Damselfly - Shepherd's hut in Pembrokeshire, United Kingdom
Marle Cottage
- Shepherd's hut for 2 from £70 per night (read our low price promise)
- One double bed
Not suitable for children
Not suitable for pets
Overview
If you’ve ever wanted to escape to a little place in the country, then join Heather and Gill on their Pembrokeshire smallholding, because they did exactly that. Over the years since they’ve moved to the foothills of the Preseli Hills, they’ve set up the extensive veg garden and the masses of flower beds, established an orchard and fenced off a field for the chickens. The next move was to then build a linked pair of shepherd’s huts, allowing them to share their little slice of paradise with guests. Damselfly is a unique space, with two shepherd’s huts handcrafted by Heather herself and linked by a one metre covered walkway. The far hut is the cosy bedroom, with a folding table, easy chair and crackling woodburner that you’ll only need on the coldest days thanks to superb insulation. The near hut is the kitchen and bathroom, both with all modern comforts and even underfloor heating blended into the hut’s style with a loving finish.
Although the hut is only about 15 metres from Marle Cottage, there is a more secluded seating and firepit area just round the corner if you want to hide yourselves away or borrow the bodhran and have a fireside sing along. You might meet Heather and Gill as you head over to pick veg from the garden, as you come back from a day of exploration and adventure on the wild Pembrokeshire coast, or if you arrange a session of green woodworking lessons, but they are more than happy to just bask in the knowledge that you’re dozing happily somewhere in their rural idyll. After all, as the sign on Damselfly says, “a life without dreams is like a garden without flowers.”
Essentials
The important stuff
- Check in: after 4 pm
- Check out: before 11am
- Bring torches, wellies and binoculars if you have them
- Mobile phone signal can be intermittent
- Sleeping arrangements
- One double bed
Cooking
- Hob and microwave oven in kitchen
- Firebowl in Damselfly garden
- Firepit in sundowner hideaway a short walk from the hut
Washing
- Flushing toilet, electric shower and sink in adjoining hut
- Belfast sink in kitchen
Heating, lighting & bedding
- Wood burner
- Bed linen and towels provided
- Electric lighting
- Plug sockets in hut
Entertainment
- Pack of cards, chess set, backgammon set, scrabble and dominoes in the cupboard in the snug
- Books on birds, trees, gardening, small holding, some fiction, Dylan Thomas poetry as well as a host of information about local places to visit
- Drum and a bodhrain folk which can be borrowed from the owners to take to the firpit up at the sundown hideaway
- DAB radio
Getting there
Damselfly, Marle Cottage, Boncath, Pembrokeshire, SA37 0JS
By car
From Aberystwyth
Take the A487 signposted to Cardigan. Drive through Llanrhystud, Aberarth, Aberaeron,Llanarth, Plwmp and Blaenporth. Arrive in Cardigan (there is a Tesco on the right for last minute provisions). At the first roundabout take the third exit, staying on the A487. At the second roundabout take the first exit signposted Tenby (A478). Drive for about six miles then take the Boncath turning on the left (B4332). At the crossroads in Boncath drive straight over, signposted Bwlch y Groes. Drive for about a mile, crossing a small bridge and almost immediately turn right just beside the blue house on the right. Follow this single track road as it curves round to the right, past a small farm, then take the track on the left signposted Crymych. Marle Cottage is the first smallholding along here and is on the right.
From Camarthen
Take the A484 signposted Cardigan. Drive for 16 miles to Newcastle Emlyn. Take the A484 to Cenarth. At Cenarth turn left onto the B4332 signposted Boncath (before crossing river). At the crossroads in Boncath turn left signposted Bwlch y Groes. Drive for about a mile, over a small bridge and almost immediately turn right just beside the blue house on the right. Follow this single track road as it curves round to the right, past a small farm, then take the track on the left signposted Crymych. Marle Cottage is the first smallholding along here and is on the right.
Parking is in the yard, a 1-2 minute walk across the orchard and through the vegetable gardens to your own wildlife garden and Damselfly.
By train
There is a train station in Carmarthen (half an hour away by car) and one in Aberystwyth (an hour away).
By bus
There is a bus from Cardigan (not frequent) to Boncath, a mile away from Marle Cottage.
