FOR centuries farms have played an important role in the North-East and North Yorkshire, and scenes of cultivated fields stacked with hay bales sum up our image of the countryside.

Spending time on a working farm is an easy way to reconnect with a simple way of living.

There’s an earthy sense of satisfaction gained from watching cows milked in the early morning or helping farmers collect clutches of chicken eggs.

Many farm houses-turned-cottages boast exposed stonework and high-beamed ceilings create a rustic atmosphere, complete with views overlooking the countryside.

A holiday down on the farm may be one of the best options for a staycation now lockdown restrictions have eased to allow self-contained accommodation.

What farms can you stay at in the region?

Scrogg House Farm, Yorkshire Dales

The Northern Echo: Picture: Scrogg House/PAPicture: Scrogg House/PA

There’s a long history of farming at this idyllic site in the Rawthey Valley, near Sedbergh. The area has been used since 1568 and the current farmhouse was built by the Dover Family in 1895.

Surrounded by free-range chickens, donkeys and Highland cattle, Boskins Cottage (sleeps four) was once the lower section of an old threshing barn and takes its name from the old dividers used in the lower section of the barn, which has been retained as a feature in the property. 

Hikes from the doorstep include a path alongside the River Rawthey to England’s highest above ground waterfall Cautley Spout. The cottage also has direct access to the river with fishing rights and a deep-water pool for swims.

How: Visit scrogghouse.farm.

Northumberland Farm, Northumberland

A traditional farm with grassland supporting cattle and sheep alongside cereals such as wheat and barley, this is the place for guests eager to get a hands-on feel for rural living. Join the farmer on a tour of the farm or help him on his early morning rounds to check the animals.

By adopting a traditional approach to farming and working alongside nature, the owners have created a biodiverse wildlife haven of hares, badgers, roe deer, owls, yellowhammers, merlins, kestrels, geese, swans and buntings. In the absence of light pollution, this is also a fantastic place for stargazing. Admire the night sky from the veranda of en-suite canvas lodges.

Less than a mile from the sandy beaches of the Northumbrian coastline and a 15-minute walk into the pretty seaside village of Seahouses, the farm is ideally located for long, dramatic hikes.

How: Feather Down (featherdown.co.uk)

Pig Run Farm, near Durham and Beamish 

Ideal for couples and families has a sunny patio and secure garden with a network of footpaths and cycleways for you to explore all bursting with wildlife. The cottage has a relaxed spacious open plan country fell, with comfy chairs and sofas along with games, books and DVD's ideal to relax with a glass of something after a busy day.

It's the perfect base away from home and allows you to embrace the North-East in its entirety as it is close to Beamish Museum, Durham and Northumberland. Owners describe the highlights such as Kynren, the open-air live show at Bishop Auckland, Hadrian's Wall, Durham Dales, the Heritage Coast, Cragside at Rothbury and the North York Moors.

How: Riding Farm Cottages, which owns other sites across the region.

The Brambles at Barnacre Alpaca Farm, Northumberland 

At the heart of a working alpaca farm, The Brambles is in a stunning and peaceful location in the Tyne Valley, surrounded by fields, trees, 300 alpacas and fresh air. The two-bed stone cottage is one of many converted from the traditional farm buildings, complete with a large, open-plan space and wood-burning stove as well as a patio.

Breakfast cereal and milk provided, along with eggs from the farm's hens when they are laying.

The farm is close to tourist spots like Hadrian’s Wall, Close House, Matfen Hall, the airport, Newcastle, Corbridge and Hexham but also hosts its own activities, such as an alpaca walk and talk.

How: barnacre-alpacas.co.uk/accommodation/ but via AirBnB.