UNITED KINGDOM - WORLDWIDE TRAVEL INFORMATION
Posted January 6th, 2015
LATEST WORLDWIDE TRAVEL NEWS
UNITED KINGDOM
Two stylish big houses on Scotland’s west coast
Sleeping up to 26 join House Parties collection
Sleeping up to 26 join House Parties collection
Balvonie House and The Drury, two very large and stylishly furnished houses on Scotland’s west coast, sleeping up to 26 guests, have joined House Parties collection of luxurious properties for holiday lets and special gatherings.
Professional chef services are available at both to take away the strain of preparing meals for a large party so guests can relax and enjoy their time away. They also have well equipped games rooms, free WiFi and welcome up to three pets each.
Balvonie's Emperor Bedroom
Just 45 minutes’ drive from Glasgow, Balvonie House sits in its own large garden high above Skelmorlie with panoramic sea views from many of the windows. The handsome detached property sleeps 26 in 11 bedrooms/nine bathrooms, including a four-poster and ground floor twin with an ensuite wet room. For guests’ entertainment a cinema-style screen rolls down in front of the open fireplace in the spacious sitting room to watch TV or DVDs, while for special gatherings the large dining room has a long table for 22, plus a second table in the window that can seat a further six guests.
The Drury at Oban which sleeps 22, has stunning views over the town and sea towards the Isle of Mull and beyond. The spacious Victorian house has three reception rooms, a large kitchen, eleven bedrooms and seven bathrooms spread over three storeys. Many of the rooms have sea views, while three of the bedrooms also look towards McCaigs Folly. The house is extremely light and spacious with many original features, which have been sympathetically restored such as the working shutters, cornicing, fire places and the grand staircase with its cupola, which allows natural light throughout the first floor landing down to the ground floor; there’s also free Sky Sports.
Outside there’s a hot tub and two sitting out areas plus a fire pit with grate, which can serve as a very large BBQ; parking for up to six cars and a secure gated drive way. A path from the end of the garden provides a convenient short cut into the town.
As well as providing full details and images of both properties, House Parties new interactive website includes information about things to see and do nearby ranging from visitor attractions and where to eat to activities such as golf, fly fishing, yacht charter and bicycle hire.
Balvonie House is priced from £3,845 (£148 per person) for a week’s stay and from £2,168 (£83 per person) for short two night midweek break, while The Drury is from £3,100 (£141 per person) for a week’s stay and from £1,705 (£78 per person) for two nights; pets extra. To book call House Parties on 01845 597614 or visit www.house-parties.com; follow on Twitter @FabHolidays.
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New for 2015 – website and stunning holidays homes in the
Lake District National Park from Lakelovers for 2015
Lake District self-catering agency, Lakelovers, has launched a new responsive website, www.lakelovers.co.uk, and introduced several stunning new holiday cottages for 2015.
Featuring around 465 places to stay, the website includes a wide selection of images providing a virtual tour of each property plus easy-to-use search and booking facilities. Holidaymakers can now enter criteria such as the size, location and star rating when searching for a place to stay as well as whether it has Wi-Fi, an open fire/log burner, lake access or membership of a local leisure club. Other searches quickly reveal the best places for a romantic getaway or family break as well as dog-friendly cottages and special offers.
Established in 1977, Lakelovers is the oldest holiday home rental agency in the Lake District now providing hand-picked individual properties in Ambleside, Bowness, Cartmel, Coniston, Grasmere, Hawkshead, Lakeside, Langdale, Troutbeck, Ullswater, Windermere and many smaller villages in between.
The selection ranges from big country houses sleeping up to 20 and traditional farmhouses steeped in character to boathouses, barns and stylish modern apartments for two with use of private tennis courts and leisure facilities. All properties are also inspected and quality assessed and carry a VisitBritain star rating.
Highlights for 2015 include:
Le Chalet at Langdale sleeping 12 from £1,750pw
This luxurious, detached timber-framed property beautifully compliments its setting in the heart of Elterwater with stunning views of the iconic Langdale Pikes and Loughrigg Fell. Inside Le Chalet blends the distinctive style of a Swiss chalet with contemporary interior design. It sleeps 12 in six stylish bedrooms/six bathrooms, including the top floor Loughrigg Suite with its handmade log burner and a flat screen TV above the feature bathtub. Prices at Le Chalet start from £1,750 per week.
The Old Coach House, Troutbeck sleeping eight from £695pw
A traditional Lakeland stone residence in the hamlet of Troutbeck with great walking country on the doorstep, the stylishly furnished Old Coach House sleeps eight and welcomes pets. Ideal for family holidays, this spacious property has a cosy open fire in the main living room, plus a second sitting/TV room and a large hand-crafted kitchen/dining area. It’s priced from £695 per week.
