Feather Down

Dolphinholme Farm

Escape to a simpler life with Barbara and John

You will be staying with the Gorsts, John and Barbara whose family have been farming the land here in the village of Dolphinholme in Lancashire since after the Second World War. It used to be a goat farm, but they now focus on free range eggs sold to supermarkets around the country. There are sheep, horses, a belted Galloway cow named Isla, two pygmy goats, seven dogs and two cats to greet you on arrival. John and Barbara are happy to answer your questions about farming at any time during your stay at Dolphinholme, the ideal spot for a family holiday in Lancashire.

Explore nearby national parks and more

Dophinholme makes an ideal base for the Lake District National Park, just a 45 minute drive away, the Yorkshire Dales too. Braedens Pony Trekking Centre just down the road is a big hit with riders, young and old and many find the bright lights of Blackpool hard to resist. Ingleton has caves, a waterfall and outdoor pool for families whilst the Wild Boar Park has meerkats and birds of prey ready for a fun day out. Foodies will delight in renowned restaurants like the Inn at Whitewell whilst you can also eat well at the Fleece and the Bay Horse close by the farm.

What to do at Forest of Bowland Farm

You can let your imagination run riot as this farm is a fantastic natural playground for young and old whilst the more adventurous can explore the farm’s deciduous woodland, which provides ample opportunities for den-building. There is also a dedicated indoor play area with a trampoline with a nearby zipwire. Could there be a better spot for a family holiday in Lancashire?

If you fancy a swim during the sunny days, the river Wyre runs through the farm, at your own risk of course, otherwise head for the coast, a 20 minute drive away. There is no honesty shop on site but the Fleece pub in the village had one in 2021. Fire up the pizza oven when you like for that DIY pizzeria look before retiring to your comfy Feather Down bed.

What can you expect?

Dogs allowed
Hot tub
Near water
Private shower

What animals with you find on this farm?

You too?

What our guests like

Close to the coast
Hot tub
Near water
Surrounded by forest
Play barn
Close to Manchester
Indoor and outdoor playground

Our canvas hideaways

Hot tub available

Canvas hideaway with private outdoor shower

6 persons

Hot tub available

Canvas hideaway with en-suite shower

6 persons

Canvas hideaway with farm-house shower

6 persons

A unique experience

Back to basics

Live in nature

Have adventures together

Including wood for the wood-burning stove
Including welcome package with bed-linen, towels, candles, matches, washing-up liquid and other basic items

Going without electricity is our greatest luxury

Ask the Farmer

The farm tour is a must if it’s on offer. But you don’t wait till then. The farmer will be delighted to tell you more about how what goes on at the farm at any time.

Options during your stay

Farmers Soup

Receive ingredients, firewood, the recipe, and cooking utensils to prepare a delicious farmer's soup at your tent, enough for 4 - 6 people.

Farmers Stew

Recommended!

You will receive the recipe, ingredients and cooking utensils to prepare a delicious Farmers Stew at your tent, enough for 4-6 people.

Pets

Bring your dog along. A maximum of 2 well-behaved dogs per lodge. The price is per dog, per night.
Please note: You are required to keep your dog on a leash while on the campsite

Hot tub

Treat yourself by booking a hot tub! You can use it throughout your stay. Remember to bring your swimsuit!

Hot tub

Treat yourself by booking a hot tub! You can use it throughout your stay. Remember to bring your swimsuit!

Meet your hosts

Barbara and John

We are the Gorst family and we've farmed here for over 70 years. Father and son, John and Mark, farm in partnership with Barbara and you'll receive a warm welcome from us all on arrival at Forest of Bowland.

Welcome to our chicken farm, where we offer a fantastic natural playground for young and old alike.

What do our guests think?

Average rating

James McFarlane McFarlane

27/08/2021

this is great glamping!

8.8

mrs Wood

23/08/2021

Location was fab, gorgeous field in front with amazing sunsets. Felt safe for children and they made lots of new friends. They had the best time playing which meant we could relax! We did feel some things were lacking ie no farm experience and would gave been nice to have had facility to buy milk, eggs, sausages etc. Pizza oven was not in use/mentioned which would have been nice. Also would have liked fridge shelf to put perishables rather than frozen hot water bottle and a box.

8.8

Mr Wise

20/08/2021

Truly fantastic! Barbara and her family are very helpful and run a lovely campsite! We loved every minute of it!

