Christmas in the country
01-Jul-06
From mahogany staircases to crackling fires, the English country house is a major contender for festive family breaks. And many in the industry claim clients are showing a dwindling interest in warmer climes at Christmas, preferring their colder, yet cosier, homeland.
"It would be true to say that most families love a traditional Christmas with all the luxury trimmings, and what better way to celebrate than at a country house?" says Sarah Stanley, director of Unique Home Stays.
Whether clients prefer the mountainous highlands of Scotland or the coastal scenery that Cornwall has to offer, the UK has a variety of landscapes to suit all tastes. Not least is its range of all-weather activities, which offer children a further outlet of entertainment, says Leigh Jenkins, general manager of New Park Manor in Hampshire. "Offering families the chance to ride through the New Forest on Boxing Day is something no other country can offer," she says.
To this end, finding the right traditional house for families is paramount because "these are the times that shape the memories of children", says Gordon Barker, sales and marketing manager at Danesfield House. This year the Buckinghamshire-based Victorian mansion house has introduced a host of traditional board games including backgammon, shove ha' penny and table skittles for the children (and adults) to play in the main hall. "It's often the small touches that make it a memorable Christmas for families," he adds.
James O'Donnell, author of Mr Particular: Telling the Truth About English Country House Hotels, insists price is irrelevant when seeking luxury at Christmas (www.mrparticular.com). "Often it is finding a house with a little more charm, where children feel they can play without fear of breaking anything," he adds. At the higher end of the scale he recommends Chewton Glen, where the rooms are named after characters in Captain Marryat's The Children of the New Forest. Equally luxurious, yet less expensive, is the Irish Hilton Park Country House, and owner Johnny Madden enthuses: "It's not luxurious in the true sense of the word, but it has that charm that offers so much more than a vacuous hotel."
The array of castles, private mansion houses and country house hotels on offer becomes a personal choice and one which Chris Banham, project manager at Carrier (www.carrier.co.uk) believes depends on the size of family. For larger numbers, he suggests considering the private option because it means you can take over an entire space without worrying other guests. For smaller families, the country house hotel offers a great Christmas getaway with the added bonus of 24-hour service. As for couples seeking a romantic Christmas break, Banham adds: "What is more romantic at Christmas than a decadent castle?"
SOUTH & SOUTH-WEST ENGLAND
CHEWTON GLEN
Where? Situated in Hampshire on the edge of the New Forest, just off the Dorset coast.
What does the house offer? The 18th century Palladian mansion is set in 130 acres and can cater for a private family function of up to 90 people.
What's to do? Families can enjoy horse riding in the forest on Christmas Day, spa treatments, power-boating and sailing, fly-fishing, helicopter flights, quad biking and laser clay shooting.
Client fit: Families with older children.
Price: From £290 per night in a Bronze room to £820 per night in The Marryat Suite.
www.chewtonglen.com
BOVEY CASTLE
Where? Located in North Bovey, Devon, on Dartmoor National Park.
What does the house offer? Set in 368 sq miles of parkland, its interconnecting rooms, suites and castle lodges are all very suitable for families.
What's to do? Children have constant access to the play barn and there is a kiddies' high tea every day, plus Christmas card making, swimming galas, a scavenger hunt, falconry displays and cartoon movies. Meanwhile, adults are entertained by wine tasting, roving carolers, race night and bridge.
Client fit: Large families looking for an activity-packed Christmas
Price: A minimum four-night stay starts from £1,200 per person.
www.boveycastle.com
CHILSTON PARK
Where? Located in Maidstone,Kent, near the village of Lenham.
What does the house offer? A 17th century, Grade I-listed country house with three private dining rooms, each available to hire for families.
What's to do? Families can enjoy chocolate fondue or mulled wine and mince pies every day. Children can play in the entertainment room that offers toys, DVDs and videos. Adults and older children can also enjoy the Christmas party night.
Client fit: Those looking for that 'home from home' experience.
Price: Two nights start at £320 per person, and a private, family dining experience is £98.50 a head for adults and £45 for children.
www.handpicked.co.uk
DANESFIELD HOUSE
Where? Set high in the Chiltern Hills, overlooking the River Thames, at Marlow, Bucks.
What does the house offer?A country house and spa set within 65 acres of estate grounds.
What's to do? Off-road driving, clay pigeon shooting and fly-fishing. An 18-hole golf course is adjacent to the hotel, and Legoland is a 30-minute drive away.
Client fit: Young families and golfers.
Price: From £260 for a standard double room to £340 for a Tower Suite.
www.danesfieldhouse.co.uk
GERBESTONE MANOR
Where? The manor house lies at the foot of the wooded slopes of the Black Down Hills in Somerset.
What does the house offer? This 13th century Manor house is available to hire for up to 24 people.
