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Fill your boots! February 2010
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Our wonderful West Country produce tops the bill. World-class fresh seafood, mouth-watering cuts of prime beef, a rainbow of organic fruit and vegetables packed with natural flavour, scrumptious cheeses and impressive local wines, ales and ciders.
No wonder so many top chefs gravitate here - Rick Stein, Mark Dodson and Nathan Outlaw to name a few, all stretching their talents using the finest ingredients to bring you delicious and innovative food.
Tempting offers...
Half-term is fast approaching and we still have some enticing offers. Stately and splendid, the Tudor manor house (G100) at Cadhay sleeps 22 and stands ready to welcome you for only £122 per person for the week. There’s also plenty of room at L266, a magnificent barn conversion with pool in the South Hams sleeping 16 at £106 per person. In a tranquil spot near picturesque Clovelly, a former milking parlour (K20) is £57 per person when six share. In Cornwall, a great family home (P43) on the edge of Bodmin moor sleeping eight can be booked for just £44 per person, while on the coast in Newquay, a family of four can holiday in an excellent apartment (Q3) with spectacular sea views for £95 per person. Or how about relaxing in a smart lodge (R21) set in a peaceful, wooded valley near St Mellion for £66 per person when five share?
Don’t forget, you can see all our winter offers on our special offers page and browse the full range of cottages still available for February half term and Valentine’s Day weekend.
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Star appeal...
If you enjoy fine dining, there are some great Michelin-starred restaurants in the region...
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Two Michelin stars for Gidleigh Park since 1999...
Gidleigh Park in Chagford, with executive head chef Michael Caines MBE at the helm, has once again been awarded two stars in this year’s Michelin Guide and has been voted by diners using the popular online booking service Toptable as both the ‘best in Britain’ and the ‘best for romance’.
Three other restaurants which retain their one-star status for 2010 are The New Angel in Dartmouth, The Room in the Elephant in Torquay and The Masons Arms in Knowstone near South Molton.
Treat yourself at A55
The Linhay
Chagford, Dartmoor
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New properties...
The first supplement of 40 new properties for 2010 is now printed and will be winging its way to you any day now. It’s been a busy month. We’ve added A107, a cosy detached cottage in the heart of Lydford and not far from the well-known pub. Travelling from Dartmoor to Exmoor, F47 is a little chalet near Withycombe, totally private with long views to the sea. At Lympstone, G34 is a terraced cottage close to the water’s edge on a cobbled street, while just a few miles inland from spectacular Welcombe Mouth in north Devon, we’ve taken on another Finnish lodge (K26) set beside the golf course with wooded views. At ever popular Salcombe, L122 is a detached house just 800 yards from the quay, while further inland, we’re glad to welcome back Harleston Manor (L64A) close to Slapton.
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A107, Lot Cottage
Lydford, Dartmoor
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F47, Bolthole
Withycombe, Exmoor
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G34, Beach Cottage
Lympstone, East Devon
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K26, Lodge No 8
Welcombe, North Devon
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L122, Kerensa
Salcombe, South Hams
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L64A, Harleston Manor
Harleston, South Hams
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Foodie heaven, half-term fun and more…
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An evening with Mitch Tonks…
Jamie Oliver’s restaurant Fifteen at spectacular Watergate Bay is featuring a special night on 17th February with Mitch Tonks, well-known for his FishWorks restaurant in Bath and his Seahorse restaurant in Dartmouth and voted Tatler’s restaurateur of the year. He has designed a unique menu especially for this evening and will talk you through each delicious course. Booking is essential as this will be popular!
Enjoy the views at Q4
Pentire Heights Apartment
Newquay, Newquay Coast
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Tastier and tastier!
Get yourself started on the 2010 food festival road at Buckland Abbey on 17th February when over 40 local food and drink producers will be showcasing their goods. Chew the fat with suppliers while you sample their tasty treats, watch cookery demonstrations by top local chefs and enjoy free entertainment for the children and access to the Abbey’s grounds and trails.
Savour the memory at A152
Cholwell Barn Apartment
Mary Tavy, Dartmoor
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A berry good beer…
Down Cornwall way, Sharp’s Brewery has garnered sloes, rose hips and hawthorn berries from the Eden Project and produced a delicious seasonal bitter called Winter Berry Ale. You can find it at Eden and in many pubs nationwide. Just the thing after a trek through that hot rainforest biome!
Quench your thirst at S36
Beam Reach
Fowey, Cornwall's Med
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… and how about some tatties for the allotment?
On 14th February at Pylle, near Shepton Mallett, they’re holding the fifth Somerset Potato Day in the Village Hall from 10am till 2pm. Choose from over 100 varieties of potato, heritage seeds, a range of kitchen garden plants and much more. Advice and refreshments are on hand and admission is free.
