Easter Breaks in stunning South Devon

South Devon, with its breathtaking scenery, beautiful beaches, miles of coastline plus picturesque towns and villages is the ideal location for a holiday all year round.

Busier in peak season and particularly popular during the summer with families looking for that ‘away-from-it all’ holiday experience, the Devon area boasts safe sandy coves for sandcastles whilst crabbing, rock-pooling and surfing prove as popular as ever with the kids and parents alike.

Springtime is the perfect time of year to enjoy a holiday in Devon; in this beautiful area spring certainly comes earlier, with beautiful wild flowers, rare birds and wildlife completing the picture. Those with a sweet tooth will appreciate the local Devon hand-made chocolates and fabulous fudge, renowned Salcombe clotted cream ice cream and the delicious Hot Cross Buns, like those freshly baked on the premises at Frogmore Bakery. For traditional egg decorating activities there are an abundance of local farm shops selling free-range eggs. The Easter holidays are the ideal time to book a short break in the South Hams, the southernmost part of Devon. With a milder climate, wonderful walking, sailing and water sports, fantastic pubs, cream teas and plenty of individual shops in quaint streets to explore, come and enjoy the fresh air and walk off all that chocolate!

Local Coast & Countryside Events organised by the South Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty provide wonderful opportunities for the whole family to explore the beautiful countryside and appreciate nature during the Easter period. Events for 2007 include ‘Make and decorate an Easter Tree’ on the Dartington Estate , Easter Egg hunts in stunning locations such as the National Trust’s Overbecks Gardens near Salcombe, and an Easter Eggs-travaganza with egg decorating and a giant egg rolling competition! Visit www.southdevonaonb.org.uk for more details.

Coast & Country Cottages offer Easter breaks at many of the self-catering holiday cottages in Devon they manage in the area. With offices in Salcombe, Kingsbridge and Dartmouth and nearly 350 properties in and around the South Devon coast and countryside, the local teams can help you find just what you are looking for, whether a romantic retreat for two, a cosy cottage for walkers, a stylish waterside apartment or a large elegant farmhouse. Couples discounts, special offers, last-minute deals and dog-friendly properties are all available too and welcome hampers, flowers, wine or even freshly prepared meals can be ordered to make the most of your break. Those booking an Easter break will also receive a bag of Devon fudge with the compliments of Coast & Country Cottages.

‘Easter Breaks are becoming increasingly popular’ says Karen Jones who, with her husband Andrew, owns and manages Coast & Country Cottages. ‘We are seeing a change in the patterns of holidays taken by an increasingly busy society who really value their time off work. More and more of our customers are taking more frequent but maybe shorter breaks and usually in addition to their annual holiday, whether taken in the UK or abroad. Many of our customers love the area so much that they visit us more than once a year and a good proportion initially book a short break and love it so much that they return for a full week next time.’


Contact the local teams in Salcombe 01548 843773, Dartmouth 01803 839499 and Kingsbridge (for South Hams coastal and village properties) 01548 852572 today and let them suggest an Easter break or a short break to suit you sometime soon!

Brochure Request Line 0870 4050530

info@coastandcountry.co.uk

www.coastandcountry.co.uk

A Celebration of Food

If you are thinking about booking an Spring or Summer break and are passionate about what you eat, a visit to the southernmost tip of Devon, the South Hams, during 2007 is sure to get your taste buds going.

With a varied and productive local food economy, including many award-winning products and premises, South Devon boasts fantastic, locally produced and sourced food all year round, with something for all tastes and budgets, whether self-catering or eating out is your preference.

For such a rural, unspoilt area the South Hams boasts more than its fair share of great places to dine, including pubs offering great, freshly caught fish & chips (try the Start Bay Inn right on the beach at Torcross, recommended by Rick Stein in his TV show) or the superbly named ‘The Oyster Shack’ at Bigbury and their new restaurant at Hannaford’s Landing, Salcombe, for special fish and seafood eaten al fresco, weather permitting. The fabulous Dartmoor Union Inn, in the pretty village of Holbeton, was last year named the UK’s ‘Dining Pub of the Year’ by Les Routiers – we are delighted to market a property just a few paces away ,West St. Marys, ideal for a long weekend or short break for food fans. The pub’s sister restaurants, The Rose & Crown (AA Rosette for excellence) and The Seafood Restaurant in Yealmpton (AA two rosettes), opened at the end of 2005 to great acclaim – the Rose & Crown has now just been awarded the Devon Pub of the Year Award in the Good Pub Guide. As they say on their company website ‘not what you quite expect from a sleepy village.’

