REMOTE AND GREAT FOR WALKS
Secluded barn, Peak District
Half a mile outside the pretty hamlet of Ford and surrounded by its own woodland gardens, complete with brooks and tiny free-roaming Shetland ponies, Ford Wetley Cottage is a lovely, secluded three-bedroom barn conversion. Oak beams and exposed stone walls add to the character and there’s a woodburner and firepit outside. The Peak District national park, with its huge choice of walks, is right on the doorstep, while owners Louise and Adrian live nearby and have plenty of tips for exploring the area (and might even let you borrow their Collie, Murphy).
•
Victorian gatehouse, County Antrim
Not many cottages come with connections as intriguing as Magherintemple Lodge, a solid little Victorian gatehouse outside Ballycastle. Magherintemple has links with Irish nationalist Roger Casement and was built as part of the Casement family’s estate. Many visitors, however, are content to ponder only the modern-day trappings of the two-bedroom property – its sympathetic renovation by the Irish Landmark Trust, its inviting open fire and its proximity to the tumultuous Causeway Coast (the closest beach is five minutes’ drive away). While the cottage isn’t suitable for wheelchair users it is a good option for others who want to avoid stairs, since all the main rooms are on the ground floor.
•
Off grid, on coast, Pembrokeshire
Step back in time with a stay at Penrhyn, a traditional stone cottage with no electricity. Oil lamps and candles make for wonderfully atmospheric evenings playing games or gathering round the piano, and there’s an open-fire and woodburner, plus woollen curtains and bedspreads to keep you cosy. On Strumble Head, north Pembrokeshire, the cottage is reached via a rugged track through National Trust land and feels wonderfully remote, with dramatic sea views. The garden gate leads directly onto the Pembrokeshire Coastal Path for fantastic walks. There are two bedrooms on the ground floor and a third loft room reached by ships ladder.
•
Anyone for Tennyson? Lincolnshire
A pretty Victorian brick lodge, The Old School is now a lesson in peaceful rural comfort. In Hatton, on the edge of the Lincolnshire Wolds, it’s decorated in restful natural tones, textiles the colour of fresh hay and uncluttered wooden furniture. High ceilings and big windows make a light, calm space and there’s a woodburner for cosying around after days out exploring the pretty countryside that inspired Tennyson. There are two bedrooms, the second (a triple) is on a mezzanine, so it’s a good choice for families.
•
Lindisfarne retreat, Northumberland
It would be hard to find a better antidote to the commercialism of Christmas than Lindisfarne. It was the peaceful isolation of this island – cut off from the mainland twice a day by the rising tide – which first attracted an order of monks to build a priory here 1,400 years ago. Guests at Coastguard’s Cottage, the latest addition to English Heritage’s portfolio of holiday houses, can explore the atmospheric priory ruins after the day-trippers have left and will have the wild coastal footpaths almost entirely to themselves. The attractive whitewashed house is decorated with calming neutral tones and contemporary furnishings and has views of Lindisfarne Castle. It may not be cheap, but it’s worth splashing out on.
•
Hikes and bikes, Peak District
No chance of becoming a Christmas couch potato at Redhurst, one of two pretty National Trust cottages on the banks of Manifold river in the south of the Peak District. Choose between fabulous walks into the Dovedale Valley or bike rides along the Manifold Track, a nine-mile tarmac trail which follows the line of a disused railway. Attractively kitted out in a fresh contemporary style, with white walls, tongue-and-groove panelling and the odd splash of colour, this cottage offers a warm and welcoming retreat at the end of a hard day’s hiking or biking.
•
Lakeside charm, Snowdonia
Bwthyn Mair is a 17th-century Grade II-listed converted tavern on the edge of a lake, not far from the Italianate village of Portmeirion. It has bucket loads of charm, with its stone staircase, exposed beams and original elm wood panels separating the two bedrooms. The thick stone walls means there’s no TV signal, so give the Christmas specials a miss and cosy up with a glass of wine by the huge inglenook fire instead. Beyond the ancient oak woodlands that surround it lie Snowdonia’s mountains, offering amazing walking, mountain biking and beaches for festive strolls.
