cottages4you blog: inspiration for your cottage or villa holiday in UK, Ireland and Europe

Well, it is certainly one way of boosting your tourism.

Whisky, one of Scotland’s most famous exports, a drink enjoyed by people all around the world, could be even more prevalent in Scotland when a scheme that grades establishments serving the liquor comes into effect.

Backed by VisitScotland, the star scheme – a sort of whisky version of the Michelin-grading system that decides which eateries are of particular note – is one innovative way of celebrating one of the country’s most famous creations while drawing in crowds of holidaymakers who have booked a cottage break somewhere pretty.

The venture is being co-launched along with The Whisky Ambassador, which is run by a chap by the name of Victor Brierley (who also delivers whisky tours in Glasgow). Bars that stock whisky will be awarded stars based on the level of training staff have made and the service they deliver. So, for example, they will be judged on their ability to recommend a certain type of whisky to any given tourist.

“There are some excellent whisky bars and a lot of knowledge in some places, but many bar staff even in high-end bars and hotels don’t know what they are talking about,” he said.

“Premises will have sommeliers who can talk about champagne and red or white wine until it’s coming out of their ears, but shockingly, they often don’t know the first thing about whisky, our national drink.”

Mr Brierley added that recent research conducted by VisitScotland had shown that there is room for much improvement in the bar trade in the country.

“Knowledge is power,” he stated. “We’re giving them this knowledge.”

The whole initiative isn’t about remoulding the image of whisky as connoisseurs of the alcoholic beverage can testify that it is a delightful drink that comes in all sorts of flavours and colours. It’s about making it more accessible, about expanding people’s awareness of it and talking about its rich history. That’s what Mr Brierley is getting at when it says there is a knowledge gap.

“Bar staff should be able to talk about what whisky is, the colour, the age, the peatiness, the sweetness, and how it has come to find its way into bars all over the world,” he concluded.

Posted by David Sollberger, cottages4you

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner so the shops tell us, their windows plastered with voluptuous hearts and teddy bears big and small and oh so cuddly. You ask yourself “Already? Didn’t I just get caught up in Christmas?” Alas dear reader, time flies like cupid’s arrow on a busy day and indeed that time is nigh. Santa is probably in the Caribbean sipping on a cocktail. It’s now time for the little cherub to take centre stage, to waltz around the globe spreading the joy of love.

For the romantics, young and old, a cottage holiday in Bath is an exciting way to surprise one’s partner on two counts. One, a cottage, whether classic or contemporary, exudes a certain romantic quality, a perfect place for you to whittle off one of your poems to your lover, a dreamy place to propose, or somewhere to remember all the good times you’ve experienced over the many years you’ve been together.

Two, Bath, historic, an official World Heritage site, arresting in its architecture – there’s something special about the Royal Crescent’s understated curves for example – and home to the Roman Baths, is equally dreamy.

Put the two together with basic mathematics and boom, you have got yourself a perfect setting for a short break that will be long remembered. Bearing this in mind, Bath Tourism Plus has come up with some suitably lovey-dovey ideas as to what couples can get up to when visiting the city.

It suggests checking out the Beaujolais Bistro, described as a traditional Bath favourite. On closer inspection, it is understandable why it remains a popular eatery – understated, with a generous menu and prices that are competitive. They’ve also got humour: “We love children but if they run around the restaurant we will give them a shot of espresso and a free puppy to take home!” Not bad eh? Have a lunch, let your kids go wild and get a puppy in return.

One place that demands a visit is the Prior Park Landscape Garden, jaw-dropping and beautiful in every way possible, and, we expect, come Valentine’s Day, beginning to once again blossom into life. It’s an 18th century landscape, created with the kind of skill that suggests Ralph Allen, an entrepreneur from the city whose idea it was, knew about love.

Valentine’s Day is a once a year event and though some may argue it to be a little cheesy, a bit too obvious and outdated, we think it provides an opportunity, at least, for lovers to dedicate proper time to one another. With everyone often so busy with work, socials and managing the family, the occasions we get with just our partner can often feel to be lacking or rushed. Make time and keep falling in love with one another…over and over till the end of time.

A beautiful, modernist building in Devon, considered to be one of the finest architectural buildings of its kind in the UK, long hidden from most of the public, is to reopen.

High Cross House, based in Dartington, is to open in the spring, made possible by a partnership between Dartington Hall Trust and the National Trust. For those on a cottage break in the region in March, it is worth checking out an outstanding feat of engineering and artistry.

Commissioned by William Curry, the first headmaster at Dartington Hall School, a man with impeccable taste, the modernist house is seen as a triumph of style and functionality.

It was designed by William Lescaze, a renowned Swiss-American architect and completed in 1932. The brief was a home that was a "machine for living".

In recent years the building has become more of a space for other things than its own aesthetic appeal, most notably showcasing 20th century art. That said, the art, which comes from Dartington Hall's own collection, has been in line with the modernist origins of High Cross House.

"We’re very excited by this new partnership with the National Trust, said Vaughan Lindsay, chief executive officer of Dartington Hall.

"We hope the partnership will bring many new visitors to the estate to enjoy High Cross House, explore Dartington's glorious grounds and gardens and find out more about our charitable programmes in the arts, social justice and sustainability"

Robyn Brown, general manager of the National Trust, English Riviera, described High Cross House as among the top five modernist houses in the country.
"We are really delighted to be working with Dartington to offer this special place for members, visitors and locals to come and enjoy again and again," she added.
High Cross House opens on March 7th.

Eat – Waterside Bistro

With a view of the river and an exciting menu to boot, Waterside Bistro is a superb place to visit for breakfast and lunch.

