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Lauren Le Page

Prior to joining Unique Homestays in 2018, Lauren was a freelance travel journalist. Now, when not writing content for the website, she can be found camping or hiking across Dartmoor with her young family.

Wine and midwifery

Owner Chronicles

Wine and midwifery

by

Cocktail bars, homemade pavlova and a camper van set up in the farm fields; we meet Little Inka owners, learn about their home and their favourite spots to dine in Cornwall.

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More by Lauren

The year of the un-wedding; our wedding trend predictions for 2024
Lifestyle

The year of the un-wedding; our wedding trend predictions for 2024

Bright colours, glittering disco balls and floral dresses, this year is set to see tradition make way for personality in the world of weddings. Read our forecast for 2024´s trends.

22nd January 2024

Rituals over resolutions
Lifestyle

Rituals over resolutions

Make 2024 the year to reframe your New Year good-intentions; turn weight-loss to stretching, less chocolate to journaling. Here is your chance to enhance rather than restrict.

8th January 2024

A safe port on Cornwall´s north coast
Owner Chronicles

A safe port on Cornwall´s north coast

Built into the sand dunes on Porthtowan beach, Monterey offers front row thrills for storm watching twinned with tranquility and peace. We speak with the owners to find out more.

16th December 2023

The Journeyman
Lifestyle

The Journeyman

Compelled to move, inspired to taste and destined to travel; the human instinct to be in motion is so ingrained within us, that it´s no wonder the journey so often exceeds the destination.

11th December 2023

From 17th century farmhouse to modern masterpiece; a look inside The Dancer´s Room
Interiors

From 17th century farmhouse to modern masterpiece; a look inside The Dancer´s Room

We speak with owner, Nick, who tells us of The Dancer´s Room´s transformation to a townhouse-under-thatch, along with all the reasons he loves his Oxfordshire escape.

6th November 2023

Unique Homestays partners with Bert & May at Suki
Interiors

Unique Homestays partners with Bert & May at Suki

We speak to founder of artisan, luxury tile company, Bert & May, deep-diving into the brand´s history, ideology and curated collection of one-of-a-kind tiles.

9th October 2023

Scavenger hunts
Lifestyle

Scavenger hunts

This month we celebrate the scavengers amongst us; the genius craftmanship that turns tumbled trees into grand dining tables and repurposed sea relics into pieces of art at luxury self-catering homes around the nation.

14th December 2022

A family affair at The Sculptor´s Gardens
Owner Chronicles

A family affair at The Sculptor´s Gardens

A topiary pyramid avenue, crooked timber beams and secret gardens dotted with flowers; we speak to owner Alex to find out what he loves so much about his property.

19th September 2022

Folkloric influence
Lifestyle

Folkloric influence

Free-spirited and with creative craftsmanship at their core, this month´s hand-picked collection of homes embrace the folklore aesthetic and all it represents.

1st September 2022

The Unique Homestays guide to large country homes to rent in the UK
Lifestyle

The Unique Homestays guide to large country homes to rent in the UK

Reunions, celebrations, anniversaries or just because, get the whole gang together in a country house for the weekend, or week, this autumn.

22nd August 2022

A new life for the Barnes family at Anthology Farm
Owner Chronicles

A new life for the Barnes family at Anthology Farm

The idea of renovating a house while running a 500-acre farm and raising young children would make many people want to run for the hills. But not this family.

15th August 2022

Buildings built to move us
Lifestyle

Buildings built to move us

Touching on the subject of neuroarchitecture in design, this month we explore eight homestays which stir the soul. Relaxation, creativity and pure escapism; nothing is left uncovered at these purposeful properties.

1st August 2022

The Unique Homestays guide to the Cotswolds
Lifestyle

The Unique Homestays guide to the Cotswolds

Palaces, through-hikes and fine-dining en masse, the Cotswolds offers a staycation destination the whole family can enjoy.

25th July 2022

Paradise found in South Devon
Owner Chronicles

Paradise found in South Devon

Once the unique home of society bachelor Arthur Graham, this luxury manor is now home to the Montgomery family, who welcome guests to take exclusive hire of their extraordinary Devon dwelling.

18th July 2022

Rooms in bloom
Lifestyle

Rooms in bloom

Walled gardens, wild valleys and pergolas tangled in ivy; this month we showcase some of our finest homes with gardens.

1st July 2022

A love letter to summer
Lifestyle

A love letter to summer

The longest day of the year and the largest music event in the country have marked the beginning of summer with heatwaves, sea swims and glitter.

