If you are staying in one of our beautiful North Devon holiday cottages in the next week, then be sure to wander along to the Braunton Village Fair on Monday 4th June. It is being held at the recreation ground in Exeter road, is open from 12.30pm and will be a fun packed family event. Not only is there a field gun event and fancy dress competition, but you could even pick the winner in the ferret racing !!

Some of our Braunton, Croyde  and Saunton cottages allow pets to stay, so if you are here with a furry friend then they could enter the Family Dog Show, but be there early – as judging starts for this at 12.00pm.

Then for a great “Flaming” finale, the Scouts will light Brauntons’ own Beacon in Down Lane, to mark the Queens Jubilee, along with the many others planned throughout the UK for this evening.

Summer has hit big time in Cornwall, this weekend. With temperatures soaring up to 27 degrees everyone is in holiday mood. Its not surprising really with 165 beaches to choose from and 65 of these being between Bude and Lands End, we’re sure to have a cottage near to some of them. To help inspire you, I just checked out our last minute availability – and it may still be possible for you to hit the beach, walk the coast path, visit Eden or the Tate in St Ives, this weekend. With cottages close to Bude and Truro you could be enjoying it all, even last minute.

If you can’t make it here this weekend, then in two weeks time there’s a slightly wider selection to consider, which includes the stunning Miranda Cottage in St Martin on the Lizard peninsula, near to Kynance Cove, or lovely Trevalley close to Trebarwith Strand beach and Tintagel.

A perfect opportunity to stick on a hat, slap on some sun-cream and slip on some shorts and enjoy this beautiful weather.

Well, we could say running rings round the competition, but it was actually Martin, General Manager at Marsdens Braunton, doing the running  about and who was perched on a very precarious ladder be-decking the office with bunting and our version of the Olympic circles. Yesterday of course saw the Torch progress through Braunton. As the office is right on the square, we were in the enviable position of having a birds eye view of the event from the first floor windows. Braunton welcomed with usual enthusiasm, bunting, best dressed windows and staff alike, throwing themselves into the day. Although yesterday gave a good reason for celebrating, to be honest Braunton enjoys many traditional fête’s, summer fairs and jamboree stalls. There is often delicious home made produce on sale on Tuesday’s between Caen Street and  Saunton Road, so you don’t need a big event to sample a treat or two.  Being close to some of Devon’s best beaches at Saunton Sands and the Burrows too, is a great advantage. We have some charming cottages actually in Braunton for you to choose from and some exceptional apartments overlooking Saunton beach itself.

If you are undecided then call the reservation team, where our friendly, knowledgeable, local staff will help find just the right cottage for you.

Newquay Zoo are very proud parents this week, as they announce another successful arrival of Visayan warty piglet’s. These delightful little stripey-humbug piglet’s are very rare, as there are only two hundred left in their native Philippines. They are sure to be a huge attraction during the coming summer as families local and visiting, will enjoy discovering more about this tiny breed.

Other local attractions, including Newquay’s world famous surfing beaches at Fistral, Lusty Glaze and Porth, can be just as mesmerising as cute animals. In fact this little town on the North Cornwall coast delivers a big punch when it comes to a family holiday. Not only offering  beach excitement and furry creatures, there is a great choice for local eateries too. Fifteen Cornwall and Lewinnick Lodge are just two beach-side restaurants with some seriously nice nosh.

Within walking distance of the superb and iconic beach at Holywell Bay, is Moonstones. A fantastic location and lovely surroundings to spend any holiday time in. If you are a party wishing to holiday together, but still want to have your own space, then look at the beautiful Colan Barton cottages. Ten acres of grounds to run wild in, but still only three miles from Porth beach.

We all know that June is when the weather starts to warm up and we hope for very hot and sunny days, but this year the real flame starts at Lands End on 19th May. The torch will be making its way though Cornwall, passing many of the old and new iconic symbols of the county. Once it has arrived at RNAS Culdrose from Athens it will then be flown by helicopter to Lands Beginning. What an absolutely historic time to visit this beautiful area.

At Marsdens we are celebrating the torch twice over, as it will actually pass through the centre of Braunton on 21st May. You can be sure that everyone in the office will be waving and cheering along with the rest of the town.

So why not join us for some of this most incredible time? With  a whole range of beautiful, unique Cornish Cottages and Devon Cottages to choose from you could be part of modern day history too.

There is a popular saying in my home county that if May comes in like a Lion she will go out like a Lamb. We certainly had some roaring weather here in the South West on the 1st May, but temperatures soared again soon after. My hope is that we will now have some kinder weather and that May will truly end with a happier disposition.

Meanwhile if you would like to see some actual Lions or Lambs, then both can easily be viewed in Cornwall. Newquay Zoo is a real family friendly visitor attraction and you are able to get up close to a wonderful array of species from across the planet, including the African Lion. Currently any drive around the county will provide scenic vistas and pastoral delights, with Lambs gambolling in any number of pastures.

To help in your consideration of somewhere to stay, Moonstones is ideally placed for a fabulous beach based family holiday, which can include visits to nearby Newquay and spectacular scenery on the doorstep.

Our other Cornish self-catering cottages are well placed throughout the county, for you to enjoy all that Cornwall has to offer for a great break or holiday. Meanwhile if you are already on holiday and near to Truro, come along and say hello, at the Lemon Quay Street Fair in Truro on Friday and Saturday, I’d love to meet you.