Tag Archives: cottage of the week

Cottage of the Week – The Barn at Scalby Lodge, Scarborough

Never ones to rest on our laurels, this week we set about finding a property that could out-do last week’s connection to a very famous Briton (Winston Churchill since you asked. Check out The Lookout here). After much frantic searching of properties with the vaguest connection to people of renown from this fair-isle, we finally remembered that a number of our featured properties are owned by perhaps the greatest, and most famous, of living Britons…

Her Majesty the Queen owns the properties at Scalby Lodge – including the large and delightful The Barn. These former farm buildings and cottages have been transformed to offer incredibly relaxing holiday accommodation whilst showcasing the natural beauty of the surrounding area. Just a short distance from your front door you have both the North York Moors National Park and the glorious Heritage Coast of Yorkshire. In fact, just walking from your front door will plant you firmly in the footsteps of royalty; her majesty paid a visit in 2010.

It should be clear from the photos that The Barn and Scalby Lodge offer a fairly regal holiday experience – even without royal ownership. Sleeping up to 10, it offers a wealth of comfort and space to ensure that every holidaymaker can relax and enjoy their break however they see fit.

A large and light living room offers a wood-burning stove. The equally generous proportioned kitchen allows you to see if ‘too many cooks’ really do spoil the broth – though it’s well equipped enough to allow the preparation of a far more sophisticated menu. It is owned by the Queen, after all!

Three double bedrooms offer 5-foot beds and a TV. One of them also offers an en-suite shower room with toilet. There’s also a twin bedroom and a bunk bedroom. For those keen to stay connected there’s Wi-Fi in the property for those all important Facebook status updates, tweets and Instagram posts.

The surrounding area offers an equal array of activities. For those looking to relax there’s an enclosed garden with seating and a BBQ. The 5 acre shared grounds also offer a children’s play area and plenty of space to explore and enjoy.

Local attractions include direct access to Scalby Pond boasting a private hide which guests are welcome to use. Scarborough is known as the first seaside resort and has been welcoming guests for more than 300 years. It boasts two beautiful beaches, with the North Bay being popular with surfers and the South Bay perfect for a fun-filled family day at the seaside.

If you fancy a regal stay in one of Yorkshire’s most scenic locales then you can find more info and make a booking on The Barn’s listing on cottages4you.

Cottage of the Week – The Lookout, St Margaret’s-at-Cliffe

We have more than a few opportunities to explore British heritage here at cottages4you, with plenty of historic properties and a number of chances to follow in the footsteps (and sleep under the same roof!) of an array of famous Britons.

With The Lookout in St Margaret’s-at-Cliffe you get to stand on the terrace where perhaps the greatest Briton of all once surveyed the seas. It’s doubtful that Winston Churchill also slept at The Lookout, but since the level of comfort afforded by the property has come on in leaps and bounds over the years, we doubt he could resist taking one of his famous daily naps if he were to visit today.

In fact, the harmony of perfectly preserved heritage and contemporary comfort is one of The Lookout’s strongest qualities. The master bedroom offers a wonderfully comfortable double bed with high quality furnishings, stylish yet homely décor and 180-degree panoramic views of the Channel’s stunning blue waters.

Perched on the edge of the White Cliffs of Dover, you don’t have far to travel to enjoy some of the UK’s finest walking routes, with a wealth of gentle terrain and breathtaking scenery to explore just a few steps from your door. If you’re seeking much-needed refreshment then by day part of the ground floor houses The Bluebird Tea Rooms, open to walkers and guests 6 days a week and Bank Holidays.

As the name suggests, one of the greatest pleasures of holidaying at The Lookout comes from sitting out on the balcony, enjoying the uninterrupted views of the English Channel. Great efforts have been made to make your stay at The Lookout as leisurely as possible. The living room offers a wood-burning stove, TV and DVD player to complement the delightful furnishings. Younger holidaymakers will love the nautical theme and bunk beds whilst adults will love the abundance of beauty and tranquility that the property, and its surrounding area, affords.

