DOG FRIENDLY UK BREAKS

A COSY COTTAGE WINTER ESCAPE FOR YOU AND YOUR DOG, HIDDEN ON WOODED HILLSIDE IN THE BEAUTIFUL MALVERNS

There are rural getaways, and then there’s Elsie’s Cottage. Hidden on a hillside within the rolling woodland of the Malverns, this is a weekend home that will seduce you with its seclusion and romance you with its rustic charm.

Crafted from Malvern stone and replete with bare oak rafters, this holiday cottage truly does capture the spirit of the surrounding landscape inside its solid and safe walls. With garden views across a wooded valley and a wood-burning hot tub, it’s the perfect base for daytime escapism and evening-long relaxation for four of you and your beloved pet.

The one thing you won’t escape at Elsie’s Cottage, however, is luxury. Alongside limestone flooring and copper finishing throughout, a rainfall shower and iron roll-top bath mean this is private holidaying with a distinctly plush feel. Beautiful inside, it’s the kind of place where you light the fire and just forget the outside

Closing the door on the outside world is easy at Elsie’s Cottage. Top to bottom, this lovely cottage has been carefully and thoughtfully decorated by her owners to ensure every room is a joy to walk into.

Upstairs is an oak-framed master bedroom of mint greens and peach, boasting chandeliers, majestic king-sized bed and leather-bound books doubling as bedside tables. Downstairs, you access a garden bedroom from the hallway, with French doors allowing sunlight to flood in from the terrace, and bedding that can be ar- ranged in either twin or king-sized configurations. For your dog, there’s a doggy bed and bowls.

Move through to the living area where old meets new in the rustic country kitchen. Here, underfloor heating keeps proceedings snug and homely, in which those opulent touches of high-class fixtures and fittings – the worktops are all marble – lend an air of sophistication.

In terms of equipment, it’s all business – a large retro fridge freezer, dishwasher, electric hob and cooker, Denby crockery and all the utensils you could need make cooking as practical as it is pleasurable. Of course, it’s not all work – benches and velvet-backed dining chairs mean this is a lovely spot for a coffee, quick snack, or a more substantial family meal.

Step into the lounge and it’s impossible to miss the huge inglenook fireplace. Two comfy sofas are ready to wrap their arms around you as you warm yourself by the fire, with books, games and a TV providing yet more entertainment (if you REALLY must stay connected to the outside world, of course).

With unbeatable views from the hot tub, don’t be surprised if you stay longer than planned

For your dog to wander and sniff about in, there’s a terraced garden at Elsie’s Cottage, which cascades down the hillside from a lawned area at its upper reaches. Surrounded by colossal Scots Pines, and offering the most incredible views, you and your pet can easily lose hours exploring its many hidden nooks and crannies.

You reach the terrace from the lounge – and boy, do the views impress. A charcoal BBQ, fire pit and pizza oven mean every al-fresco dining delight is available to you, with sail and festoon lights providing an atmospheric canopy to catch a sunset if the winter weather holds.

As a fabulous final flourish, you can enjoy a spell in the secluded wood-fired cottage hot tub, with privacy guaranteed by a ring of oak sleepers.

The Malvern Hills are on your doorstep and there are plenty of walks from the off.

The Malvern Hills are a glorious string of hills, roughly 12-miles long, that straddle Worcestershire and Herefordshire. Hugely popular with dog-loving families and walkers, they offer panoramic views across the Severn Valley and over many English and Welsh counties.

Elsie’s Cottage is an escape from the real world, yes, but not so disconnected that you’ll feel isolated. In fact, there are easy walks right from the front gate into the heart of the Malverns and you’re no more than half an hour away from Hereford, Cheltenham and Worcester – if you need a little town life.

There are several dog-friendly pubs a short drive from the cottage, including the Farmers Arms Birtsmorton, The Swan Inn and The Inn at Wellend, all serving up local ales and great food.

Stay at: Elsie’s Cottage, the Malverns, Sleeps 4, 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom. From: £80pn.

To book: Call Charlotte on 07841 447339

Email: charlotte@hussh.co.uk

Visit: www.secretbolthole.co.uk/elsies-cottage-malvern-hills