Dartmouth is increasingly becoming a place to chose for a break all year round, with many good pubs, hotels and restaurants to choose from. The New Angel, run by TV chef John Burton Race, gained a Michelin star within 7 months of its opening in May 2004. Visitors have specifically booked to stay at our properties in Dartmouth in order to visit the restaurant made famous by the Channel 4 series ‘Return of the Chef. Our personal favourite, Anzac Street Bistro, is booked up weeks in advance during busy periods such is its popularity – excellent local food, often from the family farm and a great atmosphere.

Talking of farms, one of the most enjoyable and unusual dining experiences is to be found at Riverford Organic Farm’s new Field Kitchen. Take a tour by tractor around the fields and poly tunnels that make up this successful organic farm and box delivery company and then eat on communal long tables in the purpose built restaurant with views of the farm. The freshly grown and picked food is delicious – if not already a convert to organic food or box schemes, you will be!

If you like to seeing food and drink production in progress and even if you have not tried English wine before you will be bowled over by the whole experience of a visit to Sharpham, near Totnes. Not only do they produce delicious award-winning wine and cheeses, but the setting on the River Dart, with walks and tours part of the tasting package, is magical. With many other producers opening their ‘doors’ to visitors during the year, including Chilli Growers, South Devon Chilli Farm, you could happily fill your days seeing the produce being grown and then dine out on it at night! Take a walk along the beach at Beesands on the Start Bay coast and see the fishermen bringing in their catch, try your hand at fishing or simply buy from Britannia Shellfish close to where the boats land. Local Coast & Countryside food related events promoted by the South Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Organisation throughout the year include Easter Egg Extravaganzas at Sharpham, ‘From grass to cream’ at Burton Farm, including a cream tea (!) ‘Hope Cove’s edible coast’ and ‘wild food gathering’ at Coombe Royal in Kingsbridge.

Most Saturdays see a local Farmers market somewhere in the area, highly popular and well supported by locals and visitors from far and wide. These are great opportunities to sample new foods, talk directly to the producers and purchase a whole array of wonderful products from vegetables to venison, fudge to fish, sausage to soup and much more.

For complete foodies, why not time a visit to this beautiful area to coincide with Dartmouth’s Food Festival, taking place over October 11th,12th and 13th 2007. With last year’s event including cookery demonstrations, ‘tackling a lobster’, advice on choosing a local cheeseboard, workshops, tasting sessions, children’s activities and more, the event in 2007 looks set to be a real celebration of the diversity, success and pleasures that is South Hams food and drink.


Coast & Country Cottages – Over 300 properties in and around Dartmouth, Salcombe and throughout the South Hams, ideal for a holiday or break all year round. Short Breaks. Special Offers. Couples Discounts. Dog-friendly Properties. For details of availability during Dartmouth Food Festival call our Dartmouth team on (01803) 839499 or visit www.coastandcountry.co.uk

Whether booking a summer holiday or looking for somewhere to stay whilst house hunting , it is not too late to book a summer property ...... yet

With miles of stunning coastline, beautiful award-winning beaches, unspoilt towns and villages and fabulous pubs and restaurants, not to mention the delicious ice-cream, it is easy to understand why so many choose the southernmost tip of Devon as the destination for their summer holiday or short break. Every year thousands of visitors flock to this special corner of Devon, the South Hams, which includes the picturesque sailing resort of Salcombe, the historic naval port of Dartmouth and the quaint town of Totnes, with pretty rivers, narrow green lanes, estuary and countryside between.

With a high percentage of visitors choosing to return to the area every year, a large number of properties are booked up months in advance. Such is the appeal of the area, that many of those who first stayed here as children, are now visiting with their own families - crabbing, rock-pooling and surfing proving as popular as ever with children and parents alike. Indeed, originally from Kent, I spent many happy childhood holidays staying in Devon hotels, before my parents purchased a holiday home on the River Dart. Several years ago, married and with a family of my own, I realised that we simply could not return to the daily commute plus the pressures of juggling corporate life with raising a family. We were then lucky enough to have the opportunity of moving permanently to the area with our children and we know of many others who initially came here as holidaymakers, then purchased a property for holiday use before deciding to settle here.

