Neighbours

Looking for the perfect cosy UK countryside getaway this winter? This charming Cotswolds hotel ticks all the boxes, we discovered

Visit Calcot & Spa around this time of year and the first thing you’ll notice upon pulling up is the fragrant smell of log fires. Just outside the honey-coloured town of Tetbury – the Cotswolds’ second largest, and where you’ll find Highgrove House, the private home of King Charles and Queen Camilla – Calcot is the ultimate countryside retreat.

The main house was built in the 17th and 18th century, but records show that one barn dates back to 1311, with dwellings here even as far back as Roman times. Now it’s a luxury spa hotel filled with cosy corners and a keen focus on sustainability; they burn logs made from coffee grounds and old newspapers, a tree is planted every time towels are reused, and they’ve eliminated single-use plastics.

Rooms are comfy and spacious – the tray of complimentary drinks and snacks is a nice touch (including the butteriest homemade shortbread), and I had one of the best night’s sleep in ages in the giant squishy bed.

Dinner can be taken in the elegant Brasserie restaurant (be sure to save room for one of the delicious desserts) or in The Hive, a pub-like space serving more casual bites, and which is better for kids.

In fact, the whole hotel is incredibly family-friendly, while still being a relaxing retreat for those travelling without children (a tricky balance to get right). There are dedicated hours for families in the pool and at The Hive, baby monitors are available to hire, and kids get four hours of free childcare in the nanny-run Playbarn when staying between Sunday and Thursday.

The spa at Calcot

A huge barn-style building a few steps from the main building, Calcot Spa features a light and airy café, indoor pool for lengths, sauna, steam room and snooze-inducing relaxation rooms.

The highlight, however, is undoubtedly the outdoor hydropool by yet another aromatic log fire, which somehow never feels overcrowded. Try to pay it a visit at the end of the day (the spa’s open until 9pm), as it becomes even more magical in the dark.

Top treatment at Calcot & Spa

Six months pregnant at the time, I went for the spa’s New Life New Mum Massage, which started with a back massage lying on each side (I appreciated the long sausage-shaped pregnancy pillow to hug), before turning over onto my back to work on my feet, legs and arms. While the lower back needs to be treated gently when pregnant, I was thrilled to still feel the knots in my neck being expertly loosened. The combination of vanilla-y scent of macadamia nut oil and my therapist’s soothing voice had me nearly nodding off.

What else is there to do at Calcot & Spa?

Calcot is, quite rightly, very proud of its rewilding programme across its 220-acre grounds, which includes wildflower meadows, beehives and a herd of fluffy Belted Galloway cows to graze the fields. Explore it all on the 3km nature trail; comfy Le Chameau wellies are available to borrow by the back door if it’s muddy underfoot.

How much does it cost to stay at Calcot & Spa?

Rooms at Calcot & Spa start from £344 per night.

CROATIA is full of islands, in fact it has over one thousand of them, but there’s one that was the favourite hotspot for royalty many years ago.

It’s not hard to see why either as the island is covered in lush olive groves and ruins of those grand former summer residences.

Šipan Island is the largest of the Elaphiti archipelago and is around 11 miles away from Dubrovnik.

On the island there are just two hotels, so you can opt for an overnight stay at either Hotel Šipan in Šipanska Luka and Hotel Božica in Suđurađ.

Both are expensive, although Hotel Božica offers a more relaxed retreat than what you’ll find on mainland Croatia.

It’s small with around 30 rooms, and guests can make use of the outdoor pool, a private beach, a restaurant and a lounge bar.

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In peak summer it can be as much as £380 per night.

If you want to simply explore, then jump on a ferry and take a daytrip from Dubrovnik.

To get to Šipan, holidaymakers need to take the ferry from Dubrovnik.

There’s one ferry a day, and the trip takes around 45 minutes with a one-way ticket costing £3.63pp.

Once you get to the island, you’ll find a mass of olive groves – as it holds a Guinness World Record for the highest density of olive trees per square meter.

This is also why it’s called ‘golden island’, thanks to its rich land which produces quality olive oil.

It is inhabited by around 480 residents who live between the two main villages, Šipanska Luka on the western side and Suđurađ on the southeastern tip.

You’ll also spot some ruins that used to be Roman villas and summer residences of Dubrovnik nobility.

Thanks to its proximity to the city, Šipan Island used to be the holiday spot for rich and noble Croatian families from Dubrovnik.

One of those is Vice Stjepović-Skočibuha in the village of Suđurađ, the most famous one among them.

Of the 13 Elaphiti Islands, only three are inhabited; Koločep, Lopud, and Šipan.

Koločep is the island nearest to Dubrovnik, and it has two villages, plenty of hiking trails, and the Modra šilja, known as The Blue Cave.

On Lopud, visitors will find the very pretty Šunj beach and a historic monastery.

Much further up the coast, nearer to Zagreb, Krk is Croatia’s largest island, and unlike Šipan, it can be accessed via a bridge, so there’s no need to take the ferry.

As it’s one of the larger Croatian islands, which has a number of resorts, hotels, holiday homes and campsites.

There are over 68 towns and villages on the island, and a popular spot is Beach Kozica, also known as the silent beach, which has been described as “dream bay” by visitors thanks to its clear waters.

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Plus, here’s more on the Croatian town that Brits always skip, which is named one of the cheapest beach resorts in Europe.

And check out the tiny European coastal town that used to be its own island named top 2024 hidden gem.