Helpful Holidays raises over £15,000 for Farms for City Children...

We're delighted to announce that we've raised an amazing £15,581.85 for our 2012 charity of the year, Farms for City Children. 

We arrange over 17,000 cottage holidays a year in the West Country and we can’t thank our holidaymakers enough for their generous donations. By combining them with the proceeds of a hugely successful charity cricket match we held on a sunny Sunday in June against a team from Michael Caines’ Michelin-starred restaurant, Gidleigh Park, and a parachute jump by four brave members of the Helpful Holidays team, we’re delighted to have raised so much money for a charity for which we have great admiration.

Farms for City Children was founded by children’s author Michael Morpurgo and his wife Claire in 1976 with their first farm, Nethercott House in Iddesleigh, deep in the heart of Devon. They now have two more farms, one in Pembrokeshire and the other in Gloucestershire, and the charity aims to expand the horizons of children from towns and cities all over the country by offering them a week living in the countryside on one of the farms. For more details, read our blog post from earlier this year.


Our Helen with farmer Barry Searle and children at Nethercott Farm

Our PR Manager, Helen Hayes, went along to Nethercott House to present a cheque to the charity and had an opportunity to meet the schoolchildren from Sunnyhill Primary School in Streatham. She said, “It’s always a delight to come to Nethercott and to see first-hand the great work the charity does for all the hundreds of children who pass through their doors every year. It’s been a great year for our fundraising efforts and we’d like to thank everyone who has helped us reach this outstanding total.”

Each year we support one of three main charities which are close to our hearts and invite our holidaymakers to make a small contribution, if they wish, when making their bookings. Our charity for 2013 is Devon Air Ambulance Trust. Visit our Facebook page to help us kick off our fundraising for 2013 - we're donating £1 for each new 'like' or 'share' between 10am on 19th December and 5.30pm on 21st December 2012.

Autumn walks in the West Country...

There are many different routes for walkers across the West Country, and happily many of our cottages are ideally located to step out of the front door and straight on to a walking trail.

The Mariner's Way, Dartmoor

For instance the Mariners' Way on Dartmoor is a favourite among walkers, part of an ancient trackway which runs from Bideford in north Devon to Dartmouth in south Devon, taking in breathtaking views across the moor. According to legend, seafarers used to land on the south coast of Devon and trek all the way up to ports on the north coast.

As the Mariner’s Way enters Dartmoor it passes Throwleigh, where nearby you’ll find Sampsons, a beautiful, Grade II listed, detached house, one of two barn conversions in a secluded and peaceful courtyard setting. This is a much loved home from home, well-equipped and handy for exploring the open moor – and the Mariner’s Way – just half a mile away.

A path on the National Trust's Godolphin Estate

Land owned by the National Trust is home to many spectacular walking routes and dog friendly Mazeys Cottage, in the tiny village of Germoe on Cornwall’s Lizard Peninsula, is perfectly placed for lovely walks from the door up Tregoning Hill (with views to north and south coasts) and to the National Trust’s 555-acre Godolphin Estate. From around this wonderfully tranquil and comfortable cottage set on a 15 acre small holding there are fantastic panoramic views to the sea at Mounts Bay and the whole of this end of the peninsula.

Coastal walks are especially attractive in the region around the Slapton Sands Nature Reserve in the South Hams. Here you can join the South West Coast Path, 630miles of superb coastal walking. Deep in leafy lanes, 1½ miles north of Slapton in a sheltered wooded valley, you’ll find Cherry Cottage, one of three around a courtyard. It’s an ideal base for route-plotting and recuperation on a top notch walking holiday – your four legged friend is welcome too.

Lerryn

When moorland and coastal walks have been ticked off your list, you’ll appreciate the picturesque beauty of Lerryn Creek, halfway up the river Fowey estuary in Cornwall. It’s relatively unknown and unspoilt, surrounded by miles of wild, dense woodland and forest downstream with farmland and meadow upstream above its medieval bridge. Just 30 yards from the bridge is Mote Cottage, a smartly whitewashed, early 19th century end-of-terrace stone cottage. Careful restoration has preserved much of the cottage’s original charm with thick, knobbly walls, exposed beams and low ceilings – a charming, comfy place in a pretty location with lots to see and do nearby.

Has that inspired you to lace up those trusty walking boots ready for a trip to the West Country this autumn?

For more walking route ideas near your favourite holiday cottage, simply click on the ‘Walks’ link beneath the Explore the Area map on its details page on our website.

West Country art appreciation…

Many visitors to the West Country love to visit the countless art galleries in the area – full of the work of artists inspired by rugged landscapes, crashing waves and quaint fishing villages.

Artists have long been infatuated with the West Country. From the 1880s onwards, Newlyn, St Ives and the west Cornwall hinterland were firmly on the map as destinations for artists producing realistically observed marine and landscape paintings. The artists were collectively known as the Newlyn School.

