Raw Heritage

How do you get, in thought, from a theatrical backdrop of the UNESCO-listed lake hideaway in Switzerland and an Irish bolthole on a remote island to watching a vintage episode of The Waltons?

Well, I was penning this week’s Sunday Edit about the beauty of simple crashpads that move to the rhythm of raw nature and handcrafted comfort. My gray cells, aided by a brisk dry Martini, were in the land of denim dungarees, men chewing on a wheat blade, gingham shirts, and a dramatic Wes Anderson-esque landscape laid out before my eyes. The scene spurred my memories of the TV character John-Boy and his sickeningly adorable perfect family, and hey presto, or cheers, I was mentally moving into Jefferson County, Virginia. 

So, as I channel my countryside alter-ego idly chewing on a vodka-infused cocktail stick (no real wheat to be found late on a Thursday evening in London), let’s wrap up, grab a hot water bottle, and settle into the beauty of less.

Good Night, John-Boy...

It's Thursday at 7 pm and an early dinner date with the lovely Filippa from Sweden at Clipstone, one of my favourite restaurant haunts in London. Over a pre-dinner Martini, I was enthusiastically chatting about our collection and how it happily swings from the five-star luxuriant pad to the no-star remote Highland Castle that screams hushed decadence to a wonderful rural den of style in Tuscany. "How do you define luxury?" she asked. "Well, for me, I love feasting on Michelin star cuisine in a magical setting, and equally, I am a happy bunny sitting on an upturned beer crate devouring a freshly caught gilled fish in a Greek harbourside. Both are testaments of real luxury, and if you can navigate the complex to the simple, you realise that they share a common invisible thread of passion and originality.

"Shall we get a bottle of red?" she insisted. I could not help but detect her wry smile; she understood fully what I was talking about. "You are a creative genius, Iain", she exclaimed. "I know", I hastily replied. We both laughed. I then went on to ruin the good Karma, explaining that I was thinking of The Waltons earlier as I penned this week's Sunday Edit. "The what? Never heard of them." Bless, I thought, the beauty of youth. I bet she's never used carbon paper either. Still love her to bits, though.

So to anyone of a more tender age, The Waltons or, in French, La Famille des Collines was a cult series, last aired in 1981, about an undeniably comforting tale of the warmth of family, the simplicity of life and the deep-rooted connection to nature. Their sprawling wooden homestead was more than just a house; it was a living, breathing character in its own right. It wasn’t about luxury – it was about authenticity, the essence of home. 

Spurred by the ethos of the good life out in the wilds, and like The Waltons’ family, we’ve rounded up eleven hot sanctuaries of raw heritage where nature isn’t just a backdrop — it’s the blueprint. From the soulful escape of Mesmerhaus in Bregenzerwald, where old meets new in perfect harmony, to Benedikta, a sleek alpine retreat in Montafon, Austria – these are stays that breathe with the land they inhabit. Aerli, standing quietly yet powerfully in Ehrwald, blends the raw might of the Alps with understated elegance. High above Zillertal, Brandleit perches in pine-wrapped serenity, an off-the-beaten-path hideaway. Over in Ireland, Inis Meáin embraces rugged beauty and poetic solitude, offering Irish hospitality at its purest. Anders Mountain Suites on Mount Plose frames the Dolomites like a dreamscape, while Farnhaus in Tirolo walks the line between heritage and contemporary cool. Norway’s Juvet Landscape Hotel is an architectural masterpiece that whispers rather than shouts, seamlessly merging with its wild surroundings. In Scotland, The Lodge sits deep in Perthshire’s wilderness, balancing refinement with the untamed. Finally, we traverse back to Switzerland and the Pontisella in Bergell – a mountain sanctuary of curated design to Chalet Arva on Oeschinensee / Lake Oeschinen, a tiny outpost where simplicity leads and the lakeside mountain air cuts sharp with the scent of pine and raw wilderness.

I can imagine myself at any of these beauts in a pair of denim dungarees just like the then lead character John-Boy (I could have gone for the 'Heidi' look, but as I can't plait my hair, I opted for him). Thinking of the beauty spot Oeschinensee, I rather fancy shrugging into a well-worn soft felt shirt and tucking a piece of straw between my lips – the ultimate off-grid fantasy, but with just the right level of indulgence. A recalibration back to what truly matters. 

"Good night John-Boy", "Good night, everyone".

Hugs
Iain & Crew

THE RAW SIBLINGS - PEPPERED IN THE WOODS, ALONG THE COAST OR LOST IN THE FIELDS, THESE TEN OUTPOSTS OF REFINED SIMPLICITY ARE YOUR COORDINATES TO NATURE IN LOVE WITH DESIGN. 

A Wild Sweetie

High above Kandersteg, perched beside the pristine, glacial waters of Oeschinensee / Lake Oeschinen, the once simple outpost for ancestral family farmers is today a refuge for modern-day wanderers who crave an unembellished kind of luxury. A place where a ‘less is more’ heart reigns and the essence of mountain living is preserved. Chalet Arva has no central heating – but in the traditional Swiss way, hands out ample thick woollen blankets to slumber under, as well as traditional hot water bottles on cooler nights.

The Fjordic Diorama

An unfussy architectural gem in Norway that floats above a bed of the greenest and most delicate fauna like a scene from the latest Hobbit epic, this is total immersion in nature from your spectacular viewing pods – here, less is definitely more.

Modernist of Heritage

A curated style jungle of mid-century furnishings, abstract modernism and bespoke pieces are flavoured by the original pine panelling dating back to 1848 - and all this cuteness is wrapped in a canvas of wild herbs and mountain eye candy in the Swiss village of Stampa.

Cedar Recluse

Tucked away in Scotland's wild nature, this design-led hideaway blends style and seclusion. This private-hire holiday home in the Highlands boasts sleek interiors, epic views and slow mornings by the fire. A place you won’t want to leave.  

Alchemist of Purity

A design refuge for those that like their head in the clouds but feet firmly placed in architectural modernism, set at 1850 metres, the hotel is lofty enough to be able to ski straight out of its door, as well as hiking in summer.

Chilled Gingham Recluse

Wonderfully humble, this authentic exclusive-hire farmstead hideaway in Austria's Alpine hideout Tirol, dating back to 1885, comes with the mandatory choc-box appeal of a rural alpine chalet besieged by the hushed rhythms of lush green pastures, ancient forests, and the hum of the mountain waters.

Hayloft Poets

A contemporary private den for discerning design purists, Ʌerli’s allure is a harmonious marriage of tradition meets modernity, continuing and furthering the strong architectural alpine remit of Tyrolean design.

Wonderfully Lost

An elemental experience awaits on Ireland's Aran islands at these natural designer dens, private-hire holiday houses for small groups, where cashmere hugs, rock walls shield, and simplicity is elegant.

Mountain Gander

Fabulous holiday apartments with panoramic views and an interior palette that borrows from the surrounding beauty and captures the purity of nature with a modernist hand.

The Contemporary Sexton

Mesmerhaus, once the sexton’s home, is today a wonderful style chameleon of ornate exteriors and simplistic elegant interiors. The effect is of refined originality, a heritage house reduced to its essence through a calming language of decorative stillness.