Long Valley Yurts is expanding! We’ve been itching to spill the beans and we’re very excited to announce that we have taken over the lease for the campsite at Moss Howe Farm in Witherslack.
As of March this year, we will be taking on the daily running, management and ongoing development of the campsite. There’s a lot to do and think about before we open in the spring, and our minds are in overdrive with exciting plans and ideas for the future.
Saying Goodbye to Our Long-Time Partner, Annette
Whilst we are very excited about this opportunity, it wouldn’t be fair to move on without more than a nod to Annette; the outgoing tenant, our long-time partner, and the driving force behind Moss Howe Farm campsite. At the end of the 2022 camping season, Annette decided to hang up her hat and a well-earned retirement now beckons.
We first met Annette way back in 2015, just two years after she diversified the farming activities and single-handedly set up a campsite on part of the farm. By the time we met, Annette’s vision was very much coming to life.
Visitors were loving the quiet, secluded nature of the site, which has a real feeling of seclusion and escape from the rest of the world. Even during the school holidays, when surrounding areas in the Lake District are overflowing, Moss Howe Farm remains a quiet escape, located in the beautiful Witherslack Valley.
It was a bold move for Annette at the time, and we thank her for opening up what was her home and allowing us all to enjoy her slice of paradise.
How Did Our Work with Annette on Moss Howe Farm Begin?
When we arrived at Moss Howe in 2015, we met with Annette to talk about how we may be able to work together to offer our yurt holidays at the site. She was very much open to the idea, so that Easter we set up two yurts; Pennycress and Acorn.
The rest, as they say, is history.
How Has Moss Howe Farm Changed Since We Arrived?
Fast forward to today – we have been working successfully with Annette for the last seven years, adding in two further yurts along the way, all now with Scandinavian hot tubs.
Annette (seemingly effortlessly) added a couple of wooden lodges, developed an onsite shop, and electrified the site so some lucky campers and campervanners now get electric with their pitch.
Wishing Annette All the Best
After many years of hard work, it’s time for Annette to retire and it’s our turn to take on the mantle. We wish Annette all the very best in her well-earned retirement and thank her for everything she has done at Moss Howe.
She is only moving down the road, so we’re sure she will be keeping a close eye on what’s going on!
What’s Next for Long Valley Yurts?
It’s an exciting time for us here at Long Valley Yurts. We have always wanted a campsite of our own – somewhere to call home and somewhere we can really put our unique stamp on. There is a lot to do between now and when we open in March, but we are up for the challenge and can’t wait to get started.
What’s Our Plan for Moss Howe Farm?
First things first, we need to get to grips with running a campsite. Not as easy as it may seem on the surface!
We need to get the basics right before we can move onto our more ambitious plans. We are very much about maintaining the relaxed, secluded feel of the site – it’s what we love and it’s what keeps people coming back year on year.
In the short term, we’re developing a strategy to make the site carbon neutral, by applying for accreditation through the Green Tourism scheme. We already hold the Silver Award for Long Valley Yurts and hope to do the same for Moss Howe.
Plans are firmly afoot for a new shop, reception and cafe, and we’re looking forward to being able to host pizza nights, a hay bale cinema and much more!
We can’t wait to share this journey with you. Be sure to follow our Facebook page so you can keep up to date with us.