Peeking through woodland trees on the edge of a serene lake lies a small Gothic cottage, which looks like it’s plucked straight out of the pages of a storybook.
In fact, that’s exactly the intention of Hansa – a Victorian lair tucked away within 200 acres of wild woodland in Weston-under-Lizard, Shropshire.
Inspired by the Brother’s Grimm story of Hansel and Gretel (where siblings who are abandoned in a forest fall into the hands of a witch, who lives in a house made of bread, cake, and sugar) the off-grid, quirky cottage pays homage to the whimsical tale.
Inside, an ivy-entwined chandelier, vaulted windows and original 1856 panelled walls all help set the scene.
While the 19th-century lodge itself isn’t made out of confectionery (it’s made from gnarled wood and fringed thatching), as per the classic children’s story, it’s certainly bursting with unusual details – and many luxurious ones at that.
The main open-plan living and sleeping area is peppered with interesting touches at every turn, from the hidden TV and old children's books lining the mantle, to the antique bedwarmers hanging next to the robes and the Pooky lamp illuminating the dining table for two.
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The well-stocked galley kitchen – equipped with creature comforts like a range gas oven, Nespresso machine and milk frother, as well as a generous welcome hamper of local goods – is sectioned off by a two-part internal stable door, adding to the cosy yet old-time feel.
The dog-friendly cottage may be off-grid (further cemented by the fact it runs on batteries, with a generator that will switch on to recharge them from time to time), but it does boast a modern bathroom, with a mossy-green-tiled walk-in shower.
Outside, the Big Green Egg barbecue, fire pit and wood-burning hot tub encourage visitors to soak up the surroundings and connect with the landscape – along with the rowboat, found at the end of the jetty, which invites guests to explore the 26-acre carp-stocked reservoir on Hansa’s (quite literal) doorstep.
As well as its literary connections, this eerie bolthole comes with a lot of history, too. The lodge was originally built to host the Earl of Bradford's luncheons and sits on a 12,000-acre estate that can be traced back to the Doomsday Book in 1086.
Hansa may be remote – but it is still accessible. A bumpy woodland track and gravel drive means you can travel here by car.
Two vintage-style bicycles are also parked up outside, for those who wish to venture further – although you can hardly be blamed for wanting to stay put.
Stays at Hansa on Unique Homestays start from £1,095 for a short break.
10 of the best rated travel experiences in the world
A Cooking Class and Market Tour in Florence
The best rated experience in the world is found in the beautiful Italian city of Florence, according to the Travellers Choice Awards.
The guided tour kicks off with picking fresh ingredients from a local market in Florence before heading back to a rustic Tuscan townhouse where you will use those ingredients to whip up a four-course Italian meal.
Berlin Bike Tour
Exploring the historic German capital city by bicycle ranks second for travel experiences.
This particular tour takes four and a half hours and covers all the sites including the Berlin Wall, Checkpoint Charlie and Bradenburg Gate.
New York In One Day Tour
Though it might seem like quite a big feat to see the Big Apple in one day, this tour ranks very highly among TripAdvisor travellers.
Via bus, the tour guide shows visitors Times Square, the Empire State building, the 9/11 memorial, Wall Street, Central Park and more before the tour moves on to a boat which sails down the Hudson passing Ellis Island, the Statue of Liberty and the Brooklyn Bridge.
Sydney Bridge Climb
If you've ever visited the famous Australian city, you can often see what looks like minuscule people climbing the harbour bridge. Well, that is exactly what they're doing.
The Sydney Bridge Climb can take between one and a half to three and a half hours and offers unrivalled views across the city.
Vatican VIP Experience
The breathtaking home of the catholic church is unsurprisingly very popular with visitors therefore long queues often line St Peter's Square.
One way to combat this is to pre-book a tour and, according to the Choice awards, one that is particularly popular is the VIP experience which includes breakfast at the Vatican and early access to both the Vatican museum and Sistine Chapel.
New Orleans Cooking Class
There's so much to see and do in the vibrant Louisiana city but one of the most popular options is to take a cooking class.
This class takes place in a converted warehouse and is led by a chef who demonstrates the fundamentals of classic Creole dishes. The demonstration also comes with plenty of information about the rich history of food in the city and there are plenty of samples after each demo.
Rotorua Maori Hangi Dinner in New Zealand
This tour takes you to the Maori village of Tamaki located in Rotorua on the North Island of New Zealand. The three and a half hour tour includes a haka song and dance by a Rangiatea cultural group and a traditional hangi feast.
Best of Niagara Falls Tour from Ontario
As well as a stop at Skylon Tower where you can see the Falls from a sky view, this tour includes boarding a cruise boat to get close to the Falls and truly see them in all their glory. The cruise also takes you along the Niagara River to see the Whirlpool Rapids and is operated by a tour guide. More info here.
Vancouver to Victoria and Butchart Gardens
This full-day tour takes you from the beautiful British Columbia city of Vancouver to Victoria, Canada by both ferry and bus. The trip gives you free time to explore Victoria before heading to Butchart Gardens which features 55 acres of beautiful floral gardens.
Wild Wicklow Tour from Dublin
Closer to home is this 'Wild Wicklow' tour which sets off from Ireland's capital city of Dublin. The bus takes visitors through picturesque countryside and seaside towns before stopping at the Wicklow Mountains National Park. In the latter part of the day, a stop is made at the glacial valley of Glendalough where there is a full tour of the ancient site including the Round Tower.
Lizzie is the multiplatform editor at Country Living, where you’ll find her writing about unique property market finds and dreamy UK staycation spots. Her specialisms include interiors, property, wildlife, travel, slow living and more. Previously, she’s written for Metro, Evening Standard, Ideal Home, Woman & Home and various other home and lifestyle titles. Lizzie studied English Literature at University of Liverpool, where she also was a writer and editor for her uni paper.