What's to do? Covering more than 15 acres, the manor offers coarse and fly-fishing and formal gardens, lawns, and woodland. The Exmoor falconry and Bicton Park Botanical Gardens are worth visiting.
Client fit: Families looking for outdoor pursuits.
Price: Six nights over Christmas costs £6,290.
www.gerbestonemanor.com
NEW PARK MANOR
Where? Just outside Brockenhurst in Hampshire.
What does the house offer? A former hunting lodge of Charles II, this Grade II-listed manor house can host large or small family parties.
What's to do? Forest walks, falconry, laser clay shooting, dune buggies, archery, wildlife observation, quad biking, horse riding, golf, tutored fly-fishing, hot air ballooning and sailing.
Client fit: Equestrian enthusiasts.
Price: From £584 for three nights.
www.newparkmanorhotel.com
THE NORTH/EAST/SCOTLAND/N IRELAND & WALES
EGGLESTON HALL
Where? Situated on the north bank of the River Tees just south of the dales village of Eggleston.
What does the house offer?A classical, 13-bedroom Georgian country house, the Hall offers a combination of natural beauty and architectural style for a family of up to 26. Parties enjoy full use of the house and are catered for by the on-site staff.
What's to do? Children have full run of the grounds and woodland walks, while adults and older children can enjoy the billiards table, trout and salmon fishing and shooting is also available by prior arrangement.
Client fit: Those seeking total privacy.
Price: From £3,000 (not inclusive of staff). www.uniquehomestays.com
FELMINGHAM HOUSE
Where? Situated between Aylsham and North Walsham in Norfolk.
What does the house offer? Surrounded by fields and woodland, the Grade II-listed Elizabethan Manor is available for families of up to 14 during the Christmas period. Guests are given a Christmas hamper and a butler and maid service is available.
What's to do? A Christmas morning walk along Holkham Beach - stopping at Holkham Hall - is recommended, and children can enjoy the miniature steam railway from Wells to Walsingham or from Aylsham to Wroxham.
Client fit: Older families seeking rustic luxury.
Price: The house can be hired for £4,700 for 7 nights.
www.thewowhousecompany.com
HILTON PARK COUNTRY HOUSE
Where? Situated near the town of Clones in Co Monaghan, the house has Ulster on its doorstep.
What does the house offer? A genuine ancestral home with accommodation for up to 12 guests. Current owner Lucy Madden is the on-site cook, offering traditional hearty Irish cuisine.
What's to do? Hilton Park extends to 500 acres of woodland, lake and pasture, and a boat is available for rowing and fishing on the lakes. Bicycles may be hired to take advantage of the easy lakeside riding on small, unfrequented roads.
Client fit: Antique lovers and large families.
Price: Available on request.
www.hiltonpark.ie
DALHOUSIE CASTLE
Where? Set in the Scottish hills of Midlothian, only a short hop from Edinburgh.
What does the house offer? A 13th century fortress set within acres of wooded parkland on the banks of the river Esk, with private dining in the ancient barrel-vaulted dungeon.
What's to do? The castle has kept its Scottish character with features such as falconry in the grounds and an extensive programme of activities for children including cartoon movies and long walks.
Client fit: A romantic break, those seeking tradition.
Price: From £220 per night for a standard double room; up to £365 for a double suite.
www.dalhousiecastle.co.uk
BODYSGALLEN HALL
Where is it? Situated about two miles south from Llandudno and the North Wales coast.
What does the house offer? Surrounded by more than 200 acres of gardens and wooded parkland, the hall has dining rooms that can be used for a party of up to 40 people, while the Wynn Rooms, close to the hotel, can also be used for private entertaining. Just adjacent to the hotel, the 18th century restored stables can also be booked for a more private setting.
What's to do? Castles at Conwy, Caernarfon, Harlech and Beaumaris are within easy reach, and National Trust properties at Plas Newydd on Anglesey, Penhyrn Castle and the beautiful gardens at Bodnant are great at Christmas time. Children can enjoy Blaenau Ffestiniog, a preserved slate quarry that offers rides on its narrow gauge steam railway.
Client fit: Large families seeking a peaceful retreat.
Price: From £165 to £180 in the main castle; accommodation in the Bodysgallen Hall Cottage Suites from £140 to £245.
www.bodysgallen.com
MOORLAND HALL
Where? Set in Cumbria's Eden Valley near Penrith.
What does the house offer? Nestled in 15 acres of wood and parkland, this 19th century hall offers accommodation for 18 guests and a dining room that can accommodate 43 on Christmas Day.
What's to do? Explore Lake Ullswater and take the children to the Wensleydale Cheese Factory at Hawes. The house also has extensive private grounds.
Client fit:Those who like country walks.
Price: From £10,535 for seven nights.
www.thewowhousecompany.com.
