Over the recent years dog friendly holidays have become even more popular. There is nothing better than taking mans best friend on an adventure. Walking across beaches, woodland trails or to the post office are great experience to share with your family pet. There are some great properties that provide pet friendly holidays which include, The Studio in Gwithian, Waterside Croft in Carsington Water, and Moorside Farm in Askam-in-Furness.
The Studio, Gwithian
This cottage can be found tucked away at the end of a quiet lane overlooking the Gwithian Green Nature Reserve. Situated next to a working arable farm, within four miles from Hayle in the South of Cornwall. The property is a beautifully converted barn, with an open plan living room, a bedroom, sitting, dining and kitchen area. The cottage has its own private, enclosed courtyard garden to relax in in the summer. Located nearby is Gwithian beach, a great place to take your dog for a walk. This is the perfect getaway for both couples and individuals looking for a relaxing retreat with their dog.
Waterside Croft, Carsington Water
This property is ideally situated on the banks of Carsington Water, a beautiful barn conversion in peaceful surroundings. Carsington Water boasts a RYA recognised watersports centre that offers dinghy, windsurfing and canoe hire and tuition. On the ground floor the property has a living room, diner/kitchen, utility room and three bedrooms. The first floor has 4 bedrooms (one with an en-suite), bathroom, shower and toilet. The lake is a great location to take your dog for a walk and even take a dip in the lake. Perfect retreat for large families and groups of friends for taking your dog away.
Moorside Farm, Askam-in-Furness
This property is situated in Askam-in-Furness, overlooking the stunning Duddon Estuary. This single storey lodge is the perfect getaway and has been lovingly furnished. There is an abundance of walks right on your doorstep with the likes of Coniston Water, Grizedale Forest Dalton Animal Park, Lake Windermere and Bowness. These are some great walks that you can enjoy taking your dog on. However, if you are looking for a day of relaxation then you can always chill out on the terrace and take in the views. This is great location for a family and pet retreat.
For more information on these dog friendly holidays feel free to contact us.
Looking for a break in the new year? Spring is the perfect season, flowers are pushing their way through the ground and newborn lambs are prancing in the fields. A great time to escape and enjoy the countryside, particularly with the bank holidays of 29th March and 1st April making for a great four day weekend. Some great cottages for a Spring break include Horwich Lodge in Derbyshire, Jacobean Mansion in Orton, and Harbour Lookout in Penzance.
Horwich Lodge, Derbyshire
Horwich Lodge is a stunning georgian detached house, it was previously used as a toll house on what used to be the Old Road. It is no longer used as a thoroughfare to Chapel-en-le-Frith. The lodge can comfortably accommodate up to six people, providing you with stunning views of the countryside and a private garden. Recently the lodge has been restored to the highest standards providing you with a luxury break. There is also a secure storage area in which you can place any equipment you are wanting to bring.
Jacobean Mansion, Orton
This stunning 17th century mansion is located in the delightful village of Orton, near Penrith in Cumbria. The self catering first floor apartment can be found within a wing of Orton Hall, providing you with luxury, comfort, and character. This self catering property is perfect for a peaceful getaway in the Spring. There are also many opportunities for hiking, walking and cycling in the surrounding unspoilt countryside. In the surrounding area there are some stunning villages with excellent pubs and restaurants to visit serving great food and drink.
Harbour Lookout, Penzance
This first floor apartment is within a delightful and unique grade II listed building with stunning views across Mount’s Bay. Originally the property was home of a sea captain, this apartment is situated on Chapel Street, the most historic and famous maritime street in Penzance. Sleeping two people, this is the perfect location for a romantic getaway. Located right in the heart of the town, the area boasts some of the best shops, restaurants, pubs, galleries and beaches. This property is ideally placed for you to take full advantage of the stunning scenery and activities available.
For more information on any of these properties for your 2013 spring break, feel free to contact us.
Do you enjoy gardening? Looking for something different in a holiday? Why not go for something completely different and try a garden holiday! There are some amazing tours available of some of Britain's most beautiful gardens. Some great garden holidays include, The Gardens of Kent and Sussex, Chelsea Flower Show and Northumberland - Passionate Lady Gardeners.
The Gardens of Kent and Sussex
This tour illustrates the joy of strolling around a perfect English Country Garden. Over the four day tour you will visit some spectacular gardens of England. Here is what you can expect:
On day one we will visit Lullingstone Castle, followed by Great Comp Garden. On the second day we will visit Nymans Garden, then onto Bedgebury National Pinetum, and ending the day with Borde Hill Garden. On day three we will visit The Gardens of Sissinghurst, and then onto Great Dixter. On day four you will conclude with the The Gardens of Hever Castle. Kent and Sussex are host to some of the finest gardens in the country and are not to be missed.
