Stay in Rare and Remarkable Holiday Homes in England's West Country

When you think of the classic English country home - charm, originality, personality eccentricity and most of all a soft cushion of familial comfort completes an imagined snapshot of domestic content.

At least that's how I feel about the English country home, but of course, I am blissfully biased when it comes to pondering future adventures in the homeland.

News from Britain that my favorite  Sheepskin Life has built on its dreamy collection of Welsh holiday cottages by venturing out into the green folds of England's stunning West Country was rather like receiving a holiday toy catalog in the mail as a kid.

There's nothing quite like a stream of luscious photos from a fresh collection of chic, self-catering rare and remarkable country homes to stop me in my inbox tracks on a busy weekday morning at the desk. 

And due to the increasing amount of requests for recommendations on where to pinpoint a memorable trip to the UK, I've decided to share my secret loot of lovely places to stay.

From my own experience of traveling to the UK with a family (or friends) in tow, the cost of multiple hotel rooms is prohibitive for even a quite generous vacation budget. Let's face it, the sorts of stylish country hotels that are top of my A list (both here in the States and in Britain) are beyond fathoming for more than a night or two of decadent celebration.

Cottage rentals are the way to go. Absolutely, without a doubt, even if, and this is a biggie for many, you don't fancy the self catering aspect. Pub grub is great in the UK these days, farm shops abound, organic fayre and farmer's markets sell homemade pies, pasties and pastries, artisan cheeses, field-fresh salads, baked goods and the best little strawberries at this time of year. You'd hardly starve. And because you are likely to have a car rental during your stay, great, gourmet restaurants in pretty villages in prime cottage rental regions are ripe for the picking on a dinner-time drive. Think hanging baskets and glorious pub gardens with canopied outdoor seating to combat even the wettest of English summer's days.

Price breaks in the new Sheepskin Life properties start from approximately $900 for a three night's stay for four to around $6,300 for a week long stay in a magnificent Victorian that accommodates an extended family (or two large families) of 12. That's $900 a room for the week in this seven bedroom-house, or close to $128 per night.

Luxury family hotels in the West Country would set you back anywhere from $320 to $750 per night, per room for the equivalent quality ambiance, location and comforts, without the privacy and pretty fabulous feeling of playing lord and lady of your own sweet manor for a week or two!

First up on Sheepskin Life's new roster is Woodenstone House in Ilfracombe, a premier resort area for North Devonshire vacationing. Set amidst stunning coastal scenery, rural tranquility and centuries of heritage and west country style, Ilfracombe is said to be the 'jewel' of North Devon's romantic coast. Nestled between the national park of Exmoor in the east to the golden coast's surfing beaches to the west Woodenstone is a magnificent Victorian house packed with loads of quirky extras. Sleeps 12 comfortably in seven stunning bedrooms (two en-suite), Woodenstone is stocked with fluffy towels and sumptuous bathrobes, a fully equipped kitchen,  large dining area with sea views and a dining table to seat the whole party. Big, comfy sofas, wide screen tv and a roaring fire for chilly nights and winter breaks create a lounge for doing exactly that - lounging!

Next on the must-visit list are Tamar Cottages, a new part of Sheepskin's 'rustic' collection located on the edge of Dartmoor near Tavistock, a truly remote and picturesque locale.

Tavistock will appeal to the Renaissance Pleasure Fair crowd here in California, who know their English history through over three decades of romping around North Bay's Black Point Forest and various wooded locales in Southern California, celebrating the golden days of the venerable likes of Queen Elizabeth I and Shakespeare. For the ancient tin marketing town of Tavistock was the birthplace of Britain's great seafarer, Sir Francis Drake.

Born at Crowndale Farm, just south of Tavistock, in 1540, it was from nearby Plymouth Port that Drake set forth to confront and defeat the Spanish Armada. A fine base to explore the surrounding countryside, the wild Dartmoor scenery, Devonshire and eastern Cornish National Trust properties and pretty villages galore, Tamar's two charming cottages are just an apple tree apart and are let as a pair to offer occupants complete privacy. Sumptuously comfortable each cottage offers a practical approach to holiday making with cozy lounges, log burning stoves, fully equipped kitchens and breathtaking views. Tamar Cottages are for a smaller group of two to four, as each cottage sleeps two. In other words, bring the teens with you to Europe without having to endure a mutually mad-making two week room-mate scenario in overpriced hotels. 

Located on the beach at Porlock Weir, in bucolic West Somerset sits Shell House, an extraordinary building that is not just architecturally striking but offers visitors a light and airy open plan living area with views across the harbor. 

An ideal base to explore Exmoor National Park, Porlock Weir is a tiny port a mile west of the main village of Porlock, surrounded by wild moorland and continuing on in its centuries-old role in a vital part of life in a region where the sea route was by far the best to access the area.

Shell House is a short stroll from two excellent restaurants, a real ale pub and a bakery run by surfers. If that doesn't sound divine enough for a west country escape, figure this: with its four impressive bedrooms (each with king size beds), a huge 'cinema' and games room and a full-on, cooks kitchen for entertaining the travel-troops at home, Shell House is yours for $4,000 a week. That's $1,000 per room per week, or a little over $142 per room, per night. Planning on traveling to England with friends?

The Brits are not behind the times when it comes to self catering essentials. I Pod docking stations, freshly roasted coffee, tea, milk, olive oil, sea salt, linens and logs for the fire. Are you packed?

What I like best about Sheepskin Life is its friendly 'concierge style' service to provide guests with info on anything and everything that they might want to see or experience in the area during their stay. Whether it's walking trails, golf, gallery shopping, fishing spots, top pubs or the best place to buy local meat, info guides are tailor-made to your request.

Contact Helen at Sheepskin Life if you'd like any more info on any of these incredibly seductive properties, or to take a look at additional holiday cottages across the border in Wales. And do let me know if you decide to take a trip. I'd love to share your travel tips to the UK with Southern SoCo Life readers. Here's to summer and exploring our dream locations.

Comments

[Lindsey]

Get me there!!!!!!

[Frances]

You know that part of the world well, Lindsey, which one first?

[frances mum]

where ever i will join you