Wiltshire Tourist Guide

Vacation Rentals and Self Catering in Wiltshire

The choice of vacation rentals and self catering in Wiltshire ranges from town apartments rural cabins to the much sought after rural thatched cottages.

Many of the vacation rentals and self catering in Wiltshire are often located on farms in more rural areas of the county and are generally less expensive, especially when located a little further away from the main tourist attractions. This is particularly the case in the county’s villages. We at Wiltshire Tourist Guide also offer canal and riverside chalet style self catering accommodation in our pages that may appeal to you.

For further suggestions please look at self catering accommodation in Wiltshire

If you are seeking self catering accommodation suitable for disabled visitors or say both dog and family friendly self catering there are a wide selection of affordable self catering can be found to suit all tastes and budgets throughout the county.

An important benefit in selecting this style of accommodation is value for money. It is usually cheaper to stay, especially for family groups, for longer periods than just a few days, although this option is often available. There is also the freedom of cooking for yourself or eating out. You will often get to know your neighbours and can shop locally, perhaps using local markets and local produce.

A good illustration of what is available on our pages is Livery Cottage , situated close to the large village of Winterslow with two pubs and village shop just outside Salisbury, which offers excellent holiday cottage accommodation at affordable prices and makes the ideal centre for visiting Salisbury with its cathedral and Stonehenge and excellent walking and cycling in the area.



This includes notably Monarch Way and Clarendon Way, and close by Bentley Wood, a nationally recognised haven for wildlife and rare butterflies which include the nightjar, Purple Emperor and Silver Washed Fritillary. There are metalled access paths traversing the wood which make for easy walking and cycling.



Or maybe you want something near a river or the canal. Then why not consider the Luxury Lakeside accommodation at Willowbank Lodges bordering the Kennet and Avon canal near Pewsey where dogs are welcome.



Similar Finnish Style Log Cabin Farmstay accommodation at Poulton Lodge near Marlborough is well worth considering. Close to the Savernake Forest with the Kennet and Avon Canal within easy reach. Perfect for walking and cycling and well suited for children. But please no dogs owing risk to farm animals.

Paying four star prices is not always a guarantee that holiday cottages or apartments will meet your own exacting standards and it is always advisable to research your subject very carefully and we suggest the following guidelines:-

Decide at the outset in as much detail as possible your requirements. For example, if you have an elderly member of the party it could be that an easily accessible ground floor room with ensuite facility well away from the rest of the group may be better suited whereas children may find a rather inaccessible small room under the eaves at the top of the house cosy, rather exciting and novel. Especially if it is very different to their boring bedrooms back home.

So start by making a comprehensive list of everyone’s requirements and the sort of holiday you have in mind. If you are the outdoor-type looking for plenty of fresh air and love walking or cycling then you will be thinking very differently about what facilities you will need than if you were perhaps touring or visiting the area by car. Or maybe you want to stay in town with restaurants, shops, entertainments and interesting places to visit on your doorstep.

It is advisable if you intend vacationing in the peak periods, especially Easter, that you book as early as possible. The most popular areas and accommodation are often booked a year in advance as regular visitors may return time and again to their favourite holiday haunts.

Now start your research. There are many specialist magazines, brochures and websites that offer vacation rentals and self catering in Wiltshire, both national and regional. For sheer scope and volume of self catering information more and more people are turning to the Internet. Websites such as Wiltshire Tourist Guide can point you in the right direction and we provide a full page of information and a website link where available. Whilst we endeavour to provide as much accurate information as possible on our holiday cottages and self catering in Wilrshire pages we are not an agency and always advise customers to telephone the self catering establishment direct before making any final decision.

In our experience our friendly proprietors will be only too pleased to answer any questions you may have and by speaking personally it will very soon become apparent whether or not the accommodation meets your specifications. Of course it is not so easy dealing through an agency but any reputable agency offering this service would try and find the information for you.

You must request a detailed list of what equipment, bedding, kitchen utensils and facilities are available and what if any (extra) bills you may be expected to meet. Make a list of additional personal items you may need to bring along for your stay to avoid unnecessary inconvenience or disappointment. For example for some visitors, my wife included, there is not a pillow anywhere on the globe that is the same as the one they have left at home!

If the accommodation has been graded by a reputable authority then this should help but do ask when it was last graded. Personal recommendation is always helpful as are guest-book comments.

On departure please leave your accommodation as you would wish to find it. Accidents do happen so report any breakages or damage.

Holiday Cottages and Self Catering in Wiltshire

Revised June 2013