32
Travel 33
GREAT
Weekend Saturday, March 14, 2020
ESCAPE
Gorgeous
and isolated
island chain
Where: Outer Hebrides
Currency: GBP
Brief overview: This week we suggest a holiday in the
Outer Hebrides. You’ll be able to self-isolate, you’re likely
to meet no one – or next to no one – and as people are
cutting back on leisure travel, you’ll have the place pretty
much to yourself.
The Outer Hebrides are gorgeous. The island chain off
the west coast of Scotland form part of the archipelago of
the Hebrides, separated from the Scottish mainland and
from the Inner Hebrides by the waters of the Minch, the
Little Minch, and the Sea of the Hebrides.
Scottish Gaelic is the predominant spoken language,
although in a few areas English speakers form a majority.
The 15 inhabited islands have a total population of 26,830
and there are more than 50 substantial uninhabited
islands. From Barra Head to the Butt of Lewis is roughly
210 kilometres.
What to do: Experience the peace and tranquillity of
this isolated environment or accept the warm Western
Isles welcome as communities offer traditional Hebridean
hospitality.
The Outer Hebrides offer rich island history and
visitors can enjoy a superb selection of museums and
monuments or witness carefully preserved Gaelic culture
in a region where crofting, community events and ceilidhs
bring people together like nowhere else on earth.
You’ll be able to spot
birds, beasts and all
the rest of the Hebrides
wildlife that flourishes in
the unique environment,
or enjoy other activities
on offer from cycling to
canoeing, kayaking to
kitesurfing and walking to
windsurfing. Be inspired
by stunning sea views
and endless skyscapes
or simply soak up the
amazing Outer Hebridean
atmosphere on one of our myriad of main and outlying
islands.
What to eat/drink: Food and drink from the unspoiled
islands of the Outer Hebrides is something to savour.
With unique produce farmed across the islands, the Eat
Drink Hebrides Trail will point you towards the best places
to eat, where to see produce being made and also where
you can shop for it yourself in the Outer Hebrides.
Whisky and great seafood are easy to find. Look out
for rich venison, hand-dived seafood and sustainably
harvested goose meat too.
Where to stay: Whether you are looking for a long term
base to spend your entire break, or seeking stopovers on
a multi-centred journey through the Outer Hebrides, the
islands offer a selection of accommodation to suit.
Choose from a wide range of hostels, hotels, self-
catering cottages, campsites, bed and breakfast or
sporting estates – all of which offer accommodation
tailored to the needs of the Outer Hebridean traveller.
How to get there: You can fly from Manchester,
Glasgow, Edinburgh and Inverness to Stornoway (Isle
of Lewis). Alternatively, there are numerous ferries from
Ullapool, Uig, Oban and Mallaig.
Quality time at spa retreat
COTSWOLD HOUSE HOTEL
Vicki Jones
W
e all lead busy lives and we
don’t always have the chance
to put the brakes on and
spend quality time with our loved
ones.
So with Mother’s Day coming up, when I had the chance
to spend an indulgent weekend with my mum at the
Cotswold House Hotel & Spa, I jumped at it.
Chipping Camden is only half an hour from our family
home, which meant we didn’t have a long journey to
recover from before we could start relaxing in earnest.
The weather wasn’t great when we arrived, and as we
made our way from the car park at the end of the pretty
garden a member of staff rushed out to carry our luggage –
a nice touch. Once we had checked in, we were shown to
our garden suite – The Grevel Suite. This comfortable suite,
named after a prominent wool stapler in the 14th century,
comprised a stylish twin bedroom, comfortable lounge
area and a luxury bathroom with a huge oval stone bath,
under floor heating and a large walk-in shower.
The suite also featured an enclosed courtyard, complete
with a table and chairs, the perfect place to enjoy a glass of
wine had it not been a rainy February!
After unpacking and a nice cup of tea, we went to have
a stroll around Chipping Camden. The small market town
is notable for its elegant terraced High Street. Packed with
boutique gift shops and tea rooms, it is the perfect base for
a visit to the Cotswolds.
We decided to pop across to Cotswold House Hotel’s
sister hotel The Noel Arms for a quick drink from their
extensive choice of gins in the cosy Dover’s Bar.
