IT would appear that the nomadic tribes of Mongolia knew a thing or two about camping in style. But, in my opinion, they would have been hard pushed to find a better site for their yurts than the beautiful Stock Gaylard Estate in North Dorset.

This 1,700-acre estate, which includes 300 acres of mostly oak woodland and an enclosed 80-acre deer park with a lake, is home to two sets of yurts.

Skilfully handcrafted on the estate by local furniture maker Jamie Ross, these timber-framed structures bring new meaning to the term 'glamping' (glamorous camping).

Standing on raised wooden platforms, the 16ft yurts are set up in two groups of three. Each set has two bedroom yurts, with a double bed and two single beds, made from local wood by the talented Jamie, plus a living yurt.

We stayed in Withybed Yurts, next to the deer park and overlooking farmland, which face west to make the most of the stunning sunsets.

We were so lucky with the weather that we hardly spent any time in the stylish living yurt, which had a sofa, large table, solar-powered fridge, dresser and cooking stove, preferring to make the most of the outdoor space with its barbecue, open fire, picnic bench and seats hewn from old logs.

Both sleeping and living yurts were as well-equipped and comfortable as any holiday cottage I have stayed in.

Everything is designed to fit in with Stock Gaylard's ethos of conservation and preservation, with solar lighting indoors and out and a compost toilet (the 'loo with a view') for minimal impact on the environment.

And if you aren't keen on trying out the solar-powered showers, there are additional toilet and shower facilities in the farmyard complex — where you can also buy free-range eggs and venison produced on the estate.

Estate owner Andrew Langmead is clearly passionate about the yurts, which were available for the public to rent for the first time this summer.

He is happy to provide guided nature walks around the estate, which is an important habitat for the rare marsh fritillary butterfly, as well as organic food boxes (delivered to your yurt), evening strolls in search of nightingales, a visit to the estate's Sites of Special Scientific Interest and a lesson in the art of building your own yurt.

Andrew is also the brains behind the estate's annual Oak Fair, now in its sixth year, which attracts thousands of visitors every summer.

While there is plenty to keep you amused on the estate itself — children particularly love simply running wild and exploring the woods — we ventured to a couple of local attractions.

Attempting to find the Trooper Inn in Stourton Caundle, a 30-minute walk across the fields, we ended up in the Green Man in King's Stag (completely the opposite direction) where we discovered a reasonably priced hearty meal to set us up for the walk back.

A short drive away, the twin Iron Age hill forts of Hod Hill and Hambledon Hill and the picturesque surrounding villages are a pleasant venue for a country walk and picnic.

The market town of Sturminster Newton, just over three miles from Stock Gaylard, has all the amenities you would expect from a town of its size — plus a working water mill, which is well worth the £2.50 entry fee.

On our second evening, armed with an Ordnance Survey map, we successfully found the Trooper Inn but this time returned to our yurt to enjoy a yurt-cooked evening meal and toasted marshmallows over the campfire.

There's nothing quite like watching the sun go down over some of the most beautiful countryside in the UK, feeling pleasantly full of toasted marshmallows and listening to the sound of silence — and the occasional owl — before retiring for a good night's sleep in a yurt. I'm a convert!

See www.stockgaylard.com or call 01963 23511.