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The Hay Barn - located in South Downs National Park & Jane Austen country

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Exterior detail
Outdoor dining
Exterior detail
Property grounds
Room

Reviews

10 out of 10
Exceptional
2 bedrooms1 bathroomSleeps 4

Popular amenities

  • Parking available
  • Washer
  • Kitchen
  • Outdoor space

Explore the area

Map
Upper Farringdon
  • Jane Austen's House Museum
    ‪4 min drive‬
  • Gilbert White's House and Garden and The Oates
    ‪6 min drive‬
  • Blacknest Golf Club Limited
    ‪7 min drive‬
  • Farnborough (FAB)
    ‪38 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

2 bedrooms (sleeps 4)

Bedroom 2

1 King Bed

Yellow Bedroom

2 Single Beds

1 bathroom

Shower Room

Toilet · Shower only

Spaces

Kitchen
Garden
Dining Area

About this property

The Hay Barn - located in South Downs National Park & Jane Austen country


Set in idyllic countryside, our beautiful barn conversion is located in a peaceful setting on the edge of the quintessential English village of Upper Farringdon, with its ancient church, thatched cottages and fantastic pub, The Rose and Crown.

Our cosy barn has a spacious, open plan, newly fitted kitchen, dining area and sitting room on the ground floor with double bedroom (Kingsize bed), twin bedroom and shower room on the first floor. Complimentary soaps from The Lavender Fields at Selborne and welcome pack featuring local goodies. Free Wi-fi and Freeview television.

The set up:
Our barn is located on a quiet country lane. The barn is self contained and adjoins my creative studio from where I paint and manage my interior design consultancy. It is situated next to (but detached from) our family home and whilst it enjoys a large amount of privacy, we are on hand to offer advice or to answer any questions during your stay. There is an outside seating area exclusively for the use of our guests.

Getting here:
Alton is the closest town (less than 10 minutes drive), with direct trains to London Waterloo in just over an hour. Guildford is a half hour drive with direct trains to London Gatwick Airport. For drivers, the village is located off the A32, approximately an hours drive from South West London.

Things to do and places to visit:
Set on the edge of The South Downs National Park, on the "Writers Way" the barn is an ideal base for walkers, with several beautiful walks straight from the front door.

We are also in the heart of Jane Austen country with the pretty village of Chawton a leisurely half hour walk away through woodland and open fields (or short drive), where the Jane Austen House Museum and Chawton House are located.

The naturalist, Gilbert White's House and the Oates Collection is located in the pretty village of Selborne, a short drive away, where more beautiful walks can be found and an excellent cafe.

A 20 minute drive to the south is the stunning market town of Alresford and for opera fans, we are ideally located for the Grange Festival. The nationally acclaimed annual Alresford Watercress Festival which takes place in May, is an event not to be missed! Just 10 minutes further down the road is historic Winchester with its beautiful cathedral and a plethora of independent shops.

The south coast is approximately 50 minutes drive, with an extensive number of beaches to choose from.

There are a number of National Trust properties within easy reach, such as Hinton Ampner, Uppark House and The Vyne.

For train enthusiasts, the heritage Watercress Line runs steam train trips between Alton and Alresford.

Food and drink:
Waitrose, Sainsburys, Aldi, Lidl and M&S Food are located in Alton with delivery available to the barn from Waitrose and Sainsburys. If you don't fancy cooking, the atmospheric Rose and Crown is a short and pleasant stroll away through the village and offers delicious lunches and dinners, but be sure to book in advance as they do get very busy. There are plenty of other dining experiences available within a short drive and I am more than happy to provide recommendations.

Please note that we only accept bookings for a maximum of two week holiday stays. We are not available for short term lets or for contract workers.

Property manager

Susannah Acland
Premier Host

Languages

English

Add dates for prices

Amenities

Kitchen
Washer
Outdoor space
Parking available

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House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 21
Check out before 10:00 AM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
Highchair, baby bath and stair gate available.
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Events

No events allowed
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Pets

No pets allowed
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted
This is a holiday property. Professional workers welcome but not suitable for contractors.
Maximum two week stay.

