Yurt in the Mendips - AONB.

Reconnect with nature at this unforgettable escape. Tucked away in your own private corner of the meadow, the yurt is an oasis for wildlife. You may be lucky to get a visit from the deer who often amble into the meadow, normally in the morning. You will certainly be serenaded by the wild birds. The yurt has a king sized brass bed, the bedding is Egyptian cotton. The veranda is great for watching the sun sink at the end of the day, the view is stunning. You have your private washroom inc. shower. The Yurt is set on the edge of a wood completely secluded from the rest of the world. It is a separate space occupying a corner of a four acre hillside smallholding completely blending into the environment around it. Both the construction and operation of the site are sympathetically designed to support the local ecology. The Yurt is Mongolian by design and crafted from canvas and larch giving a large 6 m diameter living space. It is ideal for couples or families of up to four. It sits atop a split level platform with your private washroom a few steps below it and the Bush kitchen and BBQ area on the ground next to it. A gentle grassy slope leads down to the old plum tree with hammock. A large ash tree has more seating and swings a few metres away. Besides the big brass bed, the Yurt has a day bed which converts to two full size single beds, a dining table and four chairs and a sideboard with cooking facilities (kettle, toaster and electric ring) and utensils. On the veranda is a small round table with four chairs looking out across the sea to the Brecon Beacons in South wales. Set below this is a luxury wooden Washroom with glass panelled shower, porcelain sink and mirror and eco-compost toilet. Outside is a double sink and drainer with hot and cold water. The bush kitchen has a large firepit with griddle, a range of stainless steel pots and pans and an endless supply of wood to prepare your food with or just to use it to toast your marshmallows on. The electricity is supplied from on site solar energy. Heating is provided either from this or using the onsite sustainable wood supply. Waste water is reused via a soakaway. Glass, paper, cards, cans and plastic are separated from other waste for recycling by council collection. Meanwhile the Roe deer live on the opposite side of the valley, the badgers have sets below them. There are rabbits and squirrels all over the place and buzzards soaring overhead. Don't mention foxes though, to the free roaming rescue chickens who will want to know what you are up to and if you have any spare food. Our Gurt Yurt is situated in the heart of the Mendip Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The village of Churchill sits at the crossroads of thoroughfares to the north and Bristol and it's Airport; the east and Cheddar Gorge and Wells; south to Glastonbury and the Levels and west to Weston-Super-mare and the seaside. Just up the hill is the nationally renowned Crown pub and the start of the rocky track known as the Batch which takes you slowly and carefully to the top of the hill and Wood View. Park up by the garage and if you want, forget about your car until you leave. Take the path and then steps, down through the wood to Gurt Yurt, leaving your luggage to be transported down by tractor trailer. Getting out and about locally is easy when there are so many paths and tracks to explore( there are maps to borrow in the Yurt). There are pubs with restaurants in walking distance in all four directions from the site. If you would like to use a bike(electric available) to get about along the cyclepaths and tracks see the list of local transport. It's a 20 minute walk to the local post office in Churchill or 30 minutes to Hansfords, the outstanding butchers and deli in Shipham. We live on site but the house is out of sight of the yurt. We are available if you need anything. We are set at the top of a very bumpy unadopted road, so no through traffic. We back onto fields. There is a network of public foot paths and you can walk for miles. However, if you get in your car we are close to Bristol, Bath, Glastonbury and Wells. As well as the seaside towns of Weston Super Mare and Clevedon. We have a large turning circle with plenty of parking spaces. There are well regarded pubs serving food within easy walking distance at both end of the Batch. Wear your sensible shoes as the yurt is at the bottom of the meadow accessible via the meadow or by steps through our wood. Places to go, things to do -mostly linked to food. Churchill Post Office does most things