Gastenboek
“Een bijzonder verblijf!”
Een
week lang waren we te gast bij Derek en Hannah en hun 2 kinderen. Wij,
een gezin met drie puber kinderen, hebben een heerlijke week gehad. De
kinderen hadden een grote tent met matrassen tot hun beschikking en wij
sliepen in de "Chestnut Tree Yurt". De yurt is echt heel leuk en
fleurig ingericht. Het is op en top, met zelfs 2 badjassen en genoeg
handdoeken en een prima bed. Iedere ochtend komt Derek met een grote
mand vol ontbijt en iedere dag zit er weer iets anders in. Wat het echt
bijzonder maakt, zijn de mooie zwemplekjes in de rivier in de buurt,
gewoonweg idyllisch!! Je hebt er wel een auto nodig, want om alles
wandelend te doen is te ver en te warm.
Annelies Julho 2011
Vorige zomer hebben wij een heerlijke week doorgebracht in de Yurt van Hannah en Derek. Wat een ontvangst en wat een service! Elke ochtend kwam Hannah weer met haar fantastisch ontbijt waar werkelijk niets aan ontbrak. En wat kan ze lekker koken! Neem vooral haar lekkere (typical English) toetje -ben de naam vergeten, maar het was verrukkelijk. De Yurt is zo romantisch en bijzonder, 's nachts kijk je naar de hemel, in je heerlijke bedje. Kortom: een droomweek.
Santine, Jeroen, Sjoerd en Joost, juli 2010
Wir
Erleben hier eine Oase der Ruhe und der Entspannung.
Wir geniessen die gemütliche Yurte und die Fürsorglichkeift and Hilf
Bereitschaft von Hannah und Derek.
Eine wunderbare Bäderkelle am Fluss und ein Ausflug in die Serra da
Estrela bleiben unvergesslich.
Vor allem werden wir den Sternhimmel nicht vergessen, voller Schönheit.
Wir verlassen einen wunderschonen Ort.
Grita and Siegfried Stelzer 2010
There once was a
village called Pracerias
Whose route there was quite precarious
The yurt was not camping
Its even beyond glamping
Our old tent now looks hilarious!
You must stay here whatever you do
It has ants as big as Balu
If you are male
You can wee on the straw bale
I bet the girls want to try it too.
At night Del brings food for his guest
And they inquisitively perform a taste test
We devoured Allo Sag
And Dahl is our bag
And the sweets are just simply the best!
(And Derek serves it all in his vest!)
And now we return to the coast
Home to our friends where we will boast
of our relaxing time in a yurt
Chilled times a dead cert
To Derek, Hannah, Theo and Ella we toast!
Chris and Laura August 2010
After living two years
in the bustling
city of Lagos Nigeria I was deeply desiring a spring break of rest,
fresh air, and a slower pace. Staying
two nights in the yurt was the perfect answer.
Many times
through out my stay I would pause to take in the sights of freshly
blossomed trees or the night sky full of constellations
I would pause to take in the smells of warm eucalyptus , fresh air and
earth.
I would pause to take in the sounds of the babbling brook and
conversing birds.
Thank
you for creating such a hidden treasure where one can shed the stress
of daily life and ignore the agendas for a bit surrendering to a more
natural rhythm.
Meag Diamond April 2010
Thank you so much for
five great days here on this beautiful and quiet place on
earth.
This place is wonderful both when it rains and when the sun shines.
Thank you for showing us some unforgettable wild swimming
spots.
Not only were they beautiful with clear water and so many tones of
green around.
We also had them all to ourselves.
We felt a bit like Adam and Eve in paradise!
Camilla, Marc and Micheal (10months) September 2010
Honeymooners Harriet and Robert
What a wonderful
paradise you have, hidden in the mountains of Portugal.
We are so glad we found you. it has been a delightful last days of our
Honeymoon.
You are not only have the most glorious accommodation and food but
Derek has inspired us
to get in the garden and start distilling essential oils.
We can't recommend this holiday enough.
Harriet and Robert May 2010
Honeymooners Kath and Patrick
Thanks for a great
stay lots of laughs (mainly Derek's) and a week of just what we needed.
Perfect wind down after a manic few months planning our
wedding.
We have had the loveliest of honeymoons .
Certainly the best I have been on!!
