If you live in a big town or city, a large group holiday in a country cottage has a lot of appeal – the peace and quiet for starters, no noise from traffic and sirens, far away from the hustle and bustle of busy streets, it’s the perfect way to spend time with your nearest and dearest, to unwind and recharge any flagging batteries. Whether it’s a family holiday, a reunion of old friends, a hen weekend, a birthday celebration, or a corporate team building break, you’ll find the country cottage ambience just adds to it all and makes your stay so much more special.

When it comes to renting a house for a large group weekend away Group Stays has quite a choice. We’ve got luxury timber-clad lodges, fabulous barn conversions, gorgeous old farmhouses, English country cottages, a striking townhouse, a historic chateau, and fine country houses. How does that last one appeal? A handsome country house, set in its own private grounds, all yours for the weekend? No one to bother you, beautiful surroundings, stunning views, and all the facilities you need to keep you all amused….

If there’s one sure way to unwind from the stresses and pressures of modern life it’s getting away with a bunch of your favourite family or best buddies for a large group holiday where you know you’re going to have fun. It’s like a tonic, a pick-me-up; head off, leave your worries behind and put your feet up somewhere where none of that stuff matters, just enjoy that large group break, whether it’s for a whole week or just a few days. Make the most of it.

It’s always fun to get away with a big group of friends or family, but sometimes organising it can be quite a bother, especially if you’re talking about a week long holiday. If you’ve got kids you can only go out of term time, when the roads are busier and the world and his wife are out and about visiting the family attractions! If you fancy something a little quieter, something where you can go at your own pace, that takes less organising, the answer is to have a group weekend break instead.

Somerset. What do you think of when you think of Somerset? Let's guess – tractors, cows, cheese, cider…. ooh-aaarrrr! Well, yes, things like that might spring to mind but it’s not all like that you know, we're not all carrot-crunching wurzels, we’re actually quite sophisticated round these parts these days! We’re biased of course, we live here, but the fact that Somerset is a popular holiday destination speaks for itself – it’s a beautiful county, a wonderful part of the West Country, and because it’s bisected by the M5, it’s easy to get to.

Finding the perfect holiday home isn’t always easy, especially with all the choice there is these days, and if you’re a large group looking to go away for a week or a few days, it can be even more of a trial because there’s so much that has to be just right - the sleeping arrangements, the bathrooms, leisure facilities like swimming pools, hot tubs, and games rooms, and if you have children in your group you’ll be thinking about the garden – is it safe and enclosed, is there play equipment. So much to think about!

More and more people are choosing to take their holidays in the UK these days and that’s understandable because despite being a relatively small island there is so much to see and do and such a staggering amount of diversity, from the vibrant cities of London, Manchester, Liverpool and Bristol, to the varied scenery of the mountainous Lake District, the rolling Yorkshire Dales, the golden sands of Devon and the tucked away coves of Cornwall.

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.

Wow, it’s baking hot out there and has been for weeks; if you’re something of a sun worshipper that’s great and we shouldn’t grumble, but for some it’s a little too much. That’s the English weather for you – unpredictable! Things tend to get a bit more steady after August; we can still rely on some sunshine and decent temperatures, but it’s a little cooler and more manageable, which is one reason why September breaks make sense.