The shepherd's huts at The Shearer’s Retreat are appropriately situated on a 100-acre sheep farm near Llandeilo, not far from the western edge of the Brecon Beacons. And while these little boltholes for two are rustic and outdoorsy to some degree, any shearer looking for a place to shelter from the elements would likely be wowed by what’s inside. Tea, coffee, fresh milk, and a treat on the table make it look like the fairies have been. Plus, there’s a comfortable made-up bed, a log burner, and an en-suite shower and loo. One of them even has an outdoor bath. With all these home comforts on offer, you’ll be pleased to hear these huts are not just reserved for shearers but are available for glampers like me and you too.
Each hut stands in its own field on the farm offering views of the Welsh countryside. Inside, each is a cosy living space with a bedroom and a bathroom. The original hut, The Shearer's, is the most simple and the most cosy. It has lights but no electricity and its cooking facilities are outside under a simple shelter. Over at Musterer's Hut, there's more space: enough for soft seating, a longer bed and a kitchenette inside. It has solar power that allows a fridge—and it's the one with the outdoor bath. Whichever hut you stay in, you are off grid although a portable power station allows you to charge phones and devices if you want to. But you may want to forget all about those and head outside where there's a fire pit and outdoor seating, designed to help you enjoy what are simply outstanding views.
When the weather is good, they are truly far reaching. Walk to the handily placed bench at the top of the field for the full panorama. From here you can see into Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons) National Park. The closest peaks are the Carmarthen Fans and somewhere way off in the distance you might even spot, Pen-y-Fan, the highest mountain in South Wales. You can see the National Botanic Gardens of Wales and Carreg Cennen Castle too; all places you might want to visit. Also in that category is Llandeilo, of course, it’s only four miles away. And while you may feel like you’re in the middle of nowhere here, you’re actually only two miles from the A40, which can take you all the way to the beautiful beaches of Pembrokeshire in under an hour.
Just two miles down the road from The Shearer’s Retreat are Aberglasney Gardens, 10 acres of gardens and woodlands that are open to the public. And for anyone interested in horticulture, the National Botanic Garden of Wales are also well worth a visit (nine miles away). The pretty riverside town of Llandeilo is just four miles from site, the National Trust’s Dinefwr Estate is five miles and the dramatically situated Carreg Cennen Castle is eight miles away. It’s perched on a limestone crag inside Bannau Brycheinog (Brecon Beacons) National Park which stretches west from here. The park offers plenty of opportunities for walking, hiking, climbing and other adventurous activities. If you want to visit some of the beautiful Welsh coast, there are plenty of places within an hour’s drive of the site; Saundersfoot in Pembrokeshire, for example for a sandy beach, Laugharne for a coastal walk and associations with Dylan Thomas.
Louisa, your host at The Shearer’s Retreat, provides everything you need for a welcome cup of tea or coffee on arrival and, if the farm’s hens are laying, a couple of fresh eggs too. You can also hire a pizza oven as an extra – which comes with dough and tomato sauce so you can just take along any extra toppings you like. For a meal out in the evening The Cawdor in Llandeilo (four miles) or The Plough in Rhosmaen (five miles) are recommended. Llandeilo also has plenty of options for coffee and brunches including Diod, Flows, The Warehouse Cafe and Pitchfork and Provision, all of which also have deli-style artisan offerings for picnics and cooking back on site. Llandeilo also has a Co-op and Spar for other groceries.
