“It’s a rollercoaster of a summer with airbridges opening and closing”, and quarantines lifted then reimposed, says Ruth Doherty for Livingetc.com. But we Brits “are not ones to give up on hope of a summer getaway”. That has made the “fakation” the big travel trend of 2020 – that is, trying to find the equivalent of desired far-flung destinations on your doorstep. If you’re longing for a trip to Bordeaux, for example, then why not try Surrey instead?
The Denbies Wine Estate, just an hour outside London, is “one of the UK’s largest wine producers and Surrey’s best-kept secret”. Nestled in the rolling hills of Dorking, the vineyard was founded in 1984 and is a pioneer of British winemaking, now famous for its sparkling wine and ortega varieties.
You can book a stay in the Denbies Vineyard Hotel, which offers daily tours of the breathtaking grounds and serves “delicious food with fresh ingredients grown onsite”. (See denbies.co.uk for details.)
Subscribe to MoneyWeek
Subscribe to MoneyWeek today and get your first six magazine issues absolutely FREE
Sign up to Money Morning
Don't miss the latest investment and personal finances news, market analysis, plus money-saving tips with our free twice-daily newsletter
Don't miss the latest investment and personal finances news, market analysis, plus money-saving tips with our free twice-daily newsletter
A country estate and vineyard in Sheffield
An award-winning vineyard in Sheffield has opened to the public for the first time, says Phoebe Fuller on Yorkshire Live. The Renishaw Hall country estate has long had its own vineyards and produces award-winning wines. Visitors to Renishaw’s seven-acre Italianate gardens can now also enjoy access to the vineyards.
The gardens are “breathtaking”, featuring towering delphiniums, campanulas and lillies, and include the White Garden, a “serene oasis” with a single-colour planting scheme. Roses feature heavily in each area of the garden, and their scent is a “prominent” feature all around the vast estate. There are also ten acres of woodland gardens and a 12-acre lake area, which are buzzing with wildlife including birds and dragonflies. (The Hall itself is closed due to coronavirus-related restrictions, but guided tours are available. Book at renishaw-hall.co.uk.)
A star of Britain’s wine industry in Kent
Chapel Down in Tenterden, Kent, is a star of the British wine industry – it became the official supplier of wine to No. 10 in 2016 – and became the country’s biggest winemaker in 2018 when it leased an additional 388-acre site for its wines. It is “ripe for a visit”, says Lauren Murdoch-Smith in British Vogue magazine. It offers a tasting course for the inexperienced – or for those looking to sharpen up their palates after months of lockdown drinking from the local supermarket. Chapel Down will guide you around its vines as part of its Fizz and Falconry tour, where you can swill a rosé brut while admiring some aerial acrobatics from the various birds of prey on site. You also get a fabulous lunch as part of the package. (See chapeldown.com for details.)
A picturesque estate in the South Downs
Since launching in 2010, the award-winning Rathfinny Wine Estate has “garnered resounding praise for its picturesque location in the South Downs”, says Lauren Hill in The Spectator. Its “world-class” wines include “blanc de blancs, blanc de noir, sparkling rosé and classic cuvée according to the traditional method of second fermentation, drawing on the characteristics of terroir, in line with the requirements set out by the Sussex PDO (protected designation of origin)”.
Enjoy the wines either at the Seafood & Wine Kitchen, or curled up on a picnic blanket amid the rolling hills – order ahead if you would like a picnic hamper prepared for you. Accommodation is available at the Flint Barns, which has “cosy” rooms. (See rathfinnyestate.com.)
Two vineyard stays in Bordeaux
“Château Smith Haut Lafitte has been an admired Bordeaux vineyard since the 14th century,” says Nina Caplan in The Times. Since 1990, it has been owned by the Cathiards – former ski champions – who opened the “elegant hotel, with its two-Michelin-starred restaurant and grounds dotted with artworks”. Their daughter created the vinotherapy brand Caudalie, “which has been pampering guests with grape-based treatments” for 25 years. (See sources-caudalie.com)
Less than an hour away, the Quinneys, a British couple who moved to Bordeaux two decades ago to live the winemaking dream, let out their 18th-century farmhouse from April to October. Aside from making “excellent, good value wines” and offering a tour of the winery, they also know what British holidaymakers want – the furniture is comfortable, the kitchen well equipped, and there’s a heated pool with a vine-covered eating and barbecue area. (See bauduc.com/farmhouse-introduction)
-
Coventry Building Society bids £780m for Co-operative Bank - what could it mean for customers?Coventry Building Society has put in an offer of £780 million to buy Co-operative Bank. When will the potential deal happen and what could it mean for customers?
-
Review: Three magnificent Beachcomber resorts in MauritiusMoneyWeek Travel Ruth Emery explores the Indian Ocean island from Beachcomber resorts Shandrani, Trou aux Biches and Paradis
-
Review: Three magnificent Beachcomber resorts in Mauritius
MoneyWeek Travel Ruth Emery explores the Indian Ocean island from Beachcomber resorts Shandrani, Trou aux Biches and Paradis
-
Review: Hôtel des Grands Voyageurs – a welcome arrival in ParisMoneyWeek Travel The new Hôtel des Grands Voyageurs exudes timeless elegance from the golden age of travel, says Matthew Partridge
-
Val d’Isère is a valley of delightsMoneyWeek Travel Matthew Partridge reviews Airelles Val d’Isere and Hotel Mont-Blanc in the famous French ski resort
-
Review: The Ozen Collection – a dream stay in the MaldivesMoneyWeek Travel Ozen Life Maadhoo and Ozen Reserve Bolifushi, where luxury meets nature, are almost too good to be true, says Nicole García Mérida.
-
Review: An odyssey through Sri LankaMoneyWeek Travel Merryn Somerset Webb explores the South Asian country’s ruins, jungle and fabulous food.
-
Flexjet review: the only way to flyMoneyWeek Travel Chris Carter flies with Flexjet, a provider of fractional ownership of private jets, to St Moritz in Switzerland for the Snow Polo World Cup.
-
South American nature holidays – take a walk on the wild sideTravel We find holidays in South America where you can explore nature in all its diversity.
-
10 most affordable places to rent (and least) in EnglandAs rent prices increase, it’s good to know where renters can get the best value. And which are the least affordable areas, to avoid.
