Self Catering Farm Stays: (2021)

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. Fabulous meals. Lovely, warm family and staff. Perfecto!!!.” “Amazing! This hotel was absolutely perfect. It exceeded our expectations and more! We definitely will be going back….” >>CLICK HERE TO READ MORE REVIEWS & TO BOOK YOUR STAY AT MASSERIA SALINOLA:   READ MORE

Criffel Station offers a fabulous farmstay experience in Wanaka, Otago, South Island New Zealand, where you can choose to stay in self catering cottages or glamping teepees on their huge, 2000 hectacre, farm with herds of red deer, alpacas and sheep. This part of Otago is wildly beautiful, serene and peaceful and the views from the farm are stunning, including views over the famous Lake Wanaka itself. THE ACCOMMODATION: They have two self catering traditional cottages and a range of glamping tents to choose from. The cottages have three bedrooms, one double and two twin, and can sleep up to six people. They are modern and comfortable inside, with a good sized lounge area and a well equipped kitchen, but still retain a nice old fashioned charm. One (the Shearer’s Cottage) has a private porch outside, and with each cottage you’ll find plenty of space to be enjoyed in the gardens and the large farm. The glamping tents are teepee style and can fit up to six people. They are spacious, airy and comfortable and have seats inside as well as outside, where you’ll also find a barbecue area with picnic tables and hammocks. THE FARM: The farm is an interesting place; it’s a deer farm which has a large herd of European red deer, a fairly unusual sight in New Zealand. From their herd they produce quality venison, and they also keeps bees, alpacas and sheep. It’s also extremely large and is a wonderful place to explore. The owners are enthusiastic about farming and about the natural environment and they can organize informative farm tours for you where you’ll also get a chance to feed the animals, take photos etc.. There is also an on site farm shop from where you can buy some of their own food products to take home. THE LOCATION: The farmstay is just outside Wanaka, around six miles from the town centre in fact, and the farm has great views over Lake Wanaka itself. For those in the know, Wanaka is quite special, and sees a lot of tourists and outdoor adventure types. It is beside the South Island Alps and the Mount Aspiring National READ MORE

Diamond 7 Dude Ranch has self catering cabin accommodation on a 10,000 acre ranch near the town of Sundance, north east Wyoming, just 30km from the famous Devil’s Tower and close to the Black Hills National Forest in neighboring South Dakota. It offers an old style Western dude ranch experience where the owners are at hand to show guests around the ranch on horseback, and you can also get involved with moving cattle and feeding the animals, as well as fishing, hiking, swimming and visiting the local rodeo. They have a range of comfortable air conditioned cabins and cottages, all with Wi-Fi and satellite TV and outside on the grounds you’ll find a barbecue and a hot tub. WHAT OTHER GUESTS SAY: “The cabin was awesome, and very nice inside. The horses and the ranch were beautiful & the deer and dogs. Well worth the money. I HIGHLY recommend it….” >>CLICK HERE TO READ MORE REVIEWS & TO BOOK YOUR STAY AT DIAMOND 7 GUEST RANCH: READ MORE

Just 500 metres from the shores of the North Sea in the heart of North Frisia, Germany, Familie Wulff farm stay offers lovely bright and clean self-catering apartments with balcony, full kitchen and satellite TV. There’s a bike rental place nearby and its a great area to explore by bike. It’s very close to the village of Bredstedt and the famous Wattenmeer mudflats and also near the lovely traditional Fresian town of Hüsum. Kids can enjoy the games room, and play area with swings and trampoline. There are also horse stables on the farm and horse riding can be arranged. WHAT OTHER GUESTS SAY: “It was all exceptionally great……Many thanks for everything…We look forward to the next visit….” “Top location for ornithologists and nature photographers. Very nice and helpful hosts, functional and cozy apartment, ideal for bird and nature watching located on the northern edge of the NSG Beltringharder Koog, the Wadden Sea and the Halligen and only ten minutes away from the NSG Hauke Haien Koog….” >> CLICK HERE TO READ MORE REVIEWS & TO BOOK YOUR STAY AT BAUERNHOF FAMILIE WULFF: READ MORE

This is a top quality, very exclusive farm stay on a 10,000 acre working farm and nature reserve in the Riebeek Valley, Western Cape, South Africa. The Farmhouse has amazing views of the valley and the Elandskloof Mountains, has a very fine restaurant and an outdoor swimming pool. Its rooms and self catering units are all stylish and spacious with private bathroom and WiFi throughout. A broad range of services is provided by the friendly staff, including concierge services, tour bookings, maid service, laundry/ironing service and a business meeting room is available. The farm itself contains sheep and cattle and there are great opportunities for hiking and wildlife spotting in the surrounding nature reserve. WHAT OTHER GUESTS SAY: “The decor, atmosphere and staff had the charming feel of an earlier era which we loved. Staff were very kind and accommodating and the food was lovely. The wild life and farming was most interesting and well demonstrated. Comfort and the ability to find a quiet corner also appealed to us….” “The staff were without exception welcoming and friendly, very approachable, and went out of their way to make you feel at home. Service was highly discreet yet attentive, with every detail seemingly anticipated….” >> CLICK HERE TO READ MORE REVIEWS & TO BOOK YOUR STAY AT BARTHOLOMEUS KLIP FARMHOUSE:   READ MORE

Wacky Stays is just outside Kaikoura on New Zealand’s South Island and has a range of cute glamping accommodation on a working farm which guests are very welcome to explore and get to know some of the animals. You can choose from a colonial wagon, a yurt, a house truck/caravan, a tipi tent, a train carriage and a conventional, less ‘wacky’, two-bedroom farmer’s cottage. THE ACCOMMODATION: The Wagon: It can can sleep up to four, with two single beds and one double which can also be converted into two singles. It also has a small kitchen with a fridge, a microwave, toaster, kettle, etc. There is a small lounge area with a comfortable sofa, a widescreen TV and Blu-Ray/DVD player, air conditioning/ heater and the canvas roof is insulated with sheep’s wool. The Yurt: The 7 meter yurt is the real thing, imported all the way from Mongolia. It sits on a raised and insulated wooden floor and the walls, if that is the right word, are insulated with thick camel hair, which makes it wonderfully cool in summer, and warm in winter. It can sleep four, with one king size bed and two single beds, and separate to the unit, its own private bathroom and shower. The House Truck: The hand-crafted house truck  has a double bed (above the drivers cab),  a compact, well equipped kitchen, a lounge area with flat-screen TV & DVD player and traditional pot bellied stove (and electric heating too), and a toilet & separate shower. The Teepee: The large, 7-metre wide, teepee has, like the yurt, one king size bed and two singles and it too sits on a raised and insulated wooden floor. The walls are made from poly-cotton, waterproof, canvas with a semi insulated second layer. It has a separate bathroom with a shower and toilet. The Carriage: The carriage is a fully restored 1889 train carriage with two bedrooms; one with a double bed and the other with two bunk beds. There is a cute, compact bathroom there too with an antique toilet, sink and shower. The lounge area and kitchen are open plan and come with a TV and DVD player. The Farmer’s Cottage: 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 a very a nice day out. The area is still mostly very rural though, peaceful and quiet, with small villages and rich farming land. Between the chateau and Paris there is also the vast Haute Vallée de Chevreuse Natural Regional Park and the lovely Forêt Domaniale de Rambouillet to be explored. WHAT OTHER GUESTS SAY: “A very friendly and helpful welcome, apartments are very well designed and fitted. So good we booked again as a stop on our return journey READ MORE

Just outside the lovely village of Godshill, this is a very peaceful Isle of Wight farmstay with self catering accommodation on a lovely organic farm surrounded by lush green countryside. The Accommodation: They have lovely self catering cottages as well as a glamping style shepherds hut on the farm. You’ll find them all to be clean, comfortable and tastefully furnished. The cottages have two and three bedrooms, a lounge area with flat screen TV and WiFi, bathrooms and a private entrance. The Shepherds Hut is one double bedroom and though obviously a little tight on space it still has a small kitchenette and seating area, and a wood burning stove. It has hot water too and its own private compostable toilet, and you are welcome to use the shower and kitchen facilities at the farmhouse. Though the accommodation is self catering a nice breakfast can be arranged at the main farmhouse each morning for an extra charge. The Farm: The farm is particularly nice, with classic Isle of Wight meadow fields, an orchard grove and a range of animals including  horses, sheep, llamas and pigs. There is plenty of outdoor space to relax around the farm too and guests can explore as much as they like and get to meet some of the animals. You’ll find a millpond at the farm too which attracts a wide variety of wildfowl. The Location: The Isle Of Wight, and particularly this location, has much to offer the visitor. The farmstay is right outside the picturesque village of Godshill and within easy reach of many attractions, and a good base for many activities; country walks, cycling, coarse angling, horse riding and golf. The Isle of Wight Donkey Sanctuary for example, is a nice, novel day out, especially for children, and just a mile away from the farmstay, while the Ventnor Botanic Garden is about five miles away. The chalk cliffs and downs of the lovely Tennyson Coast, and the Isle of Wight Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty too are less than 20 minutes drive. Golfers can use the nearby Ventnor golf course, and there is also a horse riding school in the local area, just ask READ MORE

Pet friendly Montana Hill Guest Ranch invites you to the gentle hills of British Columbia’s South Cariboo to enjoy some rural bliss, some old style Canadian hospitality and to do exactly as much or as little as you like. It has horseback riding, spa facilities, good food, hospitable hosts and a choice of four comfortable and cosy private log cabins each with a fireplace and an outdoor hot tub. The Accommodation: The accommodation is in classic style log cabins, all with one double bedroom, kitchenette, lounge and one bathroom. The lounge has a double sofa bed too so each cabin can sleep up to four people. They are comfortable and clean with modern facilities; flat screen TV & WiFi, and there is a nice cosy ambience throughout, more especially as they all feature those old style cast iron stove heaters. Cosy doesn’t mean small though, they have more than enough space for four people to relax comfortably both inside and out, where there is an old style porch with a hot tub, barbecue facilities and outdoor furniture. In the main ranch house there is a common lounge area to socialize with the owners and the other guests. There’s a library there and a billiards table. They have spa facilities too and can offer, amongst other things, massage therapy with organic essential oils, hot stone massage therapy and beauty treatments including manicures and pedicures. Though the accommodation is self catering, breakfast is included in the rate and it is generous and hearty, and includes some real quality coffee. You can also join one of the western themed, full three course, evening meals with other guests at the ranch house and order trail lunches and picnic baskets to be made up if you want to head out on the range. The Ranch: Outside on the ranch there is a herd of red angus cattle and of course horses. Horseback riding is a big activity here and there are some lovely trails around the ranch and the surrounding area. You can bring your own horse along with you, they have paddock areas with shelter beside each cabins just for that purpose, or you can use 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

This lovely little Dordogne farm gite is near the town of Perigueux, Aquitaine, and between the cities of Bordeaux and Limoges. It has a very nice self catering mobile cottage on its small farm which contains a range of interesting animals; pheasants, peacocks, Alpacas, Vietnamese mini pigs, ponies, goats and geese. The mobile home has two double bedrooms, one with a double bed and one with two singles and there is also a sofa bed/futon in the lounge. There is a well equipped kitchenette too, a private bathroom and an outside wooden terrace with furniture and barbecue facilities. The main attraction at this farm stay are the animals though with the Vietnamese mini pigs especially being very popular with guests. They’re not just there for show though, they are actually specially trained to hunt for truffles, and guests are always welcome to join the numerous truffle hunts in the surrounding woodland. There is WiFi at the property and if you don’t feel like cooking, for an extra fee you can order a good breakfast at the farmhouse, as well as plenty other food throughout the day including some really excellent gourmet sandwiches. WHAT OTHER GUESTS SAY: “Beautiful surrounding countryside and so peaceful….” >>CLICK HERE TO READ MORE REVIEWS & TO BOOK YOUR STAY AT LE FERME DE VIGNES: READ MORE