If you’d like to follow in the footsteps of Churchill, and many happy holidaymakers, whilst enjoying some of the UK’s finest views then you can make a booking and find more info on The Lookout’s listing on cottages4you.

Cottage of the Week – The Meads, Edale

It’s like Christmas morning in the cottages4you office every time we find a new addition to our portfolio that impresses us as much as The Meads & Garden Wing in Edale, the Peak District. Not just blessed with an incredible location at the foot of the Kinder Scout Mountain Range, these properties (The Meads and the equally lovely ‘Garden Wing’, ref: REES) were built within the idyllic Arts and Crafts style of the late 19th and early 20th century and boast absolutely wonderful interiors.
How wonderful? Well, just take a look at the photos. The Meads boasts stunning ‘wrap-around’, encaustic-tiled, Shaker-panelled verandahs and was built in the Great War as a shooting lodge to the adjacent moors. In the winter months, come and sit by blazing log fires, or in the summer take a glass of wine and explore the 4 acres of fantastic woodland gardens, with a large expanse of heart-shaped lawn, imaginatively laid out as parkland for guest to enjoy.
Since it’s located in such a lovely outdoor area it’s perhaps not surprising to find the outside of the property works so synonymously with the surrounding area. The gardens are designed to lead visitors along meandering, stepping stone pathways from ‘room to room’, over rustic bridges, through picnic areas, barbecue areas, campfire site and topiary rooms with lots of swing seats and outside ‘Chesterfields’ with cushions to sit on, catch the sun and view the mountains. Or best of all, in the evening, take a lantern and sit on the rustic benches by the campfire to a backdrop of stars.
What’s more you’ll find the gardens are a perfect introduction to the beauty of the surrounding area. The Penine Way, the start of the longest footpath in England, is located on your doorstep in the village of Edale. The village also boasts stunning cycle routes, packhorse bridges, stiles, footbridges, rivers, gorges and streams into woodland, mountains, moors and famous landmarks. Head further afield to Chatsworth, Haddon, Hardwick Halls, Buxton with its opera house, Bakewell with markets, Castleton with jewellery shops, the Blue John Caves, and Hathersage with its outdoor pool.
The Meads is also beautifully furnished and decorated in a great mixture of contemporary, colourful, cosy, country house style with hand-dragged, Shaker-painted panelling, solid oak floors and encaustic tiles. You will also enjoy huge, blazing indigo blue Austrian wood-burning stoves in the kitchen, dining hall and living room, generously stocked gourmet kitchens, Aga ranges and American fridge/freezers as well as Belfast sinks and underfloor heating.
A wealth of relaxing leisure options also awaits. Bedrooms have panoramic views into the gardens and mountains, sleigh beds, fur throws and modern bathrooms with double-seated steam shower rooms. Guests can enjoy Sky TV with sport and three Freeview TVs. There is an indoor games room with computer, X-box, jigsaws, board games, DVDs and CDs. Outside is a small, well-equipped gym, as well as laundry and drying rooms for wet gear, areas for a BBQ (gas supplied for each property) and an outdoor summerhouse with outdoor games, croquet and cricket.
If you’d like to find out more or make a booking at this truly lovely property, or its smaller sibling, please visit the listing on our website. Make sure you let us know what you think by leaving a comment below. You can find more stunning cottages in our Luxury Collection.

Cottage of the Week – Birdsong in Thurso

Birdsong seemed a good fit to officially see in the springtime. Whilst there are a host of fun activities in the warmer months – including the opportunity to gain a wonderful appreciation of nature – the property is a great year-round destination.

Set on the edge of the lovely historic town of Thurso, there’s a host of activities to enjoy. Visit the beautiful Orkney Islands, Dunnet Head, John O’Groats (the most northerly point of mainland Britain), the Castle of Mey and the bustling town of Wick.

If you fancy a spot of fishing you will find easy access to a lovely stretch of the River Thurso where you can fish for salmon and trout and bask in the glory of your surroundings. All you have to do is visit the local bookshop to arrange.

