The tiny house movement is gathering pace.

With cash-strapped couples choosing to simplify their lives, clear out clutter and save the cost of rent by living in a temporary tiny home for a few years while they save money for a deposit, it’s never been more trendy to downsize.

And if you’ve found the perfect site to park it, a shepherd’s hut could be just the thing.

Hand crafted in Castletownbere by joiner Mark Rodgers and his wife Tanya Rodgers, Irish Shepherd’s Huts have been popping up in gardens and glamping grounds all over the country since 2014.

Available in three designs, the huts can be created in different sizes and shapes to suit your personal taste. Every one is made to order using sustainably grown timber.

And here’s the best bit; due to their mobile nature, the shepherd’s huts don’t need planning permission. It’s still wise to do your homework (planning may be required if you change the use of the land from residential to business) but all in all, it’s a headache-free process.

Mark and Tanya will even site your hut on delivery to make sure everything’s safe.

If you happen to live in a scenic location, adding a shepherd’s hut Airbnb to your property could earn you up to €12,000 a year (although tax will be due on any income you receive so keep that in mind when you’re crafting that business plan).

They also make the perfect guest room, office, garden room or children’s playroom if you’re running out of space indoors.

Here are three of Irish Shepherd’s Huts’ bestsellers: 

The Beara Shepherd’s Hut (from €11,450)

SIZE: 12 feet by 7 feet 6 inches. Includes oak floors, fully painted internal tongue and groove cladding in your choice of colour, a stable door and one double glazed window.

The Glanmore Shepherd’s Hut (from €11,450)

SIZE: 12 feet by 7 feet 6 inches. This design is available in a range of sizes, with the door positioned to the side of the hut allowing you to make the most of the space for a home office, writers room or art studio.

The Liffey Shepherd’s Hut (from €19,450)

 SIZE: A minimum of 16 or 18 feet by 7 feet 6 inches. The Liffey is designed as an alternative to rooms within a house for Bed & Breakfasts or as additional accommodation for glamping holidaymakers. Cosy yet practical, it boasts full insulation and oak flooring, space for a double bed, en-suite bathroom and kitchen facilities, under floor heating or a wood burning stove.

Intrigued? Find out more about the design process at Mark and Tanya’s website here.