Indeed, throughout the course of our holiday letting year we find we regularly speak to holidaymakers staying in our properties who are seriously considering purchasing a property in the South Hams as a holiday home or an investment, often with the thought of moving permanently to the area at some time in the future, perhaps when they retire. Many will have considered this possibility prior to their holiday, booking estate agent visits in advance, having identified potential suitable properties themselves. For others, seduced by the beauty of the area and the market for holiday cottages, the process may be more impulsive, but a good number do go on to purchase a property at some time. All are looking for our advice regarding letting history, if applicable, number of letting weeks anticipated and the likely weekly rental. Others discuss the suitability of one property for letting versus another. Whilst we can advise that location, position, standard and certain key requirements such as parking are important, it is vital that the property suits the purchaser and their plans – is it a holiday home they will use themselves, can they envisage permanently moving there or is the purchase purely an investment?

We regularly find that, once on the South Hams property ladder, many owners will look to buy additional properties, maybe larger or in a more sought after location or with better views or indeed, adding to their portfolio of properties by purchasing additional property in the area. Often their original property is sold onto owners who, in turn, wish to let their property through us. If you are thinking of letting a property or considering purchasing one to let, beware of financial planning based on unrealistically high expectations of the number of letting weeks you will achieve in your property, particularly for the first year. A successful letting programme often does happen in the first year but building up repeat visits takes time to establish. Seek the opinions of several different holiday letting companies, look at their local profile, their marketing and the services they offer and, above all, go with the one you feel most comfortable with. A good relationship between owner and agent really contributes to success.

An area of outstanding natural beauty and with the mildest climate in mainland Britain, it’s easy to understand why the South Hams attracts visitors all year round, whether for a holiday, short break or to buy a property. Walkers and birdwatchers, sailors, couples looking for a romantic rural retreat, friends booking properties together for a break, surfers and water sports enthusiasts, families seeking fresh air and fun for their children during school holidays - there is something for everyone in the area and a different holiday experience on offer each season.

During the summer weeks the area comes alive with the colours and sounds of yacht regattas, country fayres and theatrical presentations, including performances of Shakespeare on the beach! Local attractions such as award-winning farms and National Trust gardens abound whilst the local Coast & Countryside Events sponsored by the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Unit include Family Bushcraft Days, Canoe Adventures and Whale and Dolphin Watching. Plus with over 25 different, unspoilt beaches and sandy coves to choose from, plenty of fresh air fun and exercise, there are lots of opportunities to burn off all the clotted cream, fudge and ice cream! For those who enjoy a spot of retail therapy, interesting individual shops line the narrow streets, a refreshing change from shopping centres and chainstores. Art galleries, surf clothing and antiques mingle with delicatessens, tearooms and bookshops, whilst the regular Farmers Markets are a good opportunity to try out some of the fabulous award-winning local produce for which the area is becoming well known.

Luckily for those looking to discover this beautiful area for themselves, it is not too late to snap up a perfect property for the peak weeks..... yet! Whilst bookings to date have come in faster and in larger number than in any previous year, and although many properties and particular weeks have been booked up for some time in advance , we are constantly taking on new properties and can often offer the later enquirer the ideal holiday solution even at the last minute. These past few weeks have seen the addition of some superb new apartments in Salcombe and Dartmouth, with more in the pipeline, together with some delightful cottages in the coastal villages that are sure to attract bookings throughout the year. Our New Property Supplement features properties taken on since the publication of our latest brochure and our website www.coastandcountry.co.uk provides the very latest information regarding all new properties and their availability –ideal for those who may have left it a little later!

So if you have not yet booked a summer break or are thinking of combining a holiday with a spot of property viewing and like the thought of an area boasting stunning scenery, beautiful unspoilt beaches and fabulous food, leave your passport at home! Avoid the queues and delays at the airport and perhaps choose to visit South Devon – once discovered you might not want to leave!



Coast & Country Cottages – Over 300 holiday properties throughout the beautiful South Hams coast and countryside. For Free Brochure or Owners Guide call 0870 40 50 530 or visit www.coastandcountry.co.uk. To arrange a free property visit with no obligation or ‘hard sell’, or for helpful advice before purchasing or redesigning a home for holiday rental, contact Andrew Jones via our local offices: Salcombe properties (01548 843773), Kingsbridge, Hope Cove & South Hams villages (01548 852572) or Dartmouth properties (01803) 839499.

Luxury Self Catering in South Devon

Hillfield Cottages & Country House offers individually designed and styled holiday properties situated in an idyllic setting in the South Devon countryside, yet within a short drive of the historic maritime town of Dartmouth, with its art galleries, interesting shops and award-winning pubs and restaurants.

Working closely with designers and developers and, most importantly putting themselves ‘in the shoes of the visitor’, owners Michael and Caroline Edwards and partners, have created self-catering accommodation with style, luxury and relaxation in mind. From that important first impression – as you are welcomed into one of their immaculately presented properties – through to your departure at the end of your stay, they hope to have thought of everything to make your holiday as enjoyable as possible. The comments in the visitors’ books at Hillfield certainly suggest so!

