WHY THE HOLLIES?

A family run business since 1959, The Hollies began as a vegetable stand on the side of the road selling homegrown produce with an honesty box. Over 60 years later, the business is still run by the Cowap family, (now in its second, third, and fourth generation!), and The Hollies Farm Shop has grown to become a retail destination and one of the best farm shops in the northwest of England, UK. The award-winning Little Budworth site now incorporates a butchery, a delicatessen, a fresh fish counter, The Barn home, gift & lifestyle department, The Hollies Takeaway, and luxury forest lodges. A further retail site at Lower Stretton, near to Warrington, Cheshire offers a farm shop, butchery, gift area and Café Hollies.

It is at their original Little Budworth site that the entrepreneurial family had their first venture into hospitality when they launched their caravan park site in the 1980’s, diversifying further to include quiz nights, suppers, and dances in the barn to entertain holiday makers. For many years, the family talked about expanding their enterprise into self-catering accommodation, and in 2009 they put this idea into practice with log cabin style accommodation at their site at Little Budworth.

Fast forward to today, and The Hollies Retreats now incorporates the 6 luxury forest lodges in Little Budworth, Cheshire; Muckrach Country House, a luxury private hire house for up to 22 guests in the Cairngorms National Park in the Highlands of Scotland; an additional 3 self-catering units on the Muckrach Country House Estate in the Highlands of Scotland; and 2 luxury villas in Barbados.

As the business has grown and developed over the years, what hasn’t changed is the family’s passion for great quality and customer service, the importance of their heritage in farming, and their family values – these all remain today after over 60 years in business.

The Muckrach Estate

The Muckrach Estate is near the town of Aviemore and provides a welcoming retreat when you want a beautiful place to stay in the Scottish Highlands. We have our large private hire house for up to 22 guests, plus 3 additional smaller self-catering lodges.

Set in acres of pastureland in the Cairgorms National Park and surrounded by some of the best scenery, the site lends itself to a plethora of outdoor activities. From hiking around or skiing down the Cairngorm mountains, swimming at the UK’s highest beach at Loch Morlich, having adventure days at Rothiemurchus, fishing for Salmon in the Spey River, teeing off surrounded by natural beauty, seeing the fairy magic of An Lochan Uaine or the mystery of Loch Ness; you can choose to do it all, or nothing at all…

Muckrach Country House

Our lovingly restored Victorian Shooting Lodge sleeps up to 22 guests in the utmost of luxury and comfort. The House features eleven uniquely designed en-suite bedrooms, piano bar, luxury kitchen, library, snug, outdoor terrace, and a hot tub for that special time with family, friends or colleagues.

Muckrach Country H ouse offers the utmost in luxury and the perfect balance of space for both entertaining and relaxing.

The Hollies Highland Lodges

We want you to relax and feel at home in our gorgeous self-catering cottages. Therefore, we design our luxury highland lodges with your comfort in mind. The contemporary, luxury interior design creates an inviting space. Each kitchen is fitted with high-end appliances so you can prepare meals at your leisure.

If you’re looking for hot tub lodges, we have a couple of charming cottages that have a hot tub in their private gardens.

Overall, the Hollies Highland Lodges offer a luxurious place to stay while you explore the Cairngorms National Park or anywhere in Scotland. Each cottage is self-catering for your convenience.

All our Highland lodges are pet-friendly too, so your dog can enjoy a Highland Break too!