Day 34 of The Quirky Tour and Jess and Dom enjoyed a visit to Woodcutters Huts in North Yorkshire, England.
Find out more about their visit:
First Impression:
The Woodcutter Hut covers all your necessities leaving you to relax and enjoy the woodlands, spending quality time with family and friends without all the unusual extra trappings we become accustomed too.
It was great to meet Christian and Carolyn at last after working with them since 2014. Jim, the on site manager, is extremely helpful.
The Accommodation:
Think of this as luxury camping as there is no electricity but there is a large room with kingsize bed and sofa bed with bedding, a woodburner, a large sheltered deck with cover, furniture and BBQ plus a kitchen hut with cool box.
There is no lighting or plug sockets - although you could plug something in at the bathhouse if required. At the bathhouse each hut has its own private bathroom with bathtub and unique handpainted walls. These are in themselves a work of art and you really need to take the time to appreciate the love and skill that has gone in to them.
You can get a phone signal but no wifi. Get into the spirit of the eco owners Christian & Carolyn - who were glamping pioneers and want to keep this woodland experience pure.
Food and Drink:
Bring all your own supplies although bear in mind you will need ice for the cool box too. Wood and charcoal can be bought on site for the woodburner and BBQ.
Go for a light lunch or cake a stroll over to the Northwood Kitchen Cafe - although bear in mind it can get very busy at peak times. This woodland cafe is off grid and generates it’s own electricity.
There are a selection of eateries within a 30-45 minute drive including The Star Inn at Harome and the Black Swan at Oldstead. If you prefer a spicy meal, then there area two local Indian restaurants just 15 minutes away.
Jess' top tip:
There is so much to do in this area that you don't even have time to realise that you are off grid. We took a trip to their sister site just 30 minutes away where we enjoyed lots of woodland activities as you can see in the photo above.
Make sure that you bring wellies in case of wet weather, plus a torch too as well as a book and some games.
Christian and Carolyn, owners, work in the The Fairy Trail just down the lane where there is a daytime cafe open from 10am to 4pm where you can have an off grid lunch, cake, tea, coffee, beer etc.
Guests who stay 2 nights or more can take The Fairy Trail without charge - and I highly recommend that you do.
Although children love this woodland walk with story boards and plenty of magical distractions and a labyrinth - do not think the enjoyment is limited to that age group.
Dom and I spent a wonderful hour there - marvelling at the ingenuity, fantasy and creativity involved. End at the Fairy Museum!
A visit to York is also highly recommended - about 20 minutes away. This medieval city has the craziest historic street called Shambles which is dominated by Harry Potter and witch and ghost shops.
There was a LONG queue of perhaps 50 tourists outside a tiny store that sold individually painted ‘ghosts’ in the form of what looked to me to be a salt seller. Someone is on to a good thing there!
You can join a ghost tour or be shown the city by a witch too. There are city walls to walk, or visit Clifford’s Tower or York Minister and climb the 275 steps for the best city view.
Finally whilst here make the most of being off grid and reset your body clock by rising and setting with the sun - so good for you!
Jess' review of Woodcutter Huts - 11th February 2023
Learn more about the Woodcutter Huts and enjoy an off grid back to nature experience.
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