Farm Holidays

Our farm of about 20 acres, is on the sunny side of a beautiful mountain, an area sometimes refered to as the foothills of The Alps. The land is terraced with vineyards and dotted with sweet chestnut and walnut trees. We have an orchard and paddocks that wind down to The River Kupa which is the border of Croatia and Slovenia and is a sparklingly clean river ideal for swimming, fishing and canoeing. We are in a traditional, completely natural hamlet living happily with our Croatian neighbours. Having stood unused for 25 years we are restoring the land and buildings. If you would like to give us a hand current projects include the restoration of our vineyards, orchard and farm tracks. Tony and I live here with our three horses, our pet ram Bimbo (who loves to be taken for walks), two cockerels, Cappucino and Espresso, and their four "girl friends" (all with coffee related names). Two black and white cats, Tiny and Mickey and our fun and friendly Afghan Hound, Harry Potter. All need feeding, brushing and cleaning and you are welcome to join in and enjoy their company if you so wish! We offer three types of holiday or a combination of two or three, hopefully to suit all tastes: (see Activity and Survival/Bushcraft Holidays for details) If you would like to stay on the farm we have recently renovated a traditional stone and wood Croatian Farmhouse. This consists of two double bedrooms, an open plan sitting room /farmhouse kitchen and modern shower room. It is clean and simple with good quality furniture and has it's own traditional BBQ area and a garden to relax in and enjoy the beautiful view. You can live independently, B&B or be full or half board eating at night "en famille" with us in our neighbouring farmhouse which is but a two minute walk. Bed and Breakfast Continental breakfast is delivered freshly every morning so you are able to relax, enjoy and rise at your leisure! Half Board Continental breakfast (as above) in your own farmhouse at your leisure! At 8pm a two course evening meal which includes a bottle of local wine. Ingredients are mostly from our own organic vegetable garden and from neighbouring farms. We enjoy great food and good company and this is a nightly feast, time to relax, and exchange and share the day's highlights! For fly fishers we have traditional kettles and we would love eating what you catch! Full Board As above with a Hamper of delicious local specialities packed freshly everyday for you to take out and enjoy. (for "the very active" please look at Activity Holidays and Survival/Bushcraft Holidays) You can walk or cycle, paint or photograph. The flora and fauna are interesting and unusual. I walked one day last summer for half an hour with a friendly praying mantis on my shoulder. There are lizards of indescribably beautiful metallic colours, butterflies and huge, amazing moths. The dusk of our early summer walk back from the river was lit by multitudes of fire flies. It is also a true haven for bird watchers. Across the river from us is a Heronry where there must be at least eighty huge nests. Storks nest on the telegraph poles! A variety of Eagles fly constantly and there are plenty of owls to see. A woodpecker has to be told to stop eating the eves of our house. Our bird feeder is in constant need of re-filling. There's fishing, mostly fly, and what you catch I will happily cook that night for supper. You can swim canoe or kayak in our or any of our local rivers. Our immediate river is The Kupa at the foot of our farm, forming part of the boudary betwen Croatia and Slovenia. Karlovac, our local town, is known for it's four rivers the old part of the town was built during the Napoleonic occupation. It is rich in architecture and scattered with monuments. Local villages have baroque churches and there are bridges built during the occupation of the Ottoman Empire. All rivers have maintained, natural grassy areas set aside for picnics, BBQ's and bathing. The rivers are crystal clear being fed from the mountains and from June to September are warm and deliciously inviting. Unused to swimming in rivers we have found this to be better than swimming in any sea. None are crowded and you will only meet local people. It is relaxed, quiet and all ages mix and enjoy. There are all types of festival. As I write this we are in February, the month of Carnival. The Beer Festival is fun, held in Karlovac, which is famous for it's Karlovaco Pivo. (Pivo being Beer in Croatian). There are festivals of dance, traditional and folk music and the beautiful Dances of Lipizzaner stallions "dancing" in the grounds of castles to Baroque orchestras. There are umpteen public holidays and always a new ceremony to learn. There is nothing to do for some but to relax and enjoy, or it's "full on"! Maybe as a couple, a family or a group of friends you want different things from your holiday. Tell us what you want and we will tailor your holiday to give you the experience you want that all will remember and enjoy. (First though at night, great conversation, fabulous food and let's enjoy the wine and the local famous Beer)! (There's freshly pressed fruit juices for the under 25's)!

What to do and see...

Interesting architecture.

 CROATIA FARM HOLIDAYS