Back to the hotel and it was time for dinner. There are
two restaurant options at Cotswold House – casual dining
in The Bistro on The Square or the sophisticated Fig
restaurant.
The Fig offers classic Fig 8 and Fig 6 menus, with
options to suit all appetites. Designed primarily around
local and seasonal produce, the Fig menus are updated
every quarter – offering the tastiest, most nutritious dishes
of the season.
We chose the Fig 6 menu which is primarily a three-
course menu ‘plus extras’. Our menu included a goats
cheese and spinach arancini, roasted tomato soup
with artisan bread, venison pivithier, lemon sorbet with
caramelised pear and tarte tatin with caramel ice cream
and brandy snap. All delicious!
The following morning, breakfast was served in the bistro
and featured a selection of cereals, fresh fruit, yoghurt and
Take a presidential road trip on Route 66
The state of Illinois scales the length and breadth
of what makes America great, from space-age cities
to quaint small towns, Michelin stars to rural diners
playing the Star-Spangled Banner whilst serving
American comfort food, the great outdoors and of
course…Route 66.
With regular daily flights to Chicago and endless car
hire options to conquer the start of Route
66, Illinois is the perfect long weekend USA
getaway or a destination for a longer, family
trip.
Illinois is forwarding-thinking and
progressive, making the state truly open for
all with warm American hospitality that is
famed throughout the world.
Illinois is also rich with Presidential history
from Barack Obama in Chicago to Abraham
Lincoln’s legacy in Springfield, the state
capital.
n Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library
The perfect place to relax
The Cotswold House Hotel is situated in the heart of Chipping Campden and is the perfect base for a weekend in the Cotswolds
pastries and the choice of a full English with a vegetarian
option. The perfect start to our indulgent day.
We had booked several treatments at the spa, so after
allowing our breakfast to go down, we made our way to
the converted coach house at the end of the pretty hotel
garden.
After a very warm welcome from the spa staff, we
changed into our complimentary robe and slippers and
relaxed by the pool until it was time for our treatments.
I had the Express Manicure, while mum enjoyed her
hour-long Cotswold House Spa Signature Body Massage.
The tailor-made massage is completely bespoke to you
and your refining and firming needs. The therapist blends a
fusion of essential oils and plant oils to focus on what you
would like to achieve and how you would like to feel.
LUXURY
GETAWAY
& Museum: The museum celebrates its 15th
anniversary next month and celebrates the
presidential legacy in Springfield. On the
anniversary day – April 19 – a new interactive
mini-theatre experience will be launched.
The experience will showcase
retrospectives on exhibits, programmes,
theatrical productions from the last 15 years
as well as highlights of special guests who
have visited
n Lincoln’s Tomb: Visitors to the town
can rub the nose of Lincoln – it is said to
bring good luck – at Lincoln’s Tomb. Many
After mum emerged, it was my turn for the massage.
Feeling very relaxed and pampered, we went down to the
hydrotherapy pool and took advantage of the poolside
loungers and the steam room. It was a lovely way to spend
a couple of hours away from the day-to-day stresses of
everyday life. Hotel guests can enjoy the spa facilities
during their stay and the spa also offers a variety of
treatments and spa days, for when you fancy a treat.
After a mooch around the shops, we went back to our
suite to get ready for dinner. This time we ate in the less
formal bistro. Mum chose the calamari starter, followed
by wild mushroom risotto with parmesan crisp and vanilla
creme brulee with shortbread biscuit for dessert, while I
had the goats cheese starter, a main course of flat iron
chicken, roasted butternut squash, sweet potato, pumpkin
surveys have concluded that it is
one of the luckiest places to visit in
the world
n Old State Capitol: The Old
State Capitol is where Lincoln
spoke the immortal words ‘a
house divided against itself
cannot stand…’ and is where
President Obama announced his
candidacy for President
n President Obama served
as the Senator for Illinois before he was
elected as the 44th president of the United States.
