Matt is the brains behind A Place In The Pines. He had some trees, a pond, his dogs and a knack for throwing unforgettable barbeques but wasn’t sure what to do with them. Naturally, he scoured the mountains of Switzerland in search of canvas-topped inspiration. He found (and we can’t disagree) that nothing quite beats waking up in the forest to the smell of campfire coffee and bacon, with a day of trudging unknown lands ahead. Lucky for you, he also scribbled down hot baths and homemade sloe gin on his list of must-haves.
Easy to get to and not too far off the main road are the four canvas lodges – all about 60 m apart, and each with their own bathroom, kitchen, deck and personality. The super-stoves inside don’t stop at keeping the whole family warm all night, they can slow cook a joint at the same time! If that’s not rewarding, we don’t know what is.
It doesn’t have to be Easter for an egg hunt here: you can collect your breakfast from the hens most mornings or get yourself some fresh duck eggs from the honesty box by the pond. The sheep, pigs and ponies in the next field appreciate the odd carrot or apple on your way past too. Hop over the fence to explore the chuffin’ glorious Yorkshire Moors. You don’t need a guide, just stick a pin in the map – it’s all good! If you go in August, you can glimpse local farmers battling it out for the title of longest pod of sugar peas or the heaviest courgette at the famous Osmotherley show.