Farm holidays originally came about because farmers wanted to supplement their incomes by renting out rooms. This progressed onto the redevelopment of farm buildings into holiday homes. It has been a very popular way of taking a holiday in the country and the idea continues to evolve.
At one time, the only accommodation on offer was a simple cottage that probably belonged to a farm worker. Since then, entire barns and dairy blocks have been converted into what is more often than not, luxurious holiday accommodation. There may be individual cottages, apartments or terraces of one or two-bedroom units. Farmers added the kind of facilities that holidaymakers wanted: games rooms where the family could entertain themselves in the evenings, cinema rooms, football pitches, adventure playgrounds, nature trails, hot tubs, mini gyms and saunas.
Book a country cottage on a farm which has a collection of cottages and you could discover a wide array of leisure facilities and yet be located in the heart of the countryside.
Many of these self-catering rural holiday complexes offer a range of outdoor sports such as archery, clay pigeon shooting, quad bike or cycle hire, canoes if by a river, croquet and tennis. Many of the activities are dependent on location. Coastal farm holidays in Cornwall and Devon may assist with surfing or sailing. This in mountainous areas such as Snowdonia or the Scottish Highlands may have maps to borrow and some climbing equipment. Bicycle hire is a common facility in counties that have good cycling networks, for example Norfolk, Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire, Lincolnshire, Yorkshire and many others.
A holiday on a farm in a secluded location can offer much to both active and lazier holidaymakers. What you participate in on holiday is up to you and it is not only sporting activities that are on offer, there are also rural holiday centres that specialise in painting, yoga, mindfulness, cookery and arts and crafts holidays. It is a case of finding that perfect rural spot that has wonderful scenery for you to enjoy and also the kinds of activities that would please you. Holidays are all about pleasure, so do consider what would make you happy for a few days away.
You may like to sample a variety of themed rural breaks, perhaps just for long weekends throughout the less popular months, discover where you might wish to spend longer during the summer and book a longer stay during warm weather. Some people always take summer holidays at home in Britain during the summer; why burn on a beach abroad when you can enjoy reasonable weather in the UK?
Any family with young children may also be attracted by the thought of taking their children to see farm animals and a farm at work. A percentage of farms will still be working farms, for example sheep farms or just arable farms. A small number actively encourage children to participate and will keep a number of animals simply for the purpose of entertaining kids. There could be hens and eggs to collect, donkeys to feed, pigs, rabbits, goats and cows.