Tate St Ives

It’s no wonder the West Country continues to inspire artists and art lovers. Tate St Ives is perhaps the most famous gallery, a treasure trove of modern and contemporary art, including the work of the St Ives Modernists. You can also visit the Barbara Hepworth Museum & Sculpture Garden.

The Newlyn Gallery re-opened in 2007, alongside major new art space The Exchange, in the heart of Penzance. The gallery is home to a lively collective of over one hundred professional artists who either live in the South West or have strong connections with the area. 

Falmouth Art Gallery

Falmouth Art Gallery has one of the leading art collections in Cornwall and features work by old masters, major Victorian artists, British Impressionists, leading maritime artists and contemporary painters and printmakers.

Plymouth City Museum & Art Gallery is notable for the Cottonian Collection, an outstanding art collection comprising oil paintings, Old Master and English drawings and watercolours, sculpture, furniture and ceramics, a library, Reynolds material and a collection of seven thousand or so fine prints.

Torre Abbey in Torquay collects 18th, 19th and 20th century landscape, marine and genre paintings by British artists, concentrating in particular on views of south Devon and its coastal waters, and works by local artists. 

If you’re a collector or looking for a memento, you can buy original paintings, drawings, photographs, sculptures, pottery and ceramics from one of the many smaller galleries such as the Lemon Street Gallery in Truro, Beside The Wave in Falmouth, the Marine House in Beer, D’Art Gallery in Dartmouth or The Appledore Crafts Company in Appledore.

There are also exhibition centres such as the Devon Guild of Craftsmen in Bovey Tracey on Dartmoor and the Craft Gallery at Dartington near Totnes where you can see, buy and learn about contemporary craft and design.

The Cot, St Just-in-Penwith

You can even admire original works of art without leaving the confines of your holiday home! The Byre in Roborough, is full of the artist owner’s work (some items for sale) and The Cot in St Just-in-Penwith also has the artist owner’s paintings adorning the walls. Magnificent Parnacott in Holsworthy is decorated with striking family portraits giving clues to its heritage, while Trolver Barn in Feock and Goose Cottage in Dunsford are both homes to some interesting contemporary pieces.

Even better, if you’re feeling inspired by your surroundings, why not grab a sketch pad and some watercolours or pencils and have a dabble yourself?

Keen snapper? Enter our photo competition!

Are you one of those people who love to take a million photos while you’re on holiday? The camera is glued to your hand and you snap at every opportunity so you don’t miss a thing. Or, are you a much more considered photographer – tripod and multiple lenses in your rucksack, prepared to wait hours for the perfect shot?

Perhaps you’re a digital convert, employing apps and tools like Hipstamatic or ColorSplash to bring maximum enhancement to your holiday images? Or, you’re a staunch traditionalist, preferring to work your way through rolls of film and long, careful hours in the darkroom?

Either way, if you love taking snaps whilst on holiday, why not enter our photo competition on Facebook?

The winning photo will feature in our marketing material for 2012. Last year, the winning shot was used on the front cover of our dog friendly mini-brochure! We loved this picture – compositionally brilliant, and really good fun!

To enter, simply post your photo on our Facebook wall by the end of September 2011. Visit our Facebook page for competition details and to see what we’re chatting about this week – and don’t forget to ‘like’ us while you’re there!

Do accompany your submissions with a short comment – it’s always interesting to hear the stories behind the photos. And if you like the snaps that others have posted, let them know – feedback’s a wonderful thing!
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Saving you money on West Country attractions…

Entertaining the kids is a crucial part of any family summer holiday and luckily, the West Country offers a wealth of choice, whether for toddlers or teenagers.

When you book a holiday with Helpful Holidays, you’ll receive a copy of our “What Shall We Do Today?” guide, full of recommendations and discount vouchers to use at 80 of the region’s attractions.

So, how did we choose our Top Ten attractions for children? We find that the key test is the volume of protest when the words ‘time to go home’ (TTGH) are uttered.

Here’s our pick of the best, thoroughly tested over the years by close friends and relations…

• Paignton Zoo, Paignton, Devon – first class zoo – TTGH rating 8.

• Pennywell Farm, near Buckfastleigh, Devon – not the biggest, but the best and friendliest ‘hands on’ children’s farm – TTGH rating 9.

• Miniature Pony Centre, North Bovey, Devon – cute and cuddly – you bet! TTGH rating 7.

• Woodlands, near Dartmouth, Devon – can you tame ‘The Twister’? – TTGH rating 8.

• National Marine Aquarium, Plymouth, Devon – very impressive main tank – TTGH rating 6.

• Crealy, near Exeter, Devon and Newquay, Cornwall – yup, the kids love them both – TTGH rating 7.

