If you are looking for the ultimate escape from city life, then this family-owned heritage farm is the place for you. Built 130 years ago in a sunny valley protected by the Vancouver Island Ranges, it’s a gabled clapboard house with a long, gracious verandah that calls you to curl up with a book and pot of tea. Guests can also meander among the endless trails that cross the property’s 53 tranquil hectares (130 acres) of forest and farmland. Though the house is old and the decor traditional and slightly rustic, the rooms, thankfully, have been updated with comfy sleigh beds, fluffy duvets, and private en-suite bathrooms. In addition to five guestrooms in the house, there is also a two-bedroom farm-stay cottage, ideal for families. Best of all, you’ll want to wake up to the fresh farm breakfast made from local ingredients, always including buffalo mozzarella from the owners’ own herd of friendly water buffalo.