The Shearers' Retreat

From £85 For 1 night, 2 adults 10 4 reviews
Space to relax outside the hut (added by manager 28 Nov 2022)
Shepherd's hut exterior (added by manager 28 nov 2022)
The musterer's hut is a great place to enjoy the big sky view. (added by manager 30 jan 2024)
Firepit (added by manager 07 mar 2022)

  • Peaceful shepherd's hut on a working sheep farm surrounded by woods
  • Wildlife haven with resident red kites soaring overhead
  • Campfires and barbecues allowed; supplies in Llandeilo 10 mins' drive
Escape with ease to a valley and river-based Carmarthenshire break at Shearer’s Retreat, a serene farm site to the west of the Brecon Beacons National Park in a setting hailed as ‘stunning’, ‘beautiful’ and ‘peaceful’ by former guests. On a working sheep farm surrounded by woodland, the retreat is a quiet but conveniently set spot for lazy holidays and Carmarthenshire sightseeing, as well as wanders through the fields to the tree-lined river of Afon Dulas flowing along the valley. Look around and up occasionally when you’re idling around on site, to see wildlife of all sorts in the surrounding fields, and buzzards and the resident red kites Kath and Kenny flitting around overhead. The glamping setup is a treat here: the shepherd's hut has a comfy double bed already made up, along with an ensuite shower, marine flush toilet, table and chairs, hot and cold running water and LED lights. Off site, there's no need for lengthy journeys whether you’re going for sightseeing or sustenance: the local pub (recommended for its food) is a couple of miles away and the independent shops, boutiques, delis, supermarket, Friday morning farmers’ market and award-winning local food suppliers of Llandeilo are a couple of miles after that. Welsh highlights of all sorts are within a short drive too, like the National Botanic Garden of Wales (the dome of which is viewable from the farm), National Trust properties, gold mines and two castles. Carmarthen is 25 minutes’ drive away.

Site type

Lodges, cabins, pods or huts 1
Open all year
Please note
  • Under 18s must be accompanied by their parents or legal guardians.
  • Commercial vehicles (vehicles used for work-related purposes, carrying goods or fare-paying passengers) and sign-written vehicles are not permitted on site.

Languages spoken

English

Pitch types & availability

Reviews

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would recommend this site to a friend

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would stay here again

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Only showing reviews for the last 30 months.

Amazing views, private, secluded cute shepherds hut

Overall 10/10
Location 10
Value for money 10
Accommodation 10
Facilities / Activities 8
Customer service 10
Child friendliness No rating
Cleanliness 10
Wifi No rating
Barbora S. The reviewer booked through Pitchup.com

The Shearer's shepherd's hut

Liked: Only stayed for one night but loved it! What a hidden gem of a glamping spot! Such a cute shepherds hut, well equipped with outdoor kitchen and fire pit, so secluded, located within amazing nature, fields, woods, streams... Only sheep around, and the lovely host only checked in if all good and we had a nice chat, then we enjoyed ourselves in total privacy. Thank you! Loved the cute touches such as providing Welsh cakes and eggs... Bed linen, towels provided, shower hot enough and good pressure ! Pretty good phone reception so didn't even need WiFi when needed to be online.

Disliked: Toilet took some time to be fully flushed at times... We brought our own mokka kettle to brew coffee on the stove, but that would be great addition to the already well equipped kitchen. Outdoor covers seating area would also be great there to hide from the rain, and extra blanket for snuggling outside would also be a good idea. But no dislikes as such, jist recommendations!

Recommend to friends Visit again

This was our first time in a Shepherds Hut and we absolutely…

Overall 10/10
Location 10
Value for money 10
Accommodation 10
Facilities / Activities 10
Customer service 10
Child friendliness No rating
Cleanliness 10
Wifi No rating
Sally W. The reviewer booked through Pitchup.com

The Shearer's shepherd's hut

Liked: This was our first time in a Shepherds Hut and we absolutely loved it. Louisa, the owner, has provided everything needed for cooking, a very comfortable bed and a surprisingly good gas powered shower and loo. There’s a wood burning stove for winter but we didn’t need to use it. The outdoor kitchen is basic with corrugated roof, a worktable and a double burner stove. The Shepherds Hut stands alone at the end of a track in a field with wonderful views. We even had eggs from Louisa’s hens. Their farmhouse is nearby so she was easy to contact when we needed an extra powerbank for our phones. That is one thing we’ll prepare for next time because we needed to use our phones for navigation and didn’t have enough storage on ours. Really recommend this lovely place if you fancy getting away from it all but also want to be within 15mins of good food and independent shops in beautiful Llandelio. A find!

