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AIBU?

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Original poster

To wonder what sort of person goes to Featherdown Farms?

185 replies

MamaVoo · 23/12/2009 12:36

I received the brochure this morning and if I had to describe it I'd say it was over priced 'camping' for the posh. I'm imgaining that the brouchure is aimed at families who have houses in affluent parts of London and children who spend all of their time sealed into mummy's 4x4 being ferried to a variety of extra-curricular lessons.

Things that made me particularly were the 'slow food packages', whereby you pay £32.50 and they give you the ingredients for a stew which you then have to cook yourself over a fire. Then there is 'private bunny hire'. £15 to look after the farmer's rabbit for a week - not forgetting to clean the hutch out before you leave. Is it just me who can't see the appeal?

OP posts:
tackyChristmastreedelivery · 24/12/2009 21:35

'Fraid not, but I live in that neck of the woods [maybe 45 mins] and it is a lovely spot. It does look lovely.

PoppetOne · 24/12/2009 21:58

Ahem! Been to 2 Feather Downs this year - they are fantastic!

We don't live in London or have a 4x4 - we are northern monkeys!

OK, the 'extras' are a rip off, but if you enjoy being outside and camping without the worry of how you will cope if the weather is nasty, they are superb!

We went to Lochouses, near North Berwick when DD was 3 mo. Beautiful private beach, took my M&D and they loved it too - my Mum has arthritis in her knees so can't climb in & out of conventional tent.

When DD was nearly 6 mo we went to Pettywood Farm, near Stamford. Richard & Katy, who own the farm were fantastic and it is a beautiful part of the UK.

We did meet a family from London in a 4x4 but they were attempting to have a cheap holiday with their 3 kids - and they were lovely!

We will definitely go again & would love for our friends to come with us so we could all have a big campfire in the evening.

BTW I used to live in the country, live in a semi rural area now and miss having the space around and hearing birds/animals.

hophophippidtyhop · 24/12/2009 23:10

smallorange, it was good, peaceful, and there's a fab market down the road in Holsworthy. eco toilets - i forgot to mention those! The owner is lovely and even let our 2yo dd feed the chickens.

Crazycatlady · 26/12/2009 13:46

Actually, this thread has made me wonder what actually is the problem with families who live in London and drive a 4x4 . Lots of people live in London, and 4x4s are convenient for lugging kids, dogs, sports kit etc. What's the issue?

[declaring interest - we do live in London, but don't have a large car, yet, as we only have one DD and no dog]

MrsBadger · 26/12/2009 13:58

estate cars and MPVs are quite good for lugging kids, dogs, sports kit etc too.

in comparison 4x4s are expensive to run, bad for the environment, unfriendly to other road users and hard to park.
Their actual advantage and indeed raison d'etre (ie being good off-road) is not really applicable if you only ever drive on roads...

Crazycatlady · 26/12/2009 14:07

I don't see how a 4x4 is any more difficult to park than an MPV though. And the environmental impact is about engine size, fuel and running efficiency rather than the four wheel driveability of the thing.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not on a mission to PR 4x4s... but I do think a certain prejudice exists against all people who live in London and happen to have, say, a Toureg or an X3, as opposed to living elsewhere justaboutanywherenotinLondon and drive, say, a Ford Galaxy or BMW estate. No difference in environmental impact necessarily, just an awful lot of judgy judginess

FuriousGeorge · 26/12/2009 14:32

I've been trying for years to convince my dad to convert our farm to one of those Featherdown type things.Money for old rope as far as I can see,but he won't have it.I'd have thought the idea of folk actually paying to feed your animals is a win win situation,but he's having none of it.I'm sure there are some people who would pay good money to lamb a sheep,or learn how to shear it.

Kiwinyc · 22/04/2010 13:16

Just signed ourselves up for our second Featherdown Farm holiday in August. Kids can't wait, they absolutely loved the freedom the first time, of being able to run around in a big pack with the other children they met, around the farm, and even DH, a self-confessed soft souther poofter who loathes real camping, loved it.

We use a Farm as a base to explore the atrractions nearby, and you don't have to sign up for the extras FFS! The main attraction is having water in the tent being able to go to the loo and not have to lug water around is a big convenience.

