Oakdean Cottage Yurt

Get a feel for the Forest of Dean with a stay at Oakdean Cottage Yurt. This single off-grid yurt on a smallholding is surrounded by a wildlife-rich woodland offering plenty of opportunities to spot wild boar, foxes, squirrels, and deer. The wood-burning stove and campfire area help to make glamping in a yurt feel like an appropriate way to stay on the edge of this ancient forest. And although it’s rustic with wild surroundings, it’s comfortably domestic too. It’s set up on a steep hillside in a garden setting, overlooking rooftops and Gloucestershire farmland.

The yurt sits on a level deck in this sloping orchard garden and has its own bathroom and kitchen shed with running hot and cold water – and an electricity supply. There’s also a covered dining and cooking area. That’s all the functional stuff but the yurt itself is the interesting bit. It’s as authentic as it gets; crafted by yak herders in Mongolia. The insulation is yak wool and the latticework is held together with strips of yak leather. Inside, there’s a double bed and a double sofa bed, making it as good for families as it is for couples. It’s worth noting, though, that the yurt’s raised platform makes it unsuitable for those with children under three.

You can walk directly from site into the forest and you don’t even have to go that far to see and hear some of its wildlife. Birds, bats, and deer are all sometimes seen in the yurt’s immediate surroundings and just hanging about in the hammocks may be all the advantage you need. A handy walking map is provided in the yurt along with tips on places to eat, drink, and visit. Peaceful Soudley Ponds with the Dean Heritage Centre is a good place to head for, a walkable two miles away. There, you’ll find impressive trees, a good cafe to refuel at and all the information you’ll need to make your trip to the Forest of Dean memorable. Though, having said that, if you’re staying at Oakdean Cottage yurt, we'd say that much is already guaranteed.