Nadder Valley Barn

Rooms

The barn is an enormous L-shape. One half is the open-plan living/dining/kitchen area, as well as a pantry and utility. The sleeping areas are the other half of the L, in a double-height space. Downstairs is the master bedroom - utterly stylish and light-filled, with a high four-poster bed swagged with billowy curtains and clad in luxury linens. Our daughter tried to bag this room for herself, but we were having none of it. We found the mattresses rather soft but that's a personal preference. Ensuite are a dressing room and bathroom, the former wallpapered in a dramatic palm print. The bathroom is a delight, too, Moroccan in influence, with a geometric tiled floor, woven rugs, a weathered silver mirror, and raffia baskets. A rolltop bath stretches under the window and there's a separate walk-in shower.

Up seagrass-covered stairs lies the second bedroom, a small double in the eaves, once the hayloft bedroom of the stable lad. It's nowhere near as luxurious as the master bedroom, but colourful gingham fabrics and a quirky sheepdog cushion catch the eye. There's also a child's bed in this room. Across the corridor is the second bathroom; nautical in theme, with another roll-top bath and views out to the fields.

Features include:

• Hairdryer
• Iron
• Washing machine
• WiFi

Eating

The kitchen is amazing, with a range cooker tucked into a chimney breast, and drawers and shelves stacked with cookery books, colourful crockery and all the utensils you could want (fresh coffee, tea, oil and cooking herbs are supplied). To give an idea, I'd brought my cake-making equipment so my daughter and I could bake; everything was already here - an electric whisk, scales, muffin trays, even flour in the well-stocked pantry. With a sociable island area surrounded by stools, a long table lit by low-hanging wicker shades and an alfresco dining area, the barn is ideal for spending pleasurable time cooking, and for long, lazy meals.

There's a great local butcher (get steaks to BBQ or a lamb joint), and various farm shops a drive away. And as for eating out in the area's foodie pubs and restaurants, an information pack will give you suggestions; we loved the sound of Pythouse Kitchen Garden in nearby Tisbury, which dishes up glorious seasonal produce - a pheasant casserole with root vegetable mash; heritage carrot soup and bonfire toffee pudding.

Features include:

• Barbecue
• Breakfast
• Coffee maker
• Dishwasher
• Food blender
• Fridge
• Full kitchen
• Hob or stove
• Microwave
• Oven
• Toaster

Activities

• Unwind from the everyday. In summer, throw open all the windows and laze in the garden; in winter, light the log burner and play board games or watch DVDs (provided) on your laptop. Indulgent long soaks in roll-top baths are a must at any time of year
  
• Clare can suggest local walks, bike rides or scenic drives, depending on how active you feel
  
• Potter around nearby towns and villages. Tisbury (15 mins) has a 12thC church, the largest tithe barn in England, Messums Art Gallery and the excellent Beckford Arms for a meal.
  
• We enjoyed Old Wardour Castle (20 mins), amazingly intact despite being battered in the English Civil War. There's an 18thC banqueting hall, high turrets and a rock grotto in the grounds
  
• If you've never been, Stonehenge (20 mins) is a must; we loved its mystical circle of 13-foot-high stones
  
• Medieval Salisbury (15 mins) has a stunning Gothic Cathedral, with an original 1215 Magna Carta
  
• Spend a day at Stourhead (30 mins); at its best in spring, when the rhododendron bushes are in flower, or autumn, when its trees are ablaze with golden colour

Activities on site or nearby include:

• Birdwatching
• Cycling
• Golf
• Hiking
• Historical sites
• Museums / galleries
• Shopping / markets

Kids

This is a great rental for a family or extended family, or a multi-generational group.

The upstairs bedroom has a double bed and a child's single bed, and its bathroom has a tub with hand-held shower. Downstairs, the master four-poster bedroom has a travel cot, and a tub in its bathroom.

If booking the Whole Barn, a maximum of 3 children are allowed, or 2 children and a baby.

There's masses of space indoor and out to explore, and a sweet little play area nook in the eaves, with toys and books. Our 3-year-old daughter loved feeding the owners' sheep and playing in the garden.

Best for:

Babies (0-1 years), Toddlers (1-4 years), Children (4-12 years)

Distances:

• Airport: 1.5 hrs (Bristol or London Heathrow)
• Hospital: 10km (Salisbury)
• Shops: 10 minutes' walk (village shop)

For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection

Location

Nadder Valley Barn is set in the delightful small village of Barford St Martin, near Salisbury in Wiltshire, England.

By Car:
The barn is just over an hour's drive from Bristol and 2 hours from west London.

By Train:
The nearest station, Tisbury, is a 15-minute taxi-ride away. Trains from London Waterloo take 1 hour and 45 minutes. Clare can recommend local taxi firms for the final leg - book in advance.

By Air:
Bournemouth and Southamption airports are 45 mins away; Bristol and London Heathrow are 1.5 hours.

Detailed directions will be sent when you book through i-escape.

More on getting to the UK and getting around