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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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...

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...

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.

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.

Yes, there is a small fridge located within the Shepherd's Hut Kitchen.

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.

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!

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.

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.