Entire home

Athlone Farm: Spacious, Gorgeous Grounds, Historic Outbuildings, Summer Deals!

Photo gallery for Athlone Farm: Spacious, Gorgeous Grounds, Historic Outbuildings, Summer Deals!

Property grounds
East Wing: Parlor
Athlone's Original Fishpond
We live in a beautiful place
Late afternoon setting

Reviews

10 out of 10
Exceptional
7 bedrooms5+ bathroomsSleeps 18603 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Parking available
  • Dryer
  • Pet-friendly
  • Washer
  • Fireplace
  • Barbecue grill

Explore the area

Map
Amherst, VA
  • Virginia Blue Ridge Railway Trail
    ‪4 min drive‬
  • Winton Country Club
    ‪6 min drive‬
  • Sweet Briar College
    ‪15 min drive‬
  • Lynchburg, VA (LYH-Lynchburg Regional)
    ‪34 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

7 bedrooms (sleeps 18)

East Wing: Alice's Room (Upstairs)

1 Double Bed

East Wing: Cousin Celia's Room (Upstairs)

2 Single Beds

East Wing: GrannyLou's Room (Upstairs)

1 Queen Bed

East Wing: The Schoolroom (Third Floor)

2 Single Beds

East Wing: Thomas' Room (Upstairs)

1 Queen Bed

Living Room 1

1 Double Sofa Bed

Office 1

1 Double Sofa Bed

West Wing: Aunt Pymm's Room (Upstairs)

1 Queen Bed

West Wing: Uncle Bob's Room (Upstairs)

1 Double Bed

5 bathrooms, 2 half bathrooms

East Wing: GrannyLou's Room Master Bath (Upstairs)

Soap · Towels provided · Toilet · Shower only · Shampoo · Hair dryer

East Wing: Hall Bath (Upstairs)

Soap · Towels provided · Bathtub or shower · Toilet · Shampoo · Hair dryer

East Wing: Library ADA Bath (Downstairs)

Soap · Towels provided · Toilet · Shower only · Shampoo · Hair dryer

East Wing: Powder Room (Downstairs)

Soap · Towels provided · Toilet

East Wing: Schoolroom Powder Room (Third Floor)

Soap · Towels provided · Toilet

West Wing: Downstairs

Soap · Towels provided · Shower only · Shampoo · Hair dryer

West Wing: Upstairs

Soap · Towels provided · Toilet · Shower only · Shampoo · Hair dryer

Spaces

Porch or lanai
Kitchen
Separate dining area
Outdoor play area
Garden

About this property

Athlone Farm: Spacious, Gorgeous Grounds, Historic Outbuildings, Summer Deals!

Athlone Farm is directly off Hwy 151, a designated Virginia scenic highway. You are renting the entire house. Classic and beautiful. Sleeps up to 18. Two kitchens and conveniently located to breweries, vineyards, hiking trails, Crabtree Falls, the Virginia Blue Ridge Railway Trail, area Colleges and Universities and more.

NOTE: You can also rent Athlone’s historic 800-square foot cottage. The Cottage sleeps up to 4 people. Go here for details: https://www.vrbo.com/3351548

ATHLONE’S STORY:
Athlone’s lands first became a working Virginia farm sometime between 1751 and 1815. The Athlone Farm Homestead, together with its spacious home and 10 historic outbuildings and farm structures, sits on 31 acres of the estate and reflects the lifestyles and activities of Virginia’s farmstead developments during the second half of the 19th century.

ATHLONE’S HOME:
Athlone’s original 6500 square-foot home was constructed in two separate wings, the West wing circa 1815, and the East wing circa 1856. In 1996, the home was lost to fire, but was reconstructed by the family a year later exactly one foot off its original foundation.

Athlone’s home is fashioned in two distinct, fully equipped living quarters, East and West wings. The two wings combined can sleep up to 18 people. The home is beautiful, comfortable, roomy, well furnished, and perfect for families, retreats, reunions, and conferences.

Each wing features fully equipped eat in kitchens, well-appointed bathrooms and bedrooms, delightful living/family rooms, streaming TVs, wireless internet, and direct access onto the expansive back porch.

The larger East wing also features a formal parlor, a sunroom, a third-floor entertainment room, a tranquil library, a formal dining room (table seats up to 10), and ADA compliant accommodations and access.

