A highlight of our recent stay at Coombe Mill was the morning feed run. From Sunday through to Friday, Farmer Nick will be out there driving his tractor, with a trailer full of kids and holiday-makers being pulled along!
Boo loved it from the very first moment, but Little Man screamed when the tractor engine started up! No problem, he was carried on his first feed run, but by the end of the week, he was happily travelling in the trailer, too. Well, I say ‘too’, which implies Boo was with him, but more often than not, she was actually driving the tractor! All children are given the opportunity to sit with Farmer Nick and drive, but on our stay, only Boo was up for the challenge, so she pretty much drove every time we were out there. To say that she enjoyed that is something of an understatement, and I think everyone she’s met since our return from holiday is now well-aware that she drove a tractor!
The animals that we got to visit and feed were, peacocks, sheep, chickens, pigs, goats, donkeys, deer and rabbits. The children loved to see them all. In fact, after that first day, Little Man would be knocking on our lodge door to get out in the morning, shouting ‘animals’ at us all! Boo tells me that the chickens were her favourite, as she enjoyed running about checking for and collecting the eggs. Most days there were 12-15 eggs, and so each day, we were able to take a couple back with us as there were only 4 families staying there – I do love eggs, and these were yummy!
Little Man liked making the animal noises for all of them, the Husband liked the deer as they were so very springy as they bounced down the field for their food, and Boo really enjoyed feeding the little lamb (you can read my story about seeing a lamb being born that week here)
And me? I liked the sense of freedom, the beautiful outdoor space and watching my family having a fabulous time.
Lots of outdoor fun, that was just magical to be a part of, delighting in watching the kids’ faces light up. And I would advise that you’ll get muddy doing this. There are free coveralls to use in reception, and we made sure we took a couple of washing tabs, as our lodge had a washing machine, which was very handy – kids fall over a lot in mud, it seems…!
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Love your holidays! Its so organic and you seemed to had a blast! #countrykids
It was brilliant! Thank you x
It looks amazing! Lucky Boo getting to drive the tractor 🙂
It was, thank you. She loved that tractor! X
Looks amazing with all the animals, and your littles ones faces lighting up, so sweet. Can’t beat family time on the farm too. This is so lovely! Glad you all enjoyed it. #countrykids
Thank you very much. We loved it!
It really does look like a fab holiday for all the family! My girls love the little old tractor at our local farm, and would be absolutely thrilled to ride on one. I’m seriously thinking about throwing Coombe Mill into the mix for our summer holiday. Thanks for the lovely posts xx
Oh, yes, do! Lovely place x
Ooh, a blue tractor! I’m envious. Must visit Coombe Mill soon 🙂 It’s obvious though from the photos that the kids loved it 🙂
They definitely did! Thanks x
That sounds like a lot of fun. I would love to keep chickens, maybe one day! I’m thinking we need to pack plenty of clothes that can cope with being wrecked when we go down 🙂
None of ours were wrecked – just dirty! There are coveralls, but we just washed them. You’ll love it all x
So pleased you had a wonderful week with us. Boo was a star with her tractor driving. Did you see Farmer Nick really let her take the wheel and only corrected an over or under steer. She did so well and really embraced all the farm has to offer. I’m betting your wee man will want to come back when he is bigger just to prove he too can drive the tractor! A pleasure meeting you all and thank you for a wonderful post here for Country Kids.
We really did, thank you. I hadn’t realised she really was driving – a natural! She loved it all, and is a little more interested in eggs now, having hated them before! Yep, Little Man needs a go on that tractor, too…!
We have got to visit Fiona and Farmer Nick one day soon – it looks fabulous! I’m so glad that you all had such a lovely time on the farm. What a great break for you!
It is fabulous! I’m sure your family would love it, too x
I am so jealous i would so love to visit, it looks like you had an amazing time xx
We did, thank you 🙂
I think Coombe Mill are going to be inundated with holiday requests after this! JJ for one would be thrilled to drive a tractor! Lovely place. #CountryKids
Go! Let him drive that tractor 😉
aww looks like so much fun! Loving the picture of Boo on the tractor! 🙂 xx #countrykids
She was really concentrating! Thanks x
I would so love to take the kids to Coombemill 🙂 Glad you had such an amazing time!
It’s lovely there and so much fun for the kids. Thanks x
Looks like you had a fabulous time at Coombe Mill. Would love to visit. Popping over from #countrykids
We did, thanks very much 🙂
the feed run sounds great. BB will love the tractor everyday when we go. It’s great the children loved all the animals so much. That little lamb looks so cute 🙂
Yes, tractor-driving is fun! The kids loved the animals and it was great to get so close to them all. You’ll love it 🙂
Looks like so much fun. M got to go on a tractor recently – was pretty much the best thing that ever happened to him! X
Boo loved it!
Sounds like you had a fabulous time!!! #Magicmoments
We did, thank you x
Oh! I so want to go there one day. It looks fabulous… And sounds like you had a wonderful time! #magicmoments
It was fabulous – go! x
Bet Boo loved that! Get family holiday on the farm #MagicMoments
She did! Thank you x
What amazing experiences. Sounds like a perfect holiday, I am a bit jealous!
It was fabulous 🙂 x
I always think that I dislike farms/camping/muddy places (city girl in me) but like you once I’m there I love the open space and clocking off from normal life. Sounds blissful x #magicmoments
I’m just the same! Once you embrace it, you enjoy it!
It looks like such a brilliant place and like you’re having a really great time. I always get tempted to go there but it’s such a log drive for us I always put it off to “maybe next year!”
It’s a fair way for us, but we broke it up with nice stops, so it was ok x
It looks like an amazing break. A bit of mud adds to the experience I think 😉 #countrykids #whatsthestory
Exactly! Thanks x
Really do need to visit this place – my little boy is obsessed with tractors and would just love it.
#MagicMoments
Perfect for him then 🙂
Coombe Mill offers such brilliant family holidays. My kids are probably too big to visit now but it certainly looks fabulous. Glad you all had a great time #countrykids
It was fabulous, thank you x
Oh wow it sounds like you had such a good time at Coombe Mill and I love the photos! Boo is looking very happy on the tractor and I’m glad Little Man jumped aboard before you left. Wonderful post, thank you so much for sharing with #whatsthestory
She was very content on that tractor, day in, day out! It’s a lovely place to holiday and we all loved it. Thanks for hosting x
Looks fun. I would kill to drive a tractor! #whatsthestory
She loved it! And really did drive it! X
Coombe Mill seems like such a great place to go to, I am really jealous! I completely agree with you and getting muddy! Putting your wellies on with the kids and sploshing around in the mud rocks! x Mel
You’ve just got to get stuck in! X
Popping over from #MagicMoments
What a fabulous time you all had! Thank you for sharing.
Laura x x x
It was lovely, thank you x
It looks so wonderful, I wish we could go at some point.
It was lots of fun. The kids loved it!
oh my this is something i would so love to do!
thanks for linking up with #MagicMoments
It was fab! Thanks for hosting x
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