Easter inspiration for UK breaks with Travel Chapter

Whether your idea of a perfect Easter break is time spent with the family, a romantic break à deux or the chance to escape for a few days on your tod (perhaps with a canine companion), self-catering specialist the Travel Chapter has a suggestion to suit.

Here are six of its favourite Easter activities this year, each paired with a special place to stay nearby.

LAKE DISTRICT: Peter Rabbit on the Silver Screen… and at a Tea Party

Featuring James Corden as the voice of the title character, Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway (released on 27 March) looks set to be a sure-fire film hit with kids of all ages. At The World of Beatrix Potter in Bowness-on-Windermere, on the edge of Lake Windermere, families can join in the fun at a Peter Rabbit Tea Party (5, 10, 11 & 18 April) where, as well as a home-baked tea and story time, there will be a gift, balloon and bunny ears for each child, plus the chance to be photographed with Peter himself. Stay at Quarry Brow (sleeps five), a delightful three-bedroom cottage that’s just a short stroll from the centre of Bowness. With a homely and welcoming feel throughout, this reverse-level home has all you need for a relaxing getaway. A seven-night stay arriving Saturday 4 or 11 April costs £147 pp (£733). Call Lakeland Hideaways on 01539 887 620 (www.lakelandhideaways.co.uk).

DEVON: Easter Eggstravaganza at The Big Sheep

North Devon’s award-winning family attraction, The Big Sheep, is hosting its annual Easter Eggstravaganza. With over 30,000 chocolate eggs to find, there’s plenty to keep everyone occupied, plus a great selection of rides, attractions and shows, and the Easter Bunny will be out and about greeting the children. Stay nearby at Kipling House (sleeps six, plus two dogs), a luxurious detached coastal home within walking distance of the beach at Westward Ho!, renowned for its two miles of golden sand. Relax in the hot tub after a day exploring the South West Coast Path, and make the most of the activities, restaurants and pubs on your doorstep. A seven-night stay arriving Friday 3 April now costs £241 pp (£1,445 – was £1,600 total). £20 supplement per dog. Call Canine Cottages on 01237 459 821 (www.caninecottages.co.uk).

YORK: Chocolatier-led Luxury Masterclass

Looking for something more sophisticated than your average supermarket egg this year? A chocolatier-led luxury masterclass, crafting one’s own unique Easter confections, could be the answer. At York’s Chocolate Story, you’ll be taken on an Easter-themed guided tour, uncovering the connection between Easter and chocolate, sample some super-fine chocolates and learn techniques to make exquisite chocolate truffles. Stay nearby at Ruby’s Retreat (sleeps six), a five-star barn conversion in the pretty village of Fangfoss, just ten miles from the city. A games room with snooker table, air hockey, table football and table tennis, is ideal for teens, and bikes are available to borrow. A three-night stay arriving Friday 10 April costs £163 pp (£976 total). Call holidaycottages.co.uk on 01237 459 888 www.holidaycottages.co.uk).

EDINBURGH: Cockatoo Eggs & Easter Spice

Coco Chocolate, ‘where creativity and cocoa collide’, is possibly Edinburgh’s most elegant and decadent little chocolate shop. Specialising in organic chocolate, a passionate team produces chocolate on site. Their very own Easter Collection includes ‘Easter Spice’ and ‘Cockatoo Eggs’. Stay at St Bernards Row (sleeps two), a charming first-floor apartment in the heart of the vibrant, trendy neighbourhood of Stockbridge, 15 minutes’ walk from Edinburgh’s Princes Street, with a sociable open-plan living area and balcony overlooking a pretty cobbled street. A seven-night stay arriving Saturday 4 or 11 April costs £257 pp (£513 total). Call Cottages & Castles on 01738 503601 (www.cottages-and-castles.co.uk).

ISLE OF WIGHT: Easter Adventure Quest at Osborne House

English Heritage’s Osborne House (built as a summer home for Queen Victoria and Prince Albert) is organising an Easter Adventure Quest. Join the hunt for dragon eggs, cracking the clues as you and your family follow the trail through the grounds. Those who succeed will receive a certificate and delicious Hotel Chocolat treats. Stay at Seashells By The Beach Cottage (sleeps six, plus two dogs), a wonderfully light seaside holiday cottage close to the village of Bonchurch with its 11th century church and large pond full of wildlife. The property is perfectly positioned on the pedestrian-only seafront for walkers, families and dog owners. A seven-night stay arriving Saturday 4 April costs £308 pp (£1,847 – was £2,047 total). £20 supplement per dog. Call holidaycottages.co.uk on 01237 459 888 www.holidaycottages.co.uk).

SUFFOLK: Eastertide at Kentwell Hall

Kentwell Hall, a beautiful stately home in Long Melford, is holding an Eastertide special event (from Good Friday to Easter Monday). Learn more about this fascinating property from Kentwell’s historians, visit the Moat House (which will be buzzing with bakers, dairymaids and needlewomen) and seek out alchemists at their hut in the woods. Hunt for the huge wooden eggs that will be hidden in the gardens (unscrambling the clues to crack the secret code) and meet lambs, horses and miniature Shetland ponies. Stay at East End Dairy (sleeps four, plus one dog), a former dairy set in idyllic surroundings in the heart of rural Suffolk, ideal for exploring all the attractions that this stunning county has to offer. A seven-night stay arriving Saturday 11 April costs £140 pp (£560). £20 supplement for a dog. Call Canine Cottages on 01237 459 821 (www.caninecottages.co.uk).

For all types of Easter escape, the Travel Chapter offers an array of properties, from cosy cottages for two – or for a solo stay – to large houses guaranteed to charm even the hardest-to-please collection of friends or family. Visit this link for the latest Easter availability.

Still looking for Easter-themed ideas? Check out holidaycottages.co.uk’s guide to Best Easter Days Out – a chocolate-themed break as well as its Top Ten Chocolate Shops in the UK and Simple Easter Recipes for the cottage kitchen.

Notes to Editors:

• The Travel Chapter’s collection of self-catering brands includes: Holidaycottages.co.uk, Canine Cottages, Big Domain, Little Domain, Hide & Sleep, Sugar & Loaf (Wales), The Lakeland Cottage Company (Lake District), Cottages in Northumberland, Stay In (South West), Holidays in the Cotswolds, Cottages and Castles (Scotland), Peak Cottages (Peak District), Island Cottage Holidays (Isle of Wight and Purbeck), New Forest Living, Bramley & Teal (Kent & Sussex), Kett Country Cottages (Norfolk), Brixham Cottages (English Riviera), Lakeland Hideaways (Lake District), The Whitstable Cottage Company, Eastbourne Holiday Cottages, Harrogate Holidays, Polruan & Fowey Cottages Cornwall, The Norfolk Cottage Company and Cottages in Seahouses (Northumberland), Farm Holidays,  Dorset Coastal Cottages and Gorgeous Cottages (Yorkshire).
• Holidaycottages.co.uk has just been recognised for its outstanding customer service with a Feefo Platinum Trusted Service Award. This accolade, new for 2020, honours companies which have upheld a very high standard in terms of customer experience consistently for over three years.

For more information, including hi-res images, please contact Mischa Mack, Karen Carpenter or Laura Forbes at Travel PR on 020 8891 4440 or email: m.mack@travelpr.co.uk / k.carpenter@travelpr.co.uk / l.forbes@travelpr.co.uk.