Special Interest Breaks

Old Swan and Minster Mill, Cotswolds

Anniversary

Most of our hotels are perfect for a special celebration - a bottle of chilled Champagne, chocolates and flowers can be arranged to be in your room on arrival, prices on request from each hotel. Particularly recommended for an anniversary or special celebration are:

• Linthwaite House Hotel in the Lake District
• Longueville Manor, Jersey
• Old Swan & Minster Mill, The Cotswolds

For other romantic breaks at our hotels, please see Romantic Breaks below.

Longueville Manor, Jersey

Celebrations

Most of our hotels are perfect for a special celebration - a bottle of chilled Champagne, chocolates and flowers can usually be requested to be in your room on arrival, prices on request from each hotel. Particularly recommended for a romantic break are:

• Linthwaite House Hotel in the Lake District
• Longueville Manor, Jersey
• Old Swan & Minster Mill, The Cotswolds
  

Celebration Break on Jersey
To celebrate a special occasion, Longueville Manor could be the ideal solution. The following package has been created to ensure that every detail is taken care of and that your celebration becomes the success it deserves. This exceptional package includes:

• Luxury accommodation
• Celebration gift on arrival
• Pink Champagne and hand-made chocolates in your room on arrival
• Four course "Celebration" menu the first evening
• Seven course "Discovery" menu with wines (if staying a second night)
• Group 1 hire car for the duration of the stay
• Full English Breakfast each morning
• A free upgrade to a higher category of room (subject to availability)
• Service charge and local tax

Prices from only £225.00 per person per night

Chocolate Lovers Break ~ The Cotswolds

Three Ways House Hotel, the Home of the Pudding Club!

Calling all Chocoholics...

DIVINE CHOCOLATE INDULGENCE
Why not treat yourself to a mouth-watering, lip-licking 24 hours of Chocolate at the Home of the Pudding Club!

Arrive during the afternoon and settle into your room where you will find a box of delicious handmade chocolates. After this relax in the lounge or garden and enjoy a Chocolate Treat, in the Winter this may include a cup of Hot Chocolate with homemade Chocolate Biscuits, or in the summer a bowl of delicious Homemade Chocolate Ice Cream. Dinner will be a very Chocolatey affair where Chocolate is featured in every course, although other dishes are available if your stamina is waning! Retire to the lounge for coffee and homemade Chocolate Truffles,and even a chocolate liqueur!

You can continue to indulge your passion at breakfast where Chocolate will be included on the extensive buffet. After breakfast take part in the Chocolate Car Treasure Hunt, (how many Chocolate bars can you win?) followed by a DIVINE Chocolate Cookery demonstration and tasting.

You are now free to escape from all this Chocolate – or stay another night!

Rates: One night inclusive of accommodation, Chocolate Dinner, Car Treasure Hunt, Full English Breakfast and Vat - as well as lots of Chocolate extras. From £135 (incl. VAT @ 20%). We have a limited number of Single, Superior and Pudding Rooms available from an additional £15 per person, per night.

Dates for 2012 - January 28th, February 11th, March 10th, April 7th, May 5th, June 23rd, July 21st, August 18th, September 29th, October 27th, November 24th & December 1st

Be there and indulge!

Swinton Park

Clay-pigeon shooting

Clay-pigeon shooting is available at a selection of our hotels including Swinton Park, a 17th century luxury castle hotel in North Yorkshire.

Cooking ~ The Cookery School at Swinton Park ~ luxury castle hotel in Yorkshire

The cookery school is housed in the ground floor of the converted Georgian stables, which overlook the castle turret and parkland. Light and airy throughout, the stylish décor is comfortable – a relaxed environment well disposed to the appreciation of good food and fine wine!

The demonstration kitchen has been designed to the highest specification with equipment from Neff, LaCanche, Magimix, All Clad, Apilco, The Pasta Company, ICTC, Wusthof knives, Mermaid, Cookware UK and the homely atmosphere is complemented by an Aga and Fired Earth tiles. The demonstration kitchen and dining room both overlook the castle turret and parkland, with offices, a shop, toilets and preparation kitchen to the rear. The cookery school has its own entrance and is a very short walk across the drive from the hotel. The south facing lawn has outdoor seating, and there is adjacent car parking. The four acre walled garden behind the hotel is planted with fruit, vegetables and herbs, providing a ready source of fresh ingredients for the hotel and school kitchens, and cut flowers during the summer months.

