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Winter Short Breaks

Book a Group Stays winter short break for your large group and you know you’re in for a treat! There’s something about getting away in the winter that makes it all very special – the summer holidays are long gone, even October half term seems a distant memory, and if it’s a mid-week stay, just knowing that you’d normally be at work makes you savour a few days away even more.

The good thing with our large group holiday houses is that they have fantastic facilities that can be used year round so it really doesn’t matter what the weather’s doing. You’ll find indoor or covered swimming pools, saunas, games rooms, BBQ lodges, and even some of the hot tubs are covered, or the indoor jacuzzi type. So you see, there’s something for everyone whatever the time of year, and with snooze space for 8-30 people there’s no shortage of space. Most are dog friendly so even the pet pooch can come along, and we bet that tail just won’t stop wagging because with properties in the beautiful countryside of Somerset, Devon, Wiltshire, Gloucestershire and Monmouthshire there are heaps of walking possibilities, often right from the doorstep.  

Now we love that – wrapping up in warm coats, hats and scarves and getting out into the wilds for a good walk on footpaths across the fields and through the woods; there’s so much out there to see – plenty of wildlife, and views that stretch for miles across some of the most amazing landscapes. If you pick a property not far from the coast go and take in that bracing sea air on one of the quieter windswept beaches, and afterwards it’s so good to get back, all rosy cheeked, kick off your muddy boots, shake off your coats and then go and gather together by the fire with hot drinks before you start thinking about pulling the curtains and sitting down to a delicious supper – perhaps a warming home made casserole with meat and veg from the local farm shop, hunks of thick crusty bread to dip in it….

It’s fair to say that in this country, winter isn’t without its rainy days but if you’re staying at one of our big country cottages it doesn’t matter. Find a cosy spot to settle down with a good book, head to the games room for an in-house tournament; find board games in the cupboards, fill bowls with crisps and popcorn and put your feet up on fat comfy sofas for an afternoon of movies, or get all the bowls out in the kitchen and do some baking. Have a swim, a sit back in the hot tub, a session in the sauna or steam room, or how about you all grab a thick jumper and dash out to the BBQ lodge where you can idle the hours away under the twinkly lights, toasting marshmallows on the firepit, with reindeer hides to keep you warm.

There are plenty of other ways to pass a rainy day of course; not all the family attractions close for the winter so there’s a lot of fun to be had at some of the zoos and museums, and if you’ve got younger children who aren’t at school yet you’ll always find an indoor play area. Sometimes it’s good to hanker down in a cosy country pub, to tuck into some homemade grub, try the local ale, perhaps a game of pool or darts, and a chat with the locals; you’ll notice the pace of life slow down and that’s how it should be when you’re enjoying a large group winter break.

You could book up some group activities – particularly good for corporate groups, hen weekends and stag parties. There’s plenty to choose from - go-karting, indoor climbing, trampolining, or bowling, or have some in-house fun like life drawing, cup cake decorating or learning a new dance style – Bollywood, Samba, or even Street. Hire our mobile beauty therapists to come in and pamper you, and if you’ve something worth celebrating have a feast prepared and cooked for you by one of our tried and tested professional caterers. We’ve got a long list of Extras and Things To Do – honestly, no one’s going to get bored for a minute.

The other bonus with a winter break is that it’s cheaper than the high season, and when you split the cost between everyone in your large group it works out at remarkably good value – far less than the cost of a decent hotel. We’ve got English country cottages, rambling old farmhouses, luxury timber-clad lodges, stunning barn conversions, and big country houses, all perfect for a relaxing winter break with friends, family or colleagues. If you fancy a city break check out our imposing town house on the outskirts of Worcester, not far from the beautiful Malvern Hills.

Start planning now by taking a look at our fabulous large group holiday homes and seeing what’s available for the winter season, whether it’s a week long holiday, a mid-week break or a 2 or 3 day weekend. Make the most of it, enjoy spending time together and catching up, and take home some wonderful memories.

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