Solheimar Eco-Village is a special kind of farm stay near Reykjavik, Iceland. It is, as the name suggests, not just a farm but an entire community, with strong ecological principles and an artistic, cultured, atmosphere. In terms of farming they grow organic fruit and vegetables which you can buy in the village shop to cook with or to take home, and they also have the distinction of cultivating Iceland’s only organic forestry plantation. But that is only a small part of the story, they organize a huge range of activities and workshops at the village where you can learn about sustainability and permaculture amongst other things and create everything from ceramics and carpentry pieces to herbal shampoos and candles. Cultural events are organized too, involving music, theater or sports for example. All in all a stay at Solheimar can be a fully immersive, active experience if you so choose, or if not it is also a terrific place to unwind, and to meet some interesting, idealistic, people from around the world in a nice communal atmosphere. THE ACCOMMODATION: There is a choice of single and double rooms plus a couple of one double bedroom self catering apartments that than sleep a total of four using the sofa bed in the living room. A self service breakfast is included in all the accommodation options and there are also communal kitchen facilities which you are free to use throughout the day, a well as the sociable shared lounge. There is Wifi all over, and in the gardens you’ll find plenty of outdoor seating, BBQ facilities, and a children’s playground.Around the village there are the organic forest plantations which have many little trails down to the Ölfusá river and all around, and are a pleasure to explore. You’ll also find a host of facilities within the village too that you are welcome to use; a grocery & gift shop and a bakery & café/restaurant, where you can dine or take home some of their own homegrown and home made foods, with vegan and non-vegan options. There is also a sports hall & gym, an outdoor thermal pool, a hot tub, a church, a 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 of town as is known for its therapeutic spa waters. They have allegedly many beauty and health benefits, and your feet might enjoy an evening dip after that tough hike up to Fort Lagarde! The nearby Reserve Naturelle de Prats-de-Mollo (about 30 minutes by car from the farm house) is a stunning nature reserve with an abundance of wildlife on its rocky plateaus; vultures, eagles, wild cats and the famous pyrenean chamois (wild goats), for example. It also has a 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

Papa Yurt at the Terraces is a peaceful glamping farm stay which sits on a hill on Waiheke Island, just off the coast of Auckland, New Zealand, and commands gorgeous views of Putiki bay below. THE ACCOMMODATION: It has a range of luxury yurts to stay in, all of them spacious and clean, with a roof that can be opened up to see the stars, or left closed depending on the weather, a private bathroom with a rainforest shower, a small lounge area, WiFi, a coffee maker, and a private terrace at the front which has reclining chairs/sun loungers and a picnic table. THE FARM: In all the property has 9 acres of land on which there are over 600 olive trees, a fruit orchard and a vegetable garden. They also have a yoga yurt on the grounds where both private and communal sessions can be arranged. THE LOCATION: Waiheke Island, a little more than a half hour ferry trip from Auckland, is well known for its beauty and peaceful charm. The farmstay sits on a hill overlooking the lovely Putiki Bay and the whole area is equally scenic. You’ll find it great for hiking, cycling and of course swimming; with the nearest beach, Palm beach, only about 10 minutes walk away. And, if that sounds a bit too relaxing for you there is always the EcoZip adventure park in Onetangi, about 10 minutes away by car. Waiheke is also well known for its vineyards and you can find plenty of wine tourism here. The Hauraki Gulf Marine Park is also an interesting diversion, a protected area for marine life it covers around 1.2 million hectares of Waiheke including over 50 smaller islands. Many of the islands are off limits without a permit due to the presence of endangered species but you can arrange boat trips for  visits to many of the others. WHAT OTHER GUESTS SAY: “This place is a dream holiday spot. So relaxing and comfy and in such a beautiful and peaceful spot. The yurt was gorgeous and had everything you need and more. Thank you so much!…” “The yurt was immaculate and super comfortable, it had everything READ MORE

Very near the historic village of Wollombi, Gypsy Willows is a secluded Hunter Valley retreat on 25 acres of peaceful farmland. It has two plush self catering cottages for nightly rent both with their own private swimming pools. THE ACCOMMODATION: There are just two cottages at Gypsy Willows, one with three double bedrooms, and the other with two, and all with King or Queen size beds and en-suite bathrooms. Both are also spacious, clean and tremendously comfortable and come with modern facilities including well equipped kitchens, WiFi, Digital TV, Bose music speakers, reverse cycle air-con, wood burning fires, gas BBQs, Nespresso coffee machines etc. etc. Check them out on the booking page here. The surroundings are gorgeous, the gardens and the small farm which is home to cattle and horses, and perfect for long meandering walks and wildlife spotting. PRICES: Check out all the details – prices, reviews & more photos on the booking page here. THE LOCATION: The farm is walking distance from the lovely little village of Wollombi which has some very nice restaurants and cafes and there are plenty of boutique wineries in the surrounding area. You can treat yourself to wine tours, helicopter rides, boat trips and lots of the usual Hunter Valley activities from the farm. The farm owners live nearby and can be at hand with plenty of tips and advice. The journey by car from Sydney should take well under two hours. WHAT OTHER GUESTS SAY: “The villa was so beautiful. It was quiet and had beautiful views. The owner was amazing and was quick to reply and help if we needed it….” “Exceptional: This property was amazing My daughter and her family stayed here for a recent family wedding. The kids had a ball watching the kangaroos and meeting the pet horses. Absolutely loved it and want to return for a break from Sydney life in the near future….” CLICK HERE TO READ MORE REVIEWS & TO BOOK YOUR STAY AT GYPSY WILLOWS. READ MORE

This lively eco-friendly farmhouse stay in the village of Pömling, just 5 km from Melk Abbey in the heart of some typically beautiful lower Austrian countryside. The working farm has a whole range of animals; cattle, pigs, horses and ponies, with both horse & pony riding is available, and even a herd of red deer. They also have some smaller pets that children will love like guinea pigs and rabbits, and kids will also appreciate the outdoor playground and the natural bowling alley. The accommodation is in the form of self catering apartments which are all spacious and comfortable, and come with fully equipped kitchens and lounges with satellite TV. They also all have balconies with nice views over the gardens and the surrounding, beautifully rural, countryside. Guests at farmhouse can buy some of the many homemade farm products that the friendly owners produce on site and for other supplies there is a supermarket just 2km away. WHAT OTHER GUESTS SAY: “The studio was beautiful, atmosphere of the farm since it’s far away from Vienna was absolutely calming. Nature surrounds you, life is so simple and beautiful. The family who owns the farm are very nice people. The animals especially the horses are beautiful just to watch them. The walk outside the farm all the way to the plantations and forest is just stunning….” “Gorgeous sunny place with the lot of history, great place for children, the owners were fantastic. Incredible sauna…” >> CLICK HERE TO READ MORE REVIEWS & TO BOOK YOUR STAY AT BAUER & WIRT LANGTHALER:     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 back over the valley. For a day out at another local winery you can also visit the nearby Hently Farm & Park, which does some award winning wines plus equally top class food. A little farther afield, just around a ten minute drive in fact, you can reach the town of Tanunda which has a lot going on, quality cafes and restaurants, art galleries and plenty of shops. Other recommendations in the area would include the Barossa Farmers Market at READ MORE

This organic farm stay B&B, near Brisbane, Queensland, on Australia’s Sunshine Coast and just 10 minutes from Steve Irwin’s Australia Zoo, has a large spacious suite on its small (by Australian standards!) farm with cows, alpacas, pigs and hens. THE ACCOMMODATION: They have three accommodation choices. There is the sleek, modern and spacious, suite which has its own separate lounge area with flat screen TV, DVD player and ipod docking station. It also comes with a kitchenette, plus an en-suite bathroom with a nice old style claw foot bathtub. Then there is the cosy ‘tiny house on wheels’ which has 2 bedrooms, 1 of which has a queen-sized bed, the other 2 single beds. There is a TV, reverse-cycle air-conditioning, a full kitchenette and a large terrace outside where you’ll find a BBQ. Finally it has a small bathroom with a shower and compost (no smell!) toilet. Note: the ‘tiny house on wheels’ accommodation involves stairs and a climbing ladder and is not suitable for children under the age of 7. Finally there is the bungalow which has two bedrooms, one with a king size bed and the other with two king size singles. It has a nice bathroom with a claw foot bath tub, and a kitchen and lounge. Outside there is a large outdoor terrace area with seating and a barbecue. Check out all your options on the booking page here. Guests have access to the entire farm and are welcome to help out with farm tasks such as feeding the animals, collecting fresh eggs etc. They also have an organic vegetable garden and the friendly owners give kitchen garden workshops where you can learn how to create your own organic garden at home. There is a common lounge at the farm with books and board games, and there is WiFi throughout. The accommodation is self catering but you’ll also be treated to a great organic breakfast in the morning, included in the rate, and breakfast and BBQ dinner hampers can be provided on request. THE LOCATION: As mentioned the farm is conveniently just 10 minutes away from the world famous Australia Zoo, a definite must visit in the 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 and for its prowess in the sport of rowing, leading it to be dubbed ‘The town of trees and champions’. It’s not a big town by any means but sees a good number of tourists and so has a few good cafes and restaurants. Within an hour’s drive of the farmstay you can enjoy some of the North Island’s best natural attractions; Raglan Beach or the incredible underground caves at Waitomo to the west for example, or Rotorua town and READ MORE

Paradise farm is a friendly, homely, organic farm stay near Miami, Florida and just 10 minute’s drive from the Everglades National Park. The farmstay is an interesting place, it produces a range of organic vegetables, fruits, herbs and even edible flowers which they sell to local restaurants and specialist food outlets. Though it’s beside the town of Homestead and all modern conveniences, it is a wholly peaceful rural retreat full of tropical plants and wildlife and makes for a very relaxing break. The Accommodation: They have a choice of four self catering cottages and bungalows for up to eight people. All of them are spacious, clean and though well equipped and modern they fit very nicely into the surrounding nature filled gardens and farm. You’ll have a full kitchen there plus a lounge & dining area and varying numbers of bedrooms, and there is WiFi throughout. The Farm: The farm and gardens are beautifully designed with a gazebo and a natural pool and contain many exotic plant species and local wildlife, especially birdlife. The farm is small but produces a good amount of organic produce; ginger, mint and basil, oyster mushrooms, many root vegetables, a range of tropical fruit including bananas, mangoes, avocados and carambola, and honey. The farm produce is well known in the Miami area and they sell to some of the city’s top restaurants as well as local food stores. The owners are enthusiastic organic farmers who are always happy to show guests around the farm and let them sample some of their healthy produce. The Location: As mentioned the farmstay is near Miami, about 40 miles in fact and so is pretty easy to reach. It is also very close to both the Everglades and Biscayne National Park, and nearer still are such points of interest as Knaus Berry Farm, Fruit Spice Park, Schnebly’s Winery and the Redland Tropical Trail. The owners will have plenty of advice about what to do and see in the local area and you can also hire bikes for free direct from the farm. 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

Near Cessnock, and the heart of Hunter Valley, Emma’s Cottage Vineyard is well known among wine lovers. It has been producing premium boutique wines from seven different varieties of hand picked grapes since 1989 and offers a full compliment of wine tourism activities. It is also perfectly located to visit the many other vineyards and cellar doors that dot this part of Hunter. Their accommodation is also of the highest quality though and so even if, like many people, you have no interest in wine, the calm, healing atmosphere make it a great place to de-stress for pretty much anyone. They also have a highly rated restaurant, Restaurant Trey, an on-site art gallery hosting regular exhibitions and an outdoor seasonal swimming pool. THE ACCOMMODATION: They have a choice of two, three and four bedroom private cottages to sleep up to a maximum of eight. All are modern, spacious and very comfortable with fully equipped kitchens, large living and dining rooms with large flat screen TV, cosy log fire, air con, music dock, as well as furnished outdoor space with gas BBQ facilities. Check your options out on the booking page here.  Note: no Wifi available. PRICES: Check out all the details – prices, reviews & more photos on the booking page here. THE LOCATION: In Lovedale, just off the Wine Country Drive, a few minutes north from Cessnock, Emma’s is surrounded by boutique wineries and cellar doors just like its own and is a great place to base yourself for tours of one of Australia’s premier wine making regions. If you have an interest in the history of this iconic area you may be interested to know that there is a heritage listed, 19th century era cemetery on the Emma’s Vineyard property, one which contains many big names of the early wine industry. It’s not just wine though, the Hunter Valley, and this part of Hunter particularly, is also a place for foodies to indulge, with a tremendous amount of great restaurants, cafes, farmer’s markets and the like. The enthusiastic owners of Emma’s Vineyard can point you in the right direction for all this and more, plus they have their READ MORE

