Chagford Cricket Club - Youth Update

We're delighted to be sponsoring the youth section of Chagford Cricket Club, and we're into the second year of a five year commitment.

We're always pleased to hear the Club's latest news, so Chris Mount, Cricket Youth Development Officer for Chagford Cricket Club gave us the following update:

"What a 12 months we've had since the end of the last season. On the back of the successful 2011 inaugural season, four people took coaching qualifications during the winter.

We also put our first young player forward for district trials. He was successful, trained with the South Devon Under 9 squad through the winter and has now played two matches for them. All of this whilst under 8 so he is still able to be selected in 2013.

With the introduction of the new coaches we were able to open the club sessions for 2012 to younger players, so children as young as five and six came down on Friday nights to start their cricketing journey.

What a season 2012 has been. With the continued and generous support of Helpful Holidays, Chagford Youth Cricket was able to take a giant step forward from our first year.

In 2011, we had 64 members, managed five training sessions in three age groups, had three coaches and three assistants and played two matches. We coached cricket in two schools and ran an after school club in another.

The Dartmoor Cup was formed (an inter-Primary School Competition) which saw four schools take part.

In 2012, we had 108 members, managed nine training sessions in five age groups, had six coaches and six assistants and had teams ready to play in 24 matches. One of the big introductions this season has been the addition of four managers to the organising party. Their tireless work during a difficult rain-soaked season made a vast difference to the coaches and the professional communications between coaches and children made a logistical minefield seem smooth.

We coached cricket in four schools and ran after school clubs in each. The Dartmoor Cup developed further and, driven forward by Chagford CC, brought Lewdown CC and Hatherleigh CC into the organisation. As a result 10 schools took part with 20 teams battling it out over two days for the Trophy, Shield and Cup. We also attracted an additional sponsor, Bovey Castle, who championed the schools competition.

Sponsorship from Helpful Holidays was also instrumental in setting up the exciting and completely new Under 9 Super Sundays! Up to eight teams from five clubs engaged in friendly coaching-driven matches for the under 9 and under 7 age groups. This proved very successful and we hope to develop this competition next season.

We're very proud to say that we entered our first girls team into a competition at Topsham CC this season, and if the rain hadn’t intervened, we would have hosted a competition at Chagford for six girls teams… Next year, maybe!

Chris Mount (R) with HH's Moray Bowater

Although our Chagford Youth Cricket season has drawn to a close, our season is not complete. Several of our Under 15 squad are playing senior matches against touring teams, and are pushing for 2nd team league places. We're hosting an Under 13 county match in August and our Under 11 team are playing the district Under 9 team in a friendly match on 14th August. Six of our most promising Under 9 players are having additional training throughout August and will enter district trials in early September."


Congratulations to everyone involved on a successful 2012 - it's great to see boys and girls of all ages taking part, having fun and achieving fantastic results.

If you're staying in one of our holiday cottages in Chagford, check the fixtures and pop down, you'll be made very welcome.

Postcards a thing of the past? Not when you go somewhere as pretty as Flushing…

Flushing, a pristine Cornish village beside the Penryn River estuary, is a picture-perfect location you’ll want to write home about.

This is the ideal place for settling down in front of the view and penning some postcards as you watch boats sail past. The local events scene will give you plenty of inspiration too, not to mention vibrant Falmouth just across the water and nearby Trebah and Glendurgan gardens.

Flushing Carnival takes place on 28th July this year while Falmouth holds its inaugural arts festival from 7th to 16th September. SPLASH will play host to artists and writers including Michael Morpurgo, the award-winning author of War Horse and former Children's Laureate, and the renowned illustrator and author Michael Foreman.

Seafood lovers will want to make a trip in October for the Falmouth Oyster Festival from 11th to 14th October. This event marks the start of the oyster dredging season at one of the last remaining traditional oyster fisheries. It is followed shortly after by the Fal River Autumn Walking Festival from 19th October to 4th November – a great chance to explore and learn about this beautiful corner of Cornwall on a guided or self-guided walk.

Clottage (pictured above and right), a much loved holiday cottage by the water in Flushing, is a favourite with return visitors. Its peaceful location and estuary views, as well as the good pubs and friendly locals, add to its charm. Clottage is within easy reach of the sheltered sandy and rock pool beaches at Falmouth, which is also home to the National Maritime Museum.

Take a look at our other holiday cottages in Flushing and discover this hidden gem of a place to stay. 

Happy holidays, come rain or shine...

