Our favorite spot in South Somerset, ‘The Yurt Retreat‘ is a stones throw from the Dorset and Devon Jurassic Coast. We’ve come to love the place and it’s owners due to the fact that the beautiful little slice of heaven is located on an Organic farm sitting at the base of an ancient hill fort where two luxurious Yurts, two boutique Roundhouses and a stunning Treehouse sit, waiting to be enjoyed. This is most definitely one of the best Glamping destinations in the country (of course, we’re biased!). ALL Photos kindly supplied by Paul Irish, ‘The Yurt Retreat‘. Photographer Matthew Heritage .
Following on from the successful installation of their first unit “The Nest”, Paul and team at The Yurt Retreat have recently invested in the second unit, “The Hide” and are welcoming guests from all over the country for short and long term stays.The kitchen – fitted indepenently by the Yurt Retreat crew after we’d left site
Above is the second of two self-build and assisted build units, affectionately called “The Hide” – sitting in it’s own landscaped settings with a wrap-around veranda and stand alone freestanding bath nestled back behind the firepit.
This photograph and this work of mastery is entirely the work of Paul Irish at the Yurt Retreat. He installed this masterpiece adjacent to the Rotunda as a complimentary feature. This is definitely what defines a truly spectacular glamping site! The dining area. This building is 6.5m diameter and contains the kitchen, dining and bedroom space in the central Roundel. The bathroom is fitted into an extension wing at the rear of the building.
These photos of course are pretty but do not to the building justice! For the beauty of the round isn’t in the aesthetic but in how it makes you feel.
Step inside one for a moment and you’ll undoubtedly understand. Better yet, book yourselves a stay in one for the real experience. The Yurt Retreat is a couples only retreat and a sanctuary for those who seek solace immersed in the lush rolling hills of Somerset https://www.theyurtretreat.co.uk/
The Rotunda was designed first and foremost as a building which would connect us. Both to nature, and to eachother.
The British Celts lived in roundhouses. We know from reading recent archeology studies that the number of excavated roundhouses in Britain must be rapidly approaching 4,000. The prehistoric roundhouses remained a strong and sophisticated design, one very well-suited to a temperate climate and they were continued to be built throughout the Roman period, particularly in the north and west of Britain.
Our present day built-society exists more often than not, encapsulated in rectilinear walls. There is absolutely no argument about the fact that sitting people in a circle, at whatever age, and for whatever purpose is beneficial. We see this reflected in all areas of our society. Whenever we see the term “circle” associated with a natural or human event or activity it usually represents a level of healing/enjoyment/connection or natural cycle.
“Circle Time”
“Circle of life”
“Circle of friends”
“Healing circles”
“Talking circles”
“Womens circles”
“Sacred Circle”
“Inner Circle”
“Circle of Trust”
The list goes on….
Want to collaborate in business? Sit in a circle! Research from Sauder School of Businessshows that seating arrangements can have a major impact on the way people think.
Try as you might, it’s impossible to put the word “Circle” into a negative term.
“Circle of … ” Nope. It doesn’t work.
However, if you think about the phrases related to square you might find that they are less than positive.
“Back to square one”
“Be there or be square”
“Square peg in a round hole”
“Box your ears”
“Boxed in”
There’s more to it than just emphasising on the language of the circle and using this to validate our theory on it making sense from a human experience perspective.
The Rotunda was born as a British designed Log Cabin style building with all of the aesthetic appeal of the scandinavian cabins with their low-hanging eaves and heavy timber roof trusses. Crafted from natural materials and designed to sit well in a forest or rural environment. But the ‘circle thing’ is just so overwhelmingly obvious to us (as a primary shape for buildings that is, from every perspective). Given that this style of seating and ‘people-arrangement’ also connects us together leads us to believe that the unique style of eco-building which you find on our site is the harmonious connection between the two ideaologies.
Square cabin in the woods – perfect in every way, with the exception of it’s shape.
Rotunda – perfection in it’s very nature. The perfect circle. The connecting hub for children and adults alike and the natural form to sit harmoniously amongst trees.
If you have any information relating to the benefits you’ve encountered due to sitting in the round or spending time in the round please don’t hesitate to get in touch we’d love to hear from you.
Until next time,
From all at Rotunda x
We have recently undertaken an extensive change in our business operations to enable us to offer you the opportunity to rent commercial units rather than the usual direct purchase.
This scheme is for Rural enterprises such as B&B’s, wildlife parks, glamping sites, animal and adventure farm parks and outdoor leisure sites or retreats.
The Rotunda, style as above 5.5m – with En-suite Bathroom – a canopy – roof – kitchenette (bolt-on accessory) – installed in as few as 5 days. Design and configuraion of the wall, window and door panels can be adapted to suit you. Internal and External finishes and full contemporary bathroom suite are designed by Rotunda Roundhouses to guarantee quality and as such are not bespoke in their nature.
The Benefits of Renting a Rotunda
Immediate access to one of the most exclusive buildings available in your sector: Renting the unit is an efficient way for you to get started immediately. Once you’re set up and the business is making suitable profits, you may then have the opportunity to own the asset after the rental period.
Providing your business with the best chance for success:Given that the Rotunda is one of the most exclusive lodges available in the UK, (with a higher ticket price than most other glamping structures) you can position yourself at a higher level than you might otherwise be able to afford.
No need to compromise: Unfortunately, most sites need to either borrow a substantial amount from the bank or accept a lower-quality product which might not generate the best yields.
Enhances your Business Model: The Rotunda is a ‘HIGH-YEILD’ & ‘LOW VOLUME’ ASSET. In other words, it works hard for you, so you don’t have to.
You only need a low volume of these units to generate an exceptional return. It’s the holy-grail for a rural retreat or leisure site.
If you want to nurture your business to create the right opportunity for success, you need to invest in equipment which can generate the highest level of revenue. A better quality building can simultaneously reduce the risk of having any dissatisfied guests, excessive maintenance issues or loss of revenue in the winter months.
