The Northern seaside town of Whitby is synonymous with childhood family holidays and sticky hands from grasping sticks of postcard painted rock.
It’s a destination for those with a love for the traditional ‘British’ summer holiday, one that consists of an afternoon on the slot machines and bags of beef dripping chips for tea. But, if you venture a mere 30 minutes from its luscious coastline, you’ll stumble across a rather hidden but must-visit destination.
Lawnsgate Camping is the product of husband and wife duo, Aidan and Ella’s dream, which has turned the couple’s traditional farm into a huge campsite complete with a yurt in the hills and an offgrid Gypsy Hut for a completely serene, socially secluded getaway.
Aidan grew up on the farm opposite Lawnsgate, so his business is very close to home and his passion for his local area is evident as Lawnsgate Camping is an idyllic place crafted from passion, creativity and a sustainable approach to the planet.
Their campsite is a slightly sloping field an acre in size with fantastic views across the Esk Valley and the moors. The couple have created plenty of space for tents or caravans, plus hard standing for Campervans and as the sun sets across the valley, there’s nowhere else you’d rather spend your summer evening.
Lawnsgate Camping is also complete with a Farm Shop Vending machine at its neighbouring farm Wild Slack. It’s only a short walk across the fields and sells its own Oxford Sandy and Black Pork, Heather fed Blackface lamb and grass fed Shorthorn beef.
We chose to treat ourselves properly during our visit, opting to stay in the famous ‘Yurt in the Hills’, which was complete with an outdoor barbecue, dining area and wood fired hot tub.
On arrival, Aidan was there to drive us the short 5 minute journey across to the space, in which we loaded our 55 bags of dried goods and hopped on the back of his buggy like working sheepdogs.
The views across the Esk are nothing short of spectacular and picnic benches are strategically placed within the yurt’s complex to make sure you make the most of the scenery.
The bohemian interior of the structure, with its dream catchers and fairy lit dome is exactly what’s needed for a city life escape. The yurt has everything you could possibly want or need, from pots and pans, blankets to keep you toasty in all weather conditions and a cat version of Monopoly – an essential for any off-grid getaway.
Aidan had kindly started the wood-fired hot tub for our arrival and it was simple enough to keep the fire burning. There was also a barbecue for us to do all of our cooking on, as well as a cool box to keep perishables fresh and a compost toilet to save us the 10 minute walk back to the campsite! The yurt houses its own wood fired stove, too, if you decide to stay during the colder months.
With the farm sitting just a stone’s throw away from the village of Lealholm, we hopped across the fences and past the bulls after waking up amongst the wild rabbits on our first morning there.
The village is around one-mile away from the yurt, and takes you on a tour past sleeping sheep and grand country manners that, on each passing, heard another proclamation of ‘I WANT TO LIVE HERE!’. Lealholm itself isn’t the most lively place to be, but complete with cosy cafes, a local shop and garden centre, there’s plenty to occupy yourself with on a warm summer’s day.
We couldn’t go this long without mentioning The Board Inn, a country pub which sits right on the river. Established in 1742, the pub offers unmatched surroundings and a vast menu of food and drink – making it a perfect retreat after a long walk across the country.
On heading back to the yurt from the village, it’s quite the uphill hike – so if you are making the trip to Lawnsgate anytime soon – be sure to keep this in mind. Once we arrived back, we popped on the hot tub, grabbed a few cans and soaked in our sun-kissed surroundings before popping on the barbecue for a big evening feast.
Lawnsgate Camping truly is a welcome escape from reality and the hustle and bustle of city life. For a 2 night stay, the yurt cost us £257 – which was worth every penny.
Lawnsgate’s camping site comes in much cheaper, at £20 a night for a pitch with E.H.U or £15 a night for a pitch without E.H.U, and the campsite’s Shepherds Hut costs around £60 a night depending on the date of your stay.
Follow the link below to check out Lawnsgate Camping’s facilities and book your getaway!
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