A rural retreat in Scotland with an Australian twist
A family of Australian expats has transformed a third-generation farm in Fife, Scotland, into an inviting haven for rustic getaways.
The perennial travel debate about five-star hotel versus private residence becomes even thornier when appraising a bucolic, romantic and blissfully off-grid farmstay in Scotland. Agritourism options have blossomed of late, and Banchory Farm is one of a few Scottish farms that embraces the idea of “slow living” and pampers guests with decidedly cosy interiors. In an intimate environment that feels authentic, elegant and restorative, the appeal is simple: stylish digs set in a rich and charming rural area that can be easily explored. It’s little surprise guests are booking it on repeat.
The newest cottages, Drinkbetween East and Drinkbetween West, débuted last year (taking the number of lodgings to four), further diversifying owner Jane Manifold’s working farm 40 minutes north of Edinburgh. The farm, bought by Manifold’s Scottish grandfather in the 1930s, is set on 300 secluded hectares in the heart of Fife with wide-ranging water views across the Firth of Forth and the east coast of Scotland. As the weather blows in from the sea, the remote skyline is constantly morphing. Vast blue skies alternate with moody, intermittent rain clouds, painterly rainbows and dramatic sunrises and sunsets. With clean air and wide-open spaces, the setting encourages you to stop, relax and reconnect. Except for the family’s three roaming cows – Poppy, Heather and Emma – or the odd passing stag, the landscape is joyously quiet, and the peace calms visitors from the moment you arrive.
Manifold, who grew up on a farm in Victoria, and her husband, Jonathan, returned to Scotland five years ago, when her grandmother passed away. After 15 years of living in Asia with their three children, Willow 15, Isobel 13, and James 11, the relocation was a heartfelt homecoming. “I moved to Australia when I was 18 months old,” says Manifold, a former change management consultant. “My father was attracted to the scale of farming in Australia, and I grew up a couple of hours outside Melbourne. I would return every second summer to help with the harvest. Our farm has always felt like part of who I am.”
Despite farming being in her wheelhouse, Manifold honed her farm-management skills first-hand when the family moved here. Her father, who grew up on the property and still resides near Hexham in western Victoria, is a valuable sounding board for advice, and Manifold also works closely with a neighbouring farmer to manage the production and sales of their wheat, barley, oat and rapeseed crops. “I want to preserve the spirit of what my grandparents created and protect the land for the next generation,” she says.
The two new cottages, which had not been updated for years, underwent a meticulous overhaul. Working with a local builder, Manifold oversaw their transformation, which included gutting kitchens, revamping bathrooms, replacing electrics and upgrading plumbing with eco-friendly air source heat pumps. Plastering and painting the bare stone interior walls duly followed. “The characterful stone on the façade was preserved and new windows and French doors have remade draughty and closed-in spaces with spectacular views,” says Manifold. The cottages are part of a larger regeneration program that also includes improving soil quality and an ambitious reforestation plan to nurture wildlife habitats.
I was introduced to Manifold during the pandemic to help her find interior elements while travel wasn’t possible. This connection evolved into a remote collaborative interior-design service, with advice on layout, colours and styling, and the sourcing of old and new furniture, along with accessories, art and handmade finds, which we’ve layered throughout the individual cottages.
The first renovation, Drinkbetween East, built in 1826, now opens into an open-plan sitting room, dining room and kitchen. A corridor leads to two spacious bedrooms and a bathroom graced with a traditional English roll-top bath and walk-in shower. Creating spaces for guests to enjoy the poetic milieu was a priority, and from each room views of the sky and sea enable you to get lost in the surrounding beauty. The cottage’s thoughtfully chosen furnishings feature serene neutrals and tactile fabrics. A snug linen sofa is paired with reupholstered antique chairs around a central wood burner, and in the fully equipped kitchen, an upholstered window seat looks out across the Firth of Forth estuary, where you can spend hours watching the comings and goings on the water. A palette of soft greens, off-whites and stone infuses a mix of patterned, striped, plaid, floral and plain fabrics in soft linen weaves, heavy cottons and velvets, from the likes of Ralph Lauren, Fermoie, Colefax and Fowler, and Parker & Jules. So, whether returning from a full day of activities or hunkering down for an indolent stay, the cottage feels cocooning and luxurious.
Next door, Drinkbetween West has been remade as a monochromatic, one-bedroom escape, with underfloor heating, a contemporary indoor roll-top bath, and another outdoors. The flooring is a mix of wood, limestone and herringbone terracotta brick throughout the whitewashed space, while timeless investment pieces add patina and polish. Think an 18th-century armoire, a DeVol hand-painted kitchen and antique lighting from British brands Alex MacArthur and Matthew Cox. An array of fabrics, including wool plaids, sheepskins, ticking and soft velvets, mixed with earthy linens in tobacco, gingham and white, informs the refined aesthetic.
“With both spaces it was important to support local trades along with smaller antique dealers, independent shopkeepers and reclamation yards,” says Manifold. Many vintage finds have been repurposed as new, quirky pieces – old marble balustrades reworked as individual bedside tables, worn garden tables used as striking display surfaces, and a discarded stone trough reanimated as a one-off laundry sink. Perfectly imperfect, these upcycled elements lend the cottages character. The outdoor bath, from Hikki in Sweden, is an inviting addition. “Wood-fired, there is a steel burner under the chimney that heats the water,” says Manifold. “The more you top up the wood, the hotter it becomes, so guests can soak up the view no matter the season. It’s a little touch of the Australian outback.”
Voted the number-one outdoor destination by Scottish Natural Heritage for eight years running, Fife is home to more than 50 golf courses, including the famous Old Course at St Andrews and Elie, while Gleneagles is nearby. So, whether as a base for outdoor pursuits, including golfing, walking, shooting or fishing, visiting the annual Edinburgh Festival, or simply immersing yourself in an unspoilt rural haven, the farm’s all-frills, no-fuss approach satisfies a host of different travellers.
The farm is also ideally positioned for exploring picturesque coastal paths and villages, rugged mountains, lochs and rolling open countryside. For those looking for even more lodging options, two other cottages are available to rent, and next spring the original farmhouse will debut a fresh new look. “Originally the cottages were known as an onward resting and watering spot for horses,” says Manifold. “It’s fortuitous that they are gaining a reputation as a restorative destination once more.”
Production by Living Inside. For more information see banchoryfarm.co.uk.