TOP 5 ‘BATHE WITH A VIEW’ STAYS
Bathe with a the view - hot tubs, baths and showers where you can soak up the outdoors.
As its stress awareness month, there’s nothing better to de-stress than embracing the outdoors. To do this we love the idea of a relaxing bath but in the fresh air. Here’s some of our favourite most scenic hot tubs, baths, double baths and outdoor showers. So lie back, relax and enjoy.
Humble Bee, Devon
This might be a human-sized beehive, but there’s no colony of guests, just the two of you. Sip champagne as the steam from the outdoor bath drifts up the rock walls that make the Humble Bee such a hidden spot or fold back the various doorways and let the woodland flow in. Moving between the landings inside, you’ll find thick furs, a day-bed for lounging and on the top floor, a king-size bed that appears suspended in the ceiling. The light from the honeycomb feature wall and heater flickering off reclaimed crates, barrel strapping and rich, dark wood give the hive a sultry, honeyed glow.
The Woodsman's Treehouse, Dorset.
Even people dreaming up a treehouse might stop short before they created something like Woodsman’s. A hot tub on the deck? A spiral staircase that leads onto the roof, where the sauna is? A slide?! At some point, it starts to seem unrealistic, but it’s all right there in the woods of Dorset. As well as the magical touches (did we mention the outdoor shower and the hammock?) there’s a simple, superb quality throughout Woodsman’s. The kitchen is fully-equipped, the leather armchairs, central wood-burner and massive bed make it impossible not to relax, and just in case you were running out of bathing options, there’s a giant copper bath as well.
Maylies, Northumberland,.
It’s hard to choose Maylies’ outstanding feature, but debating it is a lovely problem to have for a few days. There’s the innovative design, with a glazed divide between the master bedroom hut and the kitchen/ lounge, the modern en suite bathroom and the way the second double bed slides smoothly down from the wall over the dining table. There’s the love and thought that’s gone into every inch of the finish, from the gleaming copper worktop around the gas hobs, to the linens, sheepskins and the details you can’t even see, like the wool insulation that keeps the hut cosy all year round. But let’s face it, there’s a bit of a trump card outside. It’s not the benches and the firebowl where you can wrap up in blankets and watch the sparks spiral into the night, it’s that huge outdoor bath. Bathing in the fresh air is a wonderfully relaxing indulgence and gives you, through the steam, a unique view of another standout feature of Maylies - it’s location.
Pinkfoot, Lincolnshire.
The safari lodge in an unspoilt lake landscape is a perfect retreat from the city and a complete escape into nature. The wood and canvas home has everything you’ll need - electric hobs, a log burning stove, a big king-size bed and two singles in another room - and a few other things that you’ll just love. The cool cabin bed is a cosy little nest of its own, and the big egg-shaped bathtub and the seating out on the deck are lovely places to unwind. You needn’t limit your access to the views though, as the whole front wall folds back to make the lake the backdrop to breakfasts around the farmhouse table, long soaks in the tub, or just the moment you wake up in the peace of the countryside.
The Old Piggery, Devon.
The medieval residents of Windout Farm would have been no strangers to outdoor facilities, but it’s unlikely that they would have imagined anything like this. The deck, screened for privacy, has lovely hillside views but, as well as a table and chairs, there are a giant pair of rolltop baths for you to enjoy them from!
Although the beams and dimpled walls of the Piggery are fairly traditional materials, a pleasantly quirky spirit is maintained inside as well on the bathing deck. Soft wood colours in the fully-equipped kitchen, shower room and living space suggest a subtle and thoughtful modernisation of the ancient building.