Recommend to friends Visit again

Lovely setting

Overall 10/10
Location 10
Value for money 8
Accommodation 8
Facilities / Activities 8
Customer service No rating
Child friendliness 6
Cleanliness 10
Wifi 10
Anonymous The reviewer booked through Pitchup.com

The Shearer's shepherd's hut

Liked: Lovely setting in a field with fab views, nice and clean with all the basics you need

Disliked: Toilet use is just for urinating in, flush won’t take anything else. Did not have hot water.

Recommend to friends Visit again

From the manager: Thank you for taking the time to write a review. We are glad you enjoyed the hut and its location and we hope you will come stay with us again. Sorry to hear you had problems during your stay. As we live onsite, we could have, and would be more than happy to, resolve both of these issues very quickly during your stay had we known of them. The toilet is a 12v macerator toilet, set up to process both liquid and solid human waste, some corrosion on the battery connectors prevented power getting through, which is why it wasn't flushing. Water is heated by a tankless gas water heater, we have recently put in a new unit and has required some adjustment.

Excellent remote site, clean facilities, friendly site owner.

Overall 10/10
Location 10
Value for money 10
Accommodation 10
Facilities / Activities 10
Customer service 10
Child friendliness 10
Cleanliness 10
Wifi No rating
Gabriella C. The reviewer booked through Pitchup.com

The Shearer's shepherd's hut

Liked: Amazing place to get away from the hustle and bustle of life. Very remote with beautiful surroundings. Great place to sit and reflect and get back to nature. Lots of surrounding attractions within a short drive.

Recommend to friends Visit again


Features

Leisure on site

Bar or club house

Cycle hire

Evening entertainment

Fishing

Fitness centre

Games room

Indoor swimming pool

Kids' club

On-site restaurant/cafe

Outdoor swimming pool

Play area

TV room

Take away

Tennis

Watersports

Amenities on site

Bath available

Car parking by pitch/unit

Composting toilet

Disabled facilities

Dog park

Drying room

Food shop

Free wifi

Ice pack freezing

Internet access

Launderette

Parent & baby washroom

Pick-up from public transport

Portable toilet

Pub toilets

Public telephone

Shower available

Toilet block

Washing-up area

Wifi

Groups welcome

Family friendly

Motorcycle friendly

Single-sex groups welcome

Student groups welcome

Rules

Barbecue provided

Barbecues allowed

Campfires allowed

Commercial vehicles allowed

Dogs allowed

No dogs allowed

Themes

Peaceful

Remote location

Wild camping

Wildlife haven

Utilities

Charging facilities

Chemical disposal

Electric car charging point(s)

Gas cylinders available

Recycling available

Renewable energy

Nearby amenities

Bar nearby

Dog walk nearby

Nearby farmers' market

Shop nearby

Type

Farm

Tiny (1-10 pitches)

Nearby leisure

Cycling nearby

Fishing nearby

Mountain biking nearby

Restaurant nearby

Tennis nearby

Touring and motorhomes

Seasonal pitches

Location

The Shearers' Retreat

Pen Hill

Broad Oak

Carmarthen

Carmarthenshire

Wales

SA32 8QS

Directions

Timezone

Europe/London GMT (GMT+00:00)

GPS

51.90704°N
-4.07449°W

Route directions

On the A40 between Carmarthen and Llandeilo, take the turning north towards Capel Issac. Travel on up to the T-junction and turn right, always following signs to Chapel Issac. Turn left at the old chapel and after about a mile, turn down the farm track with the PenHill sign, and turn into the first gateway on the left. The shepherd's hut will be open for you, with the key inside. If approaching from Llandeilo, turn right off the A40 (just after the Cottage Inn). Follow the road on the left over the stone bridge. Take the first left and soon after, beside the old chapel take the right turn. After about a mile, turn down the farm track marked by a New Zealand flag and drive up to the white house on the right.

