There is something deeply comforting about the English countryside on film. Perhaps it is the villages gathered around ancient churches, the handsome pubs glowing softly in the evening light, or the rolling hills that somehow make even the most dramatic murder mystery feel strangely civilised. Whatever the secret is, The Sheep Detectives captures it perfectly, and it is impossible to watch without wanting to experience those landscapes for yourself.
The wonderful thing is that you absolutely can.
The villages, hills, pubs, and country estates that appear throughout the film are all very real, scattered across Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, and Hertfordshire, and they are every bit as atmospheric once you arrive in person. In fact, there is an argument that they are even lovelier without the cameras, because you can properly slow down and enjoy them at the pace the countryside deserves.
One of the great joys of this particular part of England is how easy it is to reach from London. Within a relatively short drive, the city disappears and is replaced by winding country lanes, grazing sheep, ancient woodland, and villages that seem to belong to another era entirely. Yet if you really want to immerse yourself in the feeling of the film and properly settle into the rhythm of the countryside, then staying at one of our favourite hotels, Hartwell House Hotel & Spa, is the perfect way to do it.
Perfectly positioned between many of the film’s most beautiful locations, Hartwell allows you to explore Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, and Hertfordshire with ease, while giving you somewhere genuinely special to return to each evening. The house itself feels exactly like the sort of place that belongs in a countryside mystery. Grand staircases, drawing rooms filled with antiques, sweeping gardens, and the quiet confidence of a hotel that understands luxury does not need to shout.
What makes Hartwell especially memorable, though, is the feeling it creates after a day spent exploring. You wake rested in wonderfully comfortable beds, spend the day meandering through villages and countryside, and then return as the evening light softens across the grounds. Perhaps there is time for the spa before dinner, or a cocktail in the drawing room while recounting the day’s discoveries. Dinner itself feels indulgent in the best possible way, full of warmth and comfort rather than unnecessary formality, and by the end of the evening you find yourself already looking forward to the next day’s adventure.
From Hartwell, the journey naturally begins in Buckinghamshire, where some of the film’s most memorable scenes were shot. The Chiltern Hills roll gently across the landscape, all wooded valleys, open fields, and villages tucked quietly into the folds of the countryside. It is not dramatic scenery in an obvious sense, but rather the kind of beauty that gradually draws you in the longer you spend there.
Then there is Hambleden, which may well be one of the most wonderfully familiar villages in England. Flint cottages line narrow lanes, ivy curls around old brick walls, and the entire place feels as though very little has changed for generations. It is easy to see why filmmakers continue to return here, because every corner already feels cinematic before a single camera arrives.
Even if you had never seen the film, Hambleden would still deserve a visit simply because it is such a pleasure to spend time there. The village has that rare quality of feeling both beautiful and entirely authentic at the same time, without ever slipping into feeling overly polished or staged.
A good lunch at The Stag and Huntsman is almost compulsory while you are here. The pub has appeared in everything from Midsomer Murders to Agatha Christie adaptations, but its real charm lies in the atmosphere. Low beams, open fires, excellent food, and the kind of relaxed hospitality that encourages you to stay longer than planned. It is the sort of pub where muddy boots and good wine coexist very happily together.
As the journey continues into Oxfordshire, visitors often realise how much more there is to the county than simply Oxford, although Oxford itself remains every bit as extraordinary as people hope it will be. Wandering through its colleges and narrow lanes feels faintly surreal at times, as though centuries of history are quietly layered on top of one another.
Beyond the city, though, the countryside opens beautifully. Blenheim Palace rises from the landscape with extraordinary grandeur, while nearby vineyards now produce some of England’s finest sparkling wines. Many visitors are surprised by quite how good English wine has become, but once you stand among the vines looking out across the Oxfordshire hills with a glass in hand, it suddenly makes perfect sense.
Nearby, Bletchley Park offers another fascinating layer to the journey, revealing stories of wartime intelligence and human ingenuity hidden behind the walls of an otherwise peaceful country estate.
Then there is Hertfordshire, which brings its own elegance and charm to the experience. The countryside here feels slightly grander in places, filled with historic estates, broad green landscapes, and towns that seem to balance sophistication and warmth effortlessly.
Adding St Albans into your journey is particularly rewarding. Roman ruins sit alongside medieval streets, independent cafés spill onto old market squares, and the entire city feels lively without ever losing its historic character. It is the sort of place where you arrive intending to spend an hour and somehow remain all afternoon.
What makes this journey so enjoyable is that it never feels rushed. The pleasure comes from allowing time for detours, long lunches, and unexpected discoveries. A village you had never planned to stop in. A church hidden at the end of a lane. A vineyard tasting that turns into an entire afternoon.
Yes, there is huge fun in following in Hugh Jackman’s footsteps and recognising the landscapes from the film, but somewhere along the way the experience becomes about something much more meaningful than simply visiting filming locations.
It becomes about experiencing the English countryside properly, at its most welcoming, atmospheric, and quietly beautiful.