The Blurb
Ninety minutes from London, the ancient and sleepy hamlet of Brandier on the Wiltshire-Gloucestershire border is a stunning piece of contemporary design and a country retreat like no other. A lovely, unfussy and calming place to stay, independent souls will love the enchanting walled gardens and individual homesteads of Brandiers Farm.
You can stride out to pubs, cycle to the water park, drink cocktails in the wild garden, and get back to nature.
The home belongs to the Lavery Family: the late fashion designer Kimberly and renowned photographer Peter, as well as their sons Oliver and Tom.
The Long Barn
The Long Barn is a timber-clad barn conversion next to the ancient cottage where the owners live. With a tipi in the long grass for kids and several sofa beds, there’s tons of potential for friends and family to pile in. The owners and other guests are around but will leave you to your own devices.
Enter The Long Barn to find a wonderful kitchen (scrubbed table, polished concrete floor), a lobby flooded with light, walls vibrant blue, and a Cuban bedroom with turquoise shutters. Up the steep spiral stair is a playroom – pool table, pull-down projector for film nights, and a variety of beds, perfect for older children and teenagers. The second double is up here too, its doors opening to a balcony for breakfast, and a view of the meadow beyond.
We Say: This is a stunning barn conversion and, as with every inch of the Brandiers Farm, every detail has been thought through to perfection. Every room is designed in such an utterly satisfying way, you’ll want to marvel at it long after arriving and settling in. We particularly enjoyed The Cuban Room, inspired by the owner’s travels.
Brandier Long Barn from £250 per night www.sawdays.co.uk
Extra accommodation in the Brandier Studio from £113 per night www.airbnb.co.uk
The Box
Situated in a quiet corner of the farm, this is a self-catered cabin, with a log-burning stove, television, ultrafast broadband, underfloor heating, and all modern amenities.
We Say: This is a recent addition to the farm and the most modern in appearance. As self-contained as the Long Barn but more private as it lies in a field a little away from the main house. Perfect for a romantic getaway.
Brandier Box from £158 per night www.airbnb.co.uk
Glamping
Brandier has a number of glamping options in its grounds, giving you a chance to explore and delight in a unique rural retreat, whilst taking advantage of the self-contained grounds, ponds and meadows, a lake and a tennis court, and even a rustic lakeside bar.
The glamping consists of three options, each positioned in its own field with its own private cooking area. In the middle field, ‘Camp Brunhilda’ is a micro-site in its own right, made up of a vintage 1975 VW campervan, sleeping 2, and an adjacent 3-metre bell tent, sleeping another couple. There’s also a hammock, fire bowl and a strategically positioned bed for star-gazing and nights outdoors, and Brunhilda is right next to the Farm’s ‘Storytelling Circle’, which has a campfire, seating and outdoor cooking facilities. Oliver the resident storyteller will give private tellings here via prior appointment and Tamsin the resident spoon carver will give green woodworking lessons, again, via prior appointment. Suitable for all ages.
The top field is home to a luxury 5-metre ‘Bedouin Bell Tent’, complete with a wood-burning stove, king-size bed, low wooden tables, hand-woven rugs and cushions, and sleeping two lovers in total comfort. And finally, there’s the Showman’s Wagon in the bottom field – a restored early 20th-century circus wagon with ‘gipsy-chic vibes and its own wood-burning stove, fridge and kitchen facilities, and sleeping 2 in a cosy alcove.
Friday nights in the summer months are ‘Pizza Folk Night’ out by the lakeside bar, with wood-fired pizza in a clay oven, a selection of local ales and ciders on offer and live music from a plethora of local folk artists.
We Say: Glamping isn’t for everyone, but if it is your cup of tea, you’ll want for nothing in this beautifully rewilded part of the farm. Across the road from the main house, with a lake and a fully kitted-out bar, and plenty of woods to roam, this space feels like a special haven in the ancient countryside. If you’re a history buff, be sure to ask the owners about the Roman Kiln that was recently discovered on the grounds!
