Gifted Camp Katur Review
We were delighted to be invited to Camp Katur at the start of April to review one of their luxury glamping accommodations; the Cosmo Geodome. Where: Camp Katur, ideally for travelling off the A1, between Masham and Bedale in North Yorkshire.
What: The Cosmo geodome, located on the Chestnut Hill are of Camp Katur, is fitted with a bathroom, kitchenette, log burner, electric hot tub, two double beds (including one on a mezzanine level for star gazing) a BBQ, firepit, and an indoor and outdoor dining table.
Our initial impression of the site is that it was MUCH bigger than we realised- it’s so spacious with a variety of different accommodation types spread out over the area. I loved the ‘off-grid’ feel, with good space between each accommodation and great views of the countryside- whether it was the woodland or field views. You felt that you were a million miles away from Leeds, yet it only took us around 45 minutes to drive here.
There were a variety of activities dotted around the site, and it meant that we could spend a day pottering around without leaving (or using the car!) at all! The favourite for the children was the Woodland Playarea, which included a fortress style climbing frame, zip wire and lots of little houses to play in. There were also picnic tables there- I image on sunny days families are quite happy to relax with a picnic and just let the children play!
Just down the road is also a swing park, with a variety of swings suited for different ages to try out.
The on-site pub is located at the entrance, and was open from mid-afternoon. Inside is cosy and welcoming, with plenty of seating outdoors in the sunshine too. It is also home to one of the communal pizza ovens. We bought a few pizza kits on the first night, and the children loved making the pizzas themselves (they also tasted amazing!). We were at the pizza oven nice and early, but a queue did form later on, so I’d recommend factoring this in if you did want to try it!
There are a number of paths and trails around and through the site, and we were ideally situated to visit the plane crash which was great fun for the children to explore and we made up stories of what might have happened. We had an afternoon walking around the sites footpaths, and racked up nearly 5km!
There are two communal kitchens on site if you were in other accommodation types; these housed a collection of cooking equipment/ crockery/ cutlery as well as washing up facilities and cooking hobs- perfect if the weather was drizzly and you wanted to escape indoors to make you one-pot! There were also under cover dining tables, which we also thought were a great touch if a number of families are staying on the site.
Other facilities on site included the outdoor gym and bushcraft area (you can book bushcraft courses/ workshops too).
This was by far the poshest glamping we’ve tried. Whilst you cant really forget you’re under canvas (the sounds of the woodland, the cooler night air, a few bugs), there were a number of touches that quite literally blew us away.
The main draw to the geodomes at Camp Katur are the giant windows- the views are just amazing, and there are a pair of comfy chairs positioned right at the front for you to relax in. To the ceiling there is another window, with the mezzanine bed positioned right below this; perfect for stargazing or cloud watching!
Inside, the main areas of the accommodation are built around the bathroom, and the mezzanine level sat above this and the kitchen unit (probably about 8 foot high). This solved the potential arguments of who was going to take the bed up there! Our three year old was unable to climb up there without help, and we would be nervous if our seven year old tried to climb down in the night for the toilet.
The kitchen had a good range of crockery, cutlery and cooking equipment, a dual hob, fridge including an integrated freezer shelf, a toaster and a kettle. There was a dining table with 4 chairs. The sink had some eco-friendly washing up liquid, a tea towel and a cloth.
Outdoors there was a gas BBQ with another dining table and 4 chairs, a firepit (marshmallows and sticks are available to buy) and the electric hot tub, which was just glorious.
Overall we had a great stay and absolutely loved the site! We love the local area, and it’s a great base to do some exploring, such as at Hackfall Wood, Swinton Estate, the Himalayan Gardens or Thorp Perrow, just to name a few! There are lots of different types of accommodation available, including some lodges. You can have a look at them all and check availability here.
Thank you so much for our stay!!
Camp Kátur, DL8 2LS
