Entire home
Athlone Farm: Spacious, Gorgeous Grounds, Historic Outbuildings, Summer Deals!
Photo gallery for Athlone Farm: Spacious, Gorgeous Grounds, Historic Outbuildings, Summer Deals!





Reviews
10 out of 10
Exceptional
7 bedrooms 5+ bathrooms Sleeps 18 603 sq m
Popular amenities
Explore the area

Amherst, VA
- Virginia Blue Ridge Railway Trail4 min drive
- Rebec Vineyards9 min drive
- Sweet Briar College15 min drive
- Lynchburg, VA (LYH-Lynchburg Regional)39 min drive
Rooms & beds
7 bedrooms (sleeps 18)
East Wing: Alice's Room (Upstairs)
1 Double Bed
East Wing: Cousin Celia's Room (Upstairs)
2 Single Beds
East Wing: GrannyLou's Room (Upstairs)
1 Queen Bed
East Wing: The Schoolroom (Third Floor)
2 Single Beds
East Wing: Thomas' Room (Upstairs)
1 Queen Bed
Living Room 1
1 Double Sofa Bed
Office 1
1 Double Sofa Bed
West Wing: Aunt Pymm's Room (Upstairs)
1 Queen Bed
West Wing: Uncle Bob's Room (Upstairs)
1 Double Bed
5 bathrooms, 2 half bathrooms
East Wing: GrannyLou's Room Master Bath (Upstairs)
Soap · Towels provided · Toilet · Shower only · Shampoo · Hair dryer
East Wing: Hall Bath (Upstairs)
Soap · Towels provided · Bathtub or shower · Toilet · Shampoo · Hair dryer
East Wing: Library ADA Bath (Downstairs)
Soap · Towels provided · Toilet · Shower only · Shampoo · Hair dryer
East Wing: Powder Room (Downstairs)
Soap · Towels provided · Toilet
East Wing: Schoolroom Powder Room (Third Floor)
Soap · Towels provided · Toilet
West Wing: Downstairs
Soap · Towels provided · Shower only · Shampoo · Hair dryer
West Wing: Upstairs
Soap · Towels provided · Toilet · Shower only · Shampoo · Hair dryer
Spaces
Porch or lanai
Kitchen
Separate dining area
Outdoor play area
Garden
About this property
Athlone Farm: Spacious, Gorgeous Grounds, Historic Outbuildings, Summer Deals!
Athlone Farm is directly off Hwy 151, a designated Virginia scenic highway. You are renting the entire house. Classic and beautiful. Sleeps up to 18. Two kitchens and conveniently located to breweries, vineyards, hiking trails, Crabtree Falls, the Virginia Blue Ridge Railway Trail, area Colleges and Universities and more.
NOTE: You can also rent Athlone’s historic 800-square foot cottage. The Cottage sleeps up to 4 people. Go here for details: https://www.vrbo.com/3351548
ATHLONE’S STORY:
Athlone’s lands first became a working Virginia farm sometime between 1751 and 1815. The Athlone Farm Homestead, together with its spacious home and 10 historic outbuildings and farm structures, sits on 31 acres of the estate and reflects the lifestyles and activities of Virginia’s farmstead developments during the second half of the 19th century.
ATHLONE’S HOME:
Athlone’s original 6500 square-foot home was constructed in two separate wings, the West wing circa 1815, and the East wing circa 1856. In 1996, the home was lost to fire, but was reconstructed by the family a year later exactly one foot off its original foundation.
Athlone’s home is fashioned in two distinct, fully equipped living quarters, East and West wings. The two wings combined can sleep up to 18 people. The home is beautiful, comfortable, roomy, well furnished, and perfect for families, retreats, reunions, and conferences.
Each wing features fully equipped eat in kitchens, well-appointed bathrooms and bedrooms, delightful living/family rooms, streaming TVs, wireless internet, and direct access onto the expansive back porch.
The larger East wing also features a formal parlor, a sunroom, a third-floor entertainment room, a tranquil library, a formal dining room (table seats up to 10), and ADA compliant accommodations and access.
There is ample paved parking and self-check-in. We offer excellent amenities to all guests.
ATHLONE’S GROUNDS:
Athlone’s setting is rural, peaceful, and quiet, but also extremely well located to take advantage of numerous area activities—hiking and biking trails, local breweries and wineries, restaurants, historic sites, and area colleges and universities. (See below for details.)
The 420-square foot porch sits at the rear of the home. For early risers, there is nothing more peaceful than sitting on the porch with a cup of coffee, watching the sun come up in the East, while the cows graze in the pasture.
