Book Cornish holiday homes for a Christmas with a difference
Published December 14, 2011
Are you doing the same old thing again for Christmas this year? Or do you fancy escaping somewhere unusual for a change? Cornwall is one of the Brits’ favourite holiday destinations and we’re so keen on it that thousands of us are choosing to spend the festive season down in the far South West this year.
There’s a lot to be said for leaving your everyday life behind. At home you might be relaxed… but you’re surrounded by your usual stuff. There’s the computer and various other gadgets. There might be work to do on your home, and you might be tempted to tackle it. If you’re a workaholic you might find it tough to switch off over the holidays. But you deserve a real, genuine break. Take proper care of yourself this Christmas and you’ll go back to normal life in the New Year refreshed, rejuvenated and raring to go.
A Cornish holiday cottage might be just the thing. Imagine. You wake up on Christmas morning to a clean-washed winter Cornwall sky, with scudding clouds and a fresh wind. You’re lazing in a supremely comfortable bed, in a beautifully appointed bedroom. It’s wonderfully warm indoors, from top to bottom. The views from your holiday home are absolutely spectacular. You’re looking forward to either cooking a delicious Christmas dinner in the spotlessly clean, efficient and welcoming kitchen or eating Christmas dinner at one of the county’s many excellent gastro pubs or celebrity restaurants.
There’s a big colour TV. There’s a private garden to enjoy, well wrapped up – you could even have a Christmas day barbecue later on if you fancy something a bit different! The locals are friendly and welcoming and there’s a lovely buzz down at the village pub. And outdoors there’s a wealth of stunning countryside to explore. You’ll be surprised how many fellow walkers you’ll meet along the cliffs, the beaches, the famous coastal path and Camel Trail. You can even book Cornish holiday cottages with dogs, taking your furry friend along on your break to enjoy lively Christmas romps together on the flat, quiet, silvery sands.
These days, the best Cornish holiday homes are surprisingly luxurious. They include everything you need for a fantastic break, fitted out in cool, clean contemporary style. They’re well cared for and if you need help or advice, there’s a Property Manager on call. Best of all holiday homes are excellent value for money, much more spacious and private than an hotel. The perfect solution for unforgettable Christmases with a difference!
Old fashioned entertainment for rainy Cornish self catering holidays
Published November 15, 2011
Cornwall is endlessly beautiful and fascinating. But the weather doesn’t always play ball. If you’re stuck indoors because it’s blowing a hooley and tanking down outside, how do you keep the kids occupied? At home they might just head for their bedrooms and the solace of Gameboys, Wiis and whatnot. But you’re on holiday and it seems a shame to disappear off into your own space when there’s a whole load of potential for having fun together. Here’s some ideas for fun, different Cornish self catering holidays with under 10s.
When was the last time you played ‘dressing up’ together? You might never have tried it. After all, everyday life is busy and chaotic and many parents simply don’t have the time or energy to play with their kids much. So take advantage of the fact that you’re away from your usual setting, with fewer everyday responsibilities like work, keeping the house together and endless, boring shopping.
Bung a load of old clothes and dressing up stuff in the back of your car and put on a play if it rains. Do a catwalk fashion show, Gok Wan style. Play cowboys and Indians together. Or take yourselves to the nearest decent-sized town and raid the charity shops for dressing up gear. Film yourselves in your costumes and you’ll create hilarious movies to look back on, as a family, for decades to come.
Little kids find grown-ups hilarious in dressing up clothes. Seeing your normally sensible dad dressed in women’s clothing and an insane home-made hat, or with your mum’s knickers on his head, is one of the funniest things on earth when you’re only eight!
Then there’s traditional games. Forget electronic stuff for the duration and resort to snap, the old fashioned card game that gets kids hysterical in no time. Play hide and seek together, or ‘Statues’. Buy a 1000 piece jigsaw. Play ‘murder’. Kerplunk is an all-time classic. Monopoly is pretty dull but you can always spice it up by providing prizes of sweets and so on.
When you’re little there’s few things quite as exciting as a midnight feast, midnight being enormously late for most little ’uns. Spend a rainy day baking cakes together, spicing up your Cornwall cottage holidays with a late night feast complete with lashings of ginger beer, Famous Five-style. Go for a dark, spooky night walk on the beach. Have a midnight barbecue in the garden of your holiday home. Many a rainy Cornwall cottages holiday has been saved from disaster and boredom the old fashioned way and it’s great fun reconnecting with your children by doing crazy stuff together as a family.