En-suite bathrooms and innovative design increases your chances of securing a high occupancy rate (if you’re seeking to reach upwards of 80%, this is the building for you) with guests happy to pay a higher rate than you might otherwise achieve.
WOW factor, without the price-tag: Given the unique design of the Rotunda, you are setting yourself apart from your competition. It’s no secret that the sites which go the extra mile that are really reaping the rewards of strong returns on their investment. Couple this building with attractive features such as a hot-tub and a log burning stove and you’re headed for the stars.
Keeps your budget under control: Fixed monthly or weekly payments can help you manage your cash flow.
Enables you to scale up quickly: The capital required to rent is a fraction of the amount compared to buying your buildings outright. This enables you to either secure multiple units from day one or frees up your resources to invest in the other areas of your business to drive growth. That’s a sure way to scale up your operation far faster than you would otherwise have imagined possible.
Easy maintenance: We will pay for repairs to Building. In this way, the item also holds its value better than if you bought it outright.
Frees up other finance options Since it’s a rental scheme, it’s not like a traditional business loan. So, it shouldn’t restrict your ability to invest your capital elswhere or borrow finance for other items of business equipment.
Easy to upgrade Some businesses choose to return their Rotunda at the end of the rental agreement. Others may choose to purchase it outright at the end of the period, or refurbish it and enter into a new rental agreement.
Tax efficient: You don’t own the title of the asset, and therefore it won’t go on your balance sheet. This can be tax efficient, the rental payments are 100% tax deductible.
We are absolutely thrilled to be able to assist you on your journey to become the business you deseve to be. Let us share the journey with you. Call us if you’d like us to talk you through the scheme in greater detail and explain what it might mean for you and your future business operations.
The glamping movement which appeared seemingly out of nowhere and caught the UK by storm about ten years ago looks like it’s most definitely here to stay.
The popularity of mini-breaks, weekend tourism trends and Brexit fears are assisting the UK Leisure and tourism industry with a very pleasant boost. Meanwhile, consumers simultaneously delight in the folksy resurgence of ‘Best of British’ which is reflected in the explosion of micro-breweries, artisan markets, crafts producers, small scale organic farmers, manufacturers, creative/design firms and of course the joiners and craftspeople who create the plethora of structures which we all call Huts, cabins, pods or lodges to supply the burgeoning glamping industry.
But are they all the same? Or is there a real difference between these terms?
You may find a Cabin on a more established holiday park, touring park, woodland leisure centre or remote UK location
cabin noun
1. a small wooden shelter or house in a wild or remote area.
The most likely descriptive phrase for a timber-framed and/or modular building. The most common term for glamping buildings.
Buildings you may find in the UK Glamping or Leisure industry which will use this term:
Log Cabin (Log Houses)
BBQ Cabins
Woodland Cabins
Wigwam Cabins (surprisingly, these look nothing like the original native American Indian Wigwams!)
Shepherds Hut – This is an old-fashioned, original style Shepherds Hut from which the modern designs have all stemmed. Contemporary Shepherds Huts are commonly clad in Cedar and boast windows!
hutnoun
1. a small, simple, single-storey house or shelter.
Buildings you may find in the UK Glamping or Leisure industry which will use this term:
Shepherds Hut
pod noun
1. a detachable or self-contained unit on an aircraft, spacecraft, vehicle, or vessel, having a particular function.
We’re actually not sure how the term ‘pod’ ever became synonymous with the domestic garden room & British tourism industry. Still..,. you’ll find this term used to refer to a wide range of structures. Most often, ‘pods’ represent the budget-staycation market and can be found on campsites, hostels, touring parks and even National Trust locations.
Buildings you may find in the UK Glamping or Leisure industry which will use this term:
This is an example of Barrel Pods
Camping Pods
Glamping Pods
Eco-Pods
Log Pods
Barrel Pods
lodgenoun
a small house at the gates of a park or in the grounds of a large house, occupied by a gatekeeper, gardener, or other employee.
As with the Cabin, these are usually timber-framed or modular buildings suitable for long or mid-term stays.
Buildings you may find in the UK Glamping or Leisure industry which will use this term:
Rotunda Holiday Lodge
Safari Lodges (These are canvas structures)
Tree house Lodges
Lakeside Lodges
So, the conclusion?
Well, with the exception of the ‘Huts’ which really only represent one style of building in the UK Glamping industry, (the Shepherds Hut); the other terms all reflect timber-framed, modular or transportable semi-permanent holiday accommodation of varying qualities and style to suit budgets and sites.
So, if you’re looking for a unique building for your site, research your manufacturer extensively and check for quality. Ultimately, a lodge, pod, cabin or hut may very well be on the menu for UK Landowners to choose from but there is one building which stands head and shoulders above the rest. That is, of course, the Rotunda. For that, we can assure you, there is no other.
Not one, but many; and their kind is growing… expanding in defiance of the new technological era. Claiming their place as the new adventurers of the 21st century.
Perhaps you too, are one of them?
This type of human craves wilderness and fresh mountain air. They are intoxicated by the heavy blankets of moss and decomposing leaves in the deepest part of ancient forests, they enjoy the smell of woodsmoke, the sounds and scurrying of birds and wildlife and the crackling of a campfire as the wind whistles through rugged landscapes.
Oftentimes these people find themselves living life as many of us do, working in (god forbid) an office or residing in an urban area. It’s easy to spot the adventurer. You will most probably find them slowly and intently leafing through a copy of ‘Cabin Porn’ or watching Channel 4’s ‘George Clarkes amazing spaces’ in their free time. You’ll see them down at their allotment growing food which most folk would prefer to buy from the supermarket and they may very well partake in hobbies such as pottery (mud, of course!) and just about anything to do with the outdoors.
This is a sweeping generalisation of course. But, we believe this to be true. We also recognise that this breed of person also has a penchant for cabins. Nordic cabins. Rustic cabins. Cabins in the woods, on the hillsides, cabins by fishing lakes or deep in valleys dwarfed either side by mountain crags and just about anywhere that you might find an abundance of moss and lichen.