Family run vineyard & agriturismo, Baglio Vecchio offers peace, tranquility and rustic old world charm in the wilds of North West Sicily. The property is an 18th century baglio, a traditional Sicilian farmhouse, which has been respectively restored and retains the atmosphere of a bygone era without sacrificing modern comforts. The food here is consistently excellent, you can sample some fine Sicilian traditional dishes with most of the ingredients coming from the farm, and all accompanied by the agriturismo’s very own wine. THE ACCOMMODATION: They have ten rooms in total, two quadruples, one triple, six doubles and one single, in the main farmhouse building and six self catering apartments in the nearby renovated storehouse to sleep up to four people each. They all have a rustic vibe with soothing pastel coloured walls and and some nice antique furniture, but they also have air-con, satellite TV, private bathrooms and WiFi for example, and you’ll generally find the accommodation super comfortable, and clean. The 50 seat restaurant, as mentioned above, has some terrific traditional Sicilian food & wine on offer and they are happy to cater for guests with dietary restrictions. Outside in the grounds there is a swimming pool and the whole property is surrounded by olive groves, grape vines and a beautifully peaceful, nearly 30 acre, stretch of old woodland that is lovely to wander around. You are also welcome to join in some of the activities around the farm such as, in season, harvesting the olives or grapes, and you can also try your hand at the ancient lawn bowling sport of bocce, play ping pong, go horse riding or take one of the farm’s bikes to explore the surrounding area. THE LOCATION: Tucked away near the coast of north west Sicily, the journey from Palermo should take less than an hour and a half, from Trapani less than an hour and from Marsala, less again. Rural Sicily has a wealth of ancient ruins and the area surrounding the agriturismo is no different. The ruins of the ancient Greek city of Selinunte, are just 10 km away on the coast with Segesta too being just 40km away. Both are very much READ MORE

In the centre of New South Wales, and not far from the Australian capital Canberra, Moorallie Farm, has the lovely Adelong Creek running through it and has peace, quiet and the joys of nature in abundance. The whole region is famously great for hiking and fishing with the beautiful Snowy Mountains and Kosciuszko National Park very nearby, and the farm itself has cattle, sheep and hens, grows apples, figs and pears and even breeds labrador puppies! Their clean and comfortable self catering cottage has a lounge with TV, full kitchen, private bathrooms, with a bath. Outside, in the large gardens you’ll find BBQ facilities as well as a swimming pool and even a tennis court. It’s self catering but the very friendly owners are happy to provide you with a breakfast starter pack on arrival. Note: No WiFi available. WHAT OTHER GUESTS SAY: “One of the loveliest places I have ever stayed!…” “Such a gorgeous view and surrounding country. The host family was so friendly and welcoming….” >> CLICK HERE TO READ MORE REVIEWS & TO BOOK YOUR STAY AT MOORALLIE COTTAGE FARM STAY:   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

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 up there on the ridge is cooler and definitely makes for a more comfortable base than down below, in the heat of coast. Apart from Hawi, at Always in Season you’ll also be close to places like Kapaau Village, Mahukona Beach Park, Pololu Valley, the Lapakahi State Historical Park and Lapakahi Marine Conservation Area for example, with all of them being between ten and twenty minutes away by car. As well as the services they provide on the farm, the owners READ MORE

In Free State Province just outside the town of Fouriesburg, where South Africa meets Lesotho. Pumula Guest Farm Stay is a working farm with self-catering cottages and apartments in a wonderfully relaxing and peaceful environment. They all have a full kitchen and a lounge with an open fireplace and outside, they all have their own BBQ facilities and patio and there’s an outdoor swimming pool too. Guests are free to wander the farm and the friendly owners are always willing to show you around and advise about further travel around the area, like the Golden Gate Highlands National Park for example, about 70 kilometres away from the farm. Note: There’s no internet at this guest farm! WHAT OTHER GUESTS SAY: “A very quiet, tranquil, relaxing place, beautiful mountain setting close to the Lesotho border post, very friendly host….” “Perfect place. We really recommend. Clean, wood for fireplace, kitchen really well equipped, big flat, well furnished, private parking, lovely place, host really nice…..” >> CLICK HERE TO READ MORE REVIEWS & TO BOOK YOUR STAY AT PUMULA GUEST 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

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 this part of the world, 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 is done, while also getting to sample some of the fine fresh produce. THE LOCATION: Lying in the heart of the Douro Valley, just over an hour from Porto, the farm stay is an ideal base for exploring this famous agricultural region that, thanks to its special micro climate, has been producing wine, olives and various fruits and vegetables since as far back as Roman times. It is now of course mainly known as a wine region, with READ MORE

In KwaZulu Natal South Africa‘s Drakensberg Mountains, and beside the Giants Castle Nature Reserve this top quality farmstay serves exceptionally good food, award winning in fact, from a three course breakfast in the morning to a 6 course evening dinner using the farm’s own fresh vegetables and herbs. They have a wide range of very comfortable and nicely furnished rooms, cottages and suites and there’s a nice, sociable lounge area with a cosy fireplace. And the friendly hosts can arrange a whole range of services for you including room service, laundry, business center, horse riding, bicycle hire, guides/tours of the local area etc. WHAT OTHER GUESTS SAY: “A truly wonderful relaxing and luxurious stay. Not only is the location magnificent but the staff are one of the best parts of the experience. The food is to die for and your comfort and enjoyment is their main concern, Absolutely superb! Thanks for a lovely stay….” “The room comforts were excellent. With regards to the food all needs were met. Everything we ate was delicious. The staff are well informed and always attentive….a wonderful stay, most relaxing and good for the soul….” >> CLICK HERE TO READ MORE REVIEWS & TO BOOK YOUR STAY AT CLEOPATRA MOUNTAIN FARM: READ MORE

Straw Lodge is a very highly rated boutique vineyard hotel near Blenheim, at the gateway to South Island NZ’s Marlborough/Wairau Valley Wine Region. Their accommodation is in the form of luxury B&B lodges housed in a rather special, and eco friendly, straw bale building overlooking their Pinot Noir and Sauvignon Blanc producing vineyards. THE ACCOMMODATION: The lodges are spacious, comfortable with quality finishings and custom designed furniture. There is a good size lounge/seating area with a sofa/sofa-bed, study desk, flat screen satellite TV and DVD player in each lodge, and outside you’ll find a nice courtyard with seating and views over the vineyards. There will be a barbecue at your disposal too and, even better, an lovely outdoor hot tub-jacuzzi. There is a comfortable communal lounge at the main building too with a selection of DVDs and books. The breakfast here is top class, generous and fresh, and if it inspires you to do some cooking yourself later in the day you are more than welcome to use some of the kitchen facilities. If you need some extra ingredients there is a fruit and vegetable garden outside from where you are welcome to pick you own. You can also of course sample some of the vineyard’s excellent wine; guests are gifted a bottle on arrival and you’ll find your hosts are always happy to explain a bit about wine making and the workings of a Marlborough vineyard. The whole property makes an effort to be as eco friendly as possible and, according to the owners, though not strictly organic, their vineyards and their fruit and vegetable gardens receive only the absolute minimum of chemical treatments. THE LOCATION: A real highlight of South Island NZ, Marlborough is undoubtedly the country’s premier wine region, and has an international reputation. It is also, naturally enough, a centre of wine tourism. Most of Marlborough’s wineries are open to the public where you can enjoy vineyard tours and wine tasting sessions. An increasing number will also have restaurants at the wineries; Marlborough is progressing strongly in food tourism too and you’ll standards very high. The surrounding countryside isn’t all vineyards of course just to the north READ MORE

Agriturismo Sarrabus is a lovely, traditional agriturismo, less than an hour from Cagliari, on the east coast of Sardinia. The food here is a major highlight; their on site restaurant is the perfect place to experience Sardinia’s rich food tradition with much of the ingredients for their traditional recipes coming fresh from their own, or other farms in the local area. THE ACCOMMODATION: They have a range of cosy self catering cottages to sleep up to four people surrounding the main farmhouse & restaurant. They are basic but clean and comfortable and though, because of the quality of the food in the restaurant, you might find yourself never cooking, you will also have a well equipped kitchenette at your disposal. Outside the cottages have a little veranda with tables and chairs and there is plenty of space to lounge around in the lawns and among the lovely olive and orange trees, where you’ll also find some slides and swings for the children. The farm itself produces a variety of fruits, vegetables and herbs which go in to their fresh food as well as keeping Tibetan goats, hens, ducks, rabbits, turtles and even two friendly wild boars. They have horses too and you can bring them out for some lovely horse riding trips around the nearby lagoon and along the sea shore. THE LOCATION: You’ll find the agriturismo down some country lanes near the village of San Priamo in this richly rural part of east Sardinia. The sea is just minutes away as is the Stagno dei Colustrai lagoon, which you can explore on horseback, and there are some lovely beaches around too. The journey from Cagliari should take less than an hour but if you have time on your hands you can take the longer, but more scenic coastal routes. WHAT OTHER GUESTS SAY: “Brilliant. This place was an experience. Silvia met us with coffee and Sardinian cookies. It was a lovely stay on the farm with perfect hospitality. There was the sweet scent of orange trees in the air. Both dinner and breakfast was served in the large farm style dining hall. The best idea of all was: All 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

  Brúnalaug is a cosy three bedroom holiday cottage on a family farm near Iceland’s second city, Akureyri and the Eyjafjörður Fjord in its remote north. The accommodation is comfortable and clean, the location very scenic and central to many of northern Iceland’s most lovely natural landscapes. THE ACCOMMODATION: The modern cottage comes with a nice lounge, a fully equipped kitchen, two bathrooms, one double/twin room, one with a bunk bed and one single room plus the sofa in the living room can also be pulled out to sleep two more if needed, and cots can be provided for children. The comfortable lounge has a WiFi and a TV & DVD player while outside there is a large porch area with a barbecue and, best of all, a hot tub from where to enjoy some of the lovely scenery that surrounds. The farmer’s house is nearby and you’ll find them very friendly but completely non-intrusive. They grow a large range of fruit, vegetables, herbs etc. at the farm greenhouse though and so you can buy supplies of fresh produce to cook with should you need. Otherwise there are supermarkets in Akureyri, just 13km away, plus plenty of nice cafes, bars and restaurants. THE LOCATION: The nearest town is Akureyri, Iceland’s second city which, with a population of just 18,000, is a lot more sedate than Reykjavik. It also sees a lot less tourists and is therefore, for many visitors, a much more authentic place to be. The region is generally called Eyjafjaroarsveit, or Eyjafjörður Country, after the large fjord of the same name and is a wonderful place for all sorts of outdoor activities; hiking, horse riding, skiing, golf, bird watching etc. Make sure to do some whale watching at Húsavík and admire the spectacular waterfall at Goðafoss too. You can ask the friendly farm owners at Brúnalaug for more advice and recommendations, they’ll have plenty, and they can also help organize tours and excursions. WHAT OTHER GUESTS SAY: “We stayed for 2 nights and had wonderful time in this warm and cosy house. Anna was so nice and told us many stories about Iceland, it’s culture, nature and people. READ MORE

This highly rated, luxury vineyard manor house in the heart of South Africa‘s Western Cape wine region, dates back to the 17th century has now been restored into very stylish and comfortable self catering cottages, with kitchen, private bathroom and lounge with flat screen TV and WiFi throughout. There is an outdoor pool in the well kept gardens and you are welcome to tour the surrounding vineyards and sample some of the wine produced on site. They also have a very nice cafe on the grounds which serves breakfast and lunch. They have a business and meeting centre on site too and the helpful staff are always on hand to make sure the guests are well taken care of. WHAT OTHER GUESTS SAY: “Beautifully decorated room that overlooked the amazing vineyard and mountains. The staff was super helpful and friendly and the food wonderful! Everything was so well done. I will definitely recommend to others and return in the future….” “Serenity and peace with beautiful views on vineyards!! Everything was perfect!! We enjoyed our stay and would definitely recommend this place to everyone!!…” >> CLICK HERE TO READ MORE REVIEWS & TO BOOK YOUR STAY AT VREDE EN LUST VINEYARD HOTEL:   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

