The idea of staying on a working farm might bring up a few questions. Will I have to hike every day? What if it rains? What if I don't even like mud? For anyone who doesn’t consider themselves particularly outdoorsy, the thought of a farm stay might feel a bit... rustic.
But here’s the thing. You don’t have to be an expert in countryside living to enjoy a farm stay. You don’t need to be the kind of person who camps in the wild or owns waterproof trousers in three colours. You don’t even have to love animals, although we’ll admit it’s hard not to once you’ve spent a weekend sharing a field with curious goats.
A Feather Down farm stay isn’t about roughing it. It’s about recharging. And the best part? You can do it entirely on your terms.
It’s not camping. It’s glamping, with heart and home comforts.
Let’s get one thing out of the way. This is not a pitch-your-own-tent situation. There’s no fiddling with guy ropes or waking up on a deflated airbed at 3am. At Feather Down, you’ll stay in a roomy, solid-frame canvas lodge, tucked into the heart of a real working farm.
Your lodge comes with everything you need to feel relaxed and at home. Real beds with thick duvets and soft linens. A private flushing toilet. Running cold water at the kitchen sink. A wood-burning stove for cooking and keeping warm. Wooden floors underfoot. Sofas to stretch out on. Candlelight, lanterns, and even fairy lights in some places.
And if you’re someone who’s happiest in the bath with a book, well, there’s always the hot tub upgrade.
What to expect in your Feather Down lodge
No survival skills required
You don’t need to be Bear Grylls. In fact, the most outdoorsy thing you’ll probably do is put on wellies or wander across the field to the honesty shop. There’s no expectation to hike ten miles or spend the day in waterproofs. If you’d rather sip tea in a rocking chair and watch the cows go by, that’s perfectly valid.
You can:
Read an entire novel in a weekend
Collect eggs in the morning and cook them slowly on the stove
Take slow walks, or no walks at all
Stretch out in a deck chair while the kids run wild and explore
Enjoy wine and cheese by candlelight, with no signal, no noise and no stress
Guests often tell us that they were nervous before arriving. That they’re not the kind of people who “do the countryside.” Then they wake up on their first morning to a misty view across the fields and realise they’ve already fallen for it.
Browse our UK farm stay locations
Designed for slowing down, not toughing it out
Feather Down was built with comfort in mind. We wanted to create spaces where people could disconnect from the fast pace of modern life without giving up the little things that make a stay relaxing. You’ll have space, privacy, and peace — all wrapped in the gentle rhythm of the countryside.
And yes, the lodges are off-grid. But that’s not about roughing it either. It’s about finding joy in simplicity. In playing cards by candlelight. In meals that simmer slowly. In real conversations that aren’t interrupted by screen time. And maybe, just maybe, in waking up to the sound of a curious chicken pecking at the grass outside your lodge.
You don’t have to love the outdoors. You just have to be open to it.
You don’t need to spend the day climbing hills or traipsing through woodlands (unless you want to). You just need to be open to something slower. Something more grounded. Something a little different from your usual break.
If you’ve never chopped kindling or lit a fire before, you’ll learn. If you’ve never cooked on a wood stove, it’s easier than you think. If you’re worried about being cold, the stove keeps the lodge toasty. If you’re nervous about bugs, we get it — but you’ll probably forget all about them once you’re watching the stars come out over the fields.
It’s not about being outdoorsy. It’s about being present.
We don’t think of Feather Down as a place for “outdoorsy people.” We think of it as a place for people who are tired. Tired of rushing, of screens, of noise, of schedules. People who want to do less, and feel more. People who want to notice things again — the sound of the wind, the joy of watching a child feed a goat, the pleasure of a meal cooked slowly and shared together.
So no, you don’t need to be sporty, muddy, or wilderness-savvy. You just need to bring a warm jumper, a good book, and the willingness to switch off for a while.
