Activity Holidays

Do you enjoy active holidays? If so, you will love staying in a Cottagenet cottage after a strenuous day of exercise out in the fresh air.

Maybe start your  day with a swim when renting a cottage with a pool . Follow this with a good walk. Many of our cottages are in prime country areas with open space from the doorstep. Try the Yorkshire Moors, Derbyshire Peak District, Scottish Highlands, Snowdonia and the West Country. Best long distance walks include the South Downs Way, through some pretty villages and over the Seven Sister Hills inSussex, near Brighton, Eastbourne, Alfriston, Arundel  and Beachy Head.

The Ridgeway Path winds through Wiltshire to Buckinghamshire and the Thames Path links Gloucestershire with London. Further north Hadrian’s’ Wall runs west to east and the Pennine Way roughly north south from the Scottish Borders to Derbyshire.  Jersey has designated green lanes, safe for walkers where cars are discouraged and a 15mph speed limit imposed.

In the afternoon head for the coast. Rent a cottage near a good surfing beach on the Welsh Gower Peninsular; Polzeath or Watergate Bay in Cornwall;  Thurso in the Highlands or Pease Bay in the Borders of Scotland. Ocean fishing is popular at many resorts along the south coast, the Irish west coast and around Scotland.  Sailing, canoeing and kayaking may be learnt and enjoyed in Dorset at Poole harbour and Weymouth, in Cowes, Isle of Wight and on many rivers from the Severn to the Thames.

Book a weekend of cycling along tree shaded country lanes or throw yourself into energetic mountain biking.  Holiday cottages may be rented providing bike sheds and storage space for wet weather gear and boots. Look out for the Cyclists Welcome symbol on properties in Wales, The Peak District, Lincolnshire and Norfolk. The Channel Islands have a network of cycle ways, carefully mapped, routing along numerous pretty green lanes to include some famous beauty spots.

If country pursuits tick your boxes then shooting, hunting and fishing holidays are offered in Scotland, on Exmoor, Dartmoor and in numerous other locations.  Clay pigeon shooting, trout and salmon fishing and deer, grouse and pheasant shoots can all be booked as part of a package with self catering accommodation. Return to a cosy cottage after a day ski-ing in Aviemore or mountaineering on Ben Nevis.

Renting large Houses

Ever thought of renting a big self catering house for a seasonal celebration with friends and family? Sadly, as everyone in the business knows, very few large properties remain available now for the forthcoming festive season, except in the least desirable areas, and/or right at the top end of the price scale.

At Cottagenet our advice is – book your holiday cottage early and book directly from the owners. The larger your group the more limited your choice becomes, so plan well in advance. For the greatest variety, especially at peak times, make reservations at least 12 months in advance. Look at our Large cottages at:

Sleeps up to 15:

www.cottagenet.co.uk/gl_largecottages.htm

Sleeps more than 15

www.cottagenet.co.uk/gl_largegroup.htm

Booking with the owner saves on agency fees up of up to 30% PER WEEK PER BOOKING. Think long term and plan now for Christmas 2015 and the New Year 2016. Special offers may also be available for early reservations, such as low deposits, prices held at the current level or extras included.

Large venues are great for celebrations, get-togethers and parties. Sports fans might consider a big rental property for a weekend at the races, attending an important match, tournaments or festival. Your next summer holiday could be in a shared house  with 2 or 3 other families.

Investigate extras like shopping delivery or  catering services,  and lookout book treats like spa treatments, a  personal chef, entertainers, flowers and champagne on arrival, a range of local outdoor activities and specialist tours. Many large houses offer weekend and mid week breaks as well as weekly holidays. Midweek breaks represent the best value for money.

The choice of self catered holiday homes, sleeping 10 plus, has expanded in recent years and are now available throughout the UK and Ireland. They range from quite modest town houses with extra beds to grand country manors and remote rural retreats. The British Isles and Ireland’s outstanding destinations include Cornwall,Devon, Dorset, Derbyshire, the New Forest, Yorkshire, Kerry, Snowdonia and theHighlands of Scotland.

