Back in May, we spent a week at the award-winning Elms Farm Accessible Cottages at Hubbert’s Bridge near Boston in Lincolnshire.
We’ve been lucky to stay in some beautiful cottages, but one style is missing from our wish list, and we found it at Elms Farm, an authentic “Farmhouse Cottage”.
From the minute we walked in the door of Elm cottage, it was home. There was no settling in time, and it just felt like home, or at least the type of home we’d love to live in if we had the means.
Before we indulge ourselves and drool over photos of these luxury cottages, let me give you a quick overview of Elms Farm Accessible Cottages.
Elms Farm Accessible Cottages
There are nine four and 5-star holiday cottages at Elms Farm and an accessible wedding venue named The Granary.
The cottages have more expansive doorways level access entry making them suitable for wheelchair users, and six of the cottages have wet rooms with a shower and multiple grab rails.
As you know, accessibility is different for all of us. Rather than listing all of the accessibility features, here’s an overview:
- Large level tarmac car park with disabled parking
- Small ramp with handrails to courtyard, cottages and The Granary
- Wider doorways for wheelchair access
- Disabled toilets in The Granary
You can read about accessibility in the individual cottages on their website: Accessibility at Elms Farm.
Elms Farm has relationships with local mobility suppliers who can deliver equipment before your visit if you need to hire additional mobility equipment for your stay.
Elms Farm Accessible Cottages are situated about 3 miles outside the Boston town centre. The cottages and wedding venues were developed by converting old barns and outbuildings. The high-quality conversions ooze the character of the old farm buildings whilst tastefully morphing into modern, accessible holiday cottages.
I can only imagine the amount of effort that must have gone into converting the buildings, not to mention the cost!
Meet The Owner of Elms Farm Accessible Cottages
Elms Farm Luxury Cottages are owned and run by Carol. As part of the family farm business, Carol wanted to diversify and create accessible holiday accommodation and boy did she achieve it!
Upon arrival, we sat down with Carol for a chat. Her passion for “accessible holidays” shines through, and her dedication to providing the best holiday experience for all is palpable. And most of all, Carol is a lovely lady.
An Accessible Wedding Venue
Now, I want to come back to The Granary because I haven’t seen this before.
The Granary is licensed for civil ceremonies, so you can quite literally get married, have a party and then pop across the courtyard to your luxury cottage – how cool is that?
Suitable for up to 80 guests, The Granary is rustic yet romantic. I mean, look at this description:
“The mid 18th century traditional Lincolnshire barn with its vaulted roof, hayloft, arrow slit windows, exposed brickwork and original beams has a huge amount of character”
And take a look at these pictures:
Having seen The Granary up close, it is full of character and has all the ingredients to make any bride’s big day exceptional.
If you fancy the idea of a relaxed country wedding, you can find more details on The Granary web page.
Things to do at Elms Farm Accessible Cottages
Our health hasn’t been excellent this year, and we’ve been forced to build in more relaxation time when we travel, and Elms Farm Accessible Cottages was the perfect place to do it.
We stayed in Elm Cottage, which has access to a rear garden, a small field, and possibly a paddock in farm speak.
The garden is perfect for chilling with a glass of wine, listening to the morning chorus or doing a bit of stargazing. But, there’s an unexpected bonus which takes relaxation to a whole new level.
When I tell you what it is, you’ll probably think I’ve lost the plot. What I’m about to say won’t make any sense until you see it yourself.
Is the suspense killing you?
Okay, the most relaxing thing I have ever seen is an automatic lawnmower. I even named him “the little fella”, and he’s mesmerising.
The little fellow silently bimbles the manicured field with no apparent pattern, and he gets on with it without a care in the world. Day and night, hour after hour, he twists and turns without a break and for seemingly no reward.
It sounds odd admitting it, but you do get attached to him. You find yourself willing him on and hoping he doesn’t get stuck in a bush or run out of steam. He doesn’t, keeps going, and has got to be an honorary bimbler.
Anyway, thanks for indulging me back to reality.
The communal garden courtyard is another benefit of staying at Elms Farm Accessible Cottages. The cottages and The Granary are built around what I think was once a farmyard.
Today, it’s an accessible space where you can relax, or if you’re feeling sociable, you can meet up with the rest of your party.
And, just when you thought the outside space couldn’t get any better, it does. It doesn’t just get better; it takes outdoor facilities to a whole new level.
Carol has built a fantastic BBQ area complete with a stone-built Pizza oven and indoor and outdoor seating.
I mean, cmon, look at this:
We stayed in the 5 Star Elm Cottage
First things first, I’m a nightmare when it comes to self-catering. I always forget something, or I’m too lazy to stop at the shop on the way.
I’m guessing I’m not the only one because Carol has teamed up with Select Lincolnshire, which sources mouth-watering produce from local suppliers.
You’ll receive a complimentary hamper if you book a week’s stay at Elms Farm Accessible Cottages. Look at ours:
I was taken with the succulent Lincolnshire Sausages, Heart of Lincolnshire Mature Cheddar Cheese and the chocolate brownies, although I possibly indulged too much!