The very highly rated Agriturismo Renaccino near Siena, Tuscany, is well known in the local area for breeding thoroughbred riding horses, but also provides rustic self catering accommodation in traditional cottage style apartments. The owners are helpful and friendly and the countryside surrounding is typically Tuscan, but also quiet and peaceful despite being less than 10km from the much loved city of Siena. THE ACCOMMODATION: You have a choice of one and two bed apartments to sleep a maximum of four people. They are in traditional Tuscan farmhouse style, romantic and cosy with a well equipped kitchen and lounge, WiFi and TV. Outside in the gardens and lawns there is plenty of seating/outdoor dining space and a salt water swimming pool. You’ll find the owners of Agriturismo Renaccino extremely helpful and friendly, and you can quite quickly feel like you’re part of the family. Though they don’t cook a breakfast for you but every morning they do provide a daily generous selection of what a Tuscan might call ‘basic food staples’ but what for outside visitors is more like a sumptuous hamper of fresh food; apart from the necessary eggs and milk you will also be treated to a fine selection of cheeses, breads, salami, some delicious homemade cakes, and more. Guests are welcome to take a look around the farm and can learn a little about horse breeding from the enthusiastic horse loving owners. It is a thoroughbred breeding farm so they are quite sensibly careful with the animals, which means they don’t allow horse riding or provide horse riding lessons, but you can get up close and admire these beautiful creatures just the same. THE LOCATION: The agriturismo is super convenient for the famously beautiful and historic city of Siena, less than 10km away, and just to the north of the equally famously beautiful Val d’Orcia, which, like Siena, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and a place steeped in important medieval history. Towns like Montalcino, Castiglion d’Orcia, Pienza and many, many more live and breath that history and the countryside in between is a rural wonderland of rolling green hills and winding roads. WHAT OTHER GUESTS SAY: 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 mentioned before, is at Kérou, a 15-20 minute walk down through some lovely country lanes. Kérou, like a lot of the beaches on Brittany’s south coast, is more favoured by surfers than swimmers with some pretty big waves rolling in from the Atlantic. WHAT OTHER GUESTS SAY: “The Yurts were excellent, very clean and tidy with plenty of room for three mature gentlemen. The owners were a real delight, thank you for having us. I’ll be back with my wife….” READ MORE

In Calabria, Italy with beautiful views of the Ionian Sea, Masseria Cielogreco is a historic farmhouse set in 80 hectares of private land that produces its own olive oil, fruit and vegetables. And it is just 800 metres from the nearest beach. Masseria Cielogreco is composed of the manor house, where the owners live, and other rustic buildings including the old stables. The self catering apartments are all air conditioned and have a kitchenette and patio for outdoor dining. And there is always plenty of delicious homemade food to be sampled in the farm’s kitchen. Surrounded by olive groves and pine trees, the setting is blissfully peaceful but is just 1 km from Amendolara Marina which is a lovely little place to stroll around and where you will find some nice shops, cafes and restaurants. The ground floor of the manor house is also available for conferences, concerts and other meetings and you can also arrange bike hire (free of charge) and horse riding in the surrounding area. WHAT OTHER GUESTS SAY: “Perfect in every way. I highly recommend a stay with this wonderful couple. They make you feel so special when it is really them that is special. They make you feel so welcome and at home….” “This b&b is like a castle in the sky. The accommodation is rustic looking but very comfortable and well equipped. There are gorgeous views in every direction. The owners are delightful and generous of their time and attention to your wishes….” >> CLICK HERE TO READ MORE REVIEWS & TO BOOK YOUR STAY AT AGRITURISMO CIELOGRECO:   READ MORE

On a small farm near Pickering, North Yorkshire, U.K, this popular family run farmstay has a great selection of stylish B&B rooms in an 18th century farmhouse plus self catering cabins. They serve a great English breakfast with some of the finest local ingredients, including free-range eggs direct from their own farm, which guests are free to explore. All their rooms and cabins are clean, spacious and comfortable and come with en suite bathroom, seating area, fridge, tea and coffee making facilities and flat-screen TV and DVD player while the cabins come with all the above plus a kitchen. There is a very nice garden at the property too with outside furniture and an extensive children’s playground. WHAT OTHER GUESTS SAY: “Absolutely fabulous and look forward to staying again. The accommodation and surrounding area were fabulous . Beautiful lodge set on the lake. Very clean , luxurious interior and facilities. We were disappointed we weren’t staying longer….” “Lovely just lovely perfect for families with children, or a romantic get away. Close to all shops/amenities yet secluded. Would definitely recommend to anyone….” >> CLICK HERE TO READ MORE REVIEWS & TO BOOK YOUR STAY AT BARKER STAKES FARM: 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 Nature Reserve, about 10km from the farmstay. There are many classically beautiful Tuscan towns around too, as well as historical sights and an abundance of food and wine tourism.  The friendly farmstay owners at Tenuta di Corsano can give you lots of tips and recommendations, and they can organize tours and various other services such as car hire, bicycle hire, babysitting and transfers from the lovely city of Siena just 16km to the north. WHAT OTHER GUESTS SAY: “This place 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 town Hella in South-Iceland and 30km east from the regional capital Selfoss. This area is seen as the agricultural heart of Iceland, and is conveniently near the famous Golden Circle Route and the stunning Pingvellir/Thingvellir national park. This is original site of Iceland’s ancient parliament while also being the meeting point of the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates. There are hot springs around this area too and dramatic waterfalls such as Seljalandsfoss, and Gullfoss, the largest in Europe. The journey READ MORE

Quinta Do Mel Agroturismo is a peaceful and tranquil rural retreat near Portugal’s Algarve coast, and within easy reach of the cities of Albufeira and Faro. THE ACCOMMODATION: The farmstay can offer a self catering apartment plus a range of B&B rooms. All the rooms are super comfortable and clean and come with air con, WiFi, TV, private bathroom and under-floor heating, while the the self catering two bedroom apartment has all that plus a spacious lounge and kitchen. Outside there is a swimming pool in the gardens and plenty of space to relax with a seating area and sun loungers. THE FARM: There is an extensive eco-friendly organic farm at Quinta do Mel which breeds sheep and grows cork, fruits, vegetables and herbs and is now in its fourth generation of family ownership. The owners are enthusiastic about organic and eco-friendly farming techniques and are always happy to show guests around. They serve a great breakfast which is available at any time, and other good food and snacks can also be ordered throughout the day, many of the ingredients of which come straight from the farm including their own home made herbal teas and jams. THE LOCATION: Though very near Albufeira, Faro and the tourist masses of the Algarve, the farmstay and its immediate surroundings are very much peacefully rural. Most visitors never get to see this side of the Algarve but those that do find it a rich experience. The area, between the coast and the mountains of the north, is known as the Baroccal and it is classic Portuguese farming country with small white walled villages, rocky hills, fruit orchards and rolling plains of cork, olive and almond trees. The village of Alte is a nice example, and it’s just a short drive north of the farmstay. It has a nice setting in the foothills of the Serra do Caldeirão mountains, is known for the little springs (fontes) that run through the village and makes for a nice day out with plenty of cute cafes and small shops to visit. Having a car or a bike is a good idea in this area as public transport isn’t very widespread and READ MORE

Amongst the vineyards of the Hunter Valley, New South Wales, Australia, this farm stay is a working alpaca farm with a few extra luxuries for guests: a tennis court, sauna, spa, swimming pool, barbecue and children’s playground. Accommodation is in the form of cottages with a balcony and outdoor seats, a full kitchen, and a lounge with flat-screen TV. Visitors are more than welcome to meet and feed the animals at any time. The cottages are located next to the alpaca fields with views of the animals. Guests are welcome to meet and feed the animals at any time throughout the day. There is free Wi-Fi at the reception area which also has a souvenir shop and sells a range of alpaca knitwear. WHAT OTHER GUESTS SAY: “A fantastic stay. There is so much to do. Pool, tennis courts, bikes, feeding the animals etc. We stayed with friends and we each had our own place which was awesome. So close yet still your own space….” “So clean, great shower, plenty of space. All the animals on the property were super cute. We got the cabin that was brand new so was great! Loved it!…” >> CLICK HERE TO READ MORE REVIEWS & TO BOOK YOUR STAY AT STARLINE ALPACAS FARM STAY: READ MORE

Brown Cow Farm Stay, on New Zealand’s North Island is located just off the State Highway, five minutes outside the town of Levin and 60 miles north of Wellington City.  It has a very nice, spacious self catering apartment on its lively farm with added amenities like an outdoor swimming pool and a hot tub for guests to enjoy, and it more than makes a great stopover for visitors on their way south to Wellington and NZ’s South Island. THE ACCOMMODATION: The apartment has one double bedroom with king size bed but it’s also family friendly and the owners can provide two extra fold out beds/mattresses and bedding for a total of two adults and two children to stay. The living room is a very good size and there is a very well equipped kitchen too. The apartment is completely private and self contained, and guests can have as much or as little privacy as they want. It has its own veranda with hot tub and gardens with plenty of seating, an outdoor swimming pool (heated from mid November to April) and a children’s playground. The farm is a fun and interesting place to explore and you’ll find the farm owners super friendly and always willing to show guests around. It’s also right next to the apartment’s gardens and you can hand feed the animals across the fence. THE FARM: The farm was originally supposed to be just a daffodil farm, and the owners do keep and harvest some in the spring time (Sept-Oct) but it has now also evolved into a home for alpacas, sheep, goats, pigs, hens, rabbits and of course the, by now famous, Brown Cow! Guests can have plenty of interaction with the animals and you’ll find them all very friendly and placid. THE LOCATION: As mentioned it can be a great stopping off point for those on the trail to the South Island or for those looking for a rural retreat near Wellington, just 60 miles away. The nearest village is Ohau just two minute’s drive up the road with the larger town of Levin being about 5 minutes. The apartment is self catering but you’ll find READ MORE

This lovely farm house stay just outside the village of Patergassen in the Nockberge Mountains of Carthinia, Austria, has very comfortable self-catering apartments with balconies, in a beautifully renovated, 500 year old, Alpine farmhouse. The apartments are super comfortable and clean, and though quite modern inside, they retain some lovely rustic touches; traditional wooden furniture for example and traditional wooden floors and ceilings. They all have fully equipped kitchens, nice bathrooms and spacious lounge & dining areas with WiFi and satellite TV as standard. The farmhouse really is a beautifully rustic and atmospheric building; all wooden panels and hanging flower baskets in that classic Alpine style. Outside, in the large gardens you’ll find a traditional sauna with a wood heated stove, an infrared cabin, and of course there is the farm and the surrounding forest which you are welcome to explore. You’ll find the views gorgeous at almost every turn here, from the farmhouse, the gardens and the farm. This means of course that the surrounding area is fantastic for hiking, much of it being quite strenuous but with some gentler slopes too. In winter skiing and winter sports take over, and there are two popular winter sports resorts nearby; Bad Kleinkirchheim just 6km away and the Turracher Höhe Ski Area around 15 km. WHAT OTHER GUESTS SAY: “This place is great for family, friends and lovers of ecological aspects of life. It has an amazing reconstructed vintage alp house with many comfort features including a wonderful sauna. It is located in lovely nature with large meadows. The skiing center is close about 15 minutes. The owners are very pleasant. For the location the place is a very good price. I highly recommend!…” “Charming place! The apartments were heartwarmingly cosy, it couldn’t have been lovelier. Fantastic sauna & relax area. Claudia was very nice and helpful, she showed us the farm by the Gasthaus, we even saw a baby cow!…” >> CLICK HERE TO READ MORE REVIEWS & TO BOOK YOUR STAY AT LEEBHOF:   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

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 and you’ll come to Lake Grace for example, with its natural salt lakes in various shades of pink and green and its wildlife filled nature reserve wildlife. And, less than an hour back to the west and you’ll come to another spectacular salt lake at Dumbleyung. You’ll find many of those iconic rocky outcrops towering over this part of Australia too, with two of Western Australia’s most well known; Bruce Rock and Wave Rock, both being within two hours of 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 with a training track and a competition track. Even if you’re not horse riding yourself they are interesting and beautiful to watch. The friendly staff organize all sorts of horse riding lessons and can take you for long or short treks around the surrounding woodlands and hills. If you’re an experienced rider you can also take a horse out for trekking by yourself. THE LOCATION: The agroturismo is less than an hour from Valencia with its international airport (transfers can READ MORE

If you came to enjoy Liguria’s magnificent Cinque Terre coastline but want those amazing sea views to be just between yourself and Mother Nature, then Il Nettare Agriturismo is the place you really want to stay. The scenery right outside your door is absolutely incredible and enhanced by the natural wild feeling of the immediate surroundings, where the host family grows grapes, olives and lemons and makes their own organic limoncino, extra virgin olive oil and honey products, which include some very lovely sweet liqueurs. THE ACCOMMODATION: The accommodation is in the form of very quaint and rustic cottage studios. They have one double bed in an upstairs mezzanine area and a single sofa bed downstairs so can sleep up to three people in total. The studios could never be described as spacious but they have a cosy charm, and very much give you the feeling of living in a traditional, and quite remote, Italian farmhouse. This feeling will be supported by the lack of WiFi (the nearest WiFi is in a bar/restaurant a short walk away), but you do have modernities too in the form of satellite TV, air con and central heating. There is a kitchenette with a hot plate, sink, fridge and various bits and pieces including a capsule coffee maker. There is a small lounge area too with table and chairs and a sofa, which, as mentioned, can also double up as a spare bed. The space is small but the beds are super comfortable and the bathrooms are very nice indeed. The agriturismo owners are super helpful and friendly and though not strictly a B&B they are generous enough to leave your fridge stocked with basic foodstuffs as well as some homemade treats for breakfast and snacks, and in an especially nice touch they leave fresh bread outside your door every morning. So for that we put it in both the Farm B&B and the Self Catering categories. The main thing about any stay at Il Nettare Agriturismo though is the outside space which includes your own private patio with table and chairs and from where you can watch the sun go down over the sea READ MORE

