Let’s get together….five amazing places for your next group trip
Stay in an ancient former parish church at Tenuta Di Murlo
Tenuta di murlo, umbria, italy
While Tuscany’s been basking in popularity for years now, neighbouring Umbria has quietly been making a name for itself among those in the know.
Those who know won’t tell you what a showstopper Umbria is, because they want to keep it all to themselves, and rightly so. The region has an air of calm about it that isn’t found so readily in Tuscany where the crowds are never far away.
Right in the heart of Umbria is Tenuta Di Murlo...a private estate that’s been owned by the same family for generations. The first thing you’ll notice when you’re sitting on your terrace enjoying your first sunset with a glass of local wine, is the landscape - deep emerald green coloured rolling hills as far as you can see...nothing else.
The estate is really a village and farm, which means there are lots of different types of properties you can choose from for you and your crew. There are B&B style rooms and one bedroom cottages if you really want your own space...and there’s Castiglione Ugolino, the gorgeous castle at the centrepiece of the estate that sleeps 20. And there is plenty in between - you can stay in the former parish church with a couple of other families, or one of the farmhouses with a bigger crowd.
Now let’s talk about food...because that’s what you’re really thinking about if you’re planning a trip to Italy. The Murlo team will stuff your pantry full of gorgeous produce from the estate, from cianghale to sweet tomatoes, from olive oil to its own wine so that you can feast with friends and family from the privacy of your own terrace. But if cooking is off the menu, a chef can be dispatched too...or you can wander down the hill and eat at Murlo’s Il Caldaro restaurant.
Tenuta di Murlo would be an amazing place for a group getaway any time of the year but if it were me, I’d head there in early autumn as the leaves turn, the sun still shines and the estate’s truffles are just waiting to be enjoyed.
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The Lodge at Blue Sky is the newest kid on the mountain lodge block
The Lodge at blue sky, utah, usa
There’s nothing like celebrating big life moments under a big sky...and the skies don’t get much bigger than those at the Lodge at Blue Sky in Utah.
Blue Sky is the new kid on the block and it's worth getting excited about. It's on a private mountain reserve which gives you oodles of space in the great outdoors but it's also only a 35 minute drive from Salt Lake City, with great connections not only throughout the US but to the UK as well.
So you’ve gathered the gang and all your planning is done. Now it’s time to play. And play you can at Blue Sky! As you’d expect from a ranch style lodge there is wilderness aplenty, open spaces and nature to explore. Whether you do that on your own two feet horseback or on a pair of skis in winter is up to you. You can fish, you can harvest your own dinner...or if that all sounds like too much hard work, you can just put your feet up and soak up the scenery.
My money is on Blue Sky for a small group of friends or if you want to get the extended family together and take time out. The emphasis is on wholesome good fun…
And of course food. The culinary wizardry at Blue Sky revolves around ingredients found in the local mountain landscape, but where you enjoy that is totally up to you. There is a restaurant, but if you’ve made it into the wilderness of Utah, embrace it and take out a mountaintop picnic, campfire breakfast or enjoy dinner under the stars.
All you have to do now is to pull on your cowboy boots and round up the troops.
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Make yourself the legend in your family and take over a castle
DUNSKEY ESTATE, SCOTLAND, UK
Castles are the stuff of legend. So make yourself the legend of your own family or friendship group by suggesting a stay in one of Scotland’s coolest castles for your next get together.
Dunskey, in the South West corner of Scotland is just fabulous and fits the bill perfectly. Surrounded by over 2,000 acres of beautiful Scottish countryside, there’s tons to do on site - from forestry and foraging, to yoga and lawn games, falconry and kayaking, and if that’s not enough, you’re only a few minutes from the sea too where further ocean adventures await.
The great thing about being king (or queen) of the castle is that you can do whatever you want, and when you want - there are no hotel schedules to adhere to, or other guests to worry about.
Fancy a celebratory banquet? No problem! Want to spend the morning kayaking? If that floats your boat, sure thing! Outdoor barbecue tonight? Just tell us what time. Kids movie night with popcorn and the trimmings? We’re all over it.
There are 25 rooms in the main Edwardian Castle and the option of nine additional lodges...which means there is heaps of room for everyone to have their own space (vital in any group setting!) without it feeling like you’re rattling around.
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If you do nothing but hold court on your sunlounger all week…you’ll have a fabulous time here
CHATEAU LACANAUD, THE DORDOGNEÂ
What could possibly be more satisfying than sitting on a terrace of a beautiful old château watching the sun go down as you sip on a perfectly chilled glass of wine?
Doing all of the above, but knowing that there’s culinary wizardry happening in the château kitchen behind you and that any minute now, you’re going to be served up a feast of local gastronomic delights by your own private chef.
This is exactly what you can enjoy at Château Lacanaud, one of the most gorgeous properties in the world, let alone France, that I’ve had the privilege of experiencing. This grande dame is just off a winding country road in the heart of the Dordogne; framed by sunflowers and rolling hills. The château is close enough to the local bastide town of Eymet to hop on your bike for the daily croissant and fresh bread run…just far enough that you and your crew will feel miles away from the world.
The château itself has been lovingly restored by the current owners Jonny and Liz, in a contemporary traditional style that makes you go ‘oooohhh’ in delight when you first wander around your new home. But its the building itself and the wonderful grounds that make Lacanaud such a showstopper and magical for a group getaway.
It’s simultaneously a fairytale playground for kids and a place that makes the grown ups feel special. If you do nothing but lie by the gorgeous infinity pool for your whole stay you’ll have a very happy time.
But if you feel like venturing further afield there are ancient bastide towns to be explored, and wonderful people watching lunch spots to be enjoyed. If you’re up for adventure you can kayak down the Dordogne river…and if your idea of exploring is discovering delicious local wines, there are vineyards aplenty and wine tastings to savour on your own chateau terrace. Cheers!
Château Lacanaud can sleep up to 24 people on an exclusive basis but can also be taken as a smaller group.
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Bahama House has plenty of cosy spots where you can enjoy a proper catch up with your loved ones
BAHAMA HOUSE, HARBOUR ISLAND, BAHAMAS
I put Harbour Island on your radar very recently when I shared some brilliant places to spend the festive season. I know that it piqued quite a few people’s interest, but I also know that while some of you might love to escape to a tropical island, you feel the teensiest bit guilty about running away from the family over the holidays. If that’s you, I might just have the answer for you…
Take them with you and hire out Eleven’s Bahama House! An 11 bedroomed beach house right in the heart of this white sandy beach paradise where you get the best of both worlds. It's just a few steps from the oceanfront and beach with instant access to some of the best snorkelling in the world, sunset boat trips, diving, fishing and paddling in turquoise waters. But it's also just a stumble from the vibey restaurants and live music venues that make Harbour Island such a fun place to hang out.
Back at the house...the whole place has been designed to allow for proper catch ups with friends and family. There are big open spaces where you can all congregate, including a fully stocked outdoor bar to get you into the island spirit, but there are also lots of little cosy spots for intimate one-on-one times.
The team that owns and runs the house live and work by the mantra of ‘best day ever’. This means that whatever you want to do with your time on Harbour Island, whether that’s an amazing private dinner on the beach, a team boat trip or a rum punch masterclass...they make it their mission to ensure you have the best day ever and won’t stop until they’ve achieved that. Now that’s island style service for you.
For the best game viewing, June to November is a good time to go when the weather is hot and dry. However, if you’re snap happy, grab your camera and head out between November and April when the rains transform the savannah into sparkling green grasslands.
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