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Chiltern Yurts

100%
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· Gubblecote, Hertfordshire, England
1 acre hosted by Jim M.
2 glamping pitches
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Creature comforts
Enjoy the comforts of home—including flush toilets, showers, and a kitchen.
Private sites
100% of recent Hipcampers say the sites felt private.
Tranquil yurt glamping in a lush meadow at the foot of the Chiltern Hills

It is hard to believe that such places exist, 35 miles and an hour's drive from London, but all you have to do is look around and listen. That quiet purr you can hear is you, settling into bucolic bliss in a lush meadow by a babbling brook at the foot of the Chiltern Hills. It could scarcely be any more quintessentially English – the hamlet is the charmingly named Gubblecote and you're surrounded by chocolate-box villages and country pubs straight out of central casting. The countryside is so gorgeous they even gave it a name with capital letters — the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Your accommodation is on the rather lovely side too. Two authentic Mongolian yurts — from your actual Mongolia, no less — are a definite cut above in terms of interior furnishings and decor, with hand-decorated woodwork, brass bedsteads, a solid door, felt walls, and a central crown for a skylight. There are rugs and throws, and painted wooden furniture, and — because the yurts are six metres rather than the usual five — there's enough space for a couple to feel rather special and for a family to spread out in. Honourable mention, too, to the private bathroom facilities; a super-smart wooden hut for each yurt that's freshly painted inside, with gleaming shower, sink, and a flushing loo. Cooking is on the mini-hob or the barbecue and even that's made easier if you order up one of their breakfast baskets or grill packs in advance, with everything sourced from local farms and independent butchers. If it sounds like a quiet, super-relaxed place, it is. They don't expect any noise after 10 pm, there's no amplified music allowed, and your only neighbours are just as likely as you to be looking for a tranquil country break.

The meadow is just lovely, surrounded by trees and with walks in all directions, including miles of waterside trails along the Grand Union Canal and Tring Reservoirs. Local pubs are uniformly attractive and welcoming — you can walk to at least three in under fifteen minutes — and if you want to work up a thirst beforehand you're set for great days out hiking and biking in the Chiltern Hills. Other nearby local attractions include the Roald Dahl Museum at Great Missenden, Whipsnade Zoo and even the Harry Potter tour at Warner Bros. Studios — all under half an hour by car — but to be honest, they sound like exactly the sort of thing you've come here to try and escape. Lie back with a glass of wine and watch the stars come out instead, and plot tomorrow's ramble through the rolling British countryside.

Activities
Hiking
Natural features
Field
100%
10 Ratings · 9 reviews
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Ryan M.recommends
November 6, 2023
Red Kite
Highly recommended
Beautiful location, really lovely yurt and great host.
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Emma V.recommends
October 29, 2023
Red Kite
The yurt was beautiful and facilities were really good. We had lots of fun with our 1-year-old (plenty of room for a travel cot etc). We loved seeing the red kite flying over us every morning.
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Sarah G.recommends
April 17, 2023
Red Kite
An absolutely delightful stay.
These was the most wonderful few days. I stayed in Red Kite with my 11 year old daughter. Every detail was perfectly considered and beautifully presented. The breakfast boxes were fabulous and we loved toasting our marshmallows over the fire pit and bbq boxes were perfect. (We saved the sausages for breakfast). The sun shone and we hunted for Easter eggs, played connect 4 in bed and went geocaching nearby. We enjoyed our hot water bottles and were able to make the yurt cosy. The bathroom exceeded expectations and we appreciated the pressure of the shower. We both declared it our favourite place to stay ever (although I think the sunshiney weather helped!!). We never did meet Jim but Emma was delightful, warm and generous. We will be back for sure.
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Melissa G.recommends
November 28, 2022
Golden Pheasant
MAGICAL STAY!!!
We had the most AMAZING stay with Jim and Emma. The yurt was so beautiful, and the attention to detail was amazing, they gave us brownies and marshmallows to toast on the fire pit. They were so helpful and only a text away! The yurt had an amazing view, and since we were the only people there that weekend they put us in the Red Kite which had an even more beautiful view. The walks were amazing, and the gate to the path was just outside the field. We walked to the reservoirs/canals and had a lovely pub lunch, then we took a short taxi to Ivinghoe beacon for the most insane walk with beautiful views on the hills, was so amazing. The yurt comfortably slept all 5 of us, and Emma/ Jim even gave us an extra pan to cook with. We had the fire on in the yurt which was so warm, and the fire pit outside was amazing. The bathroom was just next door and was heated, and the shower was amazing! We had such a magical stay. Emma and Jim couldn't have been more thoughtful and accommodating, we all had such a relaxing amazing weekend with everything thought out for us! They even let us use their wifi to get Glastonbury tickets!! Thank you so so much, we will be back!!!
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Dominique M.recommends
September 11, 2022
Red Kite
Perfect Yurts
Had a brilliant stay with Emma and Jim and the Red Kite yurt. Can’t recommend this more - everything was amazing. The yurt is in its own peaceful corner of a large field with lovely views across the fields. The yurt is beautifully spec’d and has everything you could need. The fire pit and bbq were perfect for a relaxed evening. And to have a fully equipped private bathroom was incredible. We had two nights there but felt like we’d had a proper holiday. We saw lots of birds including I’m sure a pair of Red Kites out hunting.
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Marc H.recommends
October 20, 2021
Red Kite
Spent an amazing few nights in the Chiltern Yurts, in less than clement weather and it didn't spoil our stay at all. The yurt itself is spacious enough for our family of 4, (boys 6 & 2) it is a fabulous space and if we had not ventured out I could see us whiling our day away quiet happily in and around it. A cold night was no problem as the wood burning stove heats the space easily and the bed clothes keep you warm long after the fire has gone out. Bathroom facilities are even better than the picture suggests, the bathroom is kept warm and the water is always hot. There is a kettle, and facilities inside to whip up a meal if you are not having a BBQ, all provided cutlery dishes pans etc are of a high standard. We enjoyed both Wendover woods and the Zoo but also short walks form the Yurt to the Grand Union Canal and the reservoirs. The hosts Emma and Jim were very welcoming but otherwise out of sight unless needed. I could not recommend more highly especially if, like one our party, you are not keen on the idea of camping, Chiltern Yurts takes out all the discomfort and hassle just leaving the fun.
Location
Gubblecote, Hertfordshire, England, United KingdomTo respect the Host's privacy, the precise address of this land will be provided after booking
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Hosted by Jim M.

