The semi off-grid glamping site offers guests a chance to escape the humdrum and busy pace of life, making time to enjoy a unique glamping experience, just one hour from London. The beautiful accommodation - including a glorious lotus belle and tent and your very own croft hut - offers all the facilities you need for a romantic break away. All electricity is supplied by Solar power, this beautiful site is the perfect place to escape.

Set within a secluded meadow of long grasses and wildflowers and plenty of native trees, you'll feel true nature all around you. A nearby footpath runs along the adjacent field so you can walk to the Messing village, (1 mile) where you'll find The Old Crown Pub which also has a Delicatessen shop out the back.

Inside Shepherds Belle you'll find an attractive black metal double bed with colourful bedding and solar lighting, creating a really cosy atmosphere. Think ethnic bohemian style with solid wood furniture and colourful soft furnishings.

The tent has a back and front door flap, windows with insect nets and a silky roof curtain, which when lowered reveals a clear ceiling enabling you to lay back and relax viewing the night sky and stars above from the comfort of your bed. Measuring 5m the tent is spacious and has excellent headroom due to the unique shape and high walls.

Have fun cooking outdoors on the Silver Fire Rocket stove; a wood-fired cooker for boiling kettles or knocking up single pan meals. It also has a skillet attachment and a large cooking pot. There is also a Mini BBQ supplied with cookware and kitchenware. All crockery is provided.

In addition to the tent, guests have exclusive use of their own little green Croft which sits neatly beside the tent. The Croft hut is a utility and washing hut, with a 3-day cool box (ice packs and fridge available in site office, access arranged with the owner), large corner shower, waterless toilet, a large ceramic hand basin set on a painted oak sideboard.

An additional hot and cold tap is situated outside on the back of the hut which is ideal for washing up after a BBQ. This is a great location for exploring the local towns and villages including Chelmsford and Colchester.

On the same glamping site is Ryeland Hut perfect for friends or couples, the hut is 40m away and well screened for privacy.

Oaksbrook
Brook Farm, Kelvedon Road
Messing, Essex CO5 9TA
United Kingdom

Local Facilities and shops
1 mile towards Kelvedon to Stonefields Farm shop. 2.5 miles to Kelvedon Mainline station. An hour train into Liverpool Street London. 3 miles to Tiptree for two supermarkets, takeaways, chemist, garage etc.

Oaksbrook Retreat at Brook Farm where the glampsite is situated, opens up to attractive grassland paddocks flanked with native trees and hedging within 20 acres. A walk along the boundary grassy track reveals a bee hive and some sheep or horses grazing in the summer months. Beyond the path at the far end is a 4 acre field, again this is rich meadow land with native trees dotted in amongst the grasses and a mowed track winding, so a great place to walk your dog. You'll find a pond which is nestled in the bottom corner, the mowed track continues through the sheep’s paddock which is next to a Brook. At the bottom of the field is a gate that leads to either a short walk through a small wooded area with a large Oak marking the entrance to the trail which takes you back to the pedestrian gate to the glampsite or footbridge across the broom to the public footpath or you can turn right up the gravelled track leading past the stables.

Your host Jane can offer Flower essence consultations, Reiki Healing and Equine Facilitated Learning sessions for personal growth and healing or meditation with the horses just for relaxation and de-stressing. Occasionally retreat type workshops or crafting events are held on-site in The Walnut Barn. There is also a small on-site shop selling gifts, locally made preserves and treats.

There is a small shop on the farmyard, here you can purchase a range of gift items and the owners own branded food items such as preserves, BBQ relish, picnic pickles and chutneys, cereals, crisps, snacks and bottled drinks, BBQ coals and other items.

What to do, why not let your creativity flow?
If you are interested in crafts why not get creative and join a crafting session in the Walnut barn in the farmyard with the owner Jane. She offers the following various 2 hr sessions in : Needle Felting for Beginners - create your own furry friend using a mixture of our very own Coloured Ryeland Sheep’s wool and Marino wool.

Create a Vision Board - set your goals and intentions and create a picture to help manifest your dreams. Guided meditation to help visualise and sew those seeds for your vision. other courses can be arranged with the owner.

Abberton Reservoir Visitor Centre

Church Road, Layer-de-la-Haye, Colchester, Essex, CO2 0EU

01206 738172

website

Conservation centre run by the Essex Wildlife Trust, at a site of international importance for winter wildfowl. Nesting cormorants, common terns and nightingales. Nature trails and bird hides. Shop selling gifts, optics and wildlife books.

Aqua Springs

Cowdray Avenue, Colchester, Essex, CO1 1YH

01206 282010

website

The ultimate health spa experience. Providing you with a complete environment of rest and relaxation, to soothe, revitalise and transform. Try the range of beauty & relaxation treatments.

Beth Chatto Gardens

Elmstead Market, Colchester, Essex, CO7 7DB

01206 822007

website

Planning on visiting the amazing Beth Chatto Gardens?…If so, click here to get the latest information direct from the official Colchester tourism site!

Blackwater Boats

Brook End Road (South), Chelmsford, Essex, CM2 6NX

01206 853282

website

Blackwater Dawn’, a traditional Narrowboat, offering public trips on Sundays and Bank Holidays also private charters for that special occasion.