Food & Drink
At Marle Cottage
Tea, ground coffee, sugar and milk provided as well as a slice of cake or biscuits.
Local shops
There is a small village shop in Boncath, a mile away, for basics. In Crymych, three miles away, there is a wonderful wholefood shop, a quality butcher, a chemist and small supermarket.
In Cardigan, seven miles away, there is a supermarket (please talk to the owners if you would like a delivery arranged).
Places to eat
PizzaTipi - woodfired handmade pizza, Great coffee, local craft beers & wine in riverside courtyard. Fire bowls and tipis, good music sometimes live
Nags Head Inn - a traditional Pembrokeshire pub in the Cych valley surrounded by woodland, serving exciting innovative food
Blas at Fronlas - really good, unpretentious food in a welcoming and cosy café, fantastic vibe, with a tunes and tapas night on a Friday in summer. Well worth the journey
Activities
At Marle Cottage
Picking fruit and vegetables from Gill and Heather's orchard and vegetable garden.
Try your hand at green woodworking.
Places to visit
Mwnt - a small whitewashed chapel overlooking a National Trust Beach
Cardigan - a bustling market with prettily painted Georgian buildings by the River Teifi it has its own castle, quay and a wealth of shops, cafes, restaurants and culture
Cenarth - a pretty village on the River Teifi, where the salmon leap and coracles are sailed at times
Llangranog - a beautiful unspoiled seaside village nestled in a steep valley
St Dogmaels - a very pretty village with a working flour mill, an ancient abbey and an award winning Farmers Market open on Tuesdays
Newport – an enchanting town full of unique shops and places to eat, it is quirky with an amazing beach and is nestled at the foot of the Preseli Mountains
Newcastle Emlyn – a lovely little market town, with interesting shops, a ruined castle and a very good wholefood shop and café
Castell Henlleys – an iron age village run by the National Park
A bit further afield
New Quey – a favourite haunt of Dylan Thomas, it is a busier seaside town with a lovely harbour
Aberaeron – a lively harbour town, with gorgeous Georgian buildings, interesting shops and an award winning restaurant The Harbourmaster Hotel
St Davids – the smallest city in the UK, with its stunning Norman cathedral, interesting galleries, places to eat and magical coastline and secret beaches it is an enchanting day out
Bosherton Lilly Ponds – amazingly huge lily ponds, walk around them to the magical beach, then wander around the Stackpole estate
Tenby – three glorious golden beaches and a lovely little town wrapped up in a medieval wall, there is lots to do and see
Narberth – a very elegant town with truly a host of independent shops and places to eat
Lauharne – a fascinating town where Dylan Thomas lived with his family, his home can be visited and his writing hut visited, there is a Dylan Thomas walk which takes in his final resting place
Outdoor & Active
Walk the coast path, miles of wonderful coastline to explore, with pubs and cafes every now and again to rest a while.
Poppit Sands – a gloriously long beach with sand dunes and a marvellous café nearby. A great place to fly a kite, body surf, swim, make sand castles
The ‘Golden Road’ is a famous but quiet track covering eight miles of the Preseli Hills
Rockpooling on the many beaches of Manorbier
Watersports including coasteering, kayaking, windsurfing and body boarding
Angling and sea fishing
Horse riding in the heather
Visit the islands around Pembrokeshire by boat (Skomer, Stokholm, Grassholm, Caldy)
Seal spotting
Visit Dark Sky Discovery sites
Meet your hosts
Meet Gill & Heather
Heather has been a cabinet maker for many years and Gill has worked, supporting different groups of vulnerable people, using nature as a key to recovery and achievement. They lived in the very beautiful Peak District but had a hankering to be by the sea and had fallen in love with Pembrokeshire over many camping holidays. They both had a deep desire to get back to the land, to have a go at self sufficiency so when the opportunity to move to a smallholding in Pembrokeshire arose they didn’t hesitate.
They have been smallholding for many years now with an equal measure of triumphs and mistakes, but still find it enormously fun and wake up each day with new plans and ideas. Their hope is to acquire their own goats and to start making cheese. They have their own hens and will soon have more sheep.
They love the laid back life in Pembrokeshire, the beautiful beaches and exhilarating coast line, spending evenings around campfires and drumming and observing wildlife, with many hours lost checking out the dragon and damselflies at Marle Cottage. Damselfly has emerged out of their enjoyment for camping and sharing the fun of outside living and smallholding in a wonderful environment.
