One of three beautifully handcrafted shepherd’s huts in a forest clearing on a working Lake District sheep farm...

The Blencathra camp at Scales Plantation is made up of a beautiful handcrafted Shepherd's hut, a wooden kitchen and bathroom shelter and a compost loo, all in a clearing on the edge of the woods with views over the North Lake fells. Simple wooden furniture gives the hut a traditional

rustic feel, yet it's extremely comfortable. The double bed and bunks have feather down duvets and blankets to sink into and sheepskin rugs line the floor. There is a wood-burner for heating, but the interior of the hut is kept uncluttered thanks to the kitchen and bathroom just outside. This well designed shelter can be opened up to give the chef or bather a unique feeling of being in the woods, or tightly closed if the weather turns. There are hobs, a fridge and a bath with a shower attached, all gas powered, plus a fire pit for more traditional campfire cookery. Groceries can be supplied by your hosts. Simply order before you get there from the list provided and get a delivery of local, seasonal produce to your camp.

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

The essentials

The important stuff

Check-in: 4 pm

Check-out: 10:30 am

Kids & Pets

Cooking

• Gas hobs
• Wood-burning range oven
• Fire pit & BBQ
• Dining area
• Utensils all provided

Washing

• Bath with shower attachment is next to the hut in a private, enclosed unit
• The bathroom also has a little wood-burning stove

Heating, lighting & bedding

• Bed linen and towels provided
• The hut has solar powered electricity which can be used to charge phones and so on
• Each hut has a double bed at one end and removable bunk at the other that can be adapted into a sofa

Getting there

Scales Farm, Berrier, Penrith, Cumbria, CA11 0XE

By car

Leave the M6 at junction 40, heading west on the A66 towards Keswick. Turn right off the A66 signposted Hutton Roof (at the Sportsman Inn). Take the next left, signposted Berrier, stay on this road for quite a long time (about 3 miles) and continue until you reach a crossroad. Turn right towards Newsham and Lamonby and continue up this road until you see a sign for Scales Plantation on the right.

By train

The nearest train station is Penrith. Taxis are available but may be expensive. The distance to Scales Plantation is around 12 miles.

If you are getting to the Cabin by train, bus or any other non-car means you can think of be sure to take a photo and enter our Go Greenly competition to win a 4 night stay at The Wagon or The Ark.

Eating & drinking

Eating & Drinking at Scales Plantation

Tab and Rob can arrange for a hamper of fresh local produce to be in the camp on arrival and will deliver groceries ifneeded. They'll sent you a list of provisions prior to your arrival for you to order in advance, which will then be delivered to the camp.

Complimentary free range eggs are also available from Scales Farm.

Cocklakes Farm Shop, (on the A66 near Berrier) has an extensive deli and butchers along with a bakery and fresh vegetables.

Both Greystoke and Hesket Newmarket have a Post Office and shop.

Turkeys can be ordered during the Christmas period.

Pubs & restaurants

The Mill Inn, Mungrisdale (2.5 miles). A beautiful 17th Century coaching inn in a striking location wi

th the Glenderamakin River flowing below and the Lakeland fells above. The menu is based around traditional Cumbrian fayre with fine wines to accompany your meal. In summer you can relax in the beer garden beside the river, and in winter

warm yourself by the open log fire.

The Boot and Shoe, Greystoke (6.5 miles). A 17th Century pub overlooking the green in a picturesque village. famous for Tarzan and the Gordon Richards Racing Stables. Homemade bar meals, local real ales and a roaring log fire.

The Old Crown, Hesket Newmarket (5 miles). Owned by a co-operative of more than one hundred local people and other supporters, all dedicated to maintaining the essential character of the pub. The Old Crown serves the very best real ales all brewed by the Hesket Newmarket Brewery which stands at the rear of the pub.

Things to do

Outdoor & active

The Lake District National Park is an adventure playground for all the explorers amongst you. The Ullswater and Skiddawareas have a range of outdoor activities available. Ullswater's attractions include the Ullswater Steamers which offer trips around the lake calling at Pooley Bridge, Glenridding, and Howtown.

