Visitor’s Guide
Award-Winning Glamping in a Stunning Location!
! 1! Contents ! Welcome 3
Location Map & Directions 4
Check in and Departures 5
Green Glamping 6
Staying here under canvas or tin 9
Enjoying your Hot Tub 14
BBQ Hut 15
Fire Safety 16
Hampers and Farm Produce 17
Recipe 18
Exploring the Area 20
Local Shopping 22
Places to Eat 23
Walking 25
Dark Skies 28 !
2! ! 3!
Thank you for choosing to stay at ! Dorset Forest Garden! Dorset Forest Garden Shepherd’s Huts are set in one of those rare locations of the UK where little of the 20th Century is visible despite its far-reaching views. This means super dark skies, an ideal spot for stargazing. Each hut has its own unique style furnished with an eclectic mix of vintage furnishings to give a relaxed rustic country feel unique to each space. We take the same care in our hampers. Whether homemade produce or from the best of local suppliers our aim is to do the leg work to give you the opportunity to sample from some of the best local artisan producers. We feel a good holiday does not need to be at the expense of the environment. With all our electricity from renewable sources we are keen to give you a comfortable relaxed break without costing the planet. The wider area has a lot to offer – West Dorset is a wonderful, unspoilt part of the country. There is so much here for foodies, art lovers, or anyone wanting to connect with nature. We are just a few miles from the Jurassic coast, if you wish to spend your days exploring the region then you’ll find loads to do, however it is worth making time to cook over an open fire, and just chill out off-grid in the forest garden! Tracy and James
! 3! !
Finding us… If you search Google Maps for Dorset Forest Garden Glamping the pin will show you our exact location. If you are finding us using Sat Nav our postcode is DT8 3SG. This will get you very close to our farm but you may end up at another farm covered by the same postcode, Down Farm. With Down Farm on your right drive about 1/3 mile and you’ll reach a staggered crossroad. Take the left (sign posted to Maiden Newton). Dorset Forest Garden will be on your left in about đ mile, opposite Kitwhistle Farm. If you find yourself in Beaminster, take the road in between the Red Lion and the hair salon and follow it for 1đ miles up a steep hill to the staggered crossroads, where you turn right (sign posted to Maiden Newton). Dorset Forest Garden will be on your left in about đ mile, opposite Kitwhistle Farm. 4! ! Check-in day Departure day
Check-in is any time Check-out is by 10.30; after 3.30; please let us before you leave, please know your expected make sure that all fires arrival time so we can are extinguished and plan around you. Also if everything is as you we know your arrival found it, with time and you have everything washed up booked a hot tub we will and put away. light it for you. If you have broken If you are held up for any anything please let me reason or get lost do let know; we won’t be cross me know. My number is but we do need to know. 07971 652501. We also appreciate feedback, so tell us if On Arrival there is something we could improve on or if there is anything you Follow the track up the particularly liked. hill past the farmhouse on the left and the forest garden on the right and Have a safe journey park in the yard at the home and we hope to very top. see you again.
! 5! 1
Green Glamping
We have been passionate about the environment for years. It led us to build our Eco home in 2008. It was pioneering in its use of passive solar in the UK at the time.
We have taken this same concern into the development of our glamping business here in beautiful Dorset. What we’ve done: All our electricity is green, either generated by us or from other renewable sources.
EV charging is available to our guests with electric vehicles.
We not only use local skilled crafts people, we also carefully source and restore vintage furniture for our accommodation.
Food Hampers contain local produce celebrating the wonderful producers we are so blessed to have around us. 6! ! 2
! Green Glamping
We produce our own handmade soaps using all natural ingredients and essential oils (which smell divine) . Environmentally friendly cleaning products like Ecover are provided for your use and are used during change over. Recycling containers and a food waste caddy are supplied for each accommodation to make it easy for you to sort your waste. We reinvest both in charities we support and in adding trees to the Forest Garden every year. Your visit helps this to happen. You can make a difference: Sort your waste as you go using the recycling containers provided. The wooden crate is for glass and the green bin is for other recycling (paper, cans and recyclable plastic). There is also a general bin in the car park for things that really can’t be recycled.
Think about the wood you’re burning - wood is a carbon store. We supply a generous quantity of kiln-dried wood by your hut, but if you wish to use more we sell additional loads! . 7! 3
Green Glamping !!
