Top 5 Reasons Why Cornwall Holiday Cottages Offer The Best Rural Escape

For centuries Cornwall was a land apart from the rest of Britain, with its own language, dress and folklore and the beautiful Tamar River forming a natural border. Today we speed there with ease, but Cornwall still gives that magical feeling of escaping from the rest of the world, with the thrill of leaving the pressures of modern living behind for a while.

We’ve picked out the five main reasons we think Cornwall holiday cottages offer the best rural escape – not a simple thing to do from a land with myriad delights. See if you agree …

1. The holiday cottages. Cornwall holiday cottages come in all shapes and sizes. We’ve traditional cottages in pretty fishing villages, swish penthouse apartments and rambling country houses with smuggling history. Whether it’s a simple romantic break, a family summer holiday that dreams are made of, or a jolly gathering of friends – there are holiday cottages in Cornwall for all.

2. The beaches. At over 250 miles, Cornwall has more coastline than any other county and its beaches are amongst the best in the world. Hidden coves surprise you and great stretches of sand glow, all edged by azure sea. Many are dog friendly, promising fun and larks for four-legged friends staying in our dog friendly holiday cottages.

3. The activities. A rural escape doesn’t necessarily mean lounging (although we all love a bit of that!), especially when the great outdoors is so inviting. Walking the iconic South West Coast Path, surfing, coasteering, SUPing, even swimming on horseback, recharges your batteries and sends you home buzzing.

4. The places to visit. History, heritage, culture and sheer quirkiness – Cornwall has them all in spades! From iconic landmarks like St Michael’s Mount and the Eden Project to the Minack Theatre and a profusion of art galleries, there’s so much to explore. And for the ultimate escape, the great gardens are places to lose yourself in and dream. This is a county of surprises and revelations which stay with you long after you leave your Cornwall holiday cottage.

5. The food and drink. A cottage holiday in Cornwall isn’t complete without the gastronomic adventure! The food and drink are fresh, bountiful and delicious and after buying fish direct from the boats, supermarket shopping is never the same again. A feast fit for kings can be whipped up at a self catering holiday cottage in Cornwall. Or welcoming pubs and award-winning restaurants tempt you to dine out – top chefs are flocking here for our fantastic produce.

New holiday homes to help with your 2012 summer plans…

Still deciding where to holiday this summer?  Well, put the kettle on and get ready to be inspired!

We’ve just released our second 2012 colour supplement, adding another 26 self-catering cottages and country houses in coast and country locations to our portfolio - now 635-strong!

Waterside locations are bound to be top of the list now the sunny weather has arrived. If it’s a big family affair, how about J33, a large detached house for twelve peacefully situated on the bank of the Grand Western Canal in mid-Devon?

Or try L151, a stylish cottage for six tucked away on the water’s edge at Turnchapel, with views over bustling Plymouth harbour. There’s also P62, a smart bungalow sleeping six just 200 yards back from north Cornwall’s Widemouth Beach, and T12 is a pretty Grade II listed cottage for five within a mile of Praa Sands in far west Cornwall.

New places in countryside locations include E23 (pictured left), a pretty thatched cottage for four in the Somerset hamlet of Cricket Malherbie and G97, a retreat for two on the magnificent Cadhay estate in east Devon.

For a free copy of the new supplement and our main 2012 brochure, call us on 01647 433593; or search, check availability and book online at www.helpfulholidays.com.

Our 2012 brochure is out...

You'll find an even greater choice of holiday cottages in east Devon, Dartmoor, South Hams and Cornwall for 2012. The number of places carrying our top 4½ or 5 star rating has also risen, reflecting our holidaymakers' demand for high quality places to stay.

The new brochure (our 30th!) is packed with more than 560 holiday homes throughout the West Country, ranging from romantic retreats for two up to big country houses sleeping a maximum of 48 guests; prices are from £167 to £6,440 per week. The portfolio also includes several Dorset cottages within easy reach of Weymouth for the 2012 Games sailing events.

Q10, SeaDrift, Mawgan Porth

We've continued to see high levels of enquiries from both holidaymakers and home owners. Our General Manager, Moray Bowater, comments, “People booking holidays this year have been seeking value, but are happy to pay a good price for top properties and high standards of service. We believe our quality/price ratio is a major factor and are confident that the market will continue to grow at this level.”

Now in our 30th year, we estimate nearly two million people have stayed in our properties. “We are grateful to everyone who gave us their trust in our early days and the many who have continued to holiday with us almost every year,” continues Moray Bowater.


