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Farmer Oaks Hut

Dippertown, Devon, England

1 acre hosted by Andrew S.

1 glamping pitch

Set among the green countryside of the rural west of Devon, Farmer Oak's Hut is a welcoming glamping site tucked away in the corner of a peaceful field. Swap your car for an old-fashioned apple cart and cart your kit over to this smart shepherd's hut for a peaceful stay in a private enclosed garden. Although the name of the hut is inspired by the protagonist of 'Far from the Madding Crowd' Gabriel Oak, this shepherd's hut in Dippertown near Tavistock and just over the border with Cornwall has a good deal more mod cons than the one in Hardy's novel (there's deliberately no TV or wifi, though – this place was designed for switching off). The hut has an en-suite shower room with your own fluffy towels and a "proper" WC, of course there's a comfy double box-bed with fairy lights and lanterns for you to create a romantic atmosphere. The signature cast iron EVERHOT stove is available for those chillier nights, and for food prep you're covered with a toaster, fridge, microwave and two-ring electric hob and the EVERHOT even has a built in oven - rare for a shepherd hut. There are also outdoor kitchen facilities, with enamel cups and plates as well as pots and pans you can use over the firepit. In the garden, a wooden table, benches and traditional deckchairs are available, and there's a covered area for shade or shelter from the rain. In the field, a short distance from the hut, there's a little store where you can buy homemade jams, chutneys, marmalade and fresh eggs; the owners also can supply you with fresh bread to order and scones for that must-have Devon cream tea. NEWS UPDATE - We now offer a weekly discount. You ca stay for up to 7 nights for discounted price of £385. To get your discount please message us for a discount code before booking online.Animal prints on the blinds, a shepherd’s hut painted on the tea tray, bird books, binoculars, maps, magazines and guidebooks. It’s all about the details behind Farmer Oak’s Hut in West Devon. From the homemade preserves and freshly baked scones, to the history book of shepherd’s huts that sits on the mantelpiece, everything here is considered. A Penguin Classics copy of Hardy’s Far From The Madding Crowd even awaits would-be readers; it’s thanks to the novel’s central character, the shepherd Gabriel Oak, that this glampsite got its name. Set in the quietest corner of the field behind Andrew and Judes home, through a young apple orchard and up a stepping-stone pathway to the top of the meadow Farmer Oak’s Hut is country life encapsulated. Sheep graze the neighbouring meadow, fledglings tweet an early chorus as they flitter between the bird boxes and a small, slate sign points the way into the nearby woods – “over the bridge and up the wooden steps, turn left at the gate”. For a timeless slice of Devonshire it seems the perfect spot. There’s even a vintage apple cart available to wheel your luggage from the car. Inside, the hut itself is a far cry from Gabriel Oak’s own “hard couch, formed of a few corn sacks” – though it retains the all-important cast iron stove, radiating warmth across the space and incorporating a small oven, rare for a shepherd hut. Theres: a compact kitchen with a sink, fridge and hobs, a built in double bed and a plush, en-suite shower room with a "proper" WC. There’s purposely no WiFi and no television; this is about getting back to nature after all. While Farmer Oak’s Hut sleeps two, we still considers this a family space. Those with children are welcome to bring a small tent to pitch alongside and there’s a host of good family attractions nearby, from the beaches around Boscastle and Bude, 40 minutes north, to National Trust estates like Cothele and Lanhydrock, 35 minutes away. Not that you need travel that far. Nearby Launceston has a magnificent 13th-century castle to explore (and is also home to the nearest tourist office where you can really get your barings), while the walkers delights of Dartmoor, Bodmin Moor and the Tamar Valley are also within easy reach. Manya has provided waterproof OS maps for you to borrow, so you can make a plan beside the campfire. Marshmallows are provided too. Naturally.

Activities

Wildlife watching

Natural features

Farm

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