Our Story
At the heart of luxury meets nature lies Cotswold Country Escapes, set within the stunning cotswold countryside, with all that nature has to offer. Our Shepherds Hut in the Cotswolds is guaranteed to make your luxury break a memorable one.
This is our Narnia.which we love and are truly blessed by, the daily scenes of pheasants, Birds of Prey, hares, deer, partridge and most importantly limited human beings! This, coupled with amazing walks and two cotswold pubs in walking distance, truly makes this a place we do not want to leave.
Willow, our boutique double braced shepherds hut, provides unique luxury accommodation in the most peaceful and perfect setting, privately nestled in its own little copse. Guests are also free to explore our 13 acres of meadow with one of the most glorious views across the churn valley.
We are lucky enough to be well traveled and have taken our personal experiences of what we have loved to add little extras that will help to make your stay memorable:
We are very excited to be able to share our environment with others, and can guarantee you’ll have a fantastic experience. Please explore our site to see what we have to offer, and don’t hesitate to reach out with questions.
Our vision was to create a romantic, cosey, luxurious and secluded hideaway where you can be whatever you want to be, breathe and grow amongst natural surroundings, and make memories that will stay with people forever.
Michael & Julia
At the Hut
Outside wood fired bath – The outside hot bath provides an experience to bathe under the stars surrounded by beautiful tall trees, even better in the early mornings when accompanied by the dawn bird song!
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Private Entrance – Willow has a private entrance and car parking area.
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A Country environment – Views across the Churn valley from the rear of Willow and beautiful trees and greenery to the front, enclosed by a beautiful cotswold wall and ambient lighting.
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Copper & Nickel boudoir style bath – Surrounded by uplighting, a double ended William Holland copper bateau bath on a platform at the end of the bed maybe to enjoy a bottle of fizz. If it’s a shower you prefer, the en-suite bathroom provides the perfect environment.
Willow is our first shepherds hut at Cotswold Country Escapes, when we visited Blackdown Huts in Illminster we fell in love with the family environment and their obvious love and pride they have in the making of their huts – all of which are hand made with over a 1000 nails you see painstakingly nailed in.
Accommodation
Willow is two hand-crafted shepherds huts joined together with a beautiful glass walkway which connects you to the outdoors whilst moving between the huts. This provides a sense of space and yet cosiness within a secluded romantic cabin nestled amidst whispering ash and poplar trees.
Our beautiful hut is set in a private space with only trees and animals for company. The rear doors lead directly onto an enclosed outside bathroom with a hideaway to indulge in each other’s company with a woodfired bath and seating.
The quality of the materials and the excellence of the build and craftsmanship are second to none, and we feel very blessed to have the opportunity to enjoy all of the luxury the huts have to offer.
Inside Willow you can enjoy a full-sized double bed, a dreamy William Holland roll top bath, a cosy and comfortable seating area, a hand-crafted kitchen to enjoy some self-contained cooking, a spacious shower room and WC and a stunning star gazing roof light above the bed.
The oak topped kitchen is a real treat and is perfect for couples dining in. The kitchen has an induction hob, fridge and small belfast sink…..all essential utensils are provided along with with tea, coffee and sugar. We are more than happy to provide food to cook from the local farm shop on request. There are traditional games for entertainment, ones that we have many memories from through our upbringing and camping experiences.
If you are like us we always enjoy a naughty breakfast when away, any excuse! Continental or English refreshments are provided for your first morning’s lazy ease into the day.
Finally; your sleep, your way – on booking you will have the option of selecting your preferred pillow comfort and duvet tog level – to ensure your truly luxury Cotswolds break.
Key Features
Outside Bath
Wood fired
Complimentary
Breakfast
Fire Pitt & BBQ
With Seating
Your Sleep Your Way - Choice of Pillow & Duvet
Log Burner
Unlimited Wood
Fun & Games - Jenga, Snakes and Ladders etc
Sustainability - We plant a tree for you
Private Parking
& Entrance
Explore
On Our Doorstep
The following links provide an insight into some of our favorite things to do in our home surroundings:
Cowley Manor – a luxury hotel and spa retreat only 2 miles away. It’s Walkable, although the return is not for the faint hearted as it’s a steep climb. It is ideal for an afternoon tea or you could treat yourself in their amazing spa.
The Green Dragon – PUB and FARMSHOP – this is our local and you can walk there is 40 minutes across fields. Nicky and Simon are amazing landlords and.the food is devine; in the winter the log fires make you want to settle in and not leave! There is also a fantastic farm shop and we are very happy to provide picnic hampers during your stay to enjoy in your private field at varying costs depending on your appetite!
La Bobina – a quaint tapas bar just a short drive to what is known as the Cotswold capital, Cirencester. The perfect place to enjoy a ‘Long Lunch’ one of our favorite pastimes with mouth watering tapas complimented by a crisp extra cold glass of rose.
The Bell at Sapperton – a 15 mins car journey away with a drive out with lovely traditional pub food. What always makes us smile is the parking area is directly outside the entrance for horses, not what we expected to see on our first visit!
