UNTIL recently, I thought ‘glamping’ was another pointlessly annoying millennial quirk, rather like describing someone as “salty” or ending every sentence with the phrase: “Sorry, not sorry”.

The thought of holing up in a hessian wig-wam, which just happens to have wi-fi and USB chargers, seems a needless half-measure. Give me a budget hotel, a comfy bed and a reasonable buffet breakfast any day of the week.

It was at that point an invitation was extended by Samlesbury Hall to come and sample their new Shepherd’s Huts, set in the grounds of a historic 14th century stately home known nationally for being one of the most haunted sites in the UK.

Smashing, I thought, at the very least I can scare my kids.

According to Lonely Planet, camping is an activity on the comeback. Something about a generation which spends 50 per cent of its time glued to an iPhone or a laptop wants to get back to nature and redress the balance.

In keeping with that spirit, we made a short trip up the motorway towards the Ribble Valley hoping to spend a weekend sans Overwatch, Fortnite, Facebook and Twitter. Perhaps even the phone signal would fail, and Bolton Wanderers would be unable to contact me!

The huts themselves look very compact from the outside but comfortably hold a double bunk bed, a little seating area, and an en-suite bathroom with shower. All pretty smart and ideal for a crash-pad if you happened to be visiting the hall for a wedding.

My boys stayed in an adjoining wooden pod, containing two single beds, which suited them fine.

Between huts and pods was a nice family picnic area, where we were also given a ‘fire pit kit’ to burn logs and roast marshmallows. Not exactly Bear Grylls, but 100 per cent more wholesome than “Netflix and chill”.

Saturdays at Samlesbury Hall can be quiet, especially if there is a wedding on, so it is best to check ahead to make sure all the amenities are open.

We started the day with a first class breakfast, packed with locally-sourced products, then after a walk around the beautiful grounds – and a chat to resident Kune pigs Elvis and Ozzie - we had a short drive up to the coast.

The following day things were livelier. We had a look around the Bee and Heritage Centre, meeting the delightful Amy, who gave us an interesting talk about her hive-dwelling mates and also some good tips on how to solve hay-fever.

As someone who suffers terribly at certain times of the year, I’d highly recommend some of the delicious products on offer – especially the wildflower honey which, touch wood, has done the trick for me.

Lunchtime was a real treat. The menu is again packed with local dishes, and I can heartily recommend the seafood platter and slow-cooked brisket of beef with Lancashire cheese mash.

The waiter also insisted the main course went well with a bottle of Moorhouse’s ale, a sacrifice I was willing to make in the interests of research.

For those with a sweeter tooth, Dottie’s Wafflery boasts it is a first of its kind in England – a claim I was rather press-ganged into examining.

Desserts are not really my thing, but I am very much in the minority in my clan.

And hats off to them. It is difficult to impress my 13-year-old, whose peaks of emotional high and low have been homogenised by hundreds of hours of YouTube.

And if you have seen a video of a man eating a car tyre, how worked up can you really get about a waffle?

But even he managed an approving nod and grin as a monstrous pudding was served up, dripping in ice cream, toppings and sauces too plentiful to mention.

Although we missed the official tour, there was still time for a another walk around the grounds to work off some of those calories.

Crazy golf was on offer, but at that stage it seemed too strenuous an exercise.

Samlesbury Hall has all sorts of themed evenings and tours, some of which examine the more nefarious details of the area’s past and the infamous White Lady, who is still one of the most reported ghost sightings around. If witches and warlocks are your thing, there’s plenty here to get your ghoul-on.

I never did get to scare my kids. Although the thought that they had existed for two whole days without any form of electronic communication or gaming did bring both out in a cold sweat on the drive back home.

At less than an hour’s drive from my doorstep and with plenty more to explore, I doubt it will be the last time I visit.

Such was the fun had at Samlesbury Hall, I might just carry on glamping. One might even say I am ‘woke’. Yeah, I went there (sorry not sorry).