A treehouse, a canvas and timber lodge and a pair of encampments based around yurts make up the enchanting accommodation at Goytree Glamping. Each occupies a secluded spot in a far corner of an 18-acre organic farm where you will be left to your own devices. And speaking of devices, if there was ever a place to let the batteries run out on your mobile phone, it’s here where the natural surroundings provide the perfect antidote to the tech and tug of modern life.
There’s no WiFi and no plug sockets in the accommodation at Goytree and few, if any, straight lines. The yurts, of course, are fundamentally circular but even the timber in their latticework retains its natural wobble. The overall effect is charming and keeps each accommodation rooted in nature. A feeling that is, if anything, even greater at the Phoenix Treehouse, which is built around an old oak, and Bees Bower, where a spiral staircase winds around a tree trunk. Everywhere you look there’s another piece of craftsmanship making use of natural materials. It’s impossible to mention them all and nor would we want to as part of the fun is discovering them for yourself. What’s important to note, though, is that all of the accommodation is self-contained with its own equipped kitchen, toilet and (indoor or outdoor) shower, and each has either a roll-top bath or hot tub. There’s a log-burning stove for heat and solar energy for lights.
The fire, the canvas, the made-up beds, natural materials and semi-outdoor living all give the place the feel of a safari camp albeit one in the cooler environs of Herefordshire, rather than Botswana, which inspired the original owners. The wildlife may be different here but there’s plenty of it to see thanks to a commitment to sustainable agriculture on the farm. You may be content to watch bees and birds from your glamping hideaway or wander the meadows to find it but if you fancy your own adventure, The Skirrid makes a good destination. It’s the closest of the Black Mountains which form the eastern part of the Brecon Beacons National Park, and it’s visible from site. A short drive takes you to the bottom, an hour’s walk to the 486-metre top. Handily there’s a mountain inn at its foot to reward the hike – and a hot tub or bath to soothe the muscles later.