Well, listen up, cabin-lovers. We have a treat for you. The mother of all glamping cabins has just landed in this physical reality and it’s the ‘James Bond house’ of all glamping cabins. It’s rustic and contemporary, unusual yet familiar and cosy but espansive. We’re presently 70% through the build process and to say that everyone involved is excited is a gross understatement.
The plan, by our client, is to have three (two of which are already on site) unique and impressive eco-lodges for long-term holiday lets (1-2 weeks) sitting on stilts, on a mountainside, in a forest, overlooking the Atlantic Ocean.The site is……….. to die for, the view is incredible. Not to mention the wildlife (especially the white tailed eagle……one of which is captured below) is rather impressive.
So, our client, needed *spectacular* cabins……
We designed these units to capture as much of the view as possible. As you can see from this early design sketch, the central ‘Roundel’ is 5.5m in diameter. This serves as the living room and kitchen, we affectionately call this ‘the snug’. Those windows are 1.8m high and sweep around the forward elevation for an unobstructed view.
The bedroom and bathroom areas are provided within the ‘wings’ of the building. With a depth of 3.2m and 2.5m respectively, they are large enough to provide a comfortable and unique space without forgoing any of the unique charm of the Rotunda.
Do you see that long, wide, low-hung window over the bath? This is the view…
And how about a glimpse of those beautifully crafted Accoya bay windows in the snug? Oh…
I bet, the bedroom is starting to look pretty good now too eh?
It’s getting there!
Naturally, the photography will be pheonominal once the project has completed (a little over three weeks away) but we couldn’t help but share the progress with you.
With bookings already being taken for Summer 2018 and 2019 and our client already filling spaces far sooner than they’d anticipated, it’s worth getting in touch ASAP if you’d like to book yourself a little jaunt up to the Hebrides to stay in these spectacular cabins.
Do you know your softwood from your hardwood? Here’s a small wood fact for you:
“Softwood is wood from trees such as conifers. Opposed to hardwood, which is the wood from trees which have broad leaves that usually change color and die everyautumn. Softwoods are not always softer than hardwoods. Both groups include a variety of wood types that vary in actual hardness. (Balsa is a hardwood but is softer than most softwoods).
Most likely candidates of Softwood Tree varities – spikey. No fruit. Seeds or nuts.
Most probably ‘Hardwood’ trees. Larger leaves. Potential for fruit. Leaves prone to falling off in the colder months.
Softwood makes up about 80% of the world’s production of timber. (Which, can only be a good thing, considering the highly endangered tropical sort are usually Hardwoods!).
We use softwood to create about 90% of the Rotunda building. Graded Structural beams of Redwood (pine) form the structrual timbers in the wall cavity, “Douglas Fir” is usually selected for the windows and doors (Douglas Fir is a softwood but is much harder than many hardwoods) and the cladding is most usually a UK Grown Larch.
Known for it’s durability, it’s beautiful, (almost red-orange) honey-hued finish when it’s freshly sawn and it’s playful and rustic waney (bark) edge; it’s known historically as the timber the Scots used for boat-building as it’s got such a high resin content.
We specify this timber for our cladding to ensure these little eco-buildings are not only weather-protected but blend in to a rural or forest environment as if it’s just grown straight up from the forest floor…
Recently, we’ve been commissioned to install Cedar Cladding on several of our buildings; this stemmed from a personal preference of our clients but has given the Rotunda a sleek, new coat.
Perhaps, like an otter. The sea otter, known for it’s rugged, fluffy and arctic-hardy fur looks remarkably different to the smooth asian short clawed otter, clambering out of the pool after a swim.
What’s the difference in performance? Very little.
We’ve found the lifespan to be more or less identical. The properties of both timbers are excellent. Both have greater resistance to rot and decay than other timbers, due to high resin content and tannins which contain anti-bactericidal and anti-parasitic properties. The antiseptic ingredients protect against fungus, mould and insect infestation… and they are just, decent, hard wearing timbers which look brilliant and do their job perfectly well.
So, which is best for you? Well, if you want fewer knots, a denser grain and more clean lines, we’d reccommend the T&G kiln dried Cedar yurt cladding.
Irrespective of a species initial colouration, all species will have weathered to a near-matching silver-grey appearance after around 5 years.
This is worth bearing in mind, if you’re hoping for your Rotunda to retain that new reddy-orange colourful “just new” look after a few years. It will most likely look like this!
It is possible to treat your timber cladding with a UV protection spray to maintain the same golden & red hues if you are keen to keep the original look in place for some time to come.
We are pretty passionate about timber, trees and of course the magically memorable buildings one can create from such a renewable and beautiful resource. If you have any questions or ideas for a new cladding style please feel free to drop us a line, we’re all ears!
It’s no secret that we believe curves and circular environments are hard-wired into our DNA. Not only is this a powerfully visceral and instinctive feeling generated when you spend time in and around curved architecture but this also makes sense on a multitude of practical, holistic and metaphysical levels. The below article by Eric Jaffe explains that there is now more evidence then ever in design circles (no pun intended!) to support our theory that perhaps our sub-conscious actually really prefers curvy buildings.
This below article found on www.fastcodesign.com is a wonderful read by Eric Jaffe – who explains his theory as to why our brains prefer curvy architecture.
“When the great architect Philip Johnson first visited the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, designed by Frank Gehry, he started to cry. “Architecture is not about words. It’s about tears,” Johnson reportedly said. Something about the museum’s majestic curves moved him at an emotional level. Many others must get a similar feeling, because the building is usually ranked among the most important in modern times.
Whether or not Johnson and Gehry realized it, the Bilbao and its swirling façade tapped into a primal human emotional network. Time and again, when people are asked to choose between an object that’s linear and one that’s curved, they prefer the latter. That goes for watches with circular faces, letters rendered in a curly font, couches with smooth cushions–even dental floss with round packaging.
The Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory at Harvard Medical SchoolThe Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory at Harvard Medical School
Recently neuroscientists have shown that this affection for curves isn’t just a matter of personal taste; it’s hard-wired into the brain. Working in tandem with designers in Europe, a research team led by psychologist Oshin Vartanian of the University of Toronto at Scarborough compiled 200 images of interior architecture. Some of the rooms had a round style like this:
Courtesy of Oshin Vartanian
Others had a rectilinear form, like this:
Courtesy of Oshin Vartanian
Vartanian and collaborators slid people into a brain imaging machine, showed them these pictures, and asked them to label each room as “beautiful” or “not beautiful.” In a study published earlier this year, they reported that test participants were far more likely to consider a room beautiful when it was flush with curves rather than full of straight lines. Oblong couches, oval rugs, looping floor patterns–these features got our aesthetic engines going.
It’s worth noting this isn’t a men-love-curves thing; twice as many women as men took part in the study. Roundness seems to be a universal human pleasure.
Beauty ratings were just the first step in the study. The researchers also captured the brain activity that occurred when the study participants in the imaging machine considered the pictures. Turns out people looking at curved design had significantly more activity in a brain area called the anterior cingulate cortex, compared to people who were looking at linear decorations. The ACC has many cognitive functions, but one is especially noteworthy in the context of Vartanian’s study: its involvement in emotion.
So curved design uses our brains to tug at our hearts. Some of us cry outside great buildings as a result. Some of us reach for another brand of dental floss. Some of us, beyond all rational judgment, type in Comic Sans font. “Our preference for curves can not be explained entirely in terms of a ‘cold’ cognitive assessment of the qualities of curved objects,” Vartanian tells Co.Design. “Curvature appears to affect our feelings, which in turn could drive our preference.”
The Bilbao-sized question is why exactly curves give us a visceral pleasure. Some neuroscientists believe the answer may have adaptive roots.
Another brain imaging study, conducted several years ago by Moshe Bar of Harvard Medical School, found that viewing objects with sharp elements–once again, square watches, pointy couches, and the like–activated the amygdala. That’s the part of the brain that processes fear. Bar and collaborator Maital Neta proposed that since sharp objects have long signaled physical danger, human brains now associate sharp lines with a threat. Curves, meanwhile, may be seen as harmless by comparison.
“In other words,” says Vartanian, “we prefer curves because they signal lack of threat, i.e. safety.”
There’s a nice clarity to that explanation, but it certainly has some limitations. The most basic of these is that some sharp lines feel warm and welcoming (see: the New York City skyline, or Ikea furniture) and some curves are plenty scary (see: a rattlesnake, or Nicki Minaj). Not every straight-versus-curve contest is as clear as knife versus spoon. Culture, context, and familiarity can all influence our perception of contour.
It’s also critical to point out that just because people have a natural neural affinity for curves doesn’t mean round design is always superior. If researchers asked people to rate architecture based on functionality instead of beauty, for instance, they might get different results. (In fact, Vartanian says he’s studying that question next.) The Bilbao in all its sinuous glory may bring tears to the eye, but it probably took a very rectangular truck to bring construction material to the Bilbao.”
Eric Jaffe is an editor at CityLab, where he writes about transportation, history, and behavioral science, among other topics, through the lens of urban life. He’s also the author of The King’s Best Highway (2010) and A Curious Madness (2014). Follow him on Twitter.
We’re often asked whether you can get a self-build mortgage for one of our buildings… and the simple answer is, yes; you most certainly can!
Just click on the link below and have a chat with these lovely chaps at Ecology Building society about your project (be it round or any other form of modular building kit) and you may very well find that the doors to your self-build adventure may open up to you….
If you’re considering installing a toilet in a garden room or on a glamping site with minimal fuss, perhaps one of the water less eco-toiletsavailable in the UK may very well be for you…
It is usually possible (under permitted development) to install a small garden-studio at the end of your garden without requiring planning consent but if your plans involve connecting this building to the mains water, you may then find that a full planning application is required.
The cost of applying for and gaining your planning approval (circa £1,500+) plus digging up the garden to put in a water supply and a sewage outlet, (which may need a pump if the lie of the land isn’t suitable) can increase the your capital outlay significantly (several thousand pounds). Installing an eco-toilet not only avoids all this expenditure, it also means that a toilet can be installed within a couple of hours.
If cost savings aren’t enough, research would also indicate that adding water to human waste is a problematic way to dispose of our sewage and although it’s the most common practice it’s certainly not the best solution from an environmental perspective.
Composting toilets treat human excrement using biological processes, turning it into organic compost material that can be used to fertilise the soil. They are small-scale, complete waste processing systems. Composting toilets are an excellent example of sustainable design. They provide a safe and effective way to save resources and prevent pollution, whilst saving money and energy for the owner and the community. At the same time they produce a valuable end-product that can be used to fertilise the soil.
Eco-Toilets cater for glamping sites and they state on their website that: “Composting toilets offer a wonderful solution, especially as the ‘green’ credentials of such toilets can be used in publicity to encourage campers to not only enjoy themselves, but help the environment at the same time! They save huge quantities of water in a world where water is an increasingly scarce resource, and require very little infrastructure. We have now developed a combined toilet and shower cabin, which can be sited almost anywhere, offering a wonderful shower, a smart and pleasant toilet and, if required, a water treatment system to recycle the water and urine output and return it to the cabin meaning very low water consumption too.”
Another supplier (WooWoo), who have a myriad range of fantastically cool eco-toilets (as per the picture below) state on their website that:
“We provide waterless, composting and low water toilets for a huge range of applications. From large capacity public toilet systems to compact composting toilets for boats. Easy assembly – watertight – minimum maintenance – no water – no electricity – no chemical products – waste is transformed into a neutral, odour free material – 100% ecological.
Of course, it’s possible to contact either of the suppliers mentioned above and ask them to construct you their own style toilet unit for you and provide the toilet as one package.
