We don’t need science to tell us that trees can make us happier (though studies invariably tell us that they do). Just come stand among the woods at this aptly named campsite and you’ll have all the proof you need. Happy Valley is an invigorating natural space and the idea of owners Scott and Katy to built bespoke shepherd’s huts and open their woods to glampers is a welcome one. Mature oaks and beech trees climb skywards and there’s a beautiful weeping willow that swings and ripples in the breeze. It’s the numerous fir trees, though, that really give the place its character. They add greenery all year round, a wonderful woody aroma to the air and a soft bed of needles under foot. It’s what the Japanese would call ‘Shinrin-yoku’ – forest therapy – and you’ll find it goes down a treat.
Set amide the site’s mix of open spaces and denser woodland spots, the shepherd’s huts have a traditional, old-fashioned design and blend subtly into their surroundings. Inside, however, they’re still equipped for 21st-century travellers. There’s a fitted double bed, a wood-burning stove and a kitchen area with a modern cook wares, a gas hob and all the utensils you need, while a choice of books to borrow, speciality teas and freshly picked forest plants show real attention to detail.
While the eight-acre campsite features open grassy spaces, a small pond with an island and the magical woods themselves, the trees still continue outside of the site boundary, with the open landscape of Congham Heath beyond that. There are over 250 acres to explore in total, on foot or with a bike hired from Katy and Scott. The characteristic scenery is actually a common find in this part of the UK, with fir woodland planted on all the grand Norfolk estates and along the expansive beaches of Holkham and Wells, 35 minutes away. The Queen’s Sandringham Estate, for example, 10 minute’s by car, is dotted with fir trees, as well as great banks of rhododendrons in summer and daffodils in spring. Perhaps even the royals enjoy a little Shinrin-yoku every once in a while.