Burnished autumn… |
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Following the slight hiccup in last month’s weather we politely suggested to the Exeter-based Met Office that they might like to ‘get things sorted’. We could almost hear the grunting and groaning from their mega computers over here in Chagford but, to their credit, they eventually managed to crank out a memorable example of an Indian summer! Fresh, clear, warm and sunny days with just a hint of an autumnal nip in the evening air and the aroma of wood and coal smoke down the village streets. Heaven. Well done!
It’s just three weeks to the half-term holiday and we still have a good selection of cosy, comfortable, thoroughly recommended cottages for you to return to after a day’s exploring.
Good offers for that week include a quiet, peaceful, stone cottage (P346) in Penrose at £67 per person based on 5 sharing for the week commencing 25th October. Or a smart, sunny first floor apartment (Q4) in Newquay with long views of Fistral Beach, available at £90 per person based on 5 sharing for the same week.
Check out our other October deals on our special offers page. Our telephone team (01647 433593) can help you with queries or extra detail should you need any help.
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Boscastle Food and Drink Festival
The organisers took a break last year while the final touches were applied to the post-flood regeneration work, but this year the Fayre is back with a bang on 4th and 5th October. Cookery demonstrations, local crafts and some Cornish gig racing.
More festival details
In the heart of Boscastle: P35
Dunn Cottage
Boscastle, North Cornwall
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Dartmouth Food Festival, 8th - 12th October
It’s the 5th year for this top notch showcase of Devon produce and cooking. Try these wonderful treats at the opening party – a vast paella, Indian spice bazaar, Manna chocolate brownies followed by Dartmouth ice cream!
Festival menu here
Sleep it off at: L267
The Hay Barn
Halwell, South Hams
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Porlock Rutting Weekend
Exmoor, 10th - 12th October. It’s the time of year when the red deer stags bellow and battle to prove who is the biggest, the bravest and the most handsome. South West Executive Safaris can tailor a trip to suit your needs, so if you want to get a close look at this wild moorland action contact Richard on 07817 103357.
On the edge of the moor: F91
Hawthorn Cottage
Barbrook, Exmoor
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The Lowender Peran Festival
Perranporth, 15th - 19th October. Come and see Lord Edwards’s Own Narraghmore Pipe Band and Dancers and other performers celebrating the 30th Festival of the Celts in Kernow and the Cornish links with other Celtic communities.
More about this wonderful Celtic festival
Stay nearby at: Q6
The Designers Loft
St Agnes, Newquay Coast
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Falmouth Oyster Festival, 16th - 19th October
The Festival marks the start of the traditional oyster fishing season using the iconic oyster sailing boats – no engines allowed! The season runs from October till March and there are native oysters and super Pacific oysters to try during the Festival. Learn some master-class recipes too and join in the sea shanties! Find out more here
Just a stroll from all the activity: S211
Boslowen
Falmouth, Cornwall's Med
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Enchanted Floodlit Abbotsbury Gardens
16th October - 2nd November. The subtropical gardens were established in 1765 but needed some re-building after the great storm in 1990, when lots of new and exotic plants were introduced. Enjoy charming walled garden walks and spectacular autumnal woodland valley views.
The delights of Abbotsbury
Relax nearby in: H601
Dormouse Cottage
Burton Bradstock, Dorset
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Pumpkin Olympics, Ansty, 18th - 31st October
Have a mad day at The Ansty PYO and Farm Shop near Salisbury and take part in pumpkin basketball, pumpkin long jump, and loads of other very silly but funny ‘sports’. And there are even pumpkin refreshments!
The Olympic timetable
Escape from the mayhem at: H12
Thatch Cottage
Shaftesbury, Dorset
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Roseland Festival, 18th October - 1st November
There’s just an amazing programme of events over these two weeks! You can listen to opera and poetry, jump aboard special ferry trips, watch plays and there’s even a version of The Beatles ‘Magical Mystery Tour’!
Full festival programme
A great base: S220
The Gingerbread House
St Mawes, Cornwall's Med
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Autumn Model Show & Flying Display
Would you like to see some of the most impressive radio controlled aircraft in the country? On 18th October go to the Fleet Air Arm Museum at Yeovilton, where you can also take part in a ‘Make and Paint’ workshop and perhaps win a prize. There’s also an Open Day there on 23rd October for the Reserve Collection, which includes a newly-arrived Westland Sea King helicopter. More show details
Put your feet up at: E7
Quiet Corner Cottage
Henstridge, Somerset's Heart
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Whiz! Bang! West Country Fireworks
If you’re planning a holiday for early November, look out for the legendary explosive bonfire nights in places like Dunster, Porth Beach in Cornwall, Hatherleigh, the wild and fiery derring-do of tar barrel rolling in Ottery St Mary and a ‘Puntastic’ night at Sticklepath, near Okehampton.
Roll out the barrel
For Ottery St Mary roll along to: G21
Gulls Perch
Budleigh Salterton, East Devon
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WOW! See those brochures fly!
Chagford’s amazing brochure licking and stuffing team has just completed another blindingly fast marathon – in just a few days they rammed, pushed and slid 70,000 of the 2009 Helpful Holidays brochures into envelopes and handed them over to the postman for delivery to you. In the meantime, we’re still adding new properties, so if you’re considering a big family get-together at Christmas or New Year, do have a look at an early 18th century manor house (G170) near the sea at Budleigh Salterton which sleeps 25; a smart, modern house (P107) very close to the beach at Bude; a terraced cottage (P47) on the Camel Estuary; and an elegant, detached Georgian manor house (L78) set in lovely, scenic grounds on the edge of Ivybridge.
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L78, Filham House
Ivybridge, South Hams
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If you can find time for a short break (or longer if you can make it), it’s a great time to come to the West Country. Magnificent landscapes, great local food, time to slow down a little and appreciate the good things and often surprisingly pleasant and balmy days.
We look forward to helping you find the best possible place for your holiday.
Best wishes,
Moray Bowater
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