a PLACE in which to RETREAT.
Glamping in Dorset! Set in a pretty location, Miller's Huts Dorset is at the bottom of a valley a stone's throw from the Saxon hilltop town of Shaftesbury. Remember that 1973 Hovis commercial starring a bread delivery boy pushing his bike up a steep cobbled hill? Gold Hill, Shaftesbury was the setting for one of the most famous British television adverts ever. The ad evoked a forgotten England of morning mist and thatched roofs, an England in which everyone had time to talk to one another and there was fresh-baked bread on every table. From Miller's Hut walk across the fields and up the lane to Gold Hill and enjoy a coffee at the The Salt Cellar, perched at the top. With sweeping views across the Blackmore Vale, it really is quite beautiful!
the SPACE.
We are situated on the borders of Dorset, Wiltshire and Somerset and have access to many historical places. Bath, Longleat, Salisbury, Stonehenge, Brownsea Island, the Isle of Purbeck, Thomas Hardy country and the Jurassic Coast are all within easy reach to explore, as are the beaches at Bournemouth, Sandbanks and Studland. Local National Trust properties include Kingston Lacey, Lytes Carey and Stourhead.
There are plenty of traditional pubs in the area, the Chalke Valley has many country pubs with beer gardens and good bar menus. Of course there are many gastro pubs too; including the King John at Tollard Royal, the Museum at Farnham, The Fontmell at Fontmell Magna and Donhead St Andrew's popular Forester Inn.
There is lots of lovely walking in the area. We are lucky to be close to Fontmell Down which has far-reaching views across the Blackmore Vale. The open chalk grassland of the lower slopes is covered in wildflowers in the spring and summer months and famous for its wild orchids.
We have compiled a little book of local knowledge for your use.
the SPACE.
We are situated on the borders of Dorset, Wiltshire and Somerset and have access to many historical places. Bath, Longleat, Salisbury, Stonehenge, Brownsea Island, the Isle of Purbeck, Thomas Hardy country and the Jurassic Coast are all within easy reach to explore, as are the beaches at Bournemouth, Sandbanks and Studland. Local National Trust properties include Kingston Lacey, Lytes Carey and Stourhead.
There are plenty of traditional pubs in the area, the Chalke Valley has many country pubs with beer gardens and good bar menus. Of course there are many gastro pubs too; including the King John at Tollard Royal, the Museum at Farnham, The Fontmell at Fontmell Magna and Donhead St Andrew's popular Forester Inn.
There is lots of lovely walking in the area. We are lucky to be close to Fontmell Down which has far-reaching views across the Blackmore Vale. The open chalk grassland of the lower slopes is covered in wildflowers in the spring and summer months and famous for its wild orchids.
We have compiled a little book of local knowledge for your use.
SHEPHERD'S HUTS IN IDYLLIC DORSET
the SPACE in MILLER'S.
Not just for shepherds, the cosy and homely Miller’s Hut sleeps two, offering a restorative getaway in Dorset near Shaftesbury. A place to unwind, rest, and reset in nature’s quiet — slow breakfasts, starry skies, and peaceful corners await. Every corner of Miller's Huts Dorset is designed to help you slow down, breathe, and reconnect. Soft light, cosy furnishings, and peaceful views invite you to rest, reflect, and enjoy the simple pleasures of the Dorset countryside.
The comfortable small double floating platform bed has a supportive mattress and is dressed in William Morris’s Strawberry Thief fabric with cotton sheets. A cupboard with pretty ticking panelling and a chair with a sheepskin throw add charm. A carafe of spring water, kettle, tea, coffee, and mugs, adds comfort.
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A few strides from the hut is the Field Kitchen — equipped with thrifted crockery and essentials, fridge and gas stove for simple cooking — and, in less than a minute, situated in the mill yard, is a bright and clean washroom with flushing loo and hot shower for your use. Bath towels are provided.
The hut has electricity and is well insulated for comfort, with hot water bottles and blankets to keep you cosy on colder spring and late-summer evenings. Outdoor chairs, a hammock, rugs, cushions and lanterns invite you to enjoy the surroundings in comfort. Unfurl a picnic blanket on a warm night, or light the fire bowl and sizzle sausages on the tripod grill while chasing stars beneath exceptionally dark night skies.
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Parking is close by, and footpaths lead straight into the surrounding countryside and the landscapes of the Cranborne Chase. Perfect for romantic escapes, walkers, and those seeking a slower, more restorative break in the Dorset countryside. Miller’s and John’s Hut may be booked individually or together if travelling as a group.
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Book direct for best prices.
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Sleeps two
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Small double and supportive mattress
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Cotton bed linen and towels
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Tea making and spring water
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Washroom with flushing loo and hot water
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Electricity
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Millpond views
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Outdoor seating
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Parking
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2 night minimum stay, flexible booking
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No dogs (John's Hut only)
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Countryside access
Field kitchen.
Just a few steps from Miller's hut, the Field Kitchen offers everything you need to enjoy simple, relaxed cooking with a touch of millhouse charm. There is freshly baked bread (made using our organic stoneground flour), jam and a parcel of butter, along with milk, tea and ground coffee to get you started. ​
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Field kitchen amenities
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Fresh spring water in Kilner glass jars with taps​
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Gas stove for simple cooking
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Fridge / box for food storage
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Cooking utensils, pans, crockery, cutlery and glasses
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Toaster, kettle and cafetière
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Tea, coffee, sugar, salt and pepper, cooking oil
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Indoor dining table and outdoor dining table with seating
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Fire pit with wood
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Candles
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Washing up bowl and washing up liquid, tea towels and cloths
the HUT'S rural history.
In the 19th century the only fertiliser available to farmers was manure. With many areas of their farms inaccessible to large manure wagons, farmers employed sheep to do the work! Known as 'the golden hoof', flocks of downland sheep were used to perform the task of fertilising hills and downlands. Kept tightly behind hurdles, a process called 'folding', the sheep grazed an area before being moved on. The manure left behind was ploughed in, thus returning nutrients to the ground. The shepherd would move on with his flock, sheepdog and mobile home, a shepherd's hut. Shepherd's huts, a familiar sight in rural England, would contain a small stove, a lamb rack which was a straw bed over a cage where lambs could be kept and a simple medicine cupboard containing various remedies used to help sickly lambs. Prior to 1829, shepherd's huts were made of weatherproofed timber until corrugated steel was introduced. The first world war brought changes to farming practices, as did the decline of the wool trade. By the second world war, shepherd's huts had become guard posts or accommodation for prisoners of war who were used as farm labourers. By the 1950s most were redundant, often used as storage by gamekeepers or abandoned in fields. Today they are enjoying a revival and here at Miller's Huts Dorset, the gentle charm of our shepherd's hut can be enjoyed in the glorious setting of the millpond.