Mrs Mckaysmith

02/08/2021

Relaxing break, kids (8,6,2) so happy padding in the river, making pals with other kids on holiday, playing on the trampoline and outdoor playground and kite flying in the big field the tents all overlook. Tents benefit from evening sun so sun drenched bbqs. Owner checks in daily and quickly and kindly responded to our needs. Close to lots of beautiful spots although site doesn’t have views/farm access.

8.8

Mrs livingston

30/07/2021

This farm is in a beautiful location and very well maintained. However, it didn’t feel like a farm as there were no animals for the kids to engage with. On previous Featherdown farm holidays at other sites, we have been able to feed and play with the animals and collect the eggs from the chickens but there was none of that here. It was a lovely spot but if felt more than camping in a field than being on a Featherdown holiday.

8.8

Mrs Barlow

26/07/2021

Fabulous to feel like you’re in the middle of nowhere. So relaxing! No WiFi or phone reception. And the kids could play safely regardless of the weather with a great indoor and outdoor play area. A bit of the info in the tents was outdated.. no washing machine or honesty shop now.

Mrs johnson

07/06/2021

Blissful 5 days under canvas with everything we needed, the hosts were friendly and had lots of tips and information. Beautiful location. Peaceful site (our family of 5 were the only ones there). Kids enjoyed the park and indoor play, visiting the animals (goats, horses, rabbits), messing about at the river and especially loved the hot tub. The Trough of Bowland and Beacon Fell Country Park are close for walking. The Fleece has delicious food and a small play area (again happy kids) plus doubles as the local store. Garstang has a Booths and swimming pool. Was a great family break.

Mrs Farmer

31/05/2021

Absolutely superb - a breath of fresh air and perfection after being cooped up inside during these long lockdown months. Location, the facilities, the views, the farm, the welcome by John and Barbara - all perfect . Thank you

Mrs Clayton

31/05/2021

This was our second Featherdown Farm experience, we came with high expectations as our first one was outstanding, but were unfortunately left disappointed. we did not feel welcome on the farm and the farm and facilities generally were in very delipidated condition. there were play areas for the kids as stated, but no other facilities beyond that. the local area was really good and we enjoyed a walk in the Forrest of Bowland and visiting little nearby villages. all the pubs served outstanding food. we did enjoy the river on site. we will not be coming back to this location.

6.3

Mrs Bradley

28/05/2021

This was our third time at featherdown farm, we love it here. The days go quickly just relaxing and the children having so much fun in nature.

ms Fitzgibbon

28/05/2021

Wonderful

mrs wicksteed

28/05/2021

Heaven

Mrs Wardell

21/05/2021

Lovely time spent in our cosy tent. Making memories to last a lifetime.

mrs watson

16/04/2021

Peacful

7.5

Mrs Robinson

12/04/2021

We had a wonderful stay in beautiful surroundings with lovely walks on our doorstep, as well as the beautiful river. The tents largely facing south west get the sun all day which is very helpful when it’s close to zero degrees outside!!

Mr Donnelly

16/10/2020

It was lovely break to get away from everything

Mrs Flowers

02/10/2020

Perfect tranquil little hideaway

Mr Murphy

02/10/2020

We had a great time. It was very relaxing. The children loved the play area and the tent had everything we needed.

8.8

Mr Leith

25/09/2020

Great experience

8.8

Ms Klein

18/09/2020

It was a very rustic experience, definitely more of an experience than a restful holiday but enjoyable none the less

7.5

Mr O'Donnell

18/09/2020

We wanted to get away from it all and that’s what we did - the accommodation was great and back to basic life. We didn’t try the local walks although they were offered. We took a day over in Lancaster and another up in the lakes itself but was happy to return back to the accommodation. As many recommend in here - the fleece was our meal for Saturday night and I can see why people rave about it - the food and the service and the local people know how to enjoy themselves. Truly enjoyable and relaxing long weekend all round Definately be going back!

8.8

Miss Matthew

11/09/2020

Relaxing

8.8

Mrs Gareis

11/09/2020

Beautiful site with amazing facilities for the children!! The tent had everything we needed and more. Everything was easily accessable. Tge kods loved both the indor and outdoor play area and we spent the afternoom down at the river magnet fishing and panning for gold (no gold unfortunatly) the holiday was made for my nephew when he found 2 shot gun shells. He was over the moon. We loved the giants seats the teepee and jake the giant too. We dont often go back to the same site twice but it is very likely that we will be back when the weather is a little warmer!!!

