cosy

IF you fancy a stay in the Cotswolds, then there are few places as quaint as the Woodstock.

Here is everything you need to know about staying at The Feathers hotel.

Where is The Feathers hotel?

The stunning boutique hotel situated in the heart of the Oxfordshire village with more than a hint of Cotswolds charm.

Woodstock is also near Blenheim Palace, although its nearest train station is Hanborough Station which is around an hour to London.

What is the hotel like?

The hotel says it has both “modern comfort and historic charm” with a cozy lounge area by the bar.

Last year it underwent a huge six month refurbishment which saw an upgraded bar and terrace area.

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What are the rooms like?

The 18 rooms and five suites combine original features with extravagant modern touches to make for a luxurious stay.

Our dog-friendly Cotswold Room had exposed wooden beams complemented by sleek interior design, including air con and a massive TV.

The bed was enormous and beyond comfortable, while the marble-effect bathroom had a belter of a shower.

There was also a doggy welcome pack, which included treats, toys and a plush sleeping pad.

It was the most wonderful stay in an idyllic village setting. Relaxing, even with our nutter of a cockapoo.

Rooms start at £250 including breakfast. Dogs charged at £30 per stay. See feathers.co.uk.

What is there to eat and drink there?

If the sun’s out, head to the hotel’s cute courtyard at The Aviary and get that Aperol spritz ordered.

For dinner, move inside to The Nest for fine dining with a flourish. Every item was off the scale but the star of the show was the lamb main.

For the lamb dish alone I would walk from my home in South West London.

Make sure to return for lunch as they serve a beautiful afternoon tea.

What else is there to do?

Woodstock is perfect for a genteel traipse, and a visit to nearby Blenheim Palace is a no-brainer.

The signs boast this is “Britain’s Greatest Palace” – and the beauty of the undulating grounds coupled with the striking palace itself definitely put it in there with a good shout.

Is it family friendly?

Two of the suites have sofa beds at an additional cost, for families staying with kids.

Cots can also be rented for £10 a night.

Is the hotel accessible?

The hotel has an accessible room on the ground floor.

POP star Taylor Swift’s ex Joe Alwyn has been getting up close and personal with a co-star during a break while filming a new movie.

The Kent-born actor, 35, was spotted with an arm around Austrian Julia Franz Richter, also 35.

The pair were shooting supernatural thriller Seance On A Wet Afternoon — based on the 1961 novel.

They were filming on Hampstead Heath, North West London.

The movie also stars Succession TV actor Matthew Macfadyen.

Joe affectionately put an arm around Julia’s neck and she reached up to touch him.

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An onlooker said: “He and Julia seemed to be more than just colleagues.”

Joe dated Taylor for six years.

The couple split in 2023.

In the film Weisz plays a self-proclaimed psychic who convinces her husband to help kidnap the son of a wealthy family.

OUR Spotlight On column takes an in-depth look at the best things to see and do in popular holiday destinations, as well as some lesser known spots.

This week we’re shining the spotlight on Boscastle, a small village buried deep in a valley on the north coast of Cornwall.

Sophie Swietochowski, Assistant Travel Editor, recently visited and said: “This charming village was labelled the UKs version of Salem, Massachusetts, by an American travel guide.

“And it’s not just the eerily moody scenery where raucous waves collide with the cliffside that makes this place so spooky.

“Boscastle has strong historical links to the art of witchcraft with witches supposedly selling the wind to sailors by tying knots in ropes – you can learn all about that at the Witchcraft Museum (more on that below).

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MUST SEE

The area may seem pristine and peaceful today, but in 2024 severe flash flooding wreaked havoc on Boscastle, tearing through buildings and causing an estimated £50million worth of damage.

It’s not hard to see how the devastation was caused when you take a short stroll to the harbour wall blowhole, otherwise known as The Devil’s Bellows.

The natural phenomenon is best observed an hour either side of low tide from a walking path along the coast, near Penally Point.

The blowhole effect is created when crashing water from a ferocious sea is forced through a small cavernous tunnel, before being spurted out the other end.

BEST VIEW

Walks are plentiful in this part of the world, with many coastal routes passing straight through Boscastle.

Less than a 30-minute stroll from the village centre, you’ll find Pentargon Waterfall.

Not only is the view of the waterfall impressive on its own, the surrounding fields are spectacular too. The high position gives you a great vantage point.

HIDDEN GEM

Tucked behind the National Trust Cafe sits a diddy museum entirely dedicated to witchcraft – and although its position in the village is hidden, its story is well known across Cornwall.

Crammed full of bizarre artefacts from jarred pigs heads to voodoo dolls of infamous dictators, the attraction is both extremely bizarre and wildly fascinating,

The museum was first opened in 1960, but has dramatically expanded its collection since then. You’ll retrace the tales of olden day witches and their links to tarot, and unearth spells and potions including charms to make a person more fertile.

RATED RESTAURANT

The Rocket Store is reason enough to visit Boscastle on any Cornwall holiday.

Overlooking the flowing River Valency, it stars in the Michelin Guide – although some are hoping it may earn its first Michelin star soon, so you best get down there before it fills out.

The restaurant is tiny and the menu changes every day according to what seafood has been caught that morning.

Oysters feature regularly, dressed in citrus-y sauces (these cost three for £10 last year). Smaller plates and veggies normally cost £15 and under while larger meatier plates of hake or lamb can cost between £25 to £30.

Think local produce served in an unfussy setting.

BEST BAR

On a sunny day, few spots are better for an ice-cold pint than The Wellington, whose raised outdoor decking area is set just back from the river.

If you’re not much of a booze drinker, head to Boscastle farm shop, instead, which does a cracking cuppa, served alongside glorious views.

HOTEL PICK

The Wellington pub has a small number of boutique and handsomely decorated bedrooms which were renovated only last year.

The place has a cosy, rural atmosphere, thanks to large padded armchairs and tartan bedding with plump cushions scattered about the place.

Possibly the best thing about it is knowing that bed lies only a few paces from the bar.

Rooms cost from £145 per night on a B&B basis. See wellingtonhotelboscastle.com.