Rosemary Shrager is Swinton Park’s guest Celebrity Chef, with her popular two day courses offering a choice of Modern British, Mediterranean Food and Fish and Seafood themes. Please see the Rosemary Shrager Course pages on the hotel's own website for further details.

Gourmet Weekends 2012
This is an event where we thought we would bring together an extravaganza of wine and fine cuisine, with tastings and demonstrations and even a gourmet treasure hunt. The two and one day weekend events include five course gourmet dinner, accommodation and breakfast, and wine at dinner. Dates available in 2012:

• 27th January (one night)
• 16th-17th March (two nights)
• 26th-27th October (two nights)
• 23rd-24th November (two nights)

The package price per room for two guests, including wine tastings and demonstrations in the cookery school is:

• Two night package: £670 for a Knights, Barons or Earls room £720 for a Dukes room or £770 for a suite
• One night package: £365 for a Knights, Barons or Earls room £390 for a Dukes room or £415 for a suite.

We also have Gilly Robinson running her Children's Cookery day courses, and her Christmas in a Box afternoon courses running in December.

The Chef’s Table demonstration dinners and Sunday Masterclass demonstration lunches are also run at weekends (and for private parties) in the cookery school.

Dance ~ Strictly Dancing Breaks in Devon

Two Bridges Hotel, Dartmoor National Park, Devon
The Bedford Hotel, Tavistock

Yes it’s all the rage and so we have brought a taste of Strictly Come Dancing to Devon especially for you! This dancing break's stunning venue and location in Devon will provide the perfect place to get motivated and have fun learning to dance. Your dance tutors for your dancing holiday are former top competitive dancing professionals from the world of dance,. Andrew Cuerden and his partner Hanna Haarala who were ranked in the top 24 of the World Professional Latin American Rankings in 2006.

Andrew and Hanna's aim is to encourage all levels of dance. Their objective is to give you the confidence and skills needed to get up and dance at any occasion, with classes aimed at all levels.

Your Break includes:

• 2 nights accommodation
• English Breakfast each morning
• Light lunch each day
• Tea and coffee each morning and afternoon
• 3 course Dinner each evening
• Full tuition with Andrew and Hanna each morning and afternoon (please note you can dance as much or as little as you wish you may decide to have a morning off and do a little sight seeing)
• Ballroom and Latin Classes each day
• Each evening after dinner Andrew and Hanna will host an informal and fun social dance on the hotel's large and beautiful dance floor where you will be able to practice what you have learnt, let your hair down and make new friends
• To end the weekend there will be a formal Dinner & Dance where Andrew and Hanna will perform their Latin Emotion Cabaret.

Price: £225 per person

Dates in 2011:

• 11th & 12th November

Dog Friendly

Many of our hotels welcome dogs and we have listed this on the hotel page if approriate. Ground floor or garden rooms are usually provided giving direct access to the hotel grounds. Dogs are not usually allowed in the public rooms and you may need to bring your own dog basket and food, although some hotels will also provide these facilities for you.

Please check specific details with the hotel. Suggested hotels include the Old Swan and Minster Mill in the Cotswolds and Swinton Park, a luxury castle hotel in North Yorkshire.

Driving - Great Drives of the World - Penrith to Corbridge

Nominated by the Automobile Association as one of the Great Drives of the World, the A686 stretches for fifty or so miles between Penrith in Cumbria and Corbridge in Northumberland. The route offers dramatic scenery and wonderful views, running through valleys and picturesque villages, then across the Eden Valley and into the north Pennines, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. After a steady climb to the top of Hartside Cross, and on to the country's highest market town at Alston, it begins a slow descent through the Tyne Valley to Hexham and Corbridge. The route can be enjoyed as a day's round trip, starting at Penrith.

Stay at Temple Sowerby House, near Penrith.

Fishing

Old Swan & Minster Mill, The Cotswolds

Fly-fishing is one of the many leisure activities available at this cosy, country inn set on the banks of the River Windrush.

Calcot Manor in the Cotswolds

Garden Breaks in the Cotswolds

Westonbirt Arboretum, Britain's third most popular garden destination, is famous for its acres of rare trees and shrubs, spectacular in spring and autumn.

Calcot Manor - AA Three Red Stars

A Day at Westonbirt Arboretum Break
Stay for 2 nights and enjoy a midweek short break that includes:

• Dinner in the Conservatory Restaurant (£40 per person allowance, food only)
• Overnight accommodation in a double or twin room (Family accommodation is also available, child supplements apply)
• Full English Breakfast
• Tickets to Westonbirt Arboretum for all the family
• Use of the Spa facilities (Treatments are charged as taken and should be pre- booked to avoid disappointment)

Prices from £320.00 per room per night when sharing a standard double or twin room and based on a minimum 2 night stay.

