Esme’s Escape
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- Vintage-styled shepherd's hut in the village of Haselbury Plucknett
- Jurassic Coast and Fleet Air Arm Museum within a half-hour drive
- Ensuite bathroom, wood-fired hot tub and pizza oven included
A nostalgic glamping stay inspired by a 1940s love story – doesn’t that just sound like a very fabulous thing? That’s what you’ll get at Esme’s Escape, in the Somerset village of Haselbury Plucknett (about 10 minutes’ drive from Crewkerne).
This place is named after a young lady who came to the village as a 19-year-old land girl in 1943 after joining the Women’s Land Army to help with the war effort. There she fell in love with local boy Fred and set about building a family home at this property, where they stayed until their dying days.
When the current owners moved in 12 years ago they were keen to keep the spirit of Esme and Fred alive through this 1940s-styled hut, which even has pictures of the devoted couple themselves (donated by the family).
The decor is likely to make you feel like you’ve stepped back in time, but the hut is actually full of modern luxuries including a comfy bed, an ensuite shower and a kitchen corner with coffee maker and induction hob. Outside, there’s a private garden area with a wood-fired hot tub and a wood-fired pizza oven, along with a chiminea to help you keep warm on an evening of stargazing (which is usually excellent around here, as the village has no street lighting).
A lot of effort has gone into the luxury element of this hut: guests can expect fluffy towels, fresh flowers, a freshly baked welcome cake, marshmallows for toasting, and locally sourced ingredients for your first morning’s breakfast. Dinner is likely to be pretty tasty too: the local pub is listed in the Michelin guide, and it’s only five minutes’ walk away…
Site type
1 Open now
The campground only allows dogs up to 15kg.- Guests under the age of 18 are not allowed on site.
- Bookings must not be for more than 7 consecutive nights.
- Discount cards and gift vouchers cannot be applied to bookings made via Pitchup.com.
- If making a fire, the fuel, logs and coal have to be purchased on site.
- No naked flames are allowed inside the hired accommodation units.
Languages spoken
English
Open from Thu, 27 Feb to
Adults only
Wifi at the unit/site
Reviews
No reviews yet.
Features
Dogs allowed
Adults only
Campfires allowed
Leisure on site
Bar or club house Covered terrace area Cycle hire Evening entertainment Fishing Fitness centre Games room Hot tub Indoor swimming pool Kids' club On-site restaurant/cafe Outdoor swimming pool Play area TV room Take away Tennis WatersportsAmenities on site
Bath available Car parking by site/unit Composting toilet Dog park Drying room Food shop Free wifi Ice pack freezing Internet access Laundry Parent & baby washroom Pick-up from public transport Picnic table Portable toilet Pub toilets Public telephone Shower available Toilet block Washing-up area WifiGroups welcome
Family friendly Motorcycle friendly Single-sex groups welcome Student groups welcomeRules
Adults only Barbecue provided Barbecues allowed Campfires allowed Commercial vehicles allowed Dogs allowed Dogs allowed all yearThemes
Luxury PeacefulUtilities
Charging facilities Dump point Electric car charging point(s) Gas cylinders available Recycling available Renewable energyNearby amenities
Bar nearby Dog walk nearbyType
Tiny (1-10 sites)Nearby leisure
Canoeing/kayaking nearby Cycling nearby Golf nearby Indoor pool nearby Restaurant nearby Sailing nearby Watersports nearbyLocation
Esme’s Escape
Winterburn House
Church Lane
Haselbury Plucknett
Crewkerne
Somerset
England
TA18 7RE
Directions Timezone
Europe/London +0100 (GMT+01:00)
GPS
50.89491°N
-2.75322°W
Route directions
If approaching the village from the west, sometimes sat navs will direct you down a neighbour's drive. To avoid this, continue on the road until you reach the crossroads at the centre of the village. From there turn left, then after around 150m (opposite the red telephone box) turn left again into Church Lane. Esme’s Escape is clearly signposted opposite the church.