Fun carbon-neutral activities during your stay include: • Stargazing; we recommend you download the SkyView app which highlights constellations planets and moons - it’s fascinating!
• Wildlife watching; we provide reference books and binoculars for your use. The bird feeders in the forest garden attract a wide range of birds – see which ones you can identify! A great bird watcher App we recommend is the eBird App. This also enables you to record the birds you see which is then available for educational and conservation use.
• Walking; there is an ordnance survey maps in your hut, and we’re happy to point you in the direction of doorstep walks like the Hardy Way and the Donkey Sanctuary.
• Playing board games and cards, a range supplied in your hut. !
8! ! 1
Staying here under canvas or tin
Essentials Check in after 3.30 pm; Check out before 10.30 am. Free roaming of the fields is not possible due to the horses, but there are footpaths and woodlands you have free access to. There is no smoking on the farm. The lighting includes LED lights, and candles for a nostalgic touch. The space is heated by a wood burner; please read the fire safety page. Bed linen and bath towels are provided; bring wellies, slippers, outdoor towels and torches. Each accommodation has its own personal wood store with a generous wood supply. The prices for various extras are listed within your hut. Wildlife & Recycling Under your hut is a wooden crate for glass and a green bin for paper, cans, and hard plastic to recycle. Do not put general waste or leave food outside as it attracts the wildlife and is not good for them. All landfill waste can be placed in the metal bin in the car park. It is lovely to learn about your wildlife or star spottings. Do share in your Visitor Book! Entertainment There is a walking map in your accommodation along with cards, board games, binoculars and a range of books. We highly recommend downloading the SkyView app to get the most of the stars in our dark skies.
! 9! 2
Staying here under canvas or tin
Artisan or Forager shepherd’s huts Cooking You have your own private fire bowl that can be cooked over. Inside your hut there is a table-top electric oven pot, an electric kettle, a kitchen sink with washing up liquid and tea towel, and there is a supply of oil, salt and pepper, tea and coffee. Crockery and cutlery are provided.
There is a fridge (with some freezer space) in the BBQ hut. You can cook in the BBQ hut. This requires charcoal rather than wood. We sell sacks of Dorset artisan-made charcoal; the prices for various extras are listed within your hut. Ensuite Facilities Your shepherd’s hut has ensuite shower
10! ! 3
Staying here under canvas or tin
and flushing toilet. We provide our own range of handmade soap, which is also a good body wash. Bring your own shower gel and shampoo. Note that occasionally, due to water demand elsewhere, hot water might not be immediately available. All your drains go to a special septic tank and so it is important for the health of this system to ensure you only flush your ablutions and loo paper down the loo. Never flush sanitary towels or other non-natural items. The Astronomer Shepherd’s Hut This is set in a young copse, separate from the forest garden. The shepherd’s hut has a panoramic glass window in the copper ceiling over the bed so you can enjoy the Milky Way on a clear night. People often tell us of shooting stars they have seen. Cooking To add to the luxury it has many additions within the hut and a private covered BBQ area for al- ! 11! 4
Staying here under canvas or tin
fresco cooking. Inside the hut there is a slow cooker, fridge, electric kettle, a kitchen sink with washing up liquid and tea towel, and there is a supply of oil, salt and pepper, tea and coffee. Crockery and cutlery are provided. Ensuite facilities Your shepherd’s hut has ensuite shower and flushing toilet. We provide our own range of handmade soap, which is also a good body wash. Bring your own shower gel and shampoo. Note that occasionally, due to water demand elsewhere, water pressure may sometimes drop. Your drains go to a septic tank and so it is important for the health of this system to ensure you only flush your ablutions and loo paper down the loo. Never flush sanitary towels or other non-natural items. The Nomad Yurt Cooking You have your own private fire bowl that can be cooked over with pots and kettle provided. Outside there are washing up facilities with washing up liquid and tea towel, and inside there is a supply of oil, salt and pepper, tea and coffee. Crockery and cutlery are provided.
There is a fridge (with some freezer space) in the BBQ hut, together with an electric kettle. You can cook in the BBQ hut. This requires charcoal rather than wood. We sell sacks of Dorset artisan-made charcoal; the prices for various extras are listed within your yurt. Ensuite facilities 12! ! 5
Staying here under canvas or tin
The yurt has a private ensuite with composting loo. This is a very good system and rest assured it has zero smell! Beautifully scented, locally made soap is provided for the basin. Please bring your own shower gel. Please note that occasionally, due to water demand elsewhere, hot water might not be immediately available. It is important for the health of the compost loo to ensure only your ablutions and loo paper goes down the loo. Never deposit sanitary towels or other non-natural items in the compost loo.
