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

An eye-opening study recently revealed that 74% of 18-24 year olds had never visited France. We were fairly surprised by this, as discussions of favourite holiday memories amongst the cottages4you team always contain family breaks to France: long hot summers on golden sands, the majesty of the Eiffel Tower, sleepy drives through glorious green pastures, the shimmering electric blue waters off the southern coast or just the fun of deciphering food labels in the supermarche and watching Dad use primitive hand signals to communicate with the locals! If France isn’t paradise then it’s a more cost-effective and accessible alternative.

Perhaps one of the most attractive aspects of France is that it still holds a few welcome surprises for even the most seasoned Francophile. Take our new recommended destination, for example. With such an abundance of natural and man-made wonders it’s no surprise that some incredible corners of France are overlooked in favour of their more famous neighbours. But mass tourism’s loss is your gain, as the Franche-Comte region offers all you could want from a fantastic holiday in France – with the added benefit of being able to show off your fantastic discovery to your friends!

Have you enjoyed a break in the Franche-Comte region? Share your memories by leaving a post on our France Fan Club page and you could win a bottle of wine!

• It may be less recognisable than the Eiffel Tower but Chapelle Notre-Dame du Haut in Ronchamp is equally iconic. A huge concrete structure designed by one of the godfathers of modern architecture, Le Corbusier, the chapel seems equally pre-occupied with exploring shape, space, light and offering an unforgettable experience to visitors.

• Military engineer, Vauban’s fortifications may have been less elegant, but they’re no less striking, as La Citadelle in Besancon will attest. This huge fort stands on top of Mount Saint-Etienne and offers incredible views of the surrounding landscape, including the Doubs River, the city’s Old Quarter and miles of forest. The fort itself houses a fascinating Museum of the Resistance (the citadel played a key part in World War II), a Museum of Natural History, art galleries and more.

• Since Franche-Comte is well known as a region of woods and water, it’s probably about time we highlighted some of its more natural attractions. The Osselle Caves offer an incredible display of otherworldly geology – including the remarkable ‘organ gallery’. The caves have also played their part in French history, acting as a hiding place for priests during the Revolution.

• If you fancy exploring the Franche-Comte’s open-air attractions we’d recommend a trek to the waterfalls on the River Hérisson. This three mile trail starts at the village of Doucier and takes in some of the region’s finest woodland before arriving at the incredible Cascade de l’Eventail and the Cascade du Grand Saut.

Fancy a holiday cottage in France? Take a look at our featured properties on cottages4you.

When people talk about Europe’s most romantic destinations they’ll often band about the usual suspects: Paris, Venice, Rome, Blackpool (or is that just us?). There’s nothing wrong with any of those destinations – they have, after all, earned their romantic stripes over the years! But if you were to ask us our favourite romantic destinations, we’d have to say our hearts lay a little closer to home (we’re excluding Blackpool here).

Ireland is packed with enough romantic locations to melt the heart of all but the most dyed-in-the-wool cynic and offers more tales of romance than a Mills and Boon omnibus. After all, St Valentine himself lies in state in Dublin.

So, to get the pulse racing for Valentine’s Day we’re going to suggest a few of our favourite romantic destinations in Ireland. As always, we’d love to hear your recommendations too. Please leave your suggestion in the comments section below.

• If Ross Castle’s stunning 15^th century façade and dramatic lakeside location weren’t enough to make it one of Ireland’s premier romantic destinations then its history almost certainly is. Legend has it that the castle is haunted by the ghost of Sabina, who fell in love with Orwin, the son of her father’s rival. When trying to elope across Lough Sheelin their boat capsized and Orwin drowned. Sabina then condemned herself to the castle’s tower, eventually dying of a broken heart. OK, so it may not be the cheeriest story but it’s a touching tale and perfectly complements the stunning surrounds of Ross Castle and the romantic nature of Valentine’s Day.

•  Those who’ve received sweaters from their loved ones over the years may be forgiven for missing the romantic relevance – beyond the fact they’ve received a comfortable and highly practical gift. Receive a sweater on the Aran Islands, however, and it can be a public display of affection. Rumour has it that so called ‘bridal shirts’ were knitted by the Islands’ women and presented to the men to display their skills and suitability to be a wife and mother. While we can’t really see the practice flying these days, the islands of the story’s origin are undeniably romantic and well worth a visit for those seeking a romantic break in one of Ireland’s most stunning and solitary locations.

•  Dublin is a site of pilgrimage for thousands of holidaymakers in Ireland. While there are a host of activities, one of the most popular is a pilgrimage to Whitefriar Street Carmelite Church in Dublin. It’s at this location that St Valentine himself is interred and the saint is supposed to bless the relationship of any couple stopping-off to pay their respects at his shrine. Incidentally, locations in Glasgow, Birmingham, France, Vienna and Malta also lay claim to hosting St Valentine, so you may want to make a round trip to ensure complete success for your future relationship!

Search our featured romantic cottages in Ireland.

