The Base Vegan Retreat

Being around such happy, safe and loved animals was a joy, and this experience will stay close to our hearts. The hosts Jacqui and Fiaz are very friendly, as are the animals, especially Pudding the turkey. 🥹 The cabin is comfortable and special, with everything we needed. Breakfast was absolutely delicious. We also booked an evening spa session and loved it. Our only regret is that we didn't book afternoon tea. Next time!

The whole stay felt like a thoughtful reset. It was private and felt like our own space, even though it was on someone else's land. The owners helped make it feel that way, including looking after the animals while we were at the spa. The deck was a lovely place to unwind, and the extra spa space was well worth it for a proper relax. The accommodation was incredibly spacious, modern and high quality, and so clean. Even the animal area was spotless, which surprised me given, well, animals! There were loads of beautiful animals, especially the turkeys. The games were a great touch, vegan delivery options were within reach, and breakfast was a really high standard.

The animals are even more wonderful than the cabin. The turkeys are friendly and curious, clearly happy and safe in their lovely home, and they came over for cuddles and strokes. One kept playing with the zip on my jacket, which was hilarious. Muskey the duck took a shine to me and followed me around the yard asking for a stroke. I'd never seen muscovy ducks before, and they're beautiful and so friendly. The bunnies were lovely too, roaming around a big space and curious about their new visitors. We booked a private two-hour spa session for the morning we left. It has a hot tub, sauna, cold plunge and outdoor shower. We skipped the cold plunge because of the weather, though honestly I'm far too much of a wimp for it anyway. Having the spa to ourselves was incredible. Jacqui and Fiaz are wonderful hosts. They're available if you need anything and happy to chat, but they also give you space to relax. It was lovely to catch up and have a laugh with Jacqui when we arrived after a couple of years. This was our second stay, booked for one night with a wedding gift voucher from lovely friends. We'd visited about two and a half years ago, and the place has somehow improved since then. This was our first time in the cabin, and it immediately blew us away. It's beautifully decorated, with underfloor heating that made it cosy in the dreadful weather we've had this year. Board games, an Xbox, a little arcade table and a Bluetooth speaker were lovely touches. My wife and I played Scrabble to our favourite tunes. The main bedroom bed was super comfortable, and we slept wonderfully. The rain on the roof was soothing. We ordered breakfast in the cabin for the morning. If I could recommend only one extra, it'd be that. It was perfectly cooked, just the right size and absolutely delicious, with a gluten-free option too. Everything feels perfect here, and even rubbish weather doesn't spoil it. It's the best fully vegan place we've been to, and if you care about animals, this is the place for you. They now have a children's book about the place and are working on a documentary. Don't hesitate to book. We hope to stay longer next time because it's our happy place. Thank you, The Base, for the love and care you give the animals and the effort you put into giving guests a magical stay.

We had such a great time. The animals were friendly, the staff service was great, and it felt very private, a lovely way to recharge. I'd highly recommend booking a spa session. I'll definitely be back. ❤️