There’s luxury camping, and then there’s North Star Club. The brainchild of Christian and Carolyn Outrestep who, not content with conquering the world of design, have fashioned a second ultra cool woodland retreat to rival their lauded Jollydays glampsite just down the road. Set in 500 acres of Yorkshire Wolds woodland, North Star Club pairs the quintessential North American wilderness camp with a classic English rural retreat in the heart of one of Britain’s lesser-known regional gems.
Like the original sister site Jollydays, North Star Club comprises eight woodland ‘suites’ – to call them mere cabins would be a disservice to the opulence of these unique creations. Fairy lights festoon the forest, illuminating an already enchanting setting that’s eminently Instagrammable. Scattered amidst the trees in their own private pocket of woodland, the suites are a masterclass in design with a keen eye or detail that betrays their creators’ roots in fashion. Seamlessly blending the modern (a private copper bath tub and infra-red sauna in one) with the rustic (faux fur, tree trunk four poster beds), the North Star Club experience is an upmarket sylvan retreat – with spa treatments available onsite – yet suffused with the spirit of the great outdoors and all the priceless pleasures that entails. Pleasures like long, lazy evenings spent on the spacious veranda while soaking up the hum of this vibrant forest setting under star-studded Yorkshire skies. Or retiring to the communal woodshed to flop out in a comfy chesterfield or gaze at flickering flames of the communal firepit.
Venturing beyond the confines of the club, the best of ‘God’s Own Country’ is right on your doorstep. Arguably not as famous as the Yorkshire Dales or North Yorks Moors (the neighbouring national parks that can both be reached in an hour and half, give or take), the Yorkshire Wolds are no less spectacular. With rolling hills, scenic woodland walks and pretty chocolate-box villages to explore, it’s not hard to see why local boy David Hockney returns to this arresting landscape time and again for his celebrated paintings. Following the East Riding of Yorkshire to the coast where lovely seaside towns await such as Hockney’s own Bridlington, Filey, Whitby and Scarborough. Closer to camp, the north’s historic capital York is essential visiting, along with genteel Beverley. And for all glamping gourmands, a veritable smorgasbord of high-end dining experiences can be found in close proximity to the club – just ask your hosts for their personal picks.
