The idea of diversifying into tourism and leisure is increasingly appealing to many farmers and landowners. The return on investment can be significant on a suitable spare acre, ideally with some magic ingredients to please your guests, such as a special view, a river or lakeside setting and nearby amenities and attractions. Over the last 25 years, we’ve worked with many farmers across the country and even further afield in the US. In this blog you can hear from a few of these farmers themselves about their experiences working with Plankbridge.
Why did you choose a Plankbridge shepherd’s hut as your accommodation?
The quality really stood out – the hut is beautifully built and the attention to detail is amazing. Plankbridge is also local to us, so we were able to visit the showroom at Piddlehinton and see the hut being made, which was really inspiring. – Gemma, Lake Farm
When I was a child my grandmother, who was a sheep farmer/vet, had an old traditional-style shepherd’s hut here at Laverstock Farm which we were fascinated with and used to play in. I always wanted one of my own. – Emma, Laverstock Farm
We looked at all sorts of solutions: yurts, tiny houses, even iconic vintage Airstream travel trailers. For various reasons from climate resilience to cost and efficiency to local zoning regulations, the hut concept seemed to make a lot of sense. It helped that they are in theory moveable and not a permanent construction. We learned of Plankbridge while doing this research – we found an online article about the company – their approach and product resonated with us. – Peterson’s, Vermont Farm, USA
Has your glamping business seen a return on your investment?
We had calculated that it would be 3.5 years before we saw a return on our investment and this has been correct. As well as purchasing the two huts we have also done site works to get them in place. – Jane, Tokenhill Dorset
Did you know that we have a useful Holiday Rental Calendar? Use this calculator to predict how long it would take to see a return on your investment.
We also offer commercial shepherd’s hut financing as we know that investing in a Plankbridge hut is a big step. We are here to make the process as seamless as possible. That is why we have partnered with Anglo Scottish, one of the UK’s most trusted finance brokers, to offer tailored financing options for commercial use.
Our payment plan options are specifically tailored for customers acquiring a hut for commercial uses, such as a glamping venture and related purposes.
Can you describe the location of your shepherd’s huts on your farm?
They are situated in a field surrounded by majestic chestnut trees and a new copse, which has been planted between the huts to give each one its own private space. Guests have cows for neighbours, who are always curious to see who the latest visitors are. – Jane, Tokenhill Dorset
The hut sits in peaceful countryside overlooking a spring-fed lake. Guests often say how relaxed and refreshed they feel after their stay. We’ve kept everything high quality, from the furnishings to the little details. – Gemma, Lake Farm
All three of them – two Snugs and one Guest House – are located in individual locations around the farm estate in order to give our guests a private, peaceful location. One of our Snug huts, Everdene Hut, is fully off-grid with no running water or electricity and is located next to a large pond, perfect for wild swimming and evenings under the stars. – Emma, Laverstock Farm
Vermont, being part of New England, is primarily rural—farms, dairies, villages, gravel lanes connecting them all. Our town, Cornwall, has a history of sheep farming. From that perspective, the shepherd’s huts are a “perfect fit” (although the shepherd’s hut concept is not indigenous to the area). But more importantly, the huts’ design, our choice of finishes, placement on the property and landscaping helps them blend in and appear natural in the environment. – Peterson’s, Vermont Farm
Tell us about your shepherd’s hut guests…
We now have quite a lot of guests returning to stay with us in the huts, we have some that come on a regular basis, they enjoy the peace and tranquillity of the site, and the surrounding wildlife and the cows. – Jane, Tokenhill Dorset
Some of our guests come from within an hour’s drive because they are looking to escape somewhere for a few days away from the rat race. Most of our guests visit from London, Surrey, the east of the country and the Bristol area. – Emma, Laverstock Farm
– Do you have any questions about our bespoke offerings, pricing and groundworks? Get in touch with us today on enquiries@plankbridge.com or give us a call on 01300 348414