The Old Bell Hotel & Restaurant, Malmesbury

Garden Break 2011
Enjoy a great-value two night break this summer at the charming and historic Old Bell Hotel in the southern Cotswolds. This special break includes:

• 2 nights accommodation with full English breakfast
• Dinner on one evening in the fine dining Edwardian Restaurant
• Entrance to the beautiful Abbey House Gardens - home to ‘the naked gardeners’
• Entrance to the enchanting Westonbirt Arboretum

Prices: Deluxe £570 Premium £520 Prestige £470 Superior £425 Principle £375 Standard Main House £345 Standard Coach House £325

Prices are per room for the 2 night break, based on 2 sharing. Offer available from April to the end of October. Dinner Both Nights - for an additional supplement of £40 per room, enjoy dinner on both evenings giving you the opportunity to try both our excellent menus.

Garden Breaks in Devon

The Bedford Hotel, Tavistock or Two Bridges Hotel, Dartmoor National Park, Devon

Bloomin Good Garden Breaks
Enjoy a Garden Break and discover why Devon and Cornwall boast some of the finest and most diverse gardens in England, home to rare and exotic plants and trees. They offer the garden enthusiast winter colour from the trees and shrubs to the splendour of the spring bulbs and summer explosion of colour.

DEVON AND CORNWALL GARDENS to EXPLORE

• The Garden House
• The Eden Project
• Lost Gardens of Heligan
• Buckland Abbey
• Mount Edgecombe
• RHS Rosemoor

Your Devon break includes:

OPTION 1
Two night’s accommodation ~ Dinner on one evening ~ Hearty Dartmoor Breakfast each Morning ~ Entrance into two of the Gardens listed above.

OPTION 2
Two night’s accommodation ~ Dinner on one evening ~ Hearty Dartmoor Breakfast each Morning ~ Complimentary copy of The Yellow Garden Book 2011 ~ Entrance into 2 gardens from the Yellow Book and one of the gardens listed above.

Price: £145 per person.

Golf Breaks in Cheshire

Stay & Play Golf
Stay at the award winning Grosvenor Pulford Hotel & Spa and play golf at the award winning Pryors Hayes Golf Club! We have teamed up with Pryors Hayes Golf Club to offer you a fantastic golf break in the beautiful Cheshire countryside. Only £69.00 per person.

Rate based on 2 people sharing a standard double/twin and includes overnight accommodation on a Sunday evening, 2 course Sunday carvery, full English breakfast, use of the leisure facilities, and a round of golf at Pryors Hayes Golf Club on the Monday. Pryors Hayes is based in Tarvin, just a 20 minute drive from the hotel (transport not included but can be arranged at an additional cost).

The Bedford Hotel

Two Bridges Hotel, Dartmoor, Devon

The Bedford Hotel, Tavistock, Devon

Golf Breaks at Swinton Park, a 17th century luxury castle hotel in North Yorkshire.

One night golf break
A one night stay with unlimited golf at the charming nine hole Masham Golf Course, situated 1/4 mile from the hotel on the Swinton Estate. You can also treat yourself or your partner to an hour's treatment, choosing from the extensive range of face, body and beauty products, and an hour in our exclusive use spa (with sauna and Jacuzzi).

Package cost, including accommodation and dinner for two: from £315 per room for two.

Two night golf break
A two night stay with unlimited play on the golf course, an hour's treatment for one and an hour in our exclusive use spa (with sauna and Jacuzzi).

This package includes dinner, bed and breakfast for both nights: from £560 per room for two (£280 per night).

Please note that Saturday night is excluded from these packages.

Health & Beauty Breaks

Holdsworth House Hotel, near Halifax, West Yorkshire ~ Two AA Rosette Restaurant

Pamper Breaks ~ Girls Night In

• Pink cocktail or pink champagne in the Long Bar on arrival
• A choice of one of the following treatments: Lavender and Tea Tree Pedicure ~ Creative Spa Manicure ~ MONU Aromatic Facial ~ Back, Neck and Shoulder Massage
• Two course a la carte dinner in the award winning restaurant
• Accommodation in a twin or double superior room
• Yorkshire Breakfast

Price guide: £125.00 per person based on two adults sharing a room.

Package subject to availability. Please check with hotel for latest prices.

