THE FARM AT AVEBURY

The landscaped courtyard is perfect for alfresco evenings at the farm.

a design-led farmhouse stay in wiltshire

Long Barrow, one of the light-filled spaces at The Stables

Farms with design-led interiors seem to be having something of a moment - I spent three glorious days at The Farm at Avebury, a gorgeous dog and child friendly working farm - with a contemporary edge to the more traditional country-farmhouse aesthetic  - set in the Wiltshire countryside.

Masterfully combining beautiful interiors and detailed design within a working farm setting, it’s a welcoming space – the perfect peaceful spot to enjoy roaring fires, toasting marshmallows, Ridgeway walks and far-reaching views. A place to explore the historic Avebury World Heritage Site with a choice of wellness experiences and retreats held in the barn, the farm offers both a place to celebrate and a space to find calm and reconnect with nature and self – it doesn’t get better.  From the moment we arrived  - greeted by the outsized neon ‘This Must be The Place’ sign in the courtyard - I felt a genuine sense of warmth and authenticity with cut flowers and fresh farmhouse produce, including a few sweet treats to enjoy, left in our cosy yet stylish Stable room.

The working farm, run by Alice and Rob Hues, is home to small herds of Aberdeen Angus cows, as well as Highlands and Belted Galloways. Scrubbing out extensively in the woods are the rather adorable and friendly pigs - a glorious mix of OSB, Berkshire and Landrace Duroc. There are also a handful of bottle-fed lambs who go on to graze in the Play Orchard, incredibly tame, I was of course smitten when they bounded up to me for cuddles and fuss. Above all, I loved that the focus is on welfare and reducing food miles rather than organic certification; any supplement food is from the farm and the butcher is in Avebury.

This year celebrates 100 years of the Hues Family farming the land in Avebury. Thanks to Clarkson’s Farm, we’re now all more aware that the world of farming is evolving, and so Alice and Rob have diversified, opening The Stables for guests in 2021. Before being repurposed, the former stables housed chickens – though the structure of the walls remain, it was otherwise fully gutted and re-roofed.

The renovated barn has been created as a space to gather for events and workshops.

Set within the courtyard, The Barn and The Barn Kitchen provide the perfect place to come together whether for meals, yoga or Wim Hof workshops. There is also a Play Orchard and Play Barn which provide spaces to explore whatever the weather. 

Wiltshire often feels like the county that people drive through, slowing along the A303 to glance at Stonehenge, but take a night or two out here, and you will be amazed how much there is to see and do; located under two- hours from London, the farm has all the fresh air and calm of a rural escape without endless journeying.

A design-led farmhouse stay

It was a joy to soak up a fresh and contemporary take on farmhouse style; the he six stables – each beautifully and individually styled by Polly Ashman -  cluster around a landscaped courtyard with pockets of seating discreetly nestled amongst the large corten-planters. Inside, the spaces are filled with characterful colour schemes; large oak beams, panelling, oak ladders to mezzanines, Ca’Pietra tiling and playful artwork by Georgie Weedon and Becky Borthwick. With its coir matting floor, the shared boot room between stables is the perfect space to hang wet gear, take off muddy boots and for dogs to dry off after their morning walkies.

The colour and vibrancy from around the farm is reflected in the interiors with the brief to Polly Ashman being to have fun, go bold on colour and work in the character of the stable block and surrounding farmyard and natural landscape. Quality, second hand and vintage furniture and accessories were sourced, along with hard wearing furnishings and fabrics able to withstand wear and tear of guests coming and going. Where possible, Alice sourced from local businesses including Artisans and Corston, along with artwork and soft furnishings from Wiltshire-based artists and makers. The bathroom tiles were sourced from Artisans of Devizes, using their Ca’Pietra range and Bramley Products. 

We stayed in Long Barrow, a dreamy space flooded with light, where a mezzanine level with huge exposed beams is perfectly balanced with a sumptuous living space – think light and lofty with natural materials and lots of personal touches. I fell for the bathroom, boasting a Victoria Plum sink, a brass art deco-inspired mirror and Capietra tiles set against Farrow & Ball, Sulking Room Pink walls. Downstairs ebay finds are fused with Pooky lampshades, chunky original beams, painted wood cladding and the perfect lounging sofa from sofa.com with eye-grabbing prints from Graham & Green.

The original stable structure guided the dimensions of the spaces and was achieved working closely with architects Mitchell Eley Gould .

 Alice has an infectious enthusiasm for what she and her team have created, which is a zesty, warm and versatile  farmhouse space with a home-from-home vibe.

 “From our twenties, overflowing around our tiny kitchen table with friends, we have always loved entertaining. The Stables feels like an extension to our home and we love seeing the courtyard come to life whether it’s those escaping the city, or larger groups of family or friends. Bringing people closer to farm life, understanding food production and connecting to nature in our historic environment is something we have always thought was important. There is also a tough reality in the farming industry; diversification is an increasingly essential part of the business. Jeremy Clarkson has been a good voice for farmers in that sense, exposing the challenges and complexities of modern farm life,” says Alice. 

