The good life

Where better to spend a summer break and get a taste of the good life than deep in the West Country? This year, Farm & Cottage Holidays is offering stays at a selection of properties where guests can enjoy being on working organic farms, assisting with the animals and getting back to nature with an all-round country experience. Properties are located throughout Devon, Cornwall, Somerset and Dorset – perfect for exploring the region and each has been selected for it uniqueness. Suggestions include:

Kedworthy Farm, Barnstaple, Devon
Set in Exmoor National Park, this stone barn is part of a working 400 acre organic farm. Guests can enjoy being part of farm life, assisting with the animals, which include cows, sheep, horses, dogs and chickens, enjoy the opportunity to fish as well as see wild buzzards and red deer. It is possible for guests to enjoy the farm’s fruit, vegetables and eggs, in season. The cottage has two bedrooms, a bathroom, a lounge-kitchen-diner and a games room. Sleeping four, Kedworthy Farm costs from £376 per week in July. Dogs and ponies can stay by previous arrangement.

Waterloo Kingfisher Cottage, Boscastle, North Cornwall
Situated on a working beef and sheep farm, this renovated farm stable cottage offers guests plenty of country walks along with the opportunity to meet many farm animals. There is a miscellany of wildlife including kingfishers, swallows, otters, buzzards and skylark. Guests can enjoy clay pigeon shooting or fishing, (fly and coarse), on the beautiful River Ottery or the smaller Boles Bridge stream which meanders through the farm. Facilities also include a safely enclosed heated outdoor swimming pool, giant sandpit, games room and orchard playing field. Sleeping up to five, the cottage is arranged on one floor, providing disabled access and costs from £476 per week in June.

Rose Cottage, Hornblotton, Somerset
Rather than stay at a cottage near a pub, this property brings the cider to its guests and they can even learn to make it at this beautiful Somerset orchard which produces 10,000 litres each year. Rose Cottage is a detached barn offering two bedrooms, a bathroom and a kitchen-diner-conservatory with wood burner. Guests are free to wander the orchards and learn the art of cider making and also enjoy seasonable produce from the fenced vegetable garden. Sleeping up to five, Rose Cottage is conveniently located for visiting Wells, Glastonbury and Bath as well as many other local attractions and costs from £450 per week in June.

For more information and reservations, visit holidaycottages.co.uk.