Welcome to our May 2025 newsletter, where the hedgerows are blooming, the birds are in full chorus, and Well Cottage is basking in the golden glow of the Dorset sunshine!
This month, we’re highlighting the final remaining rooms for our Shared Cottage Experience this summer (now with 25% off!), unveiling two brand-new themed itineraries for WWII history lovers and English garden enthusiasts, and sharing the story behind our exceptional service in our latest blog post.
You’ll also find our brand-new brochures, a glorious sunrise captured over Cranborne Chase, a delicious guest recipe, and more hand picked inspiration for your dream English countryside escape.
Important Update! Starting next month, we’ll be swapping our monthly newsletter for bite-sized weekly emails, so you can enjoy exclusive offers, real-time availability updates, and insider news – exactly when it matters most!
Until then, pop the kettle on and enjoy this final full-length edition – packed, as always, with lashings of English charm and countryside magic.
Tally-ho – let’s dive in!
In This Month’s Issue:
- Summer 2025: Final Shared Cottage Availability
- Brochures to Browse: Plan Your Perfect Luxury Cottage Escape
- Coming Soon: Two All-New Itineraries!
- New On The Blog: How super yachts influenced our VIP service
- Facebook Community: Join us for tips, tales, and timeless English charm!
- Featured Video: Sunrise at Cranborne Chase
- Featured Excursion: Step Into the World of Jane Austen
- Guest Recipe: Poppy’s Scrumptious Scotch Eggs
- Visitor Visuals: Featured photos of guests!
- Guest Voices: Reviews and Testimonials
- Did You Know? Laura’s Culinary Journey
- Latest Lucky Winner: Luxury Picnic Basket Giveaway!
- Key Info: Everything you need to plan your perfect countryside escape!
- Last Word: Final Thought from Nathan & Laura
Final Shared Cottage Availability – Summer 2025
Only 1 room left – now at 25% OFF!
Looking for the ultimate English countryside escape? Join us for The Shared Cottage Experience – a luxurious 7-night, all-inclusive stay in our beautifully restored 18th-century thatched cottage, shared with a small group of like-minded guests.
Designed for solo travellers and couples, you’ll choose from three charming double bedrooms, each with its own private bathroom. Whether you’re joining us during the Sightseeing Season or for our magical Festive Winter itinerary, every detail is lovingly curated so all you need to do is relax!
Your stay includes:
- Two full-time co-hosts, Nathan and Laura Kurton, bringing over 15 years of award-winning hospitality
- Laura as your private chef, crafting gourmet meals from breakfast to afternoon tea, elegant three-course dinners and everything in-between
- Nathan as your personal chauffeur and guide, ready to whisk you away on hand-picked countryside excursions in a luxury people-carrier
- Spa treatments, pub dining, gourmet picnics and countless thoughtful touches throughout your stay
This isn’t just a holiday – it’s a true English Cottage Vacation, done perfectly!
Last Room Now Available – Limited Time Offer!
August 7–14, 2025
Room 3
Special 25% Off Pricing (Per Room – All Inclusive)
USD
- Double occupancy was $11,250 → now $8,437.50
- Single occupancy was $8,500 → now $6,375
CAD
- Double occupancy was $16,200 → now $12,150
- Single occupancy was $12,250 → now $9,187.50
View The Bedrooms – Click Here
- Location: Dorset, England – near the idyllic village of Fontmell Magna
- All meals, drinks, activities, and spa treatments included
- Chauffeured transport and a fully curated itinerary
- No stress, no planning – just pure relaxation and enjoyment
Reserve your spot today to avoid disappointment!
Reach Out Now For More Details & To Book – Click Here!
Watch this short video to get a taste for what you can expect from our fabulous Shared Cottage Experience!
Brochures to Browse: Plan Your Perfect Luxury Cottage Escape
Want to learn more about our all-inclusive tailor-made experiences, pricing options, and day-by-day sample itineraries? Discover everything that makes an English Cottage Vacation so special in our beautifully designed brochures!
Whether you’re dreaming of a whole cottage escape, a shared experience, or simply want to browse our itinerary themes, these guides are the perfect place to start planning.
Our Packages Brochure
Explore what’s included, pricing, room options and everything you need to know.
View & Download Our Packages Brochure – Click Here
Our Itineraries Brochure
Dive into detailed day-by-day sample itineraries across our Sightseeing, Walking & Hiking, Family, and Festive Winter themes.
