"I reckon it was that turning," I say to my bloke, hurtling past a driveway. We turn, retrace and, holy moly, that's huge. Our log cabin (for want of a better word) lies in wait at the bottom of a gravelled slope and must be at least 50ft long. Deep eaves rest on timbers so hefty they would give a caber-tossing champion nightmares.
Two side doors are locked but, walking around to the front, as per instructions, we cross an oak veranda with wooden chairs and a table, to a folding door with keys in.
We step into a world of wood. Rudolf Steiner meets Northern Exposure.
"Cavernous," says my bloke, taking in the cathedral-like ceiling of an open-plan timbered expanse. I like large spaces, though, and since this has been created with eco-mindfulness we can only assume that heat-loss is not a concern. Not that it's an issue on a balmy summer eve.
The focal point of the room has, however, clearly been installed with long winters in mind. It is a tall red enamelled wood-pellet burner, with a built-in oven compartment. I've never seen anything like it.
Although there is the odd Ikea chair (the really comfy low-slung affairs), we can see, from the kitchen's Neff induction hob to the Denby crockery, that things have not been done on the cheap. At the sitting room end is a large flatscreen telly with Freeview and a DVD player. I dislike the black leather sofa (it says "executive office" to me, when this place is surely all about switching off) and the orb lights could be suspended by something more sympathetic than metres of nasty white flex, but we like the witty addition of an acoustic guitar and bodhran hanging on the wall.
Through a double-arch into a hallway are three doors (with wonderfully tactile wooden latches) that lead to a tiled wetroom (John Lewis towels, eco-soap, hinged seat in the shower) and two bedrooms (a double and a twin). The main bedroom has a door onto a second terrace with easy chairs and birdfeeders. I know where I'm having morning tea.
What's that rondavel opposite, I wonder? Kettle on. I'm humming The Lumberjack Song. "Pity we didn't bring scones," says my bloke.
Rat-a-tat. Here's the owner, George Tasker, to recommend a pub and insist we walk down to the stream (called Ledwyche Brook) beyond the line of poplar and fruit trees, where there is a table and chairs for picnicking.
George is in the process of making an earth oven outside the cabin, and the rondavel is his workshop. He lives in part of a converted mill, further along the driveway. The cars I can see parked beneath a maple tree just behind our cabin belong to the neighbours.
Supper at the Unicorn (mains from £8.75; +44 (0)1584 873555) in Ludlow. Desperate Dan-style dishfuls of good pub grub (rib-eye steak, sinful onion rings, sausages on heaps of mash) with real beer from Herefordshire's Wye Valley, and Shropshire's Three Tuns and Salopian breweries.
Darkness descends at the ranch. Lamps cast a homely glow. The guestbook reveals a big thumbs-up from a wheelchair-user.
I wake, breathing in the scent of wood, and throw open the terrace door to watch bluetits flit around the birdfeeders. Voices and the slam of car doors send me round to the more private front terrace, where, gazing across a mown field, we settle to a sunny breakfast alfresco – all too rare in England – with no grizzlies to worry about.
What to do in the area: By the locals
Walks
Ludlow is surrounded by glorious countryside and just about wherever you walk the views are superb. Take a circular stroll around the town, crossing the bridge at Dinham and follow the pretty riverside path to Ludlow bridge. Drive three miles to High Vinnals and a shortish walk will reward you with views of the rolling Shropshire countryside. On the way back park the car at Whitcliffe Common for a view of Ludlow. There are plenty of challenging walks at ludlow.org.uk/walking.html.
Dido Blench, Ludlow Assembly Rooms
Climb up to Caer Caradoc, near Church Stretton, as long as it's not too windy. It's a huge iron age fort, with some rocky outcrops and great Shropshire views. Our kids used to love climbing it.
George Tasker, Ludlow Ecolog Cabins
A pint
The Sun in Leintwardine is eccentric and can have unpredictable opening hours, but I love it. The cask Hobson's is delicious and there's always a genuine welcome. GT
Eating out
The Jolly Frog (01547 540298), just outside Leintwardine, is good for pizza and fish from a wood-fired oven. You get the full French bistro atmosphere, but it's also mid-priced and good value. GT
Visit De Grey's on Broad Street and admire the waitresses' uniforms while enjoying a coffee. For lunch pop down to the Jay Rayner-recommended the Green cafe, Mill on the Green (01584 879 872), which offers carefully sourced, simple food in a riverside setting. For dinner try Chang Thai (01584 874212), a cosy restaurant with a rather chic bar attached, or The Courtyard (01584 878080), for seasonal modern English with some style. Ludlow has a couple of Michelin-starred restaurants – you'll need to book ahead if you want to eat at La Bécasse (01584 872 325) or Mr Underhills (01584 874431). DB
Shopping
Ludlow is foodie heaven, so spend a morning wandering and filling your rucksack at the butchers, bakers, wholefood shops and grocers. There's a wonderful choice of all of these but my favourites are: D W Wall butchers for rare breed meat; Swift's the Bakers; Myriad Organics (22 Corve Street) for wholefood; and Farmers' fruit and veg shop (1 Mill Street). GT
The Mousetrap has a good range of local and British cheeses, some made from unpasteurised milk and The Chocolate Gourmet (chocolategourmet.co.uk), on the Market Square, is a must. Pop down Mill Street for handmade ceramics at The Marches Pottery, and then to The Silver Pear gift shop on Broad Street, one of the most beautiful streets in the country. DB
Entertainment
Children of all ages love Acton Scott Historic Working Farm , where The Victorian Farm was filmed. If it rains, go to the nearby Land of Lost Content, an extraordinary museum archive of 20th-century life. And for culture, of course I have to recommend the Ludlow Assembly Rooms, on the Market Square, which runs a huge mix of live shows and films. DB
