Holidays in England

We'd def recommend to others (and have already been spreading the word to our friends). A real bonus of the Yurt hol is the excellent site manager, LJ. She is extremely helpful and welcoming. She went out of her way to make our trip a really enjoyable one.

Kate Rowson reviewing Stay in a Yurt on the Isle of Wight!

An excellent introduction to map reading and using a compass which has given me the confidence to plan my own routes.

Christine Conboy reviewing Silva Map and Compass Courses - Bronze level

We very much enjoyed the course run by Pete Hawkins. The two instructors were thorough and patient (very important in my case) and our confidence visibly grew as the weekend progressed. We were very pleased at the end to receive the bronze award and look forward to the next level.

Pauline reviewing Silva Map and Compass Courses - Bronze level

Very happy with everything, very nice yurt site, Anthony who runs it was very helpful, booked the ferry and was always about to help out , he communicated by text and was always available, would def recommend to friends and revisit

JohnB reviewing Stay in a Yurt on the Isle of Wight!

Thanks very much. Everything was of a high standard and we really enjoyed our weekend. Peter Hawkins was a fantastic leader.

EmmaW reviewing Silva Map and Compass Courses - Bronze level

Great riding, great companions and fabulous trails with very little road work. A glorious weekend, where we arrived as strangers and left as friends.

I would recommend this to others, but they do need to be able to ride its not a novice yard.

Erica reviewing Horse Riding Weekend Break

We had a wonderful time, it was simple yet magical; toasting marshmallows on crackling fires at the end of the evening, cooking locally caught fresh fish over hot coals, being a stones through away from the beach, stunning landscapes and beautiful bike rides, waking up to birdsong...we loved it and would recommend it to anyone.

MarieC reviewing Stay in a Yurt on the Isle of Wight!

We love camping and cooking outside but we also like a bit of luxury - this was the perfect combination of both.

We loved being able to hire bikes for the whole family - including a tag along for our four year old - and to be able to cycle on quiet lanes and cycle paths to Yarmouth. Successful crab fishing in Yarmouth also went down very well with our young family.

We loved it and would recommend this to other travellers

Mike reviewing Stay in a Yurt on the Isle of Wight!

I would rate the course 5 out of 5. We both had an excellent time and we learnt a lot, probably a bit more than we both expected.

First, it was an excellent walking weekend as we got to do some lovely walks in the Tideswell area. Second, we both had the opportunity to learn and then practice what we had learnt so I genuinely feel that I got my money's worth out of the course. And third, Pete was an excellent instructor.

I would thoroughly recommend it to other would be orienteers and friends.

EmilyJM reviewing Silva Map and Compass Courses - Bronze level

The Silva bronze Navigation weekend was a wonderful opportunity to mix with like-minded strangers who had missed out on learning about map reading and navigating earlier in life. The first evening was spent at The Anchor being introduced to the basics of map reading in preparation for Saturday's 7 hour walk in the lovely Derbyshire countryside with ample opportunity to practice navigating from point to point using map and compass. After many years of cursorily scanning OS maps it was only under Pete's expert guidance that they began to release their hidden store of information to make navigating both challenging and fun. The second day proved even more of a challenge having woken up to a 6 inch covering of snow obscuring many of the features that were to be the object of Sunday's attention. Unfazed, we set off for a long snowy walk putting our new skills to the test in conditions that we will meet again unless we become fair-weather walkers, which I doubt. Throughout the weekend Pete proved to be good host and the arrangements for the evening meals at The Anchor met everyone's approval. The B&B Jaret House was comfortable and I will never forget the wonderful packed lunches provided by Pete's lovely wife. The weekend Navigation course could not be more highly recommended and is well deserving of five out of five.

