B&Bs are Back!
And an especially warm welcome awaits on the farm
31 May 2021
(Last updated: 1 Jun 2021 15:30)
If you are yearning for a break away from the four walls that have been your sanctuary and your workplace for many months on end, a home-from-home stay in a farm-based B&B may feel more do-able right now than a hotel.
On a Farm Stay B&B you’ll be able to leave the traffic behind and take the quiet lane that leads to a unique destination where you might find yourself among just a handful of like-minded guests. With an amazing choice of locations throughout the UK, they all share the same promise – a warm welcome guaranteeing to ensure you will at once feel right at home. Once settled into your comfortable room, embrace countryside views from your window, fill your lungs with pure fresh air… and relax!
It’s not surprising that the last year has made us all a little anxious about the world around us, so a clear advantage of choosing a farm-based B&B is that, when booking, you can talk to the person responsible for your accommodation and be reassured about cleanliness and Covid protocols.
The transformation of the Great British B&B in recent years has seen a rise in the standards of every aspect of this popular holiday accommodation. Farm-based breaks have followed this trend and guests can expect top quality en suite rooms with plenty of thoughtful extras as owners show pride and commitment to this side of their business.
Part of the appeal to these holidays is that farm properties are often very old and so full of character. They’re usually set within attractive locations which most of us might otherwise not be able to see. All of which means your stay is as much about a memorable experience as a break from home.
The best meal of the day
A home-cooked hearty farmhouse breakfast can be counted as part of the experience. These days a ‘proper’ breakfast is a real treat few of us have the time or inclination to make for ourselves, so it’s not surprising that many guests arrive looking forward to their alarm going off in the morning. And this is especially the case if you know your hosts have won awards for their breakfast!
In the farming world, this important first meal of the day is valued for its ability to power a day’s work in the fields or – in the case of holiday makers – a day exploring the local area. So follow the delicious aroma wafting from the farmhouse kitchen to take your place at the table. Top quality bacon, sausages, freshly-laid free range eggs and home-baked bread will be prepared just the way you like them in generous portions. And, while the traditional ‘full English’ is likely still to be a highlight of the stay for most, there will be a tasty choice of breakfast fayre that’s in keeping with modern preferences.
B&Bs for all
Whether you’re on your own, a couple or a family, there’s a farm-based B&B that’s just right for you. If your stay is about spending time with friends and you simply need a base, a B&B is perfect. They can also a great option for road-trippers. And for those who love being active outdoors, a farmhouse B&B is the ideal choice for walkers and cyclists since farm trails, footpaths and cycle routes can be accessed from right outside the door.
Animal lovers of all ages find the opportunity to meet farmyard residents irresistable, and chances are there may be a friendly resident cat or dog to make a fuss of by the fireside too. Take the opportunity to find out more about the animals and farming life in general – don’t be shy, ask!
And do ask for recommendations and suggestions about what to do and where to go locally. No one knows more about what’s what than your hosts. They may even let you into some secrets about the traditional country pubs and eateries that are particularly favoured by locals, the best form of recommendation.
Speaking of dogs, this year many people will be looking to take their first break away with a canine companion. A stay in the country with miles of trails to explore is ideal and many Farm Stays B&Bs are especially dog friendly.
The great thing about a Farmstay B&B is that you can be sure it will be different from anywhere else that you have stayed – the complete opposite from the corporate hotels where everything is replicated from the reception area to the room size, from the bedding to the bathroom facilities. So follow your heart into the countryside this summer and enjoy a stay in a location that’s as individual as you are.