Beautiful artisan built large luxury Shepherd's Hut with patio and chiminea. Separate en suite bedroom. This stunning hut has the ambience of modern living in a quite country retreat, with wood burner. Ideal for couples. Free logs. Situated at Foxhill Farm set apart from our other holiday cottages is our one bedroom absolutely charming luxury Shepherd's Hut. Built on the frame of an old vintage cart we have incorporated some of the old oak beams for some added character. A hand built fitted oak kitchen supplies ample cupboard space, a full size gas cooker, fridge/freezer, microwave, coffee machine & toaster. A built in table with leather stools and leather armchairs provide comfortable seating plus a tv with dvd and a cosy wood burning stove completes the look. The separate bedroom provides a hand built centralised double bed plus bedside units and hanging wardrobe space is provided, plus a further tv with dvd, along with an en suite bathroom with full size shower, heated towel rail, toilet, sink unit and shaving light. An enclosed patio area with chiminea and bbq makes a delightful setting for outdoor relaxing plus outside your patio area there are large grass areas for walking (dogs on lead). From the Shepherd’s Retreat you can cycle or walk a short distance into the forestry tracks. We have plenty of storage for your bikes. If you wish to bring your boat to take to the coast then we can store this securely for you. At the bottom of the road we have the local shop/post office and village pub. Situated on the edge of the New Forest, located on the boundary of Dorset and Hampshire, close to the River Avon. Ideally situated to explore Ringwood Forest, on our doorstep, and a short drive can take you to the New Forest National Park famous for its free roaming ponies, donkeys, cattle and pigs in the autumn,, New Forest Water Park, Moors Valley Country Park, the local quaint town of Fordingbridge, delightful Wimborne Minster or the local market town of Ringwood. All offering excellent pubs/restaurants and coffee houses. Bournemouth coast’s spectacular beaches are an easy 25 minute drive, the Jurassic coast within easy reach and the ancient city of Salisbury with its beautiful cathedral is well worth a visit. This is a perfect romantic hideaway, an ideal bolt hole for couples and under 2 hours from London, easily accessible and ideal for a country break. Minimum stay of 2 nights. A lovely country outlook over our wild meadow is enjoyed from the hut. Dogs are welcome (£10.00 per stay). Minimum 2 nights stay.
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Pets allowed: dogs less than 23 kg per pet (limit one pet total)
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Smoking
Smoking is not permitted
Important information
You need to know
Property # 10888860
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector with you on the trip
Host has not indicated whether there is a smoke detector on the property
About the area
Fordingbridge
Located in Fordingbridge, this cottage is in a rural area and near a water park. Go Ape at Moors Valley Ringwood and Horton Estate Vineyard are worth checking out if an activity is on the agenda, while those wishing to experience the area's natural beauty can explore New Forest National Park and Cranborne Chase and the West Wiltshire Downs. Cranborne Manor and Liberty's Owl Raptor and Reptile Centre are also worth visiting. Jet skiing and waterskiing offer great chances to get out on the surrounding water, or you can seek out an adventure with hiking/biking trails and cycling nearby.
Bournemouth (BOH-Bournemouth Intl.) - 21 min drive
Restaurants
Costa Coffee - 9 min drive
Altrullo - 10 min drive
The Ship Inn - 5 min drive
The Foresters Arms - 9 min drive
Bat & Ball Pub - 10 min drive
Frequently asked questions
Is SHEPHERD'S RETREAT pet-friendly?
Yes, this property allows dogs (limit 1 total) with a maximum weight of up to 23 kg per pet. Some restrictions may apply, so please contact the property for more details.
How much does it cost to stay at SHEPHERD'S RETREAT?
As of 14 May 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at SHEPHERD'S RETREAT on 18 Oct 2026 start from AU$210, including taxes and fees. This price is based on the lowest nightly price found in the last 24 hours for stays in the next 30 days. Prices are subject to change. Choose your dates for more accurate prices.
How much is parking at SHEPHERD'S RETREAT?
On-site parking is available at the property.
What time is check-in at SHEPHERD'S RETREAT?
Check-in begins at 3:00 PM.
What time is check-out at SHEPHERD'S RETREAT?
Checkout is at 10:00 AM.
Where is SHEPHERD'S RETREAT located?
Situated in a rural location, this cottage is 0.7 mi (1.1 km) from Cranborne Lake and within 3 miles (5 km) of Fordingbridge Town Hall and Fordingbridge Library. Fordingbridge Museum and Fordingbridge Hospital are also within 3 miles (5 km).
Reviews
10
Exceptional
Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
We had a lovely stay at shepherd's retreat - it is really beautifully decorated, surprisingly spacious and very clean. The location is great for accessing New Forest by car. We really enjoyed our stay!
Spotless and charming property in an ideal location for exploring the New Forest. Couldn't have asked for more and the sun shone all the time we were there.
