Hansa

Introduction

Turn onto a forested track, and it’s as though Shropshire has fizzled away; there is little trace of realism here, just you, the birds, and dappled rays shining through the canopy. Keep going, and the lines between reality and this battery-run folly are blurred furthermore; did that fox really just wink? Anything is possible once through the cloaks and cupboard to Narnia, after all. Your destination, a Victorian gothic lodge built to host the Earl of Bradford's luncheons, comes into view through cloud-reaching firs woven with wild rhododendron; your key, a giant, ornate opus that seems to have escaped the deepest realms of Wonderland.

Inside

An ivy-entwined chandelier hangs from the upper beams, casting a gentle glow around Hansa’s original, 1856 panelled walls, where its decades are documented in every ridge and knot; a patina as organic as the weathered smile lines of forest folk. Beneath this gnarled roof is where primal rest can be found, for a rhythm with the sun’s movements is guaranteed; the whole cottage waking as morning filters through vaulted windows. When the snow thuds and banks of the White Sitch crunch with frost, two drawing room chairs by the woodburner invite idling over hot toddies, with infinite conversation the bedrock for storybook romance.

Outside

A little wooden gate leads to a boardwalk and rowing boat, which promises adventures into the 26-acre stocked reservoir, where one can while away a morning over fresh coffee and croissants, carp leaping mere metres away. Behind the cottage, a dense grove transports one to a place where cacophonous birdsong and whispering leaves rule over human modernities; but you wouldn't want to wave goodbye to them entirely, for the woodfired hot tub promises restoration, Scandi-style, after days tracing mycelium through the undergrowth. They say the only real luxuries in this life are time, freedom, and attention; at Hansa, there’s plenty.

• PricingFrom £1,595 per week, £1,250 per short break
• FeaturesWoodfired hot tub, two vintage-style bicycles, a row boat
• PetsTwo well-behaved dogs are welcome
  Each pet is charged at £60 per week or part thereof
• FamilyBabes-in-arms are welcome
• PracticalitiesThere is ample parking on the gravel drive; the cottage is accessed via a bumpy woodland track and may be unsuitable for low-slung cars. The kitchen has a range gas oven, four-ring hob, fridge with small freezer compartment, Nespresso coffee machine, and milk frother. Hansa runs on batteries, and there is a generator that will switch on to recharge them from time to time. Due to the cottage´s off-grid status, guests are asked not to use their own hairdryer, but the cold-blowing, USB one that is found within Hansa. Laundry can be done by the Estate office during office hours; laundry bags are provided. Access to the lake is not enclosed, so wandering children and dogs should not be left unattended. Swimming is not permitted. There is no helipad at the cottage, but guests may land on the estate if desired. Please note due to the three small windows in the vaulted ceiling the bedroom is not black out; eye masks are provided and the lower curtains are all lined
• Private cateringWhether you're looking for a fully catered stay or a one-off meal for a special occasion, discover your bespoke catering options
  
  Explore private dining
• Eco-friendlySpring-source water supply, biodiverse garden

Weston-under-Lizard

Travel through lanes lined with red brick cottages to Weston-under-Lizard, an ancient tree-speckled Estate village on the Shropshire-Staffordshire border, so old that it appeared in the Domesday Book.

View property location Destination guide

Getting there

• On the map Located in the rural village of Weston-under-Lizard in south Staffordshire near the border with Shropshire.
• By car From London, there is a journey time of just under three hours. Take the M1 toward Birmingham/Coventry, then the M6 Toll to Telford/M54 and follow the directions provided to the property.
• By train You can take a train from London Euston to Stafford in around 1 hour 20 minutes. The property is 30 minutes away from Stafford by car.
• By air Birmingham Airport is a 50-minute drive away, Manchester Airport is a 75-minute drive from the cottage.