The UK countryside has had a serious
injection of chic this year with the
launch of new travel company Canopy
And Stars. Bringing together some of
the most quirky places to stay in the
country – from luxury treehouses to
gypsy caravans to yurts stuffed with
antiques – the idea is that you can
stay somewhere different without
sacrificing style or quality to do so.
And there’s nowhere quite so
stylish as their fabulous Ekopod
on Bodmin Moor in north
Cornwall, a blend of urban design
inspired by the shape of the
nearby Eden Project.
Inside it’s like sleeping in
a tent, but with more glamour
– all geometric angles, triangular
windows with countryside views
and, thankfully, a wood burner to
keep it all cosy when you eventually
curl up on giant beanbags. Have
breakfast on the decking before
heading off to the coast for a day of
surfing on some of (in Stylist’s opinion)
Britain’s finest beaches. When you
return later, you can wash off the salt
in the pod’s wood-fired bath.
Why it’s hot
The Ekopod is all
about bringing modern, alternative
super-luxury to the country but
leaving the stress, aggro and traffic
behind. And believe us it works in
spades here – offering solitude and
style in equal measure. Nighttime
is particularly cool; as the sun goes
down, candles keep the Ekopod
romantic and lit, while the woods and
hills sink into darkness.
Eating and drinking
Even though
you’re technically in the middle of
nowhere, you won’t go hungry. Every
morning a specially prepared breakfast
hamper arrives full of rolls, jams and
apple juice, as well as a menu for
selecting a home-cooked evening meal.
The Ekopod is also just 30 minutes’
drive from the eateries around
Padstow where Rick Stein and Jamie
Oliver have restaurants.
Photo opportunity
The obvious thing
to photograph round here is the Beast
of Bodmin. But since it’s as hard to
track down as the yeti, you might be
better off snapping the dolphins you
can often see from the coast.
Saturday 22nd August 2009
'Find the decor in yurts just a wee bit hippyish? Well for a modern, minimalist take on the posh eco-tent phenomenon, we bring you Ekopod. The white geodesic tent, near Camelford in Cornwall, sleeps two in a kingsize bed, with sheepskin rugs, a woodburning stove and a transparent wall with views across a meadow to the wilds of Bodmin moor. Cojoined are a bathroom pod with bathtub, compost toilet and pump shower, and kitchen pod with stove and cool box. More eco-gear can be hired including a portable record player, and solar-powered iPod speakers. All you need now is for the sun to shine.'
Click here to see the article
Honesty shop and storage barn well on the way to completion.
The Ekopods would normally be safely tucked up in the barn during the cold winter months but as this is a new venture a little testing is required. The pods have withstood most of the horrendous winter weather. The old vicarage was snowed in during the cold snap and the pod was well and truly tested.
Part of the kitchen roof frame was blown 500 yards up the field during gale force winds, which resulted in a few modifications.
We tested the woodburner in the pod during a light sprinkling of snow and found it surprisingly cosy.
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