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Author: CharlottePosted on: Format ImageCategories: Blog, Experience, Inspiration, Uncategorized

A menu of experiences

upgrade with a hamper, pamper or celebration  package

Choosing a self-catering stay now offers so many of the indulgent treats often associated with a boutique hotel. A holiday cottage offers more space, privacy, private garden and importantly no agendas.  If you are seeking a few indulgences, we have a host of upgrades and special touches which will make your self-catering stay extra special.

Explore more with guided experiences

Holidays are as much about experiences as the accommodation.

For this reason, we've curated a menu of experiences for guests to help them explore more.   From guided walks, to peddling lanes, paddling rivers to cold water swimming, trying your hand at clay shooting or foraging in the woods. There are plenty of experiences available to enjoy at our cottages.

The country side around Elsie's and the Lizard offer some amazing walking with amazing views,  miles of tracks to hike, and lanes to explore by bike and epic rivers and seas to paddle, book an experience to see nature from a whole new perspective.

Here are a few examples:

  • Walk the Malvern Hills End to end - full day - picnic or cafe lunch,
  • Peddle power with electric bikes. Ride quiet lanes through quaint villages, discover amazing Cliff top views and stop off for tea and cake along the way.
  • Paddle sea or river - Take a tour in Kayak on the sea for a different view from the water or paddle board rivers and spot amazing wildlife
  • Clay shooting - have a  shot with a private coach to guide you to success.

Culinary delights

Food is one of life's pleasures, so tickling our taste buds with flavours and produce of the region can be a focal point for many of us on our holibobs.

There's no need to feel like you are missing out on great food on a self-catering holiday. Act Elsie's we offer a range of foodie options to make your stay a real treat.

We can offer not only hampers and grazing platters but also workshops to return home with a new culinary skill.

Here are a few of our hampers;

  • Pizza kit with sourdough balls, tomato sauce, cheese
  • Full English, cook up your bacon, sausages, eggs, mushrooms and tomatoes inside or out over the BBQ,
  • Pub night in -  with an artisan burger kit.
  • BBQ feast with locally produced lamb, sausage and burger.
  • Deli Platter - arrive to a platter of the best local cheeses, meats and goodies from the deli counter

Find your new passion

Our everyday lives are full of routines and commitments, whilst holidays are time dedicated to doing things that time doesn't seem to allow for at home.

So why not try a new hobby or discover your creative streak. We have built our own little crafting box with kits for flower pressing, sketching, journalling and gardening.

There are binoculars and books to encourage you to star gaze and bird watch as well as plenty of nooks and crannies to watch or make without any of the distractions of home.

If you are looking for an experiential workshop we can help there too.

  • Mindful crafting mono printing, slow stitching or circle weaving.  All delivered by your workshop leader.
  • Pottery throw down - Make your own creation in clay - Elsies
  • Jewellery workshop - make a special momento of your stay.

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Spa at home

Many of us love a retreat. Whether its Soaking in a tub, or a cold rejuvinating dip, a good massage, journalling and meditation.

Our cottages will help you relax as soon as you walk through the door. There's aromatic oils and the hot tub is warmed for your arrival soak. For that full spa experience we can arrange a massage at home, or a guided meditation session, yoga or a facial.

Arrive to your goody bag with oils and massage tips, your own journal and surprise goodies. You really will feel utterly pampered and rejuvenated after a spa stay with us.

  • In house massage - choose from full back, facial or neck and shoulder massage
  • Guided meditation - Your tutor will take you through a meditative process to help you wind down and repair.
  • Goodies bag full of locally produced sustainable products to use and try during your stay.
  • Journal to jot your thoughts.

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Simple pleasures

As a final bonus, our cottage offers lots of little nooks, to curl up and enjoy a book or listen to music.

To help we'll provide a shelf of great reading, a bluetooth speaker to stream your favorite tunes. Binoculars to bird watch or star gaze.

