Croft Lodge Studio

Croft Lodge Studio sits within the expansive grounds of Croft Castle, surrounded by National Trust countryside that's open to the public. The studio itself is an unconventional conversion: an 18th-century ruined cottage preserved untouched inside a new, heavily insulated corrugated iron envelope. The contrast between decaying interior—oak beams, dead ivy, cobwebs intact—and the climate-controlled modern shell creates something genuinely unusual. It won both an RIBA award and the Architects Journal's Small Projects prize in 2017.

The property has two double bedrooms and one bathroom on the first floor (the galleried bedroom overlooks the living space below). Ground floor contains a kitchen with electric cooking, dishwasher and air fryer; two separate living rooms, each with a woodburner; and a dining room. Underfloor heating, electricity, bed linen, towels and Wi-Fi are included; initial fuel for the burners is too. You have a private garden with seating and your own parking for two cars. One well-behaved pet can stay at no extra cost. The studio does not accept children under 10.

This corner of Herefordshire offers walking and exploring on the surrounding estate, plus access to Leominster's market town amenities nearby. The rural setting means you're genuinely away from things, but with the infrastructure of a proper holiday let.