This very popular organic & eco-friendly farm stay is just outside the city of Lagos on Portugal’s Algarve coast, with the nearest beach, Meia Praia, just four kilometres away while Faro airport is about 60 km. The farm produces a large range of organic fruit and vegetables in the fields and gardens, which you can buy for cooking at one of their self catering cottages, all of which come with a fully equipped kitchen, a lounge area with a flat screen TV, and a double bedroom and bathroom. They also have a small terrace at the front and outdoor seating space overlooking the gardens and the surrounding countryside. Apart from the beaches of the Algarve, the area around Quinta das Seis Marias is great for exploring; you’ll find plenty of places to go hiking and cycling, and you can hire bikes for free straight from the farm. WHAT OTHER GUESTS SAY: “Beautiful environment and comfortable accommodation. Able to pick herbs, tomatoes etc. right outside the front door….” “Fantastic! The hospitality, the place, the breakfast. It was amazing. They are doing everything to make it comfortable for you. Quiet place, close to the beach and the city….” >>CLICK HERE TO READ MORE REVIEWS & TO BOOK YOUR STAY AT QUINTA DAS SEIS MARIAS:   READ MORE

Domaine de Murtoli is a truly magnificent luxury agriturismo/farm stay retreat near to both Bonifacio and Porto Vecchio, in southern Corsica, France. They offer accommodation in beautifully restored 17th-century stone cottages with quaint timbered ceilings, antique furniture and stunning views all around. Outside there are private swimming pools, beautiful gardens with sea views, and an almost 5000 acre estate which includes a working farm, a spa, golf course and private beach area. It is an exclusive, and very popular, place which has won numerous awards over the years. Unsurprisingly it books out very quickly so you’re advised to reserve well ahead of time. THE ACCOMMODATION: There are 19 cottages/villas of various sizes to choose from, from one bedroom to three, to sleep up to 8 people. All of them are beautifully presented and carefully furnished with antiques and various bits and pieces that enhance the rustic charm of the sturdy stone walls and wood timbered ceilings. All are self catering and have fully equipped kitchens with traditional stone sinks. Each cottage is nestled away in its own little section of the estate and offers great privacy. They each have a furnished terrace area outside and their own private swimming pool. There are two restaurants on the estate, one by the beach which is open in summer and inland on the estate which opens in winter. Breakfast is not included in the rate but for an extra fee you can treat yourself to a great breakfast at the restaurant if you’re not in the mood for cooking. It is open throughout the day and the food, and the wine, will not disappoint. There is a spa at the resort too, with steam room, massage, treatment and hydrotherapy rooms, and a 12 hole golf course in a magnificent setting. Fishing (both river and sea fishing) can be arranged, as can horse riding treks with special pony rides available for children too. THE FARM: The farm takes up a good proportion of the estate and it is a fully working farm which produces a lot of the ingredients for the fine food at the restaurant. You’ll find olive trees, herbs, various fruits and vegetables, 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

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 is in the Eastern Dordogne, in the cute little hamlet of Calviac en Perigord which is just over a kilometer from the Dordogne River and about 15 minutes from the gorgeous medieval town of Sarlat-la-Canéda. It will of course be very tempting to stay around the enormous comfort of the chateau for the duration of your stay but there is also so much to see and do in the surrounds. Beyond leisurely tours around the country roads or equally leisurely 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

This peaceful relaxing farm stay is near Perth, at the edge of the famous Swan Valley wine route. It’s only about 45 minutes drive from the centre of Perth in fact, and less again from the airport. THE ACCOMMODATION: The accommodation is in the form of an ‘executive suite’; a spacious and very comfortable self catering chalet with a private entrance, a large lounge with flat screen satellite TV and DVD player, a well equipped kitchen and a double bedroom and bathroom. There is WiFi throughout, including the patio outside which comes with a private seating area and a full size hot tub overlooking the gardens. PRICES: Check out all the details – prices, reviews & more photos on the booking page here. THE FARM: It’s very much a retreat from the city you’ll find; super quiet, peaceful and slow paced. You’ll have plenty of space to wander around the gardens which have a barbecue area and around the farm where you’ll find, amongst other animals, alpacas, horses and hens. You can also hire bikes directly from the farm for exploration of the beautifully rural surrounding area. THE LOCATION: The owners can give you good recommendations about what to do and see in the area. The area being the Swan Valley, famous for being one of Australia’s finest wine producing regions. Though the owners of Brigadoon don’t make wine they can still recommend some good wine and food tours of the Swan Valley and some other attractions that can be visited farther afield. Attractions such as the Bells Rapids trail for example which is only about 15 minutes drive from the farmstay, the Caversham Wildlife Park is less than a half an hour, and there are many wineries in the area. Having a car is a good idea in these parts, it needs to be said, because though it’s close to the city it’s still quite isolated and you’ll find only limited options getting around with public transport. WHAT OTHER GUESTS SAY: “Yvonne was very friendly and ensured that we enjoyed ourselves! Even brought us out to feed their horses and alpacas. The house was really cosy as well! Great for travellers READ MORE

The Donnybrook Eco-Retreat is an off-grid property that provides luxury, safari style, glamping tents in 100 acres of gorgeously peaceful, lush Hunter Valley countryside. THE ACCOMMODATION: There are three tents in total, all of which are doubles with queen size bed. One, the Billabong tent is self-contained with its own kitchenette, and sits by itself by a dam while the other two, the Valley View & Hill View, sit near each other on a small hillside. The latter two tents are linked by raised decks and separated by a lovely cedar clad yurt which has a well equipped kitchen and dining area for the use of guests in both tents. If looking for splendid isolation some might find them a little too close to each other and so will be happier with the Billabong tent, but they do allow for some degree of socializing with other guests if you so wish. Check out your options on the booking page here. The accommodation is self catering but a farm fresh breakfast pack is included in the rate and, as the name suggests, features some organic products straight from their own farm. You’ll find the surrounds remarkably peaceful, especially if you’re coming from Sydney. Feel free to wander around the 100 acres of bush and grassland with its farm animals; sheep, ducks, miniature goats and hens, and a huge amount of local wildlife. You can take a swim in the indoor swimming pool (seasonal), borrow a bike from the retreat, go kayaking or fishing too, and of course there is lots to see in the surrounds; the iconic Hunter Valley. Note: There is no Wifi at the retreat. PRICES: Check out all the details – prices, reviews & more photos on the booking page here. THE LOCATION: Donnybrook Eco is close to the Hunter River and within a half an hour’s drive of some of the most well known towns in the area; Maitland, Paterson and Morpeth for eg., as well as lots of its most famous wineries and restaurants. The journey by car from Sydney should take less than two hours. WHAT OTHER GUESTS SAY: “Such a lovely spot with a great view, READ MORE

Mount Bundy Station offers a friendly, enjoyable farm stay experience by the banks of the Adelaide River, near Darwin, in Australia‘s far north. It is on the route between Darwin and the Kakadu and Litchfield National Parks, and so sees quite a few visitors both for farm tours and for over night stays on its huge working cattle farm station. THE ACCOMMODATION: They have a whole range of accommodation options for up to eight people per unit, a mixture of rooms, self-catering cottages and glamping tents. And all come with access to a large shared kitchen. The friendly staff at the tour desk can help you with a day tour around the farm, on horse back if you like, or a days fishing. And if you don’t feel like cooking in the morning you can buy a good breakfast pack at reception. Note: There is no WiFi! THE LOCATION: The farm is a good base for exploring the popular Adelaide River area and the Litchfield National Park. The park is about 20 miles away and you can organize day trips direct from the farm by 4WD. Highlights include hiking around the creeks, bathing in the Florence and Wangi Falls and swimming in its many rock holes. Another nice trip is to take a 4WD tour around the thermal pools of Butterfly Gorge, where you can take a swim and watch out for its abundance of wildlife, especially birdlife. And there are many more places to see in this wonderful natural environment. Horse riding trips can also be organized closer to home; you can visit the nearby Robin Falls along Dorat Rd for example and explore some lovely peaceful countryside along the way.  The farm owners are always on hand with good recommendations and can organize it all for you. WHAT OTHER GUESTS SAY: “Great location and atmosphere! The bar and pizzas are fantastic! Lots of animals around and close enough to Litchfield National Park. We loved it!…” “Wonderful Family Weekend Away! We loved the atmosphere, the staff, the pizzas, the bar and the pool! we had a great family weekend away and will definitely return!…” >> CLICK HERE TO READ READ MORE

La Roulotte de Manon is a very cute, family friendly, glamping farm stay near Rouen in the heart of rural Normandy, France. THE ACCOMMODATION: The accommodation is a gorgeously old fashioned gypsy caravan sitting at the edge of the farm pond. It can fit up to five people, with a double bed at the back and two sofa beds in the lounge area. It is small of course but very cosy. It has a bathroom, and a useful kitchenette including a microwave. It’s fully heated too, has a small TV, a nice little porch area and barbecue facilities outside. THE FARM: The farm has horses, ponies, hens and goats, and guests are very welcome to tour the farm and meet the animals. They grow various vegetables too and have a large garden area with a children’s playground and plenty of seating around. There is also the pond just outside the caravan which hosts a number of ducks and wildfowl. THE LOCATION: The farmstay is just a half an hour’s drive from the lovely cathedral city of Rouen, one of Normandy’s highlights and a popular stop off on the journey from Paris to the coast. The countryside around is green and fertile and the area has very strong farming traditions. There are some national parks in this part of Normandy too; the woodlands of Forêt Domaniele d’Eawy for example are only about 10km away from the farmstay. A little over a half an hour to the north is the city of Dieppe and the Normandy coastline. There are many fine sights along this part of the coast, the dramatic cliff scenery over Le Treport for example, the impressive 16th-century castle at Eu and many more. WHAT OTHER GUESTS SAY: “Lots of outdoor space, even in poor weather stuff for kids to do. Very peaceful. Friendly host….” “The Roulotte was very cosy and perfect for a family stay….” >> CLICK HERE TO READ MORE REVIEWS & TO BOOK YOUR STAY AT LA ROULOTTE DE MANON:   READ MORE

This pet friendly agriturismo farm stay near Perugia, Umbria, Italy, offers rustic, atmospheric, B&B & self catering accommodation in a unique setting; an ancient Benedictine Abbey complex with a history going all the way back to the twelfth century. All their spacious rooms come with WiFi, flat screen TV and private bathroom. They serve a really great breakfast, and for the rest of the day you are free to cook for yourself in the shared kitchen. The Abbey itself is stunning and full of historical intrigue, and your hosts will be happy to show you around. Various activities and workshops are also available at the farm; natural cooking courses, herbal dying, massages with olive oil and reiki treatment, painting lessons and soap making demonstrations. The surrounding area is beautiful too and well worth exploring, and you can hire bikes for free direct from the farm to do just that. WHAT OTHER GUESTS SAY: “Exceptional: To start with, the welcoming owner/manager. The architecture of the property, the ceilings with frescoes, the decoration of the patio and the stairs. The garden outside, with every detail. The overall feeling of the property….” “This place is spectacular. We had a great time walking around the beautiful abbey and relaxing in the garden with a bottle of wine. The room was clean and comfortable, and Sara is a fantastic host. Highly recommend!…” >> CLICK HERE TO READ MORE REVIEWS & TO BOOK YOUR STAY AT AGRITURISMO ABBAZIA SETE FRATTI:   READ MORE