23rd June 2022

Gothic flamboyance on the Welsh coast
Owner Chronicles

Gothic flamboyance on the Welsh coast

A true family affair, hosts Ffion and her father Meirion go to the ends of the earth to ensure guests have an extraordinary stay at their fairytale manor on the remote West Wales coast.

13th June 2022

The wedding edit
Lifestyle

The wedding edit

Country manors, romantic boltholes and rustic barns; this month we showcase our exclusive-use wedding venues, with some honeymoon inspiration thrown in for good measure.

1st June 2022

The Unique Homestays guide to family travel in the UK
Lifestyle

The Unique Homestays guide to family travel in the UK

With half term and the summer holidays galloping towards us, this month´s edition of the Unique Homestays travel guide puts children at the forefront of travel plans.

23rd May 2022

Stay in the homes of artists and aristocrats
Lifestyle

Stay in the homes of artists and aristocrats

Behind the doors of Britain’s most unique and luxurious homes lie untold stories. Come and discover them for yourself...

1st May 2022

Enchanted cottages from the pages of fairytales
Lifestyle

Enchanted cottages from the pages of fairytales

Delve into the land of fairytales with a stay in an enchanted cottage, hidden in some of the UK´s wildest corners.

1st April 2022

A love letter to spring
Lifestyle

A love letter to spring

Spring. A welcome reminder that once given the time to rest, beauty comes forth with quiet confidence, bringing with it hope, peace and joy.

28th March 2022

The Unique Homestays guide to Sussex
Lifestyle

The Unique Homestays guide to Sussex

Vineyards, galleries, festivals and one of the country’s most esteemed opera houses, here’s our pick of the best in East and West Sussex’s green and pleasant lands.

21st March 2022

Lavish homes for grand gatherings
Lifestyle

Lavish homes for grand gatherings

As restrictions ease and the UK opens up, it´s time to plan our grandest of gatherings yet; think late nights sipping wine, children playing hide and seek and Champagne towers.

1st March 2022

The Unique Homestays guide to Cornwall
Lifestyle

The Unique Homestays guide to Cornwall

Cornwall remains a firm holiday favourite and it´s easy to see why. Pretty harbour villages wedged between cliffs, wild moorlands, golden beaches and sea-to-table dining: here we round-up our top picks for a visit to Cornwall.

21st February 2022

Where to go for cold water therapy
Lifestyle

Where to go for cold water therapy

We invite you to run far from the concrete jungles which sprawl across our land to dip your toes in Britain´s effervescent shores, trickling streams and cascading waterfalls.

1st February 2022

2022 travel trends
Lifestyle

2022 travel trends

Indulgent reunion parties and retreats in the wild, idle breaks by the sea and a newfound love for a world that has been out of reach for the past 18 months, 2022 sets to see the world of travel beam with enthusiasm.

24th January 2022

Best UK staycations for 2022
Lifestyle

Best UK staycations for 2022

With adventures galore spread far and wide across the United Kingdom, we showcase some of best luxury self-catering homes for the coming year.

12th January 2022

At home with Sarah
Owner Chronicles

At home with Sarah

This month, the last of our 20th year in business, we bring our focus back to our roots and talk with Unique Homestays founder Sarah Stanley.

1st December 2021

A maximalist Christmas
Lifestyle

A maximalist Christmas

Christmas 2021. It deserves our full attention. Attention to detail, to experience and to one another. After last year’s quieter affair, this December it seems only right to throw out all the stops for your festive escape.

1st November 2021

The cosy club
Lifestyle

The cosy club

This month we bring you some of our cosiest homes and cottages for autumn, where curling up by roaring fires after a gentle ramble to the nearest pub for lunch is a large enough expedition.

1st October 2021

Britain, but make it Wonderland
Lifestyle

Britain, but make it Wonderland

Today we introduce Britain in Wonderland; a story of our homes, their owners and the guests who reside in them. We invite all who step through our doors to let go of their usual guise, to dig into imagination and to shrug the veil of the status quo from their shoulders.

13th September 2021

The Great British summer holiday
Lifestyle

The Great British summer holiday

With the staycation trend settling in for the long-haul, it’s time to rally the troops and secure your dates for summer 2022.

1st August 2021

Luxury homes with swimming pools
Lifestyle

Luxury homes with swimming pools

Dive into pure relaxation and out of the ordinary with our pick of luxury holiday homes with swimming pools, both inside and out, near the sea and deep within England´s bucolic countryside.

22nd July 2021

Hedonistic Hideouts
Lifestyle

Hedonistic Hideouts

Offering liberation from routines, vibrancy to everyday and the opportunity to step out of life as we know it, these hedonistic homes are all about having a mighty good time.

