A new chapter for HF Holidays’ UK country houses
There is something special about arriving at an HF Country House. The warm welcome. The shared stories over dinner. The feeling of being at home in a place shaped by its landscape. Now, we are investing in that experience more than ever.
Following a record year and growing demand for guided walking holidays, we are proud to share our long-term vision for our UK Country House estate, a £10.5 million programme of investment over the next six years, starting with the reopening of Dolserau Hall in Eryri National Park, Southern Snowdonia.
This is about making the places you stay with us even more welcoming, more connected to nature, and more memorable.
Investing in the places you love
HF Country Houses sit at the heart of the UK’s most beautiful walking landscape, and play a huge role in what makes a break with HF Holidays feel different.
This long‑term investment focuses on enhancing the shared spaces that bring people together: lounges, dining rooms and public areas where guests relax after a day on the hills, make new friends, and feel part of the HF community.
Our ambition is for each of our country houses in the UK to remain proudly individual, but all will be upgraded with the same care and attention, ensuring they feel just as special as their surroundings.
A “Consistently Different” design inspired by nature, inspired by place
Our new interior design approach is all about helping you feel more connected, to the landscape outside, and to the people around you.
Rather than imposing one “look”, each Country House will reflect its own location through a design style we call “consistently different”. It blends the familiar comfort of HF Holidays with details inspired by nature and the local area.
This approach is guided by biophilic interior designer Jana Robinson, whose framework “From Forest Floor to Tree Canopy” mirrors how we experience the outdoors, in gentle layers, from earthy and grounding to light and open.
Biophilic design: Bringing the outside in
You will start to notice more natural textures, calming colour palettes, locally inspired artwork and carefully considered lighting across our houses.
These choices are not just aesthetic. Research shows that surroundings inspired by nature can help us feel calmer, more settled and more present, the perfect complement to time spent walking outdoors.
The concept mirrors the way we experience the outdoors, using gradual layers and natural cues such as:
- Light and shadow
- Texture and rhythm
- Natural materials and colour palettes
- Nature-inspired artwork and atmospheric lighting
The result is a relaxed, sociable, ‘home‑from‑home’ feel where it is easy to unwind, share stories, and feel rooted in the place you are staying.
"It has been a real pleasure to be part of a project that places people before aesthetics. At Dolserau Hall, the interiors are designed to be one step ahead of the guest, pre-empting their needs and creating meaningful opportunities for connection with nature and each other from the moment they arrive."
Jana Robinson, The Emerald Lounge
Sustainability built-in, not bolted-on
Caring for the landscapes we walk through is fundamental to HF Holidays, and that care extends to the way we run our houses.
We already use 100% renewable electricity across our Country House estate. Over the coming years, further upgrades will include:
- More EV charging points
- Smarter energy use through metering
- Continued improvements to reduce waste
- Introduction of more solar power
All of this supports our commitment as a B Corp certified business, and helps ensure our holidays have a positive long-term impact.
A co-operative committed to the future
This investment is about more than interiors and improvements.
As a co‑operative since 1913, HF Holidays has always reinvested in what matters most: our holidays, our houses and our community. We are about creating places where friendships form easily, where walking days end in comfort and connection, and where you feel truly at home in the landscapes you love to explore.
Every surplus we make goes straight back into the business, helping to protect the future of walking holidays for generations to come. With over 40,000 members, our community plays a vital role in shaping what comes next.
"With almost 80% rooms already sold for the year, it’s fair to say that Dolserau Hall is a true comeback story powered by HF Member and Team loyalty."
Chris Simmonds, HF Holidays CEO
Supporting your experience, every step of the way
To help deliver our new "Consistently Different", we have also welcomed Julia Winterburn as our new Head of UK Country Houses.
With extensive experience across hospitality and tourism, Julia will be focused on enhancing the guest and member experience across our houses, ensuring every stay feels thoughtful, personal and unmistakably HF.
The reopening of Dolserau Hall marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter across our UK estate, for our loyal HF Leaders and Field Advisors, our members, guests and team, each with their own role and unique story to tell.