Alternatively, we can source the toilet on your behalf and install it into a mini-rotunda to complement your garden-room. The image below is a 2m internal diameter Rotunda with a 100mm wall cavity, single skinned poly carbonate dome and surface mounted lights.
Another eco-loo by www.eco-toilets.co.uk this time installed in a custom-built 2m diameter Rotunda w/c
Several of our clients have spoken to us about their eligibility and applications for LEADER grant funding to fund their Rotunda project. Leader Funding is available to local businesses, communities, farmers, foresters and land managers. You can apply to your Local Action Group for funding for projects that create jobs, help your business to grow, and benefit the rural economy, under the LEADER scheme. LEADER grants are delivered via LEADER LAGs and are available to local businesses, communities, farmers, foresters and land managers.
A total of £138 million is available in the England between 2015 and 2020 under the scheme.
Click here to read about ‘Our Philosophy’ and why the Rotunda may suit your application
Landowners, Schools, Glamping sites, Rural hoteliers, Farmers and any one else located in a rural location wishing to set up or further support a project which may both boost rural tourism and increase forestry productivity, provide rural services and increase farm productivity can apply.
What projects are eligible
A LAG (Local Action Group) is made up of people from the local community and the local public and private sector. Each LAG decides which projects they will fund in their area. This depends on their priorities but all projects must support one or more of the 6 LEADER priorities. These are to:
support micro and small businesses and farm diversification
boost rural tourism
increase farm productivity
increase forestry productivity
provide rural services
provide cultural and heritage activities
How to apply
To find out more, and to apply, you should contact your LAG, or check their website, for information about:
funding in your area
funding priorities – including the local development strategy
how to apply for funding
past projects
LAG members
Could you be just a step away from your new glamping or rural hotel site? Eco Tourism – start here!
Contact your local action group
Find your LAG and contact details on the map or in the list.
Wooden Yurts…… The shape of things to come in the UK Leisure industry?
Something’s happening in the UK glamping industry and the yurt builders are getting jittery.
It’s only been relatively recently that the term “wooden yurt” was coined, (by us, initially) and soon others followed. One by one, small and independent cabin and hut builders recognised that there’s something magical about the humble yurt; and there’s something infinitely practical about replacing that canvas with homegrown timber.
Thus, since the launch of the “Rotunda Roundhouse”, a unique style of building began to take a foothold in the UK Marketplace and now the cabin manufacturers have started to follow suit… this could only mean one thing. Could this be the modern equivalent to the 2,500 year old Ger/Yurt which has been oh-so popular on the UK leisure and glamping sites over the last few years? As the pioneers in this field we’re pretty confident that this is not a trend but the evolution of an existing popular (but winter-inadequate) structure.
So, if you were to search the ‘wooden yurt’ term nowadays you may find a good handful of manufacturers who are promoting a circular or octagonal type of shed, hut, cabin, den, pod, BBQ shelter, gazebo… something or other! We’re going to explain what sets one wooden (or timber) yurt from another and the key features you should be looking for to make the transition worthwhile.
So, why would you consider switching from the old canvas variety to the contemporary Roundhouse style of Wooden or Timber Yurt for your glamping or rural B&B business?
Insulation The main attraction when it comes to switching from the canvas style ‘yurt’ to a wooden yurt is to enable you to start (or boost) trading over the winter. Canvas Yurts are simply not suitable as winter accommodation units. (Mainly because they are not insulated and they can get damp). Similarly, a warm fire may be romantic (when it’s lit!) but beware the ‘shed’ type building with little or no insulation, single glazed windows and zero energy-saving capabilities. You may just find that your guests will be expecting a warm and cosy winter getaway but are freezing their socks off in a glamorous shed. Might as well just stick with the old yurt!
Electrics The type of building you use to replace your yurts will most undoubtedly be geared up to provide a unique and luxury experience. Your guests may reasonably expect to be able to use a hairdryer/have tea and coffee making facilities in their room and benefit from underfloor heating! Make sure that you’r builder or cabin manufacturer includes electrics as standard and not as an expensive upgrade.
Functionality Couples and families looking for the ‘yurt experience’ but more inclined to opt for a hotel room or B&B for comfort and convenience may have found their nirvana with a wooden yurt or roundhouse. It may be worth considering that your guests may seek the functionality of a Hotel Room. This means that you would do well to consider integrating an en-suite bathroom, air conditioning, opening dome, kitchenette, a hot-tub on the veranda and the usual TV and entertainment facilities in your wooden yurt/hotel suite. A reputable and skilled roundhouse or wooden yurt manufacturer should provide these options for you as part of the design process.
Durability The Rotunda Roundhouse is (more often than not) designed to Buildings Regulations Standards which means it’s not classified as a caravan, shed, pod or cabin. It’s built to last. There is a big difference. If you’re serious about investing in a commercial building which is going to replace your yurts and continue to bring you a fantastic return year after year, opt for a solid building with structural certification which you can trust will never, ever fail you.
Sex Appeal It needs not be said, but, an exquisitely crafted timber-framed eco-building (oh yes, it’s so much more than just a wooden yurt!) is one beautiful looking building. With the rough-sawn natural homegrown timber cladding complimenting the handcrafted and lacquered timber windows with monkey tail ironmongery and architectural detailing; this is a building which has a most definite wow-factor. If you’re looking for a sexy building which will almost guarantee an astonishing return rate and keep your bookings high – remember that the devil is in the detail. You can buy cheap (but this always means buying twice!) and your guests may not wish to return unless you can offer them the experience of a lifetime. We can help you there.
Please have a quick look at our image gallery for some examples of the “Rotunda Roundhouse” for inspiration!
If you were to drive for 1hr 30 mins from Montpellier or Nîmes and deep into the Cevennes Mountains, you may just stumble across Gardoussel; a small, family-run retreat specialising in creative and holistic holidays. Husband-and-wife team Alex and Sharon live on-site with their young family and are helped in the day-to-day running of events, particularly cooking, by Alex’s mother Frances.
