FANCY a break in the great outdoors but the thought of pitching a tent sends shivers down your spine? If, like me, you love the idea of camping but need a shower and a proper bed to survive, then a glamping pod may be the answer. 7 The glamping pods are quiet and private 7 The golden sands of Cayton Bay, just minutes from the camp site 7 We take winding path down to Cayton beach Thankfully you can get the best of both worlds at Experience Freedom’s Cayton Village on the beautiful North Yorkshire coast. We arrived at the park on Friday evening and were impressed by how neatly landscaped and spaciously laid out it was.
As well as pitches for caravans and tents, we spotted the quaint mini village of glamping pods, huts and yurts nestled in the middle. We were staying in the largest of the lot — a glamping cabin, with all the creature comforts you could ask for and more than enough space for my wife Emma, daughter Millie, eight, and a three-month-old Isla. Read more in Travel WAND-ERFUL Huge new theme park opening in 2025 reveals fifth land based on Harry Potter SANDS GOOD UK’s longest beach has beachfront pubs and huge lagoon As you’d expect, the cabin is cleverly laid out, with no space wasted.
By day, we had a living room, with comfy corner sofa, flat screen TV and bright patio doors leading out to a covered deck, with tables and chairs for al fresco dining, and even a BBQ pit to cook up a few sausages. To the other side we had a well-equipped kitchen with oven, hobs, microwave and everything we needed to rustle up breakfast and dinner. At the back was the dining room and a bathroom with an absolute jetwash of a power shower.
Most read in Travel KEEP MUM Mum reveals the secret free airport playgrounds people don’t know about 'UNIQUE' Inside tiny Scots island dubbed 'hidden gem' with just 60 people & no cars ROUTE RAGE I travelled NC500 - spectacular scenery amazed me but locals are rightly angry SI YA! Inside lesser-known Italian town with uncrowded ancient temples and a 15km beach And upstairs — yes, you read that right, a glamping pod with two floors — was the mezzanine with a double bed and cute window. As soon as we arrived, Millie raced up the stairs and claimed her bed. There’s not a huge amount of headroom, but it’s perfect for kids and she absolutely loved her little crow’s nest.
And when it was time for us to go to bed, things got even more clever. The dining table folded up and slotted into a perfectly fitting gap opposite. Then with a few twists of a bolt, down came a wall with a deep double bed hiding behind it.
In the living room, the cushions on the sofa stack to the side and up pops another bed. This place was like a Swiss Army Knife home. After a comfortable and peaceful night’s sleep, Millie raced out to play on the swings in the playpark as the campsite started coming to life.
Just a stone’s throw away is stunning Cayton Bay, with its deep arcing beach, surf school and unspoiled sands. Cutting down through the cliffside and a very steep path takes you down to the shoreline. As we arrived, there were already plenty of surfers out in the shallows trying to catch a wave, and families dotted across the beach making a day of it.
We managed to get the kite up and Millie spent a happy hour running up and down the water’s edge splashing around, while Isla slept soundly in her pram. After a strenuous push back up the hill, we jumped in the car and grabbed some fish and chips from a brilliant place just down the road. It was our first time in this part of England, but the coast is studded with an abundance of great beaches and things to do with Filey and Scarborough only a short drive away.
Further inland, villages like Pickering and Helmsley offer quintessential English pubs and cute shops to wander around. We managed a day trip to Scarborough, spent a few hours in the arcade and the town’s world famous joke shop, before grabbing Sunday lunch at a great pub, The Plough, in nearby Scalby. Cayton Village was a fantastic base to explore the whole area and we absolutely loved it.
Read more on the Scottish Sun 'They should be embarrassed', say NC500 locals as council slammed after TV show POP-ULAR RETURN Popular Scots fizzy drink set to return after years off the shelves And as long as there are no tents or sleeping bags, I’ll definitely go glamping again. 7 The cabins offer al fresco dining 7 Millie enjoyed playing on the beach with her kite 7 The shower is amazingly powerful 7 Hiding behind the wall is a comfy double bed GO: YORKSHIRE BOOK Cayton Village’s glamping pods, from £49 a night, and yurts, from £59 a night, sleep two adults and two children. Glamping cabins sleep up to four adults with two children and start at £69 a night.
There’s a summer sale on now with savings of up to £200 per booking. See experiencefreedom.com .
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