View & Download Our Itineraries Brochure
Let the planning (and dreaming) begin!
Coming Soon – Two All-New Itineraries!
We’re excited to announce that two brand-new tailor-made itineraries are on the horizon – each designed with a specific kind of guest in mind:
- For Garden Lovers: A floral journey through England’s most enchanting gardens, bursting with colour, history, and horticultural delight.
- For WWII Enthusiasts: A powerful and immersive itinerary featuring key wartime sites, museums, and stories that shaped history.
Be the first to receive your chosen itinerary as soon as it launches! Simply let us know which one you’re interested in!
Reach Out To Us Right Now – Click Here!
We can’t wait to share these unforgettable experiences with you!
New on the Blog – How VIP Yacht Hosting
Shaped the Ultimate English Escape
What does it really mean to have a personalised holiday in England? In our latest blog post, Laura and Nathan share how their years hosting VIP guests aboard luxury yachts shaped the way they now welcome travellers to Well Cottage.
It’s all about extraordinary attention to detail, intuitive service, and the kind of thoughtful touches you won’t find anywhere else.
This isn’t just a holiday – it’s a fully tailor-made experience, centred entirely around you. From curated excursions to gourmet meals made just how you like them, discover how English Cottage Vacation redefines what it means to feel truly looked after.
Read the Full Post Now – Click Here!
Step Inside Our Virtual Cottage
– Join the Facebook Group!
Can’t get enough of the English countryside charm? Neither can we – which is why we created a special place online where the magic of English Cottage Vacation lives on every day.
Our English Cottage Vacation Facebook Group is more than just a page – it’s a warm, welcoming community for anyone enchanted by thatched cottages, rolling green hills, and all things quintessentially British.
Whether you’ve stayed with us before or simply love dreaming of timeless country escapes, you’re warmly invited to join our extended ECV family.
Here’s what awaits you:
- Cottage Life, Unfiltered: Enjoy behind-the-scenes moments from Well Cottage, from garden blooms to dinner table delights.
- Dorset’s Best-Kept Secrets: Discover the hidden gems and local stories we love sharing with our guests.
- Visual Escapes: Be inspired by breathtaking photos of our countryside setting, cosy interiors, and more.
- Like-Minded Company: Swap stories, ask questions, and connect with fellow admirers of English heritage and hospitality.
- First to Know: Get early access to special offers, new experiences, and exclusive event announcements.
Join the Group Right Now – Click Here!
We’d love to welcome you into the fold and continue sharing the beauty, history and heart of our beloved Dorset with you. Come on in – the kettle’s on!
Featured Video: Sunrise at Cranborne Chase
(With Spitfires Zooming in Soon!)
This month’s featured video captures a truly breathtaking moment: sunrise over Cranborne Chase, one of England’s most spectacular Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, just two miles from Well Cottage.
As the early morning mist lifts over the rolling hills and golden light spills across the open countryside, it’s easy to imagine the roar of WWII Spitfires soaring overhead – a sight you can witness in real life during the Golden Age of Aviation Air Show, held right here in these very skies.
We’re thrilled to announce that one lucky group of 4–6 guests still has the chance to experience this magical event in unforgettable style as part of our Limited Edition WWII & Aviation Week.
August 2026 – Only one week available!
Based at our luxurious 18th-century thatched cottage, this one-of-a-kind week includes:
- Platinum air show tickets at nearby Compton Abbas Airfield, with front-row views of classic aircraft in thrilling aerial displays
- Gourmet meals from your private chef, Laura
- Chauffeured excursions with Nathan to historic sites including The Tank Museum, The D-Day Story, Tyneham Ghost Village, and more
- Private time to relax in the cottage garden as WWII fighter planes sweep across the sky
Read Our Blog & Book Now – Click Here!
Let us create an itinerary filled with heritage, beauty and sky-high excitement!
Explore Our Sample Itineraries – Click Here!
Featured Excursion – Step Into the World of Jane Austen
For lovers of literature, elegance and English history, there’s no better way to explore the countryside than by following in the footsteps of one of Britain’s most beloved authors – Jane Austen. And there’s no better time to start planning this wonderful literary journey, with 2025 being the 250th anniversary of her birth!