RichardS reviewing Silva Map and Compass Courses - Bronze level

The course was really good, Pete was very friendly and made it much less daunting -particularly when you go on your own. He gave lots of encouragement but also challenged you. Village and the b & b I stayed in also seemed very friendly. I liked the way we had evening sessions in the pub as you had the option of being sociable if you want and it helped the group to bond.

all in all would recommend it

rebecca reviewing Silva Map and Compass Courses - Bronze level

After a week spent taking part in the Woodlander course, learning wilderness bushcraft, I know that I will never own a PlayStation. No amount of sitting in front of a television exercising my thumbs could possibly have the magical effect of this supremely absorbing subject. Strangely, producing fire by friction is an emotional moment. I feel initiated. There is something quite primal about the process, as if I’ve connected in some significant way with my ancestors. I feel more tuned-in with the outdoors than I have ever felt. I also have an irrepressible grin etched across my face.

The course takes place in one of nature’s most beautiful classrooms on a remote 300-acre private forestry estate to the west of Lake Windermere, with a spectacular backdrop of mountains, lakes and rivers. Such a location gives the participants - a maximum number of 12 taught by five instructors - the chance to really commune with nature on a very intimate level. In my ten years of enjoying outdoor pursuits, mainly climbing and mountaineering, with a healthy dose of mountain biking and hill walking thrown in, I’ve never really engaged with my surroundings in this way until now.

Before I arrived, I did have concerns about the nature of the subject matter, in particular whether it would be an exercise in Rambo-style machismo, an initiation into tree-hugging pseudo-spiritualism, or a sentimental regression into the past. Thankfully, it is none of these things. Rather, it encourages me to see what I’ve been missing when out walking.

(Written by James Reynolds published in The Scotsman on 19 June 2004)

Scotsman reviewing Survival & Bushcraft Courses in the Lakes

When I originally booked this Bushcraft day I wasn’t exactly sure what to expect. Were we going to be like Ray Mears, skinning rabbits, or cooking moose on hot coals, or were we going to be exposed to the Bear Gryls way of life where we dived into frozen rivers, and jogged 50 km’s through mosquito ridden swamps. Luckily it wasn’t the Bear Grylls side, phew! but it was definitely more Ray Mears, and definitely a lot of fun!

As soon as we arrived in camp, which is set in a beautiful pine forest, set on the far banks of Lake Winderemere, we had to make fire, and properly. We all failed miserably at this task, but we learnt very quickly how to make a fire properly, and this lesson will stick with me for a long time to come. Throughout the rest of the day we made some Banock cakes that we then ate. Tracked foxes and squirrels, ate wild berries and mushrooms, and even made fire from wood. Not only do I feel like a proper caveman but the whole group thoroughly enjoyed the whole day and we were all sad to see it come to an end!

Stephen was a great instructor, who delivered at just the right level, and the day has made us all want to learn more about how to survive in the wild.

Bear Grylls, eat your heart out! And maybe a snake too!

5 out of 5 – Brilliant!

nbamford reviewing Survival & Bushcraft Courses in the Lakes

I stayed here with my wife, sister and young son in early July and enjoyed it can highly recommend it.

The location is great, close to some stunning coastline, off the beaten track family beaches whilst the site itself is nestled amongst an orchard which keeps any breeze to a minimum.

We stayed in a yurt which was as good if not better than it looked in the pictures. I really liked the fact that it was in an Orchard criss crossed by pathways rather than in an open field like most camping setups.

Love, love, loved cooking by open fire and savoured the smell of the woodsmoke in the evenings. (we we're lucky with weather, could be a little of a bind if it rains).
Each Yurt had decent quality table and chairs to enjoy the al fresco dining which was a nice touch and meant we spent nearly all our time outside. (Very rosy cheeks on return).

Some might find the compost toilet a little much but the cafe next door offered use of their toilet. Owner Anthony was very welcoming and helpful, even when it came to helping us contact a local GP for our son.

The site was perfect for little ones and we felt very comfortable giving out two and a half year old a farly free rein. There were also lots of other little ones to play with when we were there. (but not so many as to annoy;))

The only very slight disappointment was that the adjoining Farm Shop had very limited stock (particularly on the drink front) which forced us to visit the local Co-op more than we would have ideally liked.

Excellent mid week value for us means I wouldn't hesitate in giving this fabulous holiday experience a 5 out of 5 and will hopefully visit again.

almacaw reviewing Stay in a Yurt on the Isle of Wight!