The last time we visited the lovely Surrey village of Hambledon, my daughter was just over a year old and not yet walking – so returning to review The Merry Harriers, with a stay in their family wing, and a llama walk could hardly have been more of a contrast.
review stay*
Tucked away in the Surrey Hills, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, it’s a gorgeous part of the countryside that often gets overlooked if you’re trying to escape the city.
And having stayed at a couple of sister properties (including Dittisham Hideaway and The Beachcroft Hotel), I was looking forward to checking out the special family wing at the historic Merry Harriers pub, which dates back to the 16th century, as well as the chance for a llama walk in Surrey.
The Merry Harriers, Surrey: Vital statistics
Set in the village of Hambledon, Surrey, The Merry Harriers is around 15 minutes from Godalming, just south of Guildford.
The historic Inn was taken over by the Peter de Savary group in 2017 and renovated, so as well as rooms within the old pub building itself, there are garden rooms by the pub garden behind (including a llama view room), and shepherd’s huts in another field across the road by the car park.
To read more about what it’s like staying in the Shepherd huts, check out this review from Otis & Us
Two of the Inn rooms connect together to form the ‘family wing’ – which is what we were reviewing. Joined by a small hallway, and with their own internal locking doors as well as the external door, it gives families private area sleeping up to five.
The Merry Harriers is also home to a herd of llamas – all male, including two babies – who live in the fields beyond the pub garden and garden rooms. And there are various packages, including an overnight or two-night stay, which include the chance to walk with these fabulous creatures.
There are llama-free walking trails right on the doorstep of the pub as well.
It’s also a great base to explore Surrey with kids, including beautiful Winkworth Arboretum, only a few minutes away, as well as Petworth, which is less than half an hour’s drive from The Merry Harriers just across the county border in Sussex. It’s also an hour from Gatwick if you’re planning to fly from the airport.
Family wing at The Merry Harriers, Surrey: review
Walking into The Merry Harriers on a Friday night, it’s an instant reminder that the village pub has often been the heart of the community over the centuries.
Packed with cheerful groups, including families, all celebrating the start of the weekend, we had a brief moment of wondering whether we should be trying to check in elsewhere before the friendly staff picked up our keys from behind the bar, before leading us up the stairs to the appealingly crooked corridors and our pair of rooms.
The Family Wing rooms
Set on the floor above the bar itself, the Family Wing rooms are two of only a few within the main building, tucked away in their own semi-private corner behind their own door.
With one double and one twin room (which has space for another rollaway bed or you can request a travel cot), it’s a nice alternative to having everyone squeezed into one room – as anyone who’s sat very quietly in a darkened hotel room waiting for their kids to sleep will appreciate.
Heading up the couple of steps to the twin room – complete with low beamed doorway, which my daughter sailed through without needing to duck – my 10-year-old was delighted to discover that she’d landed the bigger of the two rooms.
Especially as she didn’t have to share it with anyone and could spread her teddies, books and clothes far and wide.
Overlooking the garden, it’s appealingly bright with colourful blankets on the bed, a hanging rail and chest of drawers (if you don’t take my daughter’s approach to clothes storage), plus two chairs and a little table.
There’s a TV in each room, as well as WiFi (we did have some issues connecting to the public network, but got access to another one during the stay) although she was more excited to discover the Penguin biscuits on the tray with the tea and coffee, as well as the mini hot water bottles.
On a chilly autumn weekend, it was also toasty warm – to the extent that we ended up turning the heating down slightly the next day
Each of the two rooms has its own en-suite, and again, my daughter’s was slightly bigger with its own shower – neither has a bath – and lovely toiletries.
Having wedged her door open with one of the handy and quirky doorstops, we headed over to explore the second room.
It’s worth pointing out that the doors to the rooms themselves are fire doors and so are heavy enough to swing shut. My petite 10-year-old had no problem opening hers (or ours the next morning) but if you are travelling with younger kids, they might struggle with the weight.
While our room was smaller, I definitely didn’t feel short-changed. With more minimalist decor, all muted soft colours, the double bed was instantly inviting – if unexpectedly high – with plenty of squashy pillows.
As well as the tea and coffee tray, plus an eclectic pile of books, mostly of which I instantly wanted to read, there’s one stool in the shape of a champagne cork, tucked under a huge barometer.
This room is directly over the bar, so while the noise didn’t disturb us, it’s worth being aware if you have any light sleepers.
The storage and bathroom are cleverly hidden away: one pair of doors opened to reveal a suitcase stand and hanging drawers with rail, the second to unveil the bathroom, which was compact but not cramped. The rain shower was deliciously powerful too.
The only drawback was not having anywhere in the room to sit together as a family – the two comfy armchairs in my daughter’s room were lovely, but there were only two.
The pub garden & restaurant
You can, of course, relax downstairs in the pub, including a quieter room off the main bar, or head out to the pub garden when the weather’s good.
As the sun was shining, we left the games we’d brought with us and headed down for a spot of chess, with the giant chess pieces.
