Discover 8

DISCOVER

Handpicked holiday cottages throughout the West Country

Sandy shores

MANAGING DIRECTOR

Moray Bowater

EDITOR/ADVERTISING

Jackie Dawes

jackie.dawes@helpfulholidays.co.uk

Telephone: 01647 434360

PUBLISHER

Andy Forster andy@enginehousemedia.co.uk

Telephone: 01326 574842

Mobile: 07711 160590

CONTRIBUTORS

Christine Phillips

Mandy Milano

Hannah Tapping

Chloe Searle

Ella Williams

COVER IMAGE

Gwithian, Cornwall

Courtesy of Visit Cornwall and photographer Adam Gibbard www.visitcornwall.com www.adamgibbard.co.uk

DISCOVER is published for Helpful Holidays by ENGINE HOUSE MEDIA LTD Holbrook, The Moors, Porthleven, Cornwall TR13 9JX

www.enginehousemedia.co.uk www.levenmediagroup.co.uk

Welcome

It’s that special time of year again when the days are getting longer, spring is in sight and we’re looking forward to the warm, sunny days of summer. This time of year, the West Country is full of promise and it’s a great time to get out and enjoy our wonderful scenery and countryside.

With this in mind, we’ve featured a selection of our favourite outdoor activities in this issue of DISCOVER, which range from relaxing days on the beach (page 10) to striking coastal and country walks (pages 70 to 74). To ensure you’re prepared for such excursions, we’ve included a beach essentials gift guide (page 54) and our picks for two shopping days out (pages 64 to 67).

As glorious as our stunning coast is, we also turn our gaze across the sea (page 56) and take a look at our new collection of luxury villas around the Med, which get our passports tingling with the promise of jaw-dropping vistas and an unforgettable, sunshiny holiday experience.

But you don’t need to travel far to find your perfect holiday destination, as from page 23 onwards we’ve another stunning round up of country cottages, stylish converted barns and coastal hideouts that are guaranteed to give you the West Country experience of a lifetime.

Helpful Holidays

Mill Street, Chagford, Devon

TQ13 8AW

t: 01647 434360

e: help@helpfulholidays.co.uk

w: www.helpfulholidays.co.uk

DISCOVER Inside

Handpicked holiday cottages

54 BEACH ESSENTIALS

Make sure you’re packed and ready for the beach with our handy guide

56 MALLORCA

We’re excited to introduce some of our new overseas villas with pools

59 A COSY RETREAT

Learn how Josephine Burlingham created a five star holiday home

62 1 THE QUAY

We learn the rewards of property renovation

64 SEASIDE SHOPPING IN FALMOUTH

A snapshot of the shops available in the nautical town of Falmouth

66 SHOPPING IN TAUNTON

Enjoy the sights and sounds while you shop in Somerset’s county town

68 RIVER DART COUNTRY PARK

Get ready for adventure and thrills at River Dart Country Park

70 WALKS

The coastline reliably delivers breathtaking walks

72 THE TRAIL SO FAR

We celebrate 40 years of walking the Two Moors Way

74 TEAM FAVOURITES

Our team share some of their favourite holiday experiences

76 EVENTS DIARY

Our list of unmissable events

82 LAST WORD

James Strawbridge on life, food and family

SPECIAL DESTINATION

COVERACK

A stunning coastal village, home to a postcard-pretty harbour and an abundance of seaside activities

Located just south of Falmouth, on the Lizard Peninsula, Coverack is a quaint fi shing harbour surrounded by beautiful Cornish waters and within the Cornwall Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. But don’t let the idyllic seascape fool you. Coverack is also home to the popular diving destination ‘The Manacles’. These rocks have been the downfall of many ships and can now be explored fully through one of Coverack’s many watersport activities.

While the beach at Coverack is perfect for a walk along the shoreline, you can find bigger beaches nearby, lovely coastal footpaths and the much-loved Seal Sanctuary in Gweek, where you can meet some of Cornwall’s favourite aquatic creatures.

For those who aren’t afraid of the cold, the annual Christmas Day swim is open to locals and holidaymakers alike, in aid of charity. It’s an experience you won’t forget, and do be warned, the thrill of jumping into icy waters before enjoying your Christmas dinner is a feeling you will want to experience again and again!

Another way to explore the local area is through one of the famous pisky hunts. Get the whole family involved in the search for our Cornish friends and allow them to guide you through the cobblestoned scenery that Coverack has to offer, such as beautiful thatched cottages, traditional pubs, restaurants and cafés.

Coverack The Lizard

OUR NEW WEBSITE AND BROCHURE ARRIVE AT HELPFUL HOLIDAYS!

With 2016 coming to a close, it’s time to pave the way for a bright new year. At Helpful Holidays, we all take great pride in the style and accuracy of our website and brochure. We’ve therefore created a new-look website and 2017 brochure packed with information to help you choose your perfect cottage. With a wide range of styles, accommodating from two to 47 guests, there’s something for everyone. You can take a leisurely browse through our brochure to see what catches your eye or use our easily navigated website to pinpoint exactly what you want from your holiday home. Either way, 2017 promises to be another fantastic year and we look forward to sharing it with you.

START PLANNING YOUR NEXT OVERSEAS ADVENTURE WITH HELPFUL HOLIDAYS

The UK offers a fantastic range of stunning holiday locations, but sometimes a holiday needs to offer something completely different, exciting and new. Helpful Holidays is here to help, as we now offer a collection of luxury villas in Mallorca, Menorca, Galicia, Andalucía, Corfu, Crete and Kefalonia. The Spanish Balearic Islands and Greek Ionian Islands have breathtaking scenery, stunning coastlines and clear blue seas. For more information, visit our website or turn to page 56 to read about our new villas in Mallorca and plan your next sunshine getaway.

STOP PRESS...

WALK YOUR WAY THROUGH CORNWALL’S STUNNING SCENERY

Cornwall is known for its picture perfect landscapes, but sometimes it’s tricky knowing where to roam. Luckily, the walking festival Walk West Cornwall is back for 2017, with even more exciting routes than last year! Running from Monday 12th June until Sunday 18th June, this week-long walking affair will show you the best and most breathtaking walks around west Cornwall. The walks cover striking coastal paths, country footpaths and beautiful Cornish towns. Following the success of the 2016 festival, the events are venturing further afield, so put your best foot forward and experience Cornwall’s great outdoors! www.walkwestcornwall.co.uk

PETER’S PARKINSON’S PILGRIMAGE REACHES AN AMAZING CLOSE

A massive congratulations to Peter the Pilgrim who reached the final destination of Santiago de Compostela, Spain, on 20th October after walking more than 1,500 miles over eight months. All the money raised, currently just over £65,000, is going towards Parkinson’s UK research and respite care. But don’t worry if you haven’t donated yet, as there’s still time! We’re so impressed and touched by Peter’s dedication to this charity. Hopefully, you will join us in saying a huge well done and thank you to Peter.

For more information, or to donate, go to www.parkinsonsahw.org.uk/peterspilgrimage

EXETER FESTIVAL OF SOUTH WEST FOOD & DRINK

The award-winning food and drink festival, which celebrates the very best produce of the South West, happens from Saturday 29th April 2017 to Monday 1st May 2017, running for all three days of the bank holiday weekend. An established favourite for all foodies, the festival attracts an international audience, with visitors flocking from far and wide to buy delicious goodies, watch top chefs in the live Festival Cookery Theatre and get involved in workshops and demonstrations. Founder Michael Caines MBE will champion the festival, which is promising to be a jam-packed and memorable weekend.

www.exeterfoodanddrinkfestival.co.uk

CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR ART COMPETITION WINNER!

Paul Nicholls from Mithian in Cornwall has been victorious in our 2016 Art Competition. His atmospheric watercolour of Manaton Woods on Dartmoor portrays the striking combination of sunlight and mist, giving an eerie yet peaceful air to the artwork. We’ve never been so enchanted by fog rolling over the landscape of Dartmoor! Scooping first prize for this painting, along with staying in the beautifully converted barn, The Hayloft [A204], hopefully compensated Paul for some misty holiday weather. So congratulations Paul, and thank you for sharing this truly stunning memento of your holiday.

POWDERHAM FOOD FESTIVAL DOES IT AGAIN

With food festivals becoming increasingly popular, it’s brilliant to see the annual Powderham Food Festival continue to impress and offer a fantastic weekend. This year’s festival was a momentous achievement as the most successful year to date, with 152 exhibitors and over 6,000 visitors enjoying the best food and drink that the West Country has to offer. We can’t wait to see what 2017 brings, as it’s sure to follow in the footsteps of this year and be a gastronomic extravaganza.

www.powderham.co.uk

Sandy shores

GET OUT THERE AND FIND ONE YOU LOVE

The simple natural combination of water, sand, rocks and pure fresh air make for mind blowing beauty and a blissful day out, but what makes a beach ‘the best’ for you?

Do you prefer rolling sands to lounge on or rock pools to explore? Are you searching for the best shore breaks to surf, or the calm waters of a secluded bay to paddle in?

The Marine Conservation Society, Helpful Holidays’ nominated charity for 2017, which champions wildlife protection, sustainable fisheries and clean shores includes popular beaches and hidden gems in its online Good Beach Guide. You can check which beaches are dogfriendly or life-guarded, see water pollution levels, the weather and tide times and even find out what wildlife you might spot.

Blackpool Sands

Blackpool Sands is an unspoiled crescent-shaped stretch of coarse golden sands surrounded by green fields, magnificent pines, craggy cliffs and a turquoise blue sea. The beach is popular among families with small children. It has a Blue Flag award and is one of Devon’s treasures. Part of its family-friendly appeal is the easy parking and the fact that it’s cleaned daily from March to the end of October and is life guarded and dog free in high season. Older children and adults will love throwing themselves off the bathing raft and the more adventurous can hire all sorts of equipment, including surf canoes, boogie boards, kayaks, wetsuits and snorkelling equipment from the watersports centre. For those who want to stretch their legs nearby,

there’s a circular walk from the beach to Stoke Fleming, taking in the 13th century church, dramatic coastal views and the Green Dragon pub. The Venus Café serves hungry beachgoers fresh food, drinks and ice creams year round.

Bigbury-on-Sea

Located in a South Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, Bigbury-on-Sea beach is ideal for family holidays. Dusted with sand and lapped by shallow waters, the beach offers safe fun for groups, particularly if you’ve got children in tow. In addition, Bigbury-on-Sea beach is dotted with rock pools, so there’s plenty of entertainment for budding marine biologists. With a sandy beach at the mouth of the Avon estuary, Bigbury-onSea is connected to Burgh Island,

which is just off the beach, by a causeway passable at low tide; at high tide, a sea tractor transports passengers to and from the island. The South West Coast Path follows the undulating cliff line, past Burgh Island and the beach.

Croyde Bay

A huge and golden sandy beach backed by a fabulous sand dune system and situated within a bay, it’s very popular with surfers, and with a school and hire shop right on the beach, there’s no excuse not to have a go. You won’t go hungry, with multiple cafés to choose from, and there’s plenty of car parking too. Look out to the Atlantic and you’ll spot Lundy Island - a Marine Reserve. There are good rock pools at either end of the beach and several public footpaths around

Devon

the village, beach and headland. The walk to Baggy Point is popular, offering spectacular views and a chance to spot seabirds.

Sandy Bay

Sandy Bay is a secluded bay with a mile long sandy beach backed by high cliffs, part of a long strip of sand which at low tide is connected to Exmouth. It can get very crowded in the summer, so it’s worth heading there early to get the best spots. Bathing, walking, rock pooling and various watersports with equipment hire are all on offer. There are lots of local coastal walks, either along the beach or using the Coast Path. Nearby Orcombe Point is a World Heritage Site which marks the start of the ‘Jurassic Coast’, famous for fossil hunts and stretching to Studland Bay in Dorset.

ABOVE

The crescent of golden beach at Blackpool Sands

BELOW RIGHT

Bigbury-on-Sea is ideal for family fun

A beautiful, contemporary house in an enviable position in Dittisham, Dove Cottage sleeps eight. The focus of the living area is the floor-to-ceiling windows that run the width of the house and the elegant living room also has a woodburner. Upstairs, guests can enjoy sensational estuary views from this cottage that’s perfect for a mature family holiday.

NEAR BLACKPOOL SANDS

ABURGHLEY: L310

Five hundred yards up from the sandy beach of Bigburyon-Sea, this smart, detached house has superb views over Bigbury Bay to Burgh Island and to Bantham beach. Sleeping eight, the house is light and smartly decorated in blues and sandy hues. A sun terrace and enclosed garden complete this year-round, beachside holiday home.

NEAR SANDY BAY

BIGBURY-ON-SEA

FOXHOLES: G194

On a quiet Exmouth road, just above the far eastern end of the long, sandy beach and Coast Path, this holiday home is neatly kept, welcoming and comfortable, with a garage games room. Sleeping eight, with its own large, enclosed garden, Foxholes is a great seaside spot with plenty of space for families and friends to gather, with Exmouth town centre just a mile away.

Beer

Beer is a small seaside village built around a little cove. The beach is sheltered from most winds and nearby Jubilee Gardens offer lovely views. Boating and bathing are both popular here and the area has spectacular views - it is part of a World Heritage Site and the east Devon Area Of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Explore the village and the local coastline or walk south around the headland to Branscombe beach and the village where the National Trust manages several of the historic buildings. With a mixture of sand, shingle and pebbles and excellent water quality, as well as ample parking and options for refreshments after a hard day making the most of the beach, Beer is the perfect way to enjoy east Devon by the sea.

Seaton

The beach at Seaton, east Devon, is formed by a large expanse of legally protected pebbles. Backed by steep cliffs to the western end, this stretch of shore is typical of the beautiful east Devon coastline.

A recent esplanade to the western end affords easy access along its length, with a café and facilities at the end of the stroll. Popular activities to enjoy here include swimming, sailing, windsurfing, surfing and fishing and, by heading up the South West Coast Path, you can enjoy Seaton as a gateway to the Dorset and East Devon World Heritage Coast site. For bird watching enthusiasts, the local wetlands a little inland have some spectacular wading birds.

Charmouth

A beautiful area of the Dorset coast with spectacular seascapes, Charmouth is part of the ‘Jurassic Coast’, due to the number of fossil remains discovered. Charmouth attracts families and day trippers who enjoy activities such as swimming, walking and fossil hunting. With Charmouth East and Charmouth West separated by the River Char, this is truly a stunning area of natural beauty to explore. Charmouth Heritage Coast Centre runs guided fossil walks between February and September and, for those who like to lace up their boots and get out there, the South West Coast Path runs past the beach. Walk eastwards to Lyme Regis and east Devon and westwards to Seatown; either way, stunning views and fresh sea air promise to stimulate the senses. Image courtesy of: Philip Pankhurst -

Lyme Regis

The picturesque harbour town has an international reputation for its ‘Jurassic’ cliffs containing a vast array of fossils, which may be found along the foreshore. It is also widely known as the setting for ‘The French Lieutenant’s Woman’. There is lots to do here, from swimming, sailing, scuba diving, sea canoeing, power boating and water skiing to fishing, surfing and windsurfing. There is a children’s area too, as well as zoning for watersports. What’s more, there are walks from Undercliff to Seaton and via the beach to Charmouth. A coastal path guides visitors along the famous fossil-bearing cliffs and there are plenty of inland walks too.

CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT

Fun in the waves at Charmouth

The beach at Beer

The seafront at Seaton

BELOW RIGHT

Happy holidays in Lyme Regis

Dorset

BEER

Five hundred yards up from the centre of Beer and sleeping six, this house enjoys a modern seaside feel with stripped wood, seagrass flooring and cool coastal colours. While it’s handy for harbour, beach, pub and coastal walks, residents here can also make the most of the two terraces and gorgeous views of the village rooftops.

6 LYME MEWS: G86

On the seafront esplanade in Seaton, this modern Regencystyle terraced house, looks straight out to sea. 6 Lyme Mews is easy, very light with good furniture and enjoys access to a small but pretty, enclosed patio. Being so close to both Seaton town centre and the beach, it’s also very conveniently located and sleeps six.

CHARMOUTH

SEATON

THE OLD MANOR HOUSE: H17

Only a short walk from the beach, the 16th century, Grade II listed Old Manor House has been beautifully refurbished. Outside is a stunning walled garden and inside, sleeping 10, there’s plenty of room for social occasions, with a huge fireplace that’s perfect for a spot of down time. This house is a fabulous base from which to explore west Dorset.

Porlock

One of the few pebbly beaches to earn a listing, this four mile long beach is comprised of a shingle ridge of considerable archaeological and geographical significance. There is fabulous marshland behind the beach, home to numerous birds. As well as great wildlife spotting, it’s popular for swimming, fishing and sailing. Once a busy port, Porlock Weir is a peaceful and delightful harbour for yachts and fishing boats. Not many people expect to find a surf break on Exmoor, but when the tides are right, there are some surprising

gems to be ridden off this beach. The South West Coast Path passes through Porlock Weir, with many footpaths and walks taking you across Exmoor.

Minehead

Minehead is one of Somerset’s most entertaining holiday resorts, with many amenities and a wide sand and shingle beach, and looks out across the Bristol Channel towards Wales. It’s perfect for families seeking a ‘traditional British seaside’ holiday experience. Amusement arcades and cafés line the promenade and there are restaurants aplenty. The long

flat beach is great for games and picnics and buckets and spades will be kept busy in the excellent sandcastling sand.

Dunster

This large sand and shingle beach has direct car access. There’s a large picnic area, so you can enjoy lunch alfresco right by the sea or grab a copy of the ‘Dunster Beach Detective Book’ from the local shop and search out plants, shells, rocks and animals. The game will keep the family busy for ages. There’s also mini golf, lots of great bays for fishing and plenty of local coastal walks, including a wildlife walk. Dunster Beach is a

Somerset

really great place to lie back on a rug and stare at the stars. There’s minimal light pollution here, which makes it an ideal spot for stargazing.

Weston-super-Mare

Weston-super-Mare has one of the longest, naturally occurring beaches in the UK. Tourists flock to Weston to enjoy the golden sands, donkey rides and children’s entertainments and in the winter the beach is still popular with walkers and those who wish to brave outdoor watersports and kite surfing, which is a very popular activity at the Uphill Sands end of the beach. It’s a cup of tea, fish and chips and candy floss kind

PORLOCK VALE HOUSE: F30

This magnificent house, dating from the 19th century and sleeping 30, has a superb wooded backdrop whilst looking out over the sea. Inside, you’ll find a labyrinth of bedrooms, bathrooms and spaces for getting the whole gang together. Porlock Vale is perfect for enjoying both wooded and coastal walks, thanks to its unique location.

NEAR PORLOCK

ALICE COTTAGE: F60

Next to a ford, below high heather-topped and wooded hills, this quaint cottage sleeps three and puts visitors in prime position to enjoy walks with sea views through some of Somerset’s most stunning countryside. With plenty of living space, a good-sized lawn and a woodburner, it’s easy to settle down and get cosy in Alice Cottage.

DUNSTER

of place, a gloriously nostalgic feast for the senses. There are many events on the beach, which include the Pro Nationals, Weston Beach Race, Weston-super-Mare Air Festival and music concerts and events which have, in the past, included T4 On The Beach, Corona SunSets and South West Live. For an alternative beach, head to Sand Bay, a sand and shingle beach with a saltmarsh at the northern end, adjacent to the National Trust headland at Sand Point.

NEAR

THE OVAL: F46

This historically fascinating, quirky cottage sleeps six and is believed to date back to the 1400s. The decked patio has fruit trees and stunning views over wooded hills and, inside, timber framing and a meticulously furnished, decorated and upgraded interior makes guests feel right at home. An extra bonus is the National Trust car park permit provided!

CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT

Picturesque Porlock

Weston-super-Mare has something for everyone

A stunning rainbow frames the cliffs above Porlock

The beach at Minehead

Praa Sands

A mile long sandy beach with some rocky patches is split into Eastern and Western. The eastern end has many rocks and pools to explore, the western end is where all the amenities can be found. It’s popular with surfers when there’s a good swell and northerly winds. Water quality is rated as excellent, so it makes a beautiful beach for a swim. During the spring and summer, basking sharks, seals and dolphins may be seen off the beach. There are beautiful coastal walks to the east of Praa Sands towards Rinsey and Porthleven and to the west towards Penzance.

Gwithian

A long beautiful sandy rural beach,

well known for surfing and seldom crowded, this is a favourite among families because of the sand dunes and rock pools which are great for exploring and the handy café and beach shop by the main car park. Surfing and swimming are popular for all ages, but take note of the lifeguards’ flags as there can be rip currents in the surf off the beach. Because of the long stretch, this makes a great beach to walk, with lookouts for watching seabirds, including colonies of guillemots, razorbills and cormorants. Common seals can be spotted here too.

Gyllyngvase

Gyllyngvase beach, locally known as Gylly beach, is a typical family resort beach. Its long deep sandy

stretch of coast attracts both visitors and residents year round. The beach is set just off the main link road that leads to the Castle headland. The entrance to the beach is flat without steps. It’s a place for all watersports: swimming, sailing, fishing, snorkelling, scuba diving, surfing, windsurfing, canoeing and bodyboarding. This is helped by a zoning system in place for activities. A pleasant beach walk takes you along the bay and around Pendennis Headland. Good rock pools can be found between the beach and the headland too. If you take a boat out, look out for Cetaceans and basking sharks, also regular visitors. One of the greatest attractions by the water is the award-winning Gylly Beach Café serving breakfast, lunch, coffee,

Cornwall

cake and dinner. Live music brings the beach to life by night too. www.gyllybeach.com

Summerleaze, Bude

Just a five minute walk from Bude centre, Summerleaze is sheltered by a breakwater and surrounded by dunes, making it an ideal spot for families. There is a sea pool here - separate from the ocean - which opened in 1930, now attracting many beachgoers. Sand chairs can be hired while the others surf and build sandcastles or go rock pooling and swimming. Other activities like bodyboarding and windsurfing, canoeing and walking are popular here and, being on the South West Coast Path, walking from Bude to Sandymouth is a rewarding choice.

CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT

Heading to rock pool fun at Praa Sands

Gwithian is a surfers’ paradise

Gyllyngvase beach, near Falmouth

The blue seas and golden sand at Summerleaze

CARSILGEY: Q438

This detached, roomy and very well maintained house enjoys prime position on Gwithian Towans, halfway along its long, sandy stretch. Sleeping seven, it enjoys sea views from a lawned garden and, inside, guests can enjoy modern fittings and functionality, as well as space to get together and celebrate any occasion.

NEAR GYLLYNGVASE

On a little lane just five hundred yards from Praa Sands’ long golden stretch, this cottage has a small terraced garden, perfect for sundowners. Sleeping four, the open-plan living space is light and airy, functional and perfect for an active family seeking a base from which to explore the stunning west Cornish coastline.

GWITHIAN TOWANS

BOSLOWEN: S211

On the edge of Falmouth, surrounded by beaches, this well situated apartment sleeps four and enjoys panoramic sea views across Swanpool Bay and St Anthony’s Head. A comfortable interior and private terrace make it tempting not to leave the apartment, but the owners are more than happy to advise on trips, food and anything you need to know.

Jock Anderson, owner of East African Wildlife Safaris, has been running safaris in his beloved Kenya for over 50 years; in fact, he is one of Kenya’s original safari guides. He and his family have a deep love of East Africa and its wildlife, whilst, like Helpful Holidays, wanting to give their guests the best experience ever.

The ebullient Jock tells us: “We are extremely proud of our reputation for personal attention. All our safaris have customised itineraries planned around each client’s interests and available time. We share a deep love of this place and its wildlife, so we use tented camps which we can set up in just the right spot and then take away without leaving a trace.” He adds: “But that doesn’t mean you can’t have a bit of

Off the

Looking for something unusual for your second holiday? East African Safaris shares the same ethos as Helpful Holidays and offers wonderful client focused safaris.

beaten track

luxury. Each tent has its own large sleeping area with sprung beds and proper bed linen; you have your own verandah, shower and flush toilet. And there’s a full bar in the dining tent with cold drinks and a constant supply of ice… the freshly cooked food is excellent too!”

After a gap year working on superyachts, daughter Ashley studied geography at Leeds University, then worked for lodges and camps in Kenya and Zambia to hone her hospitality skills before joining the family firm. I ask her about the challenge of trying to fill Jock’s shoes. “Oh! The size of Jock’s shoes!” she grins at him. “For me, they’re too large to fill. I picture mine as a smaller pair by his side. Everyone in Kenya knows him; he’s lived here all his life and is often

called a legend. There are so many stories about him. He’s worked on quite a lot of films, including the Oscar winning ‘White Masai’ and amongst the many famous people he’s taken on safari, particular favourites are John Travolta and Isabella Rossolini. While Jackie (Kennedy) Onassis broke her rib in a hot air balloon accident! Otherwise most of his stories involve very close encounters with wildlife; we’ve often had to deal with lions in camp! I wish you could see our scrapbook.” She pauses thoughtfully. “One simply can’t fill such shoes!”

Jock’s ethos has always been to have a small, family-based business (Ashley and her brother would often go with him on his safaris). He ensures that the campsite is

left exactly as it was found, with the least amount of damage to the environment that he loves so much. Ashley picks up the story:

“As we’re a mobile camp, it’s easy for us to take all our rubbish back with us. But most of all, it’s about the wildlife; dad has always had this uncanny ability to read the animals’ behaviour so our guests are in just the right place. He has seen the most amazing things.”

So maybe sitting by a camp fire on a velvety African night, drink in hand, listening to the crickets and nightjars, the barking of the zebra and the unforgettable sounds of lion, while Jock regales you with stories, is the perfect next second holiday for you.

For more information, contact www.eawsafaris.com

ABOVE LEFT

The king of the safari

ABOVE

From elephants to hippos, the diversity of this Kenyan reserve needs seeing to be believed

ABOVE RIGHT

You’ll need a good night’s sleep after a day exploring

“Sitting by the camp fire on a velvety African night, drink in hand, listening to the crickets and nightjars, the barking of the zebra and the unforgettable sounds of lion is perfect.”

The other side of the seaside

A trip to the seaside conjures up glorious images of sandcastles, buckets and spades, refreshing dips in the sea and strolls along our breathtaking coastline. However, not all is calm beneath the waves.

Did you know our oceans support an estimated ten million species, only three percent of which have been identified? But our rich ocean wildlife is being depleted by damaging activities, disappearing before we have even had the chance to learn about it.

Some fish found in our waters are now in the same threatened category as tigers and orangutans as a result of overfishing. We still find raw sewage being pumped routinely into coastal waters, affecting beaches where people swim and play. We are seeing rubbish, mostly made of plastic, piling up on our shores despite our efforts to clean it up, which has devastating impacts on our wildlife.

Leading the debate to secure the future of our seas is the Marine Conservation Society, which is working hard for UK marine wildlife protection, sustainable fisheries and clean seas and beaches. The charity, and its supporters, are calling for a comprehensive network of marine protected areas around the UK to provide space for marine wildlife to thrive, and encouraging people to purchase sustainable fish from the nations’ fishmongers and supermarkets.

They’re also making a stink about the condition of our bathing waters through the popular annual Good Beach Guide. Through the Beachwatch programme, and with the help of thousands of volunteers,

the MCS has cleared hundreds of tonnes of litter from UK beaches over the past ten years.

Human activities have put our seas, shores and wildlife under huge pressure, from overfishing to pollution. We cannot keep abusing our marine environment. Right now, there has never been a more vital time to support the Marine Conservation Society and help it work towards healthy and abundant seas for future generations.

“Our oceans support an estimated ten million species, only three percent of which have been identified.”

TOP LEFT

From a bird’s eye view, the coast can’t help but inspire

INSET LEFT

Get close to some incredible wildlife

ABOVE It’s important that we work towards sustainable fisheries

ABOVE RIGHT & INSET RIGHT

Colourful, coastal ecosystems and marine creatures depend on the work of MCSUK, which Helpful Holidays supports

Join the Marine Conservation Society today. Help protect our amazing but fragile seas, shores and wildlife. Give just £5 a month and choose your free gift.

You will also receive:

• A welcome pack, including an organic cotton shopper bag, MCS pin badge and car sticker

• FREE subscription to the quarterly ‘Marine Conservation’ magazine

• Great opportunities to get involved in enjoyable and rewarding activities

Go to www.mcsuk.org/join or call 0300 3300 704.

www.mcsuk.org/join

Compton

FIND MORE ONLINE

For full details of all these wonderful holiday homes, enter the cottage name in the ‘search’ bar at www.helpfulholidays.co.uk

Cottages

We’ve lined up a fantastic range of holiday homes. Whatever you’re looking for, be it cosy cottage or big house for a gathering, we’ve got it and we can’t wait to share it with you.

24 NEW HOLIDAY COTTAGES

Our latest additions of places to stay across the South West

28 LARGE HOLIDAY HOMES

38

Compton House Reference Compton Bishop, Somerset E620

PLACES TO WALK AND WAG

Don’t paws for thought, bring your best four-legged friend to one of our dog-friendly holiday homes

These impressive houses are perfect for big get-togethers with family or friends

32 BY THE SEA

Celebrate our beautiful seascapes and indulge in some beachside coastal living

36 ON THE MOOR

Find the perfect base for your walking holiday at one of our moorland cottages

40

CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR

Celebrate the festive season in fine style by treating yourselves to a special destination

New HOLIDAY COTTAGES Dartmouth South Hams

Here are the latest additions to our collection of the finest retreats across the South West. Discover a new haven to enjoy time and again.

L317

Regatta House Reference

L317

Dartmouth, Devon

Quietly tucked away in the heart of Dartmouth, you’ll find a smart, four-storey townhouse for seven, on an ancient narrow lane that spills steeply down to the town centre. Period features flourish with high ceilings, big sash windows, original shutters and beautifully polished wood floors, seamlessly combined with contemporary comfort and stylish decor. At the back, there is a slate-paved terrace with long views over the town.

There’s a large living room with TV/DVD, woodburner and a big bay window with views. Stairs lead to the lower ground floor and

light-filled, glossy white kitchen/ dining room with the table perfectly positioned for the view through the ceiling-high glazed doors. On the first floor, you’ll find two double bedrooms and, on the top floor, a family bedroom with zip-linked double bed and a single. This is a great house in a superb central location for all Dartmouth’s delights.

