The Garden Retreat

Walk through the entrance and you're immediately in The Garden Retreat's open-plan ground floor—a living and dining space with doors that lead straight out to the garden. The kitchen sits a few steps up, fitted with everything needed for proper cooking: electric oven and hob, dishwasher, microwave and fridge. Upstairs, a single bedroom contains a super king bed in an ensuite with both bath and shower cubicle.

The village of Marbury sits on the Shropshire and Cheshire border, close enough to the Swan pub and restaurants for an easy walk, and with shops three miles away. Underfloor heating keeps the bathroom warm; wi-fi, electricity, bed linen and towels are all included. There's private parking for two cars, a bike store, and a gas barbecue in the enclosed garden, which has views over the village towards the lake and church. Two people sharing works best here; the property doesn't allow smoking.

For anyone wanting to explore further, the Cheshire Cycleway and the Llangollen branch of the Shropshire Union Canal are nearby, and there are walks across the surrounding countryside. Shrewsbury is roughly half an hour's drive away if you want to spend a day in the town.