Up until recently they had Gites and Yurts on offer to their guests… until last week! When the Rotunda team arrived. The first of such expeditions, the Rotunda and three of our men bravely ventured where no other installer from the UK has before. Despite a few initial hiccups with the British haulage agency everyone arrived on site last week , ready to start building the first French Rotunda “Gaia”.
The retreat is so remote that the panels had to be transferred on the main road from the arctic vehicle to a small trailer in order to make the journey down the small driveway to “Gardoussel”.
And here comes the team…… Over the bridge and towards their final destination. (After three days of travelling!) Our Rotunda van is in uncharted territory!
… Our Joiner (Johnny) is clearly enjoying the novelty of being so far from home and has made a new friend already!
This garden room is going to be used as a yoga space and gathering room & it should not cause too much of a stir within the local community as this special building is of a striking similarity to a pre-existing local building in the round called the “pigeon tower”.
Look at that ‘witches hat’ roof…. magnifique! We love it!
So, once “landed” the floor panels are assembled and affixed onto the prepared concrete slab which Alex and Sharon had kindly prepared in advance!
And of course…. stepped back to have a look at the view! Oh wow…. what a position for that bell tent!
So the build is underway… the roof trusses are next to go up, after the wall panels are positioned and secured:
… Oh… did we mention the VIEW!?
And… voila! The building is watertight… and ready for some internal work…
You’re almost there guys…. keep up the good work and have fun with your new friends at Gardoussel!
We’ll update you again… when the gorgeous “Gaia” is complete!
We came across this book today and just had to share it with you! If you are as passionate as we are about Circle Houses, Yurts and the impact of form on our psychology, along with the anthropological story (which underpins the whole concept of living in the round), this book is for you:
“Among nomadic peoples, round-shaped homes, echoing natural forms, have sheltered families since the dawn of recorded time. The natural world is filled with circles, but it’s surprising how unusual circular houses are in industrialized society. In our disconnected world, the circle has given way to the box.As David Pearson explains in his introduction, “Like our nomadic ancestors, many of us have a deep yearning to roam with the seasons and be close to nature and the cosmos. The traditional forms of the yurt, tipi, and bender are the apogee of this experience. . . . Nomadic populations live in some of the most inhospitable and barren regions of the world and this is why they are nomads. Whether it be the deserts of the Sahara and Gobi, the steppes of Mongolia, or the polar tundras, these vast areas are either too hot and arid or too cold and windswept to be cultivated. An African grass-covered hut, a Romany gypsy ‘bender, ‘ an Asian yurt, or a Native American tipi are all perfect lessons in appropriate design and sustainable building. Refined over generations, they are simple yet sophisticated, beautiful and comfortable.”Remarkable for their economy, resilience, and portability, these structures have continued to exert a powerful appeal in modern times. And beyond practicality, what the circle dwellers in this book speak of most eloquently is the incomparable spiritual resonance of round homes, which “represent the universe in microcosm: the floor (Earth), the roof (sky), and the hole in the roof (the sun).””Circle Houses” is a fascinating glimpse of tradition meeting timelessness, filled with stories of 21st-century nomads and complete with basic instructions for designing and constructing your own yurt, tipi, or bent-frame tent.”
“It’s official: beer is out, carrot juice is in. While the newspapers tell us that 29 UK boozers now close every week, smoothie bars and organic cafes continue to pop up, and it seems our appetite for spiralising, juicing and detoxing just can’t be sated.
It’s affecting decisions about how to holiday, too. The Global Wellness Institute reports the worldwide wellness market has grown 74% in the past four years, and it’s now worth more than $439 billion, which makes it one of the fastest-growing sectors in travel.” Says Aby Dunsby of Travel Weekly in their article released online yesterday.
If the true nature of the traditional holiday were to ‘take a break’ to unwind and recover from the daily stresses of life, there can be little worse than spending that well deserved time detoxifying your body and mind and spending some much needed TLC on yourself….. An annual MOT if you wish! Eco therapy anyone?
Being outdoors and immersed in a beautiful environment is essential to our mental health and wellbeing and synonymous with the fundamentals of holistic practices. Wellness holidays focus on a wide range of holistic treatments and fitness practices such as Yoga and Pilates , whereby Eco therapy improves mental and physical wellbeing by supporting people to be active outdoors doing gardening, food growing or environmental conservation work and other activities in nature. Both combined is a win-win scenario! (This ties in to our previous blog about eco therapy and eco-tourism in particular).
There seems to be collective appeal towards eco therapy and wellness within a significant group consumers within of the global tourism industry and the global growth of international ‘wellness tourism’ is simply unmistakable. It may be that we are paying more attention to our well being or perhaps an indication that we have so little time to focus on our well being in our day-to-day lives that we are determined to cram some TLC in whilst we get the opportunity to take a break. Whatever it is, it’s working. Just a quick scan through the popular website, “HEALING HOLIDAYS” gives us a valuable insight as to the scale and diversity of the offerings of exclusive resorts all over the world, exclusively marketed to the body and mind conscious British public seeking out eco therapy. Healing Holidays is the UK’s leading independent Spa specialist, and here is a list of their categories:
Their top Five Rejuvenating Retreats are the Vana Personalised Programme (India), SHA Wellness Clinic Rejuvenation Programme (Spain), Ayurveda Resort Sonnhof Fountain of Youth Rejuvenation Week, Bad Ragaz Therapeutic Relaxation Programme (Switzerland) and the Kamalaya Comprehensive Detox & Rejuvenation (Thailand).
When browsing news articles online, there was an amazing article in the Australian “Perth Sunday Times” which states:
“Samantha Lippiatt, from Health and Fitness Travel says “Worldwide, it’s growing by 9 per cent per year, nearly twice as fast as regular tourism.”
