Cornwall tops as rural breaks demand soars
CORNWALL has been named a ‘top three’ destination for farm stays and rural holidays as the staycation trend booms postpandemic, according to a leading travel provider.
The picturesque county and agricultural heartland is the second most popular location in the UK for countryside escapes according to travel provider Farm Stay, after Yorkshire and ahead of Norfolk.
Neighbouring Devon was ranked just behind in fourth place, with the 10-strong order of preference completed by Suffolk, Derbyshire, Wales, Wiltshire, Kent and Scotland.
The findings come as the accommodation booking and information platform also reported a 45% surge in bookings since 2018, the greatest increase in its 38-year history.
Originally founded as the UK’s first not-for-profit farmer owned consortium aimed at promoting the country’s agri-tourism industry, Farm Stay has now grown to offer over 420 farm stays and rural boltholes, from working farm holidays to self-catering, B&B’s to glamping across England, Northern Island, Scotland and Wales.
Kay Barriball, Farm Stay chairperson, said: “For 38 years, Farm Stay has provided its guests with the most authentic, grassroots rural holiday experience available throughout the UK.
“Whilst our clientele and members have always been dedicated to sustainability, we see this as a trend which will become even more pronounced post-pandemic, both in terms of what our members offer, and what guests look for in a holiday.
“By booking through our website, our guests not only make a personal connection with the host but know that all profits go directly to the very people they will be staying with,” she said.
Established in the 1980s, Farm Stay has recently launched a new website to help make it even easier for UK holidaymakers to plan their rural break, whilst allowing its members capitalise on what is widely expected to be the busiest ever year for holidays at home.
As well as reporting a soaring increase in those wanting to escape to the country for their staycation,
Farm Stay, which has its headquarters at the National Agricultural Centre in Warwickshire, has found that farm stays and rural escapes are most popular amongst the 25-34 years age bracket, millennial couples and groups, as well as young families.
Glamping has also soared in popularity, it adds, with almost as many people searching for it as B&B accommodation – up over 3,000 searches from 58,891 in 2018-19 to 62,023 in 2020-21.
There has been a 58% increase in those looking for ‘large group’ accommodation, sleeping 12 people and above; while indoor pools and hot tubs are a new ‘must have’, with searches up 45% and 35% respectively in the last three years.