The change of pace in life at the barn means that you may not want to do much more during your stay other than sip wine on your terrace, curl up in front of the fire, lounge in the hot tub or stroll around the grounds – but a walk through the local woods and country lanes is a must, not least because at the edge of the barn’s clearing is your own private lake, complete with kayaks, and we loved paddling through the weeping willows.

More ambitious hikers are spoilt for choice: there’s a seven- mile walk via three local pubs, a simple 40-minute walk to fill up the milk bottle from the local farm’s vending machine, or a stroll to the beautiful local villages of Great Dalby or Ashby Folville (both about 30 minutes’ walk). We also found that the picturesque scenery and peaceful backdrop gave us the headspace to get our creative juices flowing, and this would be the perfect place to escape to rekindle a creative hobby such as painting or writing that book you’ve been dreaming of.

Indulge in Swiss chalet chic at a cabin in the countryside