Review of Higher Lank Farm, Cornwall

> For contact details, availability and booking, see our full listing of Higher Lank Farm.

The welcoming and leafy Higher Lank FarmHigher Lank Farm, in northeast Cornwall, is more than just family-friendly: it is a toddler paradise. This farm doesn’t just tolerate small people, it welcomes them with open arms and bags of toys. It caters so brilliantly well for pre-schoolers that I considered leaving my toddler son, Owen, behind. What with feeding newborn lambs, collecting eggs and riding on tractors, I don't doubt it would've been days before he’d have noticed.

'Freeeeeeeeeedom!' said the geeseThe Rooms
Although there are three en-suite B&B family rooms in the main farmhouse, we chose to stay in the self-catering accommodation, a cosy three bedroom cottage - with another due to open in April. It was comfy, clean and well equipped with lots of safety measures, including a fireguard around the wood burner and stair-gates. On top of this, there was all the children’s equipment you could ever need from baby monitors to a special breast-feeding chair. This makes it easier to travel light and avoid those heart stopping moments on the motorway when you realize you’ve left the sterilizer behind.

The Food
The highlight was the welcome high tea, coming after a trip to see cows in a tractor-pulled trailer: a layered tea tray was laden with scones, sandwiches, sausage rolls and chocolate cake. The rest of the time we catered for ourselves although there were some provisions in the cottage, such as breakfast cereal, milk and eggs from the chickens.
 

Kid with the kidsThe Activities
Higher Lank caters for children first and foremost, acknowledging that happy kids means happy, relaxed parents. There’s so much to do just on the farm, from feeding the animals in the morning to visiting day-old chicks and playing with toy tractors in the garden. When we stayed, as well as the regular farm characters, such as cows, ponies and chickens, there wer esaddleback pigs, goats, geese and ducklings.

Should you tire of farmyard action, you are well placed to explore Cornwall. The closest beach is only seven miles away and the Eden Project is half an hour’s drive. If you fancy an evening meal out, Padstow and its famous Rick Stein fish restaurant, is 20 minutes away (baby-sitting can be provided at £6.25 per hour).

The Green
As well as offering recycling facilities, the barn conversions have been done using the high levels of insulation with underfloor heating and wood burning stoves. The biggest green thing is the promotion of real nappies. The farm works in partnership with the Cornish Real Nappy Campaign. As well as providing buckets and services for families already using real nappies, the farm will also lend you a variety of cloth nappies to try out, and provide as much support as possible while you give the nappies a go.

Top tip
Don’t overpack. There’s so much children’s equipment here, particularly toys, so you only need the bare necessities.

Getting ThereCute and comfy bunk beds to nestle down in after a long day on the farm
For those coming by train, Lucy is happy to pick up from Bodmin Parkway Station and/or to arrange bicycle hire for your stay. Book here for train tickets to Bodmin Parkway. If you’d rather drive, there are clear ‘how to find us’ directions on the website.

Verdict
A family-friendly farm adventure that will particularly appeal to children who don’t live in the countryside and for whom a working farm is a fascinating concept. My son, who was one and a half when we visited, was a little young. For slightly older children - aged two to sixish - it would be heaven. Parents will enjoy the well-equipped accommodation, as well as the fantastic location which enables you to explore different parts of Cornwall.

> For contact details, availability and booking, see our full listing of Higher Lank Farm.

See more Green Holidays in Cornwall.