A beautiful shepherd’s hut with views over the Looe river valley, an on-site riding school, a pool, fabulous walking and the beach nearby

The Hideaway Hut is a wonderful, natural way to explore a fabulous area of Cornwall. Treworgey Farm is home to Alec and Jo Laing, their various animals and now, The Hideaway Hut. Spread over 150 acres overlooking the Looe river valley, it’s a lively place, with a riding school on site (see local activities for more info) and a few holiday cottages dotted about.
 The Hut sits in its own corner of the farm, with a private shower and loo twenty metres off. From here you can hit the coastal path or ramble down in the woodlands all by yourself, but you’re more than welcome to use the games room, the pool, and the tennis court, which you’ll share with the cottages.
There’s a wood-burner in the hut to keep you warm and a gas hob for cooking along with all the basics, but why not hike out to the local ( forty minutes uphill on the way out) and try the local sparkling cider and some good pub food. During the day, the beach is only a few minutes by car and the many attractions of Cornwall await.

• Esentials
• Getting there
• Eating & Drinking
• Things to do
• Booking terms
• Meet your hosts

The essentials

The important stuff

• Check in time is 3pm
• Check out time is 10am
• Kids are welcome, but they will have to camp alongside the hut. There is a surcharge of £10 per night per camper and a limit of two people. Also, please be aware the the hut is designed for adults and there is a wood-burner and other things within easy reach of kids
• There are holiday cottages on the farm and Alec and Jo live and work there. While the hut is in a more secluded area of the farm, you may not have the pool and other cottage facilities entirely to yourselves
• There is a 1amp inverter in the hut, which can charge phones or laptops, but not run a hairdryer! There is an “info room”, shared with the holiday cottages, where you can use the internet
• You are encouraged to recycle, the bins are a three minute walk away
• Please bring towels for beach or pool use (those provided are for use in shower only). You can hire some if you’ve forgotten, for £3

Kids & Pets

Cooking

• Gas ring cooker
• Dancook Firepit outside
• Space for a kettle or coffee pot on the wood-burner
• Cool box for the essentials and a fridge 20m away
• All pots, pans & utensils, cloths etc
• Salt, pepper, spices, olive oil etc.
• Oak dining table and chairs
• Logs for the log burner are provided but not charcoal for the barbecue

Washing

• The loo and shower are about 20 metres away from the hut in a separate unit.The shower is gas powered and instantly hot with a mirror and basin and a drying rack and hooks for clothes and towels.
• The unit is heated by a wood-burner to keep it toasty in the winter.
• The loo is a separating composting toilet, please sit down to use, both ladies and gents! (the separation makes it work).
• On the outside of the same unit is a sink in a covered area for washing up or washing hands.

Heating, lighting & bedding

• Wood-burner (logs provided)
• Everything is provided including towels, which are for use in the shower, but not at the beach!

Entertainment

• Cards and plenty of local information are in the hut
• You are welcome to use the pool (open mid-may to beginning of October), tennis court and games room that the cottages share.
• Try the on-site riding school for lessons and some great hacking in the woods below the farm

Getting there

Treworgey Farm, Duloe, Liskeard, Cornwall, PL14 4PP

By public transport

The closest station is Sandplace station which is on the branch line between Liskeard and Looe. The farm is about a mile up the hill from there, probably about 15 minutes to walk. Or if you give Alec & Jo some warning and they are around they could pick you up.

Liskeard is the closest main line station. 3 1/2 hours from London Paddington and about an hour and a half from Penzance. Its also possible to get direct trains from many other stations.

By car - BEWARE Satnav, see below

Treworgey Farm is about half an hour west of Plymouth, near Looe. Make your way to the Dobwalls roundabout on the A38 - half an hour west of Plymouth, 20 minutes east of Bodmin.

On the roundabout turn into Dobwalls village. In the centre of Dobwalls turn right, signed Duloe, passing the Spar and the School as you leave the village. At the T junction in Duloe (4 miles later) turn right along the B3254 towards Looe. Leaving Duloe follow road round hard left corner, down the hill. You pass Cornish Orchards on the left and we are up the next lane on the right. There's a Treworgey sign at the end of the lane. If you get to the railway bridge you've gone to far!