Wildlife & Environment
Marle Cottage is a six acre organic smallholding just outside Pembrokeshire National park, surrounded by single track roads, bounded by hedgerows full of flowers, colours, perfumes and critters and with a small ancient bluebell wood just minutes down the lanes. The smallholding, with deep beds, a small orchard, a wildlife garden and pond, paddocks and hideaway places beyond, looks over Frenni Fawr in the foothills of the Preseli Hills. Life here is peaceful, with birdsong, cock crowing and bleating sheep the soundtrack to the day. Wild horses roam free in the Preseli Hills, amongst the bronze age remains and stone circles.
Damselfly is just a few miles away from the stunning Pembrokeshire coastline and close to the beautiful rural towns of Cardigan, Crymych and Newcastle Emlyn. Wildlife abounds both at Marle Cottage and within Pembrokeshire with its ancient woodlands, historic towns, quiet beaches and hills. There are seals, dolphins, porpoises and whales to spot, guillemots, puffins and a host of other wildlife to discover and enjoy. At Damselfly on sunny summer days there are dragonflies and damselflies flitting over the pond, pond skaters, water boatmen, whirligigs and newts in the pond. Bumblebees and honeybees are busy as are the butterflies, blackbirds, thrushes, magpies and at dusk there are bats. Over the rest of Marle Cottage there are badgers, foxes, voles and moles. The red tailed kite swoops over as do buzzards, and there are starlings and swifts each year, sometimes even murmurations. At the moment the owners have free range hens, with goats soon to arrive along with a few sheep to keep the grass down.
Our guests say...
We had a lovely long weekend at Damselfly. Both of us were left inspired by how the huts were designed and the use of the space. The log burner and shower were amazing! Thanks Heather, Gill and the animals
27/04/2018Laura
We had a brilliant stay in Damselfly. We were welcomed by our hosts, who were very friendly and accommodating. The little touches of the welcome note, a fire made up and ready to light, milk in the fridge, Bara brith and prosecco to celebrate our honeymoon were very thoughtful. The huts themselves are just gorgeous. Heather has done a great job making them practical and comfortable. They have done a wonderful job making them warm, cosy and clean. The kitchen had everything we needed and the bathroom with underfloor heating and a powerful shower was a treat. It's a great location for coastal walks, visiting local towns and the Welsh Wildlife Centre was fantastic! We would certainly recommend it.
28/03/2018Lizzie
We had a really enjoyable stay and were made to feel most welcome. The accomodation was excellent and so cosy. It was a boon having the kitchen and shower in a sperate, but linked, unit.
09/03/2018Martyn
We had a lovely weekend at Damselfly - the two shepherd's huts are just gorgeous and have been so well fitted out by Heather. Every detail had been thought of, from coasters to underfloor heating in the bathroom. Even though we didn't get the full benefit on the garden, due to staying in February, we instead had the perfect place to cuddle up and escape from it all. We also particularly loved meeting the cat. We can't wait to come back!
16/02/2018Hannah
Stayed here for two nights, was very impressed! So cosy and comfy and even though it was February the log burner kept us nice and warm! Had everything that we needed and would return in a heart beat
14/02/2018Nicola
Not what you're looking for? Search...
Want to know a bit more about glamping? Read about...
Love this place? Tell everyone!
Booking Terms
Canopy & Stars low price promise
Book with us in confidence knowing you won’t find that place cheaper elsewhere. All of the prices we display are set and matched by our Owners. (In this world of foreign currency, we do have to say 'subject to exchange rates' for some of our European places.)
What does ‘from price’ mean?
Our ‘from price’ is based on a four night stay in low season and designed to help you to compare different prices across our collection. Some of our Owners vary their nightly rates and check in days throughout the year, so it may differ from the rate quoted below the calendar. It is quite common (although by no means universal) for places to charge a little more in peak season or for shorter stays, to cover changeover costs. Consider booking longer stays during the cooler months if you’re looking for the lowest nightly rates.
