The rise of glamping: yurt maker Toby Fairlove on bringing his handmade tents to UK festivals

The man behind Fairlove Yurts was one of the first people to start offering handmade yurts at festivals
Toby's yurts can be hired for four days over the End Of The Road festival (Sep 4-6)
Michael Howie10 August 2015

Festival camping has come a long way from the days when all you needed a £20 piece of plastic from Asda, a gaudy-looking summer-only sleeping bag and a box of lukewarm Kronenberg.

The bargain basement experience remains a popular one at the likes of Reading and Glastonbury. Some masochists even look forward to a weekend where concepts like comfort, warmth and getting more than three hours' sleep a night on a rubbish yoga mat go flying out the unzipped tent 'porch'.

However, thankfully, times have changed.

Glamping has become an integral part of the boutique festival scene, serviced by a growing selection of basic tent alternatives like bedouin tents, bell tents and even gypsy wagons.

Or how about spending your festival weekend in a yurt?

Toby Fairlove was one of the first people to start offering hand-made yurts at UK festivals. He provides a luxury camping experience to music fans at an annual roster of events including End Of The Road Festival, which takes place at Larmer Tree Gardens in Dorset from 4-6 September.

"I took my inspiration from yurts I stayed in in Kyrgyzstan and elsewhere in Asia. I wanted to make one for myself and it started from there."

His first experience of yurts was visiting a refugee camp for displaced Afghans following the Soviet invasion.

"A refugee family invited me and gave me something to eat and a cup of tea. That was 30 years ago - and now it's my life's work."

His yurts are all handmade using coppiced ash and sweet chestnut frames and can comfortably sleep a couple up to a a group of 12. The canvases are made from cotton and waterproof - ideal for the variably British weather.

The basic layout includes wall hangings, cosy floor rugs and cushions for lounging on. Air mattresses are provided for sleeping on and extras like wood burning stoves and tables and chairs can also be hired.

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As well as End Of The Road, Toby's small family business also provides yurts at a dozen or so other events including Glastonbury, Shambala and the Larmer Tree Festival.

The yurts can be hired from £566 for a two-person 12footer, including carpets, floor cushions and solar lights, for four days over the End Of The Road festival. A giant 21ft yurt, for up to eight people, costs £1073.

Contact Fairlove Yurts on 01364 73726 or mail@tfairloveyurts.co.uk; tfairloveyurts.co.uk

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