Luxury self-catering without the hassle
places to stay,UK travel,SHE
a rustic cottage sitting in lush countryside
Following the new breed of boutique B&Bs, self-catering has also recently undergone a facelift. Today’s rental cottages and apartments are equipped with five-star bathrooms, Egyptian cotton sheets – and even chefs, as Rhiannon Batten discovers...
Jura Lodge, West Scotland
places to stay,Scotland,UK travel,SHE
the luxury bathroom at Jura Lodge
When French designer Bambi Sloan was called in to revamp the former head distiller\'s house of Jura\'s whisky distillery, she took the name - and the island\'s 5,000-strong population of deer - as her inspiration. The lodge\'s five bedrooms, sea-facing lounge and open-plan kitchen/living room are peppered with deer motif crockery, deer-shaped hooks and chairs that are fashioned from antlers. The overall effect is more sophisticated than it sounds though. Antique French linen, cosy old leather sofas and a reconditioned 1950s Brazilian café fridge add to the classy, vintage feel.
Sleeps Up to 10 people.
The extras Besides the welcome hamper, if you don\'t want to cook you can book chef François Bernier to come over from nearby Islay to whip up something memorable - often lobster, caught by a local diver.
To do Drink! The Jura distillery next door runs good informative tours and you can hop across on the ferry to Islay and do a trip around its eight distilleries. On Jura, the landscape is dominated by the three soaring Paps (mountains) and the notorious Corryvreckan whirlpool, just off the north coast. Barnhill, the house that George Orwell rented here when he wrote \'Nineteen Eighty-Four\', is now privately let, but you can walk near it. Other attractions include Jura House\'s lovely gardens.
The Guestbook "The lodge is packed with so many vintage finds you\'re in danger of losing your possessions among the décor. But it\'s not fussy or twee. A calming paint palette reflects the sea and the surrounding Hebridean landscape - there are none of the usual Scottish interior clichés here," says Rebecca Baker from Glasgow.
Costs From £5,000 per week. Visit www.isleofjura.com/lodge or call 01496 820385.
Cefnmeurig, West Wales
places to stay,UK travel,Wales,SHE
the exquisite dining hall at Cefnmeurig
An 18th-century farmhouse on the border of Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire, this family-run property won a best self-catering award at the 2007 Wales National Tourism Awards. Renovated in 2005 by Anne Owen Taylor, a former chartered accountant who worked her way up
to become the highest-ranking woman on the Welsh Tourist Board, Cefnmeurig is exceptionally well thought out. Stylish yet very comfortable, it boasts luxury appliances, a wood-burning stove, Egyptian cotton sheets and a carefully chosen library of CDs.
Sleeps Up to seven people.
The extras All guests are welcomed with a gourmet hamper, storecupboard foods, fluffy bathrobes and luxury Welsh toiletries. For a little more pampering, add-on services can be arranged, including quality ready-meals or private chefs, grocery shopping, maid service and beauty treatments.
To do The Pembrokeshire Coast National Park and the Brecon Beacons National Park are nearby, or walk among the patchwork of fields, rolling hills and bluebell woods that surround the property.
The Guestbook "What a fantastic place, they\'ve thought of everything. We couldn\'t think of anything to improve on! Truly this is five-star accommodation," enthuses Saran Nicholas from Cardiff.
Costs From £495 per week. Visit www.visitwestwales.com or call 029 2089 9280.
Falstone Barns, Northumberland
Northeast,places to stay,UK travel,SHE
a simply gorgeous bedroom at Falstone Barns
Owned by Nickey Forster, previously a buyer at Harrods, these four apartments set in 38 acres of woodland and meadow are fun, glam and just a little theatrical. Nickey encourages families to stay and, as all the apartments are set around a courtyard, Falstone Barns is perfect for gatherings.
Sleeps: Between two and four people per apartment.
The extras: Various add-on treats can be booked, including private chefs and spa beauty treatments.