• The Big Sheep, near Bideford, Devon – watch the sheep race at this north Devon ‘ewetopia’ – TTGH rating 7.

• Combe Martin Dinosaur and Wildlife Park, near Combe Martin, Devon – wolves, dinosaurs (model ones), a train ride and butterflies – TTGH rating 8.

• Pecorama, Beer, Devon – games and trains and perhaps England’s best miniature railway – TTGH rating 7.

• Diggerland, near Cullompton, Devon – boys, this is just what you’ve always wanted to do. Yes, you really do get to drive a digger – TTGH rating 7.

• Dairyland Farmworld, near Newquay, Cornwall – great for younger kids – TTGH rating 6.

You can use our Advanced Search to find holiday cottages near the above attractions or use our ‘Explore the Area’ map to spot great days out near each cottage.

If you need any help searching for a cottage or planning your summer holiday with us, do give our friendly bookings team a call on 01647 433593 or email on help@helpfulholidays.com.

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Our new videos...

The web has given us a fantastic opportunity to 'tell it like it is': lots of big photos, mapping, information about local areas, customer comments – and now, some new videos.

First is a video explaining the ethos behind Helpful Holidays, you'll find it top right on our About us page. Our job is simple - to do all we can to make sure you have happy holidays, but as our new video explains, there’s an awful lot that goes into that!

Next, we've some videos showcasing some of our holiday homes on Dartmoor...

 

Weddicott Barn - watch the video

Parford Cottage - watch the video

The Old Dairy - watch the video

Sampsons - watch the video

And don't forget, to compliment the information we provide online, we've a free 220-page colour brochure and a friendly, unbiased, expert telephone team you can ask, "Do you think this is the right place for me? Will I be happy there?" and from whom you will get a straight answer.

We hope you like our new videos and find them useful. Do let us know what you think. 

If you need any help, email us on help@helpfulholidays.com or call us on 01647 433593.

Star ratings - helping you choose the perfect place...

By rigourously inspecting and correctly star rating our holiday homes, we aim to provide comfortable, well equipped and safe places for people to enjoy and feel they've received value for money.

We've star rated all the properties in our brochures since we started in 1982 (the first agency to do so) and our holidaymakers tell us they rely on our star ratings above all else in their search for a perfect holiday place.

Our star ratings are unique in that they rely on the experience of the inspectors, members of our staff who have seen hundreds of houses. They check everything we can think might be relevant to your holiday enjoyment, from basic cleanliness to whether the colour of the curtains goes with the duvet covers.

The ratings remain, however, strictly personal assessments, in the best of faith, of interior quality and ambience. They have nothing to do with the outward appearance or situation, nor they number of 'gadgets'. Mostly it's about ‘feel’ and ‘comfort’, all looked at with a good dollop of common sense.

You can read what the different stars mean on our website and here are some example properties: 1 Star; 2 Star; 3 Star; 3½ Star; 4 Star; 4½ Star; 5 Star.

As quality standards continue to improve, we constantly review to ensure that our star ratings remain useful. More people say we malign places than we over-rate them. We welcome your opinion.

Whenever you book a holiday cottage through us, we want your expectations to be absolutely fulfilled, hopefully exceeded. Our star ratings, along with features such as large photos (and lots of them), full and frank descriptions and holidaymaker comments, help us deliver on this.

And, of course, if you need some 'human' help whilst choosing your holiday home, you can always chat with our knowledgeable telephone team (01647 433593), all visitors to our properties and happy to guide you.

With over 600 high quality holiday cottages in Devon, Cornwall, Somerset and Dorset, you've plenty of choice. Happy hunting!

West Country vineyard trails with Helpful Holidays…

The mellow climate and sunny slopes of the West Country are proving to be wonderful resources for viticulture. Amid Devon and Cornwall’s green, rolling hills are lush vineyards, bursting with grapes for whites, reds, rosés and fizzies. We believe these award-winning wines deserve to be enjoyed and savoured at a leisurely pace, in keeping with the slow, energy-restoring pace of life on our peninsula.

That’s why we’ve created an interactive guide to some of the best vineyards in Devon, Cornwall and Somerset for you to visit whilst enjoying your holiday with us. We’ve around 290 holiday cottages within easy reach of a vineyard.

In ‘foodie’ south Devon, nestled on a bend of the serpentine river Dart, you’ll find the Sharpham vineyard, famous for its wine and cheese. Or why not drop into Devon’s oldest vineyard, Yearlstone, close to the 18th century Bickleigh Mill beauty spot, and have a bite to eat whilst sampling some fantastic wines?