There were plenty of people making the most of the autumn sunshine and eating outside too, but there’s also a restaurant attached to the bar inside.
With the names of former pub owners painted on the walls, it’s a reminder of what these walls must have seen – I did wonder what the earliest landlords might have made of the option to have smashed avocado with chilli flakes for breakfast.
If it would have taken them a bit by surprise, it was the perfect start to my day. And while a full English or the smoked salmon and scrambled eggs is always tempting, the porridge was also an unexpected winner for all three of us – especially with honey and cinnamon to add on.
There’s also a breakfast table with pastries and bread to toast, fruit compote and yoghurt plus cereal and juice. You can get dairy alternatives including oat milk as well (including for your porridge) too.
A lot of the stays also include dinner, and it’s well worth booking even if they don’t – not only because the nearest alternatives are a drive away, but also because there’s a good choice covering everything from child-friendly food to vegetarian and vegan options (and even a dog menu!)
It’s classic pub fare – steak, burgers, fish and chips, plus traditional favourites like shepherd’s pie – as well as some daily specials.
A Surrey llama walk
If you’re not already tempted to check into the Family Wing, the furry icing on the cake is a chance to meet and walk with llamas during your stay here.
Even if you’re only visiting, you can head up past the garden rooms or to the end of the pub garden to see them in their field – and chances are that at least one will lollop over to check you out in return (and investigate if you might happen to have a bucket of something tasty).
The Merry Harriers launched a new activity this year with a ‘Lunch & Llama‘ experience on Saturdays and dates during the school holiday, an hour-long session including llama colouring-in sheets.
But even better is the chance to go on a llama trek – suitable for kids aged eight and above. Walking in pairs, you can take turns in leading the llama or just enjoying their company, and it also meant that my daughter got to watch before deciding to take over the leading rein herself (and could give it back for the downhill section on the return).
And if you’re thinking, well that sounds nice enough but why not just go for a walk? Just five minutes with Mungo will change your mind.
Mungo was ‘our’ llama for the two hour trek and it’s no exaggeration to say we were all completely smitten.
Each llama very definitely had his own personality, including handsome Champagne, who I swear was posing for the camera showing off his fluffy fur, Goji, who loves to carry picnic baskets and naughty Lorenzo, who kept settling down for a bit of a rest at every opportunity.
Mungo, meanwhile, was supremely chilled out, plodding along peacefully at our side, stopping only to efficiently strip a mouthful of leaves off part of the undergrowth or briefly detouring to have a nice scratch in a holly bush.
After a few days of rain, I was glad I’d packed my hiking boots (or do bring wellies) but he contentedly ambled through puddles while we clambered across little raised bridges and good-naturedly left even the most tempting leaves after some gentle encouragement.
The walk takes you through woodland, over the common and up to some wonderful views of the Surrey Hills, with a chance to ask lots of questions and find out more about the llamas, their behaviour and life along the way.
We even stopped at a sand pit at one point for the llamas to lie down and have a roll for a spot of dust bathing. Although evidently it wasn’t a good day for it: the whole group stood there politely staring at us until we carried on walking again.
It’s fantastic for kids too: the llamas are very affectionate, laid-back creatures, whose buck teeth means it often looks like they’re enjoying themselves hugely, and love having their incredibly soft fur stroked.
All those tales of llamas spitting? Well, they are true – but you’ll get at least a few warning grumbles first if you accidentally do something to irritate them. Even one llama poking his nose between the legs of the llama in front only got a snort of displeasure.
One word of warning: a llama loo break can go on for a while! After one of our group of five llamas decided a particular patch of trees would make the perfect toilet, the others stood calmly watching before each in turn came to the conclusion that actually, yes this was a great idea.
The two hours went past far too quickly, and suddenly we were back in the field again having to say goodbye.
Surrey’s Merry Harriers with kids: verdict
Weeks on, we’re still talking about Mungo – quite honestly, if you get the chance to walk with llamas anywhere, seize it! But if you can pick your llama and your location, a stay at the Merry Harriers with kids is fantastic.
As laid-back as the llamas were, having the interconnecting rooms was a definitely treat, and one not usually to be found in a historic pub like this.
With all the essentials, and quite a few lovely extras – from the little touches like the artwork in the rooms and vintagey tins of coffee and tea to the great breakfast and outdoor chess – it’s ideal for a lovely relaxing family weekend in Surrey.
And the various packages mean you can book everything in one go – stay, dinner, and a llama trek with a picnic (in summer, lunch at the pub when the weather isn’t so kind). There are other activities throughout the year too, such as wreath-making in the run-up to Christmas.
There are plenty of family-friendly things to do in the surrounding area to fill your weekend as well, although a llama trek should definitely be one of them – after all, what better way to encourage your kids to go for walk?
For a chilled-out family escape, this quiet corner of Surrey is very hard to beat.
Disclosure: Our stay at the Merry Harriers, Surrey, was free for the purposes of review – all opinions and llama adoration are our own.
Images copyright MummyTravels