Some have swimming pools, a Jacuzzi, hot tub or sauna. Others may include a children’s play area or games room. Look out for home cinema systems, ensuite facilities and ample parking.

Autumn Gold

Visiting New England in the “Fall” to see one of natures best shows – the turning autumnal foliage of the New Hampshire and Vermont is a popular holiday. Did you know that Great Britain has some equally impressive woods, forests, arboretum and gardens enticing visitors as the evenings draw in and the days cool?

Westonbirt Arboretum near Tetbury, Gloucestershire is managed by the Forestry Commission and contains a huge variety of species, collected from locations worldwide. From October into November the superb autumn colours complement the vistas opening at every turn of the 17 miles of marked trails.

Winkworth Arboretum in Godalming, Surrey hosts weekly guided walks taking in the best of the season, from trees alight in autumn hues to architectural landscapes framed by skeletal trees and valleys shrouded in mellow mistiness.

The National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire is a most suitable place to visit in this one hundredth commemorative year since the start of World War 1. The 150 acres of immature woodland is a dedicated to the memories of those who sacrificed their lives for freedom and nation.

RHS Gardens at Harlow Carr, Beckwithshaw, near Harrogate, Yorkshire; Hyde Hall, near Chelmsford, Essex; Rosemoor at Great Torrington, Devon and Wisley, Surrey all offer fine displays. Beside magnificent trees are formal and informal borders, specialist planting areas, great open spaces, lovely views, facilities, refreshments, nurseries, shops and events.

National Trust Gardens throughout England offer special seasonal routes and guided walks. These include Anglesey Abbey, Cambridgeshire; Hinton Ampner, near Alresford, Hampshire; and Brownsea Island, Dorset; and Stourhead in Wiltshire.  

Forests offer good walking plus a wide range of alternate activities. Scotland’s seven forests have marked trails. Galloway Forest Park, Dumfries and Galloway, is popular for its diverse scenery and views; the beautiful Affric Forest, Inverness shire welcomes picnics by a loch, on route to the waterfall before sitting quietly watching the wildlife, and the Queen Elizabeth Forest Park, Stirling, stretching is vast stretching from Loch Lomond to Strathyre.

The south and west of England have wonderful ancient forests in the Forest of Dean and the New Forest. Taking time off outdoors close to nature in the open air is good for health, uplifting to the spirit, calming for the mood and invigorating for the body.

Cottagenet family holiday cottages

More Escapes

Continuing the theme of holidays in British locations replacing foreign trips here are some suggestions for Scotland and Wales. All self catering styles are available at very reasonable late availability and low season prices.

Replacing a plane journey with a car trip could involve venturing into the unknown, as easily as any foreign destination. Many of us are unfamiliar with the land beyond the daily commute, trips to relatives and the occasional foray beyond our home patch for a special activity. Aggravations are more likely caused by cattle blocking the country lane than an excess baggage charges.

Of course, in Britain the weather is never predictable. The Indian summers of September and October are no more reliable than a hot July or snow at Christmas, but holiday makers in Britain learn to pack their trip with indoor and outdoor options so a good time can be enjoyed whatever the weather. Many Welsh and Scottish properties boast welcoming open fires and good laundry facilities.

North of the border offers remote wilderness, fishing, golf and excellent city breaks – Glasgow for the Commonwealth Games, Edinburgh for the Festival or Tattoo, Inverness for the Hop Festival or Dundee for Highland Games and a trip to the Glens. Shopping, museums, galleries, historic sights, gardens, events and competitions abound. Scottish accommodation could be a smart apartment,  a  cabin on the wild West Coast, a cosy Highland cottage with loch views, a remote  island croft or a baronial Hall in the Borders.

Wales’ stunning coastline gives ample opportunity to be beside the sea from Rhyl to Cardiff Bay. For group holidays  the price can be very reasonable. Hire a spacious Manor House or Outward Bound centre from as  little as £50 per person for a weekend. Families could stay in a nature reserve overlooking Whiteford Burrows near secluded beaches, on a hill farm, along the  spectacular Pembrokeshire coast in a cliff top cottage or enjoy the pretty Gower peninsular from a cosy bungalow.

