Old Orchard Shepherd's Hut
Quiet, Peaceful, Private
Our hand built Shepherds Hut nestles above the Old Orchard with views across the valley.
Blossom in spring, long grass humming with bees in summer and always a cosy fire to keep you warm.
Your Stay
Situated in a wild corner of our old orchard and surrounded by 170 acres of regenerative and organic farmland, the Shepherd's hut makes for a relaxing and peaceful getaway.
Whatever the weather, enjoy the sound of rain upon the wriggly tin roof, open the wooden stable doors facing the setting sun, or cosy up with the wood-burner and take in the hill views through the lead and glass windows.
With availability from February through to November, a stay at the Shepherd's Hut is a lovely place to reconnect with the natural world.
Children of all ages are welcome but we ask that you don't bring pets (with the exception of support and guide dogs).
Facilities
Simply and beautifully furnished with a cosy double bed, table and chairs, armchair, bedside and pendant lights and a candle lantern. To ensure you're comfortable there's a hand-painted trunk containing supplies for all your needs, including books, games, blankets, hot water bottles and spare bulbs/candles.
Nestled into the corner of the hut is a wood burning stove, including a starter box of kindling, eco-firelighters and sustainably sourced wood; further supplies are also available from our shop.
Outside there is an up-cycled fire pit for cooking , and a picnic bench where you can enjoy knockout sunsets with your evening meal. There is also a fully equipped shed kitchen, fitted with a double ring gas burner, small fridge, toaster, kettle and a table and chairs.
The bathroom hut has an electric shower and a compost loo, and towels are provided.
Things To Do
Upon your arrival you will find a visitor book, which includes a selection of maps and a booklet of local recommendations; including pubs, cafes and special beauty spots to visit.
After you've settled in, you may wish to familiar yourself with
the farm by walking our farm trail which meanders through
livestock pastures, herbal leys, bluebell woodland and an old railway cutting which is magnificently wild and jungly.
If you fancy getting out and about, West Town Farm makes a great base to explore the rest of Devon; walks on Dartmoor, local swimming spots or exploring the South Hams coast.
Within close proximity, you may like to venture into the city; pre-dating the arrival of the Romans in AD 50, Exeter’s history is rich and long.
Or to make a special request for your stay, please contact us directly at hello@westtownfarm.co.uk
Please take some time to read out Terms & Conditions, including our cancellation policy, before booking your stay.
Frequently Asked Questions
We know the drill, you have some questions and want to know exactly what to expect when you stay with us in the Old Orchard Shepherd's Hut,. Well don't worry, we've got you covered with answers to all of our most commonly asked questions. If you have a question not answered below just pop us an email and we'll do our best to get back to you as soon as possible.
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Can I arrival before 3pm?Whilst you won't be able to check-in to the Shepherd's Hut before 3pm, you are more than welcome to park in our general car park to explore the local village of Ide or have a stroll around our farm trail.
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Is there room for more than two of us?Whilst most of our guests are individuals looking for a quiet retreat or couples taking a romantic break, we have also hosted families with small children. The hut itself is quite snug, however, there is room for a single travelcot or air mattress on the floor. Alternatively, the Shepherd's Hut can make a great base for groups of friends, with room to pitch a tent to the side of the Shepherd's Hut. The option to add a tent pitch is available for £15/night when you checkout.
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Can you supply a cot or additional bedding?We are not able to supply a cot or additional bedding. However, we are always happy to remove furniture from the Shepherd's Hut before you arrive to make room for a travel cot. Please let us know via email if this is something you would like to arrange.
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Do you supply towels and bedding?We supply bedding, blankets and towels for two people. If there are more than two guests in your party we ask that you please provide your own bedding and towels for them.
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What's in the kitchen?The Shepherd's Hut kitchen is small but functional, with everthing you should need for a short stay. It includes a small fridge, two-ring gas hob, kettle and toaster, and the cupboards are stocked with pots, pans, crockery, and a selection of utensils. If you fancy something a little different, there's also an option for some al fresco cooking on the grill and fire pit directly outside the Shepherd's Hut. We're more than happy for our guests to move the kitchen table and chairs outside to enjoy those long summer evenings.
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Is firewood for the log burner and fire pit included?A substantial supply of firewood, kindling and eco firelighters are provided in the log store outside the Shepherd's Hut. Additional bags of wood can be purchased from our self-service farmshop.
