UNYOKED // 27 THE IMAGE: LUKE GEORGE

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AKASH

BLACK MOUNTAINS, WALES

Typically, when you venture into the wilderness you are accompanied by whoever is brave enough. In this case it was my brother, Ethan. You then have to haul your sleeping arrangements, clothing, food, and entertainment with you, before resting your head on a slightly damp pillow in a cramped tent. Plenty of fun, but sometimes not what you need when the desire to return to nature calls.

Unyoked are a company aiming to bring you closer to nature and to yourself. They are located globally, however our particular cabin, named Akash, was situated atop a hill in South Wales and accompanied by beathtaking views of the valleys.

Upon arrival, we were handed a torch and given a wheelbarrow to carry our luggage down a muddy path to a large wooden cabin. Approaching the front door, passing a collection of upturned logs circled around a slightly damp fire pit, I understood the reasons why people search for these spaces. We were voluntarily marooned, surrounded by a patchwork of fields, and lacking electricity. Wonderful.

This is not a fault of the place; electricity is not on the menu for Unyoked. Their mission is to return people to nature while staying in-line with modern sensibilities. A humble stove, shower facilities, and an indoor fireplace are luxuries not often found when exploring the outdoors. They were welcome additions this time around.

With dinner made and a fire roaring, an equanimous wave covered me and I truly did feel relaxed and in tune with my surroundings; a feeling that lasted up until the point I overheard what sounded like the Mario theme tune. Ethan had decided what our socially disconnected weekend really needed was a Nintendo Switch. In all honesty, given the unpredictability of the weather, this proved to be a nice touch, albeit I did feel as though I was cheating the Unyoked experience just a little.

Having lived away from home for seven years now, spending time with my brother is something I am unable to enjoy as often as I would like. Akash not only provided a beautiful setting, but allowed me to spend some quality time with someone so close. Ultimately, that is which Unyoked always aims for, and hit the target they did.