Oh and yes, we live in London but no we don't drive a 4x4 or even an estate, we don't see the need.

We will never do 'real' camping because Dh hates it, but nor do we have the storage space for a tent and all the associated camping equipment required. (And our cars not big enough either.

Iwantscallops · 22/04/2010 14:04

Seriously condidering one for our family hol this year. I'm thinking that by time we have paid for all an hour in the Haven clubhouse every day it will actually work out cheaper...and be more exciting for the kids!

Iwantscallops · 22/04/2010 14:05

Oh, and I drive a Punto.

Downdog · 22/04/2010 14:38

Maybe you are paying for the space .....

I think they are more of an alternative to a country cottage (well out of my budget), than a tent on an average UK campsite. By campsite I am thinking of the horrendous overcrowded places that are just like inner city terraces, but without the soundproofing.

I love camping - I'd love to stay at one of these places - but it's well beyond my budget.

It's a real shame that something similar but less pretentious, cheaper and without all the rent-a-rabbit nonsense isn't on offer as I think there would be huge demand.

It's very hard to get away from it all in UK (and even Europe), with children & without spending an absolute fortune. I had a lovely holiday in Wales a few years back camping on farms at causal style campsites - but they tended to be by a river or pond and I would not want to stay there with a toddler.

twinterror · 22/04/2010 17:12

I read a review in sunday times and they said it was on a normal working farm, no lovely play areas or pat the animals in sight and gave it a fairly dismal review - depends which one you go to!

lolabug · 22/04/2010 22:26

tbh, did proper camping last summer with a 6mnth old and a 7yr old......rain, sleet, force 10 gale, broken tent, freezing temps..I could go on. By the end of the trip, I am horrified to admin, I had caravan envy.

Therefore, if someone offered me a feathery bed, a rustic kitchen and a tent which was so secure it wouldn't fall on my head in the night, of course I would pay for it.

Plus I get a bunny

Plus I wouldn't ever look at a caravan with longing again.

lolabug · 22/04/2010 22:27

of course I mean 'admit' not 'admin'....grrrr..

EricPicklesFatNeck · 22/04/2010 22:38

thank you for reviving this thread, hilarious. i am guffawing at '"Ella, we don't touch people'

Peabody · 22/04/2010 22:50

Isn't Featherstone Farm the name of the farm in HappyLand?

As you were.

EricPicklesFatNeck · 22/04/2010 22:54

what is happyland?

Drayford · 22/04/2010 23:02

I have holiday cottages on my farm and (so far) have resisted the temptation to convert to the Featherdown model! Mind you, some of the guests we've had recently............ nuff said

Kiwinyc · 23/04/2010 19:22

No! - Not enough said - DETAILS please!

Do you get people complaining about the smell? Or the noise of roosters in the morning? Or the sheep baaing or cows mooing or anything like that?

My DH is an idiot townie but i usually prevent him from saying stupid things to farmers, at least not in their earshot. (I grew up in rural NZ)

scottishmummy · 23/04/2010 19:30

we have went it was wonderful.children loved it

Knownowt · 23/04/2010 19:33

I've never heard of these places but this thread has made me sign up for a brochure- sounds fab.

And I think we may well pay for a rabbit too.

And we live in Islington

AnnieLobeseder · 23/04/2010 19:37

Some friends of ours have just been with their 4yo and 1yo, and they loved it. They are kinda rich, but not posh, and live in the countryside anyway.

I was thinking about going myself, but my job means I'm not allowed near livestock, so that's the end of that anyway.

faddle · 23/04/2010 19:39

I have 3 rabbits and you can pay me £15 to clean their cage if you like. You can also stay in my charming rustic back garden which is semi-rural and full of wildlife (my kids)

skifalloverrepeat · 14/05/2010 13:42

There are also hotels that charge a grand a night and hit you for £15 for a coffee. No one is putting a gun to your head and forcing you to stay in them.

I'm trying to decide between this option (Featherdown), the mid-price option (Eurocamp), or the Argos get-it-all-for-£100 option and roughing it with two DSs.

BritFish · 14/05/2010 13:47

AnnieLobeseder, im sorry, but im really curious to what your job is now! you dont have to say but my mind's just gone wild!