Farmhouse/B and B

Farm stay family friendly accommodation-always lots to see and do for the kids

Farm stay accommodation or farm holidays can be great fun for a family friendly holiday both in Ireland, the UK and abroad.

Farm stay holidays can be either self catering or bed and breakfast accommodation and children will get an opportunity to experience country life and take part in activities such as collecting eggs, feeding the animals and helping out in the kitchen. Some farms may have activities such as fishing, hiking, mountain biking or horse riding which are all great ways of keeping the children occupied and having new and exciting experiences as a family. Even if you do not wish to stay in a farm, non residential farm tours are often available.

For further information about farm stays and holidays look at Ireland's farmhouses with Gulliver Ireland for family friendly farmhouse accommodation.

Top tips for a farm stay

Not all farm holidays are on working farms and you should check before you go which animals are on the farm and what the arrangements are for visiting them and participating in farm activities.

Check carefully the type of accommodation and how far you will be from the farm itself.

On a working farm you must be aware at all times of your children's safety including any potential risks such as farm machinery or allergic reactions following contact with animals.

You should consider the time of year as you will not get many baby animals being born in the autumn or winter.

Check with the farm if there are any age restrictions and the suitability for toddlers needs to be taken into account.

It may also be a good idea to prepare children for their exciting new experiences on a farm by teaching them about working life on a farm through many of the books published for children on this subject.

Pros

Farm stays are a very family friendly type of holiday and will give your children a chance to experience special events such as baby lambs being born which they are unlikely to experience elsewhere.

The setting is very relaxed and informal and you and your family can share new travel experiences.

If meals are provided they are often based on fresh produce and include home-made breads, fruit cakes and vegetables.

There is group accommodation in houses around courtyards and in some cases if you are lucky playgrounds/swings and slides can make for a sociable holiday for groups of friends and their children.

Being in a rural setting the scenery can be stunning.

Cons

Some children may be frightened of the animals if they are not used to them.

Standards can vary so you need to use much research before you book as possible.

Farms do have an early start and often have a resident cockerel instead of an alarm clock so lazy lie ins are unlikely. Children seem to have an innate ability to wake early, so this may not necessarily be a bad thing. 

You will find lots of family friendly travel tips and advice in our research and advice section to help you book the right family holiday. Check out also the experiences of other parents and travellers in our parents forum and add your own experiences as we are a great believer in real parent's experiences as the best measure of whether somewhere will suit you for your family holiday. 

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