TRAVEL: Yorkshire Dales

Joanne and John Brennand's passion project is a great advert for farm diversity.

Peaks and Pods is nestled on a peaceful hillside a short hop from Yorkshire's Three Peaks and the picturesque town of Settle.

Reached by winding, undulating lanes, it feels remote but is actually only a few miles from the busy A65 (after dark, you can see headlights sweeping through the countryside like pinpricks in a black blanket).

Joanne is a former newspaper reporter and teacher, while John's family have been farming the land for generations.

With the dairy industry feeling the pinch nationally, the couple decided to branch out and join the booming glamping sector.

In an increasingly-crowded market, first impressions and a sense of quality are vital.

“Glamping” these days can mean anything from simple A-frames a rung up the ladder from a basic tent to five-star lodges oozing with luxury.

Peaks and Pods finds a great level, squeezing comfy sofas (which can fold out to cater for families and larger parties), a mini-kitchen, ensuite shower room — always a big selling point if you're not a fan of tramping to the toilet block at night — and a surprisingly roomy bed into its pods.

The “basic” package feels pretty hi-spec already, but you can also choose from a menu of add-ons ranging from little touches like fairy lights and bunting to breakfast packs of bacon, sausages, cereal, juices and so on.

You can also book or pick up on-site bags of kindling and logs to fuel your fire pit or wood-powered hot tub.

Yes, you can soak under the stars (or, as I experienced one night, under chilly drizzle) in a wood-panelled pool with the extra glow of having laid and tended the fire, heating it yourself.

John and Joanne have decided to keep things small, pouring their resources into just five pods within their own field, each with its own patio area and two with their own tub.

There's a central hub with washing facilities, recycling bins and a communal fire pit formed from a tractor wheel but this is sited beyond a dry stone wall and the small car park, deepening the sense of privacy and peace.

The Pods are so cosy and well-equipped, it almost seems a shame to venture out, especially when the rain is lashing down and the wind is swirling.

But the word Peaks is in the name for a reason — there's a wealth of hill-walking delights not far away.

The fitter and more intrepid hiker may have his or her sights on the Three Peaks Challenge, a gruelling mission to conquer Ingleborough, Pen-y-Ghent and Great Whernside within 12 hours.

Starting points are accessible by car or train, with no shortage of options for camping facilities, fry-ups and steaming mugs of tea to fortify walkers.

You can plot your own route but there are also organised expeditions led by experts and backed by support teams.

If mounting all three summits seems a stretch, each of the peaks is manageable on its own and makes for a scenic hike with wonderful views.

Should the weather be unwelcoming and your cagoul unlikely to pass muster, consider going underground.

It's not shouted about as much as the fells and dales, but the Yorkshire Dales National Park also boasts one of the country's largest show caves, White Scar Cave.

For those feeling peckish, then where better to seek out lunch than the Old Hill Inn in nearby Chapel-le-Dale?

Not only will the Martins, the resident family of chefs, knock up a gourmet menu or a hearty sandwich according to your appetite (I can recommend the chips), the bar room, complete with its own cartwheel focal point, doubles as an exhibition space for renowned sugar sculptor Colin Martin's prize-winning works.

With the wind and rain settling in for the afternoon, we turned away from Ingleborough for Gisburn Forest, which we hoped would bring more cover.

Woodland walking and bike trails circuit Stocks Reservoir and criss-cross the surrounding woodland.

It soon became apparent our assumption of shelter from the elements was misguided and we returned from a couple of hours' walk soggy and muddy after seeing just a handful of other cyclists and hikers.

Our reward for heading into the quiet pine woods, however, was the unforgettable sight of a pair of wild deer nibbling at the undergrowth, before they shot us nervous looks and darted away into the forest.

The Dales landscape is green for a reason, and waterproofs are advised whenever you visit.

But there are few feelings more indulgent than heading back to base, stoking up the hot tub fire and having a long soak in the open air. Throw in a cold beer and I'm in heaven.

For more details and booking information, visit https://www.glampsites.com/Glamping/Holly-Bush-Hill-Gold-Top-Pod-at-Peaks-and-Pods-2979/.