What better way to escape the city than to hop into a fast car and go on a road trip? Or better yet, a doggy road trip. Because there is definitely nothing better than conquering country-roads with your four-legged best friend, TeamCocopup Charlie embarked on a doggy road trip to the Cotswolds for a weekend at the beautiful Bruern Cottages with Premier Cottages.
First thing’s first — wheels. We booked our ride with Getaround, which is Europe’s leading car share platform. Getaround has over 50,000 cars in six countries, and we booked our car quite literally a block away from our house. No need for any very bureaucratic rental offices either — because we unlocked our car using our smartphones. How convenient is that?
We set off. Driving past the M1 and across the beautiful landscapes of Oxfordshire and into the finally into the stunning Bruern Cottages. Bruern Cottages is part of Premier Cottage’s curated selection of dog-friendly properties. Premier Cottages have a collection of over 400 pet friendly holiday homes, where owners go the extra mile to welcome your pampered pooches.
From the outside looking in, Bruern Cottages looks like it’s been lifted from a John Constable painting. In this real life tableau, you will find everything from a wisteria covered driveway, a calming indoor pool, a cosy games room, and a lovely courtyard where you can play some fetch with your pup.
TeamCocopup Charlie and I stayed in the lovely Saratoga cottage, which is filled with all of the quintessential charms of a luxury English cottage — and then some. It is everything you could ask for in a luxury cottage and more, and takes the word ‘self-catering’ to another level. Inside, it is wonderfully cosy, perfect for two guests (and a pup), and even has its own private garden aching for a midsummer barbecue.
The Saratoga cottage is filled with plenty of delightful details: from white cotton damask curtains to a flurry of soft pinks, blues, and beige textures that create a classically luxurious palette. Upstairs, there is a blue and white faux bamboo four poster bed. Further down the room, you’ll find the small but lovely bathroom which has a raised bath, heated towel rail and shaving point too. Safe to say — we made ourselves home right away.
Unlike other self-catering cottages, (where you have to make the required trek to the local shop to get the essentials), Bruern Cottages provides you with everything you need to truly enjoy your stay. In your cottage, you are greeted with an absolutely delicious welcome basket filled with the very best local produce. This includes six cackle bean eggs, fresh milk, bacon and sausages from the nearby Paddock farm, Holmleigh dairy butter, freshly baked bread, Bensons apple juice, preserves, a chocolate cake, and a lovely bottle of Chateau Siaurac 2009 shipped directly fro a French chateau. Fancy some bubbles? You can also call ahead and request a bottle of vintage Monopole Champagne, which offers hints of citrus, apple, and subtle vanilla. Now this is luxury self-catering unlike anything you’ve ever seen.
While it may seem counter-intuitive, venture out of your cottage and explore Bruern Cottages’ surrounding gardens. We promise that it’s definitely worth your while. The award-winning gardens at Bruern Cottages will make you forego driving anywhere else — and instead spend hours enjoying an idyllic picnic or taking photos in the grounds. Stroll through the Stable Yard and indulge in a game of croquet in the perfectly manicured lawn, walk through the roses, lilies, euphorbias, and clematis in the walled gardens, or gawk at the wisteria that is romantically draped over the arched driveways.
If you’re looking to explore outside of Bruern Cottages, there’s plenty to see within driving distance. Our favourite pit stop was the Cotswold Wildlife Park, which is a family run wildlife park that’s 100% dog-friendly. TeamCocopup Charlie got to meet some camels, giraffes, and even a rogue peacock that wandered into the cafeteria.
Alternatively, there are plenty of stately homes and coastal walks within driving distance too. But with all of the luxurious indulgences at your fingertips in Bruern Cottages – why would you ever leave?
About Premier Cottages
Premier Cottages’ collection features almost 1,000 four and five-star self-catering cottages across the UK. Properties range from small, romantic boltholes to large family-friendly country estates. The collection includes pet-friendly accommodation and the widest range of accessible properties in the UK. Many properties have onsite facilities like swimming pools, gyms, spas, indoor games rooms and children’s play areas.
A week’s stay in Bruern Cottages’ Saratoga Cottage which sleeps two starts from £803 and a two night weekend break starts from £517. (www.premiercottages.co.uk, 01993 830415).
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