Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
HOMES SWEET HOMES
Live like a lord or lady when you bed down at a stately home for the ultimate in post-lockdown staycations.
Chatsworth House, Derbyshire
Set in the heart of the Peak District National Park, Chatsworth House is one of England’s finest stately homes and since 1549 has been passed down through 16 generations of the Cavendish family.
It was the 4th Duke of Devonshire who commissioned landscape gardener Capability Brown in the 1760s to design the 1,000 acres of glorious parkland on the banks of the River Derwent (chatsworth.org). For stunning views across Calton Lees Valley stay at Russian Cottage, a 25-minute walk from the House.
Designed by the Duchess herself, the two-bedroom property has a well-equipped kitchen, log-burning stove and its own garden.
The inspiration to build the cottage came from a gift of a model Russian farmhouse from Tsar Nicholas which was sent to the 6th Duke of Devonshire after the Tsar had to cancel his visit to the Duke in 1844.
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Highclere Castle, Hampshire
Since Downton Abbey hit the small screen in 2010, fans of the aristocratic Crawley family have been flocking to visit the stunning home of the Carnarvon family near Newbury, the grandiose star of the ITV series, to relive scenes filmed in the impressive drawing and state dining rooms, the sumptuous saloon and that grand oak staircase.
Dating back to the 8th century when a palace for the Bishop of Winchester was built on the site, 1679 saw the start of the rebuilding of the palace as a Jacobethan-style mansion (highclerecastle.co.uk).
For a treat you can lord it up in one of the two self-catering properties in the 1,000-acre parkland. At the top of the mile-long driveway to the Castle, the London Lodge (sleeps two) has two wings, one on either side of the imposing archway entrance. Set on Wayfarers Way, the circular Grotto Lodge (sleeps four) has been restored by Lady Carnarvon with many original features retained.
highclerecastle.co.uk/where-stay