In the summer of 2021, the Art Institute of Chicago will
welcome two acclaimed portraits to its galleries for the
first stop of a five-city tour: Kehinde Wiley’s painting of
President Barack Obama and Amy Sherald’s portrait of
First Lady Michelle Obama
n For more information, visit www.enjoyillinois.com/
en-gb/
{{ After a very warm welcome from the spa staff, we
changed into our complimentary robe and slippers and
relaxed by the pool until it was time for our treatments
and chilli dressing, followed by sticky toffee pudding with
ice cream for dessert. Again all delicious and the perfect
end to a treat-filled day.
If, unlike us, you fancy a more active weekend, there is
plenty to do in the area.
Within just a short walk from the hotel, Court Barn
Museum celebrates the lives and work of talented artists,
designers and craftspeople from the area, while Hidcote
Manor & Gardens are just a 10-minute drive from Cotswold
House Hotel. The National Trust owned gardens are
amongst the most influential and best known Arts and
Crafts gardens in Britain. Also worth a visit is Broadway
Tower. The tower is a unique folly that stands on the
edge of the Cotswold escarpment overlooking the Vale
of Evesham. Boasting a fascinating history, with links to
Seven nights, swap eggs for fossils in Dorset –
£182 PP, save 30%: holidaycottages.co.uk (01237 459
821; www.holidaycottages.co.uk) offers a saving on The
Coach House Leeson (sleeps eight, plus two dogs), a
beautifully presented period cottage on the outskirts of
the Dorset village of Langton Matravers. A seven-night
stay arriving Saturday, April 4 now
costs from £182 pp (£1,455 total – was
£2,054). £20 supplement per dog.
Seven nights, Bring the ‘Secret
Garden’ to life in Cornwall – £109 PP,
save 15%: Canine Cottages (01237
459 821; www.caninecottages.co.uk)
has an offer on Constantine – Willow
Barn (sleeps six, plus up to five dogs),
a barn conversion close to the dog-
friendly Trebah Garden near Falmouth
in Cornwall. A seven-night stay arriving April 11 now
costs £109 pp (£653 total – was £759). £20 supplement
per dog.
Mums in Mind Spa Day – From £97.50 PP save £60
PP: Seaham Hall (0191 516 1400; www.seaham-hall.
co.uk) is celebrating Mother’s Day with a special spa day
offer for two to treat mums throughout March. With Mum
in Mind costs from £97.50 pp (£195 total for two – was
£315). Valid on Thursdays only throughout March.
The pretty garden is the perfect place for a summer wedding and leads to the spa
There are a range of luxury suites and rooms
renowned artist William Morris, it also has a nuclear bunker
15 feet below ground. The relic of the Cold War, the former
monitoring bunker was once part of a wider network of
similar structures all over the United Kingdom, built to
study and report the effects of nuclear explosions and the
resulting radioactive fallout.
And of course with a wealth of countryside walks
available, you could just make the most of the breath-
taking scenery the Cotswolds has to offer.
So whether you are a couple looking for a romantic
weekend away, the outdoors type looking to take
advantage of the countryside in the area with your four-
legged friend – the hotel is dog friendly – or just fancy
getting away from it all, the Cotswold House Hotel is the
ideal choice.
LATE
DEALS
Seven nights, Rural Tuscan Tranquility – from
£356 PP, save 10%: CV Villas (0207 261 5402,
www.cvvillas.com) offers seven nights in an elegant
classic stone Tuscan villa, surrounded by peaceful
countryside. La Casa della Chiesa (five bedrooms,
sleeps nine) has plenty of outdoor space, including
a sizable pool and small football pitch. Priced from
£356 pp (£3,201 total) for a week’s stay. Flights
extra.
See the LIGHT at Durham Cathedral – spring
escape from £97.50 pp with Seaham Hall: Be
one of the first to experience LIGHT, a stunning
year-long immersive art installation by artist
Chris Levine. Opening March 20 at 7pm at
Durham Cathedral, the event will officially launch
Pilgrimage 2020 and celebrate the opening
of the new Northern Saints Trails – six, long-
distance walking trails throughout Durham,
based on ancient pilgrimage routes. Stay at the
beautiful, five-star Seaham Hall on Durham’s
wise buys
Weekend Saturday, March 14, 2020
{{ WHAT IS IT?