There is ample paved parking and self-check-in. We offer excellent amenities to all guests.

ATHLONE’S GROUNDS:
Athlone’s setting is rural, peaceful, and quiet, but also extremely well located to take advantage of numerous area activities—hiking and biking trails, local breweries and wineries, restaurants, historic sites, and area colleges and universities. (See below for details.)

The 420-square foot porch sits at the rear of the home. For early risers, there is nothing more peaceful than sitting on the porch with a cup of coffee, watching the sun come up in the East, while the cows graze in the pasture.

The porch is beautifully outfitted for dining and with rocking chairs to take full advantage of wonderful views of the property and for easy grilling off the kitchens.

The family’s striking brick and iron memorial garden also offers shared patio visits and a gas firepit for late night story telling.

Athlone’s grounds are perfectly suited for provided outdoor games, including croquet, cornhole, and badminton.

ATHLONE’S HISTORIC OUTBUILDINGS:
Athlone Farm features 10 unique historic outbuildings that date from the early 1800’s to 1940:

-- The property’s original early brick kitchen, where our forefathers cooked away from the main building for fear of fire.
-- The original fieldstone ash house, where cooking and other ashes were stored for use in making soaps and starting new fires.
-- Three late-nineteenth-century hay barns, some made from hand hewn posts and logs.
-- A late-nineteenth-century frame smokehouse.
--A framed corncrib, with a steep-pitched roof and slanted sides, allowing rain to run off away from the building to keep the corn dry.
-- A stable and a feed barn.
-- “Jenny’s House,” a single room, rustic wood structure.

NOTE: For your safety and in compliance with our insurance coverage, we are unable to grant you access into Athlone’s secured historic outbuildings. In addition, the fenced livestock in our fields are valuable and part of a private agricultural operation. They should not be disturbed or approached.

ATHLONE FARM IS CONVENIENTLY LOCATED:
-- 3 miles from the Rose Mill trailhead of the Virginia Blue Ridge Railway Trail
-- 3.5 miles from the Winton Country Club golf course
-- 5 miles from Saunders Brothers Farm Market
-- 9 miles to the Town of Amherst
-- 11 miles to Loose Shoe Brewing Company and Trapezium Brewing Company
-- 11 miles to Sweet Briar College
-- 18 miles to hiking at Crabtree Falls
-- 22 miles to Wintergreen Ski resort
-- 28 miles from Liberty University and Lynchburg College
-- An easy drive to areas of major interest including Monticello, Appomattox Court House, Charlottesville, Natural Bridge, the Blue Ridge Parkway, and Longwood University as well as to scenic byways, the James River, local wineries, breweries, distilleries, restaurants and other historic homes and sites.

Property manager

Cindy Ferguson
Premier Host

Languages

English

Add dates for prices

Amenities

Kitchen
Washer
Dryer
Pet-friendly
Free WiFi
Air conditioning

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House Rules

Check in after 3:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 25
Check out before 11:00 AM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
Children must be monitored in house & on grounds.
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Events

Events allowed: family gatherings and birthday parties
Please clear your events with us before your stay.
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Pets

Pets allowed: dogs less than 23 kg per pet (limit 2 pets total)
$100/ per adult dog pet fee. No puppies. Leash req
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Smoking

Smoking allowed: in designated areas
Butt receptacle is behind the Memorial garden.

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
Parties and events (including family gatherings and birthday parties) are allowed on site. Maximum attendees: 30
Note from host: Please clear your events with us before your stay.
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

About the area

Amherst

Located in Amherst, this holiday home is in a rural area. The area's natural beauty can be seen at George Washington National Forest and Fortune's Cove Preserve, while Amherst County Museum and Historical Society and Sweet Briar Museum are cultural highlights. Make sure you get close to the area's animals with activities such as game walks and birdwatching.
Map
Amherst, VA

What's nearby

  • Virginia Blue Ridge Railway Trail - 4 min drive - 4.0 km
  • Winton Country Club - 6 min drive - 5.9 km
  • Sweet Briar College - 15 min drive - 17.8 km
  • Lovingston Winery - 15 min drive - 15.8 km
  • Wintergreen Resort - 34 min drive - 39.5 km

Getting around

  • Lynchburg, VA (LYH-Lynchburg Regional) - 34 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Colleen Drive In - ‬13 min drive
  • ‪Blue Mountain Barrel House - ‬14 min drive
  • ‪The Amherst Corner & Ice Cream Parlor - ‬7 min drive
  • ‪Subway - ‬7 min drive
  • ‪Ann's Family Restaurant - ‬12 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Athlone Farm: Spacious, Gorgeous Grounds, Historic Outbuildings, Summer Deals! pet-friendly?

