A hut of your own

LOVINGLY CRAFTED BLACKDOWN SHEPHERD HUTS CAN BE ANYTHING FROM A HOME OFFICE TO A GORGEOUS GARDEN RETREAT

Most of us know these charming huts as a fixture of glamping – cosier than a tent, less permanent than a house. But at Blackdown Shepherd Huts, we can build you your very own – to enjoy as a garden retreat, a wine store, an extra bedroom, studio or workspace. At the workshop near Ilminster in Somerset, a skilled team of craftsmen and women has adapted the concept of these traditional huts for modern living, adding luxurious touches, impressive designer features and an extra square metre or two.

CRAFTED WITH CARE

Take the Shepherd’s Brace Hut: this luxurious double oak hut brings twice the delight of a single hut, with room to include dedicated spaces for bathing, sleeping, cooking and lounging – all surrounded by a unique glazed walkway. Kit it out with William Holland copper bathroom fittings, a handmade kitchen with Neff appliances, and a beautiful bedroom, with stargazing roof. Or have it delivered empty. There’s even the option to self-build, for keen carpenters. Other huts in the collection include the Quercus Turnkey, hewn from oak, from the signature cladding to the steps and floor. It comes with a fold-down wall bed, oak table and storage benches, to create a space with character and home comforts in equal measure.

HUTS WITH HISTORY

Shepherd huts have been around for centuries – there’s even a depiction of one in a 16th-century illustration by Simon Marmion. The idea was to provide shepherds with basic accommodation they could wheel around to follow the flock – a bedroom, kitchen, store room, dining and living room rolled into one, made either of metal or wood, depending on what the farmer had to hand.

These days at Blackdown Shepherd Huts, quality is a priority; the company uses sustainable materials where possible, working with small local businesses and FSC-registered firms.

A skilled team of carpenters, designers and metalworkers put as much love into their craft as they do attention to detail, working closely with customers at every stage to establish their requirements and to create a hut that meets all of their expectations, from the quality of the build to the finish of the interior.