Guest post by Ronnie McCluskey, who is a writer at HomeAway.co.uk. Ronnie enjoys reading and writing fiction, music, movies, boxing, tennis and travel. HomeAway.co.uk is a holiday rentals site that connects private home owners and property managers with travellers around the world.
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Some people can take New Year’s Eve or leave it; that is to say, while many of us hurriedly formulate plans to bring in the bells in style, many others are content to toast the event with a quiet dram or even a cuppa – that’s if they remain awake to commemorate it at all!
If you count yourself among the former group, you might already be meticulously planning how you’ll spend the night of December 31. If not, perhaps the following properties will put in motion plans for the party to end all parties.
Of course, you needn’t be plotting an epic knees-up to enjoy the comforts of quirky Hogmanay accommodation. But making the most of the holidays by seeing in the New Year someplace different – whether it be with friends, your other half or the entire family – should appeal to most of us.
With the stress of Christmas easing for another year, Hogmanay is a time to let your worries melt into the crisp winter air; to unwind and contemplate a fine year ahead. At HomeAway, we have some ideas for where you might spend the final night of 2013…
Luxurious lighthouse cottage – County Cork, Ireland
Roches Point Lighthouse – lighthouse cottage in County Cork, Ireland
Whether you’re a seasoned seafarer or lifelong landlubber, you’ll be bowled over by the stunning Roches Point Lighthouse on the southern coast of Ireland. Inside, the lighthouse is spacious and open-plan, with a huge dining room and three bedrooms; the bathrooms, meanwhile, boast underfloor heating and heated towel rails – this abode is nothing if not warm and cosy. From the patio there are splendid views of both the Atlantic and the entrance to Cork Harbour, the second largest natural harbour in the world, while those with itchy feet can find plenty to do in the surrounding area; from a round of golf at Fota Golf Club, past venue of the Irish Open, to a spot of swimming in the waters of the two nearby beaches; alternatively, wander around the renowned Farmers‘ Market in Midleton, or enjoy a meal in the famous Ballymaloe House Restaurant.
Sleeps: Ideally equipped to sleep five, the lighthouse has three bedrooms and a pair of bathrooms.
Cost: For €1,050 for the week, this characterful lighthouse could be yours.
Medieval castle – Florence, Italy
Il Castellucio – Medieval castle in Florence, Italy
With Santa ensconced back in his gated compound in Lapland, we can forget about Christmas for another 12 months and focus on closing the year in the best fashion possible. Could there be a finer way to do it than by holidaying in Florence? Perhaps not. And what better accommodation than a castle? Il Castellucio occupies the summit of a valley, and is surrounded by stone terraces to heighten the building’s considerable aristocratic bearing. Among its top-line features are two heated swimming pools set into the rock, which, thanks to LED night lighting, glow when darkness falls; there are also no fewer than three dining rooms, furnished in a traditional Tuscan style. The views of the surrounding hills and valleys, meanwhile, are nothing short of phenomenal.
Sleeps: Boasting six bedrooms, Il Castellucio can welcome 24 guests through its doors.
Cost: As late December and early January is considered the high season, a week’s rent comes in at around £820. Split that with a few other couples, or family and friends, and you can start the New Year like a king.
18th century manse – Dingwall, Scottish Highlands
18th century manse in Dingwall, Scotland
If you’re planning on celebrating Hogmanay with a couple of friends, or perhaps close family, you’ll find this roomy manse (clergy house) more than accommodating. Located between Strathpeffer and Dingwall in the Scottish Highlands, and comprising three conjoined cottages, this abode makes for the perfect de-stress zone. Virtually all interests are catered for, as the surrounding area throws up no end of leisure activities – from the 18-hole golf course two miles away in Strathpeffer, to the ice rink and theatre a 20-minute drive away in Inverness; there’s plenty of walking and biking trails in the vicinity, too. The property, meanwhile, boasts a large dining room for that all-important New Year’s Day dinner – not to mention plenty of books and games for when you wish to cosy up beside the fire and enjoy some family fun.
Sleeps: With two bedrooms, plus a sofa bed in the sitting room, the manse can sleep five.
Cost: For a week of comfort in the countryside, the manse represents excellent value at £465.
Converted sail loft – St Ives, England
Upper Saltings – Converted sail loft in Cornwall, England
It’s a tough job finding adjectives that do justice to this 19th-century granite dwelling situated on perhaps Britain’s most beautiful beach – Porthmeor. Watch for dolphins from the massive nine-foot window seat in the living room, a panorama offering a jaw-dropping view of the sea and sky, or eat locally-caught seafood in the dining room beneath a stunning skylight. Of course, close by you have no shortage of attractions – Tate St Ives Museum is a brief stroll along the beach, the Barbara Hepworth Museum and Sculpture Garden, too, and the unforgettable Eden Project is not far away, near St Austell. In truth, with the waves lapping the sand metres from your front window, you could be forgiven for spending Hogmanay – and the rest of your stay here – at base camp.
Sleeps: With four bedrooms, this dreamy beach house can accommodate as many as ten guests.
Cost: Securing this lavish sail loft over New Year will make your wallet £2,600 lighter.
