The Shepherds Belle and Croft Hut

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.