We are almost two-thirds of the way through January and it has been a seemingly endless sea of grey that has occupied the first few weeks of the new year in London. Even Blue Monday failed to live up to it’s colour code, and we took this as good an excuse as any to properly escape the capital in search of some sunshine. Being frequent visitors to the Cotswolds, it seemed only natural to head in that direction for our next staycation. Our destination: the Log House Holiday acreage near Cirencester.
Set over 130 acres of a prime nature reserve, there are eight secluded Scandinavian log cabins to choose from; each with varying occupancy and unique characteristics. Our home for the two night stay was the Moondarra lodge on the far side of the lake; an eight-person cabin complete with outdoor hot tub, pebble beach and jetty/island that jutted out into the lake. The lake was an attraction in itself; as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSI) there was a plethora of avian wildlife that resided above and in it’s waters. Legend has it that there are also a family of otters that call the lake home, but unfortunately these were the only things to escape our keen eyes.
Outside of the Moondara log cabin there was plenty to keep us occupied. Although it was the peak of winter, a warm hot tub provided the perfect vantage point from which to relax with a bottle of champagne while watching the blue skies slowly turn pink. A rowing boat is available for the more active, as well as paddle boarding and other water activities (usually reserved for spring and summer unless you fancy your chances in icy waters). An outdoor fire pit on our very own private “island” was also a great way to keep warm while stargazing in the evening. It was also a good excuse to eat toasted marshmallows for dinner.
Inside, Moondarra comes equipped with all of the mod-cons you would typically find in any good residence. TV and WiFi were the only distractions from a lodge that otherwise firmly points outwards to the surrounding landscape; too many windows to count kept the natural light pouring in and, more importantly, kept your eyes busy as you went about your day. The panoramic views from the dining table were exceptional, with the option to dine on the veranda if the temperature is warm enough. Each of the four rooms were doubles with adjacent bathrooms; our en-suite master room, however, had it’s own mezzanine balcony looking over the living area below and a private outdoor balcony overlooking the island and lake, making it a clear winner.
Most importantly for us, the lodge was dog friendly; meaning a trip that was equally as fun for Pepita as it was for us. The walk around the lake is a great way to take it all in and, if you have a car, there is an endless choice of picture-perfect towns and villages to drive to. We popped into the Wild Duck Inn in Ewen for a spot to eat on our way back to London and it did not disappoint. The incredible game dishes were perfectly suited to the surroundings within this 16th-century inn.
You can check out the full range of cabins that Log House Holidays have on offer here. With capacities to suit any occasion, it’s the perfect peaceful getaway within two hours of the capital.
