GET AWAY AND HIDE AWAY Our favourite UK and European hideaways…
Desperate for a change of scene? We know the feeling… for those looking to escape somewhere gorgeous this summer but stay away from the crowds, we have selected some of the best private cottages, apartments and chalets from right here in the UK across to France, Spain, Norway and Iceland. With rumours abound that quarantine restrictions will be lifted by July, coinciding with the opening of borders, this is the perfect time to consider where you might choose to hideaway this summer…
DRIVE…. A PRIVATE DORSET IDYLL – IVY COTTAGE AT SUMMER LODGE, DORSET
Traditional Dorset stone hideaway with two bedroom cottage and private garden, perfect for families, couples and small groups
Bookings from 4th July
The Jurassic Coast is the ultimate destination for a carefree sea-salt adventure – with miles of beautiful countryside, picturesque bays, breath-taking coastal walks, and renowned foodie hotspots. Set in the heart of Hardy country, Summer Lodge Country House Hotel is located in the quintessentially English village of Evershot, Dorset, one of the UK’s Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Within the grounds of the four-acre gardens is Summer Lodge’s private cottage – the perfect spot to cosy up for a weekend of complete seclusion with the added benefit 24-hour hotel service. The 400-year-old Ivy Cottage is a classic Dorset-stone chalet with beautifully appointed countryside interiors. The secluded cottage has two master bedrooms, two bathrooms, a comfortable sitting room with open fire for cooler evenings, and a generous dining room. The pretty private garden offers peaceful privacy, plus an outdoor hot tub, the ultimate extravagance and best enjoyed under the stars with a glass in hand. Guests can opt to dip in and out of all the benefits of a five-star hotel, including delicious locally sourced cuisine, delivered to the cottage.
The main hotel, Summer Lodge is an idyllic escape with 18 comfortably cosy rooms and suites, each individually designed, vast gardens, tennis courts and swimming pool. Families and groups can enjoy adjoining rooms and suites to ensure plenty of space. Children can let off steam in the rambling gardens, where specially prepared family picnics can be enjoyed in secluded corners. Guests young and old can spend the morning foraging in the expansive kitchen garden, and then savour their finds freshly prepared for that evening’s supper. Dorset is the perfect base for a walking holiday or long weekend. Search for fossils and beach treasures at Lyme Regis or Lulworth Cove, explore picturesque little villages including Worth Matravers and take in the epic walks of Studland Bay.
HOW: Ivy Cottage is taking bookings from 4th July and starts from £635 per night. Summer Lodge is set to reopen on 4th July, with rates from £350 per night. https://www.summerlodgehotel.co.uk/rooms-and-suites/ivy-cottage
ENJOY A LUXURY FAMILY STAYCATION IN EDINGTON, WILTSHIRE AT HILLSIDE COTTAGE – ELEVEN EXPERIENCE’S UK COUNTRY HIDEAWAY WITH AN AWARD-WINNING ON-SITE BREWERY, THE THREE DAGGERS PUB
The perfect destination for families or groups of friends, guests can hole up at the six bedroom property complete with outdoor plunge pool, hot tub, sauna barn, croquet courts, Trailhead Cabin, and private chef and masseuse on request
Bookings available now
A private retreat in the bucolic village of Edington, Hillside Cottage is the ultimate English countryside experience. Ideal for a romantic getaways or larger groups and family gatherings, the cottage features six en suite guest bedrooms and steam shower bathrooms, a formal living room, and eat-in kitchen with dining table. Extra chill out space awaits at the outdoor plunge pool, hot tub, wet and dry sauna barn, bocce and croquet courts, and Trailhead Cabin, which offers a dartboard, games, wood burning stove and outdoor fire pit.
Massage and other wellness treatments are available at an additional cost from the on-property spa. Newly built in 2017, the property’s design seamlessly blends traditional English style with contemporary cool. The charming Three Daggers Pub, Inn and Brewery, and the Edington Farm Shop, are just a short walk across the road. Disappear behind Trailhead Cabin for a quick hike up to the Salisbury Plain and the historic site of the Battle of Ethandun. Hillside Cottage is the perfect launching point for terrific sightseeing in the area, such as the Westbury Whitehorse, Stonehenge and the city of Bath. Whether you are relaxing in the house, strolling through the gardens, or indulging in the spa, you and your guests will enjoy spectacular views of the chalky hills and fertile downland of Wiltshire, England.