For a selection of Hotels with Spa and Spa Breaks, please see our dedicated Health & Beauty pages.

Honeymoon Hotels

Honeymoon Hideaway - The Cotswolds
When romance is at the forefront of your travel plans, add to it the nostalgia of times past and the comforts of the present, you will find the Old Swan & Minster Mill in the tranquil gardens of Old Minster Lovell at the heart of the Cotswolds sensationally idyllic. Heavenly rooms in the 15th Century inn are stylishly furnished. All have wonderful features; four-poster beds, fireplaces or private outdoor terraces overlooking the gardens. The atmosphere is comfy and laid-back; the service friendly and attentive. Dine in the charming Big Dining Room before a huge fire or more casually in one the myriad of cosy snugs. Unwind from your wedding celebrations with a relaxing massage in the spa, Pimms and strawberries on the croquet lawn or a traditional picnic on the dreamy banks of the River Windrush. The Honeymoon Hideaway Package Includes:

• Personal host to tailor-make your days
• Luxury Four Poster accommodation in the Old Swan for 2 nights
• Complimentary luxury chocolates and Champagne awaiting your arrival
• 2 relaxing 25 minute unwind massages fully relax you after your celebrations
• A three course candle-lit dinner for 2 in the Old Swan Dining Room or weather permitting, in the romantic setting of the Thatched Tennis Pavilion
• Full English breakfast each morning
• Picnic Hamper with Wine in the garden
• Value Added Tax

Rates: from £650.00 for 2 nights

Valid through 2011 subject to availability. Prices are based on two people sharing for 2 nights.

MURDER, MYSTERY EVENTS

The Bedford Hotel, Tavistock, Devon

Two Bridges Hotel, Dartmoor National Park, Devon

A weekend of murder, mystery, suspicion and suspects . . .

• Arrive on Friday and settle into your luxury accommodation (but be careful when you open the wardrobe - a body could be anywhere !)
• Join your fellow detectives for canapés before a sumptuous four course dinner. But no time for idle chat - things are happening around you. Is that waitress really a member of staff ?
• Retire to the safety of your bedroom and ponder the events of the day
• On Saturday enjoy a full English Breakfast before a day free to enjoy as you please. But return in time for the continuation of the plot over another wonderful dinner
• Sunday brings proceedings sadly to an end with the post mortem after breakfast

Murder Mystery Evening

• Join your fellow detectives for canapés served in the lounge as the scene is set
• Enjoy a gourmet four course dinner with clues to gather and bodies to examine
• The evening is hosted by professional actors but who are they ? Surely not that nice old lady sitting on the next table...
• All is eventually revealed with the post mortem over coffee and a prize for the best “Sherlock Holmes”

Please contact the hotel(s) for latest dates and prices.

MURDER MYSTERY Weekends

The White House Hotel ~ Herm Island, Channel Islands

Murder Mystery Weekends 2012
£220.00 per person to include:

• a welcome drink
• 3 course gourmet evening meal with course wines
• full English breakfast
• the Murder Mystery Entertainment

Dates: Fri 30th March - Sun 1st April & Fri 5th Oct - Sun 7th Oct 2012

Painting Weekends in Cumbria ~ Temple Sowerby House, nr Penrith, Cumbria

Learn how to 'Paint what you see' with John Sibson - a truly memorable weekend improving your painting skills:
28 - 30 October 2011. Prices from just £295pp.

Learn to Paint Inspired Landscapes
Quite simply, the course will teach you how to create a watercolour painting of your own, from start to finish! It is all about learning to interpret, sketch and paint landscapes. You will learn how to start off, how to notate your sketch and then how to go about producing a watercolour painting of your own. Whether you are a complete beginner, or wishing to improve the skills you already have, there is much to be gained within a small group environment. John is not only a brilliant watercolourist, but has the ability to pass on his knowledge to others in an easy, understandable manner. As this is an Autumn course, we will be able take advantage of the changing colours and the sketching will take place either in the garden here at TSH, or else within a very short drive.

The workshops include personal tuition during outdoor sketching sessions, explaining and illustrating methods for how to interpret and paint what you see, including trees, buildings and the landscape itself. Returning inside, you will learn watercolour techniques whilst completing your own painting. The emphasis is based upon learning within a small group of like-minded people. Through personal tuition and guidance you will gain greater skills to interpret what you see so that your next picture will be even better! These painting weekends are restricted to a maximum of ten participants to ensure each person receives the full benefit of John's expertise. The course is designed to appeal to both beginners and improvers - it will enable you to return home with greater confidence in your abilities and inspire you to great deeds!

