Weekending: Oakhill Ponds

Weekend escapes with a swimming opportunity – this month Ella Foote heads to Oakhill Ponds, Somerset, for a cool dip in an ancient pond surrounded by autumn leaves

We arrived in the dark, but that just added to the mystery and magic of the place. Soaked in history and heritage, Oakhill Ponds sits on the fringes of the Mendip Hills and offers an escape with land to wander, gardens to discover, waterfalls, an ancient grotto and a stunning swimming pond. If that wasn’t enough there is a range of cosy accommodation on offer depending on the season and your sense of adventure. From glamping bell tents in summer, cosy shepherd’s huts year-round to a more traditional cottage, you can experience an on- or off-grid stay. Oakhill Ponds sits on a slice of land at the edge of a quiet village, but nearby there is an abundance of places to visit for a longer stay – like Glastonbury, Bath and Frome – but equally this is a place to escape everything and reconnect with the natural world.

The accommodation

We stayed in ‘Annie’, one of the beautiful shepherd’s huts. The stunning and cosy design is tucked into the landscape and offers the most restful space. Despite the compact size, there is a king-size bed, hot-shower and well-equipped kitchen. I had one of the best night’s sleep in our hut. The bed was insanely comfortable and, in the morning, it folds away making space for a dining room set up. The wood burning stove ensured we were warm and there are solar-powered electrical points for charging small items and light. As well as all this there is a wood-fired hot tub that sits beside the hut for a wild soak out in the elements. We woke late, enjoyed a dip in the nearby pond before returning to the hut to make breakfast and warm next to the fire. It was utter heaven!

The swimming

The ponds at Oakhill are spring-fed and cool as a result. Despite mild weather we enjoyed single-digit temperatures in early November. If you love your cold water, you will love swimming here. The ponds were once part of a very successful brewery; there are two of them, one reserved for swimming and another for the wildlife. The swimming pond is deliciously deep, with clear-spring water to swim through. Surrounded by trees, we were lucky to be able to swim through fallen golden leaves. If you are staying at Oakhill, the ponds are free to use as you wish, so long as you respect the risk and environment. On Friday evenings and weekend mornings there is a swim club, which if you are local, you can join as a member and you get to use the ponds to swim year-round. There is also a converted horse-box sauna for up to four people to use, a spa-tent with seating and changing space as well as a cold-spring fed shower and hot shower. You can book to use the sauna and swim, even if you are not staying. Nearby there is Vobster Quay and Farleigh & District Swimming Club for more swimming opportunities.

The food

The kitchen in our hut was well thought-out and brilliantly equipped. We were able to cook and enjoy food while we stayed in the hut each morning. There are lots of local farm shops to buy supplies. In the evening we walked to the local pub. The Oakhill Inn is just a five-minute walk away and as well as being convenient the food is also really good! Homemade pies, local meat and produce all deliciously put together. It was perfect. They also had an extensive gin collection, too!

Best of the rest

There is so much on offer at Oakhill you won’t be disappointed. We loved the creativity and imagination behind the whole site. The converted horse-box lorry that is now a writing room and library is dreamy! The swimming, the beautiful landscape, gardens and accommodation is all offered from the heart with much thought from owners Amanda and Rob. We are already thinking about our next visit.

Our fav thing

The swimming pond a short walk away from a wood-fired private hot tub adjacent to our cosy hut. The whole location is magical and there was so much more to explore than we had time for. It is the kind of place you want to experience and enjoy in every season, it will always be a bit different.

With thanks Amanda and Rob at Oakhill Ponds. Find out more by visiting their website and check out their Instagram @oakhill_ponds