West Country Winter Bargains
There's still just time to book holiday cottages or hotels for some West Country winter bargain breaks
In Cornwall, North Devon and Somerset, in England's gorgeous West Country, there's still some availability in holiday cottages and hotels. Book a winter break now
Seasonal skating - such a nice ice break – for one week with Classic Cottages for £69 (US$133) per person
Get your skates on - the ice has returned to Eden. The Eden Project's Winter Festival, 'A Time of Gifts', features an ice rink offering traditional, seasonal fun in a modern setting. Other activities include a Cornish choir singing in the Warm Temperature Biome around a dramatic fire pit. A 40-minute ice skating slot costs £4 (US$7.75) per person and can be booked online at www.edenproject.com. Stay nearby at Oyster Cottage (sleeps six), a delightful property in the fishing port of Mevagissey. A week's stay from 9 December costs £69 (US$133) per person (£411/US$795 total). Visit the Classic Cottages website here.
Christmas Food Fair in North Devon: 2 for 1 offer at Penhaven, from £50 (US$97) per couple per night B&B
Visit the Eggesford Christmas Food Fair on Saturday 16 December for the opportunity to try and buy a range of fare to see you through the festive season. Wonderful Devon produce includes biscuits, chocolates, cakes, quiches, pâtés, preserves and chutneys. Stay close by at Penhaven Country House Hotel, in Parkham, which offers 12 comfortable rooms, a popular restaurant and a lovely bar. Take advantage of a 'two people for the price of one' offer before Christmas and stay from just £50 (US$97) per couple per night on a B&B basis. Visit the Penhaven website here.
Torchlight walks in the woods, stay with Classic Cottages for £84 (US$162) per person
Enjoy the silent night by joining a national park ranger for a torchlight walk through the woods at Dulverton National Park Centre on 3 December. Stay at nearby Watermill Cottage (sleeps four), just two miles south of Dulverton on the Devon-Somerset border, and explore the rugged beauty of Exmoor too. The footpath from the cottage owner's 30-acre estate to the Exe Valley Way provides wonderful views. A week's stay from 1 December costs £84 (US$162) per person (£336/US$650 total). Visit the Classic Cottages website here.
Prices are given in sterling and converted to dollars at the time of writing. To check the current exchange rate click here
