Great Barn Farm: What is it?
Great Barn Farm offers luxury self-catering stays in a collection of beautifully restored farm buildings in West Norfolk. Once working cattle sheds, stables, piggery and tack rooms, these buildings have been thoughtfully transformed into elegant holiday accommodation, from cosy couples’ retreats to expansive spaces for up to sixteen guests.
Set on a 1,350 acre arable farm near Gayton Thorpe, Great Barn Farm invites guests to slow down, breathe deeply, and immerse themselves in peaceful countryside living. Each converted barn retains the character of its past, with original brick, flint and timber features. Plus, they are surrounded by sweeping farmland, conservation meadows and rich wildlife habitats.
This is a place where rustic charm meets modern comfort. Guests can enjoy private gardens, wood burning stoves, underfloor heating, and modern kitchens made from reclaimed materials. The site also includes “The Sheep Dip”, a luxurious indoor heated swimming pool, Jacuzzi spa and steam room, all powered by a sustainable biomass and solar energy system. Each barn has access to a daily private swim session, creating a truly bespoke experience for guests.
Accommodation includes The Workshop, a Grade II listed barn that sleeps up to sixteen and features high ceilings, original beams and a spacious open plan living area. The Cattle Shed, sleeping ten, has five en suite bedrooms and panoramic countryside views through large south facing windows. The Piggery and The Stables each sleep four; The Piggery offers two bedrooms, a log burner and a private garden, while The Stables has two en suite bedrooms, a wood burner and a generous outdoor space. For a romantic retreat, The Tack Room sleeps two and features a reclaimed kitchen, garden views and a cosy, peaceful atmosphere.
Perfect for families, groups or couples, Great Barn Farm offers a grounded and beautiful base to explore the lesser known corners of Norfolk, while enjoying top quality amenities in a tranquil setting.
Great Barn Farm’s most popular stays:
The Stables
(sleeps four)
£1200-£1900 per week
The Cattle Sheds
(sleeps ten)
£2900-£4500 per week
The Piggery
(sleeps four)
£1200-£1900 per week
Great Barn Farm: How Sustainable is it?
Great Barn Farm was created out of a desire to give new purpose to disused farm buildings, preserving their heritage while caring for the land around them. Sarah and her family, tenant farmers on the Westacre Estate, have carefully transformed the barns using reclaimed materials and environmentally conscious design, ensuring that the site reflects their values of sustainability, community and thoughtful tourism.
All of the heated buildings on site are powered by a biomass boiler that uses locally sourced woodchip, while a solar array helps to meet electricity needs. Bathrooms feature dual flush toilets, and all barns are stocked with refillable, reusable and genuinely eco friendly products, from handmade toiletries produced nearby to sustainable kitchen supplies. Guests are encouraged to compost, recycle and shop locally, and every barn is equipped with recycling and food waste bins. Even the welcome gifts reflect the farm’s ethos, with homemade cake and local apple juice offered in place of more traditional and wasteful hampers.
As a Gold Award holder from Green Tourism, Great Barn Farm is part of the Higher Tier Countryside Stewardship Scheme and actively works to conserve and restore wildlife habitats across the estate. The farm’s participation in the West Norfolk Nature Network Land Recovery Project supports more regenerative approaches to agriculture and helps create biodiversity corridors across the wider region. Visitors are invited to learn more about the surrounding environment through nature guides provided in each property, with the aim of deepening appreciation for the land and its wildlife.
Great Barn Farm also plays a positive role within its local and global communities. Guests are directed to independent shops, cafes and businesses through a digital guide, supporting the rural economy and encouraging a slower, more mindful way to explore Norfolk. The farm is home to the Kerkham Foundation, which supports a variety of charitable initiatives, including educational access in Thailand and Cambodia, local youth programmes, and food equity efforts such as free meals during school holidays. The team also works with AccessAble to provide accessibility guides for guests with additional needs.
What truly sets Great Barn Farm apart is its care for the details that matter most. The team live on site and are closely involved in the day to day running of the farm, staying connected to the land and to every guest they welcome. Their approach to rural hospitality is grounded, warm and deeply sustainable, offering an experience that is as thoughtful as it is beautiful.
Great Barn Farm: where can I book?
Book online at: greatbarnfarm.co.uk
