UK gourmet breaks for foodies
If a weekend away with a good meal and even better bottle of wine sounds like your idea of heaven, English Country Cottages has a selection of properties close to some of the UK’s best restaurants. Why not treat yourself to a cottage holiday and let someone else do the cooking!
Eat: The Fat Duck, Bray - fatduck.co.uk
Heston Blumenthal’s infamous restaurant is the ultimate culinary experience – if you can get a table!
Stay: Woodrows Cottage, Aldworth, Berkshire.
Reference: P82
Standing in paddocks and woodland, this comfortable cottage offers tranquil surroundings in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Now completely separate from the farm it was originally built to support, it has been extensively modernised whilst retaining many interesting period features.
There is plenty of good holiday walking on the Ridgeway and downs, and the River Thames at Streatly is only ten minutes away.
Priced at £461 for a three night self catering break starting 14th May 2010. Property sleeps up to six people (from £25.61 pppn)
Eat: Le Manoir aux Quat' Saisons, Great Milton, Oxford - manoir.com
Raymond Blanc’s restaurant and cookery school prides itself on the quality of the food, which comes from the freshness and purity of its ingredients, many of which are grown in the two-acre kitchen garden.
Stay: Alfie’s Barn, Ambrosden, Oxfordshire
Reference: NKU
This lovely 18th-century property is in an excellent position for exploring this historic and fascinating area. This converted detached barn sits within a quiet rural village location within the owner’s grounds, with great views across open countryside, located within the heart of Oxfordshire. The property is only three miles from Bicester and 12 miles from Oxford.
Priced at £440 for a three night self catering break starting 21st May 2010. Property sleeps up to five people (from £29.33 pppn)
Eat: The Yew Tree, Highclere, nr Newbury - theyewtree.net
Fiery Marco Pierre White’s Yew Tree Inn is a fine 17th century building in a pleasant setting close to Highclere Castle. It is full of charm and character, ancient beams and logs smouldering in the inglenook fireplace but with a contemporary air to this cosy eating and drinking house.
Stay: Martingale Cottage, Newtown, Nr Newbury
Reference: PXZ
Enjoying fine countryside views, this peacefully located, and spacious detached house lies within the grounds of the owner’s home, and has shared use of a heated swimming-pool and tennis court. There are pleasant walks direct from the door, and for excellent shopping and leisure facilities – as well as racing – Newbury lies 5 miles away.
Priced at £429 for a three night self catering break starting 14th May 2010. Property sleeps up to six people (from £23.83 pppn)
For more information and bookings, visit english-country-cottages.co.uk.