More than anything though, Elsie's offers spaces to stop and unwind.  A hidden garden spot, or cosy corner with a snuggly sofa, a bubble bath to soak in or woods and hills to discover on your doorstep and enjoy to yourself.

Living in a different space gives us a flavour of a different life, which, when taken back home lasts on in our memory and may inspire us to new things.  Isn't that what holidays are all about?

Author: CharlottePosted on: Format ImageCategories: Blog, Inspiration, Offers, UncategorizedTags: , , ,

5 reasons for a January break

5 great reasons  for a new year break

 

After the fun and craziness of the festive season, we can feel a little low as January hits. The first few months of the year can leave us feeling joyless and the blues are only lifted marginally by the lightening evenings and hope for spring. So we've put together 5 reasons to get away in January.  It offers the chance to focus on you and your plans for the year.

 

A dose of nature to calm your mind

When the weather outside is raining, and days are short and cold, it can be tempting to stay inside and wait for spring.

Yet, it has been proven that time in nature, is great for the mind, distresses and has the added benefit of topping up your vitamin D with a dose of sunlight.

Being able to walk out into woodland and sit quietly under a tree at Elsies Cottage or climb a hill to get your lungs burning, or maybe get blown off your feet on a blustery walk along the beach at Anchor Cottage- the wonder of nature is it never fails to make you feel alive. With the reward of a roaring fire and  a warm mug of cocoa waiting on your return.

blah blah blah

detox and relax in a bubble bath

Time for a digital detox?

From messaging, to social arrangements, posting your life and getting overwhelmed by the shares of others, it might be time to break the scrolling habit and get focussed on the stuff that really makes us happy.

But it is tough. Especially when your habits and routines are set. So nows the time to make your escape. Get away to Elsie's cottage where there are tempting alternatives like a soak in a roll top bath with a book and bubbles, or a dip in the hot tub. Pick up your pen or don your brush and create new distractions in your life.

me time

Indulge in some 'me' time

Despite what we all believe to be a break over Christmas, it is often the opposite. With rounds of visiting, rushing around buying pressies, along with late night revelries and early morning tidying. Its no wonder we arrive in January a little flat.

Being able to sit and be, doing what you want to do, with no one else to please is such an indulgence - and what are holidays for but to indulge ourselves.

 

Make a plan

Once the new year has faded, if you are anything like me, you'll probably get the urge to start planning. Whether its your holidays, or booking events and concerts, pursuing your hobbies or a big idea that needs hatching, January is a new start and a chance to reset and the promise of a new beginning. Getting away is the perfect time to get it all down on paper.

So, Pack your favourite journal and pen or laptop and camera and start the way you mean to go on.

When its cold outside, snuggle up

The beauty of winter is we don't need an excuse to hibernate. We may be fired up with new plans, but we can make them by a roaring fire, curled up in a deep sofa, listening to the rain outside with a hot toddy.

Our minds and bodies need down time, after the up time. It is crucial to rejuvenate and allow our minds to wander, reflect and re-energise ourselves for the spring when we naturally awaken.

 

Whatever your reason to getaway, choose between Elsies, seclusion  in the heart of the country or a Anchor cottage on the edge of the sea in Cornwall. We are offering a 10% discount for all stays from January until 14th March.  Just pop the code WINTERBREAK in the coupon box at checkout.

Author: CharlottePosted on: Format ImageCategories: Food lovers, Inspiration, Uncategorized, Weekend break

Foody weekend in Cornwall

Easy peasy foody weekend

The journey down to the Lizard peninsula can be a bit of a trek. Always worth it, but you may have a bit of a rumbly tum by the time you arrive.

So we've put together a guide to the simplest of foody weekends in Cornwall, which mean you can ditch the car and indulge.

Porthleven village has plenty to fill you up after a long journey. Famous for its food festival held in spring, but there's plenty to tempt your taste buds all year round.

We've put together an easy peasy weekend woody weekend in Cornwall that will mean you can ditch the car, and the apron, so you can properly indulge from long brunches to seafood feasts on beach, scrumptious fast food treats and fine dining. That's before you start on the pubs and coffee houses.

