Big houses for summer in the country

Larger families, or a group of friends planning a summer holiday together, can choose from around forty big houses in the West Country sleeping between 10 and 29 guests priced from £105 per person per week still available through Helpful Holidays.

Near St Kew in North Cornwall is Ogas Pol, a handsome detached stone and slate house (ref P322) for up to 10 guests available for a week’s stay from Saturday 19 July and 16 August priced from £1,583 (£158pp). The entrance porch opens into a large beamed sitting room with a farmhouse style kitchen/dining room at one end, while outside there’s a children’s games den and toddlers’ slide/swing.

Particularly good value is a spacious converted barn for 12 in a sheltered valley just inland from South Devon’s coast at Slapton with acres of open grounds for guests to enjoy. Deceptively roomy inside, Oak Cottage (ref L71) is priced from £1,254 (£105pp) for a week starting Friday 18 July.

Also sleeping 12 is Sandridge Barton, (ref C618) one of South Devon’s finest country houses furnished with lovely antiques and paintings. Nestling in a beautiful estate just over a mile from Stoke Gabriel, this sensational Grade II listed house has wonderful views across its garden, ponds and partly wooded valley to the River Dart Estuary. A wing was added to the original Georgian house around twelve years ago with a magnificent mosaic-lined indoor pool with columns and animal murals, a verandah, very spacious drawing room and a children’s playroom plus a master bedroom suite above. It’s priced from £6,520 (£543pp) for a week in the summer.

Helpful Holidays have taken 20% off the price of week’s stay in a large family house sleeping 14 until the end of August. Near the sandy beaches at Torquay, South Devon, the early Victorian villa, The Tudors (ref C5) is now priced from £2,226 (£159pp) for a week during July and August saving up to £567pw. There’s a games room in the former coach house at the end of the drive, while the beach is 10 minutes walk and shops and good restaurants just two minutes.

For larger parties, Tidal Waters (ref L75) is a stunning, contemporary waterside house sleeping 15 guests at the end of the tidal inlet in the popular south Devon sailing centre of Noss Mayo. The ultra-stylish house is cleverly planned with river-facing balconies to admire the superb watery views; there’s also a small creek side garden and direct access to the foreshore with its dinghy/canoe launching area. Inside the accommodation is spread over three levels with two light and spacious living/kitchen/dining rooms with oak floors; seven/eight bedrooms and six bathrooms. There is also a telephone and wireless broadband for guests who need to keep in touch. Tidal Waters is priced at £3,512 per week (£234pp) in July or August.

Hidden deep in a peaceful 6,000 acre estate near Milton Combe, Devon is Maristow Barton (ref L80), a sensational detached Georgian country house sleeping 16. The property has recently been beautifully refurbished and updated to an exceptional level providing a very comfy and bright modern home; there is also a games room, barns for bike storage and a jetty for a small boat on the nearby river. Prices in the summer holidays are from £2,834 (£177pp) for a week’s stay.

For several families planning a summer break together Blagdon (ref C500), a 16th century manor house close to Collaton St Mary and two miles from the sandy beach at Paington, South Devon, has accommodation for 29 in 12 bedrooms/10 bathrooms. A great place for a multi-family gathering it has a big heated pool in the garden with a splash pool at one end and a wide, paved border to relax around on loungers. Inside there’s a pool table on the wide minstrels’ gallery, which overlooks the Great Hall; table tennis, a football game and darts are also available. Blagdon is available from Friday 18 July and 8 August priced from £4,258 (£147pp), pets welcome.

For more information and to book, visit Helpfulholidays.com quoting the reference numbers.