be lovely! It'll be easier without your dcs. If you can, don't take too much cooking stuff - we used to (pre ds) just take enough to make cup of tea in the morning and that was about it. Evening meals are in pubs/restaurants or bbq.

It can be really lovely watching the sun go down with a glass of wine.

Unfortunately as with all things camping you're a bit dependent on weather. Having said that, can be lovely snuggling down listening to the rain.

[OiMissus]

I recommend Ullswater in the Lake District. There's a really chilled out campsite at Patterdale at the water's edge (short walk to pub), and another campsite up the hill beyond the carpark at Glenridding (again short walk to nearest pub). You can walk up hills, around parts of the lake - or just chill out. I've swam in Ullswater before at the end of Summer from the little beach-type areas beyond the Patterdale campsite, so it might not be too cold - take your cozzy. Not sure about timimgs or anything but my partner bought a rod licence for the day and hired some fishing stuff whilst I swam around scaring the fish and laughing a lot - very romantic!).
Very important: forget sleeping bags! Take a blow up double mattress, pillows and duvets for some camping luxury and snuggles. Get some nice food to BBQ (prep some good stuff in advance), or alternatively take a couple of Pot Noodles and enjoy a dirty weekend! Have a great time. :)
(paper plates, plastic cutlery etc - wasteful yes, but everyone HATES washing up at campsites!)

[Blu]

Find a campsite that allows camping in woodland and campfires?
V romantic sitting by the fire, toasting things. Lots in Sussex, but not sure about the NW.

[Ephiny]

Ullswater is beautiful - we went in April though and it was freezing - you certainly wouldn't have got me swimming!

I think I know the campsite above Glenridding, right at the foot of Helvellyn so it could hardly be better walking country if you like that sort of thing. Camping there means you can set off early and have the place practically to yourselves, what could be more romantic! In fact, with no DCs, I'd be tempted to get up there and wild-camp for a night below Striding Edge :)

There are lots of nice places to eat in the village as well, just a short walk down the hill, and a good little shop.

[Ephiny]

Different sort of experience, but me and DP are going here next month, you might find it a bit basic though if you're a 'boutique hotel' sort of person. I think being tucked away in a little woodland glade with a campfire by a rushing stream sounds quite nice and romantic personally though.

[PandaG]

Ephiny, that site looks fantastic! Just the sort of thing DH amd I would love!

[anchovies]

Ooh thanks for all the ideas and enthusiasm! I am actually really excited now, my husband does a lot of open water swimming and had planned to do the triathlon at Helvellyn so Ullswater in particular sounds fab. I emailed about the beautiful yurts but they are all fully booked that weekend and the camping at the Welsh site closed the weekend before.

Is the site you're talking about in Glenridding this one? Sounds perfect for us as no advance booking so if the weather is rubbish we can just stay at home and watch dvds in bed instead!

I am busy compiling a list of things to take; red wine, cheese and fairy lights feature heavily!!

Thanks again :o

[Blu]

Gillside Farm Camping is right on Glenridding Beck, with an easy short stroll to the Glenridding shops, pubs and the lakeshore (over the road)

The first site OiMissus talks of is Side Farm in Patterdale, which is right on the lake shore, on the the other bank - a bit more isolated.

Both in great locations, really. At Side Farm your DH could walk straight from tent to lake, at Gillside you could climb Helvellyn from your tent without crossing a road.

[F1lthym1ndedvixen]

my DH gets very, erm, intense in tents

I'd give anything to go camping without 2 children centimetres away, divided by a cotton wall....

Hope you have a fantastic time !

[TobyLeWolef]

Yes. It's totally possible. Have fun!

[Theas18]

Watchthe lighting in tents too- turn it off before giving your neighbours a silhouette show!!

[Wants3]

We honeymooned in a tent and it was lovely. Enjoy!

[Thumbwitch]

Hope you mean tealights rather than fairy lights? as in candles rather than needs electricity!

I have to say, i only clicked on this thread to find out what the frigging hell "romamping" was. Don't know who coined that phrase but shooting is too good for them.

Hope you have a lovely time! take a nice big snuggly double duvet as well and get sleeping bags that will zip together to make a double.

[cardibach]

Don't know where you are, but this is near me in West Wales. Lovely: www.coldatnight.co.uk/

[Thumbwitch]

sorry, I know there are lots of ways to have electricity while camping, ignore me, I was just a but thrown by the whole "romamping" thing.

[PlentyOfPubgardens]

Both my DC were conceived in tents so perfectly possible

We stayed here in June and it was really lovely.

[F1lthym1ndedvixen]

Thumbwitch - battery-operated LED fairylights are the way forward :)

[Thumbwitch]

Sounds good Filthy! :)

[KnackeredOfLeeds]

It's all about the attitude you go with.. If you look on the positives of spending time together, peace and quiet.. even if it ends up pissing it down you could spend the afternoon in the pub reading the sunday papers and just chilling out.
My prob has always been setting my expectations too high and then being dissapointed as it wasn't as I hoped..

[themightyskim]

We love camping and have had some really romantic nights, setting off lanterns and making wishes after a lovely meal and wine and cheese etc was probably our most romantic night away ever, ended the night lying in the tent snuggled up watching the stars :) cant beat it