Location: Highpoint, Stubb Lane, Brede, Nr Rye, East Sussex, TN31 6BN
Overview: “In this increasingly populated world, very few places offer total sanctuary away from the stresses and strains of modern living. Barefoot Yurts is one such place. Peaceful, tranquil and with mesmerisingly beautiful views, this truly is a slice of heaven in the Sussex countryside.”
In the last twelve months, my better half and I have been lucky enough to honeymoon in the Maldives, stay on an isolated island off the coast of Malaysian Borneo and spend time in the heart of the Bornean rainforest, none of these places however could offer us the complete and utter tranquility of the location of these two wonderful yurts. Not to mention the pure romance of this secluded haven with only squirrels, wood pigeons and a resident owl to disturb you as you enjoy a bottle of wine with your alfresco dinner courtesy of the supplied barbeque.
The owners who have decided to share this special place, Julia and Johnny, really have thought of everything and considered it all from a green, sustainable angle. The Barefoot Yurts site offers compost toilets (one for no.1’s and one for no.2’s!), solar powered lighting and a large composting bin. Just outside the kitchen there’s a well-stocked herb garden to make use of, which really gave the mushrooms and tomatoes in our cooked breakfast a huge lift.
Another nice touch is the ‘Honesty Shelf’ in the kitchen, where you will find homemade preserves, chutneys and jellies - help yourself and then leave your cash payment in a little dish. We chose the Apple, Plum and Chilli Jelly which complimented our locally made ‘Lincolnshire’ sausages perfectly. Delicious!
The kitchen, separate from the yurts, is fully stocked with everything you could need during your stay here; pots, pans and crockery right down to olive oil, peppercorns (with pestle and mortar), tea and fresh coffee. Much more than you would expect from a standard self-catering set up.
The Yurts
So, on to the two yurts themselves. One is the living room area with dining table and chairs, sofa bed/futon and beanbags. The other is the bedroom, with a beautiful, super-comfy handmade double bed and chest of drawers. Both have wood-burning stoves with enough wood and kindling supplies to create a decent fire to keep you cosy throughout the night. It’s amazing how much warmth these little beauties give out, I heartily embraced my inner caveman both nights we stayed there and even during the day when the rain started coming down, there’s something so satisfying about making and maintaining a good fire, the missus was suitably impressed too. Once again, it was the attention to detail that really stood out; solar powered fairy lights circle the ceilings of both yurts, whilst freshly picked wildflowers and candles complete the romantic mood. Both yurts are beautifully decorated in traditional Mongolian style with ornately painted support beams and central skylights to gaze at the stars through at night whilst lying in bed.
As well as the Barefoot Yurts site being an absolute pleasure to spend time at, the surrounding area has an endless amount of interesting places to visit. There are many organic farms in the area to stock up on food supplies whilst staying in your yurts, together with the picturesque town of Rye with its’ fantastic seafood restaurants if you fancy dinner out.
We had dinner at Webbe’s at the Fish Cafe in Rye, which was very impressive and reasonably priced too. If it’s decent pub grub you’re after, there are many pubs within a few miles of the yurts serving meals using locally sourced ingredients - check out the handy little book supplied in the yurts, or speak to Julia and Johnny for recommendations.
Summary
How to sum this magical place up? Simple, go there! It would be impossible to be disappointed. Massive thanks to Julia and Johnny for creating and sharing this wonderful place, we’re already wishing we never left! The most romantic place in Sussex? Probably... actually make that DEFINITELY!!
Prices for a two night stay for two adults at Barefoot Yurts start at £240. For more information, visit www.barefoot-yurts.co.uk