Camping in winter? Try a yurt or tipee

From a romantic weekend in a sleeping bag, plus a very good reason to go to Brussels and the best places to see the northern lights, here's all you need for a getawayI want to take my new girlfriend away for a romantic weekend camping, but most sites seem to shut for the winter. Any suggestions? Gerry, DerbyshireYes. Don't do it! Even the most committed tent-head will pack away their pegs come October. This is Britain, not California, so unless you want your new girlfriend to become an ex, I suggest you reconsider. But if you have your heart set on snuggling down in a sleeping bag for two, upgrade to a yurt or tipi ? preferably one with a woodburning stove. There are a handful of sites offering four-season camping in pre-erected tents for hardy souls. I like the look of Jolly Days (jollydaysluxurycamping.co.uk) in Yorkshire, which offers luxury tents kitted out with stoves, four-poster beds, en suite toilets and hot showers. Enjoy a hot toddy by the campfire as you watch the stars. Alternatively, check out the glampsites on canopyandstars.co.uk. The Big Sky Retreat in Devon offers accommodation in a beautiful wooden "yurt", giving you the back-to-nature experience you clearly crave, but with the insulation of solid walls and floors. It's not technically camping, but in October that has to be a good thing, right?Take me there: BrusselsThe world premiere of The Adventures of Tintin will be the most exciting thing to happen to the Belgian capital since? um, ever, really. Spielberg brings the cartoon hero with the trademark quiff to the big screen on 22 October so it's a good time to check out the city's comic-strip heritage. The Belgian Comic Strip Centre (comicscenter.net) has a fine collection of original artwork, but serious Tintinologists should take the train to Louvain-La-Neuve, home to the Herg� Museum (museeherge.com). The city's walls and buildings are decorated with huge cartoon murals which you can discover on a Comic Strip Trail (pick up a map at the tourist office).Three of the best places to see the northern lightsThe aurora borealis is about to enter its most active period for the next 50 years. Here's three ways to ensure you get a front-row seat for the showAbisko National Park, Sweden Clear air and cloud-free skies. Take the chairlift to the Aurora Sky Station for the best vantage point (sunvil.co.uk/discovery)Kielder Water and Forest Park, Northumberland Sign up for Kielder Observatory's "aurora night" and learn all about it. You may even see it (�8pp, kielderobservatory.org)Nellim, Finland Join an "aurora chasing tour". Based in Lake Inari, this five-day trip uses snowmobiles, husky sleds and snowshoes to hunt the lights (theaurorazone.com)Joanne O'Connorguardian.co.uk © 2011 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds

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