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South West self-catering holiday homes with quirky added extras

12th February 2013 Print

And, more importantly, with availability this summer. The hottest properties have a habit of being snapped up not long into a new year by the savvy and super-organised. Classic Cottages has just added a number of superb new properties to its portfolio, giving you the chance to book somewhere extra-special for July or August.

Classic Cottages with over 700 coastal and country properties across Cornwall, Dorset, Devon and Somerset, has just added 17 new retreats to its collection, all with availability this summer (scroll to the bottom of the Classic Cottages homepage to view the newest properties). But you’ll need to be speedy to bag one – they’re all special, and some are rather unusual. Here are four that are set to be top-sellers:

Cornwall for two

Environmentally-friendly bolthole where couples can cosy up and sleep beneath the eaves

Tallulah Rose, a mile from the tiny fishing village of Mousehole that’s awash with myth and legend, is an extremely stylish, single-level retreat set in a rural hamlet in far west Cornwall. Glasses of wine and good books in hand, you can warm your toes in the evening by a cylindrical wood-burner. A bespoke white metal staircase leads up to the lovely galleried bedroom, with its bed tucked under the eaves. Newlyn is up the road, where early risers will enjoy the daily fish auction and a stroll on the beach, and the world-famous, open-air Minack Theatre is also close by. A week’s stay in July costs from £258 pp (£516 total).

Devon for 12

Wood burners, Wii, hot tub, croquet, tasty meals, horse stables and Dartmoor on your doorstep

White Lady House is seriously wow! An exquisitely renovated, large country retreat close to Tavistock, it has a drawing room with opulent silk curtains and an inglenook fireplace, a dining room with original slate floors, a contemporary kitchen with an Aga, a second sitting room with woodburner and Wii, and six luxurious bedrooms. In the landscaped gardens there’s a hot tub, a croquet lawn, table tennis and a gas barbeque. Seasonally inspired breakfasts and dinners can be ordered from an extensive (and impressive) menu, and there’s stabling for your horses. A week’s stay in July costs from £263 pp (£3,150 total).

Dorset for 16

Order-in fine food, honesty bar, open fire, roll-top baths, dramatic scenery and sandy beaches

Moles Cottage is a sumptuous, thatched period property in a village on the edge of the Cranborne Chase Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Refurbished to an extremely high standard, its super-spacious entertaining areas are ideal for a family gathering or a group of friends: an open-plan drawing room with log fire, huge sofas, large flat screen TV, DVD player and honesty bar, a grand dining table, and a contemporary kitchen with Rangemaster cooker. Meals can be ordered from the renowned inn next door, and excursions are aplenty with Sherborne, Salisbury, Shaftesbury, Longleat, Stourhead and the Studland peninsula all within easy reach. A week’s stay in July costs from £120 pp (£1,920 total).

Somerset for six

Open-air heated swimming pool, table tennis, dog-sitting and views across three counties

Brottens Cottage, originally a coach house, is a family-friendly property set on a hilltop, offering privacy and plenty of activities. The very inviting swimming pool and games room will provide hours of amusement for children, allowing grown-ups time to unwind and soak up the rural calm. Interiors are fresh and the garden is enclosed. If you’re taking a dog, walks through the Mendips will be a welcome treat, and your canine pet will be well looked after by the owner if you fancy trips to Bath, Longleat and the Cathedral City of Wells. A week’s stay in July costs from £212 pp (£1,272 total).

For more information and to book one of Classic Cottages’ coastal and country properties, visit classic.co.uk.

To help plan your visit to the South West, with plenty of ideas of places to go and things to do suggested by Classic’s local experts, visit classicguide.co.uk.