Staying on a farm has never been so enticing. Guests longing for a rural experience can embrace a calmer pace of life without compromising on home comforts. Listening to the birds, taking a deep breath of fresh air and escaping the rat race does wonders for the soul. This year, instead of cramming activities into their limited annual leave, people are prioritising rest, relaxation and positive mental health.
From surfing sleep-pods with alpacas to dreaming of the hills of Wales, these five lush rural boltholes top our bucket list.
Best For Couples: Wagtail Retreat Vineyard, Worcestershire
Longing for a remote yet spoiling weekend away, a bracing walk among wildflowers, perhaps some wild swimming in a lake? Get a taste of an enviably bucolic life at the newly opened Wagtail Retreat which is nestled on the edge of a working vineyard, overlooking the glorious Malvern Hills. Shepherd Huts with restful views don’t come much better than these three. Each bespoke hut and bathroom, hand-crafted by the talented owners, is surprisingly spacious and reassuringly comfortable. The outdoor homes sit in a meadowy field looking onto sweeping views of their vineyard, lake and hills. For a luxury like none other, guests can have a soak while stargazing in their outdoor Victorian roll top bath. Rural bliss. Book it.
Best For Outdoorsy Types: Fforest Farm, Pembrokeshire
Tucked away just minutes from the beaches of Cardigan Bay in West Wales is Fforest Farm, which offers characterful guest accommodation to suit all types. From lakeside yurts and spacious geodesic domes to its traditional Welsh crog loft or idyllic former farmhouse, Fforest has beautifully designed, Scandi-inspired lodgings for all. Guests run, cycle, paddle, walk or dawdle until lost on this 200 acre farm that is sandwiched between the River Teifi Gorge and a nature reserve. There is wild swimming for the brave and dozens of walking trails meandering through the marshes and along the gorge. Book it.
Best For Digital Detoxing: Guardswell Farm, Perthshire
All getting too much? Guests looking to properly switch off check into Guardswell Farm, a digital-free zone located between the Perthshire villages of Kinnaird and Abernyte. At this bucolic 150-acre grassland farm, guests are encouraged to disengage with technology – essential to the brand’s ethos - and take a moment to appreciate the slower things in life. Among the six lodging options are a secluded off-grid hut high on the hill, a five-bedroom renovated country farmhouse and a modern-day take on a shepherd hut. Book it.
Best For Free-Range Families: Feather Down Farm, throughout the UK
Such is the soaring popularity of holidaying on a working farm that some Feather Down Farms get booked up a year in advance. Like caged animals escaping the hustle and bustle, families sign up to sleep in these canvas hideaways and to embrace the real countryside. Since launching twenty years ago, Feather Down now operates in over 75 farms all across Europe. When scrolling for farm stays on the website, users can search by farm type (dairy, sheep, livestock among others) or by which animals they want to see. Book it.
Best For Surfing Families: Atlantic Farm, Cornwall
Guests wake up to the call of a cock-a-doodle-doo at this quirky family-run farm on the rugged coastline of north Cornwall. Here, within walking distance to a beach, they’ll find chickens, geese, ducks, sheep, resident farm cats and even an alpaca. The site, nestled amongst undulating landscaped lawns, boasts fifteen well equipped curved sleeping pods, each with underfloor heating, its own bathroom and decking. There is also a treehouse in the garden, a children’s play area and a sea shell crafting studio. Book it.