2 Ella Mews Reference Hallsands, Devon

L318

Perched on the cliffs overlooking Hallsands is Prospect House, an award-winning development of 16 New England-style houses and apartments with glorious, panoramic views to the lighthouse

at Start Point and along the coast to Dartmouth.

This reverse-level mews house for six is full of light and space, with mesmerising sea views from ceiling-high glazed doors and countryside views from the back. At the front, it shares an enclosed, sea-facing, paved terrace, with its own seating area. At the back, you’ll fi nd a gated garden with steps down to a shared outdoor pool and gardens.

Upstairs features an open-plan living/dining room and kitchen. Downstairs boasts three bedrooms – two doubles, one with sea views and one with an en suite, and a twin. This really is relaxed seaside living in a stunning location.

The Dovecote Reference

E32

Enmore, Somerset

In Enmore, at the end of a private drive, sits an attractive wisteria-clad ‘upside down’ cottage for six, created from a stone-built smithy. Behind, you’ll find an enclosed south-facing garden with walled patio area, a wooden bridge over a pretty little stream leading to a lawn with Wendy house, and an enclosed play area. Off the drive, there’s a big grassy meadow with plenty of space for ball games. The interior’s spacious and airy with lovely old beams and original arched carriage windows. A tiled hall leads to two double bedrooms, one with en suite shower-room.

Enmore

Open tread stairs take you up to a big living room with woodburner, high apex beams, Velux windows, stripped pine floors and countryside views. The kitchen/ dining room features a snug sitting area. Also on this level, there are two single bedrooms. This is a comfortable and spacious home, only a stroll from the village, with plenty to do nearby.

Brook Cottage Reference

foundations and fresh decor give a light, airy feel, with big glazed doors to a terrace. Beyond, a gated bridge over a pretty, babbling brook leads to an enclosed garden with goodsized lawn sheltered by tall trees and looking out to meadows where hens scratch and the owner’s inquisitive alpacas graze.

Newton Ferrers, Devon

Well off the beaten track in a tranquil, former farming hamlet, 1½ miles from Newton Ferrers, sits this spacious stone-built cottage, sleeping six. Clever use of split-level

The kitchen/dining room features a glass balustrade with open tread stairs down to a fabulous living room, full of light with high apex beams and doors to a terrace. Upstairs, there are two smart bedrooms, a double and a twin, with another twin bedroom downstairs. This is a hidden gem tucked away in a peaceful, rural spot.

Bonny Alva Reference

Porthpean, Cornwall

In Porthpean, elevated above the sandy beach, you’ll find a detached house with spectacular 180-degree sea views across the golf course and out to sea, where magnificent tall ships are often seen sailing across St Austell Bay.

The house, for nine, includes a lovely lawned garden with mature shrubs, borders, hedges and trees sheltering a table, chairs and a barbecue. To one side of the house, a covered verandah, complete with bistro table and chairs, is screened with glass for enjoying ever-changing sea views.

Three wide steps lead up to the porch. The spacious living room comfortably seats eight, with French windows leading to the verandah. There is also a snug little study/den, so there is plenty of space for everyone to unwind. The fitted kitchen/dining room is the perfect place for catching up on the day’s adventures.

This well-equipped house also offers a utility room with washing machine, tumble drier and door to rear porch for boots, coats and drying pets, all very handy for drying off after a fun-filled day at the beach. The two ground-floor double bedrooms, one with en suite shower-room, boast impeccable style and comfort.

Upstairs, you’ll find two more bedrooms – the master double with sofa, TV, French windows to balcony, sea views and en suite bathroom, and a family room with 6’ zip-linked double and single bed.

Porthpean itself is a pretty little village by the sea. A small sand and rock pool-filled cove offers a perfect place for pottering around, while St Austell, only a mile away, offers a bustling town atmosphere.

Indeed, this really is a brilliant house for all to enjoy, within walking distance of the beach, golf course and Coast Path or for simply relaxing on the verandah or balcony and watching the seas and skies.

Mousehole End of England

3 Trungle Cottages

Reference

Near Mousehole, Cornwall

Just half a mile inland from Mousehole, in the village of Paul, you’ll find this 18th century, midterrace cottage for five, that has been beautifully restored. Outside, a decked seating area, complete with table and chairs, is the ideal place to relax after a day spent exploring the area. There’s also a handy outbuilding that you can use for storing your bicycles and surfboards, especially as the local, world-renowned, surf locations of Praa Sands and Sennen are within easy driving distance. The village of

Paul is home to a pub and a pretty 15th century church.

Nearby Mousehole is perhaps the prettiest Cornish fishing village you’ll find. Famous for its Christmas lights and a horseshoe of granite cottages that surround the harbour, here you’ll find shops, a good restaurant and several cafés for those all important tea and cake stops. There is a little sandy harbour beach here as well, and Mousehole is a good base for walks to the nearby fishing port of Newlyn or the bustling town of Penzance with its iconic Art Deco, fresh sea water lido, Jubilee Pool. The cottage itself welcomes you through stable doors. An open-

plan kitchen/dining room has been cleverly designed to make the most of the available space. Sliding doors lead through to a cosy living room with a woodburner to warm your toes, and deep window seats to curl up in.

Exposed stone walls maintain the original character of the cottage and, from the kitchen, stairs lead up to two bedrooms – a bright and airy double and a family room with a double and a single bed and en suite shower-room. This is a truly delightful cottage in an excellent location amongst west Cornwall’s prettiest villages, handy for walking the Coast Path and a five minute stroll from a pub.

HOLIDAY HOMES Large

There can be nothing nicer than spending time with family and friends, and with our large holiday homes you can do this in style and comfort.

Stanhope House Reference Seaton, Devon

Stanhope House is the perfect place in which to gather friends and family together in the popular east Devon seaside town of Seaton. This immaculately refurbished Victorian villa, close to the esplanade in the heart of the town, has room for 12. The light, airy reception rooms

welcome you into your home-fromhome. The huge Shaker-style kitchen has a plethora of gorgeous modern touches, making it a stylish holiday home you won’t mind cooking supper in, and one you certainly won’t forget in a hurry.

The living areas are sumptuous, with huge sofas you can sink into with a glass of wine and a good book after

a busy day exploring. A woodburner and open fire will warm the toes on chilly evenings.

The long galley dining table, surrounded by Philippe Starck style chairs, comfortably seats ten and the elegant decor extends to the six bedrooms and three bathrooms. Throughout this semi-detached Victorian villa you’ll find rooms

that are bright and luxurious, with stripped floors, shuttered windows and a simple colour palette. Out in the garden, a fire pit and smart furniture offer yet more entertaining possibilities and the chance to soak up the last of the sun’s rays.

Seaton itself is a small, friendly seaside town. In its harbour you will find sailboats gently bobbing on

their moorings. It has a great range of independent shops and plenty of local produce to tempt. Seaton is also renowned for its Art Society and the town centre abounds with beautiful artisan products, including tempting jewellery and handmade glass.

Eating out in the area ranges from fine dining at River Cottage HQ near Axminster and Hix Oyster and the

Fish House at Lyme Regis, to awardwinning gastropubs and restaurants. If you want to be more active, you’ll be perfectly placed to go fossil hunting along the world-famous ‘Jurassic Coast’, play a round of golf or take a heritage-tram ride through the beautiful Axe Valley – just make sure you leave enough time to enjoy a cream tea at Colyton Station.

Orchard Lodge

Reference Boscastle, Cornwall

Orchard Lodge is an immaculately presented house that sleeps 10 in five bedrooms, all en suite. You can really spread yourselves out through the stylish living areas. Furnishings have been carefully chosen and each of the lounge areas offers a comfortable place to relax, with the added bonus of a woodburner to warm the cockles. The kitchen is bright and wellequipped, while the dining room is

Boscastle

a lovely place to meet over dinner and discuss the day’s events. Out in the well-tended, mature gardens, you’ll find a large patio with surrounding shrubs, palms and an apple tree that offers welcome shade on a hot sunny day.

We recommend a short stroll to the village’s famous natural harbour, where the rivers Valency and Jordan meet and fishing boats bob.

Enveloped by the dramatic, unspoiled scenery that’s teeming with wildlife, and with a selection of beautiful sandy beaches close

by, including the low-tide sand beach at Bossiney or the bigger Trebarwith Strand for surfing, it won’t be long before you’re on the move again. Maybe take a walk in Thomas Hardy’s footsteps and take in the views that inspired his poetry in 1870. Boscastle Walking Week, which is held in March 2017, showcases all the exploring opportunities in the area, whether you want to climb to the highest cliff top or just take a gentle ramble. This is a truly lovely setting.

St Kew

North Cornwall

Tretawn Farmhouse

Reference

St Kew, Cornwall

This detached, Grade II listed, 16th/17th century manor house, which sleeps 14, is perfect for getting together with family and friends, and man’s best friend is also very welcome at Tretawn. Set amongst five acres of woodland, it forms part of the Lamellen Estate which is still managed by its Cornish owners.

You reach the home via a wide, sweeping gravel drive which is as

elegant and classic as the decor inside. Wood panelling and mullioned windows create a cosy atmosphere and living areas are large and comfortable. An original steep spiral staircase leads up to the bedrooms. You can really relax here, but, if you’re feeling energetic, then the games room, which features a snooker table and table tennis, and indoor heated swimming pool ensure there’s fun to be had at every turn. If you can tear yourself away from this handsome home, you’ll find plenty to do in the surrounding

area. Amongst the trees you’ll find the little village of St Kew, which is home to a cosy pub serving good food, and a fascinating medieval church. You can also play a round of golf nearby or spend the day at the beach taking part in various watersports.

At the end of your activity-filled day, you can arrive home to Tretawn Farmhouse and swap stories sitting around the classic dining table as the heat from the Aga and woodburner warm the soul.

By the Sea

You can’t beat the sound of the ocean or the salty smell of the sea on the air. You can indulge in both with our coastal holiday homes.

Garden Apartment Reference

F89

Porlock Vale, Exmoor, Somerset

With its magnificent sea and landscape views and gorgeous garden, this ground-floor apartment helps you unwind as soon as you arrive. Sleeping four in two bedrooms, both with en suite shower-room, comfort and space are paramount.

Accessed through a little gated courtyard, you have your private entrance door. The kitchen and dining room have everything you need and two steps lead down to a conservatory with comfy chairs in which to relax. The village pub is just a mile away, but if you want to venture further afield there’s plenty to delight. The choice of

moors, woodland, coast and rivers that Exmoor National Park has to offer might make it hard to know which way to head – or look – first. A visit to Dunster Castle on the National Park’s fringes might help: its panoramic vantage points make it a place for taking everything in. The varied terrains of the area and peaceful lanes, meanwhile, give cyclists and horse riders of all experiences the chance to see the National Park close up. There are also local companies offering 4WD ‘safari tours’.

Being this close to the beach and awe-inspiring countryside makes it a great place to visit any time of the year. Pets are welcome, too. This is a balm-to-the-soul place.

Fort Picklecombe South Cornwall

Little Fishes Reference

G116

Sidmouth, Devon

Experience all that Regency Sidmouth has to offer using this gorgeous terraced cottage as your base. Having recently been renovated to an extremely high standard, with every inch of space carefully utilised, the cottage now comprises a smart, fully equipped kitchen, modern bathroom and two light double bedrooms. There’s also a sweet covered courtyard garden, meaning the four of you have room to relax outside, too.

Being in the centre of this bustling seaside town, you’re only steps away from the plethora of friendly shops and cafés, but still only a few minutes’ walk from the famous

pebbly beach and promenade. The hugely popular Folk Week, held each summer, always draws huge crowds, but there’s plenty going on the rest of the year, from fireworks to Christmas fairs. Enjoy the ambience from the comfort of a humbug-striped deckchair or head out along the spectacular ‘Jurassic’ coastal path and take it all in from there.

Flat 1 Reference

R120

Fort Picklecombe, Cornwall

A wonderfully quirky choice of rural retreat that offers peace, comfort and elegance. Situated on the ground floor of a 19th century former fort near the mouth of the River Tamar, the studio apartment has spectacular views of the sea

and abundant wildlife – sights that can be enjoyed all the more from the balcony, so make sure you pack binoculars. It sleeps two, though pre-crawling babies are also welcome, and has everything you need for a tranquil escape from daily life, including a fully equipped kitchen and modern bathroom.

For beaching and rock pool exploration you’re spoiled for choice, both to the east and west. And if that doesn’t tempt, wander the Coast Path to the 865-acre Mount Edgcumbe Park, which encompasses an historic house and Grade I Cornish gardens, or take a ferry over to vibrant Plymouth, where tourist attractions range from the Mayfl ower Museum to the National Marine Aquarium.

StNewquayAgnes Coast

Treveth Reference

Q56

St Agnes, Cornwall

Surfers will be spoiled for choice if they make Treveth their holiday home. The beach break at Trevaunance Cove attracts locals and visitors alike and is also great for beach fun and watersports, as is nearby Chapel Porth. There’s also plenty to do for those who prefer to keep their activities land-based. For spectacular landscape and invigorating walks, strike out for the South West Coast Path – it won’t take you long to reach, even on foot. Local flavour can be further absorbed at nearby Healeys Cyder Farm, or take a short drive to Truro and discover the shops, restaurants

and glorious cathedral of the

and glorious cathedral of the county’s capital.

Accommodating four, this semidetached home is beautifully decorated, with touches that will charm and delight. Bright accent colours mix with more muted nautical tones and here you will find all the home comforts and mod-cons that you need from your holiday.

Those moments when you want to do nothing but sit back and admire the view have also been catered for – there’s a raised area in the garden that’s the perfect spot for drinking it all in. The garden has been planted so that it’s awash with colour and even the shingle paths are a reminder of the beach – you’re never far from the sea at Treveth!

Mevagissey

25a

Church Street Reference

Mevagissey, Cornwall

Nestled in the heart of Mevagissey sits this charming three-storey terraced cottage. Just a stone’s throw from the magical harbour, this little gem is perfect for a family holiday. You can take boat trips out and race to be the first to spot a seal, dolphin or basking shark. There’s also an impressive array of coastal walks to sink your teeth into or, if you prefer something more relaxed, you can take a stroll around the flawless Lost Gardens of Heligan or the iconic Eden Project.

But you don’t need to venture far to enjoy the fresh air; outside the cottage you have your own little

Mount

courtyard, complete with a bistro table and chairs for alfresco dining. You can then settle down in this cosy home-from-home that sleeps five. The design perfectly captures the Cornish charm and maritime style, making it the perfect base from which to explore all the county has to offer.

Pleasant Reference

Falmouth, Cornwall

Sleeping six, this terraced threestorey family house will ensure you holiday in complete comfort. With a colourful, open-plan living/ dining room and a beautiful suntrap courtyard, as well as an enclosed garden with covered seating area and barbecue, this

house is perfect for family fun. The three bedrooms offer the perfect place to rest in comfort before spending a day exploring the stunning local area.