Keep them in the dark at E620
Compton House
Compton Bishop, Somerset
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Cornwall Wine Fair…
This year’s Cornwall Wine Fair is set to be a big hit with over 300 world leading wines to taste and advice on how to match wine and food. In a spectacular location just ten minutes from Plymouth, the fair is being held at the China Fleet Country Club on 16th and 17th February. Ching ching!
Raise your glass at L118
The Linhay
Newton Ferrers, South Hams
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Hurling Cornwall!
Crowds of children gather on Feast Monday (8th February) in St Ives to try and grab the silver ball thrown from the church wall by the Lord Mayor and win the reward of a silver crown. This traditional hurling game runs the length and breadth of the beaches and streets from 10.30am till 12pm and is in honour of St Eia, the patron saint of the town.
Take cover at Z29
Dolphins
St Ives, End of England
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Baa-rilliant…
Shaun the Sheep will be at the Eden Project at half-term! Children can try their hands at model making at a series of fun workshops and displays, see the actual characters from the series and help design a brand new set for Shaun and his friends. There’s a competition to win Shaun goodies too!
Flock together at S402
Driftwood Cottage
Porthpean, Cornwall's Med
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Cuddle a lamb at Pennywell Farm...
Also in time for half-term, Pennywell Farm opens its gates to another wonderful season on 13th February with lots of opportunities to cuddle up with some newborn lambs. You can also see the miniature pigs, watch a falconry display and have fun in the Farmyard Theatre.
Bring your tails back to A48
Mill Cottage
Buckfastleigh, Dartmoor
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Pirates and model aircraft…
The Fleet Air Arm Museum gets the 2010 season off to a flying start at half-term with its model planes, boats and tanks show plus displays of radio-controlled aircraft. Also under its roof you’ll find their Captain Jack Sparrow look-alike leading you on a merry trail of pirate hat making, buried treasure, pirate maps and anything to do with yo ho ho!
Bury your treasure at H13
Fiddlesticks Cottage
Beaminster, Dorset
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Animated action…
There’s something for everyone at Animated Exeter which returns from 11th to 20th February. Get involved at free exhibitions and hands-on workshops to learn about animation techniques, old and new, or sit back and enjoy some of the interesting talks and 140 films being screened.
Get the picture at G28
Perrimans Living
Exmouth, East Devon
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Go wild in the forest!
Zip slides and giant obstacle courses up in the trees with ladders, walkways, bridges and tunnels - a short briefing and away you go with a whoop and a scream! GoApe at Haldon Forest has a 252 yard long zip wire slide and a 17 yard long log crossing. Sounds great fun!
Zip back to B8
Cherries
Olchard, Torbay and the Red Cliffs
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Carpets of flowers…
Spring is on its way and a visit to the stunning Forde Abbey and its award-winning gardens will banish the winter blues. Enjoy the display of delicate flowers during Snowdrop Weekend from 5th to 7th February and the purple haze of crocuses during Crocus Week from 1st to 5th March. Then warm up with a welcome cup of tea and mooch in the gift shop.
Put a spring in your step at G77
Whitcombe Cottage
Honiton, East Devon
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Celebrate St Piran’s Day…
The patron saint of Cornwall and tin miners is rumoured to have landed on a millstone on the sandy beaches of Perranzabuloe many centuries ago. His life is celebrated every year on 5th March by thousands of people adorned with the Cornish black and white flag enjoying festivities at Perranporth.
Just down the coast to Q21
Dale Cottage
St Agnes, Newquay Coast
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Swanage Blues Festival...
Enjoy three days of excellent music in a friendly seaside town with 100 musicians playing over 40 gigs during the Swanage Blues Festival from 5th to 7th March. Admission is free but donations are encouraged. You can chill out on blues steam train rides too and enjoy the Dorset countryside at the same time!
Find your rhythm at H73
Poppy Cottage
Charlton Marshall, Dorset
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It’s been a busy start to the year with bookings flying in for Easter and the spring bank holidays. So don’t delay, give us a call on 01647 433593 or book online to make sure you get your favourite holiday cottage. If you’re still undecided, our friendly and knowledgeable telephone team are more than happy to give you advice and help you find just the right place for a really good holiday.
Best wishes
Moray Bowater
P.S. We still have last minute availability for February half-term and Valentine’s Day weekend, so it’s not too late to get away!
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© 2010 Helpful Holidays, Mill Street, Chagford, Devon, TQ13 8AW Tel: 01647 433593 Email: help@helpfulholidays.com
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