The Cowshed

The Cowshed sits in rural Cheshire near Wrenbury, surrounded by farmland and within walking distance of country pubs. The village sits close to Cholmondeley Castle Estate, where footpaths lead through the Bickerton Hills and along the Sandstone Trail. Cyclists pass through regularly on one of Cheshire's designated routes. Chester, Liverpool and Manchester are each under an hour away by car, and North Wales beaches are roughly an hour's drive.

This converted barn is yours alone: two bedrooms (both kingsize), one bathroom, and a ground-floor living space that combines kitchen, dining and sitting areas. A woodburner heats the main room; there's a slipper bath in the master bedroom and a separate wet room. The kitchen is properly equipped for cooking, with electric oven and hob, dishwasher and microwave. A 60-inch TV, sound system and DVD player are in the sitting area. Electricity, bed linen, towels and WiFi are included, along with logs for the fire. A small enclosed courtyard with seating and a BBQ faces out from the barn, and two cars can park on site. No smoking inside.

The setting suits couples or families looking for countryside quiet with easy access to walking routes and nearby towns. Chester Zoo, Delamere Forest and a handful of National Trust properties are within easy reach, while Cheshire Oaks outlet is also close by.