COMPLIMENTARY NIGHT GIFTED | At the beginning of 2019, my boyfriend and I said we’d like to do more smaller UK breaks throughout the year. One a month if possible. I can’t speak for him but I absolutely love a staycation. The UK has so many wonderful things to offer and I want to explore as much of it as I can. With that in mind, I hopped onto Twitter one day and saw the West Stow Pods account, a company in Suffolk who offer glamping experiences in their sweet little woodland in West Stow.
Being a Lord of the Rings fan, I was instantly drawn to Pod Hollow – their halfling inspired subterranean dwelling (as they call it) – a cottage based off of the Hobbit homes you’ll find in the Shire. Upon emailing the owners at West Stow Pods, we were kindly offered one night of our stay free, in exchange for this review.
The pod itself was, well, spectacular is the only word to accurately describe it. They did an absolutely incredibly job with making it look authentic, old-worldly but also cosy and charming at the same time. It sleeps 4, has 2 bedrooms, a sitting area with a TV, a huge kitchen and a lovely bathroom with a walk-in shower. With plenty of The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit inspired nick-nacks scattered around that any fan will really appreciate.
We were only at the pod for 2 days, so we didn’t actually go out anywhere (although there are plenty of lovely woodland walks and things to do and see in the surrounding areas!) instead opting for a relaxing few days, a The Lord of the Rings marathon and good food! We also had some fun with the Gandalf get-up and Hobbit feet which were hanging by the front door!
There was also something very special in the woodlands, a stones throw from the pod, which although not Lord of the Rings related, was probably my favourite thing I saw whilst I was there. There’s a special Scots pine tree there, which is named Peter Pan’s Roots. This magical looking tree has roots growing up and out of the ground, leaving a magical maze-like feature underneath.
And not only that, in the 1890’s, J.M Barrie, author of Peter Pan, was visiting the headmistress of the schoolhouse on site (which is still there now and where the owners of West Stow Pods live!) and on his journey, he came across this magical tree and inspired him to include an illustration of it in the very first edition of Peter Pan.
It felt magical to be standing where J.M Barrie once stood, looking up at the same tree. The man who is behind my favourite film, behind my tattoo, behind my email address and blog name and one of the most magical stories ever told. So I couldn’t help but mark that moment with some photos, my favourite story and the boy behind it all…
We had an absolutely lovely time at West Stow Pods, it’s a cute, quaint and quiet place with plenty of accommodation options and things to do and see. The owners were incredibly lovely and welcoming, everything in the pod worked perfectly and I honestly don’t have a single complaint. It was something a bit different and being in the gorgeous Hobbit house literally made me forget about everything for a few days!
Are you a Lord of the Rings fan? If so, would you like to stay here?
* One night of our stay was complimentary in exchange for this review. Everything else was fully paid for by us and all thoughts and opinions are my own.
[…] my blog before, including my press visit to The Ferry House Inn, a Lord of the Rings adventure at West Stow Pods and the Severn Valley Railway Steam Gala among others. But today I want to share some staycation […]
Oh this looks amazing! I’ve been quite the LOTR fan because of my father. Just rewatched the LOTR films actually last week/
They’re just so good!
[…] to go on two breaks this month, the first one being to Pod Hollow, a Hobbit inspired pod in Suffolk. I did a full blog post about that trip here because I was very kindly offered one night free in exchange for a review. It was an outstanding […]
We’ve already decided that we’re going here for a teeny blogger staycation so yayyyy! xDD
Daisy xoxo | TheDeeWhoLived
Haha we totally should! 😌
Love this! I’ve been excited to read it since I saw your pics on IG and Twitter, this looks so delightful and I’m glad you had a great time. 🙂
Sarah x
Thank you! 😌
I’m not a Lord of the Rings fan but I’m totally up for a few days buried in nature.
Staycations are my favorite! I absolutely love the LOTR vibes to this place. Glad you had a good stay!
☼ cabin twenty-four
Thank you 😌 Staycations are great!