Birdsong is the perfect place to unwind. Set on a lovely working farm, you will find the property is wonderfully equipped to ensure your most important concern is relaxation. To ease you into holiday mode you will find a woodburning stove and high quality fixtures and fittings that perfectly complement the traditional yet stylish interior.

Along with the wonderful expansive surroundings there’s a large enclosed garden with BBQ. The immediate vicinity boasts a number of fantastic walks taking in a host of beautiful vistas, and, to make your friends and family back home immediately jealous, you will also find a Wi-Fi connection in the property for those very important check-ins and status updates!

To secure your own springtime paradise, take a look at Birdsong’s listing on cottages4you where you will find up to date availability and can make your booking online.

Cottage of the Week – Meadowsweet Cottage, Nethway Farm

If there’s one thing better than going away to a stunning holiday cottage surrounded by miles of rolling green countryside and a host of activities, it’s doing so with as many as your friends and family as possible. The properties at Nethway Farm in Kingswear near Dartmouth are more than fit for purpose, offering a variety of property sizes to meet your requirements.

What’s more each property has been added to our Baby and Toddler range, so when we say it’s suited to the whole family we really mean it. Each property must offer a checklist of facilities, including bath and mat, enclosed garden, cot, blackout blinds, socket protectors, kitchen equipment and more – because we know when the little ones can relax and enjoy their breaks the adults will too!

There are leisure options aplenty at Nethway Farm, including an indoor heated swimming pool and a sauna in a separate building, and a further barn offering facilities for table tennis, pool table, ‘fun’ netball and badminton. A spacious play area within a walled garden is equipped with swings, a sand pit, adventure playground, large outdoor trampoline (with safety netting), a large lawned area with raised decking, complete with garden furniture and views over the surrounding countryside.

The peninsula is a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and is renowned for its coastline, which offers coastal walks and a choice of footpaths leading to secluded beaches. The village of Kingswear itself is set on the Dart estuary opposite Dartmouth – which can be reached via ferry. Here you will find a wealth of things to do, including the Kingswear–Paignton steam railway, Paignton Zoo and Woodlands Leisure Park, to name but a few, and many Blue Flag beaches and hidden coves are within easy reach.

The outside of the properties at Nethway Farm are equally attractive. Set in superb landscaped shared gardens, you will find a riot of colour, with flower beds, tubs, hanging baskets and an intriguing network of brick paths, courtyards and paved terraces. Further afield the estate includes a well-stocked one-acre fishing lake (rods not supplied). Children are welcome to help feed the animals; and there are goats, ponies, kune kune pigs, sheep, lambs, rabbits and guinea pigs to make friends with.

The cottages themselves have been meticulously converted, with careful use of traditional stone and slate. All are tastefully furnished and decorated throughout, and comprehensively equipped. All of the properties have their own patios with furniture and all enjoy shared use of a separate barbecue area.

If you’d like to visit the ultimate family accommodation in Devon then you can find more info and make a booking on our website.

Cottage of the Week – Thornleigh in Hathersage

Sometimes choosing a Cottage of the Week means no more than finding a lovely property in an equally lovely location with plenty of availability to let our readers’ experience the loveliness for themselves.

Not to take anything away from this stunning property, but that’s exactly what we’ve done with Thornleigh in Hathersage. The village itself lies on the north bank of the River Derwent in the Peak District. The unparalled beauty of the Hope and Derwent valleys are just a short distance away while literary lovers will be delighted to discover the village’s ties to Charlotte Bronte. The author stayed in Hathersage whilst writing Jane Eyre, and many of the novel’s locations match those in the village. Finding out which ones is one of the many joys of holidaying in Hathersage!

Hathersage also has your basic holiday needs covered. You will find cafés, shops, bars and restaurants – even an outdoor swimming pool if you’re feeling hardy! Take the train from the village to Manchester or Sheffield for museums, galleries and shows, or stop off in Edale and walk the Pennine Way. Chatsworth House, Haddon Hall and Eyam Hall are nearby.

