All Self Catering Farm Stays

On the edge of the outback in New South Wales, Australia, this pet friendly farm stay, halfway between Sydney and Adelaide, is a great way to experience an authentic Australian sheep station and large farm producing irrigated crops. THE ACCOMMODATION: All cottages have modern comforts including five star bedding, air conditioning and heating. Full kitchen and dining facilities for self catering with dinner hampers also available. Full breakfast hampers are included free of charge in the rate for the one and two bedroom cottages. THE FARM: Corynnia Station is an old working station and farm tours with your hosts are usually available. There is also a magnificent garden oasis with a swimming pool and tennis courts. You’ll find pushbikes and friendly animals, bushwalking, amazing 360 degree skies perfect for star gazing as well as paddock picnics and campfires during the cooler months. THE LOCATION: Guests can travel by car – no 4×4 vehicle required – or they can fly direct by private plane to the Corynnia Station Airstrip. Guests need to bring a full tank of fuel because there is no fuel supply available within 65 kilometres of Corynnia Station. Do not use GPS as it will not give you correct travel times and directions. Corynnia Farm Station is one hours drive from Hay and 45 minutes from Griffith. Full, detailed directions will be given after reservation. WHAT OTHER GUESTS SAY: “The station was awesome. Felt relaxed and was such a beautiful place to stay the sunrise and sunset….” “Wonderful cottage stay in a beautiful setting. Can only recommend!…” >>CLICK HERE TO READ MORE REVIEWS & TO BOOK YOUR STAY AT CORYNNIA STATION FARM STAY:   READ MORE

Margaret River Hideaway & Farmstay is a 57 acre bushland farm in Western Australia that has eight very comfortable self catering cottages surrounded by a host of farm animals and plenty of local wildlife too. THE ACCOMMODATION: Their dog-friendly accommodation come in various sizes with the larger cottages being able to sleep up to six people. They all have a patio with BBQ facilities, a flat screen LCD TV & DVD player. All of them have a fully equipped kitchen except the studio option, which has a smaller, but still useful, kitchenette. The accommodation is self catering though on arrival the hospitable owners greet guests with a free breakfast starter pack which includes cereal, juices, milk and fresh bread. And if the hens are hatching when you’re there you are also welcome to use their eggs any time. THE FARM: The farm covers 57 acres and is home to a number of different animals; Scottish Highland cattle, Dorper sheep, emus, guinea fowl ducks, geese, hens and peacocks. You can arrange guided tours of the farm and meet the animals, with every Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday being feeding time where the guests are welcome to join in. THE LOCATION: The Farm Stay is less than 5 minutes north along Osmington Road from Margaret River township, with both Margaret River Golf Club and Prevelly Beach each being about 15 minutes away. There is lots to see and do in the Margaret River region. There are some great bush walking trails around with jarrah, karri and marri forestlands where you can see a whole range of native wildlife. A spectacular coastline that is very much a mecca for swimmers and particularly surfers, READ MORE

Near Bodmin Moor, Cornwall, U.K., The Old Wagon House offers an excellent value, self catering, farmhouse stay in the heart of some gentle, peaceful countryside. Their beautifully maintained, rustic style, self catering cottage is on a working sheep farm close to the town of Launceston, and also to the city of Plymouth in neighbouring Devon. THE ACCOMODATION: The accommodation is a tastefully done barn conversion, dating from the 19th century, complete with traditional exposed wood beamed ceilings. It’s a one bedroom property with a four poster double bed, but also comes with two single beds in an annex off the lounge area if needed for extra guests. There’s a log burning stove in the living room/lounge area too, and a flat screen TV. You’ll also find a modern, fully equipped kitchen at the property plus a bathroom with a wet room and walk in shower. And outside there is a nice patio/decking area with a table and chairs THE FARM: Old Wagon farmhouse is on a working sheep farm which guests are welcome to explore, there is also a small vegetable garden from where you can pick a few of your own vegetables for cooking with. They have a small gift shop at the farmhouse too where you can buy some of their own wool products to take home. THE LOCATION: St. Clether is a beautifully quiet and rural part of Cornwall, about a mile in from the coast and Downderry; a picturesque little village with its own popular beach. From the farmstay you can see the sea in the distance while also enjoying some lovely views of the surrounding nearby countryside. If you’re feeling energetic they have bike hire at READ MORE

Farm Gite des Chartroux near Calais, northern France, has a lovely, traditional French, farmhouse gite on its working farm which includes horses, donkeys, pigs, sheep, hens and geese.  The owners are welcoming and friendly; you’ll feel like you’re visiting long lost relatives, and the location is perfect; a green, peaceful oasis under an hour from Calais and twenty minutes from the seaside town of Touquet-Paris-Plage. THE ACCOMMODATION: They have a three double bedroom cottage on their working farm to sleep up to six, though there is also a double sofa bed in the living room where you can squeeze in two more. The cottage is modern and clean and has a well equipped kitchen, cable TV, WiFi and laundry facilities. Outside, guests are welcome to relax in the gardens and explore the surroundings, including the farm with its friendly animals. THE LOCATION: Roughly between Calais and Amiens, (about an hour from each) Gite des Chartroux is in the middle of Pas-de-Calais’ Montreuillois region. This is a richly rural region well known for its good food and peaceful, slow pace of life, it is a land of green fields, country roads and small friendly villages. You are near the sea here too too, with and the port of Etaples being just ten minutes away, while lively seaside towns like Berck, Merlimont, Touquet-Paris-Plage and Stella are within 20. The journey to Paris will take no more than two and a half hours. Note: Ferme des Chartroux also has B&B rooms at the main farmhouse, you can check them out by clicking here. WHAT OTHER GUESTS SAY: “This was a great place to stay – owners were extremely friendly and helpful. Being a working READ MORE

This peaceful, friendly farm stay near Sydney NSW, overlooks the Kangaroo Valley and has lodge style accommodation on a working horse & cattle farm with some really gorgeous views of the surrounding countryside. Horse riding is a big feature at the farmstay; you can arrange lessons and trail rides that are among Australia‘s most beautiful, into the Morton National Park right next door for example, through rainforests and even right up to the top of Mt. Moollootoo. Kids too can enjoy a ride on one of their ponies. THE ACCOMMODATION: The self catering accommodation is in the form of old style timber lodges; the bigger lodge can accommodate up to eight people, with two separate double bedrooms and four single bunk beds in the lounge area. There are also two bathrooms, a fully equipped open plan kitchen and lounge with an open log fire, and there’s a barbecue area just outside the door. The smaller mini lodge has an open plan lounge & kitchen, bathroom and a mezzanine level above with a queen size bed. The sofa in the lounge area also opens out into a double bed so it can a fit a total of four people. There’s a barbecue area just outside the door too. Note: For a digital detox there is no WiFi! THE FARM: It’s a working farm with a herd of cattle and dozens of horses. The owners are horse experts and enthusiasts, and have years of experience of horse riding, teaching and exploring the local area on horseback. The farm itself leads on to Mt. Moollootoo and has sections of open pasture land, rainforest and open bush that leads into Morton National Park. All READ MORE

This 19th-century château, near Carcassone, has a variety of lovely rustic style, self catering accommodation on a famous Languedoc winery with nearly 300 acres of vineyards and olive groves. Their wines are highly prized and they do a full program of wine tourism activities; tours of the vineyards and wine cellars, tasting sessions etc., but even if you have very little interest in such things Château Canet is still a very pleasant, sociable place to stay with a lovely peaceful setting and plenty to do and see both around the estate and in the surrounding area. THE ACCOMMODATION: They have a great range of accommodation on offer, mainly cottages but with some small apartments too. All are very charming, comfortable and clean and come in various sizes, with the largest covering 250 m² and which can sleep up to eight comfortably. Check your options on the booking page here. The accommodation mixes rustic and modern styles well, and generally doesn’t stray too far from the traditional French farmhouse look. They are comfortable, homely and well equipped and there is plenty of outside seating, dining and lounging space plus BBQ facilities, a swimming pool, tennis courts, a boules court and a playground for the kids. Beyond the gardens there are some small sections of farmland and woodland but the estate is mainly comprised of vineyards and olive groves. Château Canet is very well known in the region and has won numerous awards for both wine and olive oil with their Minervois (an AOC in this area of Languedoc-Roussillon) being a mixture of whites reds and rosé. Olive oil tasting sessions and educational tours are available as well as a full program READ MORE

Pa’ani Cabins farm stay in Mountain View, Hawaii, very near to Hilo international airport, is an authentic farm stay experience in cabins and bungalows with a sociable shared kitchen and surrounded by farm animals. Their cute cabins include a dinner table and chairs and in true rustic style have no electricity. The Bungalows are more modern with WiFi, flat-screen TV and DVD player. Both give you access to the shared kitchen and bathrooms and the large gardens with BBQ and terrace. The Volcanoes National Park is about twenty miles away and the surrounding countryside is beautiful to explore on horseback or bike. And all that can be arranged from the farm, and other services too, like quad bike hire, zip line tours, massage and special themed adventures for kids. READ MORE

In Creemore, Ontario, Canada, this popular farm stay has a sauna, spa & wellness center, tennis courts, an outdoor salt water swimming pool, a gift shop and a restaurant on site. You’ll find the food top quality and the staff welcoming and friendly. All of their comfortable rooms come with flat screen TV and WiFi and some come with a seating area. Guests are also welcome to use their shared kitchen for cooking their own meals if they so choose. You can hire bikes from the farmstay and the staff can also organize horse back riding trips, showing you some nice trails in the surrounding area which is also good for golf, cycling, fishing and winter sports. WHAT OTHER GUESTS SAY: “A great location and comfortable in and out!! The owner is lovely and cares a great deal about her property It is very pleasant as she provides the perfect amount of guest attention without being hovering. . Her private brand of body care products have a lovely slightly herbally not floral sweet aroma !!..” >> CLICK HERE TO READ MORE REVIEWS & TO BOOK YOUR STAY AT MOUNTAIN ASH FARM:   READ MORE

Baby und Kinderbauernhof Wildfang has a beautifully scenic location in the Klostertal valley, 500 metres from the centre of Dalaas. They offer bright, modern and clean apartments at the farmhouse, all of which have a balcony to enjoy the fabulous views from. It’s self catering but you can also order some delicious home-made breakfasts if you so wish. THE ACCOMMODATION: All apartments come with a kitchen with all kitchenware and a dishwasher. From the balcony you can enjoy panoramic views of the surroundings mountains. Ski equipment can be stored in a separate room on site where they also have a boot dryer. They can also offer a very good breakfast for an extra fee, (though free of charge for children up to 12 years). You can also make use of the barbecue area in the garden while for dining out options you’ll find a few good restaurants just down the road in the centre of Dalaas. There are rabbits, cows, a cat and a dog on the farm, as a well as fruit trees and vegetable groves, and the owners produce their own jam and schnapps. THE LOCATION: The Sonnenkopf Ski Area is 3 km away and the Arlberg Ski Area can be reached by car in 20 minutes. There is also a small ski area in Dalaas for children and beginners from where you can actually ski straight down to the farm stay. Numerous hiking and mountain biking paths can be found close by, there is also an outdoor pool in the centre of the village and a nice adventure park for children just 3 km away. Be sure to ask the owners of Kinderbauernhof Wildfang for more recommendations READ MORE

In the heart of the Barossa Valley, near Adelaide, South Australia, this farm stay is a peaceful rural retreat surrounded by gum and palm trees and with lovely views over the famous Seppeltsfield Winery. THE ACCOMMODATION: The accommodation is in the form of 6 self catering cottages, all with air-conditioning and all modern facilities; private bathroom with spa bath, flat screen TV and DVD player, a cosy fireplace and a kitchenette, including fridge, toaster and microwave etc. Check them out on the booking page here.  Outside there are barbecue facilities and a fire pit where in the evenings many guests get together and organize a camp fire. And there’s a nice playground for the kids too. On their small 8 acre farm surrounded by gum trees and vineyards, you’ll find sheep, ponies and alpacas, all of which are friendly and are used to meeting visitors, both children and adults. The accommodation is self catering but your friendly hosts also provide you with some nice complementary breakfast hampers. THE LOCATION: The Barossa valley north of Adelaide has been a famous wine producing region for generations now and just a ten minute walk away from the farm you’ll find one of its most famous wineries; Seppeltsfield, which was established way back in 1851 by the Seppelts family, recent immigrants from what was once the German speaking region of Silesia in Central Europe. Here you can arrange a whole range of wine tourism activities as well as enjoying some of the best food around at the on site restaurant. It’s also a short walk to the Seppelts Family Mausoleum, a serene memorial spot to the famous pioneer family which has suitably lovely views READ MORE

This friendly B&B farm stay is on a busy, working sheep farm in Hawarden, South Island, New Zealand, about 50 miles from Christchurch airport. They have a very spacious and comfortable suite with double bed, separate seating area plus veranda, en-suite bathroom and flat screen TV with satellite channels, and another self-catering cottage with equal facilities plus more space and a kitchen adjoining the farmhouse. There is free WiFi almost throughout, and they serve a hearty cooked breakfast or a continental option if you prefer, and they can offer other good home cooked meals for an extra charge throughout the rest of the day, even arranging packed lunches for hiking trips. The area is rightly well known for the outdoors and the friendly farm owners can advise you on hikes and cycle routes, and you can borrow their own bikes for free! There is plenty of fishing around and winter sports too, and you are of course welcome to store your ski equipment at the farm. WHAT OTHER GUESTS SAY: “A homely farm stay with touches of luxury not normally provided by a B&B….” “What a special experience. We felt like part of the family…we went on a great hike through the sheep ranch. We felt like we had our own 5000 acre ranch. Outstanding hospitality and the rooms were both uniquely great. Don’t miss this place. We are coming back!!..” >> CLICK HERE TO READ MORE REVIEWS & TO BOOK YOUR STAY AT KARETU DOWNS:     READ MORE

  Just outside the tiny village of Tonteldoos, in the east of Limpopo, South Africa, Wooly Bugger Farm Stay has a great range of self catering accommodation on a working farm that also specializes in fishing; It has two large trout dams stocked with brown and rainbow trout and guests are welcome to fish as much as they like. Their accommodation is very clean and comfortable with each unit having its own kitchen, lounge, open fireplace and patio. But the main attraction is the farmland and the landscapes that surround. It’s great for hiking, mountain biking and of course fishing and there are plenty of opportunities to watch some of the wildlife that comes and goes around the farm. Note: No internet at this guest farm! READ MORE

For a real slice of Greek, specifically Cretan, village life, you can rent this lovely self catering cottage (two nights minimum) at Orgon Farm, an organic olive farm near Heraklion. The area is peaceful and serene and the house is charmingly traditional, while not forsaking modern comforts. THE ACCOMMODATION: The cottage has one bedroom with two double beds, a bathroom and a kitchen and living room which also has a sofa bed so can sleep up to 6 people. Though it’s a one bed unit the house is a good size and comes with a nice, well equipped, kitchen. It really is a charming little place, in the classic Greek, traditional farmhouse style, and it has a terrace outside from where you can enjoy the lovely views over the the surrounding hills and farmland, and you’ll also find a hot tub, seating & sun loungers. The farm mainly produces olives, but also a really huge range of vegetables fruit and herbs, such as grapes, zucchini, thyme, sage, water melons, broccoli, mint, cabbage and cucumbers. And it is also home to some rabbits and hens. It is self catering, as mentioned, and you can be left alone as much as you like, but guests are always welcome to tour the farm and to partake in light farm work if they so wish, things like collecting the fruit, vegetables and herbs etc. You’ll find the owners helpful and welcoming and guests can sample some terrifically fresh organic ingredients straight from the farm, including breakfast supplies; fresh, homemade bread, eggs, tomatoes etc. For more supplies you can wander into the local town just down the road from the farm where you’ll also find READ MORE

