When romance comes to mind the next thought is unlikely to be about tents,
two-ring gas cookers or anything else associated with camping.
Traditionally, purveyors of romance promote getaways to foreign climes and
swanky hotels, so it was with some trepidation that I told my wife Louise
that we were off for a special romantic break in Cornwall – in a tent.
Actually, not a tent but a yurt. For the uninitiated yurts are a wood-lattice
structure covered in canvas, with a domed roof and usually with a raised,
wooden floor. They are large enough to hold a bed and chairs; some are so
big that they boast bedrooms separate from the living area.
Over the past decade a host of fashionable yurt camp sites have sprung up
across the UK and holidaymakers have been keen to sample the more luxurious
style of camping that they offer. It is the rise of the yurt that promised
to make my dream of the perfect romantic camping holiday come true.
But destination, I realised, would also be crucial. My eventual choice was
Botelet, a beautiful farm near Liskeard, in southeast Cornwall, where two
yurts are available between April and September. I was swayed by the promise
of that special atmosphere that comes with history; the manor house that
once stood at Botelet is in the Domesday Book. The farm has been in the
hands of the Tamblyn family since 1861.
When our taxi whisked us from Liskeard station and through the gates of
Botelet, we felt as if we were entering a world entirely removed from our
metropolitan existence. Julie Tamblyn emerged to show us around.
The farmhouse is set in 250 acres of stunning Cornish countryside and as well
as the yurts there are two holiday cottages for hire. We stayed in the Lower
Yurt, which stands on its own in a glade.
“When we started hardly anyone knew what a yurt was,” says our hostess. “Now
ours are so popular.”
One look at the interior and Louise was more in love with our yurt than with
me. In one corner lay a double mattress that looked as comfortable as a
four-poster bed. Nearby were two deckchairs and a chic Turkish rug replete
with cushions. The centrepiece was a wood-burning stove, already producing a
cosy warmth.
After settling in we headed off for a 30-minute walk to a Neolithic hill fort
perched on top of Bury Down. There is a spine-tingling sense of solitude up
there and the views are stunning; Romeos, or Juliets, take note, this would
be a wonderful picnic spot.
Having worked up an appetite, we returned to the yurt for dinner. This,
surely, would be the real test. I produced a bottle of wine then set about
preparing dinner on the barbecue provided. As the sun set, the small lights
threaded along the walls of our yurt begun to twinkle. Add the strains of
Mozart on Radio 3 and the scene was set perfectly.
True, my chicken was so black that Louise took a photograph of it to show
friends later. But corn on the cob, boiled on the gas ring, was a resounding
success. Less skilled chefs could try two local restaurants recommended by
the Tamblyns: the Bywater in Looe, or the River Brasserie in Lostwithiel,
both about six miles away.
As we sat, glass of wine in hand, rain pattering softly against the canvas,
there could be no argument: our break was as romantic as holidays come.
Next morning, we ate breakfast to the sound of sheep bleating in the field
next door and classical music.
Those in need of extra pampering can book Rachel, a friendly reflexologist,
for a treatment in the yurt.
Suitably romantic day trips can be made from Botelet to the Eden Project, the
Theatre Royal at Plymouth, and Bodmin Moor.
Where to canoodle under canvas
Botelet, Cornwall: Two yurts, both sleeping two (see story above).
Cost: three nights £150, one week £250. www.botelet.com
Hunger Hill Yurt Holidays, East Devon: Four authentic Mongolian nomad yurts,
each sleeping up to five, set in an area of outstanding natural beauty near
the Jurassic Coast. Cost: £285 for a three-night weekend, peak season. www.yurt-holidays.co.uk
Woodland Tipis, Herefordshire: One mile from the banks of the River
Wye, this camp site is set in 23 acres in an area of outstanding natural
beauty. Traditional Native American tepees and one yurt, all sleeping five.
The Forest of Dean and Hay-on-Wye are nearby. Cost: £235 for a three-night
weekend in a tepee, peak season. www.woodlandtipis.co.uk
Safari Tented Lodges, Pembrokeshire: African safari style camp set in
woodland close to the Welsh seaside town of Tenby. Spectacular sea views and
a short walk to a secluded beach. www.tentedlodges.co.uk
Full Circle Yurts, Lake District: Three yurts in the grounds of Rydal
Hall stately home. Splendid walks. Wordsworth’s home is open to visitors.
Cost: £245 Fri-Sun, peak. www.lake-district-yurts.co.uk
