Huge holiday homes for large groups - the big attraction

Sheafhayne, Yarcombe, East Devon

A growing trend for large group holidays is making our big holiday houses more popular than ever, with many of our customers finding that clubbing together with your nearest and dearest means that you don't need to wait for a special celebration to spend a fun, sociable week in grand surroundings. 

Some of our large holiday homes are indeed very grand, and you really can become lords of the manor for a week. For instance, you could take over Sir Francis Drake’s shooting lodge (Sheafhayne), or stroll around the 'Court of the Sovereigns' (at Cadhay).

Lamellen House, St Tudy, North Cornwall

Many also offer large, private gardens, many with acres of beautiful countryside, within which you are free to roam. For instance Lamellen House has 18 acres of woodland gardens and grounds with a well-known collection of camellia, rhododendron, magnolia, conifer and many other species of plants and trees, while Rashleighayes is set on a 150 acre working farm.

These big houses offer much more than grand surroundings, however. Parnacott House has everything you need to keep the family occupied: TV/DVD, toys, dressing-up boxes, puppet theatre, children’s videos, PlayStation 2, Wii and a snooker table.

Blagdon Manor, Collaton St Mary, Devon

Often one of the benefits of booking a big holiday house is the luxury of a swimming pool - you'll find a fine outdoor pool at Blagdon Manor and indoor pool at Western House. Or, if lounging decadently in a hot tub is more your style, try The Barn or Brimpts Barn.

Take a look through our 2013 Big Houses Brochure, or use the Advanced Search function on our website to see which of our big houses best suits your family and friends. And of course you can always call us for human help on 01647 433593.

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.

West Country winter walks...

Picture by Rob Gilles

We all eat too much in December, right? What better way to work it off than with a bracing winter walk - perhaps joining in with some of the group walks offered by Ramblers' Winter Walks Festival. 

You'll want to get your scarves, hats, gloves and boots on for these... 

Photo by Rob Gilles

At 10:30am on Sunday 16th December, work up an appetite for a hearty pub lunch on this walk from Hendersick car park via Talland and Watergate to Looe and back. Make sure you bring boots, a drink, and of course money for lunch at Looe! No dogs allowed.

On Sunday 16th December at 11am in Padstow, meet the RA Camel Group at Treyarnon Bay car park for a 7 to 8 mile, four hour walk to St Merryn, Constantine Bay.

After meeting at 2pm on Friday 28th December at Constantine car park, by the church, join others for a lovely three mile walk to the river at Scott's Quay via Ponjeravah. The walk supports the Change4Life movement. 

The walks listed here are intended primarily for members of Ramblers. Non-members are welcome to join as guests on two or three walks, though if you walk with a group regularly you will be expected to join Ramblers.

Of course, you don't have to go on an organised walk. There are endless options for scenic moorland, countryside and coastal walks in the West Country to suit all levels and abilities.

Use the Advanced Search facility on our website to help you find just the right place to stay to take advantage of the best winter walks on offer, or give our expert telephone team a call on 01647 433593 for some help. 

Wrap up warm and enjoy the winter wonderland!

'My favourite things...' with Michael Caines MBE

Michelin-starred chef Michael Caines is a big fan of the West Country - so we were keen to ask him about his favourite things to see and do...

Which is your favourite beach? 
Dawlish Warren – it’s a lovely long shore drift and I have many memories of late nights on the beach with friends. I also like the pebble beach at Budleigh Salterton for snorkelling.

Where is your favourite place to go for a day out with the family? 
Camping on Dartmoor - I love the slow pace of everything from setting up camp to cooking and sharing tasks with the kids.

Where is your favourite place to go for a walk? 
The River Teign from Fingle Bridge, in and around the valley – it’s beautiful and close to home!

Any other outdoor activities you enjoy? 

Cross country trail running, walking and sailing.

Where is your favourite place to eat (apart from Gidleigh Park, of course)? 
Dartmoor Inn at Lydford, it’s my ‘local’. I also enjoy Masons Arms in South Molton, Jack in the Green in Rockbeare, Petit Maison in Topsham and the Rusty Bike in Exeter.

What’s your favourite West Country show or event? 
The Exeter Festival of SW Food and Drink and other food festivals such as the Devon County Show, as well as great music festivals like Chagstock.

What are your favourite local ingredients in season at the moment?
There are so many fantastic ingredients around this time of year – like fabulous scallops, line-caught sea bass and ling, as well as venison and foraged mushrooms.

Any other favourite things about the West Country?
It’s where I was born, so it’s home for me. It’s a wonderful combination of landscapes – from the moors to the coast and the hills and pastures. It’s a beautiful place with something for everyone to enjoy!

Thanks, Michael!

Highly acclaimed Michael Caines is Executive Head Chef at multi-award-winning Gidleigh Park and has held two Michelin stars since 1999. Gidleigh Park Hotel (just along the country lane from our office in Chagford) sits in a magnificent 107 acres of Dartmoor National Park. The beautiful and everchanging landscape provides a wonderful backdrop to a range of exciting special breaks and events held throughout the year, such as the Garden Tours, Fungi Forays and New Year's Eve celebrations. From now until 21st December, there's a wonderful lunch offer: a sublime festive menu of 2 courses for £40 or 3 courses for £52 per person. A very special treat.

