A rural escape: National Trust holiday cottages…
Nestled in beautiful locations across England, Wales and Northern Ireland, National Trust holiday cottages provide the perfect country escape for families to unwind. Discover a selection of cottages that use calming neutrals, bolder hues and historic wallpapers from Little Greene to create a serene haven…
Our work with the National Trust uncovers colours and wallpaper designs from some of the finest historic properties in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. For every tin of paint and roll of wallpaper sold, a contribution is made to support the Trust’s important conservation work. We are delighted that our beautiful paints and wallpapers adorn an array of National Trust properties, from historic houses to characterful cottages.
Within the National Trust’s care is a range of over 480 holiday cottages in spectacular locations. With their fascinating historic backgrounds, each of these properties provides a unique getaway to escape from everyday life and savour the surrounding nature.
Eskeleth
A picturesque, 18th-century farmworker’s cottage, Eskeleth is situated in Northumberland.
The large sitting room has been decorated using Ashes of Roses, to recall the colour of the roses in the property’s walled garden. Elsewhere, light green tones invite nature indoors and create flow from room to room. Pearl Colour Pale is a soft, green-tinged neutral used in the bathroom and hallway, while Salix and Pea Green are gentle mint shades that create a peaceful ambience in the bedrooms.
Cotehele Dairy Cottage
Cotehele Dairy Cottage is in the heart of the Cotehele Estate in Saltash, Cornwall. A palette of comforting neutrals and bright colours takes inspiration from the vibrant meadows and hedgerows of the distinctive Cornish countryside.
White Lead is an aged, creamy white that is featured in several rooms, paying homage to the property’s history as a traditional dairy cottage. It pairs with natural greens, Kitchen Green, Apple and Boxington, in the kitchen, bedroom and dining room for an authentic, rustic feel.
The spacious sitting room and bathroom use a combination of bold yellow and rich dark shades for impact. Sunlight and Yellow-Pink pair with Dark Lead Colour in contrasting schemes that evoke the joyful spring daffodils against the dark slate exterior of Cotehele Dairy Cottage.
Minstergate
In a magnificent setting right beside the York Minster, Minstergate is a medieval apartment with a wealth of character. Mirroring the historic York surroundings, the cottage features authentic wallpapers from our National Trust Papers collections, which were developed in partnership with the National Trust.
From National Trust Papers II, Millefleur is a floral wallpaper which originates from the 15th century. Drawn from the oldest tapestry in the care of the National Trust, its unique design gives the appearance of intricately woven silk. It complements the charming period features of the living room, while the vibrant Garden colourway creates connection with the outdoors.
Pomegranate – Bazaar from National Trust Papers I brings an element of luxury to the master bedroom. A rare, early find from the tapestries at Erddig Hall in Wales, this wallpaper is an authentic Baroque design.
Situated on the Craflwyn Estate in the heart of Eryri National Park, this spacious Victorian house is brimming with character. With eight bedrooms each beautifully decorated using elegant paint colours and wallpaper designs, it is the perfect countryside retreat for a large group of family and friends.
The natural off-white shade, Linen Wash, creates a sense of flow throughout the property, providing a soft, gentle backdrop in every space. Here, it pairs with the soft, brownish red, Ashes of Roses, for added warmth and impact.
The other bedrooms use a selection of wallpapers from our National Trust Papers and National Trust Papers II collections. Hencroft – Punch, Millefleur – Garden and Burges Snail – Dark Blue instantly fill each room with bold colours and patterns. As historical wallpaper designs, they pair perfectly with the charming character of Craflwyn Hall.
Discover more holiday cottages from the National Trust
Find out more about our partnership with the National Trust
Photography by Mike Henton