In Kukerin, Western Australia, on the route between Perth and Esperance, this very popular, eco-friendly farm stay has rooms and self catering accommodation and can make a great introduction to Australian outback rural life, with the extra novelty of it having a yabby (freshwater crayfish) packing plant at the farm. THE ACCOMMODATION: They have very comfortable B&B rooms with air conditioning, private bathroom, flat-screen TV and DVD player and some self-catering cottages which also have a lounge/seating area and full kitchen. Whether self catering or not you can arrange good meals, breakfast included, to be cooked for you at the farm, and as you might expect they do a nice range of yabbie dishes. You’ll find it a friendly sociable place and it has lots of outdoor space, with a barbecue and a children’s playground. THE FARM: The farm produces wheat, barley lupins and peas and, as mentioned above, has a large yabby packing centre. The owners started off in the nineties supplying just one restaurant in Perth, under the brand name Cambinata, but have expanded greatly since, supplying yabbies to far flung markets in Asia, Europe and the United States. The yabbies are supplied by around 700 farmers from all around Western Australia. THE LOCATION: The farm is just outside the tiny town of Kukerin (motto: Small But Strong), and just off the main road between Perth and Esperance. This is the heart of Western Australia’s wheat belt and Kukerin is a small, typically Australian farming community which is always friendly and welcoming to visitors. The distances here are large of course but there are a number of diversions relatively nearby. Drive for about a half an hour to the east READ MORE

For something a little different, what about staying in a caravan on an ostrich farm? At Les Roulottes de la Ferme de l’Autruche Dromoise you can do just that! This unusual but very enjoyable farmstay is in Livron-sur-Drôme, 14 km from Valence in the South of the Rhone Alpes region, not far from Provence. Their very clean and comfortable caravans come with private bathroom, kitchenette, a seating area inside and out, a flat-screen TV and WiFi. The farm has a nice outdoor swimming pool and the surrounding area is great for exploring with cycling, horse riding and fishing all to be enjoyed nearby. WHAT OTHER GUESTS SAY: “The place is beautiful, it’s really nice to wake up, open the door and see the ostriches….” “The caravan is really cute! And the place, as the animals, really well cared for….” >> CLICK HERE TO READ MORE REVIEWS & TO BOOK YOUR STAY AT FERME DE L’AUTRUCHE DROMOISE: READ MORE

Near Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape, South Africa, and just outside Addo Elephant national park, this lovely farmstay is a wonderful place to relax and be taken care of, with an outdoor pool and terrace among the orchards on this working fruit farm. It has a variety of very stylish and comfortable rooms and suites all with air conditioning, WiFi, flat screen TV with satellite channels, outdoor seating area, and one self catering cottage with kitchenette. The serve a great breakfast and other meals are served throughout the day too, and all their food is of a very high quality. Ask about their tours too, they organize highly rated guided tours in the surrounding area, including the Addo Elephant Park. WHAT OTHER GUESTS SAY: “Lovely rooms and beautiful site! The staff were all incredibly helpful! The tour organised by the hotel to Addo Elephant Park was wonderful – highly recommend!…” “The food was amazing, definitely go eat at the restaurant! (They told us that Africanos was the best restaurant in the area, but their own food is way better! Take a walk on the property and pick some lemons which you can bring back home! The staff was really friendly and helpful….” >> CLICK HERE TO READ MORE REVIEWS & TO BOOK YOUR STAY AT DE OLD DRIFT GUEST FARM: READ MORE

Beside the popular ski resort town of Formiguères, Languedoc-Roussillon, southern France, the highly rated Le Calmadou farmstay has self catering accommodation on its working sheep farm where it produces its own range of cheeses. The surrounding countryside is peaceful and serene and the views from the farm are spectacular. THE ACCOMMODATION: Their very comfortable 95 square meter self catering apartment is part of a converted barn with traditional wooden beamed ceilings and can host up to 8 people. There are three bedrooms (two doubles and a twin), a lounge area with sofa bed and flat screen TV, a modern, fully equipped kitchen, two bathrooms and a 15 square meter outside terrace area. THE FARM: The farm is a fully working sheep farm producing and selling a good range of home made cheeses, yoghurts and spicy merguez sausages. Being at an altitude of 1500 meters the winters here are cold and so the sheep move indoors to the barns but the hospitable farm owners are always happy to offer tours of the farm and the cheese factory whatever time of year you arrive. THE LOCATION: Formiguères is a popular ski town and the farmstay is just 4km from the nearest slopes, so the location is ideal for winter sports. When the season ends it is also a great area for hiking, rock climbing and mountain biking. The wider area is part of the Parc Regional de Catalan Pyrenees which is a wonderful area to explore, full of wild scenery, mountains, lakes, including the famous glacial lake at Engolasters, and thick green forests. The borders with both Spain and Andorra are less than 20km away and so the region is also a popular READ MORE

Just outside Oberrimbach village, and only a 10-minute drive from Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Germany, this family run farmstay is definitely family friendly with a playground, including trampoline and table tennis, and of course plenty of cows and chickens to introduce the kids to. There is great home-made food, and barbecue facilities in the garden. And its self-catering apartments are very spacious and comfortable. In the surrounding area you’ll find some lovely hiking trails, as well as horse riding and good fishing and swimming lakes. WHAT OTHER GUESTS SAY: “Everything was perfect. Loved it, would totally recommend to everybody :)…” “The highlight of the trip! Kids feeding the cows and other animals. They felt like farmers. Such a kid friendly place; play area in barn and outside, so many carts and bikes to pedal around, bunnies, chickens etc. 10 minutes to Rothenburg o.d. Tauber….” >> CLICK HERE TO READ MORE REVIEWS & TO BOOK YOUR STAY AT FERIENHOF AROLD: READ MORE

This high quality, organic farm stay is in the heart of the Wiltshire Cotswolds, England, near to some famously beautiful villages like Castle Combe, Lacock and Corsham, and less than 20 miles from the city of Bath. The Accommodation: The accommodation is in the form of cosy self catering cottages for up to five people. Though in rustic, traditional style on the outside inside they they modern and clean with a lounge area with flat screen TV, WiFi and a log fire, and access to a fully equipped kitchen. The accommodation can be self catering but an excellent complimentary breakfast is still delivered to your door every morning, with some of the ingredients coming fresh from the farm. Outside in the terraces and gardens there is plenty of seating, a barbecue area and tennis courts. The Farm: The farm is a working organic farm with herds of cattle, sheep and goats. They also have some horses with stables in the courtyard at the back of the farmhouse. Horse riding trips can be arranged and you can also hire bikes for free at the farmhouse. The Location: Wiltshire and the Cotswolds have long been synonymous with beautiful countryside and are today one of England’s most popular destinations for upmarket rural tourism. The Cotswolds are wonderful to explore and contain some of England’s prettiest small towns including the famous Castle Combe, about If you’re a fan of films and TV series you might be interested to know that the village of Lacock, only about six miles from the farm, was used as a location for the first two Harry Potter films, the village of Corsham, about the same distance away, was used READ MORE

15 minutes drive from Beaudesert Queensland, Australia, this family friendly, organic farm stay has very comfortable suites and cottages, both B&B and self catering, all of which have at least a kitchenette and a lounge area with flat screen TV and WiFi. They have an on site restaurant too that serves meals on request throughout the day. Besides hanging out with the animals, which include sheep, ponies, horses, cattle, peacocks and kangaroos, guests can relax on the large gardens and patio, organize a barbecue or play tennis, pool or darts while the kids entertain themselves at the children’s playground. Clandulla Farm Stay is about a half an hours drive from Tambourine Mountain Gold Club, well under an hour from the centre of Brisbane and less again from the beaches of the Gold Coast. WHAT OTHER GUESTS SAY: “We loved the peace at the farm. We felt so at home from the time we set foot with the warm hospitality. The kids had an amazing time with Farmer John and the animal friends. We will love to be back again soon…..” “Delightful paradise with ‘Farmer John’ & ‘Lorna’ being perfect hosts, especially when it came to the animals. Amazing family stay!…” >> CLICK HERE TO READ MORE REVIEWS & TO BOOK YOUR STAY AT CLANDULLA FARM COTTAGES:   READ MORE

The quite idyllic El Piensu Farm Stay has homely, rustic, farm house accommodation near Gijon in the lovely green hills of Asturias. They have a choice of B&B and self catering accommodation, their small farm has cattle, donkeys and hens, and comes with some superb views over the Atlantic Ocean. THE ACCOMMODATION: There are B&B double bedrooms in the main farmhouse, and in the adjoining buildings they have some one and two bedroom cottage type accommodation to sleep up to five people. They are all rustic, traditional style; they hold on to a lot of old farmhouse charm but without compromising on comfort of cleanliness. There is a large common lounge with TV in the main farmhouse which all guests are free to use. The self catering cottages are spacious and come with well equipped kitchens, lounge areas and one or two bedrooms in each. For an extra fee all guests can also enjoy a particularly good and generous breakfast, with a great spread of Asturian and Spanish homemade fare to be sampled. Outside there are some charming gardens with nice views over the sea, a terrace area with seating and a small children’s playground. with see-saw and swings. You are of course welcome to wander around the farm and meet some of the animals; the cows and donkeys, and join in some tasks if you so wish like collecting fresh eggs from the hens for breakfast. You’ll find the farm owners friendly and hospitable, and in a very short time you will be made to feel right at home, in both the house and on the farm. THE LOCATION: Near to both Gijon and Oviedo El Piensu Farm Stay READ MORE

Sunnyside Farm has a lovely and very spacious cottage to rent for up to 12 people at the edge of the stunning Brecon Beacons National Park, one of the highlight of any journey through rural Wales. The farm is an award winning sheep and cattle farm which you are welcome to walk around, and to watch, or take part in, different seasonal activities such as bottle feeding spring lambs for example or wool rolling during shearing time. You’ll find plenty of nice field & woodland walks, and mountain bike trails, around the immediate area too, and of course for more serious hiking there is the magnificent scenery of the Brecon Beacons just a few miles away. THE ACCOMMODATION: The cottage is large, it has seven bedrooms in total and can sleep up to twelve quite comfortably, but it still retains a nice cosy countryside cottage feel. There is a large living room with an adjoining, spacious, dining room and also a kitchen well enough equipped to cater for any occasion and which includes a washing machine and a dishwasher. The lounge area has digital TV and DVD player and there is WiFi throughout the house. Outside there is also plenty of space to enjoy with a patio and outdoor seating. As mentioned previously, you are free to wander all around the farm and to join some of the farm activities and you can take off on hikes or mountain bike rides in the surrounding area where you’ll find plenty of scenic trails to be explored. The friendly farm owners stay nearby and will always be at hand with help or advice and they can arrange things such a local bike hire READ MORE

In Mary Valley, near Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast, QLD, Yabbaloumba Retreat Farm Stay has upscale self-catering cottages on a working cattle and sheep farm and gets consistently high ratings as a romantic rural escape. The Accommodation: All the cottages have air conditioning & ceiling fans, a well appointed kitchen & diner, flat screen TV, and a spa bath for two. While outside you have a private terrace/porch area with electric BBQ facilities and seating. Upon arrival you’ll be presented with a complimentary bottle of wine and a cheese platter and though the accommodation is self catering there is also a generous breakfast hamper on offer with a whole range of things such as bacon, eggs, tomatoes, mushrooms, croissants as well as fresh orange juice and milk. For evening meals too you can order a fine home cooked meal hamper from the owners at the farm if you give them just a day’s notice. Feel free to explore their working farm which contains cattle, sheep and goats and also a fishing lake which is stocked with bass that you are free to catch. The Location: The pleasant town of Kenilworth is just over four miles away and there you have several good cafes and restaurants; McGinns Restaurant, the Bellbird Cafe and the Kenilworth Hotel for example. The immediate surroundings are deeply peaceful and rural and you’ll find plenty of opportunity for hiking, swimming and fishing nearby too. The drive from Sunshine Coast should take less than an hour while the journey up from Brisbane should take not much more than an hour and a half. Note: In line with the ‘rural escape’ theme, there is no WiFi, and no children or pets READ MORE

By the black sands of Pahoa, Hawaii, The Jungle Farmhouse is a comfortable self catering holiday cottage in the middle of the Hawaiian jungle. It comes with all modern conveniences including a flat screen TV with satellite channels and WiFi, en-suite suite bathroom and a lovely peaceful terrace overlooking the garden, which has BBQ facilities. And all around the farmhouse there is some great jungle hiking and trekking to be found, and The Lava Tree State Park is only about a mile away. You can get organic eggs from the farm’s hens and ducks and fresh fruit from the farm’s trees; papaya, bananas, avocados and pineapple. WHAT OTHER GUESTS SAY: “Amazing property, amazing host, amazing location. Seeing the sky glow red at night from the volcano and the outdoor shower were great. Would 100% recommend anyone to stay here – a real escape to a true jungle farmhouse!…” >> CLICK HERE TO READ MORE REVIEWS & TO BOOK YOUR STAY AT THE JUNGLE FARMHOUSE:     READ MORE

Very near the famous town of San Gimignano, Tuscany, Italy, Agriturismo Macinatico is a wonderful rural escape that has great views of the town’s iconic medieval towers and of the surrounding countryside. It makes its own top quality extra virgin olive oil and wine which you can enjoy sampling in some beautifully tended gardens or lounging by its outdoor swimming pool. THE ACCOMMODATION: They have a total of self catering apartments are large and spacious with varying numbers of bedrooms that can sleep up to ten people. They are also clean and very comfortable, with private bathroom, flat screen TV with satellite channels, full kitchen and a lounge area. The owners are very hospitable and friendly and you’ll be welcomed on your arrival with a food hamper containing some basic essentials, bread, coffee etc. plus some nice home made pastries, biscuits and other treats. Outside in the lovely gardens you’ll find barbecue facilities, a kids playground and an outdoor swimming pool with views of the San Gimignano towers. The views from the farm stay are spectacular; you can lay back and enjoy the San Gimignano towers, the vineyards, and all that gorgeous Tuscan landscape while just sitting back at the edge of the pool. THE FARM & VINEYARD: The have acres of vineyards and olive groves surrounding the farmhouse. They produce their own quality cold pressed extra virgin olive oil and various wines here, and they have a small farm shop which sells both, with wines such as Vernaccia Macinatico and Massi DOCG, Toscana Bianco and Rosso IGT, Chianti and Disciplinare Chianti, to name just a few, plus many other good local foodstuffs. You’ll find the owners friendly and enthusiastic and READ MORE