This looks incredible. I’m glad you two had a good time. 🙂
I can only imagine your thoughts when you first found out J M Barry had used that beautiful tree for inspiration. I imagine it was one of those true wow moments. xoxo
It really was a wow moment!
😮 This place looks amazing Jenny! I’m a big fan of the LOTR books and movies and will have to make a trip to Suffolk at somepoint just to stay here.
You’d absolutely love it!
This is the perfect place to go when you are in need of a little break and I am 100% going to go at some point! I can’t get over how realistic it looks, I am getting excited just looking at the pictures. I would love to come hear for a LOTR film sesh and snacks with my boyfriend, although that TV is looking a little bit too small for my liking!!(Used to bigger TVs). So glad you had the best time!! xx
The TV was a bit small I agree but it was manageable. You can pull it forward 😌
Oh my gosh, this place looks incredible! I would love to stay there, and I would most probably do the same as you and have a Lord of the Rings Marathon, this is definitely something I’m going to look into!! <3
Chloe xx
http://www.chloechats.com
Thank you 😌
Oh my gosh this place looks so lovely and cosy! I absolutely love LOTR and my favourite childhood book was the Hobbit, so I’d love to go here one day!
Awh really! I’m yet to watch The Hobbit films! Going to make a point of it soon!
OMG this looks flipping amazing! What fun! x
It sure was 😌
I’m not even a Lord Of The Rings fan but this place looks so magical and lovely!
What?!?!
Oh my goodness what a magical post! I would love to go there, it sounds like the perfect retreat and a place to hide away from reality. I love the history with the tree as well – I never knew that. Amazing post!
It really was a perfect little getaway!
This place looks so cute! I’d love to stay here. I think it’s so awesome that you got to see that tree. Isn’t it amazing how long trees can live? It’s so cool that you could know for sure you stood in the same spot as JM Barrie. That’s seriously awesome!
Thank you! It’s seriously amazing 😌
It literally looks like you had the best time, my husband would love something like this!
Love, Amie ❤
The Curvaceous Vegan
We sure did!
Omg this looks amazing!! What a great idea. I really need to watch the films.
http://littlemissmelanie.com
You should – they’re amazing!
*WOULD I*?!?! Yes I would!!! This looks amazing! So magical inside and out! I might just have to get here some time this year. 🙂 So cute!
You should! Would highly recommend!
This place looks so amazing! I’d love to stay there (heck, I wish my house looked like it!) Such a big Lord of the Rings fan (The Hobbit was my favourite book when I was a kid!)
Haha! You’d absolutely love it then!
This looks like a dream. Thank you for showing it to us. I am going to check it out and book it for a weekend getaway.
I’m so pleased! Let me know if you do 😌
What an incredible stay! The place is so so cozy and lovely, and those hats , and the tree! That’s amazing, perfect for Halloween too! Can you imagine it? haha so cool
xx Dasynka
http://dasynka.com
If you wanna go as Gandalf for Halloween, absolutely 😂
Oh wow this place looks so cosy & charming! Super lucky that you got to do this. I also love a good staycation xxx
Thank you 😌 Me too, staycations are great!
OmG, it’s so beautiful there! I would love to spend a weekend there!
It would be so nice….
And btw, I adore this post, and your pics! 🙂
Thank you so much 😌
Jenny oh my goodness, I actually got goosebumps reading this! I LOVE how you got to see the try that’s the inspiration behind your favourite author and so many things that are important to you! The little pod where you stayed is also gorgeous and if I wasn’t out of weekends before we go travelling, I’d have definitely booked a night or two there, especially since I’ve now seen LOTR! Beautiful photos as well, lovely! xxx
Oooh you watched them then?! What did you think?! 😌 Maybe save this for when you get back!
OMG! it’s like being a hobbit! all Lord of the rings fan would love this place! the inside of the house is so cute! i have been to hobbiton in New Zealand, and it was jut as cute!
