Let Devon’s artists show you around the county…

Get creative with your exploration of the West Country and take part in Devon Open Studios - the largest annual arts event in Devon, which runs from 8th to 23rd September. It offers visitors a unique opportunity to see the artist in their own habitat – watch them work, buy their art direct or try their medium yourself in some of the most beautiful, unexplored parts of Devon.

Helpful Holidays is sponsoring the event for another year and has again funded five places through the Emerging Artist Bursary initiative, which aims to nurture and encourage new talent to take the next steps in their career.

Adrian Innocent, our marketing manager, met the bursary winners at Lee Wood Small Holding - a centre linking people with the land through art. The winning artists’ work covers many disciplines from furniture and print making to painting, ceramics and installations.

Watch Adrian talk about our involvement with Devon Open Studios here:

Each winner has also prepared a video. Shelley Castle takes inspiration from her workspace – an extraordinary hexagonal game larder on the Flete Estate in south Devon, where she is artist in residence. Birds and feathers feature heavily in her work, as she explains.

Stephen Bennett is a writer, poet and potter. He incorporates text in his ceramics and the Devon Open Studios will showcase his expressive ceramic heads.

Fi Smart hopes to increase public awareness of printmaking when they visit her studio in west Devon. She is particularly interested in the different processes involved in producing various types of prints and the endless ways they can be combined and modified.

Peter Lanyon combines traditional fine furniture making skills with modern tools and technologies. The shape of the bench you see in his video gives an indication of the resulting style.

Hilary O'Dwyer will hold her open studio at Bicton eaRTH Centre. The wood used for her sculptures undergoes a burning process for preservation.

Take a look at our Devon holiday cottages available during the event, and then use this map and the free event guide to plan which studios you’d like to visit. 

Bookings made via the Devon holiday cottages link on this blog or via the link on the Devon Artist Network website will help fund the Open Studios event next year.

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.

You can’t beat a beautiful view…

Whether you’re a coast lover or a land lubber, most people appreciate a good view – from seaside scenes to rolling countryside. Some views are good to sit and enjoy with a drink, others are ideal as the backdrop for more active pursuits.

View from Chy Bre

Chy Bre, looking out over St Mawes in Cornwall, has a fantastic area of decking with table and chairs, perfect for alfresco dining whilst taking in the long views across the Percuil River and countryside beyond. In fact this detached, timber-style, single-storey house has beautiful sea views from all front rooms.

The excellent location means that it’s less than 10 minutes’ walk from the shops,  restaurants, harbour, two sandy beaches and castle in the beautiful village of St Mawes.  Set at the end of the lovely Roseland Peninsula, this area is great for both watersports and country walks, as well as being an ideal base for visiting Falmouth. Sleeps 4.

Seccombe Barn

Seccombe Barn is set in a stunning location just a stone’s throw away from Roadford Lake, a spectacular 730-acre reservoir and country park in beautiful, sparsely populated farmland in Devon. This attractive cottage, carefully converted from a barn, has a patio to the front with long views over the surrounding countryside where you can while away the hours.

There’s plenty of opportunity to get active with windsurfing, kayaking and climbing on your doorstep, or perhaps some more leisurely birdwatching, fishing or walking will suit? If you’re out in the evening, you’ll appreciate views of a slightly different sort – the area is great for night sky watching. This is a really comfortable, friendly base in a lovely, timeless area; easily accessible with lots to explore within a half hour drive. Sleeps 6.

Take a look at our holiday cottages with sea views and our holiday cottages with countryside views.

If views are your thing, our friendly telephone team can help you locate the best fodder for your camera, your binoculars or just your eyes – call them on 01647 433593 for a chat.

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!

West Country gets into holiday mode this May…

Looking to get into the holiday swing? More sunshine is on the way and the West Country has all kinds of events to keep you entertained this month. We’ve picked out a few, plus some superb holiday cottages to match.

The Daphne du Maurier Festival in Fowey, Cornwall, 12th to 21st May, is generating great excitement among literature lovers. “Life is too short to send out invitations." (Rebecca). With that in mind, make your way to the much-loved Festival Village, which will once again play host to a programme of national and international writers and performers, including Robert Hanbury-Tenison, Ann Widdecombe, Port Isaac’s Fisherman’s Friends and Rory McGrath. No drama back at R392.

The Devon County Show, 19th to 21st May, is a must-see, must-taste, must-do bonanza. Three fantastic days of delicious West Country food and drink and the very best horses, goats, sheep, bunnies and cows, including the famous Devon cattle known as Red Rubies. Watch out for the dazzling Bolddog Lings motorcycle display team performing in the main ring. And kids go free on Saturday! Take foodie goodies back to G41.

Or how about trying out the brilliantly named Potwalloping Festival, from 28th to 30th May? Dating back to the 1800s, this event originated when local people ventured down to Westward Ho! beach to throw back pebbles that had fallen from the ridge during the winter storms. This is still performed today, but has developed into a less arduous event with displays, local crafts, stalls and entertainment. Throw your stones from K1!

For more information about upcoming West Country events, take a look at our online Explore the Area map on each property details page. We’ve categorised the events too so that you can search for the type of event that interests you, such as family friendly, food, quirky or music.

Use our Advanced Search to find holiday cottages in Devon, Cornwall, Somerset and Dorset.

.

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.

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.

Winter wonderland...

It may have been a cold and wintry start to the New Year in our home town of Chagford but the transformation of the beautiful moors into a serene winter wonderland more than compensated!

Visitors have been treated to sunny, crisp days - just great for walking and exploring friendly villages made charmingly friendlier by the snow.

It's such a peaceful time of year to visit the West Country, so banish the January blues and check out our special winter offers for inspiration. We have lots of super, hand-picked holiday cottages in Chagford (pictured is Gibhouse) and if you have time to pop in to our office and say hello, all the better! Whether you prefer coast or country, grand or cosy, we'd love to help you find a great place to stay in this special part of the world, but wherever you go on holiday in 2010, we hope you have a wonderful time. Happy New Year!