The Cotswolds, often called the “Heart of England” and lying mainly within the counties of Gloucestershire and Oxfordshire.
There isn’t a better way in which to explore the Cotswolds than on foot. For walkers or amblers, the Cotswolds has some of the most beautiful scenery in England. The rolling hills, historical buildings including castles, manors and abbeys are interspersed with quintessentially English villages and hamlets. Having been given the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty status way back in 1966, this area has been a haven for lovers of the outdoors for decades.
Its location makes an ideal getaway destination with excellent transport links due to its position north of Bath and west of Oxford. Popular with visitors from London but equally those further north, the Cotswolds are such a world away in terms of pace of life and character. Even though it is the slower pace of life visitors are after when staying in the Cotswolds, they want to be able to get there as quickly as possible!
It is a typically English so overseas visitors flock to experience a slice of this culture. This area has such a high concentration of quaint villages and architecture which is unique to the Cotswolds, even the British feel like it is a step back in time. For food lovers, the fertile landscape makes for fantastic produce such as cider, cheese, meat and honey. The Cotswolds really is at teh forefront of British regional cuisine.
With staycations on the rise and people lives overloaded, a complete getaway for a holiday or even just a short break is now more important than ever. For the ultimate in getting away from it then holiday lets in the Cotswolds are hard to beat. From thatched cottages to grade ll listed Georgian houses, the choice of high quality luxury Cotswold cottages is now better than ever. Many of these holiday cottages have a wealth of character such as wooden beams, flagstone floors, exposed walls and fireplaces but combined with all the modern conveniences expected and required by guests.
For everyone, a holiday is an extremely happy and special occasion but Cotswolds holiday cottages offer that bit more. The experience of staying in a property that many could only dream of owning and located amongst the rolling hills of the Wolds.
Decoy country cottages who offer 5 star self catering Ireland are delighted to announce the opening of a new day spa Revive. Together with their therapist Barabra, they hope to bring visitors the ultimate in treatment experience whether it is a luxury facial or body treatment or one of their routine grooming treatments. Revive use Dermalogica products for all their treatments as they believe their approach to product development is both revolutionary and visionary.
Revive is now offering Botox and Collagen treatments – why not leave Decoy Country Cottages looking totally relaxed. Phone Paula on 086 8040614 to enquire about this service.
To view the current brochure please visit http://www.decoycountrycottages.ie/uploads/file/Revive%20Day%20Spa%20Brochure.pdf
If you are staying with Decoy country please be sure book your treatment early to avoid disappointment.
To book an appointment, please call 046 9026960.
The Glenburn hotel in Windermere is a highly acclaimed hotel that offers Bed & Breakfast or half board accommodation with four poster beds, spa baths, a relaxing bar and superb restaurant.
In addition to the hotel, Glenburn also offers a choice of two Windermere self catering holiday cottages, both within a short walking distance of Windermere, Bowness and Lake Windermere.
River Cottage and Gamekeeper’s cottage both comfortably sleep up to six people. They are beautifully furnished to a high standard and have car parking facilities.
River Cottage nestles within the hotel grounds next to a bubbling stream. It’s just five minutes’ walk from the centre of Windermere village, with its selection of bars, restaurants and shops
The 18th-century Gamekeeper’s Cottage is situated in the centre of Windermere village. It is an ideal base from which to explore the English Lake District and Lake Windermere.
Please visit www.glenburn.uk.com for details.
Nestling in the Buttermere, Loweswater, Crummock Water and Lorton Valley in the English Lake District, Scale Hill Cottages has provided accommodation for over two centuries. Situated in its own grounds with an attractive garden overlooking the valley and the River Cocker we now provide Loweswater cottages from February to December inclusively.
Just eight miles from Keswick and Cockermouth Scale Hill, once a famous coaching inn and now a family home, offers a dramatic location for a peaceful escape or a family adventure. Watch the red squirrels in the garden, wander through the woods to Crummock Water, conquer local Wainwrights, take a rowing boat out on the lake, explore the Cumbrian coast – enjoy life in a natural area of beauty.
The Buttermere, Loweswater and Lorton Valley lies in the North West corner of English Lakeland, with its western end opening out towards the coastal plain and thus gathering milder weather than most of the Lake District.
The three lakes carpet the Valley floor interspersed with the green fields of the sheep farms and the broad-leaved woods, and all are surrounded by the fells, ranging from Low Fell in the west beside Loweswater Lake and Grasmoor and Mellbreak guarding Crummock Water, to Red Pike and Haystacks over Buttermere, whilst Great Gable watches over all from the South East.
Riverside Lodge is a property of immense charm and character comprising three adjoining Ambleside cottages in Ambleside. Illustrated in the pictures above, they are delightfully situated in a unique and idyllic riverside setting on the bank of the River Rothay just 500 yards from the centre of Ambleside and Lake Windermere. At the heart of the Lake District in Cumbria.
The three Ambleside cottages are furnished and equipped to 4 star requirement providing quality Self Catering Accommodation. “The Lodge” has two en-suite bedrooms to sleep 4 persons. “Middlebeck” and “Overbeck”, each have one spacious en-suite bedroom to sleep 2 persons only. They are all maintained to a standard which will appeal to the discerning. Ample parking is available in our private car-park. We are unable to accept children under 10 or pets.
