Stay In Another World! Holiday Lets We Loved.
- Ellie
- Apr 13, 2024
- 6 min read
Want to rest your head in beautiful surroundings and give a different interior style ago?Do you fancy staying closer to home on your holidays? Or do a little online exploring? Why not have a look at some of the unusual places we have stayed in England & Wales. We have stayed elsewhere and will of course let you know about these places in future. This brief overview features places in Somerset, Devon, Shropshire and Dyfed. All have links to website & and or Socials.
Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash
You most likely not going to be surprised as to how unusual some of the places we have chosen are! Click through to the relevant website should you be interested in booking a future stay at any of them, or just to have a look and nose around!
Longhill Carriage - Somerset/ Wiltshire/ Dorset borders
Photo by Ellie
Owned by Chris & Annie ( railway enthusiast and Artist respectively) this truly magically holiday stay is worth every single penny. Featured on George Clarke's programme and with a lovely back story.
A Victorian train carriage & vintage good carriage where both saved from destruction and relocated in the grounds of their gorgeous garden - far enough away from their beautiful home for privacy and looking over the amazing hills of Blackmore Vale beyond.
You can wonder around the garden during your stay which is a treat. Annie's studio is also perched at the top of the hill and you can sometimes see her working in there.
A lovely, friendly and welcoming couple they are happy to help offer recommendations whilst leaving you too it so you don't feel overseen at all.
- The path leading up to the main house from the carriage.
Photo by Ellie
The interiors are stunning, stylishly created by Annie, full of Vintage fabric and display pieces, the main carriage has a wood burning stove, cosy seating and dinning area and adorable kitchen with all the necessary self catering requirements.
Located in the goods carriage the bedroom comes complete with a little balcony you can sit on and a nice bathroom with shower etc. Both the carriages are linked together by a canopy so you won't get wet getting back and forth.
There is even a little utility room in a separate shed with a washing machine and full of vintage packaging and railway goodies. All you need for a comfortable stay.
The interiors of the carriages ...
All photos by Ellie
Located a short drive away from the wonderful village of Bruton with fabulous independent shops, the Hauser Wirth gallery and wonderful Chapel restaurant, bakery and pizza place. And to be honest perfectly situated to explore the three counties it borders.
We went in October and it was still beautiful and even on misty days the views where wonderful and atmospheric, you felt you where amongst nature. The place is so pretty you almost don't want to leave it to explore. We left thinking we would happily live there!
Autumnal fruit outside carriage - Photo by Ellie
Sternsmill Cottage - Dudmaston Estate, Shropshire
Photo by Ellie Stacey
This cottage is in such a quiet location we drove past the the turning twice on our arrival! Once we got there down a country lane we where able to park just across from the front door.
At night you could see the stars and hear the owls hooting and during daylight hours you could see across the fields of the Dudmaston Estate. Entry to the big house was included in your booking which is a bonus. They had a lovely cafe!
The cottage interior was sympathetically done out with vintage furniture and a fully kitted out kitchen. There are two bedrooms so perfect place to share.
The unique and quirky part of the cottage however was outside & to the back ( do click through to the website to see a photo ) - the cottage backs on to cliff face made out of the same red stone. It even has a little archway where you can look inside the cliff and there is a small courtyard outside the back door where you can sit and eat or read by the cliff! Very cool!
Shropshire is a much underrated county and is full of beautiful countryside and amazing towns and villages. Easy access to main roads from the cottage to explore the area.
I loved the beautiful black wooden fascia along the outside of the roof and how you can walk down the lane and in fields form the front door. This cottage is dog friendly too which is great for all you pet owners.
Peaceful and beautiful we can very much recommend this cottage for a lovely mindful break.
There was even this little garden area across the way from the cottage you can use which would be prefect for kids or dogs (or grownups!).
You once in a while come across a rambler walking past but it is pretty much a secluded spot.
Don't forget to try the local farm shops
and there are some lovely little second hand and antique shops to explore if you are willing to go on a bit of an explore!
Len the Shepherds hut - Somerset
Photo by Ellie
The best thing about the Len ( other the fact it has a name!! and beautiful interior) is its view. You can see across to Glastonbury Tor and the valley below, sheep and cows wonder past and the night sky is wonderful.
Set in the fields of a former farm the hut is conformable and stylishly presented it is small but due to the location you very much want to explore the area so when you return the size doesn't bother you.
A lovely wood burner of course and in the summer a herb patch
The Lodge at Greenway - Devon
Photo National Trust Holidays
Now, this may not seem so interesting on face value, a standard period property holiday let, Well, this ( to us book geeks at least) was a very exciting place to stay. As this lodge ( or gatehouse) was located in the Greenway estate on the 'English Rivera' home to none other than - the late 'Queen of Crime' Agatha Christie. The grounds and large house on the estate you can visit and is now owned by the National trust.
The staff were so helpful and welcoming when we stayed, even leaving us a bottle of bubbly to celebrate New Years Eve! The shop on site is full of fabulous Agatha Christie goodies and the house is lovely.
Staying in the lodge meant you could walk around the estate after closing time, even down to the boat house ( which the eagle eyed amongst you will know is a crime scene in one her books!) The lodge itself has a little outside seating area, and look over the River Dart. The key to the lodge is wonderfully large making you feel as if you had a key to ancient manor house in your pocket!
She used it as a holiday home but as she got older spent more and more time there basing a least a couple of stories in and around the house and grounds. The final series of Hercule Poirot with David Suchet was also filmed there.
Pontbrenmydyr - Aberaeron
One of the last surviving Welsh Cloms (a 17th Century Mud cottage) set in a quiet countryside location with only one neighbour ( another private holiday let). With a stream running past and fields surrounding each side.
It's cosy and surprisingly warm ( with both heating and woodburner and very thick walls). Love furnishings, including a fully equipped kitchen, cosy metal framed bed with traditional Welsh blanket and the most AMAZING bath.
Woodwork painted with vintage National Trust colours and cottage beautifully styled.
Photo by Ellie
The bathroom does not look much but the deep roll top bath was wonderful.
Being tall we could both submerge ourselves in it and once in you do not wish to leave! The bathroom has a skylight too so you can see the night sky.
We went in between various snow storms and despite the weather it was a lovely comfortable stay. It was weird to think that these cottages would have been lived in for centuries and certainly with out the luxuries we now have. It may not look glamorous but the the inside is beautiful and sympathetically decorated and very much worth a lovely escape from the hustle bustle.
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