1st July 2021

The English Garden
Lifestyle

The English Garden

Our gardens and windowsills are a sort of sanctuary. Here, we invite you to kick off your shoes to wander through some of the finest English garden escapes on our portfolio.

1st May 2021

A life led simply
Lifestyle

A life led simply

If there’s anything we’ve learnt from the past 12 months, it’s that the answer to a happy life lies within its uncomplicated moments. This month we shine a light on minimalist living and humble, honest homes.

1st April 2021

Nomadic Instinct
Lifestyle

Nomadic Instinct

As humans, we were born to roam; to follow the seasons and to chase the hunt, to be in motion with the sun, to pack up camp and drift when the full moon glows upon the earth.

1st March 2021

A look inside the self-designed family home, Cadence, of architect Adam Richards
Owner Chronicles

A look inside the self-designed family home, Cadence, of architect Adam Richards

Taking inspiration from the stories which have made up his life, walking through the silky, reinforced concrete halls of Adam Richard´s unique home takes guests on a global, and often other-wordly, exploration.

25th February 2021

The alchemy of architecture
Lifestyle

The alchemy of architecture

Homes which ride the wave of trends and lifestyle throughout the ages are homes which embody the spirit of the alchemist.

1st February 2021

The tonic to a post pandemic world: treat yourself to a wellness break
Lifestyle

The tonic to a post pandemic world: treat yourself to a wellness break

More than ever before, the need to look after ourselves is paramount. After 12 months of straying not much further than our gardens or nearby parks, of parenting and working around the clock with no relief, it really is time for some well deserved ‘me time’.

19th January 2021

Less is more: introducing our Limited Edition Collection
Lifestyle

Less is more: introducing our Limited Edition Collection

Reflecting on the past year brought to mind our Limited Edition Collection of properties. These homes have a small but mighty range of availability and can only be hired for a few weeks per year, offering the perfect antidote to this rather unusual year.

1st December 2020

Cabin hideouts: the best luxury cabins in the UK & Ireland
Lifestyle

Cabin hideouts: the best luxury cabins in the UK & Ireland

There´s something soothing about taking up residence between walls made of timber, where the wild views and scent of the forest floor combine with mankind. This month we shine a light on the cosiest luxury cabins across the UK & Ireland.

1st November 2020

Dark sky dreaming
Lifestyle

Dark sky dreaming

Discover our nation’s Dark Sky Reserves where the skies are so big and stars so bright you could almost reach out, pluck one from the black and put it in your pocket for later.

14th October 2020

Britain´s Best Journeys
Lifestyle

Britain´s Best Journeys

There is more to this island nation than one could ever imagine, if only you would take a moment to look beyond the well-trodden and explore further than where the guidebooks lead. We explore the country’s greatest journeys, by foot, rail, car and water.

31st July 2019

Indulge in a Digital Detox
Lifestyle

Indulge in a Digital Detox

Counter those days hunched over a keyboard in one of our remotest homes across the United Kingdom, where the WiFi is often weak at best and soul-lifting escapes in nature are guaranteed.

10th July 2019

Haute Bohemian
Interiors

Haute Bohemian

The bohemians of the 70s channelled freedom and hope into their interiors and, following a revival on the catwalk last year, the era is making a firm come-back in high-end homeware. No avocado bathroom suites here though; think soft curves, lustrous velvets and big on botanicals.

1st July 2019

Brave Travel
Lifestyle

Brave Travel

“Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well-preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside in a cloud of smoke, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming “Wow! What a Ride!”

1st June 2019

Great British vineyards
Fare

Great British vineyards

With almost 600 vineyards spreading across our green and pleasant lands, oenophiles no longer need to travel to France or Argentina to wander through vines to sip zingy fizzes or rich reds.

17th May 2019

Wild Escapes
Lifestyle

Wild Escapes

With such inspiring landscapes spanning the length and breadth of the United Kingdom and a planet in the depths of a climate emergency, we ask one very important question; is international travel really a necessity?

1st May 2019

Modern Feminine
Interiors

Modern Feminine

This year we’re seeing fresh feminine hues and soft fabrics bring a touch of woman to our homes; where once there was grey is now emblazoned with floral prints, where there was navy is now pastel in shade.

1st April 2019

Get Outside in Dartmoor National Park
Lifestyle

Get Outside in Dartmoor National Park

South West England’s largest expanse of wilderness hides a treasure trove of lush valleys, ancient woodlands and secret wild-swimming pools hidden beneath the watchful eye of electric blue dragonflies. Captivating and addictive, Dartmoor National Park will drag you back again and again.

