Nestled in the heart of the rolling Shropshire Hills lies a little haven that feels plucked from a fairytale. Welcome to Shropshire Shepherd’s Huts, where cosy luxury tiptoes gently into nature. Surrounded by lush green hills and sunkissed golden meadows, it’s a place you go when you want to unplug, unwind and remember what the whole point was in the first place.
This is a romantic glamping experience you won’t want to miss and was an idyllic escape for a summer weekender. If you want solitude and nature with home comforts and a few luxurious touches then I can’t recommend it enough.
If fire pits and sunrise views, outdoor bath tubs, a meadow filled with horses and a cosy and stylish hut overlooking the rolling hills is your vibe, then I think you’ll like Shropshire Shepherd’s Huts!
Waking Up in a Storybook
Imagine waking up in a cosy shepherd’s hut, with the sunlight streaming through the open windows. You can hear the soft sigh of morning breeze, the gentle neigh of a horse and the birds chattering sweetly.
You step out to the seats around the fire pit to enjoy your morning coffee and watch the world wake up. Everything is bathed in a soft golden light and you were lucky enough to choose a few summer days where it’s hot and sunny and feels like summer memories before it’s even ended.
Your dog cuddles up in your lap as she waits for the horses to wake up and start galloping around the field. The rhythmic thud of their hooves running on hard summer fields is magical and exciting and soothing all at the same time.
You start preparing breakfast using the fresh eggs that were left in your welcome hamper. You fry up gummy eggs that taste like sunrise and buttery toast as you plan your adventure for the day.
Perhaps a hike along the nearby trails, or a meander into Bishops Castle, a beautiful little village just a stone’s throw away which was named by The Times as one of the best places to live in the UK. Maybe you’ll head to Ludlow, another beautiful market town and a foodie delight with a castle, a Maker’s Market and more little boutiques, cafes, bars and restaurants than you’ll know what to do with.
Maybe we’ll sink into the wood-fired hot tub to help make a decision…
Inside the Shepherd’s Hut
The shepherd’s hut has been gorgeously designed to have a perfect blend of luxury, rustic cosiness.
A plush double bed with one of those thick, heavy duvets that swallows you up and makes you sleep like a baby fills one side. The bed is surrounded by lots of draws, cupboards and clever storage so you won’t be tripping over your belongings during your stay. The bed also converts into a dining table and seats but due to the lovely weather we ate and relaxed outside so didn’t need to transform it.
The kitchen nook with a hob, fridge, kettle, toaster and microwave is a perfect space for making breakfast. There are plenty of outdoor cooking utensils to make dinner over the firepit a breeze!
Fluffy towels and robes wait for you in the bathroom and there’s even some clogs to make you feel right at home.
Outside the hut lies a private garden which is fully enclosed and dog-friendly (perfect if you have a dog who likes to explore!) There’s a covered seating area looking out to the view with a small outdoor sofa, table and chairs, a dark board and plenty of books and games to keep you entertained into the evenings.
Behind the scenes are Jess and Max, a couple who spent the first lockdown with a relative in Shropshire and fell in love with the place. They soon moved to Shropshire (Jess, a yoga teacher and life coach; Max, an artist) and transformed the place into this incredible retreat. I also spotted the beginnings of a second hut next door so I assume there are plans to expand! Max’s beautiful artworks line the walls and his studio is just next door.
Things to do in Shropshire
Shropshire isn’t just hills, it’s castles and stories and market towns and restaurants galore. Honestly, I already want to go back for an entirely foodie weekend.
History lovers will enjoy visiting the nearby castles; Stokesay Castle, Ludlow Castle and Montgomery Castle.
We visited Mortimer Forest for a walk. There are lots of easy walking routes, all around 3km through the forest. We’d planned a big hike but someone (aka me) forgot their walking boots and had to do the ‘hike’ in Birkenstock sandals so we cut it short and this stoned walking trail was perfect.
We then headed into Ludlow for a mooch around the Maker’s Market, a glass of wine in Ludlow Castle Cafe and lunch in a cute little courtyard we stumbled across.
Close to the hut and there are plenty of local pubs to choose from. We opted for The Castle Hotel in Bishops Castle which we returned to twice because it has the most beautiful garden which was perfect for a refreshing pint before returning to cook our dinner. If you don’t fancy cooking in the shepherd’s hut then this would be a lovely place for dinner (we were told you do need to book!)
Other options nearby include The Three Tuns, The Six Bells and The Vaults.
Magic in the everyday
What’s so enchanting about Shropshire Shepherd’s Huts, and glamping in general, is how ordinary things become really special.
- Watching the flames dance in the firepit at night and boiling water over the fire for a night time cuppa.
- Floating in the hot tub and watching birds soar overhead.
- Watching the sunrise with a steaming coffee and seeing rabbits hopping about
- Sinking into a cosy bed at the end of the day and feeling exhausted from a day of not doing an awful lot….but in the best way possible!
Escaping from it all
There’s no TV and no Wifi and it almost felt like a relief to escape from all of that noise. To purposely switch off and enjoy the silence was an unexpected luxury.
There is mobile signal, so you’re not completely disconnected, but choosing to read a book or simply soak in the hot tub in silence, rather than having the TV constantly blaring in the background was just what I needed. In fact, I wish I’d had a few more days of it!
