Two summer mini-breaks where you can avoid holiday crowds from Portuguese beach trip to British countryside
TOP OF THE SWAPS Two summer mini-breaks where you can avoid holiday crowds from Portuguese beach trip to British countryside
SWERVE the holiday crowds and hit one of these nearby locations for a magic mini-break.
Swap Lisbon for Cascais or the Cotswolds for Tewkesbury for a perfect summer trip.
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Hit the river at Tewkesbury in Gloucestershire
Swap the Cotswolds for. . . Tewkesbury
Say hello to a family-friendly break just west of those honeycomb villages at Tewkesbury Park in Gloucestershire.
THE PAD
Golfers can enjoy teeing off on the site of the 1471 Battle of Tewkesbury, but the whole clan will appreciate the warm service and countryside setting of this family-owned hotel.
Family rooms can be a squeeze, but nab one with a terrace for games of frisbee on the grass.
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Check in a chic room at the Tewkesbury Park hotel
Credit: Tewkesbury Park Hotel - Ph: Koray Firat - Supplied
A Nespresso machine, Hypnos bed and Natural Spa Factory toiletries also score points.
The dinky spa garden at the pool is home to a Finnish sauna and Jacuzzi, while restaurant Mint serves up very decent nosh – think smoked salmon with avo, pickled quail's egg and wasabi mayo on rye, £16, and butter chicken tikka curry with sides galore, £20.
Finish with the Snickers-inspired iced pud, £13.
Come brekky, you'll find a feast, including build-your-own yoghurt pots, local sausages and British cheeses.
EXPLORE
After a wander around Tewkesbury's impressive Abbey and its gardens, pop into Church Street Gifts for locally made gin and home knick-knacks, then vintage hunt in Abbey Antiques opposite.
The Severn Ham nature reserve makes for an easy stroll, while a river cruise to spot swans is fun for little ones.
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Safari so good with elephants at Sudeley Castle
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A 45-minute boat trip costs £15 for adults, £10 for over-threes (Severnleisurecruises.co.uk).
Worth the drive is Sudeley Castle, with its captivating Tudor history, beautiful gardens with animal sculptures, and a fab adventure playground.
Family entry costs from £52.20 (Sudeleycastle.co.uk).
Meanwhile, closer to the hotel, the Jet Age Museum has sweet volunteers and the chance to sit in a Vulcan bomber cockpit.
Entry is free (Jetagemuseum.org).
REFUEL
At country pub The Gloucester Old Spot, tuck into sea bass with rainbow chard and a wild garlic and cashew pesto, £22.95, or Jersey steak and Cotswold Ale pie with champ mash, hispi cabbage and redcurrant gravy, £18.50.
The children's fish and chips, £7.95, are quality, too (Thegloucesteroldspot.co.uk).
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Dig into spot-on pub fare at The Gloucester Old Spot
Credit: Gloucester Old Spot / Instagram
Spoil the kids at Café au Chocolat with eye-popping milkshakes, £4.50, or hot choc piled high with toppings and a chocolate spoon, £5.30 (Cafe-au-chocolat.co.uk).
Grab coffee at The Hide, and try South African speciality Bobotie – sweet, spiced beef mince with a milky egg topping and rice, £11.65 (Thehidecafe.co.uk).
The best beer garden in Tewkesbury is at The Black Bear – try its gin, elderflower, apple and lemon punch, £8.80 (Facebook.com/oldeblackbear).
Then hit local fave Zitto e Mangia for king prawns in a white wine, garlic and tomato sauce with focaccia, £9.95, and carnivora pizza topped with Italian sausage, ham, pancetta, pepperoni, garlic and chilli, £17.95.
Finish with pane fritto – deep-fried bread bites with a choc and hazelnut dip – better than those dough balls (Zittoemangia.co.uk).
DON'T MISS
After an adrenalin high? At 270 Climbing Park you'll find staff who are superb with kids, and indoor climbing and bouldering walls suitable even for pre-schoolers.
Plus there are five ace outdoor high-ropes courses and two free-falls.
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Scale new heights at 270 Climbing Park
Credit: Supplied
Sessions cost from £12.50 per person (270climbing.com).
BOOK IT
Double rooms cost from £122 B&B (Tewkesburypark.co.uk).
Swap Lisbon for. . . Cascais
A 20-minute train ride from the Portuguese capital's tram queues and tour groups, you'll find a brilliant beach break at Legacy Hotel, Cascais.
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Cascais' coast with the most
THE PAD
Cascais' buzzing tapas bars and golden sands are a mere 10-minute stroll from this 59-room beaut, a member of Hilton's Curio Collection.
Perfect for a chic couple's getaway, expect flamboyant interiors downstairs and calming art-deco rooms upstairs, dotted with gold, velvet and walnut accents.
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The Legacy Hotel in Portugal is a member of Hilton's Curio Collection
Credit: Supplied by The Hilton - eduardo_ramos_fotos
Our faves are those with patios, rain showers and baths.
Cosy up at the indoor pool and sauna, while the outdoor pool is perfect for dips between sunbathing.
Restaurant Don Alfonso 1890 serves outstanding tagliolini pasta with sea urchins, lime and mint, £20.
But save room for the pastel de natas at the breakfast buffet come morning.
EXPLORE
Stop by Bom Pastor for a souvenir bottle of local wine (owner Antonio is a gem), before taking your pick of the town's four beaches – small and sheltered Praia da Rainha gets our vote.
Then follow the mosaic-tiled streets to gorgeous ceramics at Galeria 5050 (@Galeria_5050).
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Put your feet up poolside at Legacy Hotel
Credit: Supplied by The Hilton
Later, climb the tower at Museu Condes de Castro Guimarães and check out a manuscript from 1505 in its library, entry £4.50, before taking a coastal walk to Boca do Inferno, a cliff formation known as the Devil's Mouth, for stunning sunset views over the Atlantic.
REFUEL
Lively Mana serves up moreish shrimp risotto with lime and basil, £12, and duck magret with parsnip and pomegranate, £15.50 (Manacascais.pt).
For a traditional seafood experience, hit Marisco na Praça in Cascais' main market and order garlic prawns, £12, and dory fish with garlic-bread mash, £15 (Marisconapraca.com).
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Chocs away at Mana Cascais
Credit: Mana Cascais Instagram
Take your pick of excellent ice cream – our tip is the almond torrone, £4 – at Portugal's oldest ice-cream maker, Santini (Santini.pt).
Meanwhile, at Cantina do Avillez the starters reign supreme.
We loved the marinated scallops with avocado cream and Alentejo bread crumble, £11.50, and fried eggs with steak sauce and truffle, £8.50.
Sip on a gin and grapefruit Paris St Germain cocktail, £10.50, as you go (Cantinhodoavillez.pt).
DON'T MISS
The courtyard of Le Café Albatroz is almost as pretty as its flower-adorned crab éclairs, £7.
A hop from the beach, it's perfect for people-watching with a chilled glass of rosé, £6 (Thealbatrozcollection.com/le-cafe-albatroz).
BOOK IT
Doubles cost from £118 per night (Hilton.com).
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