! 13! 8!
Hot Tub
If you are staying in a shepherd’s hut and have booked a hot tub it is freshly filled for your arrival. A wood fired stove in the side of the hot tub heats it. The Artisan and Forager larger hot tubs’ first heating takes approximately 3 hours from starting the fire until it’s toasty warm (be careful not to keep feeding it once up to temperature or it can get too hot!) – the Astronomer has a smaller hot tub which takes about 1đ hours to heat. After this initial heating the water holds its temperature very well and so it only takes a small amount of heat for subsequent uses. If you give us an idea of your arrival we will aim to start your tub heating for you.
Making the most of your hot tub
Do use after dark. It is fun to use at anytime, but on a clear night it’s a great place to star gaze.
Do shower ahead of taking a dip, and avoid soaps in the tub. This way it’s lovely for your next use.
Don’t leave the fire unattended or light it if the hot tub is empty.
Do use it to relax. The warm water helps to release endorphins that naturally reduce stress.
14! ! Do bring your own outdoor towels.
BBQ Hut (Available to Artisan, Forager & Nomad) A fun part of glamping is cooking over a fire. Your firepit is just in front of your accommodation and inside your accommodation you’ll find a wooden box with outdoor cooking equipment for use either over the firepit or in the BBQ hut. You have your own personal supply of wood for your firepit and if you’ve never lit a fire before, we’re happy to show you how. The BBQ hut is an idea from Scandinavia and a lovely place to cook whatever the weather. Above the door is a vent that needs to be opened before lighting and it is worth opening the back window and door. Inside the BBQ hut there is a fridge with marked shelves for each accommodation. For the Nomad yurt this also has power points and an electric kettle you can use as the Nomad has no mains electricity. Please Note: You need to use only charcoal in the BBQ hut (we sell bags of quality Dorset charcoal which is easy to light). Make sure to clean everything after you’ve used it so it’s ready for the next time.
! 15! Fire Safety
Lighting Fires The wood burners have vents on the front. When lighting your fire slide the vent open and this will allow oxygen in. Place your fire lighter in the grate and light it (only one is needed to light a fire and takes the place of kindling), place two dry smaller pieces of wood over the top close together. This helps the fire draw. Your accommodation comes equipped with a fire extinguisher for use in an emergency.
Dos & Dont’s Do toast your marshmallow carefully over the fire until all gooey. Even better make up your S’mores welcome kit supplied on your arrival Don’t over-stoke the fires otherwise it can be a fire hazard. Do close the fire air vent when leaving it and pull the wood apart using the poker to help stop the fire. Keep water near by your fire pit just in case. Don’t dry clothes near the fire. Do keep the door on your wood burners closed.
attend your fire at all times when lit 16Do! !
Hampers and Farm Produce
We offer a range of hampers that can be ordered ahead of your visit, using locally sourced contents such as delicious apple juice from a fruit farm just a few miles away and artisan cider a similar distance in the opposite direction, or eggs from our own free-range hens on the farm.
For our latest range of hampers, or other goodies look at: dorsetforestgardenglamping.co.uk/menu/farm- shoppings/
There is also a range of Extras available at all times. These are listed in your huts.
