Is This Somerset’s Most Opulent Lakeside Hideaway? Meet Hut 1898

Let’s skip the usual pitch about “getting back to nature,” because Hut 1898 isn’t about roughing it in a field. If you’ve been searching for a lakeside shepherd’s hut with a hot tub in Somerset, Hut 1898 takes glamping and gives it an uncompromising luxury makeover directly on the water’s edge.

Inspired by the laid-back elegance of The Pig hotels, Hut 1898 is the stately big sibling of shepherd’s huts. At a spacious 250 square feet, it swaps cramped camping vibes for grand proportions, vintage style, and panoramic glass doors that look out across a private lake framed by wooded hills. Add in an antique gin bar, your own private outdoor pizza shed, a wood-fired hot tub by the water, and an on-site woodland sauna, and you’ve got a waterside sanctuary that redefines what a romantic weekend in the West Country looks like.

Luxury Lakeside Glamping: What Makes Hut 1898 Unique

Stepping inside Hut 1898 feels like discovering a secret boutique hotel suite hidden in the reeds. Every detail has been thought through to make staying indoors feel like a treat rather than a compromise.

You’ve got a super-cosy bed dressed in crisp Egyptian cotton, a smart TV for rainy-day movie marathons, and a fully equipped kitchen complete with an antique gin bar (with tonics waiting for you). Even the bathroom feels decadent: the oversized Monsoon shower features a glass view-panel looking directly out across the water, so you can watch the wildlife drift past while getting ready.

Then there’s your private outdoor sanctuary. Floor-to-ceiling glass doors open onto a broad timber deck right above the lake. Here, you’ll find an outdoor sofa setup, a bamboo den with a fire pit wrapped in twinkling fairy lights, and your private wood-fired hot tub. As far as Somerset hot tub breaks go, sinking into steaming water while watching owls skim across a quiet lake is about as magical as it gets.

Outdoor Kitchens, Fire Pits & The Woodland Sauna

What makes a stay at The Shepherds Hut Retreat feel like an actual holiday is that the outdoor living space is just as well-equipped as the inside:

• Your Private Pizza Shed & Ooni Oven: Forget cooking inside. Fire up your personal Ooni pizza oven, prep your favorite toppings on the deck, and dine alfresco on your waterside sofa with a glass of chilled wine.
• The Bamboo Den Fire Pit: As darkness falls, light up the fire pit, roast the complimentary marshmallows provided in your welcome pack, and listen to the sounds of nature surrounding the lake.
• The Woodland Sauna: Take relaxation a step further with access to the retreat’s woodland sauna—ideal for a steamy detox after a day of exploring the local countryside.

Exploring South Somerset & Local Dining

While you could easily spend 48 hours without leaving your deck, Hut 1898 is perfectly positioned near Crewkerne for exploring the best of South Somerset and the neighboring Dorset border.

Foodies will love the local scene. A 17th-century honey-stone beauty tucked away in Hinton St George, The Lord Poulett Arms is basically the gold standard for Somerset pubs. Rated 9/10 by The Sunday Telegraph, it’s all flagstone floors, roaring log fires, and a sun-soaked garden complete with its own boules court (because why not?). The food here is ridiculously good—hyper-local steaks, fresh south-coast fish, and veggies plucked straight from their own garden—yet completely unpretentious. Grab a pint of proper local cider, order a plate of something delicious, and prepare to cancel any plans you had for the rest of the afternoon.

You’re a short drive or scenic walk from fantastic country pubs serving local Somerset ciders and seasonal West Country produce, and just 30 minutes away from the famous Jurassic Coast at West Bay and Lyme Regis for fresh seafood and coastal walks.

Why Hut 1898 Delivers the Ultimate Hot Tub Break in Somerset

Hut 1898 bridges the gap between the wild beauty of outdoor living and the uncompromising comfort of a luxury hotel. It’s romantic, clever, deeply relaxing, and gives you a front-row seat to one of Somerset’s most peaceful waterside settings.

Whether you’re celebrating an anniversary or simply escaping the daily grind, this is the kind of place where time slows right down the second you step onto the deck. Pack your favourite gin, bring your swimming kit, and get ready for a lakeside break you’ll be talking about for years.