The Bivouac – Glamping in the Yorkshire Dales

Here at Bivouac we love all things luxurious and rustic, sustainable and thoughtful. Our site is located three miles from Masham in the sweeping landscape of the 20,000 acre Swinton Estate in the Yorkshire Dales. The local landmark of Druid’s Temple, an intriguing 18th Century folly, is located in the woodland adjacent to Bivouac. Our off grid accommodation consists of six original, hand crafted, round-wood timber frame Shacks tucked away in our beautiful woodland, and eight canvas Yurts burrowed into the hillside, resting on individual wooden platforms. Above our reception area is the cosy bunk barn that can sleep up to 12 people.

Inside, our lockable Shacks have a lovingly selected combination of handmade and up-cycled items furnishing them to provide a snug and intimate setting for your Yorkshire holiday – everything from the crockery to the wood fired stoves and antique rocking chairs – all come together to make it feel like your own little house in the woods. The Windy Smithy wood burners fitted in every Shack have a range attached, meaning that our guests can self cater and are perfect for popping a warming stew in before you set off on a relaxing excursion, to any one of the numerous activities accessible from Bivouac Swinton. In combination with the sheep’s wool insulation, the wood burners not only keep the Shacks toasty but with the added back boiler provides warm water for our residents during their stay here.

Each Shack has its own discrete variations providing our guests with a unique Bivouac experience. They do, however all share a similar layout with a maximum capacity of 7 adults. Sleeping space comprises of:

An upper mezzanine with one double bed, this is accessed via a ladder and is definitely one for the more romantic, adventurous and limber! You can also gaze at the stars through the skylight set into each shack ceiling.

Three, 3 x 2ft.6in single beds are nestled in the middle mezzanine, it is about 1.5 metres (5ft) of the ground and feels like the cosiest of places to settle down for the night. Perfect for kids, or big kids alike.

Under the middle mezzanine is a secret hideaway containing a double bed. Don’t expect a full height ceiling under here, think of it like a luxury ‘bottom bunk’. A curtain can be drawn for a little extra privacy.

The rest of the Shack is taken up with an open plan kitchen area, containing the wood burner, sink and shelving for crockery, cutlery and cooking utensils. Adjacent is a comfortable and homely lounge area where guests can curl up and enjoy the warmth from the fire, or relax together over a delicious meal prepared in the range. A separate room houses the bathroom which comprises of a flushing toilet, shower and sink. Hot water is generated through your wood burning stove, however we cannot guarantee hot showers. Alternatively, if you are unable to get hot water in your accommodation you are welcome to use the shower facilities near the reception barn, which has underfloor heating and hot water created through our woodchip boiler.
Each Yurt can accommodate up to five adults with a compact sleeping space comprising of one double bed, two single beds and an optional third single pull out bed. Bed linen is provided, as well as a basket of wood to fuel your fire! There is also a gas burner available for outdoor cooking on your verandah. The wood burner and sink take up one portion of the yurt, while a comfortable living area fills the remaining space providing a calm environment to unwind after an active day out.

For those not familiar with Yurts, they are tent like structures based on the Mongolian Yurt (or Ger), the Bivouac Yurts are constructed from clear treated timber (redwood) and waterproof, flame retardant canvas. Traditionally the home of nomads in the steppes of Central Asia, yurts are as easy to erect as most tents but once built much more like a timber framed building. The shape provides good thermal efficiency with only a small wood burner needed to keep it warm. Our Yurts have been made in England and customised to make them just right for our Bivouac site, with moss green canvas we have made sure that they will sympathetically blend in with the surrounding landscape, as well as all being on their own individual platforms to keep them dry and provide a small verandah. All of the Yurts have windows allowing you to enjoy the views from inside and solid wood lockable doors providing you with peace of mind as you head out and explore the Yorkshire Dales.

Each Yurt can accommodate up to five adults with a compact sleeping space comprising of one double bed, two single beds and an optional third single pull out bed. Bed linen is provided, as well as a basket of wood to fuel your fire! There is also a gas burner available for outdoor cooking on your verandah. The wood burner and sink take up one portion of the yurt, while a comfortable living area fills the remaining space providing a calm environment to unwind after an active day out.

For larger groups looking to stay together, or avid walkers looking for a cosy overnight stop while passing through on the Ripon Rowel, our bunk barn offers the perfect place to rest after a long day discovering the charms of the Yorkshire Dales.

Situated above the Bivouac shop & reception, guests staying there have easy access to our cafe, toilets and showers.

The barn houses twelve bunk beds and each one has its own bedside lamp, lockable storage box and bed linen. There is a sink, kettle, drinks preparation area and cold store. If you require towels during your stay you can hire these from the reception team.

AREA DESCRIPTION

Here at Bivouac Swinton site we have a picturesque spot on the Swinton Estate which is one of the most beautiful settings in the Yorkshire Dales. The 20,000 acre Swinton Estate stretches from the River Ure and charming market town of Masham in Wensleydale up to the moorland dales and the Yorkshire Dales National Park.

The woodland at Bivouac Swinton is home to the Druid’s Temple which is steeped in history and intrigue. Not a great deal is known about the construction of the folly, but it is believed to have been built in the late 1700’s by William Danby (owner of the Swinton Estate and nearby Swinton Park). It is rumoured that a hermit lived there for many years, but its mystical connections are probably fairly tenuous, as it was built at a time when there was a great deal of interest in Druidism as part of the emerging Romantic period. The site contains a main temple along with numerous stone formations dotted around the woodland for eager walkers to find as they explore.

The Danby family also built Swinton Park which is a short drive away and now a 31 bedroom luxury castle hotel. The earliest part dates from 1695, with significant subsequent Georgian and Victorian Gothic alterations, including a turret and castellations. Swinton Park is now owned by the Cunliffe-Lister family who came to Swinton in the late 1800’s and is the ancestral seat of the Earl of Swinton.

The nearby village of Masham’s origins is uncertain but the huge square market place was the site for annual sheep fairs for many years and this still continues on a much smaller scale each September. It is thought that sheep farming was introduced to this area by the Vikings. The parish church St.Mary’s is believed to be mainly Norman with a few additions over the years and holds a fine memorial to Abstrupus Danby, another of Swinton Park’s former owners. One of the unique aspects of Masham’s medieval history was when it was given to the Minister of York, he did not wish to travel to visit it and oversee the town’s affairs, so the parish was designated a Peculiar. Something that now lives on in the famous Theakston Beer.

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