Overview: Catgill Farm Glamping, Bolton Abbey, UK

The story of Catgill is one in every of profound diversification and household legacy. Since 2014, husband-and-wife crew Oliver and Cat Barker, guided by the knowledge of Oliver’s grandfather Ken, have breathed new life right into a 60-year-old North Yorkshire dairy farm while additionally elevating a household. The standard beginnings of a easy tenting discipline throughout the Bolton Abbey property have flourished to such an extent that the grounds now boast a collection of high-end glamping pods. This isn’t actually tenting – it’s extra like staying in your individual non-public boutique lodge while nonetheless being at one with nature.

The welcome

On the entrance to Catgill Farm is a pair of classic milk churns sitting on a stand that’s constructed into the farm’s perimeter wall. Beside them is an indication that pays homage to Ken Barker, the person who labored the land lengthy earlier than ‘glamping’ had even joined the native lexicon (fascinating truth – the phrase didn’t truly make the Oxford English Dictionary till as not too long ago as 2016). A close-by signal invitations you to think about the early mornings and sheer grit required to maneuver milk from udder to neighborhood – a grounding reminder that, whilst you may be there to chill out, it’s a land that’s all the time been outlined by trustworthy toil.

We flip into the farm the place signage clearly directs us the place to check-in. At this time, the outdated milking parlour serves as a modern reception and, earlier than we all know it, we’re being transported up the hillside, together with our baggage, to our lodging. No trudging by way of muddy fields with a wheelbarrow at Catgill!

The lodging

We’re given a private introduction to The Stag, one of many web site’s Luxurious Timber Pods.

Architecturally, it’s a marvel of spatial effectivity, one way or the other managing to accommodate a luxurious double mattress, recessed bunks on the rear in case you are travelling with household, and even a settee mattress, all with out ever feeling cluttered.

And it doesn’t cease there. There’s a kitchen space that’s surprisingly strong, that includes a two-ring electrical hob, microwave and even a popcorn pan for late-night films on the wall-mounted TV, in addition to indoor eating area. There are considerate touches equivalent to devoted scorching tub ‘glasses’ (extra on the new tub and outside area shortly) and a correct espresso machine for that important morning kick.

The inside design strikes a steadiness between “scandi-chic” and “nation heat” and, with the pods being exceptionally well-insulated and supported by a radiator, heated towel rail and fan heater, you’ll be able to make sure the ‘nice outside’ stays strictly outside even in the course of the wildest of Yorkshire climate.

The en suite is a crisp, trendy affair, that includes a strong bathe, a basin with a heated mirror, and a WC. In a nod to the farm’s sustainable ethos (over 300 bushes and 500m of conventional hedging have been planted on the web site), toiletries are from the Yorkshire-based refillable Miniml model, designed to remove single-use plastics.

The outside is the place the pod really expands. The doorway is flanked with picket solar loungers, and past there’s a patio with a firepit – which doubles as a pizza oven – surrounded by wood-carved ‘mushroom’ stools. And let’s not neglect the wood-fired scorching tub – excellent for a heat soak in the course of the day or for stargazing at night time.

The Stag can be one in every of three dog-friendly pods (the others being The Pheasant and The Duck) and so comes with an enclosed backyard – an in depth sanctuary for canine to roam safely.

The services

Catgill has efficiently curated a mini-village ambiance. The reception doubles as a well-stocked store, and in season there’s a espresso store and pizza kitchen.

For these with a penchant for the eccentric, the resident alpacas present a pleasant point of interest, whereas a devoted dog-walking and taking part in discipline ensures each member of the household will get their steps in.

The placement

Geography is Catgill’s best asset. Every pod is oriented in the direction of the east, which means you’re woken not by an alarm, however by the gradual, golden spill of the solar rising over the Dales. Positioned throughout the Yorkshire Dales Nationwide Park Darkish Sky Reserve, the nocturnal views are equally spectacular on a transparent night time.

For the stressed, the choices are limitless. I ran from the lodging up Embsay Crag and was rewarded with beautiful panoramic views on what proved to be an excellent Spring day.

The proximity to Bolton Abbey and Skipton means you’re by no means removed from a little bit of historical past or a high-quality pint. Common pubs embrace The Devonshire Arms at Bolton Abbey and The Fleece at Addingham, while the sugar-inclined will wish to cease at Tea on the Inexperienced and the Love Brownie Barn at Barden.

For walks, there’s a QR code you’ll be able to scan within the in-pod handbook, to entry maps for the Barden Moor loop or the enduring Strid River Wharfe stroll, amongst many others.

Different good touches

There’s no scarcity of additional particular touches that flip a keep at Catgill Farm from “good” to “memorable”. Recent milk within the fridge and a few chocolate brownies on arrival set a welcoming tone.

And canine are included with their very own treats, too!

Binoculars and a curated library of books (on birds, bugs, and many others.) present the right alternative to attach your self with the setting, while on the similar time the Final Ears moveable speaker permits you to utterly disconnect if that’s what you like.

There’s additionally firewood and kindling provided. For the complete rustic expertise, the farm’s DIY pizza kits are an absolute must-try. All of the arduous work is finished for you – you simply want to permit the dough to relaxation at room temperature, roll it out, add your toppings. and put it in your firepit oven.

The associated fee

Whereas costs fluctuate relying on the season and the precise pod, Catgill sits firmly within the “attainable luxurious” bracket, with nightly charges usually within the area of £190 to £275.

The most effective bit

The “finest” a part of Catgill is the paradoxical sense of snug isolation. You might be strolling distance from Bolton Abbey and a mere 10-minute drive from Skipton, but when the firepit is crackling, the new tub is steaming, and also you’re taking within the tranquillity of the Wharfe Valley, you are feeling in the course of nowhere, with every pod rigorously positioned and shielded from each other so that you’re not neglected. It’s tenting with the tough edges sanded off—all of the soul of the outside with not one of the damp socks.

The ultimate verdict

Glamping at Catgill Farm is a should attempt. In case you suppose tenting or glamping shouldn’t be for you, suppose once more. That is the definitive reply for anybody searching for the ‘wow’ issue with out the snobbery. A luxurious keep of a distinct variety, however one the place the frantic tempo of contemporary life naturally slows and permits you to breathe. By mixing the positioning’s deep agricultural roots with a sophisticated, trendy sensibility, the farm has created a sanctuary that feels timeless. Even for those who’re satisfied you’re not a “tenting particular person”, give Catgill a attempt… it’d simply change your thoughts.

Disclosure: Our keep was sponsored by Catgill Farm.

Paul Johnson

Paul Johnson is Editor of A Luxurious Journey Weblog and has labored within the journey business for greater than 30 years. He’s Winner of the Improvements in Journey ‘Greatest Journey Influencer’ Award from WIRED journal. Along with different awards, the weblog has additionally been voted “one of many world’s finest journey blogs” and “finest for luxurious” by The Telegraph.