From Cattle to Eco Glamping
Two top-end off-grid glamping pods are the latest fitting at the north of Corby.
It is said to be the first installed in the area, the 6m x 3m cylindrical pods are the height of luxury.
The airy, double-glazed eco pods include a wet-room, television, dining area, wardrobe, double bed, sofa, hob, sink, kettle, microwave and even a phone charging station.
Outside of the pod will include a decking area and a firepit which overlooks a brook that goes through the farm.
Sarah and Simon Singlehurst developed the non-farming side of their business in response to customer demand.
They decided to start branching out from traditional farming a few years ago when Sarah began selling meat from the farm’s heard of 90 Aberdeen Angus cattle and 200 grazing sheep- this was owned alongside Simon’s cousin at farmers markets.
The farm is run by a collection of solar panels in a small field located near the road, there is a biomass boiler and grey water is filtered through an on-site Klagester to transform it back into drinking water
Sarah decided to open a small farm shop at their farm as she realised that people wanted to see where their meat came from.
Sarah explained “We put a few seats outside the shop so people could stop and have a drink but obviously that was open to the elements a bit.”
“So we put a dome over the old pigsty and made a cafe.
“And we realised that people wanted to stay here. There’s a bit of a lack of camping facilities in Northamptonshire so we just went with it really.”
Six years later, there are pitches available for tents and caravans and all kinds of mobile living quarters including a huge RV that is currently parked behind the shower block.
Manager Jackie Creasey stated: “There are all kinds of events that go on - the Rockingham Dog Show, the horse trials and game fair - and people need somewhere local and cheap to stay. We get bird watchers and cyclists. We’re close to Stamford and Oundle and Rutland so we get people staying with us for events there.
“People come from all over the place and we even get people from just up the road who want to get away from it all for a weekend.”
Sarah explained “We thought long and hard about the glamping pods after realising that people love a weekend away in the countryside but don’t always have a tent or a caravan.”
“It’s the farming that makes our heart beat and we’d never, ever give that up, but this is a small family firm and the potential for us to expand in other directions is very, very limited.
“Unless you’re a big estate it’s really difficult to diversify.”
Sarah is not your typical farmer – she has named all of her cows based on themes. Sarah has a Lyddington, a Duddington and a Cotterstock as well as Laura Trott, a Mo Farah and a Jessica Ennis. She also works nearby Uppingham School in what little time she has remaining.
The farm also host Friday night farmhouse suppers which are popular with the campers as well as the locals. Their hog beef and lamb roasts are a staple at local feted and fairs.