•
Exile on Exmoor, Somerset
At the end of a long, single track lane in the middle of Exmoor is Nethercote Byre – a stone barn conversion, with superb views and complete seclusion. Apart from the odd horse rider, rambler or farmer, you’ll have this place to yourself. There’s plenty of room for a festive family gathering with four bedrooms, a large kitchen/dining room, a huge living room with woodburner and TV, and a second sitting room with table football, a large table for board games and jigsaws and a second TV (perfect if your party can’t agree on the Queen’s Speech or the Strictly Christmas special). Or just open the front door and head out onto the moor. A climb up nearby Winsford Hill should blow away any cobwebs.
•
Wildlife sanctuary, East Sussex
Kick off the New Year by reconnecting with nature at Birdsong Barn, a brand new barn conversion which sits on a 350-acre private nature reserve. Surrounded by woodlands, wetlands and wild meadows, it’s a haven for wildlife: wild boar, barn owls, Shetland cattle and Konik ponies are just a few of the species you might encounter on a walk around the reserve, not to mention the wildfowl and waders that winter here. Built by local craftsmen using natural materials, the barn is a light-filled living space with huge windows, beamed ceilings, a woodburner and, that other essential for winter evenings – a home cinema system.
•
Special Offa, Shropshire
Wonderful walks on the Offa’s Dyke path can be started from the front door of Criggin Cottage, a Victorian stone and slate outbuilding which has been converted with real flair and attention to detail by its owners, who live next door. Downstairs there’s an oak kitchen and living area with exposed stone walls, beams and slate floor (underfloor heating keeps things toasty), while upstairs are two cosy bedrooms with views of the Shropshire hills. If you can tear yourself away from the logburner, there are endless trails to follow among the rolling hills of the Teme Valley.
•
Farmhouse kitchen, Suffolk
Little Cote is the kind of place that comes into its own in winter. Add a sprinkling of snow and this secluded 16th-century cottage near Stowmarket would be perfect Christmas card material. The inside is just as appealing, with a big farmhouse kitchen, antique furniture, oriental rugs and an impressive inglenook fireplace with logburner. A good selection of films, music and books are provided to while away the long, December nights. Approached via a single track lane, the cottage sits in three acres of wild meadow and is surrounded by farmland with plenty of walks to be had through the gently undulating Suffolk countryside.
•
Stony splendour, Scottish Borders
Open fires? Check. Beautiful walks from the front door? Check. A games room? Check. A well-equipped kitchen and large dining room? Check. Whitmuir Steading Cottage, a converted stone granary building on a working farm near Selkirk, has everything you’ll need for a festive family getaway. Its American owners have gone to great lengths to create a cosy and welcoming retreat, with exposed stone walls, stripped wooden floors, colourful rugs and comfy sofas. There are lovely walks in the surrounding countryside or you can join up with the Southern Upland Way at Fairnilee, seven miles away.
•
COSY AND ROMANTIC
Hunker down, Isle of Mull
There can be few better places to hole up in and escape the Christmas whirl than Inniemore Cabin, a simple, one-bedroom timber cottage on Mull’s southern shore. Prop yourself up in bed with a mug of tea and watch clouds swirl in above Carsaig Bay through the picture window. There’s a windswept coastal walk to Carsaig Arches – ideal to do prior to a long soak in the bath. Guests can also hunker down by the woodburner and while away the turkey-roasting hours with a book and a dram.
•
Bijou walkers’ cottage, Yorkshire Dales
A former dovecote on a model farm just outside Patrick Brompton, in Wensleydale, Darjeeling Cottage is one of two holiday cottages that flank a genteel 18th-century house. Kept cosy with the help of a biomass boiler, the pint-sized hideout really is tiny (there’s no lounge – just a kitchen with breakfast bar, a wet room and a bedroom). It’s best suited for walkers (plenty of fine pubs nearby for Christmas lunch), being surrounded by fields and woods and within easy reach of attractions such as Aysgarth Falls. If you’re home in time for sunset you can catch it – along with Hornby Castle – framed through the windows.
•
Rustic chic, Norfolk
The epitomy of modern rustic chic, Little Oak, a light, pared-back one-bedroom cottage is beautifully furnished, with vintage armchairs, delicate ceramic cups and a copper shower lined with teal tiles. Despite the elegant surroundings, it’s family-friendly and popular with guests travelling with babies. On the fringes of Aylsham, within easy day-tripping distance of the north Norfolk coast, the cottage is also a 10-minute bike ride from the National Trust’s Blickling Estate for walks and bacon butties.
