Six shepherd's huts with the most unusual hot tubs

Austin’s hot tub isn’t just wood fired, it’s also artfully shaped into a curvy two-person design with twin circular ends and a narrow centre, built to spark conversation and soak limbs in equal measure. Set on a raised deck with views across the Grantham Canal, it’s perfect for golden hour lounging, with wood crackling, drinks within reach, and not much else to do but melt away any lingering stress you’ve brought along with you. 

The Vale of Belvoir is all green fields and winding towpaths, so you’ll have plenty to explore between dips. Inside, Austin’s shepherd’s hut is cleverly built for tall guests (the owner’s 6’4”) with a roomy, stylish interior and en-suite bathroom.

This hot tub might not look unusual at first glance, until you look closer and realise it’s set on its own private island. Cross a little wooden bridge and you’ll find Nancy Blackett tucked into the reeds. The wood-fired masterpiece has lake views, there’s a hammock strung under the trees, and a rowing boat moored at your private jetty. With no neighbours in sight and only ducks for company, it’s the ultimate soak-and-switch-off spot. 

Named after the fearless Swallows and Amazons character, the hut is cosy, creative and quietly romantic. Fire up the campfire or paddle out for supplies, then return to your steaming tub as the mist rolls over the water. Total peace, maximum privacy, and serious points for originality.

At first glance, the hot tub at Hawthorn Hideaway looks like a classic countryside soak. Fire-powered, sunset-facing, and flanked by a firebowl ready for dinner prep. But tucked just beside it is a cold plunge tub, perfect for those looking to embrace the full hot-cold hydrotherapy ritual. Step between the two for an energising Scandi-style wellness circuit or just settle in and let the steam do the work while cows graze quietly in the neighbouring field. 

Just an hour from London, this stylish hideout proves peace doesn’t require a long drive. There’s an outdoor bath too, a clever foldaway bed-turned-sofa, and views as uninterrupted as they come.

This is no wallflower tub. Big, bright, and unapologetically orange, Woody & Iris’ wood-fired hot tub sits proudly at the edge of a meadow facing Fontmell Downs, under a bespoke timber frame and lit with fairy lights. Two open sides keep things breezy and wide open to the stars, while the glow of the flames brings the kind of warmth that sinks in deep. 

The vintage shepherd’s hut behind the tub is just as characterful, packed with original signage, enamelware, and upcycled finds. You can wander straight out onto walking trails, up to Compton Abbas Airfield (owned by Guy Ritchie, no less) for a bite, or retreat to ‘Silas’, a converted grain store turned BBQ snug, to cook up something cosy before your next soak.

Set among cherry trees in the Herefordshire hills, Lapin is a double shepherd’s hut with a few tricks up its sleeve. First, there’s the wood-fired hot tub tucked just beyond the firepit and perfectly placed for orchard gazing and stargazing alike. A sculpted wooden shelf is built into the tub itself. It’s part drinks bar, part book rest, part snack-and-bubble station, part whatever you want it to be. It’s a small and simple modification that you silently thank the owner for having the foresight to create.  

Inside, Lapin is a masterclass in rural escapism, split between two huts joined by a secret doorway. One side has your breakfast nook and kitchen, while the other reveals a king-sized bed and a bathroom. When you’re not soaking, head to ‘Sausage Corner’, a Finnish-style BBQ hut tucked into the trees.

Justin is Austin’s cool cousin, with the same curvy, twin-circle wood-fired hot tub, but this one comes in forest green, blending beautifully with the landscape and making you feel even more at one with your surroundings. It’s perched on a private deck, with views down to the canal and out over the Vale of Belvoir.  

Inside the hut, tones of mustard, slate and reclaimed wood bring a calm, earthy charm to your king-sized bedroom, small kitchen and indoor bathroom. Outside, a pizza oven does double duty as BBQ for al fresco feasts. Dogs are welcome too, so you don’t have to leave your favourite walking companion behind, and with views like these, you’ll all be tempted to stretch your legs before one final twilight dip.