Serenity in Surrey Hills
For our next UK exploration, we found the utmost serenity in Surrey Hills for a couple of days. It was the week of our wedding anniversary and we knew we wanted something intimate, romantic and picturesque. Tbh I found this location on my Instagram explore page; the shepherd’s hut caught my eye and in a matter of seconds, I was reading up everything about Merry Harriers in Hambledon, Godalming.
I had never heard of Hambledon or Godalming so this one was going to be a totally unknown location for us. Hambledon is in Godalming and Godalming is located in Surrey Hills. It’s definitely one the most beautiful sights I’ve seen in the countryside – I know I say this all the time but tbh, England is so beautiful. Another first was staying in a Shepherd’s Hut but this is 2021, the year of unique stays and new things.
Background
The Merry Harriers is a popular stop for walkers, dog owners and even cyclists wanting a bite or pint. It has a beer garden in the back for long summer days and is a lovely inn. In 2019, it added 6 Shepherd Huts to its roaster and this is what caught my eye. The huts are in bold, lovely colours. They are quite luxurious and feel very modern – a “perfect quirky twist on the glamping craze”. I suppose with the rise of UK staycations in the last year, the owners were lucky to already have these standing as I’m sure they sell out thanks to social distancing and the unique experience it comes with.
The Merry Harriers is located in the stunning Surrey Hills and is an area of natural outstanding beauty (AONB). It dates back to the 16th century and is a traditional village inn.
Our hut was Llama themed. It was spacious enough for both of us and the bed was very comfortable. The shower was big and the room was cosy. It had everything you would need – kettle, coffee maker, fridge and even some chocolates.
Related Unique Stays:
Llama Trekking
One of the activities offered by the inn is Llama Trekking. Hence why the room was Llama themed, no it was not coincidental. Mr E and I got to meet Louis, one of the oldest Llamas and Champagne, the diva in the pack. It costs £89 per person for the trek and it’s definitely not for the lazy feet. I chickened out last minute when we found out the trek could last up to 3 hours. Tbh they offered a shorter trek but I had made up my mind that my serenity in Surrey hills did not include any trek.
Mornings
The mornings were filled with birds chirping just outside our hut. The sound of the morning rain, sheep bleating in the distance and birds chirping will never get old. It’s usually my favourite time in the countryside and this was no different. I looked outside our window and I could see horses grazing in the nearby farm as well. The mornings were just so beautiful that I wished I could freeze them forever.
Afternoons
Our first afternoon was spent taking some photos thanks to the burst of sunshine that came through from nowhere. The weather had confirmed rain for the days we would be there so I really didn’t expect much. But we all know that the British weather is mental so weather apps are useless lol. We got sun and it made everywhere even more beautiful.
Our second afternoon, I spent it reading a book on the deck and Mr E watched some football inside. It is just nice that even in our togetherness, we can still always find our individuality. I read until he joined me on the deck and we had some chilled rosé we had been saving for the trip.
Evenings
To be honest, we were in that mood where afternoon weaves into evenings and evenings become nights without notice. Our first evening was nothing special; Mr E and I chilled in bed and watched Netflix.
The next day, in the early evening, we decided to take a walk. You know, get to know the surroundings better. I’m glad we did because we discovered some pretty paths, a church and even met some friendly locals. Our walk was so lovely and I saw a lot of climbing roses on our path. Rose season is truly one of the most beautiful seasons in England. I never forget to stop and smell them while singing Beauty & the Beast’s Tale as old as time lol.
One of the best things about the village of Hambledon is the number of open fields you come across. We saw sheep grazing in the distance, some horses and cows as well. They were all on private land and we wished we could have gone closer but I didn’t want to trespass. These are the times I think we should just pack up and move deep into the countryside lol.
We missed sunrises and sunsets here because of where our hut was positioned. I think I was also quite lazy to leave the hut in search of a suitable watching spot so gave that a pass. Now if you know me, you would know that this is unheard of. Nwabugo giving a sunset/sunrise watch a pass??? But look, sis was tired!
Serenity in Surrey hills - Where we ate
The Merry Harriers Inn had a pub and beer garden, which we dined in. For our first night, we had dinner in the pub. I ordered fish and chips, Mr E ordered a beef roast; both our portions were humongous AF! Like American style portions which we struggled to finish lol.
Breakfast was lovely; we had English breakfast both mornings, tea for me and coffee for him. Most of our meals were had there as this was strictly a chill trip and I didn’t want Mr E driving up and down.
White Hart
Just up the road from Merry Harriers is White Hart, which looked like a popular spot. The staff at Merry Harriers recommended it to us so it was a no brainer to check it out. This one was definitely an American style barbecue spot. I had the biggest portion of ribs I had seen in my life and thankfully, it was SO yum!
Our experience at White Hart was marred by a rude waiter tbh and we most likely won’t ever go back there but the food was nice so it’s worth a mention.
Shepherd's Huts - Yay or Nay
Shepherd’s Huts are interesting. I’d say they’re like a “cabin in the woods” so essentially, glamping. For avoidance of doubt, I picked this location mainly based on aesthetics. Nothing too deep, no exploration planned or anything. And all that is totally ok. Travel need not be complex nor complicated but a simple time away to relax. Surrey is also just over an hour from London so it was an easy trip. I wonder if shepherd’s huts are now becoming a thing for me? Hmmmm as long as it’s not longer than a couple of days; I guess that’s a go!
The Merry Harriers Shepherd’s Huts are cute and I totally recommend if you are trying to unplug from reality. Phone service was actually iffy so we had to rely on wifi and made a conscious effort to turn off the wifi from time to time. It would be lovely to go back in autumn as I imagine how stunning the scenery would look. Also, we could light up a fire and use the pit to roast marshmallows in the cold. I suppose it is one location that will give a different vibe depending on the season one visits.
I’m glad we found some serenity in Surrey Hills, as it was something we both desperately needed. The last year has taught me that I am not one for hectic vibes. If it is not calm and chill, I actually don’t want.
In my continuous search for serenity….
Bisous, ‘Bugo x
2 Comments
Toni | This Mama
Oh my gish, they are just the cutest!! They look a little close together, do you still get privacy?
Bugo
oh yes, totally private! There’s definitely enough ground between each cabin so it never feels crowded x