Decades ago, this was a horse barn, home to a pony and trap for the Main House, with a stable lad sleeping in the eaves. It was then used to house livestock, and later filled with junk; when owners Clare and Barnaby bought it – along with their beautiful Georgian house – it was practically derelict. But with admirable vision, they've completely rebuilt the old barn into a timber-clad structure, with a soaring pitched roof above the most amazing open-plan living area, and a contemporary wing of black corrugated steel housing 2 bedrooms.
Stylewise, it's an Instagram heaven of boho-chic fabrics and antique furnishings. The original brick floor (now with underfloor heating) is softened by geometric rugs, while battered leather armchairs are made cosy with Moroccan cushions and Indian throws. Everywhere you look there's something of interest: a floor-to-ceiling dresser of mismatched crockery, vintage signs in the utility room, and a deep-blue hallway with rustic garden furniture and sprawling plants. And then there's the beautiful Nadder Valley itself: quintessentially English, with a patchwork of green and golden fields, foodie pubs, charming villages, and iconic Stonehenge and Salisbury nearby. We'll be back for our own holidays.
Highs
- The sheer style of the place; we had insane house envy
- Sweeping views from endless windows, out over thatched rooftops to the green Nadder Valley
- A suntrap terrace for lazy lunches
- The incredible master bedroom, with a four-poster bed, palm-papered dressing room and rolltop bath
- There's tons of space both indoors and out; even with 5 or 6 people you won't feel remotely cramped
Lows
- 7-night stays preferred during school holidays (and note there is an end-of-stay cleaning fee)
- No restaurant within walking distance but self-catering here is a joy
- The second bedroom is a small double in the eaves, with a child's bed alongside it. It has its own bathroom, though
- Note that the owners' house is on the road below, and the 2 gardens connect, though you're completely private
- No dogs permitted
- Boutique Rental
- 2 bedrooms
- Self catering; restaurants a drive away
- Up to 3 children welcome
- Open all year
- Pool
- Spa Treatments
- Beach Nearby
- Babysitting
- Creche / Kids Club
- Car recommended
- Parking
- Pet Friendly
- Disabled Access
- Restaurants Nearby
- WiFi
- Air Conditioning
- Guest Lounge
- Terrace
- Garden
- Gym
- Daily Maid Service
- Towels & Bedlinen
- Utility room
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
Best Time to go
The barn is open all year round. We came in winter and found it amazingly cosy - thanks to underfloor heating we didn't even need to light the log burner. Spring would be gorgeous, the garden full of flowers, and you could make the most of the sun-trap dining terrace all summer long.
Our Top Tips
Arrange a supermarket delivery to chime with your arrival. All the main players are nearby, and it saves you the hassle of having to go and stock up once you arrive. Spend your time mixing welcome cocktails instead – there's a proper shaker, measures, swanky glasses and ice in the utility room.
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 London; see our car rental recommendations.
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
Airports:
- Bristol 90.0 km BRS
- London Gatwick 168.0 km LGW
Other:
- Beach 90.0 km
- Shops 1.0 km
- Restaurant 1.0 km
Our guests' ratings...
Based on 9 independent reviews from i-escape guests
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