Rural Retreats was founded in 1985 with the aim of making the countryside more accessible for holidaymakers and giving them the best possible choice of holiday homes across the UK. Rural Retreats’ continuing success is based on excellent local knowledge and painstaking research, together with a flair for finding delightful and unusual properties. All of this has enabled us to build a portfolio of over 450 exceptionally fine holiday homes in stunningly beautiful locations, all available for you to rent. When you are looking for your own perfect holiday home, our experienced and helpful staff can help to point you to the property of your dreams. Whatever you want to ask about any of our properties, there will be someone on our staff who knows the cottage or apartment at first hand.

The Timber Barn is a charming, renovated barn conversion within a group of three separate properties in a pretty, rural spot on the Downton Estate.

Information correct at time of writing. A two-minute stroll takes you to an award-winning restaurant, Old Downton Lodge. Ludlow is a buzzing medieval market town with beautiful architecture, lots of top-quality restaurants and plenty of shops to browse through too. If you’re here in September, the Ludlow Food and Drink Festival showcases some of the best fresh produce from across the area and further afield. While you’re visiting Ludlow, the Castle is a must-see. Perched on a cliff overlooking the River Teme, the castle dates back to the eleventh century. It’s open to the public throughout the year, and hosts festivals and events too. The Ironbridge Gorge is hailed by many as the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution. The town of Ironbridge is home to ten museums and attractions, including the bridge itself and the fascinating Blists Hill Victorian Town, where you can step back in time and experience a high street Victorian-style. The Severn Valley Railway runs for 16 miles along the river valley, from Bridgnorth to Kidderminster. It’s a wonderful day out for all ages, with superb views of the river. Hay-on-Wye is a bustling market town that is famous mainly for one thing: books. The town is home to 20 bookshops, and every year the literati descend on the town for the Hay Literary Festival. There are plenty of other reasons to come, including the river itself. Hire canoes or kayaks and make your way along the water at your own pace. Croft Castle is a castle, church and gardens owned by the National Trust. The grounds stretch for 1,500 acres, and during the summer months the walled garden is a riot of colour. Witley Court is a ruined mansion, originally built in the Italian style. It was one of England’s greatest houses, the site of many raucous parties, and is now a magnificent ruin. There’s nothing ruined or neglected about the gardens, with their intricate designs and magnificent landscapes. Come and see the spectacular firing from the...