"A crackling fire, calling owls in the forest and the occasional sound of chopping wood with an axe. This can only mean one thing: I am at Winterwoods in the forests of Drenthe!" Honeyguide Adriënne got to accompany Honeyguide Marion to this special place in nature. They enjoyed a relaxing stay full of landing and recharging.
The real outdoor experience - Hidden in the woods
In the middle of Drenthe, under the Drentse Aa, lies the well-hidden pop-up campsite Winterwoods. Well hidden? Definitely, because despite Winterwoods being easy to find on Instagram, there can be a slight challenge. After all, it has been raining quite a bit over the past few weeks, and because Winterwoods is located deep in the forest, the forest paths are bumpy and muddy. Therefore, the outdoor experience is soon there when I turn off at the path towards the pop-up campsite.
I immediately feel at peace - Several yurts in the forest
On arrival, a peace immediately settles over me: it is quiet, the ground is soft, I hear two birds of prey calling to each other in the distance and the smell of hearth fires lures me into the campsite. I see several yurts standing in the forest, each with its own fire pit and seat. At the back is a large canopy under which several people have already gathered and are roasting marshmallows while enjoying hot chocolate.
On a board in this 'living room', as our host calls it, I see the activities I can undertake in the coming days. We can use a hot tub and sauna or take part in yoga and cold training. How nice that I get to immerse myself in this for the next four days, because all the options would almost give me choice stress ;).
Offline and off-grid - Chopping wood in the forest
We start with the most important activity for the coming days: chopping wood! Fire is important because our yurt is kept warm with a wood stove and we will also cook on fire for the next few days. There will be no electricity for the next few days and the sauna and hot tub will also be wood-fired. So the stay will be offline and off-grid. Lovely, phone off and nature on.
During the following days, I experience why the Winterwoods formula is so successful and why they are actually always fully booked. The combination of a yurt that actually has everything for a pleasant stay, chopping your own wood, making a fire and cooking food, makes you actually get into a kind of off-grid glamping experience and keep the connection with the outdoors.
Pleasant winter camping - Hot and cold
The warmth of the yurt and the cosy communal living room make winter camping very pleasant. Winterwoods also offers plenty of activities that invite you to really come to yourself in nature: yoga, meditation and even a sweat lodge ceremony. And I also definitely recommend joining the cold training: a guided splash in the nearby lake with bodywork and breathing techniques.
If you want to warm up after this, you can visit the wood-fired bossauna and hot tub. I especially loved sitting in the hot tub at night, watching the stars with the sound of an owl in the background.
Discovering nature - Moss, trees, birds and mushrooms
The vast forests of Drenthe around the campsite invite you to discover, walk, mountain bike and marvel. Do this especially slowly, because there is so much to see: mosses, trees, birds, mushrooms. Discover and enjoy everything this part of the Netherlands has to offer. I assure you that you will come back landed and recharged from this magical place.
Winterwoods is one of Travelbase's many great concepts. Earlier, Honeyguide Anne-Floor went to Nomadsland with a friend and wrote a blog about it. Winterwoods and Nomadsland have since merged under the name Winterwoods but the concept is very similar. There are still some spots left at the end of March so if you are still looking for a last-minute trip, this is definitely recommended. The new season will take place from mid-October 2024 to mid-March 2025.
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Love,
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