Posh Huts has some very cute and unique glamping hut accommodation on a peaceful farm in Falstone, Northumberland, very close to both Northumberland National Park and Kielder Water. THE ACCOMMODATION: The wooden shepherd’s huts are a modern day version of some very traditional style accommodation. In olden days the shepherds of Northumberland would stay on the farm during lambing season, sometimes being away for days on end, hence the need for a comfortable, secure base that could be easily moved when needed. Falstone Farm has four modern versions of them made from wood and steel, and with more modern insulation. They are nicely decorated too and though obviously small they are surprisingly comfortable. They are fully heated, and have a kitchen, cute seating area and one double bedroom. If you don’t feel like cooking you can arrange meals to be cooked for you and for an order of freshly baked bread to be delivered to your hut each morning. For guests who value a sense of escape; there’s no TV and no WiFi! THE LOCATION: Falstone Farm is a wonderful base for exploring this very historic and beautiful region.  It is very near the famous Hadrian’s Wall, as well as a host of other Roman ruins too, such as Chesters, Birdoswald  and Vindolanda. Kielder Water, Europe’s largest man made lake is just up the road too along with its gorgeous forest park. More natural beauty can be found on the windswept moors of the Northumberland National Park which offers great mountain biking and hill walking, and the coast of Northumberland is equally inspiring, especially the ancient monastery at Lindisfare’s Holy Island, and the Farne Islands with their abundance of sea birds. There READ MORE

In the heart of Reisach, Carinthia Austria, farm stay Knaller der Reiterbauernhof has very highly rated self-catering apartments with kitchenette, WiFi and satellite TV and either a balcony or terrace. There’s so much to do both on and off the farm. They offer free use of a horse and free horse riding lessons, and for a small extra charge there is also a wellness centre which has a fitness room, sauna and steam bath. Knaller der Reiterbauernhof can organise hiking tours too on request, and every Tuesday they have a very special night time horse riding trip. Supermarkets and restaurants  are within walking distance and the Nassfeld Ski Resort, around 10 km away, has a free bus stop beside the farm. The friendly farm owners can also offer you a free Nassfeld Plus Card which gives you many discounts on attractions and activities in the local area. WHAT OTHER GUESTS SAY: “The host helped us find the location and was incredibly friendly. She gave us a tour of the apartment and showed us the common spaces. The apartment was so clean! Shower stayed hot for my entire group (four people). The bus to Nassfeld stops 100 ft from the door. Could not ask for any thing better!…” “We had a very good time and enjoyed the sauna and hospitality of our hosts:)…” >> CLICK HERE TO READ MORE REVIEWS & TO BOOK YOUR STAY AT KNALLER DER REITERBAUERNHOF:   READ MORE

Agriturismo Maurerhof just outside Vipiteno, Trentino in the heart of the Dolomites, is a working farm that produces cheese, eggs and jam. Their Alpine-style apartments all come with private bathroom, kitchen and seating area, and a balcony which gives lovely views of the surrounding mountains. On the farm you can meet some of the locals, including ponies, chickens, goats and horses. The surrounding area is fabulous for hiking and winter sports are very nearby; The Racines ski area is just 14 km away for example. WHAT OTHER GUESTS SAY: “We (2 adults, 2 children + 1 dog) were very impressed by the Maurerhof. The landlords are warm, nice and helpful. The location was great. Absolutely recommended!!..” “Exceptional. Eggs from the farm, fresh milk every morning, perfect service….” >> CLICK HERE TO READ MORE REVIEWS & TO BOOK YOUR STAY AT AGRITURISMO MAURERHOF: READ MORE

This small, eco-friendly farm stay, just outside the town of Cambridge, New Zealand and only 15 minutes drive from Hamilton Airport, has very comfortable self-catering villas on a working organic farm. All of their quite luxurious accommodation includes a kitchen, private bathroom, a flat-screen TV with DVD player, under-floor heating, iPod docking station and free WiFi throughout. They serve a very good organic breakfast with fruit, honey, eggs and milk straight from the farm. The surrounding area is famously great for outdoor adventures and guests can borrow their bikes and kayaks for free. WHAT OTHER GUESTS SAY: “Amazing location and loved the cottage. Amazing decor, comfort, setting and surroundings – super special place to stay….” “The décor was tasteful, comfortable and romantic and the setting was quiet and private. The hosts were very friendly and welcoming and the breakfast was delicious, homemade and healthy. A lovely revitalizing retreat….” >> CLICK HERE TO READ MORE REVIEWS & TO BOOK YOUR STAY AT EARTHSTEAD VILLAS:   READ MORE

Hochhubergut is a typical Upper-Austrian farm-house in a beautifully quiet location 5 km from the centre of Aschach an der Steyr. All rooms and apartments come with a modern bathroom, parquet flooring and free Wi-Fi. Apartments come with a fully equipped kitchen including a dishwasher and all units feature a flat-screen TV with satellite channels. You can also make use of the large garden with a pond. Cross-country skiing trails and a toboggan run can be found right next to Hochhubergut. The nearest restaurants are 3 km away and a supermarket can be found in the centre of Aschach. The scenic towns of Steyr and Bad Hall are 15 km away. The Hinterstoder Ski Area can be reached by car in 45 minutes. WHAT OTHER GUESTS SAY: “Fantastic stay: fantastic panoramic views; modern rooms: high quality equipment, friendly owners…..” “Amazing view over the hills. The apartment was really nice and clean. The owner is very friendly and gave us some great tips for the rest of our trip through Austria….” >> CLICK HERE TO READ MORE REVIEWS & TO BOOK YOUR STAY AT HOCHHUBERGUT:     READ MORE

A 17th-century house next to a 15th-century castle in the peaceful countryside of Wexford, Ireland, Killiane Castle offers very highly rated self catering and B&B accommodation. They have a range of spacious, comfortable rooms with private bathroom and TV plus one and two bedroom self catering apartments. Freshly cooked each morning, their great breakfasts include home made bread, eggs from the farm’s free range hens, fruit and home-made yoghurt. In the castle gardens they have a tennis court, croquet lawn, pitch-and-putt course and a golf driving range. WHAT OTHER GUESTS SAY: “There is nothing I would fault. I never sit in a communal area in a hotel or guesthouse but this whole house had such character I sat by the fire and relaxed soaking up the atmosphere….” “A brilliant place to stay. Fabulous property. Great room. Lots of facilities, golf, croquet, good walks….” >> CLICK HERE TO READ MORE REVIEWS & TO BOOK YOUR STAY AT KILLIANE CASTLE:   READ MORE

Agroturismo Turmaden des Capita is a top quality farm stay in a restored 19th-century traditional Menorcan farm house surrounded by limousin cattle, horses, bee hives, olive trees and vegetable plots on its 75 hectare organic, eco-friendly farm. THE ACCOMMODATION: The entire house can be rented or individual rooms, which have a flat screen TV and WiFi and access to the shared kitchen and lounge. And outside there is a nice terrace with outdoor seating, a swimming pool and barbecue facilities. THE FARM: The organic, eco-friendly farm contains limousin cattle, horses, bee hives and olive trees. Adjacent there is also a small area of protected oak forest, and, quite uniquely, is the site of the ruins of a small necropolis typical of the ancient Menorcan Pretalayotic culture, which dates back to between 3,000 and 1,600 BC. THE LOCATION: The farm lies in an area known as “Es Plans d’Alaior”, between the villages of Alaior and Mercadal in the centre of the Island and is about 20 minutes by car to Mahon city and airport, with the nearest beach being about 15 minutes away. Bikes can be hired from the farm and you can also arrange horse riding too. WHAT OTHER GUESTS SAY: “Central location in the island, delicious breakfast, super comfortable room, nice swimming pool and friendly staff! I definitely recommend and would go back again!….” “An experience you can’t afford to miss. Where to begin? What an amazing experience! What a place! But more importantly what a nice couple who are running this establishment….” >> CLICK HERE TO READ MORE REVIEWS & TO BOOK YOUR STAY AT AGROTURISMO TURMADEN DES CAPITA:   READ MORE

For a beautifully peaceful farm stay retreat near Christchurch, NZ, Eyre View Retreat is an excellent, and highly rated, choice. The farm sits on the Canterbury plains just west of the city, has lovely, clear, mountain views, and a slow, relaxed atmosphere that is infectious to the visitor. THE ACCOMMODATION: The accommodation on the farm is a cosy cottage/chalet, near the main farmhouse, with two bedrooms (one with queen size bed, the other with two singles), a lounge, kitchenette, dining room and bathroom. Outside the door there is a nice veranda area with seating and views over the fields and the distant mountains. There is also WiFi at the cottage plus a flat screen satellite TV, mini HiFi & DVD player. You’ll find the owners very friendly and helpful without being intrusive. Though the accommodation is self catering they also provide a very good continental breakfast in the morning which includes some of their very own fresh home baked bread. THE FARM: The farm has a number of animals; alpacas, cattle, horses and ponies, all of which are pretty friendly and well used to strangers. You can take the alpacas and ponies for a walk around the farm if you wish, and you can arrange horse riding lessons in the local area, as well as guided horse treks. THE LOCATION: Though near to the charming city of Canterbury, the South Island’s largest city, Eyre Retreat and its surroundings are a rural idyll where the stars shine brightly at night and there is barely a sound to be heard.  You can wander the farm then maybe take a walk through the Eyrewell Forest just behind, and there are also lots of READ MORE

Château de Montlieu is a beautifully serene rural retreat near to both Versailles and Paris, France, which has a choice of self catering accommodation in its classic French château building. There is a spa and wellness centre at the property too and it is surrounded by forest, farm and parkland where sheep, donkeys and deer graze peacefully. THE ACCOMMODATION: There is a great choice of one two and three bed villas to sleep up to 6 people, plus some smaller double studios. All of them are self catering with well equipped kitchens, comfortable lounges/seating areas and quality finishings. You’ll have a well stocked fridge waiting for you with organic breakfast food & fresh bread and you’ll have all the staples such as tea, coffee (Nespresso), milk, sugar etc. You can also organize an organic breakfast to be made for you for an extra fee. The spa and wellness centre offers various therapies and treatments including reflexology and sophrology and you’ll find a more basic form of therapy in long strolls around the beautiful château grounds and farm, a mixture of woodland and parkland. There is a herd of deer at the property as well as some sheep and donkeys. THE LOCATION: The chateau is conveniently near to both Paris and Versailles; about a half an hour to Versailles and less than an hour from central Paris. There is an SNCF train station fairly close by at Rambouillet and you can arrange transfers to and from there so the chateau can be a alternative base for exploring the very touristy Versailles or even Paris. Rambouillet draws some tourists too though with its own very grand 14th-century chateau & former royal palace and makes for READ MORE

Near Emsworth, Hampshire, and close to the cities of Chichester and Portsmouth, this friendly, welcoming farm stay has luxury glamping huts on its 16 acre farm that keeps a number of horses and free range hens. THE ACCOMMODATION: The glamping tents are in the form of yurts, or what some may possibly describe as teepee style. They come with a king size bed and plenty of space both inside and out where you’ll find a nice private decking area with seating and a gas powered barbecue. Inside the yurt there is also a seating/dining area, a mini ‘pop up’ kitchen, wood burning stove, en-suite bathroom and WiFi. The accommodation is self catering but the friendly owners can provide you with breakfast and dinner hampers as required. Note: Only children over the age of 5 are allowed. THE LOCATION: The farm is in the south east of Hampshire, near the town  of Emsworth, a lively market town and a popular venue for sailing, with plenty of cafes, pubs, shops and restaurants.  Wildlife spotters and bird watchers might enjoy a day out at nearby Brook Meadow, a wildlife conservation area with 5 acres of grassland and two small rivers surrounded by woods. The city of Chichester in West Sussex with its 12th century cathedral is just over ten miles away, and around the same distance is the city of Portsmouth. London is about an hour away depending on the traffic and there are also numerous trains running from London and Portsmouth to Emsworth station. WHAT OTHER GUESTS SAY: “Fab stay! Debbie was so welcoming and accommodating (even running us down some ketchup for our bbq!). The Yurts are lovely inside and get so cosy READ MORE

Farm Stay Wachahof is in Lower Austria’s Bucklige Welt region, an area famous for its gentle green hills and one which attracts visitors from all over Austria for hill walking, hiking and mountain biking. The farmhouse is surrounded by the family farm with pastures, meadows and orchards, and the farm in turn is surrounded by deep forest where, amongst other things, you’ll find a fish pond with trout. The accommodation at the farm stay is in the form of two self catering studio apartments which can sleep three with the help of the sofa bed, and a larger two floor cottage which can sleep up to seven. The apartments have a kitchenette, a dining area, bathroom and the bedroom/living room with satellite TV. They also have a wood-burning stove and bathroom and plenty of space outside to lounge around and enjoy some beautiful views of the Wechselgebirge mountains. The Cottage provides a lot more space internally and can sleep up to seven with two double beds and the rest sofa beds. There is a large living room area downstairs and a well equipped kitchen. Though the accommodation is self catering you can arrange a good breakfast at the farm stay and the farm owners produce a lot of quality home made food including jams, breads, fruits, vegetables and even home made schnapps which you are welcome to try out and to buy. Outside in the gardens there are sun loungers, deck chairs and barbecue facilities. you are also welcome to tour the farm and the surrounding forest. The nearest town is Edilitz, less than five minutes away by car, while you can be at the well known thermal baths in Bad READ MORE

A great base for exploring the Snowdonia National Park, in beautiful North Wales, Tyddyn Du Farm Stay has a range of luxury cottage suites with hot tubs on its large organic farm. THE ACCOMMODATION: It’s B&B but all the accommodation comes with a fully equipped kitchenette, and though they are in beautifully traditional Welsh farmhouse style with exposed wooden beams and stone walls, they still have all modern comforts. They are spacious, very comfortable and come with flat screen TV and ipod docking station as standard plus a spa bath/jacuzzi in the bathroom. THE FARM: It’s an organic farm with the main business being sheep farming, but they also keep alpacas, mini goats, hens and a couple of shetland ponies. The animals are all friendly and the farm owners are always happy to show guests around, and let them feed the animals, collect eggs etc. THE LOCATION: The surrounding area , Snowdonia National Park, is famously beautiful with the U.K’s highest mountain Mt. Snowdon just about 30 miles away. Llyn Trawsfynydd Lake is close by too and the whole region is a hikers and nature lovers paradise. WHAT OTHER GUESTS SAY: “I can’t think of a single reason not to stay here! Beautiful cottage, very friendly and helpful host. Stunning location. I would absolutely love to stay here again, had the most relaxing weekend ever. Perfect stay….” “The accommodation was lovely, spacious and included little extras like fresh milk, eggs and a bath jacuzzi. The views were exquisite and the location was perfect. This was definitely the best place we stayed on our trip!…” >> CLICK HERE TO READ MORE REVIEWS & TO BOOK YOUR STAY AT TYDDYN DU FARM: READ MORE

Quinta da Tapada Agroturismo has self catering accommodation in a lovely traditional farmhouse near the old city of Evora, and the medieval village of Evoramonte, Alentejo, Portugal. THE ACCOMMODATION: They have studio, one and two double bedroom cottages, all of which are modern and clean with a lounge and kitchenette, and come with air-con, flat screen TV and WiFi. The studio has one double bed, as has the one bedroom unit but there is also a sofa bed in the lounge of the one bed unit which can fit one more person. The accommodation is self catering but also included in the price is a great buffet breakfast every morning full of fresh local produce some of it from their own farm. Outside there is a terrace area and extensive gardens where you’ll find beautifully tended lawns, ancient olive trees, a swimming pool and barbecue facilities. And there’s the farm too of course which you’re welcome to have a look around, with sheep, goats, pigs and hens, and a range of fruits, herbs and vegetables. THE LOCATION: The small, typically Alentejo, town of of Vimieiro is just down the road, about ten minutes walk away or less than two minutes drive. There you can find a supermarket, a few small shops, and nice restaurants and cafes. The land is flat in these parts and great for long walks, or for cycling and you can hire bikes for free at the farmhouse. Farther afield there is the medieval village of Evoramonte just 13km away and the famously beautiful and historic city of Évora 40km away. There you can marvel at its UNESCO protected historic centre and its many highlights such as READ MORE

