We know a family holiday at a farm-stay, with the kiddies is all about meeting the animals and enjoying animal activities.
However, we thought it would be great to highlight other fun that can be enjoyed on the farm as well as off the farm! Check out these fab farm-stays and what there is to do on and off the farm, not only with the animals : ) We asked each owner a handful of questions about what families could expect when they come to stay, take a look at their answers below…
Glynn Barton – Nr Bodmin, Cornwall
What farm-stay activities are on offer for little ones?
Animal Feeding on the farm with the Donkeys, Wallabies, Sheep, Alpaca, Pigs and Goats. Feeding the chickens and collecting the eggs. Building bug hotels for our wildlife.
What facilities you offer that are a big hit with the kids?
Indoor Heated swimming pool, soft play, zip wire, mud kitchen, and maze.
Fun, adventurous walks from your doorstep and anything of interest on route?
A beautiful circular walk direct from the doorstep through Laneskin Woods. Spot some of the dens our guests have been building on the way and add to them.
North Bradbury Farm – North Devon
What farm-stay activities run throughout the year you offer to the little ones?
Daily animal feeding with Farmer Chris, collecting the eggs, cuddling the little farm friends and bringing in Moo the pony for a brush. Animal Hunt , Scavenger Hunt , three play areas to play in . The Wilderness Area – fun in the stream , campfire cooking, den building , pond dipping, finding fairies in our fairy garden…..And of course the pool !
What facilities you offer that are a big hit with the kids?
Favourite activities are the pool , anything to do with Farmer Chris , the fairy garden, bottle feeding the lambs , going to duck island are definitely the favourites !
Fun, adventurous walks from your doorstep, anything of interest on route?
We have a great public footpath up to the woods on the estate we live behind – if you are lucky you might see deer and depending on the time of year bluebells and wild garlic. Borrow our farm back packs for the younger members of the family ! You can also walk to our great child friendly pub in Chittlehampton – The Bell. Take the farm buggies for tired little legs !
Tredethick Farm – Nr Lostwithiel, Cornwall
What farm-stay activities run throughout the year you offer to the little ones?
Animal feeding (goats, pigs, alpacas, hens, ponies). Collect eggs from the henhouse and herd the pigs too.Some pig herding! And bottle feeding lambs mid Feb through to late May. You can also enjoy a lead-rein pony ride twice a week and sit on our trusty John Deere tractor.
Our pristine 12m indoor pool – kept at 30C. Soft play ( with daily newspapers and bean-to-cup Lavazza coffee for grown ups – there’s hot chocolate for children too). Explore the woodland playscape and farm trail or the mini tractor and scooter track. All activities (exc Pony Poppets) are free including use of mini scooters, tractors and balance bikes. Our play park and games barn (including giant sandpit).
Our secluded, stylish hot tub garden with glass pod and cocoon swing might be more of a hit with adults.
What facilities do you offer that are a big hit with the kids?
Our pristine 12m indoor pool – kept at 30C. Our soft play ( with daily newspapers and bean-to-cup Lavazza coffee for grown ups – there’s hot chocolate for children too). Our woodland playscape and farm trail. Our mini tractor and scooter track. All activities (exc Pony Poppets) are free including use of mini scooters, tractors and balance bikes. Our play park and games barn (including giant sandpit).
Our secluded, stylish hot tub garden with glass pod and cocoon swing might be more of a hit with adults.
Fun, adventurous walks from your doorstep, anything of interest on route?
Lots: take a trip around Restormel Castle. It’s just 2 miles away and is a traditional, well-preserved motte and bailey castle built by Cornwall’s first Duke, the 14th century Black Prince.
Or head two miles in the opposite direction to cross the stepping stones at Lerryn into Ethy Woods, which inspired the Wind in the Willows.
We’ve plenty of family-friendly walks in our digital guidebook, including our favourite, Fowey coastal walk which stops for an artisan doughnut and coffee halfway.
Or you can walk on our farm trail straight onto the picturesque estuary hamlet of St Winnow for homemade cream teas and pasties.