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What do you stock in your farmshop?Our self-service farmshop is small but kitted out with all of the basics you need to get by. We store a wide selection of our frozen meat, along with local milk, eggs, bread, veg and other sweets and treats. You can find more information on what we stock here.
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How do I get to the Old Orchard Shepherd's Hut?From the M5, continue to junction 31, coming off onto the A30 towards Bodmin and Oakhampton. Using the sliproad off of the A30 towards Exeter/A377, take the first exit at the roundabout onto Ide Lane. After approximately half a mile, turn left onto Fore Street and into the village of Ide. Continue along Fore Street and Ide High Street, going uphill (south) to the mini roundabout. Take the second exit to the right and follow the green signs half a mile along this road. Drive past the general car park and farm yard (both on your left), until you reach a sharp bend right in the road, with a lane traveling left through the farm. Turn left onto this lane and follow the red signs to the Shepherd's Hut.
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I don't have a car, can I get there by public transport?The farm's close proximity to Exeter city centre means there are a couple of options to get to us without a car. If you travel in by train, you can then either catch a taxi to the farm (around £15) or make your way to stand 40 on Sidwell Street to catch the 360 bus into Ide (check the times before you leave though!). If you're feeling fit and dont have many bags, you could even walk from the station! The walk takes around an hour and ten minutes and can be lovely on a sunny day.
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Is it going to be really muddy on the farm?This entirely depend on the weather and the time of year that you're visiting. There's a woodchip path between the Shepherd's Hut, kitchen and bathroom, so there's no need to panic if you don't own wellies. Perhaps just leave your best suede shoes at home for this one...
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Can you recommend some good taxis for going out and about?We suggest booking a taxi in advance if you can, particularly if you're looking to travel on the weekend evenings. There's a few different taxi services in Exeter, however we always recommend Need-A-Cab as they're reliable and know the farm well so won't get lost! Please note, you may want to walk down to the farm yard for pick up to avoid some confused taxi drivers...
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Is the Shepherd's Hut accessible to guests with limited mobility or wheelchair users?The Shepherd's Hut is located at the top of hill, looking down over the old orchard. There is a steep slope down from the main lane. Whilst we do our best to keep this area covered in woodchip, it can become slippery in wet weather. The area outside the Shepherd's Hut is mainly grass, with a woodchip path running from the Shepherd's Hut to the Kitchen and Bathroom. There are three steps up to the Shepherd's Hut, two steps up to the Bathroom, and a raised threshold into the Kitchen. All three structures have wooden floors.
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Can I bring my assistance dog?Guide dogs, support dogs and assistant dogs are all very welcome in the Shepherd's Hut, please get in touch with us and we will allow your dog to stay free of charge. We do ask, however, that you let us know if you are bringing an assistant dog so that we can ensure an extra thorough clean for our subsequent guests. Please note, there may be livestock in the adjacent fields/orchard.
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Do you have a fridge where I can store my medication?Yes, there is a small fridge located within the Shepherd's Hut Kitchen.
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Where do you recommend for eating out?The village of Ide has some great pubs just a short walk away, all with their own individual atmospheres: The Huntsman - a traditional dog-friendly pub with fires, local ales and home-cooked food. The Twisted Oak - a family friendly pub with a fantastic beer garden and play area. The Poachers Inn - a relaxed local pub with a fantastic selection of ales and spirits. Alternatively, if you fancy something different, Exeter city center is only a short taxi ride away and boasts a range of independant restaurants, as well as all your favourite chains.
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Where are the best beaches?A subjective question of course, but we recommend checking out Exmouth, Dawlish and Blackpool Sands, all just a short drive away. If you're looking to try your hand at surfing and other watersports though, we'd recommend the journey up to North Devon!
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Any good walk recommendations?Lucky for the hikers among you, we're just a short drive away from Dartmoor National Park, one of the UK's best walking spots (if we may say so ourselves - and we do!). If you don't fancy getting in the car though, there are plenty of local routes and public footpaths for you to explore. The village of Ide even has it's own website dedicated to circular walks in the area. If you don't want to stray to far, we also have our farm trail which you can pick up from the lane outside the Shepherd's Hut or the Campsite.
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Need distractions for the kids (or for the adults who act like kids)?Explore the rich history of the city through Exeter's Underground Passages or immerse yourself in world-class exhibition's at the Royal Albert Memorial Museum. Alternatively, head down to Exeter Quayside for a whole host of activities, including tenpin bowling, climbing and bike and kayak hire.