Cooks Green Holiday Cottage is the perfect spot to choose for your mini break as we provide all the comforts you need. There is a roaring open fire for cosy evenings and a fully equipped kitchen so you can cater as you wish for the duration of your stay. Comfortable bedrooms where you can luxuriate in a well-deserved lie-in and attractive garden for strolls make this charming holiday cottage a home from home.
Many people start the New Year with great intentions of exercising which often fizzles out. If you need some motivation to get going again, we can thoroughly recommend the wealth of activities in Gloucestershire that will help you to whittle off the pounds or just enjoy the fun that many of these activities offer. Here are a few of our favourite activities that can be pursued during one of our early holiday cottage breaks.
Gloucester Ski and Snowboard Centre
Under new management, the ski centre’s facilities have been upgraded which included extending the ski slope making it the longest artificial dry ski slope in England and Wales. There are many activities to try even if you are a beginner with taster lessons for ski-ing and snow boarding at very reasonable prices. There are great facilities for kids and adults and this is a fun excursion for all the family.
There are special timed sessions for different kinds of activity such as free practice, experienced snowboarder sessions and you can even arrange a fire and ice party for a special event. The facilities offer equipment rental and changing rooms and a restaurant where you can sip a hot chocolate or coffee to warm you up. Weather will not interrupt the proceedings; in fact, rain and snow just make the experience better as you can ski faster! For a full detailed description of facilities and a timetable, visit the ski centre website.
Natural Beauty
You will be spoilt for choice if you enjoy the countryside and outdoors, whether your idea of walking is a gentle stroll through established trails and pathways or hiking through valleys and hills, Gloucestershire offers everything. The Forest of Dean, once royal hunting grounds and steeped in legend and history offers a perfect voyage of exploration by car and on foot. You will see wildlife, the river Severn and beautiful forestry and countryside – just the place to blow the post-Christmas cobwebs away.
The Forestry Commission manage the Westonbirt Arboretum an important shrub and tree collection considered to be of national importance. There are 16,000 trees from around 2,500 different species set in an historic landscape much influenced by its Victorian establishment in style of planting.
The trees come from all corners of the globe and represent all temperate climates of the world such as America, Great Britain, Japan, China, Chile and other nations. Robert Holford the wealthy landowner of Westonbirt Estate started the planting in 1850.
There are over 17 miles of trails and paths to follow and activities within them cater for adults and children alike to connect with the trees, learn more about them and to nurture your own spirit of adventure.
Swimming
Two swimming pools in the area provide more family fun and there is nothing better for working up an appetite and feeling the glow of good health. Both centres offer swimming lessons and fun activities. Cascades leisure centre offers a modern indoor swimming pool with all facilities, located in the town of Tewkesbury. Access is from the M5 motorway at the Junction 9 exit. Sandford Parks Lido is a charming outdoor pool in the old-fashioned style of the 1930’s. It is closed from September each year as it is too bracing to swim in the wintertime except for the hardy souls who regularly enjoy a Christmas Day swim there. Worth mentioning for its historic interest and well worth visiting if you return during the summer months.
These are just some of the attractions to enjoy during the colder months of the year. Of course, you do not have to explore, you can relax and recharge without moving form our delightful holiday cottage and the chances are you will not want to!