Britain's best glamping site? This Yorkshire luxury yurt has its very own hot tub
Mention ‘UK glamping’ and you get a mixed response.
The camping phenomenon (‘glamour’ + ‘camping’) has really caught on in recent years, combining creature comforts with the rugged appeal of a rural getaway.
Experienced, outdoorsy holidaymakers say it’s cheating. Camping, after all, should be back-to-basics sleeping under the stars.
But for the less adventurous, more hotel-inclined, it’s a happy medium which might tempt them into an al fresco break.
And in one hidden corner of West Yorkshire, there’s a glamping experience so idyllic, it’s sure to appeal to everyone.
Yahoo Style spent the weekend in The Rowan Yurt, on a farm in Hepworth, just outside Huddersfield.
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Billed as a ‘romantic retreat’ for two, it’s an ideal introduction to outdoor living thanks to some superb luxury add-ons.
There’s underfloor heating inside the extremely roomy circular canvas tent, as well as a cute attached kitchen hut and a generous decking area outside.
The wonderfully isolated yurt even boasts a roomy bathroom with a walk-in shower – so no trudging across fields at sunrise with your towel and toothbrush.
The star of the show sits just outside – your very own hot tub.
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You read that right. Tucked neatly in the corner is your very own private pool of luxury, normally reserved for spas or pricey gyms.
Sipping prosecco at sundown as the bubble jets soothe your aches and pains, you’re a million miles from the average outdoor holiday.
Who needs a TV and WiFi when you can while away summer nights like this?
The set-up is gloriously decadent, made even better by having the whole tub to yourself, surrounded by secluded woodland.
If you still haven’t unwound enough, there’s a swimming pool, sauna and steam room in the main farm building which guests are welcome to use by booking a time slot in advance.
Although wonderfully cut-off and picturesque, that yurt’s woodland location does present problems in the form of incessant midges – so don’t forget the insect repellant.
The yurt – one of two on the Uppergate Farm site – is designed for couples only, and there’s a strict policy on visitors, which is understandable when the selling point is private peace and quiet.
Yahoo Style visited the Town Yurt during the recent June heatwave, which although gloriously sunny, isn’t actually the optimal time of year for this ultimate clamping experience.
If you’re eyeing up a stay, your best bet is later in the year when it’s cooler, so you can take full advantage of the underfloor heating, the woodturner stove inside the yurt (which unsurprisingly, we didn’t touch), and said hot tub.
Make sure you throw in a bracing country walk around the spectacular Peak District or Yorkshire Dales, before refueling at one of the many excellent nearby pubs. We loved the Oil Can Cafe just down the road and the Butchers Arms, which handily is right next to the farm entrance.
Forget your preconceptions about outdoor holidays. This is the way to do it in style.
