Blackthorn Retreat features our premium shepherd’s hut & cabin - which sit alone in our dog-secure 1/3 acre fenced meadow, with wonderful far-reaching views, lovely rural walks. Perfect for reactive dogs. Up to two large or three medium dogs welcome (even on the bed - we provide throws). A perfect getaway under the stars. Wonderful wood-fired hot tub available (for a fee). Wood-fired pizza oven & firepit. King bed, shower & kitchen inside the hut, heated floor, cold & hot A/C, washer + dryer. The space At Blackthorn Retreat we offer a very homely & comfy dog-friendly space to chill out in, virtually surrounded by arable countryside and far-reaching picturesque views, and lovely walks straight from the hut. Our wonderful large & cosy premium one-bed self-contained shepherd’s hut has just been joined by The Cabin - a delightful living & dining space, which doubles up as a cosy bedroom (adjacent to the hut), with a very comfy king-sized Koala sofabed - so up to four guests with or without their pooches can now enjoy the lovely 1/3 acre meadow they sit in. The hut and cabin are both air conditioned - so you will be comfortable all year round! The hut also has under-floor heating. The Cabin has a washbasin and waterless toilet, but no shower - so showering would be in the hut itself. ***NB: If the cabin is to be used as a bedroom, there would be an additional charge of £50, however long the stay.*** There are no other huts or buildings on site - or within 100m - so the space is all yours, and very private. Ideal for accompanying family or friends, or even a writer’s haven, workspace or yoga studio. ***Please note that we ONLY accept up to two well-behaved children OVER 12yo and babies in cots, as this is a very peaceful retreat.*** ⭐️MINIMUM STAY TWO NIGHTS⭐️ 15% discount for stays of 5 nights or more! ⭐️ DOGS⭐️ Perfect for reactive dogs, as there are no immediate neighbours or livestock (although there may be sheep in the field across the road on occasion). Up to two large or three medium dogs, at no extra cost. The meadow is surrounded by a 4ft fence with strong rabbit wire. Whilst we have done the best we can to ensure it’s secure, we can’t guarantee that your dog won’t jump over or burrow under the fence - although there is a 30cm chicken wire ‘skirt’ leading from the fence, around 2/3 of the meadow. We keep our two excitable English Setters contained in our garden, but – if you go around our house, at the start/end of one of the lovely walks from the hut, then we will happily bring them inside, as they do love to say hello! There is a fence & ditch between our garden and the pathway – so our boys are far enough away. We provide: -outdoor hot & cold taps for showering dogs & boots etc -throws -dog towels -raised beds -cool pads -toys -natural dog treats *Whilst we do provide dog towels & throws for the settee & bed, please also bring your own - especially when the ground is wet - so we can keep everything nice for future guests and doggies. *If you need extra freezer space for raw dog meat, please let us know. *You might see an occasional dog walker along the road behind the hut - but we haven’t seen more than a couple in any one day. ***Dogs should only be left unattended in the hut or cabin if crated.*** 1st Apr - 31st Oct: CHECK IN FROM 3:30PM, CHECK OUT BY 10:30AM 1st Nov - 31st Mar: CHECK IN FROM 3PM, CHECK OUT BY 11AM 🌟WOOD FIRED HOT TUB 🌟 ***£40 for the first night’s use plus £10 per night thereafter - payable up to one day prior to arrival.***😃 As we do not use chlorine or bromine to sanitise the softened water, we are legally obligated to clean & refill the tub with fresh water after every stay, and we also add eco-friendly Eco3spa conditioner and sanitiser, to keep the water fresher for longer - plus a filter is fitted. You can let us know if wish to use the tub up to a couple of days prior to your stay - when payment details will be provided. We would light the burner ahead of your arrival. *Extra towels for tub use & lush robes are supplied ***Note: If we ever experience a hosepipe ban, then we would be unable to offer use of the tub during this period (we haven’t yet - despite the prolonged dry spells we’ve had!).*** *Unlike many other accommodations, we do not charge for any extras (other than the hot tub) - so your hamper, firewood & kindling for the firepit & hot tub are all included in the accommodation rate! 