Prices: Classic Room £295 per person sharing ~ Superior Room £325 per person sharing, including:

• 2-night stay in a superior or classic room
• Full breakfast each morning
• 3-course dinner each evening
• Full tuition and guidance from John Sibson
• Sandwich lunch on Saturday
• Light lunch on Sunday for all

(partners price of £225 and £255, excluding tuition and Saturday lunch)

Painting Breaks ~ Two Bridges Hotel, Dartmoor National Park, Devon

Combine your love of the Countryside and a passion for art and create a Nature Diary with Jennie Hale. We are very fortunate to be working with Jennie; who is unique amongst wildlife artists. Her work is fresh and inspiring. You will be charmed by the simplicity of her captured images of the wild. She is a truly talented and fascinating artist who has a great appreciation and knowledge of wildlife and a passion for all forms of art. There will be feeding stations for wild birds around the grounds and a falconer will bring a bird of prey indoors giving you many opportunities to draw from life.

Pencils and watercolours are required along with a sketch book and watercolour paper.

• 2 nights accommodation
• Breakfast each morning
• Light working lunch
• Dinner each evening
• Full Tuition with Jennie

Price: £225 per person

Dates: 10th July 2011 and 11th September 2011

Please see hotel's website for full details.

Pudding Club Breaks in the Cotswolds at Three Ways House ~ Home of the Pudding Club

Founded at Three Ways House Hotel in 1985 to prevent the demise of the traditional great British Pudding, the Pudding Club and its members can now proudly claim that because of their efforts the great British Pudding has reclaimed an enthusiastic following throughout the country - and beyond. You don't need to be a member to attend a meeting. Today there is a full colour recipe book and a range of Pudding Club gifts.

Two Night Pudding Club Break - Attend a meeting of the Pudding Club, every Friday (and occasional Saturdays). This involves eating or sampling a selection of seven delicious puddings to find the Pudding of the Night! Stay overnight and take an English Breakfast before exploring the local area. On Saturday night dine in the main restaurant from the Table d'Hote menu, departing after breakfast on Sunday morning.

Summer Pudding Club - During June, July and August, the Pudding Club features summer delights like Gooseberry Fool and bowls of Summer Red Berries as well as Summer Pudding itself. Traditionalists won't be left out, as the parade of seven puddings will still include favourites like Syrup Sponge and Sticky Toffee. With drinks served in the Patio Garden, the Summer Pudding Club is a lovely Midsummer occasion!

Tariff for two night Pudding Club Break 2012

Price per night: Double/Twin Room £200
Superior/Pudding Double: £235/£257/£285

Early booking advised, due to popularity of these weekends.

Swinton Park - luxury castle hotel

Racing Breaks - Swinton Park, Yorkshire

Swinton Park is conveniently situated close to some of the best race courses in the country and the racing town of Middleham is only a few miles away, with training gallops on the breathtakingly beautiful Wensleydale moors. The race days for York, Ripon and Thirsk are listed on the hotel's website Calendar of Events page, and we offer a Racing Break Package which can be tailor made to suit your particular requirements.

The usual format for on a race day includes a morning trip to the local stables and exercise gallops at Middleham, a late morning brunch, entry to the races and transport. The standard package costs in the region of £95 per person, which will vary depending on the race meeting and the number in the group sharing transport.

York and Wetherby racecourse are about a 50 minute drive, Ripon, Catterick and Thirsk about 30 minutes. Any accommodation costs will be an additional charge.

Romantic breaks - Lake District

Indulge in a romantic break at the luxurious Linthwaite House Hotel overlooking Lake Windermere in the beautiful English Lakes. The romantic package includes a bottle of house Champagne, box of handmade chocolates and a bunch of red roses in your room on arrival and costs an additional £68 (approx. price guide) to the normal short-break rates, inclusive of full English breakfast and delicious four-course Dinner. The break also includes complimentary use of nearby spa with pool, sauna, steam room, spa bath, squash and gym.

Total Romance Package
The total romance package will melt any heart with rose petals strewn on the pillow, champagne on arrival; a book of Lakeland romantic poetry and a list of ten top spots for proposals (which can be sent under plain brown cover to keep your plans under wraps). There is also a disposable camera to capture this cherished time together. The package includes four-course table d'hote dinner and full English breakfast, served in bed if the mood takes you, and is valid for a two night minimum stay in a deluxe room.

