Back to School - August Vacation Rentals With a Twist

The charm of tiny, country schoolhouses may not readily come to mind when you think of a vacation in England. Think again. The Little House on the Prairie did not have a monopoly on quaint, one-room schools.

Cottages4you, a vacation rental company I recommend, has late availability in August on three nostalgic, converted schoolhouses with bags of character plus "all mod cons", in beautiful locations, suitable for families or groups of friends. All are available for at least 7 days, starting August 23:

• Old School House Cottage on the North Yorkshire Moors is 200 yards from a country pub and just a few miles from Rievaulx Abbey and the village of Helmsley, with its inns, castles and dining at The Black Swan. It sleeps 4 and is Ref: 11258 on the Cottages4you website.
• Old School Cottage in Norfolk is a mid 19th century flint cottage near Norwich and the Norfold Broads. It sleeps six, it's pet friendly and it's not far from the village shop. Find Ref: 23775 on the website.
• My favorite is The Old Boys School near Hexham in the North Pennines. It's a Victorian schoolhouse near the Cumbrian borders that's equally well located for explorations of Hadrian's Wall or the Lake District. The owners describe the area as having "the lowest light pollution in the UK". How's that for saying It's bloody dark out there 21st century style? There are loads of stars though. And room enough for six. Ref: MNM on the website.

Book through the Cottages4you website (easier to use on Internet Explorer), or telephone +44 (0)8700 782 100 and quote the cottage reference number.

_{Picture of Rievaulx Abbey in North York Moors courtesy of britainonview}