Wales offers a range of inland landscapes including the superb Snowdonia National Park. Pretty cottages tucked away in the Brecon Beacons, modern living in Carmarthenshire ideal for Dylan Thomas’ centenary. Riding school cottages in the borders and delightful houses in pretty woodland settings for tours of ancient castles and eisteddfods. Check out accommodation at Cottagenet

South East Escapes

In the time it takes  to reach the airport, queue endlessly, check-in, wait at numerous junctures and finally  take-off you could have driven to some of the most beautiful parts of Britain.

Reading the newspapers anyone would think the whole country has gone to wrack and ruin – potholes, unemployment, corruption  etc,  However, in Britain, we are most fortunate to never be too far from beautiful rural scenes, exciting cityscapes and  seaside pleasures.

 The Dales and Moors of Yorkshire, not far from Leeds airport are well known, as are many of the pleasures surrounding  Edinburgh, Cardiff and East Midlands airports, but you may be less familiar with the gems close to some of the south east’s busiest departure points.

If you travel to Stansted then you are close to pretty villages of North Essex, featured in the Tour de France route recently. Finchingfield, Saffron Walden, Thaxted, Sible Hedingham, Ongar and many more delightful, quaint, architecturally interesting and surprisingly thriving towns and villages await discovery. Explore Cambridge (see earlier blog), Bedfordshire villages, Thetford Forest, Newmarket, or take to the water on the Blackwater Estuary or the Suffolk Heritage Coast.

A detour from Luton airport brings you onto Dunstable Downs for kite flying, or a visit to Whipsnade. Discover Roman History in St Albans, take Hertfordshire byways to the charming towns of Hitchin and Harpenden, or  a canal trip from Leighton Buzzard, see Aylesbury, Knebworth House or find out more about WW11 code breakers at Bletchley Park, near Milton Keynes.

Gatwick is surrounded by lovely  countryside. The  beautiful  Surrey Hills, an area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, lie just north west of the airport.  To the east  is the Weald. Straddling Kent, Surrey and East Sussex this area of Winnie the Pooh forest, verdant pastureland, small farms and ancient villages is a delight. Stunning vistas and rolling countryside dotted with smart towns like Tunbridge Wells, castles, stately homes, gardens, adventure parks and ample opportunities for days out. South are the popular resorts of Brighton, Eastbourne and Worthing.

At Cottagenet.co.uk  we are very familiar with Britain and Ireland, having travelled it widely and  revisited areas  frequently. We are experts. Look at our guides on the Cottagenet area pages, or contact  us and let us point you towards areas you would like. Email Cottagenet

Get Off

Off the beaten track………off the road…………off-line……………. off on holiday. If you’ve just returned then you’ll be keen  to plan your next trip. If you have  a summer holiday on the horizon think beyond sunny weather to another type of break…a break from routine.

Plan ahead to the cooler crisp days of autumn. No trips planned ? Then let us inspire you.

Out of season breaks offer the best value for money and can be the most fun.  A few snatched days  in a month when everyone else seems to be working  add a delicious feeling  of  playing truant. While colleagues commute to stuffy offices you could be ………..anywhere you wish, doing what you like.

No ideas?  Think of an activity you love already or long to try. Something quiet -meditation, yoga, Pilates?  Or something active – walking long distance footpaths, sculling on the River Wye, cycling around East Anglia, mountain biking in Snowdonia, loch fishing in Scotland, hill walking in Derbyshire or sailing on Rutland Water

Be ambitious  – develop or learn a new skill like cookery,  painting, embroidery, swimming, playing a musical instrument.

Go online and find a course or a venue.  When you know where and when book yourself catering accommodation with us. A host of wonderful seaside apartments,  grand houses, thatched crofts and  many more choices are booked direct with the owner on our comprehensive database.

Your new activity or learning experience combined with the pleasure of discovering  a new part of our wonderful British Isles. Of course, if you would like to treat your partner to a romantic weekend in a pretty cottage in the country we can help with that too.

