Why not venture to Bude to sample the best of both Cornish and Devonshire hospitality for your holiday and consider our cottages in the Bude area. This  charming sea-side town has a friendly and welcoming atmosphere  and provides everything that both locals and visitors need. Being within a mile of the Devon border you can walk in and out of Cornwall from here. After a browse around and perhaps a good old fashioned cup of tea with scones and Cornish clotted cream, maybe head to the beach. You will be spoilt for choice in this area, with fantastic surfing beaches and iconic Cornish coves where rock pooling is essential. The small cove at Millook is one such place where the children will not want to leave. Nearby  Mill Farm is a great Cornish holiday cottage, being within a short stroll to Millook beach and having 10 acres of grounds itself, to explore.

If you prefer a country retreat for your North Cornwall cottage holiday then Well Farm will delight you and the family. These charming and comfortable homes surrounded by the best of both Cornish & Devonshire countryside are bordered by the River Tamar. Visit at the right time of the year and counting sheep from your own patio area may mean you sleep even more than you had hoped to do.

A traditional Country Pub with roaring log fires is the perfect place to find good food, rustic charm and a friendly welcome. All in the line of duty of course, on Friday evening we were invited to the re-launch of one of our favourite local hostelries, The Braunton Inn. After a glass of bubbly we were treated to a selection of “tasters” from the new and improved menu all served by our lovely waitress Caitlin and were very impressed with the different options on offer….although maybe I shouldn’t have had the extra portion of apple crumble!

Previously called The Tarka Inn, The Braunton Inn was formerly an ancient manor house and welcomed families descended from King Edward IV. During the 19th Century it became one of the grandest farmhouses in North Devon, distinguished by its castellated towers and impressive façade. The location is hard to beat, being directly on The Tarka Trail means that walkers can pop in for lunch, cosy up by the fire and sample seasonal local fare. Whether for leisurely Sunday roasts, an evening special or to try the range of real ales, the picturesque location with fabulous views over the Estuary is hard to beat. So why not take some time out in the country, book one of our fabulous Braunton cottages and enjoy what is bound to become your favourite pub!

Well, Karen was ahead of the game. She said  ’Astro – tourism‘ was all the rage way back in November and this week Exmoor‘s unique environment and in particular its crystal clear skies were highlighted on the BBC StarGazing programme.

The idyllic town of Dulverton was selected for a great experiment. All the inhabitants were asked to switch off their lights at home and work in a unique attempt to completely eradicate any light pollution. Great fun was had by all although for me the greatest star that night was the beautiful national park itself!

What I love about Cornwall is its unique climate and geography. When you have travelled all the way to the end (or beginning, as we like to think of it here) of the country, you can go in almost any direction and you’ll meet the sea, and invariably there’s the coast path to enjoy.

I like to take advantage of the quieter months and treat myself to a soul refreshing, body invigorating visit to the sea. Fortunately at Marsdens we have some uniquely situated Cottages, so close to the shore that you can taste the salt in the air as well as view the sun glinting on the waves. Our rugged North Cornwall coast is spectacular at any time of the year but with seasonal large swells crashing onto rocky headlands, you can’t help but feel excitement at mother natures glory.

A favourite place to visit is  Trebarwith Strand. This quintessential Cornish Cove has a stunning beach with Pub above, to offer that all important refreshment after a great walk.  It is close to Tintagel and Boscastle where legend and myth meet modern day living, so when I have stomped about on the beach and filled my lungs full with fresh air, I can browse the shops and buy delicious local produce  . Just about a perfect trip for all the family.

So why not join me and re-energise beside the sea?

Hartland Abbey and Gardens was featured on BBC’s Antiques Road Show this weekend. Filmed in the summer, Fiona Bruce was heard to say that it was the most stunning setting of the series so far, and we agree! Built in 1157 and remaining a monastery for 400 years, it is one of the nation’s favourite historic houses in a fascinating location surrounded by beautiful gardens and grounds which lead down to a rocky cove.

Come and visit on 11^th or ^12th February and enjoy the special Snowdrops Weekend. Many of the snowdrops were planted hundreds of years ago and stretch from the gardens all way down to the sea. See the early daffodils, camellias, hellebores and spring flowers and explore the acres of grounds and woodlands, bring your children, dogs and wellies and have a fabulous day out. The entire Hartland peninsular is in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty so why not stay a little longer and book one of our lovely cottages.

Spring is in the air…..and it’s only January! The wonderfully mild weather is an excellent excuse for taking a short break in the fabulous South West. Now is the time to enjoy walking along secluded beaches or getting back to nature in the acres of beautiful rolling countryside. Google have now incorporated the Tarka Trail, running from Braunton to Meeth, into their street maps, so for the first time you are able to see long stretches of traffic free pedestrian and cycle ways, little changed from those described by Henry Williamson in his classic 1927 novel Tarka the Otter.

The Eden Project does much more than offer a memorable day out in Cornwall. Eden is also a charity and social enterprise. 

As well as creating stunning gardens and laying on fantastic arts and music events, much of our energy goes into:

• running transformational social and environmental projects on our doorstep and around the world
• creating unforgettable learning experiences for students
• doing valuable research into plants and conservation
• making sure we run our operations in the greenest possible way.

I really love living close to the Devon / Cornwall border…having the best of both worlds on my doorstep….and this weekend we decided to head towards Padstow and Newquay, two of the nation’s favourite seaside towns.

After a couple of hours of hustle and bustle the beautiful Cornish countryside began calling and what better place to enjoy it than at Colan Barton. Set in a tiny hamlet just 3 miles inland from Newquay and surrounded by 11 acres of rolling hills and valleys, this stunning 350 year old family property has been lovingly restored to provide a whole range of holiday accommodation. The gorgeous main house oozes character and charm and comes with a swimming pool, while the smallest cosy cottages make a perfect couples retreat. It would be fabulous to bring the whole family together and have it all to ourselves for a really special holiday. The utter tranquillity is wonderful and the owners offer many additional services. Take a look for yourselves at Colan Barton Farmhouse and its sister properties, Little Barton, Gwel an Lagen and Bos Lowen, which offer a number of accommodation options on site.