Optional extras include filling the room with roses; a champagne picnic hamper; a steamer trip on lake Windermere; and suite upgrade. Pleae check the hotel's website for current prices.

Sheer Indulgence Break - Isles of Scilly

Escape to the unspoilt Isles of Scilly for a truly romantic break. Stay at Tregarthen's overlooking the harbour on the island of St Mary's and enjoy stunning panoramic vistas of the islands of Tresco, Bryher, Samson and St Martin’s. With luxurious bedrooms, an award-winning restaurant and the sea-shore, two beaches, picturesque quay and the shops and galleries of Hugh Town all within easy walking distance from the hotel, Tregarthen's is the perfect destination for a romantic escape. Book their Sheer Indulgence break (minimum three days notice required), inclusive of:

• Champagne and flowers
• Hand-made chocolates
• Rose petals for your bath
• Fresh fruit bowl
• Locally made biscuits and other little touches

Please check hotel's website for current price.

Walking Breaks ~ The Cotswolds ~ Three Ways House

Cotswold Walking Weekends
The organised Walking Weekends are led by experienced Cotswold Wardens, all of who have a wealth of local knowledge, which they will readily share with you. The walks vary in length, taking in some undulating and rough ground, but all of them are suitable for the moderately fit (although you may encounter many stiles). Saturday’s walk is usually 11–12 miles, whilst Sunday’s is approximately 8 miles – enabling you to return to the hotel for departure by mid or late afternoon. Walks from Three Ways House would typically take in the beautiful stretch up to Kiftsgate Court and Hidcote Manor, walking on up to Lark Stoke where the views are stunning, dropping down into the village of Ilmington, through to the Foxcote Estate and Ebrington (known to the locals as Yubberton) and then walk back to Mickleton through Hidcote Boyce and down Bakers Hill.

This is generally how the Cotswold walking weekends work (with seasonal variations):

Friday ~ Arrive at your leisure on Friday afternoon. The Pudding Club meeting kicks off at 7.30 with a drinks reception when your host will explain the history and rules of the club. You will then have a choice of three light main courses before the highlight of the evening, a parade of seven traditional puddings, which might include Spotted Dick, Sussex Pond or Lord Randalls. You will be invited up to the Pudding Buffet until you say enough! Relax over coffee and cast your vote for the ‘Pudding of the Night’.

Saturday ~ After a good night’s sleep you will be ready for breakfast and a chance to start walking off the puddings. Leave the hotel by 9.15 for today’s walk, which will be approximately 11 miles long. Put your best foot forward and you should be back for 3.30ish. After a relaxing bath or shower, sit by the fire with a cup of tea or enjoy a pint of beer in Randalls. Dinner in the evening will be in our main restaurant, a fulfilling 3–course affair. Retire to the lounge for coffee or Randalls Bar for a nightcap.

Sunday ~ Start Sunday morning with a hearty English breakfast. Today’s walk will start from the hotel and will be about 8 miles, arriving back at the hotel by 2.30ish. The format of both weekends will be familiar to those of you who have enjoyed a walking weekend with us before.

Dates for 2012: January 20 - 22, February 17 - 19, March 23 - 25, April 7-9, June 22-24, July 13-15, September 7-9, October 19-22, November 16-18

The above prices include accommodation, dinner, breakfast, packed lunches, guides and VAT at 20%.A deposit of £40 per person will be required to confirm your booking.

Really relax – stay on Sunday night for a very special rate from £78.00 per person to include a 3 course dinner and breakfast. (From £80 after 1st March 2012)

Or if you prefer to walk as an individual or with a group of friends, Three Ways House makes an ideal base and offers some great walking in this beautiful part of the Cotswolds - the English countryside at its best. The hotel offers short breaks throughout the year offering excellent value for money and well behaved dogs are welcomed. Everything you need for a walking break is to hand including: • Guide Books and Maps - a wide range available • Planned Routes with recommended refreshment stops • Packed lunches available to order • Drying Room available for wet clothes and boots • Return to supper or a refreshing pint of ale.

The Cotswold Way is a 104 mile long public footpath passing through many Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, running between Chipping Campden in the north and Bath in the south. It runs along a high escarpment and crosses hills of neolithic limestone - the distinctive golden-hued stone from which many Cotswold towns and villages are built.