 

Visit the Helpful Holidays website to see our holiday cottages in Chagford.

 

 

ENTER OUR COMPETITION!

Win a signed copy of the 'Taste of Relais & Châteaux - 36 Inspirational Chefs' cookbook...

Enter our Facebook competition for a chance to win a copy of this beautiful cookbook, signed by Michael Caines and packed with stunning recipes from Michael and 35 other exceptional chefs based at Relais & Châteaux luxury hotels and gourmet restaurants in the UK and Ireland. Great for the coffee table or as a gift for the foodie in your life.

Closing date for entry is Tuesday 11th December 2012.

While you wait to see if you've won, here's Michael's recipe for Mince Pies with Caramelised Walnuts for you to try. Enjoy!

 

Michael Caines' extra special mince pies...

Highly acclaimed Michael Caines MBE is Executive Head Chef at Gidleigh Park in our home town of Chagford on Dartmoor and he's kindly given us his delicious recipe for Mince Pies with Caramelised Walnuts - yum!

Ingredients

250g butter
175g icing sugar
3 eggs
1 pinch of salt
Zest of one orange
500g flour, sieved
Mincemeat
150g walnuts
200ml stock syrup


Method

Place the walnuts into the stock syrup and cook until 110ºC.
Remove using a slotted spoon and place into a fryer at 190º C until golden brown.
Remove and place onto parchment paper and lightly salt. Leave to cool.
Once cooled, add to the mincemeat mixture.

In a mixing bowl cream together the butter and the icing sugar until white using a hand blender or a whisk.

Add the sieved flour, orange zest and salt and bring the mix to a sandy crumble.
Add the eggs little-by-little, then bring the mix together on the first speed and once the mix is firm remove from the machine.
Wrap in cling film and refrigerate for at least 2 hours before using.
Roll out the pastry and cut into shapes, tops and bottoms for the individual pies.
Line a pastry tin with the pastry disks and brush the edges with clarified butter.
Add a small amount of mincemeat mixture to the centre of each pie.
Seal by adding a pastry top and again brush with a little butter for colour.
Cook at 190°C for approx 20/25 minutes until golden brown.
Once cool dust with icing sugar, if preferred.

... perfect to enjoy with a glass of warming mulled wine.

ENTER OUR COMPETITION!

Win a signed copy of the 'Taste of Relais & Châteaux - 36 Inspirational Chefs' cookbook...

Enter our Facebook competition for a chance to win a copy of this beautiful cookbook, signed by Michael Caines and packed with stunning recipes from Michael and 35 other exceptional chefs based at Relais & Châteaux luxury hotels and gourmet restaurants in the UK and Ireland. Great for the coffee table or as a gift for the foodie in your life.

Closing date for entry is Tuesday 11th December 2012.

Read more about Michael Caines and his award-winning restaurants at Gidleigh Park, The Bath Priory and ABode hotels.

And don't miss our quick-fire 'Favourite things...' interview with Michael to find out where he likes to go and what he likes to do in the West Country.

Visit the Helpful Holidays website to see our holiday cottages in Chagford.

 

Ice rinks galore in the West Country...

Do you know your Russian Split from your triple Salchow? Do you have a soft spot for Ravel's Bolero? As Christmas approaches, many towns and cities across the country offer the opportunity for budding Torvills and Deans to work their magic on the ice. The West Country is no exception, with a number of temporary ice rinks opening to add to the festive cheer - so, get your skates on!

Plymouth city centre has been transformed into a magical winter wonderland, with a 15x30 metre open air rink on the Piazza, remaining open until Sunday 24th February 2013. As well as regular skating sessions from 9am to 8.15pm Monday to Saturday and 9am to 6.15pm on Sundays, the outdoor rink will be hosting a range of special events, including schools sessions during term time, ice skating lessons, private hire, parties, shows and breakfast with Santa. Make tracks back to L151.

In Truro, a Christmas ice rink is helping to fund a revamp of Truro Cathedral School. The rink on Cathedral Green, run by a company set up by Olympic skater Robin Cousins, will open every day from 28th November until 6th January, with the exception of Christmas Day. The school, which is next to the cathedral, closed in 1982, with plans to refurbish it and create a major cultural centre for Cornwall. Hang up your boots at S235.

Bournemouth town centre will host an outdoor Christmas ice rink this year, set in the the beautiful grade II listed Lower Central Gardens, between the famous Bournemouth balloon and the Square. The rink will be open all day and there will also be special late night sessions for those who prefer skating under a starlit sky. The rink will accommodate around 100 skaters at any one time and be open from 4th December until 6th January. Relax by the fireside at H73.

One of the most unique settings you'll find for ice skating is the Eden Project, which has a stunning rink now open until 3rd March 2013. Young novices might like to try out the penguin skating aids, ideal for helping gain confidence on the ice. The rink also offers parent and toddler ice-play sessions for the under 6s, with plenty of toys to play with, as well as Chilly Juniors sessions for 6-12 yr olds with various races and games. Each person skating will also need to have a valid admission ticket to the Eden Project. Take a look at a video (from 2011) of Eden's rink below:

Use the Advanced Search facility on our website to help you find just the right place to stay, or give our expert telephone team a call on 01647 433593.