Check in to nature – find peace and escape from it all at these sweet country retreats, with more and more farmers across the country inviting in campers and glampers
A patchwork of green fields, rolling hills and ancient woodlands, the British countryside has been eulogised by poets, painters and playwrights for centuries.
Almost 70% of the land is made up of working farms, where cattle are grazed, fields are ploughed and an assortment of animals are reared.
Many of these estates now welcome guests, offering the chance to disconnect from urban living by enjoying locally sourced food and engaging with nature. Stays range from cosy coastal cabins to off-grid eco-glamping pods set in vast pastures. As spring springs into action, now’s the time to visit.
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NORTH HAYNE FARM, DEVON
Young guests can help farmers feed chickens, goats, ducks, alpacas and pigs in a purpose-built children’s farm at this award-winning property in North Devon. Continuing the hands-on theme, kids can also ride or guide donkeys, handle rabbits and help bottle feed orphan lambs.
Designed to fully immerse visitors in nature, other activities include bird box building, trails, mini-beasting and shelter building. Set on the outskirts of Exmoor National Park in a dark sky area, eight self-catering cottages come with hot tubs and use of a telescope for stargazing.
Book it: Seven-night stays from £1,599 (four sharing). northhaynefarmcottages.co.uk
COWBRIDGE CABINS, PENLLYN ESTATE, VALE OF GLAMORGAN
Enjoy true farm-to-fork dining with a menu of dishes using ingredients sourced just yards from the table. The Forage Kitchen restaurant serves a mixture of meats and veggies grown on 2,000 acres near Cowbridge.
Its Sunday roast is so good, it featured in the Good Food Guide’s Top 50 Sunday Roasts in Britain. Other local produce to try includes Snowdonia cheese, Potting Shed chutney and Barry Island Gin. After dining, wander around the farm to see 24,000 free-ranging chickens, rare-breed pigs and livestock reared on pastures packed with wild herbs and flowers.
Stay in a choice of six cabins or recently added hobbit pods and participate in tractor trailer rides and storytelling sessions.
Book it: Doubles from £80. cowbridgecabins.co.uk
THE STAR BARN, NORTHUMBERLAND
Located in the National Park’s Ingram Valley in an area with zero light pollution, the Star Barn promises a dazzling night to remember.
Guests can rent a telescope and stargazing kit (including star charts, planisphere, binoculars, red astronomy torches, spare blankets, hats and gloves, tripod, picnic chairs and marshmallows), while a sky window above the bed makes it possible to sleep snuggly beneath constellations.
Hills and moorland surround the working farm. Visitors can enjoy gentle walks to a nearby 60ft waterfall and wild swimming in the River Breamish. Guided off-road farm safaris around the estate provide an insight into the area’s history and conservation efforts, including reintroduction of wild deer and cattle that roamed the valley thousands of years ago.
Book it: A four-night stay starts from £538. crabtreeandcrabtree.com
HEDGEROW LUXURY GLAMPING, LANCASHIRE
This eco-conscious retreat operates completely off-grid with discreet renewable energy solutions including wind turbines, solar panels, private bore hole filtration and air source heat pumps.
Electric vehicle charging ports and rainwater collection systems further reduce environmental impact, while upcycled furniture and zero
single-use items demonstrate a commitment to sustainability.
The grounds feature highland cows, alpacas, rare breed sheep and abundant wildlife, with a paddock area perfect for morning yoga. Stay in luxury pods with rolltop baths or rainforest showers and private hot tubs. A communal firepit cabin provides space for evening gatherings.
Book it: A four-night break starts from £425. hedgerowluxuryglamping.com
DOWN ON THE FARM, ABERDEENSHIRE
Get a taste of authentic farm life while enjoying plenty of wild wonders at this great-value property overlooking the Scottish coast.
Guests can participate in seasonal activities including lambing tours (April-May) with bottle-feeding opportunities, sheep shearing tours (from May), and trailer tours (May-September) that explore fields, coastal cliffs and the foreshore.
There’s also a chance to spot dolphins in the nearby Moray Firth on strolls along the glorious nearby beaches. A choice of well-priced accommodation includes wooden glamping pods, converted farm workers’ huts, a vintage rail carriage and a cosy cottage.
Book it: Self-catering stays at the Hideaway start from £20pppn (four sharing). downonthefarm.net
