Rubersview Shepherds Huts

In the tiny hamlet of Minto, aptly named Rubersview Shepherds Hut has a prime spot for gazing down the Teviot valley. Below the tiered lawns of a countryside house, the hut is in a private space but with a great outdoor area where you can soak up the views, kick back on the deck or swing on an old wooden swing that hangs from a huge ash tree. Inside, the hut has homely, rural furnishings, with a wooden kitchen worktop, an antique-style table and chairs, a wood burner and even a wicker and canvas satchel for collected foraged berries should you find any. A lean-to outside the hut also lets you stroll in shelter to the adjacent cabin where there is a spacious toilet and shower room – the all-wood interior nicely echoes the style of the shepherd’s hut itself.

One of the nice things about Rubersview Shepherds Hut is the small, personal scale of the place. With just the one hut to look after, it has allowed time for owner Rob Armstrong to give some real attention to detail. From the historic 1900s photo of local shepherd Jack Turnbull that hangs above the wood-burning stove and free supply of logs, everything is finished to a tee. The only thing he can’t control is the weather.

When the suns out, it’s the local footpaths that seem most appealing. Head down to the river (good for fishing) or hike up Ruberslaw using an OS map to make a suitable loop. The glamping site is handily located next door to the church with a tall, traditional, stone tower, so its always quite easy to locate from the map. And if the weather’s bad? You can hole yourself away in one of the local pubs or simply set up shop inside the cosy little shepherd’s hut. Listening to the rain tinkle on the corrugated roof while the wood-burner roars is one of life’s simple pleasures.