Whether it’s a missed celebration or just making up for lost time, a trip away with the whole family can be just what we need to reconnect and rebalance this winter.
If the pandemic has taught us anything, the importance of spending time with our loved ones is high up on the list. After months of missing out on get-togethers and celebrations with our nearest and dearest, Yonder is noticing a growing trend of families choosing to holiday en masse.
Yonder wellbeing expert and chartered psychologist, Suzy Reading, believes this precious time with the whole family can bring us all a whole host of benefits. She says: “Enjoying a holiday with grandparents, siblings, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, children and grandchildren can be a wonderful way to heal the grief of our isolated existences of the last two years. With all those missed celebrations and milestones, we can finally make up for lost time and in fact, this is a powerful way to boost the mental and emotional health of the whole family.”
She believes this time is especially important for the grandparents in our lives. “We are acutely aware that the pandemic has hit older generations hard, with many spending lockdowns alone and missing out on great chunks of their grandchildren’s development. Taking a holiday together is just the tonic we need to reset, rebuild our energy levels and heal those wonky family dynamics!”
And with the UK staycation more popular than ever, a break in the Great British countryside with the whole family can be just the tonic we all need. Suzy says: “Holidaying together, especially in peaceful, natural, rural settings, gives us quality time and space to connect – without the lure of devices and the distractions of work and life admin. Being out in nature provides the opportunity to be more in the moment, to engage in games, outdoor pursuits and enjoy those face-to-face or side-by-side chats that allow us to really open with the people we love the most.”
Read on for Suzy’s tips to making a family holiday as harmonious as possible, followed by a round-up of Yonder properties that are perfect for extended families looking to spend some much needed – and much missed – quality time together.
A guide to smooth holidaying with the whole family:
- When it comes to the cooking and general household tasks, don’t let it fall to one person. Have an up-front conversation about responsibilities and divvy them out so everyone is pitching in, even the kids. This gives little ones a chance to feel part of things too.
- Opt for fuss-free tray-bakes or comforting one-pot dishes such as chilli or lasagne – it’ll make life (and washing up) much easier.
- While it’s great to spend time with the whole family, don’t think you have to spend every waking minute with together. Alone time is also fine – and needed!
- Don’t sleep Granny and Grandpa next to the kids. They’ll likely have very different sleep schedules.
- With so many people, different interests and energy levels to coordinate, don’t set a strict schedule. While a vague plan is helpful, providing options and going with the flow is a much better way to have a stress-free break.
- Accept that a holiday with the whole family will be a different type of holiday. Prepare to be flexible and in some cases – patient. While a holiday that spans the generations might not always be easy, it offers us a beautiful opportunity to cultivate our skills of compassion together.
Perfect properties for extended family holidays from Yonder.com
The Winery at Higher Wiscombe
From £706 per night
Seven rooms for up to 20 guests
With room for up to 20 guests, this luxury home is perfect for those big celebrations that have been put on hold. Whether it’s a missed special birthday or anniversary, with space a huge oak dining table and chef booking service available through Book A Cook, The Winery offers guests the perfect opportunity to make those celebrations that extra bit special.
And when it comes to spending quality time with the whole family, the terrace – complete with views over the Devonshire countryside – offers the perfect post-dinner retreat. Wrapped up in a blanket with some of your nearest and dearest around you, there is no better spot to look up at the stars and really appreciate all that nature offers us.
Somerset Soul at Upper Vobster Farm, Somerset
From 1,292 per night
Four rooms for up to eight guests
This beautiful farmhouse that dates back to the 16th century is perfect for accommodating a span of generations. On top of the four double rooms in the main house, guests can also hire the Dairy – a self-contained bedroom and bathroom, that sits across a small terrace and is perfect for grandparents who may want to retreat away from the chaos of family life.
With large gardens enveloping the house, there is plenty of space for the whole family to enjoy without feeling on top of each other. And when it is time for everyone to come together, this rural retreat offers some great opportunities for family bonding. After a day in the great outdoors, families can fall into the movie room for a night of double features!
Hoe Grange, Matlock, Derbyshire
From £140 a night
Seven properties available guests each sleeping 2+ guests
If it’s a little more space you’re after, then Hoe Grange’s range of cabins, pods and even a converted gypsy caravan is just the thing. The separate accommodation means families can still be together, but equally have their own space all at the same time.
With many wonderful walks right on the doorstep, guests can spend the day exploring the beautiful surrounds as a family, before heading back to their respective pods for some quiet and relaxation.
If there wasn’t enough to keep you occupied inside the house, the area is perfect for venturing out for walks in the stunning local area.
Milton Manor, Milton on Stour, Dorset
From £1,040 a night
14 rooms for up to 33 guests
Complete with a hot tub, cricket pitch, snug and treehouse, this lavish property nestled in the heart of Dorset really does have something for every member of the family – no matter their age! And with up to 33 guests able to stay, everyone from aunts and uncles to cousins and second cousins can join in on the fun.
If there wasn’t enough to keep you occupied inside the house, the area is surrounded by pretty rural walks and offers numerous National Trust properties and historic houses just a short drive away.
Bryn Derwen, North Wales
From £903 per night
Seven rooms available for up to 20 guests
With the breath-taking scenery of Snowdonia easily in reach, this manor house situated in the village of Bethesda in Gwynedd, makes for the perfect spot to explore all the natural beauty that North Wales has to offer.
Back at the house, after a day of hiking and exploring, guests can warm up around the roaring firepit with hot chocolate and toasted marshmallows.
The Old Post Office, Colchester
From £151 per night
Four rooms sleeping up to eight guests
Packed full of period charm, this beautifully restored grade II-listed property makes for the perfect rural escape for the whole family.
Set in secure gardens and backing on to fifteen-acres of beautiful private parkland, this picturesque setting offers guests the ideal excuse to unwind, reset and reconnect.
-Ends-
Notes to editors:
- The Winery at Higher Wiscombe: https://www.yonder.com/property/ZUipGUOgH
- Somerset Soul: https://www.yonder.com/property/UMXOtTfGM
- Hoe Grange: https://www.yonder.com/search?orgid=Sh5NOaB1h
- Milton Manor: https://www.yonder.com/property/aAko-r0oI
- Bryn Derwen: https://www.yonder.com/property/jgZXR0wVh
- The Old Post Office: https://www.yonder.com/property/8T4KG8jmM
For further press information, please contact:
Julie Aguilera | Elsa Findlay | Rosie Crass
Rooster PR[
T: +44 (0) 20 3440 8930
E: [email protected]
About Yonder
Yonder is a global platform that brings travel, nature, and wellbeing together to provide fulfilling escapes and experiences.
Yonder believes that reconnecting people with nature will help heal the planet and humankind – and the stays and activities it offers support this connection.
Yonder Stewards range from owners of rural properties to those who are actively regenerating local ecosystems and communities.
Established in Montana in 2018 by Tim Southwell and expanding across Europe, Yonder is a member of 1% for the Planet and the Global Sustainable Tourism Council, and a Public Benefit Corporation in the US. Yonder is also in the process of achieving Certified B Corporation Status. The company has secured $4 million in funding from US-based investors.
For more information, visit: www.yonder.com.
