BookCottages.com Blog December 2011

Decking our halls in time for Christmas is no mean feat; especially if you've a five-course dinner to plan; additional chairs to source and kids to ferry to and from Christmas parties. Fortunately, the season of tinsel and goodwill also brings with it a plethora of festive distractions - such as Britain's stately heritage houses. From supping mulled wine 'neath the gaze of Winston Churchill, to Victorian fairs and 'Casino Royale' inspired Christmas balls; Britain's stately homes serve up a wondrous array of traditional treats, guaranteed to lift any flagging Christmas spirit!

Ripl... Read More ->

Can you imagine the public outcry if our government banned Christmas? During the early 1600's, Christmas markets flourished in the UK. By 1649, they'd become all but a distant memory, banned under the Puritan supremacy of Oliver Cromwell. Christmas markets were consigned to  history until 1660, when Charles II ascended the throne and immediately overturned the prohibition. Today, Christmas markets constitute an integral event in the community calendar, heralding the beginning of the Christmas season. From holly, mistletoe and Christmas fayre, to handmade jewellery, clothes and books, these popular UK markets are still the best place to snap up a real Christmas bargain!

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Far in the North of 'Castle Country' lies the county with a dual personality - Gwynedd. To the West, Gwynedd overlooks the dynamic Irish Sea with swathes of rock strewn beaches, while to the North-East Snowdonia National Park provides equal tranquility and beautiful scenery, with it's backbone of jagged mountains. Archaic twee villages such as Blaenau Ffestiniog are best known for their affiliations with mining, yet are also location of  intriguing Welsh attractions such as the Llechwedd Slate Caverns. By contrast, Gwynedd's neighbouring towns of Caernarfon and Bangor are an equal blend of prehistoric and new attractions, ranging from the vast medieval fortress that is Caernarfon Castle to the Victorian Bangor Pier - proving that Gwynedd is far from a past-it seaside county. For fantastic holiday rentals in Gwynedd.

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We've still got cottages in Edinburgh available for this New Year's celebration, but you'll have to be quick to book!

What could be better than seeing in the New Year in the Scottish capital city of Edinburgh? World renowned for its Hogmany celebrations, the party starts on Thursday 30th December 2010 and keeps running until Sunday 2nd January 2011! The four day Hogmanay festival has everything from blazing fireworks, music and dance to art and cinema so whatever your tastes, you won't be disappointed.

So, what are the highlights of this festival of events? Well obviously you can’t miss the Midnight Fireworks ushering in the New Year at the Castle. This year, as in the past, they promise t... Read More ->

Hello and welcome to the BookCottages blog. This is our first post, and just in time for Christmas 2010. We thought we'd let you in on some of the best stately homes to visit this Christmas, so we're kicking off with 5 great houses that have done something special this Christmas.

First up there's Chatsworth house, located near Bakewell in the Peak District. This year they've gone to town with a Russian Themed Christmas. Every day from the 6th of November through to the 23rd December their house will be a lavish display of Christmas cheer taking inspiration from the rich culture and traditions of Russia. More information.