Hof Faasel is in the village of Grömitz, Schleswig-Holstein, near the shores of the German Baltic Sea and is a great area for hiking and especially cycling, and luckily for you, you can rent bikes for free directly from this friendly farmstay. The comfortable self catering apartments at Hof Faasel are set on its working farm with a beautiful large garden and farmland all around. All the apartments come with fully equipped kitchen, TV, DVD player and free WiFi throughout. WHAT OTHER GUESTS SAY: “Exceptional: Nice quiet oasis. Children can play wonderfully in front of the terrace. The dreamy forest path leads to the large playground and beach….” “It is a dream for children, outdoor toys, farm animals and beach nearby. The host is very warm and friendly and had an open ear for questions. We would come back anytime….” >> CLICK HERE TO READ MORE REVIEWS & TO BOOK YOUR STAY AT HOF FAASEL: 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, but it has a rich medieval history and a grand 17th-century theatre that is still going strong; Teatro Caporali. Another similar town about 20km to the south west is Città della Pieve, It too has a nice hilltop setting and is also famous for being the birthplace of the renowned Renaissance era painter Pietro Perugino. Castiglione del Lago, on the shores of Lake Trasimeno, is just about 13km from the agriturismo, and is yet another beautiful little town. There are many more, 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

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

A home away from home on the Brittany-Normandy borders, and very near the World Heritage Site of Mont St. Michel, Gites Ferme de la Baie has some lovely cottage gites for rent on its working farm with sheep, pigs and hens. The cottages blend the modern and traditional very nicely and the location is peaceful and serene. THE ACCOMMODATION: The gites are fully self catering cottages with the largest sleeping up to a maximum of nine people. They have spacious lounges with satellite TV & DVD player, as well as fully equipped kitchens and varying numbers of bedrooms and bathrooms. All are traditional French farm cottages which, though updated to meet the modern age, still very much retain their old fashioned charm. Outside all the cottages have their own private garden space with a terrace and seating area and the rest of the grounds are shared. In the large shared area there is a children’s playground, hammocks, a covered barbecue and seating/dining area where you can socialize with other guests and the friendly owners who stay at the main farmhouse. Beyond that there is an orchard area and the farm to explore. You can pick your own cherries, peaches plums and walnuts there and get to meet some of the animals; which include sheep, hens and pigs. THE LOCATION: The location is great for those planning a trip to the world famous Mont St. Michel, which, as one of France’s most visited sites, probably needs no introduction.  It’s only about five minutes down the road but it would be a shame to begin and end your sightseeing there. There are numerous other great places to visit in the area, full of history, beauty and culture. Fougères, for example, where you can visit the largest medieval castle in Europe, Villedieu-les-Poêles, with its famous bell foundry where the bells for Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris were made, the charming walled town of Dinan with its half timbered houses and cobbled streets, and of course the lovely seaside towns of St. Malo & Dinard. Just some examples; there are many more, be sure to ask the friendly owners at Gite Ferme de la Baie for 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, nature tours to the Tevere River and Trasimeno Parks, and gastronomical tours that explore some of the superb food and wine that is produced in the local area. WHAT OTHER GUESTS SAY: “If you want to get away from everything and just relax and do nothing – as we did – this is the perfect holiday. It is a wonderfully peaceful, rural setting with the bonus of a lovely pool to chill by and glorious food….” “Roberto, Alba and Claudio READ MORE

Spring Creek is a luxury dude ranch stay in the middle of a wildlife sanctuary, high above the town of Jackson, Wyoming, with amazing views of the Teton Mountains. Though it’s in the middle of such wild, beautiful country Spring Creek has every modern facility; a spa, wellness and fitness center, tennis courts, an outdoor pool and a giant hot tub. There’s also a meeting room, on-site grocery store, cafe, a top quality restaurant and a bar. They have a variety of rooms and self catering apartments, all spacious, nicely decorated with wood, and extremely comfortable. The area is obviously famous for hiking and horseback riding both of which can be arranged on the Ranch. Plus many other outdoors activities such as wildlife safaris (where you can get to see bears, wolves and elk amongst other wild animals) and astronomy nights where you can gaze into the stars with large telescopes under the guidance of astronomy experts. Skiing too; they can arrange ski equipment hire in winter and they also have a free shuttle to the Jackson Hole Ski Resort. WHAT OTHER GUESTS SAY: “Great location just outside Jackson, restaurant view stunning and best food all trip. Lovely small, busy pool. Wildlife outside our door. Super comfy beds and spacious rooms….” “The room was spacious and incredibly comfortable. We loved the balcony and watching the sunset from it. The restaurant was superb; the food was delicious (best in town) and the waiters were wonderful….” >> CLICK HERE TO READ MORE REVIEWS & TO BOOK YOUR STAY AT SPRING CREEK RANCH:   READ MORE

Just outside Maclear, in the beautiful Eastern Cape, South Africa, this very homely and friendly farmstay B&B has a garden with barbecue facilities and the surrounding farmland is lush, green and very beautiful, with horses, cattle and sheep grazing all around. Their rooms, some with private bathroom, are clean and comfortable and there’s a sociable shared kitchen and lounge. You’re free to cook for yourself in the kitchen, or meals can be provided for an extra charge, including packed lunches. The surrounding area is great to explore and there are plenty of opportunities for hiking and fishing, ask the friendly owners for advice. There is WiFi, though it is limited in some of the rooms. WHAT OTHER GUESTS SAY: “The scenery is fantastic. The ambiance of the place was special, and clean fresh air appreciated. The staff is special and made us feel at home. We will definitely return with our family and friends. Thank you….” “Great experience: Homely atmosphere, lovely host, amazing landscape…..” >> CLICK HERE TO READ MORE REVIEWS & TO BOOK YOUR STAY AT FAIRBAIRN GUEST FARM: 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. PRICES: Check out all the details – prices, reviews & more photos on the booking page here. 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, while the town of Gloucester is about 45 minutes away.  As mentioned before it is in an enviable setting; right beside Barrington Tops World Heritage Area with the ancient Gondwana Rainforest surrounding it.  Trips around, and tours of, the surrounding area can be organized at the farmhouse where you’ll find plenty of opportunity for fishing, horse riding, kayaking and mountain bike riding. WHAT 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

Near to Dartmoor in Devon, England, Puddleduck Valley has fun, very much family friendly, glamping and conventional style eco-friendly accommodation in a truly lovely part of the West Country. It’s a real kid’s favourite, with so much to explore around the farm and surrounding woodland and many fun activities. For adults of a certain age too it will bring back happy memories of childhood holidays in the countryside before the era of computers and smartphones. THE ACCOMMODATION: There are four accommodation choices: -Two large glamping yurts; the larger sleeps up to 6 and comes with its own private bathroom, while the smaller of the two can sleep up to four and has access to an external bathroom. Guests at both yurts have full access to the kitchen and lounge area of the main farmhouse. -Then there is The Stables, a converted stone barn holiday cottage which can sleep up to 5 and has a lounge and a fully equipped kitchen. -And finally The King Suite, a more conventional choice upstairs in the renovated 17th-century farmhouse. It can sleep up to four and also comes with its own lounge and fully equipped kitchen. There is also plenty of outside space for all to use with plenty of seating, play areas and barbecue facilities, and well behaved pets are allowed to stay too! THE FARM: The small farm has a herd of friendly goats as well as hens and rabbits, all of which are well used to guests and children will certainly enjoy meeting them. There is a pond at the farm and there is access to the many acres of lovely woodland next door owned by the National Trust. Many activities are organized at the farm and families are welcome to partake in as much or as little as they like. Things like egg collecting, fishing, pond dipping, woodland walks, wildlife spotting, face painting etc. etc. THE LOCATION: The location is perfect for exploring the wilds of Dartmoor less than a half hour to the south by car, and there are some lovely beaches about the same distance away to the north at Bude. The Hartland Cornwall & Devon Heritage Coast is closer still and has 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 stopping off point before crossing the Pyrenees. WHAT OTHER GUESTS SAY: “We really enjoyed the tour around the sheep farm and the sheep’s cheese was beautiful! The gite overlooks the Pyrenees and we thoroughly enjoyed eating our breakfast on the veranda of a morning. We found the accommodation to be very homely, cosy, clean, relaxing and had a fully equipped kitchen. Thank you Francoise and Jean Pierre for our amazing stay :-)…” >> CLICK HERE TO READ MORE REVIEWS & READ MORE

Hilltop Studios offers exclusive accommodation near Margaret River south of Perth, with gorgeous views over the surrounding countryside. The self catering studios are part of a private 350 acre farm conveniently located between Margaret River town and the beach. The accommodation is beautifully appointed, super comfortable and the surrounding area is deeply rural and peaceful. All in all a perfect rural retreat. THE ACCOMMODATION: They have four luxury double studios on offer, all of which are stylish and spacious and come with every modern convenience and comfort. They have extra large beds, a full kitchen and lounge area with satellite TV and DVD player, with some free DVDs on offer. There is a nice spa bath in each bathroom with bi-folding windows opening out onto either the main studio room, or the sun deck outside which has seating and barbecue facilities. They all have beautiful views, with acres of rolling farmland around and cattle and horses grazing peacefully within. Two of them, the ‘Panoramic Studios‘, have the view enhanced by their wide, picture frame, windows. THE LOCATION: Hilltop is about two and a half hours drive from Perth, Western Australia, about ten minutes from the town of Margaret River and even less from the coast. The countryside is deeply rural in these parts and you’ll find plenty of opportunity for hiking with some particularly nice bushwalks leading on toward the coast. Margaret River is an increasingly sophisticated rural holiday destination that is a pleasure to stroll around. It has long been associated with surfing, its beaches having some of the best waves in the world, and also wine tourism; with most of its boutique wineries offering vineyard tours and wine tasting. These days it offers even more, with top class restaurants, cafes, farmers markets, yoga schools, arts & crafts galleries and plenty more. Just outside of town you have these great beaches too and of course you have the Margaret River itself flowing through. There is an endless amount of things to do around the town; you can organize leisurely boat trips along the river, picnic by the banks, hire a mountain bike to explore the magnificent Boranup Forest, hike some of the READ MORE

Near the town of Muro Leccese, Puglia, Italy and about an hour from Brindisi airport, this very popular agriturismo farm stay has a range of B&B and self catering accommodation in an 18th century farmhouse surrounded by an olive oil and corn producing farm. All their apartments and studios are spacious, clean and comfortable with private bathroom, WiFi, flat screen TV and kitchenette, and outside guests can relax in the well kept gardens which has a swimming pool and a large outdoor dining area. They have a full restaurant on site with a choice of traditional local dishes, and the food is truly superb. They also offer cooking lessons for guests, as well as horse riding excursions, bicycle hire and swimming lessons. WHAT OTHER GUESTS SAY: “Lovely warm welcome, very friendly staff, excellent food, very relaxing and stunning setting. Great pool too. Lots of excellent beaches and gorgeous towns to visit within a short drive….” “A delightful oasis with spectacular pool and friendly staff- home away from home!…” >>CLICK HERE TO READ MORE REVIEWS & TO BOOK YOUR STAY AT TENUTA SANT ANDREA: 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

Kimaro, near Colmery, is a gorgeously rustic little farmhouse hidden away in some of Burgundy, France’s loveliest countryside. The self catering cottage date back to the 19th century and though it is been fully renovated and very well equipped, it still oozes old style charm, and is tastefully and stylishly furnished throughout. The farmland around is idyllic; with woodland, meadow fields and orchards where a great assortment of things are grown; pears, plums, cherries, grapes, figs, hazelnuts, blackberries, raspberries and more. Guests can collect fresh eggs from the hen house for breakfast every morning and spend their days wandering through the meadows and the forests or just lazing with a picnic by the lake. THE ACCOMMODATION: The cottage is self catering and can sleep up to four over 2 bedrooms. The main bedroom has a double bed, with the second having a pair of bunk beds. Babies/very small children can also be accommodated with an extra cot. It also has a bathroom with shower, a separate toilet, a well furnished kitchen, and a cosy lounge and dining area with a traditional wood heater. Outside there is a grapevine covered terrace with some lovely views over the gorgeously peaceful countryside that surrounds. As mentioned, the accommodation is self catering but if you want to really relax, the friendly owners can sometimes cook meals for you, and can also recommend some good local restaurants and cafes. In peak season, i.e. July & August, there is a minimum stay of seven nights (Saturday to Saturday) with a minimum stay of 2 nights the rest of the year. THE LOCATION: Just outside the little town of Colmery in the Nièvre department of Burgundy, Kimaro is as idyllically peaceful and rural a place as you can ever imagine. There is much farmland around here, and vineyards too of course, but also much woodland. Burgundy in general is one of the most highly wooded regions in the country with an estimated 30% of its area covered in trees. Thus it has a slightly wilder feel than most of France’s other agricultural regions, and is also very rich in native wildlife. There is a large forest just READ MORE