Women’s Bomber Jacker
2.0, $148 (£114) baubax.com
HOW USEFUL IS IT?
This jacket is everyone’s
dream: It has a ton of
pockets – including some
hand warming pockets, each
serving a different purpose.
It’s perfect for travelling
because you can keep most of your
positions close to you, meaning you can worry less
about getting something stolen or lost. Not to mention
the fact that it comes with detachable gloves and a
hood, an inflatable neck pillow, eye mask, a bottle
opener/whistle keychain, and so much more.
A protective, breathable shell offers comfortable
coverage for ladies on-the-go, while still remaining
lightweight and compact.
It comes in a variety of sizes from XS to XXL to suit
a number of travellers, and even comes in multiple
colours.
Caribbean on
way to capital
A Paradise Party Beach with 70 tonnes of white
sand is coming to London’s Studio 338 This
Summer, launching May 16.
Londoners can dance on a real outdoor sandy
paradise beach this
summer, as Studio 338
announces the return of its
epic beach parties.
For 2020 The Beach will
get a decidedly ‘Caribbean
twist’ with the open air
space being transformed
into a tropical paradise
complete with pirate ship,
palm trees, rum cocktails
and more.
Revellers can enjoy
dancing into the sunset with the sand between their
toes and a frozen cocktail in hand, as a full size
beach complete with hammocks, cabanas, beach
shacks and 70 tonnes of white sand will occupy the
outdoor garden area from May.
Relax by the side of the hydrotherapy pool For more information and to book, visit bit.
ly/20summerseason
FACT BOX
Dine and design
l Cotswold House Hotel, Upper High Street,
The Square, Chipping Campden, Gloucestershire,
GL55 6AN. Telephone: 01386 840330, book online at
www.cotswoldhouse.com or email: reservations@
cotswoldhouse.com Mandarin Oriental, Milan, has launched a luxury
l The Bistro in the Square is open every day until accommodation package for
late, while the Fig restaurant is open from 7pm to guests wanting to immerse
9.30pm, Tuesday to Saturday themselves in the whimsical
l The Spa at Cotswold House, Back Ends, Chipping world of Fornasetti.
Camden. To book a treatment call 01386 848934 or By booking the Dine
email spareception@cotswoldhouse.com and Design by Fornasetti
offer, guests will stay in a
sumptuous suite adorned
with pieces by Fornasetti,
Heritage Coast. Its Bloomin BB break costs from £97.50
receive one of the Atelier’s
pp (two sharing) including breakfast and full use of its
hand-decorated porcelain
award-winning Serenity Spa. Call Seaham Hall on 0191
516 1400 (www.seaham-hall.co.uk). plates, experience a private tour of
Summer opera in the glorious Peak District – from Fornasetti’s flagship store and enjoy a three-course
£1,156 pp with Kirker dinner at the hotel’s two Michelin-starred Seta
Spend early summer taking in world class opera and restaurant. Available until October 1. To buy tickets, visit
mandarinoriental.com
literature in the picturesque Peak District spa town of
Buxton. The Buxton International Festival presents a
vibrant programme of operas, recitals and literary events
Club exhibition
at the town’s magical opera house and other venues.
The cost is from £1,156 pp (two sharing), including four
nights’ B&B at the Lee Wood Hotel (July 2 departure) or
The Old Hall Hotel (July 6 departure), four dinners, tickets
for three operas and a chamber concert or song recital, H Club London – formerly The Hospital Club – in
entrance fees, Kirker Tour Leader & local guide. Call
association with Embassy of Israel, London, and in
AITO* member Kirker on 020 7593 2283,
partnership with The Israel Tourist Office is proud to
(www.kirkerholidays.com).
announce a brand new exhibition
n AITO is The Specialist Travel
coming to h Club London’s gallery
Association: more than 120 specialist
this spring. Dialogue: A survey
travel companies providing an unrivalled
exhibition of women artists in Israel
collection of holiday ideas. Consumers
brings together a selection of work
can be assured of high-quality holidays,
from contemporary female artists
excellent personal service and full
in Israel. The exhibition runs from
financial protection. Visit www.aito.com for
April 17 to 29. It is completely free of
further information. charge. For more information, visit hclub.com