Family Friendly Farm Stays: Somerset (2023)

The very highly rated Shave Farm B&B is a lovely 200 year old farmhouse on a working dairy farm just off the A303 near Ilminster and the village of Chard, Somerset. They have a range of very clean and comfortable B&B rooms with private bathroom, flat screen TV and WiFi, and there is a cosy shared lounge downstairs with an open fireplace. The friendly owners cook a great breakfast in the morning with a lot of the ingredients coming straight from the farm. And guests are of course free to wander the farm and get to know a bit about farming life, milking the cows, feeding the calves etc. WHAT OTHER GUESTS SAY: “Enjoyed everything about staying at Shave Farm. Kate and James were brilliant hosts, the accommodation was very clean and comfortable, breakfast was very tasty and it was fun seeing the cows milked….” “Really friendly owners and great breakfast! The place was lovely, well-looked after and very pretty. We liked seeing the goats, chickens and cows and all the outside areas and comfy rooms and sitting/breakfast area….” >> CLICK HERE TO READ MORE REVIEWS & TO BOOK YOUR STAY AT SHAVE FARM B&B: READ MORE

On the Somerset, Dorset borders, Toomer farm has B&B rooms in its lovely, Elizabethan era, country manor house, surrounded by 500 acres of prime farmland, and an adjoining equestrian centre. The property is steeped in history; it is rumoured locally that Elizabeth I once stayed here on her travels through the West Country, it is also nearby Thomas Hardy Country, and a stay here feels something like a gentle step back in time. THE ACCOMMODATION: The have a choice of comfortable B&B rooms which have an old style elegance in keeping with the atmosphere of the property. Outside there are some lovely old walled gardens, carp ponds and a dove cote. You’ll be treated to a fine, traditional English breakfast every morning too in the dining room. The huge farm these days produces a lot of organic beef and corn. It has horse stables which also date back hundreds of years and the farm itself is sometimes used as a venue for show jumping. Guests can organize horse riding around the farm too and are welcome to bring their own horses, there is good fishing to be enjoyed in the local area and this too can be easily arranged from the farm. THE LOCATION: Toomer is just outside the cute village of Henstridge, with the nearest larger town being Sherborne, about 6 miles away. The countryside in this part of England is beautifully idyllic; classic West Country terrain of rolling green hills and sleepy villages. Blackmore Vale is a lovely place for countryside walks and very close to the farmstay. Nearby too you can find such sights as Sherborne Castle, the spectacular Longleat House and its adjoining Safari Park, plus plenty more, just ask the helpful farmstay owners for advice and recommendations. The farm stay is also near both the Dorset and Cranborne Chase Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, about 15 minutes from the town of Yeovil, about 45 minutes from Glastonbury, and about an hour from Taunton. Golfers will have a choice of four different courses in the area; at Sherborne, Wincanton Racecourse (also horse racing), Yeovil and Folke. WHAT OTHER GUESTS SAY: “A perfect night’s stay. The host was READ MORE

In a sunny, south facing valley on the West Somerset side of Exmoor National Park, England, this is a quaint, very homely farmstay on a very large working farm surrounded by some of the West Country’s most evocative scenery. The Accommodation: They have 6 comfortable, clean rooms with TV, WiFi and tea and coffee making facilities. They also have a nice shared lounge with a cosy fireplace, board games and plenty of books. The friendly farm owners know how to look after their guests and are happy to indulge you with some good local food in the dining room, with some ingredients from the farm itself, and not just for breakfast; they serve some fine 3 course evening meals too, and a supply of tea and homemade cakes throughout the day You’re welcome to stroll around the well tended gardens, and the farm, or take a swim in their outdoor heated swimming pool. They’ve also got a tennis court for you to use and you even try some archery or clay pigeon shooting on the farm too. The Farm: The farm is a full 420 acres of beautiful meadow and pasture land, with pockets of woodland and its own spring water. It has lovely views over the West Somerset countryside, Exmoor Park, and as far as the Bristol Channel to the north. The Location: The surrounding area is famously beautiful, one of England’s natural wonders, and there are loads of opportunities for hiking and long country walks. The hosts can arrange guided walks through Exmoor and the nearby Brandon Hills as well as bike rental, fly fishing and horse riding trips from nearby stables. There are a host of lovely villages around too, including historic Dunster, possibly the nicest village in Exmoor, with many of its buildings dating back hundreds of years times, including the famous Yarn Market. WHAT OTHER GUESTS SAY: “The farm is beautiful, peaceful and lovely. The room and the bathroom are absolute comfortable and clean. Diana and her husband are charming and welcoming. I would love to go back. Dinner was excellent and great value. Their wine list and prices are good, dessert and cheeses notable….” READ MORE

A classic West Country retreat between Taunton and Bridgwater in the heart of beautiful Somerset; Hunstile Organic Farm has a mixture of B&B and self-catering accommodation in a wonderfully atmospheric 15th-century farmhouse surrounded by green fields where the friendly owners keep a number of dairy cattle, pigs and around the farmhouse, hens. They also grow vegetables and medicinal herbs on their fully organic farm, and they serve an award-winning breakfast each morning with much of the ingredients coming straight from the farm. All their rooms and self-catering apartments are cosy, clean, and tastefully furnished, all with private bathroom, flat screen TV, and WiFi, and there’s a nice shared lounge at the property too, where you can get drinks and snacks all day. WHAT OTHER GUESTS SAY: “100% would stay again…in fact, I have just booked again! Beautiful scenery, very friendly staff, room was spacious and the shower was absolutely to die for. Wish I could’ve stayed a bit longer and seen the pigs/chickens/animals, but had to rush off for work….” “Amazing!! The whole place has a lovely wholesome feel to it, will come back again!…” >> CLICK HERE TO READ MORE REVIEWS & TO BOOK YOUR STAY AT THE HUNSTILE ORGANIC FARM: READ MORE