•
High life, Cornwall
You don’t have to be a Poldark fan to appreciate the romance of Cornwall’s wild-edged corners, and High Moor Cottage, a two-bedroom terraced property on Bodmin Moor, has access to plenty of it. In the village of Minions, Cornwall’s highest, there’s a stone circle, Hurlers, within flint-throwing distance and the dramatic Cheesewring granite tor a mile away. Explore them on foot then return to sit by the woodburner or take a bath in the magnificently tiled bathroom.
•
Stone cottage, Peak District
You don’t find many humble stone cottages with parquet flooring but The Studio, in Parwich, is an exception. Whitewashed walls, a woodburner and – upstairs, in the cottage’s mezzanine bedroom – a king-size bed topped and tailed by Victorian-style brass and iron bedsteads all lend the cottage an air of stately simplicity. There’s no bath, just a shower but staying here is really about getting out into the hills, dales and pubs of the Peak District (with the latter, book ahead to be sure of a table at The George at nearby Alstonefield).
•
Love nest, Perthshire
The Nest is a cabin-like, single-storey den in the small Victorian resort of Pitlochry.In summer, the town throngs with hill walkers and coach parties but in winter, it’s much more peaceful and there are magical walks to be had along the Tummel river with the landscape cloaked in snow. Inside, it’s pocket-sized but comfortable with luxury details, like underfloor heating in the shower room. The icing on the Christmas cake? The Moulin Inn up the road has its own microbrewery.
•
Back to nature, Powys
Tucked along a rough track, looking out over the Vyrnwy valley and surrounded by seven acres of woods, meadows and garden, the Sleepout is a true back-to-nature retreat. A mile from the nearest village, it’s owned by a tree surgeon (hence the building’s gorgeously gnarled timbers) and gardener, and consists of a living space with woodburner, a bed on a sleeping platform and a simple outdoor camp kitchen with pizza oven. Right on the 135-mile Glyndŵr’s Way (but there are plenty of shorter walks on the doorstep for those who want to be less active), it’s also great for wildlife such as buzzards and red kites.
•
Romantic folly, Northumberland
A fairytale hideaway in the woodlands of Middleton Hall Estate, The Folly is worth splashing out on for anyone looking for something extra special. Ample living space is spread over three storeys, the first-floor bedroom has french windows opening onto a balcony with a pretty Italian garden below, and stairs lead to a bathroom with free-standing bath. Just six miles from the Northumberland coast, there are stunning beaches and plenty of pubs in Belford village, should you venture out.
•
Hillside cabin on stilts, Cornwall
Built on stilts on a hillside at the end of a long tree-lined track, the Cabin at Wrinklers Wood combines a treehouse feel with comfortable open-plan living. The wraparound deck overlooks a woodland glade and stream, floor-to-ceiling windows make the most of the views and the hand-built furniture makes the most of the space. Although it feels remote, it’s just a few miles from St Agnes and closer still to the hamlet of Mithian, with its ancient pub.
•
Shepherd’s hut with a view, Somerset
The shepherd’s hut bandwagon is well and truly rolling, but Lamb’s Tale in the lovely Quantock Hills is particularly inviting. In a private paddock on a working farm, it’s been kitted out for a romantic stay with woodburner, king-size bed, proper shower room and secluded wood-fired hot tub (wood provided). The surrounding countryside is a mix of woodland, open moorland and ancient pathways to explore. There are sweeping views over the valley across the Bristol Channel and beyond – plus a purpose-built kennel for dogs.
•
Party pod, Lake District
For a budget festive getaway, a timber pod on the Quiet Site campsite near Ullswater is an excellent choice. The heated and carpeted wooden cabins are super-cosy and the site’s pub, in a 17th-century barn, has a games room with pool and table tennis that will be open on Christmas Day. Things liven up from Boxing Day and there’re three days of live music from the 29th until late on the 31st – so you can party and then hole up in your pod. With lovely views and plenty to do on the doorstep, it’s a great base for exploring the Lakes – Ullswater Steamers run special festive cruises over Christmas, too.