Ambleside town centre is just a short walk upriver and a similar walk downriver leads to Lake Windermere. All cottages enjoy views over the river towards Loughrigg Fell and, are completely independent affording total privacy. A perfect location for exploring the Lake District National Park and the wider reaches of Cumbria or for pursuing Hill and Fell Walking, Cycling, Fishing, Bird Watching etc. Ideal accommodation for a romantic honeymoon.
There is no better location that Keswick on Derwentwater when it comes to walking in the Lake District. There are a plethora of mountains within easy reach of Keswick including some of the highest mountains in England such as Scafell Pike, Skiddaw, Helvellyn, Great Gable and Pillar, which are all over 2,900 feet tall.
For anyone feeling less adventurous there lots of other enjoyable walks in the area including a choice of lakeside paths around Derwentwater, Bassenthwaite and Thirlmere, you can explore neighbouring valleys and secluded places, plus to the West of Keswick you will find the wonderful Whinlatter forest which offers a number of different forest trails.
Of course walking is not the only outdoor pursuit available in Keswick on Derwentwater there are opportunities for mountain climbing, mountain biking, sailing and kayaking to name a few.
Keswick on Derwentwater and the Northern Lakes covers one half of the Lake District National Park. This is the perfect area to choose for gentle relaxation or for an action packed family adventure holiday with lots of activities and attractions.
The picturesque market town of Keswick, nestled on the shores of Derwentwater, has a wide array of shops, restaurants and galleries. Explore the five major lakes, beautiful valleys and unspoilt villages.
For visitors to Keswick and North Lakes there is a range of accommodation to suit all tastes and budgets, whether you prefer a Keswick B&B, hotels, caravan sites or Keswick cottages, the choice is yours.
When it comes to places to visit and things to do during your stay you will find Keswick has plenty to offer including Derwentwater lake cruises, Cumberland Pencil Museum, Castlerigg Stone Circle, Trotters World of Animals, Cars of the Stars Motor Museum, Mirehouse Historic House & Gardens and the Keswick Brewing Company.
When it comes to eating out in Keswick visitors will find an excellent choice of quality restaurants, pubs and hotels. Many different cuisines are catered for including traditional English bar meals with many places specialising in local ingredients. You will also find Italian restaurants, Indian restaurants and even a Mexican restaurant. Fine dining is available at some of the top hotels in the area including Armathwaite Hall, Lodore Falls Hotel and Swinside Lodge in Borrowdale.
The Eden Valley together with the western lakes has the most picturesque and dramatic scenery in the whole of the region. The Eden Valley has the magnificent Ullswater a stretch of water 14.5 kilometres long and which is surrounded by such famous mountains as High Street, Fairfield and Helvellyn and Eden Valley self catering properties are plentiful.
Alston, Newby and Kirkby Stephen are lesser know areas in the Eden Valley. Kirkby Stephen is a market town with cobbled streets and rural scenery leading to wild uplands. Kirkby Stephen has a great atmosphere and community making it a great place for a drink or a bite to eat. It has three public houses and individually owned shops.The distinctive local stone used is very different to the slate used in structures in south Cumbria.
Alston is the highest market town in the UK at 1000 metres above sea level. The road leading to Alston is a motor biker’s paradise, the A686 up Hartside Fell. The road climbs steeply and bends almost at right angles and has been voted by The AA as one of their “Ten Great Drives”. The views down into the Eden Valley are views to savour with the craggy Lake District fells to one side and the pennies to the other. Passing right through the Eden Valley is the Coast to Coast route which runs from St Bees on the West Cumbrian coast across to Whitley Bay so this area is very popular with cyclists.
The Eden Valley will surprise with its wide range of activities – strenuous mountain walks to gentle riverside strolls, watersports, golf and even activity centres where paintball shooting, archery and quad biking can be experienced. For such an activity packed holiday, Eden Valley cottages and Cumbrian cottages are a good choice of accommodation type. They give greater room for equipment, for cyclists especially, and are located in settings where a hotel or bed and breakfast would never be.
Self catering holidays are an ideal type of holiday when taking a pet away. A self catering property has the space for the dog as many are like home from homes and it enables the ease when feeding and the storing of pet and dog food for example. The Lake District is heaven for dogs with endless walking routes and for the owners, the spectacular scenery coupled with an excellent range of Lake District cottages to stay in. Not all Lake District self catering cottages allow dogs, so asking prior to booking is advisable but properties that do allow pets are becoming increasingly more available. Some even let pets go free which makes taking a pet with you far cheaper than kennelling. After all, it is reported that there are around 27 million pets in the UK with 43% of UK households having at least one pet
Goosemire Cottages, the family owned Lake District cottages company are pleased to announce a 46th property added to their portfolio. Based in Kendal in the South Lakes, this new property enables Goosemire Cottages to now offer a choice of 46 different self catering cottages ranging from 1 to 10 bedroom properties. Last year the largest cottage on offer was 7 bedrooms but with the rise in the popularity of larger guest groups, the 8, 9 and 10 bedrooms cottages have all been added. It has been a busy year for Goosemire with the addition of the 10 properties along with the launch of the new website. The website has been essential for the management of such a high number of properties.