Huge holiday homes for large groups - the big attraction

Sheafhayne, Yarcombe, East Devon

A growing trend for large group holidays is making our big holiday houses more popular than ever, with many of our customers finding that clubbing together with your nearest and dearest means that you don't need to wait for a special celebration to spend a fun, sociable week in grand surroundings. 

Some of our large holiday homes are indeed very grand, and you really can become lords of the manor for a week. For instance, you could take over Sir Francis Drake’s shooting lodge (Sheafhayne), or stroll around the 'Court of the Sovereigns' (at Cadhay).

Lamellen House, St Tudy, North Cornwall

Many also offer large, private gardens, many with acres of beautiful countryside, within which you are free to roam. For instance Lamellen House has 18 acres of woodland gardens and grounds with a well-known collection of camellia, rhododendron, magnolia, conifer and many other species of plants and trees, while Rashleighayes is set on a 150 acre working farm.

These big houses offer much more than grand surroundings, however. Parnacott House has everything you need to keep the family occupied: TV/DVD, toys, dressing-up boxes, puppet theatre, children’s videos, PlayStation 2, Wii and a snooker table.

Blagdon Manor, Collaton St Mary, Devon

Often one of the benefits of booking a big holiday house is the luxury of a swimming pool - you'll find a fine outdoor pool at Blagdon Manor and indoor pool at Western House. Or, if lounging decadently in a hot tub is more your style, try The Barn or Brimpts Barn.

Take a look through our 2013 Big Houses Brochure, or use the Advanced Search function on our website to see which of our big houses best suits your family and friends. And of course you can always call us for human help on 01647 433593.

Planning a big event?

The Royals can't be the only ones with a big event on their hands this year but we don't all have a palace to fall back on for the venue.

If you’ve been tasked with planning a ‘do’, fear not! Helpful Holidays can come to your rescue with huge holiday homes and grand houses suitable for large gatherings, both formal and informal. True to our name, we can answer any questions you have about the suitability of our big houses to help you find the best match to your needs.

Here are two suggestions that would be perfect for a once-in-a-blue-moon get together over the summer or Christmas holidays or for a special celebration or small conference at any time of year.

Outstanding Brimpts Barn is right in the heart of Dartmoor National Park, where the East and West Dart Rivers meet in a beautiful wooded valley. It sleeps 32 people if you are prepared to bunk up, otherwise 20 very comfortably in ten double or twin bedrooms, all en-suite.

Spectacularly positioned amid trees looking across the deep valley to open moorland and tors, it is one of five ancient tenements of the moor and has been farmed by the same Dartmoor family for more than 30 years. The owners have received a wildlife habitat award from Prince Charles, as well as farm diversification and food producer awards. Cream teas have been available in the farmhouse since 1914 and as the Visitors’ Book of 1933-1947 catalogues, even during the war people found holiday refuge at Brimpts.

Part of the joy of staying here is the range of both energetic and gentle activities available. Most popular are the farm tours by Landrover, but there is also climbing and abseiling instruction on the 30’ high climbing tower, mountain biking tours, orienteering, pony riding – or simply enjoy a scenic walk or a soak in the hot tub.  

Stunning Rashleighayes Farm, sleeping 16 and set on a working farm with its own outdoor pool, is the ultimate fusion of work and play. Just 1½ miles from Bickleigh Bridge and 3 miles south of Tiverton, this is a house of tremendous charm, a special place of ‘treasured isolation’ in its own deep, hidden, beautiful and unspoilt valley.

The original 17th century house has been sympathetically extended. Its south-facing patio and enclosed lawn garden complete with barbecue are great for lazy summer days. The owner is a farmer and environmentalist who will be delighted to show you round the 150 acre working farm, winner of a Devon Wildlife Trust Silver Award and Highly Commended in the 2008 'Britain's Most Beautiful Farm' awards.

The big comfortable living room and enormous kitchen/dining room are ideal for relaxing and socialising and there’s plenty to keep you entertained in the games room with 10’ home-cinema/TV screen, baby grand piano and half-sized snooker table.

We’ve hand-picked around 600 of the finest self-catering holiday cottages in Devon, Cornwall, Somerset and Dorset. Take a look at the rest of our Big Houses to find a special place for your event.

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Go large in 2011 with one of our big houses…

For those with bigger broods or grand ambitions, a big house can provide enough space for a special family reunion, a weekend with friends, or even a wedding. The West Country has a fantastic array of huge houses in beautiful locations, and we're lucky enough to have a wide variety of them on our books.

Secluded farmhouses, historic manor houses, vast converted barns, seaside houses overlooking delightful beaches - all are available to rent through Helpful Holidays for your exclusive use.

Don't be fooled by the name, because Little Bocombe in north Devon sleeps 14 in a big detached house and separate cottage chalet. This Arts and Crafts style Grade II listed house is comfortable and very welcoming. It has a proper big house feel, with a big hall-cum-dining room with original floorboards, and an equally big fitted kitchen with an oil-fired Aga. Two sitting rooms, both with open fires, have lovely garden views. Upstairs there's four bedrooms, with another two in the cottage chalet. There's a spacious feel outside too, with the property surrounded by 9 acres of mature gardens, daffodil woods and pasture.

Sheafhayne, in east Devon, is a superbly positioned, Grade II listed, Elizabethan manor house, formerly Sir Francis Drake’s shooting lodge. This is an incredibly grand place. As soon as you enter through the big stone entrance porch and heavy ribbed oak door, you'll see why it was likened by the Sunday Times to ‘a full-sized game of Cluedo’. 24 people can be easily housed amongst these regal surroundings, which include a huge, medieval, walk-in ornamental fireplace, a billiard room, William Morris-designed wallpaper, a piano, a four door Aga, a proper old-fashioned larder/wine store and former butler’s pantry, four staircases, eleven bedrooms, five bathrooms and four shower-rooms. You could easily get lost in here!

Brimpts Farm is set on the hillside above Dartmeet, Dartmoor, and is one of five ancient tenements of the moor, passing to the Duchy of Cornwall in 1307. 700 acres of forests, tors, stone circles, East Dart river and open moor encircle a farmhouse and a huge, L-shaped, detached barn which has been converted into accommodation for as many as 32 people if you are prepared to bunk up, otherwise for 20 very comfortably. Part of the joy of staying here is the range of activities available, including farm tours by Landrover, climbing and abseiling instruction, guided walks, mountain biking tours, pony riding and orienteering, all set in the most beautiful countryside. If you prefer more gentle recreation, the farm has a number of scenic walks and a large hot tub and sauna to relax in.

Read more about our big houses and find one that's just right for your special occasion. They are very popular throughout the year, so be sure to book well in advance.

Tretawn, a gem in north Cornwall...

Tretawn is a handsome 16th/17th century manor house surrounded by five acres of garden and woodland, just outside St Kew in north Cornwall.

Sleeping 14, the house is spacious and comfortable with a warm, homely atmosphere. It is steeped in history with many original features and has retained all of its charm and character despite modernisation.

Its caring owners have just added a brand new swimming pool, complete with changing room and shower, for guests to enjoy. The pool is connected to the original games room, and together with the lounge, creates an excellent recreation area. Outside, there's more than enough space for energetic youngsters or a gentle stroll.

There's plenty to keep you entertained at this property, but you're also in an ideal spot to explore further afield. Spend a day on the beach at splendid Polzeath or more intimate Port Gaverne, visit legendary Tintagel Castle or perhaps cycle along the Camel Trail from Wadebridge to Padstow?

Tretawn is an exceptional family house, very private and ideal for large gatherings and celebrations.

Read the comments of holidaymakers who have stayed here.