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Christmas

From present ideas to party food, find all your Christmas inspiration here.

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Original poster

Has anyone ever hired a cottage for Christmas?

56 replies

missyB1 · 21/12/2018 14:16

Just that really. It’s a sort of fantasy I’ve always had, going to stay in a countryside cottage for Christmas. Maybe in the Yorkshire dales for a chance of Christmassy weather! Nice pub nearby perhaps to enjoy a drink or two.
Dh says the reality would be a load of hassle and not worth the hard work- but he’s a bit of a stick in the mud about Christmas!
So anyone ever done it? If so how was it?

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thefuriousfuggler · 21/12/2018 15:26

We did it once - in the Yorkshire Dales funnily enough. We bought a tree after checking with the owners first (but lots of cottage owners will provide decorations). It required a bit of military planning to ensure that the kitchen was well stocked, but that was pre-home delivery so I expect it is much easier now. We walked to the pub in the snow while the meat was roasting and sat by the roaring fire. Lovely. My abiding memory is that the lunch was stupendous after everyone pitched in and got it cooked so everybody except me and 4 year old nephew fell asleep straight afterwards. Said nephew had got a bike for Christmas so wanted to try it out. We wrapped up like Eskimos and wobbled up and down the hills in the snow for what seemed like hours. When we got back they were all still asleep (bastards) but at least Auntie Furious was feted by all and excused any further kitchen duties that day

Original poster

missyB1 · 21/12/2018 15:31

Aaaah you see that’s the kind of picture I have in my head! And as you say with online groceries it might not be too difficult to plan the food. I just fancy the idea of being somewhere different for Christmas, it would feel like more of a break.

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Judashascomeintosomemoney · 21/12/2018 15:31

My friend just left yesterday for their Christmas in a Cornish cottage. They’ve never done it before but after a not great Christmas last (due to extended family feuding ) they decided to get away from it all this year. It’s all countryfied, big open fires etc but also near enough for a walk on the beach on Christmas morning. They could have had a chef thrown in for the week too but decided not to in the end (I definitely would!). I’m waiting to see what she thinks and I really will consider doing it next year, sounds lovely and cosy.

Judashascomeintosomemoney · 21/12/2018 15:32

Oh yes they did an online shop for delivery for ease too.

Original poster

missyB1 · 21/12/2018 15:37

Ooooh I’m getting so tempted for next year. Mind you I bet it’s bloody expensive at an already expensive time of year. Still if you can’t splash out at Christmas....

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IggyAce · 21/12/2018 15:37

We did last year it was in Yorkshire as well, it was near catterick and Richmond. It was a stunning cottage and fully equipped. We found it really easy to get everything as there was a Tesco and Iceland close by. The owners had stocked the fridge with wine and a couple of bottles of beer plus stuff for a cooked breakfast.
We loved it and I wish we had the money to book it again this year. There was a village pub which was open for a few hours on Xmas day so we enjoyed a drink before dinner.

Saucery · 21/12/2018 15:38

We do it every year - highly recommend it! We usually take some food with us then shop for Christmas in the nearest town but this year I’ve booked a Collection shop for Christmas Eve.
It’s fantastic! Really clears the way for Christmas, no distractions, just doing what we want to do (walking, lovely food, relaxing). I was fed up of the hustle and bustle of feeling obliged to attend parties I didn’t particularly want to go to, the temptation to tidy the house or do work stuff, crap Tv.......Christmas is a treat and special and going away is how we add to that feeling.
The cottages we go to are decorated too, so no need to take any with us.

Original poster

missyB1 · 21/12/2018 15:40

Can anybody recommend any good companies or websites? Might be trickier for us as we would want to take the dog.

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RippleEffects · 21/12/2018 15:42

We used to hire a group of cottages every Christmas so extended family could get together. It was great fun. Far less cluttered than all our homes.

Some stuff that you'd have at home probably wouldn't be there though like serving platters for a turkey, dishes for veg etc. Not that any of that matters.

One year in Snowdonia we had heavy snow and wind then the power went off Christmas eve. We had electric cookers in all the cottages so got a grate off a barbeque in the garden and used it over the open fire to cook sausages and bacon for our evening meal (lots of alcohol got consumed too as I remember. It was a real adventure. We enjoyed the novelty of chopping wood with decent sharp axes - we left behind a really big neatly stacked log pile - who knew chopping wood could be a competitive Christmas sport.

