Cosses Country House Blog » Romantic Holiday

Snowdrop Festival in Southern Scotland

susanc — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 14:39:34 +0000

Snowdrops are the first flowers of the year

February marks the beginning of the SnowdropFestival in Scotland. Did you know the Scientific name for Galanthus means milk flower. These lovely flowers are among the first to raise their heads in the New Year, when it is warm they release a fragrance. Look carefully at the snowdrops to see their green markings on the inside.
Cosses Country House has created a woodland trail with information about all there is to see. The shrubbery, woodland and pond are covered with blankets of white snowdrops.

A favourite eating place for the birds in the Vibernum

Many gardens in the area have wonderful displays of snowdrops including Dunsky, Caprington Castle, Culzean and Logan Come and enjoy the beautiful woodland and loch-side walks and car drives, and see the swathes of snowdrops and early spring flowers. Set amidst the truly stunning gardens of Castle Kennedy there is much to explore and enjoy for all the family.

Reflections

Cosses Country House is offering some wonderful holiday packages with fine dining, log fires and luxury accommodation.

Staying at Cosses Country House

susanc — Fri, 15 Apr 2011 21:39:17 +0000

Visitors are enjoying the lovely spring weather, gardens, walking, cycling and golf in South West Scotland.

Azalia at Cosses

Guests wrote in the visitors book: “Better than the reputation! Wonderful food, hospitality and company. An exquisite short break. Thank you so much”.
Culzean castle has been refurbished and delighted our guests with the fabulous cliff walks. They were railway enthusiasts and reported what a wonderful scenic trip it was on the train from Ayr to Stranraer, over some of the remotests part of Galloway.
As our guests cross the court yard after dinner, they are wonderous at the beauty of the dark sky. At Cosses we have a fabulous vista of stars, the grey band of the Milky Way, other galaxies and nebulae, which appear assmall fuzzy patches to the naked eye, shooting stars, the northern lights and, of course, true darkness.The best observing conditions are any clear night, two weeks either side of the new moon.
our guests visited the new Burns Museum, opened in January, a living tribute to Scotland’s much loved poet.Starting at the ‘Auld Clay Biggin’ (thatched cottage) where Robert Burns was born in 1759, before taking in some of the famous locations such as the Auld Kirk and Brig O’Doon. (Burns an’a’ that festival is in May).They loved their varied breakfasts from porridge and kippers or fresh fruit salad and shirred eggs to home grown orchard, stewed fruits followed by a full Scottish breakfast with kidneys. Dinner was great fun, meeting other guests. Scallops with Dalduff black pudding, Marrbury Auld smoked salmon with local langoustine, Dalduff fillet of beef, Gressingham Duckling breast with plum sauce, home grown spring greens. Desserts made with this season’s rhubarb – brandy snaps filled with Rhubarb Fool with rhubarb and ginger icecream and poached julinne of rhubarb.
Theres lots going on in Ayrshire and Dumfries and Galloway. This weekend is the Scottish Grand Nationalwww.ayr-racecourse.co.uk. For walkers – The Newton Stewart Walking Festival is from 6th – 9th May, whether you enjoy the challenge of a true hill walk or lower level themed walks. the woods are full of bluebells and other spring wild flowers. The Irvine Valley Walking festival www.east-ayrshire.gov.uk/ivrp is 13-15th May. dumfries and Galloway has the Arts Festival from 20th – 29th, the spring Fling from 28th – 30th. Castle Kennedy Gardens are looking fabulous with rhodedendrons and azalias to inspire the Art and Photography Competition for 2011. This year’s theme competition theme is “Shapes” inspired by the myriad shapes to be found in the gardens and which are formed by all the different trees, plants and flowers and by the curves and banks of the landscape itself. Entrants will be invited to draw, sketch, paint, photograph or create a piece of artwork based on this year’s theme.

