Family Self Catering Cottages

Looking forward to a holiday with the latest edition to your family? Why not rent a pretty cottage in the West Country which will accommodate the three of you, with a little room to spare – babies might be small but you’ll need some storage space for the inevitable equipment that goes with them! The counties of Devon and Somerset are renown for delightful thatched cottages, most of which have been renovated to a high standard, have great character, and come with lovely fitted kitchens and bathrooms. In addition, you will find beautiful furnishings and comfortable bedrooms. Most have gardens with outdoor furniture, so put your feet up, open a bottle of wine and relax in the idyllic surroundings.

From coast to countryside, Devon is certainly blessed with more than its fair share of delightful villages, housing some beautifully restored stone and cob thatched cottages. Stokeinteighnhead, nestled in a steep valley near the sea in South Devon, is a “chocolate box” thatched village with excellent holiday cottages. The village boasts a superb pub and village shop and there is a lovely beach nearby, with others dotted along the coast. Great walking on the South Devon coastal path and inland, where footpaths criss-cross the landscape.

Nearby: Maidencombe, Shaldon (watersports), Shaldon Wildlife Trust (endangered small animals) Dawlish Warren, Teignmouth, Dartmouth, Blackpool Sands, Dartmoor

A visit to the South Hams will be memorable for years to come. The breathtaking coastline stretches from Dartmouth to Plymouth and is one of the most scenic in the UK. Escape the crowds and make for East Portlemouth, a historic village with three small beaches, Fisherman’s Cove, Small’s Cove and Mill Bay – lots of space for building sandcastles and dipping toes in the water. Ferries run every 10 minutes throughout the summer to Salcombe with its lovely shops, waterside pubs and restaurants. Popular with the yachting community, there’s always something to watch in Salcombe. There are holiday cottages in East Portlemouth, East Prawle, Southpool and in the villages around Salcombe.

Nearby: Hope Cove, Thurlestone Sands, Bigbury & Burgh Island, Plymouth, Kingsbridge, Loddiswell Vineyard.

Somerset is a county where you can “do everything” or “do nothing”. It stretches across Exmoor to the coast at Watchet, Porlock Weir and Minehead, with fantastic scenery, historic harbours and beaches - Somerset’s coast has something to offer everyone. Inland, the pretty medieval village of Dunster, on the edge of Exmoor and only a few miles from the coast, boasts an ancient castle, priory, yarn market, packhorse bridge and watermill. Enjoy a Somerset cream tea in one of the tea rooms, then browse in the galleries and craft shops. A wide variety of landscapes awaits you in this area of rolling hills, wooded valleys and hidden villages – a perfect location for renting a holiday cottage.

Nearby: Blue Anchor Bay, Minehead, Selworthy, Bossington, Allerford, Watchet (Boat Museum), Porlock Weir, Exmoor National Park.

From any point on the Quantock Hills, West Somerset, sweeping views scan the vista of the rocky coastline. Picturesque villages with names like Nether Stowey, Bicknoller and Stogumber nestle in the foothills and the whole area exudes peace and tranquillity. If you love the great outdoors, you’re in the right area – the dream of walkers, horse-riders and cyclists. If you are a fossil collector, head for Kilve beach. If you are a fan of the poet, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, visit his house in Nether Stowey. Along the way, you’ll find traditional pubs serving local ales, cider and good food.

Nearby: West Somerset Railway, Cleeve Abbey, Hestercombe Gardens, Fleet Air Arm Museum (Yeovilton), Glastonbury (Tor & Abbey), Haynes Motor Museum.