HOW: Hillside Cottage full property buyout starting at £1,500 per night. https://elevenexperience.com/
SPACE AND SECLUSION IN THE CAPITAL AT THE MILESTONE RESIDENCES
Six sumptous apartments in the heart of London, located opposite Kensington Gardens, offering total privacy and all the benefits of a five star hotel
Special family experiences available to entertain little ones
Bookings available now
For those country-bound during lockdown, this summer promises to be the perfect moment to experience the joy of London in the sunshine, without the usual hordes of tourists. The Milestone Residences, situated opposite Kensington Gardens, are splendidly spacious 2 and 3 bedroom apartments with private entrances and full hotel service. The residences offer the most comfortable way to combine physical distancing with an unforgettable London experience. Whilst the parks are abundantly green and streets are uniquely quiet and museums and galleries are beginning to reopen, this may be the very best moment to experience London on your doorstep. The six apartments offer the indulgence of space and location, giving residents the opportunity to combine total privacy with the legendary Red Carnation service. The residences can be accessed through the main hotel or by means of their own discreet private entrance, and guests have full access to all hotel amenities.
HOW: The Milestone Residences are open now with rates starting from £1000 per night with a three night stay minimum https://www.milestonehotel.com
HIDEAWAY COTTAGE, A UNIQUE FORMER BOATHOUSE, SECLUDED IN THE GROUNDS OF ASHFORD CASTLE, ON THE SHORES OF LOUGH CORRIB
A romantic lakeside retreat with complete privacy, offering couples the space to breathe the freshest of air and explore the stunning countryside, dipping in and out of the Castle’s renowned 5-star service
Bookings from 22nd July
Just a ferry ride and a leisurely countryside drive away, the wilds of the Emerald Isle await. The historic Ashford Castle, sitting on the shores of Lough Corrib, is one of the most prestigious properties in Ireland, once home to the Guinness family for over 100 years and visited by stars and royalty from George V to Fred Astaire. Reopening in July with a smaller number of rooms, this Summer will provide the perfect opportunity to experience Ashford as one of very few guests, with 350 acres of grounds to explore and carefully curated activities for summer days, including falconry, golf, horse riding, fishing, boating, cycling, archery, clay pigeon shooting and zip-lining.
Perhaps the ultimate destination for a post-lockdown break for two, Ashford’s Hideaway Cottage, right on the shores of Lough Corrib, offers enviable seclusion. Guests staying at this elegantly converted former boathouse have access to all the amenities at the castle whilst enjoying the privacy of this lakeside retreat, complete with 24 hour in room dining, a well-stocked bar and bicycles for two. Accessed through secure gates and with private gardens and an outdoor terrace on the jetty, the idyllic property features hand-crafted parquet flooring, original artworks, lush fabrics and a blue Murano glass chandelier. The perfect place to take some time out in the freshest lakeside air.
HOW: Ashford Castle reopens on 22nd July. The Hideaway Cottage costs from €3,000 per night on a B&B basis. https://www.ashfordcastle.com
TAKE A ROAD TRIP TO THE REMOTE FRENCH ALPS THIS SUMMER AND HIDE AWAY AT ELEVEN EXPERIENCE’S TWO ULTIMATE PRIVATE ADVENTURE RETREATS – CHALET HIBOU & CHALET PELERIN
Ideal for intrepid travellers and active families, Chalet Hibou and Chalet Pelerin are set away from main towns but within easy reach of three heli-ski bases for the ultimate summer sports getaway where days are spent paragliding, mountain biking and white-water rafting
Bookings from 15th June
Tailor-made adventure specialists, Eleven Experience are offering guests who are itching to get away and out of their comfort zones the ultimate private chalet experience with epic adventures led by expert guides who know every peak and trail. From mountain and road biking to trekking alpine forest trails that wind past centuries-old churches and sapphire blue lakes, as well as the opportunity for white water rafting and Alpine rock climbing, no two days will be the same. Tucked in a hidden corner of the French Alps, the Savoie region that borders Switzerland to the north and Italy to the east is the ultimate alpine playground come the summer months.
Set high up in the tiny historic mountain village of Le Miroir, away from main towns, Chalet Hibou and Chalet Pelerin are dream bases for exploration. Whether an adrenaline junkie looking to scale tricky Alpine rocks, an avid cyclist keen to explore the famous routes from the Tour de France, or families simply wanting to get away from it all and discover their next adventure, expert guides are on hand to tailor all activities to guests’ abilities. By night, guests can recharge in the chalets’ freshwater pools, sip wine on the patio overlooking panoramic views, and let their private chef introduce them to tempting regional specialities such as tartiflette, paired with fine French wines.