Cheltenham – we feel so lucky to live in the remoteness of the countryside yet just a ten min drive from one of the most beautiful towns in the UK – a continental vibe in the cafes and parks, restaurants galore, theaters and not least multiple festivals throughout the year including the famous horse racing.
Privithi – not on the cheap side but definitely a fine dine experience that makes it worth it for those special celebrations – be organised you have to book weeks in advance!
Explore
A Little Further Away
Broadway – one of our favorite places to visit, and where wehave enjoyed many a wedding anniversary! A must if you are ever traveling near it or fancy a day out while staying with us.
Bourton on the Water – Known as the Venice of the Cotswolds, offering a wealth of attractions and shops, restaurants, cafes and tea rooms. Or simply the space where you can sit and enjoy the movement of the sparkling waters of the River Windrush, spanned by its five arched bridges which run directly through the village.
The Lakes at South Cerney – The Cotswold Water Park is an area of over 40 square miles and 180 lakes and wetland areas that hosts tens of thousands of breeding and watering birds. There is also a soft sandy beach with a swimming lagoon and awesome water sport activities including kayaking, stand-up paddle boarding, pedalos and for the more active unlike us water skiing and a skyline aerial!
Stow on the Wold is the quintessential English town with examples of the most beautiful examples of the famous Cotswold stone houses complimented by a fine selection of shops, a mix of chic bistros, Cotswold inns, and cosy tea shops – great for an afternoon amble.
Cheltenham Racecourse – Kissing the beautiful Cotswold countryside, Cheltenham Racecourse was voted the greatest racecourse in the world by The Racing Post in 2019. Each of the three magnificent Cheltenham Racecourse enclosures gives a stunning view of the alluring surroundings. We have often enjoyed a great day out with lots of fun and laughter and not to mention the famous Cheltenham Festival which is amongst the most anticipated events on the horseracing calendar.
A quick question
What time can we check in or out?
Check in is after 3pm and check out is by 11am. These aren’t always set in stone so if you’d like to arrive earlier or leave later please get in touch.
What makes your hut so special?
Our huts are larger than most. For a start they are double braced i.e. there are two! Elegantly connected through a beautiful glass walk-through with a freestanding copper bath in the bedroom, an en-suite bathroom with shower, well-equipped kitchen areas, a log burner, thermostat controlled heating, an outside fire bath and set in one of the most beautiful parts of the country the Cotswolds, privately nestled into you brown little woodland.
What is there to see and do?
A Check out our “Explore” section for many attractions, walks, dining options and places to visit.
How do we find you?
We’re only 12 minutes drive from Cheltenham – the “Cotswold Capital” of Cirencester, around 45 minutes drive from Birmingham and 40-minute drive from Bristol. Our Huts are situated in an Area of outstanding natural beauty in a quiet and secluded spinny but close enough to nearby amenities.
If you are arriving from London by train the best station to disembark is Kemble, only 1 hour journey from Paddington and a 15-minute drive or taxi from the other side.
What's included in our stay?
Willow comes with a welcome pack including tea, coffee, milk, sugar, and other small touches. Breakfast on your first morning. Dressing gowns, towels, bed linens and toiletries are also provided along with unlimited wood!
Is your website safe?
Yes, our website is protected by secure certificate with all the latest security in place. But your personal and payment details are used directly with “booklet” and not ourselves. They are a specialist site with all the necessary protection in place, to ensure all your data and details are kept 100% safe.
Do you allow pets?
Sorry, but although we are a family of animal lovers and are proud owners of a beautiful hungarian vizsla, in the interests of all our guests – including those with allergies – we do not allow any pets.
As it is a double hut can you sleep more than two people?
Unfortunately, Willow cannot safely sleep any more than 2 people (Adult or Child), this also includes young children in extra beds
Can I book a one night stay?
We typically operate a two-night minimum stay policy. However, we do occasionally have one-night options available with this being indicated on our website. If you require a one-night stay please contact us directly as our booking system will not enable this.
Will the hut accommodate my disability needs?
Please see our virtual tour for our environment however if you still foresee any challenges please contact us directly so we can endeavor to make your stay possible.
What does breakfast on the first morning include?
At booking you will be given the option of a complimentary cooked or continental breakfast. Cooked includes bacon, eggs and beans. Continental includes Yogurt, croissant and fruit juice.
What if I have not stayed in a hut or lit a fire before?
All the important information on how to make the most of your stay is available on electronic device on arrival, however if you have any issue or require some help just give us a shout!
Is there WIFI or a TV?
No, the whole intent and experience of Willow is to provide an opportunity to relax both mentally and physically. However, there are traditional games and a bluetooth device for music to enhance your romantic stay and have some fun should you prefer.
What are your Terms and Conditions?
You can find all of our Terms and Conditions here.
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Where to Find Us
A remote location with a feeling of being in the middle of nowhere yet between two beautiful Cotswold towns of Cirencester and Cheltenham (10/15 mins drive), 1 hours direct train line from Paddington to Kemble and Cheltenham Station only 20 mins away and only 15 min drive to the M5 (J11A).