To do: Nearby Kielder Water, in Northumberland National Park, offers watersports, or try Kielder Forest for mountain biking. For a bracing stroll, head to Hadrian\'s Wall or the stunning Northumbrian coast.
The Guestbook "Falstone Barns is like no other place I have ever stayed. It\'s lovely to be pampered in self-catering accommodation and here the children really matter too," says Jill Self from Newcastle.
Costs From £250 per week for a one-bed apartment, or from £400 per week for a two-bed. Visit www.falstonebarns.com or call 01434 240251.
Aislabeck Lodges, North Yorkshire
Northeast,places to stay,UK travel,SHE
the refined living area at Aislabeck Lodge
Built from sustainable timber and glass, with wall insulation made from recycled paper, each of these eight environmentally friendly lodges has a living plant roof and makes use of solar and green energy. Discreet positioning means they don\'t intrude too much on the landscape. But if you think going green means shabby living, Aislabeck is sure to persuade you otherwise. The lodges are as stylish as they are sustainable, with a sleek open-plan kitchen and dining areas, solid oak flooring and cedar decking. Luxuries include flatscreen TVs, CD and DVD players and rain showers.
Sleeps: Each lodge sleeps up to six people.
The extras: The welcome hamper includes wine, bread, cheese, fruit, eggs, milk and butter and is mostly sourced locally.
To do: There are 50 acres of privately owned woodland and meadows, plus direct access to a network of paths for walking and cycling further afield. And around a mile away is the market town of Richmond, famous for its Georgian theatre.
The Guestbook: "It was so different from the norm and very peaceful, with wonderful views. I liked the eco-cleaning products too!" writes Susan Hargreaves from Berkshire.
Costs: From £700 per week. Visit www.naturalretreats.com or call 0161 242 2970.
Quakerhall barns, Norfolk
East Anglia,places to stay,UK travel,SHE
the sumptuous attic bedroom at qu
Quaker and Hall are two separate properties - have been renovated with both preservation and contemporary design in mind. So while original features such as flint walls and oak beams have been retained, you\'ll also find marble resin floors, granite worktops and the latest in eco-insulation - straw bale walls.
Sleeps: Hall Barn sleeps up to nine; Quaker Barn up to eight.
The extras: All guests receive a basic welcome hamper. Gourmet meals can be ordered in, or hire a private chef by arrangement.
To do: Most visitors are enchanted by the barns\' peaceful setting, but the Coast and the Broads are also within a half-hour drive. Browse the shops in Holt and Burnham Market, tour a nearby country house, tuck in at some of the UK\'s best gastropubs or enjoy a seal safari.
The Guestbook: "A real rural retreat - I just loved the sound of the animals nearby," enthuses Lucy Greig from Bristol.
Costs: From £705 per week. Visit www.quakerhallbarns.co.uk or call 01328 821744.
Great Treverran, Cornwall
places to stay,Southwest,UK travel,SHE
rustic and gorgeous drawing room at great treverran
Owned by architect Stuart Martin and artist Binny Mathews, Great Treverran is one of the most opulent holiday homes in Britain. Built in 1704 in Queen Anne style, its grand rooms, romantic gardens and log fires are straight from a Jane Austen novel, though it\'s far from stuffy. With its large, well-equipped kitchen and plenty of cosy communal rooms, it is ideal for family gatherings. The property feels like a real home rather than a holiday let - Binny\'s paintings hang in the house alongside works by other contemporary artists and many of the artworks are for sale.
Sleeps: Up to 10 people.
The extras: Although the house is normally rented on a self-catering basis, maid service and private chefs can be arranged on request.
To do: Explore the Cornish coast, with its wooded hills and valleys, bays, coves and fishing villages, or head out to The Eden Project. Rick Stein\'s restaurant in Padstow is 20 miles away. This is also Daphne du Maurier territory - Great Treverran makes an appearance in \'The House on the Strand\'.