La Mezzaluna Fra Le Mura is a friendly farm stay agriturismo near Perugia, Umbria. It has self catering apartments at its hillside farmhouse with some lovely views and a swimming pool in the large gardens. THE ACCOMMODATION: There is a choice of 3 self catering apartments in the rustic farmhouse that can sleep up to four people. All of them have a lounge/dining room and kitchenette and there is plenty of outside space to explore, with nice gardens, a swimming pool and views over the farm and the surrounding hills. The friendly owners also offer cooking classes where you can learn how to make various traditional recipes. The food is excellent; they serve up a great buffet breakfast in the morning and you can order meals throughout the day at their informal farm restaurant. THE FARM: It is a working farm with various animals including cows, pigs and hens. They also grow olives on the farm and make their own olive oil, and some nice traditional home made jams too, which you are of course welcome to sample, and to learn how to make. THE LOCATION: The location is a major attraction with this agriturismo, it is surrounded by the typically Umbrian rolling green hills, with olive trees and orchards all around. It’s about 5km from the shores of Lake Trasimeno and its natural park, which is a popular weekend day trip from Perugia. Perugia is about 45 minutes by car and there are many small villages and town around that are worth a visit. Less than 3 km down the road in fact is the lovely hilltop town of Panicale; it’s small place, with a population of only about 500, READ MORE

La Noyeraie is a cosy, charming farm stay B&B near the UNESCO World Heritage village of Rocamadour in the green hills of the Eastern Dordogne, France. THE ACCOMMODATION: It offers a nice range of suites, rooms and self catering studios all with private bathroom and every morning they serve a great French breakfast in the farmhouse dining room, or weather permitting, on the terrace. Good wholesome home cooked evening meals are available too and they offer a great selection of local organic wines to go with them. The farmhouse is surrounded by 9 peaceful acres of orchard groves, woodland and walnut trees. The owners of La Noyeraie make their own walnut products like walnut biscuits, walnut cakes and walnut oil, which you can sample at the farmhouse as well as buy to take home. They are very enthusiastic about food generally, from harvest to table, and not just their own; they are very knowledgeable about local food and wine and they have a small farm shop where you can also buy other local delicacies to take home; pâté, duck confit and much more. As mentioned previously they also offer a selection of quality locally sourced Cahors wines; reds, whites and rosé as well as the classic Malbec ‘black wine’, all of which you can also buy at the farm shop. THE LOCATION: La Noyeraie is beside the famous cliffside pilgrimage site of Rocamadour, one of the Dordogne’s and France’s most picture perfect towns, and an important place for over 1000 years. The also picturesque and historic town of Sarlat is nearby too, and there are many more beautiful and equally historic little places to explore. The countryside in between too provides READ MORE

This lovely agritourism farm stay near Valencia, Spain specializes in horse riding lessons but even if horse riding doesn’t interest you it is a really great place for a relaxing break. You’ll find spa facilities, a swimming pool, acres of gardens to explore as well as great food, great service and comfortable accommodation. The location is also very good; the farm is in a picturesque setting overlooking the Benicadell Mountains beside the small cute village of Salem. It’s also less than an hour from the city of Valencia, and just 20km from the coastal beaches of Gandia. THE ACCOMMODATION: There is a choice of double and twin B&B rooms as well as two one double bedroom self catering cottages. They are comfortable and cosy with private bathroom, air con, TV and Wifi, and the self catering cottages have their own entrance, kitchenette and lounge area. The farmhouse has all modern facilities but maintains much of its traditional style. It’s beautifully furnished and decorated, with a cosy, slightly rustic vibe. They have a bar and a fine restaurant at the property too which serves breakfast and offers a very good choice of traditional Valencian and Spanish dishes throughout the day, with some of the ingredients coming fresh from the farm. There is loads of outside space to explore, terraces with seating and hammocks, a swimming pool, an equestrian centre, gardens and the farm where they grow various fruits, vegetables and herbs. Further afield you can hike direct from the farm into the surrounding forests and hills as far as the Benicadell Mountains, or you can cycle, with bikes being available to hire at the farm. The large equestrian centre has many horses READ MORE

This stylish farm stay, outside the town of Serendah, Malaysia, is less than an hour’s drive from Kuala Lumpur and is a popular rural retreat from the city. THE ACCOMMODATION: It has a range of very comfortable suites and chalets for up to four people, all of them clean and comfortable with private bathroom.  There is a common kitchen in the main building too where you can cook using some of the farm’s own produce, as well as a dining room, library, games and reading room. Outside there is plenty of social space too; around the swimming pool and the barbecue pit where barbecues can be a nightly event. If you don’t feel like cooking there are a number of quality restaurants in the surrounding area serving Malay, Indian, Chinese and Western food, with one or two within walking distance. Ask the staff for advice. Carpe Diem has 18 acres of fruit orchards, vegetable plots, herb gardens, flower gardens, duck ponds and a swimming pool. THE LOCATION: Plenty of outdoor activities can also be arranged with help from the staff; cycling and trekking tours for example or fishing and fruit picking. There is lots to see and do in this part of Malaysia; the Ulu Yam Hot Springs, Orang Asli-Native Village and a country club with a public golf course are all within 15 minutes drive. Slightly farther afield, about a half an hour away, you’ll find some awesome jungle treks around Selangor Dam and Kuala Kubu Bahru. The nearest airport is Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport less than 50 miles away. Note: No WiFi, and no pets allowed! WHAT OTHER GUESTS SAY: “Excellent: The owner was such a humble READ MORE

Kerriley Park is a homely, family friendly, self catering farm stay in Yelverton, Western Australia, between the Margaret River and Busselton rural holiday regions. It offers cosy and comfortable self catering cottages on their small friendly farm which also has 75 acres of wildlife filled native bushland to explore. THE ACCOMMODATION: The farm stay has a choice of three bedroom, air conditioned, cottages that can sleep up to 10 people. They are fully self catering with a well equipped kitchen, and an open plan dining/lounge area with a flat screen TV and ipod docking station. Outside they all have a nice little verandah area with plenty of seating and outdoor dining space, and you’ll have a communal barbecue at your disposal too. There is a small swimming pool in the gardens too, though its really more for splashing about in than actually swimming, and there is also a children’s adventure playground. THE FARM: The animals are the main attraction for most guests though, and especially children. Every morning the kids can be given a bag of food to feed the animals with, animals which include, goats, sheep, hens, emus and ponies. All of them are friendly and well used to visitors. There is plenty of wild bush around too and guests are free to head off bushwalking as they please and where they are in with a good chance of spotting some of the abundant local wildlife. THE LOCATION: The farmstay is south of Perth, W.A., between two of Australia’s best known rural holiday regions; Margaret River and Busselton. Margaret River is especially famous for two things that usually don’t go hand in hand; surfing and wine making. Its coastline has some of READ MORE

Hidden among the Sangre De Cristo Mountains, near Taos, in the north of New Mexico, this is a peaceful and charming ecological farm stay with a number of self catering cabins on its 40 acre goji berry farm which also has a number of hens, sheep and goats. The old style cabins are rustic, homely and tastefully furnished. Outside the bedroom(s) you’ll find a well equipped kitchen, a lounge area and bathroom with a bathtub. The area around the farm is beautifully quiet and peaceful, surrounded by forest and mountains it gives a feeling of solitude that is both calming and inspiring; the type of place where creative types might come on retreat. It’s only about 15 minutes drive from the little town of Taos though, while the Taos Ski Valley and Red River can be reached in about a half hour. WHAT OTHER GUESTS SAY: “I love the whole farm setting. Chickens, llamas, goats, fruits, vegetables and the incredible quietness is what we needed it. Fully rested from stress. The little cabins were awesome, slept like a baby. The quietness of everything was exactly what I was looking for. Felt very connected with Nature and God. Breakfast was awesome and coffee was delightful. I will be back, for sure….” “Fabulous. It was super fun! Never stayed on a farm before… much better experience than I was expecting….” >>CLICK HERE TO READ MORE REVIEWS & TO BOOK YOUR STAY AT TAOS GOJI FARM: READ MORE

Set on a working farm near Kelburg, in the beautiful countryside of the Rhineland Germany, this farm stay has comfortable self-catering accommodation with private bathroom and WiFi and the farm is very interactive, with plenty of opportunities to feed the animals and ride on the farm tractor. For the kids there is a playground and pony riding in the large gardens, which also has a terrace and barbecue facilities. And in the local area there are plenty of opportunities for hiking and cycling. WHAT OTHER GUESTS SAY: “Everything was perfect. Loved it, would totally recommend to everybody :)…” “Exceptional: Awesome hosts, always up to help. We had a great stay. Clean rooms/facilities, quiet neighborhood….” >> CLICK HERE TO READ MORE REVIEWS & TO BOOK YOUR STAY AT BAUERNHOF MARX: 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

  This Tenerife, Canary Islands, farm stay has accommodation in the form of a rustic, very spacious, self catering 18th-century Canarian farm house with four double/twin bedrooms, a large lounge area with a fireplace and satellite TV, and a full kitchen. The property has its own vineyard and also raises flowers and has a bonsai tree greenhouse. Plus there is a kid’s playground in the gardens as well as barbecue facilities and outside tables, chairs and sun loungers. The surrounding area, Tacoronte, a well known wine producing area is very nice to explore, plus the house is also very near the famous beaches of Tenerife. You can also go hiking and play golf within close reach of the farm, and your nearest airport, Tenerife North, is only about ten minutes away by car. WHAT OTHER GUESTS SAY: “This is a lovely old house. It has absolutely everything you need and more. Perfectly situated and very well maintained. Our host Jose was extremely helpful and accommodating. We plan a return visit…” “This place is simply perfect. Spacious, clean, every bedroom has its own bathroom. Beautiful garden. We want to come back…” Click here to read more of what other guests say.   READ MORE

In Dieffenthal in the heart of the Alsace wine route, between Strasbourg and Colmar, France, Le Vieux Pressoir has self catering accommodation in a traditional Alsatian farmhouse on the grounds of a working vineyard estate. They have a huge choice of accommodation, ranging from double studio apartments to a huge, eight bedroom cottage gite, perfect for large groups. All of the accommodation you will find comfortable, clean and well equipped. You can hire bikes direct from the friendly owners and they are always happy to show you around the estate and winery, and teach you a little about their wine making. WHAT OTHER GUESTS SAY: “Very pretty property with lovely gardens. We were able to check in much earlier than the advertised time and were made to feel very welcome….” “Friendly hosts, nice environment, good quality rooms. Well worth its price….” >> CLICK HERE TO READ MORE REVIEWS & TO BOOK YOUR STAY AT LE VIEUX PRESSOIR: READ MORE

For a farm stay with a difference, Yapham Holds Farm has some cute glamping huts on its small farm in the lovely green countryside of East Yorkshire, England, about 10 miles from York City, and about an hour by car from Scarborough. The cabins are small but perfectly formed and surprisingly comfortable. They all have a sofa-bed, a TV and DVD player, a little veranda outside as well as their own picnic table, and you can rent a grill from the farm if you need. All the huts are heated too and have access to the shared bathroom and toilets on site. Note: Dogs are welcome for a small extra charge, but with a maximum of two per guest. WHAT OTHER GUESTS SAY: “Amazing: Loved every second.. first time I’ve been clamping and already planning my next trip here, lovely owner.. quite.. close to amenities, best sleep I had in ages….” “Fabulous. Friendly & informative hosts. Very clean & well kept grounds & shower/WC. Pods were great, with a few little luxuries such as TV/DVD, heater & lighting so an upgrade from traditional camping. Very peaceful & quiet….” >>CLICK HERE TO READ MORE REVIEWS & TO BOOK YOUR STAY AT YAPHAM HOLDS FARM:     READ MORE

Agriturismo Villa Cefalà, near Palermo, Sicily, is just a stone’s throw from the beach and its hillside location allows some really stunning views over the Mediterranean and some nice sea breezes too. The farmhouse is a classic old Sicilian mansion, in this case from the 18th century, and a place where the nobility of Palermo used to spend long leisurely summers. The building has an aristocratic, elegant feel, and the grounds are gorgeous too, there is a swimming pool and some lovingly maintained garden areas surrounded by rows and rows of citrus and olive trees. They also have a great restaurant on site where you can enjoy a generous, fresh, breakfast each morning and some thoroughly enjoyable evening meals on the outdoor terrace. THE ACCOMMODATION: Agriturismo Villa Cefalà has both B&B rooms and apartments. All have a nicely traditional Sicilian feel to them, with wrought iron bed frames, tiled floors, wood beamed ceilings and antique furniture, but they are modern hotel standard in terms of comfort and facilities; en-suite bathrooms, WiFi, Satellite TV, mini bar and safe, plus some nice little touches like a complimentary beauty kit in each of the bathrooms. The rooms are all double rooms and have plenty of space with a separate seating area included. The apartments have also one double bedroom though are slightly larger with a small kitchenette and lounge area included. In the grounds there is an outdoor swimming pool and various terraces and extensive gardens where you’ll also find a small children’s playground. The food is fantastic at this agriturismo, their traditional breakfast is large and tasty, and has a very nice selection of home made delicacies for you to try; pastries, READ MORE

With spectacular views of San Gimignano, Tuscany, this lovely traditional farm stay has pet friendly B&B rooms and self-catering accommodation on an organic family farm and vineyard. It’s a real homely, friendly place which produces quality wine and extra virgin olive oil, and keeps farm animals too. The food though is the real highlight at Fattoria San Donato, they have a traditional, organic, Tuscan restaurant which serves up some of the best fresh food around, much of which comes from their own farm. If you are impressed with the cooking, as you undoubtedly will, you can also arrange some excellent cooking classes with chef and owner, Federica. THE ACCOMMODATION: They have some nice self catering apartments, and B&B double rooms with private bathroom. All of them are spacious and decorated with a rustic, traditional, Tuscan style. The apartments have two double bedrooms, but there is also a sofa bed in the lounge that can be converted into another double for two extra guests. The lounge is large and comes with a kitchenette too. You can enjoy some really fantastic food and wine at the farm restaurant including a lavish buffet breakfast in the mornings and various meals throughout the day. And, as mentioned above, cooking classes can be arranged too. Outside you’ll find a swimming pool in the large gardens where you can also play table tennis and the kids can enjoy the playground. And all of this with really stunning views of the surrounding countryside, including those iconic towers of San Gimignano. There’s a lot going on in their busy organic farm, it has farm animals; goats, pigs, hens and ducks, and grows vegetables, herbs and fruits including olives and READ MORE