Chelsea Flower Show
This is one of the highlights of the gardening year, Chelsea Flower Show. Why not take a four day break and enjoy the shows centenary year. Here is what you can expect:
On the first day you will depart from your pickup point and head to the hotel, where you will receive a special Chelsea Flower Show presentation from our guide, Roy Cheek. On the second day, we will spend it at Chelsea Flower Show, the biggest flower event of 2013. On the third day Wisley Garden and then Sissinghurst in the afternoon. On the last day before leaving we will visit the gardens of Tatton Park in Cheshire. This is a great experience for anyone who wants to join in and celebrate the flower show of the year.
Northumberland - Passionate Lady Gardeners
Passionate about gardening? This is the perfect tour for you! Four ladies who are passionate about gardening, have combined their four small private garden to provide individually different garden experiences. Here is what you can expect:
On day one we will depart to Durham where we have some free time to explore the area in the historic city. With opportunities to see the castle, do some shopping, and then retreating to the accommodation. On day two we will go onto Northumberland visiting the Garden Cottage at Bolam Hall and then to a nearby garden to visit a garden at the manor house. On day three we will travel to Alnwick to visit the Alnwick Gardens and then later on to visit Mindrum. Then on the final day we will visit the Crook Hall Gardens in Durham and later on in the afternoon departing back to the railway station to depart.
I hope you have found this information helpful with what you can expect from a garden holiday.
Need to relax and get away from the hustle and bustle of daily life? Then a spa holiday is the perfect way to relax and unwind. All over the UK, there are hundreds of of Spa’s to choose from so we thought we’d make it easy by picking our top 3 locations!
Marriott St. Pancras Renaissance Hotel, London
This is your ticket to tranquility! You will find a sauna, steam room, spa, and Victorian tiled baths. A great location to relax after enjoying a day of sightseeing or shopping in London. They offer a wide variety of treatments from around the world including Ayurvedic treatments, Body scrub,Body wrap, Couple's Massage, Eye Treatments, Facials, Makeup Services, Manicures/pedicures, Massages, Men's services, Steam room and Waxing. Indulge yourself on a pampering weekend away with close friends or loved ones.
Hartland House Spa & Cottages, Devon
Hartland House is home to a wide variety of spa facilities to help you relax. There facilities include an indoor swimming pool, jacuzzi, swim spa, sauna, treatment rooms, and relaxation rooms. The treatments available include those for the face, body, hands, feet and maternity such as, an Express Aromatika Facial, Indian Head Massage, Exfoliating Sea Salt Scrub, Express OPI Manicure, Luxury OPI Paraffin Wax Pedicure and Full Body Pregnancy Massage.This retreat is perfect for a girls holiday away.
Sopwell House, Hertfordshire
The spa at Sopwell House is the ideal retreat to relax and unwind. The treatments to choose from include massages, facials, wraps & scrubs, specialised body treatments, holistic therapies & Mums to be treatments, manicures & pedicures, and men’s treatments. The facilities available for use within the spa include a swimming pool, sauna & steam room, studio classes, gym, and personal training. A great accommodation if you are choosing to exercise and relax.
For more information about any of the above accommodation please feel free to contact us.
If you enjoy the great outdoors and hiking, why not explore the UK when on holiday? There are beautiful landscapes across the UK all waiting to be explored with various cottages in the surrounding area. You can really take in the natural beauty of our homeland by visiting Cornwall, Scotland and Gloucestershire. Excellent accomodation in these areas include Palmers Lodge in Cornwall, Roebuck Cottage in Scotland and Honeysuckle Cottage in Gloucestershire.
Palmers Lodge, Egloskerry
This single-storey lodge, located on the rural outskirts of Egloskerry is situated perfectly within the cornwall countryside. The lodge is situated just 4 miles from Launceston, which is an ancient market town located on the Cornwall-Devon border. This modern open plan accommodation is decorated and furnished to a high standard. The lodge has everything you’ll need for a relaxed walking holiday, even an enclosed patio that is just perfect for you to enjoy the surrounding meadow. The location is great for outdoor activities including walking, cycling and golf. The surrounding area also offers great country pubs, shops and restaurants for your stay.