Chalet Hibou sleeps 16, with six bedrooms and one bunkroom and a media room. Meanwhile, Chalet Pelerin sleeps 12 over four bedrooms and one bunkroom with four twin beds, with a children’s playroom and indoor pool. Both chalets have an outdoor hot tub, Finnish sauna and steam room, and access to Eleven’s private outpost, L’Alpage, where dinners are cooked over an open fire.
HOW: Summer rates at Chalet Hibou start from £6,542 per night for private chaletbuyout based on 14 guests. Summer rates at Chalet Pelerin start from £4,597 per night for private chalet buyout based on 10 guests. Price includes private concierge, full guide service, all gear for activities, pre-arrival planning with an Eleven Experience Manager, use of the Alpage, all meals and house alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. www.elevenexperience.com
THE VINEYARD HOUSE, PART OF THE CHATEAU TROPLONG MONDOT ESTATE, SAINT-ÉMILION, BORDEAUX THE ULTIMATE RUSTIC LOVER’S RETREAT
Newly refurbished for 2020 and set deep in the vines – this is the ultimate hideaway for lovebirds
Bookings available now
Romance-seekers will delight in the newly redesigned Vineyard House, set deep in the vineyards of the renowned Château Troplong Mondot, Premier Grand Cru Classé wine estate in Saint-Émilion. Spend two nights here as part of a new Romance by Troplong Mondot experience, exploring the seclusion and serenity of the estate – the highest in Saint-Émilion, as well as the UNESCO world heritage medieval village itself, home to a fascinating underground troglodyte heritage, churches and charming independent boutiques.
The team at Château Troplong Mondot will always be on hand to curate special moments throughout the day, including exclusive vineyard tours followed by a three-course picnic served in a secret spot. Spend the afternoons enjoying the time away on a private terrace, surrounded by hydrangeas and lavender bushes or take an electric bike out along the quiet backroads to observe the exquisite neighbouring Chateaux. As evening beckons, enjoy the perfect sundowner, with a glass of Troplong Mondot in hand. Saint-Émilion’s finest restaurants are just a short walk away through the vineyards and the team will ensure the best table in the house.
A hot air balloon ride the next morning will be the pièce de résistance of the trip. Each day will be fuelled by a delicious breakfast of seasonal fruit and fresh juices, homemade jams and artisanal pastries, prepared by the chef. Following a recent renovation by acclaimed interior designer Mathilde Cardineau, the Vineyard House offers by far the most intimate experience on Troplong Mondot’s estate. Typical of the local style, the rustic property comprises a sitting room, two double bedrooms with private bathrooms and a sun-bathed terrace.
HOW: A two night ‘Romance by Troplong Mondot’ experience starts from €1,560 based on two people sharing on a B&B basis, including bespoke picnic, private tour of the estate, and a hot air balloon ride. For more information visit www.troplong-mondot.com. Opening June 2020.
RETREAT TO A SPACIOUS FARMHOUSE COTTAGE ON A 2,500 ACRE PRIVATE ESTATE AT DOMAINE DES ETANGS, MASSIGNAC, SW FRANCE
Reconnect with nature in one of the most undiscovered regions of rural France, staying in a cottage stocked with a pre-selected groceries and an electric car to explore the sprawling grounds
Bookings available now
Domaine des Etangs offers a truly unique experience in the heart of one of the most beautiful areas of rural France. Set over 1,000 hectares of protected nature-filled countryside comprising forest, grassland and lakes, Domaine des Etangs is a converted private home that has been transformed into a unique hotel. The property comprises an 11th century château, as well as six farmhouse cottages ranging from one to five bedrooms, surrounded by landscaped gardens and lakes.
Those looking for a truly secluded escape can opt for a stay in one of these beautifully designed rustic cottages for the utmost privacy, as well as to experience the rural surroundings and fresh air, where the only other being they might see are the resident Limousin cows. The cottages are so generously spaced apart, that they come with their own electric car, enabling guests to drive around the estate. Each cottage has its own personality and is scattered across the property grounds, hidden in a verdant hollow or sitting in a green meadow stretching out towards the horizon.
The traditional stone structures have been refurbished and the cottages are complete with wooden beams and floor to ceiling glass doors, allowing the nature to fill the space. Some are complete with secret wine cellars, filled with the owner’s private collection of French wines, and others with large copper roll-top bathtubs to relax in. Guests of the cottages can enjoy private tastings with the Domaine’s expert sommelier and enjoy delicious farm-to-fork dinners prepared by the chef or cooked over the cottages open fireplace.
