Take me there: Kate Humble's hut, Monmouthshire

TV presenter Kate Humble is offering guests the chance to stay in a cosy shepherd's hut on her working farm in Monmouthshire. Humble took over the farm in the Wye Valley three years ago and runs a popular series of rural skills and animal husbandry courses covering everything from beekeeping to bushcraft (humblebynature.com). A cute two-bedroom farm cottage, The Piggery, is already available for holiday lets, but the new shepherd's hut, which is completely off-grid, makes an adventurous alternative. Combine a stay with a sheep-shearing course for the full shepherd experience. From £90 a night (canopyandstars.co.uk)

It's a good time to... celebrate the British beach hut

You know summer is properly here when stories about "the most expensive beach hut in Britain" start appearing in the media. This year's contender is a garage-sized hut on Mudeford Spit near Christchurch in Dorset which recently sold for £180,000, despite having no running water or electricity.

But if you don't have a spare £200K to spend, you can enjoy the idiosyncratic pleasures of the great British beach hut for free at the Bathing Beauties Festival in Mablethorpe (13–15 September, bathingbeautiesfestival.org). The Lincolnshire resort got a major boost two years ago when artists and architects were invited to "reimagine" the humble beach hut for the 21st century. Among the more outlandish structures which have since appeared on the seafront are a replica of a giant gin and tonic.

This year's festival will see the huts transformed into art galleries and Mablethorpe's promenade and beach becoming a backdrop for Punch and Judy shows, street theatre, craft workshops and fireworks. The regeneration project is ongoing with plans to add a striking new landmark this autumn, the Sound Tower, which will amplify the sounds of the wind and the sea.

Give me a break: the week's best deals

Kew afternoons Make the most of the last long days of summer with a late-entry ticket to Kew Gardens. The new "taster" tickets are available at the gates for just £7 for entry after 3.30pm and give access to all 300 acres of famous landscaped gardens and glasshouses. The normal admission price is £14.50. Tickets are available until 8 September (kew.org)

TEDx Marrakesh Richard Branson's sister Vanessa is opening up her Riad El Fenn next month to play host to TEDx Marrakesh. The programme of inspirational talks from creative thinkers runs from 20–22 September. Book now for a 35% saving on a three-night stay, bringing the price to €264pp. Tickets for TEDx cost from €150pp excluding flights (el-fenn.com)