STAYING IN HOLIDAY COTTAGES IS THE WAY TO GO

The first couple of times we traveled overseas we stayed in B&Bs and moved on every day.

In this way we visited Scotland and Eire.

We enjoyed those holidays very much and as we were still working, we didn't really have time to do it any other way.

But boy, did we ever get sick of packing and unpacking the car every day and living out of a suitcase.

Luckily each holiday only lasted about 2 weeks. Handwashing undies and trying to dry them every night and carrying enough clothes to last the whole holiday without washing was very trying indeed.

Now-a-days we stay in self-contained cottages.

Chauffer's Cottage, Great Missenden

We arrive, unpack our clothes into wardrobes and drawers and when we need to,

 we use a washing machine ( and sometimes there's even a dryer ), ironing board and iron.

Cliff Cottage, Polruan - Cornwall

We have room to spread out and relax,

Ravenscourt Manor Cottage, near Ludlow

prepare our own breakfast,

Rock Cottage, Winster - Peak District

  

pack picnic lunches when we feel the urge,

Malts Cottage, Willersey - Cotswolds

chill out at home after a busy day sightseeing,

Jasmine Cottage, Askrigg Yorkshire Dales

 eat something simple that I have prepared,

and experience shopping for food in markets and supermarkets in a foreign land.

In fact, we do what we absolutely love - we "live the life".

To date we've stayed in nine cottages in England - sometimes for only one week, sometimes two and once for three lovely weeks.

In that time we sometimes got to know the people at the shop and local pub....

White Rose Hotel, Askrigg

..... where we would drop in for a coffee or hot chocolate after dinner, as well as to eat on occasion as many local residents do.

(and sometimes form the cheer squad for a hotly contested game of Quoits,

 as we did in Askrigg in 2008 )

So if you want to meet the people

and really "see" the country

try staying in a cottage.

Cheers.