HOW: Domaine des Etangs is located a 40-minute drive from Limoges and a 2.5h drive from Bordeaux or guests can take a private jet to Angouleme (just 40km away). Rates start from €400 (approx. £350) per night on a B&B basis. www.domainedesetangs.com
VILLA GRENACHE AT LA BASTIDE DE MARIE, MENERBES A PRIVATE 5-BEDROOM VILLA IN THE HEART OF PROVENCE FOR THE QUINTESSENTIAL FRENCH COUNTRY RETREAT
Bookings from 25th June
Villa Grenache is an idyllic five-bedroom Provençal stone-built villa, sitting at the heart of the 22-hectare Domaine de Marie vineyard, near to the village of Ménerbes, in the Luberon National Park. Sleeping up to 10 guests, Villa Grenache is the ideal escape for couples and groups – with five double bedrooms, all of which have private en-suite bathrooms.
The living room has an open fireplace and leads to the large French country kitchen where guests or a chef can rustle up meals to be enjoyed in the elegant dining room with its long table, or al fresco on the shaded terrace. Hidden away in Villa Grenache’s beautiful gardens is the heated outdoor swimming pool, tucked away in its very own interior courtyard. A stay at Villa Grenache offers the best of both worlds. Just a stone’s throw from La Bastide de Marie – the iconic boutique hotel from the Maisons & Hotels Sibuet Group, guests will love combining the intimacy of a private residence, with all the services of a 5-star hotel, including 24 hour concierge service, private chefs and access to the Pure Altitude spa and signature restaurant.
Wonderfully rustic, interiors feature stone walls, arched ceilings and exposed wooden beams, whilst the décor is typical of the region: pastel shades in authentic Provençal country style, compliment carefully chosen antique furniture and artwork. Those looking to explore the region are well placed to do so: the villa is a short drive from the Provençal villages of Opio and Valbonne whilst beach-lovers won’t have to venture far. The nearest can be found at Cagnes sur Mer, just 10km away, or St Paul de Vence, just a 30-minute drive. Surrounded by the Sibuet’s family vineyard, guests can spend the rest of their stay cycling through the vines, stopping off to enjoy wine tastings led by the local family winemaker.
HOW: Rates at Villa Grenache start from €529 per night, hotel services of La Bastide De Marie included. Opening 26 June 2020.
FLY…DEPLAR FARM, ICELAND PERFECT FOR A GROUP TRIP TO RECONNECT WITH FRIENDS & FAMILY – ESCAPE TO THE UNIQUE ICELANDIC LODGE ON THE REMOTE TROLL PENINSULA
Experience complete seclusion, some of the world’s purest air, stunning panoramic views and a thrilling menu of outdoor pursuits including snow-mobiling, sea kayaking, Arctic surfing, whale watching and catching a glimpse of the Northern Lights from the outdoor thermal springs pool
Bookings from 15th June
Escape to one of Eleven Experience’s most unique properties, the remote Icelandic lodge, Deplar Farm. The Nordic-inspired lodge is located on the stunning Troll Peninsula and come winter is surrounded by 3,000 ft snow-dusted mountains, allowing guests to have unrivalled access to over 1,500 square miles of untouched mountain terrain and to feel completed secluded. This region of Iceland receives some of the highest snowfall in the country and the slopes that surround the property make for exhilarating skiing and snowboarding. With deep valleys left behind by long-gone glaciers, the area is now cut by rivers at the bottom of the glacial valleys, which have taken over 10,000 years to form.
Skiing in Iceland is a unique experience as active travellers have the novelty of skiing down to the sea, together with freshly powdered slopes each day. Deplar Farm is also known for its exhilarating menu of outdoor pursuits, including heli-skiing, sea kayaking, whale watching in the surrounding fjords, astro-touring and fat biking special trails around the valley. Due to limited light-pollution in Iceland, guests can also stargaze out across the clear Icelandic night sky from the lodges impressive geo-thermally heated outdoor pool, and from October to March, even catch a glimpse of the extraordinary Northern Lights dancing across the sky.
This phenomenal property may be wonderfully remote but offers a range of world-class facilities for guests looking to relax and unwind after an active day outdoors. Guests can enjoy the lodge’s extensive wellness area which comprises of a steam room, indoor/outdoor saunas, hot tubs, flotation tanks, 3 treatments rooms and an indoor/outdoor swimming pool, heated to 38 degrees from thermal springs, with a built-in sound system and a bar.
