The Great Escape Dream destinations for UK group getaways

THE GREAT ESCAPE

Carrie Mitchell discovers the perfect place for a post-lockdown group getaway

When I first booked our group trip to Redford Farm, a boutique country retreat in the heart of the Shropshire countryside, three of our gang were heavily pregnant, including me so there was one huge silver lining of having to reschedule what was originally my 40th birthday celebration to after the lockdown rules had eased. Nope, it wasn’t that we’d get to meet each other’s babies (though yes, that was also pretty special), it was that we’d get to have a big old drink. Nine months pregnancy-enforced sobriety coupled with 14 months Corona-enforced separation made for one hell of a reunion. And we couldn’t have found a better place to do it.

From its striking red-brick exterior and sprawling sun-drenched gardens to the luxury, character-filled rooms and epic open plan spaces within, Redford Farm Barns is the most perfect party pad. Owner Jude Hunt, who lives in the neighbouring farmhouse with her family, obviously cherishes the place and she goes out of her way to make us feel welcome, even surprising me with a gorgeous bouquet of flowers, hand-drawn card and the most beautiful birthday cake. Once everyone

has arrived and the tearful hugs and squeals are out of the way, the first thing we do is gather round the kitchen island to get stuck in. There’s something familiar about the place which we can’t quite put our finger on. Until, that is, we spot a signed photo of Nigella Lawson cooking at the very same kitchen island and we realise that’s where we’ve seen it: the Beeb filmed Nigella’s Christmas Table here a few years back. You can see why it appealed: it’s possibly the most well-equipped kitchen I’ve ever been in. In fact, the whole barn is kitted out with every little thing a family might need from books and games to candles and stacks of wood for the fire.

With four bedrooms and three bathrooms in the main barn, plus two bedrooms and a bathroom a piece in the adjoining cottage, there’s plenty of space for all four of our families, even with three new humans to add to the overall headcount. Throw in an outdoor dining area

FROM ITS STRIKING RED-BRICK EXTERIOR AND SPRAWLING SUN-DRENCHED GARDENS TO THE LUXURY, CHARACTER-FILLED ROOMS AND EPIC OPEN PLAN SPACES WITHIN; REDFORD FARM BARNS IS THE MOST PERFECT PARTY PAD”

complete with firepit, a rustic shed come BYOB pub, a vegetable garden ripe with pickings, picturesque pond overlooked by its own stretch tent, fields filled with sheep, chicken and pigs; heck, even a zipwire, and you basically have a natural theme park. The two three-year olds in our crew have a blast, not to mention the overgrown kids making up the rest of our gang.

While it feels like we’re in the middle of nowhere, the countryside haven is actually just a few minutes’ drive from the pretty market town of Ludlow and we’re reliably informed it’s well worth a visit but we never quite make it there. Instead, we spend the next three days frolicking around the farm as if it was our own. By day, there’s country walks, paddling pool games, strawberry picking, ice lolly licking; by night, there’s BBQ-feasting, birthday cake eating, Aperol-spritz sipping, the most fun bathtimes our kids have ever had. Then, when all five babies are tucked up in bed, the outdoor fire goes on, the proper cocktails come out and we all sit outside laughing and dancing and hugging and doing all those things we’ve had to live without over the last difficult year. Lying on the grass together looking up at the stars, it almost feels like it was worth the wait.

A three-night weekend at Redford Farm barns starts from £1,948. Ludlow Barn and Tenbury Cottage can also be booked individually for smaller groups www.redfordfarmbarns.co.uk

CLOSER TO HOME…

Three great houses for group getaways in Scotland

LEUCHIE WALLED GARDEN,

North Berwick Sleeping up to 12, this luxury mid-century modern house is set in its own secluded five acre walled garden. www.leuchiewalledgarden.com

BALNAKEILLY, Pitlochry A 16th century mansion house with a 2000-acre estate, this epic destination has 13 beautifully decorated bedrooms available to book individually or as an exclusive use venue. www.balnakeilly.com

DUN ALUINN, Aberfeldy Impeccably designed by its architect owner, this chic escape in Perthshire sleeps up to 18 guests and features its own wood fired hot tub with views down the Tay Valley. www.dunaluinn.com

The House Story

A JOURNAL FOR BEAUTIFUL SPACES by i-on

In this month’s issue, stylish essentials for outdoor living, a uniquely designed family home in Cramond, our guide to updating a period property, plus our new regular interview spot, The Design Files