Located on Pond Farm near Bishop Auckland in County Durham, Teesdale Cheesemakers’ glamping huts are one of the more unique accommodation options in North East England.
Nestled in two acres of woodland a stone’s throw from Cafe Cheesedale, where goats and other animals graze nearby, there are two dog-friendly, adults-only shepherds huts with wood-fired hot tubs.
We stayed overnight in the luxury huts on a press trip with This Is Durham so I thought I’d share my full review of Teesdale Cheesemakers’ accommodation here.
For an in-the-moment glimpse of our stay, check out my Durham highlight on Instagram — my username is @danniellelily.
My review of the Teesdale Cheesemakers’ shepherds huts in Durham
The Teesdale Cheesemakers are a couple who started making cheese in their utility room and went on to win more than 50 awards with their range of soft, semi-soft and crumbly cheeses. The Teesdale dairy has been in their family for four generations.
Their tagline is ‘cheese and tranquility’, and that’s certainly apt. Sandwiched between the market towns of Barnard Castle and Bishop Auckland, the smallholding is off-grid meaning there’s no Wi-Fi.
For anyone for whom those words strike panic in your chest, fear not: your phone’s data does work should you need it.
We relished the chance to switch off and soak up the Durham Dales’ breathtaking natural beauty, bathed in golden autumnal hues at this time of year.
Ash shepherds hut
Built locally, Ash shepherds hut has a raised ceiling which means you’ve got more space overhead than you would in a traditional shepherds hut. This makes a huge difference because you don’t feel at all cramped!
Ash has a double bed, sitting area, en-suite, and a kitchen comprised of a small fridge, tea and coffee making facilities, two hobs, a sink, drawers filled with cooking utensils and ample workspace to prepare a meal for two.
There’s storage space for your luggage beneath the workspace and a place to hang your clothes.
The en-suit bathroom is surprisingly spacious, with hot running water and decent shower.
Outside, there’s a gorgeous veranda with a fold-out table made from old farm fencing, so you can sit outside enjoying coffee or a wine and cheeseboard.
If you don’t want to cook in your hut or eat at one of the local pubs, there’s also a bbq and picnic area onsite. This would be so nice in the warmer weather!
I was pleased to learn that the huts were designed with sustainability in mind.
The pillows and duvets are organic wool, the mats on the floor are made from recycled materials (plastic bottles and saris), and solar panels fuel your lights etc.
There is a generator too, because this is North East England. Ours gave out at around 9pm and darkness descended, but once our eyes adjusted we found it really magical!
There’s a heater which we turned on immediately and while we waited for the space to heat up, I filled the hot water bottles that are provided.
Of course, cheese is all part of the experience.
You’ll find a small tasting board in your fridge next to the milk, but for a real treat I recommend ordering the meat and cheese platter so you can sample some of Teesdale Cheesemakers’ most popular products.
The couple also offer experiences like cheese and wine pairings, dairy tours and cheesemaking days if you’re looking for something to entertain you during a longer stay.
The wood-fired hot tubs are one of the main attractions for guests. They take around two hours to heat up and once they do, they’re simply blissful.
Soaking in the warm water beneath the stars is my idea of true luxury!
In the morning when we woke up to the sound of birdsong, the tub was still warm enough for a sunrise dip before a walk down to the stream.
The cafe opens at 10am so we visited the goats and took a walk around the local area before we headed in for breakfast.
Even if you’re not staying over, I recommend popping into Cafe Cheesedale for a bite to eat if you’re exploring the local area.
Aside from all things cheese, they have a wonderful shop filled with locally produced products.
I left laden with local honey, kefir and coffee but there’s so much more I could have bought!
The cafe serves cooked breakfasts. I went for ‘The Desmond’, which has two of everything, and the bacon was legit the most perfectly cooked bacon I’ve ever eaten.
The smaller cooked breakfast is called ‘The Valerie’ and the owner educated us as to why that was.
I did a poll on Instagram and very few people got the reference! Do you get it?
I recommend picking up some cakes too. We brought home a lemon crumble slice and some biscoff cheesecake, which were both incredible.
Need to know info about Teesdale Cheesemakers shepherds huts
There’s a two night minimum stay but a one night booking is available at a higher rate if you enquire.
You can bring one dog with you for stays in the huts but you’ll need to let them know when you book. The cafe is also dog-friendly.
You’ll need to bring your own toiletries, including shower gel. Hand soap, toilet paper, towels and bedding are provided.
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