Gurt Yurts

High in the Mendips above Churchill, Gurt Yurts sits on a south-facing slope with views sweeping across the valley to the Severn Estuary and, on a clear evening, all the way to Wales. The site is properly above the noise: no road hum, no light pollution worth mentioning, and a darkness at night that makes the stars feel personal.

The accommodation splits three ways: furnished yurts with the work already done for you, Batch Belles bell tents for those who want canvas without the faff of erecting it, and wild camping pitches for anyone who brought their own setup. Every pitch gets its own fire pit, which shapes the whole rhythm of the stay. Tim, who runs the site, is the kind of host reviews keep returning to: present without hovering, generous, and genuinely invested in the place. One reviewer watched deer grazing the valley from their fireside; another spotted the sunset setting directly over Cardiff. The toilet block occupies a converted stable and adds to the characterful, non-manicured feel.

The Crown at Churchill pub is a few hundred metres down the track. Thatchers cider farm is under two miles away in Sandford, a worthwhile detour. Cheddar Gorge, Wells Cathedral, and Wookey Hole are all within easy reach; Bristol is thirty minutes by car. The West Mendip Way and Limestone Link both start from the site for those who want to walk into the landscape rather than drive to it.

Dogs are welcome. Facilities are clean and no-frills: showers, toilets, fire pits. No electric hookups, no glamping-park polish. The track up to The Batch is steep and uneven in places, so arrive in daylight and take it slowly.