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!

Valentine's getaways…

Selecting the perfect location for a Valentine's getaway is all about personality, whether you want somewhere to cosy up and admire the idyllic view or a sanctuary to come home to at the end of a day adventuring with your better half. These character-laden properties can cater for a range of preferences and each offers a romantic setting, too.

A couples' favourite has to be The Music Room at Aveton Gifford, an old village beside the River Avon in the South Hams. As one of two very special conversions on a family estate, this remarkable Grade II listed former music room uses its history and charm to create a dramatic yet tranquil setting. The long room and its stained glass windows easily conjure images of concerts and performances, while the stage itself now houses a four poster bed. With sandy beaches, coves and pretty thatched buildings and golf courses, you don't have to go far in Aveton Gifford for scenery. You might like to take a walk to The Oyster Shack, just two miles away – oysters are an aphrodisiac too good to miss on Valentine's Day!

If you're looking for a seaside retreat, bring your walking boots to Cliff End in Whitsand Bay, south Cornwall. This property is an aptly named, newly built chalet around 30 foot above the beach on the very edge of Tregonhawke Cliff. A large enclosed deck along the front is great for ship watching when you’re not surfing and there’s a footpath down to the sandy beach. And when you have made the most of the beautiful surroundings, you can cosy up inside in the fresh and modern interior or perhaps visit Buckland Abbey a short drive away.

Tucked away among the scattered houses and cottages of the village Kestle Mill, north Cornwall, is Sunrise Cottage, a pretty little stone and cob cottage, thought to be 17th century or older. The flower-filled garden creates the perfect entrance to a thoughtfully prepared holiday home. The bathroom includes a jacuzzi-style bath and if there is time to venture out and about after a bit of R&R with your loved one, Kestle Mill is well positioned (near Newquay and St Austell) for coastal visits or touring. Elizabethan Trerice House is around a mile away and the Eden Project 10 miles.

Rose Cottage, a detached gothic-style gatehouse on Dartmoor will strike a chord with the old romantic. Situated just inside the main entrance gates to Bovey Castle (a renowned hotel), and just two miles from North Bovey, the property has views over the 18 hole championship golf course and is two lane-miles from the spectacular open moor around Manaton or Moretonhampstead. With the elegant hall, ornate ironwork doors to the dining room and the big round glass table encircled by mullioned windows, the scene is instantly set for a romantic break. All guests are welcome to enjoy the hotel’s pool, sauna, steam room and gym. For those who want to venture outside the grounds, the Ring of Bells Inn, North Bovey, is a popular watering hole for locals and visitors alike, with food served daily.

If you fancy spending Valentine's in the West Country, see this page or call us on 01647 433593.