Every year, a sprinkling of countryside escapes decorates my calendar like pixie dust and—like so many Londoners—trips like these fill my soul, clear my mind, and leave me returning to ‘real’ life with a lambs-spring in my step. City life can be exciting but is also full of stress. It’s therapeutic to retreat somewhere that offers blissful silence, a clear night sky, a watercolor sunset, and the best of British landscapes.
Safia Sakarchi
Safia Sakarchi
I’m no stranger to the UK’s classics (some might say the clichés): The Cotswolds, CornwallIn my search for long weekends filled with idyll, I have been drawn to, Surrey and Somerset. What draws me to a new destination is more than ever the lure of a certain hotel, Airbnb or place to stay. Stumbling across Restaries Paradise Farm On Instagram, one evening in March, I realized I had found something unique. The UK is a hotspot for this type of property. vineyardsIt’s the farms This year, I am most infatuated by the flowers that are on my front porch.
Restaries in Suffolk can be reached by car within three hours from London. It is the brainchild Gem and Thom BonScherdel who greet us upon arrival with infectious enthusiasm and passion for what they’ve created. It’s not enough that I am here, four months after I first discovered it. I’m also as excited as the pygmy goats at our welcome event. Gem takes me around the grounds. The main event—the enormous red, thatch-roofed house that wouldn’t be out of place in a storybook—is actually the family home, but it sleeps up to 12 and is being rented out for a big birthday celebration this weekend. At its base, three Airbnbs can be found. The Cider Store The Gate House is a romantic, one-bed room with a spiral staircase. Between the accommodations are the animals—alpacas, Valais Black Nose sheep, pigs, and chickens, all with their own names and personalities.
We are all happy as we make our way inside to get settled. While my husband prepares the pre-ordered pizza bases to be eaten alfresco, the kids are entertained by goats that live on the other side our paved courtyard. I take my time soaking in the design of every room, putting off unpacking our very ‘normal’ things so as not to ruin the aesthetic—one that walks the line between countryside chic and expert curation. Whoever can master modern homeliness while still paying homage to country living should use bold colors. The following are some examples of how to get started: To me, someone who is able to make me search for tile companies and find them is an artist. What I love most about staycations is this. Staycations are not just a chance to imagine a new life but also live it. The weekend is a great opportunity to experience a new life. Cider Store This is the home I always dreamed of, but never could. Little luxuries elevate the experience—a reminder of the couple’s London roots: underfloor heating on the stone kitchen tiles, a Grind coffee machine, and indulgent toiletries in the bathroom.
Safia Sakarchi
Safia Sakarchi
The mornings are spent waking up with wildlife. The goat’s bleat beckons us into the barn. We are barefooted and in pajamas, as we make coffee and carve chunks of sourdough, which we then pile high with local salted butter. Children are excitedly digging through the toys left on the coffee table, until someone knocks at the door. Gem and her two blonde beauties are waiting for us outside. They have a trailer, and they invite us to feed Plucky & Prada. I have never felt so welcomed at a new place in my life.
While we stroll through the grounds, other guests are also present. Some guests are celebrating family birthdays, while others have come to test the waters in Suffolk before deciding to leave their East London homes. I suddenly realize that the Bon-Scherdels are so charming because of their uniqueness. This couple did what we all wish to do, and their story is inspiring.
Others are doing yoga on site and exploring nearby towns in their afternoon. We should have done the same thing, but we can’t leave Restaries. So we spend an afternoon at the pool. Gem is busy making drinks to order at sundown and delivering to the families’ doors. Restaries is an amazing place. It’s difficult to leave, but you should be grateful to have discovered it. While driving home, I begin to plot what, where, and when I will return. We’ll need to check in with those pygmy goats, after all—they’ve won a place in all our hearts.
This article originally appeared on Condé Nast Traveller UK.