This very highly rated self catering farm stay is on a 300 acre farm in Byron Bay, Australia; in the heart of New South Wales’ Northern Rivers region. Being also near the historic town of Bangalow and just south of Brisbane, Queensland’s Gold Coast it has an excellent location. They have both one and two bedroom cottages and all are fully self contained with kitchen, bathroom and a lounge with TV and Dvd. They each have a lovely private verandah with views of the rainforest or the lake. You can take a canoe or rowing boat out on to the lake, or swim or fish, and there are plenty of nice hiking and mountain bike trails within the farm’s borders and beyond. The farm has animals of course, horses, hens and cows for example and guests, including children can feel welcome to help out with the feeding etc. Note: It’s recommended you come here with a vehicle as there’s no public transport between the village and the farm! WHAT OTHER GUESTS SAY: “We could not rate it any higher as a place to stay, we will definitely be back for another stay at the cottages….” “Such beautiful views, extremely friendly owners, it was a perfect relaxing getaway for our girls weekend….” >> CLICK HERE TO READ MORE REVIEWS & TO BOOK YOUR STAY AT BYRON BAY FARM STAY:     READ MORE

Farm Stay Le Mas de la Rose in Provence, France, offers genuine luxury in a gorgeous rural setting surrounded by 75 acres of its own lavender fields, olive groves and pine woodlands. The farm buildings date back to the 17th century and have been beautifully renovated into what is now surely one of the finest hotels in rural Provence. Their fantastic food deserves a special mention too, with much of the fruit, vegetables and herbs involved coming from the adjoining organic gardens. THE ACCOMMODATION: The have a range of rooms and suites with the larger suites being able to sleep up to four people, and a self catering apartment which has two bedrooms (one double & one twin), two bathrooms, a lounge and a kitchenette. (Check the booking page here) All the accommodation options are super comfortable and clean and with the same old world elegance you’ll find all around the property. The facilities are modern though; all come with air con, flat screen TV, WiFi and Nespresso coffee makers for example. The outside space is centered around the swimming pool and lawns where you’ll also find a hot tub and lots of seating and sun bathing space. There are tennis courts on the property too and also the organic gardens where the farm owners grow a variety of fruits, vegetables and herbs. All around the 75 acre property there is plenty of space to wander in peace among the lavender plants, olive, cypress and pine trees, and you can also hire bikes for free from the farmhouse. They have a very fine restaurant at Le Mas de la Rose which is quite highly regarded in Provence and where you READ MORE

The adults only, eco-friendly, Mt. Hay Retreat near Berry Village is an exclusive rural escape in the heart of Kangaroo Valley. It offers very luxurious self catering accommodation in prime spots of their 360 acre private estate which comprises landscaped gardens, farmland, bushland, and some inspiring views. Facilities include a 33 metre indoor heated pool, spa facilities and a giant chess set in the gardens. Note: Mt Hay Retreat is exclusively for guests aged 18 and over. THE ACCOMMODATION: Mt. Hay is an adults only retreat and so the emphasis seems to be on privacy and spending quality alone. They have a total of 5 self contained and very private, what they term; Deluxe King Suites, all of which are doubles. As you can see from the photos they are all beautifully designed, spacious and very well appointed with HD LCD TVs, WiFi, reverse cycle air con, sleek kitchenettes (with Nespresso coffee makers), secluded outside terraces with open air bath, and some extremely plush bathrooms with luxury toiletries and bathrobes, and some of which include a spa bath. Check out all the details on the booking page here. There is a 30 metre heated swimming pool at the retreat as well as top of the range spa facilities where you can arrange a whole host of health and beauty treatments. You can spend many pleasant hours just exploring the estate, 360 acres in total with its beautifully landscaped gardens, orchards, cattle farm, bushland and secret glades and dams. Apart from meeting the farm animals; the cows, goats and hens, you will surely also spot some of the local wildlife which include wombats, kookaburras, wedge tailed eagles, lyre birds, black cockatoos, READ MORE

With a spectacular setting overlooking the Pacific Ocean this small Hawaiian farmstay retreat has comfortable self catering accommodation, surrounded by vegetable gardens and fruit trees, and puts a strong emphasis on rejuvenation, relaxation and healthy living. The Accommodation: The accommodation is a spacious double room with bathroom, an adjoining lounge area with cable TV, and a full kitchen. There is WiFi throughout the property, and outside you’ll find a nice garden terrace area with barbecue facilities and all around the views are spectacular. The hospitable owners can arrange all sorts of other activities for their guests during their stay; yoga and health and wellness coaching for example, and as professional chefs their cooking classes come very highly recommended. The Farm: The friendly owners are always happy to show guests around their small three acre farm which grows a lot of fruit; fifteen varieties of citrus, six varieties of avocados, and plenty more including bananas, papaya, as well as a range of vegetables and herbs. The owners are enthusiastic about small scale farming and are always happy to show guests around and give them some tips. You can also pick your own fruit and veg. for cooking with and, as mentioned previously, they also offer cooking classes where you can learn some good healthy recipes. They themselves can make meals for you too if you need, and you can be sure their food is of a very high quality. The Location: The farm stay sits 1500 feet high on the Island of Hawaii’s Maliu Ridge, near the lovely little town of Hawi, and has incredible views over the town and the vast blue ocean beyond. Because of the altitude the climate READ MORE

In St.Mary’s just over 20 miles from the city of London, Ontario, Canada, Transvaal farm stay offers a nice 2 bedroom self catering house on its busy working farm with goats, hens and vegetable plots. The farmhouse has a lounge with a stone fireplace, TV and WiFi, a well equipped kitchen, two bedrooms (one double and one twin) and bathroom. They make their own range of quality artisan goat’s cheese, preserves and chocolate truffles which you’re welcome to try, and to buy to take home. You can also learn how to make all of the above at the culinary workshops the owners organize for their guests, and bread and pastry making lessons too. The surrounding area is popular for cycling and you can rent bikes for free from the farm. WHAT OTHER GUESTS SAY: “Cosy interior, gas fireplace, animals! Also loved collecting eggs, and meeting the new baby goats. Owners very generously provided us with homemade goat cheese, and fresh baked goodies from their bakery. The farmhouse is clearly a labour of love for Cindy and Scott!…” “The house is impeccable and the owners are very gracious hosts who clearly wanted to ensure that anything we needed was provided to us! One of the owners of the property gave us a very informative tour of the farm and our kids were able to get their eggs from the hens in the morning. We also enjoyed seeing the goats and playing with the cats on the farm. This is a beautiful getaway and a unique experience for those of us who are city dwellers. I cannot say enough about how much we enjoyed our stay at Transvaal Farm. I would highly READ MORE

This popular dude ranch is just outside Sandpoint Idaho, U.S.A., in the middle of beautiful surroundings with great trails for horseback riding, mountain biking, hiking, sleighing and winter sports, especially cross country skiing. There’s plenty to do at the farmhouse too with evening entertainment, a cosy shared lounge, a recreation room, an outdoor hot tub, a library, a children’s playground as well as meeting and banquest facilities. All of their cosy comfortable rooms have private bathroom and WiFi as standard and come with free breakfast, while their western style self-catering log cabins come with the same plus full kitchen and lounge but minus the breakfast. READ MORE

Sampson’s farm hotel is a 15th Century Tudor farmhouse in the middle of some beautiful south Devon countryside near to Dartmoor and just outside Newtown Abbott. It has a range of clean and comfortable B&B and self catering accommodation within the farmhouse and the surrounding courtyard barn conversions and also a nice common area in the main building with an open fireplace. The farm produces its own eggs, both hen’s and duck’s, and also has a few friendly goats. The eggs make up part of their very good English breakfast where you can also taste some their own homemade marmalades under the ancient oak beams of their farmhouse dining room. There’s plenty to do around the grounds, with trout and salmon fishing, clay pigeon shooting and archery lessons available as well as their well known water colour painting workshops. And outside the farm there are opportunities for horse riding, cycling and of course hiking in some of England’s most enchanting countryside; Dartmoor is just a few miles away for example, and for a more leisurely walk there is the nearby Ramblers River Walk along Templar Way and the River Teign. Sampson’s Farm Country Hotel is just five minutes from the A38 and the A380 and the cities of Exeter and Plymouth are within close reach. WHAT OTHER GUESTS SAY: “Wonderful service in an enchanting setting….” “2 year old loved seeing the ducks and feeding the goats. Lovely room and great breakfast. Would definitely stay again….” >>CLICK HERE TO READ MORE REVIEWS & TO BOOK YOUR STAY AT SAMPSON’S FARM: READ MORE

Bólstaðarhlíð Farm has very nice self catering rooms in the middle of a lovely green valley in the north of Iceland. The farmhouse is in traditional style but thoroughly modern and comfortable, with three en-suite double bedrooms, and access to a sociable shared lounge and the large, well equipped, kitchen too. The area and the farm itself is beautifully quiet and serene, and makes for a wonderful place to unwind. THE ACCOMMODATION: There are three double/twin rooms to choose from all of which are simply furnished and extremely clean and comfortable. The shared lounge has plenty of seating space and a smart/satellite TV (with Netflix) and there is WiFi throughout the building. The kitchen is modern and well equipped and the bathrooms are particularly nice. THE FARM: Bólstaðarhlíð has a working farm which has been in the same family for nearly 200 years. They usually have about 100 sheep and a number of horses at the farm these days, along with a friendly dog and cat at the farmhouse.  The setting is a tidy little valley amid green hills and a winding river and with the sheep grazing peacefully it is a beautifully quiet and relaxing place to wander around. The friendly farm owners are always happy to show guests around the farm and you are free to explore yourself, take a walk around the mountains, sit by the river or visit the beautiful little church at the farm which dates all the way back to 1888. THE LOCATION: Though way up in the north of Iceland getting to the farm isn’t all that difficult, being just off the main (road no.1) ring road from Reykjavík. It’s also about 20 minutes drive READ MORE

Not far from the town of  Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada, this is a B&B farmstay with a difference, the animals here are husky sleigh dogs and in winter the dogs are there to take guests out on some great adventures across the snow fields of the Yukon Territory. They have a range of rooms and cottages some of which come with a kitchen and all guests have access to the very nice on-site restaurant with local food specialities including plenty of bison and caribou meat. Though they do have vegetarian options too, and also serve beer and wine. The surrounding area is beautiful to explore with both the Yukon Wildlife Preserve  and the Takhini Hot Springs within 20 minutes drive. WHAT OTHER GUESTS SAY: “Unforgettable: Delicious home-cooked meals from the garden, surrounded by nature and spectacular views, cozy cottages, husky dogs, canoe trips down Tahini river, walking trails through the forested property, biking trails, mushing trails, exceptionally friendly staff, homemade desserts!!!!” “Everything was extra ordinary! Even though there are more than 100 dogs on the property, everything was sparkling clean. There was no dog hair in the room and the shared bathroom was very clean all the time. The breakfast was delicious and served on real plates. We had a little bbq every night and enjoyed being surrounded by nature….” >>CLICK HERE TO READ MORE REVIEWS & TO BOOK YOUR STAY AT MUKTUK ADVENTURES: READ MORE

Chateau Monteil is a stunning private chateau for rent in the beautiful Dordogne region of Aquitaine, France, near the medieval town of Sarlat la Caneda and close to the famous Lascaux Caves. THE ACCOMMODATION: It’s an extremely spacious property that can sleep up to twenty people quite happily. It has a total of six bedrooms and suites with varying number of beds (check on the booking page), five bathrooms, a large lounge which includes a snooker table and TV, a very well equipped kitchen and outside some nicely tended gardens and terraces which include a heated swimming pool surrounded by sun loungers. The friendly owners of Chateau Monteil live very nearby and will always be on hand should you have any issues. Their farm is beside the chateau  and there you can admire their flock of rare and unusual Cameron Sheep, as well as their friendly free range hens. The owners are excellent cooks too and if needs be they can also supply you with some quality food. For breakfast you can order some freshly baked croissants, baguettes, pan au chocolat & pan aux raisins for example, and in the evenings treat yourself to a fantastic 6 course home cooked meal featuring local delicacies, and where dietary limitations can be cared for with a bit of advanced notice. A supply of some fine wines can be ordered too, with the latest wine list from local suppliers always at your disposal. THE LOCATION: The Dordogne Valley is a famously beautiful region, one of France’s most beautiful in fact and has long enchanted cultured tourists from around the world with its deep green countryside, charming villages and wonderful food and wine. The chateau itself READ MORE

For those who’d like to add a little quirkiness to their Icelandic farm holiday or horse riding experience, in the shadow of Esjan Mountain near Reykjavik, some unique glamping style accommodation awaits you. THE ACCOMMODATION: The accommodation is in the form of converted city buses which are cosy and cute and can sleep up to four people on one double bed and one bunk bed. The space is tight there’s no denying but clever design allows for something of a seating area, including dining table, and a kitchenette. They are all rather nicely decorated and come with heating and WiFi. There are no private bathrooms on the buses but just outside is the ‘Bath Bus’ which you’ll clean, warm and well equipped. Outside too you’ll find picnic tables and a barbecue where you can socialize with your fellow guests. The farm is a working farm with sheep and Icelandic horses and horse riding trips can be arranged around the surrounding countryside. Esjan mountain, from where the farm gets its name, towers above and the surroundings have a beautifully wild feel to them. THE LOCATION: Though just across the bay from the city of Reykjavik the surroundings, like most of rural Iceland, have a wild, frontier like feel to them. It’s a great place for long hikes, especially around Esjan Mountain which though generally referred to as a single mountain is more a series of volcanic peaks with the tallest reaching over 900 meters (3,000 feet) and they generally have tremendous views over the sea and Reykjavik in the distance. The location is also less than twenty minutes from the Golden Circle many other of Iceland’s natural wonders; the awesome Þingvellir READ MORE

In Paços de Gaiolo, Portugal, about 40 kilometres along the Douro Valley to the east of Porto, Quinta da Bouça is a very lovely escape to nature, with 16 hectacres of woodland, fruit orchards and vegetables gardens along with a seasonal outdoor pool and barbecue facilities. They have four spacious and comfortable self catering cottages to rent, all with kitchen and lounge with flat screen TV and WiFi. And guests are welcome to wander through the woods or gardens, pick up some fruit or vegetables and maybe meet some of the friendly Garranos horses, a rare breed of horse native to Northern Portugal and Galicia, Spain, which roam freely around the property. WHAT OTHER GUESTS SAY: “I can not recommend this place enough, it was absolutely gorgeous! We can not wait to be back there. It exceeded our expectations! Thank you!…” “The place is beautiful, peaceful, with amazing views. The owner, Paula, was super nice and helpful. I strongly recommend Quinta da Bouça if you want a completely stress free place to restore your energy….” >>CLICK HERE TO READ MORE REVIEWS & TO BOOK YOUR STAY AT QUINTA DA BOUÇA:   READ MORE

Farmer’s Guest House has self catering farm cottage accommodation near the towns of Selfoss and Hella and close to Iceland‘s famous Golden Circle tourist route. The setting is deeply peaceful and rural, with some lovely views, the cottages are well equipped, clean and cosy, and the farm owners are friendly and welcoming. THE ACCOMMODATION: They have three cosy one double bedroom cottages to rent as well as, for larger groups, a 160 sq meter farmhouse. You’ll find all of them modern, nicely furnished and very well equipped. The farmhouse has 4 bedrooms on the second floor, each with two single beds, a lounge area and a bathroom with shower. The first floor has the main living room, the kitchen and dining room and another bathroom. All in all it can sleep up to ten people with the help of two sofa beds in the downstairs living room. The cute cottages are nicely designed with a double bedroom, lounge area and kitchen. They’re just 40 sq meters but nicely designed and there is also an outside private terrace to enjoy the lovely scenery (there are views of both the Hekla and Eyjafjallajökull volcanoes, and of Westman Island) and in winter to maybe catch a glimpse of those infamous Northern Lights. The farm is a working sheep and Icelandic horse farm and the friendly owners are always willing to show guests around, and they offer horse riding trips too. The accommodation is self catering and you can stock up on supplies in the little town of Hella, just 9km away, where you’ll find a a couple of grocery shops, restaurants and bars. THE LOCATION: The farm lies just 9 km west of the little READ MORE

