Last Updated on August 13, 2025
Stay in a luxury shepherd’s hut and enjoy a delightful break away from the everyday
Taking short breaks to destinations within a comfortable journey time from home is an excellent option if you’re looking to have some time off during the summer months but prefer to save longer holidays for quieter times of the year. And fortunately, within England, your choice of experience is infinite, whether you’re drawn to the great outdoors, catching your culture fix, being a bon vivant or glamping in a luxurious shepherd’s hut!
There’s always something new to try and somewhere to return to. An hour west of London, just outside of Henley (famed for its annual Regatta), and tucked away from the crowds, you’ll find historic Stonor Park, which for the first time in 800 years is inviting visitors to stay overnight within the grounds for an extremely comfortable countryside experience.
Stonor House, the ancestral home of Lord and Lady Camoys, nestles within a valley in the curvaceous Chiltern Hills. It was built in the 1200s on the site of a prehistoric stone circle (giving the house its name) and has a 12th-century chapel on site. There’s a sense of peace and continuity here, and it’s the perfect location for exploring the countryside, picking up local specialities, dining al fresco and enjoying a great night’s sleep.
The views from Drovers’ Hill above Stonor House are magnificent, and it’s here you’ll find two beautifully handcrafted and unique shepherds-style (or rather drovers’) huts. The huts have been inspired by the travels of Lord and Lady Camoys, and have been designed and built exclusively to sit within the landscape and be in keeping with the setting.
The exteriors have been crafted using sustainably sourced materials, giving them a worn, aged appearance which contrasts delightfully with the impressively designed interiors. The Quercus hut has a light and bright interior with a handcrafted four-poster oak bed as its centrepiece. The Redwood smells wonderful, lined with the deep-hued wood of a Giant Redwood felled in Stonor’s ancient parkland. The king-sized beds, direct from a fairy-tale, are made up with luxury linen, and the ensuite bathrooms feature much-appreciated power showers.
The compact kitchens in the shepherd’s huts at Stonor Estate are well-equipped with modern appliances (including a full stove and oven plus a welcome but unexpected pull-out dishwasher), and there’s even a log burner, which will surely come into its own on cooler autumn evenings. With large wooden window frames and space to store bags and boxes away, the shepherd’s huts feel roomy, snug and never cramped.
Every detail in the shepherd’s huts has been considered: from high-end appliances (Dyson hairdryer, Nespresso machine) and sustainable toiletries, through to a selection of books including Penguin’s box set of all 80 “Little Black Classics”, another reason to extend your stay! Outside, you’ll find a fire pit and grill with a barbecue kit and comfortable armchairs on which to lie back and stargaze.
On arrival, you’ll be welcomed with a range of local produce including milk, butter, free-range eggs and bread. Available for an extra charge, you can pre-order award-winning Hundred Hills sparkling wine produced a few miles from the estate, Stonor’s own preserves and honey, locally made cheeses and fresh ready meals created by Stonor’s on-site chef.
This is the perfect retreat. The setting is tranquil, the location feels magical. Over breakfast, you can watch hares boxing and red kites hunting. At dusk, you can hear the deer in the park barking. Perhaps best of all, however, is that, in reality, you really are not far away from anywhere, and you can rejoin society when it suits you!
From your shepherd’s hut, you can hike through the hills or, by bike, follow winding roads to cosy pubs offering excellent food. Henley, with its charming shops, boats and riverside walks, is a very short drive away and at the bottom of Drovers’ Hill is Stonor House, one of the oldest family residences in the UK, open to view every Sunday afternoon from March to October.
Nearby on the hill, for a three-month residency in summer and then again in winter, is RESET Wild Spa, a new wellbeing experience featuring ice baths and cold-water therapy, saunas and relaxation spaces. Guests can book RESET Wild Spa Oxfordshire through its website: www.resetwildspa.co.uk, for £25 for a one-hour session.
The Drovers’ Huts opened on 27th June 2025, and they are available to book for minimum two-night stays in the week and three-night stays at the weekend for adults and children over 14. Prices vary depending on the time of year, ranging from £150 to £210 per night per hut. To book a stay, visit: www.stonor.com/drovers-hill/
Stonor House is located at Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire, RG9 6HF. T: 01491-638587. Check website for opening times: www.stonor.com
Jenny was a guest of the Stonor Estate.