E20, Stonedge Cottage, Bath

All of our holiday homes are regularly inspected and star rated by our team so we can advise you honestly through first-hand experience and help you find just the right place for a happy holiday.

30 of our holiday homes carry a top 5 star rating, whilst 55 have 4½ stars; 80 have use of a heated swimming pool, some have private moorings or fishing rights; others are on working farms and most have stunning views across countryside or out to sea. Many are within ambling distance of the beach or local pub, and over half welcome pets. We also have some exceptionally plush, big and beautiful places - 73 sleep ten or more and many can organise catering and maid service. Something for everyone!

For a free copy of our 2012 brochure, call on 01647 433593, order or download a copy online or email help@helpfulholidays.com. Every property in our brochure is also featured on our website.

View a list of all the new properties in our 2012 brochure.

Happy browsing!

More stunning springtime gardens...

Cotehele estate near Saltash makes the most of a scenic sheltered spot - albeit 1,289 acres big - on the west bank of the river Tamar. The 15th century house with its historical garden and woodland has inspired artists, keen gardeners and wildlife enthusiasts throughout the centuries. The formal gardens outside the main house overlook a valley garden with a medieval dovecote, pond, Victorian summerhouse and 18th century tower. The estate is dotted with interesting historical buildings including Cotehele Mill, Cotehele Quay, the Chapel in the Wood, the ruins of Danescombe's Sawmill and Papermill and the mines of Danescombe Valley. Being so close to the Devon border, you can praise the floral assets of both counties with a stay at this unique converted chapel.

A spring ramble through Burncoose Gardens and Nursery, part of the Caerhays Estate in Redruth, is a great opportunity to see this hilltop horticultural hotspot covered with snowdrops, primroses and wild violets, and later the daffodils and blankets of nodding bluebells. Like Lanhydrock, Burncoose works wonders with the cooler version of Cornwall's microclimate and has gold medals from Chelsea, Hampton Court and many other nationwide flower shows. Its sprawling woodland gardens and old flower garden are rich with the likes of camellias, azaleas and rhododendrons, as well as over 20 species of bamboo. When you've ticked those off your checklist, compile another one in the tranquil wooded gardens of this homely apartment in St Agnes.

The Japanese Garden and Bonsai Nursery takes the bamboo theme and elaborates, bringing authentic Eastern gardening styles and exotic varieties to the West Country.
Japanese maples, azaleas and rhododendrons and ornamental grasses make this a little slice (one-and-a-half acres) of Japan, just outside Newquay. Add to that the specialist Bonsai store and you can take a piece of Japanese horticulture home with you. This all-Cornish cottage at Mawgan Porth is the ideal place to ‘zen out’ afterwards.

Glendurgan Garden near Falmouth is listed by the National Trust as one of its top springtime gardens, and we agree. Described as a little bit of heaven on earth, this sub-tropical valley garden blooms with magnolias, wild flowers and woodland flora. You can wander through the garden down to the beautiful hamlet of Durgan on the Helford River. You can walk back to this comfy holiday home and enjoy the lovely, long rural views.

There are over 60 amazing gardens in Cornwall to visit, so you’re sure to find one or more within easy reach of your holiday cottage in Cornwall.

We've focused on Cornwall here but there are, of course, many beautiful gardens in Devon too which have glorious springtime displays, like Killerton, Coleton Fishacre and RHS Garden Rosemoor.

Which are your favourites?

We know how to pick them...

We've been busy finding more good places for happy holidays in the West Country.

Our first colour supplement of 2011 features 44 self-catering cottages and country houses sleeping from 2 to 48 guests in a variety of scenic locations, many with stunning views across rolling countryside or out to sea.

As always, we've star rated and inspected them all and can wholeheartedly recommend them. Our telephone team (01647 433593) are all experienced property visitors and will be delighted to guide you.

Highlights include a stunning house for 12 overlooking Mevagissey harbour on Cornwall’s south coast and a magnificent 300 year old stone-built house sleeping eight with views of Restronguet Creek, west Cornwall.

There’s also a great choice of smaller places such as a beautifully furnished 18th century detached cottage near Newquay and a Grade II listed house on Dartmoor converted from barns, both sleeping six. Also on Dartmoor is a recently refurbished granite cottage for four on an estate built for the Jameson whisky family, while for couples seeking a romantic getaway, there’s the former Georgian bathing house (pictured) beside the river Dart in Devon’s South Hams. Prices range from £209 to £3,612 per week.

Don't forget, if you'd like to curl up on the sofa with a cup of tea, our 2011 brochure and our new supplement, you can request a free copy online or by calling us on 01647 433535.

