As soon as the sun started to make its welcome appearance this spring, I couldn’t wait to get outside and enjoy the warmth and light after what seemed like a VERY long winter! Out in the sunshine, enjoying nature coming back to life, my mind was cast back to our stay last summer at Hill Farm Tintern, and all the many benefits of time spent outdoors.
As Hill Farm opens up for the new season, we thought it timely to share our first ever yurt stay experience with our Host Unusual followers!
Hill Farm Tintern is a refreshing, off-grid retreat overlooking the beautiful Wye Valley, and was the perfect stop-off for our group, en-route back to Essex from Pembrokeshire in Wales.
Back in August 2023, we arrived in Tintern in the early afternoon, so took the opportunity to pop into a local pub, The Anchor Inn, for our lunch. In a prime position to gaze upon the spectacular Tintern Abbey from its spacious garden, we enjoyed a hearty lunch, and the play area kept the smallest in our group amused.
Then it was on, through the picturesque village winding alongside the rushing River Wye, up to our home for the next two nights at Hill Farm.
We made our way up a winding farm track, and emerged on a hillside (hence the name!) where a little rural idyll opened out before us. Three yurts were well spaced out in the field to our left (there’s also a separate apartment for two in the main house if you aren’t the glamping type!), and we were greeted by clucking hens and dappled sunlight.
Friendly owner Hayley came to introduce herself and show us around, giving us the lowdown on the yurt, facilities and local area. Then we settled down to enjoy some dinner in our canopied dining area outside our yurt, and played games (bug bingo was the favourite) and chatted as the sun set – quality family time, unmarred by phones/screens. In fact, the only time a phone was reached for was to take a photo or video!
When it was time for bed, the yurt was beautifully inviting and serene, laced with soft fairy lights, the beds swathed in cosy blankets and the floors covered in rugs to keep us cosy. We drifted off to sleep, looking forward to the next day’s adventures.
The next morning, after an al fresco breakfast in the morning sunshine, I was excited to get the chance to use the quirky shower, housed in a converted horsebox just down the gentle hill from our yurt. It was a really enjoyable experience – lovely hot water, a big rustic solid wood sink and the sounds of nature just outside to add to the al fresco experience.
I wondered how my niece (who is scared of all types of bugs) would react to the compost toilets, but she was utterly unfazed (tweenagers are so unpredictable!) That said, the toilets were beautifully well kept, and it was actually fun to throw a handful of sawdust down after a visit!
We then set off to nearby Perrygrove for a day out, and both our 4 year old son and 11 year old niece enjoyed it equally, riding the charming little trains, exploring the grounds and picnicking outside the café – a day well spent!
On the way back, we stopped off at the wonderful The Brockweir & Hewelsfield Village Shop for some treats – well worth a trip if you are passing, and are a bit of a foodie.
Back at Hill Farm, we’d prebooked a couple of extras for the evening – first, an Indian head massage with Hayley for me (well deserved, in my opinion), followed later by a wood-fired pizza night with Tom. I’d highly recommend that you try both of these experiences! The head massage was utter bliss, with fragrant oils and the beautifully calming view from the window of the Studio (yoga and wellbeing events can also be booked here). I enjoyed chatting to Hayley about wellbeing and healthy living, and picked up some great advice as well as leaving feeling serene and fully pampered.
The others were enjoying another game of bug bingo when I returned, and then it was time for us to saunter over to the woodland spa area, where Tom had fired up the oven for our pizza feast. The two kids loved rolling the dough and covering their creations in their favourite toppings – pretty much every taste was catered for. We enjoyed not having to do anything but chat to Tom whilst he prepared our pizzas! It was great to hear more about the farm and its residents, including the cheeky black goat who kept popping up here and there.
The pizzas were delicious, and the setting perfect for a relaxing evening meal, looking across the hillside on a sunny August evening. Tom had told us about a tree swing in the woods just past the spa area, so once we had finished our meal we took a stroll into the woods and spent a good hour taking turns on the swing (even the grown-ups!), and exploring, before heading back to our cosy yurt to watch the sun slowly set, and stoke up the fire pit for an evening chatting away as the solar lights flickered on.
The logburner in the yurt kept it super cosy and welcoming, so when it was time to turn in, it felt like a lovely warm embrace! As we snuggled down for our last night at Hill Farm Tintern, we all agreed that off-grid yurt life certainly was something very special, and something we would most certainly want to do again.
If you like the sound of off-grid glamping, wood-fired pizza and onsite massage (of COURSE you do!), find out more about Hill Farm Tintern via their Host Unusual listing here.
Author: Dawn Crawford | Co-Founder, Host Unusual
@hostunusual #tbt carefree summer days at Hill Farm Tintern – the days were warm, the kids ran wild and free, and yurt life was calm and cosy ❤️ #yurtlife #yurt #hillfarmtintern #holidayswithkids #tiktoktravel #offgrid #glamping #hostunusual #stayhere #nature #tbt #summer ♬ Acoustic Folk Instrumental – Yunusta