SATNAV - If you use satnav you might get there or you might not! There have been problems in the past. Please check that you're coming to the right place! The route it will take you may be a little quicker than the above route but it is narrower.

Eating & drinking

At The Hideaway Hut - on site meals!

Jo & Alec invite you to shop and eat locally. If you'd like to order supplies for your stay, try the local delivery service for some top quality Cornish produce. There's also an on site meal service which can deliver a few choice things such as cream teas, quiches and salad suppers to the hut.

To order or find out what's going to be on the menu during your stay, please give as much notice as you can by emailing or calling Jane or Hannah (Jo's aunt and cousin) on 07794 743 416 or janesnowdon@gmail.com. You can pay by cheque at the time. Deliveries are normally made daily, except Wednesday, but you can always have something made and delivered to the fridge.

Cooking for yourself

On arrival, fresh flowers and tea, coffee, milk and Cornish clotted cream biscuits will be waiting for you. Plus a taster bottle of delicious award-winning apple juice from Cornish Orchards just up the road. And eggs if the chickens are kind enough to be laying! There is a stock of basic supplies in the hut including things like salt, pepper and spices, plus some camp cooking recipe books!

There is a gas ring cooker, a firebowl and a cool box for refrigeration of the overnight essentials, plus a proper fridge 20m away.

Pubs, restaurants & shops

Duloe Community Shop: the village shop is now run by the community and stocks a good range of provisions as well as excellent local veg, newspapers etc. Please support it! Open Monday - Friday 8am-5pm (shut for lunch 1-3) and Saturday 8am-1pm.

If you just can't stand to have any more gorgeous home-cooked food delivered to your door, or to have one more marshmallow toasted over the fire-bowl, try out some of the surrounding eateries:

The Plough in Duloe: Good local pub food, delicous sparkling Cornish Orchards cider on tap (from across the valley) a proper village pub, and dog-friendly if you ask in advance too. Plus you can walk home along the lanes and down the track to Treworgey (30-40 mins on the way there - uphill, and 20-30 mins back - downhill!)

Cornish Orchards: Just up the road towards Duloe on the right. The delicious apple juice that welcomed you is from here and their little shop sells their various juices, ciders, chutneys, honey, sauces etc. To sample their delicious sparkling 'champagne of ciders' visit the Plough up the road in Duloe or the Salutation in East Looe.

The Blue Plate: Delicious sea food and local meats and produce - food for any mood - at a great new restaurant run by renowned local chef Nick Barclay.

Trawlers on the Quay: Considered by many to be one of the best seafood restaurants in Cornwall, with a relaxed atmosphere and a lovely location on East Looe Quay

Rick Stein's Restaurants: There are four restaurants in Padstow where you can try his food, The Seafood Restaurant , St Petroc's Bistro , Rick Stein's Café and Stein's Fish & Chips . Plus a pub in St Merryn called The Cornish Arms.

Fifteen Cornwall: An inspiring restaurant started by Jamie Oliver in a stunning location at Watergate Bay.

Trewithen Restaurant: In pretty Lostwithiel. Delicous locally-sourced food, extensive wine list, great for dinner and their lunch specials are just as delicous and kinder to the wallet!

Couch's Great House Restaurant: Situated in the quaint fishing village of Polperro.

Barclay House: One of the best restaurants in Looe in a hilltop location with great river views.

The View at Whitsand Bay is light and modern with delicious local produce from sea food to meat and when they say 'The View' they really mean it - right out to sea from high on the cliffs at Whitsand Bay.

Squid Ink: Another tiny tasty seafood option in the windy back streets of East Looe.

The Crown at Lanlivery: Ancient Cornish pub serving really good pub food. Near Lanhydrock.

Lorenzo's: The cheerful Spanish/tapas restaurant is next door to the independent cinema in central Plymouth.

Things to do

At Treworgey Farm

The Pool, tennis court, games room

You share all of the above with the holiday cottages on site. Please use your own towels for the pool, not the ones from the hut. The games room has toys, a table tennis table and a pool table.