Blakes Wood

Riffhams Chase, Little Baddow, Chelmsford, Essex, CM3 4AU

01245 227662

Bourne Mill

Bourne Mill, Bourne Road, Colchester, Essex, CO2 8RT

01206 549799

website

National Trust property, the mill was originally built as a fishing lodge in 1591 and features stepped “Dutch” gables. There is a millpond and some of the machinery, including the waterwheel which is intact and working.

Enjoy a unique Glamping experience in our beautiful Lotus Bell Star Gazer tent. Set within a secluded meadow of long grasses and wild flowers, interspersed with mowed paths and native trees at various growth stages. A secure high native hedge flanks two sides whilst a line of tall mature conifers run along the bottom of the meadow and side. A discreet fence runs through the conifers with timber pedestrian and larger gate at each end opening into the wider farm. A lightly used footpath runs along the other side giving instant access to walks to Tiptree or to Messing village. There is a sense of privacy from the natural screening and planting. There are currently just two accommodation which are well spread out from one another but equally may make a perfect getaway for friends wanting to be together but with their own private facilities.

Parking is in the secure gated farm yard. There is a short walk to the accommodation and Glamping area and carts are provided.

Inside the Shepherds Belle you will find an attractive black metal double bed. There is an ethnic bohemian feel with the solid wood furniture and soft furnishings. The tent has a back and front door flap, windows with insect nets and the best bit a silky curtain that when lowered reveals a clear ceiling enabling you to lay back and relax viewing the night sky and stars above. This large 5m tent has excellent head room due to the unique shape and high walls.

In addition to the tent guests have exclusive use of their own shepherd hut The Croft which sits neatly beside the tent. The Croft hut is a utility and wash hut, boasting a large corner shower, waterless toilet, a large ceramic hand basin set on a painted Oak side board and matching cupboard with a fridge. An additional hot and cold tap is situated outside on the back of the hut which is ideal for washing up after a BBQ. All of our Glamping accommodation is semi off grid. We have fresh water and an LPG gas boiler for hot water. Electricity is minimal and powered by solar as well as some battery Tilly lamps and solar outside lights.

Croft Hut

Corner shower
Seperatt Waterless urine separating compost toilet with extractor fan
Wash basin unit, cupboard containing washing up bowl and cleaning materials, dust pan, wipes etc plus cook pans
Bench seat to house battery’s and solar controls
Low cabinet
Fridge
Silver Fire Rocket stove which is a wood fired cooker for boiling kettles or cooking a single pan meal. It also has a skillet attachment and a large cook pot with it.
Mini BBQ
Bucket with coal, kindling and fire lighter starter kit. ( more can be purchased on site) Cookware and kitchenware pack of useful items
Coat hooks and space to store boots
The hut does have electric lighting and phone charging point. (We ask that guests try to avoid using high wattage items to maintain battery power from the solar panels)
Solid wooden steps that double as a seat outside.

Shepherds Belle

The spacious Belle Tent has a lovely double bed on a metal bedstead, bedding and cushions solid wood furnishings, coir matting, rugs and throws, two folding camping chairs, bunting and solar lamps.

Outside

A private, secluded field shared only with one other accommodation the Ryeland Hut approx 30m away. Screened for privacy. Decking with picnic table. Cooking is done outdoors only. Parking is in the secure gated farmyard. There is a short 800-meter walk to the accommodation and Glamping area and carts are provided if needed. The structure is approached on part gravel and then mown grass path. If someone has difficulties walking far, they can drive to drop off luggage.

Croft Hut

Croft Hut (little Shepherd Hut) next to the tent is run on solar and lpg. Gas boiler for on demand hot water. Corner shower and wash basin. Eco friendly Solar lighting.

Waterless separating compost toilet with extractor fan.

Washbasin unit, cupboard containing washing up bowl and cleaning materials, dustpan, plus cooking pans Bench seat to house batteries and solar controls. 3-day cool box (ice packs and fridge available in site office, access arranged with the owner).

Cooking facilities: Silver Fire Rocket stove which is a wood-fired cooker for boiling kettles or cooking a single pan meal. It also has a skillet attachment and a large cooking pot. Also a mini BBQ. The croft hut does have electric lighting and a phone charging point. (Guests are asked to try to avoid using high wattage items to maintain battery power from the solar panels).

Misc: Coat hooks and storage for boots etc.

Battery packs available on request for phone and tablet charging with multiple sockets.

For those requiring a quicker kettle boiling experience we have available to purchase camping gas mini stoves for £15.00 or there may be one available to borrow.

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The broader farm opens up to attractive grassland paddocks flanked with native trees and hedging, a walk along the boundary grassy track reveals a bee hive and there may be sheep or horses grazing in the summer months. Beyond the path at the far end is a 4 acre field, again this is rich meadow land with native trees dotted in amongst the grasses and a mowed track winding through it, a pond is nestled in the bottom corner, the mowed track continues through our sheep’s paddock which is next to a Brook. At the bottom of the field is a gate which leads to ether a short walk through a small wooded area next to the broom with a large Oak marking the entrance to the trail which takes you back to the pedestrian gate to the Glamp site or foot bridge a cross the broom to the public footpath or you can turn right up the gravelled track leading past the stables and equestrian facilities to the car park.

A small shop is also on site adjacent our Herdsman Barn within the Courtyard by the car park. We have a range of gift items and our own branded food items such as preserves, BBQ relish, picnic pickles and chutneys, cereals, crisps, snacks and Belvoir Presse bottled drinks, BBQ coal and other items. We are constantly revising and adding to our range.