Eastcott, in a sheltered vale north of Dartmoor, is a young vineyard with an award-winning winery offering guided tours and tastings. To the east are the small vineyards of Willhayne and Highcroft, both producing some very good wines. Near the cathedral city of Exeter is Manstree Vineyard where you can pick up a bottle of great wine and pick your own seasonal soft fruit, and just south of Exeter, near Powderham Castle, is Kenton Vineyard which is quickly gaining a reputation for excellence across its range of wines. The cellar for Pebblebed Vineyards is in nautical Topsham – a great place to pick up a sophisticated rosé! Further south along the coast road to Teignmouth is Old Walls Vineyard where good food and great wines can be sampled.

Respect for traditional vineyard practices, together with a modern approach to winemaking, earns Cornwall the reputation as another leading county in the production of English wines. The sun-drenched slopes of the Camel Valley Vineyard make it, in the opinion of Matthew Jukes, the acclaimed wine writer, “without a doubt, the number one winery in the country,” producing world-class wines; Camel Valley achieved the award for best sparkling rosé in the world at the 2010 International Wine Challenge.

Polgoon Vineyard in Penzance, created from a derelict farm, is fast achieving national acclaim and welcomes visitors to inspect the vines, enjoy a talk on winery operations and, of course, sample the end result!

Everyone booking a break with Helpful Holidays in 2011 will receive a £40 discount voucher off a case from Naked Wines (minimum spend £79.99). The online retailer sources the most talented, smaller, independent producers and invests in their viticulture ensuring top quality wines at affordable prices.

In addition, for this week only, we have ten £40 vouchers to give away to people who comment, like or vote on our Facebook page. We’re asking for your opinions on wine – whether it’s West Country, Bordeaux, Rioja or New World. We’ll put everyone into a hat and pick ten winners at 9am on Monday 18th April - so visit our page and add your comments for a chance to win!

If you’d like to chat about a particular cottage or location so you can visit the vineyards, give us a call and we’ll guide you to the perfect place. We recommend you also contact the vineyards when planning your trip to confirm directions and opening dates and times. And, at the end of your trip, don’t forget a case or two to take back home as a souvenir of your West Country break to share with family and friends!

Call us on 01647 433593 or visit www.helpfulholidays.com/wine.

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Wade into West Country watersports…

Watersports are big news in the West Country. Fancy dipping your toes in? From leisurely pursuits to adrenalin-fuelled sports, here are some suggestions for you water babies…

For a high-octane buzz, try the newest adventure -coasteering. It's a mix of running, climbing, diving, sea swimming and cliff jumping that leads you into sea caves, over rocky cliffs and even face to face with seals! North Cornwall's EBO Adventure runs sessions led by experienced guides and its location offers countless brilliant views when you need to stop for breath! Put your tired feet up at Seascape on Pentire Head near Newquay.

Of course, Newquay is known for its surfing hotspots at Fistral Beach and Watergate Bay but just a short distance along the coast are the popular beaches of Rock and Polzeath. The latter is home to Surf’s Up Surf School. Venture back inland to Rose Cottage in woodland-surrounded St Kew for a change of scene.

Down in south Devon at picturesque Bigbury-on-Sea, as well as surfing, how about trying some stand-up paddle boarding with Venus Riders? We’ve plenty of stunning apartments right on the beach so you can get an early start.

Another hybrid watersport has taken the West Country by storm in recent years - kite boarding. Also known as kite surfing, it combines wakeboarding, snowboarding, surfing, windsurfing and power kiting and can be a fast and furious hobby. Paracademy Extreme in Portland, Dorset, is a long established school for anyone wanting to try this out. The nearby village of Burton Bradstock, in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, is home to Dormouse Cottage, an ideal place for curling up in the evenings.

The view of the South West coastline from a sea kayak is unrivalled. Add to that the peace and tranquility of a paddle-powered boat and you have a great day out. So pick your location and we’ll help you find a holiday cottage nearby, like this spacious apartment with superb watery views in Falmouth, where Sea Kayaking Cornwall is based. If you prefer calmer waters, the river Dart is ideal for fun canoeing expeditions.

Swap arm power for wind power and try a spot of sailing. The South Hams is a popular destination with a variety of schools and courses. Dinghy sailing in Salcombe is a fitting way to acquaint yourself with the area. Moor up and watch life sail by at stunning O’Sullivan House in an enviable spot on the water’s edge with panoramic views.

Wreck diving is fascinating for both new and seasoned divers. Marine life takes over and transforms the sunken vessels in to mysterious underwater homes waiting to be explored. Experienced divers might like the idea of chartering a dive boat such as Blue Turtle which operates in Devon and Dorset. Jurassic Coast Diving offers a wreck diver course and this three-story townhouse in Exmouth is ideally located for those wanting to be right on the coast.

Have you got a favourite West Country location for watersports? Let us know and we’ll help you search for a cosy place to stay nearby where you can brush the sand from your toes and dry out.

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