Tuesday 26 February 2013

From London to Rio - with a little help from Helpful Holidays



As regular readers of this blog will know (see a recent post here), for the past few years we've sponsored local Olympic athlete Georgina (Gorgs) Geikie, who won a place on Team GB at London 2012 as the first ever British women’s pistol shooter.

We're delighted to announce that Gorgs has now signed a new four year sponsorship deal with us as she begins the long road to Rio 2016. As the sport can offer no funding to the competitors, Gorgs must self-fund, and she is therefore campaigning rigorously to find sponsorship for the next four years. We have taken on the role of principle platinum sponsor.

As our PR Manager Helen Hayes says, “We’ve watched Georgina develop as an impressive and committed athlete, and believe she has the talent, determination and ambition to achieve a gold medal for Great Britain in 2016. The West Country can be very proud of her, and at Helpful Holidays, as her principle sponsor for the next four years, we are delighted to be able to help Georgina along the road to Rio.”

Says Gorgs: “London was a fantastic learning experience. There is no way I could have anticipated the emotional intensity of competing as an Olympic athlete, with the honour of representing my country, in front of a home crowd. I worked for years to prepare for those few seconds of absolute focus and concentration. I will take everything I learned at London forward to Rio, and I know I am capable of winning gold in 2016.”

That means it’s straight back to work for Gorgs with a rigorous training and competition schedule. Join us in wishing her the very best of luck! 

You can follow Gorgs' progress on her website, on Facebook and on Twitter.


Wednesday 13 February 2013

A Chagword in your ear…


Click here to read the Chagword brochure

We are delighted to be the main sponsor of Chagword literary festival. Held right in our very own backyard – the pretty little town of Chagford – this inaugural weekend-long event has attracted a tremendous line up of the good and the famous from various areas of the world of books and writing.

Some very dedicated and imaginative organisers, plus Dartmoor’s rich literary heritage, have attracted an eclectic mix of literary talent – with authors ranging from bestsellers (Sydney-born Kathy Lette and historical novelist Kate Mosse) to literary heavyweights (novelist, critic, blogger and stand-up comedian A.L. Kennedy), from academics and broadcasters (Jonathan Dimbleby) to popular children’s authors (Philip Reeve).

Completing the line up are former Labour MP Chris Mullin, gothic comedy writer Malcolm Pryce, Austen and Waugh specialist Paula Byrne, picture book writer and illustrator Simon James, poet and nature writer Miriam Darlington and a musical slant will be offered by Neil Sorrell.

Clearly the programme offers an event for every literary taste. The festival runs from 15-17th March 2013, and full details of the event programme, timings, presenters and tickets can be found at http://www.chagword.com, or follow @Chagword on Twitter.

There’s still time to book a cottage nearby – use the Advanced Search function on our website to see all of our cottages available. And of course you can always call us for human help on 01647 433593.

Thursday 7 February 2013

Half term special offers showcase



Need a cottage for some half-term fun? Take a look at these special offers available in some of our carefully selected holiday homes, all recommended as great places for happy holidays:

Save 20% on the remaining February weeks at this pretty, whitewashed cottage (one of a row of four) about ¼ mile from St Minver – and 2 miles from Rock, ideal for kids with sandy beach, watersports and sailing school. Surrounded by meadows off a very typical Cornish hedgerow lane, the cottage has a neat walled garden and an enclosed lawned garden. Inside there’s two bedrooms – a double with long rural views, and a twin. A great retreat after a fun day on the beach. Sleeps 4, pets welcome.

This superb conversion of a detached, single-storey ‘olde’ smithy, is very smart and hugely convenient for touring Devon and Cornwall. It’s situated in Combebow, a hamlet in a wooded valley just north-west of Dartmoor – close to Lydford, Okehampton and Launceston. There’s a large, very private, mostly lawned, enclosed garden with patio and you are welcome to walk the owners' 30 acres of bluebell woods – plenty of space for tiring out energetic legs! Save 20% on the remaining February weeks. Sleeps 4, no pets.

Save 20% the week commencing 15th February at this charming, 17th century, semi-detached granite cottage in the farming village of Ponsworthy. At the back, granite steps lead up to an enclosed, sloping lawned and terraced garden, carpeted by snowdrops in early spring, and there’s riding stables nearby if you have little horse whisperers in tow. Sleeps 4, pets welcome.

See all our West Country cottages for half term, or use the Advanced Search function on our website to see all of our cottages available. And of course you can always call us for human help on 01647 433593.

Top Photo Credit: Justin Beckley