Holiday cottages UK and Ireland: England's finest
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
|
|||||||
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|||
|
|
Search for Herefordshire cottages: England's finest … continuedSo in came Chinese wool carpets, leather Chesterfields, handmade kitchens, wood burning stoves, hand-painted furniture, luxurious fabrics, four-poster beds and beautifully-appointed bathrooms. Even so, the couple are keen to emphasise that these holiday properties are family-friendly. “We had our children later in life and understand a family’s needs,” says Gilly. “But I don’t think parents should have to lower their sights or expectations – we still need ‘me time’ and the occasional romantic escape.” And guests of all ages enjoy using the trampoline, scrumping for apples and pears in the ancient orchard, and being greeted by the menagerie of hens, ducks and cats patrolling the grounds. The Fodder Store might originally have been the kitchen to the old parsonage, but today it’s packed with all manner of mod cons. 
Fodder Store, exterior The kitchen has maple units, a stainless steel cooker and fridge-freezer, and granite worktops. The sitting-dining room is chic with wooden floors, scuffed leather sofa and chair, modern artwork and lighting. Upstairs, the bathroom is white, chrome and gleaming. The vaulted ceiling bedroom has Tudor arrow-slit windows in the brickwork and a king size mahogany bed topped with fur throw and plump cushions. But, fabulous though the holiday homes are, the business’s unique selling point is its range of add-on services. These are what, said the award judges, set Gilly and Cliff apart from their 10,700 competitors. For instance, you can pre-book a selection of goodies from their ‘Flavours of Herefordshire’ list and arrive to find them in your fridge. My choice was Aromatic Italian Lamb and rustic roast potatoes, followed by bitter chocolate pudding and damson and sloe gin ice cream. And you can order local beers, ciders or wines and champagnes from further afield. If there are ten or more in the party, you can book a dinner party in The Rectory’s grand Georgian dining room. Dress up or down and let Gilly and Cliff serve pre-dinner drinks and home-made canapés in the hall before moving to the candle-lit dining room for a three-course meal prepared by a chef.   
Fodder Store: Living Room - Bathroom - Exterior detail In the morning I feasted on a breakfast of local ham, warm granary bread, local cheeses, fresh farm butter and Herefordshire apple juice. I could have opted for a celebration breakfast of smoked salmon, eggs, orange, honey and ginger marmalade, and a bottle of bubbly and fresh orange juice to make Bucks Fizz. I’d booked a visiting therapist for an aromatherapy face, neck and scalp massage. Gwen put on soothing music, lit the scented candles, and soon I was de-stressing with a soporific massage using blended rose oils. Other pampering treatments include a sports massage, full body aromatherapy massage, luxury facial, reflexology, Reiki and Indian head massage. Pampering parties are popular with hen groups. More active types can enjoy Back to Nature Parties, exploring a local heritage woodland where events can include safaris, badger watching, survival skills or mushroom collecting. Fishing on the River Teme can be arranged, as well as mountain bike hire. Gilly says their famous Starlit Picnics were developed when they noticed that many of their city-based guests sat outside their cottages gazing at the stars. Groups of four or more can be driven to the Malvern Hills where a guide will take you on a gentle uphill stroll and set out a food hamper. You’ll have moonlit views of five counties below and spectacular uninterrupted starlit skies above. There’s also a relaxation break for parents. The couple will reserve a table at a local restaurant, book theatre tickets, arrange a babysitter and organise taxis. Cliff offers his services as chauffeur on private driving tours. The couple work with Herefordshire Tourism and actively promote short breaks – both midweek or weekends. As VisitBritain confirms, there’s been a huge growth in demand for luxury holiday cottage mini breaks. A late availability e-mail service is now in place, offering a 15 per cent discount on breaks booked within 14 days of arrival. It’s not surprising that The Olde Rectory’s Gold Maid departure service is so popular. It means you don’t have to spend any of your precious holiday time returning your property to a pristine state. You can simply get up and go, leaving someone else to do all the dirty work. I can only agree with actress Helen Mirren’s comments in the visitors’ book, “…thank you for a home from home that was better than my own home.” 
A corner of the communal herb garden Want to know more?For more information about The Olde Rectory, contact Gilly or Cliff Poultney |
||||||||||||||
Online Magazine
|
|