What do you give someone who has “everything”? Or someone who doesn’t want any more “clutter”? How about the gift of time? We can’t actually enable you to buy units of time, but, following numerous requests from people who have stayed with us and people who would like to stay with us, we can now offer you…gift vouchers! 

Over the past three years or so, we have welcomed many wonderful guests, from all over the world, and have been pleasantly surprised at the number of people who have stayed with us as part of a present they have been given. The challenge when giving someone a holiday as a gift is finding the right time; gift vouchers take away that pressure, leaving your joyful recipient to choose a time that suits them!

Whether this has been a Christmas present, a birthday gift or a thank you, our guests always seem delighted to have been gifted an experience rather than an traditional present, I suppose because it offers quality time together with loved ones, something many of us are short of given how busy our lives all seem to be with work, family, wellbeing and socialising. Making the decision to dedicate time to spend with family and friends shouldn’t be hard, we all love getting together to celebrate milestones, enjoy a catch up and share some food and drink, but actively making the decision to do so can be hard. I wonder whether having the decision made for you and being forced to take some time away from home is really the biggest present, the stay itself comes a close second!

We’ve even had a handful of guests who were either given a short break as a reward for performance at work, or who have won a short stay in a competition, and chose to stay with us here in lovely Lincolnshire.

We have decided to offer Gift Vouchers following numerous requests, as an alternative to booking a full stay to give to a loved one – giving even more flexibility to the person receiving it; they can choose which apartment suits them best and when they wish to travel. And if they need to cancel, any refund applicable (within terms and conditions) would go straight back onto a voucher again for them to use whenever they choose.

So, if you are looking for a wedding present, a retirement gift, a thank you present or simply want to say ‘I love you’, consider the gift of a voucher for The Old Granary, to give the experience of Lincolnshire’s countryside and big skies this year!

Bookings must be made direct with The Old Granary, Lincolnshire; Terms and Conditions apply, subject to availability.

In order to make your self-catered stay all the more relaxing, we’ve put together a handy little guide of what to pack to make sure you’ve got all your bases covered in preparation for your trip.

Don’t forget the essentials!

Nobody wants to finish a long journey with a trek to find the nearest open supermarket, particularly after a long flight or drive. On the other hand, you also want to avoid using vital suitcase space for huge packs of tea and washing up liquid! Packing what you need for the first 12 hours of your stay is a great idea. 

If you’re anything like us, the first vital step once you’re in your accommodation is to put the kettle on. Tea (of your preference) and coffee are essentials, and a small carton of milk (pre-frozen) will see you through until the shops are in sight. 

Most reputable accommodations will supply a welcome pack or starter kit with all essential hot drink supplies, but if you’re travelling in a large group or you’re unsure of what is being provided, taking your own is always worth doing.

What does the kitchen usually include?

It’s important to always check with your future accommodation what utensils you will have to use – you can expect most places to have basic items like a kettle, toaster, pots, pans and crockery – but always check beforehand so you can plan your meals accordingly. You don’t want to find yourself trying to find a large casserole dish in the middle of nowhere!

The kitchen supplies you’ll want to remember are the pantry heroes we often take for granted: things like cling film, foil, plastic containers for any leftovers, salt, pepper and oil will get you off to a flying culinary start.

Getting together a collection of dry cupboard items is also an excellent idea: breakfast essentials like bread, jams, marmite or cereal are worth taking, and even cooking basics such as onions and potatoes if you have the room to spare. 

Depending on what time you’re arriving, how much room you have and where the nearest supermarket is, you might also want to take your cold food items in a cooler box / bag. Bits such as butter, milk, eggs, bacon, vegetables, cheese, any meat required for meals (particularly in BBQ weather!), drinks or nibbles could save you a lot of time and money. 

In popular tourist areas this is a particularly good idea, as prices for even the essentials can be steep. If you’re driving (and you can spare the room) you could save yourself a lot of spending money.

Do I need to pack bed sheets for self-catering accommodation?

