environmentally friendly tipi holidays on the Llŷn Pennisula, North Wales

A tipi (also teepee, tepee) is a conical tent originally made of animal skins or birch bark and popularized by the Native Americans of the Great Plains. Tipis are stereotypically associated with Native Americans in general, but Native Americans from places other than the Great Plains used different types of dwellings. The term wigwam is sometimes incorrectly used to refer to a dwelling of this type.

The tipi was durable, provided warmth and comfort in winter, was dry during heavy rains, and was cool in the heat of summer. Tipis could be disassembled and packed away quickly when a tribe decided to move, and could be reconstructed quickly when the tribe settled in a new area. This portability was important to those Plains Indians who had a nomadic lifestyle. The word "tipi" comes into English from the Lakota language; the word thípi consists of two elements: the verb thí, meaning "to dwell," and a pluralizing enclitic (a suffix-like ending that marks the subject of the verb as plural), pi, and means "they dwell." In Lakota, formal verbs can be used as nouns, and this is the case with thípi, which in practice just means "house." No temporary structure is more beautiful, more comfortable, more robust or more practical. Although the tipi is strong enough to withstand fierce storms and is capable of being a comfortable home all year round, It stays cool in the summer, so having to leave the tent at some unearthly hour when the sun is beating down is a thing of the past. Modern tipi covers are usually made of canvas.

The Canvas is fire resistant to British and European safety standards, waterproofed and rot resistant.

The ground is covered in Coir Matting to provide a warm and dry floor. We currently provide two double and one single futons with mattresses. We also provide 10 washable sheepskins, which can be used for extra warmth. All you need to bring is your sleeping bag/bedding and a torch.

Light a fire, and you’ll be toasty and warm on the coldest of days. The stone fireplace and wrought iron fire basket in the centre on the tipi will be used to provide all your heat, and the wrought iron trivet can be used for cooking. On sunny days you may prefer to barbeque outdoors.

We provide enough firewood for your first night. You’re welcome to bring your own firewood, or you can buy additional wood locally.

Always choose the driest wood, especially when first lighting, like dead seasoned branches up in trees which are air-dried. Even in the wettest weather dry twigs and branches can be found in most trees. Choice of wood is very important. Trees to steer clear of are Willow, Blackthorn, Rhododendron, Elder, Ewe. Excellent woods when seasoned are Ash, Holly, Apple, Oak heartwood, Sycamore. Pine is good kindling but tends to spark and spit. Remember to empty your ashes out sometimes, especially if they are damp (the fireplace should be positioned under the smoke hole and collects any drips from above).

As you light your fire you will see how well the smoke draws out the smoke hole, you may have to adjust your smoke flaps. Getting your smoke flaps right shouldn't be a problem but can be a matter of trial and error with changing winds. In general they point away from the direction of the wind, stretched tight. The gap between the flaps is wider on finer days than on days when the weather is poor. When the weather is fine it is good to open them wide and let the air through your tipi. At first the smoke flap poles seem a bit large and unwieldy but you will soon get used to handling them. After you have adjusted them always push the flap upright by pushing the pole up and in towards the base of the tipi, taut flaps help wind deflection and smoke draw.