Weekend swim retreat: Buck’s Coppice, Dorset

This month Yvonne Turner, our Head of Brand Partnerships, enjoyed a bank holiday weekend with her husband, Ali, and children (George, 15 and Heidi, 12)

This is a special place. Hidden away in a forest, after passing through rolling Dorset fields, and sat neatly atop a small lake, Buck’s Coppice is one of a number of retreats that sit within the Canopy & Stars’ portfolio of small, perfectly formed, but endlessly endearing rental bolt holes. This one is a secret haven for wild swimmers with your own private lake.

The accommodation

The first thing to say is that this is a place of moments and has been created as such. In essence the spacious cabin is one living space which is cleverly zoned to provide an eating, living and bedroom area, separated by a curtain. The sofa bed accommodates a pull-out for the two kids. The bathroom uses a Biorock treatment system for waste processing and all the water comes from the lake.

You can tell these experiences have been designed cleverly, from the beautiful mixture of wood and glass architecture to the way the sunlight pours into every corner of the house, and to the way the outside decking sits over the water, dragging you closer into that natural environment.

The owner is a carpenter who has made the design rustic and original. He has brought the forest in with bespoke carpentry in the form of the kitchen island and bathroom panelling. Other moments the owners have added include a hammock next to the lake, another seating area to look back onto the accommodation, and a bird feeding extravaganza that brought every kind of wildlife over, regardless of the time of day. It felt like a bit of a metaphor for how this place really does bring you closer to nature. This is such a tranquil place.

It’s also worth mentioning that this could be a winter retreat, not just a summer one. The accommodation sits on the water and you’re only a few metres away from a wood burning stove and hygge-style furnishings to warm up under layers of duvets and throws.

The swimming

The lake is most definitely designed to be swum in; the water is clean, fresh and welcoming, fed by a natural spring and regularly tested by the owner. From a small island, trees dip into the water, while providing an area to swim around, and around – if one were competing against one’s family. There is also a jetty that allows for really easy access, without dredging mud or hefting yourself onto a slippery side bank.

The food

We brought food so that we could enjoy the isolation and idyllic setting in its entirety. The cabin is off-grid, so we chose an easy-to-cook menu, including jacket potatoes and s’mores. Equally there are villages close by with welcoming pubs and cafes that could fuel your stay.

Best of the rest

Our top four experiences were:

• Cooking steak frites (including cauliflower steak) in the very stylish kitchen diner, and eating them on a gorgeous wooden table overlooking the lake.
• Enjoying the stillness of the morning, while sipping coffee on the decking. Watching the sun rise – not the sunrise, we slept too deeply for that.
• Watching the last dying embers of the wood burner, at the end of the evening, and noticing the absolute tranquillity.
• Laps around the lake, but also the discovery of a small boat that the kids immediately took to. The only real quandary to us was the choice between closing gates and blocking off the outside world, or venturing into the local landscape. We chose a healthy mix; while this is a perfect size for families, the younger ones wanted adventure, so we took the chance to explore the local beach (Bridport) for a swim in the sea followed by ice cream. Still, it’s easy to imagine a couples retreat with swims, books, magazines, coffee and time, or a chance to focus on a work or writing project in a creative and natural environment, with no need to leave the cabin.

Our favourite thing

Your own private lake, in an idyllic isolated forest spot, gave us a huge feeling of being unencumbered. Buck’s Coppice gives you the gift of time and space in a quiet, natural environment.

Find out more about Buck’s Coppice at canopyandstars.co.uk