It’s not everyday that someone shows you a holiday video that makes you fall in love all over again with its subject, whilst reminding you how lucky you are to have it on your doorstep. Then again, not all holiday videos are like The War Horse, few documentarians are as skilled as Mr Steven Spielberg and not all locations are as spellbinding as Dartmoor.

Dartmoor offers nearly 400 square miles of stunning National Park moorland. After just one glance at its sweeping tors and rolling green pastures you realise that The War Horse couldn’t have been filmed anywhere else. But there’s far more to Dartmoor (possible tourist slogan?) than its iconic wild landscape might suggest. So if you want to get the measure of our new recommended destination then take a look at our suggestions for things to see and do in the region below.

• The South Devon Railway may not compete with a horseback exploration of Dartmoor, but what it loses in drama it more than makes up for in relaxing comfort. This seven mile former Great Western Railway branch line offers a wonderful selection of heritage steam trains and easy access to some of the region’s most popular attractions.

• Dartmoor’s terrain is just a boon for visitors and the film industry – it’s also a huge benefit for domestic winemakers. The Eastcott Vineyard offers a lovely selection of wines produced in an equally lovely location and, thanks to its tours, combines the two to make for a fantastic day out.

• Buckland Abbey offers 700 years of history with acres of beautiful grounds and gardens. Once a Cistercian abbey it then became the home of Sir Francis Drake before falling into the capable hands of the National Trust. It’s one of the region’s most popular historic attractions and is well worth a visit.

Do you have any suggestions for things to see and do in Dartmoor? Please leave a comment below! If you’re looking for somewhere to stay then take a look at our featured holiday cottages in Dartmoor.

We’ve chosen one of France’s most beautiful regions for our new recommended destination. Annecy is France is an all year round attraction offering superb skiing conditions in winter, beautiful sunshine in summer and fantastic things to see and do all year round.

Located on the north shore of Lake Annecy, close to the Swiss border, the magnificent town is built around a medieval chateau and features freshwater channels that often give Annecy the title ‘Venice of Savoie’. The lake itself is the second largest in France and, thanks to strict environmental controls, is widely regarded as Europe’s cleanest. And thanks to its environmental protection, you can enjoy swimming and a host of water sports in the warmer months – not to mention a fantastic boat tour.

The mountains that surround Lake Annecy provide a stunning backdrop and a wealth of high-altitude activities. Skiers descend on the range in winter while summer allows you to take a walk and bathe in the unspoiled beauty of the region. If you fancy a more alternative tour then the accompanied Segway tours offer a unique way to traverse and admire the beautiful landscape.

Annecy town is lovely in daylight but really comes to life in the evening, as the beautiful architecture is bathed in a soft light that bounces off the water and there’s a lovely ambience to the place. The town’s history is marked by several must-see attractions, including the unique Palais de l’Isle in the centre of the Thiou canal.

Have you been to Annecy? Please let us know your holiday tips and the best things to see and do!

If you fancy paying a visit then take a look at our featured cottages to rent in Annecy.

Depending on who you believe, the Giant’s Causeway on the North coast of Ireland – an incredible 40,000 interlocking basalt columns – was either formed by volcanic activity millions of years ago, or built by a local warrior on his way to Scotland. We prefer the legend because it’s easier for us to wrap our non-scientific minds around, and because it contains a character named ‘Finn McCool’.

As legend has it, McCool built the causeway so he could take on the renowned Scottish warrior, and bearer of a far less cool moniker, Benandonner. Finn’s cool exterior was soon tarnished, however, when he fell asleep and woke to see Benandonner approaching over the causeway. As Benandonner was much bigger than himself, Finn chose the slightly less-heroic option of asking his wife for help. Mrs McCool’s plan was to disguise her husband under a blanket. Upon mistaking Finn for ‘baby McCool’, the giant realised the father would be even larger than himself and so ran back to Scotland, ripping up the Causeway as he went.

While countless retellings may have distorted the tale over the years, there are a few certainties about the Giant’s Causeway. Here are a few…

• The Causeway received UNESCO World Heritage status in 1986 for offering ‘superlative natural phenomena in an area of exceptional natural beauty.’

• It is Northern Ireland’s most popular tourist attraction and, thanks to the National Trust’s stewardship, is completely free!

• Millions of years of exposure to the elements have shaped some of the Causeway’s more unique features, such as The Chimney Stacks and The Giant’s Boot.

Have you been to The Giant’s Causeway? Tell us about your experiences below!

Search our featured holiday cottages in Ireland on cottages4you.

With a flurry of momentous events taking place in the UK this year, it’s easy for some of the smaller celebrations to fall through the cracks – even if they’re celebrating the bicentenary of one of the UK’s most acclaimed authors.

February 7 2012 will be the 200^th birthday of one Charles John Huffam Dickens. And while Dickens has long since lost the ability to capture the peccadilloes of modern life – though we’d love to see his take on the 21^st century – his writing is as acclaimed and pertinent today as it ever was.

