Outdoorsy Living: Making your outdoors as comfy as your indoors
You’ve made the decision, it’s time to diversify into holiday accommodation on your land. But the choices are endless and slightly overwhelming, right? Well, if you’re aiming for the top, read on to see how easy it can be with high-end shepherd huts or wildly popular glamping pods drawing guests from far and wide, looking for a little bit of luxury in a lot of nature.
Outdoorsy Living’s high quality bespoke shepherd huts and glamping pods are perfect for a wide range of holiday retreats, enabling year-round occupancy and the wow factor of being close to nature without losing any creature comforts. If you are thinking of elegant glamping-site developments, charming hideaways or delightful guest rooms, they will design, build and deliver your unique vision.
In keeping with the traditional shepherd hut style, Outdoorsy Living create bespoke contemporary spaces with meticulous craftsmanship, patience and care. The shepherd hut layouts can be modified to your exact specifications, with hut sizes ranging from 16 to 20 feet in length, and one or two double bedrooms that can also be configured as snugs. Additionally, huts can be twinned to create bigger entertaining spaces. External timber cladding or corrugated iron options provide stylish protection against the elements, with the fully insulated walls, floor and roof keeping guests cool in summer and warm in winter.
The luxury 2-4 sleeper shepherd hut is perfect for small groups or family holidays as a self-contained annexe with two double bedrooms (or one double bedroom and a relaxed seating area), a kitchen and bathroom.
External Dimensions:
Length = 5.6m – 6m
Width = 2.4m
Height = 3.25m (including chassis)
The luxury 1-2 sleeper shepherd hut has one double bedroom, a kitchen and en-suite bathroom, making it an ideal space for a charming and peaceful retreat from daily life.
External Dimensions:
Length = 4.8m – 5.4m
Width = 2.4m
Height = 3.25m (including chassis)
On a slightly smaller scale than the shepherd huts, Outdoorsy Living’s bespoke glamping pods bring you lodge style luxury in a compact design while still providing all the home comforts of a cosy double bed, smart wet room with shower, practical mini kitchen with fridge and a multifunctional seating area. With their efficient space-saving layouts, these hugely versatile glamping pods offer year-round warm and comfortable enjoyment of something a little different from home. While they are optimal for glamping sites and holiday parks these glamping pods don’t have to be restricted to vacations, as they also make great home offices, children’s playrooms, extra bedrooms or unique garden retreats.
Heating
Outdoorsy Living shepherd huts and glamping pods come with electric underfloor heating as standard to maximise the internal floor space. Alternative heating systems can be fitted, including plinth fan heaters, electric radiators and electric log burners.
Electricity
Connection to mains electricity is normally via a separate small consumer unit or if there is capacity in the existing system a 40amp RCD fuse can be used. Their electricians can advise and quote for any work required. Generally the supply cable to the shepherd hut will be an armoured cable buried in the ground.
Plumbing
Mains water supply is required, unless you are planning your shepherd huts or glamping pods to be situated off grid. Outdoorsy Living provide a 15mm pipe connection and valve underneath the shepherd hut or pod.
For larger setups with multiple units, it would be beneficial to have a separate boiler room and they can plumb the dwellings to take the hot water directly from this hot water supply.
For waste (grey water and sewage), a 110mm waste fitting is supplied underneath the shepherd hut or pod which can then be plumbed directly into mains drainage or adapted to suit the location.
Off grid living
Living ‘off grid’, i.e. not connected to the national grid, means you rely solely on natural gas and power for your shepherd hut’s or glamping pod’s energy, and alternative water supplies such as rainwater or wells. While certainly providing longer-term savings, this lifestyle choice or unique holiday accommodation can require a high initial outlay in terms of accommodation and setting it all up.
The most popular source of energy is solar panels, and generators are also widely used. Hybrid systems are another popular choice combining solar and wind/geothermal. Renewable heating systems, such as biomass boilers or heat pumps, also work well off grid – with the added bonus of being a lot quieter than a diesel generator.
Outdoorsy Living are experienced in providing off grid solutions, and can talk you through the various options.
Planning permission
To hire out your shepherd hut or glamping pod as holiday accommodation, you will have to apply to your local council for planning permission. The exception to this rule is that you do not need planning permission if you do not exceed 60 days hire per calendar year. This could be an option if you are only looking to provide holiday rentals over the summer, for example. Conservation areas have rules that are specific to their localities, so it is recommended that you contact your local council if you are looking to site your shepherd hut or pod in a conservation area.
As recent customer Anne claims, “Outdoorsy Living were such a pleasure to work with from beginning to end and I couldn't be happier with the finished product - it's beautiful. It felt like they really cared, not only about the design and production of the shepherd hut, but about the service they provided. I really couldn't recommend them highly enough.” If you are looking for a superior experience of luxury leisure in nature, Outdoorsy Living’s shepherd huts and glamping pods will match your imagination and make your outdoors as comfy as your indoors.
Tel 01622 844 238
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