Elsie's Cottage

Tucked into the folds of the Malvern Hills, in the southwestern reaches of Worcestershire, Elsie's Cottage is a perfect rural hideaway  – a two-bedroomed bolthole that makes for the ultimate countryside escape for couples or a family of four. Not only is it situated deep in the woods and amid the rolling hills, the stone walls of the cottage and its picturesque, mature garden are reassuringly homely and secluded. It can feel like you've found a secret place to escape to – and a rather enchanted one at that, situated on the ley lines of three counties.

The Victorian stone cottage has been renovated throughout and extended, but with a sensitivity and taste that more than do justice to its unique location: the feel is rustic yet very contemporary, with everything you need for a comfortable stay.  The squishy velvet sofas, rocking-chair and and inglenook fireplace with wood-burner in the downstairs sitting room only add to the cottage's cosy charm; there's also a well-equipped retro-styled rustic kitchen with a dining table for four, and a heated stone floor. Upstairs you'll find a beamed bedroom with chandeliers and a sturdy and very comfy king-sized bed. The second bedroom, which can be made up as a kingsize double or twin, is on the ground floor with doors directly out onto the terrace. The stone floored bathroom boasts a roll top bath, rainfall shower and large stone sink, and a heated rail with fluffy towels and robes, ensuring you can indulge in style and space. Finally, outside there's a sun-fulled terrace with views over the steeply landscaped garden and the valley beyond, and a tree-shrouded wood-burning hot tub for a soak under the stars. It's a wonderful place for al fresco meals on warm evenings, with a ceramic BBQ and fire pit, and a hand-carved table with comfy chairs to watch the sun go down.