Category Archives: holidaycottages.net

What to do with the kids this Easter

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Easter 2015 runs from 3rd April until 6th April and that’s really not far away. Taking a family break in a holiday cottage over Easter is a great way to enjoy time away from home and quality time with the family. There’s no better way to reconnect than getting away from it all.

If you’re staying in one of our lovely holiday cottages this Easter, you might be interested in these family activities running across the country. They are just five of hundreds of activities, but we like the look of them a lot.

National Trust Easter Egg Trails

National Trust Easter Egg Trails are an annual thing jointly organised by the National Trust and Cadbury. Held at a variety of locations, these Easter egg trails are great fun while also offering exercise and a challenging trail to follow using clues and puzzles they have to solve.

These are great fun and are happening at 300 National Trust locations across the UK. Check out the website here to find a location near your holiday cottage.

The John Muir Way and festival

The John Muir Way and festival in Scotland is going to be a good way to spend Easter this year. If you’re in one of our many Scottish holiday cottages, you should try it. John Muir was a famous naturalist who was responsible for creating many national parks in the US, including Yosemite. To celebrate his life, a 134 mile trail has been created from his birthplace in Dunbar to Helensburg.

During 17th and 26th April, a festival will be held with a range of events from fireworks, readings, music, theatre and a range of outdoor events.

Easter hatchings at the Bristol Science Centre

Easter eggs aren’t always made of chocolate as the Bristol Science Centre would like to demonstrate. To that end, they are running Easter hatchings at the At-Bristol Live Lab hatchery. Kids will be able to watch new chicks hatch, dissect daffodils and other plants, design their own mini garden and all the usual things that are going on at the centre.

The Bristol Science Centre is one of an increasing number of venues that aim to make science fun. We can imagine watching new life enter the world has to be something nobody wants to miss!

Chester food festival

The Chester food festival is an annual event that runs from 19th to 21st April and offers a little more variety for the taste buds after all that chocolate. With over 150 exhibitors offering talks, demonstrations, classes and chances to taste, there’s no reason we can think of not to go.

There is also a culinary school especially for children which makes this a fun and education way to entertain the little ones this Easter.

Willy Wonka at Kew Gardens

Finally, we think Willy Wonka at Kew Gardens will be a big draw for families this Easter. To celebrate 50 years of the character, Kew Gardens and the Roald Dhal Museum and Story Centre have partnered up to hold this special event. Kids will get to design their own eggs, taste different chocolates from through the ages and lots of other activities.

We think this will be a sure fire hit!

Enjoy Wales this spring!

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Wales is a fantastic part of the country that always has something going on. With a rich culture, vibrant energy and the kind of environment that just begs you to explore, it’s no wonder our Welsh holiday cottages are some of our busiest. There’s more to Wales than just walking though and this list of spring highlights proves that.

If you’re planning a spring break in one of our fabulous holiday cottages in Wales this year, here are just a few things you can do.

Crickhowell Walking Festival

The Crickhowell Walking Festival is nine days of guided walks around the Black Mountains and Brecon Beacons. It’s an ideal way to explore the local geography and trails through the eyes of an expert. It’s a great introduction and the perfect way to scout out the region while being able to call on the advice of an experienced guide.

The Crickhowell Walking Festival runs from 28th February until 8th March.

FOCUS Wales 2015

FOCUS Wales 2015 is a four day event that happens in Wrexham each April. It’s a showcase of music from beginning to end and provides an excellent opportunity for local performers to reach an audience they wouldn’t normally get the chance to play to. It also gives a diverse audience and opportunity to listen to music they might not usually listen to. A packed itinerary lasts all day long for the entire period of the festival.

FOCUS Wales 2015 runs from 22nd until 25th April 2015.

RHS Flower Show Cardiff

The RHS Flower Show Cardiff is something to enjoy every year. It draws thousands of visitors every year and for very good reasons. If your holiday cottage is within driving distance of Cardiff, we recommend this show wholeheartedly!

The RHS Flower Show Cardiff is one of the largest and finest of its kind anywhere in the world. It’s an opportunity to wonder at fantastic plants and flowers and take inspiration for your own garden.

The RHS Flower Show Cardiff runs from 17th to 19th April 2015.

The Machynlleth Comedy Festival

The Machynlleth Comedy Festival is about much more than just stand up. It’s a festival of all things Welsh, including local food, culture, performers and more. The festival features lots of top comedians, but also theatre productions, music, food, drink, art and plenty of stuff for the kids. It’s a great day out for all the family!

