Shepherd's huts in Fernworthy Forest with horseback riding

Woodland walks, lakeside picnics, and Bronze Age ruins are the highlights of this Dartmoor forest.

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100% (44 reviews)

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8 top shepherd's huts sites in Fernworthy Forest with horseback riding

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The Shepherdess Hut

1 unit · Glamping15 acres · Ilfracombe, Devon, South West England
Set in a hilltop near Ilfracombe in North Devon, Fullabrook Farm Retreat is home to The Shepherdess shepherd’s hut. Based on a family-run working farm, this romantic hut is ideal for a couples’ holiday amid spectacular woodland views – plus the chance to have the place to yourselves – apart from the grazing sheep in nearby fields of course. Built from scratch by the site owners, the hut is decked out with a kingsize bed, dining and living space, plus an en-suite bathroom with a powerful, hot shower. Thoughtful extras here include robes and toiletries, plus a TV for chilling. There’s a gas oven and hob in the modern kitchenette, alongside a fridge with freezer and a stylish Belfast sink. There’s no danger of you feeling the cold on chillier evenings, as the hut has its own central heating. For those sunny evenings, the private patio has a barbecue, tables and a firepit, so you can dine outside and cosy up around the fire as the night sets in – look out for some spectacular sunsets and starry displays on clear evenings. If you can manage to drag yourselves from this lovely little spot, the local village is West Down (five minutes’ drive), which has a community-run shop for stocking up on barbecue essentials, as well as a foodie pub if you fancy a change of scenery.
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£115
 / night

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Happy farmer sitting in a truck in a grassy field
Happy farmer sitting in a truck in a grassy field

Shepherd's huts in Fernworthy Forest with horseback riding guide

Overview

Set on the banks of the Fernworthy Reservoir at the heart of the Dartmoor National Park, Fernworthy Forest has some of the NP’s most rewarding short walks. Follow the lakeside trail, enjoy bird-watching or fish for brown trout around the lake, then stop for a picnic by the lakeside. Hikers can choose from a variety of forest trails. Explore Bronze Age stone circles, follow scenic woodland walks, and spot herds of native Dartmoor ponies grazing the moors. There are no campsites at Fernworthy Forest, but wild camping is permitted—pitch your tent beneath the trees for a real back-to-nature experience.

When to go

July and August are the peak season in Dartmoor National Park, and popular spots such as Fernworthy Forest can get crowded—parking is limited, so get there early. Forest walks can be enjoyed year-round, but it’s most magical in autumn, with its canopy of fall foliage. Dartmoor weather is notoriously changeable, so pack a sweater and raincoat even in summer.

Know before you go

  • Fernworthy Forest is located north of Dartmoor National Park, about a 15-minute drive southwest of Chagford. There is a pay and display car park by the entrance to the forest.
  • Restrooms are located at the forest car park, but there are no other facilities, so bring everything you need with you. The closest village is Chagford, which has a few pubs and small shops. 
  • Trout fishing is possible on the lake between March and October, and fishing permits can be purchased on-site. 
  • Parts of the lakeside trail are accessible for wheelchairs and pushchairs.
  • Dartmoor National Park is one of the few places in the UK where wild camping is permitted. Tents must be pitched away from roads and attractions, and large group camping is not allowed. 
  • Dartmoor has free-roaming ponies, sheep, and cattle, and these animals have the right of way on moorland roads. There is a strict speed limit of 40 mph throughout. It is a fineable offense to feed any of the animals in the park, and visitors are also advised to keep a distance for their own safety—these are feral animals and may kick or bite.

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