Share a barn with miniature horse Basil at unique Airbnb stay 90 minutes drive from Birmingham

A farm near the Peak District is offering a unique staycation - a sleepover with a very special resident Basil the miniature horse.

The farm in the small village of Thurgarton is one hour away from Peak District National Park, and close to Newark-on-Trent and Southwell.

Basil’s Barn is situated on the grounds of a 17th century manor, surrounded by 60 acres of a picturesque estate.

Along with one bathroom, the property has one bedroom with a double bed and two single beds which can sleep up to four guests.

The bedroom is directly adjacent to Basil’s stable.

Speaking of the host with the most, Basil will usually be in the stable from the time guests arrive and will stay in there overnight.

The owner (Britt) will collect him from the stable in the morning to go back to his field, so do feel free to give him some goodbye cuddles.

Miniature horses are known for their curious personalities and social nature, so the stay could be great for little ones to enjoy petting friendly four-legged companions.

The Thurgarton farm stay will appeal to those seeking a slice of country life with a twist, or maybe people who just want a digital detox.

You’d be forgiven for forgetting your iPhone or any tech (Netflix who?) as you gaze across the courtyard.

There you will see grazing in the paddocks Highland cows, Hebridean sheep, horses, pigs, chickens and Norwegian Forrest cats.

The owner says most of the animals are rescued and all of them are kept strictly as pets.

The Airbnb listing does ask guests to be aware of a horse next door giving rise to potential for noise and smell.

What people are saying about Sleepover with Miniature Horse Basil

One fan said: ‘A fun and unusual weekend stay! Lovely estate, great surroundings. Easy access to plenty of places to visit.’

One discerning visitor said: ‘Great place to stay! Perfect if you want to disconnect from the outside world and just fully relax. Not great phone signal, but we played games and went for walks and obviously had Basil for entertainment! Mel (co-host) was really lovely to chat to and Brittany was very helpful over message! Lovely and clean, love the decorations in the barn, just perfect.’

One person who stayed over the festive season said: ‘Perfect surprise meeting Basil the horse. Hosts were great, went above and beyond to sort any niggles. Loved being able to groom and spend time with the animals, such a unique place to stay! And the decor was really stunning.’

Another appreciative said: ‘Basil is very enthusiastic about his food, and enjoys a good brush. There are the essentials for cooking in the kitchen but lots of great gastropubs nearby. There are not many places that you can visit where you can share with a horse, definitely a unique experience.’

At the time of publication, a five-night stay from 9-14 February for two people cost £160 per night.

For more information click here: airbnb.co.uk