We love the summer, but with the summer holidays nearly over, we are now looking ahead to the autumn. A time for cosy cottages, log fires, pub walks and red wine.
With that in mind, we have put together a selection of cottage weekends for 2, with suggestions of local activities and dining options.
South East
Where: Hex Cottage, Wilderness Reserve. 2.5 hour drive from London.
We Love: Chocolate box cottage, off the grid (with Wifi), roll top freestanding bath, log fire.
Activities: The house is on an estate where you can borrow complimentary Pashley bikes and rowing boats. The estate sits in beautiful countryside for those who want to explore the local area, and for those who want to visit the Suffolk coast, the pretty seaside towns of Aldeburgh and Southwold are less than 30 minutes away.
Food and Drink: Locally, the White Horse at Sibton serves traditional pub food in a cosy, friendly atmosphere. Further afield, The Unruly Pig is a renowned gastropub that dates back to the 16th century.
South West
Where: The Barn, Honiton, East Devon. 1.5 hours from Bath.
We Love: Secluded location, thatched barn, silver roll top bath, dog friendly.
Activities: Honiton is 20 minutes from Branscombe which sits on the stunning Jurassic coast.
Food and Drink: The quaint and kitsch Royal Oak Farm has tea room where you can enjoy an indulgent cream tea. Further afield, the Pig at Combe serves delicious locally sourced fare in an Elizabethan manor.
Midlands
Where: Thatched Cottage, Whichford (near Chipping Norton), 1 hour from Birmingham or Oxford.
We Love: Chocolate box cottage, village location, roll top bath, wood burner, dog friendly.
Activities: With some of the most beautiful Cotswold villages on your door step, there are plenty of placed to explore. Batsford Arboretum has 56 acres of gardens featuring trees and shrubs from all over the world, whilst at Stourton you can find the Cotswolds Distillery where you can experience a distillery tour and tasting.
Food and Drink: The local pub is the Norman Knight, which serves home-made food using local produce including organic meat from the family farm. In Chipping Norton the Wild Thyme Restaurant serves British food with Mediterranean influences in a beautifully restored Grade 2 listed building.
North East
Where: The Boat House, Belford, Northumberland, 1 hour from Newcastle.
We Love: Lakeside timber framed former boathouse, country estate setting, roll top bath.
Activities: There is a private rowing boat for you to use, and the boat house is set on the magnificent Middleton Estate, a country estate of over 30 acres of woodland and walled Victorian gardens so there are plenty of woodland walks right on the doorstep if you want to explore.
Food and Drink: The Lord Crewe hotel in Bamburgh is well located for exploring Bamburgh Castle and surrounding beaches. The Potted Lobster is a classic seafood restaurant that serves fresh, local ingredients from the surrounding harbours and farms.
North West
Where: Loveday, Staveley-in-Cartmel, Lake District, 1.5 hours from Manchester.
We Love: Rustic Lakeland cottage, log burner, dog friendly.
Activities: Loveday’ is just a 5 minute stroll from the southern shores of beautiful Lake Windermere where you can sail, kayak or wild swim.
Food and Drink: Cartmel village is a 10 minute drive away where you can treat yourself at the fabulous 2 Michelin star restaurant L’Enclume or indulge in Cartmel’s famous sticky toffee pudding.
If you want to book a romantic weekend away for 2, email us at hello@poiselife.co.uk. We can plan a long weekend away in the UK for as little as £100.