The bustling town of Falmouth is only two miles away and offers a fantastic selection of shops, galleries and restaurants. There’s also plenty of scope for scholastic entertainment. Not only is Falmouth one of the deepest natural harbours in the world, but it’s also home to the National Maritime Museum and Pendennis Castle, an English Heritage site that’s defended Cornwall since the Tudors. Of course, if it’s a lazy holiday you seek, you can always just relax on Swanpool beach, which is a mere ½ mile from the house.

Lower Cator

Moor ON THE

Our moorland cottages are a perfect base from which to explore the rural beauty of the South West.

Hayloft Reference

Lower Cator, Dartmoor, Devon

Open moorland is just minutes away from this beautiful barn conversion in the heart of Dartmoor. The cottage’s upside-down design means walkers, cyclists and horse riders can shed muddy gear in the large lobby before heading up to the warm and welcoming open-plan, scissor-beamed kitchen and living area. The three bedrooms sleep five and the contemporary decor, punctuated with bright colours and fun prints, is complemented by the characterful additions of a woodburner and electric Aga. There’s also a pretty garden with a west-facing patio that’s ideal for

enjoying barbecues – and even the odd visit from passing sheep.

For those craving experiences of a foodie nature, try the restaurant at nearby Riverford Organic Farm or the two Michelin-starred cooking at Gidleigh Park. Meanwhile, oenophiles can treat themselves to a tour of Sharpham vineyard, where grapes grow on land that’s been farmed for 1,000 years.

Lazy Bear Cottage

Reference

Holne, Dartmoor, Devon

Everything about your stay at Lazy Bear Cottage is about comfort and cosiness, from the inviting, shabby chic interiors and the sitting room’s open fire to the welcome you get from the volunteer staff in the village

shop and tearoom that are virtually next door. The local pub is just a stone’s throw away, too, but it’s easy to walk or cycle off any over indulgence in the famed Dartmoor countryside that surrounds on all sides. When you’re done exploring the tors, why not contrast the cragginess with the nearby National Trust properties or the Capability Brown-designed gardens at Ugbrooke House?

Sleeping five in prettily decorated bedrooms, this terraced Victorian cottage, once part of the village forge, provides the perfect base for whatever you need from a break, whether that’s outdoor adventure or just some gentle hibernation. Dogs are welcome, too, so no one needs to be left out of the fun.

South Zeal Dartmoor

Bracondale

Reference

South Zeal, Dartmoor, Devon

A Grade II listed, 17th century thatched cottage that accommodates five and has beautiful views of Dartmoor from its south-facing terrace, as well as further garden areas at the front and back. Its location in the charming village of South Zeal means fantastic walks on the moor are not much more than a mile away, while the South West’s beautiful coastline can be reached by car within 45 minutes. There’s fly fishing, canoeing, golf and even falconry close at hand, too. The

oak-beamed sitting room with large granite fireplace and woodburner might make it hard to leave, but when you do return at the end of a packed day, energy levels can be quickly and easily restored in the gorgeous, newly fitted kitchen. Or you can tackle the tricky decision of which of the village’s centuries-old pubs you should eat at – sometimes that kind of challenge is all you need when you’re on holiday.

South View

Reference

Cornwood, Dartmoor, Devon

With close access to the Lutton village pubs and footpaths to the

moor, this 18th century mid-row cottage offers the chance for four to completely get away for their holiday. The cottage boasts a lovely, sloping lawned garden with table and chairs for some alfresco dining. Inside, you’ll find a cosy home, warmed by a woodburner and offering views of the village and surrounding fields and moorland. You can venture over the moorland for some truly dramatic walks or you can travel a mere eight miles to find yourself at Plymouth with access to an assortment of golden, sandy beaches. A little closer to home you also have Dartmoor Zoo, which provides the perfect day out for the whole family.

Places to WALK AND WAG

Book a stay at one of our lovely dog-friendly cottages and your four-legged friend can come too.

Boycombe Barn

Reference

Farway, Devon

A secluded barn conversion in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty close to the Blackdown Hills, this is the perfect place for a quiet getaway. Sleeping two, it has a small garden at the front, as well as access to a meadow where you’ll find a picnic table, barbecue and stream, making the rural idyll complete.

Inside, the living area boasts stone features and exposed roof timbers, giving the cottage plenty of character. And while the nearest neighbours are the owners’ horses, alpacas and chickens, it doesn’t take long to reach some of Devon’s most picturesque

Devon

towns and villages: Colyton, Beer, Branscombe and Sidmouth are all a short drive away. After an afternoon walk in the beautiful countryside or along the ‘Jurassic’ coastline, cosy up in a café or pub – the pretty, 14th century Masons Arms in Branscombe should hit the spot – or head back to the cottage and snuggle up by the woodburner.

1 Blackmoor Cottages

Reference

Shobrooke, Devon

Accommodating six, this sweet thatched cottage in a typical ruralDevon village comes with four acres of gardens and grounds and offers a getaway that regularly surpasses guests’ expectations. The chocolate-box prettiness extends throughout the cottage’s interior,

from the exposed beams and inglenook fireplace that houses a woodburner, to the cosy countrystyle kitchen-diner and the bright, beautifully decorated bedrooms whose windows look over rolling countryside that seems to have no end.

Staying here puts you in the perfect position, whether you feel like exploring Dartmoor, making a trip to England’s highest waterfall at Canonteign Falls, experiencing the buzz of Exeter or doing a bit of beaching at Exmouth. Even closer to ‘home’ is Shobrooke Park, with its fishing lakes and walks, but if the only excursion you want to make is to the village pub, you won’t be disappointed: the 16th century Red Lion serves good, locally sourced food, ales and cider.

Tinners Cottage Reference

Nancledra, Cornwall

Nancledra

westernmost tip – both the south and north coasts are in easy reach. Places of historic interest nearby include the medieval castle atop St Michael’s Mount in Marazion, the remains of the Iron Age settlement at Chysauster, and the Minack – a theatre carved out of a cliff in the 1930s that has unparalleled sea views. Look out for culture-seeking seals passing by.

Boundys House Reference

and character throughout – think beams, low lintels, slate floors, large inglenook fireplace and sweet window seat. The three bright bedrooms comfortably sleep up to six people and the large sitting room and garden offer plenty of space for everyone to relax after busy days on land or sea.

Midway between the popular destinations of St Ives and Penzance, but tucked away in the small village of Nancledra, this charming 18th century cottage is ideal for getting the best of both worlds. Sleeping four, there’s a country feel with attractive wooden features and farmhouse-style furniture in the kitchen, but the cottage is equipped with everything a modern lifestyle needs. Squirrel yourself away from the crowds in the cosy sitting room with woodburner or get out and explore the myriad of coves, beaches and walking routes around the UK’s

Lelant, Cornwall

A superbly restored, Grade II listed cottage in a pretty village close to St Ives and Carbis Bay. With parts of the house dating back to the 18th century, there’s plenty of charm

Lelant is close to the mouth of the Hayle estuary – a birdwatcher’s paradise – as well as the gorgeous dunes of dog-friendly Porthkidney Beach. Keen surfers are in for a treat at Gwithian, located on the eastern side of St Ives Bay, while lovers of seafood will be able to indulge themselves fully. The proximity of Newlyn Fish Market means local restaurants and pubs are all excellently supplied.

Torbay

COTTAGES Christmas and New Year

Celebrate with friends and family at one of these stunning homes for a festive holiday to remember.

and the Red Cliffs

B81

Carthorse Cottage Reference Luton, Devon

This expertly converted barn, which sleeps 10, offers a fantastic place to stay. The decor provides a simple yet stylish backdrop to your holiday and the indoor heated swimming pool and pool

table offer an endless supply of entertainment. The bedrooms, all fitted with a TV and DVD player, are the perfect place to relax in comfort after a long day. A woodburner is a sumptuous source of cosy warmth in the living room, so the cold of winter is kept thoroughly at bay. If you need a taste of something different, the surrounding area

has much to offer in the way of

has much to offer in the way of enjoyment. You can play a round of golf at the heathland golf course, go birdwatching beside the River Teign, stroll around the shops and sights of Exeter or spend the day at the activity centre, where you can ride quad bikes and have a taste of archery, paintball and fishing.

Compton House Reference

Compton Bishop, Somerset

With the Mendips rising directly behind and views down the valley in front, this impressive house really is situated in its own piece of heaven. Outside, you’ll find an enthralling array of entertainment, including a children’s adventure playground, trampoline, croquet

Compton Bishop Somerset

lawn, fire pit, barbecue and heated outdoor swimming pool (available 27th May to 16th September). Once you’re tired out, you can head inside where you’ll be met with a sleek style accented with unique pieces of furniture.

Sleeping 12, this stylish house offers a large open-plan kitchen/ dining room that’s perfect for family gatherings and a spacious living

room, complete with an open fire, for those cosy nights in.

If you ever find reason to leave this cornucopia of comfort, you’ll find a selection of fantastic walks with views of the Somerset Levels. A bit further afield, you also have access to Cheddar Gorge, the sea and some beautiful sandy beaches, so whatever your preferred scenery, this family home has you covered.

LEFT Ross and Angus Thomson, founders of Saltrock

MAIN

Andrew Cotton, Saltrock ambassador and big wave surfer, at Saunton Sands in North Devon

Braunton Saltrock HQ,

Making waves across the country, since 1988

North Devon

Designed in Devon

Saltrock has become an iconic brand on Devon’s beaches over the years, and the lifestyle clothing brand is now a firm favourite throughout the country and beyond.

The growth of the company is there for all to see - you don’t have to go far to come across someone wearing Saltrock clothing or to find one of its 42 stores.

The company was founded in 1988 when South African surfers, brothers Angus and Ross Thomson, boarded a train to the South West looking for waves. Short of funds but keen to keep exploring, the enterprising brothers built a screen print and started selling surf-inspired T-shirts from the back of their car. The T-shirts took off and they named the brand after their favourite surf break back home in South Africa.

“We were just two guys who liked surfing and created clothing that reflected our lifestyle. I remember the day we arrived in North Devon,

we drove round the corner and saw these perfect waves, and we went HELLO! We got chatting to a few locals in the water and then arranged to meet up with them in the pub later. We thought, there’s great surf here, it’s a beautiful part of the world, we’ve met some great people. Saltrock just grew, it was organic”, says Ross Thomson, Saltrock Co-Founder and Creative Director.

From those early days of printing original, surf-inspired designs on T-shirts, it has now become a nationally and internationally recognised brand selling affordable surf wear for all the family.

Saltrock expansion has bucked the retail trend. From just eight stores in 2010, the brand now has 42 stores across the country and a thriving online business. That success was recognised in 2015, when the company was crowned Retail Hero at the Growing Business Awards. Saltrock is a major success story for

Devon, and the company’s passion for the county made it a natural choice to become a ‘Devon Delivers Ambassador’, a scheme run by Devon County Council to highlight the benefits of living and working in Devon to encourage businesses to relocate here.

Today, Saltrock is still run by its original team and remains true to its roots. However, the company’s own ambassadors reflect how it’s more than simply a ‘surf brand’ these days. The brand is endorsed by Andrew ‘Cotty’ Cotton, the UK’s most successful big wave surfer, and Longboarding Champion Claire Smail, as well as top professional mountain bike trials rider Andrei Burton, and one of the UK’s top female climbers, Jenna Goddard. More information about relocating or expanding your business to Devon can be found at www.investdevon.co.uk

Pipers Farm East Devon Great provenance

Buy direct from the farm for delicious grass-fed meats, pies and even food for your four-legged friend!

One of the questions we’re often asked at Helpful Holidays is where to buy really good local produce. We know our guests like to know where their food has come from. An award-winning farm and butchery that gets rave reviews every time is Pipers Farm, outside Cullompton, near Exeter in Devon. The farm is run by Peter, his wife Henri (Henrietta), their son Will and other son Ed, who works in London but still plays a part. Their ethos is simple; it’s all about meat that’s been produced sustainably and in harmony with nature. Peter tells us: “We have

Red Ruby cattle for our beef on the farm, not because it’s now fashionable, but because Red Rubies can digest the rough Devon grass and convert it into protein, producing healthy, high welfare food, simultaneously turning otherwise diffi cult land into an abundant rich landscape that becomes a haven for wildlife. Our ruminant animals eat only 100% pure natural grass and even our pigs and chickens eat a high proportion of grass in their diet.”

Founded in 1989 by Peter and Henri, the farm now delivers meat boxes nationwide by post, and

from Bristol to Dartmouth in their own vans. They supply awardwinning restaurants locally, such as The Pig Hotel, River Cottage and Gidleigh Park, and now work with 25 small-scale family farms in Devon and Somerset to source the meat and produce they sell.

The other mainstay of their ethos is ‘no waste’. Marketing and Retail Manager Zara Whitfi eld explains: “We really do use everything and suggest our customers do too. We have a ‘nose to tail’ policy and we are a zero to landfi ll business. So we use the whole carcass, making bones into stock, fat into dripping

and offal into dog food.” Yes, you can even ensure that your dog has a healthy and sustainable diet with dog food made from pure Pipers Farm meat. They feed their farm dog, Fly, on it and she looks sleek, healthy and happy.

Zara comes from a local dairy farm and studied at Harper Adams, the agricultural university. She has also trained and now works her own four gun dogs, all spaniels. “It’s all about getting

people interested in real food and that’s easy working at Pipers. I don’t need to bend anything I say about the products or how they are produced; the ethic here is strong, no compromise and no short-cuts.”

They sell everything, from all the cuts of beef and lamb to chickens and ducks, with sauces and marinades to go with them. Their handmade pies are delicious and ready to pop in the oven, a

ABOVE

The Red Ruby herd are grass fed, the traditional way, in the beautiful Devon countryside LEFT (INSET)

The farm dog, Fly, fed on Pipers Farm dog food LEFT BOTTOM Sheep roam on the rich pasture

NEAR LEFT Animal welfare is at the heart of Pipers Farm RIGHT

Wonderfully succulent and tender topside

godsend when you’re on holiday, and you can buy your canine companion some healthy food too. So go online and order up some local food with terrifi c provenance that will be good for your body and soul. Pop one of their joints or chickens into the oven for divine aromas when you come back from that walk on the beach (via the pub?), open a bottle of red, relax and enjoy!

Method:

1. Remove your topside joint from the fridge and leave it for half an hour to come up to room temperature. This means it can start cooking as soon as you put it in the oven. Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 180°C.

2. Heat a heavy based frying pan with a smattering of olive oil or beef dripping, until it’s shimmering hot. Sear the beef joint on all sides – including the ends – until sealed and well coloured.

3. Place the topside in a sturdy pan and roast, uncovered, for 30 minutes per kilo. When the time is up, test the internal temperature of the joint with a meat thermometer: for a rare joint, the target temperature is 45°C.

4. Cover the joint to keep it warm and leave it to rest for around 20 minutes. During resting, the joint will continue to cook in its residual heat and when the temperature reaches 55°C it’ll be perfect for carving. Resting also allows the juices to redistribute themselves through the joint and means they won’t all be squished out when it comes to carving the meat.

5. Once rested, carve the topside thinly – it will be butter-soft and tender. Serve with traditional accompaniments as well as a rich gravy made from beef stock.