Seen the on-site meal service? Try the on-site riding school!

There is a licensed riding school at Treworgey. Riding lessons are offered and some supervised hacking through the beautiful countryside around Treworgey, and across 100 acres of rolling farmland down to the Looe river below. This is rich in fauna and flora, and you can enjoy fantastic views. Riding is available every weekday morning until lunchtime. Lessons are taken in the 60m x 20m outdoor area which has an all weather surface.

Beginners are warmly welcomed, as are the more experienced who want training in dressage and showjumping. The overall management of the yard is Linda's, who has the qualification of BHSII, and was a successful event rider in her youth.

Typical riding costs are £17.50 for a half hour private lesson, or a half hour shared with three others is £12.50 each. A one hour hack is £22 or a longer hack of about an hour and a half is £29. Groups are very small and teaching is generally one to one. If you or your children are pony or horse lovers, you will find it difficult to leave Treworgey. Guests are very welcome to bring their own pony or horse on a DIY livery basis. Lessons are available on your own horse or you can use our arena (free by arrangement) and there is great woodland hacking.

In the local area...

As well as meeting all the friendly animals and lazing in the comfort of the hut, there are loads of things to do in the area, some world famous like the Eden Project, some less so. The local village, Duloe, has itsown website, so you can see what's going on right on your doorstep, or read on for a wealth of suggestions for your stay in the following categories:

Quick links:

Active stuff, Places to visit, Gardens, Houses & Castles, Pampering & Beauty, Theatres & Cinema,Museum & Galleries, Wildlife, Fishing, Cycling, Walking

Active stuff!

Active-8: holiday activities in Cornwall. From cycle hire to kite boarding to kayaking - all sorts for all types.

Adrenalin Quarry: One of Cornwall's hottest attractions boasts two firsts: Britain's longest, fastest Zip Wire & the unique flying experience of Hoverworld. Plus go-karting at the same site.

Discovery Surf School: Providing professional coaching for all ages and levels, with an emphasis on safe, high quality tuition in small groups at Whitsand Bay (only approx 20 minutes drive from Treworgey, east along the south coast)

Wavehunters/Animal Surf Academy: Learn to surf.

Lower Lake Shooting Grounds: They teach clay pigeon shooting from total beginners to intermediate and include cartridges and clays.

Plymouth National Marine Aquarium: Located in Plymouth, the National Marine Aquarium is a leading aquarium in the UK.

This is a potential life saver:

101 Things to do on Rainy Day in Cornwall: www.101-things-to-do-on-a-rainy-day-in-cornwall.co.uk

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Places to visit

Magnificent Music Machines: Just down the road at St Keyne and accessible from the Looe Valley branch (train) line. Step back in time, with nostalgic sounds from the first half of the twentieth century. Entertainment for all the family, from a more relaxed era of Steam Trains, Austin Seven Cars and the Picture-Palace with it's Mighty WurliTzer Organ.

Porfell Wildlife Park and Sanctuary: Where the peace and tranquility of the Cornish countryside combine with the exotic world of wild animals near Liskeard.

The Monkey Sanctuary Trust: The Sanctuary near Looe is currently home to four species of monkey: woolly monkeys, ex-pet capuchins, patas monkeys and barbary macaques.

The cliff path is just down the hill from the Monkey Sanctuary and next door is a stone Labyrinth at Windsworth, an interesting walkers' diversion.

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Gardens, Houses & Castles

The Eden Project: This is an unforgettable experience in a breathtaking location; a global garden; a place of beauty and wonder.

Cornwall National Garden Scheme: Gardens open for charity with events and tours.

Cotehele House: A Tudor house with superb collections of textiles, armour and furniture, set in extensive grounds situated on the edge of the River Tamar.

Lanhydrock House: Magnificent late Victorian country house with extensive servants' quarters, gardens and wooded estate.

Antony House: Superb early 18th-century mansion set in parkland and fine gardens.

Heligan: A rediscovered and now famous garden inspired by Tim Schmidt (now of Eden fame). Quite a wonderful place giving real insight into how the garden was before the first world war. The original vegetable garden for the 'Big House' is now cultivated all year round. The Jungle area with enormous gunnera and ferns is a sight to see.

