Enjoy a romantic retreat to this charming shepherd’s hut, surrounded by wildlife and with a bridged stream passing the bottom of the natural glade. The perfect walking, cycling and touring base, the national park, coast and country are all within easy reach. This rustic hut is nestled at the head of a beautiful valley in the North York Moors National Park, bordering the Dalby Forest and National Trust hiking spot of Bridestones. The chocolate box village of Thornton-Le-Dale is 8.5 miles away with eateries and independent shops, plus a Model Village. Pickering is 15.5 miles away, where you can hop aboard the NYM Heritage Railway to Whitby (23 miles), if you fancy some ozone and seaside shenanigans. Sticking with the coast, Scarborough and its Medieval castle ruins are 12 miles east of this quaint accommodation.
Park your car off-road but near your hut when you arrive, which helps make unloading easier, as the final bit is on foot, aided by wheelbarrows. Then take a moment to look around you and listen to the birdsong in your wooded glade. Up the steps of your artisan-built hut, you’ll find a surprisingly spacious interior, kitted out in new and reclaimed wood with quirky decor touches. There are foldable chairs, mobile storage and a convertible table in ‘day mode’, while the regular double bed folds down at night to maximise space. At the other end is the raised wood burner to keep things cosy whatever the weather, and a kitchenette. Then, there’s your own tiled shower room with a kooky industrial vibe and WC.
The beauty of this type of glamping is the whole indoor-outdoor vibe, so leave the stable doors half open or sit outside, relaxing as you listen to the stream and maybe even spot a kingfisher. Tick the birdlife off your list, including woodpeckers, cuckoos, wrens, chaffinches, swallows, blue tits and nut hatch – for starters! or keep still and watch or listen out for foxes and deer. Sit in your own clearing and watch or cook on the tripod fire pit. Feel your mind and body reset as you enjoy stargazing by night or watching the clouds and birds of prey by day.