The Reluctant Explorers: Yorkshire Walking With Kids

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Kingfisher Lakes Glamping

Kingfisher Lakes Glamping

(AD/ PR trip in collaboration with Visit East Yorkshire.)

Wow. What an absolute GEM of a place! If you are looking for an East Yorkshire glamping experience that offers luxury, family friendly activities, water sports and more, then l can thoroughly recommend Kingfisher Lakes Glamping!

Located in the village of Brandesburton near Beverley, this stunningly peaceful spot is just PERFECT for a getaway. Surrounded by two stunning Lakes, there are not only glamping tents, but yurts and top end luxury log cabins too (with a log burner heated hot tub…..I mean, who doesn’t love a hot tub?!) so there is a broad range of glamping options available to suit your every glamping desire!

But it’s not just a family friendly glamping spot. Oh no! Kingfisher Lakes also offer some romantic retreats (set back from the family area…… because there’s not much romance in getting blasted by a water pistol whilst sipping on your champagne cocktail!!) so if you want to get away without the kids, make sure you go check it out!

Jo is an amazing host. She could not do any more for you during your stay! From the amazing welcome to the wonderful goodbye, she is on hand to help you out if you need her!

So go on. If I’ve got you at the first paragraph, then tap here for the link to Kingfisher Lakes Glamping.

And for more info…. keep on reading!

What’s great for families at Kingfisher Lakes?

Erm…… All of it!

We were lucky to stop in Swallows Snug, one of the Glamping Tents which overlooked one of the Lakes. Kingfisher Lakes has two of them, one is designated as a nature Lake, the other, a KAYAKING LAKE!

And my word the kids were OBSESSED! And I’ll admit, SO WAS I!!!!

You get the option to hire a Kayak for the duration of your stay at Kingfisher Lakes, and we highly recommend that you do. You can head out as many times as you like, at any time of day (until nightfall) and lifejackets are provided. The prices range between £40 - £60 dependant on the length of your stay, and there are different types available to suit you and your family.

Top Tip? You will get soggy with all the splashing, so either pack extra clothes, swimwear or a wetsuit!

Jo and the family have really covered all the bases and have provided outdoor games for the kids to play with too!

There are also some lovely nature walks around the Lakes, where you can spot kingfishers (on the nature lake) deer in the surrounding fields or maybe even the resident owl! The middle of the village is also within walking distance (around a couple of miles) and there is a fab play area there, with plenty of equipment to play on.

The glamping tent

So what’s it like in Swallow’s Snug?

Our tent had two bedrooms a double and a bunk (single over double), with a living area, complete with futon and super cosy log burner.

The tent is furnished with all the bedding, blankets and cushion requirements you could possibly need! Oh, and of course an absolute glamping staple…. Bunting and fairy lights! Because this is GLAMPING baby!!! There are handy hooks to hang your clothes, and little shelves to pop your bits and bobs on, along with mirrors too.

Each tent has a fridge with freezer compartment, a little ‘worktop’ space, and we had a kettle too along with all the cutlery, plates, bowls, cups and mugs you need for your stay.

The tents are hooked up to electricity, fully lit and have plug sockets to charge your devices or whatever you decide to do!  

The firewood and lighting equipment is free and is available from the store by the shed of dreams (more about that in a bit)  

You can also have a firepit and BBQ (although we weren’t able to grab a firepit during our stay, because of the tinder dry conditions when we visited thanks to the recent heatwave.)

This is the lowdown on our tent, but there are larger and smaller options available so head to the Kingfisher Lakes website to find out more.

What are the facilities like at Kingfisher Lakes?

Brilliant.

There is a shared shower and toilet block that is equipped with everything you could possibly need. 2 toilets, 2 showers, toilet steps for the little ones, a hairdryer and it is super warm too! Everything was immaculately clean and you really couldn’t ask for more in shared facilities.

The shared kitchen facilities are equally as well equipped. The area has a covered seating area, with two large tables and benches. There is everything you could need, hobs, a kettle, sink with washing up equipment, fridge, and extra cutlery and crockery. The family who run Kingfisher Lakes are potato farmers, so you might even be lucky like us and have a sack of fresh potatoes to pick from too!