21st February 2019

Luxury Homes for the Cheltenham Race Festival
Lifestyle

Luxury Homes for the Cheltenham Race Festival

Hat wearing, Champagne drinking and gripping horse races, the Cheltenham Festival has become one of the most prestigious events in any socialite’s calendar. Top it all off with a cherry on top of an already rather decadent cake with a luxury homestay just a short distance away.

15th February 2019

6 Wedding Trends to Inspire in 2019
Lifestyle

6 Wedding Trends to Inspire in 2019

Weddings are always exciting, but with 2019’s trends promising an explosion of colour and personalisation, the coming year is set to blow the wedding experience right out of the water.

29th January 2019

Unconventional Love
Lifestyle

Unconventional Love

Love deserves more than a wilting bunch of flowers picked up from the train station in a rush on the way home from work; it deserves sipping the finest red wine by glowing candlelight followed by long lie ins under thick French linens.

25th January 2019

Make 2019 a Year to Remember
Lifestyle

Make 2019 a Year to Remember

Here we list our favourite boltholes which really pack some punch with personality, where long hikes and daring adventures are expected and the opportunity to really live is presented. The perfect beginning to 2019!

31st December 2018

Hideaway in the Highlands This Winter
Lifestyle

Hideaway in the Highlands This Winter

With the last of mainland Britain’s great wilderness crammed into its rather compact territory, Scotland harbours a landscape which remains loyal to its ancient, spectacular and turbulent past.

29th November 2018

Embracing Autumn at Maberly
Travellers' Tales

Embracing Autumn at Maberly

We arrived at Maberly when the first threats of an autumn storm were beginning to lick at the fallen leaves. Hurrying inside before the rain began to fall, we were immediately enveloped in the house’s charm and glamorous intimacy.

6th November 2018

Unique Homestays Autumn Get Together
Owner Chronicles

Unique Homestays Autumn Get Together

We gathered together with Unique Home Stays’ friends and owners for an evening of delicious morsels and sweet tipples to celebrate the end of the season at rock´n´roll country home, Pearl´s Place.

22nd October 2018

Luxury Homes for a Christmas Break
Lifestyle

Luxury Homes for a Christmas Break

From large homes which can accommodate the whole family and the Christmas feasts that go along with them to small, romantic boltholes far from the hustle of bad traffic and small-talk, we’ve got a luxury home stay to suit every flavour this Christmas.

1st October 2018

Gather Together this October Half Term
Lifestyle

Gather Together this October Half Term

In a season where spiced lattes, welly boots and mum´s roast dinner reigns above all else, gather the brood in one of our large family-friendly self-catering homes this October half term.

14th September 2018

English Country Escapes
Lifestyle

English Country Escapes

Embodying all that is English about England, the counties of Gloucestershire and Somerset offer a myriad of opportunities to experience pretty village culture, long hikes in the hills, cider drinking and of course, Glastonbury Festival.

27th August 2018

A Midweek Home from Home at the Limit
Travellers' Tales

A Midweek Home from Home at the Limit

Peeking out between the wild rhubarb, The Limit’s approach alone gives a sense of wonder, the feeling of being alone, finally, in this busy world of ours. The greatest part? Here there was no sound other than the birds, the sea, the wind whispering across the dunes.

27th July 2018

Wales, Where all that Glitters is Gold
Lifestyle

Wales, Where all that Glitters is Gold

A culture deeply rooted in folklore and fiction, a mountainous landscape dominated by greys and greens and a language which fiercely distinguishes this Celtic nation from any other; Wales packs more beauty and personality into its compact mass of land than it would seem possible.

6th July 2018

Discover Poldark’s Cornwall
Lifestyle

Discover Poldark’s Cornwall

Handsome looks, dramatic lives and sweeping Cornish vistas; Poldark certainly knows how to showcase the best of Cornwall. Run away for a Cornish break to colourful moorland and turquoise waters hidden in secret, hard-to-get-to coves.

8th June 2018

Exploring Cornwall’s Hidden Corner
Lifestyle

Exploring Cornwall’s Hidden Corner

Often overlooked by the masses, and all the better for it, Whitsand Bay and its four miles of gorgeous golden beaches and huge cliffs spread across the southeastern coast of Cornwall.

14th May 2018

A Hundred Thousand Welcomes to Ireland
Lifestyle

A Hundred Thousand Welcomes to Ireland

Run away to the Emerald Isle where giant cliffs fall from the sky to the sea, clouds sit heavy in mountain valleys and colourful villages dot the landscape.

23rd April 2018

Family Escapes for May Half Term Breaks
Lifestyle

Family Escapes for May Half Term Breaks

With May half term and the promise of sun just around the corner, it´s time to kick off those shoes and recline into a week of downtime. Read on to discover a collection of beautiful, exceptional escapes available for all the family.

10th April 2018

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