Toadlands Shepherd's Huts

A sumptuous, romantic hideaway with hotel-suite facilities plus your own stargazing wood-fired hot tub, nestled in one of Northern England's most beautiful ‘secret' settings.

Further off the beaten tourist track than its neighbours Northumberland and the Yorkshire Dales, Teesdale is a chocolate-box valley that forms part of the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Described in The Guardian as a "well-kept secret", Teesdale is the perfect place to escape from hectic everyday life.  And when you add the luxurious confines of Toadlands Shepherd's Huts, the scenery gets even better.

Set amongst tranquil farmland that's teeming with wildlife, you'll find the bespoke Hut No.1 nestled beneath a mature elm, surrounded by incredible views of the dales.  There's a firepit and comfy chairs to help you enjoy them to the fullest... not to mention a wood-fired hot tub to help sunset-watching along.

Inside, you'll be welcomed with stylish, detail-oriented interiors that are sure to remind you of an indulgent hotel suite, rather than a rural shepherd's hut.  For starters, full kitchen and shower facilities are sumptuously covered, so there'll be no awkward midnight stumbling to communal facilities.

All you'll have to do is sink into a gorgeous upholstered chair with a refreshing cuppa (or glass of wine!) and relax, as you take in the elegant dark blue décor, well-chosen accessories, and oak flooring.  

Yet it isn't simply the look that promises to enthral here; opulent Linwood fabrics, fluffy bathrobes, and electric thermostatically controlled heating ensures your other senses will be more than satisfied, too.

Flanked by windows and offering plenty of handy storage, the kingsize bed is topped with a snuggly Hypnos mattress, prompting both a sound night's sleep, and stunning views to wake up to... even if you're tempted by the lure of the lazy lie-in.

Prepare a hearty breakfast to enjoy at your dining table - or al fresco on sunny mornings - then freshen up in the electric shower, complete with a heated towel rail to keep you perfectly toasty.

If all you feel like doing is opening up a good book and getting lost in these idyllic surroundings, we wouldn't blame you one bit!  But if you do feel like exploring, there's plenty to see and do in every direction.

You could start by lacing up your walking boots and heading out on stellar trails that include the Tees Valley Railway Walk, the Teesdale Way, and the Pennine Way.

There are plenty of charming towns and villages to visit nearby, too, including ancient Mickleton, mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086, the now-infamous Barnard Castle, and Middleton-in-Teesdale, a bustling market town from which you can reach High Force, one of the most incredible waterfalls in the country.

From here, you can amble along a beautiful stretch of the Pennine Way, surrounding yourselves with heady blooms that include mountain pansies, early purple orchids, and the rare Yves Klein blue flowers of the spring gentian... a true botanist's delight!

However you spend the day or evening, coming back to the sumptuous hut and relaxing under the stars makes the perfect finish. There's little light pollution and few neighbours so, on a clear night, just sit and soak up the stillness of starry skies and the sounds of the countryside around you - either from inside the hut, or from the private wood-fired hot tub. You may hear cuckoos and owls, or  see badgers and foxes, hares boxing in the morning mist or peewits performing their dramatic aerial displays. Your retreat into rural holiday heaven is complete.

Things to note

Please bring waterproof footwear to access the hut from the grass lane (just in case!)