According to the Global Wellness Institute industry think-tank, the rapidly emerging sector is expected to be worth $930 billion internationally by 2017. Health and Fitness Travel, which originated in the UK, opened its Australian office in 2014 in response to growing demand. Lippiatt says the business’s Australian clients – three quarters of whom are women aged 35 and up – are looking for a holiday that delivers stress release.
“They’re usually managing emotions and big life changes. We get a lot of interest around big birthdays, during a divorce or if they’ve been retrenched,” she says. “Something big is happening in their lives, and they want to invest in making themselves feel better” According to Lippiatt, feeling better encompasses mental and physical health.
“People want to come back feeling like they’ve had a holiday,” she explains. “With a fly-and-flop trip, everything is done in excess – you drink all the drinks, eat all the food and you’re exhausted when you return. Now people want to create some space for themselves: to sleep, eat well and have a digital detox is a luxury these days. A wellness holiday is an opportunity for people to do that thing they’ve been saying they’re going to do, like getting rid of insomnia, or starting a fitness regime.”
The trend is broadening out, with active family holidays on the rise and healthy honeymoons becoming more popular.”
So, if you’re still considering starting that glamping site, remember, that with it’s emphasis on health, wellbeing (eco therapy) and sustainability you may very well be part of that astonishing growth curve we can see spiralling out in the tourism sector. But don’t just take our word for it, if you do your research you may find an abundance of information which verifies our claims that “Traditional Holidays are OUT and the sustainable, spiritual, uber-trendy eco-holiday is IN” So, ditch the old ideals (and old buildings for that matter) and embrace the roundhouse, an eco therapy haven – we’re behind you every step of the way.
Why you should be thinking about setting up an eco-retreat in the UK
The rise of UK Tourism, Spirituality, Conservation & Wellness – and how you can be a part of it.
Are you looking to generate revenue from your land or wishing to re-structure your existing rural leisure business? Do you have a beautiful, natural location rich in trees, wildlife and biodiversity to offer to discerning guests wishing to escape city living and connect to the environment?
If so, you should really be thinking about joining the pioneers of the eco-tourism industry which is beginning to emerge as a likely forerunner in the UK Leisure sector over the next decade and we’ll show you why.
There are some key trends that are worth looking into before jumping into a new venture, we’ll explain which are the ones we think show true promise and why.
We’ll be breaking this blog into four segments
PART 1 – Tourism
PART 2 – Eco-Tourism
PART 3 – Spirituality
PART 4 – Ecotherapy & Wellness
TOURISM
The UK Leisure industry is one of the fastest growing industries; currently estimated to be worth over £200 billion to the UK economy and forecast to be worth £257 billion by 2025. One of the contributory factors could be the a rise in the ‘staycation’ holiday market which really started picking up some steam in 2010 and in particular, the Glamping industry (think Yurts, cabins, tree-houses, upcycled Gypsy Caravans and exquisitely crafted Shepherds Huts and you’re on the money).
Romantic bolthole: Jonathan Melville-Smith refurbished an idyllic gypsy caravan in Cornwall
You needn’t spend too much time analysing market reports or VisitEngland statistics to see what’s happening, for this trend is exemplified by the popularity of British Television programmes such as “George Clarkes Amazing Spaces” and the emergence of uber-fashionable and super successful UK Glamping Travel Agencies such as Alistair Sawday’s “Canopy and Stars” and Tim Rees “Quality Unearthed” at the forefront of the trend. (And it’s not a trend, by the way, our sources indicate that this is most definitely a growth curve which looks set to continue).
Tom Dixon’s Canopy and Stars
Quality Unearthed Travel Agency
A large percentage of people are now trading in their traditional 2 week vacation abroad in favour of several long weekend-breaks and mini-breaks to work around their careers/businesses and families.
Oliver Smith, digital travel editor of the Telegraph writes:
“Travelodge now claims that, despite recent poor weather, holidays at home are back in demand. Its annual holiday report, which featured a survey of 3,000 adults, revealed that 65 per cent of people would be taking a summer holiday in Britain this year – up from 41 per cent last year, and 35 per cent in 2011.”
In November we exhibited at the ‘Farm Business Innovation Show’ and boy, they should’ve re-named that show “Glamping Innovation Show” for there were more leisure buildings and glamping/self-catering cottage travel agents present than any other type of product or service.
Everyone is looking to cash in on the ’boutique’ escape boom at the moment
The sheer diversity of overnight accommodation units now being utilised by farmers and landowners to generate a return is quite staggering. The most desirable are Safari Tents, Shepherds Huts, Modular Cabins, Eco-Lodges, Treehouses, Yurts, eco-pods, bell-tents, Ti-Pi’s, gypsy caravans, timber-framed luxury cabins and modular garden buildings, bbq huts and of course, the Rotunda. It makes sense to select the type of building which best suits your business and client base.
Many people rent out small cabins and yurts from £650.00 for a weekend, £2,000 for a week or £10,000.00 for a year (Amy Andrew: www.thisismoney.co.uk/)
If you had a beautiful paddock, for example and a budget of £5,000.00 for your capital investment it would be worth considering a tent or a Ti-Pi for an authentic glamping retreat. Conversely, a landowner of a country estate with a 4* hotel wishing to expand on their current offering may be more inclined to budget ten times this amount for an exclusive lodge, treehouse or Roundhouse.
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ECO-TOURISM
This leads us into the Eco-Tourism industry, cited to be the fastest growing sector within the rapidly expanding tourism industry. A common driver in the Glamping and Outdoor Experience Staycation holiday theme is the pre-requisite for a beautiful, natural rural location in which guests can unwind, recharge and immerse themselves in nature.
Tom Dixon, managing director of Sawday’s Canopy & Starssays: ‘In general, travellers are starting to look for more experiential holidays. They want to try something different, something that’s a million miles from what they do in normal life. People really do enjoy getting back to nature and a more relaxed kind of holiday, but we all like a bit of comfort too.”
