Meet Rural Escapes: The Curated Collection for Travellers Who Know Better

We're thrilled to introduce our newest client: Rural Escapes, the quietly exceptional luxury travel collection founded by former Sawday's curator Tamar Ferguson.

There's a particular kind of traveller who has grown weary of the obvious. Who scrolls past Santorini without stopping. Who finds Provence charming, but overcrowded. Who knows, instinctively, that the most extraordinary stays are rarely the most searched. Rural Escapes was built for exactly that person.

Founded by Tamar Ferguson — a woman who spent years inspecting properties for Sawday's and has an eye for the genuinely special — Rural Escapes is a handpicked portfolio of 14 exceptional rural homes across six European destinations and the UK. We at Pilot PR are delighted to be working with Tamar to introduce this remarkable collection to UK media.

The Homes Behind the Headlines

What makes Rural Escapes different isn't just the properties themselves — though they are extraordinary. It's the people behind them. These are homes owned by artists, winemakers, sculptors, marine biologists and archaeologists, each sharing their personal sanctuary with like-minded guests. In Andalucia, a beautifully restored 17th-century house with private sauna. On Syros — Condé Nast Traveller's pick for best family Greek villa — a neoclassical retreat for 15. In the Eden Valley, Cumbria, a three-bed cottage with its own private lake. In the Llyn Peninsula, a remote stone cottage with breathtaking views across Cardigan Bay.

Think Syros over Santorini. Limousin over Provence. The Llyn Peninsula over Cornwall. These are the destinations that insiders talk about quietly, and Rural Escapes has found the finest homes within them

A Level of Personalisation That's Genuinely Rare

Tamar doesn't just curate these properties — she knows them intimately. The best local restaurants. The hidden swimming spots. Which room catches the morning light. It's this depth of knowledge that allows Rural Escapes to offer something that larger platforms simply cannot: hyper-personalised service that goes well beyond a welcome basket. Think private yoga sessions in olive groves, introductions to local artisans, and bespoke itineraries that genuinely reveal the character of a place.

"These aren't investment properties managed from afar," Tamar explains. "Every home in our collection has been personally selected because of its character, its story, and the people behind it."

Why Now?

The timing is no accident. As anti-overtourism sentiment grows and off-peak, slower travel becomes the aspiration rather than the exception, Rural Escapes answers a clear and growing demand: sophisticated alternatives to the crowded and the commoditised. The recent launch of Rural Escapes' newly redesigned website marks the collection's first strategic press engagement — and we couldn't be more excited to help tell their story.

Find out more about Rural Escapes

For media enquiries including review stays, press images or commentary from Tamar Ferguson, Founder of Rural Escapes, please get in touch with Mandy at Pilot PR: mandy@pilot-pr.com

Pilot PR is an award-winning integrated public relations & communications agency working with established and emerging brands across the travel, luxury lifestyle, beauty, spa and wellness sectors. For more travel and wellness inspiration, read our latest travel content here.