Animal prints on the blinds, a shepherd’s hut painted on the tea tray, bird books, binoculars, maps, magazines and guidebooks. It’s all about the details for Manya Johnson, the mastermind behind Farmer Oak’s Hut in West Devon. From the homemade preserves and freshly baked scones she puts together in her kitchen, to the history book of shepherd’s huts that sits on the mantelpiece, everything here is considered. A Penguin Classics copy of Hardy’s Far From The Madding Crowd even awaits would-be readers; it’s thanks to the novel’s central character, the shepherd Gabriel Oak, that this glampsite got its name.
Set in the quietest corner of the field behind Manya’s home, through a young apple orchard and up a stepping-stone pathway to the top of the garden, Farmer Oak’s Hut is country life encapsulated. Sheep graze the neighbouring meadow, fledglings tweet an early chorus as they flitter between Manya’s bird boxes and a small, slate sign points the way into the nearby woods – “over the bridge and up the wooden steps, turn left at the gate”. For a timeless slice of Devon it seems the perfect spot. There’s even a vintage apple cart to wheel your luggage from the car.
Inside, the hut itself is a far cry from Gabriel Oak’s own “hard couch, formed of a few corn sacks” – though it retains the all-important wood-fired stove, glowing warmth across the space. Instead, expect more 21st-century features: a compact kitchen with a sink, fridge and hobs, a built in double bed and a plush, en-suite shower room. There’s no WiFi or television though; this is about getting back to nature after all.
While Farmer Oak’s Hut sleeps two, Manya still considers this a family space. Those with children are welcome to pitch a small tent alongside and there’s a host of good family attractions nearby, from the beaches around Boscastle and Bude, 40 minutes north, to National Trust estates like Cothele and Lanhydrock, 35 minutes away. Not that you need travel that far. Nearby Launceston has a magnificent 13th-century castle to explore (and is also home to the nearest tourist office where you can really get your barings), while the walkers delights of Dartmoor, Bodmin Moor and the Tamar Valley are also within easy reach. Manya has provided waterproof OS maps for you to borrow, so you can make a plan beside the campfire. Marshmallows are provided too. Naturally.