A farm stay presents a unique opportunity to escape the hustle and bustle of daily life while simultaneously supporting the rural economy. In Israel, collective agricultural communities known as kibbutz farms have been popular with vacationers for decades. In their earliest iterations, farm stays, also known as agrotourism, involved farmers letting out a room of their farmhouse, treating guests to a hearty breakfast of local fare that typically included freshly laid eggs and milk straight from the cow.
Today, farm stays have taken on a variety of forms. From Texas to Andalusia and the Australian Outback, we look at five unique agrotourism opportunities.
1. Wildcatter Ranch and Resort (United States)
Located in Graham, Texas, a 20-minute drive from Possum Kingdom Lake, this western-style, 1,500-acre ranch resort offers a variety of activities to keep guests occupied.
Rooms are spacious and rustic, incorporating all the creature comforts, including catering facilities, a flat-screen television with satellite channels, and Wi-Fi. The resort operates a steakhouse that serves excellent seafood, as well as the Blowout Saloon, offering cold beers, wines, and cocktails.
Visitors to Wildcatter Ranch can try their hand at a variety of activities, including horseback riding and clay shooting. The venue also offers guided SUV tours and features an outdoor pool and a spa.
2. Sierra de Grazalema Organic Farm (Spain)
Tucked away in the Andalusian countryside, far from the crowds of the Costa Blanca and Costa del Sol, Sierra de Grazalema is a working farm where visitors can wander through olive and citrus groves, listening to the gentle trickle of the crystal-clear river and the clucking concerto of the farm’s free-roaming chickens.
Offering both self-catering and bed and breakfast options, with a choice of apartment or guesthouse accommodation, the farm is surrounded by the fertile green valleys and distinctive limestone rock formations of Grazalema Natural Park. Popular with both walkers and cyclists, the park’s well-marked trails invite visitors to explore the mountain scenery in blissful solitude. The farm itself incorporates 6 acres of pastureland, including a shallow river and an outdoor terrace where guests can sit and enjoy the scenery.
3. Castello di Reschio (Italy)
Tucked away in the Umbrian hills within an ancient estate stretching across thousands of acres of olive groves and oak forests, Castello di Reschio is a truly unique collection of properties that the Bolza family has painstakingly restored. Today, the retreat boasts a boutique collection of luxury farmhouse accommodations.
The resort’s onsite restaurant, The Osteria, presents classic Umbrian dishes incorporating seasonal, locally sourced organic produce. During the summertime, the restaurant’s dining area boasts stunning views of the surrounding countryside. The wine list features some of the finest wines the region has to offer, including a Sangiovese made by Castello di Reschio.
Count Antonio Bolza established Castello di Reschio’s stables, home to some of the world’s finest Spanish purebreds. Inspired by Vienna’s world-famous Lipizzaner horses, Count Bolza founded his stud in 1999. The farm stay welcomes visitors to watch these graceful, intelligent creatures complete dressage performances.
Alternatively, more adventurous guests can experience the thrill of riding one of the Lipizzaner horses, joining a hack through the local countryside.
4. Swanston Farm (Scotland)
Situated a short drive from Edinburgh, this venue is ideal for those seeking to immerse themselves in nature while remaining close to this vibrant city. Swanston Farm is a gateway to the 25,000-acre Pentland Hills Regional Park, which guests can explore via mountain bike, on horseback, or on foot.
The flat, woodland paths skirting the farm accommodate walkers of all capabilities. For those seeking a more challenging hike, tracks lead to Swanston Village and its quaint thatched cottages. Winding up the hillside, guests encounter the farm’s herds of Highland cows, before being treated to stunning views of the Lothians, Edinburgh, and the Firth of Forth. The region is a nature lover’s paradise, home to a variety of interesting wildlife, including barn owls, red kites, black grouse, foxes, badgers, and stoats.
5. Gilberton Outback Retreat (Australia)
Located in the striking goldfields country of northern Queensland, this exclusive retreat offers guests the opportunity to relax and unwind on a working cattle station that goes back seven generations. Steeped in gold mining, cattle production, and cultural history, the venue provides guests with opportunities to engage in a variety of activities, from feeding and mustering cattle to gold fossicking or simply immersing themselves in this natural wilderness.
Located on a rocky outcrop overlooking the Gilbert River, the Gilberton Outback Retreat offers the ultimate in understated luxury. Constructed from timber and stone, each room incorporates a pillow-topped king-size bed, as well as an al fresco bathroom, the luxurious bathtub offering uninterrupted views of the surrounding expanse.
With no Wi-Fi or television, this is the perfect place for a digital detox, enabling guests to escape modern technology while immersing themselves in the rugged beauty of the Australian outback.
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