Yates believes that the British really do appreciate their heritage. "Our guests love the fact the buildings are a tangible link with the past and our restoration schemes balance a commitment to the buildings' historic fabric with modern comforts," she says. However, what the public does not appreciate is the difficulty of preserving this heritage and combating neglect.

"There should be more incentives for owners of listed buildings - the heritage field has been lobbying the government for years to abolish VAT on repairs to listed buildings," Yates says. In recent years, the Heritage Lottery Fund has experienced sizeable budget cuts and this looks set to continue as money is redirected towards the 2012 Olympics. As a result, Vivat's application for a grant to help repair Earlstoun Castle, in Dumfries and Galloway, was rejected last summer.

Vivat is therefore concerned with awareness and education. "We want to try and get as many people as possible to see our buildings," says Yates. Sightseeing visits are encouraged, as are trips by conservation students and schools wishing to learn about the restoration process. Once a year, all the buildings are opened to the public as part of the English Heritage weekend. This has been a great success. As one guest said after staying at Church Brow Cottage, in Cumbria, "This is proper England. Beautiful, unspoilt and wonderful. We will return."