The Nordic inspired interiors are cosy and stylish and guests can socialise together in the evening with cocktails mixed by the resident mixologist and feast on local Icelandic delicacies cooked by the private chef. Deplar Farm also offers a library, entertainment room, conference room, terrace, built in pizza oven and a full band set up for late night jamming sessions as well as two helicopter pads.
HOW: Rates at Deplar Farm during the summer and winter season (01 June – 31 October and 1 Nov- 14 March) start at £1,370 per person per night (based on double occupancy). This includes customised adventure itineraries, all gear necessary for activities, pre-arrival planning with an Experience Manager, all in-house meals, house alcohol and non-alcoholic beverages, daily housekeeping and airport transfers to/from Akureyri. Flights to Akureyri start from £400 return per person with Iceland Air. Eleven Experience www.elevenexperience.com
UNWIND IN SOUTHERN SPANISH COUNTRYSIDE AWAY FROM THE CROWDS IN ONE OF THE ULTRA-CHIC ‘GREEN 10’ VILLAS AT FINCA CORTESIN, ANDALUSIA – ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL BOLTHOLES IN MEDITERRANEAN EUROPE
Bookings from 1st July
Located in one of the most sought-after enclaves of the Andalusian coast, independently-owned Finca Cortesin is one of the finest luxury resorts in Europe. While it is extremely well connected and easily accessible from nearby international hubs, the resort is set on a sprawling 215-hectare estate surrounded by undisturbed nature and flanked by the Casares Mountains, with sweeping views of the Mediterranean coastline, and has over 23,000m2 of spacious manicured gardens. Acclaimed, intricate interior design combined with impeccable service, superb food, exceptional spa, world-class golf and prime real estate, makes Finca Cortesin the epitome of refined, yet relaxed Mediterranean living.
Ideal for those seeking more space, away from the main resort are the Green 10 villas situated between holes 9 and 10 on the resort’s award-winning golf course. These five-bedroom, all en-suite residences have been built on spacious individual plots of up to 2,200m2, offering the utmost privacy without compromising access to the hotel extensive facilities. Each one is thoughtfully positioned on the mountainside to offer unsurpassed views of the Sierra Bermeja mountain range and the Mediterranean Sea.
The modern and bright Mediterranean-style interiors contrast harmoniously with the sleek white walls and clean exterior lines, and are fully equipped with top-of-the-range kitchen gadgets and high-spec sound systems, as well as ample staff accommodation and parking for two cars. Visitors can relax by their private pool on the expansive terraces and enjoy both indoor and outdoor dining areas, without ever seeing another guest if they wish. Those staying a minimum of five nights also receive complimentary one-way airport transfers from Malaga or Gibraltar, with guests staying seven nights or more receiving return transfers. For the particularly discerning traveller, a private chef, waiting staff and an unpacking service is also available on demand.
HOW: Nightly rates in Finca Cortesin’s 5-bedroom Green 10 villas start from €3,467 (currently approx. £3,081). A five-night minimum stay applies during high season (June-August, and public and school holidays), and a two-night minimum stay year-round. For more information, visit www.fincacortesin.com
THE ULTIMATE COASTAL HIDEAWAY, CHECK INTO 62°NORD’S ‘OWNERS CABIN’ ON THE UNTOUCHED NORTH WEST COAST OF NORWAY
This remote Nordic base sits on the remote island of Giske, which has played home to noble Viking families years ago and is now home to colonies of seals and passing orcas
Bookings available now
Leading experiential travel company 62°NORD offers an interesting collection of boutique accommodation including the much-loved ‘Owner’s Cabin’ in Staurneset, located at the end of a beautiful peninsula on the north-west coast of Norway. Those looking to get away from it all and enjoy “hytte kultur” (cabin lifestyle), the Owner’s Cabin is a small cottage surrounded by untouched land with direct access to the sea.
Home to three double bedrooms, one bathroom, a spacious dining room and living room with an open fire and kitchen, the house is perfect for families and promises privacy, solitude and breathtaking beauty. Just steps away from the Nordic sea, guests will find a white sandy beach on the right and charming rocky tide pools to the left. Guests staying in the cabin can curl up with a good book and enjoy the far-reaching sea views, kayak the North Sea or embark on breathtakingly beautiful hikes.
HOW: Rates in the Owner’s Cabin start from NOK 6 000 (currently approx. £460) per night. www.62.no/en/