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Whitelee Farm Shepherd Huts

100%

· Cheshire, Cheshire, England

400 acres hosted by Emma H.

2 glamping pitches

Creature comforts

Enjoy the comforts of home in nature — including real toilets, showers, and kitchen.

Romantic en-suite shepherds huts on a riverside farm in the Peak District National Park.

No matter how many times you visit the Peak District, it never ceases to amaze. Look up the word ‘epic’ in the dictionary and you might just find a dazzling landscape of the UK’s first national park – its chocolate box villages, rugged peaks, meandering rivers or innumerable idyllic valleys. Set in the heart of one such spot, Whitelee Farm is spread over 340 spectacular acres in the Dane Valley. Home to beef and dairy herds as well as a smattering of Herdwick sheep and assorted hens, this working farm can lay claim to 50 acres of enchanting ancient woodland, part of the Dane Valley Woodland Trust. Downhill from the farm, through pastureland and dry-stone-fringed fields, this tranquil scene is completed by the River Dane, a great spot for wild swimming (or paddling depending on the vagaries of the tide levels) beside the site of the old paper mill. The farm is an abuzz with flora and fauna throughout the year – bluebells in spring; wild garlic and elderflower in summer; blackberries in autumn; and wild deer rutting in their winter mating season.

Amidst this most richly varied of settings, two masterly crafted shepherds huts blend in seamlessly to their unspoiled surroundings. Both of these private huts are oak framed and oak floored throughout, befitting the ancient woodland nearby where one of the oldest oak trees in the entire national park can be found. Finished with wriggly tin and sheep’s wool insulation, these cosy self-contained huts come replete with all the comforts one could wish for. A dining and seating area, fit for four, ingeniously converts into the king-sized bed with memory foam mattress (premium bed linen supplied). An en-suite bathroom boasts a full-size power shower with instant hot water, hand basin, proper flushing toilet and heated towel rail. A fully equipped kitchenette – with gas oven, hob and fridge – includes all the kit and caboodle for cooking up a feast to enjoy on the cute mini veranda. With Whitelee’s very own farm-reared produce available for pre-order, you won’t have to go far to source the freshest of ingredients. And thoughtful extra touches like the outside log store fully stocked for the wood burner, complimentary towels and toiletries, plus basic provisions like a steady supply of tea and coffee show a considerate attention to detail.

Its peerless position on the western flank of the Peak District National Park sees Whitelee Farm border the three counties of Cheshire, Derbyshire and Staffordshire. An array of scenic walking routes emanate from Three Shires Head, with Whitelee Farm lying bang on Route 17 of the Peak District Boundary Walk. Ambles could lead you to the dramatic rock formations of Luds Church or The Roaches, or perhaps the less intrepid stroll into the postcard Peaks village of Wincle for a pint in the local. Wherever the paths take you, breathtaking views are promised.

Activities

Boating

Hiking

Horseback riding

Paddling

Natural features

Forest

River, stream, or creek

Mountainous

Field

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100%

6 Ratings · 13 reviews

Alice H.recommends

August 18, 2021

Dane Valley Shepherd Hut

Having stayed in one of the Whitelee Farm Shepard Huts for the past three nights, we want to do it all over again. Such a beautiful location to be in, and a perfect Shepard Hut, equipped with everything you need - even suggestions for local walks that did not disappoint! Thank you very much to Emma who went above and beyond to unsure our anniversary stay was very special! We will be back!!

Anna ?.

October 19, 2020

The hut is so well equipped with everything you could possibly need and the host is lovely. It was spotlessly clean. Lots of nice walks around and pubs.

Robbie ?.

March 4, 2020

I had a lovely two-night stay in one of the shepherd's huts. It was cosy and really nicely done out inside, with a really well put together kitchen and bathroom, given the size of the hut (which is, naturally, quite small). The wood-burner made it really cosy (although a bit chilly in the morning in early March!), and the location is excellent for any number of walks. Worth pointing out that it's only a small hut - as I say, this is natural, but is worth pointing out. In summer, there is lots of outside space and a lovely little deck, but with two of you in there, you would be quite on top of each other. What made the stay particularly great, for me, was the suggestions and help from the host, who made some wonderful walking recommendations. This included possible routes to the hut for me (I walked from Macclesfield Station - a substantial walk, but a good one, weather allowing) and a great suggestion of walking the Roaches and lunching in Meerbrook. The Lazy Trout was delicious, and the walks were spectacular. Emma went above and beyond!

Tracy D.recommends

October 21, 2019

Dane Valley Shepherd Hut

Starting with a great welcome from Emma who told us all we needed to know and then left us to our new home for the weekend. This is definitely worth the 5 stars, from location, to the excellent and immaculate accommodation. The king size bed with toasty duvet and marvellous mattress were amazing and so comfortable. Loved the little touches like tea, coffee and fresh milk etc. And a great little fridge for storing the wine ! Such a treat as well having our own shower and toilet, which were VERY clean along with fab M&S towels. It was a bit chilly so the log burner is a great idea and it makes cold rainy afternoons soooooo cosy, the fairy lights are a great touch too. We did walk to the Ship Inn which is at the end of the drive, gorgeous pub and the people are all so friendly. You will need the torch on the way back if its after dark as it is pitch black.....but not such a bad walk if fuelled by wine ;0) The Lazy Trout and The Ryles are also worth a visit for great food but you will need a car for these. All in all a fabulous stay and we will definitely be returning. Thanks Emma :0)

Rosaidh P.recommends

September 17, 2019

Dane Valley Shepherd Hut

The setting for this hut is lovely. Beautifully remote and with a lovely view. There are only two shepherds huts on the site, which we really appreciated as it was lovely and quiet. We also really enjoyed the area and the food at the nearby pub was amazing. Emma was a lovely host and we were made to feel very welcome. We stayed for the best part of a week and went exploring all round the Peak District. The only downside to the huts was the lack of storage space. We ended up using the cupboard space to hang our jackets (something we definitely needed in the slightly damp September weather), but this left us with no other free storage spaces. Some coat hooks would definitely help, and maybe sacrificing some of the pretty crockery to free up a bit of space for the camper's stuff. This is probably only an issue when you are staying for longer breaks though, and I wouldn't let it put you off staying at this lovely location.

