
LTR, Tweed Horizons, Newtown St Boswells, Roxburghshire, Scotland, TD6 0SG
Where better to celebrate Christmas or New Year than a Scottish castle or English country house? For centuries families have been families have been gathering to have fun together over special vacations in them.
The size of these homes is perfect for multi-generational groups with lots of space for guests to relax and enjoy different pursuits, allowing families to come together under one roof. LTR offers wonderful, luxurious large houses to rent for Christmas & New Year, all are fully staffed and we lay on a full concierge service so all the stress is removed from the host and hostess. All these houses have roaring log fires, comfortable rooms to sit in and unwind as well as magnificent dining rooms to celebrate Christmas or New Year’s Eve in style. The only thing families need to do is show up, LTR will do the rest! We have some inspirational luxury ideas for New Year’s Eve here.
We are closely following the UK Government guidelines with regard to COVID-19 and working with all our property owners to ensure the safety of our guests, house staff and the local community is a priority. Please do get in touch if you would like further information and for peace of mind do read our Covid Code of Practice.
We have put together a list of houses with availability for Christmas & New Year 2023. The list is not exhaustive and we do have other country houses and castles with availability so please do email on info@ltrcastles.com or call us on + 44 (0) 1835 824642 for other suggestions as we would be delighted to help.
The Moult, once owned by the Earl of Devon, is one of the finest private houses along the British coast.
At the heart of a private 4,000 acre estate, down an ancient tree-lined avenue, set back from the road and hidden by woodland, you will find this luxurious English home in the Hampshire countryside.
This house only gets better with time and has been lived in by the same family for nearly four hundred years. Jeffrey Bilhuber, one of Architectural Digest’s Top 100 Interior Designers, has recently given the house a complete re-design ensuring 21st Century comforts as well as preserving the history of this imposing mansion. Newton Surmaville is featured in Galerie Magazine show casing how elegant modern decor is cleverly combined with old world charm.
Knowlton Court, a Grade I listed manor house near Goodnestone in Kent, is a much loved family home dating back to the Elizabethan period. The Queen Anne style front facade which you can see in the photograph was added in 1715. There is a magnificent tree lined sweeping drive leading up to the house which has been described as a ‘timeless work of Tudor history’.
The house has been in the current owners family since 1476. Having undergone significant alterations in both the 17th and 19th centuries, it is full of history and charm and offers an exceptionally comfortable base for families or groups wishing to explore The Cotswolds. Although very private and cut off from the world outside the gates the Cotswolds has plenty of antique shops, gastro pubs, farm shops full of delicacies and other delightful places to explore.
This 18th century Georgian mansion set within a beautiful, privately owned, Irish Estate is a fine architectural example of a great Irish country house. Set in 850 acres with century old noble trees and breathtaking views over the Blackwater River, it is hard to find somewhere more private and secluded.
Set in 11,000 acres of landscaped gardens, parkland, ancient broadleaf woodland and agricultural farmland, Euston Hall is home to one of the most extensive private collections of Royal Stuart portraiture and notable equestrian paintings in the United Kingdom.
Nestled in a 2,000 acre estate on the shores of the Tay Estuary, the castle is steeped in history and also has great charm and style, reflecting the family’s diverse interests and lively spirit.
Sympathetically restored three storey Georgian country house that serves as a magical base from which to explore the picturesque coastline of the west of Ireland. About 50 miles west of Cork, the house was built in 1740 by Sir Roland Blannerhassett and has been in the same ownership since 1860.
One of the most impressive family homes in Scotland. With plenty of open fires and being very warm and cozy, Christmas and New Year are perfect times of year to spend at Auchterarder House.
Described as Scotland’s ‘noblest classical country house’ this Grade A listed mansion is also a stunning home. In spite of the size of Kinross House, it is surprisingly warm and cozy and looks wonderful at Christmas offering perfect space for entertaining.
