The Wildwood Lodge Bed & Breakfast, Stables, and Cabins in Jamestown, Tennessee, offers a relaxing home atmosphere and true English-country charm. Great food is served at a huge table shared by all the guests, notes Garth Rumsmoke.

During the past 15 years of hauling across the United States, there have been times that I just wished I could roll in, put the horses in a nice stall, walk into a comfy cabin, and not worry about meals.

All this is possible at a bed & barn. No hookups or campsites, just a stall for your horse, and a comfortable room or cabin for you.

On my last trip to Big South Fork National River and Recreation area in Tennessee’s Cumberland Plateau, I had a chance to enjoy such a luxury at the Wildwood Lodge Bed & Breakfast, Stables and Cabins in Jamestown (931/879-9454; www.wildwoodlodge.ws).

Enjoying English Charm
The Wildwood Lodge has a real English country inn feeling. It’s run by Julia and Reg Johnson, and Clare Jung. Julia and Clare are sisters who came right from Jolly Ole England. In fact, they hail from the very same very small town in England where my great-great-grandparents were married in 1823. Their stories and descriptions of their home were like a trip to visit my family.

Reg, Julia, and Clare have made a real comfortable stay for folks with or without horses. They have nice cabins, as well as rooms in the main building. There’s also a very nice stable for your horse, and horse trails nearby.

The lodge has a relaxing home atmosphere. Great food is served at a huge table shared by all the guests. It feels like a Thanksgiving Day at home.

At breakfast, I had a chance to talk to some other travelers who weren’t horsepeople. They were interested to hear what traveling around with a horse was all about. The kids just loved the idea.

My breakfast buddies shared stories about interesting places to visit. One couple from Europe was on a tour of the United States. They were interested in Sergeant Alvin York’s history — his family home is just down the road from the lodge. Sgt. York was a U.S. soldier and famous World War I hero.

Touring Big South Fork
I took the opportunity to leave my horse in the capable hands of the lodge hosts, and spent a day just roaming around the Big South Fork area. I’d always wanted to visit some of the places I’d missed that make the area so popular. (The dog went with me, of course.)

There’s a beautiful state park just up the road from the Wildwood. I also visited Sgt. York’s old home site, where I had a chance to talk to his brother.

I’d made plans to get out on the trails behind the lodge, but I got so tied up in the local history I ran out of day. There’s so much to see and do in the area, with or without your horse. It’s a great place to visit.

Finding a B&B
So, for a change from your living-quarters trailer or setting up a horse camp, don’t be afraid to check out a B&B along your travel route. It’s easy enough to find listings of B&Bs that have a stall for your best friend; one such source is www.horsemotel.com.