The The Machynlleth Comedy Festival runs from 1st to 3rd May 2015.

Bangor Music Festival

The Bangor Music Festival this year celebrates the life and work of the very original Frank Zappa. While there will be a definite air of Zappa about the place, there will also be a huge range of contemporary music, jazz and all sorts of genres represented here. If you want to discover a new sound and are in Wales, this is the place to be.

The Bangor Music Festival runs from March 4th until 8th 2015.

Top spring food festivals in the UK

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It’s easy to work up an appetite when you’re staying in one of our holiday cottages. With lots to see and do, hundreds of miles of walks, forests and cities to explore, activities to enjoy and books to read, a great lunch is the perfect antidote. That’s why we have put together this quick guide to the top spring food festivals in the UK.

Food festivals and artisan producers are enjoying more popularity than ever before. Never in recent history have we been more interested in local produce, small producers and small scale food manufacturing. Artisan bakers, speciality brewers, famer-butchers and the like have never been so popular!

So here are some great food festivals for you to explore this spring.

Kendal Festival Of Food

The Kendal Festival Of Food is a weekend full of food. Set over two days in the picturesque town of Kendal in the Lake District, this festival has everything from chef demonstrations, food tastings, talks, stalls and more. Local and national chefs, farmers and producers will all be showcasing their wares and you can try and buy to your hearts content.

The Kendal Festival Of Food runs over 7th/8th of March 2015.

Ludlow Spring Festival

The Ludlow Spring Festival is one of the longest running festivals we know of. It’s one of the largest too, with over 60 exhibitors offering talks, demonstrations, new products and of course, the opportunity to try the best of what they offer. The festival also has its own pub, live music, a classic car show and much more.

The Ludlow Spring Festival is held in Ludlow, Shropshire on 9th and 10th May 2015. We have a few holiday cottages close by here…

Budleigh Buy Local Food and Drink Festival

The Budleigh Buy Local Food & Drink Festival is held in Budleigh Salterton in Devon. It’s a well-established festival with top chefs, local brewers, farmers and producers all congregating for three days of food fun. There are the usual stalls, demonstrations, talks, displays and a local version of Ready Steady Cook. It’s a good day out for all the family.

The Budleigh Buy Local Food & Drink Festival runs over 13th, 14th and 15th March 2015.

The Chocolate Festival

The Chocolate Festival should need no introduction and no convincing for lovers of the brown stuff to visit. Held in Islington, London, The Chocolate Festival is fast becoming the largest of its kind. Held in the huge business design centre, the festival includes The Cocoa Spa, Taste Zone, Chocolate Market, Chocolate Café, lots of stalls from chocolatiers, live music and everything you would expect from a festival dedicated to our favourite sweet treat.

The Chocolate Festival is held in Islington on the 27th to 29th March.

Great Britain’s best spring walks part 2

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Today we are continuing our posts featuring Great Britain’s best spring walks. We are making a slight departure though as a couple of guests suggested a couple of fantastic walks in Ireland, so they are getting some love too. As we feature holiday cottages in both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland, we’re only happy to oblige.

So without further ado, here are what holidaycottages.net guests think are Great Britain’s best spring walks.

Aughinish Alumina Nature Trail – County Limerick

The Aughinish Alumina Nature Trail can be found west of Limerick running along the banks of the river Shannon. It features miles of trails, a butterfly sanctuary, lots of woodland, meadowland and heath and is one of Ireland’s top walking destinations.

Dromana Wood – Waterford

Dromana Wood near Villierstown in the Republic of Ireland is another favourite from across the water. Woodland trails crisscross hundreds of acres of woodland that comes alive in the spring. Some offer unforgettable views of the River Blackwater and the Knockmealdown mountains which are worth the trip alone!

Knoydart Peninsula – Mallaig

The Knoydart Peninsula in the Highlands has some spectacular and desolate scenery. It’s an amazing place to visit and to walk. The region is regarded as Britain’s last true wilderness and once you get here, you’ll quickly realise why. It’s an isolated area with a wide range of walks for all abilities.

Coquet Valley – Northumberland

The Coquet Valley near Rothbury, Northumberland is a fantastic region that borders the Northumberland National Park and the Cheviot Hills. It’s a varied terrain that takes in hills, moor, woods, rivers, valleys and everything the county has to offer. The guided walks by Jon Monks are also worth a try.

