Archive for category Availability

Durham Lumiere

Nov 23

Posted by elisa in Advertisers, art, Articles, Availability, Coast, Cottages Search, Durham, Events, Exhibitions, family days out, Festivals, Fun, Group holidays, Holiday advice, shopping and culture, Tips, Uncategorized, Walking | No Comments

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.

New Year group holiday offer

Nov 21

Posted by elisa in Advertisers, Availability, Devon, Group holidays, West Country | 1 Comment

Wondering what to do this New Year? How about a break away with friends or family? This Helpful Holidays house is a beautiful break away that sleeps up to 30. Near the pretty village of Porlock, it’s set in over 12 acres of grounds full of mature trees, huge lawns, small stream and rhododendrons. There’s a pebbly beach (great for surfers) only 250 yards away across two fields.

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!

photo of Holiday cottage in Porlock Vale, Exmoor with 4 stars, sleeps 30

Abbfest 23rd – 25th September

Sep 15

Posted by elisa in Advertisers, art, Availability, Cottages Search, Devon, family days out, Festivals, Food and Drink, Group holidays | No Comments

Abbfest is a celebration of local food, drink, crafts and entertainment. It’s held in the field next to Fermoys Garden Centre Totnes Road, Ipplepen, Newton Abbot, TQ12 5TN.

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.

Helpful Holidays late luxury cottage offer

Jun 28

Posted by elisa in Advertisers, Availability, Cottages Search, West Country | No Comments

Fancy a last minute bargain on a holiday in the South West? Helpful Holidays are giving 20% off the price of this luxury cottage in the remaining weeks of July.

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.

Devon’s big day out!

May 9

Posted by elisa in Advertisers, Articles, Availability, Cottages Search, Devon, Events, Exhibitions, Festivals, Food and Drink, Somerset, Tips, Walking, West Country, wildlife | No Comments

From the 19th – 21st May is the Devon County Show in Exeter. Enjoy three full days of West Country food and drink, the very best horses, goats, sheep, bunnies and cows, including the famous Devon cattle known as Red Rubies. Kids can plant seeds, bake bread, milk Daisy the model cow, weave willow wands, see chicks hatch and pet gentle farm animals. For those of you interested in craft there are lace-makers, quilters, weavers, spinners and dyers. Look out for demonstrations and take the chance to talk to these skilled crafts’ people to get practical advice on anything you may be working on at home. For a nibble, check out the BIG Devon cream tea marquee, with scones made by Richard Hunt, Executive Chef of the Grand Hotel, thick clotted cream and lashings of jam. There is such a huge list of things to do, it’s probably best to go to the website for full details. If that’s not tempting enough, then kids go free on Saturday!

After all this excitement, why not go back to nearby Ottery St Mary (of flaming barrel running fame) to this gorgeous little cottage from Helpful Holidays that sleeps 4. A long, elegant hall leads to L-shaped living/dining/kitchen with TV/DVD and beautifully fitted kitchen area (dishwasher, washer-drier, microwave, fridge-freezer, gas hob) with small breakfast table (larger table/chairs kept folded in hall for more formal dining). French windows open to small patio area (table/chairs) immediately to the front of the house.. Oak stairs to first floor and two bedrooms – a double, and a single; very luxurious bathroom. On the second floor, a double bedroom under the eaves with smart en suite shower-room (suite) and 2 steps up to French windows to a small and very private roof terrace (table/chairs) with fine views over the town.

Tags: Cottages, Devon County Show, Helpful Holidays

Du Maurier Festival 12th – 21st May

May 6

Posted by elisa in Advertisers, art, Availability, Cottages Search, Events, Exhibitions, films, Food and Drink, Fun, West Country | No Comments

The Cornish town of Fowey is to host the Daphne Du Maurier Festival this May. There is a great line up of national and international writers and performers including Robert Hanbury-Tenison, Ann Widdecombe, Port Isaac’s Fisherman’s Friends and Rory McGrath.

There are a selection of ticketed and free events. Of the free events you can get ‘Lost in Flowers’ with the Lostwithiel and District Floral Art Group at St Bartholomew’s; or watch Truro’s Amateur Operatic Society, go to a Book Sale and Coffee Morning or watch the Gallowglass traditional folk music, amongst many other activities!

Of ticketed events ranging from around 50p to £29 you could have a Gallery Meal, watch Hitchcock film ‘The Birds’, go for a Du Maurier ‘Rebecca’ guided coastline walk or watch ‘Waiting for Godot’, again, amongst many other events and activities, so check out the website for more details.

If you didn’t want to stay in Fowey for a full holiday, why not go to the festival as a day trip and chill out at this Helpful Holidays cottage in Polperro.This 16th century, detached stone farmhouse sleeps up to 6, it has a comfortable living room (woodburner, TV/DVD, CD player); kitchen/dining room (microwave, fridge-freezer) with huge ornamental fireplace with bread oven, leading to ‘snug’ (armchair, oil-fired Aga – switched off during June, July and August, pine dresser with pretty plates); from kitchen/dining room, door to utility room (washing machine), shower-room (suite), conservatory, and garden. Steepish stairs up to three bedrooms – two double (one with pine four-poster bed), one twin room; bathroom (suite); and door to patio and garden.