•
NEW YEAR IN THE LOCAL PUB
Fourteenth-century inn, Suffolk
The ancient hamlet of Kersey is full of characterful old properties, including Primrose Cottage, a lovely hideaway for two. It dates back to the mid-17th century, with beams, an inglenook fireplace with a woodburner, and a free-standing bath. The local pub, the Bell Inn, is even older – the timber-framed building was built in 1378. It serves cask ales, simple food, such as Suffolk ham, egg and chips, and has a roaring fire. Hadleigh, a nearby market town, is also packed with great pubs, while lovely Lavenham is a little further on.
•
New Year’s cheer, Shropshire
Molly’s Cottage is a half-timbered house, built in 1678, with uneven floors, exposed stonework and oak beams, plus a woodburner and antique furniture. The town of Knighton, on the border of Shropshire and Powys, has lots of great pubs to ring in the New Year: the Red Lion sources its food within a 30-mile radius and has Sunday acoustic nights; the Horse and Jockey is a 14th-century coaching inn and does takeaway pizza; the George and Dragon is a 17th-century free house with a panelled lounge bar; the Radnorshire Arms and the Knighton are hotels with a Tudor bar and a walkers’ bar respectively.
•
Views and booze, Kent
In the seaside town of Herne Bay, Grosvenor House is right opposite the Ship Inn, the oldest pub in town (1385) – perfect for raising a festive toast. There’s an award-winning micro pub, too, the Bouncing Barrel, with a great choice of artisan beer and real ale. At “home”, make the most of this Grade II-listed Georgian property with sea views, which oozes charm: the cosy sitting rooms are brought to life with a striking artwork, books and musical instruments – and of the five bedrooms, three have sea views. There’s a homely kitchen and big dining table for lazy feasting.
•
Pubs and coastal walks, Cornwall
The former tin mining town of St Just in the far west of Cornwall boasts not one, but three great locals: The Star Inn, the Kings Arms and The Queens Arms. All three are within easy walking distance for guests at Scilly Stack, a gorgeous hideaway for two converted from a cow shed, one mile from St Just. If you can tear yourself away from the cottage with its logburner, slate floors and sea views, there are wild winter walks to be had along the coastline around Cape Cornwall and Sennen, perhaps calling in for a meal or pint at The Gurnard’s Head, one of Cornwall’s must lauded dining pubs.
•
Ultimate local, Pembrokeshire
From its slate floors right up to its beamed ceilings, Court Lodge oozes charm and character. Set within 70 acres of private woodland in the Gwaun Valley, this stone cottage lends itself to wintry breaks with a logburner and underfloor heating. A short walk up the valley is the historic Dyffryn Arms, known locally as “Bessie’s”. This time capsule of a pub has been run by the same family since the 1840s: ale is still served from a jug through a hatch in the wall, the walls are plastered with first world war posters and New Year is celebrated on 13 January, according to the Julian calendar.
•
17th-century stone cottage, Yorkshire Dales
Postcard-pretty Kettlewell village makes a perfect base for exploring the national park, with a network of footpaths running around the village for Boxing Day walks, and no less than three great pubs to choose from. Guests staying at Prospect Cottage can take their pick from the Blue Bell Inn, The King’s Head and the Racehorses Hotel, all of which pride themselves on their locally sourced food. The house itself is stylishly kitted out, with understated contemporary furnishings complementing the stone-mullioned windows, wooden floors and spiral stone staircase.
•
Nelson’s favourite, Norfolk
The Norfolk village of Burnham Market has had an influx of bijou shops and classy places to eat. Among the latter is the dining room at the Hoste Arms. Though it’s expanded over the years to become a hugely popular boutique hotel and spa, this ancient hostelry with a log fire in the cosy bar – which once counted Admiral Lord Nelson among its regulars – has hung onto its roots as the village watering hole. At the end of the evening, it’s just a short stroll home across the village green for guests staying at Angel Cottage, a sweet red-brick terraced house with a beamed sitting room with woodburner, country-style kitchen/diner, complete with cast-iron cooking range, and two pretty bedrooms.
•
Ferry to the pub, Herefordshire
The Saracen’s Head pub in Symonds Yat is something of an institution, with a beautiful riverfront setting and excellent food attracting visitors from far and wide. Guests staying at Erwarton, a Georgian stone cottage on the opposite side of the river Wye, can reach it via the ancient hand-ferry which has been making this same river crossing for centuries. The house itself is beautifully decorated, its flagstone floors and brick fireplaces offset by colourful and contemporary furnishings, with woodburners to keep off the chill.
