Discover Brook Farm

Jane was there to welcome us when we arrived and showed us around the property, everything we needed was there even for the dog, she made the dog feel welcome and all very comfortable for him, this was his first holiday and had lots of space for a run,cannot fault it at all..definitely would visit again.

Susan
What an amazing peaceful break away! No need to worry about anything as Jane is very helpful and great with recommendations. The barn is so cosy like a home from home. Lots of walking to do with dogs. Jack and barley are super friendly too (hosts dogs) and like to play and come walking with you. We loved every minute and hope to be back next year!

Annie
A wonderful place to stay home from home. Made to feel very welcome by he owners. It is a great location central to either Essex, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire, London. Generous welcome basket. We look forward to staying again.

V
Great hospitality and county location. Well appointed accommodation with all creature comforts. Perfect for our two Cockerpoos who felt right at home. Will definitely be back!

Paul
Just returned from spending a lovely week at Brook Farm with my dog. I would highly recommend it! Lovely cottage and beautiful surroundings, best of all its very dog friendly. I’m hoping to return next year.

Jodie Hicks
Just had a great week with my dog Barnie at The Herdsman, a real home from home. Jane was a fantastic host, very welcoming, nothing seemed too much trouble. Barnie loved running through the fields with Jack and Barley, he didnt want to come home. Looking forward to returning soon.

Stuart
We were very happy with the cottage, it was the perfect weekend away. Jane, our host, was most attentive and informative about the cottage and its features. There is plenty of space to stretch your legs in the surroundings, our 3 dogs were very content! Would high recommend!

Megan
Had a lovely relaxing short stay at The Herdsman over the weekend. A fabulous setup in a beautiful setting with a warm welcome on arrival. I combined my stay with a workshop held at the farm and enjoyed the surroundings during the stay we were even lucky enough to see the Red Kite fly overhead whilst eating breakfast!

Vicky Slack
If you have dogs, this accommodation is fantastic, great walks, secure accommodation. spacious, relaxing environment. loved it

Eileen
This cottage is perfect, a real converted barn. Very spacious. Mr and Mrs Gilbey could be more welcoming and heloful. If you have dogs lovely place to walk round the farm. The owners dogs are very welcoming. Really could not this place and will definitely be returning.

Suzanne
The barn conversion is very comfortable and spacious. Ideal place to take dogs on holiday with many lovely walks on the doorstop. The owner is very friendly and helpful. Loved seeing the horses in the paddock from the patio doors.

Jenny
A very nice quite location and a very nice and helpful owner. (Jane) Reviewed by Trevor, 17th May 2019 It was ok as a base but it would have been nice to have had a better outlook that's our opinion. Garden fence is rather low if you have a dog that can jump!

Garry
Just returned from spending a lovely week at Brook Farm with my dog. I would highly recommend it! Lovely cottage and beautiful surroundings, best of all its very dog friendly. I’m hoping to return next year.

Jodie Hicks
Great Place,Great Hosts,Great Price. What more can you say !!!!

Jason
Everything was very pleasantly comfortable. Nice touches in case you forget a few personal items. It is an ideal tranquil place to escape to. Jane is qualified to offer plenty of relaxing therapies to help you unwind. Dogs and horses are friendly and happy to have visitors nearby. Wellies are useful! Great property and great owners.

Donna
Wonderful quiet place and perfect escape from the rat race! Very well equipped property and extremely comfortable. Definitely hoping to come back.

Adrian and Vicky
Amazing place to just chill out and have adventures. Fantastic place, fantastic animals, fantastic property and fantastic people. Thank you 😊

Adrian and Vicky
Wow! This place is amazing. The dogs had such an amazing time, so quiet and relaxing. We will definitely be coming back.

Neil, Fiona, Bentley and Bella
Really enjoyed our stay. Great for the dogs to have so much space to run around. Lovely house, had everything we needed.

Jackie, Derrick, Fred, Marbles and Ozzie
Thanks you Jane and Steve, we loved and enjoyed our restful weekend. Our 2nd visit enjoyed as much as the 1st.

Sue and Phil Pellatt
Very beautiful cottage, perfect for the relaxing two weeks we had planned. Enjoyed watching the horses and Vegas and Phoebe loved their walks and space to play especially when Jack and Barley joined us. Big thank you to Jane and Steve.

Becky and Dale Dawson
Had a relaxing time at the barn, so quiet and the dogs had a ball out in the fields. Jane was so welcoming and so were her beautiful dogs. Hope to return soon.

Stuart, Carole, Rory, Cooper and Gideon

For over a decade Steve and Jane Gilbey were looking for a property with land for Janes horses and somewhere with barns and outbuildings with potential to create something special. Both have always had a shared love of animals and always wanted a more rural lifestyle. When they found the farm in 2007 they were so excited as it was everything they hoped for. In 2008 they finally moved in and then began major renovations of all of the barns and land. The poor tired little bungalow had a spruce up, but their main focus was the amazing out door space. They stayed in a caravan in the beginning as the bungalow was pretty dire. That first summer in 2008 was a warm barmy one and they have wonderful memories of Glamping in a not so posh old caravan, BBQing most nights and sitting out late in the warm June evenings under the stars. They were still in Essex, but it felt like they could have been miles away.They then embarked on a long journey of renovating the buildings and nurturing the land, creating habitat for wildlife and a peaceful retreat that all of their animals could enjoy as natural a life as possible. Steve did much of the renovation work himself as he has had a long career as a builder. Jane is a Holistic well-being Practitioner for people and animals and it was always her ambition to create a Retreat type Centre.

In 2018 the Herdsman was opened and they began welcoming guests to share their beautiful space. They then began formulating an idea to include a real back to nature experience with a Glamping space within the farm.

There is much to discover at Brook Farm and many places to explore nearby.

Steve and Jane have done a number of projects in collaboration with the Woodland Trust. In 2008 they planted over 800m of native hedging. In 2017 over 1000 trees were planted as part of a scheme to create WW1 Memorial Woods across the UK. The planting scheme is sympathetic to the existing environment and so forms shelter belts for the grazing paddocks and swathes of new woodland with a trail around it for walking. At the highest point of the gently undulating pasture is the WW1 Memorial plaque with a wooden bench overlooking Brook Farms Fields and far reaching views beyond. There are several mature Oaks and other larger, older trees. The line of tall Pines stand protective and comforting around the Glamping area and in the Autumn of 2020 another planting scheme is planned with native hedging interspersed with Rowan trees along the footpath that passes through the farm. There is a reed bed and a pond, plus a small wooded trail as well as more open spaces and grassy tracks.

The animals at Brook Farm. A small flock of Coloured Ryeland Sheep and a rescue lamb. Two Arabian horses, a Welsh pony and a Spotted Miniature. A number of chickens, cats and our dogs.