Townfoot Barn and Farmhouse, Troutbeck Valley sleeping two and eight from £395pw
Sleeping two and eight, Townfoot Barn and Farmhouse lie in the peaceful Troutbeck Valley a short drive from Windermere village and lake. A stunning romantic retreat for two, detached Townfoot Barn has been designed with the living space and bedroom on the first floor to admire the views and take advantage of the high vaulted and beamed ceiling. Grade II listed, the 17th century detached farmhouse retains many of its original features with oak beams, doors and panelling, slate floors and mullioned windows blending with 21st century luxuries; both are ecologically heated by a biomass boiler. Prices start form £395 per week for the barn and £775 for the farmhouse
Goody Raise, Grasmere sleeps four from £580pw
Set in an acre of enclosed gardens, Goody Raise is a short walk from the centre of Grasmere village. Sleeping four the detached cottage has a large, elevated terrace with outdoor hot tub; a great place to relax and admire the views. Inside the main living area has a wood floor, warming wood burning stove and floor to ceiling windows. Prices start from £580 per week.
For more details and to download a copy of the new 2015 brochure visit www.lakelovers.co.uk or call 015394 88855; follow Lakelovers on Twitter @LakeloversUK or visit their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/lakelovers.
New 2015 brochure from West Country Cottages
Featuring nearly 130 holiday homes
West Country Cottages has launched its new 2015 brochure featuring around 130 quality holiday homes in Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, the New Forest and Somerset. Sleeping two to 11 guests, properties range from romantic retreats to beautifully converted barns and large family houses in coast, country and village settings; over 50 also welcome pets.
Every property is inspected by a member of the agency’s team and ‘Sun Graded’ with one to five suns according to its quality, ambience and facilities; in addition places incorporating a very high standard of atmosphere, furnishings, fitments and décor are ‘highly recommended’. Weekly prices range from £234 for a week low season up to £2,247 for a large holiday home in peak periods; short breaks are available at many properties low season or occasionally for late bookings at other times.
West Country Cottages, which celebrated its 30th anniversary this year, is part of the Helpful Holidays Group.
2015 Highlights include:
Cosy retreats
Sleeping just two, detached Springfield Cottage on the edge of Norton St Philip, Somerset is an ideal couple’s retreat. Full of character it has a woodburner in the living area, while the kitchen features the original bread oven and has French doors opening on to the peaceful garden to relax and admire the surrounding countryside. Graded 4 suns, highly recommended, prices from £276pw; for details see brochure page 94.
Pretty, thatched Appletree Cottage lies in the picturesque hamlet of Higher Brimley, near Bovey Tracey on Devon’s Dartmoor. Brimming with character it has thick cob walls, original leaded windows, beamed ceilings and stone fireplaces with traditional cottage furnishings. Two double bedrooms make it ideal for one or two couples planning a break together. Graded 4½ suns, prices from £300pw for two guests; for details see brochure page 31.
Dating back to 1790 and sleeping three, thatched Mouse Cottage on the edge of Beaminster, Dorset is the epitome of a country cottage with its stripped floors, deep sills, beams and uneven walls. Graded 4 suns, a week’s stay is from £276 for two guests; for details see brochure page 69.
Family houses
Lower Well Cottage
Sleeping four and six are Lower Well Cottage and Lower Well Farmhouse near Ugborough in South Devon. They have shared use of an indoor pool, while the farmhouse also has wooden floors and an impressive inglenook with bread oven and wood burner in the lounge. Prices from £444 for the cottage (graded 4½ suns) and £525pw for four guests in the farmhouse (5 suns); for details see brochure page 43.
Jordan House, a historic, character holiday home for four on the edge of the North Cornwall fishing village of Boscastle, is on three levels. The cosy lounge has an open fire and looks into the courtyard garden which has pleasant valley views. Graded 4 suns, prices from £360pw, pets welcome; for details see brochure page 27.
Larger Houses
Sleeping eight plus the family pet dog, 16th century Higher House Farm is set in two acres of gardens within easy reach of the beach at Branscombe on East Devon’s Jurassic Coast. Beams and original features have been retained in the spacious, luxuriously furnished rooms; woodburners in the lounge and dining room add to the ambience, while two winding staircases lead to the four bedrooms, three ensuite. Outside a small barn has been converted into a games room. Graded 5 suns, highly recommended, prices from £948pw; for details see brochure page 57.
Dating back to the 17th century, Grade II listed Surridge Farmhouse, which sleeps nine, lies in an elevated but secluded position near the West Somerset village of Bathealton, close to Exmoor. The house is surrounded by 80 acres of pasture and woodland and includes an Iron Age Fort. There is also a south-facing patio, pagoda and an illuminated six-person hot tub. Inside it’s warm, homely and full of character with ancient oak beams, some wonky floors and window seats; there’s an Aga in the large farmhouse kitchen/breakfast room and wood burners in the dining and living rooms, plus a games room. Graded 4½ suns, prices from £693pw for six, pets welcome; for details see brochure page 99.
For a free copy of West Country Cottages’ 2015 brochure call 01803 814000, email [email protected] or visit www.westcountrycottages.co.uk. Every holiday home in the brochure is featured on the website and West Country Cottages can be followed on Twitter @WestCountryCots, Facebook and Pinterest.
