Green Getaways

Mersley is none other than the world-famous Garlic Farm, a place where the Boswell family have been growing the pungent bulb to international acclaim for well over 30 years now.

More recently Colin and wife Jenny have converted the barns and farm cottages surrounding their farmhouse at the foot of Mersley Down into high grade holiday homes.

As with all their other ventures – the Garlic Farm Shop, selling local produce; the Garlic Farm Café cooking it; and, more recently, the Garlic Farm Cookbook, helping others to create garlic specialities – the move has been a huge success.

And it is very much a family affair. Natasha, one of five Boswell children, oversees stays at the six barns and cottages that were created carefully from traditional farm outbuildings, set in the Isle of Wight’s rural heartland. This is real green belt and there are even resident highland cattle for guests to meet as they walk in Mersley’s extensive farm land.

Isle of Wight Farm & Country Holiday Group
www.wightfarmholidays.co.uk

Mersley Farm is just one of over 30 properties that together make up the Isle of Wight Farm and Country Holiday Group – and you will find other Green Getaways like Gotten Manor, Northcourt, Kemphill Farm (pictured right) and Kings Manor among their number.

The Farm and Country Holidays philosophy is a simple one: to offer holidaymakers the experience of staying on or close to a working farm or in historic old properties surrounded by pastoral farmland. At most you will find animals ranging from hens, ducks and geese to sheep and cows – not forgetting friendly farm dogs.

More often than not these have been restored from old barns, dairies and other farm buildings and converted into luxury accommodation with contemporary styling.
There are cosy cottages with log fires and range cookers, charming farmhouses and magnificently beamed barns to choose from in all four corners of the Island. You can stay in bed and breakfast accommodation or opt to self-cater – but what all the properties have in common is an idyllic rural location in some of the Isle of Wight’s most striking green belt.

Holidays including Wightlink ferry travel are available at all properties. Visit wightfarmholidays.co.uk for details of the houses to rent for self-catering holidays and bed and breakfast breaks.

Special Offers

Travel to the Isle of Wight during English Tourism Week and enjoy a four night mid-week break at Mill Cottage. Departing 12 March the package is priced from £59 per person (based on six sharing) and includes return Wightlink car ferry crossings from Portsmouth or Lymington. 

Call Wightlink on 0871 376 0013

(Calls cost 7p per minute, plus network extras)