Nearest transport
Coach10.3 km Yeovil Bus Station
17.6 km Greenhill
17.8 km Coldharbour
Rail3 km Crewkerne Rail Station
10.4 km Yeovil Junction Rail Station
11.3 km Yeovil Pen Mill Rail Station
Ferry32.3 km Bridgwater Ferry Terminal
38.4 km Weymouth Ferry Terminal
AirportPlease note: All distances on this page are calculated "as the crow flies" - please check actual distance depending on your mode of travel using the Get directions button above.
Local attractions
This is a good base for a varied break, as it’s within easy reach of both the Somerset Levels and the Jurassic Coast, and just outside the Dorset National Landscape. There are plenty of walks to follow nearby, or you could visit places like Forde Abbey and Gardens (20 minutes’ drive), Montacute House (20 minutes) and the Lytes Cary estate (25 minutes).
For something a bit different, maybe you’d like to meet the big birds at Sharandys Birds of Prey (25 minutes), visit Europe’s largest naval aviation museum at Fleet Air Arm Museum (25 minutes) or keep the vintage vibe going with the vehicles at Haynes Motor Museum (half an hour).
Getting down to the coast is a great idea, as well – perhaps to the soaring cliffs of West Bay (half an hour), the fossil-hunting hotspot of Charmouth (35 minutes) or the cute town of Lyme Regis (40 minutes) for fishing and RIB boat trips. The sandy beach in Weymouth (50 minutes) is a popular pick, too.
Water quality at nearby bathing waters
| Name | Distance | Type | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seatown | 19.9 km | Sea | N/A | Excellent | Excellent | Excellent |
| Eypemouth | 20 km | Sea | N/A | Excellent | Excellent | Excellent |
| West Bay (West) | 20.5 km | Sea | N/A | Excellent | Excellent | Excellent |
| Charmouth West | 20.9 km | Sea | N/A | Excellent | Excellent | Good |
| Hive | 22.2 km | Sea | N/A | Excellent | Excellent | Excellent |
Data source: European Environment Agency
Must see
Montacute House 6.9 km
Mapperton House & Gardens 11.7 km
Fleet Air Arm Museum 15.6 km
Haynes International Motor Museum 21.2 km
Clarks Village 26 km
National Trust
Montacute House 6.8 km
Tintinhull Garden 9.3 km
Barrington Court 10.6 km
Priest's House 14.6 km
Lytes Cary Manor 16.7 km
Cycle routes
Find local routes on the National Cycle Network - over 12,000 miles of cycling routes.
Other
HINTON HOUSE 6 km
Montacute - Ham Hill - Norton sub Hamdon - Montacute 6.5 km
BRYMPTON D'EVERCY 6.7 km
MONTACUTE HOUSE 6.7 km
WAYFORD MANOR 7.8 km
Local events
- Dorset County Show (Saturday, 6 September 2025 – Saturday, 6 September 2025)
Dorchester, England 30 km
- Glastonbury Festival (Wednesday, 25 June 2025 – Wednesday, 25 June 2025)
Glastonbury, England 31.7 km
Please note: All distances on this page are calculated "as the crow flies" - please check actual distance depending on your mode of travel using the Get directions button above.
Policies
Booking terms and conditions
Payment terms
Offers
Conditions apply - see pitch type section for details
Nearest sites
Unfortunately, we have no nearby bookable sites.
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Frequently asked questions
- Does Esme’s Escape have a swimming pool? No View all features
- Is Esme’s Escape dog friendly? Yes View all features
- What attractions are near Esme’s Escape? This is a good base for a varied break, as it’s within easy reach of both the Somerset Levels and the Jurassic Coast, and just outside the Dorset National Landscape. There are … Read more
- When can I check in and check out of Esme’s Escape?
Read moreOn-site accommodation Arrive: 4 p.m. – 9 p.m. Depart by: 11 a.m. - How much does it cost to stay at Esme’s Escape? From $533.39 (for 2 nights, 2 adults) - prices may change depending on your dates and party.