Sprucing up for Valentine's

Our two shepherd's huts have been locked down in hibernation since bonfire night.  They have stood firm against gales, pouring rain and sleet during the worst winter months, each looking almost lonely in their own corner of the farm.  But now the lambs are playing in the field and the banks are carpeted in snowdrops and any minute we'll be welcoming our February guests.  We can't wait to see smoke curling from the chimney again and lights twinkling from the windows at night.

Sadly we ourselves haven't been hibernating all this time.  As well as occasionally doing our proper jobs, we have been washing curtains, re-painting, re-furbishing a stove, mending fencing and all sorts to make sure the huts are spick and span for our first guests this season.  We've also been to San Fransisco; even the Cornish need to get away sometimes!

We had a great season last year and were humbled by the endless kind and generous comments that our guests put in our book and on Tripadvisor.  Thank you all of you - there will be a bottle of wine waiting next time you come.

The Shepherd's Hut is already booked for our opening weekend, but if you'd like to help us launch the Lambing Hut's season in appropriate style, we're offering a free bottle of champagne for whoever books 3 or more nights over Valentine's weekend in the Lambing Hut!

Creating the perfect hideaway

There has been much activity here at Hideaway Huts over the past few months in preparing our second traditional shepherd's Hut.

The Lambing Hut, positioned on the western edge of the farm, half a mile from the original shepherd's hut, is now almost ready, so we thought we'd give you a sneak preview of the inside and the spectacular position.  We're still working on the private bathroom hut, but the Lambing Hut will be ready by the 5th August.   You can check out our availability here.

The Lambing Hut

View from the Lambing Hut

Interior

The Lambing Hut

Since the Shepherd's Hut opened again for spring in March, Andy and I have been making steady progress on a new project: The Lambing Hut.

The Lambing Hut is another shepherd's hut, beautifully built by the one-man-band that built our first hut in a traditional style with corrugated tin to protect the walls and roof and with lovely old iron wheels.  We are in the middle of a great flurry of activity... painting, working wood, curtain making, mattress moving, furniture buying and light fitting, as we gradually get the Lambing Hut ready for it's first glamping guests, expected in August.

After much deliberation whilst stomping around countless fields, we have finally found a spectacular location for the Lambing Hut.  Below is the rather stunning view that will be seen through the Lambing Hut's door:

We are now officially taking bookings for the Lambing Hut from 1st August onward.   We can guarantee the same comfort, luxury and attention to detail that those who've stayed with us before loved about the Shepherd's Hut, from luxury pocket sprung mattress with 100% cotton sheets, to piping hot shower, to teatime treats and fresh flowers awaiting your arrival.  Get in touch if you'd like to stay or you can book online at www.hideawayhuts.co.uk

Weathering the storms

Our first winter in charge of the Shepherd's Hut has been a wild one, but being on a hill we've escaped the flooding that has caused all sorts of trouble in this part of Cornwall.  The hut has battled the weather fiercely, with not a single leak appearing.  Starting to wonder whether we should have clad our own house in corrugated tin!

Whilst the hut hibernates (we close her down from bonfire night to valentines day to give the ground a rest), we've been working on some little extras - thanks to inspired feedback by some of our 2013 guests - to make our guests even more at home in the hut.  If you've stayed with us before then next time you come look out for what's new!

Also new is Rabbit the puppy - who fortunately so resembles the previous resident dog here (Bee) that we needn't change our Hideaway Huts logo (see our website www.hideawayhuts.co.uk and you'll understand)! Here she is:

Today we noticed the first snowdrop shoots poking through so it looks like spring will be with us in plenty of time for our first guests of the year who are booked in for a Valentine's day retreat.  We still have availability for other dates in Feb so get in touch if you need to escape to the country for a few days to snuggle up next to the log burner with a book and a cuppa.  stay@hideawayhuts.co.uk

Keeping it in the family

After nearly five years at Treworgey in Cornwall, Alec, Jo and Juno (and Bee!) are moving to Scotland to Alec's family home in Morayshire.  

