Evaluation: Catgill Farm Glamping, Bolton Abbey, UK

The story of Catgill is certainly one of profound diversification and household legacy. Since 2014, husband-and-wife group 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 common-or-garden beginnings of a easy tenting subject 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 personal personal 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 reality – 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, when you could be there to loosen up, it’s a land that’s all the time been outlined by sincere toil.

We flip into the farm the place signage clearly directs us the place to check-in. Right this moment, the outdated milking parlour serves as a glossy reception and, earlier than we all know it, we’re being transported up the hillside, together with our baggage, to our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 means 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 an opulent double mattress, recessed bunks on the rear if you’re 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 sturdy, 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 resembling devoted scorching tub ‘glasses’ (extra on the recent 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 open air’ stays strictly open air 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 get rid of single-use plastics.

The outside is the place the pod actually 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 – good for a heat soak in the course of the day or for stargazing at night time.

The Stag can also be certainly one 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 amenities

Catgill has efficiently curated a mini-village environment. 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 enjoying subject ensures each member of the household will get their steps in.

The placement

Geography is Catgill’s biggest asset. Every pod is oriented in the direction of the east, which means you might be woken not by an alarm, however by the gradual, golden spill of the solar rising over the Dales. Situated 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 gorgeous panoramic views on what proved to be a wonderful Spring day.

The proximity to Bolton Abbey and Skipton means you might be by no means removed from a little bit of historical past or a high-quality pint. Well-liked pubs embody The Devonshire Arms at Bolton Abbey and The Fleece at Addingham, while the sugar-inclined will need 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”. Contemporary 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 so forth.) present the right alternative to attach your self with the atmosphere, while on the identical time the Final Ears moveable speaker lets you fully disconnect if that’s what you like.

There’s additionally firewood and kindling provided. For the total rustic expertise, the farm’s DIY pizza kits are an absolute must-try. All of the onerous work is completed 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 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 very best bit

The “finest” a part of Catgill is the paradoxical sense of comfy isolation. You might be strolling distance from Bolton Abbey and a mere 10-minute drive from Skipton, but when the firepit is crackling, the recent tub is steaming, and also you’re taking within the tranquillity of the Wharfe Valley, you’re feeling in the course of nowhere, with every pod fastidiously 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 strive. When you suppose tenting or glamping is just not for you, suppose once more. That is the definitive reply for anybody looking for the ‘wow’ issue with out the snobbery. A luxurious keep of a unique type, however one the place the frantic tempo of recent life naturally slows and lets you breathe. By mixing the location’s deep agricultural roots with a sophisticated, trendy sensibility, the farm has created a sanctuary that feels timeless. Even when you’re satisfied you’re not a “tenting particular person”, give Catgill a strive… it would 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 trade for greater than 30 years. He’s Winner of the Improvements in Journey ‘Finest 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.