Top spots to celebrate New Year in the West Country…

There are lots of towns renowned for New Year frivolities in the South West – thousands of revellers hit the streets in fancy dress, making for a fun, friendly and irreverent night, culminating in spectacular firework displays, often reflected in the black, inky sea below.

Bideford Fancy Dress

If you can think of it, someone will be wearing it in Bideford, from grown men in nappies to ladies in rabbit costumes. 20,000 visitors mean all the Quayside pubs are packed, and people mingle and dance in the streets. As midnight approaches, many gather on the medieval Long Bridge to watch the fireworks and listen to the parish church bells ringing in the New Year. Get into costume at Peelers Cottage.

Said by The Times to be in the top four places in the UK to celebrate New Year, the small Cornish town of Looe again sees huge numbers of people in fancy dress fill the pubs, restaurants and streets before a fireworks display on the Banjo pier. If fireworks are your thing, prime viewing spots are the promenade and beach at East Looe or the eastern end of Hannafore promenade. Start your countdown at Samuels Cottage.

Revellers in Looe

People from miles around flock to Cawsand as the entire village dons fancy dress and goes promenading before fireworks on the beach at midnight. Large groups often have themed dress: there were 24 carrots one memorable year and someone dressed as a policeman was teased all night until he revealed himself to be the real thing!  To wash away the hangovers, there's a charity fancy dress New Year's Day swim, with prizes for the best dressed. Peel your carrots at Draystone.

The New Year arrives with a splash in several other West Country towns, and last year more than 100 people braved the elements to celebrate New Year's Day with a dip in the sea in Wembury, Devon. The swim is an annual event – now in its 8th year with more people taking part each year. Dry off at Creek House.

Newquay Fancy Dress

Other hot spots famous for their atmosphere and antics include Exmouth, Dartmouth, St Ives and, of course, Newquay.

Search our holiday cottages with New Year availability in Devon and Cornwall, or give our telephone team a call on 01647 433593 to discuss your requirements. From a party on the seafront with the crowds to a cosy gathering with friends and family, we’ll help you find a special place to celebrate.

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.