We are Phil and Amanda, your hosts at Tor View Shepherds Huts. Together with our family we live here, high up on the Mendip hills on a small former farm which has been passed down through three generations. This part of Somerset is located within an area of natural beauty, and we would love to share it with you.

Before I started this venture, I spent most of career in various sales roles, and then moved into the telecommunication industry as mobile phones became a requirement for the masses. I finally left it in 2017 when I sold my telecommunication company, semi-retiring to focus on my glamping venture and aiming to work a bit less and travel more. As it turns out I don’t seem to be working any less, but my travel adventures have certainly increased!

Our journey to creating our shepherds’ huts experience has been quite long, and I’m not quite sure how I found a passion for them. Back in 2006, long before shepherds’ huts became a fashionable household name, I had the great idea to offer them as luxury ensuite holiday accommodation.

To cut a long story short, after a significant amount of planning and paperwork but far less budget, planning permission or help (most people thought I was little crazy, including my family), construction finally started in 2012. Len’s Hut was built in-situ by my builder and I, then a few years later we added Ted’s Hut.

Whichever you choose you can expect a great getaway location with en-suite facilities, a comfy double bed, central heating, and not forgetting your own exclusive wood fired hot tub and a wood-fired firepit with stunning views.

We set out to create an unique 5-star experience, without the 5-star price tag experience, where everyone can enjoy the stunning views towards Glastonbury Tor and beyond. We must have done something right as we have featured in George Clarke’s TV show, on BBC Radio Somerset, and have also featured in many travel publications. We have also been delighted to receive numerous accreditations and awards, most recently the Visit England Rose Award 2022 (we still retain gold awards from Visit England).

We’re often asked where the names Len and Ted originate. Len is named after my late grandfather who farmed the fields here in the early 1900s, whilst Ted is named after the Somerset dialect ‘Ted’ which means to turn the hay so that it dries evenly into the perfect hay.

We have been welcoming guests old and new for over 10 years now, we want to make sure that you have a great experience and reassure you of your booking. So, we promise you the following: we will provide excellent customer service, we will always try and go the extra mile, if you come and stay with us, we will do our very best to make sure that you have a great experience. If you want something and we can help, we will. If you have any problems, we will do our best to address them promptly.

We think the result was worth all the effort and we hope you agree. We cannot wait to welcome you to Tor View Shepherds Huts.

Hope to see you soon.

Phil & Mandy

Always take the time to hunt out the experts and speak with those who are generous enough to share their expertise in the industry. Especially when they have been working within it for so many years. This is why I was happy to welcome Phil Russell from Tor View Shepherds Huts in Somerset onto the show.

In this episode, Phil shares his insights into the industry and the typical glamping guest. He also talks about the thing that surprises him the most about some guests that stay with him. Having been in business for 10 years now, he discusses the top things that have led to his success and how his determination was key. He also talks about maintaining his team and how he has built it to support him where he needs it most. Phil finally shares what he would do first if he was starting from scratch again and how having a seasonal lifestyle business really works with his personal passion to travel.