Trebah Gardens: Trebah has a huge jungle area as well as formal gardens, this leads down to the river Helford from where the American 29th Infantry division met to be taken for the landings at Dunkirk on D-Day.

The Garden House: Although not Cornish, but just over the border in Devon, The Garden house is exquisite and has been featured on TV several times

Trelissick: Trelissick is another National Trust garden near Truro at Feock. This is a tranquil tiered garden with panoramic views down to Falmouth and the open sea.

Pine Lodge: At St Austell is quite a special garden we often visit as it is good ALL year round. Extremely good homemade cakes in the cafe and excellent little nursery.

Boconnoc: beautiful private gardens open to the public on select days of the year, as well as events such as steam rally, craft fairs, sheep dog trials, endurance rides and more - see

Port Eliot, St Germans: The Port Eliot Festival is summer's most original, inspirational and decadent garden party. Plus for certain parts of the year the house itself and grounds are open to wander.

English Heritage: English Heritage helps people understand, value, care for and enjoy England's historic environment. Several properties including castles open to visit in Cornwall 

Castles In Cornwall: This web site gives information on a variety of castles in Cornwall

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Pampering & Beauty

My Personal Sanctuary: It is with great delight that My Personal Sanctuary can offer treatments to guests at Treworgey in the comfort of your hut, including warming deep tissue massages; cleansing & detoxifying body wraps; nourishing & conditioning facials; hand & feet treats; and holistic, full body treatments. My Personal Sanctuary use lovely fresh organic products to leave you feeling energised and rejuvenated. There are a variety of Pamper Packages & Treatments as well as Special Offers for you to indulge in and fully let go! Please visit or call 01625 540 557

Body and Soul Clinic, East Looe. Sugaring, nails, lovely massage and more in a room with a view straight out to sea. Call Jo for more info on 07868 735117

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Theatres & Cinemas

Plymouth Theatre Royal: Offering a wide variety of shows for everyone.

Minack Theatre: Cornwall's Theatre Under The Stars, offering shows and simply as an attraction with restaurant.

Sterts Theatre: Sterts promotes the very best in drama, music, dance, painting, photography, sculpture and the performing arts within our outdoor amphitheatre, indoor studio, gallery and grounds thoughout the year. Plus special summer theatre suppers too. Delicious home cooking.

Reel Cinema, Plymouth: independent cinema in central Plymouth. Cheaper and we think more fun than Vue, near the shops.

Cinema by the Sea, Looe: Although perhaps not quite as glamorous as it sounds (in the community centre), it's a great local place to see good films.

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Museums & Galleries

The National Maritime Museum: With a host of things to see and do with boats and the sea at Falmouth.

Tate Gallery, St Ives: Offering International Modern and Contemporary Art.

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Wildlife

Cornwall Bird-Watching and Preservation Society: Dedicated to the study and conservation of birds in the county of Cornwall, in the far south-west of England.www.cbwps.org.uk

Cornwall Wildlife Trust: Helping you enjoy Cornwall's wildlife and countryside.www.cornwallwildlifetrust.org.uk

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Fishing

Tamar Lakes: At the lakes of the South West you have an unrivalled choice of water based activities, angling, relaxation and wildlife, walking and cycling.www.swlakestrust.org.uk

Bake Fishing Lakes: 15 acres of water offering fishing for all and natural history in abundance. We have a Kingfisher in residence and rare dragonflies regularly recorded. www.bakelakes.co.uk

Siblyback Lake: Siblyback Lake is surrounded by the striking Bodmin Moor and offers a wide range of facilities and activities. www.swlakestrust.org.uk

Looe Shark Angling Club: The premier shark angling centre in Great Britain. 
www.sharkanglingclubofgreatbritain.org.uk

Moonraker fishing charters from Looe with skipper Richard Porter. Mackerel, Bass fishing or picnic and river trips. Ring 07771798339 or 01503 263747 or emailnicholaporter@hotmail.co.uk

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Cycling

Looe Valley Cycling: Cycle routes in the Looe valley.

