A lovingly crafted and decorated shepherd’s hut, perfectly located an hour from London in the glorious Sussex countryside...

Years ago Lizzie Staples came across a magazine article that planted the idea of owning a Shepherd's Hut in her head. She was instantly smitten by their simplicity and magic and after a long wait and much consideration, she created The Shepherds Return. The idea of a simple yet magical space has been realised in the calm of her West Sussex country garden just an hour from London.
The hut, close to the house but with countryside stretching out all around, is simply decorated, with soft wood colours and red gingham curtains giving it charm and warmth. In keeping with its setting in the natural beauty of the south downs, it is lit and heated only by solar and wood fuel. The shower and bath are up at the cottage and so, for the moment, is the loo although a mini shepherd’s hut is arriving at the end of June to house one down by the main hut.
Lizzie tries to keep everything local and organic where possible, from the sheepskin hot water bottle to all the natural wool bed linen and the breakfast hamper that arrives every morning to put your day of relaxation on the right track.

• Esentials
• Getting there
• Eating & Drinking
• Things to do
• Booking terms
• Meet your hosts

The essentials

The important stuff

• Check in time is from 4pm
• Check out time is 10:30am
• Pets and kids cannot be accommodated
• The bed is just over 6ft long by 4 and a half feet wide

Sleeping arrangements

Cooking

• A flask of hot water will be provided in the morning along with hot croissants for breakfast. There are no cooking facilities, so you’ll just have to go out for dinner!

Washing

• The shower, bath and loo are up at the cottage, about 30ft away

Heating, lighting & bedding

• All linen is provided
• The wood-burning stove that burns eco logs

Entertainment

• A selection of books is available in the hut

Getting there

By public transport

The nearest train station is Pulborough and buses don't get very close. Pick ups can be arranged for £10 from Pulborough station, please organise them as far in advance as possible

By car - PLEASE NOTE that Satnav may take you to a thatched cottage, The Hollow is the next cottage on the right

From London head out south on the A3. Take the A283 to Petworth and then the A285 out of Petworth towards Duncton. Once you have passed The Badgers pub on your left take the 1st turning on the left signposted Burton Mill. Pass the mill lake on your right. Take the first turning on your right at the cross roads signposted Sutton. Pass a thatched cottage called Lockets with a green five bar painted gate on your left. The Hollow is the next semi-detached cottage on the right hand side before you climb the hill into Sutton village. The cottage is set back off the road. A barn backs onto the road and a beehive and oil tank are visible. Park on the slip road by the barn.

Eating & drinking

At the Shepherd's Return

A breakfast of Irish Soda bread, hot croissants, yoghurt, muesli, local preserves and organic fruit compote will be delivered to you in the morning and you can make tea or coffee from supplies at the hut. The nearest shop is in Petworth, four miles away.

Pubs & restaurants

The Horse Guards, Tillington (5 miles) - A 350 year old inn with glorious views over the Rother Valley and great locally sourced food

The White Horse Pub, Sutton (0.8 miles) - A classic village pub serving light lunches and a sunday roast

The Fox Goes Free, Charlton nr East Dean (6 miles) - A pub where William III used to bring the royal hunting party for refreshments, with many of its centuries old features preserved alongside more recent additions like real ales, fine wines and an extensive menu

The Leconfield, Petworth (4.5 miles) - A bar & restaurant with a modern European menu

The Duke of Cumberland Henley, nearr Midhurst (11.5 miles) - Winner of a Great Birtish Pub food award and of awards for its fine cask ales

Things to do

A selection of places to visit if you feel the need to roam out from the Shepherd's hut

Petworth for local antique shops

Chichester for the theatre and the Pallant House Gallery, the home of modern art in the south

The Witterings for the sea (40 minutes away)

Midhurst for the Polo

Singleton Open Air Museum - for historic gardens and classes and courses in forgotten arts

Arundel Castle - The seat of the Dukes of Norfolk, now one of the great treasure houses of England, home to priceless works of art

Parham House and gardens - Open to visitors since careful restoration in 1948, this grand old house contains many treasures including a 400 narwahl tusk

Meet your hosts

Lizzie says she has always felt very blessed to live at the foot of the downs. The award of their National Park status was no surprise to the locals. The Shepherds Return allows her to give people a chance to share a little of the beauty of the surroundings with her. After she was smitten by the idea of the shepherd's hut, it took years to find the right person to build her own. Eventually she came across Eddie Butterfield in Dorset. His enthusiasm and passion for his huts made an impression and she commissioned him to build her very own hut. She wanted an authentic experience hence the organic wool duvet and pillows and the simple homely decor.

Wildlife & environment

Lizzie aims to be as organic as much as possible in the decorating and provisioning of the hut. The wood-burning stove burns Eco logs, a modern necessity, but the power is all solar and candles. Such a respect for nature is all the more understandable when you see the abundance of wildlife. Although just an hour from London, deer roam in the valley that the hut overlooks and dusk brings out bats, owl and even the occasional nightingale.