The porch is beautifully outfitted for dining and with rocking chairs to take full advantage of wonderful views of the property and for easy grilling off the kitchens.
The family’s striking brick and iron memorial garden also offers shared patio visits and a gas firepit for late night story telling.
Athlone’s grounds are perfectly suited for provided outdoor games, including croquet, cornhole, and badminton.
ATHLONE’S HISTORIC OUTBUILDINGS:
Athlone Farm features 10 unique historic outbuildings that date from the early 1800’s to 1940:
-- The property’s original early brick kitchen, where our forefathers cooked away from the main building for fear of fire.
-- The original fieldstone ash house, where cooking and other ashes were stored for use in making soaps and starting new fires.
-- Three late-nineteenth-century hay barns, some made from hand hewn posts and logs.
-- A late-nineteenth-century frame smokehouse.
--A framed corncrib, with a steep-pitched roof and slanted sides, allowing rain to run off away from the building to keep the corn dry.
-- A stable and a feed barn.
-- “Jenny’s House,” a single room, rustic wood structure.
NOTE: For your safety and in compliance with our insurance coverage, we are unable to grant you access into Athlone’s secured historic outbuildings. In addition, the fenced livestock in our fields are valuable and part of a private agricultural operation. They should not be disturbed or approached.
ATHLONE FARM IS CONVENIENTLY LOCATED:
-- 3 miles from the Rose Mill trailhead of the Virginia Blue Ridge Railway Trail
-- 3.5 miles from the Winton Country Club golf course
-- 5 miles from Saunders Brothers Farm Market
-- 9 miles to the Town of Amherst
-- 11 miles to Loose Shoe Brewing Company and Trapezium Brewing Company
-- 11 miles to Sweet Briar College
-- 18 miles to hiking at Crabtree Falls
-- 22 miles to Wintergreen Ski resort
-- 28 miles from Liberty University and Lynchburg College
-- An easy drive to areas of major interest including Monticello, Appomattox Court House, Charlottesville, Natural Bridge, the Blue Ridge Parkway, and Longwood University as well as to scenic byways, the James River, local wineries, breweries, distilleries, restaurants and other historic homes and sites.
NOTE: You can also rent Athlone’s historic 800-square foot cottage. The Cottage sleeps up to 4 people. Go here for details: https://www.vrbo.com/3351548
ATHLONE’S STORY:
Athlone’s lands first became a working Virginia farm sometime between 1751 and 1815. The Athlone Farm Homestead, together with its spacious home and 10 historic outbuildings and farm structures, sits on 31 acres of the estate and reflects the lifestyles and activities of Virginia’s farmstead developments during the second half of the 19th century.
ATHLONE’S HOME:
Athlone’s original 6500 square-foot home was constructed in two separate wings, the West wing circa 1815, and the East wing circa 1856. In 1996, the home was lost to fire, but was reconstructed by the family a year later exactly one foot off its original foundation.
Athlone’s home is fashioned in two distinct, fully equipped living quarters, East and West wings. The two wings combined can sleep up to 18 people. The home is beautiful, comfortable, roomy, well furnished, and perfect for families, retreats, reunions, and conferences.
Each wing features fully equipped eat in kitchens, well-appointed bathrooms and bedrooms, delightful living/family rooms, streaming TVs, wireless internet, and direct access onto the expansive back porch.
The larger East wing also features a formal parlor, a sunroom, a third-floor entertainment room, a tranquil library, a formal dining room (table seats up to 10), and ADA compliant accommodations and access.
There is ample paved parking and self-check-in. We offer excellent amenities to all guests.
ATHLONE’S GROUNDS:
Athlone’s setting is rural, peaceful, and quiet, but also extremely well located to take advantage of numerous area activities—hiking and biking trails, local breweries and wineries, restaurants, historic sites, and area colleges and universities. (See below for details.)
The 420-square foot porch sits at the rear of the home. For early risers, there is nothing more peaceful than sitting on the porch with a cup of coffee, watching the sun come up in the East, while the cows graze in the pasture.
The porch is beautifully outfitted for dining and with rocking chairs to take full advantage of wonderful views of the property and for easy grilling off the kitchens.
The family’s striking brick and iron memorial garden also offers shared patio visits and a gas firepit for late night story telling.
Athlone’s grounds are perfectly suited for provided outdoor games, including croquet, cornhole, and badminton.