Walltown Crags, Hadrian's Wall

Walking ~ Hadrian's Wall National Trail, Northumbria

Visitors can now walk the entire 84-mile length of Britain's Roman frontier - Hadrian's Wall. This coast to coast trail, from the Wallsend fort in Newcastle to Cumbria's Solway Firth takes around one week to walk for the reasonably fit, although there are also 40 easy circular walks, making it ideal for a weekend break. Rich in Roman heritage, there are many fascinating historic sites and museums to visit along the Wall. A special bus service travels between the key points (number AD122) and leaflets on day walks are available. Further details on: www.hadrians-wall.org and www.nationaltrail.co.uk/hadrianswall.

Stay at Temple Sowerby House near Penrith, within a short drive of Hadrian's Wall.

Walking Breaks on Jersey, Channel Islands

Longueville Manor, St Saviour ~ one of Jersey's finest hotels ~ AA Five Red Stars

Indulge in Longueville luxury, yet savour the "real" Jersey for a unique two day walking break. From only £140 per person per night fully inclusive (min 2 nights).

More and more visitors are discovering Jersey's coastal paths and Green Lanes in an island blessed with a mild climate, great natural beauty and bountiful wildlife. So pack your walking boots, get your map ready and don’t forget the binoculars.

• Luxury double room - 2 nights
• Three course Table d'Hôte menu both evenings
• Full English breakfasts with hearty buffet both mornings
• A half day guided walk with a qualified guide (time subject to availability)
• Jersey Tourism walking guide booklet to plan your own walks
• Group 1 hire car for the duration of stay to get you to and from your chosen walks.
• Service charge and local tax

The above package starts from £280 per person (for the two nights) and is based on a Classic Room for double occupancy. Min stay 2 nts. Additional nights available from £75 per person per night on Bed & Breakfast terms A further 10% discount will be offered on the above rate if full payment is made at the time of booking. Available between January 18th and March 31st 2012.

Walking Breaks in Yorkshire and the Dales

Swinton Park
Take to the hills and enjoy the great outdoors exploring the Yorkshire Dales, safe in the knowledge that all the creature comforts await you at the end of the day. There are two walking packages available :

The Dales Explorer
This is a package that allows you to walk between Swinton Park and two other luxury hotels in the area, The Yorke Arms in Nidderdale and The Blue Lion at East Witton in Wensleydale. There is free baggage delivery between each destination and a walking map to help you find your way. Picnics are also available, and there is a Bothy Lunch Hut on the moors on Swinton Estate for those wanting to enjoy some shelter and a blazing fire on a winter’s day. The package price amounts to the Bed and Breakfast or Dinner, Bed and Breakfast rates available at any one of the hotels you would like to stay at, with just an extra charge for a picnic or for the use of the Bothy Lunch Hut. The baggage delivery service is provided by the hotel that you are walking from, but is not available between The Yorke Arms and The Blue Lion.

For further details, please contact Swinton Park - set in extensive grounds close the Yorkshire Dales National Park.

The Yorke Arms, Ramsgill-in-Nidderdale, Pateley Bridge, near Harrogate, North Yorkshire HG3 5RL. www.yorke-arms.co.uk

The Blue Lion, East Witton, Nr Leyburn, North Yorkshire DL8 4SN www.thebluelion.co.uk

The Swinton Estate Rambler
Stay at Swinton Park for a night, and explore the 20,000 acre Swinton Estate stretching from the River Ure up onto the moorland dales. Walking routes available range from a gentle stroll along the River Burn to a day hike up onto the moors including lunch in a bothy hut. For the really keen there is a 32 mile walk around the perimeter of the Estate. The Swinton Estate Rambler package includes : - accommodation with breakfast and dinner for two. - a rucksack picnic to take with you on your walk (hamper delivery service to Bothy Hut available at extra charge) - illustrated Swinton Estate walking guide - an hour in our spa (with Jacuzzi and sauna) and a half hour Walker's Massage on return Rates for this package start at £285 per room per night.* *A supplement of £50 per room applies to Saturday night bookings, and one night stays may not always be available on Saturday nights. Rates apply to standard room bookings, upgrade to a superior room available at £50/night.

Good walks can be enjoyed from many of our other hotels in the UK. Those listed below are located in areas particularly good for walking, and many provide details of Walking Routes, catering for different abilities:

Linthwaite House Hotel - Windermere, Lake District - walks through lovely countryside and around the lake. Printed walking guides provided.
Temple Sowerby House - near Penrith, Cumbria
Three Ways House Hotel - Mickleton, Chipping Campden - The Cotswolds
Two Bridges Hotel - Dartmoor National Park, Devon - special walking breaks available

Walking Holidays - The Wayfarers

Specialists in walking vacations since 1984, The Wayfarers is committed to providing inspired options for the very best of travel on two feet. Freedom of spirit and a passion for adventure set the scene. They seek out expert local walk leaders and put the focus on exciting itineraries featuring diverse landscapes, gracious lodging and delicious regional cuisine.