North Hayne Farm – Nr South Molton, Devon
What farm-stay activities run throughout the year you offer to the little ones?
We offer both a planned morning AND teatime animal feeding session EVERY day of the week including Christmas Day!
We also run morning donkey rides on our wonderful Abbott or Frosty the Donkey (included in the price) and also teatime Activity of the day sessions which are opportunities to get up closer to the animals and learn how to handle them (also included) In the spring bottle feeding of the lambs sessions and chick handling experiences are not to be missed.
Around the farm we have a fabulous range of activity trails and challenges for the children to do all year round and egg collecting opportunities every day where an egg can be traded for a tasty biscuit from Farmer Reg’s cookie jar!! (Gluten free cookies available too of course!)
In school holidays we run special sessions such as our Farm Hands club where the children can work with farmer Roger on the farm OR Free Rangers weekly forest school sessions where the children learn outdoor skills. (these 2 clubs are extra but subsidised) While the children are busy the grown ups can then relax in their hot tub or book in to our treatment room for a well deserved massage or facial.
What facilities you offer that are a big hit with the kids?
ALL of the above plus our toy tractors, play houses, sandpit ,Indoor games room and play barn, our new repair workshop where the children can role play, our hot tubs (with each cottage) our bake box for in cottage baking days, we also have 2 large outdoor play areas
Fun, adventurous walks from your doorstep, anything of interest on route?
North Devon is bursting with things to do and places to visit.
The fabulous Quince Honey farm with indoor soft play is just a few minutes up the road or why not pack a picnic and go pony or deer spotting up on Exmoor National Park ( just 5 miles from us) We also provide each family with a list of 22 local open spaces and challenges for the children to have a go at why they are with us.
Coombe Mill – Nr Bodmin, Cornwall
What farm-stay activities run throughout the year you offer to the little ones?
Throughout the year all facilities are open – Feed runs to feed animals on farm, soft play, outdoor golf, Indoor Games Room, Outdoor Play Area, fishing
What facilities you offer that are a big hit with the kids?
The daily feed runs on the tractor are a huge hit with the children. Indoor and Outdoor BBQ, Pizza Oven, Adult only Gym.
Fun, adventurous walks from your doorstep, anything of interest on route?
Bodmin Moor is 5 min away, camel trail is 3 min away, Eden project 30 min away.
Nettlecombe Farm – Nr Ventnor, Isle Of Wight
What farm-stay activities run throughout the year you offer to the little ones?
Animal feeding tours 6 mornings a week with our animal keepers.
What facilities you offer that are a big hit with the kids?
Animal feeding tours 6 mornings a week with our animal keepers. Extensive play areas and football fields. Wide open spaces to enjoy.
Fun, adventurous walks from your doorstep, anything of interest on route?
We have a full booklet of walking loops from the farm which we provide in their cottages. Here’s the link to the pdf version.
Trevorrick Farm – Nr Padstow, Cornwall
What farm-stay activities run throughout the year you offer to the little ones?
Animal interaction other than Friday and Saturdays on a daily basis.
Dependent on type of year.
e.g at present – meet the new lambs.
All year round – walk a sheep on a halter, cuddle guinea pigs, meet ducks and chickens, feed kune kune pigs, groom Shetland pony.
What facilities you offer that are a big hit with the kids?
The best range of farm themed play equipment. – Play combine harvester, play land rover, play tractor, farm animal themed animal play train for toddlers (new for 2022). New for 2021 – play farm shop built specially for us.
Also basket swing, 14′ trampoline (over 6s only), 2 climbing frames, play houses, play train.
Seasonal indoor heated pool – April to end of October half term.
Fun, adventurous walks from your doorstep, anything of interest on route?
Walk down to the creek less than 1/2 mile away. Walk into Padstow – 2.25 miles. Have backpacks to carry children up to 3.
View over Camel estuary 200 yards away.
So there you have it, a little information on what fun can be had at these amazing farm-stays! Check out all other farm-stays and head over to Holiday Tots.