•
GREAT FOR PARTIES AND FAMILY GROUPS
Magnificent manor house, Cornwall
Celebrate New Year in grandeur in Nancealverne House, a Grade II-listed 18th-century manor house set in 14 acres of gardens, complete with woodlands and lake, just a 15-minute walk from Penzance. Accommodation is on the first floor and part of the ground floor of the house, with four bedrooms, a great conservatory/dining room for long lazy dinners and an open fire in the sitting room. There are plenty of walks on the doorstep and Mousehole (prettily lit up during the festive season), Porthcurno and St Ives are nearby. Book quickly – Christmas has been snapped up already, but it’s a great pad any time of year. Larger parties can book adjacent Apple Loft Cottage which sleeps another five, plus a baby.
•
Party in church, Norfolk
The Old Methodist Chapel in Heacham, a coastal village near Hunstanton, is a fabulous place for a party. The huge living room has double-height beamed ceilings, a logburner and a galleried landing. The kitchen-diner is also huge, and has an open fire (for cosiness, not for cooking). The house sleeps eight; two of the four rooms can be made up as twins or doubles, and there are three bathrooms – so plenty of space for groups of friends. Features from the building’s former life include the wooden floors, arched doors, stained glass windows and wrought-iron spiral staircase. Dogs are welcome (no more than two though) – there is an enclosed garden, plus two sandy beaches nearby for walks.
•
Large groups on a budget, Snowdonia
A recently renovated former farmhouse in Snowdonia, Rowen YHA’s bedrooms range from doubles and quads to six- or eight-bunk dorms. One of the smallest hostels available on an exclusive-use basis, it has an extra cosiness in winter thanks to two open fires. The building is well placed for working off any excess, with hikes up Snowdonia’s peaks or along the Conwy estuary, but beware that in snowy weather you may need to park at the bottom of the hill and lace up those boots just to reach it.
•
Pennine piste, Northumberland
Traversed by the C2C cycling route and just outside the Northumberland Dark Sky Park, the village of Allenheads is home to a cafe and a pub and, if the weather plays ball, you can go skiing: Ski-Allenheads is based in the village. Then there’s The Old Schoolhouse. While part of the building is run as an arts initiative, the west wing has been turned into guest quarters with the former classroom and library now let as a self-catering cottage when rooms aren’t booked individually. Take the whole thing and you’ll get the use of four bedrooms (two doubles and two four-bunk dorms), two bathrooms, a kitchen, a snug open-plan living space with woodburner and bike store.
•
A breed apart, Isle of Man
For luxury on a budget, The Barn at Ballaloaghtan ticks plenty of boxes. A newly renovated conversion on the slopes of South Barrule, this four-bedroom former barn looks out across the south of the island. Guests can cook in the hi-tech kitchen or warm their feet on a sheepskin rug as they get out of bed. The barn is part of a farm business that works with the Rare Breeds Survival Trust to preserve Britain’s livestock heritage. If you fancy a change from turkey, pre-order its pork, beef, mutton or lamb (including that from Manx Loaghtan sheep). Or, if you’d rather admire them than eat them, sign up for a rare breeds safari.
•
Highland life, Inverness-Shire
The cottages on the Corrour Estate may be remote but don’t expect creaky floorboards and rattling windowpanes. Not at Corrie Odhar at any rate. Built 12 years ago, this five-bedroom timber lodge, with its pretty blue paintwork, is the newest property of the bunch. Frills include a modern kitchen, woodburner and walk-in shower. The 11-mile track leading to the cottage offers the chance of seeing deer and golden eagles, but for those who don’t wish to drive, Corrour has its own train station on the West Highland Line. This provides a direct sleeper train service from London Euston and links to Glasgow, Fort William and Mallaig. Transfers to the estate can be arranged.
•
Shepherd’s delight, Kent
For groups of friends, the hippy-chic Quadrangle, near Shoreham village, makes an atmospheric festive hideaway. There are two accommodation options here: the Shepherd’s Barn sleeps up to 17 in a dormitory plus two in a double bedroom, while The Granary has two bathrooms and two bedrooms. Best rented together in winter (to share The Granary’s larger living room), both properties come with access to another large barn, which has no accommodation (or heating) but is a godsend for games, table tennis, screenings and impromptu shows in wet weather. Head out for frosty walks along the Darent Valley Path but don’t plan on wild partying when you return; guests are asked explicitly to avoid disturbing the neighbours.
