BookCottages.com Blog January 2012

Few counties can compare with Shropshire for the sheer variety and superiority of its organic produce. A predominantly agricultural region up until the 18th Century, Shropshire's food culture continues to be dominated by regionally cultivated crops, fruit and cattle - many of which are unique to the county. Birthplace of the 'real ale revival', Shropshire is one of those few counties working hard to preserve its food and drink heritage.

The decline of local breweries from the mid to late 20th Century appeared to spell the end for... Read More ->

Once referred to as the 'Writer's County', Oxfordshire has borne many a gifted scholar and scribe over the last three centuries, including children's author Lewis Carroll, along with poets Seamus Heaney and T. S. Elliot. Of lesser repute are the county's iconic foodies, esteemed for a myriad of Oxfordshire recipes and concoctions still in production today. There was Frank Cooper, creator of breakfast table staple 'Frank Cooper's Oxford Marmalade'; Brown's of Banbury for the equally fruitful Banbury Cake, and of course Peter Scholey, former master brewer at Brakspear and now owner of Ridgeway Brewing Company, based in Henley-on-Tham...

Steeped in a history prolific with clan battles, bloodshed and monarchs in exile, it's little wonder that Scotland is the self-proclaimed 'most haunted country in Britain.' Her spectral moors are littered with ruinous forts of a forgotten age; her city streets darkened by grisly tales of body snatching and her most beautiful scenery marred by the bloodshed of Jacobite Rebellion. Teeming with eerie castles, haunted inns and ancient burial grounds dating back to Pictish occupation, you're never far from a spooky place in Scotland - if you know where to find them!

Culloden Moor, Inverness
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Endearingly dubbed the 'Garden of England' by natives, Kent's claim to fame can be summarised in two words: organic produce. This verdant South East county provides an estimated forty per cent of the UK's 'homegrown' organic fruit and veg, coupled with a significant contribution of hops to microbreweries throughout England. With a temperate climate and very little precipitation during key 'growing' months, Kent  was the ideal location for the introduction of Mediterranean and South American fruits during the 1600's. Both the Morello Cherry and Kentish Red made rich pairings with white meats such as duck and turkey, s... Read More ->

With its omnipresent medieval charms; yellow-tinted limestone hamlets and magnificent ancient forests, Gloucestershire's rural appeal far outweighs that of its sophisticated county towns. Authentic Gloucestershire connotes visions of picturesque cottages, gracious old country estates and miles of hiking country, once the hunting grounds of London's most revered nobility. Frankly, little has changed in hearty Gloucestershire, save the urban expansion of its capital, Gloucester. For Gloucestershire cottages visit bookcottages.com

Granted its first charter in 1167, the riverside town rapidly evolved into a port city and by the 1800's, had been linked to the Severn Estuary by the Gloucester and Sharpness Canal. Crumbling by the 1980's, the former dockside buildings and wharf now house the National Waterways Museum and inland RNLI Lifeboat Centre. Settlement of the Rom... Read More ->

We would just like to take this opportunity to wish all our readers and customers a very Happy New Year. The team here at BookCottages are all back to work after the Christmas break. Everyone survived Christmas and there were no turkey related incidents.

As usual the spring time rush has started for cottage bookings as people set their holiday plans for the year. Norfolk, Cornwall and Devon ...

Are you a fan of self catering UK holidays, but fancy heading off the beaten track? Luckily for you, bookcottages.com has just the thing. Introducing our pick of the UK's hidden gems - go on, discover the real Britain, you can thank us later!

Skomer Island, Pembrokeshire, Wales
Bed down in one of our Pembrokeshire cottages, pack a picnic and head off to the wild and rugged Skomer Island. A haven for lovers of the great outdoors, you'll need to get a boat across to Skomer from Martin's Haven. You'll be glad you did; come spring, a carpet of blu... Read More ->