After a spell of banging, drilling, driving around with trailers, painting, curtain making and final-touching, Jo and Alec started Hideaway Huts on the Treworgey farm three years ago.  We’re sure you’ll agree that the result was worth all the hard work.  They have thoroughly enjoyed meeting the various guests who have come to stay in the Shepherd’s Hut, but the time has come for their next adventure in life. 

In anticipation of the big move, Hideaway Huts is now being taken on by Jo’s sister Holly and her boyfriend Andy who have moved down to live at Treworgey so that Holly can take on the role of helping to run Treworgey Cottages.  Holly and Andy are very excited to be the new owners of Hideaway Huts and are currently in training from Jo and Alec, so you can rest assured that your next visit to the hut will be as welcoming and luxurious as the last one! 

Four reasons to visit Cornwall in Spring

There are loads of great reasons to visit Cornwall in Spring, but we think these four stand-out experiences are sure to knock your socks off.

Spring festivals

Experience guided walks and talks, garden spring clean events, Gardeners' Question Time and a Spring Fair in the beautiful seaside town of Falmouth during its famous Spring Festival. It's all on from March 14^th to 24^th, so there's no time to lose.

Or why not head to the Tamar Valley later in the month for its Spring Trail Festival. Taking place between March 28^th and April 7^th, this event features over 30 guided walks to help people explore this lesser-known corner of Cornwall - and just a short drive from Hideaway Hut too.

Flowers in full bloom

With its warm climate, Cornwall is in bloom before the rest of Britain. Expect to see Cornish specialists like camellias, rhododendrons and magnolias in abundance as well as stunning wild flowers. If flora is your thing, check out the fabulous Cornwall Spring Flower Show on April 6^th and 7^thin the magnificent grounds of Boconnoc House.

Surf's up

There is no question Cornwall is the UK's top surfing destination, and spring is when it really comes alive. In May Newquay hosts the English National Surfing Championships. There will be contests for men and women of all ages, so expect some fierce competition. Watergate Bay is the venue for the event on May 12^th and 13^th.

Local food and drink

Cornwall has some of the best locally produce food and drink in the world and spring is the time to sample it.  Try everything from the huge variety of local fish to some mouth-watering cheeses made right here in Cornwall. There's also some pretty good beer and cider, not to mention our famous English wines.

Trereife House is hosting its fourth Easter Bank Holiday Food and Craft Fair weekend at the historic Queen Anne manor house (March 29^th to April 1^st), while the hugely popular Porthleven Food Festival on April 20th is sure to appeal.

Thanks to our guest blogger from snappycontentwriting.com

Hideaway Hut Comes out of Hibernation for 2013

The freshly-painted and spruced hut re-opened her stable door on the 1st March, just in time for daffodils to be the flower of the season. 


Thank you to our first guests of 2013, who left this lovely message in the book last weekend..

(On closer inspection suspect that those of us without magnifying eyesight might need a translation - will return to the book itself for a closeup and add a caption!)

South East Cornwall's Summer and Autumn Events

This summer has been jam-packed with fantastic events just down the road from Hideaway Hut. From Port Eliot Festival, Boconnoc Steam Fair, Looe Food Festival of the Sea and the famous Raft Race to last weekend's postponed (to about the hottest day of the year) Liskeard Show. 

The start of the 2012 Looe Raft Race from Looe Beach

Donkey Derby at Liskeard Show!

And the best bit is that it's not over yet. Summer events continue with Duloe's Beer Festival weekend, just a stroll up the lane, and after that Looe's ever-expanding and excellent Music Festival which makes the most of all sorts of venues from the big sandy beach to the tiniest pubs around the town..


Keep an eye on out for more posts about upcoming events as the autumn progresses

The First Hut Engagement!