Almost all self-catering accommodation will come with sets (and usually spares) of bed linen and bath towels. The usual culprits for you to pack are flannels, face cloths or beach towels (if needed). Checking what your accommodation provides is essential, as you’ll need to add bed sheets, towels and linen onto that list if they’re not provided with the property. 

Those all-important bathroom supplies

It goes without saying that toiletries are essential for any stay. From shampoos and toothbrushes to shaving cream and toner, make sure you’ve got your wash bag stocked full with everything you need. Again, checking if your accommodation provides essentials such as toilet paper and hand soap is never a bad idea.  

Information about the local area

Whether you’re staying in a bustling city or a secluded rural area, finding out what the local area provides is a wonderful way of getting excited about your upcoming stay. It also gives you a valuable opportunity to get a feel for the culture and cuisine of the area.

Finding out where people go to get their local produce, any markets that take place, and learning about the best local pubs or restaurants provides you with a huge list of things to do, see and experience. 

A few extras

Another little tip to make any self-catered stay a wonderful trip is to schedule a food shop delivery – giving you more travelling time and saving the supermarket hassle. The last very valuable piece of advice we love to give, is to remember that your stay should be a relaxing one.

Once you’ve got your basics covered, make sure you’ve packed a few little luxuries to make the most of your stay away! 

What do we at The Old Granary provide?

We supply a welcome pack that includes fresh bread, butter, milk, tea, coffee, hot chocolate, biscuits, sugar, a selection of cereal and some locally produced Pipers Crisps! All linen and basic cleaning products are provided. To see the full list of what we provide, see our FAQs and our apartments. 

Despite being one of the largest counties in the UK, Lincolnshire was, until relatively recently, rarely considered as a holiday destination, beyond Butlins in Skegness of course! That is changing, thanks in many ways to the tireless work of organisations such as Love Lincolnshire Wolds. 

When we initially had the idea to create self-catered accommodation on our farm, we had no idea there were so many groups of people – some paid, others not – working together to promote the area as not only a great place to visit, but also to live and work. Over the course of the first year of The Old Granary being open, we’ve been incredibly lucky to welcome guests from all over the world, including Tennessee, Beijing, Canada, Germany and, of course, plenty from within the UK. 

Welcoming journalists and bloggers to The Old Granary

In the past few months in particular, Owmby has hosted a couple of travel writers, courtesy of Love Lincs Wolds’ efforts to showcase the area. First, in early summer came Claie, a journalist from The Sun, and her family, whose trip featured in Fabulous magazine. Whilst The Sun may not be everyone’s cup of tea, it was amazing to see our accommodation in full colour in a national publication – something we’d worked so hard to bring to life being seen by hundreds of thousands of readers, who’d have thought it! 

Following that we were delighted to have Gemma, a blogger whose Gemma Goes Global series has over 30k followers on social media and an even greater reach from her website. Her trip took in lots of lovely spots around the area – you can read all about it here – including our fabulous local pub The Cross Keys, recently shortlisted for a couple of Taste of Excellence awards, and visits to places which hold great memories for us, too. 

Finding hidden gems in the Lincolnshire Wolds

Given that my sister Clare and I grew up in Lincolnshire, then left for ten years, returning a few years ago to enjoy more space with our respective families and to use our business skills to help the farm diversify, it’s sometimes a surprise that people don’t realise what the county, and the Wolds in particular, has to offer. From challenging hills for cyclists, my husband tells me Nettleton, Walesby and Claxby are his favourites, to long, rambling walks such as the Viking Way, there’s plenty in the great outdoors to keep everyone interested. Gemma visited Tealby, one of the most sought after villages in the top half of the county, and somewhere I spent many happy hours running with friends (and our dogs!) before moving closer to the farm a couple of years ago. Coincidentally, Tealby is home to a chap who once gave my husband a piece of advice: “if you don’t go, you’ll never know”. This applies in spades to the Lincolnshire Wolds, you just need to get out there and find out what is hidden around the next corner.