With a discerning eye, we're always on the look out for new properties to add to our portfolio. We hope you like our latest selection.

Happy reading!

Join in St Ives Feast in Cornwall on 6th and 7th February

Stay in a cottage in far west Cornwall from Saturday 5th February and join in the fun at St Ives Feast. On the 6th, a spectacular parade weaves through the cobbled streets with musicians, local residents and children wearing ivy in remembrance of St Eia, the patron saint of St Ives, who is said to have travelled to Cornwall from Ireland on a boat of ivy. 

The Feast Day on 7th February features a unique tradition - Hurling of the Silver Ball or Cornish Hurling when contestants try to keep possession of a small wooden ball coated in silver.

Within easy walking distance of the festivities, but in a quiet no through road, is this stylish modern house for six priced at £324 for the week.  

We’ve lots of holiday homes in Devon, Cornwall, Somerset and Dorset for you to choose from. We’ve visited and star rated them all and can tell you about each one in detail. To find just the right holiday cottage, use our advanced search or call us on 01647 433593.

Panto season – oh yes it is!

A principal boy played by a woman, a dame played by a man, chants of “He’s behind you!”, two men in a horse costume, a good fairy, an evil villain, and the obligatory guest celebrity – it can only mean one thing, the panto season is upon us again!

A wide variety of performances can be enjoyed in the West Country this year – here are a few notables, with places to stay for each:

In Truro, the Good Fairy's best magic is tested to the extreme in Sleeping Beauty at the Hall for Cornwall. With a little help from the audience, we think she’ll prevail. A peaceful nap awaits at Nansavallan Farmhouse.

TV's Sandra Dickinson takes the lead in Snow White & the Seven Dwarfs (pictured) at the Exeter Corn Exchange. Off to Swallow Barn Cottage you go.

At the Theatre Royal in Plymouth, squeaky-voiced comedian Joe Pasquale stars as Muddles in another production of Sleeping Beauty – or should that be ‘Squeaking Beauty’… Admire the ever-changing scenes at Riverside.

Dick Whittington is the choice at Exmouth Pavillion, with a ‘daring, thigh-slapping adventure’ guaranteed. It’s the cat’s whiskers at The Quay. 

The good folk at the Flavel Theatre in Dartmouth will perform Cinderella – the popular tale of a pretty young girl who lived with her father, stepmother and ugly stepsisters. Will she find her glass slipper – and her Prince? Have a ball at Oak Tree.

Celebrity spotters might be interested in another performance of Cinderella, at the Playhouse in Weston Super Mare, starring Coronation Street's Sean Wilson, Eternal's Kelle Bryan and A Touch of Frost's John Lyons. Back to Glebe Cottage before midnight!

And last but not least, another performance of Cinderella at the Pavilion Theatre in Bournemouth, stars Carry On and Corrie star Amanda Barrie, Last of the Summer Wine’s Tom Owen and Chris Jarvis from CBeebies.  Don’t lose your slippers at Poppy Cottage (pictured above). 

Interview with Gorgs Geikie – Part 2

Helpful Holidays has been sponsoring the British number one Lady Pistol Shooter Georgina ‘Gorgs’ Geikie for the past year – here’s part two of our interview with this young Olympic hopeful.

We were interested to get an insight into Gorgs’ training regime: “I do 3 or 4 hours a day of fitness training, which could be a mixture of working out in the gym, running and even horseriding. I shoot for 1.5 hours per day. But there’s a lot more to it than that – shooting is 95% psychology. You have to train your body and mind to react under pressure exactly as you want them to – to simply fire a shot. To do that you have to be completely in the moment, keep it as simple as possible. That’s not as easy as it sounds – when the pressure’s on, and noise is all around, absolute clarity and concentration is so important.”

After winning a bronze medal in Delhi, Gorgs’ sights are understandably firmly set on our home Olympics in 2012. “If I could win one tournament it would be the London 2012 Olympics. First I need to qualify for the GBR Team in order to be able to compete in World Cup competitions next year. Qualifying for the Olympics will be really hard - final selections are made at the start of 2012 and there’s only space for one from my event. But I can do it – and what’s more, I can win gold.”

Gorgs’ task has been made tougher with the news that funding has been reduced, meaning she has to rely heavily on sponsors to pay for her travel and training costs. “Sponsorship enables me to continue training and competing nationally and internationally. The first event next year is in Australia, so costs for that are quite high. All help is really gratefully received – without it I wouldn’t be able to continue competing.”