We also offer a huge number of large properties  including formal Victorian Gentleman’s residencies in Yorkshire, North Devon, Pembrokeshire and Derbyshire. Book an adventurous few days at an Outward  Bound centre in Wales or Cumbria. Live like a lord in Somerset, Devon or the Welsh Borders by hiring a mansion for friends and family.  

Whatever you plan to do make the most of Autumn.

Island Hopping

While most of the UK population live in cities and towns and many are fortunate enough to live in rural areas surrounded by countryside, a lucky few enjoy the unique existence of island living. Exploring, walking, sailing, cycling and riding around our coastlines are especially pleasurable when the weather is clement and the area beautiful and unfamiliar.

Island life is a special joy. Being surrounded by sea, the additional cost of importing commodity, promotes self sufficiency. In the Hebrides, Shetland, Arran and Skye there is archaeological evidence of self sufficient ancient settlements maintaining communities in remote outposts by fishing, farming, building and making all they needed from cooking pots to shoes using the resources of the islands. These skills now produce splendid pottery, cloth, clothing, knitwear, jewellery, tapestry, glass and much more which make excellent souvenirs.

Besides being islands themselves the British Isles and the island of Ireland boast a further 137 inhabited islands and many more smaller stacks and outcrops, home to bird colonies and delightful wildlife.

Archaeological remains, seal and whale watching, standing stones, crannogs, attractive wildlife, empty beaches, wide skies, peace and quiet are some of the best reasons for visiting the Shetlands and Hebrides.  On Lewis, Harris, Mull, Islay and Orkney there are small populations of English and Gaelic speakers boosted each summer by visitors seeking wide open spaces and the pleasures of travelling to a far off land with unique history to discover its secrets and beauties.

Touring the Scottish Isles was a favourite trip of the Victorians when the railway system opened up the wild Highlands and local ferries plied the straits, sounds and inlets between. Less remote but providing similar pleasure are the Channel Islands, Isles of Rossmore, Aran, Anglesey, Wight and Man.

Taking a holiday may now involve a flight and a drive, as some islands now have bridges connecting to each other or the mainland. But visitors can still choose a ferry ride, a train ride or pack up the car and set off on an island hopping adventure.  

Cottagenet holiday cottages Scottish Isles

City of Culture and Cycles

Take advantage of longer warmer days to enjoy a city break. Cambridge is amongst our favourites – a compact city easily negotiated on foot. Within an hour of London and the East Midlands, with good road and rail links this beautiful, historic university city offers architectural treats, a bustling daily market, pretty open spaces, culture and an astonishing variety of daily events.

Within the square mile of the city centre are many of the 31 University Colleges. Each has limited public opening hours with term time restrictions, but for a great introduction take a punt tour or take a walking tour in the footsteps of Cambridge’s  great alumni Stephen Fry, Charles Darwin, Isaac Newton and Stephen Hawking. Knowledgeable guides take you to the famous colleges, filling you in on their history. Cycle tours and sightseeing buses also available.

Discover treasures indoors too at The Fitzwilliam Museum, the Polar Museum, the Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, Kettle’s Yard, The Ruskin Gallery and New Hall Art Collection. Pre-book a lectures, class, hands-on experience, children’s event or public performance.

 Some of Britain’s best loved comedy performers, actors and presenters started in the Cambridge Footlights. The current generation, based at the ADC Theatre, are performing this month. Stand-up, student drama,  touring companies and West End shows are offered at the Cambridge Corn Exchange, Cambridge Arts Theatre and Cambridge Junction.

Classical concerts are an almost daily occurrence in a variety of venues. Lunchtime and evening recitals, folk, opera, musicals and chamber concerts performed by local amateurs and professionals, choirs, ensembles, members of the University Music faculty and choristers.  

The third stage of the Tour de France comes to Cambridge on Monday 7th July. The Botanical Gardens are a tranquil delight. Stroll through Granchester Meadows to Rupert Brook’s  village. Take time out at National Trust properties, nature reserves, Ely, St Neots, Saffron Walden and Newmarket.

