Anyone recommend a great Country Cottage

[Tillysmummy]

Can anyone recommend a nice country cottage for a short break over New Year. There will be 6 of us, 4 adults, 2 babies.

[Cityfreak]

We stayed in a cottage last August bank holiday with Hideaways. It was not cheap but was gorgeous, recent barn conversion, all new furnishings like an interior design magazine, and unlike our scruffy toddler-proof home. You can search and book online www.hideaways.co.uk. I think you should ask them by phone when you have chosen a cottage whether there is anything that makes it very unsuitable for babies (eg crawling hazards, lots of steep staircases etc)

[Tillysmummy]

Thanks Cityfreak will try Hideaways - where was it btw ?

[Cityfreak]

It was in Wiltshire. If your route involves going near any city on a bank holiday, I would highly recommend making a big effort to start early, to avoid the traffic, which is always appalling with children. London to cottage with rush hour bank holiday traffic (childless friends not sympathetic to requests to leave early) took over 5 hours with 2 hours' at 2 mph in inner London with incessant screaming from frustrated child, whereas same route took 2 hours on quiet early morning.

[Tillysmummy]

Thanks for the tip. Planning it for New Year actually

[emmaij]

bruern stable cottages in the cotswolds. the most beautiful self-catering cottages in england, i think. expensive in summer, but more reasonable in the winter months.

won tons of awards, child friendly (kids have their own play cabin, two-storey wendy house, outside play area)

also, you can order delicous food for your stay.

[sis]

emmaij, where can I find out more about them? are they in the English country Cottages site or any thing like that?

[emmaij]

They have their own website (put bruern stable cottages in any of the search engines) I'll get you the number so you can request a brochure - I'll have it for you later today.

[Rosalind]

Can I just endorse suggestion of Landmark Trust? I have had several holidays with them in 11 years of motherhood; think youngest child I took to one was 3 months. No they don't tend to have washing machines but the children love the unusual setting and when they were smaller it was great just to be somewhere so different in the peace and quiet with your other half. There are several at a place called Saddell in West Scotland which are literally on the beach so I could be inside with the baby while husband and sister pottered about on the shore. They do provide books, games and jigsaws and the caretaker did not flinch on the occasion my daughter threw up on the very last morning and I had to leave a vomit laden cot!
They are not cheap however!

[Tetley]

In the past we've used Country Cottage Holidays - most of which are in Yorkshire I think. That was pre-child days, but they do have a big selection. Also used www.laterooms.com (great for last minute hotel rooms) - use the link from there to the holidays. We got a place in Cornwall last year, which was cheap and great - came with cot & highchair. They're all privately owned on there.

Also - I've heard good things about the National Trust cottages, but no personal experience of these.

[Tetley]

In the past we've used Country Cottage Holidays - most of which are in Yorkshire I think. That was pre-child days, but they do have a big selection. Also used www.laterooms.com (great for last minute hotel rooms) - use the link from there to the holidays. We got a place in Cornwall last year, which was cheap and great - came with cot & highchair. They're all privately owned on there.

Also - I've heard good things about the National Trust cottages, but no personal experience of these.

[Tetley]

Ooops - got trigger happy clicking on the 'post message' button

[sis]

thanks emmaij, I've ordered the brochure and am looking forward to daydreaming about going there...