Highlights From 2019 – A Happy, Settled Year Full Of Adventure & Gratitude

December 27, 2019 Shell Robshaw-Bryan

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It’s that time of year again, when I look back over the last 12 months and choose some of my highlights and talk candidly about the year I’ve had on a more personal level.

8 photos that sum up 2019…

Looking back at my review of 2018 it’s immediately clear that it was not only a difficult, but also a lonely year for me. Ever positive though, I dealt with all the change in a healthy way that helped me cope and thrive even though life was far from perfect.

After a couple of tough years in a row, I had a feeling that 2019 would be better, and I was right.

I was sad to miss the annual Outdoor Bloggers weekend, and I feel like I did barely any camping, in fact, I think I went on just 6 camping trips this year! That said, I managed to fit a lot of glamping in, did plenty of overseas travel and had several lovely long weekends away.

The highlight of my year had to be the incredible summer camping trip I went on with my daughter and a large group of dear friends though, which culminated in a surprise wedding proposal at my favourite campsite at sunset overlooking the sea.

Yep, 2019 has been a good one!

Brereton Heath Nature Reserve in Cheshire — *Wild Awake Mindfulness meditation walk in Manchester*

1. A group meditation walk with Wild Awake Mindfulness

I was keen to make plans and to get out on my own and kicked off the new year by booking myself a group meditation walk in Manchester. It was freezing cold and grey, but I loved every second of it and have since been to more Wild Awake events.

Read all about the Wild Awake Mindfulness walk.

The morning view — *Shepherd’s hut glamping in Shropshire*

2. A solo glamping and walking weekend in Shropshire

I stayed in an adorable Shepherd’s hut at Castle Farm Holidays in Shropshire. It was such a lovely location and I had the most amazing weekend exploring the local area on foot, which included a walk up to the beautiful Castell Dinas Brân (Crow Castle) in Llangollen.

Read about my cosy shepherd’s hut glamping weekend.

Whitemead Forest Park Glamping Pods — *Glamping at Whitemead Forest Park*

3. Glamping at Whitemead Forest Park

When I was invited to stay at Whitemead Forest Park I was planning on going alone, by then however, I’d met and fallen in love with the man I’m now engaged to and planning to marry in 2021. The break was a wonderful way to spend more time together in a beautiful setting and we spent plenty of time exploring the local area.

Read about our weekend of glamping & walking at Whitemead Forest Park.

*Our Unity Ceremony on the beach at Cae Du in Wales*

4. A marriage proposal whilst camping with friends at my favourite campsite

If I had to pick just one highlight from the year, then our annual friends camping trip to Cae Du campsite in July would be it.

It’s always amazing getting to spend quality time with close friends, and this year, our camping trip was made even more memorable as we chose to have a unity ceremony down on the beach. Later that evening as we watched the sun setting over the sea my boyfriend proposed to me. I know right!

Read about our Unity Ceremony and a surprise wedding proposal.

Solo Snowboarding Holiday in La Plagne France — *Solo snowboarding in La Plagne, France*

5. A solo snowboarding trip to the Alps

I agonised over this decision for months, but with no friends or family in a position to head to the slopes with me, I finally went for it and booked my first ever solo snowboarding trip.

I won’t lie, worrying about mountain navigation on my own spiked my anxiety levels, but I had the most incredible time and would do it again in a heartbeat (if we didn’t now have a wedding to save for!)

Read about my solo snowboarding holiday in La Plagne.

Charnwood Forest Alpacas Derbyshire — *Walking Alpacas with my daughter*

6. Taking an alpaca for a walk

For Christmas last year one of the gifts I bought my daughter was an Alpaca trekking experience, which I booked for myself too thinking it would give us the chance to have nice, albeit unusual day out together.

We learned lots whilst we were there and fell in love with the adorable alpacas at Charnwood Forest Alpacas.

Read about our Charnwood Forest alpaca walk.

Lifeventure Kibo 25 RFiD Travel Backpack — *Hiking at Pucks Glen in Scotland*

7. A long weekend at Easter in Scotland

It’s now a firm tradition of mine to spend Easter up in Scotland for a few days of walking up mountains and paddling on lochs. When I booked my Easter break I was planning to go alone, it turned out that I had excellent company and we meditated in the forest and visited the beautiful Pucks Glen, somewhere I’ve been wanting to go for many years.

Sunelia camping South of France 2019 — *Chilling out in the sunshine in the South of France*

8. A week on a campsite in the South of France

We spent a week in a luxury static holiday home in the glorious South of France in the same area I used to holiday in as a child.

We had the most amazing time and are hoping to go back this year with the whole family!

Read all about our South of France holiday here.

Thank You and Happy New Year!

All that remains is for me to wish you all a very happy new year and to thank you for continuing to support what I do here on Camping with Style.

I hope that 2020 brings you adventures and oodles of happiness!

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Shell Robshaw-Bryan

Editor & Owner at Camping with Style

Shell loves all things travel and outdoors and is a nature-loving, comfy-camping kinda girl. Shell started the Camping with Style blog after a serious snowboarding accident which left her with a broken back. Despite this she used the outdoors and healing power of nature to aid her recovery and she continues to spend time outdoors whenever she can.

From open water swimming, snowboarding and kayaking to hill walks and meditation, Shell shares her travels and microadventures here on the blog and in various publications she's written for, Shell has a particular interest in promoting wellbeing and the many benefits of nature therapy.

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