•
Brand new party house, with knobs on, East Sussex
It’s not cheap but for a group of friends willing and able to splash out on a lush pad for Christmas or New Year, the House in Hastings, opening in November, is a real find. The five-storey, five-bedroom, four-bathroom Regency House has gorgeous sea views and inside it’s a mix of cool vintage touches (think 1940s chandeliers and original fireplaces) and modern artwork. The vibrant blue and green colour palette adds to the playful vibe and you’ll find everything you need to celebrate on hand, from a 12-seater dining table to cool cocktail cabinet. It’s from the owners of party palaces Carrington House and Cliff Barns, and though a more sophisticated offering, it’s bound to have tons of style and fun features.
•
Hot tub-on-Thames, Oxfordshire
Lord it up over New Year in the imposing Chimney Corner, a modern, seven-bedroom pile in Satwell, a pretty hamlet just outside Henley-on-Thames (25 minutes from London by train). The sprawling, bright kitchen opens into a large dining area with a table seating 16, and there’s loads of space to spread out (one of the bedrooms is in a studio annexe, which also has its own kitchen). A games room comes complete with pool table, there’s an indoor sauna and, in the large garden, a trampoline and swing set will keep the kids happy, while grown-ups can relax in a six-seater hot tub. A state-of-the-art sound system plays music throughout the house and a TV room makes for cosy movie nights. Antony Worrall Thompson’s Greyhound pub is less than two miles away and there are lots of lovely river walks close by.
•
Roaring fire in Georgian splendour, Yorkshire Dales
Promising a really special Christmas, Willow House, a glamorous six-bedroom, five-bathroom Georgian property near Richmond is somewhere Santa wouldn’t want to leave. With three storeys, the family can spread out or cosy up around the roaring fire in the large sitting room. The open plan kitchen/dining room area, with Yorkshire flagstone floors and upcycled church pews, is perfect for feasting, while the orangery offers an alternative dining space with stars twinkling above. A wood-fired hot-tub in the garden and ground floor bedroom with wet room that’s suitable for anyone with reduced mobility are other pluses. Such luxury comes with a hefty price tag at Christmas – but it’s a good choice year-round when prices drop, with gastropubs aplenty nearby, from the Oak Tree Inn in Hutton Magna to The Shoulder of Mutton at Middleton Tyas, as well as the gorgeous Yorkshire Dales for endless romps in the great outdoors.
•
Sixteenth-century water mill, Cornwall
Lavethan Mill is a deceptively large converted 16th-century mill and Cornish cottage, complete with a working water wheel. The sweet stone building has a higgledy-piggledy layout, with low beamed ceilings, secret staircases and timber-clad walls. The kitchen/diner has an Aga, there is an open fire in the sitting room and a woodburner and grand piano in the lounge, and a gorgeous master bedroom (plus four perfectly nice ones). Outside, there are landscaped gardens and the mill’s leat (water channel) and stream, which forms a pond deep enough for hardy souls to take a Christmas dip. The Camel Trail passes the end of the drive for winter walks, the Blisland Inn is less than a mile up the road and Padstow is a short drive away.
•
Push the boat out at a magnificent manor,Cotswolds
It may be pricey, but Marsden Manor sleeps 20, so a big party can share the load. And guests get a lot for their money at this arts and crafts manor house: a drawing room with a log fire; a morning room; a media room for film nights; a games room; a play room; a big kitchen with an Aga … The library is particularly palatial. There are 10 bedrooms and seven bathrooms, plus a downstairs loo. It’s worth knowing, if you want to book it at another time of the year, that the large gardens contain a swimming pool (heated and open over the New Year), tennis courts, croquet, cricket and tennis facilities, and a wendy house. Original features include stone-mullioned casement windows, archways, beams, slate flag floors, an inglenook fireplace, handmade tiles and wood panelling.