Our claims that we have an especially romantic hideaway here have been proven beyond a shadow of a doubt by David and Kate (soon to be) Brewer. Asking a girl to marry you on top of the Cornish cliffs on a beautifully sunny day (and with a beautiful ring) turns out to be a surefire route to a successful 'yes!'. We like to think Dave was moved to action by their mood-inspiring accommodation :)

Best of luck and many CONGRATULATIONS to Dave and Kate. Who knows which hutters might be next?..

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year Everyone!

Hideaway Hut has been tucked up for her winter hibernation since bonfire night, and apart from a brief re-opening to accommodate a couple of our more adventurous friends over New Year, she remains that way until Valentine's Day when our first official 2012 guests are coming to enjoy her once again.

From then on she's open season. Why not have a look at the local What's On on the homepage, and maybe tie your stay in with a local food, literary or music festival? Or perhaps you, like many other hutters, prefer to enjoy her all to yourself, toasting yourselves by her cosy fire or just admiring the view..

We look forward to welcoming you (back?) in 2012..

The first camp fire

Our first hut camp fire and barbecue

Grilling local sausages on the barbecue and then toasting our toes around the fire pit and watching the sun go down over the valley..

Pretty as a picture!

The hut is now ready for relaxing..

..in position and painted in Farrow and Ball colours with the vintage Laura Ashley and Sanderson curtains and cushions, comfy bed with super-thick pocket sprung mattress, painted and vintage (oak, pine and elm) furniture, a stack of novels, maps and camping cookbooks...

solar lighting, and even a bed-side reading light switch,Fresh flowers and tea, coffee and Cornish biscuits and apple juice to greet you.. and this view from your bed..

bliss...

What a view!

Today the shepherd's hut was escorted into place

by the trusty old tractor.

Carefully positioned to take full advantage of the view from the hut's door (at the right hand end in the above pic), and the front window (on the opposite side of the hut from where the above pic is taken). The other window (on left above) looks through the leaves at the top of the hedge and up over the rolling fields to the East.

Above and Below - the view from your hut's door

Rainbow through the Clouds

The hut's first Rainbow - over Looe

The first hut supper

Our first hut supper..

delicious fish and chips from Coddy Shack above East Looe and Cornish cider - Ideal!

and many more to come..

Picture perfect

A huge thank you to Jo's aunt Jenny who has come up trumps again with yet another fantastic drawing. You may have noticed the lovely banner drawing on our new site www.hideawayhuts.co.uk

Jenny's drawing captures the spirit of Hideaway Huts with its depiction of the Cornish landscape, the shepherd's hut itself, a cheeky wild rabbit and (equally cheeky) our little dog Bee.

We love it and hope you will too.

Sumptuous bed ready for bouncing on!

Our lovely bed is built! It's a full-size double bed with a proper deep sprung mattress for two. Imagine snuggling up on the comfy bed with cosy duvet, pretty squashy cushions and your favourite book.. or just gazing out of the window and admiring the view.. 


Pics to follow soon!

Cushions and Curtains..

Now comes the fun part - decorating the hut.

Pretty pale vintage Laura Ashley and Sanderson fabrics, ready to make curtains and lots of squashy cushions for cosying up with a book on the bed.. mm

The long way home

Hut lunch stop

Hut pit stop

and finally home!

A nerve-wracking drive from Cornwall to Hampshire

Finally we really do have our hut and there's something to write home about..
We had a good feeling about this one so we hired a trailer and drove all the 

way to Hampshire just keeping our fingers crossed that it wasn't too good to 

be true. 

And it wasn't. Here she is, being loaded onto the trailer. 

She really is beautiful in an understated kind of way. 

Converted by a lovely bloke called Dan last year, she has the original 

shepherd's hut chassis and wheels complete with draw bar, with a modern, 

fully insulated hut on top and a lovely weathered corrugated finish to 

protect her. 

Now we just had to get her home..