Nearest transport

Coach
7.8 mi Library
7.8 mi Library
10.6 mi Bus Station
Rail
4 mi Llandeilo Rail Station
4.2 mi Ffairfach Rail Station
6.7 mi Llandybie Rail Station
Ferry
21.3 mi Swansea Queens Dock Ferry Terminal
Airport
21 mi Swansea Airport

Please note: All distances on this page are calculated "as the crow flies" - please check actual distance depending on your mode of travel using the Get directions button above.

Local attractions

The farm’s river and woodland setting is within 20 minutes’ drive of several day trips to suit most tastes – perhaps to Aberglasney Gardens or the National Botanic Gardens of Wales, to the National Trust-managed traditional Carmarthenshire farmhouse at Aberdeunant, to country parks, or to two castles – Dinefwr and Carreg Cennen. Carreg Cennen Castle is just inside the Brecon Beacons National Park and has spectacular views over its western landscape: take in your fill of these then descend to investigate what’s on offer in the Beacons; trails lead from the castle further into the park. For more sedate sightseeing, the Gwili Steam Railway (30 minutes’ drive away at Bronwydd Arms Station) chuffs along a four-and-a-half-mile section of the former Carmarthen to Aberystwyth line. Heading towards the seaside, the scenic beaches of Gower and Pembrokeshire are 45 minutes’ drive away, as is the Boathouse, or Dylan Thomas Writing Shed, at Laugharne, where the writer spent the last four years of his life. It’s a cinch to get to Cardiff from here too, in about an hour and 20 minutes’ drive via the M4. Many events including musical nights, antiques fairs and family days take place throughout the year: ask the friendly and knowledgeable site team for info.

Water quality at nearby bathing waters

Name Distance Type 2020 2019 2018 2017
Pembrey 19.1 mi Sea Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent
Swansea Bay 21 mi Estuary Good Good N/A Good
Caswell Bay 23.4 mi Sea Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent
Pendine 23.4 mi Sea Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent
Langland Bay 23.6 mi Sea Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent

Data source: European Environment Agency

Must see

Aberglasney Gardens 2 mi

National Botanic Garden of Wales 5.5 mi

Carreg Cennen Castle 6.4 mi

Dolaucothi Gold Mines - National Trust 10.9 mi

National Wool Museum 16 mi

National Trust

Aberdeunant 3.7 mi

Dolaucothi Gold Mines 10.8 mi

Aberdulais Falls 20.2 mi

Rhossili Visitor Centre and Shop 25.2 mi

Cycle routes

Find local routes on the National Cycle Network - over 12,000 miles of cycling routes.

Other

B4310 - Brechfa Forest - B4310 4.3 mi

Abergorlech - Brechfa Forest - Abergorlech 5.4 mi

Carreg Cennen Castle 6.8 mi

Fan Foel - Bannau Sir Gaer - Llyn y Fan Fach 14 mi

CWM CLYDACH (CURRENT BOUNDARY FROM 29/09/1995) 14.1 mi

Please note: All distances on this page are calculated "as the crow flies" - please check actual distance depending on your mode of travel using the Get directions button above.

Want to know more about camping in Carmarthenshire?

  • Does The Shearers' Retreat have a swimming pool? No View all features
  • Is The Shearers' Retreat dog friendly? No View all features
  • What attractions are near The Shearers' Retreat? The farm’s river and woodland setting is within 20 minutes’ drive of several day trips to suit most tastes – perhaps to Aberglasney Gardens or the National Botanic Gardens of Wales, to … Read more
  • When can I check in and check out of The Shearers' Retreat?
    On-site accommodation
    Arrive:  4 p.m. –  9 p.m.
    Depart by:  11 a.m.
    Read more
  • How much does it cost to stay at The Shearers' Retreat? From £85 (for 1 night, 2 adults) - prices may change depending on your dates and party.