🌟 THE HUT 🌟 *King size Emma mattress *Air con (hot & cold) *Air fryer oven *Microwave *Two-ring electric hob *Under-counter fridge/freezer *32” smart TV & soundbar *Duralit kettle & toaster *Nespresso machine & frother *All cooking utensils & crockery *Shower, washbasin & toilet *Wardrobe, under-bed storage, bedside cabinet *Hairdryer *Torches *Binoculars 🌟 THE CABIN 🌟 *Comfy king-sized Koala sofabed (converts in seconds, with a decent mattress, and no spring base!) *Air con (hot & cold) *Hot & chilled water machine *Fridge *32” smart TV & soundbar *Dining table (seats 4) *Washbasin *Waterless toilet *Wardrobe with shelves, chest of drawers ***NOTE THAT THE CABIN HAS NO SHOWER, so guests sleeping in The Cabin would need to use the shower in The Hut! 🌟OUTDOOR COOKING🌟 -Wood-fired cast iron pizza oven -Firepit/bbq -Cast iron cookware -Bistro table and chairs -Sun loungers & outdoor ‘lounge’ -All logs, kindling & natural firelighters provided free of charge 🌟ALSO INCLUDED🌟 *Welcome hamper: Bev’s famous homemade brownies & white bread, free range eggs, Norfolk jam, croissants from a local baker, butter, pint of milk & OJ, pack of biscuits, crisps, tin of baked beans, tomato soup *Birchalls teas, Nespresso capsules, Hotel Chocolat hot chocolate😀 *USB-A point sockets *Extra throws *All bedding, fluffy towels, robes and eco-friendly toiletries (Faith in Nature and Miniml) *Plenty of games & puzzles, and a good variety of books & magazines. *Outdoor games to keep you occupied on brighter days in the garden. *Laundry room: washer + dryer (no charge), sink with h&c water, airier & additional storage *Hyper fast broadband/Wi-fi (up to 600mps) *Eco-friendly toothbrushes *Recycling and waste bins indoors & outdoors *First aid kit, for minor ailments *Fire extinguisher and blanket *Additional storage in the laundry *Nearest pubs (dog-friendly) are a 3 mile walk away (or 7 minute drive). *Nearest supermarkets & shops are a 7 minute drive to the delightful small town of Harleston (Lidl, Co-op, Budgens, Londis). *Most of the major supermarkets deliver here, (giving them the hut’s what3words address should work, but to our house would be fine). *Takeaway deliveries are few and far between, and this isn’t exactly a hotspot for good quality takeaways, although there are a few that we would recommend - and included in the comprehensive guidebook we’d send to you, once a booking has been made (copy also in the hut). *45 minutes to the coast; Norfolk & Suffolk have the most amazing beaches - most of which allow dogs (either on all or part of the beach), and on some you might not see another soul for ages! *The Broads approx 45 mins away, and North Norfolk just over an hour. *Beautiful Norwich is 30 minutes, mediaeval Bury St Edmunds 50 minutes, stunning Southwold 45 minutes. *Nearest train stations are Diss (20 minutes drive, and 90 mins train to London Liverpool St), and Norwich 30 mins *South Norfolk is very understated and quiet - especially compared to the more popular North Norfolk - and you will often go on walks without seeing a soul. We love it here, and - although it is lovely & quiet - you can be as connected or disconnected as you like (we prefer the latter!😊). We have spent a month (and shorter periods) in the hut with our two English Setters, just to ensure that we are happy with everything, and are always looking to improve the experience here, and we do act on feedback, where appropriate. 😃 During earlier crop-growing times (typically mid-winter & Spring, and sometimes into Summer - depending on which crops are being grown), the farmers tend to use bird scarers (loud bangs) during the daytime in some of the fields around us (depending on which crops are being grown), and you may occasionally hear shotguns in the distanceat any time of the year (mostly pheasants). This doesn’t bother our two dogs, but you may wish to take this into consideration. The field immediately in front of the hut currently had wildflowers sown after the wheat harvest in 2024 - so it looks like there won’t be any combines as close for the next few years, sadly - but, if you’re here at the right time, you will still be see harvesting close up, if you’re out on a walk - which is a real treat! If your visit is for a special occasion please do let me know.😃 Thanks for reading, and we hope to see you before too long! 😃 No Guest access Access to Blackthorn Retreat via the main gate, which is padlocked. We have a secure box on the front of the hut. Key code will be provided prior to arrival. Other things to note I think I’ve covered most everything,but any questions please don’t hesitate to ask.😃