Deacon Hill – Hertfordshire

Deacon Hill is a firm favourite with walkers because if offers an excellent circular route that takes in Pirton and the surrounding countryside. The hills can be a bit of a challenge, but the views of Hertfordshire from the top make the effort very worthwhile. There are plenty of little villages around for a cream tea reward too!

South Downs – Sussex

The South Downs in Sussex is one of the south coast’s best walking areas. The region has hundreds of miles of ancient paths, lots of villages, fantastic scenery and some very picturesque destinations. Highlights for us were Chanctonbury Ring and the village of Washington.

These complete our tour of the UK and Ireland looking for the best spring walks we could find. Thanks to all those guests who responded and offered their opinions. If you like walking and are booking a holiday cottage through us, we hope you try one of these fantastic walks!

Some of Great Britain’s best spring walks part 1

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With spring just around the corner, it’s time to throw off winter and look forward to flowers, lambs and a little bit of sunshine. Now is a great time to book a spring break with your family and we have just the holiday cottage for you. Check out the interactive map, we have thousands of holiday rentals to choose from.

Once you’re all booked up, you’re going to want to plan things to do while you’re away. Because we’re nice people, we have asked a wide range of previous guests where they like to walk this time of year. We have dedicated the next two holidaycottages.net blog posts to listing the best of them.

The Cotswold Way – Gloucestershire

The Cotswold Way is a walk that crosses over 100 miles of glorious countryside, through Bath, Chipping Campden, Stanton, Broadway, Winchcombe and Hailes. The Way is huge and features multiple offshoots, so you really are spoilt for choice with this walk.

Bow Wood – Derbyshire

Bow Wood is a Woodland Trust property near Matlock in Derbyshire. It is 27 acres of glorious woodland with parking, fantastic views, lots of colour and wildlife. Dogs are welcome, as are hikers and walkers. The wood overlooks the Derwent Valley and has a range of trails for people of all abilities.

Norfolk Coast Path – Norfolk

The Norfolk Coast Path is a well-kept secret known only to seasoned walkers. It’s a fascinating trail that is well service by a local bus, the Coasthopper. The path takes in much of the Norfolk coastline including Burnham, Deepdale and Holkham. This path comes alive in spring when migrating birds begin returning and the woods begin turning green.

Machno Valley – Conwy

The Machno Valley is contained within the Snowdonia National Park and enjoys all the benefits of that. It’s a quieter area that features lakes, woodland and lovely countryside. It’s great all year round but is especially lively during spring. Rains feed waterfalls, the woods begin turning green and life returns to the Welsh countryside. It’s a lovely place to visit this time of year.

Sutton Park – Birmingham

We think city parks are massively underrated. Sutton Park in Birmingham is one such park that doesn’t receive the credit it deserves. It’s 2,400 acres of green and pleasant land close to Sutton Coldfield that has parking, a café and toilets as well as mile and miles of trails, woodland, wetland, marshes and seven lakes. If you’re anywhere near here in one of our holiday cottages, we definitely suggest visiting!

Join us next time for another batch of Great Britain’s best spring walks!

Great ideas for making your Valentine’s Day break something special

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If you’re planning a romantic holiday cottage break this Valentine’s Day, we have a few ideas to help make it truly special. Our lovely cottages are the perfect venue for quiet time away from the world that can allow you spend quality time together. If you want to add a little more spark to your time with us, try one of these.

Re-enact your first date

Depending on how successful your first date was, why not re-enact it while you’re away? Chances are that you will both have fond memories of it, which makes it a prime candidate for a romantic Valentine’s Day treat. If you can, go back to the same venue, order the same food, drink the same drinks and relive those good times.

Do something active

Activity produces endorphins which make you feel good. Incorporating some kind of fun activity into your Valentine’s Day break could make all the difference to how it goes. You could try ice skating, hang gliding, jet skiing, cycling, a long walk somewhere scenic or whatever you like. Spending time together doing something active is a great way to spend a day.

Get pampered

While not every man’s cup of tea, a massage and spa day is also a good way to reconnect. No woman can resist being looked after and pampered for a day so is a good way to get you in the mood. Why not try a couple’s massage so you can both enjoy being looked after for a while?

Stay indoors

Staying indoors can be fun too if it’s by choice. Get lots of food and drink, take some board games, a pack or cards or bring a few movies if you like. Turn off your phones, switch those laptops off and leave the world outside for a day. There’s nothing like doing nothing for a day to make you feel good. Many of our holiday cottages have real fires or log burners to add to the mood.

