A short but scenic drive outside Lincoln city centre lies Ashlin Farm Barns, a collection of modern self-catering homes. And home really is the word, because they’ve been carefully and lovingly designed to feel like your own place.
It’s a family run business set up by Natalie and her husband, Tom, who started developing barns during lockdown, with the business having bloomed since then, growing to 24 properties across the site.
Accommodation
Although there are smaller properties, perfect for cosy weekends in the country, in my opinion this collection of barns is best suited to hosting. Many of the properties sleep over 10 people and have large open plan living areas, making it an ideal place for get-togethers. Don’t just take it from me, but celebrities, too, like Stacey Dooley, who hosted her baby shower there. For groups larger than 10, Natalie will advise on the barns closest together to ensure guests are close by.
We stayed in Rowan Barn for my Dad’s 70th birthday and had the most special of breaks; a lot of that was down to the accommodation. The large, bright open living room and kitchen area were straight out a showroom, boasting contemporary touches like underfloor heating and a well-equipped kitchen. We enjoyed many dinners and brunches around the wooden table as the beautiful morning light trickled through the bifold doors.
If you know Lincolnshire, you’ll know the county’s long skies often host the most beautiful sunrises and sunsets, and we were lucky that our private garden overlooked an open stretch of countryside, meaning we had spectacular views. Each barn is equipped with a private hot tub ensuring you can soak in the skies without getting chilly and, for an extra warm kick, guests can light the indoor log burner.
Despite sleeping 10, the barn didn’t ever feel cramped and each of the five individually decorated bedrooms comes with an ensuite and smart TV, so there’s little need to leave if the socialising gets too much!
We stayed at Ashlin Farm during winter but, come summer, the barns would make a wonderful place for family holidays. In addition to the hot tub, each property has a barbecue and an outdoor room, which makes for an ideal place for young ones to play.
To do
Located five miles outside of Lincoln, guests staying at Ashlin Farm Barns have the option of exploring both the countryside and city. The site is just a few minutes’ walk away from a beautiful nature reserve which is well worth a stroll. We were there in winter so kept moving to stay walm, but come summer there are benches scattered throughout the reserve making it a gorgeous spot for a picnic.
Lincoln itself is worthy of both a day and night trip – the historic, charming city is home to many independent shops and pretty canals, as well as a stunning cathedral. And come night-time, there’s a different vibe in the city when the pubs come to life, as our taxi driver informed us: “it’s a brilliant place to pub crawl”.
We didn’t manage a crawl but can highly recommend The Adam and Eve – reputedly the oldest tavern in Lincoln dating back as far as 1701 – it’s a classic cosy British pub, packed with interesting and friendly locals.
In a nutshell
We stayed at Ashlin Farm for three nights and felt sad to leave at the end. There’s so much to love about these homely barns; cooking in the beautiful kitchen, mornings in the hot tub and stunning sunrises and sunsets.
So often trips away can feel impersonal but Natalie and her family went above and beyond to make us welcome. When our Ocado order arrived early, Natalie kindly unpacked it for us, and when the heating system temporarily glitched, Tom came straight over to fix it. And this isn’t limited to us, they go the extra mile for all guests. Each December, they decorate every property and gift all guests a welcome hamper of local goodies; ours contained delicious biscuits, crackers, cordial and coffee.
In short, for a home away from home, I cannot recommend Ashlin Farm Barns enough.
Factbox
Address: Ashlin Farm Barns, Ashing Lane, Dunholme, Lincoln, LN2 3BY
Phone: 01673 274 061
Website: ashlinfarmbarns.co.uk
Imagery provided by Ashlin Farm Barns
