Let's go back to the start...

This is me (Ruth, at the front of the shot) and my four siblings camping in our garden when we were children. As you can tell by the photo, I'm not sure my oldest brother, Richard, was that impressed with the idea of spending the night under canvas with his younger brother and sisters, but generally these were very happy memories. My parents, John and Ann Graveling, would be running The Grove and so each summer we would spend the whole time in Cromer, which we loved. Lots of days in our nearly four acre garden playing on the play area which my brothers had made with their friends and long days on the beach. We would always spend some nights camping in the garden too. It's funny, as I write this, I can still remember the distinct smell of the old white tent as we took it out of the bag and put it up each time. You can probably see that it had suffered from a bit of mould over the years, but it seemed to work well. 

For me as a child, I had the best upbringing I could ask for - amazing parents, lots of siblings and guests who came back year after year with their young families, who became our friends. Cromer was, and still is, an amazing playground for children. I am realising that more and more now as my young children spend lots of time in Cromer. I guess one of the things that inspired me to set up The Grove Glamping was my amazing childhood and the fun I had living at The Grove. Back then we didn't have the swimming pool or cool Sundown restaurant, but we did have space to roam and play and enjoy running around and creating memories. 

We have upgraded my Dad's old tent for Mongolian Yurt's and a Shepherd's Lodge. But the same ethos is present - being outdoors, enjoying family, creating memories.