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 – Devon…

All our holiday cottages are available with 10% discount* over New Year – here are two more to tempt you, this time in Devon…

This truly excellent and very greatly appreciated development of 29 high quality apartments, of which we let 15, is situated just 20 yards from Bigbury-on-Sea's big and splendid sandy beach. The views over the sea to the south and west, and at low tide of a huge expanse of smooth washed yellow sand reaching to Burgh Island, are outstanding. Apartment 8, the best-sited ground floor corner apartment, has a large terrace and is decorated in peaceful, neutral colours. Blow away the cobwebs with a bracing stroll along the beach or the island's jolly pub, The Pilchard, is fun to visit (long-legged sea tractor at high tide). Best for maximum of 4 adults.

This charming house is situated in the thatched village of Bickleigh in Devon’s River Country. Hidden in its own deep, beautiful and unspoilt valley, the house is perfect for a big group looking to see in the New Year in style and comfort. There’s an enormous kitchen/dining room seating 16 and, once the cooking and eating are done, there’s a games room with 10’ home-cinema/TV screen, a baby grand piano, half-sized snooker table and five comfy sofas. Or perhaps retreat to the living room to catch forty winks in front of the open fire? With six bedrooms and four bathrooms, this homely property sleeps 16.

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 festive cottage, 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.