West Country food on the menu for Somerset holiday cottage guests…

Families staying in a Somerset holiday cottage can sample delicious West Country produce at a food festival next month. The Exmoor Food Festival will be held in various venues throughout the region between 2nd and 10th October.

Visitors to the festival can see the vast array of food and drink Exmoor has to offer while enjoying a packed programme of events that includes farmers' markets, themed evenings and cookery courses.

Those with a sweet tooth will love the Homemade Cake Bonanza at Lyndale Tea Rooms, while holidaymakers can learn the secret of making delicious chocolate at The Chocolate House in Dunster. Budding cowboys are invited to a hoe-down in Lynton as Kensington Tea Room is transformed for a western-themed event on 5th October.

The festival will coincide with the North Devon and Exmoor Autumn Walking Festival and organisers have arranged a number of food themed walks to help guests burn off those extra calories.

View Somerset holiday cottages from Helpful Holidays here.

Short break cottages for September...

September is a special month to enjoy the West Country - gentle sun, mellow colours and near empty beaches and countryside. If you fancy a few quiet days away, you'll be pleased to hear that we have 3 and 4 night short breaks available during the first week of September at many of our holiday cottages in Devon, Cornwall, Somerset and Dorset.

How about staying at a stylish granite-built lodge (pictured top) in the grounds of Bovey Castle on Dartmoor? Or at a sunny apartment (pictured left) with lovely long views of Fistral beach in Newquay? We also have lots of special offers for September so you're sure to find the perfect place for some rest and relaxation.

All our holiday cottages are carefully inspected and star rated and come with our whole hearted recommendation as good places for happy holidays. We look forward to helping you soon.

August Bank Holiday short breaks...

If you're hoping to escape the city over the August Bank Holiday weekend, there's still time to book a holiday cottage in beautiful Devon, Cornwall, Somerset or Dorset.

Three and four night short breaks are available at many of our holiday cottages, all star rated and whole-heartedly recommended.

How about relaxing at a peaceful retreat (pictured above) on Cornwall's Med with stunning views? Or staying at an idyllically situated thatch-and-granite cottage (pictured below) on Dartmoor to really get away from it all?

You may simply wish to sit back and relax but there's always plenty to see and do if you're looking for entertainment. Pretty villages, wonderful beaches, rolling countryside and historic landmarks make the region ideal for a short break.

We've also some tempting special offers if you can make it down for a whole week.

So grab your sunnies and enjoy a slower pace of life for a few days. Book online or call our telephone team (01647 433593) and we'll help you find the perfect spot. Whatever your plans, have a great weekend.

Last minute summer getaways...

It's not too late to book a holiday cottage for summer, we still have some super places with availability, near shimmering seas or deep in rolling countryside.

How about this 200-year old detached stone barn (sleeps 7, pictured top left) on Exmoor with superb long moorland views? It's a brilliant spot for the country lover. You can wander down the lovely footpath to the river and on into Winsford for lunch at the famous thatched pub, The Royal Oak. There's 20% discount the week commencing 28th August.

Or if you yearn for the coast, this pretty detached stone cottage (sleeps 6, pictured left) in Port Navas on Cornwall's Med has stunning views over the river Helford and there are many beaches nearby. There's a 20% discount the weeks commencing 23rd and 30th July.

Don't forget to check all our special offers for July and August.

Wherever you decide to go over the coming weeks, we hope you have a safe journey, a wonderful holiday and (fingers crossed) great weather!

Award-winning beaches...

You're spoilt for choice in the West Country with countless sheltered coves, estuary creeks and huge stretches of surf-washed sand along the varied and spectacular coastline. And the good news is that twenty seven of our beaches have won the prestigious Blue Flag award for 2010. One of our favourites is Blackpool Sands in the South Hams (pictured left); with a wooded backdrop, watersports and the award winning Venus Beach Cafe, it has a wonderful Mediterranean feel.

How about staying just a few miles away in this light and airy cottage sleeping six? It still has availability over the summer so grab it while you can!

All our holiday cottages are personally inspected and star-rated for quality and come with our whole-hearted recommendation as good places for happy holidays.

Take a look at all of our holiday cottages near a sandy beach and find the perfect one for you.

Rooms with a view...

We've some wonderful new waterside properties with sensational views, just in time for the summer holidays...

A stunning family home in Salcombe (pictured left) is set high in wooded gardens looking out over South Sands with a private footpath leading down to the beach. Sleeping 17, it's a haven for a large family group to kick back and relax after days out exploring the countless creeks and sandy bays along the estuary.

On a smaller scale, right on the river beach in Teignmouth, is a toes-in-the-water fisherman's cottage (pictured left) sleeping four. Difficult not to while away the hours watching the ever-changing estuary views but there's also plenty to do here and across the water in pretty Shaldon. Or perhaps venture inland to explore spectacular Dartmoor?