November is our quiet month but it has also given us time to enjoy with our own family.
It’s now winter 2021 and boy have we been busy at Glenshee Glamping - both hosting our lovely guests but also continuing to make huge improvements to the park.
.… but at least we now know what a winter at Glenshee Glamping looks and feels like, last season the snow was amazing, so deep and perfect for skiing, but so frustrating the ski resort and ourselves were not able to open! Fingers crossed for more great snow this Winter as we have just started working with a local ski hire and snow school and are able to offer some great deals if you stay with us.
November is our quiet month and has now become known as maintenance November but it has also given us time to enjoy with our own family. Our kids are all growing fast and have fallen in love with our little piece of paradise, our one-year-old likes nothing more than pulling on her wellies and getting in the thick of it. Slightly unusual but one of her first words was Llama or Llamia as she says!
Make sure you look out for offers for returning customers
Since reopening after the second COVID lockdown ended we have welcomed so many wonderful visitors and have received such amazing reviews, they really do motivate us to do our best in creating a place that you all want to come too. So, a huge thank you to you all! Make sure you look out for offers for returning customers…….
So where were we, we had renovated the wash block and the Bothy, the accommodations had a lick of paint and furnishings replaced but we did not stop there!
Both our shepherds' huts and Mulberry Cabin have had new steps and decking areas created improving access and outside space, a particular favourite of ours is the amazing new decked area outside the Goods Wagon, we like to call it the Gin Deck as it is perfect for enjoying a cold drink as the sun sets behind the stunning views across the glen!
Our large hot tub area has also had a huge transformation and it now sits on an extra-large private decked platform overlooking the glen with covered seating and changing area – this is a real family favourite!
We are just about to lay a new floor in the Bothy to complete its transformation and Tummelberry hut has been stripped out and is getting a whole new look, creating more space and will be furnished with two double beds.
We had the diggers in again with 80 tonnes of gravel laid for new pathways making it safer and easier to get around the site.
The sink shack has been built on the side of the wash block to add additional washing up facilities and a freezer for campers to keep their ice blocks cold and we have opened an additional 2 new toilets.
A big focus for us is improving our spaces for children
A big focus for us is improving our spaces for children and obviously we can’t forget the animals, are there more? of course there’s more!
It all started with a chat over coffee with a neighbour…. “um, I was thinking of getting more goat’s to keep McGoaty company.” Next thing you know I get a call, “Hi, Helena, I live just up the road (this could be anywhere in a 6-mile radius here!) and I’ve heard you’re looking for some goats, I’ve got 2 for sale?”
Fantastic, so 6 weeks later we welcomed 3 beautiful Toggenburg goats to the homestead! If you want to know why we ended up with 3…..well, there was a lesson there in not taking your 8-year-old with you to choose farm animals! Heidi, Waffle and George have really settled in now and are a fantastic addition, they are a huge hit with kids and adults alike as they are so friendly and enjoy nothing more than being petted or fed handfuls of grass.
This escapade also resulted in three new paddocks being made, which delighted the llamas, and we now have a half-eaten Christmas tree right in the middle of one paddock as it became their new favourite snack!
As well as more chickens to roam free and keep the camp supplied with delicious fresh eggs, we also welcomed Ken and Dolly, two white call ducks, they are the friendliest ducks you will ever meet and can be found hanging out at reception or on the pond, if you say hi to them, they will usually follow you around quacking happily as they go. As they are hopefully a breeding pair that never leave each other’s side we are looking forwards to having lots of little baby ducklings in 2022!
The pond is still a work in progress as plant life will take some time in the spring to grow, it is positioned in the meadow surrounded by wildlife, so all going well, will start to flourish next year!
The Donkeys and llamas are doing well in their retirement, fit and happy! Right, so as we mentioned before llamas were not in our skill set, funnily enough there’s not many who do have it, not locally anyway! So, after six months of let’s get to know each other and some serious reading up on camelids, shearing day came around!
Brad was left with some, what can only be described as flares, Atticus with a mullet
This day has gone down as one of my most memorable, 4 of us were involved none of which had any experience with llamas, so they all received some interesting hair do’s! Brad was left with some, what can only be described as flares, Atticus with a mullet, only Jet who went last seemed to end up with anything near even. It was a learning experience, funny and hugely rewarding. (Llamas were haltered only during shearing, remained standing having received a mild sedation from a vet who remained present throughout.)
Huge news for the kids, our natural play area will be open for 2022, its’ back to simpler things, grass mounds to roll down, tunnels to climb through, rocks to climb over, tractor tyres to explore and a bountiful supply of sticks and branches to build your own den and much more, mostly involving mud!
So, did we make the right decision moving to glorious Highland Perthshire and starting our own hospitality business during a global pandemic? Of course we did!!!!
Helena & Nathan x
My husband and I have been going to Glenshee since 2017 whilst it was under previous ownership. We have been fortunate enough to have seen the changes and improvements implemented by Nathan and Helena over the last few years and they are as much a reason to book as the facilities provided. They are two of the loveliest people who have put so much time and effort in to giving the space a new lease of life & it has paid off. The showering facilities have been greatly improved & the additions of a play area & additional family activities has been a much welcomed one. There is so much to utilise in terms of activities and extra space to use, the Bothy is super cosy and welcoming with the rustic vibe that you would expect & appreciate in a glamping experience. We have stayed in the Tummelberry Hut, Blackberry Hut and the cosy glamping pods and have utilised additional services including bedding packs & the hot tub. Both huts are spacious, comfortable and presented beautifully, with lovely amenities that make it feel like a home away from home, but that’s how it has always felt at Glenshee Glamping. More recently we have enjoyed the cosy glamping pods & have found this suitable for our needs, the pods are big enough to move freely and comfortably & cosy enough to relax and feel rejuvenated. The hot tubs are a great addition to the site and are super easy to keep heated, we were well informed on how to use ours & were both able to lie comfortably and relax. Glenshee is somewhere we found and booked randomly 8 years ago and now it has provided us the opportunity for escapism, relaxation and reconnection. It is the perfect getaway for anyone and I will never stop recommending it. Rooms: 5/5Service: 5/5Location: 5/5 Hotel highlights Great view, Romantic, Quiet, Child-friendly, Great value
Allanah Rae | Feb 2025 | Google
A perfect place to take a break from everyday life and recharge your batteries. The atmosphere and views of the Highlands are beautiful and Helena and Nathan and their family are the perfect hosts who will do anything to ensure you relax. Our children were out and about on the premises all day and spent time with the many animals and other children. Close by there are many opportunities for outdoor activities such as hiking through the wild Highlands and fishing.
Jonas Hackl | May 2023 | Google Review