AllYeFaithful · 21/12/2018 15:44

Yes. Two years in a row we hired a cottage in North Yorkshire. Was absolutely wonderful! Choose a nice little village with a decent pub, though

Calvinsmam · 21/12/2018 15:46

We do it the week before Christmas. We get a lodge with a hot tub and just pretend it’s christmas, we get a Tesco delivery and it’s really easy and about a third of the price of doing it the Christmas weekend.

It does mean I’ve peaked though.

Original poster

missyB1 · 21/12/2018 15:47

Ha ha nice way to peak though Calvinsmam

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Calvinsmam · 21/12/2018 16:14

Oh yeah! It’s my favourite bit of the year tbh.

I couldn’t be arsed to do it on actual Christmas the roads are awful and if anything goes wrong it’s only skeleton staff to put it right.

Pretend Christmas is way less stressful than real Christmas because no one else is off work and the shops are open

IggyAce · 21/12/2018 16:58

@missyb if you are looking for one that sleeps upto 6 with log burners off road parking and accepts dogs I can find you the link to the one we stayed at last year. It really was fab and finished to a high standard.

Original poster

missyB1 · 21/12/2018 17:05

I would love a link please IggyAce

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PinkAvocado · 21/12/2018 17:11

We did. Think through cottages4u or something similar. We organised a food delivery and took a few bits with us. Did lots of walking and relaxing. Loved it and wasn’t too expensive as it was just a three bedroom and wouldn’t have held multiple families.

mumsastudent · 21/12/2018 17:13

we did it last year in barn conversation with 7 adults - we had 3 (!!!) bathrooms/shower rooms plus extra loo (2 ensuite) mezzanine living room & really big kitchen/breakfast/dining room - we are foodies! 4 parking places (essential when everybody arrives in own car) a mile from 2 eat in pubs - you need to check these kind of requirements!! & we did supermarket pre order delivery plus dd & I worked through list like a military campaign (you have to remember whether they supply bedding & towels & t towels & what baking tins etc - our LL sent us photos of cupboard interiors so we knew what was there - don't forget you will need extra space in car for presents (& odd murder games :) plus costumes) ! it was great fun!

Original poster

missyB1 · 21/12/2018 17:16

Ok definitely doing this next year, either Christmas or New Year (because lets face it New Year can be a boring miserable affair). Will need to start planning in January I think!

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Cataline · 21/12/2018 17:21

We're thinking about doing this next year too! I really fancy the Highlands.
Yet to decide who we'd like to invite to go with us though. Family or friends?

Original poster

missyB1 · 21/12/2018 17:30

I think if we went for Christmas it would just be dh,ds, me and the dog. But if we went for New Year I would be inclined to invite friends.

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CloudPop · 21/12/2018 17:55

We've done it a few times. It's great. Do a mega online grocery order from whoever is nearest (usually have to do click and collect) and take kitchen essentials like a couple of decent knives etc. Make sure the cottage has a dishwasher (we accidentally booked one once that didn't have one and it was a bit of a pain)

pisspawpatrol · 21/12/2018 17:57

Not sure you'll get very "christmassy" weather in the Yorkshire dales unless you're right up a hill and even then it might literally just rain. Would have though Scotland more likely for snow.

EvilEdna1 · 21/12/2018 18:01

We do it every year. Just our family of 5 and not too rural as I like shops and restaurants. We go to a pub for Xmas lunch. Usually Cotswolds or south coast. It's snowed twice in about 7 years. Both Cotswolds.

RB68 · 21/12/2018 18:07

We have as well - we usually do Lakes, haven't done for around 10 yrs though as too poor lol. Also Granny from London comes to us and that is a long way for her - maybe cotswolds next year....

We rented somewhere less 1 mile to pub and we lost power!!! Was wonderful as we walked to pub who had back up power and everyone just ate there and stayed till late to keep warm - all pre kids which tells me it was around 15 yrs ago so well overdue another visit

MickHucknallspinkpancakes · 21/12/2018 20:03

We do this tomorrow - fly home and have a lodge with hot tub for the week!

Can't wait!

Do it next year op, you have to try at least!

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