Cornwall holiday homes are the perfect solution for nature watchers
Published August 26, 2011
It’s amazing what a difference a few hundred miles make on our lovely blue planet. The wild and woolly highlands of Scotland couldn’t be more different from Cornwall’s sunny, warm weather, fed by the Gulf Stream and a haven for exciting, exotic flora and fauna. Cornwall holiday homes are in high demand with nature lovers because unlike a hotel or B&B they deliver the opportunity to see the county’s bird, plant and animal life up close and intimate, from the comfort of a home from home. So what can you expect to see on your next Cornwall cottage holiday?
The county’s mild climate means there’s an astonishing wealth of plant life including palm trees in the far south, west and Isles of Scilly which thrive in the mild, sub-tropical summers. No wonder they call Cornwall the English Riviera! On the moors and high ground there’s no tree cover because of the fierce winds that blow off the Atlantic. Instead there are rare and unusual shrubs, ferns and mosses, stunning little liverworts, frilly lichens and colourful, rare fungi. And there’s sphagnum moss in boggy areas, a plant withy amazing medical properties.
If you’re into your flowers you’ll be a happy bunny. The soil and underlying rocks in the south of the Lizard is unique, home to rare and precious heath plants like mesembryanthemums, butcher’s broom, early meadow grass, lizard clover, brookweed and yellow wallpepper. The north of the county, in contrast, is home to seaside grasses, heath plants and curiously stunted woods, bent and battered into spooky shapes by the wind.
Look out to sea or take a boat trip and if you’re lucky you’ll see seals, porpoises, whales and sharks including the Great White Shark, spotted off the coast recently to everyone’s surprise. The best Cornwall holiday homes have gardens so you can spot birds and indigenous creatures in the flesh from your cottage. Frogs, newts, toads and lizards love the sun-warmed garden walls. If you’re right on the coast you might only be a stone’s throw from the county’s dramatic sea cliffs, home to the incredibly rare Cornish Chough, waders, marshland birds and more. You’ll spot lapwing, snipe and curlew, sand martins and if you’re lucky, in the Camel Valley where we have several cottages for hire, otters, water voles and water rats.
There are some superb nature sites at the Lizard Peninsula including Predannack Nature Reserve and dramatic Mullion Island, the beautiful Goonhilly Downs and the amazing National Seal Sanctuary at Gweek. There’s the Tamar Valley Otter and Wildlife Centre at North Pertherwin and the Mousehole Wild Bird Hospital and Sanctuary too. A veritable feast of nature right on your doorstep!
Cornish beach cottages – the ideal artistic retreat
Published June 20, 2011
If you’re in any way arty, it’s hard to beat the potential of Cornish beach cottages to deliver endless inspiration. Painters have flocked to St Ives for more than a hundred years. The light in Cornwall is incredible. The skies are enormous. And the artwork the county has inspired over the decades represents the best in British – witness Tate St Ives, opened in recognition of the town’s impressive and on-going legacy.
Whether you’re into watercolour or prefer making bold, textured statements with oils and acrylics, canvas or paper, gouache, pencil sketches or pastels, it’s a dream for painters. Sculptors too. Stunning rock formations, misty headlands, dramatic igneous outcrops and the juxtaposition of form and formless – sea and sky – are fascinating.
If you haven’t tried it for years but are dying to have a go at painting, it’s best to make it easy on yourself. There’s nothing worse than the frustration of having a picture in your head that you’re not skilled enough – yet – to bring to fruition. It might put you off for good. So start simple. If you want to paint a landscape, try reducing it to blocks of simple colour instead of trying to reproduce the detail. A bit like painting by numbers. It really helps to distil the landscape down to its simplest components because you’re less distracted by the detail.
Even if you’re not the least artistic a piece of worn, knotted, smoothed, sea-washed wood, which might have bobbed about in the Atlantic for months if not years before being washed up, makes a compelling contemporary sculpture. No More Nails glue is fantastic stuff and will stick a chunk of wood to a wooden, stone or concrete plinth in your garden or home in seconds. Leave your natural sculpture plain, that gorgeous silvery grey driftwood colour, or feed it with something like linseed oil for a richer sheen.