Beef topside is a classic and longfavoured roasting joint for very good reason. Coming from the inner thigh of the animal, topside is boned, rolled and tied and can be cut to various sizes, from modest to massive, depending on how many you’re feeding. Being a muscle that’s done some work, it has beautiful grain and bite, but is also lean and tender. These characteristics make it ideal for straightforward, uncomplicated

Pipers Farm East Devon

Classic Roast Topside of Beef

roasting that lets the flavoursome meat be the star attraction. Many butchers will tie a layer of fat around their rolled topside, but Pipers prefer to celebrate this lean cut and leave it fat-free. As it’s been hung for four weeks to gently dry and mature, their Red Ruby beef won’t shrivel up as you cook it, so we don’t think it needs extra fat. As well as its sheer deliciousness, topside is a Sunday lunch or

celebration meal favourite because it really is easy to cook. Left pink and juicy in the middle, it makes an excellent leftover sandwich the next day. Like all red meat, topside hates being overcooked and is best served rare or medium rare to deliver succulence with tender texture and rich flavour. For the really perfect roast topside, just follow a few simple steps and, above all, resist the temptation to give it extra roasting time ‘for luck’!

Food and Drink

We celebrate some of the finest artisan food and drink suppliers in the South West.

Tideford Organics

Making veg even more scrumptious, Tideford Organics make organic vegan soups, broths, pestos, sauces and misos in their kitchens in Devon. They believe that eating more veg and less meat is the best thing any of us can do for our planet. So having cooked organic gluten-free food for over 20 years, they are now completely vegan and want to encourage more people to eat that way. Everything they produce is full of vitality, completely gluten free and nut free. www.tidefordorganics.com

Blueberry Brothers

In 2005, brothers Nick and Toby Hewison started growing blueberries in a field called Yonder in the Dartmoor village of Lustleigh. They now have nearly 700 blueberry bushes. Beyond the delicious fruits, the brothers have created award-winning products, such as Blue Yonder Beer, marzipans and chocolate, chutneys and jams, as well as the more traditional muffins

and brownies. Their partnerships with local bakeries, breweries and confectioners ensure that their products are of the highest quality and artisan standard. Their latest collaboration is Heaven’s Gate Cider with a hint of blueberry. Who knew so many things could be made with blueberries?

www.theblueberrybrothers.co.uk

Ebb Tides

Based on the beautiful ‘Jurassic Coast’ in East Devon, Ebb Tides was the dream of founder Tony Coulson for many years and finally established in 2016. Tony’s knowledge of seaweed and his belief in its nutritional benefits go back a long time. The seaweeds are harvested by hand and Tony works closely with Natural England to ensure it is harvested sustainably and ethically. He’s worked with pioneering, multi-award winning chef and restaurateur Noel Corston to develop the blends that you can find on the shelf. Ebb Tides celebrates seaweed as a

wholesome delicious ingredient with many well established medicinal benefits that make them great for digestive health – low GI, high in fibre and a probiotic.

www.ebbtides.co.uk

Portlebay Popcorn

Portlebay Popcorn is a small but growing popcorn business, handpopping in Devon. This company declares itself ‘hell-bent on spreading the pure joy that comes from great tasting, figure friendly, happiness inducing popcorn’. One of the first to make flavoured popcorn popular in the UK following the trends set in the USA, it offers self-proclaimed ‘weird but oh-so wonderful’ flavours, from simple, lightly sea salted to wasabi and ginger and Thai sriracha. Those with a sweet tooth will love their berry, cinnamon swirl, lemon sherbet and very grown up cappuccino flavours. Jonty White and Neil Adams came together to form the popcorn company back in 2012 and have been popping crazy ever since. www.portlebaypopcorn.com

Deli Farm Charcuterie

Deli Farm Charcuterie is one of the UK’s leading producers of British air dried charcuterie; since starting in 2006 they have been winning awards with artisan air dried charcuterie products reliably each year. The traditions may be continental, but the recipes are very much their own Cornish style. Some are fairly traditional and some a little more unusual, with ingredients from the area, such as seaweed and cider. The products are as natural as they can be with no artificial colouring, flavourings, emulsifiers or phosphates.

www.delifarmcharcuterie.co.uk

Southwestern Distillery

The vision behind this small but perfectly formed Cornish distillery was to make great-tasting spirits with integrity. Tarquin uses traditional techniques, quality ingredients and old-fashioned equipment to make distinct and delicious gin and pastis. His traditional copper pot Tamara,

goddess of the Tamar, is fired by flame and judged by eye, with the spirits rigorously tested by nose and palate. Each bottle is given lots of care and attention, with the human touch in everything – the botanicals are selected by sight and feel and bottles are all individually filled, corked, sealed, labelled, numbered and waxed by hand.

www.southwesterndistillery.com

St Ewe Free Range Eggs

St Ewe Free Range Eggs began on Pentonwyn Farm in the heart of the Cornish countryside, owned and run by Richard and Christine Tonks and their daughter Rebecca. As the popularity of their eggs grew, they selected other West Country family farms where eggs are produced especially for them to ensure every egg is the freshest, tastiest, healthiest egg of the highest quality, entirely naturally. The distinct rich yellow yolks and pure whites that whip up into clouds come from doing things honestly and well.

www.stewe.co.uk

Chocolarder

Chocolarder was formed in 2012 when pastry chef Mike decided to produce a chocolate with no shortcuts - unadulterated sensory enjoyment without compromise. He ensures ethically sourced 100% organic beans and raw sugar cane are bought at a fair price for the farmer. They’re then shipped across the ocean from South America to Falmouth where they’re collected, transported to a small workshop nearby and lovingly turned into delicate bars of refined delicious chocolate. The alchemy, passion and attention to detail make a huge impact on the flavour of each bar.

By the time you eat it, it simply couldn’t taste any better. Some bars celebrate the individual taste of the bean, others use natural local ingredients, such as the coconut scented gorse flower or rich Cornish honeycomb to complement the cacao, each one a delight.

www.chocolarder.com

Fussels

Andy Fussel, a passionate handson farmer, and his family have been farming in Somerset for generations. He believes in the value of great British food, so decided to set up the Fussels Fine Food Company in 2005 to share the fruits of his labour in the form of single cold pressed extra virgin rapeseed oil, dressings, mayonnaises, flavoured oils, sauces and vinaigrettes. As well as tasting the delicious foods from the farm you can also visit with all the family to learn about the process from sowing to cold pressing and bottling, listen to Andy talk about oil or attend one of the many classes in his new kitchen.

www.fusselsfinefoods.co.uk

Harry’s Cider

You can’t talk about products from Somerset without mentioning cider, but Harry has taken the farming tradition and created something really special. He carefully selects bittersweet varieties of apples, such

as Harry Masters Jersey, Dabinett, Yarlington Mills and Brown’s Apple to make a refreshing, aromatic and flavoursome cider. Even the fussiest drinker would trust Heston Blumenthal. He is proud to stock Harry’s Medium Cider at his café at Heathrow, aptly named The Perfectionist Café. “We only sell products that we believe in, offering excellent quality and showcasing their quintessential Britishness. Harry’s Cider is a perfect cider for The Perfectionist Café.”

www.harryscidercompany.co.uk

Exmoor Blue

All the products from Willet Farm are handmade to traditional recipes and methods; the first was made in the old dairy over twenty years ago. Their flagship cheese, Exmoor Blue, was created and awarded P.G.I. status (Protected Geographical Indication), which ensures that it’s made to specified standards using local milk from within the designated region. Made with the rich smooth milk of Jersey cows from local

herds, the only things added are starter cultures, vegetarian rennet, penicillin roqueforti (which gives the characteristic blue tang as the cheese is matured) and salt, making it as natural and fine as any blue cheese can be. The range now includes other blues: the Somerset Blue and Partridge’s Blue, plus goat, sheep and buffalo milk cheeses.

www.exmoorbluecheese.co.uk

Little Jack Horner

James, Laura, Alex and Lucy are four friends whose aim was to make the best sausage roll you can buy. All their outdoor-reared, free-range pork and chicken comes from local, high welfare farms, there are no preservatives added, and no smoking or curing is carried out when making their sausage rolls. The flour and dairy used in the signature thin and delicately flaky pastry is the best that the South West has to offer. Everything is made by hand, with care at their Somerset bakery in Mells, 10 miles south of Bath.

www.ljhorners.com

Black Cow Vodka

Black Cow Vodka is the world’s only Pure Milk Vodka™ made entirely from the milk of grass-grazed cows and nothing else. West Dorset dairy farmer Jason Barber chose to diversify the produce from his 250-strong dairy herd and was inspired by his deep personal interest in vodka. The milk sugars are turned to alcohol, making exceptionally smooth vodka with a unique creamy character. The vodka is treated to a secret blending process, triple filtered and finished, before being hand bottled. Try one of the exceptional recipes for a cocktail from the website or put a dash in your next fondue for a dip with a kick.

www.blackcow.co.uk

Hotch Potch Savoury Pies

Mr Mash lives with his wife and three daughters in beautiful rural Dorset. They’ve always been great lovers of tasty food, but in 2008, his middle daughter Daisy (‘Middle Mash’) was diagnosed with Coeliac

Disease. Like so many others, finding that so many of her beloved foods were now off the menu, and realising how difficult it was for her to eat out or at parties or find foods to grab and go was hard. Mr Mash set about creating a range of tasty savoury snacks that were not only safe for coeliacs, but were so delicious that the whole family could enjoy together, and Middle Mash wouldn’t feel excluded! Living in Dorset means they’re surrounded by fantastic local produce which they use in their pies - from free range pork and eggs, to Dorset’s famous coastal cheddar and apples. www.hotchpotchsavourypies.co.uk

Dark Matters

Baker Gemma dreams about brownies and craves chocolate, but only the real thing hits the spot: the dark matter. Born from her quest for the perfect brownie, Dark Matters was developed. The number one ingredient is the ‘dark stuff’ – at least 70% cocoa content blended with a little dark brown muscovado sugar to balance the taste, making

a jaw-droppingly awesome brownie that will deliver the hit you’ve been looking for from a brownie, pure delectable flavour and a deeply satisfying finish. Her versions such as the chocolate orange, caramel and peanut butter have people swooning at events and drooling at food festivals across the South West. www.eatdarkmatters.com

Dorset Shellfish

Home to the largest seafood festival in the UK and some of the best fish restaurants, Dorset has a great reputation for producing and consuming shellfish. One small family-run company is the epitome of why people love it. Dorset Shellfish is owned by Caroline Drever, who runs the business with daughter Stef. They lovingly prepare the quality shellfish and fish caught from her partner Graham’s boat Marauder and other day boats working out of Weymouth. Graham fishes with son Karl, so it’s a real family business.

www.dorset-shellfish.co.uk

Ready, steady, bake!

Our top mouth-watering, traditional West Country bakes

If, like us, you’ve been hooked on The Great British Bake Off, wincing at the ruins of a gingerbread church and thrilling to a perfect steamed bun thwarting Paul Hollywood’s prodding ‘digit of doom’, let your tastebuds loose on our scrumptious sample of the best West Country bakes.

Conceived and perfected on floury farmhouse tables as a treat for hard-working labourers, they’re hearty and satisfying. All can be knocked up without much fear of soggy bottoms if you have your Mrs Beeton hat (or pinny) on, earning you ‘star baker’ status. Or take the easy option and simply stock up at a bakery with shelves heaped high with tempting West

Country goodies - perfect after a long walk beside the fire in your holiday cottage with a steaming teapot in its cosy and good old-fashioned cup and saucer (preferably rose-patterned).

Scones

Scones are the unpretentious champions of West Country bakes. Warm and golden, attended by generous mountains of rich clotted cream and fruity jam like pretty bridesmaids, they have pride of place in every tea room across the South West. Whether you pile the cream on the jam the Cornish way, or blob the jam on top like all Devonians, the cream tea is equally luscious. The savoury version is a

recent variation if you don’t have a sweet tooth, cheesy scones with the tangy bite of a hunk of strong Cheddar and dish of spicy chutney.

Lardy cake

Ooh - it really is what it says, but much yummier than it sounds! This fruity, doughy loaf crusted with sugar was a treat on high days and holidays in the era of hard manual labour, but lardy cake is still an irresistible Sunday afternoon guilty pleasure with a pot of tea, made even more deliciously unctuous when spread thickly with real creamy butter. The humble key ingredient means it’s always been a staple where pigs are reared, but it clearly wins royal approval since it

holds its own at Buckingham Palace garden parties too.

Cornish fairings

A ginger biscuit originally sold at country fairs over a century ago as a gift for children or sweethearts and a Victorian favourite, a pack of fairings is a welcome souvenir to take home for friends from your Cornish holiday. Rick Stein says, “When I was a child, we never left Cornwall without a couple of tins of Furniss Cornish Fairings. They were as important to us as clotted cream and pasties.” Standard biscuit ingredients are combined with spice, ginger, cinnamon and syrup to make a sweet and spicy crispy disc, perfect for dunking.

Saffron cake

Flavoured with a spice more precious than gold, Cornish saffron loaves or revel buns have always been baked for special occasions in west Cornwall, especially at Easter or 19th century Methodist Sunday School outings where each child would receive an over-sized ‘tea treat bun’. The golden, fragrant cake probably has an even older history as the delicious legacy of the ancient tin trade, with the Cornish trading with the Phoenicians for fragrant spices as long ago as 400BC. Its yeasty softness goes well spread with a daub of butter or cream.

Apple dappy

Apple dappy is the perfect bake for giving a makeover to any autumn basketfuls of apples you’ve been given, yet the tasty recipe has almost been forgotten. It’s a sweet, sticky pudding from Victorian Devon, which looks like a tray of Chelsea buns, but is actually a swirl of apple and sugar rolled in pastry. You can add raisins and a scattering of cinnamon too if you like. A scrummy addition to a picnic basket for a lazy riverbank afternoon or a satisfying and warming fruity winter dessert topped with a slick of custard or a melting scoop of vanilla ice cream from a Devonshire dairy.

Whortleberry Pie

This isn’t a dish you can knock up in half an hour, or even pop to the shops for. It requires hours of patient crouching on Dartmoor, gathering tiny purple berries (known elsewhere as bilberries). The old tin mine gullies at Vittifer, below the Warren House Inn, are now reclaimed by nature and a fi ne place for whortleberry picking, with stupendous views whilst you ease your back. The picking experience, especially when conducted in convivial company, is part of the whortleberry pie magic, which culminates in an intensely pleasing, blue mouth-staining feast of buttery pastry and fruity juiciness, with an obligatory dollop of clotted cream.

Beach essentials

Here in the West Country we’re lucky to enjoy an enviable choice of stunning beaches and coves that offer the perfect day out, whatever the season. With this in mind, we’ve put together a collection of items that every beach-goer should own, so whether shopping for yourself or someone special, turn your thoughts to the coast!

TENTS

Beach shelter UV protection in turquoise

When the sun is highest in the sky, sometimes the wisest option is to get out of it! With this in mind, we’ve found this brilliant pop-up beach shelter to help keep those UV rays at bay.

£29.99 from www.mountainwarehouse.com

TOWELS

Saltrock Atlantic Isles towel in blue

With a classic pattern and nautical colours, this family favourite beach towel is a must-have for a day at the beach. The towel also boasts a brilliant size and soft touch, so is perfect for even the chilliest day.