So after a blast of sea air to blow away the frustrations of the A30 you'll be ready to get stuck in.

Fish suppers and wood-fired pizzas

To ensure you get the biggest choice, head out before 8, especially out of season. Our favourite is fish and chips which we either dig into back at Anchor cottage to enjoy the view or eat straight out the packet from the harbour wall with a pint from the Shoal.

Wood-fired pizzas from the Corner Deli are a great quick fix, especially if you have hungry mouths to feed. - you can order in advance and pick them up on the way. Or drop in and order in person. We leave a voucher to use in the Deli, so whether it goes towards your dinner or a treat for your stay it's up to you.

Now the weekend is off to a flying start, you could sit and enjoy the wave action on the terrace or get in amongst the locals at the pubs, our go to is the shoal or Ship Inn where there's always a great welcome.

Brekkie blowout

Waking to the sound of the sea and the Cornish hustle and bustle, you'll be drawn outside to go and get in amongst the seaside vibes.

Our hamper provides all you need to start the day well, from a fresh brew to a poached egg on toast.

But you are on your holibibs, so you might want a proper blow out breakfast. And in Porthleven you have plenty to choose from. Our choice is the Twisted Current cafe. Their breakfasts are proper. If it's a full English or a vegan cook up, they cover it. From pancakes and maple syrup to avovado toast and mushrooms.  Grab yourself a sweet treat for later too, because this cafe bake all their own cakes

In their cosy tea rooms, you get a view of the bustling high street, or there's a garden at the rear if you want to eat al fresco. Dog friendly too!

Fresh Mussels with harbour views

Nothing says Cornwall than a fresh bowl of Mussels. But don't be fooled by the name, the Mussel Shoal cooks up much more than just its namesake.

From hake burgers to sticky squid, and haddock chowders to warm you after a day messing about on the water.

The vibe is always laid back, with great tunes piped out over the outdoor bar and huddle by a wood burner or bask in the sunniest spot on the harbour.

Share a table and get chatting to all, sup on a pint or cocktail, the only danger is that you'll still be sitting there as the sun dips and you start thinking of dinner!

Fine dining with Cornish simplicity

The home of Kota is one of the oldest buildings in Porthleven.

Acclaimed chef Jude Kereama, owns and runs Kota and its sister restaurant on the harbour front Kota Kai.

For the tasting menu and fine dining book Kota, it is up there for the best of Cornwall and beyond- with many a rosette, awards and a slice of TV acclaim.  But this place isn't formal or stuffy. An unpretentious dining space, with friendly service works perfectly with the stunning Cornish inspired dishes.

Head for Kota Kai for even more informality, and lovely views over the harbour. The food is a wonderful fusion of oriental flavours and British favourites using fresh seafood.

Whichever you choose - book ahead!

Of the beaten track for a traditional roast

We British love a Sunday roasts. Whatever the weather!

In Porthleven you could choose from a number of spots, including a paired back option from The Ship Inn, to the real deal at the Corner Deli and Harbour.

Our choice is to head out of town to The Victoria Inn in Perranuthno. A little known cove off the Penzance road with a great Sunday roast. It's about a 15 minute drive, and you can enjoy a paddle on the sandy beach wander around a few crafty shops before digging into a great Sunday lunch with a good pint or a hefty red.

Once back in your cosy cottage you may need a rest from eating, but you probably won't resist a last pint in the Ship to finish off your foody weekend in real Cornish style.

Room for more? Dig in at a bistro with a view

If you are more of a light lunch type, or maybe you still have room for more.

Why not try Amelie's

Amelie's is more of a mixed menu with fresh fish, and pizzas on the menu - so great for families.  The glazed extension is perfect for summer dining, but the main restaurant is lovely with bar area and a  light airy feel.

Once back in your cosy cottage you may need a rest from eating, but you probably won't resist a last pint in the Ship to finish off your foody weekend in real Cornish style.

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