Of Yurts, Tractor Rides and Wine-Tasting.

Yesterday, Kevin and I drove to Goathurst in Somerset where his daughter Kate and our grandson Fin were spending a few days with her friend Jodie and her son, 'glamping' in a yurt. We hadn't seen Kate and Fin since last October, though we speak often and keep in touch through Facebook, so it was lovely to get together with them and to meet up with Jodie and Matt.

Once off the motorway, we had a pleasant drive through some pretty villages, finally arriving at the  Secret Valley, 400 acres of farmland, some of which is devoted to various 'glamping' accommodations (I rather fancy the Shepherd's Hut - very romantic) and met up with Kate and Jodie (the boys were racing their radio-controlled cars in the Play Barn).

After lunch, we went on the tractor tour of the site, passing donkeys, alpacas and free-range chickens on the way. They grow Christmas Trees here and apparently hares like living in the plantations so I kept my eyes peeled but no hares came out to watch us rattle past, sadly.

At the top of a steep hill, we arrived at the Wine Tasting Hut, where we tried a White, a Rosé, two very nice Reds and a sparkling Pinot Noir, while the children on the tour played Quoits. Then we were off again to view the vineyard

and down to the stream to have a Duck Race - Kevin was appointed Chief Duck Pusher, with a long pole designed to persuade any reluctant rubber ducks off the shallows and into the clear, fast-running water. I was too busy watching my own, highly reluctant, duck to take photos though.

They have rare breed turkeys here - the Narragansett Turkeys which are apparently pretty close to the wild turkeys that the Pilgrim Fathers would have hunted for their Thanksgiving Suppers - according to Farmer John, who conducted the tour, they have a 'gamier' taste than commercial breed turkeys and there is less meat on them. I didn't manage to get a photo, but this is what the cock bird would look like!

They have also introduced South African Boer Goats for meat production - the little flock of does came hurtling down the hill to their pen at the sound of the Land Rover, bells jingling merrily. Boer Goats are friendly and docile - the buck wasn't with them, for obvious reasons, but he apparently gets  to visit his harem next month!

When we got back to the drop-off point, we trotted into the communal kitchen, where Kate had all the makings for a cream tea, after which we went to look at their yurt.

The doorway is extremely low and you definitely have to stoop to get in, but it looked very cosy. Kate did say that she and Jodie found it very hot on Sunday night, but I think they were chillier on Monday night, given Kate's Facebook status!

The prices for the three nights look very reasonable, especially given the excellent facilities and standard of accommodation - it'd be great if the whole family could get together there, even if we weren't all in the yurts (don't think Kevin's or my back would be happy on a futon!).

We left them planning to light the firepit and toast marshmallows, and we got back home around 7pm - the Secret Valley is about one and three quarter hours from us. Have to say that I'd highly recommend it as a venue for couples AND families.

#SomersetsGreatEscape.