£20 from www.saltrock.com

GLASSES

Ray-Ban Havana Erika sunglasses

Ray-Ban now seems synonymous with sunglasses, as they continue to offer fashionable yet robust eyewear. These sunglasses provide a classic look, while protecting your eyes from any season.

£95 from www.annscottage.com

SHORTS

Vendavel board shorts

These signature board shorts are a staple for any day on the sands. Made from 100% recycled micro-ripstop stretch polyester, they’re guaranteed to go the distance.

£75 from www.finisterre.com

BAGS

25L Coolbag

HANDBAGS

Billabong Absolute Wander bag

Keeping your lunch at the right temperature is essential when off to the beach, as no one wants a tepid sandwich! This sizeable and funky coolbag will ensure your picnic stays fresh and delicious for all the family.

Carrying all your provisions doesn’t have to be a dull affair! With this fun and spacious beach bag, you can carry it all while being the envy of the beach!

£43 from www.annscottage.com

BLANKETS

£7.99 from www.mountainwarehouse.com

Buttercup Picnic Carry Blanket

This blanket captures the heart of the beach, with a lovely shade of yellow wool paired with waterproof backing and a fleece inner. If only everything could be this stylish and practical!

£49 from www.atlanticblankets.com

HATS

Saltrock kids’ Target cap in black

Keeping your children protected from the sun is a no-brainer whatever the weather. A great solution is this classic cap from Saltrock, which offers shade, while ticking off their style checklist.

£6.99 from www.saltrock.com

ALTERNATIVE DESTINATION

MALLORCA

The largest of the Balearic Islands is as beautiful as it is varied.

The serene and quintessentially Mediterranean landscape of the north, a contrast to the party towns of the south, boasts an array of stunning olive terraces, vineyards and ancient fi shing villages that decorate a turquoise coastline. During the spring and autumn months, the idyllic countryside offers the perfect landscape for walking and cycling. But if it’s the bustling hum of enchanting towns that draws you, you’ll

fi nd the towns of Port de Pollença and Alcudia, with their striking city walls, irresistible. Mallorca is also home to ancient castles and fortifi cations, which are an amazing peek into the turbulent history and antiquity that the island has experienced. For a more modern look into the cultural cornucopia that is Mallorca, you can browse your way through the museums and art galleries of Palma, or take a stroll through the magnifi cent cathedral, La Seu.

Enjoy convivial alfresco dining beside an open fire

The villas are as beautiful as the scenery that surrounds them

With spacious and beautifully fitted living areas, it’s hard to leave

Enjoy your freedom and relax by the crystal clear waters of the pool

Cornwall-based Camellia Interiors specialises in creating luxury interior design. Its expert team works tirelessly to create coastal-inspired high-end interiors which bring the outside in - whether it’s an investment property or for personal use, by creating trademark coastal looks.

Camellia Interiors’ team deliver the unique and understand what is of value; costs are transparent from the outset. The designers can relieve the headache of organising trades and make sure that the project hits the desired deadlines.

Strete, South Hams

A cosy retreat

We catch up with Josephine Burlingham of Country and Coastal Interiors to discover exactly how she created a five star holiday home.

At Helpful Holidays we know that once you’ve found your holiday home for that precious week off with family, friends or that special someone, you want the home to be right; to be a cosy retreat on a cold blustery evening after a day outside, a welcoming place to cook up a delicious meal for everyone to gather round the table and eat, drink and be merry, or a quiet sanctuary to while away some time gazing out of the window.

So, when we inspected the recently refurbished Coach House Cottage (L183) in the South Hams, we knew it was spot on and awarded it our coveted five stars. This wonderful transformation was masterminded by Devon-based, Josephine

Coach House Cottage

Burlingham, founder of Country and Coastal Interiors, and her team. Like Helpful Holidays, Josephine aims to build a strong relationship with a client. When we catch up, the utterly delightful Josephine greets us with her equally gorgeous dachshund, Betty. “It’s really important for me to get a complete picture of what the owners want to achieve, how they want the space to work. I also like to emphasise the details and charm of the house. Coach House Cottage with its ‘upside down’ living and wonderful wide-open views over the long beach at Strete was a delight to work with.”

Josephine grew up in an old rectory, which is still her parent’s home. “That house is full of comfort and

“Have nothing in your home that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful.”

William Morris

cosiness, the ticking of my dad’s cherished clocks, delicious smells and a mixture of inherited and lovingly collected pieces. It has always been part of my inspiration.”

As the owners were living in Japan at the time, a brief was agreed by email and Josephine was then entrusted with the budget to do with as she saw fit. She looked at the layout of the space and pieces they already owned. The original sofa and comfy armchair were reupholstered rather than replaced with Josephine’s very own fabric, Spotted Egg, a printed linen

which was a collaboration with Kimberley Bell of Peony & Sage.

A tiny bedroom became a new bathroom; dark slate flooring was replaced with light limestone with cosy underfloor heating. The old kitchen was removed, and the stud wall taken down to create a large, welcoming open-plan kitchen/ dining/living room. “There’s a comfy armchair by the fire now where you can sit with a drink and chat to the cook in the kitchen. It’s just cosier and friendlier. I wanted to create lovely, sweeping curves in

Betty

“Betty was just a tiny puppy when I started work on the cottage, so she came on site with me. She had a den of boxes and blankets where she would snuggle up and sleep. She comes with me everywhere now, if clients don’t mind, and most of them don’t!”

Coach House Cottage Strete, South Hams

ABOVE LEFT

The cosy and inviting living space, complete with woodburner, reupholstered seating and smart panelling, a practical solution which also looks great

ABOVE RIGHT

One of the two warm, elegant coastal cottage bedrooms to return to, following a day exploring the area

INSET

The open-plan kitchen area with warm oak flooring, sleek curves and contemporary farmhouse chic feel, perfect for entertaining

the kitchen and then introduced light panelling round the room to give structure and a hint of colour.” She thinks and adds with a grin. “And, of course, panelling is very practical in a holiday let for cleaning off any scuffs!”

There are nods to the local environs dotted around the house: old seascape and seabird paintings, seashells in the bottom of a vase, and local postcards. Josephine smiles again. “I much prefer hunting through local antique centres and vintage shops online, rather than buying new

and I try to employ as many local trades as possible, it’s usually better value and much better quality!”Final word from Josephine: “When you’re on holiday, you want your home to be special and luxurious… but not so perfect that you don’t feel you can kick your shoes off and curl up on the sofa!” Coach House Cottage is all that and more.

www.countryandcoastalinteriors.com www.facebook.com/ countryandcoastalinteriors

1 THE

Devon residents Kate Harwood and Iain Clarke, along with their three girls, were looking for a family project. Whilst some might turn to baking or building a tree house, this inspiring family decided to find a house in need of renovation and inject it with light and life in order to create a home others would flock to.

While both Iain and Kate had experience in interior design, they needed some help navigating the waters of property development. To springboard their journey, they began to gather as much information about the process as possible. “We had seen Helpful Holidays’ pieces in the Western Morning News, so we knew they

Quay

Perched on the waterfront in Lympstone is a pearl of space and light, a stunning example of property renovation.

could offer advice through the process”, says Kate. “Gaby Wakley was particularly supportive. I would send her pictures or brochures of properties I was looking at, and she would give me her opinion on potential letting income”.

But of all the properties they looked at, none sparked a sense of home until they came across the perfect investment for their family. “When we looked at 1 The Quay in Lympstone, we fell in love. We only live 10 minutes up the road, so it was conveniently close. It’s in a special setting, right on the estuary. Lympstone is a lovely village with a railway station, the cycle trail, brilliant pubs and a good

community. Ever since we started our renovations, people have been so welcoming.”

It isn’t just love that drew the perceptive couple to the house. As the property had an established letting history, they didn’t need permission to operate as a business. This meant they could invest all their time and energy in the renovation, and it definitely paid off.

Kate and Iain threw themselves, heart and soul, into turning this dark and dated house into a home so filled with space and light that you’re surprised to see a shadow. “We chose a neutral, coastal palette throughout, and Iain has made, not

1 TheLympstoneQuay

MAIN IMAGE

The beautiful view overlooking the estuary ABOVE

A spacious bedroom with amazing views RIGHT

The bespoke kitchen with a stunning beach style finish BOTTOM

A living room for socialising or a relaxed night in TOP RIGHT

Chic dining room for family meals

just the bespoke kitchen, but all the furniture inside,” says Kate. “We had some ideas of how to use the space better and create more room, without losing the elements that made it popular. The plan was to do everything that we could ourselves.”

One of the first improvements was to install a woodburner to ensure every coastal winter night can be spent in snug comfort. The intention to instil comfort as a way of living continued as the pair transformed the spacious attic room into a cosy twin bedroom. “Helpful Holidays have helped us decide what to put in each room to address what people want - it helped that they had a lot of information on this property

and how people used it. Things like zip and link beds can make a huge difference, because you can change them around to meet different people’s needs.” It’s these features of well thought out flexibility and attention to detail that makes this property ideal for so many people. It really does adapt to your needs.

Kate and Iain tested the property’s capabilities by inviting 20 of their friends, along with their kids and dogs, to a party in the house. Needless to say, the event was a success and the house acted as the perfect backdrop to their frivolities. Now that their renovation journey has come to a successful close, Kate wants to impart some of her

newly discovered wisdom to others who are about to embark on this adventure. “I would say do it during the quiet time of the year, not during the holidays. This has been a challenge for us and took longer than we thought it would. But I think it’s been brilliant for our children to see us doing this.” The results definitely show that Kate and Iain, apart from knowing what they’re talking about, hold the passion necessary to turn a house into a home.

It’s clear that others agree with this assessment, as the property was very quickly fully booked for the first few months after it became available.

Falmouth SEASIDE SHOPPING IN

The harbourside town of Falmouth has flourished into a bustling and beautiful place to grab a bite to eat before some well-deserved retail therapy.

Falmouth has always offered a great seaside day out, but in recent years the town has seen an amazing increase in foot traffi c. In part, this is due to the burgeoning Falmouth University, which has brought a vibrant student life to the town.

Other draws to this characterful town include the varied selection of shops and eateries and the Maritime Museum, which offers a

fascinating and fun day out for all the family.

You can also use Falmouth as a springboard for your outings, as the Fal River Ferry will take you across the water to the stunning, small fi shing village of St Mawes, where you can grab a delicious bite to eat at one of the traditional pubs or local restaurants.

Cream Cornwall

Found on the main high street in Falmouth, Cream Cornwall offers the perfect place from which to incorporate some Cornish style into your home. This chic shop provides an array of interior products, all

carefully designed to reflect the themes and colour palettes of Cornish life.

Finisterre

Weathering the winter Cornish winds and waves can be daunting, but popping into Finisterre and kitting yourself out with warm, well-made clothes that are going to last is a sure fire way to ensure you’re toasty warm as you enjoy the stunning scenery Cornwall has to offer. Finisterre provide a wide choice of outerwear, underwear, swimwear and outdoor gear, perfect for revelling in the crisp sea air.

Falmouth Cornwall‘s Med

Ann’s Cottage

Surfing is one of the biggest attractions in Cornwall and Ann’s Cottage provides one of the largest, and most respected, surf wear retailers. With store locations spread across Cornwall, they are easy to find and have everything you could need before hitting the waves. But

COTTAGES nearby...

FALMOUTH

HERON’S REACH: S105

FAR LEFT

The bustling streets of Falmouth

ABOVE CLOCKWISE FROM TOP Courtyard Deli, Ann’s Cottage surf shop, clothes at Finisterre and an anchor pillow from Cream Cornwall

Heron’s Reach, a mid-terrace house that sleeps six, not only boasts a view of a lovely stream, but also sits in close proximity to the splash pool, spa, gym and tennis court that Pendra Loweth has to offer. The house itself offers a spacious living area, perfect for families, and a convenient location, with lovely sandy beaches and restaurants close at hand.

NEAR FALMOUTH

don’t worry; even if surfing isn’t your first choice of entertainment, Ann’s Cottage will have something for you, as their collection is as versatile as it is varied.

Courtyard Deli

You can break up your day of exploring Falmouth with a bite to eat at the truly mouth-watering

GARDEN FLAT 4: S75

In the heart of Falmouth and with beautiful waterside views, this light and airy ground-floor apartment, which sleeps four, really does boast location, location, location. You are only 10 minutes from the lovely shops and restaurants of Falmouth, but with the captivating views of the river at your disposal you might not want to leave!

ROCKLEE HOUSE: S216

Just above the harbour in St Mawes sits this detached period family house that sleeps six. Inside you will be greeted with an open-plan living/dining room, complete with a woodburner, three bedrooms and beautiful estuary views from most of the windows. Outside you will find an enclosed patio with steps up to a decked balcony, which boasts a stunning view of the sea.

Courtyard Deli and Kitchen. This innovative deli has found the perfect balance of high quality, locally grown produce mixed with a diverse menu, offering flavours and styles from different cultures and countries. And with the choice to eat in or take away, there’s every reason to give them a try!

Taunton SHOPPING IN

Nestled amongst the rolling hills of Somerset, Taunton offers the perfect place to shop till you drop at any of its fantastically diverse retailers.

This lively county town, that’s no more than a few minutes from beautiful countryside, is home to an array of shops and activities, so there’s always something to do. You can make the most of Taunton’s impressive selection of shops, both high street names and independent retailers, which are all situated on perfectly flat streets, so no struggling up hills whilst laden with your spoils of the day!

For those who aren’t always in the mood for retail therapy, Taunton

also offers a collection of museums and galleries, so some days can be spent in cultural contemplation.

With the redeveloped centre of town and recent additions to the retail section, Taunton really does offer a scenic and lavish shopping experience.

Ginger Fig Gifts and Gallery

Over at the Ginger Fig you’ll find a seamless selection of gifts for all. This lovely shop offers an array of gifts that range from contemporary design and British handmade goods to Fairtrade and eco-friendly products. And if this isn’t enough, the onsite gallery, which displays local artists, will surely have something to catch your eye.

Carol Anne Jewellery

Jewellery is the perfect way to enhance your individuality and where better to shop than at Carol Anne Jewellery, named one of the South West’s leading retailers of designer silver? Carol Anne provides a wide range of beautifully crafted pieces of jewellery, as well as boasting incredibly friendly and knowledgeable staff who will be delighted to help you find the perfect piece.

Hatchers

Taunton’s own department store is the place to pick up absolutely anything. This independent, family-run store is home to around 60 departments and 100 staff, so whatever you need there

Taunton Somerset

COTTAGES nearby...

will always be someone there to help you find it. Whatever you’re in the market for, be it appliance, clothing or homeware, Hatchers is a fine place to browse to your heart’s content!

The Scrumper Deli & Canteen

After a day of retail therapy, there’s nothing better than sitting down and relaxing with a spot of delicious and thoughtfully prepared food. At the Scrumper Deli, you’ll find a mouthwatering array of breakfasts, lunches and everything in between. The team at the Scrumper pride themselves on quintessentially South West food, but with a taste of the Mediterranean. So, whatever your flavour palette, there’s something to get your taste buds tingling.

