The latest lifestyle, fashion and travel trends
With pub curfews enforced and WFH encouraged for the next six months, it feels like we’re on the verge of Lockdown 2.0. If you weren’t one of the lucky few who escaped to Cornwall this summer, hope’s not lost for a getaway. Enter: the shepherd’s hut.
“Shepherd Huts are a brilliant option for socially distanced escapes. The ones we feature are each set in their own field, without any accompanying neighbours so have been hugely popular with our members,” Kip Hideaways co-founder, Liz Simpson, says.
“Guests can self check-in and out; they needn’t see another soul if they don’t want to. And where lovelier to be in autumn and winter than cosied up in a beautiful small space warmed by a woodburner?”
Whether you want a digital detox or to stargaze from the warmth of your bed, read on to see our pick of the best.
For a modern refuge close to London… Hidden Hideaways, Kent
Sleeps: 2 – 4
Tucked away in a remote corner of Kent, these huts pack a substantial amount of charm. An entire wall of each hut has been converted into a window that looks over 3,200 acres of salt marshes and reed beds. The alfresco baths and showers offer a touch of romance, while inside, the azure panelling, rustic wood and copper accents will inspire you to redecorate as soon as you get home.
From £115 per night, kiphideaways.com
For the free range family… Quirky Huts, Northumberland
Sleeps: 4
Set on a remote family farm in peaceful Northumberland, these huts are designed with families in mind. Handcrafted from reclaimed oak, the huts run on solar-powered electricity and even have a cast iron outdoor tub. There’s a novelty climbing wall in the kid’s bedroom and stargazing roofs to marvel at constellations when the sky’s clear. Beyond the huts, there’s moorlands, forest and castle ruins to explore.
From £130 per night, kiphideaways.com
For a Scandi-chic hideaway… The Bentleys Experience, Hampshire
Sleeps: 2
Plonked near the 1,700 acre Bentley Wood in Hampshire, The Bentleys Experience is a feather edged oak hut sitting on cast iron wheels. The glass roof placed above the Hungarian goose down duvet-clad bed makes for a light and airy interior and, when you’re not stargazing, there’s a Scandinavian wood-fired hot tub just a few steps from the front door.
From £135 per night, coolstays.com
For a design-led gem… Luxury Huts, Yorkshire
Sleeps: 2
Farrow & Ball exteriors, roll top tubs with Bramley toiletries and neatly wallpapered bathrooms are not what you would usually associate with a shepherd’s hut, but the aptly named Luxury Huts in Yorkshire are far from run-of-the-mill. Built from sustainable wood and insulated with wool from the Lake District, breakfast here (avocado and free-range eggs on sourdough) arrives in a wicker hamper and days can be spent exploring Swaledale, known for its wildflower meadows.
From £99 per night, kiphideaways.com
For a romantic escape… The Shepherd’s Hut at Victorian House Hotel, Lake District
Sleeps: 2
Sitting at the end of the hotel’s garden, the hut’s French doors back onto a riverbank and the firepit and underfloor heating ensure guests stay toasty. After a day exploring the chocolate box town of Grasmere and the Lakes, sink into the Victorian roll top bath.
£244 per night on a B&B basis, victorianhousehotel.co.uk
For a digital detox… Unplugged, Essex
Sleeps: 2
WFH means we spend most of our days rolling from one device to another, which is why this newly-opened three-day private digital detox retreat could be just the ticket. Once guests arrive at the cabin their phones are swiftly locked in a box for the remainder of their stay (board games, books and a cassette tape player are on hand).
£390 for three nights, unplugged.rest