Roebuck Cottage, Avoch
This self-catering cottage is located in the village of Avoch, Scotland. The property is furnished to the highest standards with double glazing and electric storage heating. The car park is located directly outside of the cottage with a path leading to the front door, this leads to the front porch with cloakroom. The cottage consists of a living room, open plan kitchen, dining room, lounge, two bedrooms, en suite bathrooms, and an outdoor sitting area. The surroundings have plenty to offer with many woods and forests to explore whilst out walking or hiking.
Honeysuckle Cottage, Daylesford
This self-catering cottage is situated within the exclusive Daylesford Estate, home of the Daylesford Organic Farm and Shop. This accommodation is perfectly situated in the Cotswolds, with plenty of countryside to enjoy. The cottage is located only a few minutes away from the famous Organic Shop. Daylesford farm is one of the most sustainable farms in the UK located within 2,000 acres of countryside of the Cotswolds. This accommodation is excellent if you are looking for a relaxed walking holiday in the UK.
If you are interested in more information on these holiday cottages then please contact us!
Visiting farms is a an experience that everyone has as a child. Why not incorporate this into a holiday? All across the UK there are holiday cottages where you can stay and experience farm life first hand. Whether you are looking for volunteering holidays, young family orientated accommodation or wanting to learn a skill, there are plenty of destinations in the UK. Three great farm holiday locations include The Magdalen Project in Somerset, Higher Lank Farm in Cornwall and Hagley Bridge Farm in Somerset.
The Magdalen Project, Somerset
If you are looking to do volunteering then The Magdalen Project, Winsham is the perfect place to go. This holiday is great if you are planning to go away with a large group of people. You can either stay in the volunteer caravans or camp onsite. As a volunteer you can stay for a couple of days to a maximum of 3 months. You will receive all of your meals, accommodation and laundry facilities. If you enjoy exploring the countryside you can often borrow a bike during your stay. This is the perfect choice for you if you enjoy volunteering and giving back to the community.
Higher Lank Farm, Cornwall
The guest house for the accommodation at Higher Lank Farm is a beautiful grade II listed 15th century farmhouse. The accommodation is fully equipped with baby facilities and various themed rooms for the children to enjoy. The animals at the farm include chickens, ducks, geese, guinea fowl, lambs, pygmy goats, a billy goat, a pony, pigs, cows and a cat. The animals are fed every morning after breakfast which is a great activity for your children to enjoy. This is the best accommodation to stay in when you have a young family with all the facilities you will need.
Hagley Bridge Farm, Somerset
Looking to learn a new skill? Hagley Bridge Farm is the perfect place to learn one. There 4 star bed and breakfast is ideally situated close to Taunton, Exeter, Exmoor and the coast. The breakfasts served are made from organic and locally sourced produce, likewise with evening meals and packed lunches. They provide cheese making courses, and new to next year is a cream making course, bread, cheese and chutney course and christmas creations course. For those of you who enjoy learning new thing, this is a real treat for you!
Interested in any of these eco holidays? Get in touch with us for more information!
London, the Capital City of England, is host to one of the biggest New Years Celebrations of the Year. New Years Eve is a time when London comes alive with fireworks, mass events and crowds! There are a variety of events happening in London this new year... We know it is difficult to choose where to welcome 2013, so we thought we would provide you with a selection of the best:
The biggest event happening on New Year’s Eve as with every year is the Mayor’s New Year’s Eve Fireworks Display. The New Year's Eve fireworks display at the EDF Energy London Eye is famous all around the world. Every year large crowds gather alongside the River Thames to watch this incredible display. To avoid disappointment it is always best to get there early to get the best view.
New Year's Eve Operetta Matinee at St Martin-in-the-Fields Church is an evening to remember presented by young stars from London's Royal Academy of Music. Providing you with an array of arias and scenes from favourite operas and operettas. This event is perfect for the whole family to attend and celebrate New Years Eve in fashion.
Looking for an elegant way to celebrate? New Year's Eve on the London Eye Barracuda is the perfect option. Enjoy a three course dinner, wine, Champagne at midnight, DJ and disco as you sail along the Thames to celebrate the arrival of 2013 in style. Embarking at Savoy Pier by the London Eye, wines served throughout the evening and ambient music played during dinner service.
Viennese New Year's Eve Gala at the Barbican is such a delight to usher in the New Year with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Enjoy the sounds of operettas, marches and waltzes such as Die Fledermaus Overture, Radetsky March, and The Blue Danube Waltz. The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra is directed from the violin in the traditional Viennese manner by John Georgiadis, Eleanor Dennis (soprano), and Johann Strauss Dancers.