Dress up for a night out

Making a reservation somewhere nice nearby and dressing up for the occasion can make a very special Valentine’s Day. Many of our cottages are close to towns and villages, many of which will have a nice restaurant. Book well in advance as you know how busy they get. Make an occasion of it and have a great time. It’s what this time of year is all about!

The UK’s best Tudor attractions

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With a renewed interest in everything Tudor thanks to the BBC’s The Tudors and Wolf Hall, we thought we would find out where in the UK you can get a real Tudor experience. We have scoured the land looking for authentic Tudor attractions that you can visit to get a real taste of life five hundred years ago. If you’re staying in one of our holiday cottages nearby, all of these are worth a trip.

This is what we found.

Hampton Court – Surrey

Hampton Court has to be one of the most famous Tudor locations in Britain. Once owned by Henry VIII and Cardinal Wolsey, this is a truly magnificent palace. Built in the 1500s, the building is made up of several generations of extension from the Great Gatehouse to the Great Hall. Each is magnificent in its own right.

Hever Castle – Kent

Hever Castle was Anne Boleyn’s family home. It’s another 16th century building that has survived remarkably well and is open to the public. The castle is set in lovely grounds with a lake and rose garden. The castle itself feature about as much history as can be squeezed into a single building and is well worth a visit.

Thornbury Castle – Gloucestershire

Thornbury Castle was once owned by the Duke of Buckingham and was built around 1511 to resemble an old-style fortress. Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn were said to have stayed there for a while as guests. The castle is now a hotel and it is possible to stay the night in the room that is thought to have been where Henry and Anne stayed.

Little Moreton Hall – Cheshire

Little Moreton Hall is about as pretty as they come. It’s an enchanting Tudor manor house built in that typical timbered style. It has been lovingly restored to its former glory and is open to the public. This moated house has everything you might imagine a Tudor manor to have, a moat, mullioned windows, a great hall and lovely gardens. Visit it if you can!

The Vyne – Hampshire

The Vyne was home to one of Henry VIII’s favourites, Lord Sandys. This mansion is made of stone and brick and is thought to have been built in the 1520s. It includes a Long Gallery, Stone Gallery and the chapel Each features Tudor decorations including the Tudor Rose, carvings by Giovanni da Maiano and three excellent portraits in oil.

Those five attractions are probably the finest examples of Tudor life we have. If Wolf Hall has reignited your interest in this period of our history, we recommend visiting any and all of these. If you want to make a weekend of it, we have dozens of holiday cottages within easy reach of each!

How to spend your days when in Oxfordshire

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Oxfordshire is a great place to spend a little time away from home. It’s only an hour from London, yet could be at the other end of the country. It’s quiet, civilised and offers a huge range of things to see and do. Renting one of our holiday cottages in Oxfordshire is a great way to explore England!

Here are a few things to see and do.

University of Oxford

The University of Oxford is almost a thousand years old in parts and is spread out across the city. Some of the colleges are open to the public some of the time and are well worth checking out.

Pitt Rivers Museum

The Pitt Rivers Museum is one of many superb museums in the area but has a character all of its own. It’s a bit cluttered but is truly amazing to wander around. It’s free to enter and is one of the most fascinating museums anywhere in the world.

Ashmolean Museum of Art and Archaeology

The Ashmolean Museum of Art and Archaeology is another Oxford-based museum that is one of the best examples of its type anywhere. You need a full day to really appreciate what’s here.

University Museum of Natural History

Another museum well worth your time is the University Museum of Natural History. Stuffed full of exhibits from across the ages, the museum is an easy way to lose a day. The building itself is fascinating too.

Bodleian Library

The Bodleian Library is one of the most famous book repositories in the world and for good reason. The building is amazing, the sheer number and variety of books are too. Take a guided tour to get the very best out of this attraction.

Broughton Castle

Leaving museums and libraries behind for a while, let’s visit Broughton Castle near Banbury. It’s a fortified manor house built around 1300 and is open to the public. It’s a lovely, peaceful place that has feature in more than a few movies.

Blenheim Palace

Blenheim Palace is a fascinating walk into the past. The birthplace of Winston Churchill and current home to the Duke of Marlborough, the palace is a historic building with a lot to offer. Allow plenty of time to do it justice!

Those are just a few of the hundreds of places to see and things to do while staying in one of our holiday cottages in Oxfordshire. Each offers a little something different and is well worth your time. Don’t forget to let us know how you get on!

