PROPERTY
Rutland Retreats truly impress
Nicholas Rudd-Jones was invited to take a look at the much talked about Rutland Retreats, a group of 17 architecturally designed properties built of solid timber construction alongside Barnsdale Lodge
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utland Retreats are the brainchild of Ed Burrows, Managing Director of Barnsdale Lodge Hotel. For many years Ed had pondered on the potential of this delightful piece of land adjacent to the hotel, which had been a quarry in the 1780s, providing the stone to build the hotel, but was now a wildlife haven grazed by sheep. A beautifully tranquil and natural spot. At the same time a lot of visitors to the hotel had reflected on how beautiful the surrounding countryside was and how desirable it would be to dwell for longer. And then there was a light bulb moment when Ed fused the two thoughts – and Rutland Retreats was born. Homes to buy on the doorstep of Rutland Water, combining all the benefits of ownership with the facilities that can be provided direct from the hotel – what could be better? “We have found,” Ed told me, “that people get the idea of them immediately, and buy them as ‘bolt holes’ and holiday homes, or for investment purposes; or often a combination of the two.” The experience close-up I fell in love with Rutland Retreats as soon as we walked along the driveway, which meanders through a hilly meadow of designated retained
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grassland to a gate that leads into the Rutland Retreats themselves. Each property is beautifully set amongst undulating ground and semi-mature tress, with rural views in every direction. But it’s the buildings themselves that are so impressive: grass roofs, wood-clad walls, interesting shapes and angles and, above all, the detail on everything is beautifully done. Each property immediately has the ‘wow’ factor. The Retreats were built in Cumbria by Retreat Homes, in a very Swedish-home style, by the leaders in their field. Ed spent a considerable amount of time up there with the builders creating a design unique to the site and especially tailored around the things that he felt were important. Ed explained: “I really wanted a design that was practical, easy to service, durable, comfortable and spacious. And we made some subtle, but important changes after the first build, for example making the windows in the roof pace openable.”
STAMFORD LIVING DECEMBER 2014
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21/11/2014 10:03