Nature Retreats & Glamping in Somerset
making space for attention, imagination and wonder - rooted in the elements
Oakhill Ponds is shaped by two spring-fed ponds - an 18th-century grotto and the surrounding woodland and meadows. Water is at the heart of its story — springs, ponds, waterfalls and the flow — with limestone, grottoes and traces of old quarrying woven into its layered history.
There are 25 acres, designed for small retreats, gatherings and stays close to nature. It offers an atmosphere that sparks imagination. Guests come to swim, read, write, take sauna and gather in small groups - finding depth, creativity and renewal in the rhythm of the land.
Oakhill Ponds is a breathing space in Somerset - elemental, creative and alive with possibility.
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Glamping & off-grid stays
Our spaces are simple, beautiful, and rooted in the land.
- Shepherds’ Huts - handcrafted luxury huts, with private gardens, hammocks and wood-fired hot tubs.
- Lotus Belle Tents - comfortable and spacious, each with a private shower, compost loo, outdoor kitchen and hammock.
- The Walled Garden Yurt - a beautifully crafted self-contained space with a 21-ft yurt, garden room, hot tub - this sits near to the main site.
- Whole-site stays - gather friends, family or collaborators for celebrations, retreats and group stays across the wider site.
Each stay has its own kitchen and facilities, with access to the ponds, sauna, woodland walks and shared outdoor spaces.
Alongside our off-grid accommodation, Upper Beeches apartment and the Beeches retreat house offer more traditional stays for couples, groups and retreats.
retreats
Seasonal gatherings shaped by water, fire, air and stone. We host our own elemental, reading and writing retreats, and welcome collaborations with practitioners and artists whose work resonates with the ethos of Oakhill Ponds.
Meals are shared in outdoor kitchens and around firelight - balancing solitude with community. These shared spaces sit alongside the privacy of each hut or tent, so you can choose solitude or connection as you wish.
Wild swimming, sauna & elemental experiences
At the heart of Oakhill Ponds are two spring-fed swimming ponds, clear, cool and shaped by the surrounding landscape.
Swim at dawn, float beneath the stars or move between sauna, firelight and cold water as part of our elemental spa experiences.
Evenings often end around the fire: warmth, conversation and quiet company beneath dark Somerset skies.
Regular full moon swims offer another way to reconnect with the rhythms of the natural world.
A place shaped by water & history
Shaped in the 18th century as parkland and reservoirs for the Oakhill Brewery, the site still carries its hidden traces - grottos, hermitage, tunnels, and moss-covered archways - inviting imagination and wonder today.
in the press
Oakhill Ponds has been featured on BBC Radio Somerset, sharing the story of our grotto, the history of the land, and our vision for this rewilded retreat.