The new countryside escape: farm stays on the rise
There’s no shortage of natural beauty spots in the UK, but increasingly it’s working farmland that’s drawing in crowds.
Now, as more agricultural businesses step into the leisure industry and open their gates, farm-based glamping and caravanning are becoming a popular way for clients to unlock the potential of rural land.
We’ve pulled together a few destinations across the UK that show how leisure and agriculture are overlapping. For brokers, it’s a trend that’s worth keeping an eye on, because it’s presenting more and more opportunities.
1. Fforest Coast – Ceredigion, Wales
If you really want to go off grid, Fforest Coast in Ceredigion, western Wales, is a great option. With no TV, WiFi or phone signal, you can enjoy the gorgeous natural environment instead. Golden Penbryn beach is just a walk away from this former dairy farm, which features domes, log burners and outdoor kitchen huts.
2. Aller Farm – Dorset
If you’re after a romantic getaway, Dorset’s Aller Farm offers a collection of shepherd huts, thoughtfully designed with cosy interiors and log burners. Guests can look forward to locally sourced hampers featuring luxury foods like champagne, lobster tails and steaks. If you’re that kind of couple, you can even try yoga or reflexology by the lake.
3. Home Farm – Hertfordshire
Blending rural charm with a festival-style atmosphere, Hertfordshire’s Home Farm is just a short distance from London. Go here for bell tents and yurts nestled among a charming woodland with a lake and historic parkland. During your stay, enjoy yoga or do a writing or watercolour class, and in the summer you can attend wellbeing retreats and food festivals.
4. Penhein Glamping – Chepstow
Set on a working farm in South Wales, Penhein Glamping is perfect for families. This glamping spot doubles as a working farm, which means you can expect grazing sheep and cattle. Plus, in lambing season, you and the little ones can even help out with birthing lambs and feeding them.
A changing landscape
Taken together, these stays show just how much variety farmland can offer. From shepherd’s hut escapes to romantic lakeside getaways and farms with that festival feel, there’s clearly a growing appetite for spending time on working land – just in very different ways.
With more visitors to rural farmlands each yeah, it’s clear that the nature of farms is changing – and as your clients’ needs start to look different, that can mean more opportunities for you.
That’s where the Geo Lifestyle and Leisure team comes in. With over 100 years of combined experience across a team of six specialists, we can support brokers in delivering the right advice and cover for your clients.