windfalls and walks

July 15th, 2009

shedbush-farmhouse-exterior

Picture bright fall foliage, stepping out into an orchard garden to collect and enjoy fresh fruit from the tree, or wandering the stunning landscape that surrounds a National Trust holiday cottage.

 

Here are a few National Trust holiday cottages with gardens that are bountiful orchards or that lie on scenic footpaths, to rent.  Do so as a member of The Royal Oak Foundation (the U.S. affiliate of the National Trust of England, Wales, and Northern Ireland) and gain free access to all Trust properties – over 300 historic houses and gardens, 700 miles of coastline, and 620,000 acres of open countryside neighboring these charming digs.  Membership costs just $55 per individual and $90 per family!

 

Enjoy the fruits from the trees of two substantial orchards in the grounds of Shedbush Farmhouse (above) in Dorset, a Grade II listed 17th century thatched farmhouse situated on the Golden Cap estate, and one of the Trust’s most recently renovated holiday cottages.  

 

The grand and spacious Southwood House Farm (situated on the south side of the Calke Abbey estate in Derbyshire) also boasts fruit trees within its grounds. The large garden with a stream is perfect for picnicking and wading on warm autumn days.  Bryn Llywelyn on the beautiful island of Anglesey has a large walled garden with apple trees, and, only minutes from the sea, offers plenty of wonderful coastline to walk and explore this mystical island.  For fruit right at your fingertips, there’s no better place to stay than Carne Cottage, near Helston in Cornwall; plum trees grow up the front wall of this wonderful Cornish Cob cottage.

 

Other cottages with stunning walks include: Sternsmill Cottage near Bridgnorth in Shropshire, where one can enjoy extensive routes along the river Severn at the edge of the Trust’s Dudmaston Estate; Widdop Gate Barn in Yorkshire overlooking the wooded valley of Hardcastle Crags and boasting almost 30 miles of walkers’ routes; Pant Rhiw in North Wales (perhaps the ultimate location for walkers – you can only access this hillside house via a footpath!) with views below out across Hell’s Mouth bay and beautiful Welsh hillside teeming with footpaths above.

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