A New Year bolt-hole needed

[Moo]

Not so long ago I posted a message about ideas for a shed for my new allotment plot and, lo!, the lovely Joss had a spare one that is now the envy of all my horticultural neighbours.

So, confident that PPUK members are the source of all things good, here's another SOS:

My son and his delightful Parisian girl-friend want to get away from the new year celebrations in a small remote cottage with an open fire somewhere in England (the open fire is important - she's set her heart on it).
Does anyone have, or know of such a gem?

 

[thiambal]

Ah, a delightful Parisian girlfriend! I have gone quite weak at the knees.

 

[Moo]

Yes, Thiambal, she's really lovely. I have hopes.
The patter of little bi-lingual tots.....

 

[arl]

http://www.historic-uk.com/StayUK/index.htm

loads of properties but no good search engine

http://www.helpfulholidays.com/

cottages in devon. have used this company and found them very good. good search engine

 

[Moo]

Thanks for those links, Arl - I'll pass them on to my son.

 

[Penners]

Moo - I'll copy this thread to my Naarfk daughter. She and her husband have plenty of experience of holiday cottages.

 

[Moo]

Thanks, Penners.

They're not fussed about geography (though E.Anglia takes a lot of beating, as we both know). Just something simple with that open fire.

 

[Penners]

Not sure whether daughter will get back until tomorrow. Her suggestions are likely to be Lake District - their favourite area for holidays.

Meanwhile, we have rented once or twice from these people and been very satisfied. Huge choice.

 

[Nemesis]

Probably booked up - but Vivat and Landmark of course... National Trust, EH ...

http://www.cottages.co.uk/0/National_Trust_Cottages.htm

 

[Nemesis]

Or maybe we should rent ours - then we can go somewhere warm and comfy!

We have fires though.

 

[Penners]

warm and comfy

Judging by some your previous posts, I suspect we may be into Trade Descriptions Act territory here....

 

[Nemesis]

Read it again Penners...

Sigh.

 

[Penners]

Sorry - I was dozy 'cos I'm so warm and comfy.

 

[chasbo]

I have a cottage in Shropshire that I rent out for holidays. It is no use to you I am afraid as it is already booked over the New Year and it does not have an open fire!

We used to use one of the national agencies to handle all the bookings. We now do the bookings ourselves through our own website.

My advice would be to not go through a national agency. They keep between 35% and 50% of the money that is paid leaving the owner the rest. Doing the bookings myself I am able to offer my customers much better value for money. Try visiting http://www.enjoyengland.com or google for a local Tourist Information Centre at the place where you want to stay.
Good Luck!

 

[Jaykaypi]

Hello Mo

I'm Penners' daughter - he told me you were looking for lovely cottages with open fires. We've stayed in a fair few - in fact, we're off next week to one in Chapel Stile in the Lake District. We got that through Wheelwrights Cottages, who flag up their properties with open fires:
http://www.wheelwrights.com

The best we've stayed in so far was in Northumberland, in a tiny village right on the coast called Lower Newton. The house was the Rocket House, and it had a woodburner. A conversion of the shed that used to house the lightboat, and much cosier than it sounds. We got that through Northumbria Coast & Country Cottages http://www.northumbria-cottages.co.uk/

In Cornwall, http://www.classycottages.co.uk have a lovely fisherman's cottage in Polperro (Willy Wilcox's cottage) with open fire - would be dramatic at New Year! Never stayed here, but it looks nice.

You may know this one already, but Alistair Sawday has a collection of 'special places to stay' which include self-catering cottages - all very nice, usually old properties: http://www.sawdays.co.uk/

Also good is the back of Country Living magazine - lots of classifieds for nice country cottages. Also - a Google on key search terms like 'open fire cottage' will usually get good results - I'd always go for the local companies, or owner-run sites, as they'll usually sting you less for their cut.

Good luck and good Googling!

Jaykaypi

 

[Nemesis]

Low Newton in the dead of winter... brrrr!!!

Actually - if oop north. somehwhere near Allendale, then at least you get the tar barls and the free fire to keep warm:

http://www.northpennines.org.uk/index.cfm?articleid=801

http://www.north-country.co.uk/tar-barrels.htm

 

[Moo]

Jaykaypi - you're really a chip off your lovely helpful father's block!

Thank you so much for all that advice. I've forwarded the whole thread to my son, plus your message as a separate Word document in case the thread link doesn't work. I've not heard from him yet, because he's touring Welsh Wales with a film-with-live-music production (well worth seeing, by the way - it's the Cocteau film called Blood of the Poet).
But he'll be back in London for his birthday party at the weekend, so it'll be a nice present for him.

I'll report back if he finds something.

xxxxxx M

 

[Penners]

Fingers crossed, Moo! :wink:

 

[Jaykaypi]

No problem Mo - we're off to that Lakes cottage on Saturday, so I'll let you know if it's any good.

Ooh, and I do like the idea of the flaming tar barrels to keep warm at New Year!

J

 

[bournonite]

Moo

My apartment is already let for New Year too - but Sykes Cottages are brill - mine is let through them - property no. 1697 ..

Have a look at http://www.sykescottages.co.uk they're brill...

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