As you can probably tell, Hathersage and the Peak District aren’t exactly short of stunning sights and wonderful activities. So we should probably talk a little about the property…

Hathersage has been wonderfully restored to offer an exceptional level of comfort whilst retaining its period features. So you can enjoy the comfort offered by gas ‘wood burners’ whilst also enjoying the unique timeless ambience that Thornleigh affords. You will also find an incredibly inviting, stylish and comfortable décor throughout, while your entertainment needs are catered for with a TV and DVD player.

In the warmer months your options are expanded through a large enclosed lawn with furniture. There’s also a bike store if you’d like to explore the beauty of the Peak District on two-wheels.

As you can see from the photos, Thornleigh ticks all the boxes of a fantastic holiday property in the UK. If you’d like to make a booking or find out more info please take a look at the property’s listing on cottages4you.

Cottage of the Week – Craigside, Bowness-on-Windermere

Despite winter’s best attempts, spring is on its way and, as the early advances of the daffodils show, we’re soon going to see the frost retreat and Britain reaffirm its unique status as a beautiful ‘Green and pleasant land’.

Therefore, we thought there was no better time to showcase a unique ‘green and pleasant’ holiday property. Craigside is nestled in landscaped grounds on the wooded slopes above Lake Windermere. Picture windows offer eye-watering views over the lake towards Grizedale Forest, the Langdales and Coniston range, and the secluded yet sunny garden features sloping lawns, a high natural rock garden and tall trees.

Craigside may offer a front row seat to some of England’s most stunning rural views, but its green status is sealed through its efforts to provide sustainable and environmentally friendly holiday accommodation. As one of our ‘Green Graded’ properties – the Green Tourism Business Scheme’s accreditation for promoting sustainable tourism – Craigside is the ideal choice for those looking for a holiday that won’t cost the earth.

The property is double-glazed throughout and utilises a high efficiency heat pump and oil combined central heating system. Craigside’s advances in green living are matched by its accomplishments in blissful relaxation. Alongside stunning views and spacious, beautifully appointed rooms, this holiday property creates a wonderfully inviting atmosphere. You only need visit the elevated terrace where you will find unrivalled peace and tranquility in which to relax for a quiet drink, read or just to watch the bird life.

If you fancy adventure in the open air then you need move no further than the garden. A private stile gives access to extensive walking trails, hills, crags, and woodland. Wildlife abounds and an occasional deer might stealthily intrude on the garden whilst the paddock in front is often the home to quietly grazing horses.

If you fancy enjoying one of the UK’s greenest holidays, this springtime or beyond, then take a look at Craigside’s listing on cottages4you.

Cottage of the Week – Strafford House, Aldeburgh

A visit to Strafford House puts you in very esteemed company indeed. Previous guests over the years include Thomas Hardy, J M Barrie, H G Wells, William Holman Hunt and W B Yeats. It’s hardly surprising then to find that it is one of Aldeburgh’s most significant Grade II listed properties, with a hugely desirable location overlooking the beach.

Such a special property befits a celebration, and Strafford House is more than happy to accommodate. Up to 12 guests can stay in its 6 bedrooms. There is window seating on the ground floor, affording incredible views over the beach. A large dining room offers seating for 14 with double doors opening into the spacious kitchen and morning room.

A large drawing room on the first floor allows guests more spectacular beach views from the comfort of their armchairs. Move to the top floor and you will find a superb bedroom suite with en-suite bathroom, sofa bed, Sky TVs and two large bay windows, again overlooking the sea.

Strafford House’s owners clearly pride themselves on retaining the historical charm and character of this beautiful property, but they should be equally proud of how they have introduced more modern elements without breaking the traditional ambience. You will find Sky TV in four rooms along with Wi-Fi, modern bathrooms and a well-equipped kitchen.

The area surrounding Strafford House offers an equally diverse array of charms. Just a minute’s walk leads to Aldeburgh’s high street with a mix of shops and high quality restaurants. Aldeburgh is well known for its association with the composer Benjamin Britten; his inspired annual Arts and Music Festival is held at the nearby Snape Maltings, attracting many well-known names and visitors.

