Come to the farm for a relaxing break guaranteed to restore your inner calm
28 October 2021
Take advantage of the quieter weeks in November and early December for some R&R before our worlds pick up speed in the run-up to Christmas. Find a rural location in which to escape, unwind, reflect on the year gone by and restore your energies for the hectic weeks ahead.
Time spent in nature is known to be good for the mind and a holiday in the countryside will offer you the time and space to properly let go of any stresses. Expect to find yourself again amid the soothing countryside views and autumnal colours.
Farm Stay offers a wealth of choice of country retreats that will help you to reconnect with the slow ways and simple pleasures. Plan for days strolling along leafy footpaths, exploring the local area, and enjoying hearty meals in convivial village pubs. Evenings will be spent snuggled up with a good book and a glass of wine in front of a roaring fire. The dark skies and absence of traffic noise – possibly just the hoot of a passing owl – will ensure you have the best, most restorative sleep.
Here’s some inspiration from a selection of our Farm Stay properties to get you in the mood for a rural escape before Christmas…
Cosy escapes
The Granary, Tregaron, Ceredigion, is a romantic cottage tucked into the hillside of the picturesque Cambrian Mountains of West Wales where you’re guaranteed peace and tranquillity. You’ll enjoy taking deep restorative breaths while surveying the sweeping views from the balcony – in the evening look up and gaze upon dark star-filled skies.
The characterful cottage is kept especially cosy by the underfloor heating and a woodburning stove. There’s an opulent four-poster bed with organic linens and a luxury freestanding roll-top bath, perfect for deep bubble baths after long walks in the hills. There’s even a mini four-poster for your dog to enjoy too, along with doggy welcome pack!
Granary Barn, near Norwich in Norfolk, offers a luxurious and romantic self-catering break in charming surroundings. With its on-site 40ft indoor pool, it’s the ideal destination for those who enjoy an energising daily swim.
This traditional granary barn has attractive oak beams throughout. The lounge, with its warm, underfloor heated oak floor, opens out onto a private south-facing terrace. The en suite bedroom, reached via a spiral staircase, has a high-pitched ceiling with French doors and Juliette balcony, offering views of the garden and the paddocks beyond.
Wash Farm is ideally located to explore the wonderful Norfolk and Suffolk countryside and coastline, as well the numerous attractions within Norwich, there’s lots to see and do close by.
Wakes Lodges, near Colchester, Essex, is the perfect destination if you fancy a few days away from the hustle and bustle to unwind in the tranquil beauty of the Colne Valley. With a railway station in the village, you could even leave the car behind. Choose from either a one or two-bedroom modern luxury holiday lodge, each with its own outside hot tub with delightful countryside views. Expect tasteful furnishings, state-of-the art fittings, including a sound system, and a fully equipped kitchen. The bathrooms each have deep roll-top baths and walk-in rain showers. Fancy some pampering? A salon offering pamper packages and a range of treatments is a short walk away.
The Hunting Hall Shepherd’s Hut, near Berwick on Tweed, Northumberland, sits in a secluded orchard, overlooking an organic sheep pasture at the wildlife-friendly Hunting Hall Farm. This cosy retreat is beautifully fitted out and has all you need for a comfy stay surrounded by nature. Picture yourself snuggling into the curtained bed with warmth provided by a ‘hobbit’ wood burning stove.
Hunting Hall has its own farm trail that’ll take you past woodlands, ponds and fields. There’s so much to explore from your base on this traditional farm, including nearby Lindisfarne and numerous coastal castles.
B&B Luxury
Booking a Farm Stay B&B means you can expect a warm welcome and traditional hospitality with a stay in a comfortable farmhouse located in the best and most unique spots in the UK’s countryside. Here are just two examples from the hundreds that are listed on the Farm Stay website...
Mosedale End Farm B&B, in the Northern Lake District, is the ideal location for anyone looking to blow away the cobwebs with some hikes in fells. There are three rooms to choose from, including The Grainery Suite, a spacious room with a comfy king-size bed, an en suite shower room, a private balcony and a mini kitchen so you can prepare snacks whenever you wish.
Your day begins with a breakfast tray brought to your door loaded with homemade wholemeal bread, butter and preserves, cereals and porridge, homemade drop scones with berries, hard-boiled eggs from the farm’s free-range hens, as well as orange juice and milk, coffee and tea.
Mosedale End Farm is well placed for exploring the towns of Keswick, Ullswater and Penrith. And with Carrock Fell directly behind the farm and the magnificent Blencathra close by, you can start your walks from the farmhouse. The owner even stocks a fridge with homemade goodies (paid for with an honesty box) so you can load up your rucksacks for the day ahead.
Church Farm Country House, in the heart of Worcestershire, is set in a delightful garden on a small working farm whose fields are home to sheep and cattle. There are two inviting guest rooms to choose from, each with en suite bathrooms and quality amenities. A hearty Aga cooked English breakfast is served in the dining room and will set you up for a day exploring the local area.
The Malvern Hills, Bredon Hill and the Cotswolds are all within easy reach if you fancy spending your days walking, and the historical town of Worcester is close by and ready to be explored. When you return in the evening, you can laze in front of a log burning stove in the lounge and enjoy a night cap before heading up for bed.