! 17! 1
Recipes
Pot oven (Artisan or Forager) All the heat is from the lid. Make sure the pot is sitting on its stand (it will get very hot) and when ready place the lid on the pot and switch it on. Handle the lid with care, putting down upside down when looking inside. Sausage casserole Method Place the onion and sausages in the Ingredients pot close the lid and cook until the 1 onion finely chopped sausage starts to brown. Stir 1tbsp oil occasionally. 2 carrots , sliced Add the rest of the ingredients and 4 sausages, cut into slices cook 1- 1.5 hrs, until cooked. 1 sweet potato , peeled and cut into chunks tin tomatoes fresh herbs 1 beef stock pot Baked Mushroom and cheese Method Place all the ingredients in the pot Ingredients and cook 20-30minutes or until the 3 tbsp oil mushrooms are soft. 10 medium mushrooms, trimmed tub ricotta 1 tbsp pesto garlic cloves , finely chopped 15g freshly grated parmesan (or vegetarian alternative)
Slow Cooker (Astronomer)
18! ! 2
Recipes
Slow-cooker pulled pork Method Heat the slow cooker to high. Put the Ingredients onions in the bottom of the slow 1 onion finely chopped cooker. Mix together the remaining smoked paprika 1 tsp ingredients and rub all over the pork ground cumin 1 tsp then sit on top of the onions. Cook for garlic cloves , finely chopped 8 hours. Remove the pork and shred salt 1 tsp into chunks. Mix in 4-5 tbsp of Dijon mustard 1 tbsp cooking liquid from the slow cooker. red wine vinegar 1.5 tbsp Serve in buns. tomato purée 1 tbsp soft light brown sugar 1 tbsp boneless pork shoulder 1.5kg, skin and excess fat removed Macaroni Cheese Method Put the milk, all the cheeses, mustard Ingredients powder, a generous pinch of salt and 0.5l milk freshly ground black pepper into a 1/4 tsp english mustard powder slow cooker. Stir well, then add the 150 g mature Cheddar, grated macaroni and mix again. Cook on low 50 g cream cheese for 1 1/2- 2 1/2 hours until the pasta 200 g macaroni is cooked and the sauce is creamy. Stir in a splash of milk if the mixture is a little stiff.
Fish Curry Method Place all the ingredients into the slow Ingredients cooker. 2 cloves garlic finely chopped Cook on low for 2-3hours. Check to 1.5cm piece of ginger, finely chopped cod is cooked through. 1 red chilli deseeded, finely chopped 1 tsp ground turmeric 300 ml coconut milk 200 g cod loin cut into 2 cm cubes 50 g broccoli 100 g carrot ! 19! 12
Exploring the Area
Houses and Gardens to Barrington Court NT visit An atmospheric fragment of old Somerset: an empty Mapperton Gardens Tudor manor house, Spectacular formal valley beautifully restored in gardens beside Jacobean the 1920s, with farm manor. Voted 'The Nation's buildings, abundant Finest Manor House' by flowers and orchards. Country Life Sherborne Castle and Gardens Abbotsbury Sub-Tropical Gardens 16th-century castle with lavish furnishings and fine art plus huge gardens and a lake. Sculpture by the Lake The sculpture park of renowned sculptor Simon Gudgeon nestled in 26 acres at Pallington Voted by HHA Garden of the Lakes. Year 2012. “One of the finest Gardens I have ever Days Out visited” Alan Titchmarsh The Tank Museum Montacute House NT Located in Bovington, the museum of tanks and A masterpiece of armoured fighting Elizabethan Renaissance vehicles. architecture and design, with towering walls of glass, Dorset Falconry Park glowing hamstone and Over 100 birds of prey surrounding garden. including Owls, Hawks, Eagles, Falcons and Vultures. Daily flying 20! ! demos. 21 9!
Exploring the area
Coast Towns and Villages Lyme Regis Bridport With great shops, good A vibrant friendly beaches and a special market town full of local mystique, this is a shops that also source wonderful coastal town for locally. Markets on all seasons. Wednesday and West Bay Saturday. Our nearest beach just 8 Dorchester miles away - aka ITV’s Broadchurch. On the At the center of Thomas Jurassic Coast with its Hardy's Wessex the iconic sandstone cliffs inspiration of his fictional town of Abbotsbury Casterbridge. Beautiful village with lots to see - Chesil beach, the Cerne Abbos Giant sub-tropical gardens, the A charming Swannery, & St and quaint Catherine’s chapel on the village that is hill. world renowned for the ancient chalk giant on the hill beside it. Theatre Bridport Art Centre Providing an excellent venue for music, theatre, film and visual art. ! 21! Supporting local food shopping
We are surrounded by a wonderful range of local businesses that truly care about Dorset. By visiting some of the businesses listed you are making a positive Markets impact of the local environment. Bridport street market General stores Wednesday & Saturday morning Within 2 miles of Dorset Forest Garden is Farmer’s markets Beaminster. It has a Co- Op store, a local Crewkerne : butchers - Nick Tett, a 3rd Saturday lovely greengrocer – Fruit and 2 Veg and a Bridport : bakers. There is also a 2nd Saturday good range of other interesting shops in this local characterful town.
