Fair Oak Farm

It’s not often we come across a property as special as Fair Oak Farm, or one that offers so much. Nestled on a private 12-acre country estate in Sussex in the heart of the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, the award-winning complex sleeps up to 32 guests across self-catering cottages barns and high-end lodges. Owners Ian and Penny encourage sustainable tourism practices and they cater for all manner of gatherings, be it an intimate party, a wellness retreat or a business away stay. The site has even been used as a filming location for a number of BBC TV series, and can be hired exclusively, too.

Fancy putting your feet up and letting someone else do the cooking? An in-house cook can be provided. Keen to play a game or watch a film? Head over to the table tennis table or the cinema barn. Ian and Penny have thought of everything – as well as providing high-end accommodation, there’s a range of activities available exclusively for guests, including wine tasting with a local producer, clay shooting, chocolate master classes, photography classes, trout fishing and spa beauty treatments on-site in the super-cool, dedicated treatment studio. New for 2020 was a wellness space that's used for yoga, fitness and pilates, and they also created a shoe and dog wash area for your four-legged friend.

The vast accommodation is spread around the plot, perfect for a group of friends or a family get-together and in total sleeping up to 32 guests. The Grade-II listed Farmhouse is both rustic and super-stylish – it sleeps up to 10 and has three reception rooms, an open fire and a large well-maintained garden with a firepit. The country-chic converted barns (sleeping up to 8) are spread across three buildings – choose the quirky Barn & Cow shed with its 3 bedrooms and bathrooms, or opt for the boutique one-bed Grain Store or Stable Cottage. And did we mention there’s a capacious communal space, with a dining area large enough to house all guests?

Next up are contemporary and comfortable options ranging from a pair of eco-lodge treehouses each sleeping 2 that sit in an ancient tree line and 2 Shepherd’s Huts with log burners each sleeping 2, to a converted Hay Barn overlooking a paddock that also sleeps 2. More recently in 2023, they've added a third ‘grand' eco-lodge treehouse sleeping up to 4 across 2 bedrooms. Finally, there's the Oast House: sleeping up to 4, it comes complete with a private gated entrance, parking and a courtyard garden.

Each area has its own private parking and scenic views, there’s a BBQ for cookouts on balmy evenings, a children’s play area with trampoline and thatched wendy house and terraces with outdoor seating and fire pit (the ideal spot to relax with a glass of some of that local vino). Animal lover? Be sure to watch out for the alpacas and peacocks that roam this rural treat.

It’s hard to imagine wanting to leave this glorious spot, but for those keen to venture out there’s plenty to do, ranging from cycling in nearby Bedgebury Forest and rock climbing at Eridge to strolling through the medieval village of Mayfield (just over 2 miles away), and visiting the likes of Drusilla's Park Zoo or Scotney Castle – but soon enough you'll feel the pull back to Fair Oak Farm.