18 Sep 2013
Literature lovers wanting to indulge their passion for the written word whilst on holiday should consider a break in an Owners Direct holiday rental in the English countryside which inspired many of the classics.
From the Yorkshire Dales to Stratford Upon Avon, the South Downs to the Scottish Isles, Owners Direct has apartments, cottages and houses close to the homes and writing places of some the world’s best-loved authors.
Karen Mullins Marketing Director for Owners Direct said, “Staying in an Owners Direct property is the perfect way to visit some of the UK's prettiest landscapes, visit authors' homes as well as the towns and villages that inspired their writing. Whether it is Hardy, Woolf or Shakespeare, there is something for everyone and we hope life long passions can be realised.”
For those wanting to follow the UK’s rich literary trail, here are some suggestions from Owners Direct:
Shakespeare Country
William Shakespeare was born in Stratford-upon-Avon in April 1564 and thousands of people visit the iconic town every year to pay homage to one the most acclaimed authors in history. 'The Cottage' is situated eight miles from Stratford-upon-Avon on the edge of the beautiful Cotswolds. The village is packed with picturesque thatched cottages and grand houses and really feels like a little corner of England where time has stood still.
Full details can be seen at ownersdirect.co.uk/E4995 and prices start at £435 a week.
Far From The Madding Crowd
Thomas Hardy was a hugely influential and inspiring poet and novelist. Most of his work, including Far from the Madding Crowd and Tess of the D’Urbervilles was set in the semi-fictional region of Wessex, inspired by southwest and south central England, including Dorset. The Boathouse is a beautiful holiday chalet on the edge of Charmouth, in the rolling West Dorset countryside close to beaches and coastal walks.
Full details can be seen at ownersdirect.co.uk/E4917 and prices start at £330 a week.
A room of one’s own in Sussex
Virginia Woolf's Lodge Writing Shed can be found in the garden of Monk's House, Sussex. Guests at this delightful cottage can easily visit the house, which is now owned by the National Trust, and see where the modernist author penned her novels and where her peers were inspired. Just 10 minutes from Glyndebourne and Lewes, it is close to a quintessential country pub, wonderful country walks and makes the ideal country getaway.
Full details can be seen at ownersdirect.co.uk/E3512 and prices start at £515 a week.
The wonderful world of the Brontës
The Brontës were a nineteenth-century literary family associated with the village of Haworth in the West Riding area of Yorkshire. The sisters, Anne, Charlotte and Emily are iconic novelists and books like Jayne Eyre are still hugely popular today. To get a real feel for the area, fans of this iconic literary family can stay in a simple, elegant conversion snuggled in the heart of Brontë countryside away from all roads, surrounded by fields and on the edge of open moorland.
Full details can be seen at ownersdirect.co.uk/E8334 and prices start at £240 a week.
Beatrix Potter delight
Based in Cumbria, Beatrix Potter bought Hilltop Farm with the royalties from her first books, inspired by holidays in the Lake District and it was here Tom Kitten, Samuel Whiskers and Jemima Puddleduck were created. The Coach House is a traditional building, which has been restored as a luxurious contemporary house, whilst maintaining original timbers and stonewalls. Guests can walk through lanes and footpaths and imagine Beatrix as she did just the same and was inspired to write her beautiful stories.
Full details can be seen at ownersdirect.co.uk/E1841 prices start at £300 a week.
A cup of Tea with DH Lawrence
Nottinghamshire author DH Lawrence, a significant figure in English literature, wrote Sons and Lovers, a semi-autobiographical novel and landmark in literature exactly 100 years ago. What better place to tour the land of this writer than a break in the magical setting of this 200 year old character cottage in the small village of Gotham. In nearby Eastwood where Lawrence grew up you can visit the DH Lawrence Heritage Museum and enjoy a cup of tea and a slice of homemade cake in the little café staffed by volunteers. After a day of exploring, guests can curl up with a novel in front of the cosy fuel burner.
Full details can be seen at ownersdirect.co.uk/E5620 and prices start at £530 a week.
The JK Rowling Trail
The Harry Potter author famously penned the start of the series in an Edinburgh cafe, called The Elephant House. Staying in this stunning, three bedroom, garden flat in the buzzy heart of Edinburgh’s West End, will show guests just how the city inspired JK Rowling and created a plethora of fans.
Full details can be seen at ownersdirect.co.uk/SC1438 and prices start at £150 per night.
Whisky and Nineteen-Eighty-Four
George Orwell found the inspiration to write Nineteen-Eighty-Four whilst living in a remote house on the Scottish Isle of Jura. Fans of his work can get a glimpse into his life at The Lodge, Tarbert Bay. The shore-side property sleeps up to 14, is very comfortably furnished and it’s the ideal place for wildlife spotting including Red Deer, eagles and otters. Evenings can be spent around the fire reading about ‘Big Brother’ and relaxing with a glass of the island's renowned Whisky.
Full details can be seen at ownersdirect.co.uk/SC1327 and prices start at £1250 a week.
Sense of Jane Austen
Jane Austen was born in December 1775 in Steventon in Hampshire and any self-respecting fan of one of our best loved authors has got to put her birthplace on their travel wish list. The author spent her last eight years in Chawton, Hampshire, and her house is now a museum.
Why not stay in a holiday home two miles away from Jane Austen’s house at Newton Valence, from where you can take trips to other museums and the South Downs National Park too.
Full details can be seen at ownersdirect.co.uk/E8117 and prices start from £315 per week.
Ends
Notes to Editors:
Owners Direct specialises in advertising privately owned holiday accommodation direct from the owner. We have advertised holiday properties since 1997 and on our web site you will find over 50,000 villas, apartments, chalets, farmhouses and cottages. From Fincas in Spain to traditional Riads in Morocco and beach villas in Koh Samui, Owners Direct offer all types of holiday accommodation in a diverse selection of countries throughout the world.
In August 2007 Owners Direct became part of HomeAway Inc. which owns some of the largest rentals websites in the US and Europe. We continue to operate as a separate brand from our offices in London.
Pinterest
For more information, images or quotes please contact Eveleen Hatch at Seriously PR -01491 822647/07815 002276 or eveleen@seriouslypr.co.uk
