Article - Unique Home Stays

3/18/2014
Britain’s 50 best self-catering holidays | The Times
Details: A week for 14 is from £1,900 (01208 895570, perfectstays.co.uk)
26. Grey Gables
Lake Windermere, Cumbria
Launch your kayak from the private jetty of this stylish new Lakeland stone house on the shores of Windermere. The Jill SteinCORdesigned interior resembles a luxury ski lo...dge with a giant antler chandelier in the glass-fronted living room, faux fur rugs
and a stunning stone-clad fireplace. There’s a games room with an 8ft pool table and a cinema room with a 65inch screen. A
bespoke glass and stainless steel staircase leads to five en suite bedrooms, two with oval baths overlooking the lake.
Details: A week for ten costs from £5,880 (07595 466955, simonescapes.com)
27. The Colloquy
Lyonshall, Herefordshire
The interior of this converted Victorian stable block on a 700-acre estate wouldn’t look out of place in a chic city loft apartment.
The original pitched roofs, iron pillars and polished brick and cobble floors have been joined by rustic oak floorboards, leather
sofas, chandeliers, huge pieces of modern art and a mini cinema. There are eight en suite rooms, some with mezzanines where
four extra children can be accommodated. Work up a sweat on the squash court, take a dip in the outdoor heated pool or relax in
the hot tub or sauna. A local caterer will rustle up a three-course celebratory meal. Everything from in-room spa treatments to a
magician can be arranged.
Details: A week for 16 is from £3,200 (01544 340241, thecolloquy.com)
28. Barn Drift
Cley, Norfolk
Enjoy rural and sea views from this sensitively converted 18th-century barn with its exposed brickwork and beams and numerous
windows flooding the space with light. The kitchen facilities are top-notch with an Nespresso coffee machine, range cooker and
two dishwashers (stock up on food at the pretty coastal village of Cley with its smokery and deli). Five of the eight bedrooms have
king size zip and link beds, making it ideal for a large family group or couples sharing. North Norfolk is renowned for its pretty
brick and flint villages, gastro pubs and long sandy beaches backed by nature reserves.
Details: A week for 18 is from £3,242 (01263 715779, norfolkcottages.co.uk)
29. Longhorn Farm
North Bovey, Devon
You get the best of both worlds at this converted farmhouse and neighbouring barn on the edge of Dartmoor: plenty of big rooms
for socialising (and a table big enough for 14 to eat together) plus a bit of your own space when you need to chill out. The loft-like
interiors feature exposed brick walls and acres of glass along with super-sleek kitchens and bathrooms. Reindeer hides,
sheepskin rugs and woodburners add a cosy feel. Four of the bedrooms are in the main farmhouse, two king size, a twin and one
with zip-and-link bed. A bunk room and two king-size bedrooms are in the adjacent milking barn.
Details: A week for 14 is from £1,995 (01637 881183, uniquehomestays.com)
30. Earls Hall
near Lavenham, Suffolk
From the outside this rambling house dating to the 17th century looks rather imposing. Step inside and it’s extremely homely; the
sort of place you don’t have to worry about the children messing up. There’s a well-equipped kitchen with its dual-fuel range
cooker with double oven. The dining room is ideal for a celebratory dinner with a long table seating up to 16, and the elegant
drawing room has a piano and a woodburner. Upstairs it’s still a work in progress in the six bedrooms and some dated
bathrooms. There are three doubles (one en suite), one twin, one bunk sleeping three and a family room with two doubles. Help
yourself to the veg from the garden with its manicured lawn, stream, pizza oven and hammocks.
Details: A week for 15 is from £1,500 (earls-hall.co.uk)
31. Dartmouth House
near Dartmouth, Devon
This boutique hotel-style house sits on a lush hillside outside the riverside town of Dartmouth. As well as an outdoor pool
surrounded by stylish sunloungers there’s an indoor one, plus a steam room, tennis court, hot tub, games room, bar and a
cinema with 1,500 movies. On balmy days have dinner on one of the numerous terraces, one heated, or around the table in the
dining room with plenty of floor-to-ceiling glass making the most of the vistas. There are six suites (plus an extra four pull-out
single beds) with sleek en suite bathrooms. Catering, housekeeping and in-room spa treatments can all be arranged.
Details: A week for 16 is from £10,750 (01242 220006, thewowhousecompany.co.uk)
32. Goddards
Abinger, Surrey
Marvel at the work of Edwin Lutyens when you stay at this architecturally stunning house with its own Victorian bowling alley.
The distinctive tall chimneys are made of layers of thin bricks, which are also used to form the mullions, windowsills and
fireplaces in the eight simple but classic bedrooms (the only double has an en suite bathroom with a toilet on a plinth offering
great views of the gardens). There are also three twins and four singles. Eat around a solid oak table in the impressive dining hall
with a working fireplace adorned with brick arches and stone corbelling. Or play croquet on the lawn in the Gertrude Jekyllhttp://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/travel/bestofbritain/article4033659.ece
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