Christmas will soon be here - and there is so much emphasis put on "Black Friday" deals - it makes me wonder whether we should enter this arena of special offers or whether to stick with our old fashioned ways of advertising.  We are of course really happy to see returning guests and will offer loyalty discounts to those who return year after year - just get in touch if you would like to stay with us again in 2026.  We also happily welcome new guests who may want to try what our bijou glamping site has to offer.  Often over the festive season people are starting to think about their holidays in the next year and are yearning for some spring and summer sunshine instead of the dreary winter rain and wind.  So if you are pondering on your 2026 holiday then we can guarantee you will receive a warm welcome at Hemsford Yurt camp so get in touch and ask about our "Black Friday" deals!    

Its that time of year when our yurts are deconstructed and stored away safely in our barn.  We rope in our family and friends to help and we always wait for a weather window of fine and dry to ensure everything stays lovely and clean and completely dry.  Autumn has been surprisingly warm and dry this year with only one storm so far and the rest of October has been cool and dry with light winds and some beautiful sunny afternoons.  The trees are shedding their leaves and the fruits in the orchards are plentiful and acorns, sweet chestnuts and conkers are abundant.  My mother always told me to carry acorns in my pockets to ward off evil spirits and for good luck so I love to carry on these old traditions and will be passing on this to my granddaughter for sure.  We are taking yurt bookings for 2026 already and if you have specific dates you would like to visit then why not take advantage of the 2025 rates and book early.   We are still offering our shepherds hut during the winter months.  Lots of people love the Christmas markets in Totnes and the ambiance and warm welcome from Totnesians is second to none.  

This summer has flown by and I can hardly believe that September has arrived with some much needed rain and showers.  The months of June and July have been very dry and our land was parched and longing for some moisture to return to the land.  The season has been busy with many lovely guests enjoying the wonderful long sunny days and clear dark nights with camp fires, toasted marshmallows and the calming smell of wood smoke.  Its so nice to see so many returning guests this season and I thank everyone who makes a return visit - its so much appreciated.

It will soon be time to take our yurts down once again for the winter months, but guests can still enjoy glamping here at Hemsford andstay in our shepherds hut over the winter months.  Our Shepherds hut is perfect for those who have not been glamping before.  It has its own tiny wood burning stove, and electricity supply and there is free superfast wifi.  During the winter months from October - March the guests in our shepherds hut have the facilities to themselves and can enjoy all the peace and quiet of our site even though the winter times.  Booking can be done traditionally over the telephone or by using our online booking portal.  Returning guests who contact me directly can always expect a discount!!!

Its the middle of June and almost time for the longest day and summer solstice.  This week has seen a heatwave at the camp with our current guests enjoying clear skies with balmy peaceful summer evenings.  The wildlife surrounding the camp including, on our lake all the water fowl, ducks, geese, swans and moorhens are all enjoying a busy breeding season and its lovely to watch their interactions in the lake at the camp.  The bats are also prolific this year and the fruit trees are started to set their fruits and we think it may be a mast year and are looking forward to a wonderful harvest in the autumn.  Temperatures this week are going to be almost 30 degrees so who needs to go abroad to enjoy sunshine!  The school holidays will be upon us at the end of July and we currently have some availability for July and August so why not try a glamping holiday in Devon? 

its been a lovely March with very little in the way of rain - and its been wonderful to be able to build our yurts in the comfort of dry ground.  We are now going through the task of filling the yurts with all our beds and furniture and this takes a week of intensive lifting and carrying from our barn on site to the yurts. Luckily having a large family with 3 strapping grown up sons really helps and they all get involved in this task! This year we have been busy in our kitchen areas which have been painted and revamped.  The car park is newly swept and we are looking forward to welcoming guests for the Easter period.  Booking early is always recommended especially if you are wanting to stay during the popular school holidays.  

