Jo’s Monthly Update – June
Hello, happy campers and glampers!
I’m your ever-enthusiastic campsite warden, back with another action-packed update from our little slice of paradise. Strap in, because this month has been wilder than an alpaca on a sugar rush – And that’s just the weather!
The most recent bank holiday weekend flowed seamlessly into the school half-term, bringing with it a tidal wave of teens and tiny tots and their exhausted parents. Howgill is a child’s paradise, especially in the Spring time when the site and the surrounding area is teeming with wildlife, from playful lambs to an abundance of bunnies (though our four-legged dog guests might find this a bit teasing) and of course lets not forget our resident mallards, who some of you may have had the pleasure of meeting. Our young explorers lose themselves in the bluebell woodland and tackle our brand-new self-built adventure trail. For older children and adults alike, Howgill is just the perfect place to switch off from school or work, kick a ball around on our football field, enjoy a back-to-nature experience and unwind around the firepit. The Half term Holidays gives us a teaser – taster of Summer and this year did not disappoint. Apart form the weather, which true to British form, has been all over the place. We’ve had 6 seasons in one week; thunderstorms with torrential downpours, followed by 30 degree sunshine, which has turned our little haven into a sizzling sauna leading to a mad rush on suncream! Unfortunately these conditions, mean the mosquitos are also out in force, one of the very few, if not only!?, downsides to our beautiful campsite location. Citronella candles, repellent and bug spray have been flying off the shelf – but don’t panic we are fully stocked!
Alpaca Antics
Our baby boy alpacas, (not really babies anymore!) have been up to their usual mischief. Most recently, they have been struggling to cool off and have busted a couple of water buckets and the paddling pool trying – Alfie, just hasn’t learnt how to share yet! We’ve now set up a sprinkler for them to enjoy a shower at their leisure.
Speaking of alpacas, our beloved lady Audrey, temporarily residing with the other girls over at our sister site, Catgill Farm gave birth to a beautiful baby girl – Alma. Cue the sleepless nights monitoring feeds and temperatures and constant field searches for alpaca poo (it’s a glamorous life, I tell you). We’re now eagerly awaiting the arrival of our second cria, so stay tuned for more baby alpaca updates!
Deals, Deals, Deals!
We were thrilled to announce some fantastic midweek deals in our Timber Lodges this month. We have 3 night stays from £379.99, 5 night stays from £499.99 and Children go Free throughout School Holidays, so if you haven’t taken advantage of these fantastic offers I’d get in quick. Whether you’re looking to escape the daily grind or just want to see an alpaca get soaked, there’s never been a better time to visit.
Sausage Sandwich Saga
In a tragic turn of events, we’ve retired the sausage sandwiches from our morning menu. It turns out they weren’t quite the hit we imagined. We’ve also regrettably decided to scale back the coffee shop hours for this season, now serving coffees and pastries 8.30 – 9.30am daily. But fear not, breakfast lovers! The Brownie Barn on Howgill Lane has got your back. They’re your one-stop shop for a sit-down breakfast, lunch, grab-and-go coffee, smoothies, shakes, and of course, delicious brownies. If you haven’t tried them already, I would highly recommend a visit. It really is dangerous residing so close to so much chocolaty goodness!
More exciting news for our guests! This month we’ve introduced mini bars in each of the timber lodges and we’re are also now selling beer and wine in our onsite camp shop (that forgotten essential!) This addition has been a tremendous hit (way more popular than sausage sandwiches!)
Prepping for Peak Season
As bookings are flooding in, we’re working tirelessly to prep everything for our busiest season yet. The gardening has been non-stop—trimming, planting, weeding, and mowing – It’s like a botanical boot camp out here! And we’re all crossing our fingers that the weather holds!
That’s all for this month, folks. Whether you’re heading over for a luxury weekend glamping or less luxurious weekend camping, we can’t wait to see you! Until next time, keep your wellies handy, your marshmallows toasted, and your spirits high!
Happy camping!
Warden Out!