Anyway, enough about my lack of willpower and growing waistline, let’s look inside Elm cottage.
Living and Dining Area
The red brick wall, wooden floors, wood burner fire, soft leather seating, riser chair and rustic furniture gel together to deliver an authentic farmhouse feel.
Add in a flat-screen T.V and free WiFi, and yours truly was in his element. It was a shame we had to leave the cottage for days out.
Kitchen
The modern kitchen has every conceivable gadget and then some. When we’re on holiday, I’m not a massive fan of cooking, but if you are, you’ll find everything you need to knock up your favourite meal.
Main Bedroom
The main bedroom is accessed directly from the living room, has a large double bed (very comfortable), quality bed linen and plenty of wardrobe and storage space.
En-Suite Bathroom
Attached to the main bedroom is a good-sized en-suite wet room with a toilet and shower. As you can see, there are plenty of grab rails, fluffy towels and complimentary toiletries.
Second Bedroom
The second bedroom is a twin and is accessible from a corridor off the living area. Again, the beds have quality bed linen and plenty of storage space.
Bathroom
The large family bathroom is accessible from the corridor off the living area. There is a bath with an overhead shower, toilet and complimentary toiletries.
Access to Rear Garden
The rear garden and paddock are accessible through a single door from the main living area.
Other Cottages at Elms Farm
I had a sneak peek at some of the other cottages at Elms Farm Accessible Cottages in between guests. I’m not going into detail here, so take a look at these pictures for a flavour.
You can find details about individual cottages here: Elms Farm Cottages
Out and About in Lincolnshire
As a base, Elms Farm is perfect for exploring the Lincolnshire Fens, Wolds, market towns and East Coast seaside resorts.
This part of Lincolnshire is also well known for its aviation, fishing, walking and windmills.
Here are some valuable resources:
- Frampton Marsh
- Battle of Britain Memorial Visitor Centre
- Accessible Fishing in Lincolnshire
- Lincolnshire’s Windmills
We had a few days out in:
Boston – We had a lovely day out in Boston. We browsed the diverse stalls in the street market, visited Boston Stump and learned all about the town’s history in Boston Guildhall.
Lincoln – A must, if you are staying at Elms Farm, is a day trip to Lincoln. We didn’t explore too much of Lincoln because we were too busy being in awe of the very accessible Lincoln Castle.
Skegness – Skegness is the place to go for a fun day at the seaside. It’s a typical seaside town with fish and chips, amusement arcades, funfair and miles of sandy beach. The good news is you can hire a beach wheelchair which makes the beach accessible to all.
I’ll be writing posts about our wheelchair friendly days in Lincolnshire, so watch this space!
Out and About in North Norfolk
Elms Farm is also ideal for exploring North Norfolk if you’re feeling more adventurous due to its location at the southern end of Lincolnshire.
The Norfolk coast and countryside are within a couple of hour’s drive, depending on where you choose to visit.
We had days out in:
Sandringham – The Sandringham estate is open to the public. It’s a lovely place for a wheelchair walk, to have lunch or follow in the footsteps of the Royal Family by visiting St. Mary Magdalene church, just like the Royals do on Christmas Day.
Walsingham – There is something about us and shrines, and we have to visit. You may remember we saw Holywell in North Wales. So, when we had the opportunity to visit the shrine at Our Lady of Walsingham, we just had to go.
Again, I will be writing entire posts about our days out in Norfolk and linking them to this post.
Food and Drink
You can buy all kinds of fresh produce in the Boston market if you fancy cooking. The area is also home to numerous farm shops and local supermarkets. And, don’t forget you can have food hampers delivered via the Select Lincolnshire scheme.
Eating Out
The award-winning Wheatsheaf Bar and Grill is within walking distance of the cottage, and I have it on good authority the homemade food is fantastic. We didn’t eat there because it was too busy when we popped in, which speaks volumes about the food quality.
We found a Marston’s Pub (The Chain Bridge) a couple of miles away. The vast menu and countless special offers were right up our street, so we ate there several times.
For more variety, take a trip to Boston town centre where you’ll find a whole host of world cuisines and price points available.
Would We Recommend Elms Farm Cottages?
The short answer is yes, in a heartbeat. For us, it was not only fully accessible but one of the most relaxing places we’ve ever visited.
The cottages at Elms Farm are luxurious, homely, comfortable, and a testament to Carol’s hard work and dedication. Carol should be very proud of what she’s achieved.
Lincolnshire was a bit of a revelation. It’s a diverse and exciting county. Whatever you want to do on your holidays, you can do it in Lincolnshire, and we’ll be returning.
Resources
Elms Farm Cottages on Facebook
Where would you like to go next?
Take a look at other accessible cottage reviews:
Hoe Grange Holidays in Derbyshire
Gwel an Mor Luxury Accessible Holidays in Cornwall
Room for All Seasons in Derbyshire