A very highly recommended agroturismo vineyard hotel near Porto in Portugal’s Vinho Verde-Douro Valley wine region, Agroturismo Pousadela offers a tremendous rural holiday experience: It’s in a beautiful setting with over 60 acres of vineyards and lots of hiking trails around the surrounding hills and forests, and the accommodation, the food and the service are all very much top class. THE ACCOMMODATION: They have a range of accommodation in renovated traditional cottages around the grounds of the farm to sleep up to six guests. All their cottages are stylish and comfortable, and all have a well equipped kitchen and a lounge area with flat screen TV. Outside each there is a patio area with outdoor seating, plus you’ll have loads of outdoor space to explore or to relax in; the large vineyard of course but also terraced areas and the well tended lawns and gardens which also contain an outdoor swimming pool. The accommodation is self catering but breakfast is also included in the rate. It is served at the restaurant in the main farmhouse which is also open for other meals throughout the day. The food here is famously good and have a variety of traditional Portuguese dishes to be sampled. It is a vineyard obviously so you can enjoy some of their very own wines or wines from other Douro Valley producers at the restaurant all day too. They also have a shop at the farmhouse where you can also buy the wine as well as some other nice local food specialities, and of course staple foods to cook with while staying at the property. THE VINEYARD: There is a full 60 acres of vineyard, as well as numerous marked trails for walking, running and biking through the property and the surrounding hills and forests to be explored. They produce their own classic Vinho Verde and Douro Valley wines which you can sample for very reasonable prices at the farmhouse restaurant. They can arrange tasting sessions for guests too, and informative tours of the extensive vineyards. THE LOCATION: The agroturismo is less than an hour from the city of Porto and its international airport, (there is a shuttle 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 Australia’s best surf while inland lies some of the country’s best vineyards. Other types of farming go on here too and the area is becoming something of an agritourism hot spot. Busselton is known for its sheltered bay and beach, its humpback whale population and its coral. The beachfront has an iconic 19th century jetty, the Busselton Jetty, a mile and a half long, it ends at the Underwater Observatory where you can comfortably check out the amazing coral life READ MORE

  Just outside the village of Vilar de Maçada in the Douro Valley of Northern Portugal, and about 20 minutes drive from the city of Vila Real, pet friendly Quinta de Fiães has a range of very nice rooms and self catering apartments on a working vineyard with an outdoor swimming pool. All their rooms, suites and apartments come with private bathroom, satellite TV and WiFi, while the suites and apartments also have a kitchenette and a comfortable lounge area. The friendly staff can arrange a tour of the vineyards and tasting sessions of their wines. There is a very good on-site restaurant too where guests, including self catering guests, are served a free buffet breakfast every morning and where good traditional Portuguese food is available all day. There are shuttle buses every day to the city and the staff can organize baby sitting services too if required. And they can also arrange a shuttle service to and from Porto International Airport about an hour and a half away by car. WHAT OTHER GUESTS SAY: “Amazing customer service – the owners go above and beyond to make it an enjoyable stay!..” “We felt really welcome as if staying with friends. Lovely rural location, surrounded by vineyards, excellent swimming pool, very good food…” Click here to read more of what other guests say. 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

Cuevas del Pino is an agroturismo farm stay near Cordoba, Andalusia, Spain, which has some lovely quaint and rustic self catering cottages on its 60 acre organic farm. It also has the added intrigue of being set around an old stone quarry which has cave systems to explore and a cave house for overnight stays. The setting is quite unique and though just minutes from Cordoba city centre it is gorgeously peaceful. The hosts are friendly and charming and you’ll find a creative, bohemian vibe about with lots of activities to be enjoyed from yoga and meditation to photography and painting workshops, as well as various low key events; musical performances, micro theatre and film showings. THE ACCOMMODATION: The have a choice of four cottages, two of them are one double bedroom and two of them two bedroom, with the latter being able to sleep up to five people. They are all charmingly rustic and traditional in style, and with some nice antique furniture and art pieces decorating the space. They are also very clean and comfortable and with modern facilities. You’ll find a well equipped kitchen, a lounge area, and outside a nice private terrace area with tables, chairs and sun loungers. The most unique of the accommodation choices is of course the cave house. A clever bit of architecture, it is, as the name suggests, a cottage built in to a cave, with solid rock for (most of) the walls and ceilings.  The design is that of an open plan loft and is super spacious and stylish. Though all the accommodation is of a high standard and thoroughly charming the cave house is understandably the most popular and so be sure to book well ahead of time. Outside there are some nicely tended gardens and an outdoor swimming pool with plenty of space for relaxing. Beyond that there is the farm, an organic, eco-friendly project that grows a variety of fruits and vegetables including beet-root and sweet corn. THE LOCATION: The farm stay is conveniently near Cordoba, a popular destination for tourists in Andalusia and one which rivals Granada for its rich Moorish history and heritage. By car the journey 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 constant reminders as to how the Dordogne became one of Europe’s most popular regions for rural tourism. Ramblers and hikers may know that Rocamadour was on the traditional route of the St. James’ Way or Santiago de Compostela on its long and winding way towards Galicia in Spain. There are a few different versions of the route but Le Puy Route which passes through Figeac and Rocamadour before moving onwards through Cahors is the most well known, and the most scenic. Between Cahors 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. PRICES: Check out all the details – prices, reviews & more photos on the booking page here. 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 and beautiful views! Breakfast was amazing, especially the French toast! The Cottages were equipped with everything you could possibly need. Highly recommend the Red Door Collective!…” “We had a fabulous stay at the RDC and our hosts couldn’t have been nicer or friendlier people! They were so very helpful with ideas for sightseeing while we were in the area and they made us READ MORE

Sunflowers Farm Stay has self catering cottages for rent on its 315 acre cattle farm in Margaret River, south of Perth, W.A. What really makes the place stand out though is the enormous amount, and variety, of animals it keeps on its ‘animal farm’, over 350 in total; kangaroos, rabbits, llamas, goats, pigs, ducks and plenty more. The farm allows guest loads of interaction with the animals as well as other activities such as tractor rides, egg collecting and pony trekking, and is certain to be an especially memorable holiday for kids. THE ACCOMMODATION: The accommodation is in the form of 4 one & two bedroom self catering cottages that can, with the help of some extra bunk beds, sleep up to nine people. They are basic enough inside but comfortable and clean. You will have a lounge and fully equipped kitchen at your disposal plus things like TV & DVD player, WiFi, and either air conditioning or a log fire and ceiling fans. There is also outdoor seating, BBQ facilities and a playground in the gardens. Check out your options on the booking page here. The main attraction is the farm of course and guests have a great amount of freedom to wander around the large farm and interact with the animals including feeding and petting them. What’s especially nice is that they also have an ‘orphanage’ at the farm where they adopt and care for unwanted baby animals, with, as you can imagine, much cuteness all round. THE LOCATION: Sunflowers animal farm is in the famous Margaret River wine region south of Perth WA. Though there are vineyards aplenty in this area, and many particularly along Caves Road where the farm stay is located, it is not only the wine which draws tourists to the area. Over the years Margaret River has developed a strong reputation for nature tourism, agritourism, food tourism, surfing, art & crafts, and for just generally being a lovely, chilled out place to relax and explore for a few days or weeks. You can read more about the area here. The journey from Perth should take less than three hours down the coastal State Route READ MORE

Lakeside Town Farm has a lovely self-catering cabin for rent, surrounded by award winning gardens and a 300 acre sheep and cattle farm which sits at the foot of the Chilterns in beautiful rural Oxfordshire. THE ACCOMMODATION: The very cute cabin has a fitted kitchen with all the basic modern appliances; fridge, a small hob, a microwave, a kettle and a toaster, plus a lounge with flat screen TV, a double bedroom with king size bed, private bathroom, and outside a nice veranda overlooking the lake. The immediate surroundings are really gorgeous; the farm, with herds of cattle and sheep grazing peacefully, and the immaculate gardens are a joy to stroll around. So immaculate are the gardens in fact that they were once featured on the BBC TV programme Gardeners World. They fill one and a half acres and also include a lake right outside your cabin. And there is plenty of wildlife to be seen around the farm and gardens; woodpeckers, kingfishers, red kites, rabbits and ducks for example. THE LOCATION: Right outside the beautiful gardens and farm you have the rolling hills of the Oxfordshire Chilterns to explore; for many some of England‘s loveliest countryside. There is a host of pretty villages around, too many to mention, and many areas of natural rural beauty. The lovely, very scenic, Aston Rowant National Nature Reserve for example is a particularly good place for bird watching with many relatively uncommon species to be seen; red kites, yellowhammers, firecrests and green woodpeckers, plus a large number of butterfly species. There are also many splendid palaces and stately homes to be visited in the surrounding region; Blenheim Palace in the village of Woodstock, for example, less than half an hour by car from the farm stay, and once the home of Sir Winston Churchill, is an enormously impressive sight with Word Heritage status. Two others of note are about the same distance away and equally impressive; Waddesdon Manor in neighbouring Buckinghamshire, and Cliveden Manor in Berkshire. Lakeside Town Farmstay is almost equidistance from London and Oxford, within very close reach of the M40 and less than half an hour from Heathrow Airport. WHAT OTHER GUESTS SAY: “What a READ MORE

Just outside Portimão, in the rural hinterland of the Algarve, Portugal, Burro Ville farmstay is a wonderfully peaceful escape from the region’s busy coastline, with comfortable accommodation on its working cattle and donkey farm. THE ACCOMMODATION: It has a number of cosy self catering cottages, all with a kitchen and a lounge and dining area with flat screen cable TV and WiFi. Outside there’s a patio and on the spacious lawns you’ll find a nice swimming pool. And though it’s self catering, a very good breakfast is provided every morning and is included in the rate. THE FARM: The farm has both cattle and donkeys,  but when it comes to agritourism the main attraction are definitely the donkeys: All of them are of the Mirandesa breed; they are native to the Terra de Miranda region of north eastern Portugal and are wonderfully placid, friendly companions. They are ideal for donkey rides and this can be arranged to explore the farm and the surrounding area. There is plenty of opportunity for hiking and cycling in the local area too, just ask at the farm for advice and recommendations, and the friendly owners can also arrange child minding services for an extra fee. THE LOCATION: The farm stay offers peace and quiet but is still within easy reach of the Algarve. It’s just 17km from Rocha Beach, one of the Algarve’s most popular, while the Algarve International Racing Track is just 4km away. Faro airport is 80km away. WHAT OTHER GUESTS SAY: “The staff are so helpful and very knowledgeable about the area. The scenery is amazing and it is so quiet I had the best night sleep in ages….” “We loved to be immersed in the beautiful spring landscape and the possibilities to get the kids so close to all the animals. The swimming pool design, slightly lifted above the ground, was perfect to be able to relax on the lawn while the kids (1yr and 5yr) were playing safely around…” >>CLICK HERE TO READ MORE REVIEWS & TO BOOK YOUR STAY AT BURRO VILLE: READ MORE

Daysy Hill has a selection of very nice, rustic style, self catering cottages and suites on its working farm near Port Campbell, VIC, next to the incredible scenery of the Great Ocean Road. THE ACCOMMODATION: The accommodation ranges from one bed suites (with spa bath) to spacious cottages which can sleep up to seven. Check them all out in detail on the booking page here. You’ll find all of them clean, comfortable, well equipped and nicely furnished. Most have some outside space and some also have lovely views over the surrounding farmland. Facilities include WiFi, TV, cosy gas log fires, well equipped kitchens and barbecues, plus outside there is a large covered barbecue/kitchen area which guests are also free to use. THE LOCATION: The farm is less than two minutes drive from the little town of Port Campbell and the Port Campbell National Park where you’ll find the famous Twelve Apostles section of the Great Ocean Road. The journey from Melbourne should take less than two and a half hours. WHAT OTHER GUESTS SAY: “We loved it here! I feel lucky that I found this place – only a couple mins drive away from the main area but it felt like it was in a world of its own. We stayed in one of the spa studios and had a lovely balcony overlooking the gardens. Amazing room and the spa bath was lovely. Would love to come back again.…” “Wonderful surprise! What an adorable place! Just north of Port Campbell – one could walk if one were feeling athletic – with a pastoral view of cows in fields and the property’s exceptional gardens. They were blanketed in flowers in early spring and I bet that’s the normal state of affairs! Our Spa Suite was very romantic – gas fireplace stove and a true two-person spa tub with a shower in the bathroom – but with the little kitchenette, is practical, too. The owner family is very friendly and personable. Was a perfect central jump-off point for the Great Coast Road, the 12 Apostles Gourmet Trail, and Warrnambool. (And fabulous proximity to our favorite restaurant in the area, Forage on the Foreshore!) 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 & canyoning at Rafting Center Taxenbach, skiing of course, plus ski jumping, tennis, beach volleyball, swimming, paragliding and almost anything else you can think of! Be sure to ask at the farmstay for recommendations. And of course if sports are not your thing the Goldegg, Salzburg region is still a fabulous place to spend time, with some of Austria’s and Europe’s most lovely scenery, fresh, clean air and a huge amount of rural peace and tranquility. WHAT OTHER GUESTS SAY: “We 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 are allowed! WHAT OTHER GUESTS SAY: “Came home totally refreshed. Would definitely recommend this retreat….” “This is my go-to get away, peacefulness and beauty. The peace and serenity being disconnected. Lovely aspect with privacy by very thoughtful design. Very thoughtful and welcoming arrival….” >> CLICK HERE TO READ MORE REVIEWS & TO BOOK YOUR STAY AT YABBALOUMBA RETREAT: READ MORE

