StyleNest heads to Shropshire for some five-star self-catering with the family…
When you’ve got a few days off – or even a week – and you want to spend some time with the family, self-catering can be a really appealing option. But if you want to feel like you’re being pampered too… then it’s time for some five-star treatment at Combermere Abbey in Shropshire.
The expression ‘hidden gem’ could have been invented specifically for the abbey and its estate. Tucked away down a lane in leafy countryside just outside Nantwich, the abbey is used as a wedding venue but the grounds also boast ten luxury holiday cottages of varying sizes, built around a stunning 19th century courtyard.
Driving off the main road and through the estate gates, the excitement in the back of the car reached fever pitch as we were greeted by pheasants and very friendly cows. The source of the excitement, a six and three year old, couldn’t wait to see what else was in store, even after a long car journey – while the adults in the front, namely my husband and me, couldn’t wait to do some serious relaxing.
Our cottage, the Wellington, met all our expectations perfectly. Like many of the cottages, it’s perfect for a family as it sleeps five – some sleep four and there are also a couple of larger cottages for groups. Our weekend bolthole still had its original mullion windows and a pointed turret and was built for the first Viscount Combermere in 1837. The children were enchanted – we were delighted.
Inside, the place was immaculate (although quickly scattered with toys). Like all the cottages, the Wellington is beautifully furnished in a traditional style with modern twists. We loved the comfortable sitting room and the well-equipped kitchen with everything you needed whether you were taking the weekend off cooking or not. We had a log stove in the living room area, as well as TV and DVD player for cosy nights in. There’s also free WiFi available (which is as easy as hopping on – no annoying log-ins required). And in a room in the courtyard you could borrow DVDs and buy delicious-looking freezer meals made from local produce, or ice cream made nearby.
Upstairs, the bedrooms were five-star hotel standard and we chose the one with an en suite in the turret. The kids loved their endless cushions and fur throws and played for hours in their rooms. Outside, they had just as much fun. While we had rare ‘us time’ wandering amongst the autumn colours, the children were in heaven in the grounds of the abbey.
We played tennis on the tennis courts (racquets and balls supplied), used bikes from the bike sheds and wandered down to the mere, a small lake. There was a children’s play area with a little wooden playhouse filled with toys that was almost impossible to drag our two away from. And the formal walled gardens were perfect for chase and hide & seek.
When we felt like leaving the estate (which wasn’t often) we roamed the area and found more than enough to do with young children. Chester Zoo was a day out in itself, while Hawkstone Park Follies was a firm favourite. We even met a giant dalek made of straw at Snugbury’s Ice Cream.
The cottages at Combermere are five-star and that really shows in the extras. Each cottage has a Combermere Wine Basket that you can choose wines from during your stay, and you can pre-order a Breakfast Hamper too, as we did. It was packed with delicious local produce including sausages, bacon, eggs, milk, and even marmalade made from windfall apples on the estate. And as the ultimate touch, you can even book a spa treatment in your cottage.
“Can we come back here for our next holiday?” was a phrase heard often from the children over the weekend. And the answer? I really hope we can.
Combermere Abbey, Whitchurch, Shropshire SY13 4AJ.
Need to know:
Rates: 3 nights midweek in a cottage (sleeping 4) from £450 (price includes fresh linen, towels, toiletries and a welcome tea tray). Prices vary for cottages sleeping 5, 6, 8 and 10 to a price of £1100 (for sleeping 10).
Facilities: Each residence sleeps between four and ten adults and each includes a fully equipped kitchen with hob and electric oven, microwave, fridge, kettle, toaster, dishwasher; iron and ironing board and hairdryers, flat screen TV, DVD, radio/CD player, some with iPod docks. There is fine cotton bed linen, natural toiletries and cots and highchairs are available. The residences are centrally heated throughout, all with gas flame, open fires or log burners (firewood included), with outside areas and outdoor furniture, BBQ facilities, tennis courts, children’s play area, access to gardens, mere area, woodland areas. Close by parking facilities. Washing and drying facilities are available and the large cottages have own. Extra touches such as ready meals, breakfast hampers, maid service and spa treatments can be arranged at an extra cost. The cottages and estate are eco-friendly and efforts for sustainable management are taken where possible (Won Green Tourism ‘Gold Award’ in 2011). Voted ‘Best UK Self Catering Accommodation’ by VisitEngland, Awards of Excellence, in 2013.
Check out time: Before 10am
How to get there: From the M6, leave the motorway at Junction 16, and at the roundabout follow signs for A500 Nantwich/Crewe. You are now traveling on the A500, which takes you directly into Nantwich approx. 8 miles. After the first roundabout the A500 becomes a dual carriageway for approx. 6 miles. At the end of the dual carriageway you will come to a roundabout – take the Nantwich A51 exit. At the first traffic lights, turn left following signs for Whitchurch (A530/A525). Continue through 2 sets of traffic lights. At the third traffic light (T-junction), turn right and second left following signs for Whitchurch (A530/A525). Follow this road around a sharp left bend, passing Nantwich Lake on the right. You are now approx. 6 miles from Combermere Abbey. You will pass through the villages of Sound and Aston and after a further 900m the Primebake factory, on the left and approximately half a mile further along Park View Business Centre on the right. At this point you are now ½ mile from the entrance to Combermere, which is on your right. When you see the road sign on the left to Burleydam, Audlem and Woore, signal right and turn into the main drive.
For more information and prices, visit www.combermereabbey.co.uk, call +44(0)1948 660435 or e-mail [email protected]