Country Holidays

Specialist Reports Holiday by Accommodation Self-Catering Self-Catering British Isles Country Holidays 

	Country Holidays
Holiday Cottages Group, Spring Mill, Earby, Barnoldswick, Lancashire BB94 0AA			MAP
tel: (08700) 723 723

Marketing itself as ‘Britain's favourite cottage holiday company' and almost certainly its biggest. Part of the Holiday Cottages (Cendant) group.

No of Properties

4,000-plus.

Location

England, Scotland and Wales.

Style

With such a large number, very varied, ranging from tourist board ratings of one to five stars. Options include modern, purpose-built chalets and modern semis, as well as properties dating back 800 years, and country conversions around central facilities. Useful listings offer details of larger properties, ie sleeping 10-plus (around 150), and those with the use of a pool (around 80, some of those with multiple properties sharing the pool). Interiors are not the very smartest but they are generally comfortable. Those judged to be luxuriously furnished cost an extra premium. There is a symbol indicating whether a property is suitable for disabled visitors.

Linen

Included at around 60% of properties. At others it may be rented at £4 per person per week.

Heating

Included at around 30% of properties or paid for by meter reading or standard charge.

Facilities

Around 10% of properties offer a cot. Enclosed gardens are available, though not listed in the catalogue so you will need to contact the booking staff for details.

Extras

Pets can be accommodated at around a third of properties for £16 per pet per week.

Short Breaks

Availability depends on the property but around half do offer some short breaks, generally in low season, though some also offer them for more popular periods if booked within a week of the holiday, and/or ‘shoulder' season bookable within a month.

Sample Price

In a two bedroomed property for a week over the May Bank Holiday, say £369.