8 Of The Best Shepherd's Hut Stays In Dorset
Built to be durable and cosy, and stand up to the weather, shepherd’s huts are fab choices for holidaymakers. And today’s options aren’t the simple living spaces of the past – the most luxurious include extra features like hot tubs, kingsize beds and firepits.
Whether you want to explore natural attractions like Durdle Door, check out the atmospheric ruins of Corfe Castle or just relax near the Jurassic Coast, this postcard-pretty county is packed with things to do. Here are eight of the best shepherd’s huts stays in Dorset.
Dewflock Farm
A working farm with family-friendly activities
Don’t drive? No problem – less than 10 minutes’ walk from bus stops and bike routes, Dewflock Farm makes a brilliant base for exploring the Dorset coast by public transport. But if you do have a car, there’s even more to see. Dorchester’s museums are five minutes away, while sandy beaches like Weymouth take 15 minutes to reach. Explore further by adding on a stay at one of Dorset’s top beachside campsites.
As Dewflock is a working farm, there are chances to get involved in the daily lamb-feeding sessions in season. If your young campers are more into activities than animals, they can get busy with games of football and table tennis.
Our favourite shepherd’s hut to stay at here is The Copse, which sits in a secluded patch of woodland with a private hammock, firepit and eco-toilet.
Book a shepherd’s hut at Dewflock Farm
The Gaggle of Geese
Pub grub and glorious views
Gather your own flock together for a getaway at the Gaggle of Geese, a family-friendly pub campsite with a scenic beer garden. Live music – Gaggle Gigs – plus comedy nights and quizzes are regularly held here. In the summer months, the staff fire up an outdoor pizza oven and barbecue shack so you can choose between alfresco eats or order one of the homemade pub meals.
The dog-friendly site is spread across five acres of fields and an orchard full of oak trees, birdsong and wild hedgerows. It’s in Buckland Newton, a teeny village in the Dorset Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, so pretty country walks and gorgeous views are all around.
Stay at a Gaggle of Geese shepherd’s hut
Hobby Farm
Adults-only relaxation and scenic walks
Whichever of the shepherd’s huts you choose at Hobby Farm, all come with kingsize beds for a decent night’s snooze and coffee makers so you can take in the lush views over the park with a morning cuppa.
It’s a good choice for keen walkers – there are trails through the surrounding Dorset Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, including paths leading all the way to the sea (around an hour and a quarter’s walk). If you fancy going further, pair a stay here with a walking trip on the South West Coast Path.
Hole up at a Hobby Farm shepherd’s hut
Lower Wraxall Farmhouse
Perfect seclusion
Lower Wraxall Farmhouse only has one shepherd’s hut, so it’s best to book well in advance. The site is a working farm, but the accommodation is in a private garden for extra peace. A stream runs gently along one side of the garden, attracting wildlife you can watch from the outdoor seating on your porch. But perhaps the best bit? There’s also an open-air bath. As the night draws in, gaze up to see a starry sky as string lights twinkle into life around you.
Get away from it all at Lower Wraxall Farmhouse
North End Farm
Relax in pastoral bliss (or paraglide…)
Set in a pretty orchard with views over green hills, North End Farm is certainly easy on the eye. Wake up with a splash in your private outdoor shower before strolling down to the nearby lake where wide lily pads float on the calm surface. Or wander along woodland paths around nature-rich Langdon Hill, part of the gorgeous Golden Cap walking area.
Not quite enough adrenaline for you? Owner Eddie also runs a paragliding company, where you can glide over the local landscape and look down on the coast from up high in tandem with a certified instructor.
Enjoy the views at North End Farm
Park Farm
A 1920s hut overlooking grazing pastures
After an authentic shepherd’s hut experience? Park Farm is the real deal. This hut dates back to the 1920s and looks out over fields where sheep and horses graze. On a clear day, you can see all the way to the Isle of Wight from the spacious outdoor decking, which includes a covered gas-fired barbecue. Inside, you’ll stay warm next to the logburning stove. The hut’s interior has also been refurbished over the years to include creature comforts like a handy kitchenette and shower room.
Wilksworth Caravan Park
Cosy hut at a park with plenty to do
If you like to keep up a bit of a fitness regime during your break, Wilksworth Caravan Park could well be the place for you – this well-equipped park near Wimborne has its own outdoor pool for summer swims, and gives you access to an indoor pool and a gym at its nearby sister park. The phrase 'well-equipped' also applies to the shepherd's hut, which has its own ensuite bathroom, mini kitchen, barbecue and woodburning stove.
Stay in a shepherd's hut at Wilksworth Caravan Park
Back of Beyond Touring, Camping and Glamping Park
30 acres of wildlife heaven, plus free fishing
Back of Beyond flows over 30 acres of wildlife-rich woodland, lakes, rivers and heathland. A shepherd’s hut is just one of the accommodation options available here; others include comfy glamping pods, a lodge and a yurt.
There’s loads to do, from exploring woodland walking trails to fishing for free in the park’s rivers and lakes (you’ll need to pick up a licence on arrival). Get more people involved with a game of boules or a round on the nine-hole pitch-and-putt course. And the park’s facilities deserve a mention too: including deliciously hot power showers, a lending library and a launderette – all of which are free and open 24 hours a day.
Book a break at the Back of Beyond
Looking for a trip to remember? Check out our list of the best unusual places to stay in Dorset.