So we’ve decided to make this instalment of our ‘101 places to go…’ a Dickens special. There are a number of attractions that celebrate the writer’s life and works listed below but, as ever, if you have your own recommendations then leave a comment and we’ll get it added to the main post.

Since we’re writing about the life of ‘England’s most popular author’ it seems only right to start at his first chapter! Charles Dickens was born into modest surroundings in Portsmouth in 1812. He lived at what is now the Charles Dickens’ Birthplace Museum for the first three years of his life. As the name suggests, the house now stands as a tribute to the writer and its 19^th century interior is now faithfully restored. You can explore three furnished rooms in the house: the parlour, the dining room and the bedroom where Charles was born.

To mark the bicentenary, the museum will be open earlier in the year (28 January 2012). On Sunday 5th and Tuesday 7th February 2012 there will be free admission. Both days will have a range of activities plus celebrations in the street including street performers, musicians, food, craft activities, readings. Find more info on the website.

It’s impossible to mention Charles Dickens without also mentioning his most notable character: the city of London. The capital played such a large in his tales that it’s almost impossible to imagine them being set anywhere else – though many adaptations have tried. We think there’s no better place to gain an appreciation and understanding of the man than at the Charles Dickens Museum in London. The attraction, located at 48 Doughty Street, is the only surviving home of the author in London and contains over 100,000 items including manuscripts, rare editions, personal items, paintings and more.

Those with Great Expectations (sorry!) to visit in peak season will be in for Hard Times(!), however, as the attraction is set to close on 9 April 2012 for expansion and renovation work. Obviously this is not ideal timing but it is open every day until then and aims to re-open in the winter to catch the tail-end of the Dickens bicentenary year. Find more info on the website.

Find self-catering accommodation that would definitely be out of place in a Dickens novel by searching our featured properties in London  on cottages4you.

Along with hosting the world’s most prestigious sporting events, the UK also runs a great line in strange traditional events.

In 2012 alone you can watch highly trained champions engage in herculean efforts of courage and sporting prowess to seize glory for their nation in the world’s biggest games, or you can watch a man navigate a peat bog in Wales armed with only a snorkel mask and a dream. It’s this diversity that makes the UK such a great destination for holidaymakers.

Now, we’re sure you’re all aware of the big sporting event taking place in London this year so we’ve chosen something a little more unique for our first recommended destination of 2012.

Of all the quirky historic British events we think the Straw Bear Festival is in the premier league. It may lack the cachet of Welly Wanging from Upperthong, or the infamy of Bog Snorkelling in Llanwrtyd Wells, but it’s no less strange and endearing.

The event takes place in Whittlesey, Camrbidgeshire each year and features one local covering himself in straw to give the appearance of a bear.  The straw bear then parades himself through the streets of the town accompanied by dancers and music. Following a series of events the bear is then burnt on the Sunday – after the costume has been taken off we might add!

Like most of these ancient cultural events, no one’s quite sure why it take places but we think that just adds to the fun! If you fancy uncovering the mystery of the Straw Bear then 2012’s event takes place from 13-15 January. Find more info on the event website.

Have you been the Straw Bear Festival in Whittlesey? Share your experiences in the comments below. If you fancy attending this year’s event, take a look at our featured cottages in the region.

We’re fairly spoiled when it comes to historic attractions in the UK. You only need to take a look at some of our previous ‘101 places to go’ entries to see enough heritage attractions to fill several holidays – and we’re not even halfway through! But the best thing about Castle Howard near York is that it’s a historic attraction with a difference.

For starters emphasis needs to be put on the fact that it’s a stately home. The Howard family have resided in the house for over 300 years so the visitor experience is far removed from what you might experience at a stuffy and lifeless museum. You’ll find the main house is delightfully inviting and filled with an amazing array of stunning features. Though, as it’s a family home, the house is closed in low season – but that doesn’t matter because there are a wealth of things to explore and enjoy in the grounds. Here are a few of Castle Howard’s many high points. Let us know if we’ve missed any by leaving a comment below.

• The house and gardens look festively fantastic in the winter months and the Howards are keen to play to these strengths by offering a packed schedule of events. There are Christmas markets in the courtyard, dinner and dancing in the main hall, tours of the house, visits from Santa and more!

• Castle Howard’s stunning façade is undeniably attractive – so much so that you may have already seen it without paying a visit. Not only did it feature in both screen adaptations of Evelyn Waugh’s Brideshead Revisited (the classic TV adaptation and the perfectly passable film one) but notorious perfectionist Stanley Kubrick used it as an exterior location for his film Barry Lyndon in 1975.

• Some people say a property’s garden is like an extra room, which basically means Castle Howard has another castle outside! There are formal gardens, an arboretum, walled gardens, an adventure playground, a mausoleum and more. We’d recommend factoring a tour of the gardens into your visit. In fact, you can quite easily spend as much time taking a trip round the grounds than you can investigating the interior, which makes Castle Howard a superior all-weather attraction.

If you’d like somewhere to stay then take a look at our featured holiday cottages in York.