Christian Holiday Cottage, Newark

Christian Holiday Cottage, Newark — A Place of Stillness

This Christian holiday cottage, Newark, is the self-contained unit known as The Cottage at Hope Haven, a Christian-run retreat set in three acres of grounds on the Nottinghamshire-Lincolnshire border. Attached to the main house with its own separate access, it has a private garden, a log burner for colder months, and open views over woodland, fields, and wildlife. Sleeping two, with a sofa bed available on request, it’s designed as much for quiet, personal retreat as for a straightforward short break, and the wider site also offers day hire for small groups, meetings, and away days for up to ten people.

Just up the road, St Cecilia’s Church in Girton is genuinely worth the short walk. Dating from at least the 13th century and largely rebuilt in 1879, this small Grade II listed church is dedicated to St Cecilia, the patron saint of musicians, and its porch holds a Saxon grave marker thought by some to be the oldest ecclesiastical object in Nottinghamshire. Hope Haven’s own hosts welcome guests to use the church as a further place of stillness during their stay, an open invitation that says a good deal about the spirit of the whole retreat.

Lincoln itself, the Cathedral City nine miles away, is well worth the short drive. Lincoln Cathedral’s central tower, completed in 1311, made it the tallest building in the world for almost 240 years, a title it held over the Great Pyramid of Giza until its spire collapsed in a storm in 1548. The cathedral also once held one of only four surviving original copies of Magna Carta, now on permanent display at nearby Lincoln Castle, and its Gothic architecture is still widely regarded as among the finest in Europe.

Nearby, RSPB Langford Lowfields tells its own story of restoration. Once a working sand and gravel quarry beside the River Trent, more than three decades of partnership between the RSPB, the quarry operator, and the landowning college have turned its 120 hectares into the largest reedbed in the East Midlands. Bitterns, once nearly extinct in Britain, bred there successfully for the first time in 2019 and have returned every year since, alongside marsh harriers, otters, and well over two hundred recorded bird species, all reachable along a network of easy circular trails.

Besthorpe Nature Reserve, just a mile away and already listed above, is a Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust site built from old gravel workings, now a chain of lakes and wetland with hides for watching wintering wildfowl and breeding terns. It’s close enough to reach on foot rather than needing the car, making it one of the simplest ways to spend a quiet hour between longer walks further afield.

The wider Midlands and Peak District region is worth browsing for anyone planning a longer trip, and the RSPB’s own page for Langford Lowfields has walking routes and seasonal highlights for anyone keen to plan a visit around the birds. Between a church that opens its doors, a reserve built out of restoration, a Cathedral City that once touched the sky, and three quiet acres of Nottinghamshire countryside, Hope Haven lives up to its name in more ways than one.

Perfect for:

Clergy and church workers wanting genuine solitude and unhurried stillness
Couples wanting a quiet countryside base without needing a car every day
Birdwatchers keen to explore RSPB Langford Lowfields and its reedbeds
Small groups or churches wanting day hire for away days or meetings
Anyone drawn to a working retreat with a genuinely spiritual purpose
History lovers keen to add Lincoln Cathedral to a day out from the cottage

Hope Haven is a Christian retreat with a God given vision to provide stillness and space for peace, refreshment and restoration. A welcome escape for those with busy lives and hectic schedules or just an opportunity to spend time in the midst of the countryside in the Presence of God. The retreat nestles in 3 acres of grounds, overlooking uninterrupted views of woodland, fields and wildlife. Whatever the season, whatever the weather, this beautiful area offers peace and quiet and an opportunity to relax, be still and recharge the batteries!

Hope Haven is perfect for private, personal retreat and is also ideal for holidays, away days, courses, meetings or just somewhere to spend time with friends.

Catering is available for personal retreats, meetings and away days for up to 6 people.

Location

Hope Haven, Broad Acres, New Lane, Girton, Newark, NG23 7HY
How to get here:
By road – Hope Haven is close to the A1133 near Collingham
Nearest train station is Collingham (3 miles)
Nearest coach stations are at Newark or Lincoln,
Nearest airport is East Midlands.
Nearest Town:
Newark (8 miles) and Lincoln (9 miles)

Local Area

Hope Haven is located 9 miles from Lincoln City centre and 8 miles from Newark. Collingham, only 3 miles from the retreat provides a Co-op with cafe, butcher, post office, medical centre, chemist, various take aways and pubs/restaurants. Everything you need is on the doorstep!
There are lovely walks and places to visit in the area close to Hope Haven. Here are just a few examples:
Spalford Warren Woods Nature Reserve
Besthorpe Nature Reserve
Whisby Nature Reserve
River Trent and Lake Walk
Collingham Pits
Hill Holt Wood & Cafè
RSPB Langford Lowfields Nature Reserve

Facilities

SLEEPS 2; CAR PARKING ON SITE; SUPER-KING OR SINGLE BEDS; LOG BURNER; BBQ; FREE WI-FI; CD/RADIO PLAYER; DVD PLAYER; SKY TV; PRIVATE GARDEN; COFFEE MACHINE; MICROWAVE; OVEN/GRILL; FRIDGE FREEZER; TEA TOWELS/HAND TOWELS; OIL/VINEGAR/SALT/PEPPER; WASHING MACHINE; TEA/COFFEE/HOT CHOCOLATE; BATH TOWELS; SOAP/SHAMPOO/CONDITIONER; HAIRDRYER; FAN

Additional Photos

Click to enlarge

A cosy kitchen in this Newark Christian holiday cottage features white cupboards, a cream cooker, microwave, kettle, coffee maker, jars, fruit bowl, and a tiled splashback. Warm lighting under the cupboards highlights the inviting wooden worktop and floor.

Two single beds with beige headboards, matching pillows, and throws are placed side by side in this inviting Christian holiday cottage. There are bedside tables with lamps, a window with curtains on the right, and a framed painting hangs above the beds—perfect for your peaceful retreat near Newark.

A wooden table set with two cups and saucers, a plate with cupcakes and biscuits, and a vase of pink flowers creates a welcoming scene in this Christian holiday cottage near Newark. There is a bench with cushions in the background, adding to the cosy charm of the setting.

A round glass patio table with a large umbrella is surrounded by wicker chairs on a grassy lawn, overlooking a garden and wooden fence with trees in the background—perfect for relaxing at this charming Christian holiday cottage near Newark.

A charming brick Christian holiday cottage with a red tiled roof sits in a garden in Newark, featuring a curved stone path, outdoor dining set, bird box, trees, and lush green lawn on a sunny day.

A neatly mown garden at this Christian holiday cottage near Newark features a stone path, bird bath, potted plants, wooden bird feeder, and wooden fence, with fields and trees in the background under a partly cloudy sky.

A green garden with a wooden fence, blossoming trees, and a bright orange bird feeder welcomes guests to this Christian holiday cottage in Newark. A stone birdbath sits on the right beside a curved path, framed by blue sky and scattered clouds in the background.

Costs

£80 per night for a solo guest
£90 per night for up to two people
£110 per night for use of the sofa bed
(5% discount for a min of 7 nights booked).

£25 per person for up to 8 hours day hire (Capped at £100 for up to 6 people)
Energy Provision: All included.

Availability

Available all year round.
Arrival and Departure times: Variable
Booking arrangements: Variable
Pets: No pets

Contact the Owner

Name:
CLARE
Address:
BROAD ACRES
NEW LANE
GIRTON
NEWARK
NG23 7HY
Telephone Number: 07747 577849
Email Address: info@hopehavenretreat.co.uk
Website details: hopehavenretreat.co.uk

Hope Haven Retreat, Girton, Newark, NG23 7HY