Merlewood was formerly the home of Alfred Binyon whose nephew was the poet Lawrence Binyon. Today it provides 55 wonderfully comfortable self-catering holiday cottages and apartments in beautiful and peaceful surroundings, within easy reach of the southern Lake District.

The property is in Grange-over-Sands, a seaside resort that has retained its Edwardian charm. You truly feel as if you are stepping back in time here, with its pedestrian-only promenade, popular bandstand and lovely ornamental gardens. Even the shop fronts have stayed the same!

Windermere, Coniston Water et al are easily accessible, while for the more urban-minded, the city of Lancaster – often and unjustly overlooked in the guide books – is just a half-hour drive away.

There is a selection of dog-friendly holiday homes to let, and we also welcome kids and young families. Enjoy our on-site steam room, indoor swimming pool, children's playground and even crazy golf. There is plenty to see and do both at Merlewood and in the surrounding areas, all of which you can enjoy from the comfort of your luxury holiday property.

Merlewood is part of the Holiday Property Bond portfolio offering exclusive access to over 1,400 properties to its 41,000 investors ("Bondholders"). If you are not already a Bondholder and would like further details please see below.

Relax in some beautiful gardens

On a sunny day, what could be better than walking around some well-crafted gardens? Grange Ornamental Gardens has a Victorian feel and boasts a huge range of shrubs and trees, as well as rare genii.

If you venture out as far as Windermere during your stay, you may want to visit Holehird Gardens. Within its 17 acres of land, it features a variety of natural spaces, including rock, walled and heather gardens. Plus, an alpine house and many trees and shrubs.

Try the original sticky toffee pudding

A beloved British sweet, the sticky toffee pudding was apparently invented in Cartmel in 1960. A visit to this charming village is a must, then! It's also home to the best restaurant in the country (according to The Good Food Guide): L'Enclume.

When you're not gorging on food, be sure to visit the 12th-century Cartmel Priory and the National Hunt racecourse (the smallest racecourse in the UK).

Keep the whole family entertained

If you're planning to take the kids away with you, there are plenty of family attractions to keep them entertained. Fell Foot Park not only has outdoor and indoor play areas for the little ones, easy access to the lake means everyone can go for a paddle or swim, or even hop on a boat.

Ducky's Park Farm is also great for a family day out. It has a huge outdoor play area, a selection of rides and you can get up close to a variety of farm animals.

Learn more about the local area

There are plenty of museums around Merlewood should you want to learn more about the local area. Kendal Museum is well worth a visit, just for the fact it's the oldest in the country! Here, you can find out more about the area's natural history.

Promising Vikings, Victorians and warships, the Dock Museum in Barrow-in-Furness is free to visit and popular with families. It even has a playground. If you prefer cars to ships, however, you may prefer the Lakeland Motor Museum in Backbarrow.