Swinton Bivouac was launched in 2012 as an off-grid eco destination. We converted derelict farm buildings into a café, camping barn and washrooms, built tree lodges in the woods and constructed yurts and a camping kitchen in the adjacent field.
The woodchip boiler was installed to create carbon neutral hot water and heating, with a reed bed to filter our waste water and grey water system to recycle rain water. Sheep’s wool was used to insulate the tree lodges, which were built by hand using Estate timber. Firewood from the Estate is used to heat the tree lodges, yurts, hot tubs and sauna. There is no power and no WiFi in the yurts or tree lodges.
Based on UK household average consumption levels, at normal occupancy levels we save 65 tonnes of carbon every year at Swinton Bivouac by being off-grid.