Important information

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has indicated that there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher, a first aid kit and a deadlock

We should mention

A car is required for transport to and from this property

About the area

Alton

Located in Alton, this holiday home is in a rural area and near theme parks. Four Marks Golf and Triple fff Brewing Company are worth checking out if an activity is on the agenda, while those in the mood for shopping can visit Lion and Lamb Yard and Viables Crafts Centre. Travelling with kids? Consider Birdworld, or check out an event or a game at Anstey Park. Discover the area's water adventures with sailing and swimming nearby, or enjoy the great outdoors with horse riding and cycling.
Map
Upper Farringdon

What's nearby

  • Jane Austen's House Museum - 4 min drive - 4.2 km
  • Gilbert White's House and Garden and The Oates - 6 min drive - 6.1 km
  • Blacknest Golf Club Limited - 7 min drive - 9.2 km
  • Church of St Lawrence - 8 min drive - 7.0 km
  • Old Thorns Golf Course - 18 min drive - 18.5 km

Getting around

  • Alton Station - 15 min drive
  • Farnborough (FAB) - 38 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪The French Horn - ‬5 min drive
  • ‪Costa Coffee - ‬8 min drive
  • ‪Ten Tun Tap House - ‬8 min drive
  • ‪Caffè Nero - ‬8 min drive
  • ‪The Ivy House - ‬6 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is The Hay Barn - located in South Downs National Park & Jane Austen country pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at The Hay Barn - located in South Downs National Park & Jane Austen country?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at The Hay Barn - located in South Downs National Park & Jane Austen country?

Checkout is at 10:00 AM.

Where is The Hay Barn - located in South Downs National Park & Jane Austen country located?

This family-friendly Alton holiday home is located in a rural location, within 2 mi (3 km) of South Downs National Park and Jane Austen's House Museum. Four Marks Golf and Gilbert White's House and Garden and The Oates are also within 3 miles (5 km).

Reviews

10

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
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Rating 10 - Excellent. 45 out of 47 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 2 out of 47 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 47 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 47 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 47 reviews

10/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

10/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Michael R.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Quiet Countryside Escape
We enjoyed the personal touches and local advice. Quiet location with easy access to local sites and bigger towns.
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Paul E.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
The Hay Barn Upper Farringdon
We were looking for a place to stay for a 3 night break in the South Downs and were so lucky to find this gemThe Hay Barn is situated well in Upper Farringdon, set in the grounds of the owners family home. First impressions were great the property was clean and very well appointed, a gift hamper containing fresh baked bread, biscuits, beer and other goodies was a welcome treat. The two bedrooms provided plenty of space for us and our teenage sons.Our host Susannah was great, communicative throughout the booking process and responsive to any queries we had. We loved the hay barn and the surrounding area and would definitely recommend
Stayed 3 nights in Feb 2025

10/10 Excellent

Alison D.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Fabulous in Farringdon
Lovely country cottage/barn. All the comforts of home and very lovingly decorated. The hosts were amazing. Would definitely recommend The Hay Barn
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

