A Storybook Southern Getaway | Barnsley Resort

For a fairytale getaway among picturesque hills, English cottages, and ivy-covered brick, you could pack up and travel some 4,000+ miles across the pond to England. Or, you could take a quick weekend trip a mere 60 miles outside of Atlanta to Barnsley Resort.

Nestled along the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains of Northwest Georgia, Barnsley Resort is a picturesque connection between the surrounding natural landscape and a rich celebrated past. Located just an hour north of Atlanta the 3,000 acre resort is the ultimate retreat to unplug, unwind, and connect with nature. With an origin steeped in history and tradition, guests are quickly seduced by Barnsley’s charm.

A charming Southern estate from the 1840’s, the Barnsley Resort features 150 guest rooms and suites in 37 unique cottages set that are set in an adorable village. For a different experience, there’s also the Inn at Barnsley Resort. Picturesque views, elaborate gardenscapes, and outdoor activities abound, guests can indulge in an extraordinary array of amenities. Watch the morning sun light up the surrounding foothills while on horseback, hike through the woodlands, bike the nature trails or take a slow, relaxing boat ride on the lake. With an array of activities guests are free to pursue their passions in a multitude of ways.

Drink & Dine Like Southern Royalty

Enjoy your storybook moment to the fullest as you dine like kings and queens at Barnsley Resort’s three on-site restaurants. All led by incredible Executive Chef Nicolas Lebas, each menu and spot offers its own twist on Southern elegance. Originally from Marseilles, France, Lebas has almost two decades of experience in kitchens at world-class resorts and upscale restaurants around the world.

The Award-winning Barnsley Resort is enhanced by fresh, new changes to the properties restaurants. With a top-to-bottom renovation by Atlanta-based Gensler interior design, the newly re-imagined dining experience is complimented with more intimate and cozy environments featuring a carryover of vintage textures as well as an elevated ambiance. Maintaining the legendary rustic charm of the property, hardwoods, dark vintage lanterns and candelabra chandeliers set the tone for the space while white marble, iron tables and plush seating carry the vibe throughout. Enhancements are also evident on the restaurants inspiring new menu. Chef Lebas has crafted a fresh, vibrant menu that truly sings to the authentic and natural vibes of the resort. Our favorites from the new menu include the Woodlands Farmers Salad, Deviled Eggs, Shrimp Ceviche, Scottish Salmon, and Prime NY Strip. Cocktails also receive the fresh treatment by infusing all natural ingredients that raise each spirit.

For exquisite Southern fare you’ll be dreaming about for days following your trip, grab a table at Woodlands Grill. You can enjoy Southern breakfast, lunch, and dinner here in this English hunting lodge atmosphere, as you drink in view of the golf course. You can also drink in the extensive wine, craft beer, and spirit list. The restaurant’s cozy Wine Library is a favorite for private moments.

Because the resort is so close to local farmers and producers, its menus are able to delight guests with some of the freshest garden-to-table cuisine in the area. For this extra-fresh experience, head to Rice House. Their menu rotates weekly because they only use either what they are currently growing in the garden (during season) or what they can source from local producers within a 150-mile radius of the estate. Yeah, they mean business.

For a relaxed, al fresco atmosphere, Barnsley’s Beer Garden will keep you entertained with over 30 craft beers to choose from. Hang out on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays here, and chomp into a casual menu featuring items from Atlanta’s Spotted Trotter Charcuterie that pair perfectly with your brew. You can also grab a quick breakfast here in the mornings, before your romantic horseback ride through wooded trails.

Yes, we said romantic horseback ride through wooded trails.

Do It All At Barnsley

Perhaps one of our favorite parts about this gem tucked away in North Georgia is its unique on-site entertainment. Instead of booking shows or offering typical hotel entertainment, the Barnsley takes an outside approach—literally.

Besides the boutique spa (which is a treat, by the way), this place is full of fun for adults looking to try something adventurous. Here are all the outdoor activities you can get into at the Barnsley:

• Playing the 18-hole Fazio-designed golf course
• Hiking, biking, and horseback riding on miles of trails
• Fishing, canoeing, and kayaking on a 10-acre lake
• Wing shooting at the resort’s shooting grounds
• Shotgun shooting at the 28-station sporting clays course (shooting instruction and shotgun fitting offered at resort’s shooting grounds)
• Fly fishing lessons and catch-and-release
• Miles of hiking and biking trails
• Swimming in the saltwater pool (seasonal)
• Enjoying the Fire pits and s’more supplies
• Exploring the Historic Manor House ruins, museum, and woodland heirloom gardens

The amount of adventure that awaits here is quite surprising, given how picturesque it is. Also serving as a wedding venue, the Barnsley Resort has a lot of special qualities that make it feel like one of Georgia’s hidden gems. Between the accommodations, the dining, and the adventures you can find onsite, it’s no secret that the Barnsley Resort is 100% Drink Dine Do-approved.

Barnsley Resort

LOCATION: 597 Barnsley Gardens Road | Adairsville, Georgia 30103

HOTEL: Book a stay!

CONTACT: 770-773-7480

MORE: Visit Website

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*This article is sponsored by Barnsley Resort. All travel accommodations were hosted, however all opinions are our own.

*Photos courtesy of Barnsley Resort