NEAR TAUNTON

SURRIDGE FARMHOUSE: F75

On the edge of Exmoor, near Waterrow and sleeping nine, this detached, 17th century farmhouse is perfect for family get-togethers. It is surrounded by 80 acres of pasture and woodland, so days can be spent exploring. Inside, you’ll find character and comfort in the form of exposed beams, an inglenook fireplace and a games room.

ABOVE

A shining example of Carol Anne silver TOP RIGHT

The Scrumper Deli offers a delicious spread in style

LEFT

Gifts and artistry on display in the Ginger Fig

BELOW

Whatever you need, Hatchers has you covered this season

WOOTTON HOUSE: E12

This elegant country house, on the edge of Butleigh Wootton, sleeps 16. There are 1,000 acres of extensive surrounding land, which includes a large garden, croquet lawn and a hard tennis court. The house itself boasts comfort and refinement, with a large front hall, drawing room, French windows, fireplaces and eight bedrooms.

NEAR TAUNTON

NEAR TAUNTON

GLEBE COTTAGE: E64

On the edge of Wookey, you’ll find a smartly decorated and semi-detached cottage that sleeps four. Outside a pictureperfect scene is created by a meandering garden that leads to a river. The interior is perfect for those cosy country nights as it includes beams, wood floors and a large fireplace. Exploring the landscape of Somerset has never been more enjoyable than from this comfortable and much appreciated cottage.

River Dart Country Park

A holiday in the South West comes with an inherent sense of adventure, nowhere more so than at River Dart Country Park.

Set amid nearly 1,000 acres of Dartmoor National Park, the River Dart Country Park puts those who want to explore some of the finest scenery in England in pole position. With convenience for the miles of unspoiled Devonshire coastline, as well as activity days and action to keep all ages thrilled from start to finish, a holiday has never felt so much like an adventure.

Dare Devils

From March, you can kick-start the warmer months with a range of Dare Devil activities. Options include exploring the lake in Native

American Indian type canoes and testing your nerve as you high rope across the treetops and beat the indoor climbing and bouldering wall. Don’t forget to enjoy kayaking or water zorbing across the lake and even throwing yourself off the 15 metre high treetop platform and speeding down 150 metres of zip wire. Remember, who dares, wins!

Mountain Bike Hire

From rocky tors and grassy inclines to long, open, empty roads dotted with sheep, Dartmoor is a true cycling mecca. Experience the moors on two wheels by hiring a

mountain bike – and don’t worry, you’ll even get a helmet, lock, pump and repair kit: everything you need for a sunny afternoon ride.

Challenge Yourself

A far cry from what the name suggests, the Pamper Pole keeps adventurers coming back for more every year. Hook up to the rope and clamber to the dizzying heights at the top, before launching yourself off and attempting to touch a swinging ball. No mean feat!

River Dart Dartmoor

COTTAGES nearby...

In the tiny hamlet of Combe, through which the River Mardle meanders, is Cullaford Cottage for four, a haven from the modern world. With an enclosed lawn, oak-framed and well-equipped kitchen/ dining room, two living rooms and a woodburner, as well as two comfortably furnished bedrooms upstairs, Cullaford is a tranquil slice of rural Devon.

Eat Local at The Old Sawmill Café, Bar and Restaurant

Fully licensed and open daily from April to September, The Old Sawmill does its utmost to support local suppliers, so you know it’s good, whatever you order. Look out for the Oasis Beach Hut, too; located next to the pirate ship and lake and offering takeaways, as well as a range of freshly made sandwiches, ice creams and drinks, you’re sure to find that much needed energy boost here.

As its name suggests, Moorside is just a short half-mile walk from the open moor, making it perfect for adventurers and lovers of the outdoors. With four bedrooms that sleep six, as well as an enclosed, south-facing garden complete with its own tree-shaded lookout point with stunning views, Moorside is ideal for making the most of Devon’s famous countryside.

Beautifully converted from outbuildings, this detached, single-storey house for four enjoys three acres of wonderful walks, shrubland and even a lake. Inside, oak flooring, vaulted ceilings and two en suite bedrooms - one with lake views - make Blackberry Lodge a superbly relaxing place and well situated for exploring and adventure on Dartmoor.

ABOVE In all lights, this part of the world is simply stunning

For more information call 01364 652511 or visit www.riverdart.co.uk MAIN Go with the flow on the River Dart

PORT ISAAC TO PORTEATH Walk

Port Isaac

North Cornwall

An invigorating walk around rocky headlands, with secluded coves along the way and spectacular views across Port Quin Bay to The Mouls. An inspiring route in the springtime, when puffins, gannets and kittiwakes nest noisily on the cliffs.

Distance - 5.4 miles. Start - Cliff Top Car Park, Port Isaac (PL29 3AB)

1. From the south side of the harbour in Port Isaac, turn right up Roscarrock Hill and follow the narrow lane past the Wesleyan Chapel to the end of the road. Turn right, towards the cliffs, and go through the kissing gate and up the steps beyond. Follow the South West Coast Path around Lobber Point and with it drop down into Pine Haven.

2. Ignoring the path up the valley to your left, carry along the Coast Path as it climbs the steps ahead of you. The path follows the fence up and down around the ragged coastline for the next mile or two, giving you a wonderful workout with breathtaking views!

3. At Varley Head follow the Coast Path as it continues around Greengarden Cove and then Downgate Cove.

4. Dropping down into Port Quin, turn right on the road to pass the slipway.

5. From the mine shafts follow the Coast Path past Pigeon Cove and up to Trevan Point.

6. At Trevan Point carry on along the Coast Path, ignoring the path heading inland, and drop down to Epphaven Cove, making your way from there around Pennywilgie Point to Lundy Bay.

7. Reaching Lundy Bay, turn off the Coast Path and take the path

heading directly uphill on your left, climbing southwards to the top of the hill and then following the path to the road beyond to Port Quin Cross at Porteath, where you can catch the bus back to Port Isaac.

Nearby refreshments

There are a number of restaurants, pubs and tearooms in Port Isaac, as well as the Beehive Tearoom in Porteath.

Public transport

There are regular buses between Wadebridge and Rock, stopping at the car park by Polzeath beach as well as Port Quin Cross in Porteath (by the Bee Centre) and Port Isaac (Central Garage westbound and The Pea Pod eastbound).

Roseland Peninsula

ROSELAND PENINSULA Walk

This walk has magnificent views as well as plenty of historical and wildlife interest to enjoy along the way. There’s also a hidden beach to discover at Porthbeor.

Distance - 4.5 miles. Start - Place Ferry Landing Stage or St Anthony’s Head Car Park (TR2 5EZ)

1. From the landing stage, walk up the lane past Place House.

2. The Coast Path turns right off the lane and goes to St Anthony Church before wending its way past Cellars Beach and along the edge of the fields to Carricknath Point.

3. A little further on, the twin sandy beaches of Great and Little Molunan provide an ideal stopping or picnic spot before beginning the steep ascent to St Anthony Head.

4. Return the way you came to rejoin the Coast Path. The walk to and around Zone Point will start to open up views of Nare Head and Dodman Point away to the east. As you pass Porthbeor beach

(which can be reached by a steeply stepped path), take the short link path to the road. Turn right and then left to go through the tiny hamlet of Bohortha. Ignore the path going off to the right and continue straight on to return to the bottom of the lane near Place House and the ferry landing stage.

5. Finally you reach the open sweep of Towan Beach, and about half way along a bridle path to the left will take you the 200 yards to the road near Porth Farm. Turn right and follow it for a short distance to a footpath on the left hand side –this will take you around the edge of Porth Creek and back to the ferry.

Place House, St Anthony’s Head

Travel

Visit the Fal Riverlinks website for details of ferry services from Falmouth and Feock. www.falriver.co.uk

St Mawes can also be reached by bus from Truro. Western Greyhound 550 buses run between Truro and St Mawes, stopping at Gerrans Church, near Porth. For timetable information, zoom in on the interactive map and click on the bus stops at www.travelinesw.com

To discover hundreds more walks like this, visit: www.southwestcoastpath.com

so far... The trail

The Two Moors Way celebrates its 40th year of providing a truly beautiful, and at times challenging, route between the South West’s two greatest moors.

Stretching 102 miles from Ivybridge, on the southern edge of Dartmoor, to Lynmouth, on the north Exmoor coast, this walk covers an incredible array of landscapes. From rocky granite tors, heather-covered moorland, peaceful woods and fi nally to some of the highest coastal hills in England, there are endless shutterbug opportunities that ensure every day will bring new marvels.

The walk was the creation of Joe Turner and was offi cially opened on 29th May 1976. After Joe’s death in 2004, Dartmoor sculptor Peter Randall-Page created a tribute to his work: two halves of an inscribed granite boulder

now sit on the edge of each moor, separated by 30 miles of rolling countryside. In 2005, the Two Moors Way was linked with the Erme-Plym trail from Ivybridge to Wembury to create a coast-tocoast route.

How you tackle this wonderful walk is up to you. If you’re unsure of the best break points, then you can head to the Two Moors Way website to fi nd helpful advice and tips to make the most of your journey. You can also fi nd an extensive list of food stops across the way: it’s really important to plan in advance when embarking on an adventure like this. Some of the eateries listed are famous traditional pubs, which will

provide the perfect repose from a hard day’s march. In terms of accommodation, there’s a brilliant selection of holiday cottages nearby.

The coast-to-coast walk links with a number of other long-distance walking routes, offering the chance to experience different landscapes, so perfect for those who want to try something new.

The Two Moors Way offers more than just walking, though. There are multiple opportunities for exploring the surrounding area and all it has to offer. Spanning two National Parks means there are historical sites, ancient churches, pretty villages, fl owers, wildlife and stunning natural

Places of interest

Just a few of the landmarks and places of interest dotted across your journey: the River Dart at Newbridge, Grimspound Bronze Age settlement, Castle Drogo, Hittisleigh, Bradford Moor, Tarr Steps and Cow Castle Iron Age fort.

beauty to discover along the way. You can Tweet your experience by using the hashtag #twomoorsway. This, along with the new guidebook ‘The Two Moors Way – Devon’s Coast to Coast’ by Sue Viccars, is the perfect way to get a fl avour of what your journey could look like. It’s sure to get your walking boots itching for a good old hike across the moors.

On the website you can also find a compendium of stories from other hikers who share their time on the trail. It’s truly inspiring to read others’ thoughts and experiences, and there is definitely a recurring motif: the walk is life changing, and every walker needs to try it. So what are you waiting for?

COTTAGES nearby...

MICHAELMAS COTTAGE: A192

Situated on the edge of Drewsteignton and sleeping six, this is a very pretty and spacious, thatched cottage. With its own beautiful, high walled, enclosed lawned gardens, you can relax in comfort both inside and out with this cottage. The village shop and pub are located nearby, with riverside walks from the door.

MAIN IMAGE

Drewsteignton, Dartmoor TOP

The lush green lane to Weeke ABOVE

Clapper bridge on Dartmoor

THE MOUNT: F69

With fabulous views over the town and the surrounding wooded hills of the Barle valley, this elegant, detached Victorian house sleeps ten. Interiors are spacious with good use of colour, fabrics and artwork. Perched high on the hill above Dulverton, The Mount is a fabulous, spacious and comfortable house, brilliant for families.

[All images © Sue Viccars www.dartmoormagazine.co.uk]

Mark 40 years of walking history by grabbing your walking boots and backpack and heading out across the two moors on this breathtakingly beautiful trail.

For more information, go to www.twomoorsway.org

DULVERTON

COUNTISBURY VIEW: F94

Close to the shops, pubs and restaurants of Lynton, this first-floor apartment for four, with spectacular sea views over Lynmouth harbour to Countisbury Hill, is a great base for exploring and walking. Home-fromhome modern appliances and open-plan living make for a comfortable, convenient home with timeless views in a stunning part of Exmoor.

Find out more

Here’s just a taste of the places where you can refuel along the way: The Three Crowns, Chagford; The Devonshire Dumpling, Morchard Road; The Mitre Inn, Witheridge; Tarr Farm Inn, Dulverton, and The Exmoor Forest Inn, Simonsbath.

Padstow Team favourites

CAROL POTTER

Booking Confirmations Manager

We talked to Carol Potter, who has worked for Helpful Holidays for 15 years, about her favourite holiday so far. “It has to be our hols in Padstow this year for ‘Obby ‘Oss Day… I’d always wanted to see it.” She and her family stayed at Mount Pleasant for the week. “We were really pleased with the house. It’s situated in a quiet position, but within easy reach of all that Padstow has to offer, so we had the best of both worlds, peace and quiet when we wanted, but the hustle and bustle just a few minute’s walk away.”

Carol continues the story: “The town was already draped with flags and a maypole ready for the celebrations and I was eager to get

out and experience this famous, centuries old, Cornish tradition. But first we had some exploring to do!” Padstow is a popular working harbour with plenty of pubs, cafés, restaurants, independent shops and galleries to explore and, of course, all the comings and goings of the boats in the harbour to watch.

I asked Carol for the highlight of her stay: “Oh, that has to be the day itself. In the morning the children parade first, then at 10am the Blue ‘Oss leaves its stable to parade around town with its drummers, accordionists and supporters, followed by the Red ‘Oss at 11am with its supporters. It really is fabulous, noisy and very dramatic. Eventually, the ‘Obby ‘Osses

retire to their stables at dusk… but the supporters are less easily quelled, returning to the maypole at midnight for another rousing chorus. The next afternoon we discovered the festivities starting up again, without the ‘Osses, but the singers, drummers and accordionists were entertaining everyone outside the pub. And that continued all week, with smaller groups of supporters meeting up to sing and drum and entertain through the town. What a fabulous thing to be part of!”

She tells me: “I don’t usually book another holiday straight after finishing one, and never to the same place… but I did this year. We’re going back for ‘Obby ‘Oss Day next year, though sadly not the same house. I had to book a bigger place so some friends, who I’d been raving about it all to, could come as well!”

Discover more

house sleeps seven with a large secluded front garden, just a short walk from the

Challaborough

South Devon

CHRISSY PHILLIPS

Copywriter

Chrissy joined the Helpful Holidays team in 1998, after working in Africa with VSO, for what was meant to be a temporary stop-gap job. Eighteen years later, she regards herself as very lucky to be still working for Helpful Holidays and living in the pretty little town of Chagford.

“I’ve enjoyed working in all sorts of jobs, like firefighting and teaching, but helping people have happy holidays has to be one of the best,” she says.

“Although I grew up on a Dartmoor farm, I went away to school and travelled, so didn’t have much opportunity to get to know the West

Country. When I came to work for Helpful Holidays, the secret little villages, stunning countryside and beautiful beaches around cottages I was inspecting were a revelation.

“And, having assumed ‘self-catering’ meant backpacker-hostel style with the added ‘luxury’ of a crusty cooker and cast-off furniture, I was amazed by the luxurious cottages Helpful Holidays let. Since seeing the light, I’ve been inspired to try out some of the lovely places!”

Chrissy explains how her holidays have evolved with her family.

“When there were just two of us, we’d head with Bertie the Jack Russell to a cosy cottage somewhere remote, like Folly Cottage [F95] on Exmoor, with lots of footpaths to walk and a village pub nearby for supper.

