Once seen as a niche pursuit, and stereotyped as the domain of shoestring backpackers, solo travel has surged in popularity in recent years. It’s no longer limited to young travellers on a budget, with people of all demographics embracing it, including retirees and women who make up a significant share of solo adventurers.
The appeal is easy to understand. Many are drawn by the promise of self-reflection, personal growth, and deeper cultural immersion. Travelling alone means complete freedom to decide what to see, do, and eat, with the flexibility to change plans on a whim. There’s even a term for it, a “me-moon”, defined as a dream holiday taken entirely on your own terms.
Solo travel can also open doors to experiences you might miss when travelling with others. Locals are often more inclined to strike up conversation, curious about your journey, leading to more spontaneous interactions. You may even find yourself invited to opportunities and activities that wouldn’t arise if you were part of a group.
Choosing where to stay, however, can be more challenging, especially if you’ve outgrown hostels and shared dorms. Hotels offer comfort and convenience, but single supplements can make them expensive, and spending evenings alone in a hotel room can sometimes feel isolating rather than empowering.
Self-catering accommodation is a popular alternative, offering greater flexibility and often better value. Yet in busy tourist areas, such as holiday parks or villages filled with families, the solitude many solo travellers seek can be hard to find.
One option, however, stands out. Farm stays combine the independence of self-catering with a more personal and peaceful setting, making them an ideal choice for a solo getaway.
If you’re seeking authenticity from a solo holiday, a farm stay ticks all the boxes. Many popular destinations, even those billed as “hidden gems”, can feel curated and sanitised. Add the crowds, influencers chasing the perfect shot, and rows of souvenir shops, and the experience can quickly lose its sense of place.
A working farm, by contrast, doesn’t stop for its guests. Animals still need feeding, crops still need tending, and daily routines carry on as they always have. Rather than the setting adapting to you, you step into the rhythm of farm life, meaning it’s not just a picturesque backdrop for your photos. You’ll get to experience all the sights, sounds, and smells that come with it, offering a far more genuine insight into rural life.
In response to the damaging agricultural policies of the past, such as the overuse of pesticides, stubble burning, and the widespread destruction of important ecological habitats, many farms, particularly smaller family-run ones, have returned to more traditional and sustainable methods of farming, practices that not only improve soil health and fertility but also encourage biodiversity. Many of these practices have been passed down through generations, providing a meaningful connection to the land, as well as to the culture, history, and traditions of the countryside.
In recent years, as more and more farms have diversified into agritourism, there is now a wide range of accommodation to suit different tastes and budgets. If you’re after the comforts of home with a touch of rustic charm, a cosy cottage or barn conversion, with exposed beams and an open fire, makes an ideal retreat. For something more contemporary, there are stylish lodges fitted with modern features such as open-plan living, air conditioning, sleek bathrooms, and bi-fold doors that flood the interior with natural light.
Farm-based glamping is an excellent option for those travelling on a budget. Shepherd’s huts, micropods, and yurts offer compact yet cleverly designed spaces, perfect for solo travellers who don’t need separate living and sleeping areas. Despite their size, they rarely feel restrictive, as most come with generous outdoor areas with barbecues, fire pits, and comfortable seating or hammocks, effectively extending your living space into the open air.
If you’re after something a little different, there are plenty of unique farm stays to choose from, including converted Airstreams, treehouses, underground burrows, and vintage caravans. Not only do they offer a memorable experience, but they also provide fantastic backdrops for those all-important Instagram or TikTok moments.
One of the common concerns about travelling alone is the possibility of feeling lonely. On a farm, however, there’s usually so much happening that it’s hard to have those moments of self-doubt. Many farm stays offer a complex of accommodation, so there will often be other guests nearby, but how much interaction you have with them is entirely up to you. The owner of the farm will normally live on-site as well, and are usually more than happy to help, share local knowledge, or simply chat about life on the farm.
And it’s not just people who provide company. Choose a farm with livestock and you’ll find plenty of animal companionship. Even if you don’t want to get hands on with them, there’s something comforting about watching sheep graze from your window or listening to hens clucking about as you relax outdoors. And with many farms offering dog-friendly accommodation, you can bring your four-legged friend along for company. (No, it’s not cheating.)
