GLAMPING | Glamping at Samlesbury Hall in Ribble Valley and The Joy Of Solo Microadventures

April 4, 2023 Shell Robshaw-Bryan

Glamping, Glamping Site Reviews, Homepage Feature, Our Adventures

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🕒 4 minute read

With winter feeling like it was clinging on for dear life, I headed off for a quick solo weekend glamping break, staying in a Shepherd Hut in the grounds of the Samlesbury Hall estate in the beautiful Ribble Valley. Read on to find out more about my stay…

Where did I stay?

Hamlets at Samlesbury Hall
Preston New Road
Samlesbury
Preston
PR5 0UP

Book accommodation or find out more at samlesburyhall.co.uk

My stay cost £120 for 1 night of glamping in a shepherd’s hut.

My Visit

Back in June 2019 a press release landed in my inbox and was immediately smitten. It might have taken me almost 4 years to get the chance to visit, but I finally placed a last-minute booking for a solo glamping break at the beautiful Samlesbury Hall in the Ribble Valley, Lancashire.

January and February felt interminable and I was in need of something to help get me through the finishing line to spring. Just as the early signs of spring began to make me feel lighter, winter’s insistent grip once again tightened and this year, like no other, I was driven to seek something to shake me out of stasis and fully awaken my spirit.

When I feel this way there is only one thing that will do and that’s getting down with nature. I had pondered camping, but frankly, I had no desire to be cold, and a pesky lung infection meant that my usual beloved open-water swimming was also out, so glamping was the ideal choice.

Of course, I decided this just 3 days before I wanted to go away. Trying to find somewhere that was open, no more than a 2-hour drive away, wasn’t too pricey and had availability, was no mean feat, but I definitely got lucky!

The Magic Of Going Solo

I often sing the praises of going solo and although I adore my husband and we happily spend all day every day living and working from home together and are very rarely away from each other’s side, I still think it’s important and healthy to prise ourselves apart from time to time.

Dining at the Heritage Cafe at Samelsbury Hall

Maintaining a sense of independence, even in a strong relationship, is important for both partners (I believe the same is true for mothers and their young kids) and time alone gives me something I don’t get when I’m with my husband, family or friends. Silence.

I regard my solo jaunts as a spiritual recalibration.

That’s not necessarily the silence of zero audio input, more the silencing of distractions. It gives me the opportunity to tune back into myself and listen to me.

I regard my solo jaunts as a spiritual recalibration. After too long, I tend to get wound up with all the usual stresses of life, even just the basic things like the mental load of running a home, knowing we’re about to run out of loo roll, planning dinner, housework and all that mundane stuff that is on a continuous loop, taking up more of our cache than we probably realise.

The River Ribble and short drive away — The River Ribble, a short drive away

I begin to notice my muscles are perpetually tense, my head is crowded, my mind races and I start to feel generally a bit ‘off’. I used to power through and ignore those feelings (and then inevitably burn out), but I’ve learned to identify, honour and soothe them.

The Accommodation

Inside, the shepherd’s huts are beautiful and really warm and cosy. The decor was harmonious and the little ensuite bathroom was fab too. The double bed is actually a double bunk bed, making them a versatile option for small/young families.

The view from my shepherd's hut — The view from my shepherd’s hut

It is worth noting that inside, whilst there is a bathroom with a decent shower, there’s no cooking facilities. A kettle and mugs for tea and coffee making is however provided.

In a rare feat of impressive forward planning, when I booked my glamping accommodation I also pre-booked my Sunday morning breakfast online, timing it to coincide with the glamping hut checkout time.

I tend to veer between extremely organised and doing things weeks in advance to the polar opposite, and this break was a great example of my increasingly chaotic way of existing.

@campingwithstyle Come work me on my solo weekend glamping staycation at @samlesburyhall staying in a cute, cosy little shepherds hut in the Ribble Valley. The weekend was all about rest and I got through an entire book in one day. Goal achieved 📙😁 #staycation #getaway #glamping #glampinglifestyle #gosolo #shepherdhut #solotravel #weekendbreak #lancashire #travel #coolplacestostay #campingwithstyle ♬ Sunshine – WIRA

Food & Drink

There’s seating outside as well as a firepit and you can buy a fab little s’more kit too, and whilst the weather was particularly dull and drizzly during my stay, the cafe proved to be a valuable asset.

In the summer, cooking over the fire pit and dining al fresco becomes a possibility (be sure to take your own plates, cutlery etc.) but in the depths of winter, self-catering isn’t really possible. However, right on site, there’s the rather wonderful Heritage Cafe.

Away from Samlesbury Hall there’s a lovely little foodhall, cafe and restaurant a 5 minute drive away at Huntleys Farm Shop. Having visited there previously I knew exactly what I wanted from the cafe, and their mochas are among the best I’ve ever tasted. Shout out for their Jammie Dodger blondies too!

The cafe is open from around 8.30am until 3.30pm at the weekend and I found it ideal for breakfast and I also dined there before I checked in on arrival.

The service was friendly and efficient and the food was well priced and very good quality, with a decent veggie breakfast and great coffee . On the day I arrived I had a late lunch of ‘posh’ fishfinger sandwich and a glass of wine which was a lovely way to ease into my short break.

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The Verdict

The well-equipped, comfortable and cosy shepherds huts are set within a little glamping hamlet, thoughtfully landscaped and ideal for everyone, from solo guests like me to families and even small groups.

The history tour of Samlesbury Hall was fascinating and the on-site Heritage Cafe is excellent. There’s plenty to do in the local area, from swimming in the river Ribble to walks up Pendle Hill so I can thoroughly recommend a stay at Samlesbury Hall Hamlets.

Reasons to Visit

Beautiful, comfortable ensuite accommodation
Fabulous on-site dining at the Heritage Cafe and Dotties Wafflery
It’s a lovely area with lots of great outdoorsy things to do
The grounds of the hall are really pretty and well maintained

DISCLOSURE | This trip was self-funded and is not a brand collaboration and we were not paid to write this review.

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Shell Robshaw-Bryan

Editor & Owner at Camping with Style

Shell loves all things travel and outdoors and is a nature-loving, comfy-camping kinda girl. Shell started the Camping with Style blog after a serious snowboarding accident which left her with a broken back. Despite this she used the outdoors and healing power of nature to aid her recovery and she continues to spend time outdoors whenever she can.

From open water swimming, snowboarding and kayaking to hill walks and meditation, Shell shares her travels and microadventures here on the blog and in various publications she's written for, Shell has a particular interest in promoting wellbeing and the many benefits of nature therapy.

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