JUST GO FOR IT.
A lot has changed since my first business trip to England in 2019. As an owner of a rapidly growing agritourism company, I’ve navigated my way through growing pains, anticipated obstacles, and unexpected challenges. The week prior to my departure was no exception. I jokingly said, “I earned my bloodshot eyes this time.” One of our horses cut himself in the pasture and we spent 10 hours trying to get him sutured and home. A predator ate half of our Thanksgiving turkeys on the same day. The wind destroyed our largest barn 48 hours before my departure. I kept wondering if these issues were “signs” that I shouldn’t leave the country, should close the farm for two weeks, or cancel my trip. I had a team of people telling me to “Go! Give us a chance to take care of things.” I’m so glad I did.
WED – Cue the 6-hour decompression flight! Below is a map that highlights the 20+ stops, and more than 1600 miles we traveled in 12 days. If you’ve read my previous blogs (2019 or 2022), you may recognize some of the places we revisited. If you’ve met me in person, you know I’m a gal of many words… many fast words. So here goes the shortest version I could come up with (this is part 1 of 2).
YOU’VE ARRIVED.
THUR – 10:30AM at Heathrow Airport
I was greeted by two of my biggest cheerleaders – Aunt Sandy and Uncle Kevin. Sandy is my dad’s sister. These two had a plan to re-ignite my creativity for The Farmyard and help me recharge. It was a perfect balance of comedy, planning, wine, tours, and cream tea. We headed to Needingworth to drop off my bags and “took it easy” with only one stop that night. Fresh air at Johnsons of Old Hurst helped me fight the jet lag. I’ve loved watching this farm expand over the years and revisiting its earlier displays. They grow like us – quickly. We walked through the new path amongst the trees, saw their enclosure progress, and admired the BBQ stations. They do a wonderful job of displaying their reptiles, ostriches, and other animals.
LOST IN THE SHEEP FIELDS
Suki Ferris has been an incredible friend of mine since high school. You’ll see her mentioned in all of my UK blogs. I admire her dedication to her work, enthusiasm toward architecture, and her independence. She enjoys a challenge when it comes to hiking and has pulled numerous pages of public footpath maps from a magazine. We both agreed that some of the vague descriptions made things tricky, but in the grand scheme, it added to the excitement. The first one was easy. It was a short walk and flat. We crossed a bridge with indents that we believed served as a space for herdsmen to stand while their animals crossed. I would not describe day 2 as a cakewalk, but the steep climb meant gorgeous views. At one point we were literally lost in the fields, but I took comfort in knowing the sheep seemed to know what they were doing. These walks require visitors to uphold a certain level of respect and responsibility (ie. close the gate behind you) toward the farms and property, and we were happy to do so.
Suki’s home is near the Cotswolds, an area that showcases a yellow-colored stone and a welcoming feel. I admired the gardens and riders on horseback as we traveled on the sidewalks of one of the villages. We finished the evening with a drink at the pub, a walk to see some familiar places nearby, and a delicious dinner in Suki’s cottage.
Diddly Squat
I’ve heard about Diddly Squat Farm Shop a few times and we thought we should check it out ourselves. It is owned by British Celeb Jeremy Clarkson, who has featured his new farming ventures on a television show. Although I was hoping to see his infamous Lamborghini Tractor, I think everyone else had similar thoughts. We quickly realized the biggest thing there was the queues(lines) for the small shop and eating area. Like all of the other tourists, I did get a photo with the sign and we watched an episode of the show at home. The young man helping on Mr. Clarkson’s farm was “spot on” with so many of his statements. Especially when he said every farmer in town will judge you if you have skippers… you’ve got to watch the show to understand.
A TRIP DOWN A TALL MEMORY LANE
It was time to get into the thick of touring. Aunt Sandy’s planning is done with precision and gumption. If you’re not on time, you might get left behind, or as one of us experienced … locked INSIDE of the parked car. Off to Gloucester Farm Shop. These roadside pitstops are called “services” in the UK. It has clearly grown over the years into a successful farm-to-consumer hub. They have a television series that features different producers and highlights many local products they source. They also take community connections seriously. We admired some of their photos and displays in the hallway that highlighted wildlife projects, the exploration of skills for folks of any age, and outdoor play for children. You can see more about their efforts here – Community | Gloucester Services Farmshop & Kitchen | GGT | M5.
