We’ve received the following email from the editors of Holiday Villas and Cottages magazine, which is relevant to all people who advertise their property on holidaycottages.cc and any other web site or magazine:

Please be aware that a number of advertisers in our publication Holiday Villas & Cottages have recently received calls from sales people improperly claiming to work for, or on behalf of, the magazine.

In a number of cases individuals have been persuaded to hand over credit card details after being offered renewal of their advertisement booking at a low price, subject to immediate acceptance of the offer and payment by credit card. Their card is then debited in that amount, often several times.
No written or email confirmation is supplied until after payment has been taken.

Any advertising supplied as a result appears to be in a freesheet style publication, not in a bona fide magazine.

These calls are not in any way connected with Holiday Villas & Cottages, Merricks Publishing Ltd, holidaycottages.cc.

Calls to our advertisers are almost certainly just the tip of the iceberg. Anyone advertising in any publication or on any website could be called by these people.
If you receive an advertising sales call seeking a repeat booking in any publication/website and you have any doubts at all as to whether it is genuine, ask the caller for his/her name and the name of the company and publication, then call that publication (making sure you call the genuine number, not one that you are given on the pretext that ‘the switchboard is always busy.’) In our case, the number to call is 01458 274447.

Allegations of improper sales activity of this sort have been covered by the BBC and discussed online, for example here and here.

If this has already happened to you, call me, Hamish Watson-Grey, or e-mail info@merrickspublishing.com and we will advise what steps you can take to recover your funds.

With kind regards

Hamish Watson-Grey
Managing Director
Merricks Publishing Ltd

Below is a guest post from Kett Country Cottages in Norfolk. Let us know what you think — it’s always interesting to get a different point of view, and we’re hoping to do more of these in future. Looking for more ideas? You can read our Norfolk holiday guide on the main Holiday Cottages site.

We all enjoy the traditional Christmas feast with our family, but what else is there to do if you decide to go on holiday in Norfolk this festive season? Going on holiday to this part of England can add some extra excitement to your family Christmas, so go out and have an adventure this year!

1. Going for a Christmas swim. In Norfolk, the glory of the North Sea is there for all to enjoy, with a number of hardy folk jumping into the sea over Christmas time. There are 3 on consecutive days, so you can go to one or all of them, depending on your tolerance for cold.
   • Hunstanton Round Table Christmas Day Swim (Hunstanton, 25^th December at 11am)
   • Cromer Boxing Day Swim (Cromer, 26^th December at 10am)
   • Overstrand Boxing Day Swim (Overstrand, 26^th December at 11am)
2. Enjoy a Christmas Spectacular. In Thursford, you have the opportunity to enjoy one of the most popular Christmas shows, which features carols, dancers, beautiful costumes and wonderful music. It’s an event the whole family can enjoy. (Shows every day at 2pm and 7pm until the 23^rd December)
3. Take a trip on a heritage railway. A number of different lines throughout Norfolk, including the Poppy Line, are running festive services where you can enjoy a train journey to see Santa, travelling through the countryside while munching on mince pies.
4. Visit a Norwich Christmas Market. There are a large number of special Christmas Markets happening throughout Norwich, which each offer a unique range of little gifts and treats for the whole family to enjoy when you return to your Christmas holiday cottage. In the Mall, you can find the Norwich Christmas Craft Fair (From 9am every day until 24^th December)
5. Attend the Pantomime. This year Sleeping Beauty is playing at the Norwich Theatre Royal until the 14^th of January, so you can take the whole family to enjoy the fun and laughter of a panto featuring well-known actors, and songs that everyone can sing along to.
6. Take a guided walk or tour. Some of the most interesting sights in Norfolk can only seen if you know where to look and a guide can help you find them. There are a number of different guided tours happening, including:
   • Victorian Ghosts, a walk hosted by the Man in Black, who will tell you the unusual stories that aren’t told on most ghost walks. You can also finish off in the festive spirit with some mulled wine (Adam & Eve Pub, Norwich, 22^nd December at 7pm)
   • The Boxing Day walk at Fairhaven Woodland and Water Garden, will allow you to get a guided tour around this beautiful garden from its head gardener, ending with mince pies and mulled wines (South Walsham, 26^th December at 11am)
7. Watch Morris Dancing. This traditional English dancing is being performed by the Kemps Men of Norwich, including their Mummers Dance. This is a fun event that the whole family can watch and enjoy. (Banningham Crown Pub, 26^th December at 12 noon)

