On the lower slopes of the Linches – the range of Somerset hills that give the little village of Stocklinch its name – there’s a couple on a mission to create the perfect glamping space. Fiona and Matt Day first discovered the area on a cycling holiday in 1997, but it wasn’t until a few years later that they made the big move altogether and not until 2012 that they settled here on the gentle slopes of the Isle Valley.
“One of the very first things we did when we moved into The Old Post Office was to plant hundreds of trees in our field”, Fiona explains. Willows, oak and other native trees now shelter almost an acre of space, with a perfect slice left open for the shepherd’s hut. Owls tweet-twoo in the night and hedgehogs take autumn shelter in the hedgerow. Only a neat gravel pathway divide the space. And the hut itself? “That’s thanks to Matt's brother, a carpenter extraordinaire” Fiona continues. Nothing is off the shelf here.
Sleeping two and showcasing brother Jim’s dedication to his craft, Stocklinch Shepherd’s Hut really is a thing of beauty. Neat, blue, French-window-style doors open up to let light pour in during summer and sheep’s wool insulation keeps things snug in winter, while, inside, a built-in bed at one end can be reached via clever pull-out steps that slide, like a giant Tetris piece, from amongst the storage drawers. An ergonomic kitchen – complete with oven, fridge and sink – and an en-suite shower room are all neatly fitted in, too, never compromising on the sense of space.
Thoughtful touches abound. The slide-out, pine table is ideal for rainy-evening board games (games and magazines provided, of course) and, when the weather is good, what could be better than soaking in a wood-fired hot tub? Sat just adjacent to the shepherd’s hut, you can light the tub before dinner, then spend the evening steaming beneath the dazzling stars that this rural spot affords.
Unsurprisingly, Matt and Fiona are quick to recommend a trip back to their old favourite, the Quantock Hills, a 35-minute drive away, and it only takes around 35 minutes to reach the Dorset and Somerset coast too. But the real joy of this place is that, despite how rural it feels, there’s plenty right on the doorstep. A pleasant two mile walk over the hill leads you to the grand Tudor mansion of Barrington Court (now owned by the National Trust) and it’s a five minute drive to the renowned independent pubs, eateries and breweries of Ilminster – Stocklinch even has its very own micro-brewery just a couple of hundred yards from the hut. So, whether your venturing afar or intend to go no further than the hot tub, you’ll have plenty to keep you occupied.