Wow you’re so lucky, I’d love to go there!
This looks incredible! I would love to spend a night there 😀
Thank you 😌 it sure was incredible!
It looks like an amazing place to stay x
http://www.ofbeautyandnothingness.co.uk
It sure was x
Wow, this looks like an amazing place to stay! Lovely photos too.
Coralle x
Thank you x
Oh wow, that place is just magical! I would love to stay there. Your photos really capture the quaintness of it. Also, love that tree too, bet it just stunning during the summer months! 😀
Sarah 🌺 || Boxnip
Thank you! It really is quaint and just gorgeous xxx
This place looks incredible! Perfect for a night away where you can just get cosy and watch films. Me and my husband love staycations too, a night away can be so exciting, it doesn’t have to be for long or far away, it’s still exciting! xx
Tiffany x http://www.foodandotherloves.co.uk
Totally agree! My boyfriend and I are off to Shropshire tomorrow just for the weekend and it’s just nice to get away for a few days and away from the norm! I definitely don’t need anywhere exotic to have a nice time 😌
Oh wow what an interesting looking place xx
Sure was, look so similar to the films.
I was soooooo excited to read this review after seeing some of your sneak peek photos. I’m a HUGE LOTR fan so this would be right up my street. Those Hobbit slippers are hilarious 🙂 And the location looks gorgeous, all those trees, the walks would be wonderful. How amazing about that tree as well. Did you know about it before you went? Honestly, Jenny, I know you loved Brooklands, but this staycation sounds absolutely idyllic, I’m so glad you had such a fab time, you completely deserve it 🙂 xx
Lisa | http://www.lisasnotebook.com
Thank you! I’m so glad we rewatched all the films, it definitely ignited my love for it again! I only knew about the tree from the West Stow Pods website! It’s such an idyllic place and there’s an Anglio Saxon village just up the road. It’s a really unique little holiday, would highly recommend! 💖
This is so CUTE. I’ve always (despite not being a huge LOTR fan) wanted to stay in a Hobbit house because I’m such a country bumpkin at heart, and they always look so gorgeous, nestled away in the woods. I love how this is decorated, and how precious that it’s close to a tree that inspired JM Barrie!
It’s super cute! Very quirky and a really good option for a relaxing getaway 😌
Oh my gosh, these pictures are so beautiful. I’ve been really looking forward to reading this blog post darling after I saw that you were there on your instagram page. It sounds like you both had a fab time lovely, I had no idea that we had magical places like this in the UK. Thank you for sharing – I’m going to check out more about them! 🌸💜
With love, Alisha Valerie x | http://www.alishavalerie.com
Thank you so much! It really was magical.
This looks amazing!! I think the little touches make such a big difference. So I liked the LoTR touches in the cabin!! And I love going away to woods and somewhere peaceful– it just feels great!!
I am glad you had a nice time and enjoyed watching the lord of the rings!! I love Samwise Gamgee!!
It’s definitely a place that Lord of the Rings fans will appreciate much more! 😌
Oh my gosh it sounds AMAZING. I love staycations and especially when I stay somewhere quirky. Pod Hollow looks so cosy, I think I’d probably just spend my time inside too haha.
That tree looks magical.
Also you look freaking adorable and I am in love with your shoes.
I love quirky places too and this was DEFINITELY quirky haha! Thank you so much!
This is incredible!! I’m a big Lord of the Rings fan, I want to go to New Zealand one day but I never knew there was something like this in the UK. Looks so cosy and authentic! I love the props too, they look like great fun. The J.M Barrie story is so cool as well, it’s like the place was made for you haha! I really want to go on more UK trips too so I’ll definitely keep this in mind.
I’d love to visit New Zealand too. But this is definitely the next best thing if you’re looking for Hobbiton! It’s super cosy 😌
Oh my! If I’m ever lucky enough to make it to the UK, I would absolutely love to visit this place. It looks like such a fun, relaxing adventure!
It sure was! If you ever find yourself here, hit me up!