For a real family treetop adventure, Go Ape! at Whinlatter Forest Park with zip wires, Tarzan swings and stunning views!

Cocklakes Fly Fishery and Farm Shop

Cocklakes Fly Fishery is a family owned and operated business. The lake is 3 acres with a range of opportunities for fly fishermen. If you are new to fishing or fancy something fun as a family day out, you can arrange lessons with Eric, the resident expert who will teach you all the basics to get you up and running with as little tangle as possible!

Mountain Bikes

At Scales Plantation, your hosts can arrange quality mountain bike hire and guided tours leaving the camps with Savvy Lake District Mountain Biking who can also provide all kit and equipment.www.lakedisrtictmountainbiking.co.uk.

Whitehaven in the Northern Lakes is the starting point for the Coast to Coast Cycle Route with the 132 mile route running toSunderland on the East Coast. There are many cycle paths in the area with an extensive list of tried and tested routes available at Cumbrian Cycle Routes.

Air Experience

Guests can book a gyroplane Air Experience with Roger Savage, one of the most experienced gyroplane pilots and instructors in the UK. An Air Experience can either be a flying lesson or a pleasure flight where you can sit back and enjoy the Lakes from above. This can leave from the farm but during lambing season take off and landing points will be a couple of miles down the road in Berrier. www.rogersavage.co.uk.

Rookin House

Rookin House Equestrian Centre has been established over 20 years and offers a wide range of options to suit all abilities. If riding is not your thing, there is always Quad biking, air rifle shooting, activity packages or 4×4 off-road driving.

Places to visit

Keswick

Keswick is situated between Skiddaw and Derwentwater and has become the major centre for tourism in the north lakes. Many visitors to Keswick come for the town's string of events including festivals dedicated to such things as beer, films and jazz. Cumberland Derwent Pencil Museum is situated in Keswick and is known for producing high quality brands of fine art pencils, thus making Derwent Pencils the first choice for artists around the world and the museum surely a must see for all pencil fans.

Hesket Newmarket

Keswick Museum and Art Gallery is home to a collection of local history stretching back to Roman times and includes suchitems as the famous 500 year old cat, a penny farthing bicycle and a man trap. One of the prime exhibits is a set of musical stones which are made from the Skiddaw Slate, known as the Musical Stones of Skiddaw.

High Head Sculpture Valley in Ivegill offers the chance for a stroll through a natural woodland valley seeing large scale sculptures and ever changing exhibitions. There is also a traditional farmhouse tea room.

Cockermouth is home to both the Lakeland Sheep and Wool Centre and the renowned Woolfest.

Courses & classes

Forest School

Get the children out and about and learning in the great outdoors with a trained and certified forest school teacher. Just ask Tab after booking for details for forest school workshops.

Meet your hosts

The concept behind Scales Plantation was born through Tab and Rob’s desire to share the sensational beauty of their home withthe rest of the world. The working sheep and cattle farm sits roughly 1000 feet above sea level where life on an upland farm is not always easy. Nevertheless, the breathtaking views over the North Lake Fells easily make up for all the hard work and long hours.

Environmental Policy

Tab and Rob are working hard to safeguard their little slice of Cumbria for future generations. With solar powered electricity, self composting loos and enthusiastic recycling, the green ethos at Scales Plantation is clearly visible. The family is involved in numerous environmental schemes. They have cleared acres of woodland to preserve and encourage wildlife breeding grounds and laid over 1km of hedgerow, planted over 2500 upland hardwoods and created seven ponds and wetland environments. They have also set aside 100 acres of moorland for heather regeneration to provide habitat for grouse.

Wildlife

Scales Plantation is home to a variety of wildlife. The woodlands of the Lake District remain one of the few areas of the country where the red squirrel can still be found in the wild. Cumbria is rich in birdlife and over 200 bird species are recorded in Cumbria in any one year. Many visitors to the Lake District in recent years have shared in the excitement of seeing ospreys breeding in craggy woodland near Bassenthwaite Lake.