For kin
One day they’ll say, “When we were kids, we found a place to call home, a family cottage that became a midwinter fortress. The floor was lava, and there were owls each night, and always crumpets at breakfast.”
Or, something like that, anyway.
In places where lochside retreats are eclipsed by peasouper fogs, and sea-crafted gales are carried in on the wings of sooty shearwaters, your motley crew (and the dogs, too) will always be found together. Here’s to time away with your homefolk, to tallying up the seconds between lightning flashes and thunder claps, and the careful cherry-picking of Monopoly tokens.
These weathered seasons are for luxury hideaways. For teaching the children the cosy curriculum: discovering herbs in the garden at dawn, squeezing lemon wedges over cast-iron puffed pancakes at lunch, and melting boiled sweets into stained glass sugar cookies for last lesson. What you feel most has no name but cinnamon, blankets, puzzles, chuckles, and rivers of honey flowing from the drizzler.
Avalon Manor
Upton Scudamore, Wiltshire, UK
Superb 14th-century large self-catering Manor House in Wiltshire. Stylish and historic, it's the perfect luxury country house.
Sleeps: Up to 12 guests (+ 2 children)
Alternative Group Option: Up to 6 guests
From: £3,695 per week, £2,795 per short break
Pets: One well-behaved dog is welcome (aged two and above)
Features: Games room, mini gym and tree house for children, cedar hot tub, outdoor woodfired BBQ and pizza oven.
