![\"Open](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/GettyImages-991079606.jpg\")
\n\t\tThis trip to the countryside is beloved by visitors (Picture: Getty Images\/iStockphoto)<\/p>\n
\t\t
\n\t\tThis trip to the countryside is beloved by visitors (Picture: Getty Images\/iStockphoto)<\/p>\n
From historical castles<\/a> and monuments, to brand-new food<\/a> tours, shows and museums<\/a>, England has so much to offer visitors<\/a> who come in their droves.\u00a0<\/p>\n And it\u2019s not just those flying in from abroad who explore the likes of Cornwall\u2019s beaches<\/a> or the Liverpool\u2019s nightlife \u2013 it seems we love being tourists at home, with Brits taking 906 million day trips<\/a> and 90 million overnight trips in England last year.<\/p>\n So, if you\u2019re looking for some staycation inspo, look no further: Visit England have announced the winners of their Awards for Excellence, which recognise the best tourism<\/a> businesses across the country.<\/p>\n \t\t And when it came to the best experience that the country has to offer, it was an unexpected visit to a farm that claimed the top spot.<\/p>\n Head north to Yorkshire, and book yourself onto Dumble Farm\u2019s Cow Cuddling & Highland Cow Experience.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tSign up to The Getaway newsletter\t\t\t<\/p>\n Fuel your wanderlust with our curated newsletter of travel deals, guides and inspiration.\u00a0Sign up here<\/a>.<\/p>\n Nestled in Arram, near to Beverley in East Yorkshire, Dumble is a working farm with a focus on conservation and sustainability.<\/p>\n \t\t At the heart of their work is caring for their 65 plus strong herd of Highland cows. As well as educating visitors about this endangered species, Dumble Farm say spending time with the cows has a calming effect and a positive impact on general well-being.<\/p>\n And that\u2019s where cuddling comes in. Visitors on the three and a half hour tour get up close and personal with the \u2018affectionate and gentle\u2019 animals.<\/p>\n There\u2019s a meeting with the adorable young cows, which guests can groom and get to know.\u00a0Then it\u2019s onto the cuddle cows who are \u2018nearly always lying down\u2019 meaning visitors can lie back and relax with the animals. <\/p>\n \t\t Then there\u2019s a safari around the farm, during which there\u2019s an opportunity to\u00a0feed Highland cows from a trailer,\u00a0before heading back for tea and cakes.<\/p>\n The \u00a395 price tag goes towards supporting the farm\u2019s conservation work.<\/p>\n And, tourists have certainly not been disappointed after booking onto the tour, calling it the \u2018best day ever\u2019.<\/p>\n \u2018I would live here if I could,\u2019 wrote a TripAdvisor reviewer who did the tour in April. While another said: \u2018Don\u2019t think about it, do it\u2019. And a third called it \u2018moo-sively impressive\u2019.<\/p>\n \t\t If you want to book onto the tour, you\u2019ll need to plan ahead. <\/p>\n Tickets are snapped up fast, with a release dropping a month in advance. Cow cuddling stops for the summer though, so you\u2019ll have to wait until autumn before you can have start snuggling.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tI spent a day getting slobbered on by cows (and I\u2019d do it again)\t\t\t<\/p>\n Metro\u2019s Lifestyle Reporter, Courtney Pochin<\/a>, tried cow cuddling<\/a> at Hopefield Animal Sanctuary in Brentwood.<\/p>\n As well as dairy cows, Hopefield is home to donkeys, sheep, pigs, horses, Shetland ponies, cats, rabbits, alpacas, reindeer, a boa constrictor, parrots, and a fox. There are also several exotic animals such as tanukis and skunks.\u00a0<\/p>\n \t\t \u2018As I entered the field, two Friesian cows, Jude and Devon ambled over. I know it sounds silly, but as most of the viral cow cuddling videos I\u2019d seen online had featured much smaller calves, when these two gentle giants plodded over, my jaw dropped.<\/p>\n \u2018There was no way I was ever going to be able to get my arms around them for a proper cuddle, although a taller (and braver) person might have been able to do so.<\/p>\n \u2018Despite their somewhat intimidating size, however, Jude and Devon were just like big dogs. They licked my hand, allowed me to scratch their necks and backs, and were playful when it came to getting treats.<\/p>\n \u2018A fun fact I discovered about cows is that they drool rather a lot, so feeding them by hand gets pretty messy. I just about managed to escape without getting slobber in my hair (my clothes weren\u2019t quite as fortunate).\u00a0<\/p>\n \u2018While suffice to say it wasn\u2019t quite the therapeutic experience TikTok had sold me on, there\u2019s no denying that it was a great activity for my general wellbeing. It was something different, it was fun, and I felt like Jude and I had become pals by the end. I left with a big smile on my face.\u2019<\/p>\n Do you have a story to share?<\/strong><\/p>\n Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@Metro.co.uk<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n Arrow Arrow![\"Dumble](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/SEI_254360241-57e6-e1749114221491.jpg\")
\n\t\tDumble Farm has received rave reviews (Picture: Dumble Farm)<\/p>\n![\"Dumble](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/SEI_254360164-5e54-e1749114159857.jpg\")
\n\t\tHighland cows love a chin scratch (Picture: Dumble Farm)<\/p>\n![\"Dumble](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/SEI_254360162-3dcb.jpg\")
\n\t\tWho wouldn\u2019t want to cuddle this little guy? (Picture: Dumble Farm)<\/p>\n![\"Dumble](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/SEI_254360244-4b0f-e1749114402137.jpg\")
\n\t\tThe cows enjoy interacting with guests (Picture: Dumble Farm)<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/image-73ff.png\")
\n\t\tCourtney and Jude became firm friends (Picture: Courtney Pochin)<\/p>\n
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