Agency Terms & Conditions
Except where otherwise specified, we Sawday’s Canopy & Stars Ltd Company No 09088366 of Merchants House, Wapping Road, Bristol, BS1 4RW act only as an Agent in respect of all bookings we take and/or make on your behalf. Sawday’s Canopy & Stars is part of the Alastair Sawday’s Group of Companies. We accept no liability in relation to any contract you enter into or for any services or arrangements you purchase (“Booking(s)”) or for the acts or omissions of any supplier(s) or other person(s) or party(ies) connected with any Booking. For all Bookings, your contract will be with the supplier of the Booking in question, and in most cases this will be the owner of the property you’ll be staying at (“Owner(s)”). When making your Booking we will arrange for you to enter into a contract with the Owner of the Booking. Your Booking with us is subject to these Agency Terms & Conditions and any specific booking conditions of the relevant Owner(s) you contract with. The Owner’s booking conditions may limit and/or exclude the Owner’s liability to you.
You may decide to make more than one Booking with us at the same time. The price charged in total for more than one Booking will always equal the prices charged separately for each individual Booking. All Bookings are available to be purchased separately at the same price as they are when more than one Booking is made. This means that any multiple Bookings do not constitute a package as defined in the Package Travel, Package Holidays and Package Tours Regulations 1992.
By making a booking, you agree that:-
- you have read these Agency Terms & Conditions and agree to be bound by them;
- you consent to our use of your information in accordance with our Privacy Policy;
and
- you are over 18 years of age and where there may be age restrictions in place, you declare that you and all members of your party are of the appropriate age.
The Canopy & Stars online booking system enables Guests to make Bookings 24 hours a day. A Booking is confirmed on receipt of a 25% non-refundable deposit for all Bookings with check in dates of more than 10 weeks away. For all Bookings that have a check in date of less than 10 weeks before check in, payment for the Booking will be required in full and the entire Booking will be non-refundable. The Canopy & Stars telephone booking line is open Monday to Friday 9am to 6pm. When using the online enquiry form, for those Properties without online booking, please allow 24 working hours for us to contact you by telephone to confirm the Booking. If we are unable to reach you by phone we will attempt to contact you by email. We will contact you during Canopy & Stars working hours (Monday to Friday 9am to 6pm). Online or email enquiries will be dealt with in the order they are received, but please be aware that we cannot guarantee reservation of your selected dates until the receipt of suitable payment. Therefore, if possible, we do recommend that you book on the Canopy & Stars website using the online booking system.
1. Booking and payments
1.1 In order to confirm your chosen Booking, you must pay a non-refundable deposit as required by the Owner of the Booking in question (or full payment if booking within 10 weeks of the date of your check-in).
1.2 Your Booking is confirmed and a contract between you and the Owner will exist when we receive payment of the deposit and send you a booking confirmation on the Owner’s behalf. This booking confirmation will normally be sent out within 24 hours in the case of email and seven working days in the case of post, and will contain the details of your Booking and of payments made and due. If you have not received your booking confirmation within the specified time, please notify us as soon as possible by email (bookings@canopyandstars.co.uk). Please check your confirmation carefully and report any incorrect or incomplete information to us immediately. As we act only as booking Agent, we have no responsibility for any errors in any documentation except where an error is made by us.
1.3 Where a deposit has been paid, full balance payment will be due 10 weeks in advance of your check in date and a reminder will be sent to you two weeks prior to this date, where applicable, by email. We automatically take the balance payment using the same card as used to make the deposit payment. It is your reponsibility to advise us if we should use a different card and to contact us by telephone (0117 204 7830) to arrange for alternative payment method. If the balance payment does not successfully go through as there is a problem with your card, such as it expiring, then we will contact you to try and take alternative payment. If we have been unable to take payment after two weeks of the balance due date, then with regret, we will notify the Owner who may cancel your Booking.
1.4 Except where otherwise advised or stated in the booking conditions of the Owner concerned, all monies you pay to us for a Booking will be held on behalf of the Owner(s) concerned.
1.5 Credit Card payments are processed via Alastair Sawday’s Publishing Co. Ltd who provide merchants services facilities to Sawday’s Canopy & Stars Ltd.
2. Cancellation and Amendment by You
2.1 Any cancellation or amendment request must be sent to us by email (bookings@canopyandstars.co.uk) and will be considered and responded to within one working day of receipt. You are also advised to confirm all changes to our Customer Services Department by calling 0117 204 7830. Please ensure that you have received written confirmation of any changes to your Booking prior to travel. Whilst we will always try to help, we cannot guarantee that such requests will be met.
