WELCOME TO THE YURTCAMP BLOG

 a bit about yurts 

Yurts now come in all shapes and sizes and are made of a wide variety of materials. Traditional Mongolian yurts would have been used by nomadic groups and covered in animal skins, but today in England many yurts are permanently built onto wooden platforms.

Here at Yurtcamp we have contemporary yurts. The traditional style wooden lattice walls and self supporting roof beams are teamed with a felt lining and canvas wall, with a pvc coated roof, to keep you warm and dry. Our perspex roof dome lets in light and allows star gazing at night.

Want to spend more time in nature this year? We think Yurtcamp yurts are the perfect balance, offering all of the great camping things, and keeping your home comforts such as a full sized log burner and proper beds.

Don't forget our offer this month – Make a booking for this year, directly via our website, before the end of February, quoting Facebook10, and receive a 10% discount 

 Please speak to us / email us about booking a wedding or other event at Yurtcamp.

Signs of spring

January can sometimes seem like the longest month of the year, the excitement of Christmas is over and we are waiting for the first signs that spring is on its way. Luckily for us at Yurtcamp, February has been kind to us so far, and we have had some lovely sunny days to get out and do some jobs. The woods are just starting to wake up, early in the morning the birds are busy singing as they work, the snowdrops are in bloom and many buzzards have been spotted in the sky.

While we are sure to have a few more wet and windy days before the Summer, these signs of Spring keep reminding us of the longer warmer days ahead, and soon we will be bringing the yurts out of their winter snooze ready for Yurtcamp's favourite time of year.  

Don't forget our offer this month – make a booking for this year, directly via our website, before the end of February, quoting Facebook10, and receive a 10% discount  Please speak to us / email us about booking a wedding or other event at Yurtcamp.

​Wonderful weddings

With the start of the New Year there is a lot of talk about the new and upcoming trends we will see not only in 2020 but the rest of the decade. Weddings are no exception! Here are some of the most common trends we have seen being talked about for 2020, whether they come true or not we will have to wait and see.

Wedding dresses – apparently, we should expect to see wedding dresses that are less bridal and more personal. Maybe floral prints and exciting colours, or others may choose a more traditional dress but add interesting accessories to personalise it.

Sustainability – it is expected that environmental concerns will play a big part in wedding planning including choices such as a vegetarian or vegan meal, and more informal flower displays. Here at Yurtcamp we are certainly seeing a decrease in demand for red meat for wedding breakfasts.

Decorations – some suggest the comeback of the homemade decoration as couples look to save money and the environment while giving the personal touch. Bringing the indoors outside may feature throughout the summer with the aim of providing unusual backdrops for wedding snaps. Here at Yurtcamp, we saw lots of homemade decorations at many of our weddings last year, and of course lots of fairy lights, which will probably never go out of fashion.

Keeping it local – mini- moons and buddymoons are apparently set to rise during 2020. The uncertainty around Brexit and the weak pound will probably mean more couples stay in the UK, not only for hen or stag parties but also for their honeymoon. Honeymoons with friends may also become more popular.

Here at Yurtcamp we cater for all types of weddings, with couples given the freedom to make their wedding weekend celebrations as alternative or traditional as they wish.

Where  Shall We Go Today?

There is so much going on in South Devon no matter what time of the year you visit. Sometimes it can be hard to choose so here are 4 of our favourite days out, all of which are easily accessible from Yurtcamp.  Of course, you could book a stay at Yurtcamp to escape it all, and spend your time relaxing in your yurt and walking in the 40 acres of woodland that we offer!

 ) Light shows are becoming ever popular and South Devon has a few of its own including the National Trust properties Killerton, Knighthayes, Coleton and Saltram which all have their own events as well as our choice for this year - Mount Edgcumbe near Plymouth.

2) Markets are full of local producers offering gifts, and something for a tasty treat, and you will find South Devon has markets big and small. Plymouth city centre and Exeter cathedral market are two of the biggest. Small towns close to Yurtcamp like Totnes and Newton Abbot have smaller markets.

3) The House of Marbles is a little gem tucked away less than 2 miles from Yurtcamp, just outside Bovey Tracey, and it's not just about marbles. A generous sized shopping area with everything from toys to chocolates, bath bombs to wine glasses. Watch the glass blowers in action in the studio, children can play in the garden, learn the history of the marble, and watch the giant marble runs, before enjoying something to eat in the café.  

4) Paignton Zoo is always a favourite with Yurtcamp guests, young and old alike. Monkeys, lions and giraffes are just the start of a long list of over 2000 animals who call Paignton Zoo home. There are plenty of indoor areas for when the weather takes a turn as well as a large café, gift shop and soft play areas. Voted as one of the best zoos in the country we think Paignton zoo is well worth a visit.

Little Robin Redbreast

Robins have long been associated with Christmas, and as we go about Yurtcamp there are certainly plenty of robins around to keep us company. One particularly brave little robin was pecking my sandwich crumbs from around my feet the other day and it got me thinking 'why are robins so Christmassy?' After a little bit of research I bring you two possible answers -

 The first is a story often repeated at this time of year connecting robins to Christmas, which tells that when the Baby Jesus was lying asleep in his manger, the fire which had been lit to warm him blazed up all of a sudden. A little brown robin noticed that Mary was distracted by the inn-keepers wife and placed himself between the fire and the baby fluffing up all his feathers to protect Jesus. The fire scorched the little robin's breast, but God turned it a beautiful red as a reminder of his kind actions.

 The second widely repeated answer I found linking the robin to Christmas is the Victorian postmen, who wore red waistcoats and were often named robin red breasts because of their resemblance. Perhaps this is why the robin has been commonly seen on cards and stamps during the festive season since the mid-19th century.