Rhododendrons and Azalias give wonderful displays

The competition will run from April through to end October and entry forms will be available from the Garden Shop.Visit the Gardens and complete the family Easter Egg Trail. Follow the trail, receive a chocolate easter egg prize and have the opportunity to enter a Prize Draw and win a ticket to Snow White, being performed at Castle Kennedy & Gardens on Wednesday 20th July 2011.Enjoy the full displays of rhododendrons, azaleas and magnolias for which the Gardens are well known. All the Hybrids, many bred at Castle Kennedy, will be coming into bloom, including Rhododendron “Cynthia” a memorable mass of pink. The azaleas are also starting to flower with the Azalea Avenue coming into its own. Bargany, Culzean, Glewhan, Logan and Dunsky are all at their best in May.

Bluebell woods

On 15th May, Cosses Country House is opening its garden as part of Scotland’s Garden Scheme. Come and join us.

A Happy New Year from Cosses Country House

susanc — Tue, 04 Jan 2011 23:20:13 +0000

View from Cosses drive

Happy New Year from Cosses Country House – your favourite Scottish Holiday Destination!
We have been busy in 2010 creating the Cosses Trail and Arboretum.
We have landscaped the pond, built a bird hide, built bridges and planted over 50 Acer trees and 12 Crab Apple Trees. This has created a wonderful trail – just about all that Bonzo dog can manage these days. Montydog loves the long walks such as the Ayrshire Coastal path, Carrick and Galloway walks and the western Southern Upland Way. Robin is enjoying playing golf .as all the coastal, links courses are open with lots of discounted play over the winter. We are officially part of Scotland’s first biosphere with real darkness witnessing metior showers, eclipses and wonderful star gazing.
We still have lots of winter vegetables, creating lots of winter dishes and now we are busy selecting seeds for all the special vegetables for our home grown produce for 2011.
We are open from February with the Winter White Festival for snowdrop walks, continuing through the spring with all the daffodils. We will have a Scotland Garden Scheme open day on 15th May with a bluebell walk.

View over Cosses Valley

Autumn activities at Cosses Country House

susanc — Thu, 21 Oct 2010 21:25:37 +0000

Crisp leaves under foot, berries ripening on the trees and glorious colours everywhere.
Apples are to collect and store for the winter, and delicious desserts are created for the guests: Baked apples stuffed with home made mince meat, apple beignets, crumbles and tarts, apple ice cream and pancakes.

Heavily laden Reverand Greaves cooking apples

There are plenty of leaves to sweep up, tulips and wallflowers to plant for the spring. The Main Crop potatoes need to be dug and stored, and we now start on the leeks, parsnips and Brussel Sprouts.
We have already served partridge from Dumfries House, and soon the Crailoch Shoot will supply us with pheasants.

Come and spend an Autumn or winter break with us – we have some excellent special offers

Scottish food and Drink fortnight at Cosses Country House

susanc — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 21:11:12 +0000

For the Scottish Food and Drink fortnight href=”http://”>Cosses Country Househref=”http:///www.cossescountryhouse.com/dining.htm”> is highlighting its famous kitchen garden and use of local food.
Guests can help to select and pick their own vegetables- lots of varieties of potatoes,carrots and tomatoes, various salad crops, courgettes, french and runner beans, and a huge brassica collection. Today we picked the last of the Broad Beans and Czar plums. Victoria plums and Coxes apples are just coming into season.

Kitchen garden

Breakfast menus using home grown fruit compote and home made yoghurt; Dalduff bacon, haggis, black pudding and sausages; locally smoked kippers and haddock for kedgeree; home made bread and preserves.
Dinner menus using Ballantrae crab, lobsters and prawns, Crailoch Lamb, Dalduff fillet of beef, venison and game. Local Scottish Cheese, home made oatcakes and Rowan Jelly alomg with Joy’s home grown black grapes. All for £90 dinnner B&B in a luxurious suite. Cosses Country House has a superb wine and whisky list to choose from.

Home Grown Produce from the garden at Cosses CountryHouse

susanc — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 09:47:48 +0000

What a wonderful time of year in the vegetable garden. There is so much to choose from and everything is so lush. I visit the garden to decide what to serve my guests for dinner. www.cossescountryhouse.com/ I have just picked raspberries for a Mille Feuille and home made raspberry and Brockman’s gin Ice Cream. Brockman’s Gin
Brockman’s Gin is a great discovery in the kitchen, as it has so many botanicals that it enhances the flavour of many desserts. One of my favourites is Blackcurrant Creme Brulee.

