Review of Cornish Yurt Holidays

> For contact details and availability, see greentraveller's full listing for Cornish Yurt Holidays.

Review by Anna Shepard

In splendid isolation: Cornish Yurt Holidays

The rooms
Launched in 2001, Cornish Yurt Holidays was one of the first companies in the UK to offer accommodation in luxury yurts, enabling you to hold onto your creature comforts while still camping in secluded nature. Nine years on, yurts may have mushroomed across the UK, but Tim and Naomi Hutton, are still leading the field with their cluster of Mongolian inspired yurts, based outside Bodmin, in North Cornwall. As well as beautifully designed and hand-made (by Tim) from local wood, the yurts are erected in a remote spot.

Along with my mum and my 18 month old son, I was put up in Ash Field Yurt, perched at the top of a huge field with idyllic views over the Cornish countryside. Outside, there was a picnic bench for outdoor meals, a compost loo neatly tucked behind the yurt, and a bathroom and outside sink a minute's walk away, complete with a brilliantly designed wood-burning stove that heats a tank of water for the bath – the result being that you have to light the fire an hour or so before you want to bathe and then sit outside admiring the view while the tank heats up.

The cosy interiors of the yurtsInside, there were Mongolian embroideries setting the scene, a large double bed, a futon serving as another double and lots of space for a child’s cot. There was also a gas hob, a well equipped mini-kitchen and a wood-burning stove to keep us warm. The best things were the little touches - tea-light lanterns, gorgeous soft cotton sheets and a vase of flowers in the compost loo. My son loved the circular space inside the yurt, enabling him to feel constantly at the heart of everything.

The FoodWelcome cream tea and biscuits at Cornish Yurt Holidays
Apart from the cream tea waiting for us - another great touch - we were advised to bring our own provisions. Normally, there would be local fare – fruit, veg and meat – laid out on a table and an honesty box, but the season had barely started (the yurts are taken down for winter every year and only re-erected in April) so we missed the boat. There were basics such as teabags, coffee and olive oil in the yurt. We tried the local pub in the nearby village, St Breward, which was fine but nothing special.

The activities
From July until the end of the summer, Tim runs bushcraft courses that teach children and adults outdoor skills, such as lighting fires, wild cooking, bow making and wooden spoon making. For sea-lovers, the camp is 12 miles from the coast, where you can swim, walk or learn to surf. It's also only ten miles from the Eden Project, and if you’re keen on cycling, less than a mile away is the start of the Camel Trail, where bikes can be hired and there’s a cycle route which follows the river all the way to Padstow.

The newly designed Ig-loo is home to the yurt's compost toiletGreen accommodation
At the heart of the business is the couple’s considerable efforts to sustainably manage their 35 acres of woodland from preserving the bird and butterflies to supporting coppicing in the area by using local wood for the yurts. In terms of the holidays, the aim is to provide maximum comfort, but with minimal impact. There's solar energy devices everywhere - solar lanterns, photovoltaic panels and ambitious plans for solar-heated showers. Each yurt has its own compost toilet in a 'yurtlet' or in a newly designed Ig-loo (left) with a large comfy beech wood seat.

Top tip
Bring marshmallows for toasting on the open fire space outside each yurt. 

Getting there
The closest station is Bodmin Parkway, about ten miles away: Book your train ticket to Bodmin Parkway with First Great Western. The owners can order you a taxi from the train station or you should find one lurking outside the station. Here are a few local taxi companies: Parkway: tel. 01208 77340; Parnells: tel. 01208 75000; A1: tel. 01208 77000. Otherwise it’s a forty minute drive from St Austell and roughly an hour from Truro. The last bit is tricky to navigate so it’s worth getting clear directions from someone from the yurt team first.

Verdict
It’s hard to know whether this place is best suited to romantic couples who have left their children behind to spend a few nights under flickering lantern light, or families with children who will love all the outdoor adventures. It serves both brilliantly. I would choose somewhere like this for a honeymoon treat, but then I'd feel so guilty about keeping my son away, I'd have to go back again.

For contact details and availability, see greentraveller's full listing for Cornish Yurt Holidays.

The yurts are in a secluded spot on the edge of Bodmin Moor