Such a romantic, restful beautiful spot with such wonderfully warm
hosts.
We shall remember staying here always.
Thank you again
Kath and Patrick July 2010
We really enjoyed our
few days in the Apple Tree Yurt -
One of the best holidays we have had.
The area is so peaceful and quiet, the scenery amazing and the wild
river swimming really
memorable.
Fantastic hosts and some great alfresco breakfasts and suppers just
made the
week for us.
Thanks again, will defiantly make plans to revisit at this time of year
again- an
undiscovered gem, we hope it stays that way.
Hannah and David September 2010
Magical
Wonderous
Marvelous
and Glamerous!
Simply lovely to meet
you guys on
our journey.
The Yurt was amazing -
attention to detail!
Looking forward to coming back.
Lynnie and Louis - Apple Tree Yurt August 2010
Honeymooners Raymond and Janet
What a fantastic
honeymoon you gave us! A welcome card and bottle of sparkling wine to
begin and the yurt!
The yurt is certainly the most decandent and comfortableaccomodation we
have stayed in; so relaxing and peaceful.
The countryside around about is beautiful and although we did little
walking ourselves we can vouch for the great swimming holes
and spectacular scenery. All of this was brilliant.
What made our stay so relaxing however was your wonderful hospitality
and the fantastic food and drink...
Should anyone be asking us to recomend a destination for a romantic
idyl for their honeymoon we will be recomending
the yurt.
Love and best wishes
Raymond and Janet October 2009
Honeymooners Alex and Charlotte
Thankyou for a
wonderful second week of our honeymoon.
What a beautiful little nest in valley. We have felt so well looked
after with delicious food,
recommendations for stunning cool
swimming holes, help with arranging riding and surfing and a very warm
welcome. It has been a delight.
Alex and Charlotte August 2009
What a wonderful place you have here! Dustin has really enjoyed his birthday here it was everything we had expected and so nice to stay in the mountains, the stars are amazing this certainly won't be our last stay in Portugal. We love the yurt and can´t wait to see if you expand so our friends can join us too.
Ali and Dusti Williams August 2009
It is our final morning of our stay in our fairie dell. Reluctantly we have to say farewell to our delightful hosts. Two very short days and nights, but we feel rested and energised to continue our journey through France, Spain and Portugal. We have visited some places but I have a feeling that when we get back to Blighty to share with our friends this gorgeous spot will be at the top of our list. In the immortal words of Arnold Schwarzenegger "we will be back"
Malcolm and Yvonne Oldham June 2009
Honeymooners Jane and Pete
While surfing on the
Internet.
Looking
for somewhere new to jet.
We came upon a lovely yurt.
A different hol
that was cert.
We end our week now in this tranquil place.
Respite from
our usual rat race.
After discovering many valleys and hills.
Unspoilt
landscapes and old olive mills.
Friendly locals, clear flowing rivers.
Nature that often gives you the shivers.
So if P and Q is your main
desire
the yurt has everything you will require.
Hannah and Derek; as
hosts the best
they can't do enough for their paying guest.
Theo, Ella,
Mercy and Balu,
complete the family that welcome you.
So if you're
looking for a hol like this
and would like to experience some of the
bliss
Look no further than this yurt for two
and don't be put off by
the compost loo!
Love and best wishes
Jana and Pete - May 2009
This is the perfect
place to get away from it all- waking up to the
sound of the babbling brook and the breeze through
the trees is the perfect antedote to city living...who knew
that getting back to nature could be so decadent.
Jo and Guy - June 2009
When
we arrived two weeks ago we felt we landed in a fairytale, such a great
place. A wonderful yurt and thousands of fireflies wow what a show they
gave....
You've been really inspiring to us starting your life here
in Portugal and building your house and business here in portugal.
Great to hear! And the cooking mmmm maybe you should design your own
cook book!
Roxane, Cees and Laura - July
2009
The yurt is so cosy and beautifully decorated. We enjoyed some
wonderful moon light through the roof opening.
Aine and Mike - July 2009
We really enjoyed the
adventures of eco-living as you have managed to
blend in perfectly
with the untouched nature here.
We loved your lemon tree and vegetable garden and the Yoga session "a
la nature"
Peaceful, picturesque and enlightening experience.