2.2 Amendments and cancellations can only be accepted in accordance with the booking conditions of the Owner of your Arrangements. The Owner may charge the cancellation or amendment charges shown in their booking conditions (which may be as much as 100% of the cost of the Arrangements and will normally increase closer to the date of departure). The Owner may charge cancellation or amendment charges in accordance with its own booking conditions, however for the sake of convenience only, we have outlined the Owner’s charges at clause 2.3 and 2.4 below. Please note that these are the Owner’s own cancellation and amendments charges, not Canopy & Stars’, and therefore the Owner may vary their charges as they wish, without notice to us. The correct charges will be notified to you at the time of your cancellation or amendments.
2.3 Owner’s General Cancellation Charges:
2.3.1 Cancellation by you at any time will result in your deposit being forfeited, as all deposits are non-refundable.
2.3.2 All monies paid for a holiday (deposit and balance) are non-refundable within 10 weeks before check in date.
2.3.3 Cancellation of any holiday after it has been paid in full and at a date 10 weeks or more in advance of your check in date, will result in forfeiture of your deposit (or an amount equivalent where one was not paid as the holiday was paid in full) and the balance being returned to you.
2.3.4 Cancellation insurance is available but will be a third party arrangement and not involve Canopy & Stars or the Owner in any way.
2.4 Owner’s General Amendment Charges:
2.4.1 Alterations to your Booking can only be made more than 10 weeks prior to the check in date, after which time alterations will be treated as cancellation. All alterations are subject to availability and may incur a £30 adminstration fee.
2.4.2 Differences in the total amount payable resulting from alterations will be refunded to you in the case of a decrease in price and paid by you in the case of increases in price.
Special note: Generally Owners will charge the above cancellation and amendment charges, however we must stress that these are a guide only and charges may differ from those shown here depending on the Owner. The exact charges will be notified to you by the Owner at the time of cancellation and/or can be found in the Owner’s own booking conditions which are available from the Owner on request.
3. Changes and Cancellations by the Owner
We will inform you as soon as reasonably possible if the Owner needs to make a significant change to your confirmed Arrangements or to cancel them. We will also liaise between you and the Owner in relation to any alternative Booking offered by the Owner but we will have no further liability to you.
4. Complaints
Because the contract for your Booking is between you and the Owner, any queries or concerns should be addressed to them. In the event that you have any complaint about your stay, please notify the Owner as soon as possible. If you don’t follow this procedure there will be less opportunity for the Owner to investigate and resolve your complaint and so make your stay as enjoyable as possible. Delays may also mean that amount of compensation you may be entitled to may be reduced. Whether or not your complaint is dealt with satisfactorily, please also contact us as we appreciate all feedback. It’s important to us and the Owner to know that you’ve enjoyed your stay or if anything could have been improved.
5. Pricing
Canopy & Stars reserve the right to amend advertised prices at any time on behalf of the Owner. We also reserve the right to correct errors in both advertised and confirmed prices.Special note: changes and errors sometimes occur.
6. Information & Accuracy
The information and prices shown on this website are varied from time to time and may change between the time you first view a property and make a Booking. You should check that all the details are as you expect prior to making a Booking. It is always possible that, despite our best efforts, some of the properties (including the features and extras available) may be incorrectly described and/or priced. If we discover this is the case after you have made a Booking, we reserve the right to contact you with details of the correct information and/or pricing and will give you the option to:
(1) proceed with the Booking based on the correct information and/or pricing, which may require the payment of an additional amount by you;
OR
(2) subject to availability, change your booking dates to dates when the pricing can be honoured ad so no additional charge to you. In the event that a lower price can be offered for alternative dates then the difference would be refunded;
OR
(3) cancel the Booking. If we do not receive your instructions within 5 days of contacting you, we reserve the right to cancel your Booking without liability to you.