Yes, this property allows dogs (limit 2 total) with a maximum weight of up to 23 kg per pet.

What time is check-in at Athlone Farm: Spacious, Gorgeous Grounds, Historic Outbuildings, Summer Deals!?

Check-in begins at 3:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Athlone Farm: Spacious, Gorgeous Grounds, Historic Outbuildings, Summer Deals!?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is Athlone Farm: Spacious, Gorgeous Grounds, Historic Outbuildings, Summer Deals! located?

This family-friendly Amherst holiday home is located in a rural location, 2.8 mi (4.4 km) from Virginia Blue Ridge Railway Trail, and within 6 mi (10 km) of Winton Country Club and Woodson's Mill. George Washington National Forest and Amherst County Museum and Historical Society are also within 9 miles (15 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. 3 out of 3 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 0 out of 3 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 3 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 3 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 3 reviews

10/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

10/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Sandra E.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Thanksgiving and a wedding

This was an excellent place to gather for Thanksgiving and for a wedding where all the family could spend time getting to know each other and blend as a new family.
Stayed 6 nights in Nov 2024

10/10 Excellent

Amanda C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Couldn’t Have Been More Perfect!

We needed a house for all my family to stay in for my daughter’s wedding at Lovingston Winery. We couldn’t have picked a more perfect property than Athlone Farms. Cindy was so helpful and answered the many questions I had. The detailed pictures and descriptions on the site was super helpful in planning which room would be suitable for everyone. The minute we drove up to this property we were mesmerized by its beauty and we hadn’t even walked in the door. Once inside we were absolutely taken back. This house is huge and absolutely stunning. Cindy, had provided snacks, water bottles and ice for our stay and was there to greet us and tell us about this charming house. Pictures most certainly do this house justice, it was so clean and had ample room for my 18 family members to spread out when we needed to but also hang out together. The 3rd floor was perfect for my sister and her 3 young children to have their own space. There were ample sheets, blankets, towels, toilet paper/paper towels, cleaning items. There were 2 full size washing machines and 2 kitchens with plenty of dishes, utensils, and pans. The out of a magazine patio was my favorite place in this home, from here you can watch the sunrise or watch the cows graze from the neighboring property. I could go on and on about this house. I guarantee your family will love this property for a family gathering or weekend winery visit (there are plenty in the area). Thank you Cindy for your amazing hospitality, we will be back!
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

Matt F.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beautiful property, awesome host!

First off, this is a STUNNING property. We rented both wings of the house which worked out great for our larger group. Second, the host was AWESOME. Cindy was very welcoming and accessible during our stay. I'm bummed we couldn't spend more time on the property but we were in town to work at a local event. We will be back!
Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2024

About the host

Hosted by Cindy Ferguson

Host profile image
I am working with 4th generation Howell sisters of historic Athlone Farm. Their great grandfather, Thomas Howell, purchased the working farm in 1893, and the Farm has been a community landmark since the early 1800s. They and I are invested in and obliged to the welfare of Athlone’s history and to contribute towards its future. We look forward to sharing Athlone with you and your family.

Why they chose this property

Athlone’s setting is rural, peaceful, and quiet, but also extremely well located to take advantage of numerous area activities—hiking and biking trails, local breweries and wineries, restaurants, historic sites, and area colleges and universities. The home is beautiful, comfortable, roomy, well furnished, and perfect for families, retreats, reunions, and other special, small events.

What makes this property unique

The Athlone Farm Homestead, together with its spacious home and 10 historic outbuildings and farm structures, sits on 31 acres of the estate and reflects the lifestyles and activities of Virginia’s farmstead developments during the second half of the 19th century.

Languages:

English

Premier Host

They consistently provide great experiences for their guests