A change is as good as a rest they say, and that’s very much evidenced by the popularity of winter weekend breaks in the UK; a few days away in a different place with a change of scene can do you the world of good. But a long weekend break with your own private pool, a hot tub, a games room… maybe a sauna, a big screen cinema room, a play area for the kids, and cosy BBQ lodge? Now you’re talking.
Our winter weekend breaks in the UK give you three whole nights away and all of Saturday and Sunday to do as you please. Arrive at 4pm on Friday, unpack your bags, pour yourself a tipple and put your feet up knowing you’ve got all weekend to relax and enjoy yourselves. Ah, isn’t that nice? Of course, you might well be tempted to change into your cozzie and head straight for the pool, to slip into the hot tub or the sauna and kick start your mini holiday. We don’t blame you, all are excellent ways to unwind.
With a little organising you won’t even have to worry about cooking; we’ve got recommended local caterers who can drop off tasty home cooked food for the freezer – all you need to do is pop it in the oven and set the table for a scrumptious Friday night feast. Book a grocery delivery for your arrival; if it’s all a bit last minute you can rely on Dart Fresh or Coombe Farm Organic, depending on where you’re staying. Both have a bounty of local delights and a few amazing surprises, including drinks from artisan producers; well, why not – you’re worth it, aren’t you?
Get all snuggly-wuggly on the sofas and watch a movie together, put the lights out, pass the snacks round. After a well deserved lie-in welcome a new Saturday with a hearty cooked breakfast; thick slices of bacon, newly laid eggs, hunks of farmhouse bread, freshly baked. Then pull on your coats and hats and scarves and step out into the countryside for a humdinger of a walk; wide open fields, immense skies and wonderful woodlands to wander through, ankle deep in crisp autumn leaves. All around you wholesome fresh air and scenery that’s worth writing home about. That’ll put a bit of colour in your cheeks, especially if you head for the coast where you can stroll along the shore or take in the stunning sea views on a bracing clifftop constitutional.
Most of our holiday homes for winter weekend breaks are within easy reach of the Somerset coast or the beaches of East Devon and West Dorset. Lyme Regis is a favourite and so is Regency Sidmouth with its towering red sandstone cliffs, but if you prefer a quieter scene you’ll like Axmouth, Beer, Branscombe or Charmouth. The Somerset beaches include the long sandy swathes at Minehead, Blue Anchor and Watchet, and for something very different, the remoter bays of St Audries and Kilve. Several are fab for fossil hunting and this time of year, most are dog friendly, so if your mutt’s in tow, perfect.
You might fancy a visit to one of the family attractions nearby, like Crealy Theme Park & Resort, Wildwood Escot, or maybe a trip to Exeter to see the gorgeously Gothic cathedral, followed by a session at Clip n Climb. In the Forest of Dean you can ride the Dean Forest Railway, or go underground at Clearwell Caves, and there’s nothing to stop you hiring kayaks and getting active on the River Wye. Huge helpings of family fun all round. Or how about a stroll in the parkland of one of the National Trust houses, like Killerton and Knightshayes, or an amble around the lake at Stourhead.
Long weekend breaks are a fantastic way of celebrating a birthday or an anniversary and though it’s not quite so easy to have caterers in to cook for you with all the restrictions, there are ways round it. Some can bring along their vans and do the cooking outside, or they can deliver pre-cooked food, and we have a lovely lady who can arrange balloons and bake a cake provided she has enough notice. If you like a barbecue you should pick one of our luxury holiday houses with a BBQ lodge in the garden; honestly, this time of year they are so cosy! Some have blankets or reindeer skins to keep you warm, some have twinkly fairy lights, so you can imagine how lovely it is to be gathered there together tucking into hot dogs and toasting marshmallows. Stay out there till the small hours, swapping stories, telling jokes; play charades, and if you’ve got anyone with musical talent with you, bring a guitar along and have a good old singsong.
And Sunday. Well, that’s for big fat roasts, isn’t it? Big fat roasts and just chillin’, whether you book a table at a village pub for lunch or whether you stay put and cook it yourselves. When it’s gone down nicely, go and have a play in the games room; there’s usually a pool table and quite often table football, air hockey or ping-pong too. Keep scores, whoever comes last has to do 20 laps around the room.
Do it. Give yourselves a reason to be cheerful amidst the doom and gloom, put happy smiles on faces. Take your pick from our stunning places to stay in the UK, in Devon, Somerset, Wiltshire, Gloucestershire, Hampshire, and Surrey. Pick a property and book today!
See our Large Holiday Homes here
