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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Shepherds Hut

163 replies

Tigger83 · 21/08/2023 14:47

We're thinking of setting up a shepherds hut as an air bnb next to our house, it won't have views but will have a hot tub and a beautiful enclosed sun trap courtyard garden. There are walks to open countryside all around us and we live in a beautiful village with a lovely pub. We're an hour from London and 30mins from Cambridge.... would you rent a shepherds hut with beautiful garden, fairly lights, hot tub but no view....

OP posts:
Aprilx · 21/08/2023 15:59

Tigger83 · 21/08/2023 15:18

Not in the back garden, to the side of our detached house, would have own entrance and be private. Our hope would be eventually to buy some more land and expand into a more open site but that's not feasible atm.

I'm hoping we could make enough after tax for one of us to drop a day or 2 at work to be more available for our children....

I have stayed in a Sheherd’s hut in Devon, two nights with husband and one dog. It was on a farm though and at the top of the hill, we also had use of an open but covered eating area with picnic table and a barbecue. We had to walk to the farmhouse to use the bathroom and it was a fair walk.

Your lack of view and description of it being beside your house, makes me think no, this is not a shepherds hut I would book. (Not that I would anyway because it sounds like you live within a few miles of me 🙂).

WhateverMate · 21/08/2023 16:00

How have I got to the ripe old age of 54 having never heard of a Shepherds hut? Confused Blush

I've just looked on Google images and they're a fancy shed, which I wasn't expecting.

Some look quite nice but I'm not sure I'd pay much to stay in one. I think I'd prefer a caravan.

Valerie23 · 21/08/2023 16:06

A few years ago my daughter and her then boyfriend stayed for a short break in a glamping pod and I took them and brought them home.

They had a fantastic time mainly because there were miniature ponies in the grounds.

Could you get a few of them in the garden as a selling point?!

Shepherds Hut
SpamFrittersYouSay · 21/08/2023 16:12

Nature lovers, birdwatchers ramblers etc... would probably love to stay at your hut as they'd probably be out and about all day anyway and just need somewhere to bed down at the end of the day.

Ads in country/nature type magazines would garner a fair bit of attention and would sort of filter out the more raucous or easily disappointed folk who complain at the first opportunity.

Original poster
Tigger83 · 21/08/2023 16:14

I think that's what I was thinking, people wanting somewhere as a nice base to go out and explore the countryside/London/Cambridge/pretty villages etc

OP posts:
asterdaisy · 21/08/2023 16:18

Loulou599 · 21/08/2023 15:04

To me a shepherd's hut is a basic form of lodging i would stay in in the wilderness to be close to nature, enjoying amazing views and simple living.

What you seem to be proposing is a garden shed in a commuter town?

I totally agree with this. If I want to be in a commuter town by countryside I would rent a cottage.
Shepherds huts are a step up from a tent and ones I have seen that appealed have amazing views in places where you would not get permission to build another cottage.
I do not buy the fun argument, but maybe I am not the right market then.

BeReet · 21/08/2023 16:19

I'd prefer a pod to a shepherds hut but I absolutely wouldn't stay anywhere that allowed dogs. I always filter any holiday search to those properties which state no dogs allowed.

tattygrl · 21/08/2023 16:26

What about food and cooking facilities?

Original poster
Tigger83 · 21/08/2023 16:26

It's 100% not a town it is a small village

OP posts:
Original poster
Tigger83 · 21/08/2023 16:27

There would be a small cooker and fridge freezer. As well as a microwave, coffee maker etc

OP posts:
SliceOfCakeCupOfTea · 21/08/2023 16:29

Make sure you have an outside cooking area as well! Maybe a firepit/bbq type thing? We stayed somewhere once that had a little outside bar area next to the firepit with a mini fridge inside so it was lovely to sit by the fire in the evening, cook food and make drinks without being in your bedroom

Marwoodsbigbreak · 21/08/2023 16:29

Definitely not. The chavvy sex pond would put me off for a start.

asterdaisy · 21/08/2023 16:32

Tigger83 · 21/08/2023 16:14

I think that's what I was thinking, people wanting somewhere as a nice base to go out and explore the countryside/London/Cambridge/pretty villages etc

I am your market then. We always go out all day exploring and walking. But why would someone choose a shepherds hut with no views over other accommodation? I am not criticising, just saying you need to look at the competition and ask what do you offer that they don't.
For example a room in a b and b was often our choice before children. We chose this because a cooked breakfast before a day of exploring and walking was a lovely start to the day and we always had a pub meal, so didn't care about cooking facilities.

