10 Great Self-Catering Stays in the North West
Find your home away from home
Netherby Hall
In brief: Award-winning apartments and cottages on a private estate.
Insider guide: There are nine beautiful (dog-friendly) self-catering apartments and cottages in the courtyard and grounds of this Grade II*-listed country house. A luxury retreat within easy reach of some of the UK’s most awe-inspiring countryside, every stay is uniquely tailored to you and the team here can reserve a table for you at the nearby Michelin-starred Pentonbridge Inn.
Longtown, Carlisle CA6 5PR
01228 792732
netherbyhall.co.uk
Barnacre Cottages
In brief: Five star, award-winning cottages set in 14 acres in the Forest of Bowland.
Insider guide: There’s a choice of six cottages here, sleeping between two and 16 guests, tucked away down a quiet country lane. All the cottages have designer kitchens, log burners in the sitting room and generous bedrooms, and outside are private gardens and a tennis court.
The Old Shippon, Arkwright Farm, Barnacre, Garstang PR3 1GN
07539 816959
barnacre-cottages.co.uk
The Secret Garden
In brief: A multi-award winning luxury woodland glamping experience.
Insider guide: Spread between Mole Hall and their new location, La Mancha Hall (a Grade II-listed manor set in 10 acres of gardens), The Secret Garden’s pods, yurts and treehouse each have their own private hot tub. Highlights include The Hideout, with outdoor cinema and emperor-size bed, and The Wilderness Spa, which has its own ice plunge pool and sauna.
Mole Hall, Skelmersdale WN8 9PZ
07732 812409
thesecretgardenglamping.uk
Backwood Hall
In brief: An early Victorian hall on a 300-acre estate with views of the Dee estuary.
Insider guide: The estate encompasses two, individually-designed barn conversions, the Hayloft and the Bullpen, each sleeping four in two beautiful bedrooms with open-plan living areas, and sun trap gardens. For a grander stay, Backwood Hall East is your own country house with spacious bedrooms, sitting room, separate dining room and large kitchen, and outside there’s a large private garden and tennis court.
Boathouse Lane, Parkgate, Wirral CH64 3SZ
07860 560875
backwoodhall.com
Cheshire Boutique Barns
In brief: Three beautifully-converted barns, sleeping a total of 10 guests.
Insider guide: Book the award-winning barns individually or as a group for a get together. The rustic interiors are unique to each property but all have hidden surprises such as outdoor baths under glass canopies, and dining areas with fire pits, and it’s no surprise they’ve had over 100 proposals in these quirky, romantic spaces. Each barn has a kitchenette but the award-winning Cholmondeley Arms is just a few mile down the road.
Cholmondeley Road, Wrenbury CW5 8HJ
07922 277292
cheshireboutiquebarns.co.uk
129 Didsbury
In brief: A boutique mews cottage in the vibrant suburb of West Didsbury.
Insider guide: No attention to detail has been spared in this architect-designed cottage with its charming and quirky interior. There are two bedrooms, a bathroom with huge bath tub and stunning kitchen and living space. West Didsbury is a 15-minute tram ride into Manchester but also well located for access to the Lake District and Yorkshire Dales.
129 Nell Lane, West Didsbury M20 2LG
07817 440137
129didsbury.com
Boathouse at Knotts End
In brief: A bijou boathouse now a romantic, self-catering bolthole.
Insider guide: A one-of-a-kind haven for romance and relaxation, from its lakeside perch, the boathouse has unparalleled views across the water to the fells beyond. Deceptively petite from the outside, the spaciously designed interior includes an open plan lounge with wood-burning stove, a bedroom area overlooking the lake with a Juliet balcony, shower room and shaker-style kitchen.
Oldchurch Bay, Penrith CA11 OJJ
theboathouseatknottsend.com
Cottage Escapes
In brief: Luxurious self-catering cottages throughout the Lake District and North Yorkshire.
Insider guide: From small beginnings, Cottage Escapes now offer a range of holiday homes dotted across some of the most stunning Lake District locations, such as Mount Pleasant at Threlkeld and Above Cot in Windermere, as well as on the North Yorkshire coast. Big and small, all their properties offer four- or five-star accommodation, many of them are pet-friendly.
01723 871782
cottage-escapes.co.uk
Hinterlandes
In brief: Unique, off-grid accommodation in jaw-dropping locations in the Lake District.
Insider guide: Stay in a converted American Community bus, in four individual cabins, or the 1958 Airstream Overlander, all with wood-fired hot tubs and fire pits. Totally off-grid, guests are given a what3words code before arrival to access the unique locations. Hamper boxes and a variety of breakfast and BBQ boxes are available to order.
hinterlandes.com
Hollies Barn
In brief: A five-star luxury barn conversion sleeping 12 guests.
Insider guide: Just a few miles outside Nantwich this luxury barn accommodation is designed for comfort and with socialising in mind with its double-sided log burner, hot tub, pool table, private courtyard, large garden, open-plan living area, large dining table and six stylish bedrooms. And if you prefer uncorking a bottle to using a carving knife, a chef can be on hand to prepare meals for you at the barn.
Broad Lane, Nantwich CW5 7QP
07803 716601
holliesbarn.co.uk
