Three beautifully furnished yurts are set amid a quiet, grassy pasture, reached by a manicured trail of wood-chips slicing through the grass. Steam bent ash has been carefully latticed into the traditional Mongolian-style structures and, inside the exposed woodwork shows the exceptional craftsmanship that has gone into their creation. Old style candle lanterns hanging around the edges only add to the charm, casting a warm evening glow upon the canvas come evening time.
Outside a wooden veranda allows you to sit comfortably around the fire bowl but the real treasure is undoubtedly the hot tub. While the pitchup purists might baulk at this luxury addition, at Yurtshire it’s just another seamless part of the site – a wooden-panelled tub with a log furnace to keep it bubbling. Tucked against the hedge line of the field it provides a real sense of seclusion and exclusivity, while the fledglings the trees attract mean there’s also the pleasing sound of chirping birdlife.
A clutch of farm buildings centres around a small café and farm shop, while a duck pond is fringed by a gaggle of various waterfowl. Umberslade started off as a stud farm for shire horses – many of which are still there today – but the park now has a diverse range of animals, most of whom kids can get thoroughly involved with. The park is tastefully laid out. Many of the buildings are original converted barns and it’s the perfect distance from the comfort of your yurt – an easy slink across the field but far enough that you return to your own private slice of countryside.
