Festive stays with a hot tub and sea view
WISH it could be Christmas every day? Well, maybe you’re not feeling quite that way right now. But once the festive bandwagon begins to roll, the anticipation is sure to start rising.
And the big question for many of us will be where — and with whom — we should spend the festive break.
One way to make the season merrier and brighter is to rent a Christmassy cottage or lodge, where you can pull the whole family together for a winter holiday in a magical home-from-home.
Imagine your loved ones waking up on Christmas morning with a glistening sea view as a backdrop to present-opening, or hopping in the hot tub at the end of a festive day — the icing on the Christmas cake.
Cottage party pads
OWNERS lay on plenty of sparkle, especially if you put in a request. So you could well be greeted by a hamper, decorated tree, festive swags — and, of course, an oven large enough to roast a turkey and all the trimmings.
Many festive cottages come with woodburning stoves or open fires, perfect for warming your toes after a post-Christmas lunch walk beside a stretch of beach or through a countryside wonderland.
But it’s best to take a lesson from Santa’s elves and get busy on it now, especially if you have a multi-generational break in mind. Some companies, such as
holidaycottages.co.uk, are reporting that festive bookings are up by more than 50 per cent this year, as an increased demand for staycations continues.
Devon, Cornwall, Wales and the Lake District are among top destinations, with larger groups already creating a run on early bookings and couples following suit.
With Christmas (and New Year) falling on a Sunday, normal change-over days might not apply this year and short breaks are likely to be more available, according to Cumbrian Cottages.
And there’s always the option to ramp up the Christmas mood by arranging a stay in the run-up to visit festive markets, skate on ice rinks, visit decorated stately homes and walk in wintry wonderlands.
A Twixmas cottage break, between Christmas and New Year, can provide a welcome getaway after too much turkey and pud. And New Year tags on another chance to party in new and welcoming surroundings — starting 2017 in the positive way you mean to carry on.
Cornwall is life-affirming
WHY not take a life-affirming walk along the South West Coast Path from Looe to Polperro, during a Christmas breather?
Cornwall’s beaches are blissfully quiet in winter. And there are some great pubs to retreat to, such as The Salutation Inn in Looe, which serves Wassail, a delicious mulled cider made by the Cornish Orchards company. Santa arrives in Looe by boat for a festive weekend with torchlit procession on December 2 to 4 — one of many cheery events in the west.
And the Eden Project hosts a wonderful winter festival from November 25 to January 2, with an ice rink, that is a real seasonal treat for families.
Cornish Collection can find you a cosy cottage in this lovely corner of Cornwall.
Devon’s winter wonderland
FOR the price of a tank of petrol and a cottage booking, you can be part of a winter wonderland in Devon, when frost twinkles on the moorland tors and a low-slung sun reflects on the dramatic coastal waters.
The county throngs with markets and festivals to get you in the festive spirit. Powderham Castle has a Michaelmas Fair on November 3, while the big daddy of Devon markets is at Exeter Cathedral from November 19 until December 18.
Toad Hall Cottages, Classic Cottages and Jean Bartlett Cottage Holidays (in Jurassic East Devon) can help you bed down in a cosy property.
OR HOW about Christmas in the Lake District, with a picturesque cottage from Lakelovers? Curl up by a log fire with the fells as a backdrop and make some amazing festive memories.