A quintessentially British cottage that looks like it came straight out of a fairytale book has guests staying there from across the UK, and even from Hollywood. The chocolate box cottage, located in the Cheshire countryside less than an hour's drive from Manchester, is the perfect hideaway for those wanting to stay somewhere unique.
Named Hawthorn Cottage, in Cranage, it dates back to 1672 and comes with a traditional thatched roof and original features. It boasts an outside well in the enclosed garden and has characterful low beamed ceilings.
The tiny kitchen comes with a bright red Smeg fridge, the cosy lounge boasts a red log burner, and, outside, you'll also find a hot tub. The lovingly restored Grade-II property is owned by Lydia Causer, who put it on global accommodation site, Airbnb, following the 2020 lockdown.
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Lydia, who lives in the neighbouring house, bought the one-bedroom cottage four years ago, reports CheshireLive, and eventually converted it into a holiday home. It was originally intended for her mum to stay in, but passers-by began to enquire if they could stay there.
"The cottage was just on its last legs when we got it so we renovated it into what it is now," Lydia said. "We put a new thatch on it and new oak beams. Lockdown really gave us the biggest opportunity to do it up. It was originally for my mum to move into during lockdown because she had a flat in Lymm and she was on her own.
"When she was in the cottage, the walkers would come past on the public footpath nearby and we'd always be talking to them. One day my mum said a couple had asked if we rent out the cottage.
"She told them that we would be even though we weren't planning on it at the time." Lydia said she was initially 'really nervous about doing it' but, after her mum moved out, they put it on Airbnb.
Since then, it's 'just gone mental' with people even coming to stay from America since the end of travel restrictions. "It's lovely because it's mostly special occasions people book for - like birthdays, honeymoons or a night away. It's got a lovely presence," she continued.
"People come from all over, even all the way from Cornwall. And now, after lockdown, we're starting to see people come from abroad. We had one lady from San Diego and then we've got some people booked in who are coming from Hollywood!"
Close to Goostrey, Holmes Chapel, and the French chateau-style country house Radbrooke Hall, the cottage has been a hit with visitors since it was listed on Airbnb. According to the site, 90 per cent of recent guests have given it a five-star rating with a current overall score of 4.97.
Asked why she thinks the cottage has been so popular, Lydia said: "It's unique and it is difficult to find anything else like this. It is a real piece of history and it just has that lovely feeling like you're in a fairytale. It's got a positive vibe and it's just beautiful. We tried to make it as special as we possibly can."
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