Feather Down

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East Shilvinghampton Farm

Dorset, Weymouth

★

Rated with 9.7

(353 Reviews)

Escape to a simpler life with Joby and Martin

What could be more idyllic than staying on a working farm on the Weymouth & Dorchester coast for your next family holiday? East Shilvinghampton has been a part of the Bartlett family for over 80 years and meeting Martin and Joby’s cows, goats and hens will be one of the highlights of your holiday in Weymouth, without a doubt. Their son Henry looks after the alpacas and you can take them on a walk for a small fee. Your canvas hideaways are situated close to the farmyard and offer panoramic views across the valley. It's the ideal spot for a family holiday in Weymouth and so close to Dorchester.

Life on the Dorset coast

The abundance of nearby beaches will leave you spoilt for choice. These include West Bay, the famous home of the Broadchurch TV series, and Chesil Beach, part of the Jurassic Coast World Heritage site. Throw in Charmouth, Lyme Regis, Durdle Door, Lulworth Cove, Hive Beach and Ringstead as well and you can enjoy a different beach each day. If you tire of the beach then pop into regal Weymouth, the favourite of King George the Third or ten minutes down the road is Abbotsbury with its mediaeval monastery and swannery. In the summer, Camp Bestival is nearby so the farm provides a great base.

What to do at East Shilvinghampton

There’s always something going on at East Shilvinghampton Farm. Where else can you wake up in the morning and walk a drovers trail, build a den or explore the farm while walking an alpaca? Farmer Martin is happy to stop by and chat and answer any questions you have about farming life when he is making his regular rounds. Children can play and roam freely on site within earshot while you relax by your canvas hideaway trying to spot deer, hares and owls. If you feel like cooking up a hearty stew, the farm’s honesty shop is well stocked with lots of local produce, beef and pork – or you can pre-order a wide range of enticing home cooked goodies from Joby.

Note that you can charge your electric car with your lead into a regular three pin socket (there's a small charge). If you are coming by train, Weymouth, Upwey and Dorchester stations are a taxi ride away.

What can you expect?

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    Dog-friendly

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    Order home-made Meals

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    Honesty shop

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    Pizza oven

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    Communal area

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    Close to the coast

What animals will you find on this farm?

Chickens

Goats

Ponies

Alpacas

Cows

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You too?

What our guests like

  • ✓ 9 canvas hideaways
  • ✓ No electricity
  • ✓ Train station nearby
  • ✓ EV charging
  • ✓ Walk the alpacas
  • ✓ Breathtaking view

Explore our canvas hideaway

Lines Options & prices
Safari tent interior glamping England
Boerenbed UK 1279 copy
Glamping cooking
Glamping tent inside
Glamping cupboard bed
Check A unique off-grid experience
Check The perfect adventure for children
Check Quality family time
Check Small scale farms
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    Including wood for the wood-burning stove (1 pack per day)

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    Including welcome package with bed-linen, towels, candles, matches, washing-up liquid and other basic items

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    Private showers

What do our guests think?

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Average rating
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9.7

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Mrs Taylor

25/10/2024

Fabulous

9

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Miss Scammells

13/09/2024

Stress free from start to finish. Martin and Joby are excellent hosts, the farm is lovely and the location is beautiful. We will definitely return. Top tip: pre-order one of Joby's home cooked meals for arrival night, the vegetarian cottage pie is delicious. The home made cakes are amazing too!

10

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30/08/2024

We loved our long weekend on the farm in Dorset. Martin and Joby were very welcoming and the site was brilliant. The children immediately made friends with others and played together in the field every morning and evening. They absolutely loved being with the goats, exploring the tents, and sharing evening camp fires toasting marshmallows. All so wholesome! Our tent was very comfortable - it’s a push to call it camping as we certainly didn’t rough it! It had everything we needed and was kept toasty at night time with the stove. We ate lots of food from the farm - a delicious bolognaise on the first night, pizzas on the second. Fresh bread and eggs for breakfast. The farm was really well located - we visited Charmouth beach for fossil hunting; Weymouth for a fun traditional seaside; Portland Bill and Portland Castle filled a rainy morning; and Lulworth Cove was beautiful - a rib ride from there over to Durdle Door was heaps of fun. Would absolutely recommend for a break - hopefully we’ll be back.

10

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26/08/2024

Lovely location and very friendly and helpful farmer. Honesty Shop stocks good local products. My granddaughter says 'walking the alpaca was the best bit!'

8.8

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Mrs PASS

23/08/2024

Beautiful farm setting, close to the coast

10

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Mrs nicoli

19/08/2024

A wholesome family reset - made wonderful memories that we will treasure forever.

10

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16/08/2024

Hugely enjoyable vacation, combining a beautiful setting with loads of fun.

10

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16/08/2024

Perfect place to unwind and reconnect with family

10

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Mr Woodbury

16/08/2024

Fantastic. Want to go back. I hope that other Feather Down Farms are as impressive as East Shiv (& Martin specifically).

9

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Mrs Cullen

09/08/2024

We all absolutely loved it, such a magical few days.

10

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Mr Wigmore

09/08/2024

Top draw

10

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Mr Cawar

02/08/2024

A unique experience

8.8

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Ms Hodson

02/08/2024

Our family loved every second - getting off grid and being in the outdoors in such a stunning environment was just what we all needed. We loved the alpacas and our special tent - we didn’t want to leave!