Top ten Valentines movies of all time

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If your idea of a good Valentine’s Day is curling up on the sofa with the one you love, this is the post for you. Many couples who use our romantic holiday cottages have no big plans, no activities lined up or major events scheduled. Many just like taking time away from modern life to reconnect with the one they love.

Watching a romantic movie is one way of spending quality time. If you want to know what the top ten Valentines movies of all time are, this is it. Many of our holiday cottages have TVs and DVD players so you have no excuse!

Bridget Jones’s Diary

Bridget Jones’s Diary is a classic chick flick. A single girl writes a diary about daily life as she fights her way through being single and fancying her boss. It’s funnier and more charming than it sounds.

Addicted to Love

Addicted to Love deserved more positive reviews than it received. It’s an amusing romp showing two people trying to get their respective loves back with predictable results. Matthew Broderick and Meg Ryan star.

My Best Friend's Wedding

My Best Friend's Wedding is another Valentine’s Day classic with Julia Roberts and Dermot Mulroney. These two make a deal to marry each other if they hit 28 without being hitched. Dermot meets Cameron Diaz and Julia Roberts doesn’t like it.

The Wedding Singer

The Wedding Singer is typical Adam Sandler, a good natured movie with a little romance thrown in for good measure. Also starring Drew Barrymore, the movie is a bit odd in places but in a good way.

Singles

Singles is a good film about a group of people in their twenties who are trying to settle down. It’s quite illustrative and contains a few good tips for men.

French Kiss

French Kiss is about what a woman will do to keep her love. Meg Ryan is engaged to Timothy Hutton, who in turn falls for a French woman. Meg works with Kevin Kline to win him back. Some good tips for the boys in this movie!

Notting Hill

There can’t be many people in the UK who hasn’t heard of Notting Hill. It’s a romantic classic starring Hugh Grant and Julia Roberts that set women aflame when it was release. It should need no introduction.

Last Tango in Paris

Not only is this movie a good instruction manual for young men, it’s also a good film in its own right. Marlon Brando is at his screen shattering best in this and it’s well worth watching on Valentine’s Day.

Chocolat

Chocolat is a charming film starring Jonny Depp and Julliete Binoche about an unconventional woman who opens a chocolate shop in a traditional French village. It’s a great little film.

Love Actually

Love Actually follows eight couples in the period leading up to Christmas one year in England. It’s a classic RomCom and one most women will love.

So if you’re planning on taking time away in one of our romantic holiday cottages, you have a list of great movies to take with you. Enjoy your time together!

Book a holiday cottage for Valentine’s Day before it’s too late!

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We know Christmas and New Year are only a week or so behind us. We know you’re only just back to work. You might think that it’s way too early to be thinking of Valentine’s Day and that you want a week or two of normality before moving on.

However, we’re already seeing bookings on the rise for the weekend of the 14th and 15th of February. If you want to stay in a romantic holiday cottage somewhere lovely, you’re going to have to move fast!

Romantic holiday cottages

Even if you don’t buy in to the commercial side of Valentine’s Day, it’s too good an excuse for a romantic weekend away to ignore. Taking time out with the one you love, escaping somewhere nice and hiding away from the world for a weekend is a great way to spend quality time any time of year!

We have a huge selection of high quality holiday cottages spread across the UK and Ireland. From the beach to forest, valley to hills, we have something to suit. Quaint Cornish cottages, romantic Scottish retreats, stylish city pads or old world English charm. Whatever kind of holiday cottage you’re looking for, we have something for you.

What makes a romantic holiday cottage for Valentine’s Day?

There are several elements that makes a holiday cottage perfect for Valentine’s Day. One, location, two features and three, company. We can help with the first two, the third is up to you!

Location, location, location. It’s not only a very good TV show, it’s also an essential element in choosing your holiday cottage. Do you want to be somewhere secluded? Somewhere in the middle of the action? By the beach? By a forest? In the city? We have cottages that meet all these criteria. Just use the map to search.

Holiday cottage features add value and enjoyment to your Valentine’s Day. Want a holiday cottage with a log fire? Want one with a pool, hot tub or large garden? Want one where the dog can come too? We can help. We have hundreds of pet friendly holiday cottages with or without fires, pools and hot tubs.

A romantic holiday cottage for Valentine’s Day is only a few minutes away. Simply find the one you like, check availability and book. It’s as easy as that. They are going fast though so move quickly if you want to guarantee your romantic cottage for two!