Eleanor C.recommends

August 6, 2019

Hen Cloud Shepherd Hut

After deciding we weren't quite adventurous enough to have a long weekend under canvas, we searched around for glamping options and came across the Hen Cloud shepherd hut at Whitelee Farm - and I'm so pleased we did. The hut lived up to all our expectations and more - it had everything you could want for, with hot water, electricity, cooking facilities, plus a king size bed with beautifully soft bedding and plenty of seating when that was folded away. We went in August so the hut was nice and warm, but the log burner looked like it would definitely do the job of heating the place up on chillier days. The setting is as beautiful as the photos suggest, perhaps more so, and so peaceful. The fire pit was a real bonus too (although with a captive audience of six cows, it was the guiltiest BBQ I'd ever had)! Emma was a fantastic host - she settled us in and gave us a few tips about the local area, then left us to enjoy the rest of the weekend as we pleased (though reassured us that she was only ever a phone call away). The surrounding countryside is so beautiful, with plenty of walking and cycling (better if you're a fan of hills...!) on offer, and fantastic eating and drinking options nearby with the local brewery, and the Ship pub. All in all we couldn't have wished for a better weekend getting back to nature, will definitely be recommending to everyone we know and looking up availability next year!

Location

Cheshire, Cheshire, England, United KingdomTo respect the Host's privacy, the precise address of this land will be provided after booking

Hosted by Emma H.

Joined in May 2018

From the host

Situated one mile off the beaten track and nestling in a lush green valley, Whitelee Farm offers a wonderful opportunity for those seeking to get away from it all. Continuous investment in traditional features such as dry stone walling, hedge laying and protection of ancient woodland ensures that the farm and its habitats are nurtured for future generations to enjoy. Set inside the UK's first National Park, Whitelee Farm is a working farm set over 340 acres of prime Peak District National Park farmland. A rich and diverse landscape ranging from pastureland to ancient forest (around 40 acres of the farm) we also border the River Dane along the Southern edge of the farm; giving private access to one of the reputedly fastest rising and falling rivers in the UK. We are extremely proud to be one of the original farms supporting the Dane Valley Woodland project designed to actively manage woodland and specifically Oak. The Dane Valley has one of the highest concentrations of semi natural and ancient woodland in the Peak District for example we have one of the oldest Oak trees within a 40 mile radius on the farm drive. In 2016 we planted 3,500 saplings as part of this project and our own woodland management plan. Across the farm mixed livestock (sheep, dairy and beef herds) graze on the pastureland for much of the year; enabling us to produce meat products of such note that we supply a well known premium retailer with our products. Working in such spectacular scenery is a real privilege for our family and we are delighted that we are now able to share this unique environment with others with the installation of two traditional Shepherd Huts: Dane Valley and Hen Cloud. Each sleeping 2 adults, the bespoke shepherd huts have been individually designed to maximise their location following approval from the Peak District Planning authority. Sensitively built in order to be as much in keeping with their surroundings as possible, each hut is oak framed, clad in wriggly tin and lined with sheeps wool. Featuring many luxuries of a domestic environment; guests always comment on how much has been fitted into a small space. We wanted to create a luxurious environment that put access to the wild on the doorstep for all and we look forward to welcoming you to see how this has been achieved.

Nearby attractions

Explore the Peak District via the multitude of scenic walking and cycling routes. Iconic rock formations like and Luds Church and The Roaches are nearby and the farm lies on Route 17 of the Peak District Boundary Walk, which takes you round the entire national park. The River Dane runs through the farm so you can enjoy some wild swimming. Charming spa town Buxton is around 20 mins drive away, while idyllic Bakewell is around 45 mins away. For some true r’n’r, Mill Wheel Spa (01538 300296) is 3 miles away. Some of The Midlands’ most popular attractions are all under an hour away including Peak Wildlife Park (01538 308880), Chatsworth House (01246 565300), Jodrell Bank Observatory (01477 571766) and Alton Towers (0871 222 3330).

Food and drink

Ingredients for making your own cooked breakfast can be pre-ordered (continental option available). BBQ packs and picnic hampers are also available to buy in season and bespoke locally-sourced dining packages can also be arranged for special occasions (contact the site in advance for more details). There’s plenty of artisan produce to sample in the local village – Wincle Beer Company (01260 227777) runs regular tasting tours and the homemade ice-cream at Blaze Farm (01260 227229) is a local institution. If fish takes your fancy, catch-and-keep Danebridge Fisheries (01260 227293) in the local village of Wincle stocks trout-filled lakes for all ages and abilities. The nearest local pub is The Ship Inn (01260 227217) within walking distance. The Rose & Crown (01260 227232) in Allgreave boasts beautiful views over the Dane Valley and The Ryles Arms (01260 252244) at Higher Sutton is famed locally for its meaty menu. The award-winning Sutton Gamekeeper (01260 252000), 480-year old Sutton Hall (01260 253211) and The Lazy Trout (01538 300385) at Meerbrook are all around 4 miles away.

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