Glamorous camping is about to take to the road with a new concept in trailer-tent holidays.
A portable yurt has been developed in the Lake District which offers all the best features of glamping but with the freedom to move from site to site.
The Go Yurt is a luxurious and eco friendly tent with its own shower and toilet wet-room, fitted kitchen and wood burning stove. But it can be towed by a regular large estate car. The trailer is very stable and slimmer than the towing vehicle, so it is easy to navigate along narrow roads and restricted spaces. Then on site it opens out to a 14ft diameter space with a wooden trellis frame, cooker and fridge ready to link to camp site hook-ups, and top quality furnishings from John Lewis and Next.
The Go Yurt has been developed by Kendal entrepreneur and keen camper Hamish Foulerton, inspired by George Clarke’s Amazing Spaces TV show. Hamish, a landscape gardener and tree surgeon by profession, developed the prototype mobile yurt and is now offering a bespoke made-to-order service to customers’ own specifications.
High standards of insulation mean that the Go Yurt can be used all year round. There are LED lights in the floor and ceiling, and the wood-burner stove can be fitted in the centre or at the side. And aware of the weather impact on camping holidays, there’s an air-dry heating system so that the yurt can be packed away wet – and then plugged in back at home to dry out.
On site, the Go Yurt can be set up by one person within an hour, or four people in 20 minutes. The basic version can sleep up to eight people. Storage space under the yurt means that bikes and canoes can be stowed away overnight.
Hamish and his wife Michelle, a florist, and daughters Georgia (8) and Frankie (4) have been testing the Go Yurt at camp sites in the Lake District.
“This is an ideal solution for the family who loves camping,” said Hamish. “Yurts provide really stable and well-insulated camping accommodation, but until now they have only been available in-situ on certain camp sites. The whole point about camping is that you have the freedom to go where you want.
“Whether you enjoy getting back-to-basics, or the full-on glamping experience, our trailer-based folding yurt tents offer the perfect blend of personal and portable.”
The trailer yurts can also be used as a versatile space for events, as pop-up cafes or hospitality tents, or as mobile therapy rooms at sporting events.
The current prototype is the 14ft version, but there are plans for three other sizes – a basic 12ft version, a 16ft version and a large 18ft version. The compact 12ft version will fit into a standard garage and be towable by any car.
Campers interested in trying the Go Yurt can book a trial weekend at the Windermere Camping and Caravanning Club site. The hire cost will be deducted from the sale price if a Go Yurt is ordered. See www.goyurts.co.uk for details. The basic price is from around £18,000.
Notes to editors:
- The trailer is very compact and the contents can be stored inside when packed up.
- The integrated heating system means that even if put it away wet, the yurt can be dried out and ready for use next time.
- The trailer is very stable and because Go Yurts are slimmer than the towing vehicle, it is easy to navigate along narrow roads and restricted spaces.
- All Go Yurts can be towed by regular large estate cars, so you can leave your Go Yurt on site and use your car to explore the surrounding area.
- Go Yurts can be set up by one person within an hour, or 4 people in 20 minutes.
- None of the furniture is fixed so it can be moved and changed to suit your needs.
- You can choose exactly what furnishings you have, just like you would in your own home.
- Go Yurts are fully insulated and can be used in all seasons; cool in the summer, warm and dry in the snow and rain.
- Go Yurts connect to standard campsite electrics and services just like a conventional caravan.
- The low consumption 12v electrical system means that you can also use a vehicle inverter system, solar panel or silent generator for power.
- The space underneath your Go Yurt can be used to store equipment, such as bicycles, push chairs and canoes.
- Being trailer based and requiring no planning permission, your Go Yurt could also be used as an extra room at home.
- The Go Yurt 14’ can sleep up to 8 people and the 18’ version can sleep up to 12 people.
- You can use curtains to create rooms or zones inside your Go Yurt.
- Go Yurts can also be made accessible by wheelchair and are suitable for any standard campsite pitch.
Current optional extras include:
- Cotton / PVC cotton in a wide range of colour options
- Specify the position of doors and windows
- Wood burning stove
- Kitchen area with sink, hob, fridge, oven, colour-changing overhead lighting
- Colour-changing sound activated LED floor lights
- LED ceiling lights
- Shower, wash basin and toilet
- Wireless home entertainment projection screen system.
- Folding dining table and chairs
- Double / king size round sofa bed
- Luxury self-inflating mattresses
- Storage trunks
- Hanging wardrobe
- Wicker drawers and corner bin
northwestnewsandfeatures.wordpress.com 