Cedric Le Borgne 'Les Voyageurs'

Deadgood Studio 'Rainbow'

Jaques Rival 'I Love Durham'

This weekend I went to the Lumiere festival in Durham. It was a wonderful event which showed off this beautiful city to its best advantage. Light art illuminated prominent parts of this historic place, such as Kingsgate bridge transformed into a huge illuminated waterfall entitled ‘Splash’ by artist Peter Lewis and engineered by Water Sculptures. Martin Warren lit up three more of Durham’s bridges, Cedric Le Borgne suspended brightly illuminated sculptures of men above a particularly narrow cobbled street giving a magical essence to the walk. These, along with many more made for a really enjoyable experience and would also encourage me to visit again, even without the festival.

A small drive away in Northallerton are these 4 cottages which sleep 2-4. These former farm buildings have been imaginatively converted into 4 well equipped and attractive holiday cottages. Original beams have been retained and there is central heating for year round appeal. All the cottages have TV with Freeview, video and radio cassette/CD player, fully equipped kitchens with washer/dryer, fridge/freezer, dishwasher and microwave, cots and highchairs. The cottages are set in peaceful countryside and have magnificent views. They are perfect if you want to combine a visit to Durham, with great walks and even a drive over to the seaside with Whitby within easy reach.

The property is set at the top of a curving drive, the inner hall opens up to a heavily beamed living room with snuggly leather chairs, and an open fire with impressive mantelpiece. Off the living room is a bar to one side, bathroom and two more sitting rooms, one brilliant for children as it has TV/DVD, games and half-sized snooker table. The other is French windows to the terrace with beautiful views, perfect for evening drinks. There is a dining room and large kitchen with commercial gas cooker, domestic gas cooker, two dishwashers, microwave, washer-drier, freezer, commercial fridge, and access to large terrace. There is also access to professional catering if you didn’t want to assign the cooking to just one of you!

A lovely curving staircase leads up to the first floor and eight bedrooms – four double (two with 5’ beds, one with 6’ bed), four twin, all with either en suite shower-room (suite) or bathroom (suite). More stairs to the second floor and seven more bedrooms, all with either en suite bathroom (suite) or shower-room (suite), many with terrific views – five double (four with 5’ beds), a single, and a room with twin beds (zip-linkable) and a single.

All of this can be booked for a New Year special stay with a saving of £1000 off the usual price for a 6 night stay!

With half term fast approaching you may still be scratching your head about what to do and where to go. Well, ponder no more with our list of things going on in the West Country!

24th – 28th October is spooky time at Pecorama in Beer. There are shows such as Ben the Juggler, A Wizard Called Ozz and Dan the Hat. Alongside these are face painting, special dishes in the Garden Room Restaurant and free spooky treats for children as part of the fancy dress party!

27th October sees a return to nature with the Mortonhampstead Family Bush Craft Day with Dan Thompson-Mills. Learn the skills of wild fire-making, making shelters in the woods, collecting and eating wild foods, and other outdoor skills. Also, learn how to read the language of the birds and develop a deeper connection to nature. The best thing is that children under 15yrs go free with a paying adult.

22nd – 30th October allows visitors of Lanhydrock in Bodmin to join a spooky garden trail for just £1.50 a ticket. Or you could learn how to make a lantern with local artist Liz Tyrell for £5 a ticket.

22nd – 30th October Celebrate Halloween at the Eden Project on their beautiful and unique wintry rink, which has a new design for 2011. Halloween activities and events include: ice skating, pumpkin carving demonstrations, wand making and potion mixing.

