DESTINATIONS UK & IRELAND | SECRET RETREATS
CLOCKWISE FROM RIGHT: Ivy Cottage, Summer Lodge; The Yews, Chewton Glen; Tuath na Mara
PICTURES: Red Carnation Hotel Collection; Oliver’s Travels
BEST OF THE REST
E Isle of Harris, Outer Hebrides: For a remote retreat far from the madding crowd, the Outer Hebrides is hard to beat. Kuoni offers a self-drive taking in the highlights, including the Isle of Harris, where crofters weave Harris Tweed and wild Atlantic waves crash beneath a mountain skyline, from £675 including six nights’ B&B.
E Glen Affric, Scotland: Verdant valleys, misty lakes and dramatic mountain vistas: the Highlands are the stuff of fairytale books and among the most impressive spots is Glen Affric, where ancient pine forests meet shimmering lochs and colourful moorlands – with barely anyone around to interrupt the views. Wilderness Scotland has a five-day Autumn Highlands trip, departing from Inverness, priced from £1,095.
E Hideaway Cottage, Ashford Castle, Mayo: This former boathouse set on the shores of Lough Corrib offers the best blend of total seclusion – think private gardens, an outdoor terrace on the jetty, 24-hour in-room dining and a fully stocked bar, plus two bicycles to go exploring – with access to the amenities of the castle hotel. The Hideaway Cottage costs from €3,000 per night B&B.
36 27 AUGUST 2020
33Tuath na Mara is a contemporary- style masterpiece set among the mountain peaks and weathered beaches of County Donegal
BEST FOR . . . UNIQUE RETREATS Treehouses at Chewton Glen, Hampshire: If clients like the sound of sleeping among the trees, leaves brushing against the windows as they wake to the sound of birdsong, look no further than the New Forest’s renowned Chewton Glen, whose Treehouse Suites offer exactly that – with a high-end twist. Sleeping up to six, these unusual retreats hang 10m above the ground, with outdoor terraces and hot tubs overlooking the forest, plus marble bathrooms, TVs and wood burners for the ultimate in rustic luxury. For those wanting to really go all out, there’s the Yews, sleeping up to 12 and complete with a personal chef who’ll take care of all your dining needs in the serviced kitchen. Prices for a Treehouse Studio Suite (sleeping two) start at £1,500 per night, including a breakfast hamper delivery.
chewtonglen.com Ivy Cottage at Summer Lodge Country House Hotel, Dorset: Country escapes don’t get much more idyllic than the palatial Summer Lodge in Evershot, the historic village immortalised by Thomas Hardy’s Tess
of the d’Urbervilles, complete with a spa, pool, tennis courts, whisky bar, wine cellar and restaurant serving food fresh from the on-site vegetable garden. But it’s the property’s 400-year-old Ivy Cottage in the village that really stands out, with lavish-yet-rustic decor, stone walls, two impressive bathrooms and a private garden complete with open-air hot tub, where guests can get food delivered from the hotel’s restaurant without needing to lift a finger. Prices start at £635 per night.
summerlodgehotel.co.uk Tuath na Mara, Donegal, Ireland: With its dramatic mountain peaks, wild, weathered beaches and glossy mirror lakes, County Donegal has rightly earned itself a reputation as one of Ireland’s most enchanting spots. And for those wanting to stay in one of its most remote corners while taking in an architectural masterpiece, look to Tuath na Mara, an award-winning, contemporary-design property sleeping up to seven, created to look like it’s free-floating amid the landscape. Accommodation is mirrored with a second open-plan living space and kitchen area so it’s a good option for bigger families, while outside there’s direct access to a secluded, sandy beach where clients will be hard-pressed to find another soul. Oliver’s Travels offers a week from £1,355 for the whole property. Make sure clients check the latest entry requirements as current rules mean anyone travelling from abroad (but not from Northern Ireland) must self-isolate on arrival.
oliverstravels.com
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