A couple of hours outside Christchurch on New Zealand‘s South Island this homely and very friendly farm stay offers B&B beside Peel Forest, a large reserve park with a huge range of New Zealand’s native flora and fauna; birds such as karearea, kereru, robins and warblers, and plants such as totara, matai and kahikatea. The owners will be very happy to advise you about local hiking and to show you around their sheep farm. They have three choices of comfortable and clean rooms with shared bathroom, a sociable shared lounge and kitchen where guests can come together and cook, and all with free WiFi throughout. WHAT OTHER GUESTS SAY: “We really enjoyed our stay at Peel Forest Farm! It’s a working cattle and sheep farm and we loved the atmosphere there! Quiet, calm, perfect place to relax and enjoy nature, do some hikes or just chill on the terrace. We just loved it!…” “The peace and quiet of a real country farm…I couldn’t have ask for more. It was exactly what I was hoping to find!…” >> CLICK HERE TO READ MORE REVIEWS & TO BOOK YOUR STAY AT PEEL FOREST FARM:   READ MORE

Among the green hills of Italy’s Tuscany-Umbria borders, Relais Parco Fiorito is a charming farm stay with a large range of B&B and self catering accommodation in a restored 16th-century convent with adjoining spa, about 50km from Perugia and just 5km from the historical town of Cortona, in neighbouring Tuscany. THE ACCOMMODATION: Their rooms, suites and self catering apartments are all very comfortable with a rustic style in keeping with the property’s atmosphere but not lacking modern comforts and you’ll find air-con, mini bar, flat screen TV and WiFi in all their units. There is a wellness centre at the property too, with a spa pool, Turkish bath and a small gym, and you can arrange massages and various physical therapies. There is a swimming pool in the large, beautifully tended gardens, as well as a children’s playground, and there’s a very good restaurant at the farmhouse where you can arrange cooking lessons with the friendly and enthusiastic farm owners/chefs during your stay. THE FARM: It’s a certified organic farm with sheep, hens, ducks and horses. They also makes their owns extra virgin olive oil as well as a small range of organic wines. The friendly owners will be at hand to organize tours of the farm and tasting sessions of their wine and olive oil, both of which you are of course welcome to buy to take home. THE LOCATION: The area around is wonderfully peaceful and rural, part of the classic Umbrian-South Tuscan landscapes that have been attracting, and enchanting, visitors for years. You can arrange all sorts of tours and excursions from the farmstay; city tours in Cortona, Arezzo, Perugia and Siena, religious tours of  sites associated with St. Francis, READ MORE

Beside Barrington Tops World Heritage Area and the ancient Gondwana rainforest in New South Wales, Australia, The Tops is an award winning organic farmstay on a 2,000 acre estate.  THE ACCOMMODATION: Their accommodation is in the form of self contained, self catering cabins which are super comfortable and come with a full kitchen, a lounge with fireplace, bathroom with spa bath, and flat screen TV and WiFi. In the extensive grounds outside you’ll also find an outdoor swimming pool and a tennis court. The food here is another big attraction, with most of the ingredients coming direct from the farm or from other local organic farms, and they specialize in a variety of Sri-Lankan curries as well as other more mainstream Aussie food. Vegetarians will be well taken care of too, as will anyone with other dietary restrictions. It’s open for breakfast 7 days a week and for dinner on Wednesday to Saturdays. There’s a nice lounge area too at the main farmhouse with comfortable couches around an open fire and guests can play snooker, pool and table tennis or sample some of The Tops’ full range of Rosnay organic wines, Cooper ales and various home made organic juices. THE FARM: Their huge farm, all two thousand acres of it, is home to cows, goats, horses, geese, ducks and hens as well as numerous native wildlife including koalas, kangaroos, platypus, potoroos and rare white tailed eagles. Running through the farm there is two miles of the Dilgry River, well known as one of the cleanest in Australia, and a great fishing river. THE LOCATION: The farm stay is 2 hours from Newcastle and 3 and a half hours from Sydney, READ MORE

Blueberry Hills on Comleroy has charming accommodation, both B&B and self catering, on a 14 acre farm near Sydney with alpacas, sheep, hens, fruit orchards, and beautiful views over the surrounding countryside. THE ACCOMMODATION: They have a choice of accommodation on the farm, all of which are doubles; two large B&B rooms and a suite at the farmhouse, and two one bedroom cottages nearby. The farmhouse suite is spacious, has a lounge area and a kitchen while the cottages are even more spacious with also its own lounge and kitchen plus lots of semi private outdoor space including a nice veranda to admire the views from. Though the suite and the cottages are self catering you will have a breakfast tray full of fresh bread, eggs, cereals etc. free of charge delivered to you in the morning morning plus little treats during the day like cheese platters and fruit. There is a common lounge at the property and a hot tub, BBQ facilities and an outdoor fireplace in the gardens. Beyond that you can explore the farm where sheep and alpacas roam you can get involved in some farm life if you wish, like feeding the animals or picking fruit and berries in the orchards. Note: no children and no pets allowed! THE LOCATION: The farm is around an hour to the North West of Sydney in the foothills of the spectacular Blue Mountains, very much a highlight of rural NSW, and surrounded by both the Blue Mountains National Park and the Wollemi National Park. WHAT OTHER GUESTS SAY: “Exceptional: Very clean, stylish and cosy cottage with great views of nature. Large bathroom and shower, well stocked with books, board READ MORE

Blacktree farm, in Muğla, Turkey, just off the Lycian Way and about an hour’s drive south of Fethiye, has self catering accommodation in traditional stone cottages on a small certified organic farm where they grow a variety of fruit and vegetables and produce, amongst other things, their own olive oil, bread and preserves. The Accommodation: They have nine cottages in total, of various sizes, and all are homely and comfortable with an open plan kitchen and lounge with a fireplace, and each has at least one bedroom with a balcony overlooking the surrounding hills. While outside in the gardens you’ll find a swimming pool, a tennis court and a children’s playground. They have a small restaurant too which serves some really good fresh homemade food on the outdoor terrace, including a classically generous Turkish breakfast which you can order up until the afternoon, and they can also offer English style breakfasts too. The Location: The surrounding area has loads to offer hiking and cycling enthusiasts and you can rent mountain bikes at the farm for free. If you’re feeling energetic one morning you could hike down some really spectacular terrain to Kabak beach in less than two hours, or to the more low key Balatli Beach in about three. The farm owners can offer a shuttle service to the beaches though only once a week, and, with a bit of advance notice, they can also arrange guest pick ups from part of the Lycian Way about 2km away. WHAT OTHER GUESTS SAY: “Tranquil place with a fantastic location. The pool is beautiful and clean. You can play also tennis, table tennis and billiard. Stone cottages are perfectly equipped. The owner, READ MORE

Gumleaf Cottage is a traditional Aussie farm cottage on a 12 acre farm near Swan Valley and the Perth Hills, and around 30 minutes from Perth Airport. The cottage is self catering, and private, and you can have as much time by yourself as you need or you can also explore the farm and meet all the friendly animals that call it home; goats, sheep, hens, rabbits, parrots and miniature ponies for example, and get involved in farm tasks such as collecting eggs, feeding the animals and fruit picking etc. THE ACCOMMODATION: The 100 year old original farm cottage still has a nice traditional feel but is fully renovated inside with a new modern kitchen and bathroom. There are three bedrooms, two of which are doubles with queen size beds and one children’s room with 2 sets of bunk beds, so can sleep 8 but there are also two cots available to sleep extra infants if required. The cottage is adjacent to the main farmhouse and beside the gardens, which have a trampoline, a splash pool and a playground, and of course the 12 acre farm. There you will find lots of farm animals which you are welcome to meet and you can engage in all sorts of fun and educational activities that kids especially will love from pony rides (Note: the listing is in the horseback riding category though there are only ponies here to ride!) and row boating on the dam to bug collecting and possum spotting. You can also go bush walking in the forests around the farm which have miles of trails and where you can spot all sorts of exotic wildlife. THE LOCATION: Gumleaf is READ MORE

Farm Stay Barenhof, set in the rolling hills of Hessen, Germany, between Frankfurt and Mannheim and close to the famously beautiful city of Heidelberg, has comfortable self-catering accommodation in cute wooden huts. It’s family friendly with plenty of farmland to explore and cows and horses for the kids to meet, plus a playground and barbecue facilities in the garden. There is free WiFi and TV in every unit. WHAT OTHER GUESTS SAY: “It was relaxing, cozy, natural and fantastic. The house is very comfortable, everything is available from coffee machine to toilet paper and towels. Really super good…..” >> CLICK HERE TO READ MORE REVIEWS & TO BOOK YOUR STAY AT FARM STAY BARENHOF: READ MORE

Beside the village of Dalton, and not far from Lockerbie town, Scotland, this popular farm stay has a choice of self catering cottage accommodation on a busy working farm with sheep, cattle and hens. All have a full kitchen and lounge area with private bathrooms and varying numbers of bedrooms, and all come with the usual modern conveniences, TV, WiFi, central heating etc. Outside in the large gardens you’ll find a barbecue and a children’s playground, while inside there is a games room with a full sized snooker table, darts board and table tennis. On the farm there is also plenty to do, you can go quad biking, tractor driving, hiking and fishing in the nearby rivers. Or you can take a look around the farm with the owners, feed the lambs or collect your own eggs from the resident hens. You have the Westlands Activity Centre down the road too where you can try other activities such as paint-balling & go-carting. WHAT OTHER GUESTS SAY: “Amazing place, excellent hosts, highly enjoyed. The owners were extremely friendly, kind and making sure all our needs and wishes were meet. Fantastic location and magnificent land and woods. We highly recommend this place….” “A peaceful and beautiful place to get away from the business of life. The cottage was bordered by beautiful woods, a short walk from a delightful stretch of the river Annan. The cottage was quiet and peaceful. The kitchen was adequately equipped with all the crockery and utensils we needed….” >>CLICK HERE TO READ MORE REVIEWS & TO BOOK YOUR STAY AT KIRKWOOD FARM COTTAGES: READ MORE

Kauri Lodge offers pleasant, friendly, farm stay accommodation near the Hobbiton Movie Set, Lake Karapiro and the lovely town of Cambridge, amidst some typically beautifully New Zealand North Island countryside. THE ACCOMMODATION: There is a choice between a very spacious two bedroom cottage which can sleep up to 7 and a smaller, though still large, double studio. They both have very well equipped kitchens, a large lounge area with satellite TV, and plenty of outside space and barbecue facilities. The studio is a little away from the main farmhouse and doesn’t have its own WiFi but guests are welcome to come and use the WiFi at the farmhouse any time the want. Guests are also welcome to explore the farm which keeps horses and cattle. Horse riding can be arranged too, though not horse riding lessons so they would want you to have at least some experience before hopping on. You’ll find the owners super friendly and helpful and though the accommodation is self catering you can also arrange them to prepare you a good breakfast in the morning for a reasonable extra fee. THE LOCATION: As mentioned above Kauri Farm Stay is just outside the town of Cambridge on New Zealand’s North Island. Perhaps the most popular attraction in the area is the Hobbiton Movie Set which, even for non Lord of The Rings fans, is a beautiful, almost other worldly place. The idyllic, deep green, hills that surround the set are very typical of the area and the land around Kauri farmstay very much also has that Hobbiton feel to it. The town of Cambridge is a very pleasant little place, it has become famous for its many trees READ MORE

1,000 meters high in the Catalan Pyrénées-Orientales department of Languedoc-Roussillon, France, and just outside the village of Prats-de-Mollo-la-Preste, Mas El Casal farmstay has a stunning setting for its working cattle farm and traditional stone farmhouse where guests will be welcomed with the best in hospitality and comfort. THE ACCOMMODATION: Their spacious rooms are rustically stylish and come with en suite bathroom, air conditioning, flat screen satellite TV, WiFi, a seating area plus an outdoor terrace with beautiful views over the valley below. It’s B&B and you’ll be treated to a very good and generous breakfast in the morning, with fresh bread, fruit juices, homemade jams cakes, yoghurts and more. And if guests feel like cooking for themselves later during the day they can also have access to the farmhouse kitchen. The farm is a working beef cattle farm, with lush green pastures and meadows, and comes with incredible views over the surrounding valleys. THE LOCATION: As mentioned before, the main attraction of this farm stay is the location, the views are breathtaking from the farm itself and there are some great hiking trails around that go all around the mountains. You could really spend days exploring the trails around the farm, or just sitting on the grass contemplating the beauty of it all. It’s also about five kilometres from the centre of the very pretty Catalan town(s) of Prats-de-Mollo-la-Preste. The Prats-de-Mollo section has a lovely old town with cobblestone streets and stylish squares guarded from above by the impressive medieval walls of Fort Lagarde, and a 14th-century round tower.  The fort is a bit of a climb from the town centre but has amazing views. La Preste is the adjoining, more modern part READ MORE

Less than 20 minutes walk from Kérou Beach near Lorient, Brittany, France, this glamping farm stay offers cute accommodation in caravans and yurts among green fields with plenty of space for picnics and barbecues. THE ACCOMMODATION: They have three quite impressive large yurts with heating that can sleep up to four people each. They’re all nicely furnished, and decorated with a somewhat exotic pan asian style. You’ll have one double and two single beds, a small seating area there and full access to the shared bathroom, shower room and full kitchen and dining room at the main farmhouse. There is also the very cute wooden gypsy caravan at the farm. It is also heated and comes with one double and one single bed, a study desk and small seating area, and an en-suite bathroom with shower. And again just like the yurts guests here have full access to the sociable shared kitchen and dining room. There are also barbecue facilities, and outdoor furniture, at the farm that everyone is of course welcome to use. They can serve you a nice continental breakfast too for a small extra charge and they can arrange picnic hampers and packed lunches for those of you who want to get out and about. And, to help you out even more they also arrange bike rental including electric bike rental. THE LOCATION: The farm is about half an hour’s drive from Lorient in southern Brittany, and is in the middle of some lush, verdant countryside. About 13 km north you’ll come to the lovely town of Quimperlé, a tourist favourite in southern Brittany, with a lovely old town and plenty of medieval history. The nearest beach, as READ MORE

Boschendal Cottages has centuries old, beautifully restored, farm cottages at its luxury farm stay/vineyard hotel near Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa. Guests are given access to the entire farm,  where you can join their farm history tours and the wine cellar tours, or you can wander on foot or by bike the vineyards, orchards and semi rugged mountain trails all around. Plus you can swim freely in the dams or go trout fishing and use the picnic areas nearby. The farm stay has its own very high quality restaurant: The Werf Restaurant, its own Farm Shop & deli stocked with the finest of local food. All their stylish and clean cottages have a full kitchen, or kitchenette in the smaller cottages, and are serviced daily. You can also order meals, breakfast included, to be delivered to your cottage, and in baskets if required for picnics. WHAT OTHER GUESTS SAY: “Boschendal was so good that we extended our stay by an extra 2 days! Thanks to all (especially Roxy) for such special experience we will never forget….” “Amazing location, fantastic accommodation. Great staff, careful and kind, that provided us with anything we needed to truly enjoy our Boschendal experience. Food and wine also deserve a special note as everything was organic and most of it grown directly into the estate. What an experience overall, definitely recommended!…” >> CLICK HERE TO READ MORE REVIEWS & TO BOOK YOUR STAY AT BOSCHENDAL COTTAGES:   READ MORE