Tags: cottage search, Festival, literature

Helpful Holidays celebrate National Pet Month

Apr 19

Posted by elisa in Advertisers, Availability, Cottages Search, Romantic breaks, Tips, West Country | 1 Comment

Check out Helpful Holidays when booking cottages during National Pet Month (2nd April to 2nd May) as dogs stay free at all their pet friendly cottages during 2011 when booked during this month. They have properties with enclosed gardens and farms to wander and also properties near dog-friendly beaches or just a gentle stroll from really relaxed pubs that welcome dogs too. Many at Helpful Holidays are dog owners, so they welcome calls for tips on properties and places best suited to a doggy holiday. Up to two dogs can stay free of charge as part of the promotion (from 2nd April to 2nd May).

2 miles from North Bovey in a lovely setting is Bovey Castle, built in 1907 as a country seat for the heir to the WH Smith empire and now a renowned hotel. Carefully hidden in the grounds are 14 private, granite-built lodges of which Helpful Holidays offer 6. They are smart, stylish and comfy and overlook the Edwardian gardens, lake and tennis courts. All the hotel facilities are yours to enjoy, including indoor heated swimming pool (65’ x 19’6″ x 4’6″ deep), gym, steam room, sauna, spa (beauty treatments), restaurants and bistro. Outside are hard and grass tennis courts (lessons available), croquet lawn (seasonal) and cricket nets (late May to mid-September). If you don’t feel like cooking, order a restaurant meal or pizza to be delivered to your lodge, or for a special occasion, book a table at the hotel’s restaurant or bistro.

Valentine getaway

Jan 27

Posted by elisa in Advertisers, Availability, Cottages Search, Devon, Food and Drink, Valentine's Day, West Country | No Comments

It’s coming up to that time of year again, when couples get cosy and fancy a bit of romance – yes, it’s nearly Valentine’s Day! So, what better time to take a break away at one of Helpful Holidays’ cottages in the West Country, perfect for romance. Here is a selection to browse:

This beautiful thatched Grade II listed cottage is in the exceptionally pretty village of Drewsteignton, which has a good food pub, shop, restaurant and church. It lies on a ridge a mile from the most spectacular part of the river Teign valley and is 6 miles to the open moor and 14 miles from Exeter. The cottage (ref: A5) sleeps 4 with two bedrooms (a double and a twin), has an inglenook fireplace and a Rayburn in the kitchen. Prices start from £252.

A Grade II listed farmhouse in Newton Ferrers/Noss Mayo (adjoining small villages beside the lake-like River Yealm estuary) has been cleverly and tastefully converted into two dwellings which sleeps two. The Linhay (ref: L118) is a detached, upside-down cottage, recently refurbished from a former grain store, with own west-facing small lawned garden (bench, table/chairs), it’s decor is simple and modern. The area is popular for sailing, lovely for walking or just sitting. There are essential nearby shops and good food pubs, tennis courts and riding stables. If you fancy a bit of a day trip then there is a pedestrian ferry to coast walk to Wembury and a secluded beach. Prices start from £209.

An attached cottage cleverly converted from outhouses facing the main modern house across a walled courtyard in Chagford, a friendly little village perfectly situated for bracing walks across Dartmoor. The cottage (ref: A55) is only 300 yards from local pubs and shops, so is great for nipping to get another bottle of wine for an evening in, or going out for that romantic meal. The interior of the property is elegant and stylish and can sleep up to 4 people, it’s also only 10 minutes walk away from an outdoor swimming pool – in case of some unseasonably warm weather! Prices start from £252.

10th-12th September Heddon Valley Music Beerfest

Sep 8

Posted by elisa in Advertisers, Availability, Coast, Cottages Search, Devon, Events, Festivals, Group holidays | No Comments

A long weekend of music, cask ale and cider tasting takes place at the Hunters Inn in the beautiful Heddon Valley this weekend.

The event is free and it’s not just an excuse to drink as there are also arts and craft stalls, face painting and a best of the fest photo competition!

Friday 10th

The Heddon Valley Stumblers

Simon Darling

Sam Chalkley & James Walden

The Garden Club

Saturday 11th

Green & Bushell

Truffetete,

‘Parracombe’s Got Talent’ (Childrens Show)

Chilly Breeze

Pluko

The Dastards

Severe Zero

Sunday 12th

Quebec Ensemble

3’s Company

Jenna Witts

Maple Canyon

Jim Jones

Lazy,

The Funkinsteins

Basils Blues Band

Entry is free and starts at 6pm on Friday then from noon on Saturday and Sunday.

For more information go to the main website.

If a large group of you are going, how about trying out this Helpful Holidays cottage in the area that sleeps 14. A luxurious farmhouse that has an indoor heated swimming pool! The property is surrounded by 10 acres of garden and has barbecue facilities if the weather is fine. There are plenty of walks in the area, you can also go to see the sea at Heddon’s Mouth at the end of the valley.

Late availability – short breaks this August bank holiday

Aug 16

Posted by admin in Availability, Last minute breaks, West Country | No Comments

There are some good offers around at the moment if you’re considering staying in a cottage over the August bank holiday weekend. Helpful Holidays are offering three and four day short breaks, at many of their cottages in Somerset, Devon and Cornwall. These, as well as other late availability offers, are listed on the late availability page of the main Holiday Cottages website. Happy holidaying!

Tom

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