Farmhouse Holidays

With vacations in the South West proving as popular as ever because of factors like flight disruptions and adverse foreign currency rates, British holidaymakers as well as a growing number of overseas visitors are again heading West in search of space in which to relax and enjoy an ever growing range of local activities.

Needless to say, self catering cottages and farmhouse accommodation in Devon, Cornwall, Somerset and Dorset is already experiencing another buoyant season but anyone contemplating such a break for the first time needs to be aware that, while the quality of self catering and B & B establishments is generally first class, there are a small number of amateurish hosts and hostesses who still think that "En Suite" is a type of French dessert.

One local organisation that has probably done more than most to encourage a greater degree of sophistication in local holiday properties, particularly farmhouses and their outbuildings, is Cartwheel Holidays based near Exeter at the heart of the South West peninsula. Looking through their website's farm holiday section which alone runs to nearly a dozen pages, it is quite clear that the owners represented have put a great deal of thought and expense towards optimising the appeal of their properties especially to the family holiday market.

Apart from a remarkably high standard of indoor accommodation, many of the farm holiday locations boast heated swimming pools as well as secure and well- equipped children's play areas. Of course, sharing in some of the everyday activities of a working farm and sampling food which simply cannot get more locally sourced is an added bonus. While many of the farm based holiday destinations featured by Cartwheel are, for obvious reasons, located deep in the countryside, a fair number are situated conveniently close to the coast and afford the opportunity to combine a traditional farm holiday with days at the beach or walking the world famous cliff top pathways.

Cartwheel Farm Tourism Ltd, Darts Farm, Topsham, Exeter, EX3 OQH Co. Reg number 3798393
Cartwheel's Cornwall Holidays