Boutique
BOLTHOLES
Natural Retreats, Yorkshire
'Natural Retreats', Nr Richmond, North Yorkshire, England. Approx. 4.5hrs drive from London or 20 mins from the train station at Darlington (2.5hrs from London Kings Cross.)
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Location ...
Overview...
This cluster of 10 glamorous eco-lodges is about as far from the twee log cabins of old as you can get with a unique combination of contemporary styling and a genuinely sensitive approach to the beautiful environment around them. Their combination of luxury kitchens and bathrooms with leather sofas, real oak floors, funky wood burners and glass frontages, framing spectacular views of their verdant valley setting, makes them the perfect escape for urbanites in need of space and tranquillity at anytime of year. Surprisingly, given the tranquilty of the location, the Georgian market town of Richmond is just a mile’s walk or cycle – reassuring for those of us who need the a security blanket of nearby civilisation, when faced with miles of beautiful open countryside!
Special Features ...
The phrase ‘get closer to nature’ has rarely been more appropraiately applied than here. The turfed roofs might well be intended to ensure the residences blend in with the surrounding countryside but they also mean that guests are literally surrounded by nature. From birds overhead, to badgers underground, and deer and sheep on the ground itself. The sheep are rescue animals and typify the owner’s approach to preserving the local environment and its inhabitants, which was clearly front of mind when building the residences. They are mainly made of timber from sustainable woodlands and solar glass. Insulation comes in the form of the ‘living roof’ which aids the recycled paper wall insulation to minimise the demands on the wood chip boilers and electricity, which itself is 100 per cent renewable. Water comes from a natural spring and plans are afoot to add a reed bed system. For all their environmental sensibilities, the residences also boast indulgencies in the form of LCD TVs, DVD players, rainfall showers, cafetieres and microwaves. The overall effect being one of guilt-free indulgence in today’s carbon conscious society.
Local Knowledge...
If you don’t bring your own, bike hire can be arranged on site and the selection of good pubs and villages within reasonable cycling distance generally provides good enough iniative to resort to pedal power for even the most hardened car-addicts. The short ride into Richmond can reap rewards in the form of great deli nibbles from Williams’s, spa treatments in the Urban Retreat Spa or home made cakes and good coffee at ‘Sip’. A good lunch can be had at the King Head and a sophisticated dinner menu at the Frenchgate Restaurant, the wine and cheese selection at which come highly recommended. Further afield, and probably best reached by car for less ambitious cyclists, the Wensleydale Heifer, Punch Bowl and Charles Bathurst Inns serve decent gastro-pub fayre and boast lovely great views from their beer gardens.
Essentials...
The 3-bedroom residences (one double and two singles with additional pull-out beds) sleep up to six. Rentals of 2-7 nights are from £325 - £700 in Low Season (7 Jan-20 Mar & 2 Nov-19 Dec), £450-£700 in Mid Season (21 Mar - 30 June & 1 Sept-1Nov) and £550-£1100 in high season (July & August). SPECIAL OFFER: 25% OFF ALL STAYS BEFORE OCTOBER 23, 2008!
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Contact...
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