The Old Bales felt like a true sanctuary from the moment we arrived. Nature hummed in every direction as the outside world quietly slipped away.

We loved the expansive king master suite, which became our retreat for slow mornings and relaxed evenings. There was plenty of space to spread out and properly unwind, with a calm, considered simplicity that made it easy to settle in.

Most of our time, though, was spent outside at the Dragonfly Hut. This was easily the showpiece of the property and unlike anything we have experienced before. The natural swimming pool is enormous and completely chemical free, with water filtered through plants, rocks, waterfalls and fish gliding gently beneath the surface. Swimming in it felt immersive and alive, more like entering a living ecosystem than a pool. We fed the fish, snorkelled, watched dragonflies drift across the water, sat beneath the falls and stretched out on the lounges, all to the soothing sound of running water.

We also loved wandering through the gardens, with towering ancient fig trees, wide open lawns and rolling hinterland views that seem to stretch on forever. Even the simplest moments felt elevated, whether it was cooking over the outdoor fire pit at sunset, soaking in the open air bath surrounded by birdsong, or sitting beneath a sky full of stars in complete stillness.

Inside, the home carries that same sense of understated luxury. We found ourselves cooking slow breakfasts in the chef’s kitchen and lighting the indoor fireplace in the evenings, adding a cosy warmth to the space. The local artwork throughout brings a beautiful sense of place.

It is the kind of stay where you slip into a slower rhythm without even trying. Barefoot wandering, long swims, firelit conversations and a genuine sense of reconnection. It felt private, expansive and completely our own.