If any of these take your fancy, look at Helpful Holidays for accommodation down in the beautiful West Country.

They’ve been nominated for the ‘Best UK Cottage/Self Catering Booking Company (UK Properties)’ and are in the running with 12 other companies in this category. Most of the other companies are big national players, so Helpful Holidays will need your help to be in with a chance of winning!

Please support them by clicking here or going to https://britishtravelawards.com/vote_form_secure.php before the closing date of 30th September.

This year’s festival has loads of arts, crafts and food stalls, as well as providing lots of entertainment for your little ones and a fair few ales for the adults to sample! Saturday will have local celeb Ann Widdecombe as acting sous chef to famous chef, Michael Caine in his live cookery demo. Check out the list of things to do and ticket prices and online offers at the website.

Want somewhere to stay? If there’s a large group of you then you could go to this Helpful Holidays art-deco style house (B23) that sleeps 10 (3 doubles, 2 twins) in nearby Teignmouth. With panoramic views over the estuary towards Shaldon and the pretty fishermen’s cottages and bathing huts along Teignmouth’s river beach, this property is set just back and above the road (very occasionally heard) which runs along the river Teign, this smartly restored home is comfortable and well-equipped with good-sized rooms and lots of space.

If you don’t have a place to stay then there is a brilliant deal (20% off) on this small bungalow from Helpful Holidays (sleeps 3) in the pretty village of Landscove, only 4 1/2 miles from Totnes, so it’s easy to get to by train and a short taxi ride if you don’t drive. This South-facing bungalow is in the well kept ½ acre garden of the owners’ Georgian house on the edge of the green. It has it’s own patio and a part of the garden is sheltered by apple trees. Inside, there is a small porch and hall; living room (with a folding bed) with French windows to the garden, fitted kitchen/diner and a utility room, and a double bedroom with window to garden. There is a shower-room and a useful store for bicycles/waterproofs/boots.

Many lovely comments have been made by visitors to this cottage, a Mr & Mrs Waterman who stayed in June said: ”We found the property that we had booked to be more than expected in a wonderful location ideal for visiting many place in Devon. Quiet peaceful with only the sound of bird song night and day “HEAVEN”. We would return again and again. The owners were in the category of the nicest people you could meet.”

You could stay in this converted fort in Plymouth for a quirky style of accommodation with beautiful sea views. This Helpful Holidays apartment has stunning 180 degree sea views from Plymouth Sound to Cawsand and Looe beyond. Inside comprises of  a hall, living/dining room (TV/DVD), smart fitted kitchen area (washer-drier, microwave) full of interesting pictures and pieces of china, glazed doors to balcony (table/chairs). At the back, overlooking the gardens, two bedrooms – one twin (TV), and one with single and pull-out truckle; bathroom (suite plus bath-shower). Sleeps maximum of 4, including babies.

If you book now for the remaining weeks in July and August you’ll get 30% off!

A mile from Aveton Gifford, South Hams, two very special places sit: a well converted barn and a remarkable Grade II listed former music room (L249). Walk down 300 yards of a tree-lined lane to a sunny courtyard with fountain and flowers shared with the friendly owners, then walk through to the walled garden with a beautiful lawn and fig and walnut trees then through to yet another garden with 6 grassy acres with a pond and large trees and spring water.

The Music Room is magnificent: detached, huge and incredibly romantic, once home to concerts and recitals, brilliantly converted. Three steps up to entrance into open-plan living/dining/kitchen with vaulted stucco ceiling, four massive arched windows with stained glass border running the length of the room (46′ x 19′) generating light and colour, polished wooden floor (rugs), woodburner, comfy sofa, TV/DVD, piano, CD player, MP3/iPod; smart, discreet, fitted kitchen area (dishwasher, microwave); step up to the door to the bathroom (suite with 5’ bath plus bath-shower). The bedroom is the stage (up 3 steps), with 5′ four-poster bed, all stunningly presented and lit.

This is an amazing luxurious place to stay and for a great deal at minus 20% of the price in July you really can’t go wrong.