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Indian summer... |
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The West Country lanes and footpaths are fit to burst with autumn fruit - blackberries (never seen anything like it) and damsons heavy in the hedges; free food for a pie, crumble or jam and sloes for a heady mix of ever-so-slow sloe gin – in a month or so we’ll need it.
Bless them, the weathermen have conjured up some beautiful, warm and sunny days – an Indian summer no less – for those fruit picking forays. With the evenings drawing in, there’s the hint of an autumnal nip in the air; it’s time to get back and unwind by the woodburner in a warm and cosy cottage – or perhaps with a foaming pint in front of the fire you spotted in the ‘local’ just down the lane.
Tempting offers....
We’ve some very tempting offers on some nice places to stay for that last dash west this autumn. A short break with friends? How about the west wing of a 17th century Devon longhouse (J16) near Tiverton, with glorious long rural views to Dartmoor, available week commencing 16th October from £59 per person per week based on four sharing? A little further west, a Grade II listed house (R42) that sleeps eight in Kingsand with right-out-to-sea views, from £87 per person per week in early October; or perhaps a dear little detached stone cottage (Q8) sleeping four in Kestle Mill, just 300 yards from a good food pub, available mid October from £71 per person per week?
In beautiful St. Mawes, a stone’s throw from the beach, a seafront cottage (S213) is available from early October from £108 per person per week based on four sharing. Save 25% on the remaining weeks in October in a traditional, south-facing, stone cottage (P346) sleeping five people in Penrose, north Cornwall. Back in the South Hams, on the edge of Kingston, a charming, 200-year-old detached cottage (L39), available from £68 per person per week based on six sharing during the remaining weeks in October.
Don’t forget, two and three day breaks become more freely available in October and 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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The West Country just got nearer…
Take to the skies with bmibaby... |
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Three flights a week...
bmibaby is launching three times weekly flights between East Midlands Airport and Newquay from May next year. Fares will start from £18.99 one way including taxes and charges but watch out, tickets are already on sale so start planning that holiday now to take advantage of these great prices.
Taxi along to Q4
Pentire Heights Apartment
Newquay, Newquay Coast
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New properties…
No sooner have we published our 2010 brochure (stuffed and stuck in record time this year by our intrepid band of stuffers and stickers) than we’ve got many more exciting new holiday homes to tell you about. Here are a few to whet your appetite. Near Chagford you’ll find a comfortable stone-built cottage (A99) in a great position for exploring the moor. Or if you prefer right-out-to-sea views, take a look at L115, a big detached hillside house in Heybrook Bay. In Bigbury-on-Sea there’s a huge, ‘upside-down’, detached custom-built house (L616) just 150 yards from the magnificent beach; and on the north Devon coast, a lovely detached cottage (K24) in a wonderful, tranquil spot near the cove at Bucks Mill. There’s more peace and tranquillity to be found at F44, a detached, private and hidden woodland home with deer and badgers for neighbours in Parracombe. Heading further west, three modern, terraced townhouses (Z35, Z36, Z38) are excellently positioned in the heart of Penzance, whilst back with us is Z448, a double-fronted, terraced cottage in St Just-in-Penwith, England’s most westerly town. |
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A99, Lower Venton
Chagford, Dartmoor |
L115, Southways
Heybrook Bay, South Hams |
L616, Coromandel
Bigbury-on-Sea, South Hams |
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K24, Bucks Cottage
Bucks Mill, North Devon |
F44, Cowley Wood
Parracombe, Exmoor |
Z35, Overstrand
Penzance, End of England
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Z36, Mast Tops
Penzance, End of England |
Z38, Crows Nest
Penzance, End of England |
Z448, 3 Carralack Terrace
St Just-in-Penwith, End of England |
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Back on the food trail…
If your stomachs survived last month’s extensive trail of gastronomic delights, we’ve plenty more to tempt you this time around. West Country folk have a bit of a reputation as trenchermen; it’s hardly surprising given the tremendous range of local produce and delightful fare on offer. |
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Boscastle Food Festival…
Back for the fourth year and arguably the biggest of its kind in Cornwall, the Boscastle festival runs from 3rd to 4th October. Nathan Outlaw, one of Cornwall’s most celebrated chefs, is making his first appearance on the chefs’ stage, along with representatives of Rick Stein’s Seafood School and Jamie Oliver’s Fifteen Cornwall.
Check for Alka Seltzer at P21
Ingledene
Boscastle, North Cornwall
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Oysters, the food of love…
Viewers of MasterChef will immediately recognise the name of Mat Follas, winner of the 2009 amateur competition and the Celebrity Chef at this year’s Falmouth Oyster Festival, 15th to 18th October. The festival celebrates the diversity and quality of Cornish seafood, as well as the start of the oyster dredging season at the last traditional oyster fishery.