“Now with the addition of two littlies plus Grandma, our favourite places are on the coast where all generations can enjoy swimming, sandcastling and rockpooling on a sandy beach, with a comfortable cottage base nearby.

5 Beachdown [L308], a new build

within a few yards of Challaborough Beach in Bigbury Bay, has become a new Phillips family favourite.

“The waves for bodyboarding are brilliant and 11 year old Archie loves practising his surfing skills, with boards to hire locally, then we run straight home in wetsuits for hot showers.

“We eat out mostly at local pubs, which are great for fresh seafood, and the wonderful Journey’s End in Ringmore is handy for mid-route refreshments when walking the Coast Path which passes the house. The sea tractor adventure through the waves to Burgh Island is always a hit too.”

Chrissy’s extended family grows each year, and a big festive gathering has become something of a tradition. “We book a huge house for a weekend in early December, like Park Farmhouse with its indoor pool, before everyone disperses for Christmas. We enjoy country walks, rowdy suppers, exchange presents – and even once danced The Gay Gordons and an Eightsome Reel in the grand hall of Wootton House!”

What’s on

Rain or shine, food or festival, Cornwall has something for everyone as it’s blessed with a vibrant and thriving culture. While the classics, such as the Eden Project and Cornwall’s picturesque beaches, still hold their own, Cornwall has a cornucopia of events to offer, so get those diaries out and don’t miss a thing!

EVENTS DIARY

JANUARY

Oct 15 - Feb 19 Ice Skating at Eden Eden Project, St Austell

Dec 17 - Jan 7 Mousehole Christmas Lights Mousehole

Dec 31 - Jan 1 New Year’s Eve Party St Ives

Jan 1 - Feb 28 Pup Season Seal Sanctuary, Gweek

Feb 4

Sounds of Philadelphia and Motown Regal Theatre, Redruth

Feb 6 St Ives Feast and Hurling the Silver Ball St Ives

Feb 13 - 17 Terrific Tudors Pendennis Castle, Falmouth

Feb 18 - 19 Apple Grafting Weekend at Cotehele Cotehele, Saltash

Mar 1 - 6 St Piran’s Day Celebrations Falmouth, Bodmin, Redruth, Perranporth

Mar 4 World Pasty Championships Eden Project, St Austell

Mar 5 Shappi Khorsandi Redruth

Mar 17 - 19 Cornish Arms Beer and Mussel Festival Padstow

Apr 1 Cadbury Easter Egg Hunt

Godolphin, Helston

Apr 1 - 2 Cornwall Spring Flower Show

Lostwithiel

Apr 8 - 16 St Endellion Easter Music Festival

Port Isaac

Apr 14 - 17 Trereife Easter Food and Craft Fair Penzance

May 1 St Ives May Day St Ives

May 1 St Agnes Bolster Festival St Agnes

May 6 Port Eliot Dog Festival Saltash

May 6 Flora Day Helston

Jun 8 - 10 Royal Cornwall Show Wadebridge

Jun 10 - 18 Polperro Music Festival Polperro

Jun 12 - 18 Walk West Cornwall Porthleven, Helston, Penzance

Jun 16 - 18 Falmouth Classics Regatta Falmouth

Jan 7 Cinema by the Sea - Richard II Looe

Jan 9 Launceston Market in the Square Launceston

Jan 13 The Battle of Boleigh Hill Penzance

Jan 18 - 19 Swan Lake Hall For Cornwall, Truro

Feb 19 Half-term Seed Planting Trengwainton Gardens, Penzance

Feb 22 Dave Manington’s Riff Raff Charlestown

Feb 26 Urban Survivor Falmouth

Feb 28 The Drink of Kings Tintagel Castle

Mar 23 - 31 Falmouth Spring Flower Show Falmouth

Mar 24 - 27 Oyster and Cornish Produce Festival Falmouth

Mar 25 - 31 Boscastle Walking Week Boscastle

Mar 30 - Apr 17 Falmouth Spring Festival Falmouth

Apr 22 - 23 Porthleven Food Festival Porthleven

Apr 22 - 24 Art8 - Newquay Arts and Cultural Festival Newquay

Apr 28 - May 1 Scubafest 2017 St Austell

Apr 29 Saltash May Fair Saltash

May 6 - 13 Fowey Festival of Art and Literature Fowey

May 12 - 14 St Ives Food and Drink Festival St Ives

May 26 - Jun 4 Open Studios Cornwall Krowji, Redruth

May 29 - Jun 4 Fal River Festival Falmouth

Jun 17 - 24 St Austell Feast Week St Austell

Jun 23 - 28 Golowan Festival Penzance

Jun 24 - 25 Looe Food Festival Looe

Jun 30 - Jul 2 Tunes in the Dunes Perranporth

What’s on

2017 is shaping up to be an amazing year for events. Plymouth Pavilions have a truly impressive line up and Devon delivers yet again with a varied choice of fun family days out. So have a browse of our Events Diary and find the perfect way to spend your day and enjoy the beauty that is Devon.

EVENTS DIARY

JANUARY

Dec 26 - Jan 1 Magic of Christmas

Seaton Tramway

Dec 31 - Jan 1 New Year’s Eve Extravaganza Ball and Fireworks

Brixham

Jan 1 Beauty and the Beast Exeter Corn Exchange

Jan 6 Comedy at the Palace Palace Theatre, Paignton

Feb 1 3tc Present ‘Henry V’

Brixham Theatre, Brixham

Feb 1 Tots Go Wild Outdoors

Occombe Farm, Paignton

Feb 6 - 21 Snowdrop Valley Wheddon Cross, Exmoor

Feb 8 - 9 The Source Trade Show Westpoint, Exeter

Mar 4 - 5 StarTrek Night Walk Challenge

Ilfracombe

Mar 5 Al Murray - The Pub Landlord Exeter Corn Exchange

Mar 5 - 6 Omid Djalili - Schmuck for a Night Babbacombe Theatre, Torquay

Mar 9 Elbow

Plymouth Pavilions

Apr 5 Kids Spring Bake Off! Occombe Farm, Paignton

Apr 8 Feast of Fiddles

Exeter Corn Exchange

Apr 8 The Rod Stewart Story

Exmouth Pavilion

Apr 13 - 17 Circus du Hilarious Babbacombe Theatre, Torquay

May 3 Brixham Fish Market Tours

Brixham

May 5 Drawing from RAMM’s Collection

Royal Albert Memorial Museum, Exeter

May 6 Jimmy Carr

Plymouth Pavilions

May 12 - 14 Dart Music Festival

Dartmouth

Jun 3 - 4 Exeter Respect Festival

Exeter

Jun 3 - 4 Torbay Air Show

Paignton

Jun 9 - 11 The Contemporary Craft Festival

Bovey Tracey

Jun 10 - 18 Ilfracombe Victorian Celebration Ilfracombe

Jan 7 Wassailing Walk Cranbrook

Jan 8 Dolls House and Miniature Fair Westpoint, Exeter

Jan 17 Circus of Horrors Exeter Corn Exchange

Jan 18 Think Floyd Princess Theatre, Torquay

Feb 13 Kids Winter Warmer Cookery Occombe Farm, Paignton

Feb 16 Lord of the Dance Northcott Theatre, Exeter

Feb 19 Totnes Good Food Sunday Market Market Square, Totnes

Feb 22 The Witches Little Theatre, Torquay

Mar 17 - 19 Chagword Literary Festival Chagford

Mar 19 - Apr 30 Easter Egg Hunt Babbacombe Model Village and Gardens

Mar 25 The Delicious Dart Trail Totnes

Mar 25 - 26 Exeter Mud Run and OCR Escot Park, Exeter

Apr 27 - 29 Tucker’s Maltings Beer Festival Newton Abbot

Apr 29 - May 1 Festival of South West Food and Drink Exeter Castle

Apr 29 - May 1 Pirate Festival Brixham

Apr 30 Salcombe Crab Fest Salcombe

May 13 Exeter Pride Gandy Street, Exeter

May 18 - 20 Devon County Show Westpoint, Exeter

May 26 - 29 The Hunting of the Earl of Rone Combe Martin

May 27 - 28 Brixham Heritage Sailing Regatta Brixham

Jun 16 - 18 Gold Coast Oceanfest Croyde

Jun 22 - 25 Shaldon Music Festival Shaldon

Jun 24 - 25 Film and Comic Convention Westpoint, Exeter

Jun 25 Torbay Half Marathon Paignton

What’s on

Dorset and Somerset might be the pinnacle of English countryside vistas, but this is by no means all these beautiful places have to offer. From exploring the idyllic towns and villages, to attending one of the many festivals on offer, there’s a good time to be had by all.

EVENTS DIARY

SOMERSET

Nov 18 - Jan 2 Bath On Ice, Victoria Park

Bath

JANUARY

Dec 30 - Jan 1

Sherry and Mince Pies

Avon Valley Railway, Bristol

Jan 1 In Steam Day

Westonzoyland, Bridgwater

Jan 8 Haynes Breakfast Club

Haynes Motor Museum, Sparkford

Jan 25 - Feb 4 Chitty Chitty Bang Bang

Hippodrome Theatre, Bristol

Feb 1 - 28 Winter Opening at Dunster Castle

Dunster

Feb 2 Ghost Walks of Bath

Feb 6 - 8

Garrick’s Head, Bath

Russell Howard

Hippodrome Theatre, Bristol

Mar 8 - 11 Little Shop of Horrors

Mar 11

Redgrave Theatre, Bristol

Downside Open Day

Downside Abbey, Radstock

Mar 12 Vitality Bath Half Marathon

Bath

Mar 16 - 20 Bristol Jazz and Blues Festival

Bristol

Apr 1 - 10 Jimmy Carr Colston Hall, Bristol

Apr 10 - 22

Blood Brothers

Hippodrome Theatre, Bristol

Apr 27 - 30 Spring Steam Gala

West Somerset Railway, Minehead

Apr 28 - May 1 Abbey Hill Steam Rally Yeovil Showground

May 1

Kingsbury Episcopi May Festival

Kingsbury Episcopi

May 11 70s Party Night

Wincanton Racecourse

May 26 - Bath Fringe Festival

Jun 11 Bath

May 29 Sherborne Castle Country Fair

Sherborne Castle

May 31 - Royal Bath and West Show

Jun 3 Bath

Jun 2 - 4

Let’s Rock Bristol! The Retro Festival

Bristol

Jun 17 - 18 Armed Forces Weekend

Weston-super-Mare

Jun 19 Large Blue Butterfly Open Day

Glastonbury

DORSET

Nov 7 - Jan 4 The Great Reindeer Hunt

The Teddy Bear Museum, Dorchester

Jan 15 Poole Harbour Bird Boats Poole Quay

Jan 19 - 22 Faulty Towers - The Dining Experience Lighthouse, Poole

Jan 26 Lee Hurst Tivoli Theatre, Wimborne

Feb 3 Marty Wilde and the Wildcats Tivoli Theatre, Wimborne

Feb 3 - 4 Beerex Festival Corn Exchange, Dorchester

Feb 11 - 19

Half-term at Corfe Castle Corfe Castle

Feb 15 BSO Tea Dance

Kinson Community Centre, Bournemouth

Mar 2 - 5 Blues and Roots Festival Swanage

Mar 9 Sam Bailey Lighthouse, Poole

Mar 16 Fire Walk for Forest Holme Wimborne

Mar 21 - 22 Frankenstein Lighthouse, Poole

Apr 2 Bournemouth Bay Run

Bournemouth

Apr 14 - 17 The Giant Easter Egg Hunt Abbotsbury Subtropical Gardens

Apr 29 Tiger Day

The Tank Museum, Bovington

Apr 30 Dorset Knob Throwing and Food Fest Kingston Maurward College

May 6 Weldmar’s Colour Run Weymouth

May 12 - 13 Tank Experience Day, Tank Museum

Bovington

May 19 - 21 Poole Harbour Boat Show Poole

May 26 - 29 Lyme Regis Jazz and Blues Weekend Lyme Regis

Jun 3 Jurassic Coast Women’s Trek Swanage

Jun 10 - 11 Swanage Fish Festival

Swanage

Jun 11 - 17 Food and Beer Festival

Bridport

Jun 12 - 14 Jurassic Coast Golf Tournament

Dorchester, Lyme Regis, Bridport

Last words...

We speak to James Strawbridge, chef, entrepreneur, television presenter and sustainable living expert on life, family and the all-important pasty.

Q. What do you love most about living in Cornwall?

A. The thing I love most about living in Cornwall isn’t the amazing landscape and friendly people, nor is it the chilled-out lifestyle you can build here. It is quite simply the ability to eat a good pasty pretty much wherever I am and at any time of day. Pasties are one of my favourite foods and this is undoubtedly the centre of the pasty universe. Check out www. poshpasty.co for some of my own favourite pasty recipes...

Q. Did you always want to be a chef?

A. Initially when I was growing up I wanted to become a landscape gardener, so I studied Latin and horticulture to try and learn how to grow my own food. Then at university, when I was studying environmental history, I started working as a chef full-time to pay for my course. The job quickly became what I loved more than the degree. As soon as I finished my course, I decided I wanted to learn more about rearing and growing my own food and how to prepare, preserve and cook it. My journey to becoming a chef was definitely born out of a deep respect for the ingredients and a love of the outdoors.

Q. What is your favourite recipe?

A. My favourite recipe at the moment is probably my Korean Belly Pork with Peanut Brittle. I love the delicate barbecue profile that Korean food has and learning about new ingredients from around the world, in this case Gochujang. Then

case some Buttermilk peanut brittle

my favourite part is adapting the exotic inspiration to use local muchloved Cornish components - in this case some Buttermilk peanut brittle and local Primrose Herd pork.

Q. How do you juggle a busy work life with a young family?

How do you juggle a busy work

A. I have three gorgeous young children, all under the age of five, so juggling my work and home life is always pretty difficult. The way I do it is to cook with my children as often as possible. They all have their own knives and I blend my own recipe development with cooking with them. I also always try to go on at least one coastal walk a week with my family to remember why I live in Cornwall and why I’m working so hard.

Q. With a multi-faceted career history - what has been your favourite project to work on?

A. I’ve been extremely lucky to work in many different fields with a career that has given me lots of unusual opportunities. I would say that my favourite project was managing an eco-tourism venture on a desert island in Fiji. I spent four months as a sustainability manager and got to grow pineapples, make coconut oil, grow vegetables, dig underground ovens, spear fish, erect wind turbines and even play rugby with the locals. The whole experience had a lot in common with my Cornish lifestyle and definitely has inspired my cooking ever since.

Q. What do you do to relax?

A. I read Lucky Peach magazine, go gig rowing on the River Fowey, get

tattoos when I can at Shoreline in St Ives and spend lots of time cooking. I also love to relax by singing and have recently joined a local community choir in Lostwithiel that allows you to bring your children along to the group - it’s the first time I’ve done anything like this, but it’s great fun.

Q. Where is your favourite place in Cornwall?

A. I’m a very big fan of Fowey and the surrounding area, but my favourite place is probably Lantic Bay. It’s a stunning beach only accessible via a steep walk down from the coastal path and it’s one of those where out of season you can find you’ve got the whole beach all to yourself.