The Winford Retreat

The Winford Retreat is a shepherd's hut in its own grounds off Elwell Lane at Winford, in the farmland south west of Bristol. The pitch is seclusion within easy reach of the city: Bristol centre is around twenty minutes by car, but the hut sits on its own with a large enclosed garden, a hot tub and a fire pit, and the closest thing to a neighbour is the field.

The secure grounds are why most dog owners book it. Guests travelling with dogs consistently describe letting the dog off the lead to potter around the garden without worrying about traffic or other guests, which is not something a hut in open countryside usually offers. The owners leave a bag for the dog alongside the guest hamper, typically biscuits and a ball, and they answer messages quickly with suggestions for local walks and dog friendly pubs.

Two things to settle before you book. Dogs are not allowed on the furniture or the bed at all, and guest feedback shows the listing wording has been read as more relaxed than the rule actually is, to the point of a booking being cut short over it; if your dog sleeps on the bed at home, ask about this first. The garden gate also has mesh at the bottom that a small determined dog has managed to get under, so it is worth checking on arrival rather than trusting it straight away.

The setting has one more quirk. The hut is close to Bristol Airport and aircraft pass low overhead through the day, which some guests enjoy and others find intrusive, and a noise sensitive dog may be unsettled by it. In hot weather the hut holds the heat with no fan provided, which is worth planning around for a thick coated dog.

Best suited to a couple with one or two dogs who want secure outdoor space and a hot tub within reach of Bristol, whose dog is happy to sleep off the furniture and untroubled by aircraft noise.