Relaxing winter breaks...

Love him or hate him, Jack Frost’s arrival heralds peace and tranquillity on the moors and coastal paths of the West Country. It's the perfect time to enjoy a restful break at a cottage in the countryside or by the sea.

The temperature drops and the nights draw in, meaning a warm fireside is all the more appreciated after a wander through crisp woods or along a beach. 

Too much exertion? Spend a lazy afternoon with the papers over a pint or two of local ale at a country pub or in the comfort of your cottage. Relax and revitalize before or after the Christmas revelry.

An excellent spot for those seeking peace, nature or a romantic hideaway, The Linhay is a  secluded, detached, ‘upside down’ cottage for two, newly converted from a sturdy granite barn. A mile from Ilsington, in the tiny farming hamlet of Lounston, there is good walking from the doorstep on footpaths and quiet lanes. After a bracing walk, the Carpenter's Arms is a good spot for a pint and a bite to eat.

A delightful hideaway with exposed beams and oodles of space for two, Court Farm Cottage is a comfortable and stylish cottage in Newton Ferrers, tucked away in a pretty spot 100 yards from the local church with good food pubs nearby. A lovely area, there's plenty of excellent walking to be had beside the lake-like river Yealm estuary or at sandy Mothecombe beach.

If you can't get away for a full week, we take 2, 3 and 4 night bookings at many of our holiday homes from November through to the week before Easter. Read more about our short breaks.

Visit our website to view all our holiday homes and use the advanced search to help you find a cosy place to stay (cottages with an open fire or woodburner or cottages near a pub, perhaps), read other holidaymakers’ comments or call us on 01647 433593 for human help.

48 new holiday homes to choose from!

As regular visitors to our Facebook page will know, we’re always introducing fantastic new holiday homes to our portfolio and it’s great to see that our ‘new property’ galleries are so popular with our fans.

We hope you’ll give an equally warm welcome to our first colour supplement of 2012 - one of our biggest ever, with 48 new and returning properties since we published our main brochure. 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 to just the right place.

There’s an exciting selection too, sleeping from 2 to 17 and with prices ranging from £290 in early February to £3,850 in peak season – something to suit all tastes and budgets.

Weir Cottage

For those drawn to the coast, how about Weir Cottage, a charming, stone-built cottage in Millbrook, south Cornwall, or Trevarna, a Grade II listed, recently renovated four-storey house in Cawsand? Both have stunning waterside locations and lovely views.

Abbots

If you’ve got a big brood or a wide social circle, gather together at handsome Abbots in Combe Raleigh, east Devon, a comfortable family house with room for 16, or host a celebration at beautiful Soldon Manor in Bradworthy, north Devon, a historic mansion house sleeping 14.

Sunnybank

Those who crave five-star luxury will feel right at home at Sunnybank, an excellent, large Grade II listed house in Dittisham, South Hams. This lovely property has stunning views and sits in a fabulous location for sailing, walking and beaches.

And speaking of location, right in the middle of Dartmoor National Park you’ll find the remarkably cosy Swallow’s Nest, perfect for two, with superb walks available in all directions from the door.

Browse the supplement online or call us on 01647 433593 to request a free copy to be sent to you by post. We hope you like our latest selection – which is your favourite?

October foodie heaven...

The West Country is renowned for its abundant, tasty produce and is home to many celebrated chefs.

Next month is bursting with mouth-watering foodie events, so what better time for an autumn break?


We've selected a few to whet your appetite...

Mitch Tonks

Exmoor Food Festival 30th September to 9th October  



Boscastle Festival 1st to 2nd October

Celebration of Food 1st to 31st October

  

Falmouth Oyster Festival 13th to 16th October

Dartmouth Food Festival 21st to 23rd October

We've some fabulous holiday cottages still available during October where you can enjoy your tasty treats or perhaps experiment with your own culinary creations?

Get ready for an eventful August…

If you like your August holidays jam-packed, you're in for a treat in the West Country this year. Here are some of our favourite events, with some suggestions for places to stay nearby...

You'll find Red Arrows and pasties - and lots more - at the Fowey Royal Regatta which runs from 14th to 20th August. Fowey week includes some really competitive racing, the Carnival, a pasty eating competition (when you can meet the Red Arrows team), a fireworks display and gig racing too! The Red Arrows display will take place on 18th August at 6:30pm. Stay at: Penpol.

If you're in the Dartmoor area, why not pop along and see us - yes, us! – at the Chagford Show on 18th August. You’ll find our stand beside the main ring so do drop by at Pimms O'Clock as you wander round this varied collection of traditional country activities, all in stark contrast to the freestyle mountain bike stunt team performing in the display ring! Stay at: Rookwood Cottage.

For those of you who find it really hard to wait until 5th November each year, the British Fireworks Championships runs from 16th to 17th August in Plymouth. This most anticipated event will see thousands of spectators heading up to the Hoe for two evenings of entertainment culminating in spectacular fireworks displays from six companies seeking the coveted title of British Firework Champions. Stay at Apartment 19.

Music lovers will love the Bude Jazz Festival, well known for its sense of joy and fun! It opens on 27th August and proceeds to enjoy itself immensely all week, including many a late night jamming session. Bring your trumpet and join in! Stay at: Highdown Cottage.

Top chefs cooking in a Fish Market, a big-fish filleting challenge, displays of locally caught fish and seafood, live music and lots of other entertainment on land and water - this is the Newlyn Fish Festival from 28th to 29th August. Dont miss the hilarious raft race, which raises funds for the town’s Christmas lights. Stay at: Bethany.

