Dawn S
June 2024
We very, very rarely leave a negative review, however, we wish we had read between the lines of reviews on this and the booking sites, and noted the dates (often 8-10 years ago with few recent reviews), before booking the Island Yurt in Beckford. We have stayed in yurts before and each time experienced a wonderfully relaxing break in a beautifully furnished yurt, clean, cosy and welcoming, set in idyllic countryside. There are four yurts in Beckford, erected over 10 years ago in 2014 and they have evidently never been dismantled or refreshed. The photos online appear idyllic, however, sadly do not reflect our experience. Fishing from the tired decking and landing a larger fish would have been extremely difficult given the old gas BBQ, overhead construction and hot tub in the way. The surrounding water was inaccessible, very overgrown and smelt stagnant. Several reviews reflect the reality as politely as possible and mirror the need for a deep clean and refurbishment, items that require attention or replacement, ageing woodwork and decking and old fake grass matting are your first impression, fly and grime-covered light bulb, rusty BBQ, ancient spider webs, vegetation overgrowth and the acrid stagnant smell that permeates the yurt and surrounding area. The owners appear friendly and offered to call someone out to fix the hob that wasn't working. The yurt had been cleaned inside and clean bedding, towels and robes are provided by a professional company but the whole place is underwhelming and tired. For a neutropenic cancer patient approaching more surgery the risk of infection was too great for my husband, so we didn't even unpack the car and sadly returned home. Extremely disappointing and no refund forthcoming on the basis that 'the owners couldn't smell anything'. This place could be so much better with some dedicated TLC and investment in the guests' holiday surroundings and experience.