Mrs. Worthington

31/08/2020

Relaxing. Go with an open mind Nature inspired

8.8

Mrs Harte

21/08/2020

Rustic tent and campsite, felt closer to camping than other, more luxury, places we’ve been but we really liked it

8.8

mrs Kateryniuk

17/08/2020

very relaxing

8.8

Mrs Jones

10/08/2020

There were 9 of us; three generations in two tents...grandparents, two sets of parents and 4 siblings/cousins ages 10 -13. The tents and the welcome from the proprietors were both excellent. The bedding and the general cleanliness of all the facilities was spot-on. When we first arrived, the river was very low and paddling from the little beach was great fun. Later in the week there were tremendous nighttime storms and the river became very clearly something to be given appropriate respect, but it was lovely to just sit and listen to the torrents tumble over the rocks. The hot-tub was a great success.....during the heat of the day, the children thoroughly enjoyed it "just tepid", and later on in the afternoon the adults sat with books and glasses of wine, up to the necks in lovely hot water.

Mrs Kendrick

03/08/2020

It was a lovely setting but the place itself was very run down. We were promised a power supply before we went but that didn’t appear. I emailed the site on 2nd day but got no response. On arrival we were greeted by a woman who told us which tent we were in and said she would come down later to explain stuff - this never happened. We had a few questions so I ventured down to see if I could find the woman but didn’t see her again all holiday. It was more camping than glamping. Slightly disappointed with the lack of engagement.

6.3

Mr and Mrs Crowhurst

31/07/2020

Bonding time

8.8

Mrs Millward

31/07/2020

Very relaxing

Mr Fraser

27/07/2020

It took a day to get used to not having electricity, phone coverage and internet. Great location and facilities for the kids. Accommodation was surprisingly good.

8.8

Mrs Winstanley

17/07/2020

We first went to this location about eight years ago when It was still a goat farm and it was very good. It looks like it it has not been maintained at all apart from being cleaned. All the pitches are overgrown and unkempt. Nothing is level. They charge extra for fuel. There is a pizza oven and communal area that looks like it's never used. There's no farm interaction anymore. It's a shame because it could be a really great site still but they just haven't maintained it properly.

6.3

Miss Wall

13/07/2020

Our holiday was great we had everything we needed, the beds were comfy, the showers and tent were clean and the hosts were friendly. For the cost I couldn't have asked for anything more.

Mr Grove

06/07/2020

Very relaxing and in a quite area with only the noises of nature.

Mrs Eden

23/08/2019

A perfect few days in a lovely location allowing us to spend quality time as a family away from the stresses of daily life!

Mrs Kay

23/08/2019

Great time but if it hadn’t have been v hot it would have been awful! the tent was built over a stream and in the shade, it was extremely damp, the bark veranda was wet, the matches were soggy! The bedding was v smelly. Also, There was no shop, so no oil/salt/pepper/milk etc. Value for money only because 6 of us squeezed in, kids loved the trampoline and the river swim was fun

7.5

Mr Groves

09/08/2019

Our experience could have been a lot more enjoyable, we paid extra for the hot tub which could not be used, the hot tub had to be heated by a wood burner which took 6 hours of constantly topping up the wood burner in the rain and even then it was only slightly warm , I feel like the hot tub should either be ready for when you arrive or at least a easier way to heat it. Also the hot tub Has no cover over it so can not be used if it’s raining. We never got to use our hot tub at all so was a waste of money. And the time spent heating it could be spent enjoying it with family as that’s what a holiday is all about. Instead I had to try and keep the children entertained alone while my husband was trying to look after the 2 Woodburners. The farm was nice tho and hosts were lovely. Shame we couldn’t really enjoy it like we should off

7.5

Mrs Smith

07/06/2019

Was not as described on the website, the facilities were very basic, we booked this break for our daughters 10 birthday and she was very excited about being on a farm as she loves animals, there were no animals, the website states that you can get free range eggs, this was not a service that was available. The indoor play area was scruffy and had no hale bales (again as advertised) and the back of it looked like a car boot sale. There was only 1 zip wire, not 2 as advertised. There was no information given about the orienteering course. We were pointed towards the small sandy beach, no mention was made of the canoe which again was advertised as "activities at the location". No dishwashing supplies were supplied in the "kitchen set", the hot tub took 24 hours to heat, the floors were dirty as were the plates & cutlery

6.3

Miss Whitehurst

19/04/2019

It was beautiful. The site was spotless and there was so much to do. The hosts were super helpful and the lodge was perfect.

Mrs Wellard

19/04/2019

Fabulous