Romney Marsh Shepherds Huts review: local charm and rural romance in Kent

Set in the heart of the beautiful Kent countryside, Romney Marsh Shepherds Huts are open all seasons, are close to the coast, and remote yet well-connected. Tucked away on land adjacent to the family-owned working farm, you’ll find three bespoke designed, high-spec shepherds’ huts. We stayed in the latest and largest addition, the Romney Hut, which although compact, offers enough room for two or three people to share.

From inception, the owner of the huts has prided herself on offering visitors an experience that taps into local knowledge, and makes the most of exploring the local area.

Driving here is essential, but after you arrive you won’t have to travel far to discover local gems such as medieval churches, quaint pubs and interesting landmarks. Spend evenings relaxing at the hut, enjoying mesmerising sunsets while sipping local wine and gazing up at the stars.

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The shepherds’ hut

Guests are given clear instructions on how to access the hut, and a wheelbarrow is ready when you arrive to help carry your stuff over to the hut. Inside is well-equipped with everything you could need, plus there’s thoughtful additions like a Roberts radio, sheepskin rugs, an indoor fire with kindling, and lots of woollen blankets from the brand’s sister company, Romney Marsh Wools. These are made using wool from the farm’s Romney sheep, and in the en-suite bathroom, there's also toiletries from the brand which are infused with lanolin (wax extracted from sheep wool).

The space is small, but incredibly well designed. You’ll find a double bed and above it a single bunk bed. We found it perfect for two people with one sleeping in the bunk and the other on the double bed below. The hut could accommodate a maximum of three, but small children might struggle with sleeping in the bunk bed because there’s no bannister to keep them safely tucked in.

Outside, there’s a comfortable swinging nest chair, a fire-pit and an outdoor bath, which is an incredibly fun feature although we found that the boiler couldn’t quite fill the bath so we had to top it up with a few kettles of hot water.

Eating and drinking

Locally-sourced produce boxes are available to order in advance. The breakfast box for two people had enough bacon and sausages for two days. Inside the hut, you’ll also receive a complimentary bottle of wine from Kent-based Biddenden Vineyards.

The owner of the huts recommended a visit to The White Horse in Bilsington, perfect for those in search of a hearty, homemade meal. We were also made to feel extremely welcome by the local characters who were enjoying a pint at the bar.

Things to do

As an area of outstanding natural beauty, heading out on a walk is essential. In the fields neighbouring the huts you’ll find Romney sheep, a breed which is indigenous to this part of Kent.

A 15-minute walk away you can discover more about the area’s historic past with a stroll down the Royal Military Canal Path. This 28-mile canal runs from Kent to East Sussex and was built to be a water obstacle and defence against invasion by the French.

A short car journey away, you’ll find interesting churches scattered across the Marsh such as St Thomas Becket which has featured in adaptations of Great Expectations, and St Clement’s, where artist Derek Jarman is buried. We also enjoyed a trip to a cute little pub called The Red Lion. We received a warm welcome here from the landlady and other friendly locals who were excited to hear about our visit.

A selection of experiences with local craftspeople and small businesses are also on offer to guests who stay at the hut. As part of our visit, we enjoyed a needle-felting session with Rachel Murrell, a Kent-based dollmaker and needle-felting extraordinaire. Using Romney Marsh wool and surrounded by sheep in the field next to our hut, we created some autumnal pumpkin decorations, which was the perfect way to end our stay.

The verdict

This experience will leave you with some beautiful memories, but you’ll need to be organised. Planning day trips and country walks will mean you don’t end up feeling too cooped up in the doll-like space. Just like going camping, you’ll have to bring clothes for all kinds of weather. It’s also important to check what’s included in the hut so that you know what provisions to bring with you due to the remote location.

Based on the October half term, a two-night midweek stay in the Romney Hut is priced from £340 and a three-night midweek stay is priced from £470.

Romney Marsh Shepherds Huts, Gigger’s Green Road, Aldington, TN25 7BT. Book via bloomstays.com, and for more information on Romney Marsh Shepherds Huts see romneymarshshepherdshuts.co.uk.