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TRAVEL

Daily Record Saturday, November 22, 2014

with

MELANIE HARVEY

ITS A WOLD
The rolling hills of
the Cotswolds are
the perfect spot
for a break.. and the
place was rocking
as Heather and
family found out

NO HEARTH MEASURES Cuisine is outstanding in The Field in central Edinburgh

Capital stay was a taste

of the good life just
like Charlie planned it
MY mate Charlie had an idea which for
once seemed liked a winner.
His idea was to change our usual
routine of meeting once a month, going
to the same old haunts in Edinburgh
and Glasgow, but instead, do a bit of
research and choose a couple of
unfamiliar restaurants and bars.
Sounded like a plan.
Now, as this idea coincided with an
invite I had received to stay at the
wonderfully named Wallaces Arthouse
Scotland, a guesthouse situated within
the 19th century Assembly Rooms of
Leith, there seemed no reason to delay
implementing Plan Charlie.
This fascinating guesthouse caught
my eye the minute I received the witty
and original brochure which followed
my inquiry over availability. It totally
encapsulates the unique charm and
personality that is Mr Wallace Shaw, the
XXXXXX
owner,
andxxxxxx
my host for the two days.
AXxxx
fascinating man, he made you feel
very welcome from the minute you
entered the magnificent hallway. His
warm welcome, and the accompanying
glass of Prosecco, made it clear you
were going to enjoy your visit.
The sitting room is full of interesting
pieces of art to catch your attention.
Wallaces knowledge of the pieces,
along with his anecdotes regarding his
Glasgow School of Art background and
his travels around the globe, keep you
entertained and amused.
The bedrooms mirror all of this, from
the crisp white linen sheets and the
large ensuite shower-room, to the
interesting array of books and paintings
left for you to peruse at your leisure. I
thoroughly enjoyed the experience and
it was so refreshing to have a room
filled with imagination and creativity,
rather than the duplicated blandness of
the larger hotel chains.
The location is also ideal as it is so
close to a large array of great quirky
shops selling everything from arts and
crafts to wonderful delicatessens and a
wonderful range of antiques.
Accommodation sorted, it was time
to put Charlies plan into action so we
met at Nobles Bar in Constitution
Street for a pint of the wonderful
Caesar Augustus Lager one of my

o say the Cotswolds is an

Area of Outstanding Beauty
is an understatement... its
one of the most beautiful
regions we have ever had the
pleasure of visiting.
My family and I spent a glorious
weekend at Hoburne Cotswold
Holiday Park in South Cerney,
Gloucestershire, and are counting
the days until we can return.
Set among the rolling hills of
Brian Gallagher
central southern England, the
reporters@dailyrecord.co.uk
parks wooden lodges had a real
favourites to discuss the details of
Swiss Family Robinson feel to
Charlies research. Our first port of call
them. Our two boys Archie, four,
was to be Field, a cosy restaurant in the
heart of Edinburgh. Opened in 2013 and
and Alfie, 18 months, at the time,
quickly being included in
would have been quite
the Michelin Guide, it
happy if we had never
does not take you long to
left the spacious cabin,
understand why.
with its multitude of
I have to mention the
Flying from Glasgow
hidey-holes.
pistachio tart dessert I
on December 22, seven
But it would have
had, accompanied by
nights half-board at
been
a shame to miss
pistachio ice cream.
4T Thomson Couples
out on all the park had
Totally fantastic.
Hotel Savoy Gardens
to offer. From the family
in Madeira from 560
A real class restaurant
pool and its super-fast
based on two sharing.
at a decent price and a
flume to the softplay
Flying from Glasgow
winning start for the
area and outdoor
on December 21, seven
Hibee Charlie.
nights all-inclusive at
playground, it was every
Buoyed by his success,
4T Thomson Couples
little kids dream.
Charlie had arranged that
Scheherazade Sousse
we met early for lunch
Entertainment-wise,
in Morocco from 398
the next day. We made
we couldnt have
each
based
on
two
the short trip to Dalkeith
chosen a better
sharing.
to try The Itihaas, a
weekend for our stay.
Flying from Glasgow
Bangladeshi and Indian
The park was having a
on December 23, seven
restaurant, which had
celebration of rock and,
nights all-inclusive at
good reports. Another
4T Hotel Flamingo
on the Saturday night,
victory for Charlies plans.
Oasis in Spain from
Archie got his first taste
A stylish restaurant, with
731 each based on
of Meatloaf.
an exciting menu it made
two sharing.
Hundreds of people
for an excellent lunch.
To find out more
packed
the show bar to
All in all, a great two
about this holiday or
see the fantastic
days, to which the credit
to book visit your
Meatloaf tribute act,
must lie with Charlie.
local Thomson travel
which prompted Archie
shop, thomson.co.uk
to ask if he could grow
or call 0871 230
2555.
his hair long and wear a
leather jacket.
When the stage
wasnt being used by rockers,
Sammy the Seahorse and his
energetic gang of entertainers kept
the children happy.
Alfie wasnt too sure of the big
COMFORT AND JOy At Wallaces
blue furry creature that kept
wanting him to play games but, to
Archie, Sammy was better than any
Disney character he had ever met
Brian stayed courtesy of Wallaces
and he danced so hard to impress
Arthouse Scotland. See www.
him, he won the prize for best
wallacesarthousescotland.com
mover. He now guards his
For the restaurants, see
certificate and trophy with the
www.fieldrestaurant.co.uk and
same zeal a footballer would the
www.itihaasrestaurant.com
World Cup.
Using a crowbar to prise the boys

Latedeals

Facts..

MONKEY
BUSINESS
Archie checks
out a ring-tail
lemur in
Cotswolds
Wildlife Park

Heather Greenaway

h.greenaway@dailyrecord.co.uk

away from the park, we explored

the surrounding area, spending a
rainy afternoon looking round the
quaint town of Cirencester.
The Cotswolds is speckled with
hundreds of picturesque towns,
villages and hamlets, so no matter
in which direction you head, you
stumble upon a wee gem of a place.
With the houses all built from
the regions trademark yellow
limestone, its like taking a drive
through Postman Pat country and
Cirencester could be mistaken for
Greendale. Decked out in

puddlesuits, the kids had a great

time jumping up and down in the
rain, while we nipped in and out of
the copious charity shops,
snapping up bargains, including an
all-singing, all-dancing T-Rex for 1.
It was perhaps the only buy we
ended up regretting.
On the Sunday, we headed off to
the beautiful city of Bath, just an
hour and a half s drive from the
holiday park. It was somewhere I
had always wanted to visit and I
wasnt disappointed.
Its no wonder it has been classed
as a World Heritage Site. From the
stunning terraced houses of the