Holifield Farm Hostel

The kitchen is a real highlight, with a proper coffee machine, a great oven, and a huge table. There’s plenty to look around too, including a conservatory and a little woodland walk. You can also use the sauna, hot tub, and outdoor pizza oven, though you can make your own pizzas there. Holifield Hostel is a working farm stay, not a fancy hotel, and that’s part of the appeal. We could wander around and enjoy the countryside. The dorm had comfortable bunk beds in a charming old building, just as you’d expect from a hostel.

We booked the dorm for eight. It was clean and nice, and each dorm had its own restroom in a shared area. There was parking for four or five cars without a problem, plus a ground-floor dining room and a mini fridge for each dorm. Don’t expect the fridges to come stocked with drinks 😀. At first the place seemed a little deserted and spooky, and I immediately thought of a hostel movie. We only arrived late in the evening and left early in the morning, but it worked out well for an overnight boys’ trip.

The owner and staff were friendly and very laidback. They seemed peaceful, eating home grown vegetables and doing things the old fashioned way. I liked the people, but the place itself wasn’t for me. The narrow street felt like we’d been driving forever before we got there, and on arrival it gave me Fear Street vibes. There was a big mannequin in the middle of the kitchen, for reasons I couldn’t figure out. The toilets looked like an operating theatre, with two doors and a huge table inside. We’d booked four bunk beds for our group.

We stayed four nights on a school trip with a group of students. The owner went above and beyond, and the hostel was clean and really well equipped. The location worked perfectly for us. We’ll definitely come back.