Ninety minutes away from London there is a seaside town which has been praised for having one of the best glamping experiences in the UK. The small spot is within walking distance from an estuary and a short car journey to the nearest sandy beaches. The Shepherds’ Hide, close to Brightlingsea, Essex, is perfect for a weekend away and a dream spot for a couples retreat or walking holiday.
The dreamy spot is surrounded by strawberry fields and contains two different types of glamping locations for adults to choose from. Families are not allowed, nor are pets, but the two person huts were voted among Essex’s top 10 romantic spots in 2018, so why bring the kids? The Shepherd’s huts also grabbed third place in Adventure Travel Magazine’s round-up of the 10 most incredible winter glamping sites back in 2017.
The Shepherd’s huts are actually based in Thorrington, a small village in Essex, the glamping pods provide a base for walks along the coast, strawberry picking and a visit to the only fully restored water mill in Essex, Thorrington Tide Mill. Brightlingsea is one of the picturesque beaches not far from the glamping location and just twenty minutes by car the long sandy beaches, decorated with beach huts, are perfect for a day by the sea.
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The Shepherd’s huts provide the perfect base for a holiday to Brightlingsea and the accommodation options include two different types of Shepherd’s hut which both come equipped with a kitchen, king size bed and bathrooms. They are located on different sides of the 55 acre site and one even looks over the site’s very own vineyard. Surprisingly, the glamping pods are not the cheapest and a stay in one of the cabins for two nights, midweek, during June, will set you back £240.
The owner of the Shepherd’s huts told coolcamping.com about the glamping accommodation and said: “They are perfect for short breaks, romantic getaways or for longer self-catering holidays in the countryside with excellent bird watching and walking on site and a range of tourist attractions nearby.
“Mill Farm, is about 55 acres of a mixture of arable, grassland, salt marsh, tidal creeks and inland waters and is the home of the only fully restored tide mill in Essex. Reconnect with nature and yourselves at The Shepherds Hide, away from the hustle and bustle of your busy lives.”
Brightlingsea has a lot to offer holidaymakers and with a beach that’s perfect for paddling and swimming, Brightlingsea is a fantastic destination if you want to explore and get away from the more popular and more crowded beaches of Clacton and Southend.
(Image: Getty)
Take a walk along the Western Promenade and you’ll see Bateman’s Tower in the distance. There are plenty of food outlets and you can enjoy a fish and chips on the beach after a day of walking, swimming or just taking in the views.
Driving to the campsite from London would take around 1hour and 30 minutes if there is no traffic and if you jump on the train it would only take ten minutes longer. If you want to visit the Shepherds Hide you can find it on the Sat Nav: The Shepherds Hide, The Granary, Mill Farm, Brightlingsea Road, Thorrington, Colchester, Essex CO7 8JJ. It is also available to book here.
To Brightlingsea it is only twenty minutes drive from the Shepherd’s huts and also just a ninety minute drive if you want to head there directly. The best address is to head to the beach, Brightlingsea, Colchester CO7 0HH.
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