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Best cottages for a cultural getaway

With holiday cottages in the grounds of historic houses and grand estates, a stone’s throw from World Heritage Sites, and in the heart of countryside that's inspired artists and writers, we’ve got places to stay that are just perfect for a cultural break.

We’ve picked some of our favourites, from cosy cottages to spacious farmhouses and stylish apartments to elegant gate lodges. What's more, every booking helps support our work looking after special places, for ever, for everyone.

The exterior of Cwmmau Farmhouse, Whitney-on-Wye, Herefordshire

Cwmmau Farmhouse, Herefordshire 

Cwmmau Farmhouse is a 17th-century timbered farmhouse, ideally located for visiting Hay-on-Wye, home to the famous literary and arts festival. Nearby you can find Croft Castle and Berrington Hall, one of the few masterpieces designed by Henry Holland to survive intact, set within one of Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown’s final landscapes.

Stay in a grand farmhouse
The dramatic exterior of Portbraddan Cottage, Portbraddan, County Antrim

Portbraddan Cottage, Country Antrim 

Nestled in the old fishing hamlet of Portbraddan, this cottage looks over the beach and dunes of White Park Bay and Rathlin Island. Built by salmon fishermen 350 years ago, Portbraddan is perfect for exploring the world-famous Giant’s Causeway, Northern Ireland’s only World Heritage Site, and the Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge.

Explore the Antrim coast
The exterior of Chaplains Lodge, Somerset

Chaplain's Lodge, Tyntesfield, Somerset 

A beautifully restored mid-Victorian gate lodge and ideal for those with a passion for gardens and architecture. Set on the Tyntesfield estate, guests can explore Italianate terraces, a rose garden, a working kitchen garden and an arboretum. The lodge also comes with free entry to Tyntesfield house and access to the grounds after hours.

Stay in a Victorian gate lodge
The brick exterior of Gardens House, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk

Gardens House, Ickworth, Suffolk 

Once the head gardener's residence, Gardens House sits alongside a walled garden and overlooks the lake at the heart of Ickworth estate. Guests have free entry to Ickworth house, gardens and estate during opening hours and free entry to other treasures including the Blickling Estate, Felbrigg Hall, and Sheringham Park.

Stay in the heart of Ickworth
The exterior of Mottistone Manor Farmhouse, Mottistone, Isle of Wight

Mottistone Manor Farmhouse, Isle of Wight 

Ideal for large gatherings, Mottistone Manor Farmhouse is surrounded by large, secluded gardens with views of the English Channel. Located close to Mottistone Gardens and the adjoining estate, the farmhouse is perfect for nature lovers. Guests have free access to Mottistone Gardens during opening hours.

Explore Mottistone gardens
The exterior of Proctor at Fountains Hall, nr Ripon, Yorkshire

Proctor and Vyner, North Yorkshire 

Proctor and Vyner are stylish apartments within Fountains Hall, inspired by Charles Rennie Mackintosh and Edwin Lutyens. From here you can explore Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal Water Garden, a World Heritage Site featuring 12th-century Cistercian abbey ruins, a monastic watermill, and a Georgian water garden.

Stay at Fountains Hall
The garden at St Oswald's Cottage, Holy Island, Northumberland

St Oswald's Cottage, Northumberland 

Designed by Edwin Lutyens for Edward Hudson, the then owner of Lindisfarne Castle, this Grade II listed cottage is the last dwelling on the road towards the castle on Holy Island. Take a stroll in Gertrude Jekyll’s walled garden, which lies on the site of a vegetable patch once used to feed soldiers in the castle.

Stay in a Lutyens cottage
The extensive exterior of Tanner Brow, Hawkshead, Lake District, Cumbria

Tanner Brow, Lake District 

Set back from the shores of Lake Windermere, Tanner Brow occupies the first floor of a semi-detached stone cottage. The Lake District has inspired writers and artists for centuries, including Beatrix Potter, who wrote many of her famous tales at Hill Top, and William Wordsworth, whose childhood home was in the Lakes.

Explore Windermere's shores
Garden area at Tywyn Cottage Cemaes Bay, Anglesey

Tywyn Cottage, Anglesey 

This traditional seaside cottage sits in Cemaes Bay on the north coast of Anglesey. It’s a short walk to the beach and five minutes to the harbour and village centre. Nearby Plas Newydd House and Gardens is home to Rex Whistler’s largest ever painting and a military museum exploring the Battle of Waterloo and the Charge of the Light Brigade.

Stay close to history

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Go on a holiday at one of our places and you’ll not just have a trip filled with special memories, but you’ll help us care for these places well into the future.

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