General

City slickers - attention please! Do you dream of freedom on your daily commute? Is every day full of stress and hassle? Are you yearning to get away from it all, to chill out, relax and simply be? Well, you've come to the right place. Because it's all about getting close to nature at Knightstone Farm's gorgeous glamping shepherd's hut - which comes complete with its very own wood-fired hot tub and delightful pizza oven! There's nary a tablet or laptop in sight (with no electricity in your luxury hut, you'll have absolutely no pressure to check those emails, though you can charge a mobile via the solar panel if you really have to…). Instead, in this remote rural idyll you can slow right down, switch right off and do nothing but breathe in the country air while enjoying the peaceful views of rolling hills and woodland.

Sit still enough for long enough and you may spot all sorts of wildlife around and about, from herons, deer and badgers to an otter (if you're lucky) and, incredibly, even wild beavers that have made a secret home by the river bank. Bliss. There's even a little cabin, complete with book exchange, games to play and wood store.

It all starts when you arrive at Knightstone Farm, in a little valley above the winding River Otter, where you'll find the farm's private track. Park up and transfer your kit into a wheelbarrow for the last few steps - and roll across to the cute-as-can-be shepherd's hut, sitting in a corner of an enclosed one and half acre meadow. It's shared with Beaver's Lodge Safari Tent, but don't worry, they're set at angles to each other to ensure maximum privacy. Outside, a sail canopy provides protection from sun and - ahem - traditional 'camping' rain, and your patio looks right across the valley. Just at the bottom of the meadow there is a gate that leads to a stream and on to a wildlife lake, while dairy cattle graze the nearby fields.

The hot tub - yeah, baby! - is fired by a wood-burner (your first bag of logs is included and there's a small extra charge if you need more). Inside, there's a king-sized bed with storage beneath plus a pull-down and push-up bunk that fold back to reveal a comfy seating area. The cleverly designed kitchen includes a fridge, a Belfast sink and a mini gas oven with double hob and, although the hut is fully insulated, there's also a wood-burner for warming those cockles with a generous supply of firewood provided for your whole stay. Needless to say, there's also an en suite shower-room with lovely hot shower, wash-basin and proper flushing loo. We've said it before but we'll say it again. Bliss.

Whether you want to watch the sun rise from your patio or gather round your fire pit to admire the sun set, the quiet beauty of this unique place will capture your heart. Listen for an owl or a fox, bird watch, fish the private lake, spot the constellations in the starry night sky or explore the 60 acres of farmland around, including a wide curve of the River Otter (do watch out for small children by the water, though). There's no agenda here; it's all just up to you.

Please note that the hut may be unsuitable for a baby during the months of October to April due to the colder weather. Otter's Holt can comfortably sleep 2 plus a cot, or 4 persons without a cot (due to limited space). The power at Otter's Holt is solar-powered and therefore limited - there is enough power for the lights and to charge a phone. The owner has kindly provided an in-car hair dryer for guests' use.

Out and About

At Glamping at Knightstone you're just a few miles inland from the stunning World Heritage Jurassic Coast, not far from picturesque Budleigh Salterton, the Iron Age fort of Woodbury Castle and even - should you feel you're missing out on some urban action - the bustling city of Exeter. Alternatively, without expending too much energy you might wish to wander through Knightstone's fields, which include a beautiful meadow with lovely lake (please take care with kiddies), enclosed play area, picnic table and swing chair, and pick up the ancient riverside travellers' path to historic Ottery St Mary, birthplace of the poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge, or head in the opposite direction to the traditional village of Tipton St John - don't miss the Golden Lion for a refreshing local ale.

Layout

Steps up to open plan living-room with kitchen, dining and bedroom areas with king-size double bed, pull down bunk-beds (2'6" recommended for children only), wood-burner, gas cooker (2 ring hob and mini oven) and mini gas fridge. Door to Shower-room with shower, WC and wash-basin.