Family-of-four shun the rat race to live off-grid in a gipsy caravan with no TV, fridge, mains electricity or running water and they say they have never been happier

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A family have chosen to live completely off grid, paying only council tax, harvesting their water from the rain and sending their son to school on a Shetland pony.

Barny Maurice, 42, and Katus Young, 43, live with their sons Madog, seven, and Malinki, three, in Gamblesby, Cumbria.  

The family bought 3.5 acres of land in 2014 which now comprises gipsy wagons, a wooden cabin Barny built, a toilet which turns their waste into compost and a shower running off solar panels on a 12-volt system.

They make a living from renting out gipsy wagons to holidaymakers and Katus' career as a touring folk singer, and their only regular outgoing is their £89.70 monthly council tax bill. 

Katus Young and Barny Maurice, who live a frugal 'off-grid' lifestyle in a remote village near Gamblesby in Cumbria, with their two sons Madog, seven, and Malinki, three

They make a living from renting out gipsy wagons to holidaymakers and Katus' career as a touring folk singer

The family only pay council tax and live as sustainably as possible, with a toilet which turns their waste into compost and a shower running off solar panels on a 12-volt system

There are no television or games console in the family home, with the couple encouraging their children to use an outdoor playground and spend their time making dens

Katus and Barny, who have never had a conventional 9-5 job or owned a house, were brought up in typical family homes but both opted to shun the rat race at a relatively early age. 

The pair refused to reveal how much they paid for their plot of land, or what they pay for gas. 

The family cook on an open fire, and have a cooker which is powered by gas canisters. During dry months, they take their water from a stream.

There are no television or games console in the family home, with the couple encouraging their children to use an outdoor playground and spend their time making dens.

Madog rides the family's Shetland pony to the bus stop for his school commute.  

Barny said: 'We sacrifice a little bit of hardship on the one hand - but we don't have to worry about money or time.

'Other parents spend all their time working to earn money. We prefer to do things differently.

'We live in a beautiful place. The kids are free to run about. It's so normal for me. I don't live in this way in judgement of anyone, but I do think people should live in a more sustainable way.

'I feel like people use more than they actually need. It will take education for anything to change.

'We live frugally but we're really happy. A big thing for me is living within your means.' 

The family bought 3.5 acres of land in 2014 which now comprises gipsy wagons, and a wooden cabin Barny built

Katus said: 'We just pay council tax, bill-wise. We keep whatever we earn and then we invest that back into the things we do'

The family cook on an open fire, and have a cooker which is powered by gas canisters. During dry months, they take their water from a stream

Barny said: 'We sacrifice a little bit of hardship on the one hand - but we don't have to worry about money or time'

The family sleep in a wagon then move into the cabin, which acts as their living area and has a wood burner to keep them warm.

The family buy food at the local village shop and get their meat from nearby farmer friends.

They fund their off-grid lifestyle through their business, Wanderlusts Gypsy Caravan holidays, which specialises in horse-drawn wagon retreats and adventures.

Katus added: 'We just pay council tax, bill-wise. We keep whatever we earn and then we invest that back into the things we do.

'We've made a garden and we're planting stuff and growing more veg and herbs.

'It just concerns me more and more, the amount of packaging on food stuff and everything in supermarkets.

'We don't have a fridge, we have a cool box outside and a mesh covered cupboard inside and the floor is always cool.

'It's a box that remains cool and in the shade. Milk, butter, cheese and any meat or fish stay fresh for a couple of days.

'We live off what we need. I feel like we consume a lot less food that way. That's where waste comes in.

'I'm not one to do a weekly shop. Food consumption is at a minimum so food wastage is at a minimum.' 

They fund their off-grid lifestyle through their business, Wanderlusts Gypsy Caravan holidays, which specialises in horse-drawn wagon retreats and adventures

The family's outdoor toilet, which turns waste into compost

Barny hopes these experiences will encourage others to live in the same way. He added: 'We want to give people the opportunity to see what it's like for people to live off-grid.

'They can escape the modern world. We move them about from camp to camp. People love it.

'It took off really well. We've had people from all over the world, Australia, Thailand. It's pretty interesting watching people unplug.

'The first day they arrive they are a bit worried. But then a lot of people have said it's made them take a second look at their lives.'

The family say they don't have a routine, other than rising between 5am and 6am to cook rice pudding for breakfast.

They sleep in a wagon then move into the cabin, which acts as their living area and has a wood burner to keep them warm.  

The family helped found and continue to fundraise for the Wanderlusts Bai Conteh Music School in Gambia, West Africa.