UK cottages: the Lakes and Yorkshire
THE LAKES
Lakelovers has more than 400 properties on its books in honeypot locations, such as Bowness on Windermere, Ambleside and Grasmere. There are some gorgeous places if you're going with a gang, including Grade II-listed mansion The West Wing, a short walk from Windermere and in the shade of a monkey puzzle tree. It sleeps 12 in five bedrooms, and has availability through most of the summer, at a cost of ?2,350. Or grab your gladrags for a stay at Cleabarrow Manor (sleeps 16, available 21 July-17 August, ?3,450), a country estate in Bowness-on-Windermere set in two acres of formal gardens and grounds. 17th-century splendour meets 21st-century creature comforts here, with iPod docks and LCD TVs in every room and a Wii and Xbox downstairs. As well as seven-night stays, the company also offers short breaks out of season.
• lakelovers.co.uk
Casting a wider net is Cumbrian Cottages, with 900 holiday properties through the Lake District national park and Cumbria. In the northern lakes, the Mill Race, at Applethwaite, near Keswick, is a stylishly converted mill with slate worktops and stone floors, sitting at the foot of Skiddaw mountain and on the banks of Applethwaite Gill. A deck with table and chairs means you can dine overlooking the rushing waters. It sleeps eight, and is available throughout the peak season, at ?1,630, or ?1,860 for 24-31 August. Near Ullswater, Chapel Cottage is an 18th-century bolthole in the village of Helton, with superb views across the surrounding countryside and a terraced garden where if you're lucky you'll spot red squirrels.
• cumbrian-cottages.co.uk
A good selection of properties is offered by this lake district specialist, with 60 scattered throughout Coniston village and the surrounding valleys. At Hollin Bank Barn Cottage (sleeps six), you can dine alfresco in its dry stone walled garden while gazing out across Coniston Water. It's available throughout the peak summer holiday season for ?960.
• coppermines.co.uk
All 350 holiday cottages in this collection are within the Lake District national park. Fell Yate (sleeps six) is a great base for a group of walkers, with footpaths leading directly from the house. Inside it's cosy and tastefully decorated, and there's a garden where you can sit and admire the views. It's currently available throughout July and August and costs ?995 for a week. Just outside the village of Threlkeld, Ings (sleeps nine) is another great option for walkers, surrounded by fells, with paths leading directly on to Blencathra or up into the valley below Skiddaw. Available for some weeks in July and August, for ?1,354.
• heartofthelakes.co.uk
YORKSHIRE
On its website, Yorkshire Cottages helpfully lets you browse through its properties under useful headings such as "luxury cottages", "cottages near the beach", "cottages for families". In its luxury category is the beautifully restored, three-bed Waitby School (sleeps six), which was built on Waitby Fell in the late 17th century and has fantastic views across the moors. English Heritage helped in its restoration, and it's a real treat, particularly the huge, wood-pannelled lounge with its woodburning stove. It's available all through the summer holidays, for ?1,010 (?915 for 25 August-1 September). Or head to the wild and windy moors of Bronte country – sitting in the Pennines above Haworth is the Bronte Barn (sleeps six, available throughout the peak season, ?960), where exposed beams and stonework mix with cool contemporary design.
• yorkshire-cottages.info
If remote, windswept locations don't do it for you, you can always choose to stay in a town where you'll have everything you need on your doorstep. Harrogate Holidays has more than 100 cottages, with 40 of those in Harrogate itself, as well as properties in the countryside around Leeds, York, Ripon and the market town of Knaresborough. The stylishly refurbished two-bed Rose Cottage (sleeps four to six, available throughout the summer holidays, ?495) is right in the centre of Harrogate, a short stroll from the Valley Gardens and the antiques quarter. Or across the road from Valley Gardens, stone-built Valley Mount Cottage sleeps five and is available through the summer holidays for ?585. The company's countryside properties are equally popular. In Nidderdale, an area of outstanding natural beauty, on the outskirst of the village of Pateley Bridge, Liberty Hall (sleeps six, available throughout August, ?620) is a cottage within a Grade II-listed converted watermill, with a stream running through the grounds, and views across the Yorkshire Dales.
• harrogateholidays.co.uk
A small company with a collection, many of which are Grade II-listed, in and around Pickering and on the North Yorkshire Moors. A lot of the interiors – and this company is by no means alone in this – look a little uninspiring (heavy on pine furniture, pale green colour schemes and brown bathrooms). Among the smarter options is Fifty-two (sleeps six), a three-storey town house within easy walking distance of the centre of Pickering, the North Yorkshire Moors steam railway and Pickering Castle. Available in July and most of August for the bargain price of ?650 for seven nights.
• northyorkshirecottages.co.uk
For more holiday cottages and villas see guardiancottages.co.uk
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