THE JOURNAL
Boys Hall, Kent
Rolling scenery, charming villages, hearty pubs, sumptuous estates – a countryside getaway is arguably the quintessential style of UK vacation. While the Cotswolds with all their honey-hued allure and masterpiece hotels tend to dominate when it comes to country escapes, there are plenty of alternative destinations with well worthy of an explore – and with fantastic places to stay to boot.
01. Saltmoore, Yorkshire
Where sweeping, rugged moorlands meet the blustery North Yorkshire coast, Saltmoore is an 85-acre country estate by the port town of Whitby. While the weather can be characteristically moody, the vivid interiors – vibrant textiles, rich tones and indulgent furnishings offset by cool industrial accents – are influenced by the surroundings and create a joyful, enveloping atmosphere. Activities on offer include picnicking, paddling and surfing at the nearby beaches, cycling (the old Cinder Track to Scarborough is a particularly scenic route), horse riding, exploring the wooded grounds and unwinding at The Sanctuary spa. There are several dining options celebrating local North Yorkshire produce: the soon-to-open, fine-dining Calluna, the classic Brasserie, the pizzeria at the Beach House and a serene wellness cafe.
02. Lime Wood, New Forest
Where wild ponies roam the roads, amid ancient woods and undulating heathland, the New Forest National Park is an untamed beauty – and particularly idyllic for back-to-nature connection. Close to the charming village of Lyndhurst, Lime Wood is a manor hotel transformed from a 13th-century hunting lodge into beautifully appointed rooms and suites spread across the main house, cottages and cabins. The Italian-influenced restaurant, headed up by chefs Angela Hartnett and Luke Holder, is invitingly laid-back. There’s also the three-level Herb House Spa, with its glass-walled sauna overlooking the forest, an indoor hydro pool, mud house, outdoor pool and a rooftop gym.
03. The Swan Inn, Sussex
For oenophiles, Sussex is the region to visit, with an abundance of English vineyards offering tours and renowned tipples, such as Tillingham, Ambriel and Nutbourne. In the historic village of Fittleworth, on the edge of the rolling hills of the South Downs, The Swan is a 14th-century coaching inn turned cosy, old-world pub with 12 beautifully appointed bedrooms and a refined take on hearty, classic fare. Guests will be following in an array of notable footsteps – JMW Turner, John Constable and Rudyard Kipling have all stayed at The Swan.
04. Boys Hall, Kent
On the subject of brilliant wine, Boys Hall in Kent is also in close proximity to some of the country’s best wineries – and the hotel even offers a dedicated break that includes visits to two local vineyards with a dedicated wine host and tastings among the vines. Boys Hall, which dates back to the 17th century, has only nine bedrooms – each individually, characterfully designed with drench showers or magnificent roll-top baths. Yoga classes (including those suitable for children) are held in the lush country gardens while spa treatments by local therapists can be arranged in the comfort in your own room.
05. KIP Hideaways, around the UK
If your preference for a bucolic getaway is a self-catering cottage rather than a hotel, then KIP Hideaways has an impressive portfolio of unique properties around the country – from the Scottish Highlands to the Cornish coast, treehouses and log cabins to castles and beach houses. A few highlights: the romantic and remote Quist treehouse in Wales, the architect-designed Journeyman cabin overlooking Frome Valley, the Crab Cottage beach house in West Sussex and the rustic Riding House in Dorset.
06. The Fife Arms, Scotland
Glorious Gleneagles takes most of the headlines when it comes to Scottish countryside estate escapes, but it’s by no means alone. About an hour further north, deep in the majestic Cairngorms National Park and in the historic village of Braemar, The Fife Arms is a Victorian coaching inn with 46 decadently designed bedrooms and suites. From the sumptuous interiors to the menus served in the open-fire Clunie Dining Room, the on-site pub and the whisky room, there is a distinct focus on Scottish ingredients, craftsmanship and culture across the hotel. And there are plenty of opportunities to immerse in the Scottish surrounds too – from off-roading, fly-fishing, foraging and distillery tours, to golfing and visiting the nearby royal residence of Balmoral Castle.
07. Heckfield Place, Hampshire
This resplendent, restored Georgian manor house has become a much-celebrated rural haven. Only an hour from London, it sits amid meadows, walled gardens, a working farm, woodland and lakes, with refined design and plush furnishings creating an elegant and warm ambience inside. The food at Heckfield Place is overseen by Skye Gyngell, with a focus on simplicity and seasonal, local ingredients – where possible sourced from the estate’s Home Farm. To explore the area, guests can enjoy art tours, nature walks and wild swimming. A highlight at the hotel is the handsome Bothy spa, with its vast swimming pool overlooking the fields, outdoor hydrotherapy pool and Sun Room cafe.