including bits for gas stoves, papers, smoked salmon, money and a café. Great fish and chips at Murphy’s - a short walk down to the crossroads. Touts shop and garage is open 24/7 for petrol, food and hot snacks and has a Subway attached. Gurt Yurt Exclusive Food Boxes We source all our foods locally. We either pick them up by walking or cycling to the provider. Sometimes they will deliver! Please order at least 4 days before arrivasl/consumption Connies Cakes Home made Brownies Pack of 4 £6 Strawberries and Cream for 2 £7 for 4 £11 Meaty Breakfast -Laurel Farm/Hansfords 6 eggs 6 sausages 6 bacon slices 1lb Tomatoe (Website hidden by Airbnb) £15 Hot Fishy Breakfast Valley Smokehouse/ Batch Camp £16 6 eggs 3 Kippers Sourdough loaf, butter Fruity Breakfast -Yeo Valley/Queenswood Foods 6-10 portion (Website hidden by Airbnb) £14 Strawberries, Yoghurt, Honey, Oats, Milk Meaty Barbecue - Laurel Farm/ Hansford Butchers/ Winnies bakery 6 Sauasages 4Beef/Ham/lamb burgers PorkRibs ½ rack Marinaded Chicken pieces 6 buns Coleslaw Cheddar Chees (Website hidden by Airbnb) £25 Meaty Lunch Somerset Charcuterie/ Lye farm/ Hansfords Winnies Buns Cold meats, Cheddar and Draycott Blue cheese, Butter, Coleslaw, Bradleys Lemonade £20 Things to do……..Leave the car here. Walk up to Dolebury fort, visit the Thatchers cider farm, find the Wimblestone! Find the Lime Kiln at the bottom of the garden. Watch the deer. Climb to the top of Beacon Batch –the highest point in the Mendips. Cycle or walk along the Strawberry Line all the way to Cheddar and stop off at The Pantry in Winscombe for cream teas. Go cycling, climbing, caving, fishing or gliding. Do your own adventure or ask us. Walk down Cheddar gorge and take in some cheese. Visit Weston Grand Pier and have fish and chips almost anywhere there. “Wild” swim at Clevedon Marina or in the Yeo. Or maybe just find a spot to sit and watch the sunset. Pubs and Restaurants……(walking time) The Crown is just down the hill and rightly popular for it’s range of beer and cider and sandwiches. Food at Lunchtime only. The Nelson is just past it on the main road. Does a great carvery and loads of other food. The Star at Star does food all day and is walker and dog friendly. We love it! (15mins) The Swan at Rowberrow has a whole range of gastropub food and a pond –great on a sunny day! (20mins) The Penscot in Shipham is proper local with good cider and people to fettle yer day. (30mins) The Railway Inn in Sandford on the Thatchers Farm (Myrtle Farm is just behind). Great gastropub and all their cider on draught. (45mins -60 with children) The Rock Cafe, Burrington -great expresso machine but check it's open (90mins) The Pantry, Winscombe -the place for breakfast and tea and cakes (90 mins) The Ethicurean -upmarket, electic, not run of the mill. Not a cheap option but.... Need to book for evenings but go for afternoon tea if nothing else. (90 mins) The Valley Smokehouse and The Wheatsheaf Stone Allerton Drive or cycle there. Just brilliant. Local Blagdon Lake smoked trout is stand out for me. It's a shop, a deli, a smokery, expresso cyclists cafe and a pub with BBQ. Gurt Yurt Guided Activities -talk to us about what you'd like to do. We can organise it. Again need a few days notice. Walking - Half day -to Burrington Combe groups up to 4 £75 via Iron Age fort and back via The Rock Cafe and The Swan at Rowberrow. Cheddar Gorge and back - Full day 8 hours £150 Walk up through Roberrow Forest to Beacon Batch(highest point of the Mendips) and then down to Velvet Bottom. Climb back up to the South edge of the gorge and then step down Jacob’s Ladder into Cheddar town(and lunch?). Climb back up the northern side of the gorge, walk over to Tynings Farm and then down to the Swan at Rowberrow to rehydrate. Mountain Biking in Rowberrow Forest in conjunction with Pedal Progression Half day including all equipment £60 pp. With own bike etc £45pp Also e-bike/bike rental for use along The Strawberry Line cycle track . Contact Cheddar Bikes or Strawberry Cycles Rock Climbing Introduction - 3 hours in Sandford Quarry in conjunction with Mendip Outdoor Activities £20pp -equipment supplied Advanced according to experience £50 pp half day in conjunction with Ollie Keynes Coaching -equipment can be supplied. Caving Intro with Mendip Outdoor Activities £20pp -equipment supplied Advanced with Climb and Cave, Cheddar £45 pp for ½ day Horse Riding Tynings Farm £25 for 2 hours Gliding £50 pp with Cheddar Gliding Club from July21. Introductory flight. Just brilliant fun! Fishing Blagdon Lake/ Chew valley Lake Pike and Fly Fishing