The farmer has transformed the old RAF bombing range tower into a luxury five-storey holiday let, complete with a hot tub, kitchen, and dog-friendly bedrooms

A spud-farming entrepreneur has repurposed an ancient RAF bombing range tower into an exclusive holiday retreat.

At RAF Wainfleet, located a stone’s throw from Skegness in Lincolnshire, guests have the chance to slumber in military glory—with accommodation options including a tank, helicopter, plane, or a revamped army ambulance, not to mention old air force bunkers and even a combine harvester amidst the mix.

The mastermind behind this endeavour, 47-year-old Will Roughton, typically cultivates potatoes, cauliflower, kale, and broccoli on his land. Yet, come 2014, Roughton, a savvy sixth-generation tiller of the soil, ventured into the world of holiday rentals in a bold move to diversify revenue streams against the backdrop of challenging times for those in the farming sector.

Will explained why he felt the need to diversify, partly blaming the current Government’s inheritance tax change. “Farming’s not in the best shape at the moment. It’s just been made a lot worse by our Labour government. It was really a case of diversifying, just finding something different to try and get an income from,” he said.

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He acquired the site from a neighbouring landowner and plunged into the process of transforming the buildings into bespoke lodgings. The gem of the complex is the erstwhile bombing range control tower, offering guests awe-inspiring 360-degree vistas of the north Norfolk coast.

This pet-friendly five-storey colossus accommodates six guests and commands about £250 per night. Initially, Will pondered converting the tower into residential quarters, but ultimately recognised its potential as a one-off vacation spot, citing, “It just seemed unusual, we were thinking about residential to start with, but then it just seemed like a great idea for a holiday let because it’s so unusual.

“I think for a residential we came to the conclusion that going up and down all those flights of stairs every day would lose its appeal.”

Now, the tower serves as part of a ‘very peaceful’ retreat, which is primarily frequented by families. The level nature of the surrounding terrain renders the view from the tower quite distinctive – a feature that the owner believes contributes significantly to the property’s allure.

He remarked: “You can see Hunstanton very easily, across the wash, which is about 10 miles as the crow flies. It takes me two miles to drive around there.”

The transformation of the tower is complete with modern amenities such as king-sized beds, en-suite bathrooms, and a fully equipped kitchen and dining area. Among the facilities on offer is even a private outdoor hot tub.