I’m back after a delightful long weekend in the Devon countryside. I swapped my usual bustling Brighton for the calm, serene scenes of rural South West England, and I feel so good for it. Our mini-break was an elevated take on glamping, and while I’m used to roughing it for festivals, this holiday certainly was a lot more luxurious. Forget your sleeping bags – here’s how to have a low-impact holiday with all the modern conveniences…
About Unique Hideaways
Unique Hideaways is a luxury wilderness holiday specialist, with a portfolio of UK properties that are out of the ordinary. From glamping in the countryside with breath-taking views, to staying up in the treetops, their mission is to bring guests closer to nature while enjoying luxury surroundings and low-impact alternatives. Unique Hideaways is the wilder sister of Classic Cottages, and I love how they have brought together sustainable stays with style! Plus, these holidays are for all the family, pets included. Unique Hideaways has many dog-friendly hideaways in Devon, as well as across the British Isles. (Now we just have to find a dog!)
Our Stay At The Shepherd’s Sky Super Hut
For our mini-break with Unique Hideaways, we chose to stay at the Shepherd’s Sky Super Hut in Devon. It was an easy journey for us from Brighton, taking the train into London and then to Exeter. One bus and a taxi ride later, and we had arrived!
Arriving at the Shepherd’s Sky Super Hut felt like arriving at a little slice of heaven. We got in at around 6pm, while it was still warm and the sun was painting the clouds a dreamy pink. The sheep in the field in-front of the hut were calmly grazing; it was a truly peaceful welcome. We took our bags inside, and flung the French doors open to bring some of the natural beauty inside.
Inside the Shepherd’s Sky Super Hut, you’ll find all the modern conveniences you could ask for: two bedrooms – one double, one twin – as well as a pristine bathroom with generous shower, a living area with a sofa and log fire, and a kitchen with oven, gas hobs, a fridge, a sink. The hosts had even laid out a lovely little welcome box with treats inside, alongside a welcome guide.
You’ll need to stock up on food if you plan to stay at the hut for a long while; we brought groceries with us from Exeter, although there’s all the conveniences you could need in nearby Crediton, as well as a Community Shop in Cheriton Fitzpaine, and Thorne’s Farm Shop just a 30-minute walk away.
Along with a homely decor, the Shepherd’s Sky Super Hut boasts a generous patch of land, and a fire pit that we enjoyed sitting around each night. Our hosts kindly provided enough fire wood for our stay, as well as popping by on our first evening to say hello and answer any questions.
Green Credentials
When it comes to sustainable tourism, the hosts of the Shepherd’s Sky Super Hut really have thought of everything. The property qualifies for the Classic Green Scheme, and the hut itself was purchased second-hand and then refurbished using local suppliers, with reclaimed wood furniture, handmade curtains, cushions, and more.
The hut is powered by solar panels, which provides 100% renewable energy throughout the property. The garden has been planted to compliment natural wildlife and is bee-friendly. And there’s even bicycle storage in the outdoor shed, so if you fancy bringing a bike or two to explore the local area, you can!
What To Do In The Devon Countryside
Devon has so much natural beauty, choosing what to do on our trip was tough! We decided to take a relaxed approach, bringing hiking boots and scouting a few local places to visit on our weekend. Our top recommendations for things to do in Devon:
- Treat yourself to a Devon cream tea. On one sunny afternoon we walked to Thorne’s Farm Shop to stop in for a proper cream tea, and our scones were served with freshly picked strawberries!
- Go berry picking. Now’s the time to pick your own, with raspberries and strawberries in abundance! If you’re a real foodie, go get some cherries, beans, and maybe even some local honey too.
- Go for a hike. The rolling hills of Devon are made for walking, with public footpaths and some serious sights! We stayed in the hills, but you could also venture to see a castle or the coast!
- Visit a local pub. Our top pick? The Ring of Bells in Cheriton Fitzpaine. In our four days away, we visited twice! With a lovely cosy interior and a big flowery pub garden, it’s a lovely place to stop in while exploring the countryside. And even better – the food is locally-sourced, and incredibly good!
- Build a fire. My partner was a Scout and helped me learn how to build a good fire, even in windy weather! If you’re a little less outdoorsy, you could also enjoy a log fire indoors in the Shepherd’s Sky Super Hut.
- Get in-tune with nature. Our favourite thing to do on our trip? Slow down to the pace of nature around us. Devon has lots of sheep and a lot less phone signal, so we made the most of our time off our phones and exploring the local area!
Go Luxury Glamping With Unique Hideaways
For hideaways in Devon, as well as hideaways across the UK, I have to recommend Unique Hideaways in the highest degree. We had a wonderful staycation in a wilder part of the UK, without any of the fuss of camping. It had been years since our last visit to Devon, and this really made us fall back in love with the place – we’re already hoping to visit again soon!