Did you know about the Lincolnshire flag? 

A little bit of extra info for you as you come to the end of this entry, do you know why the Lincolnshire flag looks as it does (see picture above)? I shall enlighten you: 

• The yellow represents the crops grown in the county (fantastic potatoes, of course!), as well as the nickname “Yellowbellies” given to people born and bred in Lincolnshire. 
• Blue represents both the sea of the East coast and the wide skies of Lincolnshire
• Green symbolises the rich lushness of fenland fields
• The fleur de lys is a recognised symbol of the City of Lincoln
• And the red cross is the Saint George’s Cross, representing England.

You’ll find plenty of big, blue skies and glorious crops when you wander across, through or around the Wolds, the lush green fields aren’t reserved for the fenland in the south, either, and the sea is only a short drive away – well worth it to visit Cleethorpes, Donna Nook (for seals, particularly at this time of year) and Sandilands, the scene of many happy summer days in my youth!

Live, work and stay in Lincolnshire

We consider ourselves incredibly lucky to live and work where we do. Hopefully, by being part of the increasing network of accommodation and visitor attractions across the county, we will see more and more people enjoying the fresh air, beautiful scenery and rich history Lincolnshire has to offer. For more ideas of places to go and things to do, take a look at our journal entry from April: Visiting Lincolnshire: Ten Things You Have to See and Do! And you can follow us and say hello on Instagram and Facebook for more lovely views, stories about farming and ideas for trips in and around Lincolnshire. 

Finally, I must thank the team at Love Lincolnshire Wolds for their support and all the work they do promoting the area. Great views and wonderful countryside is a great starting point, but it’s the people who really make an area great. Come and see for yourself, you won’t regret it! 

With quiet lanes, fresh country air and plenty of designated cycle paths to pick and choose from, Lincolnshire is a great spot for cycling! The Old Granary, our cosy barn tucked away in the Lincolnshire Wolds in the little village of Owmby, is surrounded by rolling acres of undiscovered woodland, countryside and coastlines to explore by foot or bike.

The arrival of warmer days and a cool summer breeze sees the much-awaited return of a handful of cycling events in Lincolnshire, so if getting a few miles under your belt is your kind of thing then why not join in the fun and peddle away! The Lincoln Grand Prix Sportive takes place on the 11^th May 2019 and is a ride that consists of up to 1000 cyclists who have a choice of four distances to choose from, all of which finish in the buzzy city of Lincoln, the perfect final stop for a well-deserved tipple or two! Or, if you’re looking for a bit more of a challenge and think it’s time to put the training to practice, the C2C2C is a bike ride that guarantees adrenaline highs! The C2C2C is a charity bike ride that takes place on the 27^th June 2019 and although quite a distance, it’s a ride for all abilities to get involved in, giving cyclists a choice between two routes; 100 miles or a 124-mile journey. The journey begins just outside Lincoln, which isn’t too far a drive (or ride!) from us at The Old Granary. Taking place midweek, the ride aims to get local businessmen and women out of the office and onto their bikes in the great outdoors, raising money for a charitable cause in the process. With plenty of friendly faces around you to cycle, cheer and guide the way and with all proceeds going towards local charities, we think it’s a pretty good way to get a seriously good view or two of the surrounding Lincolnshire landscape!

As well as a mix of exciting events to get involved in, there are also plenty of meandering lanes and countryside roads that are the perfect places for getting lost! In late spring and throughout summer, the fields glow like a never-ending yellow brick road with yellow oilseed rape flowers towering high beneath the warm summer sun and golden wheat fields that stretch for miles on end. And what better, there are plenty of country pub-gardens dotted around the lanes which are great pit stops for retreating to the shade and refuelling alfresco! Although our northern east country has always been considered somewhat flat, don’t let the gentle rolling hills of the Lincolnshire Wolds fool you, as they’re sure to crop up every now and again and make you peddle that little bit harder!