In a nutshell
Free-range fun on a small working farm that runs on 19th-century-style horse and steam power. Friendly staff welcome helpers to hand-feed lambs and piglets, collect eggs, fill water troughs and groom donkeys and ponies. Have a go at hand-milking or butter churning to earn yourself a cone of fresh ice-cream (made on site by owner Charlotte Sharphouse with milk from her small Jersey herd). There are also toy tractors to ride and a play barn with hay bales and rope swings.
Fun fact
Lost grandads and teens can usually be located in the steam sheds, where Charlotte’s steam-engineer husband, Alex, displays his collection of restored vintage farm machinery and engines.
Best thing about it
George, the 12-year-old Clydesdale horse, a gentle giant that stands as still as a statue while children climb a stepladder to brush his mane and coat. Admire him in the field, too, pulling a plough or harrow alongside one of three magnificent Shire horses.
What about lunch?
The Chicken Shed Tea Room serves homemade cakes and simple lunches (soup and roll £3.95, quiche and salad £5.95, kid’s’ box £3.99).
Exit through the gift shop?
Yes, but it’s also the ice-cream parlour, so the real distraction is a menu of retro sundaes featuring chocolate brownies and sticky toffee sauce (Charlotte is a former director of the Cartmel Sticky Toffee Pudding Company).
Getting there
Bouth is two-minutes off the A590, 20 miles from junction 36 of the M6.
Value for money?
It may look costly for a small attraction – adult £7.95, child £5.50, under-five free, family ticket (2 adults/3 children) £24 – but there’s a lot to this living farm. Make a day of it with a walk through woods to the 16th-century church at the top of Colton Fell.
Opening times
10am-5pm, Easter to end of October, oldhallfarmbouth.com
Verdict
8/10.
