Country Vacations & Resorts

Balmoral Castle

You don’t have to be in London to share the excitement of the Royal Wedding. The UK has been officially granted a ‘Bank Holiday’ or day off on 29 April, and the licensing laws have been extended to allow pubs and restaurant to serve until 1am – so the whole country will be partying locally as well as centrally.

Arrangements for thousands of street parties are well under way, recalling the neighbourhood celebrations of the Queen’s Silver and Diamond Jubilees. Many towns and villages will be holding carnivals and fetes where overseas visitors are sure to be made very welcome.

Latest wedding gossip is that the newly-weds will choose a UK destination for their honeymoon. It may be Scotland. Prince Charles and his brother Prince Edward both chose the Royal Estate of Balmoral, in Aberdeenshire to take their brides once the wedding day was over.

Just a stone’s throw from the Balmoral Estate is Dalbrack, a charming, traditional Scottish cottage set in the heart of Royal Deeside and all its courtly connections. Surrounded by spectacular highland scenery, it is perfect walking country, and you can visit the grounds of the Estate too.

Rumour has it that the Royal couple may go south rather than north, and a secret hideaway in the Scilly Isles just off the Cornish Coast has been mentioned. Another secret hideaway in Cornwall is Argantel, three serene cottages in the historic village of St Agnes, set in a peaceful woodland valley winding gently down to a beautiful bathing beach, and an ideal base to explore Southern Cornwall.

For more great cottages visit My Favourite Holiday Cottages

Earlier post: UK Royal Wedding Travel Tips

Review past entries in the UK Vacation Cottage of the Month series.