Enjoy some oysters on the terrace at S1
Mobri
Falmouth, Cornwall's Med
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Celebrate north Devon’s finest…
The North Devon Foodfest on 18th October will be a great day for all the family at Barnstaple Pannier Market. Sample dishes from local restaurants. Chefs’ demonstrations, live music and local ales and ciders are all on the menu.
Sleep it off at K6
Stonehaven Cottage
Horwood, North Devon
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A great British favourite…
Bangers and mash and beer (soft drink for the youngsters) and a tram ride all for £10pp. Tram departs from Seaton at 6pm and Colyton at 8pm on 29th October. Booking essential – call 01297 20375.
Savour the sizzle from H15
4 Brydian Mews
Bridport, Dorset
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A pint to wash it all down…
The Falmouth Beer Festival, 23rd and 24th October, is a cracking event that just gets bigger and bigger each year. With over 160 ales from leading local and regional breweries, as well as countless ciders and perries, you’ll be spoiled for choice.
Recover gently at S18
Tresooth Cottage
Mawnan Smith, Cornwall's Med
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Tavistock Goose Fair, 14th October…
No one is sure where the name ‘Goose’ came from, but this event attracts traders and fairground rides as well as livestock traders from all over the country. So why not ‘traipse across old Darty Moor, the Goosey Fair to see’?
Take a gander from A138
The Shippen
Tavistock, Dartmoor
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Cornwall’s Celtic connections…
Celebrate Cornwall’s Celtic heritage at the Lowender Peran Festival, Perranporth from 14th to 18th October. The festival is jam packed with lively ceilidhs, stonking music sessions, concerts, workshops, a Celtic craft market and a Skinner’s Real Ale bar.
Dance your way back to Q6
The Designers Loft
St Agnes, Newquay Coast
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Who dunnit?
There’s great company, good food and a chance to test your sleuthing skills at the Murder Mystery Evening at Paignton Zoo on 15th October. So if you’re a budding Sherlock Holmes or Inspector Morse, you’ll find the evening a challenge with plenty of clues and red herrings to keep you guessing.
Get clued up at C88
Longcroft House
Torquay, Torbay and The Red Cliffs
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Compare the meerkats…
No, not another marketing ploy, but a genuine chance to meet the real thing, the meerkat family at Newquay Zoo. These delightful creatures put on a show at 12.30pm every day throughout the month.
Keep a look out from Q16
Bluebell Cottage
Rose, Newquay Coast
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The Little Monsters’ Ball…
Take the whole family for an evening of ‘fangtastic’ fun, spooky activities, a groovy disco and tasty treats at the Eden Project on 30th and 31st October. The ball was such a success last year they’re having two this time around!
Take your broomstick back to S2
The Old Cart House
Boswinger, Cornwall's Med
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Halloween happenings…
Join the Wicked Witch of the Wood’s lantern procession at Woodlands during their Halloween happenings week, 26th to 31st October. Six creepy days packed full of fun with trick and treat hunts, ghost trains and pumpkin carving competitions.
Chill out at L203
1 New Bridge Gardens
Loddiswell, South Hams
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For the younger ones…
Throughout autumn half-term week ride the Beer Heights Frights Ghost Train at Pecorama. Located on the hillside above the picturesque fishing village of Beer, Pecorama is also home to the famous Peco Model Railway Exhibition, where youngsters can operate the trains.
Ride back to G10
Choristers Cottage
Hawkchurch, East Devon
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More gentle fun…
If you prefer grins to grimaces, fun to frights and smiles to spooks, then forget Halloween and pop along to Pennywell’s ‘Jollyween’. They’re celebrating the lighter side of life with Billy Wiz, pumpkin carving and lots of hands on activities and displays throughout the whole of half-term week.
Relax at L237
The Dairy
East Allington, South Hams
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We’re all a twitter…
You can now follow us on Twitter to keep up with details of new properties and special offers. If you’re new to Twitter, it’s free and easy to join. Once you’re logged in, simply use ‘Find People’ and search for ‘Helpful Holidays’ to find our page and then click ‘Follow’ to receive our ‘tweets’.
By the way, have you looked at our blog yet? Take a look and see what others have to say about our properties. Please feel free to add your comments, or if you feel inspired to write about your recent visit to the West Country, send us an email, and we’ll endeavour to add as many articles as we can.
We hope you can find time for a short break (or longer if you can make it) this autumn. It’s a great time to visit with plenty going on to amuse you, good local food and often surprisingly pleasant and balmy days. Many of our properties offer short breaks, Friday to Monday from October onwards, and we’ll be delighted to help you find that perfect escape for an autumn break.
Best wishes
Moray Bowater
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© 2009 Helpful Holidays, Mill Street, Chagford, Devon, TQ13 8AW Tel: 01647 433593 Email: help@helpfulholidays.com
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