10

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26/07/2024

Great ambience - our kids loved it!

10

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Mr Houston

26/07/2024

An idyllic break to pause and rewind!

10

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Mrs Harrison

26/07/2024

Best holiday we’ve ever had!

10

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19/07/2024

Very relaxing, great for children

8.8

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Mr Trotman

15/07/2024

Excellent. Martin and Joby were great hosts. Amazing honesty shop and the best tents we’ve stayed in (done 6 trips to different locations) very clean and well maintained. The alpaca walk is a must and Henry did a great tour of the farm on the walk. The alpacas, cows, horses, cats and goats were a massive plus! All so tame and friendly with no interruption to sleep. Views and camp area were amazing

10

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12/07/2024

Relaxing retreat & digital detox

10

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Mr Whateley

08/07/2024

Brilliant week in a beautiful location. Great facilities, very peaceful. The kids loved feeding the goats and seeing alpacas.

10

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Mrs Pursey

05/07/2024

It was our third visit and it didn't disappoint, great facilities and fabulous location.

10

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Mrs. Gates

21/06/2024

Great fun, relaxing, back to the simple things in life break.

10

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mrs Sackett

21/06/2024

Excellent weekend away, super peaceful and everything available to camp which was luxurious!

10

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14/06/2024

A wonderful time wind down and reconnect

10

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Mr Green

14/06/2024

Really great stay away. Despite the weather on arrival being heavy rain and high winds. The canvas tents are cosy and warm with the stove, oil lanterns and candle lit dinners. Our 2 year old daughter loved playing with the goats and meeting Alpacas, cows and chickens. The pizza night on Saturday was perfect.

10

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Mr Jones

27/05/2024

Great stay, great location, amazing attention to details

10

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Mrs Wylie

17/05/2024

blissful location, comfortable rooms

8.8

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Mrs Crook

10/05/2024

Amazing, it was great to have a break and get the kids off the gadgets and just let them run wild. Nobody wanted to leave and we have to come back with friends.

10

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Mrs Cove

05/04/2024

Wonderful time. Welcoming, fun and very organised. We loved the alpaca walk, pizza night and star gazing. A lovely break.

10

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05/04/2024

The perfect combination of relaxing and fun

10

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Mrs Bundle

05/04/2024

We had a fantastic experience! This was our first time and we will definitely be doing another soon! The accommodation was perfect! Had everything we needed and was beautiful in candle light. The facilities on the farm were brilliant and the activities offered at the farm were great! Alpaca walking and pizzas are a must! The farmers are very welcoming, friendly and hospitable. Nothing was too much trouble and were very quick to respond with answers via email and text. We loved the whole experience and with Weymouth only being 20 mins drive away we had the beauty of the countryside but also close to the sea so we could visit the beach! Thank you Martin and Joby for a wonderful time! We will be back!

10

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Mrs Carter

01/04/2024

Great family fun and wonderful hosts

10

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Moore

29/03/2024

All the best bits of camping

10

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29/03/2024

Lovely location, friendly owners, comfortable and clean accommodation, we had a great time and loved the cosiness of the tent with the woodburner and candles in the evening! And the best Dorset apple cake I have ever tasted :)

10

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20/10/2023

Fun , free and just what we wanted

10

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Mrs Hewitt

06/10/2023

Beautiful setting. Loved waking up seeing the Alpacas and Goats.

10

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Mr Chapman

15/09/2023

Soul cleansing!

10

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Owen Sargent

29/08/2023

Great few days away. The whole experience was amazing and the kids loved it. Thank you for having us.

10

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Mr Weddell

28/08/2023

The perfect place to relax and spend quality time together.

10

Meet your hosts

Joby and Martin

We are the Bartlett family; Martin, Joby and children Henry, Annabel and Georgina.

We pride ourselves in how we produce our food to the highest standards, taking care of the environment around us, and creating an idyllic environment for people to come and enjoy our beautiful piece of Dorset.

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Welcome to our beautiful farm in Dorset where you can learn more about our farm. Do the Alpaca experience while you're at it!
Martin and Joby East Shilvinghampton Farm
FD East Shilv small 063

Highlight

Pizza night

The farmer will usually fire up the pizza oven during your stay. Everyone gathers round to tell their stories of the day’s adventures and invent pizza toppings you’ll never find on the high street

Farm shop

Highlight

The farm shop

It’s great for the basics and usually even better for local produce and low food miles. And every Feather Down farm shop operates on an honesty basis.

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If John Lewis sold holidays, they'd look like this

Options during your stay

Farmers Stew
Farmers Stew
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You will receive the recipe, ingredients and cooking utensils to prepare a delicious Farmers Stew at your tent, enough for 4-6 people.

English Breakfast Hamper
English Breakfast Hamper
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Recommended!

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Comes with free-range eggs, bacon, sausages/chipolatas, bread, butter, jam /honey/marmalade, tea, coffee, milk, sugar, fruit juice. Exact content may differ slightly per farm.

 
Pets
Pets
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Bring your dog along. The price is per dog, per stay.

Please note: You are required to keep your dog on a leash while on the campsite.

Nearby the farm

Chesil Beach

Lulworth Cove

Abbotsbury

Weymouth

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