FIRSTLY, an apology.

Apparently, I confused my mum when I said we were staying in a safari tent for a long weekend, wires got crossed and she seemed to think we were bedding down for the night between the lions and the monkeys at Blairdrummond.

Thankfully, no grandchildren were harmed in the making of this review, which actually involved a relaxing few days' 'glamping' in a beautiful part of Perthshire, in the grounds of Scone Palace and right next door to Perth racecourse.

Ready Camp launched its version of hassle-free camping here in 2015 and you can see the attraction, as the pre-pitched tents literally come with everything but the kitchen sink.

Here we had a dining table, toaster, kettle, lamps and overhead lights, fridge with freezer compartment, microwave, free wifi, sockets to charge those all-important i-Pads, lest the kids actually have to speak to us, we even had a sofa.

Scone is just over a George Ezra CD's drive from Dunfermline – the girls insist on playing it everywhere we go – so while there are 47 Ready Camp locations around the UK, and another two north of the border at Loch Lomond and Culzean Castle in Ayrshire, the short trip suited us just fine. And I'm not sure I could take much more George right now.

Our pretty smiling people were alright together in Perthshire and as a place to unwind and relax, while still enjoying the great outdoors and some lovely walks down by the river, or up to the palace, it was perfect.

When I was a boy on our first family holiday, with four kids sleeping top-to-tail in a space even the most optimistic of estate agents would describe as 'small', my idea of glamorous camping would have been a night's sleep without my brother's feet in my face.

Some of these memories came flooding back as we took our three on their first camping trip, and boy were they spoiled.

For inept adults such as myself, it's sheer relief that the tent is already up.

No stumbling around with ropes and pegs in the pouring rain, wondering which end of canvas goes where and trying not to swear while children point out helpfully you're doing it all wrong.

Our nine-year-old likened our glamping home to the Weasley's tent in a Harry Potter film, which looked small and ordinary from the outside but upon unzipping the door was a place of wonder, plush and spacious inside.

We had a comfy double bed, bunk beds for the kids, even a two-ring hob to warm the soup up and boil the pasta. You only need to bring bedding and towels.

There's even a little heater to take the chill off at night and a designated spot, well away from the tent obviously, for a barbecue.

We sat on the covered decking, cold drink in hand while the sun went down and we watched the kids climb, slide and swing at the little playpark. It was idyllic.

My dad used to stand outside our tent on holiday and puff away on a foul-smelling cigar to keep the flying insects, and everyone else, away but there was no need for a Tony Soprano impression here as we weren't bothered by midges.

Maybe they didn't get past the security barrier.

It's a very well-equipped site, clean and neat, friendly staff, there's also a shop, recreation room and books, CDs and games you can borrow.

OK, we didn't have any running water in the tent, you get a canteen and there are places to fill and wash up, and the toilet and shower block was 100 yards away, but amid all that comfort you still need some authentic camping experiences.

Those canny folk even provide a few torches for that 'midnight express' to the facilities when you've had a drink or four.

l Prices start from £40 a night based on a minimum three-night stay (Friday-Monday). Tents sleep up to six, maximum four adults.

Ready Camp is part of the Camping and Caravanning Club and the 47 glamping locations are found on its sites. The club is 120-years-old, has more than 100 sites and membership hit a record high this summer with more than 750,000 people.