Near Port Dickson, Negeri Sembilan, on the south west coast of Malaysia, Lake View Farm has self catering chalet accommodation surrounded by five acres of land and its own private lake. It is a cute friendly place with a family atmosphere and can be a nice gentle introduction to rural farming life. The Accommodation: The air conditioned chalet has 4 spacious bedrooms, each with one queen size bed and two singles, so there is space for up to 16 people to sleep. There is also a lounge/living room and dining area, a fully-equipped kitchen and four bathrooms. The lounge is spacious with plenty of seating and doors that open out on the lake where you’ll find plenty of space to relax, as well as barbecue facilities and outdoor seating. The Farm: The small farm has a number of friendly goats, hens and ducks, and grows various fruits and vegetables. Guests can enjoy plenty of interaction with the animals and are free to wander around the farm as much as they like. The farm owners have canoes and rowing boats for trips out on the lake as well as fishing equipment, which all guests are free to use. You’ll find the whole environment enjoyable in a very relaxing and pleasant way. The Location: The lovely, and very popular, beaches of Port Dickson are just 5 km from the farmstay, and there are plenty of great beaches all along the nearby coast from Tanjung Gemuk to Tanjung Tuan and beyond. The town of Port Dickson itself isn’t terribly beautiful or interesting but it does have plenty of shops, supermarkets, cafes and restaurants, and gets busy with tourists making their way down to the READ MORE

This luxury vineyard hotel & agriturismo on the south bank of the famous Douro River in Northern Portugal, has fabulous views over the Douro Valley and has long been a popular choice in northern Portugal , especially with those who appreciate more than an extra touch of luxury. THE ACCOMMODATION: They have a range of accommodation including four plush B&B rooms in the main farmhouse; a lovingly restored manor which dates back to the 17th Century, as well as two adjacent, equally plush self catering cottages. Check your options on the booking page here.  Three of the B&B rooms are doubles and one a twin, and all are super clean, comfortable and suitably furnished in a rustic style, and they all come with en-suite bathroom with an old style bathtub, flat screen TV in the room and WiFi. The two self catering cottages are equally plush and stylish, and can fit up to eight guests. Each of them have two bedrooms and can fit an extra two extra guests in the lounge area. There is also a fully equipped modern kitchen & bathroom. Outside in the grounds you’ll find a terrace and a swimming pool, and some very well tended manor type formal gardens dating back to 1906 with a fish pond and even a historic, sanctified chapel. And the views from the property, as mentioned before, are simply stunning. THE FARM: The farm is set over 12 acres and contains a vineyard, olive groves and thousands of fruit trees, from which the owners produce their own red and white wines, olive oil, various types of fruit, and honey. Guests are welcome to tour the farm and learn how everything READ MORE

This lovely, classic Austrian agritourism near Goldegg, Salzburg has self catering accommodation on an organic farm with a large garden, a children’s playground including a trampoline, and a sun terrace. THE ACCOMMODATION: They have two spacious, clean apartments at the farmstay; One has one bedroom which, with the help of a sofa bed in the lounge, can fit up to four people, and then there’s the two bedroom apartment which can fit up to 6.  There is WiFi throughout, satellite TV and a fully equipped kitchen. They also both have balconies which have beautiful views over the mountains; Goldegg and St. Johann. You’ll find a herb garden outside where you are free to pick your own herbs to cook with, and you can arrange for fresh bread and pastries to be delivered daily to your accommodation. Baby care equipment can be provided at the farm stay too and guests are of course welcome to use the ski storage room and the outdoor barbecue facilities. THE LOCATION: The Goldegg Ski Lift is just over a kilometre away by road but can be reached on foot or on skis too across the fields, just 400 metres away. There’s a golf course about five minutes away from the farmstay too, and a swimming lake, while farther afield the St. Johann and Alpendorf ski resorts are about 20-minute’s drive. In winter there is actually a bob sleigh run right on front of the farmhouse, and they owners are happy to let guests borrow their sled and bob. Horse riding is available a few minutes walk from the farm and there are all sorts of other outdoor activities within maximum 20 minute’s drive like rafting & READ MORE

In the village of Fügen, at the heart of the Zillertal valley, Austria, and around a half an hour from Innsbruck, Obermooshof is a fun, family friendly, Tyrol farm stay on a scenic working farm. THE ACCOMMODATION: They have a mixture of self catering and B&B accommodation, all of which are clean and comfortable and come with balconies that have lovely views of the surrounding mountains. There is satellite TV in all the units, and private bathroom, and outside there is a nice garden where you’ll find a children’s playground, barbecue facilities and plenty of place to relax and meet the other guests. They serve a generous home made breakfast every morning too with some of the produce coming straight from the farm. The owners are always happy to have guests explore their working farm which has a number of cattle, pigs, hens as well as some pet rabbits and cats. If you wish you can always join in some of the daily tasks, like feeding the animals etc., and lend a hand at indoor activities like making traditional Austrian home made bread and jams. Note: No internet available! THE LOCATION: There are a couple of shops and restaurants in the village, just a short walk from the farmhouse, and the village and its surrounds are a lovely place to wander around and take in the gorgeous scenery. The area, and Tyrol generally, is of course very popular for winter sports and there is a free bus stop to the ski slopes just 300 metres away from the farm stay. It’s also a popular place to visit in summer too, with its spectacular scenery and clean, fresh air. You’ll find a READ MORE

In the rolling hills south of Siena, Tuscany, Italy, pet friendly Tenuta di Corsano has a series of self-catering apartments in a classic 17th century farmhouse surrounded by vineyards, olive groves and vegetable plots. THE ACCOMMODATION: Their rustic apartments are cosy and comfortable with a kitchen and a lounge area and a choice of one, two and three bedrooms. They are traditional style with terracotta floors and wood beamed ceilings and all have WiFi, satellite TV, a kitchenette and living area. Outside you’ll find a swimming pool and extensive gardens, and the whole property has really lovely views over the surrounding countryside. Though the accommodation is self catering, both breakfast and even meals can also be arranged. THE FARM: It is a working farm with a busy trade in grapes and olives as well as many vegetables that make up some of the ingredients of their excellent home made food. The food at Ville di Corsano is of a very high standard and guests are generally very impressed by their hearty, healthy Tuscan dishes. If you find yourself equally impressed you can arrange cooking classes at the farmhouse which feature some of these same Tuscan specialities. THE LOCATION: The farm stay is on a wonderfully peaceful hillside but still just steps away from the little village of Ville di Corsano. Ville di Corsano is a very cute little place with a population of just 200, and has a church, a shop, a very good restaurant and a small winery. This surrounding area is of course classic rural Tuscany and all of it is fantastic to explore. You’ll find many hiking routes and nature trails around, and there is the nearby Alto Merse READ MORE

Akurholt is a small horse riding school and guesthouse on the edge of the Icelandic capital, Reykjavik with a communal, hostel type atmosphere, a shared kitchen and lounge, and very friendly, hospitable owners. The location is a plus; conveniently close to the city but just far away enough to feel the peace and tranquility of nature. The views are gorgeous too, with the lights of Reykjavik and the coast below and Mount Úlfarsfell right behind. THE ACCOMMODATION: The house has just four rooms; triples and doubles, so it’s a small, intimate place and a great place to get to know your fellow guests as well as the friendly owners.  There is lots of common space including a spacious communal kitchen and lounge area and  the rooms, though somewhat on the small side, are very clean and comfortable. The bathrooms are shared too but they are equally clean and well maintained. The Icelandic horse farm predates the guesthouse by a number of years and they do some lovely horse riding tours around the local area. There are some nice hiking routes around here too including a hike to the top of Mount Úlfarsfell just behind the farm. THE LOCATION: The farm is only 14km from the city but still feels very rural indeed, with lots of wild open scenery all around. There is bus stop just down the road too so it’s convenient to get to even if you don’t have a car at your disposal. It can also make a good stopping off point for those of you exploring Iceland’s scenic Golden Circle, the route which runs by some of the country’s most iconic scenery; the stunning Thingvellir National Park READ MORE

Gracefield Farm Stay, is just a half an hour’s drive from Warragul, near Melbourne Victoria, and has a range of self catering cottages on a large farm right beside the Neerim State Forest, a tremendous area for bush walking and horse riding. THE ACCOMMODATION: They have a nice range of clean, cosy cottages that can sleep up to 6 guests. All come with a fully equipped kitchen, bathroom & lounge area with flat-screen TV, DVD, WiFi and laundry facilities. Outside there are terrace areas and BBQ facilities. Check out your options on the booking page here.  It’s self catering but with true Aussie hospitality, to get the guests through the first morning, they provide a breakfast basket of eggs, bread, fresh fruit, jams and spreads, tea and coffee. The farm covers a full 97 acres of lovely green pasture land where you’ll find herds of cattle and deer, and a huge range of native wildlife. You’ll find you hosts friendly and welcoming and they are always happy to show guests around the farm. THE LOCATION: Beyond the gentle joy of wandering around the farm and the adjoining forests, Gracefield farm stay is also a good base for exploring some of Victoria’s loveliest rural areas. To the east there is the stunning Baw Baw National Park where on the sub alpine plateau you can go skiing in winter and bushwalking in summer. There is also plenty of places to go horse riding, canoeing, rafting and fishing as well as rock climbing at mushroom rock and some of Victoria’s best white water rafting on the Thompson River. To the north are the Yarra Ranges with their famous mountain ash trees and cool temperate READ MORE

In the heart of lovely Umbria, Italy, Agriturismo Istrice Innamorato has self catering accommodation in a charming, classically Italian hillside farmhouse with gardens and an outdoor swimming pool. Their traditional style apartments have a lounge with TV, a full kitchen with coffee machine, a patio and barbecue facilities available in the gardens outside. The farm produces its own olive oil of which guests are welcome to sample and their breakfast is typical Italian style with pastries, croissants and good coffee or tea. WHAT OTHER GUESTS SAY: “Great location. pool, nearby towns and villages. Quiet location, very peaceful and relaxing. Beautiful setting and pool….” “Exceptional: The hosts were perfect, excellent breakfast, perfect view and sunsets, the farm produces excellent olive oil and jams!…” >> CLICK HERE TO READ MORE REVIEWS & TO BOOK YOUR STAY AT AGRITURISMO ISTRICE INNAMORATO:   READ MORE

On the slopes of the Sugar Loaf Mountain, in the Brecon Beacons National Park, Wales, Hall Farm Barn has B&B and self catering accommodation on a 200 acre organic sheep and cattle farm about 15 minutes drive from the market town of Abergavenney, and is a beautifully peaceful rural escape. The B&B rooms are at the main farmhouse and are cosy and comfortable, with en-suite bathroom, flat screen TV and WiFi, while their rustic self catering cottage farther up the hill also has a full kitchen and lounge area and can sleep up to seven The farm is fully organic and guests are welcome to take a walk around, the surrounding area is famously beautiful too and you can go hiking straight from the farmstay into the Breacon Beacons Park. Note: No children and no pets! READ MORE

This luxury farm stay & vineyard hotel has a range of self catering chalets in beautiful Robertson’s Valley, Western Cape, South Africa. The farm produces wine and olive oil which the guests are welcome to sample. Each of their very stylish and comfortable chalet comes with a full kitchen, BBQ facilities, a cosy fireplace, plunge pool and private veranda. The farm also has a wellness center where massage and spa treatments are available. They have a range of other services too, including bicycle rental, car rental, airport transfer, laundry and ironing, dry-cleaning, daily maid service, gift shop, packed lunches and grocery deliveries. The friendly staff can also advise on some of the many hiking and biking routes in the beautiful countryside around the farm and can organize tours as well as the hiring of individual guides. WHAT OTHER GUESTS SAY: “Second visit to this stunning farm. Will definitely be back. Chef Christopher is the best host and his breakfast basket with home made bread and croissants are amazing! The magical night sky with stars that stretch as far as the eyes can see and endless mountain views made out stay unforgettable…..” “My family and I had a wonderful time staying in this secluded, quiet farm cottage. We had breathtaking views of the mountain and the winery, and we were able to unplug and enjoy the natural beauty. The staff was friendly, professional, and super responsive….” >> CLICK HERE TO READ MORE REVIEWS & TO BOOK YOUR STAY AT ORANGE GROVE GUEST FARM:   READ MORE

Just outside Olbia, northern Sardinia, Italy, this highly rated, very popular, agriturismo farm stay has comfortable self catering holiday cottages in a beautifully relaxed environment with horses, donkeys and goats. All of their cottages come with kitchenette, private bathroom, a lounge with TV, and WiFi throughout. There is a daily maid service too, plus laundry and ironing service. They have an on-site restaurant serving the finest of local food, to be eaten there or in the well kept gardens and terrace and there are barbecue facilities on the lawn plus a children’s playground. WHAT OTHER GUESTS SAY: “A highlight of our trip – not to be missed! Fantastic agriturismo immersed in nature with plenty of friendly cats and dogs! An ideal base for exploring Sardinia’s eastern coast….” “An amazing stay at a fantastic property. The location was secluded, quiet, and peaceful. Definitely book a night at the restaurant if it is open. The meal was homemade local Sardinian specialties, and the price was too good to be true….” >> CLICK HERE TO READ MORE REVIEWS & TO BOOK YOUR STAY AT AGRITURISMO SA MENDHULA:   READ MORE

Outside the market town of Llandysul, in the rolling green hills of South West Wales, Nantgwynfaen Organic Farm Stay B&B has a range of B&B and self catering accommodation in its lovely old style farmhouse. THE ACCOMMODATION: All the rooms and its self catering cabin have a TV, WiFi and private bathroom with a bathtub, and the cabin also has a kitchen and lounge. At the farmhouse you’ll also find a games room with table tennis, a pool table and darts board, and also a nice dining and lounge area. Nantgwynfaen is a small working farm with its own collection of hens, sheep and pigs.  In the mornings they serve an excellent traditional organic breakfast, using fresh eggs from the farm alongside homemade bread, cockles and Welsh rarebit amongst others. The helpful owners are always happy to arrange equally quality evening meals for you too, as well as hampers for the self catering guests, just let them know. They also have a very good organic farm shop where you can buy some of their own homemade food as well as a nice choice of other organic food products sourced from local farms; everything from prawns, fish and speciality pork sausages to traditionally dry cured bacon, beef burgers and various fruit and vegetables. The Location: In terms of location Nantgwynfaen Organic Farm B&B is about 14 miles from Cardigan Bay and about 20 miles from the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, and all around, and including the farm, the countryside is beautifully peaceful and green. WHAT OTHER GUESTS SAY: “Absolutely amazing place..second time visitor. Will definitely go again next year. The breakfast was wonderful and the surrounding area was so peaceful. Short READ MORE