Guesthouse Steindórsstadir  is a friendly farm house B&B in a lovely setting near the Hraunfossar and Barnafoss waterfalls north of Reykjavik, Iceland. The accommodation is fairly basic but lacks nothing in terms of cleanliness or comfort and there is a nice friendly atmosphere around the common areas which include an outdoor hot tub. The working farm dates back nearly two hundred years and has sheep, cows, Icelandic horses and a friendly dog and cat. THE ACCOMMODATION: The farmhouse is small and intimate with a choice of a single room, two doubles/twins and a triple room. All the rooms are spotlessly clean and have very comfortable beds. The bathrooms are shared but you will find them also spotlessly clean, and well equipped. The accommodation is B&B and you can expect a good, generous breakfast every morning. The kitchen is open to guests too so you can also cook for yourself during the day if you so choose and there’s a sociable shared lounge at the property too as well as a hot tub outside. The farm is a working farm and has been in the family for nearly two hundred years. They keep cattle and sheep as well as the ubiquitous Icelandic Horses. Horseback riding can be arranged and there are some lovely trails all around the farm and the local area to be enjoyed for riders of all abilities. THE LOCATION: Near the Hraunfossar waterfalls north east of Reykjavik the location is gorgeously peaceful and scenic, an expanse of open countryside between the ocean and the mountains that has a frontier like feel though it is only 100km from the Icelandic capital. The main attraction in this area is the aforementioned Hraunfossar waterfalls and the Langjökull Glacier, only around 15km away from the farm and very much one of Iceland’s many natural wonders. WHAT OTHER GUESTS SAY: “This was our fourth stay at Steindórsstadir, this says all. This time we brought five friends with us who liked it as well. Very friendly host, the old farmhouse is very welcoming and cozy, comfy beds, the bathrooms are modern and clean. Breakfast includes all what is needed for a good start into 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 the Roman era Temple of Diana and the 12th century Gothic Cathedral the Sé de Évora. Lisbon, and its international airport, is around an hour away directly to the west, and transfers to and from the farm stay can be arranged. WHAT OTHER GUESTS SAY: “We absolutely loved our stay. The houses are traditional Alentejo style homes surrounded by beautiful scenery. Our room was more like a little apartment as it had its own kitchenette. The staff was incredibly nice and helpful. READ MORE

In Middleton, near Adelaide, and Port Elliott South Australia, Wenton Farm Cottages has two homely self-catering cottages surrounded by rolling green hills of farmland where guests can watch the cattle graze peacefully from their private terrace. THE ACCOMMODATION: There is a choice of two air-conditioned cottages, one of which has two bedrooms, the other three. They are both clean and well appointed and both come with a kitchen and a dining and seating/lounge area with a flat-screen TV and DVD player. They have a nice private patio too, with barbecue facilities and outdoor seating. Check them out on the booking page here.  THE LOCATION: The Farm is just 15 minute’s away from Goolwa, which is the start of the famous River Murray and where you’ll find some good cafes, restaurants and shops. Middleton has a good surf beach just ten minutes away too and there are a number of nice other towns around too; Port Elliot for example just 10 minute’s away and Victor Harbour a little more. The idyllic Kangaroo Island is also close by while the journey south from Adelaide should take you less than an hour. WHAT OTHER GUESTS SAY: “Hundreds of kangaroos greeted us on day 1 and set the tone for a wonderful girl’s weekend! The views, the silence (except the moo of the odd cow) was the perfect setting for sitting on the verandah with a quiet coffee….” “The peace and quiet and relaxed atmosphere. It was just what we needed. On returning home we were told how much better we looked health-wise and that was the idea of the stay. We felt so welcome and cared for. The cabin is really so close and convenient to other attractions within the area….” >> CLICK HERE TO READ MORE REVIEWS & TO BOOK YOUR STAY AT WENTON FARM HOLIDAY COTTAGES:   READ MORE

Less than an hour from Melbourne city centre at the gateway to Victoria’s Yarra Valley, lies Raynella Alpaca Farm. It is a gorgeously peaceful, adults only, rural retreat surrounded by miles of open fields and with its own herd of adorable alpacas. THE ACCOMMODATION: They have two air conditioned, self catering cottages on the farm. Both are one bedroom but come with an extra sofa bed in the lounge. As you will see on the booking page one is described as a one bedroom house the other as a one bedroom apartment. Both are very comfortable, clean and well equipped but the ‘house’ is that bit more spacious and plush, it comes with a spa bath in the bathroom for eg. and is worth the extra money. Check out all the details on the booking page here. Both are self catering but you will be supplied with a generous, fresh breakfast pack in the morning. THE LOCATION: The setting is beautifully rural and picturesque but still an easy drive from central Melbourne. You’re also close to at the beautiful Yarra Valley, one of Victoria’s rural highlights, with plenty of bushwalking, mountain biking, winery tours, farmer’s markets and good food and wine to enjoyed. WHAT OTHER GUESTS SAY: “Perfect! Very spacious, clean, well appointed and comfortable . Would have liked to stay longer. Hosts provided transport for us to and from a wedding nearby, which was greatly appreciated. Home made bread and breakfast provisions were fabulous!.…” “Exceptional: This was a beautiful location. My partner and I went for a wedding in the area and decided to stay the weekend. We enjoyed the award winning nearby wineries and loved the serenity of this location. It was quiet and clean, with great facilities. Each day we enjoyed saying hi to the friendly alpacas and enjoyed feeding them. The baby alpacas were very cute. The staff were extremely accommodating and very friendly – We would come again…..” >> CLICK HERE TO READ MORE REVIEWS & TO BOOK YOUR STAY AT RAYNELLA ALPACA FARM STAY: READ MORE

On a hillside just outside Cividale del Friuli, and near to Udine,  Friuli-Venezia-Giulia, Italy, Agriturismo l’Uva e le Stelle has very nice self catering accommodation in a 19th Century traditional stone farmhouse. The property is surrounded by the farms own vineyards and olive groves, which the guests are welcome to explore and get to know a bit about farm activities. And there is also a small spa in the garden, including a sauna and Turkish baths. All apartments come with a nice balcony and the ceilings are the traditional exposed oak-wood beams typical of a 19th Century farmhouse. There’s a dining/lounge area too, with a kitchenette, WiFi and satellite TV. The garden has barbecue facilities and plenty of garden furniture including sunbeds. And though the accommodation is self catering the friendly owners provide all guests with a free breakfast basket pack for the first two days. WHAT OTHER GUESTS SAY: “Wonderful escape in nature: Everything was great, from the lovely position to the very kind staff. The flat was spacious and with all the comfort you need. The complimentary wine from their own vineyard was an extra pleasant surprise….” “Wonderful agriturismo with a beautiful pool and the most amazing setting….” >> CLICK HERE TO READ MORE REVIEWS & TO BOOK YOUR STAY AT AGRITURISMO L’UVA E LE STELLE:   READ MORE

Bólstaðarhlíð Farm Cottage is a cosy self catering cottage on a family farm way up in the wilds of beautiful northern Iceland. The cottage is modern and clean and can sleep up to four people, and though very near to the main farmhouse it offers a splendid sense of  quiet solitude, and is especially inspiring in winter nights when the northern lights come out. THE ACCOMMODATION: The cottage has been recently refurbished and has a kitchen and lounge area, a double bedroom with queen size bed and a good bathroom. There is also a double sofa bed in the lounge so it can sleep up to 4 people comfortably. You’ll find the place well equipped with modern facilities, there is WiFi throughout plus a smart TV equipped with Netflix in the lounge. The cottage is very near the main farmhouse so, though you can enjoy much peace and quiet, the friendly owners are always at hand to help out with anything you need and are always happy to show guests around the farm. 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 from the well known town of Blönduos, something of a tourist hub in these parts. and somewhere where you can find shops, cafes, restaurants, bars, a golf course and an Icelandic handicrafts READ MORE

Agriturismo I Moresani has quality accommodation on its 200 acre family-run organic farm near the lovely Cilento Coast, south of Naples, & Salerno, Campania. The farm is a busy place with cows, pigs, goats, horses and hens, and produces a huge range of organic food products including extra virgin olive oil, salami, sweet and salty sausages, goat’s cheese, pasta, liqueur, wine, tomato puree, honey, biscuits, flour, pulses and more. It’s an extraordinary selection and all are available to try at the farm restaurant and to buy at the farm shop. THE ACCOMMODATION: The range of accommodation at the agriturismo is equally broad and consists of three separate buildings with a total of 9 rooms (doubles, triples and quadruples) and three self catering apartments. You’ll find all clean and comfortable and with a nice rustic Italian farmhouse feel. In the grounds outside there is a swimming pool surrounded by gardens and of course beyond that the farm where you can wander through the olive groves, vineyards and vegetable gardens enjoying the peace and quiet, and all the time surrounded by the rolling green hills of this very lovely and very underrated area of rural Italy. Food is of course a major part of the experience of Agriturismo I Moresani; the breakfast is fantastic, organic and can be adapted to suit dietary restrictions. You’ll be well advised to try the restaurant in the evening too too where you can enjoy to the full some fantastic meals; genuine home-made, slow food, with most of the ingredients coming fresh from the farm itself. Active types will appreciate the horse riding (They have their own horse riding school) and various activities and excursions can be arranged in the surrounding area including hiking tours of the Cilento National Park,  visits to the Unesco World Heritage archaeological sites of Paestum and Elea-Velia, boat trips around the lovely Cilento coast, cooking classes and more. THE LOCATION: Though many areas of Italy may claim such a title the Cilento Coast is a firm candidate for rural Italy’s best kept secret. The world famous Amalfi Coast draws almost all of the foreign tourists in these parts but those in the know will also take the READ MORE

Just outside outside the town of Berchtesgaden, Bavaria, Germany, and very near the Jenner ski resort, this lovely working farm stay has fabulous views of the Bavarian Alps. It provides spacious 2 bedroom self-catering apartments with full kitchen, living room and bathroom. They all come with nice balconies, flat screen TV and WiFi. There is a large well kept garden with BBQ facilities, and it’s ideal for kids too, there’s a playground, and they’re more than welcome to have fun helping out on the farm. There surrounding area is great for hiking and biking, as mentioned the Jenner Ski Resort is just 8km away, with other attractions like the Berchtesgaden salt mines and Lake Königssee for example also within very short reach. Bavaria’s capital Munich is about an hour and a half to the north west while Salzburg, in neighbouring Austria, can be reached in around a half an hour. WHAT OTHER GUESTS SAY: “Fantastic! The owners were very kind and the apartment was very comfortable. I loved the mountains around the area too….” “Fantastically idyllic location with easy access to beautiful hiking trails; optimal if you like it a bit out of the way. Very friendly and courteous hostess, who helped us with great excursion tips. Cozy apartment with great views from the balcony!…” >> CLICK HERE TO READ MORE REVIEWS & TO BOOK YOUR STAY AT BAUERNHOF VORDERSTIEDLER: 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 Champ des Lunes, which won a Michelin star for its classic French & Provençal cuisine, and more casual dining at the La Cuisine d’Amélie. The restaurants are open to the public and though hotel guests will have some priority it’s generally wise to make a reservation or reservations a few days in advance especially in the summer and especially at Le Champ. The grounds of Domaine de Fontenille are equally impressive, with a full 86 acres of mostly landscaped gardens READ MORE

Le Rianon has a beautifully peaceful setting deep in the heart of central France. It offers B&B rooms as well as self catering accommodation including a cute wooden caravan. The farmhouse is classic old style French, and very atmospheric, with lots of old wood and stone and they have horses, donkeys and hens on their small farm.   READ MORE