Relax on the river

Nestling at the base of the Mendip Hills, you can enjoy the peace and tranquility of this lovely romantic spot amongst beautiful wildflower meadows. The hut is parked right next to a small stream whose gentle current cascades across the three weirs. The stream bristles with small Trout (and a few larger ones), and now, Beavers . The meadows abound with wildlife, and the surrounding countryside is crisscrossed with footpaths allowing you to explore the stunning countryside of the Mendip Hills. The space A traditional Shepherd hut, built by local crafts people in 2024. The hut has a comfy double bed with storage underneath, a kitchenette with a 2 ring gas cooker, fridge and sink, and an internal toilet, with a full sized shower. Hot water, a log burning stove, high quality fixtures fittings, and hand-built oak windows and doors, make it a cosy retreat for up to 2 people. You can leave your car behind a gate that can be locked if you wish. Also provided is a range of outdoor furniture, sunloungers, and a barbecue, all kept in an adjacent lockable field shelter, which you can also use to store pushbikes, wellies, and fishing tackle etc. There is a wireless internet connection, it's a reasonable speed (100Mbs+ inside and 30-40Mbs outside on a good day) and reasonably reliable, but hey.......why not relax, get out and about, and try life sitting round a firepit without the internet for a couple of days! The surrounding fields can be spectacular in summer. Some form part of the Edford Woods and Meadows, Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). The management of these wildflower meadows, over many years, has allowed a vast array of beautiful plants and flowers to survive and flourish. Yarrow, Black Knapweed, Pignut, Corky-fruited Water Dropwort, Ox-eye Daisy, Cowslip, Common Milkwort and Saw Wort are just a few to look out for. During the season you can see more than 90 different flowering plants. The meadows are particuarly renowned for their great variety of orchids including Green Winged, Common Spotted, Heath Spotted and Southern Marsh Orchids. The hay is usually cut in late July. These fields also support numerous species of grassland fungi including some rare unimproved grassland indicator species such as the wax caps Hygrocybe Intermedus and H. Quieta, H. Calyptriformis and H. Pratensis and H. Chlorophana. The lepidopterologists amongst us will find good populations of the more common grassland butterflies: Meadow Brown, Common Blue and Ringlet as well as Small Copper, Large Skipper, Grizzled Skipper and Green Hairstreak. Look out for the anthills on the drier grazed fields on the south facing river bank opposite the hut. These are meadow ants, which build the soil dome over their nest to help regulate temperature and humidity, leaving a lunar like landscape. Dormice are present in the species-rich hedges and woodland. Pipistrelle Bats are often seen over the meadows and stream hunting for insects, while Greater Horseshoe bats are known to use the Mells Stream corridor to feed and to pass between Harridge Wood and good feeding and roosting places. The damper grassland areas within the adjacent nature reserve attract Snipe while Woodcock have been recorded in the damp woodland and ditches. The hedges provide an important habitat for nesting and foraging farmland birds. During summer Skylarks can be heard singing overhead and Swallows seen feeding over the hay meadows. The river sports Trout, is a regular haunt of the Grey Heron, the occasional Otter, Kingfisher, visiting Ducks, and in the last couple of years, Beavers have started to appear. You are likely to see Deer in the mornings and evenings, plenty of Pheasants, and there's a few tame sheep about too, they always enjoy a stroke! The cathedral cities of Bath and Wells are about 30 minutes drive. Glastonbury and Frome are about the same, whilst Bristol is about 40 minutes. Holcombe has one shop (which also happens to be the nearest eatery and pub) for provisions about a 15 minutes walk away, and Coleford has two Co-Ops within a 10 minute drive. For a fuller list of localities and amenities, including eateries and places to visit, please take a look at the guidebook. Guest access Guest are free to explore the surrounding fields and use the rudimentary log seats to relax and enjoy the views. Car parking is close-by, and although the hut isn’t accessible by car, arrangements can be made to transfer luggage or those with more limited mobility. Please just ask. Other things to note We have to advise against swimming or paddling in the stream. Though tempting, the water can be cold, the weir dangerous, and we regularly pull out branches etc. that flow downstream from the woodland area. Some of this can be sharp. We're sorry, although we like them, for various reasons we cant do dogs. Logs for the fire-pit are available for a small charge. A large tub of logs which should easily last a whole evening costs £5. Barbeque charcoal is available on an 'at-cost' basis. £2:50 buys a bag of self-lighting charcoal which is easily enough for two people. There is an honesty box for cash or a QR code in the hut.