With our tailor-made itineraries, you can enjoy a fully immersive Jane Austen experience, taking in the grand estates, seaside towns, and charming villages that inspired her timeless novels. From dramatic coastal settings to picture-perfect picnic spots, we’ll create a journey that allows you to step straight into Austen’s world – all while enjoying the luxury, personal hosting and comfort of English Cottage Vacation!
And if you choose one of our set-itinerary experiences, you’ll still enjoy a true Austen highlight: a wonderful day trip to Bath – the elegant Georgian city where Jane Austen once lived and wrote.
Here, you can visit the Jane Austen Centre, an engaging museum dedicated to her life, characters and enduring legacy. The museum explores the influence Bath had on her writing, particularly in novels like Northanger Abbey and Persuasion. You’ll discover how her time in the city helped shape her literary voice, and even enjoy a visit to the Regency Tea Room for a delightful period-inspired refreshment.
Here are just a few of the Austen-inspired destinations we can include in your all-inclusive, tailor-made itinerary:
Lyme Regis, Dorset – Stroll along the windswept Cobb Harbour, the unforgettable setting for Persuasion’s
dramatic seaside scene. Austen herself holidayed here and captured its coastal charm with vivid detail.
Montacute House, Somerset – This grand Elizabethan mansion, often featured in period films, perfectly
evokes the genteel world of Austen’s heroines and the societal stage on which their romances play out.
Lacock, Wiltshire – A beautifully preserved village that feels frozen in time. It famously served as the
filming location for the 1995 BBC adaptation of Pride and Prejudice, starring Colin Firth as Mr. Darcy.
Box Hill & Leith Hill, Surrey – Wander the green rolling hills where Emma’s famous picnic scene takes place
– where flirtation and folly unfold against a quintessentially English backdrop. Laura will prepare a gourmet
picnic which Nathan will then set up with tables and chairs in the best spot so you can recreate that iconic moment!
Let us bring Jane Austen’s world to life, with luxury transport, curated excursions, and, naturally, a few elegant afternoon teas along the way. Whether you’re a devoted reader or a lover of period drama, an Austen-inspired escape with English Cottage Vacation promises grace, charm and unforgettable moments at every turn.
Let us know if you’d like to add this to your itinerary during your stay at Well Cottage!
Explore All of Our Amazing Excursions – Click Here!
Guest Recipe: Poppy’s Scrumptious Scotch Eggs
A huge thank you to the wonderful Poppy O’Toole for allowing us to share her delicious homemade Scotch Eggs recipe with you all. Please note, as this is a guest contribution, we’re not able to answer questions regarding this particular recipe – but we hope you enjoy making (and devouring!) them as much as we did!
(Makes 4)
Ingredients (Metric U.S.):
- 4 whole eggs at room temperature (plus 2 extra, beaten)
- 500 grams sausage meat
- ½ teaspoon dried mixed herbs
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- 2 tablespoons plain flour
- 200 grams panko breadcrumbs
- Salt and ground black pepper
Directions:
- Heat the air fryer to 130℃/270℉.
- Put the 4 whole eggs in the air fryer basket and cook for 11 minutes – just enough to soft-boil them. Meanwhile, prepare a bowl of ice-cold water.
- Once the time is up, transfer the eggs to the icy water and leave to cool (about 5 minutes). Once cool, peel them and set aside.
- In a bowl, mix the sausage meat, dried herbs and garlic powder with your hands until it forms a paste-like consistency. Season with salt and pepper.
- Using kitchen paper, dry the peeled eggs.
- Gather three bowls. Season the flour and tip that into one bowl. Add the beaten eggs to the second, and the breadcrumbs to the third.
- Using one quarter of the sausage meat mixture, mould the meat around one of the boiled eggs as evenly as possible, aiming for the same thickness all the way around. Repeat so that all the eggs are covered in sausage meat.
- Heat the air fryer to 180℃/350℉.
- One by one, dip the wrapped eggs first in flour (dusting off any excess), then in the beaten egg, and finally in the breadcrumbs to coat fully.
- Put the eggs into the air fryer basket and cook for 12 minutes, until the sausage is cooked through and the coating is golden.
Guest Appearances: Smiles, Sunshine & Special Moments
A few treasured snapshots of recent guests living their best British life with us –
laughter, adventure, and unforgettable memories!
