A NEW countryside holiday website has been launched by a nationwide farm holiday co-operative.

The site – www.letsgotothecountry.co.uk – has been developed with the help of the National Farmers’ Retail and Markets Association and the National Farm Attraction Network.

It was launched by Farm Stay UK at Farm Business Innovation 2014 exhibition in London.

The co-operative’s chief executive, Andy Woodward, said that the website "delivers what fans of the countryside have always wanted but, to date, have been unable to find".

“Staying in the country gives you great views and fantastic places to stay," he said. "But we want to make sure that visitors go to a local farm shop to buy food for dinner or plan a great countryside experience at a local farm attraction. They may also want to visit a stately home, have a day out at the races or a gentle roam around a market town – all of which the website can help them do.

“We anticipate that this website will very quickly become the go-to source for all things countryside and will encourage visitors to spend money in the rural economy.”

Visitors to the site can search for anything from holidays where the family can feed farm animals to secluded retreats.

Funding for the development of the site was provided by the Defra through a Rural Economy Growth grant.