Spring is on its way, the signs are all there, with the birdsong starting early morning and later in the evenings.  The light is starting to return and we are officially half way through the winter.  Our yurts are safely stored within our barn at the camp and around the beginning of March we will start to rebuild them - weather permitting of course.  We always aim to have the yurts ready for guests from the start of the school Easter holidays.  This winter has been stormy with plenty of rain and gales so we are longing hoping for some sunshine and good weather soon.  Our shepherds hut has been welcoming guests all winter and is cosy with its wood burning stove, and the benefit of electricity inside and superfast Wifi - all mod cons for sure!!!!  Bookings are starting to come in now, and we hope that all our guests will be making some nice memories whilst staying with us.  

By the end of September all our yurts are safely stored away in our barn and our lives become slightly quieter during the autumn and winter months.  There are still some lovely guests staying in our shepherds hut which is perfect for a quiet break outside of busy holiday seasons.  Our shepherds hut is a cute little space with a double bed and bunk beds so suited to couples and families alike.  The hut has a highly efficient wood burning stove so is always toasty even during the cooler months.  The hut has electricity inside, and access to our superfast wifi so is ideal for those looking for a winter break.  Locally there are many lovely markets held during the festive season so plenty of opportunities for Christmas shopping - is it too early to mention Christmas?  We always decorate our shepherds hut over the festive time so expect some tinsel and baubles if you stay during December!  The local pubs offer fantastic seasonal produce in the Tally Ho Inn at Littlehempston, the Sea Trout Inn at Staverton and the Pig and Whistle at Littlehempston - we are so lucky to have these wonderful pubs on our doorstep!

Autumn is a wonderfully peaceful time to visit South Devon, when the school holidays are over but the weather is still nice and warm and the hedgerows are full of blackberries and the orchard full of apples.  This September has had some lovely clear cool evenings just perfect for sitting outside around the camp fire watching the starry skies.  Our shepherds hut is available all year round and provides all the home comforts with superfast Wifi and electricity and a quirky wood burning stove inside to keep the hut lovely and cosy.  The morning mists have been rising across the river Hems and the harvest festival will be held this Sunday at Littlehempston Church.  

The weather has been glorious over the past few days with high humidity and stunning clear dark nights with a fabulous full moon.  The Barn owls have been hunting in our fields over the evening until dusk and the lake is looking amazing with an array of water lilies and the usual moorhens with chicks, mallards with ducklings and the Canadian Geese whose 4 goslings are reaching full size and will be flying off in the next couple of weeks for their adventures.  The swans, Ethel and Beau, have failed to nest this year and we are not sure why.  Perhaps because last years brood didnt fledge until April and that has left little time for the adults to start their courtship again.  Ethel has had a problem with her balance when not on the water but Beau is a superb looking adult male and is very protective of her.  We are so privileged to have these elegant birds living with us and we cherish their company.  We always advise our guests, if walking in our fields, to give them plenty of space as they are wild creatures and can be unpredictable at times.  We still have some availability for the summer holidays which will be starting next weekend when our local schools break up so please get in touch if you would like to stay.   Our recent guests have enjoyed all our lovely improvements for this season with our superfast Wifi and internet and we are now also able to offer everyone conventional electricity in a dedicated kitchen/fridge room with microwave, kettle, toaster charging points for gadgets, phones and ipads, and even an air fryer.  The shepherds hut is also now fully equipped with electricity.

Its been the wettest winter on records for most of the UK and for us here in South Devon we had seen around 100 days with rain and the sun was a stranger to us.  However our yurts are now built and ready for guests and the sun has been shining.  Everything is looking so green and verdant and the temperatures are rising.  Recent guests have been treated to some lovely clear nights with great views of the stars and in the next week we will hopefully have some views of the Lyriad meteor showers.  The Aurora Borealis has been seen over some places in Devon too, although we have yet to see this amazing spectacle.  The swans on our lake are looking to nest again and the Canada geese have already been sitting on their nest.  The female mallard has been parading her 13 babies in the lake field and they are growing fast now having been born on Easter Sunday.    Weather is set to be very warm towards the beginning of May and we are looking forward to having a great season.