SliceOfCakeCupOfTea · 21/08/2023 16:32

Marwoodsbigbreak · 21/08/2023 16:29

Definitely not. The chavvy sex pond would put me off for a start.

How is a hot tub 'Chavvy'?

asterdaisy · 21/08/2023 16:33

I agree that a fire pit and bbq facilities will make it more appealing.
And hot tubs are attractive to most people

asterdaisy · 21/08/2023 16:35

@SliceOfCakeCupOfTea because working class people have them in their gardens. Dutchtubs where you have to heat them by firewood are acceptable because no one who has to do this regularly themselves is daft enough to get one for their garden.

Sssudio · 21/08/2023 16:35

have stayed in several, tbh the views and openness are for me what makes it, I wouldn't like being boxed in at all. And wouldn't want a hot tub either (space and a fire pit though)

5128gap · 21/08/2023 16:35

Only if I specifically wanted to visit your area and the cost was competitive when compared with accommodation with facilities.
If I was looking for the shepherds hut/glamping experience I'd choose somewhere with a view.
However if you price it right you'll get takers if you're close to popular attractions or the sea.

SpamFrittersYouSay · 21/08/2023 16:39

I wouldn't bother with a hot tub , given that you say that there aren't views.

They're costly and that cost, with the ensuing maintenance would eat into your profits.

A fire pit and a simple barbecue would suffice with maybe a pretty covered outdoors seating area with a few large/dramatic plants to soften the area that could offer even more privacy.

SliceOfCakeCupOfTea · 21/08/2023 16:40

asterdaisy · 21/08/2023 16:35

@SliceOfCakeCupOfTea because working class people have them in their gardens. Dutchtubs where you have to heat them by firewood are acceptable because no one who has to do this regularly themselves is daft enough to get one for their garden.

I mean, that's just not true is it.

Some working class people have them in their gardens. Some middle class people have them in their gardens.

Regardless of who has what in their garden, you tend to go and stay in lodges/huts etc to escape the every day. So visiting one with a hot tub when you don't have one at home can make it novel and fun. It doesn't morph you into a 'chav'.

iamjustlurking · 21/08/2023 16:41

Yes totally. Have done and would do again as long as has bathroom facilities in, a fridge and not too close to your property.

We like to use them as bases to explore local area as per your intention. As long as priced well and clean we only really use accommodation to sleep in. Wouldn't use hot tub though, although appreciate others enjoy them.

NettleTea · 21/08/2023 16:41

we run a glamping site on my PILs farm

shepherds huts and even those pod things are too small and quite claustrophobic

Cabins are all the rage now, thats whats popular. And our yurt is still pretty busy. but a right faff to clean/maintain, which is why we are switching gradually over to cabins.

If you are saying you are going to have a bathroom, then a cabin is your best option because for the price of a shephers hut that includes a bathroom, you could build a real swank cabin, especially if you know a friend in the trade.

You will definately need planning permission though, because it is self contained accommodation, and be aware that that is likely to attract business rates - you may be eligible for small business discount though. Either that or council tax. Buying more land and expanding may be harder, because will likely be a change of use, and they will see it as a step towards residential. Be aware that your neighbours are almost certainly going to object, and likely to petition against it - people dont like change.

NettleTea · 21/08/2023 16:42

and forget the hottub. In a small space people are likely to stay a short time, so the constant need to clean is going to be a right ballache

NettleTea · 21/08/2023 16:43

Fire pit 100% and a covered area to cook / sit outside

Original poster
Tigger83 · 21/08/2023 16:48

@NettleTea what sort of cabin do you mean? Thanks for your thoughts!!

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