Raspberrie Mille Feuille with homemade ice cream

The Czar Plums are ripening thus it will be a Czar Plum Sauce with the Gressingham Duckling breasts tonight on the menu. Courgettes are in abundance and the following recipe for Courgette cake will be for afternoon tea:
80g raisins, 4tblspn water, 280g flour, 1/2 tspn cinnamon, 1/4 tspn salt, 1/2 tspn baking powder, 1 and 1/2 tspn bicarbonate of sod, 120ml of olive oil, 150 g demarara sugar, 1/2 vanilla pod,
2 lightly beaten free range eggs, 1/2 kilo thinly sliced courgettes,
grated zest of a lemon, finely chopped stem ginger and 2 free range egg whites.

Grease and line 1 large or 2 small cake tins.
Pre heat the oven to 170C
Place the raisins in the water and simmer until the water has been absorbed.
Sift together dry ingredients.
In a bowl beat together the oil sugar and seeds from the vanilla pod. Add the eggs and beat until smooth and thick.
Mix in the courgettes, ginger, lemon rind and raisins, then fold in the dry ingredients. Finely beat the egg whites to a meringue texture and carefully add to the cake batter.
Pour into the tins and bake for 1 and 1/2 hours until firm (and a skewer comes out clean).
Leave to cool in the tins.
Mix together cream cheese, maple syrup and lemon juice.
Cut the cake in half horizontally, then fill and top the cake with the icing. Yum!

Luxury, Summer Holiday Offers in Southern Scotland

susanc — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 14:56:23 +0000

After some much needed rain everything is green and growing again! I made blackcurrant jam this morning and picked broad beans, french beans, spring onions and various salad leaves to mix with smoked Ayrshire Bacon, parmasan shavings, anchovies, free range eggs and olives for a delicious lunch.

As we still have some availability in July and August we have put together some special hot summer deals to tempt you to this beautiful unspoilt part of Scotland

If you are a ‘passionate foodie’ you will love it!

*Come and stay for a minimum of 4 nights (with dinner on a minimum of 3 nights) and receive 20% discount off the B&B price (Sunday to Thursday)

*Enjoy a weekend break away from it all and receive a free bottle of wine, with dinner. ( 2 nights)

*Walking Packages – from gentle walks to a bit more strenuous, to a real challenge (including free packed lunch and drop offs ) The walking in this enchanting area of natural beauty has amazing views with seascapes
, Southern Upland Way, Ayr River Way, Carrick and Galloway hills.

*Romantic Luxury Break with free bottle of Delamotte Brut, Champagne, (Established in the prestigious village of Le Mesnil. Champagne Delamotte is Chardonnays most refined in style and pedigree.One of the oldest Champagne houses, 250 years old this year.)
and Pamper Packages arranged at Pebble Spa. – minimum 2 nights

5*****Golfing breaks on delightful courses, for couples or small parties, in South West Scotland. Golfing itineraries arranged and a 3 night package will include 2 rounds of golf at Dunsky / Stranraer/ Brunston / or Girvan.

3 nights dinner B&B and 2 rounds of golf in the Ailsa or Iona Suite £295 per person / Garden room £265per person

Please quote ‘Summer Specials’ to claim any of these offers – subject to availability.
We are a Wolsey Lodge, that very special place to stay away from it all!

Cosses garden in July

susanc — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 10:27:27 +0000

The sun is shining again after 24 hours of lovely summer rain so all the plants are drenched, fresh and happy! Cosses has a beautiful hidden garden where guests can relax in a romantic setting soaking up the sun and the beauty. After the rain I can plant out the remaining bedding plants, cut back geraniums which have finished flowering and dead head roses and lupins. In Wolsey lodge tradition, our guests enjoy afternoon tea (lemon cake with strawberry jam yesterday) in the garden.

In the kitchen garden I have picked mange tout, carrots, courgettes, spinach, chard and beetroot as well as several varieties of potatoes; and strawberries and gooseberries this week. I made strawberry jam yesterday.
Our guests from Luxembourg wrote in our visitors book “What a wonderful place! Lovely hosts and Susan’s cuisine is absolutely out of this world!”