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The Chilterns View

Wallingford, Oxfordshire, England
1 acre hosted by Rachel W.
Adult only glamping lodges, complete with a hot tubs and BBQs, that boast exquisite views of the Chilterns
When winter comes and mornings shroud the Thames Valley in delicate wisps of mist, a certain air of mystery floats into the countryside. Such beauty is known only too well around here and Agatha Christie, a local resident for over 40 years, would draw on the wonder of this natural world while scrawling in her notebook. The same murder-mystery tales are entrenched in the landscape through series after series of Midsomer Murders, filmed both in her home town of Wallingford and the surrounding Chiltern Hills. It's no surprise either. The picture perfect countryside makes an attractive natural film set and the collection of rural villages that pepper the hills provide a ready-made backdrop. While it’s not all murky murder scenes round here, if all the talk of cloak and dagger makes you want to hide away then Hipcamp have found the perfect local spot.

Cocooned in your own private world, The Chilterns View, just a couple of miles from Christie’s former home, is host to five luxurious glamping lodges with exceptional views of the surrounding countryside. The setting is one derived from fiction itself; a dreamy garden-cum-meadow with a quiet pond behind your lodge and a south-facing veranda to the front. In summer time, it’s a place to open up the floor-to-ceiling glass doors and let the outside in, sizzling sausages on the BBQ and toasting to your holiday in the bubbling terrace hot tub (one outside each lodge). In winter though, it retains the same luxury charm and, though the doors may stay firmly closed, the Jacuzzi is still the best place to watch the sunset. When dusk falls into darkness and rain traps you inside, simply stoke the log-burning stove and delve into your own tale from Poirot – without a TV in sight this is a perfect place to escape the sluggishness of normal working evenings.

The same attitude is best applied to the surroundings, which provide the perfect way to shake off everyday blues and enjoy some proper holiday time. It’s a ten-minute walk into the picturesque village of Ewelme, complete with cosy village pub and an old church with yet more film-set fame, this time in the most recent version of Les Miserables, while routes like the Chilterns cycleway and Thames path provide an easy way to explore the rest of the area.

When you get back to base, the warmth of your Chilterns View abode is enough to draw you into the armchair and savour every moment glamping here. ‘Glamping’, perhaps, is a bit of a stretch of the term. With a fully-functioning kitchen space, speedy wireless broadband and a spacious wet-room style bathroom, these are seriously well-equipped cabins. Their petite size and natural surroundings still provide an air of that camping feel, however, and whether you call it glamping or not, it remains an enviable place for couples to hideaway. Affable host Rachel is welcoming, friendly and full of local knowledge. The dream, she tells us, was to share the beauty of the Ewelme Down Farm estate with others. At Chilterns View she has done just that and a whole lot more.

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Location
Wallingford, Oxfordshire, England, United KingdomTraditional, ancestral territory of various First Nations according to To respect the Host's privacy, the precise address of this land will be provided after booking
Hosted by Rachel W.Joined in October 2014
From the host
Probably the most romantic retreat in England!! The Chilterns View is located in the heart of Oxfordshire, between Henley and Oxford, and Heathrow is just a 45 minutes’ drive from the lodges. Our local pub The Shepherds Hut is very friendly and serves great food and the Sunday lunch is really popular. It is a 5 minute drive or 25 minute walk from the lodges to the pub. There are 5 Glamping Lodges and one Safari Lodge each lodge sleeps one adult couple in a king size bed. Each lodge has it’s own private hot tub, BBQ and Hammock on the veranda, and south facing views across hills and fields. In the 5 glamping lodges you can sit in your tub in complete privacy with a glass of fizz overlooking the countryside or sit by the log burner with a glass of port in winter watching the changing weather. In the morning relaxing with a cup of tea in bed starring across the fields is the perfect way to start your day. The lodges all have a kitchenette and are all en-suite. The Safari Lodge is very private and quirky with amazing views, hot tub, Hammock, BBQ and log burner, but can get quite cold in the winter and we often shut it down January, February and March. The owner Rachel is very welcoming and is happy to answer any questions before your stay.
Nearby attractions
The Thames Valley and the Chilterns boast plenty to keep campers occupied. Chiltern Views The local area is great for walking and cycling, in particular The Ridgeway, Thames Path and The Chilterns Cycleway offer easily navigable routes. By car Oxford is the most popular day trip with plenty to keep you occupied, whilst in the opposite direction Henley-on-Thames is also well worth the journey. While the immediate area is famous for Midsummer Murders, the village of Ewelme is recognised for its historic church and graveyard along with unique watercress beds (01494 771250), open to the public. For more picturesque village scenes, Stoke Row is a hamlet at the top of most people's list, while Goring and Streatley has pure Wind in the Willows scenery and sits along some of the best parts of the aforementioned Ridgeway.
Food and drink
Within ten minutes drive you'll find The Lord Nelson (01491 612497), a traditional old pub serving excellent food; The Shepherd's Hut (01491 836636), the Ewelme local with a wonderfully friendly atmosphere; Home Sweet Home (01491 838249), another old joint with a cosy feel; and King William IV (01491 838249), the busier of the lot but with a lovely setting and fantastic menu (particularly the steak and ale pie). The Red Lion (01491 613140) is also renowned for its food, with some more quirky selections on its menu, while The Five Horse Shoes (01491 641282) is one of the best for dining with fantastic views if you can bag a table on the terrace during summer.

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