Sometimes when you go somewhere, you can tell that it is a labour of love; that lots of thought, care, and attention have gone in to make the product what it is today. This is absolutely the case for the The Hideaway Huts, celebrating their tenth anniversary this year…
Most people remember summer 2016 for some minor(!) political manoeuvring that was going on, but for Helen it meant the beginning of The Hideaway Huts. It all began when the opportunity arose to purchase the meadow that backed on to Stable Cottage, which was already being used as self-catered accommodation. Knowing that this was a location within one mile of The Sill (the Hub of Northumberland National Park), two miles walk to the iconic Vindolanda site, and only three miles from Hadrian’s Wall, Helen knew she had a gem on her hands in the Heart of Hadrian’s Wall country and had plans to make the most of that wonderful situation.
It was decided that the best option was to position a Grande Roulotte Hut on the field, looking out over the beautiful South Tyne Valley. What’s a Grande Roulotte Hut, I hear you ask? It is a self contained living space with everything you could possibly want inside – a small but perfectly functioning kitchen, a living area with television and electric fire, large double bed, and ensuite bathroom with a shower or shower-over-bath (depending on your preference), as well as an outdoor deck to sit and enjoy the beauty and the peace of the Northumberland countryside.
And so it began with the Bothy in summer 2016, followed by the Shieling in 2017, and then the Wainscot in 2021, to where it is now, with the three huts standing on the meadow welcoming lots of guests throughout the year to enjoy the peace and quiet of Stanegate. There’s also the built in wildlife pond, bird feeders, trees, and outdoor dining area; looking at what the meadow was like in early 2016, it’s amazing to see what it has been transformed into!
When guests arrive at the Hideaway Huts, apart from being struck by the overwhelming peace and quiet (at least I know I am!), they are also welcomed with a goody basket filled with homemade treats from Helen. Last time I was there it was chocolate roulade, homemade jam (my favourite is the 3R’s jam – Redcurrent, Raspberry, and Rhubarb – yum!), and scones. That was in addition to fresh orange juice in the fridge, alongside milk, tea, sugar, eggs, bacon, butter, and bread. I’ve said it before, but I think it’s great, it means that when you arrive – whether you’ve had a long drive or a short one – you don’t have to worry about going out to shop that day and getting what you need. You have enough to put together a small tea for two, and then start fresh the next day!
The venture hasn’t been without it’s challenges, of course. No project of this size possible could be. Anybody who was involved in the tourism industry braced and buckled in early 2020 when the whole of the UK went into lockdown (along with most of the rest of the world), and nobody was allowed to go anywhere. Of course, keeping as many people safe and healthy as possible was paramount, but many business owners in the tourism industry wondered how they were going to survive. At the end of the day, with an extreme cleaning routine – and the help of some anti-bacterial robots – The Hideaway Huts were certified safe to operate, and began to welcome visitors once again after some of the restrictions were lifted.
I’ve already written a long piece about how important protecting the natural world of the Hideaway Huts is to Helen, and this continues right to the present day, with the ongoing effort to make the huts (and Stable Cottage) greener and more sustainable. This has recently included changing the washing process and replacing the sponges for a more eco friendly effort. These might only be small changes, but they’re small changes that add up to make a big difference! If everyone made enough small changes, then it would make a really huge impact (it wouldn’t have to be the only thing that happened, but I’m in danger of becoming political, so let’s steer away from that topic!).
Of course there are plenty of other things to get involved with in the Hadrian’s Wall Country; including stargazing, plenty of walking, and wildlife watching. I’ve written several articles about things to get up to in the local area including diving into Roman History, to spending a day in Corbridge, which is just down the road.
And, as with any project of this quality, the work never ends – there was a full scale external refurb in Spring 2026 of the Shieling and the Bothy, with additional painting, varnishing, and landscaping all completed in the early year sunshine that we enjoyed. An external refurbishment of the newer Wainscot is scheduled for spring of 2027.
As for me, I’m heading back up to stay in the Wainscot again in a few weeks. I’m looking forward to five days of peace and quiet, and the hope that I’ll get plenty of writing done whilst I’m there. I guess we shall see!