Each property is different but furnished to the highest standards including sumptuous leather settees in all apartments, hand crafted kitchens, contemporary fully tiled bathrooms, large flat-screen TV’s and DVD players with cinema surround sound. Wi-Fi connections are available. All beds have high quality memory foam mattresses, many bathrooms include whirlpool baths and some properties even have their own outdoor Hot Tub! With smaller properties ideal for couples right up to larger cottages sleeping up to 11, they can accommodate all types of parties, whether you are looking for a short break to ‘recharge those batteries’ or a relaxing week away.

Following the successful 2006 season, the winter of 2006 and the spring of 2007 is seeing the construction of eight exciting new properties sleeping from four to ten, carefully located around the new all-weather tennis court. One of the properties, Vantage Point, will boast spectacular views from the ‘wrap around’ viewing deck, a sauna and a large hot tub suitable for up to 8 adults.

Set in acres of beautiful gardens and nestling on a secluded South-facing hillside with stunning views across soft rolling hills, Hillfield is the ideal starting point for a number of wonderful local walks, whilst others can take the opportunity simply to relax by the outdoor pool (open May to September), enjoy the children’s play area or (from Summer 2007) burn off excess energy on the new all-weather tennis court.

With the area boasting the mildest year-round climate on mainland Britain, Hillfield Cottages & Country House is open all year round. Located a short 10 minute drive from the spectacular unspoilt beach at Blackpool Sands and with miles of fabulous coastline to explore plus local farms and attractions to visit, this really is the perfect destination for a relaxing family holiday, whilst award-winning pubs and restaurants, picturesque towns and villages, coastal walking, sailing and other water sports attract visitors of all ages throughout the year.

For a free Hillfield brochure call Coast & Country Cottages Dartmouth office on 01803 839600 or visit http://www.coastandcountry.co.uk/.

The Wireless Revolution

For many, a holiday or short break in the beautiful South Devon area is exactly that. A chance to have a rest, ‘recharge their batteries’, escape the pressures and stresses of everyday modern life, leaving work and associated worries behind for a week or so. However with our increasingly mobile technology- the rise in laptop ownership, wireless connections and, of course, the mobile ‘phone - more and more tenants are seeking to stay in touch, for whatever reason, during their time in the area.

With business owners/managers taking working breaks where it is vital to keep in contact with their office, others simply wanting to keep in touch with their e-mail traffic via a hot/g-mail account whilst away and teenagers increasingly ‘talking’ to their friends via the net, downloading music and playing internet games, there are many people who do not travel without their laptops these days.

Friends visiting from New Zealand even brought their laptop when staying with us recently – a great way to keep in touch, and avoid going home to mountains of email messages, plus many people these days use their laptop for their diary, IPOD and other essential travel items!

Whether for their own use when staying in their property or for the use of tenants, many property owners have added or are in the process of adding the new WiFi broadband internet connection to their holiday home. This additional feature can be marketed as a point of difference to another similar property, therefore encouraging bookings from those requiring this facility.

The owners of a luxury apartment in South Milton - Goldings - added a cordless telephone, WiFi broadband internet access as well as dial-up connection, to the specification of their property, seeing the need for such facilities at the property amongst a growing band of visitors taking ‘working breaks’ – often a compromise in today’s busy lifestyle. Whilst other features of the accommodation – the large open plan kitchen/dining area with picture windows leading to a balcony with superb country views, the hand-crafted kitchen, stylish bathrooms and more – attract the discerning holidaymaker in their own right, the additional benefits of internet technology are sought after by certain customers.

Centrally located in the heart of Salcombe, Ferry Steps and Ferry View, offer not only quick access (via small passenger ferry) to the sandy beaches of Salcombe but WiFi broadband internet access too. So after relaxing on the beach all day (weather permitting) you can sit in the comfort of your beautifully re-furbished property and keep in touch with the world!

With other properties also providing an internet connection and many others in the process of installing it, this new feature in the self-catering holiday market looks sure to become more popular. Not all those booking their rural escape, however, always consider their requirements before so doing. Whilst the majority of areas we cover now have mobile coverage, we have had visitors arrive at one property to discover that they have no network coverage on their mobile telephone, having failed to mention the necessity of this for their holiday! Whilst we always try to advise regarding network coverage to those who mention that they need to use their mobile - whether to keep in touch with family members or for the needs of their business – coverage is always changing and we can only give guidelines or recommend a property with a landline if this form of communication is vital to the enjoyment of the holiday. We can also suggest where they can get the clearest reception – in one particular small village the best location is indeed on the beach!

