Rural Retreats was founded in 1985 with the aim of making the countryside more accessible for holidaymakers and giving them the best possible choice of holiday homes across the UK. Rural Retreats’ continuing success is based on excellent local knowledge and painstaking research, together with a flair for finding delightful and unusual properties. All of this has enabled us to build a portfolio of over 450 exceptionally fine holiday homes in stunningly beautiful locations, all available for you to rent. When you are looking for your own perfect holiday home, our experienced and helpful staff can help to point you to the property of your dreams. Whatever you want to ask about any of our properties, there will be someone on our staff who knows the cottage or apartment at first hand.

Perfect for a romantic retreat, drenched in history and charm, Kites Holt (part of Kites Cottage) is a 500 year old Grade II listed Medieval Hall House sitting within the centre of the beautiful village of Stockland. A stunning, one bedroomed, beamed thatched cottage with the benefit of its own private entrance into the original hall of the cottage, dating back to circa 15th century.

Information correct at time of writing. The village boasts a welcoming pub, the Kings Arms with a great selection of wines and local ales. If you are looking to eat then it is advisable to book as it is very popular. The Jurassic Coastline is just 11 miles away from Kites Holt, where you can visit timeless seaside towns like Lyme Regis and its famous Cobb, or spend time on the foreshore searching for your own loose fossils to take home as souvenirs. They say one of the best places to try fossil hunting is Charmouth. The village of Beer on the south coast is worth a visit too. The fascinating Beer Quarry Caves were the source of the building material for some of the nation’s iconic buildings, including the Tower of London and Westminster Abbey. Head east from the cottage and you’ll find Forde Abbey, a stately home with over 900 years of history and 30 acres of award-winning gardens. The nearest town to the cottage is Honiton, which was once famous for its lace. You can still get a feel for the heritage at the Allhallows Museum of Lace and Antiquities. Nowadays Honiton is known for its antique shops – you could pick up a bargain or two! If you’re a keen cook, the River Cottage Café is just five miles away in Axminster, while the River Cottage headquarters are just a few miles further on. They often hold cookery classes and dining events. Exeter The cathedral city, is easily accessible and has a small airport just 30 minutes away with flights from a number of popular cities including London, Manchester and Edinburgh. Visit the Royal Albert Memorial Museum & Art Gallery and plenty of big name stores and independent boutiques. For shopping and eating out, a visit to the award-wining Princesshay is a must, and is approximately a 45 minutes drive.