A cottage industry
Perfect for a restful break, whatever the season
There are so many beautiful holiday homes to rent across the UK and they're the perfect place to escape the daily grind, whether it's for a weekend or a month, for a romantic honeymoon, a family holiday or a short break with friends. Here's a look at a year in the life of a typical holiday cottage in Devon.
Our romantic honeymoon
Lesley Hibberd, 32, and her husband Ben, 30, live in Southampton. They were married last year, and spent the first two nights of their honeymoon at a cottage near Hartland, Devon.
'I was born in Hartland, my parents still live here, and Ben and I got married in the same chapel I attended when I was growing up. As the run-up to the wedding was a bit of a whirlwind we decided it would be nice to spend a couple of days somewhere local to chill out before heading off to Italy. So, as part of our wedding present, we were given two nights at a cottage.
'Our wedding day was wonderful, the sun was shining and we had our photos taken down by the beach. Then, in the evening, my dad dropped us off at the cottage. It was a beautiful starry night, and very peaceful, except that we could hear my mum and brother singing karaoke way across the valley.
'The setting for our wedding night was so romantic. Shipload Cottage is picture-perfect, and when we arrived we found confetti scattered everywhere and Champagne on ice.
'It was idyllic, so quiet and secluded, the perfect antidote to the hectic day. And we were able to spend quality time together, just the two of us.
'Then, the next day, we met our family and friends for coffee and homemade cake. Jane, who owns the cottages is a fabulous cook, which was lovely.
'And now I'm expecting our first child we're hoping to make it a family tradition to come back here for special occasions.'
Our family holiday
Fred Harcourt, 53, his wife Sue, 48, and their two children Phillip, 15, and Jake, 10, from Essex, regularly spend their summer holidays at the cottage.
'For the last six years we've had our main fortnights holiday at this great cottage near Hartland. Over the years we've stayed at various places but we love it down in Devon. And a cottage here is the perfect base for getting out and about.
'There's lots going on to keep the kids entertained. There's a paddock where they can play outside with boxes of games. The beaches are very accessible, with some great walks, and there are spectacular views of the unspoilt coastline. We bring our bikes and cycle out on the safe and peaceful country roads. And we enjoy exploring the nature trails.
'Staying in the cottage in summer makes our family holiday uncomplicated. It's like having your own second home, we even get our supermarket groceries delivered from Tesco, which gives us the flexibility to come and go as we please.
'And, as we're reliant on the British summer, if the weather isn't too good there's still plenty of options because the boys can watch DVDs or play games to keep themselves busy.
'I'd recommend a cottage holiday to anyone with kids. It's good value for money, you can go self-catering or, here, you can have special menus created for you. Whatever you choose you get the personal touch. There's always a cake or a bottle of wine to greet your arrival to make you feel welcome, but at the same time you're left to your own devices. As Fred and I both work it's important for us to make the most of our time with the boys and being at the cottage means we can do just that.'
Shipload Cottage is one of three properties at Yapham Cottages. For more details call 01237 441916 or visit www.yaphamcottages.co.uk.
Our happy New Year
Simon Roberts, 29, and his girlfriend Margaret Radcliffe, 30, both from Nottingham also had a New Year's break with friends here.
'After spending numerous New Year's Eves in hot and sweaty clubs packed with people, we decided this was the year we wanted to do something different. So a group of us booked into the cottage for a few days over the holiday season.
'We all lead pretty hectic lives so it was bliss to leave the stresses of the city behind. And the setting was exactly how we'd imagined. We went for walks along the beach, followed by long leisurely lunches and, even though it was incredibly windy it was amazing to be out in the fresh air.
'Living in a big town it was surreal going into the nearby village as it was quite a closed community. We joked it was like something out of the film Hot Fuzz as everyone knew everyone else. But people were friendly and welcoming, which added to the festive atmosphere.
'Holidaying at the cottage was a great way for us to step out of our comfort zone. Without the usual distractions we spent lots of time with our friends – some of whom we don't see that often – in intimate surroundings.
'It was great to be able to catch up on each other's lives and, with it being New Year, it gave us the chance to reflect and think about our hopes for the coming year.'
