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WINTER ESCAPES

T H E G U A R D I A N  
 Country house chic, New Forest

The Bell Inn is an independent hotel in a Grade II-listed building that has been
family-owned since 1782. Its classic country house interiors – fireplaces, flagstone
floors and stylish bedrooms – are complemented by a restaurant that prides itself
in locally sourced food. A “winter warmer” deal including dinner and breakfast is
£64.50pp.
• Doubles from £99 B&B, bellinn-newforest.co.uk
 Arty
types,
Cornwall

Big bathtubs, contemporary rustic decor and rooms designed by local artists
make boutique hotel the Artist Residence a special place to stay all year round,
but this January has doubles for as little as £75 a night, and even a winter
weekday offer with room, breakfast and cocktails for two from £65 (book with
promo code TREAT18). The hotel is a converted Georgian townhouse in
Penzance’s old quarter, a good base for exploring the west Cornish coast. Back
at the hotel there’s freshly cooked local produce at restaurant the Cornish
Barn.
• Doubles from £75 B&B, artistresidencecornwall.co.uk
 Wild
and
wonderful,
Hebrides
The Isle of Mull is a wild and beautiful place with majestic landscapes from
munros to sea arches, and wildlife from whales to eagles. Achaban House is a rural
retreat close to white sand beaches, with six rooms and wood-burning stoves.
There’s also a guest kitchen for those that want to save money by cooking for
themselves (and with that in mind, there’s also a 20% discount for winter
stays of at least three days).
• Doubles from £69 B&B, achabanhouse.co.uk
Thatched charm, The Landmark Trust has

Northumberland plenty of inspiring places to

stay on its books but
Causeway House, near
Hadrian’s Wall, is a great
option for a winter weekend
away. The cottage, which
was built in 1770 next to
a Roman road, is the only
house in Northumberland
still thatched with heather.
The interior is just as special,
with beams, wooden
panelling and
quaint fittings. It has one twin
and one double bedroom.
• From £396 for three nights,
Landmark Trust
 Hills and
gardens,
Pembrokeshi
re

A boutique hotel in a luxury county house, the Grove of Narberth sits in

spectacular Pembrokeshire countryside. From there guests can hike along the
region’s famed coastal path, or visit the National Trust’s Stackpole Estate –
that’s if they make it beyond the Grove’s 28-acre garden, with its perfectly kept
lawns, flower beds and meadows. All the rooms and suites have views of the
gardens or rolling hills. Stay before 28 February (exluding half-term and
Valentine’s day) and get two nights for the price of one.

• Doubles from £160 B&B, thegrove-narberth.co.uk

The Methuen Arms had a full renovation in 2017, with the addition
of five bedrooms and a makeover for the bar and restaurant. Now
bedrooms come with classy vintage interiors – Roberts radios,
rain showers, freestanding baths and the like – and the restaurant
is led by chef Leigh Evans (who, by the way, reached the
quarter-finals of Masterchef in 2008).

• Doubles £140 B&B, themethuenarms.com

Vintage
style,
Wiltshire
 For a winter adventure with a group of friends or family, the Godney Arts
House is a three-bedroom design focused house sleeping eight. Conceived
as a “living gallery” it is filled with contemporary, retro and eccentric furniture
and artworks (which can be bought if any takes your fancy). On the Somerset
Levels near Glastonbury, the house is a luxury escape and though it
doesn’t come cheap (you’d probably want to split the cost between a group),
it doesn’t shirk on details.

• From £650 for three-nights over the weekend, godneyartshouse.co.uk

Designer self-
catering,
Somerset
 Triumphal stay, Herefordshire

Another source of unique places to stay in the UK is the National Trust and few of its
properties are quite like the Triumphal Arch, a holiday let that, quite literally, is shaped
like one. The cottage sleeps five and takes up one half of the entrance arch to Berrington Hall
in Leominster, with views over a landscape shaped by Capability Brown. Inside it is
cosy and tasteful, with open-plan living space, fireplace and roll-top bath. A bonus is
getting to enjoy the grounds of the Berrington Estate after hours.

• From £294.10 for three nights (with a winter saving of £51.90), nationaltrust.org.uk
 Manor born, Kent
Postcard-pretty Great Selson Manor is a Dutch-influenced house with pointy roofs, elegant
brickwork and a lush garden. Run as a B&B by Graham, a film-maker, and Yolanda, the
manor is filled with objects and artworks collected by its hosts and has its own library. The
bedrooms have roll-top baths to sink into after a day exploring the nearby sights, from the
medieval town of Sandwich to Canterbury Cathedral. There’s a winter special offer of two
nights for £200 B&B, including weekends.
• From £100 B&B, sawdays.co.uk
 Traditional
pub,
Cumbria

The market town of Keswick is the outdoor hub for the lakes and a great base for
adventures in the surrounding hills. After a wintry day out, a place like the Royal Oak
is exactly what you need: a cosy pub serving traditional grub from pies to bangers
and mash by a real fire. There are also 19 guestrooms, with a special winter
rate from £75 B&B until 28 February.

• Doubles from £85 a night, sawdays.co.uk