February Half Term Cosy Cottage Challenge!

Top UK Destinations Perfect for Completing the Cosy Cottage Challenge

Lake District

The Lake District is made for cosy family adventures, with crackling fires waiting in your cottage after days spent exploring lakeside trails, spotting red squirrels, and walking through magical woodlands. Its mix of dramatic scenery and peaceful villages makes every challenge, from stargazing to woodland walks, feel even more special. Whether you’re roasting marshmallows after a breezy fell walk or discovering a tucked-away bakery in Ambleside or Keswick, the Lakes turn every moment into a memory worth ticking off.

Norfolk

With its sweeping beaches, quiet nature reserves, and market towns, Norfolk offers a relaxed, wide-open backdrop for completing the Cosy Cottage Challenge. Winter strolls along Holkham or Wells-next-the-Sea are perfect for wildlife spotting, while cosy cafés and coastal bakeries make delicious pit stops. Evenings come alive with board games by the fire in your cottage, stargazing under huge dark skies, and the simple joy of slowing down together in this peaceful corner of the UK.

Yorkshire

Yorkshire’s wild moors, historic villages and hearty local food make it an ideal place to embrace the cosy spirit of the challenge. Families can enjoy bracing walks on the Yorkshire Dales’ scenic trails, spot wildlife among rugged landscapes, or explore quaint towns like Hebden Bridge and Hawes. Back at your cottage, it’s all about warm ovens, homemade bakes, and snuggling under blankets after a day of adventure. The mix of countryside calm and dramatic views makes every activity extra atmospheric.

Dorset

Dorset blends coastal beauty with rolling countryside, offering families the perfect mix of adventure and relaxation for the Cosy Cottage Challenge. Wander fossil-filled beaches, explore dramatic cliffs along the Jurassic Coast, or enjoy peaceful woodland paths inland. Quaint villages and artisan bakeries provide plenty of tasty treats to tick off the baking and foodie challenges, while our cosy cottages with sea or countryside views create the ideal setting for games, storytelling and stargazing.

Isle of Wight

The Isle of Wight is a compact treasure trove of family fun, making it wonderfully easy to complete multiple challenge activities in one day. Wander through enchanting forests, stroll along quiet beaches, or enjoy wildlife spotting at places like Newtown Nature Reserve. The island’s friendly towns offer great local bakeries and cafés, while its peaceful nights are perfect for stargazing. With our coastal cottages and a relaxed island pace, it’s the ideal place to reconnect and make memories.

Scottish Highlands

The Scottish Highlands bring a sense of magic to every item on the Cosy Cottage Challenge list. Towering mountains, glistening lochs and vast skies create unforgettable settings for woodland walks, wildlife spotting and evening stargazing. Cosy cottage nights feel even snugger after exploring breathtaking landscapes or discovering tucked-away Highland bakeries. Remote, peaceful, and beautifully wild, the Highlands turn half-term moments into stories your family will treasure long after the holiday ends.

🔥 Your Interactive Cosy Cottage Challenge Checklist

👇 Click the boxes as you complete each challenge!
(You can tally your score at the end.)

🔥 1. Make S’mores by the Fire

[ ] I made s’mores!

🍫 Vote: What’s your favourite s’mores filling?

• 🔘 Chocolate

• 🔘 Peanut butter

• 🔘 Caramel

• 🔘 Jam

• 🔘 “All of the above, please!”

🔍 Tap to reveal a top tip:

Wrap your s’mores in foil and warm them by the fire for a perfectly gooey centre.

📸 Bonus: Snap a marshmallow moustache selfie!

🎲 2. Play a Classic Board Game

[ ] We played a game!

🗳️ Poll: What’s your go-to cottage game?

• 🔘 Monopoly

• 🔘 Cluedo

• 🔘 Jenga

• 🔘 Uno

• 🔘 Something more competitive…

💬 Tell us: Who was the sore loser in your family?

🌲 3. Go on a Woodland Walk

[ ] We adventured outdoors!

👀 Spotter Challenge:
Tick the wildlife you see:

• Robin

• Squirrel

• Deer

• Owl

• Mystery paw prints!

📍 Tap for a nature tip:

Bring a small bag and collect pinecones, leaves or twigs — perfect for a cosy cottage craft session later.

🥐 4. Visit a Local Bakery or Farmers’ Market

[ ] We tried something delicious!

🥐 Vote: Best bakery treat?

• 🔘 Sausage roll

• 🔘 Doughnut

• 🔘 Brownie

• 🔘 Croissant

• 🔘 “Just give me everything”

📸 Prompt: Take a photo of your tastiest find and share it with #CosyCottageChallenge.

🛏️ 5. Build a Blanket Fort

[ ] Fort complete!

🏰 Tap to reveal a creativity tip:

Add fairy lights or battery candles for extra magic.

💬 Challenge: Try to watch one whole movie from inside your fort.

🍰 6. Bake Something Together

[ ] We baked as a team!

👩‍🍳 Quick Vote: What’s easier?

• 🔘 Cookies

• 🔘 Cupcakes

• 🔘 Brownies

• 🔘 “We burned everything…”

📥 Tap to reveal a failsafe recipe:

Three-ingredient banana pancakes: 2 bananas + 2 eggs + 1 tsp flour. That’s it!

✨ 7. Stargaze From the Garden or Hot Tub

[ ] We spotted stars!

🌌 Spotting Challenge:
Tick any constellations you spot:

• The Plough

• Orion’s Belt

• Cassiopeia

• Shooting star!

🔭 Tap for a fun fact:

Winter skies are the clearest of the year — perfect for stargazing.

💌 8. Write Notes to Your Future Selves

[ ] We wrote our notes!

💡 Prompt: What are you looking forward to this year?

🧳 Tap for a cute idea:

Hide the notes in your suitcase pockets — they’ll surprise you on your next trip.

🔥 9. Take a Family Cosy Cottage Selfie

[ ] Photo taken!

📸 Challenge: Snap it in front of your log burner, hot tub, or cottage doorway.

⭐ Your Score!

Count your ticks and see how you did:

0–3 challenges:
👉 You’re warming up! A cosy weekend away would fix that…

4–7 challenges:
👉 You’re a memory-making pro — keep going!

8–10 challenges:
👉 You’ve mastered the Cosy Cottage Challenge!

Make Half-Term Memories Happen. Start Your Cosy Cottage Challenge Today

Whether you’re roasting marshmallows in the Lake District, exploring Norfolk’s peaceful coast, wandering Yorkshire’s wild moors or stargazing in the Highlands, the Cosy Cottage Challenge is the perfect way to make unforgettable half-term memories across the UK. From Dorset’s dramatic cliffs to the Isle of Wight’s family-friendly charm, every region offers its own cosy moments to tick off your list. Ready to start your adventure?

Discover the best cosy cottages for February half term and book your family getaway with cottages.com today.