Muna and Tareq - September 2009
I´m not sure either of
us knew what to expect on arrival, just getting
here seemed remarkable
considering the tiny road here. It has been an amazing week-our
expectations have been blown away-
the food has been astonishing- the prunes and pork loin and chicken
tagine as well as the cakes have been
spanking. I think we both thought it wold be a week of healthy eating
but I am very glad it has not been!
Thanks for making our holiday so good it has been nigh on perfect.
Simon and Maddy - July 2009
The yurt is so cosy and beautifully decorated. We enjoyed some wonderful moon light through the roof opening.
Alan and Emma May 2008
This really is a wonderfully relaxing and beautiful spot...The bird song, the running water near by, the tranquility and of course the yurt. I shall miss the stars. Thank you so much for making us so at home and comfortable. Tom and Laura June 2008 Thanks for a great holiday! The yurt is an amazing place to stay and was made even better with the fantastic hospitality.
Dan and Emma August 2008
We have had a fantastic time and have fallen in love with the countryside and surroundings. We loved swimming in the rivers, doing our yoga facing the sun and attempting a few walks in the hills. One thing is for sure we will be back!
Polly August 2008
Not since I first clapped eyes on Dr Who's tardis have I stepped into such a magical and wonderous world as this yurt. And whilst, unlike the tardis, the yurt is unable to move through time and space, who would rather be anywhere else than this pine scented Portuguese paradise.....All of you have served us well and when your time comes to leave this paradise, God will invite you into his, but you will wonder, will you not , whether the version you tested on earth was not indeed better.
Mike August 2008
When Dan first suggested honeymooning in a yurt I was somewhat skeptical. However, during our journey here and upon arrival my reservations were blown away. The yurt and its surroundings are incredibly beautiful and the perfect place to recuperate after a stressful year of planning a wedding! Add to this the best hosts one could wish for, some delicious food and a compost loo(!) and this week was perfect.
Honeymooners Dan and Hannah August 2008
I can't imagine a more romantic place to stay. I went to sleep looking up at the stars above me. And when I say stars I mean stars. This little valley is enchanted - with running streams - kitchen garden - and chestnut tree - I felt like I was in>a fairy tale. There can't be many places in Europe as undisturbed by commercialization as this corner of Portugal. A real treasure. The perfect place to come for a holiday that is both environmentally sound and classy!
Coll September 2007
I have travelled in many parts of the world, and frequently slept in tents, sometimes in very extreme conditions, so when I came to Derek and Hannah's yurt I had thought I would find myself once again confronting the rigours of the simple life. How wrong I was! Instead of hard earth I found myself walking on a beautiful wooden floor covered in Moroccan rugs, instead of a sleeping bag a delightful brass bed awaited, with welcoming fresh sheets and soft pillows. There were lights to read by and books to read, chests of drawers and tables, water and all mod cons, as well as the sheer delights of feeling that the yurt is so much part of the natural environment. You lie in bed, smelling the scent of herbs and fruit and the trees, the splash of water in the little brook acts as a lullaby, and you can see the sky through the light above you.I could wish for no other lodging, anywhere.
Hector May 2007
Having spent a party filled weekend in Porto it was a total contrast to drive into the hills and the stunning scenery of central Portugal. Hannah and Derek have created a special retreat in the most beautiful setting. It really is in the middle of nowhere but they have provided everything one could wish for and went out of their way to ensure my stay in the yurt was extremely comfortable. After a hot shower the goose-down duvet and sumptious bed were a joy after a long day exploring. The yurt is a fantastic base from which to walk off into the hills or find remote villages and beautiful swimming spots where fish are your only company. Breakfasts were a banquet including pancakes, boiled eggs, toast and delicious fresh coffee which set me up for the day. Thank you Hannah and Derek (and your lovely children!) for such a fantastic experience.
Sophie B July 2007
This was our first trip to Portugal and our first time in a yurt - going on this experience it will be the first of many. It is truly wonderful place to get away from it all. The Yurt is set up like a large, romantic hotel room with a really luxuriously comfortable bed and delicious breakfasts delivered to your door each morning. Staying for dinner was a real treat with Derek's desserts a triumph! Set in fabulous countryside with great views a short hiking distance away, what more could you ask? Many thanks Hannah and Derek, for having us to stay.