Cycle Routes: More cycling routes in Cornwall.

Cycling in Cornwall: Offering cycling holidays and cycle hire.

Bike hire delivered to your door: Liskeard and Looe Cycle Hire. call 01579 343572 or emailbadhamfarm@yahoo.co.uk

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Walking

The Shepherd's Hut provides an ideal base for a walking holiday. There are so many beautiful walks in the district, including right from the hut and on the farm. You can even reach us by bus or train and then on foot and leave the car at home.

Walks from the Looe Valley Line: The following Looe Valley Line Trails are all accessible from and end at stations along the Looe Valley Line.

Walk About West: Guided walks in Cornwall.

South West Coast Path: Find out more about the longest National Trail and walking it. Or see maps ofshorter day walks, including some lovely ones not far from Treworgey.

Take the dog

A very useful leaflet detailing dog friendly beaches

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Meet your hosts

A greener hideaway

The Hideaway Hut is first and foremost a comfy, cosy, magical place. But there is also a dedication to sustainable use ofproduce, land and resources at the very heart of the farm. You’ll be pleased to know that there are many green issues that aren’t so much a consideration when you are staying in the shepherd’s hut: in fact in many ways you’ll be so comfortable that you’ll barely notice you’re experiencing a ‘greener’ holiday, but for more information, read on...

Heating Energy

You don’t need to worry too much about conserving heating energy. Your hut is insulated so you should feel cosy, but for chillier weather the efficient log burner provides sustainable, excellent heat – and a romantic atmosphere to boot! There are instructions provided to enable you to get the most efficient, green and practical use out of your log burner – such as how to create a fire at night that will still be providing you with hot embers in the morning. Plus, rather than reach first to throw another log on the fire, if you close the curtains and the windows you will keep things even toastier (and less energy-wasteful).

Solar and other energy issues

There are no high energy appliances such as dishwashers to worry about excess energy use, or electronics to leave on standby wasting energy – your lighting is provided by solar power so while you are requested not to leave it on when you go out, it is very efficient to use and from a natural energy source too.

Water Efficiency

There's no water problem at the farm, and if everyone is sensible about water use things will hopefully stay that way. Someof the concerns have been taken away for you; Your loo uses a waterless system. Please make sure you use it properly or it doesn’t work! – Both ladies and gentlemen please sit down to use the loo – it works by a system of separation and won’t work at all if things get mixed up, worse still it will become stinky! You have a shower rather than a bath so provided you don’t spend hours singing away in there - you will be conserving water that way too. As part of their efforts to be greener, Jo & Alec offer the use of their (clothes) washing machine only for guests staying for a week or more. They have their own water supply there too – no need to buy plastic bottled water, why not drink the lovely chlorine-free stuff from under Treworgey’s fields? All you really need to do is to remember to turn taps off when you’ve used them.

Waste, Composting and Recycling

Please recycle as much of your waste as possible. There are designated recycling bins for cardboard, paper, tins/cans, plastics and glass just at the other end of the riding arena. Please also feel free to compost your green waste – there are composters. And better still any tasty carrot or apple peelings or cores will find a very willing home in the belly of their pet pig Demelza or the pet goats and ponies. (Please don’t feed them anything other than a few bits of carrot or apple without checking first.)

Jo & Alec's Environmental Plea

"If you have experience in green technology and can advise us on how to improve, do please come and talk to us. If you can’t advise us, please help us by supporting our green aims and following as many of the pointers above as you can. In return, we promise to keep you posted on our green successes and failures in future. We are very willing to h

elp anyone in any way who would like to know more about our experiences of trying to be more environmentally friendly - good and bad! Plus our experiences at Treworgey beyond the shepherd’s hut with ground source heat pumps, wind and solar. If you are thinking of installing any of these, do come and talk to us (Alec knows most about the technical side of things) and come and have a closer look.

We would really appreciate guests feed back. If you have ideas on how we could be greener - or ways in which we canimprove your holiday experience in general, do please tell us. By supporting our aims you support the Cornish COAST project that we have mentioned too.

Thank you and Happy Holidays"

Jo & Alec