The Definition
Ecotourism is now defined as “responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment, sustains the well-being of the local people, and involves interpretation and education” (TIES, 2015). Education is meant to be inclusive of both staff and guests.
Principles of Ecotourism
Ecotourism has become one of the fastest-growing sectors of the tourism industry, growing annually by 10–15% worldwide (Miller, 2007).
Ecotourism is about uniting conservation, communities, and sustainable travel.
Eco Retreats abroad volunteering and learning about sustainability – from Turtle Rescue to Rainforest Conservation
With environmental conservation being a highly emotive area for a large percentage of the population, there are many of us who choose to travel on their holidays with a primary objective in mind; to engage in volunteering on a wildlife conservation project. Creating a memorable experience whilst learning is a satisfying adventure and there are some wonderful organisations and charities operating within the tourism industry who organise trips and adventures to enable the environmentally driven holidaymaker to gain experience in the fields of permaculture, bushcraft, organic farming, forestry practices, wildlife conservation and marine biology to name but a few.
One of the best examples of a non-profit organisation operating in the field of international eco-tourism is Ecoteer Responsible Travel, founded in 2005 by Daniel Quilter, a marine biologist, after a volunteering experience at Sukau in Sabah, Malaysian Borneo.Ecoteer Responsible Travel formed to help concentrate resources to develop meaningful volunteer and ecotourism experiences which could help solve the specific issues for each project.
Ecoteer Daniel Quilter – UK Maverick – set up overseas to assist with deforestation and wildlife protection conservation projects
As Daniel states on his website “Ecoteer.com benefited from the UK recession as more people had free time and were looking for low cost long term projects and is now a favourite amongst students and career breakers looking for work experience in the ecotourism, environmental awareness and conservation sectors. The Ecoteer.com website supports over 200 independently-run grass root organisations in over 50 countries and by 2011 Ecoteer had over 1,500 subscribing members.”
And it would appear that the ecotourism trend is establishing itself within the UK tourism industry.
‘Green Traveller” who list over 700 green places to stay (that can be reached without flying within the UK, Ireland and continental Europe) wasfounded in 2006 by travel journalist Richard Hammond, the former ecotourism journalist for The Guardian and author of “Clean Breaks – 500 New Ways to see the world”.
Their site UK Green Traveller is a fantastic resource which features eco-friendly places to stay and holidays which can be conveniently reached by bike, public transport, train or ferry.
They also try to link these up with a range of things to do in the local area, including Local Food & Drink, Farmers’ Markets, Family Days Out, Festivals, Museums, Gardens, Art and Craft, Walks, Cycle Rides and Watersports, Wildlife Watching and more.
When we phoned GreenTraveller earlier on today to quiz Richard about his perspective of this industry he stated: “We’ve seen a definite increase in not only the amount of sites advertising with us but in the interest in this style of holiday. There are not only more environmentally friendly places to stay in the UK but the amount of initiatives which the proprietors are installing are also on the increase, a primary example of this is the installation of green technology . Many are upgrading facilities which place an emphasis on maximising the efficiency of their energy, assist with the minimisation of waste alongside the implementation of alternative water systems.”
This information alone, combined with the plethora of information available in the media and via independent sources is indicating to us that there is real promise to be found if you can offer the following to your prospective guests:
Authenticity
Clean, fresh air, organic & locally grown produce
An unspoilt, natural location (preferably with water)
An experience which connects them with their inner nature (or inner-child ie: men=treehouses!)
A valuable learning experience, whether this is learning about the local farmers market or learning how to rely on green-technology (or zero technology!)
An opportunity to make unique memories
It shouldn’t be too difficult for you to start drafting up the pro’s of an eco-retreat in your business plan for the future, and gaining planning permission could be more achievable if you were considerate of both conservation and an opportunity to boost the local economy.
Of course, this wouldn’t be a Rotunda Blog if we didn’t also mention that it would be highly advisable to ensure your overnight accommodation buildings (or structures) are quirky, memorable and built to provide a level of comfort which correlates to the return you’d like to generate back on your investment. Naturally, there is no better building for an eco-retreat than the Rotunda!
Our next Blogpost will conclude with:
PART 3 – Spirituality (yep, yet another growing trend)
The Rotunda was designed first and foremost as a building which would connect us. Both to nature, and to eachother.
This is a sweeping generalisation of course. But, we believe this to be true. We also recognise that this breed of person also has a penchant for cabins. Nordic cabins. Rustic cabins. Cabins in the woods, on the hillsides, cabins by fishing lakes or deep in valleys dwarfed either side by mountain crags and just about anywhere that you might find an abundance of moss and lichen.
The site is……….. to die for, the view is incredible. Not to mention the wildlife (especially the white tailed eagle……one of which is captured below) is rather impressive.
“Composting toilets offer a wonderful solution, especially as the ‘green’ credentials of such toilets can be used in publicity to encourage campers to not only enjoy themselves, but help the environment at the same time! They save huge quantities of water in a world where water is an increasingly scarce resource, and require very little infrastructure. We have now developed a combined toilet and shower cabin, which can be sited almost anywhere, offering a wonderful shower, a smart and pleasant toilet and, if required, a water treatment system to recycle the water and urine output and return it to the cabin meaning very low water consumption too.”
So, why would you consider switching from the old canvas variety to the contemporary Roundhouse style of Wooden or Timber Yurt for your glamping or rural B&B business?
The retreat is so remote that the panels had to be transferred on the main road from the arctic vehicle to a small trailer in order to make the journey down the small driveway to “Gardoussel”.
We came across this book today and just had to share it with you! If you are as passionate as we are about Circle Houses, Yurts and the impact of form on our psychology, along with the anthropological story (which underpins the whole concept of living in the round), this book is for you:
One of the contributory factors could be the a rise in the ‘staycation’ holiday market which really started picking up some steam in 2010 and in particular, the Glamping industry (think Yurts, cabins, tree-houses, upcycled Gypsy Caravans and exquisitely crafted Shepherds Huts and you’re on the money).
