Peaks and Pods

You can’t help but be a little jealous of the Brennand Family. They’ve woken up amid this stunning, stonewall-lined landscape for no fewer than three generations. And while the world thumps on with mobile phones, computers and fingertip gadgetry, the views here are as timeless as they’ve ever been. In fact, while the farm may border one designated area of natural beauty – the Forest of Bowland AONB – it’s less than two miles to the nearest national park, too. So whether you’re a walker, mountain biker or simply want some snaps of the scenery, the choices are pretty endless.

Perched in a private area of the Brennands' dairy farm – away from the tractors and working yard – are five insulated, cedar-clad pods. All have an excellently equipped kitchenette, a double bed and sofa bed, a deck and a fire pit outside but there are some important differences to help you choose the pod that's right for you. Step outside the two Green Top pods and you'll find a sheltered hot tub and a private bathroom, with a shower, toilet and basin, a few steps away. The Silver Top Pod meanwhile, has no hot tub, but is fully en-suite, for those who just can’t handle the stroll. It also boasts a top-drawer barbecue so is perfect for glampers who love their food. The top level of luxury goes, as you might expect, to the two Gold Top pods. How so? They have both en suite bathrooms and hot tubs.

It’s more like compact, self-catered living than camping when you’re cocooned away inside your pod, especially if it’s raining outside and you’ve got dinner simmering on the hob. But once you fling open the double-glazed doors, you feel very much a part of the great outdoors. Logs are provided for your fire pit, so you can toast marshmallows on the terrace as the sun sets over the Yorkshire hills, but very often guests head for The Hub. This covered communal area is very much the heart of the place with games to play and an enviable outdoor kitchen featuring a wood-fired oven to cook fresh pizzas and a Weber barbecue. It’s an excellent spot to socialise and offers some of the best views on site.

Walkers, cyclists and mountain bikers are the most obvious folk to capitalise on the area, so it’s no surprise that the Brennands have provided every pod with a boot box and offer a power hose and wall racks for bike maintenance. Spin a few miles west to Gisburn Forest for award-winning mountain biking trails or simply stride out on the footpath from the farm. It’s all on your pod-step, which ever direction you choose.