For Farm Shops North Perrott is very close, and Washingpool in Bridport 22carries! ! a good range. Places to eat
Ollerod, Beaminster Half Moon, Melplash
Superb award winning food close to Beaminster Square. Dating from 13th Century. The Ollerod is a magical Dorset country house full of character
Specialising in steaks and game, all sourced in close locality of West Dorset.
Brassica, Beaminster The Woodman, Another multi award Bridport winning restaurant is in If rather than food you the Sunday Times top 100 are looking for good restaurants. beer and cider and to listen to some live Three Horseshoes, music the Woodman is Burton Bradstock worth a visit. Award-winning beautiful three hundred year old thatched stone pub on the Jurassic Coast in the idyllic village of Burton Bradstock.! 23! Places to eat
Watch House, West Bay Superb food just yards from the sea. Famed for ITV's Broadchurch, West Bay is a classic harbour town featuring stunning golden cliffs. A great spot to see the The Acorn, Jurassic Coast in all its Evershot glory. Another great gastro pub. This 16th century inn was awarded Gold Winner of the Dorset Tourism Awards, Tourism Pub of the Year 2014! Anchor Inn, Seatown A great starting point for a walk up Golden Cap. The chef is The Fox, incredibly talented in conjuring up dishes Corscombe using the region’s A lovely family run pub exceptional fish, serving good local food shellfish, game, farm within a short distance meats and artisanal of the farm. Well worth foods. a visit during your stay.
24! ! Walking
The Hardy Way was the first long distance path in Great Britain to be linked with the works of a great writer - Thomas Hardy. Based in Wessex, once an ancient kingdom of southern England, the Hardy Way is a journey through some of the most unspoilt parts of this beautiful county, and extends for over 220 miles. You can connect with the Hardy Way straight from our entrance – following the markers will take you through Beaminster and beyond. En route there is a wealth of interest in history, wildlife, landscape and literature. Take the opportunity to explore on foot. With our rolling hills you can have some amazing vistas that cannot be seen except on foot; this will also keep your carbon footprint low! Your Shepherd’s Hut comes with its own map to help you to explore this area better.
!
! 25! 12
Walking
Hooke Park DT8 3PH Park at Symondsbury Estate where the Ilchester Arms pub is excellent.
Spring sees the whole woodland fill with the heavenly scent of bluebells, Golden Cap and this alone makes it a lovely space for a walk. However it is also the home to the Architectural Association and they use this space to test out new design ideas. There is a wonderful range of wooden structures scattered over Golden Cap is the highest the site. cliff on the south coast - Colmer’s Hill, 191 metres to the summit from the beach at either Symondsbury Charmouth or Seatown, The iconic conical Colmer's both great walks in their Hill is the inspiration for own right, and you will feel many artists in the area. you have earned a pub lunch after them. The From the top of Colmer's Anchor pub in Seatown is Hill, you will have great highly recommended. views over to the coast at 26Seatown.! ! 19! 43
Walking
Pilsdon Pen Just from the car park Maiden Castle, beside the walk you have Dorchester incredible views all the way to the coast. Pilsdon is an Iron Age Hill
The best-known of all fort on the highest hill in Dorset’s hill-forts, Dorset - only 30 metres Maiden Castle, on the short of a mountain! - with outskirts of Dorchester, sweeping views across has larger defences Marshwood Vale. than any other hill-fort Eggardon Hill in the country. However this was not Yet another hill-fort! This enough to hold off the can be seen on the horizon Romans! from your hut. Once a year this popular walkers’ destination becomes filled with families visiting the annual kite festival. It has one of the finest views of any hill-fort in the county (views we borrow!)
! 27! Dark Skies
Dark skies are one of the many qualities of Dorset Forest Garden and contribute to the sense of tranquillity and remoteness. On a clear night the low levels of light pollution make Dorset one of the best places in the country for stargazing. We are particularly fortunate being in a closed valley with not a hamlet in site.
Star gazing If you have a telescope you may wish to bring it with you. Don’t worry if you don’t we provide binoculars and advice on Apps. We particularly recommend downloading SkyView which is an excellent tool. Simply point your device at the sky and it gives you details on what you are looking at.
Do share your discoveries with us through our Guest book. We do love to know what you have seen!
28! !
Dorset Forest Garden Vintage Glamping
Beaminster Bottom Farm Beaminster Dorset DT8 3SG
!! 07971 652501
!! ! 29!