There is also the ‘shed of dreams’. We didn’t know what else to call it, but it felt appropriate because there is everything you need in there! Outdoor games for the kids to play, firewood baskets and all the bits you need to light a fire, local walks and information, colouring sheets and pencils and even an umbrella if you need it…… Jo and the crew have really thought it all out, and it’s always the little touches that make a holiday extra special!

What if I want to eat out?

Then you are in luck! Because Brandesburton is home to Bert’s pizzeria as well as pubs, takeaways, shops and more! All within a 2 (ish) mile walk from Kingfisher Lakes (or a 5 minute drive).

As part of our stay at Kingfisher Lakes, we paid a visit to Bert’s Pizzeria, which was a brilliant family friendly place to eat, with tasty pizza, pasta and more!

Positioned on the edge of another lake in Brandesburton, you can enjoy a gelato with a peaceful view across the water. Brilliantly friendly, and super tasty (a clean plate is always a good measure of just how scrummy the food is) we would wholeheartedly recommend this as a must visit during your stay at Kingfisher Lakes.

Where can I visit with the kids from Kingfisher Lakes?

East Yorkshire is packed full of family friendly places to visit, and with the seaside town of Hornsea being only a 20 minute drive away, there is so much to fill your time! Hornsea is home to some award winning sandy beaches, with a traditional seaside vibe and some world class fossil hunting. There is a splash pool, arcades and more! We would thoroughly recommend fish and chips from Whiteheads, which is just a 20 minute walk from the seafront (or less than 5 minutes in the car).

During our stay, we paid a visit to William’s Den, which was a MASSIVE hit with the kids. Yup. I couldn’t get them to leave! An indoor and outdoor play area, as well as a café and pizzeria with a massive range of ice cream, there is plenty to pack a day full of fun. This is located in North Cave, about a 30 minutes drive from Kingfisher Lakes.

We also paid a visit to Sledmere House and Gardens, which is home to a gorgeous rare breed farm park, stunning walled gardens, a deer park, stately home and during the Summer of 2022, the maize maze and outdoor games! They also have some delicious deli treats available from their farm shop, so you can take some tasty treats back the to Kingfisher Lakes, or you can eat in their fabulous cafe (which serves delicious light bites!) This is a 30 minute drive from Kingfisher Lakes.

William’s Den play area

Fancy a wander? Why not check out some of the Yorkshire Wolds Way walking routes? We headed on part of the Wolds Way and went geocaching in Market Weighton, a super little loop taking in some gorgeous Yorkshire Wolds views! You can tap the link to the Wolds Way website to find the route we took. This is a 20 minute drive from Kingfisher Lakes.

Or maybe bird spotting is up your street? RSPB Bempton Cliffs is 40 minutes away, where you can spot an incredible array of seabirds, and during the late spring early summer, puffins too! In Summer 2022 they are running an explorer trail around the cliffs and nature reserve. A great way to spend the day!

The spectacular heritage coastline is also just up the road from Kingfisher Lakes. We love the sea caves and rockpools of North Landing Beach in Flamborough, which is just over 30 minutes away. Weather dependant, you can also take a boat tour of the many sea caves that area scattered along the beautiful coastline.

Puffin mad? Then in the Summer of 2022, the Puffins Galore trail is running the length of the East Yorkshire Coastline, and give you the chance to collect all the artistically created puffins as you go! Download the Puffins galore app to start collecting!

Got any questions? Here are some answers!

What do I need to bring?

Food and drinks. You won’t need any cutlery, bowls etc. the site have you covered, but you will need to bring anything else you need. Or head to Brandesburton where there is a local store.

For the evenings, we recommend you bring a game or two. The site has Wifi and patchy 3G/ 4G but if you want to watch a film or anything like that, download it before you go, as the strength isn’t sufficient to do it there.

There is outdoor seating in the glamping tents, but if you want to sit anywhere else, you might want to bring a camping chair. We brought ours but never used them though!

Extra clothing or swimwear if you choose to hire a Kayak.

Towels for the shared bathroom.

Flip flops are always handy (or wellies if it’s been wet!)

Is there Wifi?

Yes! Although do download everything before you arrive, as the strength isn’t sufficient to do it there.

Can I park the car near the tent?

The car park is right next to most of the glamping tents/ yurts/ lodges.

Well do YOU have any more questions?

Fire them off in the comments!