Guest Voices: Reviews & Testimonials
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Vacation of a lifetime
“Service, food, drinks, and accommodations exceeded expectations. I highly recommend this for any English vacation. It offers the perfect combination of sightseeing and relaxation, you feel at home while being pampered all at the same time.” – Monita F, TripAdvisor
We love pampering our guests! Don’t just take our word for it though – check out all our other 5-star reviews:
(A heartfelt appeal to all previous guests – please leave us a review on the above sites if you haven’t already! It really makes all the difference, and we’ll be so grateful!)
Did You Know? Laura’s Culinary Journey
Laura’s journey as a chef began long before she ever stepped into a professional kitchen. From a young age, she absorbed invaluable lessons at her mother’s side – a stay-at-home mum who lovingly prepared every meal from scratch. Her mother’s deep love for cooking and commitment to nourishing her family quietly laid the foundation for everything Laura would later become.
Ironically, becoming a chef was never part of the original plan. In her teenage years, Laura dreamed of becoming a fitness instructor – a goal she proudly achieved, thriving in the health and wellness industry for 12 years.
Everything changed when she met Nathan, and the two set off on a bold new adventure: working aboard luxury yachts. With no idea what roles they’d be assigned, Laura brought along a simple one-pot cookbook just in case she’d need to cook during long voyages – a book she still owns to this day.
That cookbook, however, was never opened.
On their very first posting with TradeWinds, Laura was appointed as the gourmet chef aboard a high-end yacht. In that unexpected moment, all those early lessons from her mother came to life. What began as a practical role quickly blossomed into a lifelong passion.
From the Caribbean to the Mediterranean and finally back home to England, Laura honed her craft with every new destination. She mastered techniques, embraced international cuisines, and learned to meet every dietary need with flair and confidence. Organisation, preparation and flexibility became her superpowers – qualities she brings to every dish she now creates.
Today, while her culinary skills have travelled the world, Laura finds the most joy in sharing the flavours of England with guests at the cottage. It’s the traditional British recipes, made with love and a personal touch, that truly light her up.
If you’d like to recreate some of Laura’s most beloved dishes at home, her Online Recipe Book is now available for just £30. Featuring over 80 delicious recipes from her country kitchen at Well Cottage – including breakfasts, mains, desserts, afternoon teas and more – it’s a beautiful way to bring a taste of Dorset into your own home.
Get Laura’s Recipe Book Now – Click Here!
Announcing Our Latest Luxury Picnic Basket Winner!
We’re delighted to be giving away another exquisite luxury picnic basket to one lucky reader!
Korin Carter
Congratulations! All you have to do now – from the email you used to subscribe – is send us the address you’d like us to post your prize to.
Don’t despair if you weren’t the winner this time! Simply stay subscribed and you could be the next proud owner of this wonderful picnic basket just like the ones our guests use on excursions across Dorset and beyond.
Crafted from finely steamed willow with elegant tan leather straps, it’s compact and practical (L 40cm x W 30cm x H 19cm), perfect for romantic meals outdoors!
Includes:
- 2 fine china plates
- 2 wine glasses
- A cosy tartan picnic blanket
- A bottle opener
- Soft napkins
- A cooler bag to keep your treats fresh.
- Stainless steel cutlery for added luxury.
Invite friends and family to sign up to our newsletter for their chance to win, too. To share the link with them, click here!
* Disclaimer: The basket we deliver is subject to availability but we will always strive to ensure comparable quality!
Essential Information: Everything You Need to Know
Planning your perfect English Cottage Vacation is as seamless as the experience itself. From booking and payment to designing your tailor-made itinerary, here are some key links to show you just how effortless our process is:
Your Tailor-Made Itinerary, Discovery Process
Our Final Thought…
“What is one to say about June – the time of perfect young summer, the fulfilment
of the promise of the earlier months…” – Gertrude Jekyll
As May draws to a close and the scent of roses and lavender drifts through the garden, we’re soaking up the sunshine, the laughter echoing from the garden, and the gentle rhythm of life at Well Cottage.
This month, we’ve been reflecting on how far English Cottage Vacation has come – and how grateful we are to share it all with you. Whether you’re planning your first stay, returning for another visit, or simply enjoying a bit of English countryside dreaming from afar, thank you for being part of our extended family.
As mentioned, next month marks a small change – with shorter, more frequent updates so we can keep you better informed and inspired. But one thing won’t change: our love for what we do and the joy we take in sharing this magical place with guests from around the world.
Until then, we’ll be out in the garden – making memories with our guests, one perfect countryside day at a time.
With warmest wishes,
Nathan & Laura x