Little kids love collecting strange and weird things on the beach. The best place for finds is the tideline. There are often multiple tidelines. The highest, the legacy of storms, are a great place to find whole, miniature desiccated crabs, lobster shells in glorious purples, pinks and greens, dried spider crab claws and cuttlefish skeletons. Ideal for making collages and curiosity cabinets, nature displays and shell boxes.
Coastal cottages in Cornwall give you the space environment you need to spread your art equipment around and work on it in the evenings. Many Cornish beach cottages come complete with a private garden too, perfect for artistic pursuits outdoors. What’s impossible in a tent and difficult in a hotel room becomes a dream when you’re self-catering.
Cornwall Self Catering in Luxury!
Published February 26, 2011
Bude is an excellent area from which to discover the pleasures of Devon and Cornwall. Particularly when holiday cottages to rent nowadays are often times so lavish. This summer UK tourists trying to find a staycation with a difference are scrambling to book self-catering holidays in the mellow, sunny West Country. So what is available in and around Bude for summer 2011? And which are the greatest nearby attractions?
Lots of cottages in the UK’s most desirable holiday counties are pet friendly, and that means you can bring your best furry friend with you. There is plenty of opportunity for family friendly self-catering and a few luxury cottages also come with a heated outdoor pool. Choose yours carefully and you might even end up benefiting from an all private woods, an all weather tennis court and dedicated youngsters’ play areas. Acres upon acres of well maintained gardens with aromatic, attractively planted landscapes and smooth lawns. Wonderful!
Take attractive Bridgerule, just a few miles away from Bude itself. Close by Bude’s surfer’s heaven, every one of the regions beaches are spectacular. Widemouth Bay as well as the charming South West coastal path are just ten minutes drive away. And there’s 4 star luxury self catering accommodation in the heart of the village at Glebe House, a group of stunning Georgian properties of robust stone with wooden beams, traditional studded doors and a warm, receptive atmosphere. Well behaved pets are welcome too, by arrangement, which is certainly really good news if the children can’t bear to go on holiday without their dog.
Wherever you holiday you will discover plenty to do in the area and not too much further afield from the numerous appealing holiday cottages in the countries balmiest holiday paradise. There’s countryside shows with displays of artistry, farm animals, riding events, stalls with local produce, fairground rides and entertainment for the little ones. There’s the Bude Jazz festival in the last week of August. There is the historic Bude Canal, dug from the tough earth to transport coal, sand and limestone to remote outlying areas for soil improvement. There’s the old Museum, in past times a smithy. And, not surprisingly, there’s always excellent food.
Food aficionados adore self catering cottages in the Westcountry. At one time a culinary no mans land, Britain happens to be solidly on the global foodie map and, to prove the point, you will find gastro-pubs and exceptional eateries almost everywhere. You can partake of some of the finest Indian food in the region. Taste delicious locally caught fish. Or visit one of the areas numerous informal surf-style cafes and diners, suppliers of great fast food to hungry surfers and water sports lovers from all around the planet!
The tea rooms of the South West are renowned for cream teas. There’s tons of really great farm B&B’s and country house hotels. And appealing places such as Tintagel, Boscastle, Clovelly and Padstow are all in easy reach for laid back days out exploring in the sunshine. How about a last minute visit to the Westcountry? It is often worth a go. However it’s almost certainly better to reserve self catering Cornwall or Devon early, especially if you plan to be close to the coast!
Cornish Cottages – Much More Than Just a Building!
Published February 11, 2011
Cornish cottages possess their own character. They’re designed to resist the county’s frequently intense winter weather. They’re extremely durable, usually constructed from ample chunks of local granite and several other igneous (volcanic) and metamorphic rocks. They’ve solid walls and reassuringly heavy slate roofs, cool in summer time and cosy when it is chilly. And each Cornish cottage has its own intriguing historical and geological secrets.
This may seem to be a lttle bit nerdy, but check out the stone your Cornwall accommodation is made of and you open a fantastic voyage of discovery. Get yourself a basic book about the county’s geology and take your research from there. Who knows, you may well get hooked!
There is a significant variety of geology under Cornwall’s green and fertile skin, and that is why there are plenty of distinct landscapes and mini-environments to uncover. You will find cottages comprised of granite, a striking crystalline rock that once spewed from violent volcanoes before cooling down to create the county’s backbone. There’s rooftops of metamorphic slate, at one time soft mud, baked into tough slate countless years past by nearby volcanic action. You may even find yourself inside a sandstone cottage in Cornwall, laid down within the humid, hot, tropical Carboniferous period. Filled with fossils. And the cliffs at Kynance Cove along with the rock from the area is heavy, rich, dense red and green serpentine, a favourite of rock carvers and sculptors.