Helpful Holidays has been proud to be a sponsor of such an exciting and dedicated young talent – we wish Gorgs the very best for 2011 – and of course 2012!

Find out more about Gorgs by visiting her website: http://www.gorgs4gold.com. You can also follow her on Twitter and Facebook.

Interview with Gorgs Geikie – Part 1

Helpful Holidays has been sponsoring the British number one Lady Pistol Shooter Georgina ‘Gorgs’ Geikie for the past year – and what a year it has been. Gorgs was part of an extremely successful shooting team at the Commonwealth Games in Delhi, bringing home a coveted bronze medal – the second of her career. We caught up with Gorgs last week to get an insight into the life of a young Olympic hopeful.

“India was a great experience, the conditions and facilities were much better than had been reported before the Games. The opening ceremony was very special – the Indians put on an amazing show, with lots of fantastic colours everywhere. We sneaked a big St George’s flag into the stadium, and ended up on the cover of the next day’s Hindu Times!”

The 22 strong English Shooting Team were extremely successful in Delhi, bringing back 19 medals between them. “Team spirit was fantastic, thanks to our team manager Peter Underhill, who held regular team meetings with us to keep morale high. Conditions were very hot and humid, but there was an area with air conditioning to cool down. In any case we had already held a test event in Delhi in February so we knew what to expect.”

Georgina’s bronze medal in Delhi was won in the women’s 25m sport pistol pairs alongside her partner Julia Lydall – who was the first to congratulate her: “I had fired my last shot, and put my gun down, still in the zone. Next thing, Julia runs up to me, and points above my head – I didn’t know what she was pointing at! She shouted ‘look, look, England bronze!’ and showed me the scoreboard. I was so excited and we both jumped up and down for several minutes!”

We’ll post some more from Gorgs later this week, including some insights into her training regime and her plans for the future.

Find out more about Gorgs by visiting her website: http://www.gorgs4gold.com. You can also follow her on Twitter and Facebook.

New Year cottages with indoor pools...

Looking for something a little different this New Year? How about going for the life aquatic with a cottage with an indoor pool?

The 16th century Merryfield Farmhouse in St Cleer, in the foothills of Bodmin Moor, has been restored with much enthusiasm and flair. It is now an extremely comfortable, spacious home with - in a barn across the yard - its very own indoor heated swimming pool. To have this on your doorstep is very special, and there’s also a sauna and shower-room to boot. As if that wasn’t enough, there’s a big games room with table tennis, pool table and darts. Inside, the farmhouse is well furnished, with an oak-beamed living room with enormous, granite inglenook lintelled fireplace and original bread oven, and an enormous, well-equipped fitted kitchen/dining room – plenty of room for everyone, but with a cosy feel. Sleeps 7.

This collection of four thatched cottages, brilliantly and individually converted from barns, are nestled in 30 acres of farmland in East Devon. There’s plenty to keep the kids occupied here - as well as a large games room with table tennis, a pool table and table football, there’s also an indoor heated swimming pool with changing room and showers. Cider Cottage is beautifully decorated, and very luxurious – two of the bedrooms have magnificent four poster beds. Sleeps 6.

These four much praised, attractive cottages in Dartmoor, all share an indoor heated swimming pool and an absolutely huge games room with table tennis, a half-sized snooker table, a pool table, football game and children’s games – so everyone can get competitive with an inter-family tournament or two. In addition, you are welcome on the owners’ 35 acre farm which includes moorland with Dartmoor ponies, sheep, and chickens (egg collecting by arrangement). Tor Field Cottage is elegantly but simply decorated, with a large kitchen and living room in which to comfortably see in the New Year. Sleeps 6.

And don’t forget, there’s a 10% discount on all our holiday cottages over Christmas and New Year. This offer is for a minimum 3 night stay and cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer.

View a full list of our holiday cottages available over New Year.

We’ve lots of holiday homes in Devon, Cornwall, Somerset and Dorset for you to choose from. We’ve visited and star rated them all and can tell you about each one in detail. To find just the right holiday cottage, use our advanced search or call us on 01647 433593.

10% off New Year cottages – Cornwall…

Here are two beautiful Cornish holiday cottages available over New Year with a 10% discount*…

This 300 year old cottage in St Veep, south Cornwall, has been beautifully renovated and completely refurbished with flair and style, with lovely long rural views. Inside, lots of ceiling beams, exposed stone-work, slate, mahogany and oak floors, are smartly coupled with Laura Ashley furniture and fabrics. A spacious yet cosy living room boasts an inglenook fireplace with woodburner, and there’s also a lovely French oak kitchen with electric four-oven Aga. For the perfect New Year’s Day walk, there’s a footpath going prettily down to the River Fowey and along to Lerryn (about 4 mile round trip). Sleeps 9. 

