Spotlight on West Country holiday homes

The new colour supplement from West Country specialists, Helpful Holidays, features forty-five self-catering properties increasing their existing portfolio to over 600 holiday homes.

Included are a sensational Georgian country house for sixteen on a 6,000 acre Devon estate; a waterside house with boats for ten in the popular sailing centre of Newton Ferrers, south Devon; a former threshing mill for twelve near North Bovey on Dartmoor and a stylish period cottage for five tucked away in the heart of Appledore on North Devon’s coast.

Check availability and book online at Helpfulholidays.com.

The Pick of the Best:
Holiday homes featured in the new supplement sleep two to sixteen guests in a variety of coast and countryside locations throughout Devon and Cornwall with a smaller selection in Somerset, Dorset and Hampshire; here are some of the finest examples across a range of sizes:

Hidden deep in a peaceful 6,000 acre estate near Milton Combe, Devon is Maristow Barton, a sensational detached Georgian country house sleeping sixteen. The property has recently been beautifully refurbished and updated to an exceptional level providing a very comfy and bright modern home. There are eight bedrooms, all with their own facilities including two with in-room slipper baths; a sunny living room (30 x 16ft) with an open fire and a crystal chandelier in the dining room, while the smart kitchen has been fitted with both an electric cooker and gas range.

Beside the house is an enclosed, sunny gravelled yard with tables/chairs and a barbecue and to the back a large lawn; there is also a games room, barns for bike storage and a jetty for a small boat on the nearby River Tavy. Maristow Barton is priced from £1,296 for a week’s stay and £926 for a short break (ref L80, supplement page 19).

Riverside, an aptly named holiday home for yachties, is perched right on the waters edge with wonderful views over the river in the popular south Devon sailing centre of Newton Ferrers. Sleeping ten, this sensational house has its own private mooring and comes complete with a motorboat and rowing dinghy; fun rigid inflatable boats are also available for those with suitable experience. Holidaymakers can relax and watch the world go by from its waterside gardens and patio; there’s even an outdoor hydro-pool. Riverside House is priced from £1,456 for a week’s stay and £1,040 for a short break (ref L98, supplement page18).

Set in a stream-valley near North Bovey on Dartmoor, is the Mill House, a handsome grade II listed threshing mill dating back to the 1800s. Once part of Lord Hambledon’s estate, the big detached family house now has space for twelve, pets welcome too. The Mill House is priced from £355 for a week’s stay for eight and £254 for a short break – quotes for larger occupancy on request (ref A81, supplement page 22).

Tucked away in the heart of Appledore on North Devon’s coast and within 100 yards of the pubs, cafés, shops, galleries and quay is Ruby Cottage. Recently refurbished, the stylish cottage for five is in a donkey-width lane with virtually no passing traffic. It’s priced from £267 for a week’s stay and £191 for a short break (ref K17, supplement page 9).

Another delightful older cottage for four is Valley Cottage. Set beside a narrow winding street in the lovely village of Slapton, South Devon, it’s just 150 yards from the village pub and shops. The charming thatched and detached cottage has been well restored with modern comforts but retains its old knobbly walls and ancient beams. It’s priced from £246 for a week’s stay and £176 for a short break (ref L72, supplement page 14).

Finally for families or friends planning to holiday together but seeking some privacy, there are four roomy cottages converted from the former coach house and stables in the grounds of Treworgey Manor, near St Cleer on the southern edge of Cornwall’s Bodmin Moor. Sleeping four to eight guests, the cottages are available either together or individually and have shared use of an outdoor pool (May-September), all weather tennis court and a big games room. Prices start from £253 for a week’s stay and £181 for a short break in the Middle Barn which sleeps four and welcomes pets (refs R55, R56, R57 and R58, supplement pages 26 and 27).

Search, check availability and book online at Helpfulholidays.com.