A Weekend Away
Turning off the A303 into our rural corner of calm, a quiet farm track leads our guests past our resident polo ponies, rare breed Cleveland Bay horses, or perhaps Cuckoo, our very lovely and quite aged pony. Stretching out in front is a wildflower meadow, with views down to the cows in the field below, red kites busy overhead in the summer, hares boxing in the spring and the distinctive call of peacocks ringing out all year round.
Stepping into one of our two thoughtfully appointed huts or cottage, luxurious kingsize beds and a locally sourced welcome hamper await. Outside, each has it’s own secluded wood fired hot tub, offering beautiful views across the farm. Some guests are very happy to stay right where they are, while others like to explore further afield.
We have put together a few recommendations of how to fill a weekend away at the Estate to give you a few ideas of what you might do during your stay!
MORNING
After a slow breakfast in bed watching the farm wake up, what better to do than to pull on some walking shoes and explore.
Head out of the drive to wander some of our 2,500 acres, taking in ancient burial mounds, bounding deers and heaps of fresh air. You could walk as far as you wanted (and Susie and Rory have lots of recommendations for lovely walks), but to make the most of the livestock, look out for our flock of rare breed Hampshire Down sheep (and newborn lambs in late Winter and Spring). Loop back towards the farm where you will find The Cholderton Farm Shop, an ideal pitstop for a coffee, before heading back to the huts via the cattle sheds for a quick hello with our cows.
Alternatively, you could visit our nearby conservation success story and go in search of the Great Bustard. Registered charity The Great Bustard Group, invite small groups to see these magnificent birds roaming on the plain again (after being hunted to extinction in the UK) and they are very impressive - early-birds can look out for their mating ritual, ‘the lek’ in May.
lunchtime
We are spoiled for lunch options. You might like to stay close to home and walk to The Malet Arms, a local pub in Newton Tony which makes delicious food, using seasonal produce in an informal traditional pub setting. Or you could try The Red Lion in Chisenbury for an unforgettable menu, they are recognised with a Michelin star. We really love Pythouse Kitchen Garden, a sustainable restaurant focussed around its age-old garden, with open fire cooking from time to time too.
We are based within reach of the towns of Salisbury, Marlborough and Winchester, all of which have a wealth of food options and interesting things to do. In nearby Stockbridge; Meadow, Thyme and Tides, The Grosvenor and The Greyhound on the Test are all delicious.
AFTERNOON
If you haven’t experienced Stonehenge, there is nothing like it. The venue has been refreshed with a visitor centre, but the sheer drama of the stones is unmissable. The Stone Circle experience will take you inside the stones (booking through English Heritage) if you want to get extra close. As well as Stonehenge, Avebury is 30 minutes away. A completely different experience, set amongst a charming village, with the stones sprawling out across the local landscape.
Winchester Cathedral is awe inspiring too, with the bones of ancient Kings and Queens resting there and atmospheric artwork from Antony Gormley. Both Winchester and Salisbury Cathedral are lucky enough to have nesting Peregrines there, visible flying around the cathedral if you are patient enough to watch for a while.
EVENING
In the evening, our wood fired hot tubs are the best place to be. Rest your legs, watch the sun go down and reconnect with nature. We would love to welcome you here, head to our ‘Stay’ page for details of our accommodation options and availability.