We had a long journey to Buckinghamshire from Cornwall so were grateful once we approached our destination, the quaint, hill-top village of Brill. We were a little ahead of our check-in time so easily parked up on street and popped into the local pub The Pheasant for a quick chilled beverage. It was the hottest day of the year so we eagerly ventured into the pretty beer garden with our crisp cold ciders and our spaniel Chester perched himself in the shade with his bowl of iced cold water – we could finally relax! After quenching our thirsts and switching into holiday mode, we had an explore around the outside of the Grade II listed windmill on our doorstep which is so picturesque! The windmill dates back to the 17th century and is open inside to the public during summer months on a Sunday afternoon.
The area is spoilt with walks, rolling countryside and far-reaching views; Chester finally appreciated this drive out to the country. We then took a leisurely stroll through the village to Crumb Cottage, our home away from home for the long weekend. The cottage was tucked away off the main street and was surprisingly cool which we welcomed on this hot summers’ day. We had a quick tour around the property, which is utterly charming, with its low beamed ceilings and quirky unlevel floors and walls – a typical 18th century cottage, that’s for sure.
The cottage is tastefully designed throughout with rich colours and luxurious furnishings, we particularly liked the cheerful yellow kitchen, which certainly makes a statement on entrance to this idyllic retreat. 
We enjoyed a couple of hours relaxing in the sunshine in the courtyard with a glass of sparkling rosé before setting off to The Pointer, which is a five-minute walk away and was recommended in the cottage welcome folder. We were warmly invited into this traditional, dog friendly pub and were given a lovely table for two by the window. I opted for the fish and chips and my husband chose a homemade Goan king prawn curry. Both were delicious, we could see why this pub had previously been named Michelin Pub of the Year. After filling our tummies, we relocated to the garden and enjoyed an espresso martini on the terrace – a perfect nightcap before our stroll home. 
After a restful night’s sleep in the comfiest of beds, I ventured downstairs at the crack of dawn to be greeted by Chester eagerly waiting to explore the garden and his new surroundings. I opened up the farmhouse door to pure tranquillity, all you could hear were the birds tweeting nearby. Next on the agenda was coffee and we were delighted to have a Nespresso machine ready and waiting for us at a click of a button – such a treat. My husband cooked some scrambled eggs on toast using the ingredients the owners had kindly left us which was the perfect start to our day ahead.
We heard there was a local market in Brill on Saturday mornings, so we took a leisurely stroll back in the direction of The Pointer and stumbled across some lovely local stalls selling handmade gifts and homemade cakes. After our hearty meals the night before, we resisted any sweet treats but enjoyed having a perusal at what was on offer in the local village. The weather wasn’t on our side today, after enjoying the sunshine on the hottest day of the year at 31 degrees, it was strange but almost welcome to have a cooler day of 16 degrees with some drizzle – typical British weather!
Later in the morning, we took a drive to the Chiltern Hills. After spending most of the day in the car yesterday, Chester in particular was keen to stretch his legs! Chiltern Hills was the perfect choice, being an area of outstanding beauty and a short drive away, it was absolutely stunning and even though the weather was misty and drizzly, we were greeted with the most scenic panoramic views across the hills of Buckinghamshire and beyond.
After a couple of hours of exploring the woodland walks of Whiteleaf Hill, we stumbled across The Plough at Casden where we refuelled with a rich, fresh coffee before carrying on with our adventure. Chiltern Hills stretches 45 miles, so we were only exploring such a small area of this vast countryside, which is hard to believe is on London’s doorstep.
The rain had started to come in heavier, so we decided to head back to our humble abode with a quick detour via Waitrose in Thame for some goodies for dinner. We fired up the wood burner so we could dry off and appreciate the romantic ambience of this sweet, traditional cottage. Quick cup of tea and a slice of lemon drizzle cake from Daylesford farm shop (which was to die for!), we nestled down in front of the roaring fire, watching and listening to the rain outside. The evening soon drew in and we cooked a fresh pizza in the Rangemaster cooker and made a salad to share. We had the luxury of a smart TV and some board games to hand, so we had everything we needed for a relaxing Saturday night in.
We woke the following morning feeling refreshed but sad that we had to return home that day after our short but sweet stay at Crumb Cottage. We had to squeeze in one more trip before the journey back to Cornwall so decided to take a drive through the beautiful Cotswolds and take a visit to Diddly Squat Farm, which wasn’t far at all. My husband, a keen Clarkson’s Farm fan, was excited in particular to make the small detour. The journey was well worth it, to take in the delights of the many quintessential villages, such as Burford, lined with pretty honey-coloured stone cottages and historic buildings.
Approaching Diddly Squat, we could see many other people had the same idea as us! We parked up outside and strolled around the bustling local farm shop. We purchased some fresh pork pies and local Hawkstone lager for our Dads with it being Father’s Day that day, and enjoyed a coffee in the “Big View” café which has been converted from a lambing shed and offers beautiful views over the Cotswolds hills. Refuelled with caffeine, we were ready to hit the road, we were both refreshed from our escape to the country but wished we had more time to explore more of the wonderful surroundings which Buckinghamshire has to offer. Time to book our next trip!
Feeling inspired? Take a look at Crumb Cottage here.