This great farm stay offers horse riding near Iceland’s, Golden Circle route and accommodation in the form of a comfortable, modern, self catering villa which sleeps up to six people beside the main farmhouse. It is located near the village of Hella, about 80km south of Reykjavík airport, in an area that is as peacefully rural and serene as you could ever imagine but within easy reach of a host of beautiful natural sights. THE ACCOMMODATION: The spacious villa (110 sqm) comes with three bedrooms, two doubles and a twin, a good, fully equipped kitchen and lounge with dining area with flat screen TV, & of course wifi throughout the property. There is also plenty of outdoor space with a seating area, and you’ll find lovely views over the farm and the surrounding countryside, even out to sea, as far as the Westman Islands. THE FARM: Skeiðvellir is an extensive Icelandic horse breeding farm with dozens of horses that can be rented by the hour. The ever helpful owners also offer various horse riding lessons and tours in the surrounding area for all levels of ability.  THE LOCATION: This area around Hella is the agricultural heart of Iceland, and is a really great introduction to Icelandic rural life. It is less touristic around these parts and therefore more authentic, but it also offers easy access to what is known as the Golden Circle Route, a ring road known as such due to the number of natural attractions it has around it, including the very famous Pingvellir/Thingvellir national park, site of Iceland’s and the world’s oldest parliament, and the meeting point of the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates. Around the circle READ MORE

This lovely family run agriturismo farm stay, about a half an hour north of Brindisi Apulia, sits on a peaceful hillside just outside Ostuni, one of southern Italy‘s most iconic cities, famous for its spectacular location and historical whitewashed houses. THE ACCOMMODATION: They have a good selection of B&B rooms and self catering apartments, all traditionally styled, comfortable and clean with WiFi, flat screen satellite TV and private bathroom, plus the self catering apartments come with a kitchenette and lounge. While the gardens outside have a swimming pool, a children’s playground and plenty of space for outside dining or relaxing on the sun loungers and hammocks. Both the B&B and self catering accommodation comes with a fine traditional Italian breakfast every morning and you can also enjoy some great meals throughout the day at the farmhouse restaurant. THE FARM: The small farm produces olives as well as various fruits and vegetables. The owners produce their own extra virgin olive oil as well as various jams which they sell at the farm shop. You can arrange cooking classes at the farmhouse too, learn how to make olive oil, and join tasting sessions. The farm owners can also arrange tours of neighbouring vineyards and wineries, including wine tasting sessions. THE LOCATION: The gorgeous city of Ostuni is deservedly popular with tourists already but the entire surrounding area too is well worth exploring. The beautiful sandy beaches of the Adriatic are just ten minutes drive from the farm stay and a tour of the lovely, beautifully peaceful Puglian countryside is always thoroughly enjoyable, which you can also do by bike with free bicycle rental at the farm. WHAT OTHER GUESTS SAY: “Exceptionally peaceful, relaxing. READ MORE

This lovely, North Island, family friendly, farm stay has great views over the Firth of Thames and the Coromandel mountain ranges and is home to many animals; sheep, horses, hens, pigs and a goat. You’re more than welcome to watch or help out with looking after the animals. The friendly owners have ponies too that can be ridden, and there are several lovely hiking and walking trails in and around the farm. Accommodation is in the form of very comfortable self-catering cottages with full kitchen and WiFi and there’s also a communal lounge area which offers a 3D TV, and an great outdoor barbecue area. The surrounding area is beautifully scenic, nearby the Coromandel mountains and Tararu Bay only about 8 minutes away by car. WHAT OTHER GUESTS SAY: “Absolutely stunning views from the farm down to Thames bay over the lush forest. A very quiet and secluded place like nothing we have seen before….” “A slice of paradise….” >> CLICK HERE TO READ MORE REVIEWS & TO BOOK YOUR STAY AT FOR NIGHTINGALE FALLS RETREAT:   READ MORE

Domaine de Gressac is a luxury organic agriturismo vineyard hotel/farm stay gite, near Avignon in the south of France, which is part winery part horse breeding farm. The accommodation is in the form of luxury, self catering, old stone cottages, the property, both inside and out, is nothing short of gorgeous, and is surrounded by a full 280 acre estate comprising of vineyard, pastureland, woodland and even a river beach. THE ACCOMMODATION: The gites are in the form of very charming stone cottages, with the largest being able to sleep up to 7 people. They are all built quite recently from the stones and beams of the old farmhouse which was lying in ruins before the present owners lovingly restored the entire place. Though technically new in that case, the gites feel thoroughly authentic, like classic south of France farm cottages but with very much modern levels of comfort and facilities. The furniture and fittings are all nicely chosen, though mainly contemporary they don’t seem to detract from the beautifully rustic feel of the property. They all have plenty of space, with good sized lounge & sitting areas, plush kitchens and bathrooms, and come with all mod cons; flat screen TV, air-con, WiFi etc. Beautiful as the gites are, the estate that surrounds them is even more impressive. There are the lovingly tended gardens and lawns with an outdoor swimming pool and plenty of space for lounging around. Then there are the vineyards, from which the owners produce a range of reds, whites and rosés, all of which are organic. There is an on-site winery at the property too; the entire process is done in house and you can arrange READ MORE

The Red Door Collective on Hermitage road, Pokolbin has classy, boutique accommodation for adults only (over 15s) on its 25 acre vineyard estate and working winery which has sweeping views of the Brokenback Mountains. It has a cellar door which sells its own award winning wines and does relaxed, informal wine tasting sessions, and there is an on-site cafe-diner serving ‘modern Australian fusion food’ which includes wholesome all-day breakfasts and good fresh coffee. THE ACCOMMODATION: The accommodation consists of two private 2-bedroom cottages to sleep up to six, and two private double suites (that can be interconnected if needs be). They are all super comfortable, clean and well appointed with the cottages being fully self contained with kitchen facilities. Check out all the details on the booking page here. The cottage accommodation is self catering but breakfast is included in the rate for stays of over two nights and includes cooked, a la carte options as well as continental. The RDC cafe serves up great fresh food and coffee all day and you can arrange picnic hampers to take away. Make sure too to sample their highly rated wines at the cellar door. At the RDC you can enjoy a massage in the privacy of your own accommodation or outdoors in the gardens, take one of their guest bicycles to tour the local Pokolbin area or go on one of their guided bike tours. WHAT OTHER GUESTS SAY: “Very friendly hosts that couldn’t do enough for you. Fantastic location, especially for wine tours and kangaroo spotting, we saw kangaroos everyday and once hopped past us whilst enjoying wine on the cottage patio. Very relaxed vibe in the heart of vineyards READ MORE

Hanselishof has self catering accommodation on a hillside farm just outside Matrei in the famously beautiful Tyrol region of Austria. The apartment at Hanselishof features 2 bedrooms fitted with wood panelling, a fully equipped kitchen with a dining area and a dishwasher, a bathroom with a shower and a hairdryer, a balcony with mountain views, satellite channels and a CD player. The apartment additionally has a living area with a sofa and a washing machine. Guests can sunbathe on a lawn in the garden and during winter you can meet farm animals which are kept warm in their sheds. In summer the remain out on the lovely Alpine pastures which can also of course be visited. Homemade products like butter, cheese, bread, yogurt and marmalades can be bought at the farm stay. Amenities include a ski and bicycles storage room, free WiFi and a children’s playground. The closest ski lift of the Großglocker Ski Resort is a 10-minute drive away. The closest restaurant is less than 1 km away. A supermarket, cross-country skiing trails and public pools are 8 km away. Lake Triestachersee is 20 km from the premises. WHAT OTHER GUESTS SAY: “Exceptional: Was an all around nice vacation. Very nice hostess, great apartment, super equipped, could go on like this … just great….” >> CLICK HERE TO READ MORE REVIEWS & TO BOOK YOUR STAY AT HANSELISHOF:   READ MORE

This romantic little Welsh cottage is on a small working sheep farm in a secluded location in West Wales with its own, wildlife filled, pond right on front of the cottage. It’s in a gorgeous little spot; peaceful and quiet, but only a short drive from the university town of Lampeter and it makes for a very good base for exploring the rich countryside and coast of Ceredigion. The cottage is actually a converted barn dating back to the 18th-century and is full of character but wholly modern and comfortable, with all conveniences and a hot tub and BBQ just outside the door. There is one double bedroom, plus another sofa bed for one in a cosy alcove accessed by steps from the lounge area. The kitchen and lounge are open plan, the lounge comes with leather seating, a TV, DVD player and music system, and doors leading out onto the patio. There is a wood burning AGA heater/cooker in the lounge too and don’t worry you’ll have a good supply of logs all ready and waiting when you check in. The kitchen is stylish and clean and has all you will require, oven & hob, fridge, microwave etc. There is a washing machine in the outside utility room, and the property has one bathroom with shower. Outside in the patio you’ll find the nice wood fired hot tub as well as a barbecue and outdoor furniture. There is that lovely pond right on front of the cottage too, and around there is ten acres of farmland which has a flock of sheep and is a great place to spot wildlife.   READ MORE

A slice of rural luxury near Aix-en-Provence, Domaine de Fontenille has 17 rooms in a beautifully atmospheric 18th century mansion house surrounded by its own vineyards. It is in the pretty village of Lauris, along the Durance River, which, though very near Aix-en-Provence, happily doesn’t see the same magnitude of tourists as much of the rest of the region. Domaine de Fontenille has a long reputation as a wine producing estate, with its first harvest being all the way back in 1638 but these days it is most well known for its Michelin star awarded restaurant; Le Champ des Lunes, and in general for being one of the finest boutique luxury hotels in rural Provence. THE ACCOMMODATION: It has just 17 rooms in total (check the booking page here) and so is a somewhat intimate place. They run from standard doubles, through family rooms to top of the range suites all of which you will find spacious and elegant with high ceilings, wooden floors and tastefully rustic furniture. Perks include extra large beds, music systems, sound proofing and some particularly nice bathrooms, most of which will have traditional bathtubs along with modern showers. All of the rooms and suites are B&B, or just B as the breakfast is not included in the room rate (though it is worth the extra € 21 charge), but for self caterers they also have a nice two bedroom apartment which has full kitchen facilities, a good sized lounge and its own private garden. The building itself is quite lovely with plenty of common areas to relax in; lounges, library areas and of course their two restaurants: Fine dining can be enjoyed at the Le READ MORE

Domaine de Piégros is a beautifully peaceful agritourism estate in a secluded location near Aix-en-Provence. It is in the heart of the Luberon National Park and its famous lavender fields and the farmhouse itself is surrounded by its own lavender fields as well as woodlands, a lake and a full 85 acres of olive groves producing extra virgin olive oil. THE ACCOMMODATION: The accommodation is a six bedroom self catering farmhouse gite with a huge amount of space inside and out. It is a traditional farmhouse that has been recently renovated and has a full range of modern conveniences, while also managing to maintain plenty of rural French charm. As well as the six bedrooms (5 doubles and a twin room) there is a large, very well equipped kitchen and two dining areas. There’s also a spacious lounge area and a 250 sq. meter stone terrace outside with seating and dining furniture. A few steps away from the house you’ll also find a nice outdoor swimming pool with sun loungers. There is also a lake in the grounds, a boules pitch, and, as mentioned before, acres of olive groves, lavender fields and woods to explore. It is a working farm but outside of olive harvest time (September to November) the work is fairly low key and you can have as much or as little interaction with the farm work as you wish.  THE LOCATION: For visitors looking for a rural retreat in Provence this location is almost unbeatable. The farmhouse is inside the Luberon National Park, possibly Provence’s most serene rural area (you can read about the area and its famous lavender fields here), and to make it even more READ MORE

Pietra Campana is a very highly regarded agriturismo farm stay B&B with a stunning setting; a 17th-century hillside manor farmhouse overlooking the town of Orvieto, Umbria, Italy. They have a selection of modern comfortable suites and apartments, each having a lounge area with flat screen TV and DVD players and the apartments having a full kitchen. All the accommodation options, self catering included, come with a great Italian breakfast buffet including some of their own home made organic cakes and jams. There is free WiFi throughout, and small pets can come and stay but you’re asked to let them know before you arrive. The farmhouse is surrounded by acres of olive groves which you are welcome to wander around, and from where you can also enjoy more of the lovely views. The friendly owners make their own olive oil at the agriturismo, as well as various jam and soaps, all of which you’re welcome to sample and of course to buy to take home if you so wish. WHAT OTHER GUESTS SAY: “Amazing magical place with the most accommodating, friendliest and thoughtful hosts!…” “The view of Orvieto from our room was spectacular! The space was beautiful and perfect for our family. Little extras made it feel very special. Frederica was fantastic and made sure everything was perfect for our stay. Wish it was longer, such a beautiful area….” >> CLICK HERE TO READ MORE REVIEWS & TO BOOK YOUR STAY AT AGRITURISMO PIETRA CAMPANA:   READ MORE

Minimbah is a lovely, very family friendly, Kangaroo Valley retreat with three spacious self catering cottages on its 150 acre working farm, which is surrounded by rainforest and has a number of friendly animals including cows, goats, alpacas, sheep and hens. THE ACCOMMODATION: There is one 6 bedroom cottage, one three bedroom and one two bedroom cottage to choose from. All of which are spacious, comfortable and well equipped, and with the help of some sofa beds and bunk beds have a maximum occupancy of 16, 11 and 8 respectively. Check them all out on the booking page here. They lie on one side of the farm, roughly 80 metres from each other, but are nicely set to ensure enough privacy for each. There is much to see and do around the farm, especially, but certainly not exclusively, for kids, though they do have a ‘kid’s fort’ playground with plenty of fun games to keep them occupied. Guests are free to wander the farm as they please and help feed the friendly alpacas and goats, collect eggs, paddle in the creek, have a picnic or go wildlife spotting where, with a bit of patience, you can see a remarkable amount of wildlife; kookaburras, lyre birds, wedge tailed eagles, echidnas, kangaroos, wombats and more. Note: there is  no WiFi THE LOCATION: Minimbah Farm is just a kilometre and a half from the quaint Kangaroo Valley village, which makes for a pleasant walk through some lovely verdant countryside. There you’ll find some nice cafes, restaurants and shops and from where you can organize all sorts of the outdoor activities which are a typical feature of a holiday in Kangaroo Valley; boat trips READ MORE

This organic farm stay is just outside the little village of Vorderstoder in the Upper Austrian Alps, and near to the well known Kalkalpen National Park. They have bright, clean and modern self catering apartments at the farmhouse and there’s a lot to see and do, on the farm and in the surrounding area. THE ACCOMMODATION: The have a choice of very nice apartments at Familienbauernhof Grossgrub, to sleep up to two adults and three children. They are all quite newly decorated, but very much in keeping with that classic Alpine rustic style, i.e. with traditional looking wooden panels and furniture everywhere. They all also have a balcony or at least some place from where to enjoy the lovely views. The accommodation is self catering and you’ll have a good, fully equipped kitchen at your disposal, but you can also order a very fine breakfast to start the day with if you need. There are also barbecue facilities outside and the owners organize sociable barbecue evenings over the summer months. The spa area has a nice stone sauna, an infrared cabin and a steam bath. There is also a children’s playroom and a playground in the garden, so they will be well entertained, and adults too can enjoy things like volleyball, table tennis, football and even go karting in summer. While in winter; cross country skiing, snowshoeing, sledding and tobogganing. You can also wander the farm and meet the cattle, goats and hens which call it home. Hiking and mountain bike trails are all around this area too and just steps away from the farm. If you walk in the right direction you’ll also find a nice swimming lake just READ MORE