If tennis is your one love, up your game and take advantage of the tennis facilities at one of these fabulous holiday destinations.
Loch life as a tennis-loving Laird – Scotland from £124 pp
Canine Cottage with a tennis court
Down a mile-long drive, on the eastern shore of Loch Fyne, Acharossan (sleeps nine, plus two dogs) is an 18th century Scottish Laird’s house where you have your own private beach and tennis court.
Positioned on the wild and remote Cowal Peninsula, within 1,200 acres of farmland, this magnificent house is a paradise for dogs, too: large, secluded grounds to roam and a roaring fire to rest by. The ground-floor entrance hall keeps muddy boots and wet paws at bay, and five sumptuous bedrooms beckon at night.
How much: A week’s stay costs from £124 pp (£1,109 total). £20 supplement per dog. Visit Canine Cottages (www.caninecottages.co.uk).
Games, mill and match – Lake District from £202 pp
Willow Mill (sleeps ten plus two dogs) is a luxurious family-friendly mill conversion set amid its own superb four-acre grounds. Enjoy a game of tennis on your own private court, get competitive in the games room (with pool table and darts board, plus 60 games including Pacman and Space Invaders), or set out and explore this lovely region, with Ullswater and Glenridding just a short drive away. The mill itself dates back to the 1800s and was one of six that supported the market town of Penrith, only half a mile away.
How much: A week’s stay costs from £202 pp (£2,020 total). £20 supplement per dog. (www.holidaycottages.co.uk).
Slice on grass – from £123 pp at Luton Hoo Hotel, Golf & Spa
Luton Hoo trass court
Less than an hour north of London, Luton Hoo Hotel, Golf & Spa is a Grade I listed mansion house hotel which dates from 1601. Within the magnificent 1,065-acre estate, there is a grass tennis court set on a circular plot and surrounded by hedges, with a summer house that moves in line with the sun. The hotel can also arrange tennis coaching (book in advance) on the grass court or its two all-weather hard courts.
How much: A one-night stay is priced from £245 total / £123 pp (two sharing) and includes overnight accommodation, full English breakfast and use of all facilities, including the spa and the tennis courts. (www.lutonhoo.co.uk).
Splendour in Sussex – from £100 pp with Pride of Britain Hotels
Pride of Britain
Enveloped in the soft grooves of the South Downs National Park, which celebrates its 10th anniversary this year, Park House Hotel & Spa, near the market town of Midhurst, is a tennis lovers paradise. Guests can make use of two championship-standard grass tennis courts which are open annually from May-September and expertly maintained by the gardening team. Other facilities include indoor and outdoor pools, a spa with treatment rooms, a six-hole 18-tee golf course, putting green, bowling and croquet lawns.
How much: An overnight stay is from £199 per room total / £100 pp (two sharing), including full English breakfast. (www.prideofbritainhotels.com).
In EUROPE…
Algarve – Portugal tennis break from £1,245 pp
For sublime tennis, guaranteed sunshine and green list travel status, where better for an active break this year than the Algarve? Perched on sandstone cliffs with spectacular ocean views, the five-star Vila Vita Parc has two lovely tennis courts – one clay, one artificial turf – where you can just play for fun or brush up on those ground strokes with expert lessons from a professional coach. The hotel also has mini-golf, water-sports, a gym and three swimming pools, plus a wide choice of restaurants (one is Michelin-starred) and a spa. It’s just a short drive from Porches, the picturesque village famed for its ceramics, and the seaside town of Armaçao.
How much: A three-night stay costs from £1,245 pp (two sharing), including BA flights (Heathrow), car hire and accommodation with breakfast in a deluxe room. (www.kirkerholidays.com).
Tennis in Tuscany? – Rural Italy break from £770 pp
Lovers of food, wine and tennis can enjoy a stay in the heart of Tuscany, a medieval hilltop hamlet Borgo Tre Rose, located in Montepulciano. After a few sets on the on-site tennis court, guests can relax at the outdoor pool, take guided tours of the estate, learn the art of Italian cooking and indulge in tasting sessions in the historic cellars and Borgo Tre Rose’s restaurant, complete with panoramic terrace, where wines are perfectly paired with mouth-watering local specialities and classic Tuscan fare. For the more adventurous, there are opportunities for mountain bike rides, horse riding or even an exhilarating hot air balloon trip.
How much: A seven-night B&B stay costs from £770 pp (two sharing), including flights (Gatwick) and car hire. (www.sunvil.co.uk).