Yes, an indoor pool is Jut the job...
scandinavians have one of the highest standards of living in the world.
I don't know how they work that out but I'm inclined to believe it.
Our holiday cottage in Jutland, Denmark boasted an amazing extra.
Our own indoor swimming pool.
Yes, that's right, a pool room – and I'm not talking baize table, coloured balls and cues either.
This was a 20-square metre heated pool in its own tiled wing of our thatched 'Hansel and Gretel' holiday cottage.
I say 'cottage' but it sleeps 8-10 and was more like a ranch.
It's in the sand dunes near Sondervig on a narrow strip of land in west Jutland (that bit of Denmark that sticks up from Germany) and it boasts the coast 100 metres one way, with miles of sandy beaches, and Denmark's largest fjord 100 metres the other way.
The perfect location, location, location for a get-away-from-it-all holiday.
Bracing heathland walks are the order of the day and we explored the North Sea coastline, the edge of Ringkobing Fjord and the lighthouse at Lyngvig – where the observation deck at the top proved quite hairy on a windy day.
Ringkobing Fjord is 20 miles long and 10 miles wide. If you stand in the harbour of the pretty little town it takes its name from it looks for all the world like the sea.
Getting about couldn't be easier. Denmark is blessed with miles and miles of long straight roads and very little traffic.
We journeyed to Viborg, the capital of mid-Jutland, for a good look round and even took in a football match, Viborg FF v Lyngby.
And we livened up one evening by going to a top-flight Danish speedway match, Holstebro v Holsted, which ended 43-44 in a last-heat decider.
Denmark can be expensive, particularly eating out, but, to be honest, what with the recent difficulties of the pound against the euro and getting used to paying more on Continental holidays in general, it wasn't as bad as we had feared.
The accommodation certainly lived up to its billing, with four double-bedrooms, two bathrooms, pool, jacuzzi, widescreen TV, dvd player, cd system, dishwasher, enormous fridge, the lot.
And DFDS make sure that the long sea crossing Harwich-Esbjerg is 'part of the holiday' too.
The buffet-style evening meals were tremendous – meats, seafood, everything.
Pay a bit more to upgrade your cabin to Sirena or Commodore class and the extras at breakfast – like American pancakes – come free too.
And there's no shortage of luxury holiday homes to choose from.
Key in 'five-star' and 'pool' on DFDS's long-standing accommodation partner Novasol's website and you're spoilt for choice.
A thoroughly relaxing time.
And you don't have to worry about the weather too much either.
It was fine when we were there, but even if it had poured it down we could always have another dip in our indoor pool...
Factfile
JIM Wilson visited Denmark with DFDS Seaways for an eight-night holiday (six nights in the cottage and a night either side on-board ship).
He stayed at Klegod (house C21412, pictured here) on the west Jutland coast.
The brochure price of the cottage was 810 off-season.
The sea crossing for three adults and car came to 526 – which included a homeward journey in two plusher Sirena-class cabins with food and drink extras.
Pre-booked on-board meals for the three of us (sumptuous evening meals and breakfasts) came to 197.
DFDS: 0871 882 0886
www.dfds.co.uk
www.dfds.co.uk/novasol
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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