The towns of Southwold and Woodbridge Just a short drive away are as are the villages of Thorpeness and Walberswick. The RSPB reserve at Minsmere is easily accessible and a 15-mile journey south leads to the Sutton Hoo Anglo Saxon Burial Ground, one of Britain’s most important and atmospheric archaeological sites.

If you fancy staying at the wonderful Strafford House then you can check prices, customer reviews and availability on our website.

Cottage of the Week – Pengwern Old Hall

We’re having something of a St David’s Day celebration on the cottages4you blog this week, and since every good party needs an equally splendid venue, we’ve chosen the delightful Pengwern Old Hall in Blaenau Ffestiniog as our new Cottage of the Week.

Tucked away in the heart of Snowdonia National Park, Pengwern Old Hall offers a prime location from which to explore some of Wales’ most achingly gorgeous vistas. The properties (there are two more in the surrounding area) occupy a superb setting amongst 80 acres of meadowland, woodland (awarded SSSI) and riverside walks. There’s also patio furniture if you’d prefer to sit down and bask in your surroundings.

The surrounding area is equally rich with possibilities. The neighbouring town of Blaenau Ffestiniog is where the steam train can be caught, allowing a fantastic journey through a valley filled with magical scenery. You can also visit the unique Llechwedd slate caverns to learn about the lives of miners – as well as travelling on the Miners’ Tramway and descending into the Deep Mine. It offers a fascinating insight into Wales’ industrial heritage.

Those looking for a lighter and brighter visitor experience may prefer to visit the equally popular village of Portmeirion. This striking tribute to life on the Mediterranean is the perfect place to spend the day strolling in the sunshine. A more traditional, but no less enjoyable, visit can be found at Porthmadog. Both locations are accessible from the property.

Then again, those lucky enough to stay at a property like Pengwern Old Hall would be forgiven for not wanting to leave. The Hall itself ranks as one of the most significant early gentry houses of Meirionydd, dating back to the mid-15th century. The house largely retains a late Elizabethan appearance, and once inside, the rooms are extremely spacious and sumptuously furnished.

You will find large open rooms, wooden and tiled floors, exposed beams, wood-burners and an Aga in the kitchen. More modern conveniences include Wi-Fi, TVs in all the bedrooms (9 in total), 2 DVD players and a games room with a pool table.

Pengwern Old Hall sleeps up to 12 holidaymakers. As mentioned, there are an additional 2 properties at the location, sleeping 6 and 7 respectively. So if you truly fancy having a celebration on St David’s Day and beyond, there really is no better property!

Find more info and make a booking on the property’s listing.

Cottage of the Week – Villa Rosanna

We’re once again focusing on Italy for our new Cottage of the Week. Villa Rosanna may offer traditional historic accommodation just minutes from Italy’s capital, but in every other area it offers a completely unique ‘one of a kind’ holiday experience. That much should be clear from the pictures alone.

What should also be clear from the pictures is that Villa Rosanna is as much designed for outside enjoyment as it is for interior comfort. Alongside a large open-air swimming pool, equipped with gazebos and an outside kitchen, there is also a roundhouse next to the pool house with a large circular double bedroom with en-suite shower.

You will also find a wealth of comfort and beauty in the villa’s interior. All the large rooms feature paintings, antiques and soft furnishings, and all the large rooms in the house offer spectacular views of the surrounding countryside. There are open fires in the living rooms for those times when you want to get cosy. If you can’t be without your creature comforts then you will find a large flat-screen television with Satellite and Wi-Fi

The holiday villa is well positioned to discover the rolling countryside of Lazio, and Rome is just half an hour away from the nearby train station. Distance to Giustiniana 6km. Lake Bracciano for water sports and beaches is just 25km away. Villa D’Este and Hadrian’s Villa at Tivoli, 35km, sandy beaches on Lazio coastline, 50km, Cimini Hill for Palazza Farnese (renaissance garden and villa) and Lake Vico, 40 km, and the historic town of Viterbo, 60km.

Villa Rosanna sleeps up to 8 through its 4 double bedrooms. It also allows up to 2 pets. Availability is currently very good at the property, so if you want to book your spring or summer break in an idyllic location just outside of Rome all you have to do is visit cottages4you today!