Anita P.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Peaceful and relaxing break
Peaceful setting surrounded by beautiful countrysde. Beautifully furnished and decorated with an artists eye. Everything you could need has been provided. Thank you Susannah.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Jon S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Delightful property
Beautifully decorated property. Ideal for our family of 4. Lovely hamper of goodies on arrival and all of the information provided was very useful. Perfect short break.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Menno-Jan K.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Top Barn
Splendid location for varied walks plus close to highlights like Winchester. House in perfect order with very hospitable owners
Stayed 6 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Richard B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
What a Great Spot
The Hay Barn is a wonderful little place, just right for our holiday break. The property is clean, tidy and modern. We loved being able to take walks in all directions from this location and even end up with a pint and food in the Rose and Crown.
Stayed 5 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Louis S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Parfait
La maison et son environnement sont parfaits pour passer des vacances proches de la nature. Tout est très bien entretenu. Les propriétaires sont très gentils et serviables. Je recommande
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Abbie C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Wonderful Stay at the Hay Barn
Nestled along the Writer’s Way, a mere 30 minutes to Winchester, an easy train ride into London, the Hay Barn was much needed solace to our California family. Its ideal location allowed us to customize our visit daily, depending on whether we felt up for the bustle of London or a stroll down historic pathways. Some days were spent enjoying just walks around the Hay Barn which offered sights of farmland, forests, and sheep. The Hay Barn itself was thoughtfully equipped with everything a family of four could need and after a weary transatlantic flight, we were welcomed with a lovely hamper of treats and fresh flowers. Susannah and her husband were so welcoming and accommodating. Beautifully decorated and spacious, it was always a welcome sight to return to after a chaotic day in London or a day of sightseeing in Winchester. Our family had an amazing vacation and were sad to leave. We purchased one of Susannah’s lovely paintings of the nearby church so that we could have a piece of our trip to take with us until we can return.
Stayed 9 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Rebekka E.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Perfect stay in a perfect cottage
Everything is perfect. The host ist super friendly and welcoming. The barn is very very clean and beautiful. The beds comfortable. Quiet surrounding. We loved it. And would actually rather keep it a secret. ;-)
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2024

10/10 Excellent

Jane B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
The Hay Barn
We spent two weeks in The Hay Barn, a complete and welcome contrast from city life. The village setting is bucolic, and the barn had all the modern amenities you could possibly want. Our host Susannah was wonderfully welcoming and responded immediately to any queries we had. Highly recommended and will definitely return!
Stayed 14 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Tony B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
The Hay Barn - a perfect location for peace quiet
On entry we were greeted by a hamper filled with essentials and other luxury items. The Barn was spotless and our Granddaughter thought it was "beautiful". We were visiting our niece and her family so spent the majority of our time away from the property but we had the comfort of knowing that we would be returning to lovely, peaceful accomodation. The hostess, Susannah, checked in with us to ensure everything was to our liking and was near by should we need anything. We would totally recommend a stay here.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Fabian B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Lovely cottage within the countryside
Lovely cottage, everything you need as a family is there. We enjoyed it staying in the Hay Barn and used it as our base for nice trips around the region.
Stayed 11 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Salman S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Exactly what we were looking for!
The Hay Barn was exactly what we were looking for. Every room had all the necessities and a few surprises (like the Welcome pack). The beds were comfortable, and my family said it felt like home. Susannah was very accommodating to our needs and an excellent host.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Catherine W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Beautiful property in idyllic location
The Hay Barn has been beautifully converted into a holiday rental with everything needed for an enjoyable and restful stay. The bedrooms are attractive and tranquil, and the living area is extremely comfortable and is supplied with an impressive selection of books and DVDs. The kitchen is equipped with high-quality appliances, pots, dishes and utensils. The location is in a lovely village with an excellent gastro pub that is a short walk from the property.We enjoyed the walk through woods and fields to Chawton. It was a pleasure to meet Susannah, who is an attentive host as well as a very talented artist. We hope to return!
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Karen H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
A wonderful find!
What a lovely stay we had at the Hay Barn this weekend! Susannah was very friendly and made us feel very welcome. The Hay Barn itself was immaculate - clean, well appointed and very well equipped. Thank you very much, Susannah; we thoroughly enjoyed our stay with you.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

Melanie E.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Pretty house in beautiful countryside
Very clean, well equipped and with lots of useful information provided. The owner very kindly provided us with two powerful fans when the 'heatwave' struck. Would definitely stay again if in the area.
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

Catherine F., Calgary, Canada

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Perfect stay in Hampshire
Can't imagine a more perfect stay than The Hay Barn in this gorgeous part of Hampshire: beautiful, spacious, bright, comfortable, quiet, clean, modern and very well-functioning, with all the amenities and everything you need, including a lovely welcome basket of staples and goodies, and your own outdoor, landscaped patio at the front door. Absolutely the most terrific hosts: communicative, helpful, kind, generous, thoughtful, welcoming, available, friendly, and also really happy to give lots of useful information about the area. Local pub in the village is fantastic, and you can take wonderful walks to many places that you will want to visit in the surrounding area, especially in Chawton and Selborne. We have stayed in lots of different flats, cottages and houses in many spots in the UK over the years, and The Hay Barn definitely scores an eleven on a ten-point scale for us! That's how great it is! We would come back for another truly lovely stay any time.
Stayed 11 nights in May 2023