Affordable pricing covers all accommodations, ground transfers, meals on itineraries, wine with dinner, entry to specified museums and historic sites, lectures and events. A wide range of destinations are available throughout England, Scotland and Wales from the mountains of Snowdonia to the Western Isles of Scotland.

Destinations include: Coast to Coast, Cornwall, Cotswolds, Dorset, Hadrian's Wall & The Lake District, Peak District, Royal River Thames, Yorkshire Moors & Dales, Wales - Snowdonia and Scotland - Loch Lomond & The Western Isles.

Further details on: The Wayfarers Walking Holidays.

Weddings

Many hotels featured on this site hold Civil Wedding Licences and/or are suitable for Wedding Ceremonies and Receptions. This is noted on each individual hotel page, in the details section at the end. However, the hotels below offer particularly pleasant gardens or setting for a wedding. Please contact the hotel direct for further details.

Holdsworth House Hotel, Holdsworth, West Yorkshire
Linthwaite House Hotel, Windermere, Lake District
Old Swan & Minster Mill, The Cotswolds

Wine Weekends ~ Temple Sowerby House, nr Penrith, Cumbria

Classic Wine Weekends in Cumbria

TSH CHALLENGE ~ 23rd - 25th MARCH 2012
Most of the wines we serve at our wine weekends are both interesting and delightful. However, the prices are generally not in the 'everyday' bracket! My challenge here is to find really enjoyable wines that you can buy yourself for under £10 per bottle - including VAT! I think you'll be amazed, and very happy! (the champagnes of course do not, regrettably, fall into this price range - just an added bonus to the weekend!). A weekend of Ashley's fine food with wine to match and a Champagne Tasting thrown in - all at a tasty price of just £249 per person including:

• 2-night stay in a Superior Room
• Full Breakfast each morning
• a reception with canapes each evening
• 3-course dinner with 3 selected wines on Friday
• Champagne Tasting before dinner on Saturday
• 4-course dinner on Saturday, complete with 4 selected wines

Price: £249 per person sharing

AUSTRALIA REVISITED ~ 25th - 27th MAY 2012
On a more indulgent note, we look at the exciting new wines coming from progressive Australian winemakers. Plus, although we tend to drink Australian wine when it's still young, the better ones age beautifully and we'll take look (and a taste!) at some of these - I think you'll be surprised! This weekend includes dinner on both evenings, as before, together with wines to match the food. In addition, there will be a tutored Wine Tasting on Saturday afternoon with Neil Goldie from House of Townend Wines. A wonderful weekend of wine, this time at £295 per person, including:

• 2-night stay in a Superior Room
• Full Breakfast each morning
• a reception with canapes each evening
• 3-course dinner with 3 selected wines on Friday
• Tutored Wine Tasting on Saturday afternoon
• 4-course dinner on Saturday, complete with 4 selected wines

Price: £295 per person sharing

NB The menus each evening are set menus with no choice, created to match the wines perfectly! If you have any special dietary requirements, please let us know when booking.

Here are some guest comments following our previous wine weekends:

"We hadn't been on a wine weekend before and were a little apprehensive in case it was a bit beyond us! We needn't have worried as we were made to feel at home straight away and thoroughly enjoyed the tastings and especially the food"

"The tastings weren't a bit stuffy, we enjoyed the informal yet informative approach. A very good balance between the range of wines, information and help in choosing wines"

"Having arrived with limited knowledge other than I know what I like, the weekend was really helpful in organising my future buying selections"

"Having been to 3 previous wine weekends at TSH, there was absolutely no repetition in content. It's a great opportunity to compare wines"

For further information, please contact Temple Sowerby House.

Wine Evenings - Herm Island, Channel Islands

The White House Hotel

Wine Tasting Weekends 2012
£210.00 per person to include:

• evening meal
• breakfast
• return Travel Trident tickets
• wine tasting with talks from Guernsey's Wine merchants and Champagne/Wine tasting by the pool
• Sunday lunch

Dates: Fri 13th & Sat 14th April, Fri 27th & Sat 28th April & Fri 21st & Sat 22nd Sep 2012

Please mention breakswithtradition.com when booking any of the Special Breaks above - thank you.

New Special Interest activities are being added to this page frequently . . .
don't forget to come back and take a look!