It’s arguably the biggest celebration of the old and new calendars. But deciding what to do for New Year’s Eve is often a stressful and daunting task, especially when there are lots of different needs to please.
Shunning expensive clubs, busy restaurants and freezing outdoor firework displays, many groups of friends and families are opting for getaways in characterful cottages. And remarkably, there’s still some availability at several properties – ranging from remote barns in the Lake District to liveable artworks in Essex.
Be quick to snap up these options before the countdown begins….
Best for… silence and solitude
Bird How, Lake District
If hosting extended family over the holiday season has driven you Christmas crackers, this off-grid cottage on a remote fell-side will provide some welcome relief. Drive down a rough farm track to reach the converted cow barn in a lesser-known area of the Lake District National Park, where some great hiking trails wind directly from the doorstep. Walk up the steepest road in England, Hardknott Pass, and take an alternative route to reach Scafell Pike. There’s no phone reception, TV signal or bathroom – instead, washing is done in the kitchen and a toilet is located in the basement where cows were once milked.
How: Four-night stay from £607 (£38pppn sleeping four). Visit nationaltrust.org.uk
Best for… childhood adventures
South Shore Lodge, Brownsea Island
Find dainty red squirrels scampering through the woodlands of Dorset’s famous storybook island, cherished by Enid Blyton’s Famous Five. Jump on a ferry from Poole Quay to reach the National Trust nature park, where multiple bird species (including oystercatchers, dunlins and spoonbills) come to over-winter. Sleeping overnight in a beachside Victorian conversion, it’s possible to enjoy the magic of the island after all the day visitors have left.
How: Four-night stay from £935 (£19.50 pppn sleeping 12). Visit nationaltrust.org.uk
Best for… party posers
A House for Essex, North Essex
Any property designed by artist Grayson Perry could hardly be called suburban. This two-bedroom house overlooking the River Stour in the village of Wrabness in North Essex may be on the outskirts of London, but it’s far from being parochial. A golden roof and windows echo pilgrimage chapels and Russian stave churches, while the interior is inspired by the life of Grayson’s fictional Essex everywoman Julie Cope. Handmade tiles and roof sculptures are all original designs by the artist.
How: From £475 per night (£119pppn sleeping four). Minimum two-night stay. Visit oneoffplaces.co.uk
Best for… big family bonding
The Baobab, Padstow
Welcome the new year while watching waves roll in along the Cornish coast. Share family meals around a large dining area, snuggle up by the fire or take a dip in the heated outdoor pool. Promising the privacy of a self-catering stay with the perks of a luxury hotel, properties in the Perfect Stays portfolio include a personalised concierge service with tailored services such as private chefs and wine tastings. Pre-arranged Christmas decorations include a six-foot tree.
How: Seven-night stay from £7,450 (£76pppn sleeping 14). Dogs are welcome. Visit perfectstays.co.uk
Best for… countryside glamour
The Owl House, Little Massingham, Norfolk
Enjoy the delights of rural living in a home with the services of a top-notch spa. This converted brick and flint barn features a ten-metre indoor temperature-controlled pool with changing area and a sauna. There’s also a tennis court and pétanque lawn within the grounds. Share dinner conversations below a double vaulted timber ceiling with a chandelier made from stag horns or pop out for a pint at the local country pub. Hand-fed breeding deer can often be seen wandering past the house.
How: Three-night stay from £2,748 (£92pppn sleeping 10). Visit ruralretreats.co.uk
Best for… dramatic views
Beacon Cottage, Sally Point Lighthouse, Devon
Keepers would once keep a watchful eye on rough seas from this cliff-edge 19th century lighthouse, located on a headland between Dartmouth and Salcombe. Left empty after it was automated in 1993, it now hosts guests again as an offbeat holiday home. A road leading to the property forms part of the South West Coast Path and several sandy beaches are a short drive away. How: Three-night stay from £1,521 (£84.50pppn sleeping six). Visit ruralretreats.co.uk
Best for… botanical beauty
Head Gardener’s House at Floor’s Castle, The Scottish Borders
Wake up in the grounds of a stately estate, passed down through generations for 300 years. The Duke and Duchess of Roxburghe currently occupy Floors Castle, but the Head Gardener’s House is open to guests. Refurbished with fine interiors, two bedrooms overlook the walled garden, while a boot room is convenient for drying outdoor gear and providing a sleeping space for accompanying pet dogs.
How: Four-night stay from £1,641 (£102.50pppn sleeping four). Visit crabtreeandcrabtree.com