Park Hall is one of the farms we visited. It has a great system and provides a much more commercialized feel than some of the other farms we visited. The bunny table design and tea room chairs were some of my favorites. They also created other branches of education including a galaxy area, a science show with a “wizard” and history displays highlighting WWI, Victorian Times, and the Iron Age Period.
Pontcysyllte Aqueduct – If you’re afraid of heights, I’d recommend sitting this one out. It’s a pretty narrow space! Uncle Kevin tells the story of when he and two friends were boys. They journeyed, by canoe, from Chester to the aqueduct and back, a distance of around 100 miles. This took multiple days. The Chester to Pontcysyllte leg was by canal and Pontcysyllte to Chester by the wild River Dee (I’ll have photos of a part of the River Dee in pt2). He tells me the river section involved a couple of capsizes and a “soaking-wet kit!” Hearing this story 60+ years later makes me appreciate that they’re “taking it easy on me” during these trips.
Telford Inn – Civil engineer Thomas Telford designed the aqueduct and another bridge you’ll see later in the blog. Naturally, we felt we should dine in a pub named after him. We ended the evening at the – Wild Pheasant Hotel and Spa. You will have to ask me in person about the hotel’s light-saving methods. That’s quite a story.
6 QUICK, POWERFUL STOPS
We had a big day ahead that Tuesday, so we kicked it off in Rhug.
This estate has been known for its bison and sustainable farming practices. We had a bite to eat at the cafe and a little walk around the shop. I even caught one of the farmers hauling in wrapped bales. Traditionally, our farm uses white plastic to wrap and the bales often resembled marshmallows. We saw stacks of baby blue and black plastic-wrapped bales and numerous farmers harvesting soybeans, wheat and plums.
GO TO WALES…
The MOST HUMBLING EXPERIENCE may have been a simple pitstop on the side of the road as we traveled through Snowdonia and past Snowdon. I’ve never seen hills or mountains like these. If you’re looking for breathtaking views, water trickling down the rocks, green grass, and sheep on the hillside – just take a look at the photos from the rest of my trip and put this beautiful place on your bucket list.
The National Slate Museum provided history and a new appreciation for the product. We watched demonstrations, looked at the massive water wheel, and listened to the stories of the men who worked in the quarries. Take a closer look!
This word (or name) speaks for itself. Located in Anglesey, Wales, Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch is the longest place name in Europe. After this journey, I think it’s safe to say, that Welsh is a hard language. Uncle Kevin helped translate signs. We had a great time trying to pronounce it. If you’d like to hear how it goes, listen to this!
This bridge to Anglesey was also created by Telford and served as the way for cars to travel between the island and the northwest side of Wales. We were able to see the Menai Strait under the bridge and from a different angle (below). Uncle Kevin spent many years visiting the island of Anglesey to sail on the Menai Strait (the sea channel that separates Anglesey from mainland Wales)… and he has the trophies to prove it! It can be quite dangerous as the waters rush in from two different directions and create small swirls/whirlpools.
Beaumaris Pier helped us see Snowdon from a different angle. Children were catching crabs off the side. As you can see, the water, boats, and skies were all complimenting each other that day. It is also where we saw Beaumaris Castle, one of the last of Edward I’s ‘iron ring’ of castles along the North Wales coast.
I always love an authentic experience. We had a drink and crisps (chips) at The Bull’s Head, which gave that perfect “pub feel.” This was followed by dinner and a sunset at a dock near our hotel, Premier Inn.
A picture like this transforms a busy day into something peaceful. That transition of perspective allowed me to appreciate not only the distance traveled and sights seen but also the memories made with family who continue to support my crazy dreams. Although they often dodge the camera, Aunt Sandy and Uncle Kevin are behind the scenes of nearly every UK experience. These are the stories I look forward to sharing in 60+ years.
The Farmyard 