Joined in July 2021
From the host
Nestled at the foot of the Chiltern Hills in a tree lined amphitheatre lies the small boutique glamping meadow of Chiltern Yurts. Our luxurious and enchantingly authentic Mongolian yurts are ideal for a country retreat to relax and unwind in an idyllic setting. Go to sleep beneath the stars peeping over the ‘crown’ skylight and wake up to a tranquil oasis of nature and birdsong. Surrounded by beautiful rural countryside, including miles of tucked away footpaths alongside the Grand Union Canal and Tring Reservoirs, ideal for walking and cycling, and abounding with wildlife. Only 35 miles from London, escape from the city for a long weekend, or stay a while longer to fully savour the delights of the countryside. Our unique and spacious yurts are entirely handmade and imported directly from Mongolia. Authentically designed and crafted, with colourful hand decorated woodwork, the cosy interiors are rustic and comfortable. The felt linings offer a truly luxurious experience. What really distinguishes an authentic yurt from other canvas structures is the stunning crown wheel at the centre of the roof and the solid wooden door instead of a zip! Each yurt is self-contained, offering a private loo and shower hut, and its own cooking facilities including a BBQ and fire pit. Our guests are assured plenty of privacy and space to enjoy.
Nearby attractions

If all you want to do is potter along country lanes and across fields to old English pubs, then guess what? You'll be grand, there are several within walking distance. Otherwise, Chiltern Yurts is on the edge of the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (01844 355500), which means a big local choice of countryside and canal walks and cycle trails in glorious surroundings. You can pick up the Ridgeway National Trail from nearby Ivinghoe Beacon, a high route across the chalk downs used since ancient times – it's 87 miles from end to end, but there are plenty of day and circular walks featured on the official website. The Chilterns Cycleway does a similar thing for bikes, with all sorts of signposted, linked routes that you can pick up locally. After something a bit more leisurely? Get out on the water for the day on the Grand Union Canal, with Narrowboat Day Hire (01296 668139) at the marina in Tring.

The market town of Tring itself is a three-mile drive away, and there's a remarkable outpost of London's Natural History Museum here, once the private zoological collection of Walter Rothschild. Eight miles east is the 5,000-acre, National Trust Ashridge Estate (01442 851 227), perfect for walks amid rolling fields, lush meadows and ancient trees. There's a cafe there too. Five miles south you've got woodland walks, a Go Ape treetop adventure course, play trails and picnic spots at Wendover Woods (01296 696184), with plenty more great views from here across the Chiltern Hills.

Food and drink

Under a mile away across the fields is Wilstone village and the Half Moon pub (01442 826410), a fireplace-and-oak-beams sort of place with bar meals and real ales. You can get supplies from the rather nice Meads Farm Shop (01442 828478), also in the village, by the reservoir. There's a tea room here for meals, drinks, and cakes, while the Puddingstone Distillery (01442 502033) also has its base at the farm shop site; the top product is, no surprises here, their Campfire Gin.

Other shortish pub walks from the yurt site are to the Queen's Head (01296 668368) at Long Marston, just half a mile away, or the mile to the Red Lion (01296 668366) at Marsworth — proper old country pubs, both. The more contemporary Waters Edge (01442 891708), in a lovely location on the Tring reservoirs, offers an all-day brunch and is a wine bar in the evenings. You could walk here, too, in about half an hour, and it's a really nice route out to the reservoirs. For fine dining, people swear by the rather grand King's Head (01296 668388) in Ivinghoe, a ten-minute drive away, though you'll need to book. And if you really don't know what you fancy, then a short drive to either Tring or Berkhamsted — the local market towns — gives you the choice of plenty more bars and restaurants. Tring even has its own brewery, Tring Brewery (01442 890721), where you can pop in to buy or take a tour.

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