7. Our Responsibility for your Booking
Your contract is with the Owner and its booking conditions apply. As Agent, we accept no responsibility for the actual provision of the Booking. Our responsibilities are limited to making the Booking in accordance with your instructions and acting properly in accordance with our legal duties as an Agent. We accept no responsibility for any information about the Booking that we pass on to you in good faith. However, in the event that we are found liable to you on any basis whatsoever, our maximum liability to you is limited to twice the cost of your Booking (or the appropriate proportion of this if not everyone on the Booking is affected). We do not exclude or limit any liability for death or personal injury that arises as a result of our negligence or that of any of our employees whilst acting in the course of their employment.
8. Pets
Not all properties accept pets. If you wish to take your pet on holiday, please advise us before booking and we can check whether pets are accepted at the property. You must obtain the prior consent of the Owner before taking any pets to the property. A nightly charge may be made by the Owner for each pet and additional terms may apply.
9. VAT
Many of the Owners of properties in the Canopy & Stars portfolio are not registered for VAT in which case no tax is payable. Where VAT is payable, the tax is included in the advertised holiday rental price.
10. Visa, passport and health requirements.
Unless you tell us otherwise, we assume that all members of your party are British citizens who hold or will hold full British passports valid for the entire duration of the Arrangements you chose to purchase. Information on visa, passport and health requirements, where given and applicable, is so given on this basis. Requirements may change and you are therefore strongly recommended to check the up to date position with the Owner of the Booking, Passport Office, appropriate embassy or consulate or your doctor as applicable in good time before the commencement of your holiday.
11. Insurance
You are strongly recommended to take out personal travel insurance for all members of your party. It is your responsibility to ensure that the insurance you purchase is adequate and appropriate for your particular needs. Please read your policy details and take them with you on holiday.
12. Special requests
If you have any special requests (for example dietary requirements, cots or room location), please let us know at the time of booking. We will pass on all such requests to the Owner, but unfortunately, we can't guarantee that they will be met and we will have no liability to you if they are not.
13. Group Bookings
Not all Owners accept Bookings for a single sex group (for example, a stag or hen party). Guests wanting to make such a Booking should check with us beforehand to enable us to check whether the Owner is prepared to accept the Booking. We will then advise you accordingly. In event that an Owner does not accept this type of Booking then it is with regret, that the Booking may be cancelled and cancellation fees may apply. It is the Guest’s responsibility to enquire with Canopy & Stars and/or check on our website beforehand to make sure that this type of booking is permitted.
14. Maximum Numbers
Please note that except by prior arrangement confirmed in writing, only the number of persons specified on a booking confirmation may occupy a property. Most owners reserve the right to refuse admittance or revoke a booking if this condition is not observed and you are unlikely to receive any refund.
15. Your Responsibilities
Please note that you have a contract with the Owner of the property. As such you are under a responsibility to behave in a proper, appropriate and legal manner whilst staying at the property with due respect to the Owner, the Property and other guests and their property. You are responsible for informing the Owner of any losses or damage to the property as soon as possible. Please note that you will be liable to pay the Owner for any losses or damage to the property caused by you or a member of your party (except reasonable wear and tear). Some Owners will also require damage deposits. You must also leave the property by the check-out time specified on your booking. If any guest behaves inappropriately or improperly (of which the Owner will be the final judge on their Property), or illegally, the Owner reserves the right to ask the guest and their party (at their discretion) to leave the Property before the end of the holiday period and/or refuse any future bookings from you. Any refund for so doing will be at the entire discretion of the Owner. In addition, the Owner reserves the right to sue the guest for any loss, damage or injury caused to the Owner, the Property or to other guests and/or their property. As agent, we will have no liability to you in these circumstances.
16. Governing Law and Jurisdiction
These terms and conditions have been drafted in accordance with and are governed by English law and the courts of England and Wales have exclusive jurisdiction in relation to any and all disputes arising out of these Agency Terms & Conditions.
17. Discrepancies
In case of a discrepancy between these Agency Terms & Conditions and any other Canopy & Stars literature, these Agency Terms & Conditions shall prevail.
18. Validity clause
In the event that a court finds that a condition in these Agency Terms & Conditions is illegal or void, the illegal or void provision will be severed from the remainder of the Agency Terms & Conditions, which will continue to be valid and have full force and effect.
We had a lovely long weekend at Damselfly. Both of us were left inspired by how the huts were designed and the use of the space. The log burner and shower were amazing! Thanks Heather, Gill and the animals
27/04/2018