Amazing space in an amazing place. The hosts were incredibly friendly and quick to respond. The shepherds hut was clean and full of character. The attention to detail was great.
Would definitely stay here again.
This was our 5th time staying in this fabulous escape! It’s home from home! The hut is well equipped, we can cook a good meal in the kitchen, although this time we had to BBQ on the terrace, which was fab! The bed is comfortable and the shower room is perfectly adequate! Thank you Denis and Heather
This is the second time we stayed here but in a different shepherds hut. Shepherds Retreat is nice and spacious and has everything you need. New forest on your doorstep and owners nice and friendly. Location is great. We will be returning again in the near future. You will not be disappointed if you stay.
Perfect base to explore New Forest. Stunning location and quirky, cool place to stay. Bijou and well appointed. Really clean and tastefully decorated. Lovely hosts. A real find!
We had a lovely stay. Very well put together, all the things you need are there and upto date.
Situation is ideal for Bournemouth and New forest.
Would go back in the future so that says it all.
We had a lovely weekend staying in the Shepherd’s Retreat. It was very well equipped to a high standard and immaculately clean. The property is in a very peaceful spot and with excellent access to The New Forest, Salisbury, Bournemouth and the coast.
Heather and Denis are excellent hosts and very welcoming and clearly thought had gone into ensuring their properties are to a high standard to guarantee the best possible stay for their guests.
We’ll certainly be heading back to stay again and we’d recommend this as an ideal and unique getaway for a couple.
Shepherd's Retreat exceeded our expectations in every way. It is a substantially built hut, using reclaimed oak in the interior, clean and comfortable, and equipped with basic cooking essentials. With friendly hosts, its own private patio (barbecue and chiminea), and overlooking a small paddock, it is perfect for a relaxing break. The nearby forest is ideal for dog walks, and there is plenty to see and do in the area.
I had a fabulous 3 night stay in Shepherd's Retreat. I absolutely loved the accommodation. It was clean and the bed was very comfortable and it had everything I needed. It was great having the enclosed outdoor space as I had my dog with me. The area was lovely with Ringwood forest within walking distance and Highcliffe beach was only 30 minutes drive away.
I really enjoyed my stay, the hosts were very welcoming too and I look forward to visiting again soon.
Peace and tranquility without isolation. Very comfy with a lovely tiny garden providing all comforts. Lovely walks right outside to take our dogs.
We enjoyed our stay very much at the Sheoherd's retreat.
A child gate to keep the dogs in place would be a great help.
We have really enjoyed our previous two visits to the Shepherds Retreat and our third visit was equally spectacular. We arrived during a storm but the accommodation was cozy and we didn’t feel exposed to the elements. I say we were lucky, because we had a beautiful walk on the beach and a couple of excellent walks in the New Forest and the weather was perfect for all of our activities. We will be returning again soon!
Location fantastic in quiet peaceful surroundings, ideal base for trekking around Dorset. Absolutely loved the cabin, well kitted out with all you need and very comfortable. If I was to be hyper critical, and this is in no way a deal breaker, a power point or 2 with easy access in the bedroom would be a welcome addition. Don't be put off though, we would highly recommend this property to anyone, superb place.
We thoroughly enjoyed our 2-night stay at the Shepherd's Retreat. It's in a very green and quiet location, set back off a country road that seems to have little traffic - we never noticed any traffic noise. Our cottage overlooked a small green space with a wild area and apple trees. Farmland over on one side, and on the other side (separated by a thick hedge) was the village sports field. The sports field is a large green space and was ideal for taking our dog for a good walk. We met a lot of friendly dogs (and owners) there. From the cottage we could occasionally hear the gentle thwack of cricket being played and the muffled sounds of boys playing football, but these added to the sense of tranquility.
The cottage itself is cosy and comfortable. There is a small kitchen area reasonably well equipped (including an unexpected coffee machine, which we appreciated). We had decided to eat out during our stay, so we only used it for making breakfast. There's little working space, so you'd have to be very organised to use it for any substantial cooking. Two comfortable leather chairs face a wood-burning stove that puts out a tremendous heat.
The bed was very comfortable and we slept really well.
There's a small bathroom wth a good shower.
Wifi was included, although the signal was weak in the bedroom.
I don't think either of us have anything negative to say about our stay here and we would happily return.
This hut is just perfect. Heather and Denis have thought of everything, and the place is warm, cosy, comfortable - and doesn't feel cramped despite being tiny! The decor is really lovely, feeling quite opulent, and we find the bed very comfortable, the shower nice and hot with good water pressure. And it's just so peaceful there - such a haven from our busy lives. Within 10 minutes from the hut we are in the heart of the New Forest, or only 25 minutes from spectacular beaches. This was our second trip here, and we'll absolutely be back.
Phil B.
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2022
About the host
Hosted by Heather and Denis Castle
Languages:
English
Premier Host
They consistently provide great experiences for their guests