•
LOCATED IN SMALL TOWNS
Georgian townhouse, Northumberland
The historic market town of Alnwick always puts on a good festive display, with colourful Christmas lights transforming the Market Place, cobbled streets and stone buildings and Father Christmas taking up residence in his grotto at Alnwick Garden. Book a stay at Earls Cottage, a Grade II-listed Georgian townhouse on a peaceful street in the conservation area, and you’ll have the best of the town’s restaurants, galleries and shops, including the marvellous Barter Books, on your doorstep. The owners of this elegant building have thought of everything to make guests comfortable, from Sealy mattresses to PlayStation consoles, and a selection of books, films and games for nights in front of the fire. The nearest train station is at Alnmouth, about five miles away.
•
Rye terrace cottage , East Sussex
With its atmospheric old pubs, antique shops and tea rooms, the Cinque Ports town of Rye is the perfect place to spend a festive break. A short walk from the medieval market town’s centre is Spring Cottage, a cosy, 19th-century terraced house with woodburner, sleeping five. See in the New Year at the Globe Inn Marsh, just 50 yards from your front door, before walking off your hangover on Camber Sands the next morning. There are trains to Rye via Brighton and Ashford International.
•
Snug in Salisbury, Wiltshire
Grade II-listed Thimble Cottage is believed to be one of the oldest houses in Salisbury and, as the name suggests, it makes a snug retreat for two. No car is necessary as the medieval town’s attractions are all within walking distance. Stock up on last-minute Christmas presents in Market Square, before enjoying midnight mass at 13th-century Salisbury Cathedral or a pantomime at the Playhouse – although you might have trouble tearing yourself away from this home-from-home with its beamed sitting room and farmhouse-style kitchen. Salisbury has direct rail services from London, Bristol, Southampton, Portsmouth and Exeter.
•
Light and airy, Cotswolds
With its huge garden, Catalpa Cottage offers a tranquil setting, but also the convenience of being just a couple of minutes walk from the centre of Tetbury, a classic Cotswold town, built on the back of the wool trade with handsome gold-stone buildings and a 17th-century market hall. Book in for Christmas lunch at one of the town’s many gastro pubs or boutique hotels. Alternatively, stock up on festive treats at the Highgrove deli (Prince Charles’s pad is a short hop away) and prepare a celebratory meal in the flagstone-floored kitchen of this light and airy cottage. The nearest train station is at Kemble, six miles from Tetbury, which has direct services from London Paddington, Swindon and Cheltenham.
•
Foodie hotspot, Yorkshire Dales
If your Christmas tends to revolve around food, then you could do a lot worse than spend it in Richmond. The Georgian market town on the edge of the Dales national park has built up a reputation as a gastronomic hotspot on the back of its fine-dining pubs, food markets and restaurants. Evergreen is a gorgeous two-bedroom cottage on the outskirts of town with views of Richmond Castle. Decor is reminiscent of a boutique hotel (purple velvet, bold stripes, rich fabrics) and there’s no skimping on the home entertainment front either, with a Blu-ray player and a Blue-tooth MP3 player among the gizmos. A logburner completes the picture. The nearest station is at Darlington, 12 miles away, served by trains from all over the UK.
•
Hay hideaway, Powys
25 Millbank is a contemporary three-bedroom townhouse in a peaceful riverside location on the outskirts of Hay-on-Wye. Spread over three floors, the accommodation is fresh and modern in style, with floor-to-ceiling windows and balconies overlooking the river Wye. It’s a two-minute walk into the centre of town with its bookshops, medieval castle, galleries and cafes. The Black Mountains and Brecon Beacons loom nearby.
•
Stylish renovation, Scottish Borders
Wake up to magical views of Jedburgh Abbey at Boundary Bank, a 19th-century coaching house which has been reinvented as a warm holiday home with bags of character. The historic border town of Jedburgh’s independent shops, cafes and restaurants are just a short stroll away but, if you’re looking for something a little more challenging, the long-distance footpaths of the Borders Abbey Way and the Southern Upland Way are within easy reach. Alternatively, you can get those New Year’s resolutions off to a good start with a visit to the nearby pool and leisure centre. The house has been stylishly renovated and the light-filled open-plan living area has reclaimed wooden doors, beams and flooring, leather armchairs and a woodburner. The nearest station is Tweedbank (15 miles away), on the recently opened Borders Railway, which links the region with Edinburgh.
•
