Natural Retreats Aislabeck Eco Cottages Full Review
Posted: 04 February 2008 by Richard Hammond
The single-storey Aislabeck cottages are tucked beneath a wooded hillside overlooking the Swale Valley, a mile from the market town of Richmond. We stayed in Cowslip Cottage, one of three more secluded residences a little further up the hill from the main group of cottages, which are arranged in a line in front of a large pond.
We arrived in the evening to find the main lights in the cottage on and a huge plasma screen TV blaring out music in anticipation of our arrival. There was also an 'organic hamper' to welcome us on the table, though not everything in it was actually organic. But the design of the building certainly looked as though there were at least some green concerns -- a sloped, living plant roof, huge floor-to-ceiling double-glazed windows, and we later learnt that all the water comes from a natural spring.
According to the blurb, Aislabeck combines "sustainability with contemporary style". The cottage has one ultra-modern kitchen/living area with a lounge (complete with the aforementioned plasma TV, DVD player, leather sofa and wood burner) and a kitchen island with all mod-cons, including a dishwasher. The bedroom was bright and comfortable, with a round window like a boat's porthole and an ensuite shower room and toilet. There was also a separate bathroom and a small laundry room.
In the mornings we had breakfast in the main living area and, despite being early February, the amount of light that flooded in through the tall windows made it feel like spring. Evenings were spent snug by the warmth of the fire in the lounge.
The cottage is unquestionably comfortable -- luxurious even -- but the greatest asset of Aislabeck is its setting. A winding path leads from the cottages to a network of trails that link up with the open fields of the Yorkshire Dales. It's just a shame there's not more to convince us of the substance behind its claim to be "the UK's first luxury sustainable holiday location".
Essentials: Prices are seasonal and start from £325 for two nights in low season, with a minimum two-night stay. Various locations, so see website.
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