Back in May last year, Pete and I spent 1 glorious week in the Elsa Cabin at Log House Holidays. I’ve been on a few staycations (a holiday spent in your home country rather than abroad) in my time, and while they have all been enjoyable, nothing compared to the time we spent there.
Following a particular fun weekend paddle boarding in beautiful Camberley, and having recently purchased our own paddleboards, Pete and I were on the hunt for a paddle boarding location a little closer to home in Birmingham. While searching the internet, we came across the Log House Holiday website and we were both instantly itching to go. With the scenic views over the private lake, the expertly crafted and eco-friendly Finnish log houses, and the luxurious hot tubs, it looked like an idyllic location for a well-deserved break from the hustle and bustle of modern life. Without hesitation we booked in for 5 days in the next available cabin.
In the week leading up to our break, the weather forecast was predicting cool temperatures, grey skies and lots of rain. But (thankfully) in typical British style, the forecast was completely and utterly wrong. On the morning we set of for Cirencester, we were greeted by a cloudless sky and glorious sunshine.
After a short drive and lunch stop in Cirencester town centre, we arrived at the Elsa Cabin. We were instantly blown away from how beautiful the location was. There are 8 cabins situated around the lake, but they have been so cleverly positioned so as not to intrude on each other and there is a true feeling of peaceful seclusion. Pete and I set about eagerly exploring our home from home for the next few days.
After a whistle-stop tour of the stunning cabin, noting the wood burning fire and adorable welcome treats, and dumping our luggage, we rushed outside to explore. From the private pier to the makeshift beach, outdoor fire pit to the hot tub and authentic wooden rowing boat, there was so much available to us, we were worried we wouldn’t have adequate time to enjoy it all in the short time we were there. Not wanting to waste a moment, we changed in to our wetsuits, grabbed our paddle boards and headed out to explore the lake.
The lake itself was so picturesque, with swans gliding on the water in the distance and fish swimming under our feet.
After a couple of hours on (and in) the water, we reluctantly returned to our cabin for food and water. We were very pleased to find that the kitchen offered every type of utensil we could possibly want or need. After we wolfed down our meals, we took a dip in the Finnish Hot tub to watch the sunset. The view over the lake, with the sun setting behind it were nothing short of spectacular. And once the sun had eventually set, the lack of artificial light, paired with the clear sky, meant that we had an amazing view of the stars. It was quite possibly the most romantic evening I’ve ever had.
The next morning, Pete and I woke early to the sound of birds chirping (I was beginning to feel like a real life Disney princess) and decided to take advantage of the 2.5-mile path running around the lake through trees and patches of wildflowers and start the day with a short run. The path was easy to navigate and provided amazing views of the lake, as well as the opportunity to spot some of the local wildlife.
Run completed, we had lunch and decided to take the boat out for a spin. I was a little unsure at first, convinced Pete and I were bound to capsize in the middle of the lake. But much to my great surprise and relief, the boat was pretty easy to manoeuvre and control. We took turns rowing, investigating all the nooks and crannies we hadn’t managed to explore on our previous paddleboard expedition.
Our boat trip was followed by a lazy afternoon reading session soaking up the unexpected sunshine. After dinner, we decamped to the private beach, lit the fire pit and spent the evening toasting marshmallows on the open fire. Bliss!
The rest of the holiday passed in much the same fashion. It’s funny how easily you can get into a routine, even in just a few days.
On our last evening at the cabin, we decided to venture out for a slap up meal. We donned our fanciest outfits and drove to the nearby town of Cricklade, a quaint Cotswold town on the river Thames, it is the first town on the Thames as it flows to London. We booked a table at the award winning Red Lion gastropub, where we enjoyed a delectable 3 course meal. Sufficiently gorged on lamb and ratatouille, we planned to explore Cricklade before heading back to the cabin. Unfortunately, the forecasted rain finally arrived and we made a dart for the dryness of the car.
We spent our last evening snuggled on the sofa listening to the rain drops on the roof and reminiscing about the amazing time we had.
It was with heavy hearts that we packed up our car the following day, and headed back to reality.
The amazing time and memories we made at Elsa Cabin will stay with us for a lifetime and we are hoping that after our yearlong adventure, we can get back to this amazing place. We might have to book the 11-person Mayo Landing cabin next time, so we can accommodate at least some of our friends and family who want to visit too!