For meat eaters, check out its warm Chinese crispy duck pancakes, hoi sin sauce, crème fraiche, spring onions and cucumber. Veggies are recommended to try the baked Sharpham goat's cheese in filo pastry with sun dried tomato and rocket.

Posted by Andrew Hill, cottages4you

Paris through the eyes of quixotic Amelie in the hit movie of the same name – played superbly by the exquisite Audrey Tautou – could be said to be a wonderful if not slightly nonconformist introduction to the magical city of Paris.

Equally, Breathless, the 1960 French flick, forerunner of the French New Wave, could also serve as an alternative foreword to Paris, with Michel – played by the very watchable Jean-Paul Belmondo – bumbling his way around the city.

Both movies may perhaps be outside the fringes of how Paris is painted, but they ultimately come to the same conclusion: Paris is a dynamic city. It always has been and always will be.

It's a sentiment that Sarah Woods, a writer and TV presenter best known for her work on the Alan Titchmarsh show – the nation's favourite gardener – shares.

"Paris is one of the most iconic cities in Europe," she says matter-of-factly.

"We're familiar with all the images and landmarks and if we haven't been to the Eiffel Tower, we feel that we have got an affinity with it. We have an affinity because we probably have seen it, because we've grown up with pictures and images of it on televisions and [in] books."

Like London, New York and Milan, Paris is one of those cities that has transcended its geographical boundaries – its identity and attraction is global.

"Now, more than ever, people are wanting to see these iconic cities," Ms Woods goes on to say.

"It has retained its appeal with a broad base of people because it used to have a romantic tag but now with things like Eurodisney, it has had to broaden its tourist appeal to families."

This is a dramatic change because it has long been associated with romance, though still true, is not the only defining quality of the city. It's a great place for escape, for family adventure and for activity.

"It used to have a real snooty air about it but there are many more places [to visit within the city] there are places to eat and things like that. It has captured our hearts and imaginations with its landmark attractions."

Paris is an unmistakeably vibrant city, which can be properly enjoyed by following tourist trails or all the usual hotspots. But, if you want to get to know the real Paris, follow the lead of the fictional Amelie and Michel, whose haphazard and often capricious wanderings leads them to all sorts of unusual yet dynamic hotspots.

One things for you sure in Paris – wherever you end up, there'll be something about it that is captivating. Linger and enjoy. After all, as one of the characters says in Breathless, "When the French say a second, they mean five minutes".
Posted by David Sollberger, cottages4you
 

Haworth is one of those villages that are utterly resplendent in every way. Located within Bradford in West Yorkshire, it has long had a reputation as a great place to visit when on a short break. It is exemplary of the rural way of life, which, if we're to be honest, is best enjoyed and experienced by having, as a base, a cottage. That's got charm.

English Heritage, an executive non-departmental public body, fully aware of this village's magnetism, has revealed that it wants to elevate the already popular destination from "day trip haven" to international tourist destination, reported the Bradford and Telegraph Argus.

We at cottages4you like the ambition that English Heritage has, and fully concur that this well-liked holiday hotspot is worthy of being transformed into a place where people go on extended holidays. Its beauty and history demand it.

"At the moment Haworth isn’t really offering itself to an international audience," Trevor Mitchell, English Heritage's Yorkshire and Humber planning director, told the newspaper.

"It is marketing itself to the people of West Yorkshire on an afternoon out. What Haworth needs is to offer something that appeals to the international tourist who has come for the Bronte connection.”

He added that this is why they are looking to work with various property owners, businesses and of course Bradford Council to see how this can be achieved, or as he put it, to "touch things up a bit".

Two years ago, Haworth was put on the English Heritage's at risk register for fear that it was in risk of falling short of its legacy. As such, a number of projects are under way to repair former buildings and walkways to their former glory, including restoration of the Parish Church Roof and restoring original features on shop fronts on the much enjoyed Main Street.

English Heritage oversees over 400 sites that are open to the public, which collectively attract 11 million visitors every year.

Posted by David Sollberger, cottages4you

Ah, do you remember when the summer wind came blowing in across the sea (thank you Johnny Mercer for the lyrics and Frank Sinatra for singing it so well)?

We do…summer, glorious summer…ah, those were the days. We wait in anticipation for its return. Until then, it is the crisp and cold winter to contend with, which, aside from the bitter frost, is nevertheless a pretty season, going some way to compensate for the chilly air. We also hear Russian hats are in vogue this season, so that’s warmed the cockles of our heart.

Aside from extending our summer holiday, the hot weather experienced by the UK last year in and around September, helped boost domestic tourism, according to Visit England.

The country’s national tourist board found that the number of overnight trips taken in England by Brits in September grew by 22 per cent compared to 2010. This was accompanied by a spending increase of 13 per cent.

“The breadth and diversity of what England has to offer as a destination is evidenced by the fact that holiday trips have increased across the board; town, coast and countryside alike all welcomed more domestic visitors in the first nine months of 2011 than in 2010,” said James Berresford, chief executive of VisitEngland.

The types of holidays that people went on were varied, with small towns being particularly popular (rise of ten per cent), trips to the countryside also saw a healthy increase (eight per cent) and visits to the seaside increased by three per cent.

“The rise in the amount of visits to friends and relations is also very encouraging, as it is the perfect opportunity for hosts to show off all that’s great about their local area,” added Mr Berresford.

Visit England also found that Brits were feeling exceptionally social at around this time, with visits to family and friends increasing by a mega 33 per cent.

All in all, 40 million trips were taken in the first nine months of the year, VisitEngland reported.

Posted by Matt Smith, cottages4you