ATHLONE’S HISTORIC OUTBUILDINGS:
Athlone Farm features 10 unique historic outbuildings that date from the early 1800’s to 1940:
-- The property’s original early brick kitchen, where our forefathers cooked away from the main building for fear of fire.
-- The original fieldstone ash house, where cooking and other ashes were stored for use in making soaps and starting new fires.
-- Three late-nineteenth-century hay barns, some made from hand hewn posts and logs.
-- A late-nineteenth-century frame smokehouse.
--A framed corncrib, with a steep-pitched roof and slanted sides, allowing rain to run off away from the building to keep the corn dry.
-- A stable and a feed barn.
-- “Jenny’s House,” a single room, rustic wood structure.
NOTE: For your safety and in compliance with our insurance coverage, we are unable to grant you access into Athlone’s secured historic outbuildings. In addition, the fenced livestock in our fields are valuable and part of a private agricultural operation. They should not be disturbed or approached.
ATHLONE FARM IS CONVENIENTLY LOCATED:
-- 3 miles from the Rose Mill trailhead of the Virginia Blue Ridge Railway Trail
-- 3.5 miles from the Winton Country Club golf course
-- 5 miles from Saunders Brothers Farm Market
-- 9 miles to the Town of Amherst
-- 11 miles to Loose Shoe Brewing Company and Trapezium Brewing Company
-- 11 miles to Sweet Briar College
-- 18 miles to hiking at Crabtree Falls
-- 22 miles to Wintergreen Ski resort
-- 28 miles from Liberty University and Lynchburg College
-- An easy drive to areas of major interest including Monticello, Appomattox Court House, Charlottesville, Natural Bridge, the Blue Ridge Parkway, and Longwood University as well as to scenic byways, the James River, local wineries, breweries, distilleries, restaurants and other historic homes and sites.
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Amenities
Kitchen
Washing machine
Dryer
Pet-friendly
Free WiFi
Air conditioning
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House Rules
Check in after 3:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 25
Check out before 11:00 AM
Children
Children allowed: ages 0–17
Children must be monitored in house & on grounds.
Events
Events allowed: family gatherings and birthday parties
Please clear your events with us before your stay.
Pets
Pets allowed: dogs less than 23 kg per pet (limit 2 pets total)
$100/ per adult dog pet fee. No puppies. Leash req
Smoking
Smoking allowed: in designated areas
Butt receptacle is behind the Memorial garden.
Important information
You need to know
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
Parties and events (including family gatherings and birthday parties) are allowed on site. Maximum attendees: 30
Note from host: Please clear your events with us before your stay.
Host has indicated that there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher, a first aid kit and a deadlock
About the area
Amherst
Located in Amherst, this holiday home is in a rural area. The area's natural beauty can be seen at Fortune's Cove Preserve and Naked Mountain State Natural Area Preserve, while Amherst County Museum and Historical Society and Sweet Briar Museum are cultural highlights. Make sure you get close to the area's animals with activities such as game walks and birdwatching.

Amherst, VA
What's nearby
- Virginia Blue Ridge Railway Trail - 4 min drive - 4.8 km
- Winton Country Club - 5 min drive - 5.4 km
- Rebec Vineyards - 9 min drive - 12.2 km
- Sweet Briar College - 15 min drive - 19.8 km
- Lovingston Winery - 15 min drive - 18.8 km
Getting around
Restaurants
- Colleen Drive In - 13 min drive
- Blue Mountain Barrel House - 14 min drive
- The Amherst Corner & Ice Cream Parlor - 7 min drive
- Brew Corner - 14 min drive
- Subway - 7 min drive
Frequently asked questions
About the host
Hosted by Cindy Ferguson

I am working with 4th generation Howell sisters of historic Athlone Farm. Their great grandfather, Thomas Howell, purchased the working farm in 1893, and the Farm has been a community landmark since the early 1800s. They and I are invested in and obliged to the welfare of Athlone’s history and to contribute towards its future. We look forward to sharing Athlone with you and your family.
Why they chose this property
Athlone’s setting is rural, peaceful, and quiet, but also extremely well located to take advantage of numerous area activities—hiking and biking trails, local breweries and wineries, restaurants, historic sites, and area colleges and universities. The home is beautiful, comfortable, roomy, well furnished, and perfect for families, retreats, reunions, and other special, small events.
What makes this property unique
The Athlone Farm Homestead, together with its spacious home and 10 historic outbuildings and farm structures, sits on 31 acres of the estate and reflects the lifestyles and activities of Virginia’s farmstead developments during the second half of the 19th century.
Languages:
English
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