This charming property, situated among rolling countryside yet just 11 miles from bustling Colchester, is the perfect little bolthole for two – with the canine companion in tow, of course! Sleeping you both in a convenient slide-out double bed, this shepherd’s hut makes clever use of space to provide relaxing accommodation that you won’t ever want to leave. Spend sunny afternoons sizzling up a BBQ and dining alfresco in the great outdoors or relax in the wood-fired hot tub.
The hut has everything you need for a comfortable stay. The compact kitchen area is perfect for cooking up delicious meals and features an integrated hob and a microwave plus a three-day cooling box; there’s access to a fridge/freezer near the owner’s property if you need it. Light the wood burner, get cosy on the bed and watch TV or read a book for a peaceful night in, the pup snoozing on the floor by your feet. Simply slide the bed out when you’re ready to sleep. In the morning, take an invigorating shower in the shower room that also has a waterless WC.
Take a trip to Mersea Island (13 miles) where your pup can go walking on Monkey Beach or along the trails at Cudmore Grove Country Park; there are plenty of dog-friendly pubs, cafes and restaurants to take a pit stop at too. Explore the beautiful grounds of Bourne Mill (10 miles), including the millpond and a babbling stream; the pup can even sniff around the ground floor of this 19th-century mill. Take a ride on the Colne Valley Railway (18 miles) where you’ll see relocated station buildings, signal boxes and bridges along its mile-long track.