What will you be doing to celebrate this new year? If any of the above suggestions tickle your fancy get in touch for more details!!
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In the months of November and December people are filled with festive cheer with all of the excitement that Christmas brings. It is also a time in which the shops are packed with people buying Christmas presents. In this modern age presents are now consisting of Mobile Phones, Games Consoles and iPods. However, if you are looking for unique gifts this year locations all across the UK are host to some of the most spectacular Christmas markets. Areas such as Devon, Cornwall, the Lake District and Scotland are home to some great Christmas Markets.
Devon is a spectacular location to visit at Christmas with some amazing markets. The Christmas Farmers' Market at the BIG Sheep in Bideford is being held on the 1st, 8th, 15th & 22nd December 2012. At this market you will stumble upon excellent local produce, unique gifts, Christmas trees, wreaths, and a winter wonderland with an outdoor ice skating rink and toboggan ride. You will be able to find spectacular produce for your Christmas dinner including free range turkeys, organic meats, sprouts, cheeses, cakes, puddings, biscuits, fudge, chocolate, bread, and fish. If you are looking for a Christmas dinner with all the trimmings, this is the place to get it.
Cornwall is another great location to visit for Christmas markets. A great market to go to is The Christmas Market in North Quay, Padstow which is held 7th, 8th, 9th December 2012. At this market there are many arts and crafts stalls with various gifts including wooden toys, wood turning, decorations, jewellery, aromatherapy, candles and children’s clothes. there also food stalls filled with tempting goodies including handmade chocolates to chutneys and preserves and mulled apple juice to paella all from Cornish producers. This a market not to be missed!
Discover Carlisle at Christmas time with The Christmas International Market at Carlisle City Centre. Discover gifts and food from all over Europe and beyond with a large variety of stalls and products from Thailand, India, South Africa, France, Germany, Spain and many more. This is an excellent day out for the whole family with a bar where you can sit and enjoy a warming drink and the ability to browse stalls for a unique gift. You are also have a diverse range of foods at your fingertips which you can ask to try before you buy. A unique and interesting experience for everyone to enjoy.
If you are looking for something even further afield then why not try Edinburgh’s Traditional German Christmas Market at The Mound Precinct. This event is held from 29 November 2012 to 24 December 2012. You can find a variety of gifts from classic to contemporary as well as a selection of German food and drink. The food you will find includes sausages, fried potato cakes, crepes, German beer, and Glühwein (a special brew of mulled of wine and herbs). This a great opportunity for you to find special gifts and try new food.
So why not get into the festive spirit by visiting one of these destinations and discovering the magic of Christmas Markets.
There are some people that just love Christmas, that feeling of festive cheer and happiness. However, it is not close enough to actually celebrate or so it may seem. Every year all across the UK hotels host pre-christmas turkey and tinsel events which consist of a christmas dinner with all of the trimming but without the hassle of doing it yourself.
In previous years the average age for for turkey and tinsel holidays was 65+ but is now creeping slowly downward to 50+ including the occasional family and young couple. Turkey and tinsel holidays are generally tour packages which are available in November and early December.
There are various tour companies that provide this service to an abundance of UK locations including Liverpool, Minehead, Torquay and Yorkshire. It is great for getting you into the christmas spirit and give you that warm fuzzy feeling. Turkey and Tinsel tours have been running for decades bringing christmas cheer early.
Whitemead Forest Park, Forest of Dean
For those of you who just can’t wait for Christmas then Whitemead Forest Park provides an excellent location for you to celebrate the festive season early and fill yourself with Christmas cheer. The package for this retreat includes a themed Christmas eve and Christmas day where you will receive a Christmas dinner with all of the trimmings and both Boxing Day and New Years Eve celebrations. There will be a welcome meeting held with mince pies and mulled wine. You will also receive a welcome pack with a four nights half board. Of course this pre-christmas retreat wouldn’t be complete without a visit from Santa!
Blakelow Farm Holiday Cottages, Derbyshire
If you are looking to sit around a burning log fire drinking mulled wine within a beautifully decorated cottage then this is the perfect accommodation for you. This is a great place to go if you are looking to get some Christmas shopping done as it is situated not far from small boutiques and shops of Buxton, Ashbourne and Bakewell as well as Chatsworth where you can see the Christmas lights being switched on at Chatsworth House and the surrounding farm shops and markets. There is also the Peak Village shopping outlet which is located in Rowsley.
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