About Cottage Holidays

On a cottage holiday, the adventure starts the moment you get into your car and start your break.

We'll prepare your accommodation and give you directions showing how to get there, the rest is up to you!! You have the freedom to tailor your own break. Freedom is a unique part of a cottage holiday experience, and for many people it's a great excuse to spend time exploring the area and meeting the friendly locals!

When you reach your property you'll find a guide to events and places of interest, and the owner or key-holder will be close at hand if you need any help or advice.

It's our quality that sets us apart
All of our properties are regularly inspected by our team of regional managers and you can rest assured that only the best quality properties are on offer.

Arriving and departing
Most weekly bookings run from Saturday to Saturday, unless the property indicates otherwise. Where accepted, 2 night breaks start on a Friday or Saturday, 3 night breaks on a Saturday and 4 night midweek breaks start on a Monday.

When you have paid for you holiday in full, you will, be sent details of how to find your cottage, and where to collect your keys on arrival. It's best to advise the owner or caretaker of your estimated arrival time, which should normally be after 3pm. On your day of departure, we ask you to leave your cottage by 10.00am so that it can be cleaned for the next arrivals.

Gardens & Parking Facilities
Many cottages have gardens where you can enjoy peace and privacy. Most properties also offer space for off-road parking; you'll find details of this in the full cottage details.

Cleaning
All cottages are cleaned between lets, meaning that you need to do when you arrive is unpack, put the kettle on and explore your cottage!!! There is no extra charge for this service unless extra heavy cleaning is required after you leave, or you do not leave the property and it's contents as you find them.

Cottages with Character
When choosing to holiday in an older cottage, you'll find that much of it's character and charm is due to it's age. Many cottage built before the days of damp proofing and cavity insulation!!. This worth taking into consideration if you are taking elderly or very young guests on your holiday, especially if it's between October and April.

In rural locations, the people around you may often be earning their living and country hours do run into the late evening and very early morning. So please be patient when it comes to the sounds and scents - it's all part of being in the country!! It's also worth remembering that because of the cottages are privately owned, they are decorated and furnished to individual taste.

Pets are welcome too
Take any other kind of holiday and it could cost you a small fortune paying others to look after your pets while you are away. And after all why leave them at home when they are one of the family? Many cottages accept pets and you can specify this as a requirement in the detailed search. Please note that provision is made to accept guide/service dogs at properties that do not normally allow pets. If you are taking a guide/service dog this needs to be noted on the booking form so that no additional charge is made.

All that we ask is that you respect a few simple common sense rules:

• Please keep your pets off the furniture.
• Please exercise your pets outside the garden.
• Please remove pet hairs from carpets before you leave.
• Please don't leave your pets unattended in the cottage.

Caring for your safety
Although we do not manage or own any of the properties featured on this site, as part of our safety first policy we do our best to ensure that our owners take the safety and well-being of our holiday makers very seriously. and that their properties are well maintained for your comfort and safety.

Nevertheless, please remember that when you are in unfamiliar surroundings, you must take special care of yourself and your family. In particular:

• Check the layout and property so that in an emergency you can get out quickly and easily.
• Check for a fire extinguisher and fire blanket , and read the instructions on their use.
• If the property has open fires, make sure that you use the fireguard and check that the fire is safely out before you go to bed.
• If you are unsure of how to use the any electrical appliances please ask the cottage owner or caretaker.
• If your property has night storage heaters, these must never be covered
• Cots and high chairs must conform to British Standards. If they are damaged or deficient in any way, then tell the owner.
• Look out for glass patio doors or glazed interior doors - they should should have stickers at adult and child eye height.
• Keep young children off balconies.
• If there is a garden pond, ensure that children cannot access it. Look out for any steep drops in the garden and if there are garden sheds or outbuildings, ensure that children cannot get in them.
• Equipment in the children's playgrounds should be safe and in good condition. The surface of the play area should be soft i.e. sand, soft earth or wood chippings.

Take special note of the following:

Swimming Pools

• Do not dive into the pool.
• Check which end is shallow and which end is deep.
• Check the location of life belts and other buoyancy equipment and read the instructions on how to use them.
• Do not swim or go into the pool under the influence of alcohol or immediately after eating a meal.
• Do not take breakable glasses or other utensils into the pool area.
• Do not not swim at night or when the pool is closed.
• Always supervise children.

Gas Appliances
Gas water heaters, by law, have to be installed and maintained by CORGI engineers. If you have any doubts about the efficient operation of any gas appliance, particularly hot water heaters, in your property, alert the owner immediately.

Gas Cookers - as you would at home, ensure that gas cookers are turned off after use, and in particular, check this before you go to bed.

We want you to have a safe and happy holiday - a few minutes taking some simple precautions could make the difference between a holiday enjoyed and a holiday spoilt.

Inside the cottage

In many properties in Britain and Ireland, water fills in a tank in the roof and you will need to throw a switch called the emersion heater to heat the water. Once full tank is used, you will have to wait for the tank to fill and heat again.

Outside the cottage

Abbreviations used in the property descriptions