The Guestbook: "It\'s wonderful that such an incredible house could be ours for the weekend," says Edwina Wynyard from London.
Costs: From £690 per week. Visit www.great-treverran.com or call 01935 83455.
Longshore house, South Wales
places to stay,UK travel,Wales,SHE
lovely dining areas at Longshore House
This five-star Welsh hideaway is owned by interior designer Lesley Taylor. Lesley has furnished the house using the products she sells in Taylors Etc, her chic contemporary interiors store. The house itself was originally built in 1810, so it features plenty of period details too, from gorgeous exposed beams to stripped floors.
Sleeps: Six to eight people.
The extras: Guests can make use of a friendly concierge service, which operates from Monday to Friday between 9am and 5pm.
To do: The property is a short walk away from Laugharne\'s Norman castle, but the town is most famous for its connection with playwright and poet Dylan Thomas - he and his wife, Caitlin, are buried in the local churchyard. The boathouse where he wrote is open to the public and many of the town\'s landmarks crop up in his famous play \'Under Milk Wood\'. The Pembrokeshire coastline is also within easy reach.
The Guestbook: "Our every need was catered for. The house was gorgeous and the warm and comfortable atmosphere meant that it felt just like home - except with a few more luxuries!" says Ann Pickard from Herefordshire.
Costs: Prices start from £1,800 per week. Visit www.longshorehouse.com or call 01792 797712
Sebay Mill, Orkney
places to stay,Scotland,UK travel,SHE
the gorgeous bedroom at Sebay Mill
Built in around 1860, the mill was once used to grind oats and bere, a barley-like grain and a speciality of the area. It ceased production in 1953 and was bought by local farmers Billy and Sheena McEwen in 2000. The mill has since undergone a dramatic overhaul, opening as Orkney\'s first five-star self-catering accommodation in 2003. There are six apartments, all decorated in a warm, contemporary style and featuring every appliance you could possibly need. The best are those on the top floor, which feature huge windows.
Sleeps: Between two to four people per apartment.
The extras: An imaginatively composed welcome pack is provided, including lots of delicious local produce, from cheese and oatcakes to biscuits, whisky, jam and milk.
To do: The mill is a stone\'s throw from Orkney\'s main town Kirkwall. Many of the local islands are easy to reach on day trips and have a strong artistic and historical heritage, so you won\'t be short of entertainment. Highlights include a genuinely fascinating local museum in Stromness and Skara Brae, one of the most famous Neolithic sites in northern Europe. The area is teeming with wildlife and is very popular with birdwatchers.
The Guestbook:"We thoroughly enjoyed the rest and relaxation Sebay Mill provided. It was first-class accommodation in a wonderful conversion. We\'ll definitely recommend it to all our friends," says Sheena MacPhie from Fort William.
Costs: From £395 per week. Visit www.sebaymill.co.uk or call 01856 877782.
The workshop at Lime Tree Farm, Suffolk
East Anglia,places to stay,UK travel,SHE
the relaxing living area at Lime Tree Farm Workshop
A spacious Victorian stable building converted with more than just a nod to modern design, The Workshop features a large open-plan living area decorated with iconic 20th-century furniture, from a Tolomeo Mega floor lamp to an Arne Jacobsen dining table and chairs (hence, presumably, the property\'s no-children rule) and a stunning suspended spherical fireplace. It\'s set on the edge of a wildflower meadow and boasts huge glass doors leading out onto oak decking.
Sleeps: Two people.
The extras: Wine and biscuits await you, and guests can book anything from local groceries to Indian head massages with local suppliers.
To do: Explore scenic Aldeburgh\'s beach and boutiques, or head to Sutton Hoo, the burial ground of East Anglia\'s Anglo-Saxon kings.
The Guestbook: "It\'s amazing - the photos don\'t do it justice. It has everything you could want and more," says Michelle Hume from Essex.
Costs: Rental from £596 per week. Visit www.bestofsuffolk.co.uk; 01728 638962.
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