Oakhill Ponds retreat & spring-fed swim, Somerset

Experience Oakhill Ponds, a Somerset retreat ideal for peaceful group getaways, refreshing retreats & creative inspiration. Enjoy spring-fed swims, a wood-fired sauna, handcrafted huts, luxury yurts. Beautiful spaces with 2 outdoor kitchens, 3 hot-tubs and plenty of hammocks! The atmosphere is rich with ancient trees, lush ferns & a grotto. Wi-Fi & charging points in each unit. Near to Wells, Frome, Bruton, Glastonbury & 30 minutes from Bath, a rare blend of seclusion and accessibility. The space This is a retreat for nature lovers, wild swimmers, creatives, and groups looking for something unique and special; a centuries old wilderness garden and parkland, brimming with spring-water and wildlife. Rooted in Nature, Designed for Comfort: 🌊 Swim in a spring-fed pond - a half an acre large, under open skies 🔥 Warm up in the wood-fired sauna included in you stay - just bring extra logs or buy them from our honesty store. We have two saunas, a beautifully hand-crafted horse-box and a pop-up sauna supplement to accommodate larger groups 🏕 Sleep in handcrafted huts & luxury bell tents, each with a private hot shower, compost loo, and an outdoor kitchen with a wood-burning stove—so you can enjoy breakfast alone or gather as a group. 🍳 Cook over fire—a Kamado Joe BBQ & Kadai fire pit invite communal feasts 💧Filtered spring water, fresh from the land, no plastic required 📚 Unwind in the Horse Lorry Reading Room or 🚿 Comfort in the wild—for those who prefer, the on-grid Walled Garden offers extra showers, flushing loos, and a further hot tub 🌿 Tread Lightly – Off-grid elements, natural materials, and a commitment to rewilding this historic wilderness garden 🌳 A Thriving Ecosystem – We have planted native oak in the oak woodlands, birch and willow groves, and wildflower meadows 🦉 A Haven for Wildlife – Owl boxes, pollinator-friendly planting, sedum roofs. We tread lightly and continue to leave large swathes of marsh and woodland intact for native wildlife 🔥 Gather around the fire-pit flames as people have for generations a 😴 relax in LaFuma loungers in the spa area. ✨ A Space for Creativity – Whether it's reading, writing, journalling, environmental art making, poetry, photography, or deep conversation, inspiration is everywhere Enhance your stay with bespoke experiences: *Paddle-boarding & paddle-board pilates – Paddle board pilates is a popular option making use of our docking system and excellent local teacher, Kelly. Please enquire for more details. Our peaceful spring-fed pond is the perfect place to build confidence on a paddle-board. Learn the basics in a calm, natural setting or challenge your balance with paddle-board pilates. *Yoga, pilates & massage – Move, breathe, and restore in nature with expert-led sessions designed to bring balance and well-being *Fire cooking experiences – Gather around the flames for a slow food experience, where open-fire cooking meets nourishing, seasonal meals *Sauna rituals & contrast therapy – Immerse yourself in a traditional sauna experience inspired by Finnish and Baltic traditions. From birch whisking to guided contrast therapy, we tailor each session to your needs, offering deep relaxation in our spring-fed, wood-fired sauna Private parking Close to a lovely pub, the Oakhill Inn, that serves delicious food, just 3 mins walk away from the car park 📍 Where You’ll Be: Just 15 mins from Wells 20 minutes from Frome, 30 minutes from Bath, and on the doorstep of Somerset’s best walks, wild places and independent markets. Guest access Guests have dedicated parking and exclusive access to the walled garden during their stay. The walled garden houses a 21ft Yurt, Summerhouse, garden kitchen, dining areas, flushing toilets, shower room, sun terrace, further indoor kitchen/utility room and garden. The lotus belle tents sit in their own glamping area on the main 25 acre site. The glamping area is private but noise carries across the village so we ask for consideration to our neighbours. There is a large covered outdoor offering communal shelter and chill zone on the glampsite for your exclusive use. Guests can also enjoy all of the adjoining 25 acres including two ponds. They are about half an acre each on 2 levels. The upper pond is for leisure, swimming, paddle boarding. The lower for wildlife. You can access the ponds at any time during daylight. While previous photos showed our home conservatory with fairy lights, this is now a private space. Outdoor meals are encouraged on the Walled Garden terrace (with lighting, long table and firepits) or in the new covered outdoor kitchen near the ponds. The conservatory may be available in exceptional cases by request, subject to availability. The site is on the edge of a village and is unsuitable for noisy gatherings. The Oakhill Inn serves great food & offers a great atmosphere for socialising, just a 3-minute walk away. Other things to note Respecting the Land and Community We’re proud of our commitment to sustainable practices, from solar power and spring-fed water to habitat restoration through wildflower meadows and woodland. This site is a quiet sanctuary, so we ask guests to help preserve, and enjoy, the peaceful atmosphere for the surrounding village. There are natural hazards on site - deep water, cliff edge and caves - so children must not be left unsupervised. The site is unsuitable for young children of primary school age. The ground is uneven with trip hazards (roots and rocks) and unsuitable for people with mobility issues. The site is not suitable for young children under 12 and children of any age should not be left unattended around deep water. Our policy is that no under 12 year olds can stay on site. No parties or noisy gatherings. We want you to enjoy the sound of birdsong and running water, your own conversation and laughter and to maintain the peaceful, relaxed setting. Low-level traffic noise can be heard. Beds are arranged as king size unless requested otherwise. We can arrange as singles but require a weeks notice for this. You have exclusive use of the site. The site can be combined with a 3 bedroom property - Upper Beeches - which accommodates up to 6 people and is a 2 minute walk from the site, just behind the apple orchard. Please get in touch for details. We ask you to leave the walled garden by 9.30pm. There are beautiful communal spaces to gather on the main site. Please be mindful of neighbours at all times and we ask for only low level noise on the glamping site after 11pm.