Bespoke off-grid cabin close to trendy Bruton and Frome; perfect for a creative or couple's retreat
Space & setting.
*Brand new*
At the crossroads between 3 of England’s most picturesque counties, this unique tiny house is a creator’s dream. Its owners — a film-maker and actress couple — designed and hand-built it to be a space where inspiration can breathe freely, the simple interiors offering minimal distraction and maximum comfort, so your thoughts can simply be in creative freefall when you stay. It’s as eco as they come – soft cork cladding, solar panels and a waterless compost toilet – but that’s not to say you’ll be slumming it. There’s an endless supply of hot water, plenty of wardrobe space and a mezzanine with a memory-foam mattress. Creativity is fuelled by filtered coffee, barefoot walks across the grass and a sense of peace that’s hard to come by in daily life; but it’s also lovely to just unplug completely here. Book a massage beneath the trees, or take a book down to where the stream flows into a mini-waterfall; say hello to resident ducks Susan and Paul.
During the day, occasional trains trundle across the nearby viaduct (hourly, at most), but otherwise you’ll hear silence bar the bleating of sheep in the field next door. Foodies will be spoilt for choice, with award-winning pubs, artisan bakeries and a Michelin-star restaurant in nearby Bruton and Frome (not to mention iconic country estate The Newt down the road). But the most magical dining setting is right here, beneath the trees on your own woodland island; light the firepit and stay out til the small hours, counting stars and dreaming big.
Getting here: train to Gillingham, then taxi (6 mins)
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Sustainability.
Fully off-grid. Solar-powered electricity and hot water. Cork cladding and high levels of sheep’s wool insulation. (Note: connected to the mains water). Grey water recycling system. Composting toilet.
Surrounds.
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The Newt © Travel + Leisure -
Stourhead by Nick Fewings via Unsplash -
King Alfred's Tower at Stourhead via Unsplash -
Hauser & Wirth © Hauser & Wirth -
Frome via Unsplash
- Bring bikes and cycle to Madjeston Milk Station to snuggle with the baby farm animals (yes, it’s a thing!), eat creamy homemade ice cream and stock up on supplies from their lovely farm shop.
- Head to nearby Bruton to see world-class contemporary art and a design garden at Hauser & Wirth, then browse the bougie homeware boutiques in town. Stop for an oat milk latte and freshly made croissants At the Chapel. 15 mins’ drive.
- Visit the Palladian-style villa, enchanting landscape gardens and exquisite lakeside garden temples at Stourhead, a National Trust estate in Wiltshire, described as ‘a living work of art’ after its opening in the 1740s (15 mins’ drive).
- There are fantastic eateries in the area; have lunch with gorgeous views of the Somerset countryside at The Three Horseshoes pub in Bruton, dinner at Horrell & Horrell’s old-cow-barn-turned-outdoor-restaurant, or treat yourselves to a show-stopping supper at Michelin star farm-to-table restaurant Osip (15-30 mins; booking required).
- Frome High Street is hipster heaven, its pretty medieval streets lined with cool cafés, indie shops, craft beer bars and great pubs (think Hackney, but in the country), plus a great market on the first Sunday of the month. The owners’ faves are Moo & Two for coffee, The Dandy Lion for vintage finds and cracking hot dogs from Rye Bakery (30 mins’ drive).
- Spend the day at iconic country estate The Newt, practically a whole town in itself, with vast gardens and grounds, restaurants, farm shop, spa and cyder farm. Wander through the woodlands, book a garden tour, have lunch at the Farmyard Kitchen or join a seasonal workshop (from dry stone walling and cyder making to regenerative gardening and yoga).
- Go climbing, hiking, sea swimming and fossil hunting on the Jurassic Coast, a UNESCO World Heritage Site (a 1-hour drive).
Specifics.
- Eco cabin on 1 acre of private land
- Open-plan interior warmed by a wood-burner
- Mezzanine with double bed and memory-foam mattress
- 1 baby welcome; please be aware the stream is not fenced; BYO travel cot
- Bathroom with shower and composting toilet; toiletries provided
- Well-equipped kitchen including fridge with small freezer, gas hob, Espresso machine, hand grinder and coffee filter; basic supplies provided
- Netflix TV, SONOS speakers, books and boardgames provided
- WiFi; weak phone signal
- Private island with firepit, BBQ with dutch oven, log table and chairs
- Massages available on request
- Off-road private parking
- Sorry, no dogs
- The owners are available by phone should you need anything
- Groceries’ delivery service from local farm shops available (order in advance)
- Walk to shop and a pub (20 mins); drive to farm shops and gastro pubs (5-20 mins)
- Booking conditions: 1 night-minimum stay midweek; 2 nights on weekends; no Saturday check-in
- Remember to pack: boots, warm clothes and waterproofs for winter
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30% deposit, with the balance due 7 days prior to stay.
Cancellations permitted 8+ days prior to stay, with deposit refunded minus a £30 processing fee.
No refunds if booking cancelled within 7 days of stay.
FAQs.
Yes! From Gillingham train station, it’s a 6-minute taxi ride or a 10-minute bike ride. Direct trains from London Waterloo to Gillingham take approximately 2 hours. Templecombe & Bruton also have train stations however they are slightly further away.
Check-in 3pm / out 11am. Early arrivals can be accommodated on request if possible.
You’ll receive an email prior to your stay with an information pack which includes a WHAT3WORDS and Google Maps link. The parking is located approximately 15m from your stay.
No, it’s not suitable for that.
It breaks down waste into compost material, which is then safely used for fertilizing non-edible plants. It’s odourless, environmentally conscious, and easy to use. Detailed instructions will be provided inside the information pack which will be emailed to you before your stay.
Food & drink; the nearest shops are a 5-minute drive, 10-minute cycle or 20 – 40 minute walk away. All linens, towels, tea, coffee and basic seasonings for cooking are supplied.
Yes, but it can be patchy. Best to connect to the WiFi and make calls that way. There’s a 5G WiFi router with medium internet speeds. You’ll be able to watch a movie easily but large downloads might take a while.
Fishing is not permitted on site, but there are fisheries in the local area.
Yes, the woodburner keeps the cabin perfectly cosy during colder months.
Yes, there are hiking trails and nature walks in the surrounding area; the owners will suggest points of interest and routes.
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