Cottagenet holiday cottages Cambridge offers a choice of excellent accommodation

Visit Cambridge is a good source of detailed information

Fancy a Fling

Visit Scotland for more than just the traditional Highland flings, bagpipes, whisky, tartan trews and porridge. All excellent reasons to visit but there are so many more. Summer comes earlier to Scotland. Driving across the border past the signs at Gretna Green brings a thrill. The improved road network has opened up Scotland and gone are the days when the M6 stopped at the edge of Cumbria. Scotland has good air and rail links too.

Now trips to the magnificent Galloway Forest Park, Dumfries and Galloway, Ayrshire, the historic Borders and Kingdom of Fife are easy. Whatever you like to do Scotland has it – in remote Argyll and the Islands, in historic locations, thriving cities and beautiful countryside.  Amazing geographical features – Britain’s highest mountains, deepest haunted lochs, remarkable islands with ancient standing stones and an intricate and fascinating coastline – offer habitats to wonderful wildlife including brittle stars, deer, otters, ospreys, golden eagles, dolphins, seals and salmon.

Visitor attractions great for children range from Museums, country parks, sea life centres, beaches, to  Go Ape Activity centre, the Trossachs, boat trips, Dundee Science Centre and historic ships.  

2014 Glasgow hosts the Commonwealth Games. Hampden Park has been transformed into an athletics stadium, with events also hosted at the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome, the Royal Commonwealth Pool, Edinburgh and other venues. The home of golf hosts the 2014 Ryder Cup at Gleneagles in September. Other sports abound – the Highland Games, Cairngorms skiing, shooting, fishing, climbing, kayaking and white water rafting,

The  warmth of a Scottish welcome makes the heart sing as does local cuisine, award-winning restaurants, hearty breakfasts, fresh produce and food trails including The Speyside Malt Whisky Trail, The Whisky Coast,  Scottish Cheese Trail and Seafood Trail.

Cottagenet offer a wide choice of accommodation including Highland crofts,contemporary city centre apartments, castles, houses and farm cottages many with stunning views: www.cottagenet.co.uk/scotland.htm and our free online database at  www.cottagenet.co.uk/dbase/search.php

Maritime Breaks

What brings Spring to mind for you? Nodding Daffodils, Easter cards on sale, the first leaf buds bursting on long dormant branches?  For town and city dwellers these might be the first visible signs of approaching season. Thoughts turn to a country weekend away.  After a long wet winter combining some pampering with country walks, cycle rides and a visit to friends appeals.

On the other hand country dwellers, more in touch with their natural surroundings, see signs of Spring’s approach in the sky with the arrival of migrating birds, lighter mornings, growth in the fields and snowdrops on verges. For them maybe a town or city break holds more appeal. At CottageNet we cater for all tastes.

You can book a sleek city break apartment, quaint artisan cottage or smart town house as easily as a beach house, farm cottage or croft.

Britain has wonderful towns and cities full of excitement and activity. Bath, Hereford and York offer ancient history alongside great shopping, riverside walks, museums galleries, teashops and good restaurants. Cottagenet has holiday homes to rent in all these and Norwich, Cardiff, Durham and Exeter too. A trip to Oxford or Cambridge to see the famous university colleges, cobbled lanes  and river walks.

For many Britain’s coastline holds a fascination. British cities tell interesting stories of their illustrious and sometimes dubious past – be it the slave trade in Liverpool or the voyages of tall ships from Bristol. Touring the coast you’ll meet  local fishermen unloading their catches on the beach at Aldeburgh, Penzance or Whitby.

Enter an age of maritime supremacy at the National Maritime Museum and  explore the restored Cutty Sark at Greenwich, south east London. See Henry VIII’s warship the Mary Rose in or Nelson’s Victory at the Portsmouth Historic Dockyard or view Brunel’s masterpiece The SS Great Britain in Bristol. In Scotland the RRS Discovery may be visited at Dundee and in Edinburgh the Royal Yacht Britannia is now a major tourist attraction.

Self catering cottages UK