The Great Dorset Steam Fair, from 31st August to 4th September at Tarrant Hinton near Blandford Forum, has grown from humble origins to covering an enormous showground. It’s a great opportunity to see how people lived, worked and played in bygone years, with steam tractors, horse drawn ploughs, vintage cars and motor bikes. Stay at Poppy Cottage.

And finally, let off some hot air at the Westcountry Balloon Fiesta from 3rd to 4th September. Keep your fingers crossed for some good weather as up to 30 balloons are expected to fly across the Tamar from Tavistock, with all proceeds going to local and regional charities. Stay at Hayloft.

It’s not too late to book a holiday this August and enjoy some of these fabulous events. Take a look at the cottages still available this month in Devon, Cornwall, Somerset and Dorset.

You can check our ‘Explore the Area’ map on each property details page for more event ideas near your cottage too.

Have lots of fun, whatever you do!

We've been nominated for a British Travel Award!

Fantastic news! Helpful Holidays has been nominated by the British Travel Awards in the Best UK cottage/self catering booking company (UK properties) category. We're delighted to be shortlisted amongst the very top national UK agencies.

The British Travel Awards are acknowledged as the most definitive and largest monitor of public opinion on the performance of travel and tourism providers. Shortlisted companies are nominated by travel industry professionals, but it is the leisure holidaymakers whose votes finally determine the winners. The results will be announced at a glittering ceremony on Wednesday 2nd November at the Battersea Evolution in Battersea Park, London.

Welcoming the unexpected accolade, our General Manager, Moray Bowater, said, “This is a great credit to our team and home owners, as well as a testament to the level of service and quality of properties offered by Helpful Holidays overall. Our holidaymakers and home owners’ views are at the very heart of the awards programme and we’re seeking their support by asking them to cast their votes. If our service has met or exceeded their expectations, they can register and vote online; as a thank you for their time, they will be entered automatically into a prize draw with the chance of winning some great holidays and other rewards.”

The British Travel Awards are widely considered to be the ‘Oscars’ of the travel industry. BTA’s Chief Executive, Lorraine Barnes Burton, said, “It’s the largest awards programme in the UK, created to reward travel companies, and the winning accolade is the benchmark for excellence when it comes to finding out who really is the best in the business of travel for the UK consumer.”

We’re one of 13 companies nominated in this category, most of which are big, national players covering the whole of the UK. So we need your votes if we’re to win!

Please support us by clicking the voting button below. Please tell your friends and family to vote too, your votes could make all the difference.

 

You don't need to vote in all the categories, just those which interest you.

You'll find our category under the question

"Who are the best hotels and accommodation booking companies?".

The deadline is 30th September 2011.

Thank you!

Romance is good for the soul...

... and if you need an excuse to treat the one you love, we’ve some secluded bolt-holes, far away from it all, for Valentine's Day.

For a touch of grandeur, how about staying in a stylish apartment with stunning sea views in Acton Castle (pictured) in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in Cornwall? Right by the coast path and sandy coves, you can breathe in the spectacular scenery on a romantic walk, or mooch around popular St Ives, only 8 miles away, visit the Tate gallery and ching glasses in a cosy restaurant.

Or perhaps a more intimate retreat in an idyllic country setting? This charming cottage in Dorset is a perfect getaway for snuggling down in the flickering fire-glow. Take a look at our special places still available in Devon, Cornwall, Somerset and Dorset for a romantic Valentine’s break...

More properties than ever before for 2010

Wonderful to see a significant number of new properties in Dartmoor and Exmoor National Parks as well as Devon’s South Hams in our 2010 brochure. We now offer over 600 places to stay in Devon, Cornwall, Somerset, Dorset and Hampshire sleeping from two to 37 guests. Something for everyone! And it's simple to find your perfect getaway with our advanced search facility.

Amongst our new additions is ultra-modern O’Sullivan House (pictured) - an award winning, architect-designed property for ten, which forms part of the estuary sea wall in the popular sailing resort of Salcombe. Passing river-life and ever-changing seascapes can be watched from two terraces and a balcony over the water, while below the house is a small sunny lawn and two boat moorings. Inside enormous windows along three sides and a glass-floored area give an ‘on-the-water’ feel and unrivalled 180 degree views up and down stream. Truly a spectacular setting at any time of year to relax and unwind.

The perfect blend of ancient and modern…

We ventured southwards deep into unknown East Devon lanes on a gloriously warm early March day, leaving a surprisingly dusty cloud for spring behind us. Farmers on the rush, dragging massive rollers across grass meadows and spreading fertiliser with their hopes fixed on that first cut of silage hopefully before Devon County Show in mid May so they can squeeze a few hours away before life becomes too hectic.

Eventually gentle wooded valleys with a blush of green lead to the ancient site of Sutton Barton Farm with its 500 acres of arable and dairy and a holiday home with a mixture of ancient old features and the modern facilities of saunas and hot tubs – who’d have thought them so useable in mid March! It might even be warm enough for a bar-b-que in the sheltered terrace next to the massive games room with its own bar – sadly you have to stock it yourself…

An ancient Collie dog lies flat-out in the sun-lit courtyard and cows can be seen getting their first taste of spring grass in a distant field. It’s nearly 10 years since Sutton Barton and Helpful Holidays first got together and many, many bookings later it remains one of the most popular of the 600 plus holiday homes the company has on offer.