Overlooking a canal on the fringes of a nature reserve around 5km southeast of the city, this isolated rural hostel's central building is a charming 1830s mansion.
There are three dining halls, a traditional bar and a lovely terrace, and around the corner is a great pancake-specialist canal-side cafe plus a fortress site. It's on national bike path LF4 and there's free parking. Take bus 41 from Utrecht Centraal (direction Wijk bij Duurstede, €1.88, 12 minutes), get off at the Rhijnauwenselaan stop and walk 400m north.