Staying in a rural area also makes it easier to feel part of a community. In a busy destination, you’ll only ever remain an anonymous tourist, but in a village setting, familiar faces quickly appear. A couple of visits to the local café or village shop, and you’re likely to be recognised.
If you do fancy some conversation, the local pub is a natural hub. Sitting at the bar with a drink often invites an easy chat, especially during quieter midweek afternoons. A friendly attitude, a bit of curiosity, and genuine interest in others can go a long way, and before you know it, you may find yourself making a few new acquaintances on your solo holiday.
One of the greatest advantages of self-catering accommodation is the freedom it gives you around mealtimes. You’re not tied to hotel breakfast schedules, and preparing your own food helps keep costs down, leaving more room in your budget for activities. Shopping at local markets or farm shops for ingredients also adds to the experience, giving you a taste of the area and a chance to live like a local.
When you do feel like eating out, smaller rural cafés and bistros are often far more welcoming to solo diners than larger, busier restaurants, where a table for one can sometimes feel like an inconvenience. In a relaxed, informal setting, it’s much easier to enjoy your meal without feeling out of place. Again, local pubs are another excellent option, and many now serve food that rivals higher-end establishments, making them ideal for a comfortable and satisfying meal.
And if you’re heading out for the day, why not elevate a simple packed lunch into a picnic for one? Pick up a slice of cold pie, a deli salad, some seasonal fruit, and perhaps a homemade treat, then find a quiet riverside spot or a scenic hillside to enjoy it. It’s a far more enjoyable experience than quickly eating a supermarket sandwich on a park bench while trying to fend off pigeons, and a lovely way to make the most of your surroundings.
Even when travelling solo, you’ll likely want to see the sights. Cities like London, Edinburgh, and Brighton are popular for good reason, but if your aim is to enjoy solitude, navigating queues and crowds can quickly undermine that.
For those used to urban life, the countryside might seem quiet to the point of being uneventful. In reality, with over 80% of Britain classified as rural, it offers a rich and varied cultural landscape. Many of the country’s most remarkable attractions, such as prehistoric monuments, stately homes, ancient ruins, and nature reserves, are located far outside the cities, meaning a farm stay often puts you closer to them.
Beyond that, there’s an abundance of natural beauty to explore like mountains, valleys, cliffs, forests, lakes, and waterfalls. While the most famous landmarks can become very busy during peak season, staying on a farm gives you access to lesser-known beauty spots that you will be able to enjoy in peace. A quick chat with your host or someone in the local village can lead you to hidden gems that don’t appear in guidebooks.
There’s also plenty to do without leaving the farm. Some offer hands-on experiences such as bottle-feeding lambs, collecting eggs, or grooming ponies. Even if you prefer to observe, activities like milking sessions or sheepdog demonstrations can be fascinating to watch. Others may provide additional experiences, from cooking classes and wine tasting to clay pigeon shooting and horse riding.
And of course, the countryside itself offers countless simple pleasures. Whether it’s paddling in a stream, birdwatching, taking a quiet walk through the woods, or stargazing under clear skies, there’s no shortage of ways to enjoy the surroundings at your own pace.
If you’re still not convinced and are worried about missing out on the little luxuries typically offered by hotels or holiday villas, there’s no need. Many farm stays now include amenities such as hot tubs, swimming pools, and saunas. The difference is that these are either completely private or shared with only a handful of guests, making the experience far more relaxing and personal. Enjoying a soak with just the sound of birdsong or the distant hum of a tractor is a world away from a busy hotel setting.
Some farms even offer in-house pampering, with massages and beauty treatments brought directly to your accommodation. It’s a more relaxed and intimate way to unwind, without needing to leave your space.
Safety is another common concern for solo travellers, particularly women. Farm stays can offer reassurance here too. Rural areas tend to have lower levels of crime than busy tourist hotspots, and the presence of on-site hosts means there’s usually someone nearby if you need assistance. In many ways, it can feel more secure and supportive than staying alone in a large, impersonal hotel.
Ultimately, solo travel is less about being alone and more about choosing how you experience the world. A holiday on a farm brings together independence, comfort, and authenticity in a way few other types of trips away can. So, if you’re ready for your next adventure, take a look at our farm stays suitable for solo travellers, and start planning your countryside escape today.
