How Childhood Camping in Cromer Inspired The Grove Glamping
Me and my siblings camping in the garden
This photo shows me — Ruth — at the front, camping in our garden at The Grove with my four siblings. Judging by his face, my eldest brother Richard wasn’t entirely thrilled about sharing a tent with his younger brother and sisters… but for us, those summer nights under canvas were some of the happiest memories of our childhood in Cromer.
I grew up at The Grove in Cromer, where my parents, John and Ann Graveling, ran the hotel. Summers on the North Norfolk coast were magical. Our nearly four-acre garden became our adventure zone: climbing on the play area my brothers built, spending long days on Cromer Beach, and making friends with visiting families who returned year after year.
And every summer, we would camp in the garden. I still remember the distinctive smell of our old white tent as we pulled it from its bag — slightly musty, a bit mouldy, but full of promise. It wasn’t luxury, but it gave us freedom, laughter, and memories that shaped my childhood.
Growing up here gave me the best start in life: amazing parents, a big lively family, acres of space, and the whole of Cromer as my playground. Now, watching my own children explore the woods, beach and gardens, I realise just how special this part of North Norfolk is for families.
Those memories are a huge part of what inspired me to create The Grove Glamping. I wanted other families — and now couples too — to experience the same sense of freedom, connection and adventure that shaped my childhood. Back then, we didn’t have a swimming pool or the Sundown restaurant, but we had endless space to roam and plenty of imagination.
Today, we’ve swapped my dad’s old tent for luxury Mongolian yurts and a Shepherd’s Lodge with a hot tub, but the ethos is the same:being outdoors, enjoying time together, and creating unforgettable memories on the North Norfolk coast.
If anything, The Grove Glamping is my way of sharing the joy of my childhood with every family and couple who stays with us — continuing a story that began in a well-loved, slightly mouldy tent many summers ago.