Discover holidays for travellers who love to explore through food

With the Holiday Property Bond, you can look forward to experiencing a lifetime of new cultures and cuisines

Wherever you travel to, one of the joys of visiting somewhere for the first time is the opportunity to try delicious local dishes and produce you might be hard pushed to find at home. But more than that, it’s a way to taste the freshest flavours, immerse yourself in time-honoured traditions and maybe even master different cooking techniques.

If that sounds like heaven, then HPB is made for you. It has stunning locations across the UK and Europe, from charming coastal cottages to majestic mansions, many of which boast outstanding on-site restaurants or nearby local markets and eateries. And if you prefer to do your own cooking, every property also comes fully equipped for your own culinary adventures.

So, however you choose to dine, you can be sure HPB will serve up unforgettable holidays, year after year.

Read on to discover how one couple have enjoyed many memorable – and delicious – escapes with HPB…

“Holidays, food, wine… what more could you ask for?” laughs Ian Underwood, a retired Royal Engineers Lt. Col. Having spent much of their lives overseas with the forces, Ian and his wife Ruth are passionate about travelling and food, and for them, HPB brings the best of both these worlds together.

“We love our holidays and we love good food and wine, and with HPB we get all three,” says Ian. “We’re huge fans of seafood and with so many Bond sites on or near the sea, we’re spoilt for choice. Whether it’s dining out or buying it fresh to cook ourselves, we’re always experimenting. Our very first Bond holiday was an amazing food and drink ‘Theme Week’ at Stigliano in Tuscany, Italy.”

Indeed, their HPB journey began more than 30 years ago. “It was a good friend who introduced us,” says Ruth. “We arranged a private tour at Sibton Park in Kent and liked what we saw. We haven’t looked back – it’s allowed us to take longer breaks, more often.”

Left: One of the restored and converted properties at Le Manoir Du Hilguy.
Right: The gorgeous gardens at Le Manoir Du Hilguy.

Living it up at Le Manoir

One of the couple’s favourite spots is Le Manoir du Hilguy in Brittany, France. “This latest break is for four weeks and we’ve already booked another three weeks next year,” says Ruth. “Five years ago, we did a ‘Theme Week’ at Le Manoir, where we learned to shuck oysters, then had the chef’s own special recipe, which was bliss!” adds Ian.

“We love it here! The setting is magnificent and the people are wonderful,” Ruth continues. “Bondholders are generally sociable, but here they’re especially friendly and many are foodies like us. The on-site restaurant is exceptional and with the new chef, it’s in a class of its own. Even if we start dinner on our own, we always end up sharing desserts, wine and stories with other guests. There’s a real sense of camaraderie.”

“Of course, we’re not just here for the beer,” Ian jokes. “There’s so much to see and do – historic sites, traditional festivals and breathtaking countryside. The beaches are perfect for building up an appetite or walking off a long lunch!”

Left: A magnificent 18th century château in Brittany.
Right: Ian and Ruth Underwood enjoying a glass of wine.

Friends and family fun

Many of HPB’s properties are designed with friends and families in mind, and over the years, the Underwoods have visited many HPB locations with theirs.

“Our daughter has joined us at Sibton Park, Tigh Mor in Scotland and Constant in the Dordogne,” says Ian. “Several years ago, friends joined us at Duloe Manor in Cornwall, where we took a fish cookery course at Rick Stein’s in Padstow.”

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