Today’s interview is with Debbie and John Hughes at Rainors Farm B&B

Can you tell us a little bit about yourselves?

We are Debbie Hughes, from Essex, aged 54 and John Hughes, born and bred in Cumbria, aged 46.

Have you always wanted to run a glamping site? How did you get interested in it?

Our decision to offer Yurt Holidays was as an extension of the B&B business we were already running and primarily so we could share the magnificent views overlooked from our beautiful farmhouse home

What made you pick the location for your glamping site?

As John was born and bred in Gosforth, very close to the Wasdale area, he knows it very well.

We moved to Rainors Farm not planning to set up a B&B business but the house and land were perfect for it. Needing help with running costs and having spare rooms, initially it seemed the right thing to do and things have just evolved from there. Now, our guests and the business come first

Do you get a wide range of different people from different walks of life or are there certain types of guests who come to stay at your site?

We get a real mixture. More families during school holidays, more couples outside of school holidays.

When guests stay, do they usually cook on site or do you find a lot like to go exploring and eat out at local places?

Our yurt guests stay on a bed and breakfast basis and they have BBQ facilities at each yurt (weather permitting of course) but mostly they like to explore the area and eat out. Our most popular eating places being The Wild Olive in Gosforth, (Italian pizzeria), The Strands Inn at Nether Wasdale, quality pub food, Gosforth Hall Inn at Gosforth, The Bridge Inn at Santon Bridge, The Tea Rooms at Santon.

As mentioned before there are BBQ facilities. Yurt by the Stream has a brick-built BBQ with charcoal and oven below and Yurt in the Paddock has a gas BBQ. There are picnic tables at each yurt and we provide all cooking/ eating utensils.

There is a Utility Room with fridge for guests use including washing machine, clothes airer and heated boot rack.

If there was one activity to participate in, landmark, or place of interest that you would recommend guests visit while staying at your site, what would it be and why?

We believe the area has so much to offer but a lot of our guests are drawn to the area to climb Scafell Pike – England’s highest mountain and to visit Wastwater – England’s deepest lake; which won Britain’s favourite view.

It really is an area of outstanding beauty; not only because we are within the Lake District National Park but we also have a beautiful coastline and unspoilt beaches on our doorstep! There are many outdoor activities, too many to mention here!

What do you think sets your glamping site apart from others?

Our guests generally cook on the BBQ, play badminton, children bounce on the trampoline and play with the chickens and on rainy days we open our barn for table tennis. Generally just relax and enjoy the setting.

We think what sets us apart from other glamping sites is that guests are not sharing their toilet/shower facilities as they each have their own; we offer a full, hearty English or vegetarian breakfast to set them up for the day and a very personable, flexible, friendly service.

What has been the most memorable moment that has happened on your glamping site?

Far too many to mention…but we’ve had a few proposals. The yurts do seem to stir the romance in people and guests have returned for their anniversaries which is really sweet. We’ve had family reunions, friend reunions, team bonding breaks. It seems there are no limits to the reasons for a yurt holiday!

Do you provide any services/entertainment/activities onsite or elsewhere for your guests?

Onsite guests can play badminton, bounce on the trampoline, BBQ, campfire and generally relax whilst enjoying a beautiful setting. There are many outdoor activities which can be booked closed by such as rock climbing, abseiling, hill walking, mountaineering, expeditions, wild camping mountain biking, cycling, canoeing, etc. etc.

What plans (if any) do you have for your glamping site in the future?

We don’t have any plans at present to expand. We like the fact that both yurts have their own space and do not encroach on other guests’ use.   We are entirely happy with the set up that we have here and do not want to spoil it by adding more yurts or camping.

Although we have the space to expand and for more yurts, we are not a campsite and feel it would spoil the general feel of what we offer here.

If we got even one more yurt, guests would have to share the facilities and we like the fact that they don’t have to now.