You may prefer history. In which case you will find the remnants of age-old mining activity at each turn; from copper and tin to arsenic, aggregate, zinc, silver and – one of the bi-products of granite’s eventual decay – china clay. Plus numerous monuments to Cornwall’s famous fishing industry.
Whether it’s greater than A century old your Cornwall accommodation is likely to hold the answer to intriguing snippets of history. What was its former function? What has happened to it since? Have a fresh take on your holiday and check out the village you’re staying in, or even the nearby town. Wander through the churchyards and discover smugglers’ graves complete with carved skull and cross bones. Learn about nearby place names through libraries and tourist offices.
Finally, if you’re a nature enthusiast you’ll relish the contents of your Cornish cottage garden. Compare it to the plants you see in other areas of the county and you will observe how the actual geology has an effect on the neighbourhood ecology along with the local economy.
If variety is the spice in your life, head for Cornwall this summer!
Bude Self Catering Holidays? Bus Travel Hits the Spot!
Published February 3, 2011The pace of life has slowed right down. You are settled into your self catering accommodation and you’re looking forward to exploring the area. But the last thing you want is to squeeze yourself into the car and navigate yet more roads. Cornwall is timeless. You deserve a break from driving. Taking things slowly is good for your spirit, particularly when you have been working nose-to-grindstone for months on end. The solution? Get the bus. Bus travel is an environmentally friendly option. And it’s one of the recommended ways to experience this stunning county in a chilled out way!
Have a look at glorious Bude to begin with. From there you can get the bus to fascinating places like Maramchurch, Kilkhampton, bustling Exeter, Hartland and Barnstaple. Modern buses are comfortable and spacious. If you manage to catch a double decker you’ll enjoy brilliant views from the top deck. Bus travel is cost-effective, fun and a great way to get a real feel for the beautiful surroundings. Give your driving head a good rest, unwind and enjoy the ride. Hop on and off when you want. Take a picnic. Visit a few friendly pubs. You could even get lost if you fancy it. It is precisely what the best self catering holidays are about… plenty of miniature voyages of discovery.
In addition to being a terrific base from which to experience the many pleasures of Cornwall, Bude is a lovely place to visit in its own right. Choose a holiday cottage near Bude and explore the town’s captivating ancient streets studded with interesting independent shops, cafes and eateries, lined with quaint traditional fishing cottages. There’s friendly pubs and plenty of exciting things to do and see, from Bude castle to rowing boat hire, guided surfing ‘experiences’ to beautiful gardens, horse riding, golf and art galleries. Or go mountainboarding for the extreme sports buzz of a lifetime.
Bus travel also opens up the county for backpackers, ramblers and walkers. When you take the car you’re normally restricted to a circular route. Get the bus and you can start or finish your walk anywhere you want along the county’s many bus routes. You can use the buses in Cornwall all year round whether you’re a sun seeker or you’ve fallen head over heels with the majestic coastline’s winter finery and wild weather. In a nutshell, self catering holidays and bus travel go together like surf, sea and sand!
Cornish Holiday Cottages – Experience Britain’s Beautiful South West in Comfort
Published January 24, 2011
‘Staycations’ are set to be bigger than ever this year, with numerous UK families going to the British countryside for a home-grown break. And one of the most popular destinations for this spring and summer is the South West. If you’re making plans for treating yourself to a cottage holiday, Cornwall is really a destination with a difference. It’s a captivating mix of ancient and contemporary, rugged and lush, mystery, history and some of the best sunny weather the uk provides.
Cottages in Cornwall are ideal for getting acquainted with this magical county. Wherever you are in Cornwall, you’re never far away from the sea. Inland, cutting through typical winding lanes with high hedges, you will end up experiencing amazing stunning coastal and sea vistas. The the air is refreshingly salty and beautifully clean. As light pollution is marginal, the night time heavens are awash with stars. Plus the shorelines are breathtakingly beautiful, be it the surfers’ heaven of Newquay or the county’s countless secret, hidden coastal coves and caves.
