The Old Mill, Hayloft & Byre are located within The Barns estate, nestled between the pretty towns of Kington and Leominster, surrounded by idyllic countryside as far as the eye can see. The Barns began life as a scattering of tumbledown farm buildings, and have been lovingly restored by the current owners into a magnificent country-luxe retreat. Surrounded by vast landscapes and even bigger skies, this is the perfect place for adventure. Enjoy mile after mile of beautiful walks, adrenaline fuelled outdoor activities or relax in the hot tub and marvel at the stars after some serious pampering in the comfort of your home from home.
The interiors don’t disappoint either – think contemporary cool combined with divine rustic simplicity, with oodles of space for large groups to celebrate in style without ever feeling crammed in. The high ceilings, exposed stone and original beams are truly beautiful, with cosy clear view log burners and gorgeous flagstone flooring adding to the country style. French doors in the lounge open out on sunny days to let the countryside in, with the sweet sound of birdsong filtering through the breeze.
The Old Mill has two spacious living areas, the Winter Sitting Room is a spectacular room with a suspended galleried walkway above, with vast sumptuous sofas and a cosy log burner, and the Byre has a further living room with a triple height ceiling, vast sumptuous sofas and a cosy log burner.
There is amazing attention to detail, with a beautiful coffee table made from a reclaimed wagon wheel, original flagstone flooring and quirky artwork, along with more modern touches such as the iPod docking station. The beautiful stable doors open onto the private garden with hot tub, and bedrooms one and two lead off this room.
There are lovely cosy TV rooms in both the Old Mill and Byre, with a 60 inch Smart TVs perfect for nights in with a movie, curled up on the huge comfy sofas with a glass of wine and popcorn. The ethos here is rustic simplicity, with quirky one off finds from the farm and stunning original artwork lending a stylish contemporary feel to this gorgeous country retreat.
The second spacious living room in The Old Mill is open plan to the amazing 65ft kitchen and dining room, making a fantastic space for entertaining, with high ceilings, original beams and exposed stone creating a wonderfully atmospheric setting. This beautiful room is flooded with natural light thanks to floor to ceiling bi-doors onto the private walled garden, with outdoor furniture for dining al fresco and a Bose sound system and iPod docking station ideal for celebrations. The dining table can seat anything from 8 – 48 guests, and the stunning kitchen has everything you may need to make cooking for large groups a breeze, with quality tableware, an AGA, and electric oven, hot trays and cabinets, or enlist the services of a private chef to cater for your every need.
The bedrooms are all individually styled, with luxurious furnishings and rich textures creating a real sensory delight. Every bedroom benefits from its own private or en-suite luxury bathroom, whilst hi-tech appliances including iPod radios in every bedroom, Wi-Fi and iPod speakers ensure your utmost comfort.
There are two ground floor bedrooms accessed through the Winter Sitting Room in The Old Mill, one opening onto the gardens with a super king sized bed, and the other facing the courtyard with a king size bed. There is one further super king bedroom on the first floor (which can be arranged as twins on request) and a bedroom with three single beds set in the eaves. This room and the access to it does have restricted head height and we suggest would be better suited to children.
There is an adjacent annexe called The Hayloft which provides four further bedrooms accommodating up to 9 guests, with two ground floor king bedrooms, one ground floor super king or twin bedroom and one first floor king bedroom with a single on a mezzanine level. There is also a fabulous large games room on the first floor, complete with table tennis, air hockey, table football, a piano and a lounge area with books and games.
The Byre is a further annexe with direct access via The Old Mill’s garden, with three ground floor bedrooms, two with king sized beds and one with a super king or twin bed. There is one further bedroom on the first floor with four single beds, set in the eaves. Please note this room does have restricted head height.
The Byre does have its own kitchen and dining area and further garden with a second hot tub, however these are only available by prior arrangement and do incur a supplement, please contact us for more information.
Outside, there is a private enclosed garden complete with a large hot tub, outdoor seating and dining and a gas BBQ. Within The Barns Estate is a play area for children with a climbing frame, crows nest and swing set, and a croquet lawn and grassed lawn for ball games and masses of space for letting off steam.
Please do note that the estate is shared with the other barns. Each barn has its own private garden which is not visible from the other properties, and The Old Mill, Hayloft & Byre is not overlooked, however there may be other guests occupying the other buildings in the estate which share the play area and croquet lawn.
The Old Mill, Hayloft and Byre can be rented in conjunction with The Stables and Granary, thus allowing accommodation for up to 48 guests.
The Barns is fantastic for families with safe, enclosed gardens, an outdoor playground and plenty of toys, games and sports equipment available. Horace and Roger the Shetland ponies at the farm next door love to say hello to guests, especially if they bring a carrot or two along!
The adventure playground of the Black Mountains is just minutes away, with the Brecon Beacons National Park, Wye Valley and Mortimer Forest all close by. The area is renowned for outdoor pursuits, such as walking, cycling, riding, fishing, climbing and canoeing.
There are stunning circular walks from the doorstep through open countryside, Offa’s Dyke runs through the farm or hike up the nearby Lord Hereford’s Knob and Hergest Ridge. For the more experienced mountaineer the challenging summits of Pen y Fan and Sugar Loaf are both within easy reach, and you can return to base and revive aching legs in the steaming hot tub, sipping champagne under the shimmering moonlight.
The renowned towns of Hay on Wye and Ludlow are both less than 30 minutes away, and there are a variety of award winning tea rooms, country inns and Michelin starred restaurants within easy reach. Admire the glorious views on England’s highest 18-hole golf course at Kington, or exhaust the kids at Oaker Wood Leisure with quad bikes, high ropes and raft building.
We can of course assist you in arranging any activities you may wish to enjoy during your stay, along with additional services you may require, from a private chef to housekeeping to entertainment. Why not contact us today to let us create your perfect escape?