Six country cottages for rent

published 13 May 2016

793-Kingfisher-cottage — Miles of white sand and a stunning backdrop make for a memorable stay in Northumberland

Northumberland

Miles of white sand and the stunning backdrop of Bamburgh Castle make for a memorable stay at Kingfisher Cottage, says Liz Bird in The Times. The property has exposed beams, a wood burner, a patio garden and a spacious double bedroom with church-style windows. Nearby Harkness Rocks is one of Britain's best rock-pooling sites.

Seven nights for two from £410. See CrabTreeAndCrabTree.com.

Cotswolds

Call to mind your perfect village a hamlet as pretty as those you see on a Sunday evening period drama. Where life seems to have moved on little in a century and rolling fields roll into country pubs. You've just pictured Stilton in Oxfordshire, says Maureen Brookbanks in the Daily Mail, which was used as a location in the hit TV drama Downton Abbey.

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The Chestnuts cottage, complete with original stone staircase, dates from the 16th century, but has all the luxury one could want for a "restorative holiday", from underfloor heating to a top-of-the-range kitchen and "a bath so deep you can wallow" in it. The cottage sleeps up to eight people. The remarkably unspoilt historic town of Burford, which was once a battleground in the English Civil War, with its "handsome" Tudor and Georgian frontages, is just a couple of miles away.

A week's stay costs from £1,350. See PremierCottages.co.uk.

Cornwall

Tregenna is an imposing castle hotel set on the hillside above the coastal town of St Ives, with a cosy cottage set in its grounds, says Steve Franklin in the Daily Mirror. The self-catering cottage has three large bedrooms and a kitchen, and a lounge-diner upstairs from which to enjoy the "stunning" sea views. If you don't fancy cooking, stroll along a woodland path to the "impressive" hotel brasserie. Facilities in the hotel include a large indoor pool, sauna and steam room. There is even a spa "if you fancy a bit of pampering during your stay".

Seven night stays from £567 in low season to £1,953 in high based on four sharing. See Tregenna-Castle.co.uk.

Suffolk

Dunwich was one of the ten largest cities in England in the 13th century. Today, after centuries of coastal erosion, "it is a sleepy village of about two streets", says The Daily Telegraph. The three-bedroom Church Cottages, formed from one half of an 18th-century stable, is next to the church and the ruins of a 12th-century leper-hospital chapel. A large kitchen-diner with a big farmhouse table takes centre stage, leading off to a living room warmed by a wood-burning stove. The Ship Inn is close by, ideal for lunch, as is a National Trust beach cafe, famous for its scones.

From £114 per night in low season; seven-night minimum in high. See DunwichCottage.com for details.

Northern Ireland

The National Trust has seven "well-appointed" cottages on one of Ireland's most important nature conservation islands, says Kate Hilpern in The Independent. The island is great for children, with over 2,000 acres of ancient woodland, nature trails, a play area and an observation hide. The largest of the cottages, Erne View, sleeps six and has views over Lough Erne.

Two nights from £235. See NationalTrust.org.uk.

Pembrokeshire

Tn y Garn, a converted stone barn on the Welsh coast, has sweeping views over Whitesands Bay, says The Guardian. "Eco-touches" such as solar panels make it an environmentally friendly option, and a bracing one too once you hit the Pembrokeshire Coast Path or explore the wild beaches. Upper Porthmawr next door can accommodate larger groups.

Seven nights from £1,850 for a week in July. See Experience-Mor.org.

Chris Carter spent three glorious years reading English literature on the beautiful Welsh coast at Aberystwyth University. Graduating in 2005, he left for the University of York to specialise in Renaissance literature for his MA, before returning to his native Twickenham, in southwest London. He joined a Richmond-based recruitment company, where he worked with several clients, including the Queen’s bank, Coutts, as well as the super luxury, Dorchester-owned Coworth Park country house hotel, near Ascot in Berkshire.

Then, in 2011, Chris joined MoneyWeek. Initially working as part of the website production team, Chris soon rose to the lofty heights of wealth editor, overseeing MoneyWeek’s Spending It lifestyle section. Chris travels the globe in pursuit of his work, soaking up the local culture and sampling the very finest in cuisine, hotels and resorts for the magazine’s discerning readership. He also enjoys writing his fortnightly page on collectables, delving into the fascinating world of auctions and art, classic cars, coins, watches, wine and whisky investing.

You can follow Chris on Instagram.