Whilst an increasing number of visitors are looking for these advances in technology to be included in the holiday property they select, others, naturally, shun the risk of disturbance to the tranquillity of their rural retreat. With pockets of poor mobile phone network coverage still existing in a few parts of Devon, they can enjoy their holiday in their chosen property, safe in the knowledge that no-one will disturb them!

A free Owners Guide giving further details and suggestions about letting your holiday home can be requested together with our 2006 brochure by contacting your nearest Coast & Country Cottages office on 01548 843773 (Salcombe properties), 01548 852572 (Kingsbridge, Hope Cove and South Hams villages) or 01803 839499 (Dartmouth and surrounding area) or by visiting www.coastandcountry.co.uk.

Holiday Extras

A holiday, or short break, is one of the most anticipated events of the year for many people. Often booked some time in advance, the location, type of holiday sought and property requirements are all finalised and the holiday then perhaps not considered in detail again by the holidaymaker until the packing begins. It’s only when trying to squeeze everything into the car that it occurs to you that you really have packed everything including the kitchen sink! And you haven’t given any thought to what you are going to do about food when you reach your destination…..

With the car bursting to the seams, ordering ahead is a good way of cutting down the luggage for a family. Local food hampers can be pre-arranged for your arrival from companies such as Goodstuff of Kingsbridge, containing all you will need and more for a hearty breakfast and/or ready prepared full evening meal. Wine, whether your usual tipple or the local award-winning Sharpham wine, can be delivered from Red & White of Kingsbridge whilst local deli company Red Earth Kitchen can supply good quality frozen gourmet ready meals – simply pop them straight in the oven whilst you unpack! For a taste of Devon at its finest, holidaymakers, many of whom may already use vegetable box schemes at home, are now able to pre-order organic vegetable boxes, milk, eggs and other items from Riverford Organics – this forward thinking local company have invested in a new van primarily planned for deliveries on Friday and Saturday arrival days for holiday homes. Supermarket deliveries can also be pre-ordered so you could even avoid packing the nappies and baby wipes (those for the journey excepted!)

If you enjoy self catering because of the flexibility and the ability to take breakfast when you want to, but really don’t plan on spending too much time in the kitchen, planning ahead can still save you considerable time and disappointment. Popular restaurants are often booked up well in advance particularly for Friday and Saturday arrival nights in peak holiday season, often resulting in wasted trips for those who have just arrived in the area and are looking for something to eat! Taking the time to plan ahead and book a restaurant table for arrival night, particularly if you are a larger party or want to eat earlier certainly saves time and guarantees you won’t be hungry after a long journey to Devon!

So with food all organised thoughts may then turn to holiday activities, unless you plan to spend the entire break relaxing with a good book! With so much to do in Devon, it’s sometimes hard to please everyone without cramming too many activities in and returning home exhausted. A bit of forward planning, booking ahead those that are ‘top of your list’, means you can save time and enjoy your well earned holiday too. Water sports are particularly popular and often get booked up during peak times in the main holiday periods, resulting in disappointment or wasted journeys. Our ‘Planning Your Stay’ brochure and website or the local Tourist Information Centres all give details of the various companies who offer water sports tuition, wet suit hire, sailing schools, powerboat hire, fishing trips and more – there really is something for everyone.

For those who prefer keeping their feet on dry land, an art class at Harbour House, Kingsbridge, or a visit to the theatre at the Flavel Centre in Dartmouth can be pre-booked before your holiday. Gift vouchers can be organised in advance for a tour around the 14 acre vineyard and winery at Sharpham near Totnes or for a guided farm tour, cookery demonstration and delicious lunch at the Riverford Field Kitchen also near Totnes – perfect if your holiday includes a special anniversary or birthday.

Thinking of birthdays, flowers, champagne, birthday cakes or even party catering can all be organised prior to your stay and, for special occasions, local photographers can be arranged to take photographs of you and your family whilst on holiday – the perfect way of commemorating the special day and an increasingly popular choice with visitors.

So by planning your stay in advance, pre-booking food or a few activities, thinking ahead about special occasions and any particular requirements, you may even have time left to finish that good book!
For a free Brochure including a ‘Planning Your Stay’ supplement featuring suggestions for making the most of your holiday, call Coast & Country Cottages on 0870 4050530 or visit www.coastandcountry.co.uk. A free Owners Guide is also available – call your nearest office: Salcombe (01548 ) 843773, Kingsbridge (01548) 852572 or Dartmouth (01803) 839499.