Cornish holiday cottages come in a variety of size and shapes. From basic to luxurious, family and pet friendly to adult-only retreats, located on the coast or inland. Most people prefer a place that will provide a genuine home from home. Great facilities will be a must unless you’re into roughing it. And luxury is essential whether you’re visiting for a summer beach holiday or surf-based break, off-season hiking holiday or winter adventure complete with outdoor pursuits.
It also helps if your Cornish holiday cottage has its own grounds so you’re able to soak up the sunshine and relax in privacy. A garden’s particularly important if you are bringing the kids with you, providing somewhere to allow them to play out before bed when the weather’s warm. Imagine. You’re seated at a garden table having a cool glass of beer or wine. The sun’s going down. You’ve had a fantastic day and now you’re enjoying the feeling of being truly relaxed the very first time in ages. All your troubles have slipped away… that’s Cornwall!
In Search Of Last Minute Holidays? Look No Further Than Devon
Published January 3, 2011
Last minute holidays are often thought of as going abroad to get away from all the stresses in your life. Nevertheless, last minute holidays abroad are often not as stress-free as some would hope. Once you have booked your holiday you will have to sort out plane tickets, transport to the airport, travel money, insurance etc. Then when you get to the airport you start to pray that your flights won’t be delayed.
Last minute holidays in many cases are booked as you want to unwind, relax and recharge those over-worked batteries and often the very best last minute holidays are offered on your front door so to speak in the UK. Often people don’t realise the beauty of the UK, the accessibility of the country and that a holiday in Britain can have all the holiday features you want.
Self catering holidays are often the easiest way to have a last minute getaway in the UK as you have your home from home comforts in addition to those holiday luxuries. One particular area for your last minute holiday is Devon that is located in an area of outstanding natural beauty that provides you with a diverse landscape, invigorating countryside and also the seaside to give you that holiday feeling.
There are plenty of cottages in Devon that have last minute holiday accommodation and the County provides an ideal base for a holiday in the UK. The area is easy to reach and provides a combination of activities to take your mind off everyday life. If you fancied some watersports on your holiday you’ll be able to try your hand at surfing, kayaking, swimming or fishing from one of the County’s wonderful beaches. Or, if you wish to stay dry, go cycling, horseback riding or play golf. There’s a range of activities to keep you occupied.
The activities during your holiday are important but so is the type of accommodation you stay in. The range of cottages in Devon offer the highest standard and will suit a range of budgets and needs. Many cottages in Devon are converted barns that ooze luxury for making your late availability getaway all that more special as you can loosen those tired muscles inside an effervescent Jacuzzi.
The region also includes numerous quality eateries ranging from local establishments to fine dining restaurants. You can even get local bread and pastries supplied freshly to your door for that holiday indulgence.
Dog Friendly Cottages Offer the Perfect Self Catering Choice
Published December 21, 2010
When searching for a getaway it can often be hard to find dog friendly accommodation providing you with the home comforts and special luxuries you want from the break as well as accepting the four-legged friend. That’s the reason self catering accommodation is generally the ideal choice as many properties are more inclined to be pet friendly.
However, the self catering accommodation that you select doesn’t need to be limited as there are now a greater number of cottages for rent that accept dogs. Dog friendly cottages have become easier to find particularly in regions of the UK where the outdoors is the main attraction.
Take Cornwall and Devon for instance, these regions offer some of the best areas of outstanding natural beauty and coastline in the whole of the UK. There’s an abundance of dog friendly cottages available here which provide you with great value and comfy self catering accommodation. These dog friendly cottages can be period properties which have all the features you would expect to in home-to-home comforts in addition to luxuries including four poster beds and comfy fireplaces.
The regions also provide activities for you and your dog with walking being the ideal activity for pet owners. It is easy to see why as possible walk in diverse landscapes and terrain including beaches, moorlands, marshes and heathlands. Dog walking through these landscapes will also give you the opportunity to explore picturesque villages where you and the companion can stop off at the local watering hole prior to the next stage of the journey.
After a long day walking and once the dog is tucked up within their bed, you may not be up to cooking in the self catering accommodation. But, don’t worry as staying in a holiday area such as Cornwall or Devon means that there are a wide selection of restaurants within reach. Many restaurants in the region make use of local produce and sea food making your meal out tasty and memorable. With fine dining eateries, Gastropubs, Bistros and independent restaurants available you’re going to be spoilt for choice.
With self catering accommodation options opening up for dog owners it seems the ideal break for all your family could be found in Cornwall or Devon.