10/10 Excellent

Nico W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
The best Time ever
After a week in Cornwall, we found this beautiful House, in upper Farringdon. Suzannah and Alex, the Owner, were are so friendly and helpful for our Time in this amazing countriside. We had a great time and learn a lot from the History. There is a Pub direct in the Neighborhood with fantastic dish. In the House all things are very modern, clean and helpful. The Bedrooms are really good to have a perfect Nap. A modern kitchen is fantastic to cook and in the Livingroom you can have an superb evening. We enjoyed this time very much and we want come back again to this fantastic Family and this House. Come and Visit The Haye Barn and the Jane Austen Land. Million Thanks for this Time.
Stayed 5 nights in Apr 2023

10/10 Excellent

Rebekka E.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Just perfect
This beautiful cottage is so lovely. Cleanest, most lovely decorated and most well maintained property! Susannah and her Husband made us feel very welcome - wish we could have stayed longer. The cottage has everything you would need. Loved the soap from the lavender farm. Also the welcome hamper was greatly appreciated. The area is beautiful as well. Many interesting things to see. Visited some National Trust properties nearby. Hope to come back again soon!
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2023

8/10 Good

sue s.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Fab location
Really well equipped many charming details. Lovely welcome pack, Susannah very helpful and approachable. Polite request maybe consider replacing the mattress by the radiator in the twin room . And another couple of rugs in the colder months. We would definitely recommend this property to others. Thank you.
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2023

10/10 Excellent

sandra w.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Wie zuhause
Hier kann man sich wohlfühlen, es war einfach alles Tip top. Komme gerne wieder.
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2023

10/10 Excellent

Christopher L.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
We shall return
Exceeded expectations. House is decorated artfully and with care. All amenities were thought of from a comfortable bed with organic bedding to a well-stocked kitchen. Quiet, peaceful area with lovely walks to the local church grounds and Jane Austen sites in Chawton. After we left and moved to another part of the country on the rest of our holiday we missed staying at the Hay Barn by comparison!
Stayed 6 nights in Oct 2022

10/10 Excellent

margaret C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
weekend break
The property was everything we could have hoped for especially its lovely location.... was very comfortable and quiet. If we are in the area next year will certainly look to rebook
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2022

10/10 Excellent

Caroline P.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Lovely long weekend break
Had a fabulous few days at The Hay Barn over the August Bank Holiday weekend. The property was clean, comfortable and was very well equipped to meet all our needs. Excellent communication with Susannah before we arrived and received a very warm welcome. Had a lovely meal at the local pub and there is easy access to a variety of walks from the doorstep. We would highly recommend a stay at The Hay Barn and hope to return in the near future.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2022

About the host

Hosted by Susannah Acland

Host profile image
I am Susannah and I live here in Farringdon with my husband, two daughters, our dogs and cat! I am an interior designer and artist, working from my studio adjacent to the barn. We look forward to welcoming you to The Hay Barn.

Why they chose this property

We are very lucky to live in this beautiful part of Hampshire with so many wonderful sites to see, places to visit, long country walks and cosy pubs. The Hay Barn is rural but easily accessible and provides an ideal bolthole for those wishing to escape from the city or to use as a base to explore further afield including Highclere Castle (Downton Abbey) and Stonehenge which are both within an hour's drive of the barn.

What makes this property unique

As an interior designer, I have taken care to create a practical but comfortable, beautifully decorated home from home for our guests to enjoy. I am fastidious about cleaning and ensure that the barn is left spotless for all our guests and as we live next door, I am on hand to address immediately any problems in the unlikely event that they occur or to answer any questions and provide recommendations.

Languages:

English

Premier Host

They consistently provide great experiences for their guests