Arrange a cottage stay and shake off the blues
THE race is already on for the best summer boltholes. Selfcatering companies are reporting record bookings as couples, families and friends shake off the winter blues by arranging something special to look forward to.
Properties close to beaches, historic attractions and foodie delights are inevitably snapped up first. Yet short breaks are often available outside the peak weeks — and there’s still time to arrange a romantic lastminute Valentine’s stay.
One thing’s for certain — it’s best to book now, especially if you are dreaming of summer by the sea. WITH its pretty harbour, sandy beaches and succulent fish and chips, Whitby has yearround cottage-stay appeal. Discover its Dracula links, a jet jewellery workshop that’s a Victorian time-capsule — and a dramatic clifftop abbey and church reached by 199 steps.
Nearby, Goathland was a location for the Harry Potter films and for TV’s Heartbeat, while Mallyan Spout Hotel is said to have hosted Churchill — fascinating for fans of Oscartipped film Darkest Hour.
Five miles away on Yorkshire’s own Dinosaur Coast is lovely Robin Hood’s Bay, home to a seasonal fossil museum.
Stay in a period fisherman’s cottage in the characterful town centre or an apartment with views, through Whitby Holiday Cottages (whitby-cottages.net).
DORSET’S Jurassic Coast is another fossil hotspot, with 185 million years of history.
Dog-friendly, gold awardwinning Golden Acre Bungalows
(golden-acre.com) is based in the romantic smugglers’ village of Eype, near great places to eat, including River Cottage Canteen at Axminster.
Go fossil-hunting, enjoy fabulous coastal walks to West Bay, where Broadchurch was filmed, or tuck into a Dorset cream tea by the sea. Golden Acre is offering a champagne, roses and luxury linen upgrade option to visiting Valentines.