This splendid detached house is a rebuild of an old mill near the village of St Kew, north Cornwall. The all new interior is smart and of excellent quality - family-friendly and beautifully thought through with fine, historical botanical and wildlife prints. There’s a large open-plan living/dining/fitted kitchen with all-important double oven gas range and a cosy woodburner. There’s also a games room with half-size snooker table and a snug/children’s play den with TV/DVD. Upstairs there’s five bedrooms which sleep up to 9.

We’ve lots of holiday homes in Devon, Cornwall, Somerset and Dorset for you to choose from. We’ve visited and star rated them all and can tell you about each one in detail. To find just the right holiday cottage for your festive break, use our advanced search or call us on 01647 433593.

View a full list of our holiday cottages available over New Year

* This offer is for a minimum 3 night stay and cannot be used in conjunction with another special offer.

Festive sparkle…

We've picked out some of the best Christmas events coming up:

28th Nov: Padstow Christmas Lights (pictured) will illuminate this beautiful harbour town and the voices of the Padstow Carollers will fill the air with traditional hymns. From 3rd to 5th December there’ll be lots of seasonal treats, entertainment and a Christmas market during the magical Padstow Christmas Festival.

3rd to 5th Dec: Candlelit Dartmouth will get you into the spirit of Christmas and provide lots of ideas for stylish and unusual gifts. Enjoy the processions of beautiful handmade paper lanterns winding through the narrow streets, the street stalls, the carol singing, Father Christmas' arrival by boat, the hot chestnuts and much more.

5th Dec: Soak up the festive magic during Dulverton by Starlight when this unique Exmoor town is transformed into a twinkling delight. Explore a wealth of independent shops to find those special gifts, watch Father Christmas arrive with his reindeer and enjoy the carol singing and firework finale.

18th Dec: The famous Mousehole Harbour Lights (pictured) will be switched on with an open air carol service adding to the festive atmosphere. The tiny fishing village has retained its original character and charm and is a special place to visit, especially at Christmas.

Check our special offers for last minute deals on holiday cottages in the West Country or give us a call on 01647 433593.

Holidaymakers love Cornwall...

We think the South West is a very special part of the world. Biased because we live and work here? Perhaps, but it seems we're not alone. The general public has recently voted Cornwall the 'Best UK Holiday Destination' at The British Travel Awards 2009.

There are so many lovely places to stay; it's difficult to choose! How about this five star delightful house (pictured) with breathtaking sea views in the beautiful village of St Mawes on the sheltered south coast? Set in landscaped gardens, it's welcoming and warm and has been totally renovated and newly equipped in 2009 with a contemporary-style.

There's plenty to see and do too. On your doorstep, it's just two minutes’ walk to the Castle and coastal walks and only a short stroll to the sandy beaches, shops, restaurants and harbour, or you can catch the ferry across to the bustling resort of Falmouth and visit the National Maritime Museum. Perhaps head to Cornwall's small capital city of Truro or the not-to-be-missed Eden Project, both within half an hour by car. We know you love Cornwall as much as we do and look forward to welcoming you to one of our holiday homes soon.

Watch the ebb and flow...

For peaceful seclusion, there could hardly be a better choice of holiday location – detached, with unobtrusive neighbours, fantastic views, warm, comfortable, and a lovely east facing balcony, where you can enjoy breakfast and watch the little one-track train plying back and forth all day between St Ives and St Erth on the main line, and plot the ebb and flow of the tide against the rocks on Carbis Bay beach.

And in the very best part of Cornwall – the mild, very beautiful, south-west peninsula, virtually surrounded by sea, and everything within easy reach – St Ives , 1½ miles away along a beautiful coastal path in one direction, and Lelant, 2 miles, away in the opposite direction, both with option of train or bus return journey; the splendid variety of shops in Penzance (6 miles away), the beautiful surfing beach (and the masses of beautiful primroses along the coast path in Spring) at Sennen Cove, for example.

The chance for more serious walking, a large number of interesting gardens/ancient sites within easy reach, an excellent leisure centre in St Ives offering swimming pool and a variety of things to do, good eating places, or just to sit and chill out and gaze at those fantastic views, almost everywhere you go. And Tesco a stone’s throw away.

We’ve made 5 visits between 2001 and 2008 – says it all really.