All-weather attractions are great to have on your holiday itinerary. Add these to your to-do list and be ready for rain or shine this summer.

EWEtopia

The Big Sheep in Bideford has one of the best indoor play centres you will find. EWEtopia is even suitable for any age, so mums, dads and grandparents can indulge their childish side too. Plenty of fun outdoors too, including quirky events like duck trials and sheep racing. Stonehaven Cottage at Horwood, north Devon, is the wing of a handsome detached house converted from 16th century barns: a fitting place to rest your head after exhausting the family in the play barn.

Lanhydrock House

Lanhydrock House and Pencarrow House and Gardens make two fantastic day trips just a short drive from stylishly renovated, ancient Dunn Cottage in Boscastle. Lanhydrock’s servants quarters and luxurious family areas give the Victorian house a sense of social history while largely Georgian mansion Pencarrow is still owned and occupied by descendants of the family who settled there in the 1500s. After touring these intriguing houses, enjoy the fresh air and panoramic vistas while exploring their extensive grounds and woodland walks.

Carnglaze Caverns

An underground tour of Carnglaze Caverns, St Neot, can’t be ruined by the weather. The three caverns and subterranean lake make a unique concert venue and self-guided tours are a daily event. Retreat to contemporary Christmas Cottage, set in 24 acres of private woods and paddocks – a haven for nature lovers and perfect base for walking and pony trekking.

The shared indoor swimming pool and games room add an entertaining dimension to a stay in one of four attractive cottages on this farm in Lustleigh, on the eastern edge of Dartmoor. While the swimming costumes are drying off, there’s more than enough to do indoors: table tennis, snooker and plenty of children’s games. On fine days, enjoy walks on the owners’ 35 acre farm or perhaps riding, fishing and golf, all nearby.

Of course, when the sun does comes out, you’re never far away from a beautiful beach in the West Country, so have your buckets and spades at the ready!

Take a look at the superb holiday cottages still available in July and August for a last minute break.

Happy holidays!

It’s all happening in Chagford!

Chagstock

The Fun Lovin’ Criminals and KT Tunstall are on their way to Devon and you can join them!

They are playing the Chagstock Festival – the ‘biggest little festival in the South West’, in aid of Devon Air Ambulance Trust and Water Aid.

The event takes place just outside the pretty Dartmoor town of Chagford – our home town – and originated as a private party for around one hundred people, back in 2003. The two-day festival takes place 20th and 21st July and there are a few tickets left if you want to head along.

Take your pick of Dartmoor cottages available the week of the festival.

Chagford Show

Devon Air Ambulance is also supported by a more traditional Chagford event: Chagford Show. Taking place on 16th August, this is an opportunity to see the area’s farming industry take centre stage. Livestock, produce and equestrian displays make for a grand day out in the Devon countryside.

Take your pick of Dartmoor cottages available the week of the show.

Holiday cottages near sandy beaches…

What do the shimmering sands of West Country beaches say to you? Sandcastling? A horse ride along the shore? Surf’s up? Whatever your reason for loving the beach, take a look at this selection of holiday cottages near sandy beaches – all with availability this July and August.

Newquay has five magnificent beaches and at least one is always sheltered. Famous for surfing, new and seasoned surfers gather here all year round, with classes and wet suits at the ready for anyone who needs them. Spindrift overlooks Whipsiderry beach, voted one of the ten finest beaches in Europe by Sunday Times Travel, and is positioned perfectly for a coastal path walk out to Porth Island.

The coastal village of Charmouth in Dorset offers dramatic Jurassic Coast views. The sandy and pebbly beach is popular with fossil hunters and is about 7 minutes' walk from the The Old Manor House, a beautifully and carefully refurbished 16th century Grade II listed building.

There’s a great sense of history down at St Mawes in Cornwall, where two beaches would have once been watched over by royalty at Henry VIII’s castle. Coppers is within easy walking distance of St Mawes beaches and village centre, with a beautiful south-westerly view over St Mawes River and Falmouth Bay. See the coastline from a different angle by catching the pedestrian ferry across to Falmouth.

Kellaton in the South Hams is ideal for those looking for a sandy stretch of beach to stroll along. The sleepy, tranquil hamlet with occasional vehicle and horse-rider passing through is a mile from the lovely, unspoilt sandy beach at Lannacombe and coast path to Start Point. Enjoy the peace and quiet at Orchard View.

For more West Country holiday cottages close to sandy beaches with availability this summer, click here.