Surf Cat

Not since the 1950s has the UK holiday been so in demand. Back then, foreign travel was an utter luxury, only to be enjoyed by the few and far between, and so it was the norm for Brits to take off to find somewhere – usually a traditional holiday camp – on our own shores (and only then if they were lucky). This summer, it seems like we’ve stepped back to that time, with destinations, such as Cornwall, Norfolk and Devon, offering a breath of fresh air (literally) for many of us wanting to escape our four walls (despite us having to skip the airport). 

It’s true that, in normal times, the UK is often overlooked in favour of warm seas, exotic vistas and ‘hot, hot, hot’ temperatures, but, the fact is, the pandemic has forced us to look under our very noses at the wealth of beauty we have on our doorstep.

Like never before, we have so much more choice on where to stay – from boutique hotels to luxury homestays, with the holiday camp of the 50s thankfully a thing of the past. And it is good to remember that we are spoilt when it comes to the many, often untapped, destinations just waiting to be discovered on our shores. 

Not ‘under-the-radar’ by any means, The Cotswolds are nonetheless worth ‘rediscovering’ as one of the prettiest parts of the UK. The area is renowned for its bucolic countryside, historic towns, centuries-old churches and golden stone buildings. Just driving around the winding lanes takes you back to a bygone, pastoral time.

Bourton-on-the-Water, known as the Venice of the Cotswolds, is one of the Cotswolds’ idyllic villages, with its quaint shops found on the banks of the River Windrush and traditional thatched-cottages. While Burford, with its 12^th-century church and picturesque high street, is another gem.

Found in South Cerney, three miles south of Cirencester, meanwhile, is a series of 152 lakes, making up the Cotswolds Water Park area. Stretching across an expanse of over 40 square miles, this wetlands landscape hosts tens of thousands of breeding and watering birds and is an ideal destination for watching wildlife all year round, as well as the perfect place for enjoying a host of water sports.

In the heart of the region is the De Vere Cotswold Waterpark Hotel, an ideal base to explore the area’s charms. Situated on Lake 6 – in its own nature reserve – it fuses the characterful allure of this timeless area with a modern approach to hospitality. 

As well as boutique-style rooms, the timber-clad hotel has a collection of family-friendly one or two-bedroom apartments, which are perfect for privacy, space and social distancing – the latter now an all-important aspect of holidaying away from home. Ask for views over the lake to enjoy misty-mornings watching Reed Warblers, Black Terns and Swallows rise over the still waters. 

Inside the apartments, you can stretch out with a large, open plan lounge and contemporary kitchen area. This leads to a terrace or balcony, giving some welcome outdoor space – just the place to relax come evening time or to soak up the views with a morning coffee. The simple, modern décor gives a nod to the lake setting – with ‘wave’ artwork, crisp white linens and a neutral palette of white, taupes and creams giving a nautical feel. Bedrooms also reflect this Hamptons vibe with wood features, a pared-back yet pleasing aesthetic and en-suite bathrooms with fluffy towels and rainfall showers.

At the heart of the hotel is the large main reception area which is fused with a café-bar zone, which offers a buzzy hub. Décor here is quirky and fun, with petrol-blue walls adorned with patterned china plates, sage-green velvet stools and a central ‘tablescape’, of flowers, lanterns, ferns and cut tree-trunks, which changes to reflect the seasons outside. A pantry area offers snacks for those who are on-the-move and there’s also a candy-striped, retro ice-cream cart, to keep the little-ones (and the odd adult) happy. Talking of which, there’s also an upstairs games room, with table tennis and arcade games, to keep children amused on rainy afternoons.

The big news for this year is the revamp of the hotel’s Spa6. Found adjacent to the reception area, in a separate building, the renovation includes new state-of-the-art Technogym equipment in the gym – with rowing machines, skill-bikes, full body resistance machines and a free weight area.

There’s also a spruced-up 11m hydro-pool, surrounded by experience showers, bucket showers (brace yourself – they are cold) and heated loungers. There’s also a steam room, sauna, crushed ice fountain and nine treatment rooms. The hotel has collaborated with JustBe Botanicals – one of the first hotels in England to stock the handmade brand. With an ethos to focus on emotional balance, while enhancing a sense of wellbeing, the massages, facials and body treatments give guests five ‘state of mind’ choices for how they wish to feel upon departure. Whether you go for ‘happy’, ‘pure’, ‘active’, ‘tranquil’ or ‘detoxed’, your treatment will use oils infused with a blend of botanicals targeted to achieve this desired ‘state of mind’. Best of all? All spa experiences include a complimentary gin and tonic and a chocolate infused with the same ‘state of mind’ botanicals.

Louise Tunsich, spa director at De Vere Cotswold Water Park, reveals the aim of the spa is to “to create a calm oasis away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life” and it works to recreate the peaceful aura of the surrounding nature reserve. “The range of JustBe Botanicals treatments and products, also fit in beautifully within this setting, with their natural scents and essences, leaving guests feeling refreshed and revitalised.”

While you’ll find yourself blissed out from using the spa, the hotel is also in reach of a range of activities based around the many lakes, which will get the adrenaline flowing. From bike rides around the water-side trails to wakeboarding tuition, from fly fishing to canal boat journeys – there’s a wide choice of things to do and see in the vicinity (waterpark.org).

Back at the hotel, another highlight is the choice of dining on offer. The Old Boathouse Restaurant & Bar, for instance, offers relaxed dining with lakeside views. Seasonal ingredients are used for an inventive all-day menu which includes Jalapeno Poppers and Tempura Tiger Prawns for starters; and a range of steaks, burgers and classics – such as fish and chips and Linguine with Artichoke Hearts for main. Desserts, such as Knickerbocker Glory and Glazed Lemon Tart, are modern interpretations of timeless classics. 

The Brasserie, meanwhile, features wood-fired pizzas, classic Penang curries and ‘wok pots’ such as Teriyaki Beef or Sweet Chilli Chicken for more of an international flavour. There are enough crowd-pleasers for everyone – from Greek Salads to Rotisserie Chicken, Gourmet Burgers to Minute Steak Sandwiches. 

With post-lockdown escapes firmly in mind, De Vere has devised a Wellbeing at Heart programme, to keep safety, and reassurance for guests, as a priority. New measures include enhanced deep cleaning policies, which include sanitising public areas using jet action ‘misting’ technology. When guests arrive at their room, they’ll also find a ‘clean seal’ on their door to provide peace of mind that the room has been sanitised and that nobody else has entered following a deep clean. Rooms and apartments also include wellbeing kits which contain a hand sanitiser, antibacterial wipes, a set of socks, gloves, and face mask, all contained in a sealed bag. 

What’s more, 10% of the value of each direct bedroom booking is currently being donated paid to NHS Charities Together, which supports NHS staff and volunteers caring for COVID-19 patients. It’s the very essence of the old-fashioned feel-good factor.