Guy Fawkes planned his infamous Gun Powder Plot at Ashby Manor House in 1605.
Ashby Manor has a tapestry of British history under its vaulted roof – Guy Fawkes, royalty and Edwin Lutyens all have connections to this striking manor house. Available to hire for exclusive use over New Year, this family home of the aristocratic and colourful Guest family has a striking mix of period and contemporary styles with every detail of the highest quality and comfort. Children will love the former medieval kitchen-turned-play area complete with pirate’s shack as well as the games in Viscount Wimborne’s study while adults will fall for the panelled dining room and south-facing Lutyens Hall, with its stunning views and feather-soft Rose Uniacke seating. Ashby Manor, always welcoming, can accommodate up to 23 people and has everything needed for a magical festive houseparty in the most stylish of surroundings.
Candacraig is an immaculately presented Scottish mansion situated within the breath taking scenery of the Cairngorms National Park. A perfect retreat at Christmas or New Year after blustery walks in the Cairngorms.
Designed by Robert Adam this magnificent Grade A listed house has been the home to the same Scottish family for 12 generations. A large family home which comes alive at Christmas with all the festive decorations and warmth of the open fires.
Situated at the heart of a 3,000 acre estate with beautifully landscaped gardens, woodland and open countryside the grounds are the perfect paradise for nature lovers alike. This grand house retains the traditions and grandeur of bygone eras yet the facilities are bang up to date with 21st century style and levels of comfort.
A gloriously restored example of a classic English stately home, filled with modern art and every modern comfort this house is truly luxurious.
The vacations can be a complicated time for families coming together from all over the world and fraught with potential emotional pitfalls for larger families with many different egos involved. The joy of neutral ground is that generally everyone is on their best behavior and hopefully out for a good time. LTR is meticulous about selecting the estates we work with and share with our clients, all of them offer a truly warm welcome and a very friendly atmosphere carefully nurtured by the owners over many generations. Roaring log fires, cozy four poster beds, large comfortable sitting rooms and attractive dining rooms make for a special few days as families relax and unwind in the most lovely of settings. For younger guests many houses and castles offer games rooms, large dens with televisions and nearly always a billiard table, enjoyed by guests of all ages.
Outside there is often thousands of acres of private land owned by the estate to explore. Although Christmas and New Year is not suited to swimming, tennis and some other outside pursuits, wonderful walks across windswept countryside blow away the cobwebs after a large lunch and prepares guests for an even more sumptuous dinner, after they have recovered from full afternoon tea of course. We ensure that all the homes are all fully decorated for the festivities with Christmas trees, holly and other baubles to make sure guests can truly get into the Christmas spirit. Our chefs can prepare the full yuletide menu and any other seasonal favorites which guests might enjoy from their homeland. Some local attractions may be closed over the festivities but we find families like to make their own fun and take great pleasure in just being together.
New Year or Hogmanay as we call it in Scotland is a major celebration and one for which the scots are famous, taking great pleasure in entertaining their friends with huge dinners, a lot of dancing and usually a few drams of Scottish water (whiskey). A popular tradition is the ceilidh band which plays reeling music which guests can dance to. Reels like the Duke of Perth and the Dashing White Sergeant are a great way of bringing together guests of all ages and create a very joyful atmosphere. Many a romance has started on New Year’s Eve and Hogmanay heralds a new start as guests raise their glasses when the clock chimes midnight and we slip into a new year. There is nowhere more fun than a Scottish castle to bring in the New Year and LTR arranges for many families and groups of friends to experience this.
We can offer you, an unparallelled opportunity to spend Christmas or New Year in the very castle where the filming for Downton Abbey’s Christmas Special in 2012 took place!
Calling all Downton Abbey fans, if you would like to spend Christmas in the magnificent Scottish Castle that played it’s part in a Christmas episode, call Jonathan on + 44 (0) 1835 824 642 or email jonathan@ltrcastles.com now. Don’t miss this ‘one off’ opportunity.
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