A historical thread | Avebury World Heritage site

I was fascinated with the incredible history surrounding the farmland, that remains unchanged for thousands of years. The Farm sits in 800-acres of land, nestled beneath the North Downs within Avebury World Heritage Site. Set amongst rolling fields, home to neolithic sites. Within the farm, the Long Barrow is a rare excavated example of a 5000-year-old old burial site. Avebury Stone Circle itself - a lesser known cousin to Stonehenge - is set within a quintessentially English village, with a shop and National Trust café and even has a pub within the Circle! Whether celebrating the energy at Solstice, or just enjoying the amazing stone structures, it is an super-inspiring place to visit.

Explore the Wiltshire countryside

Avebury is stunning spot, within half a mile you can surround yourself in neolithic history, with West Kennet Long Barrow in the centre of the farm taking you back over 5500 years and the amazing Avebury Stone Circle.

The Beckhampton Gallops offer an expansive area for walking - after midday daily and all day Sunday - with beautiful views as you climb, you can walk all the way to Cherhill Monument. Dry underfoot most of the year it is a great spot for dog-walkers and runners alike.

For woodland adventures to avoid the summer heat or winter weather, we head to West Woods, but be sure to drop a pin to find your way back as it’s an enormous area with endless paths and tracks to explore!

Golden hour whilst walking on The Ridgeway

We particularly love The Sanctuary, located just a mile from the farm, it marks the start of The Ridgeway National Trail – this beautiful stretch compiles a lengthy 87-miles from Avebury all the way to Buckinhamshire – taking in an expanse of open fields and woodland, perfect for a longer jaunt if your canine pal desires. Enjoy spectacular views over the Pewsey Vale from the medieval Wandsyke route and a five-mile/ten-minute drive to Alton Barnes brings you to the perfect spot from which to explore one of Wiltshire’s famous White Horses.

Foodie finds

It was a joy to tuck into delicious suppers in our stable room with Rob and Alice’s homemade ready meals, created from the farm’s own fresh produce, including a very wholesome cottage pie and some of the best steaks we’ve been treated to. The kitchen is a fully equipped space to dine in, and for use during warmer months there are also a couple of  BBQ’s available – sit out in the gorgeous courtyard space and soak up the hazy sunshine to a backdrop of farmyard and nature sounds. If you’d prefer to dine out and you’re looking to enjoy wholesome, honest pub classics, there’s The Waggon & Horses – just a two-minute walk from the farm and The Red Lion - 25-minutes’ walk. In Marlborough, Coffi Lab is great for specialty beans, alongside a host of pastries and sweet and savoury treats with some artisan dog treats also on offer.

I also rate Bunces for a wholesome brunch and The Funghi Club for a delicious croque Monsieur or for great seasonal food, book Dan’s or La Robina for dinner and Rick Steins for fish and chips.

What I loved

We stayed on the farm in January so cosying up by the log burner whilst tucking into some delicious farm produce offered the perfect way to spend an evening.  

Meeting the adorable lambs up in the play orchard, they were incredibly friendly, bounding up for cuddles – joyful.

Slowing down, taking time to breath in the fresh air, and watch the landscape unfold around us. Our stay allowed us time to reflect and rebuild for the busy life we lead, beyond the farm gates.

The Wim Hof workshop led by the brilliant Andy Mackenzie in the beautiful renovated barn offered a deep dive into the profound use of breathwork, not only for cold water immersion, but also as a tool to bring into everyday life. The insightful four-hour workshop took us on an awakening journey with our breath, using theory and some floor work where we practiced several breathing techniques designed to calm the nervous system, taking us out of fight or flight and bringing our awareness inward, tapping into the parasympathetic nervous system. We then took this practice to the ice bath, bringing the art of breathing through cold water immersion, outside in the gorgeous courtyard setting. As a yogi, I am a huge advocate of bringing the breath to the mat - a wonderful tool to calm, ground and bring strength to yoga asanas. Cold water can also be a powerful tool in promoting a happier, healthier and stronger life -  just two minutes in the ice bath using controlled breathing and I felt super invigorated, energized and alert for the rest of the day.

The diversity of the farm from our stable window - it was a joy to watch the days play out across the courtyard. The farm offers versatility in abundance, providing the perfect space for multi-generational families gathering, groups celebrating and yoga retreats reflecting around a fire pit. The Stables and communal areas were designed without compromise – welcoming couples retreating for the weekend, groups celebrating an occasion and families with little ones into the same spaces, sharing in all of the joy that a farm stay brings.

 For those who are keen to embrace farm life within stylish surrounds, breathe in some fresh air and find some inner calm, then the Farm at Avebury could just be the place to put a spring in your step as we head towards light evenings and languid summer days.

To book The Stables at The Farm at Avebury, visit https://www.thefarmatavebury.co.uk/the-stables

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