Why Choose a Holiday in East Devon?

East Devon is known for its picturesque coastline, softly rolling hills and beautiful beechwoods lined with carpets of bluebells in spring. So, unsurprisingly, it is a designated National Landscape that offers many an opportunity to enjoy glorious vistas of idyllic countryside and coastline.

It’s an area of slumbering villages full of thatched cottages, historic churches, towering Jurassic Coast cliff-top vistas, deep flower-lined lanes, and wiggly footpaths. There are plenty of holiday cottages throughout the green and verdant countryside, from shepherd huts offering romantic rural retreats to large country houses, perfect for big family gatherings, reunions and celebrations. For those who enjoy an active holiday exploring the area, there’s no better way to sample the delights of this corner of Devon than to walk the East Devon Way. This is a 40-mile long, primarily coastal route that takes in eight villages and crosses

Everybody loves self-catering holidays in cottages with swimming pools. Whether you use it to do a regular exercise workout, swimming an inordinate number of laps or for pool games with the children, a pool is a great asset to any holiday cottage.

Of course, you do need to check that the pool is suitable for your needs. In doing so, you will encounter a nice list of aquatic jargon describing different types of pools. Some are pretty self-explanatory, while others are potentially misleading: you cannot dive into a ‘plunge pool,’ for example.

To help you, the My Favourite Holiday Cottages team have put together a little jargon buster for swimming pools to help you know whether what’s on offer is what you want.

Here we go:

We have broken the list into three sections:

Types of Pool Types of steps giving access to the pool (important if you aren’t strong enough to lever yourself out over the sides or prefer an alternative to jumping

Name: Splashdown in Poole

Facilities:         

1. Splashdown Poole boasts thirteen exhilarating indoor and outdoorflumes for body and tyre rides.

 2. Interactive Splash Zone and Toddler Pool for younger visitors.

 3. Buccaneer Beach and Sun Terraces for suntrap  relaxation

Info:

1. Some flumes are seasonal and only operated from April to September. Check the website for details when planning your visit.

2. Under fives can be happily entertained in the Interactive Splash Zone and Toddler pool.

3. Tickets must be booked online in advance of your visit. There are no walk-in admissions permitted.           

Catering:         The Splash Cafe                     

Address:          Splashdown PooleTower Park, 

Welcome packs: Some owners swear by them, others consider them an unnecessary expense, only provided to keep up with the Jones’s, but what makes a great welcome pack – and why is it justified?

We asked holiday cottage owners what they included in their welcome packs and why and came up with some helpful information for all owners looking to stay ahead of the competition – especially when looking to encourage repeat visits.

East Devon: It's a beautiful location for a relaxing holiday, whether relaxing with your family or for a romantic escape for two. Thatched cottages, medieval churches and characterful pubs prevail. East Devon also has some lovely beaches to wile away a day, beach combing, swimming or taking out a boat to go mackerel fishing. You may feel like you have stepped back a few decades in time as you acclimatise to the slow pace of life and an abundance of thatched cottages. Here are some of the prettiest, sleepiest villages to consider as a relaxing location for your self-catering holiday in East Devon. Each one has its own unique charm and attractions to offer.

 

 

Asking whether a holiday cottage provides sets of towels is a perfectly sensible question; as with all practical questions, there isn't a 100% definitive answer. That being said, it is standard practice for holiday cottages to provide towel sets for each guest, comprising one hand towel and one bath towel. If a property you are interested in booking does not provide towels, ask if they have sets to rent. If not, bring your own, but check the small print in their terms and conditions to see what else they don't provide before booking. Little surcharges can add up!

Towels will vary in size, colour and quality. A good owner will replace their towels yearly, although good quality cotton towels will last much longer than that. Sizes ten to be standard, but you may want to check whether the bath towel is a towel or a much larger bath wrap (they're the best - and more often are found in luxury holiday cottage rentals). As for colours, well, one theory is that if

The Quantock Hills, located in Somerset, England, is a picturesque area known for its natural beauty and charming villages around which lie a myriad of foot and bridle paths (even an old drove road), offering wonderfully scenic walks. Village pubs and inns in The Quantock Hills are a vital part of the local culture, serving as social hubs where residents and visitors alike can gather to relax and socialize over a pint of beer or a hearty meal. In many cases, it’s usually an experienced chef usually prepares the latter.

No ramble through the Quantock Hills is complete without at least one lunchtime or evening out in a local pub (preferably both). While the number of village pubs and inns may have dwindled in recent years, many in the villages of The Quantocks have survived mainly because of their character or superb culinary reputations.

If you have booked a cottage holiday in The Quantocks, give your party’s kitchen staff at least one evening off for

My Favourite Holiday Cottages classifies large holiday cottages as properties that sleep eight or more guests in dedicated bedrooms (preferably not including sofa beds). Large holiday cottages can be suitable for two or more families or groups of friends for several reasons:

Space

Large properties typically have ample space, with multiple bedrooms, bathrooms, and living areas. This means that both families can have their own private space and not feel cramped.

Cost-effectiveness

Renting a large holiday cottage can be more cost-effective per person than renting two smaller ones, especially during peak season. This means that both families can save money on their accommodation costs.

Shared facilities

Large holiday cottages often come with many more rooms and shared facilities, such as:

Separate kitchens and dining rooms Conservatories Utility and/or Boot Rooms Home office spaces A better ratio of bathrooms per guest,

 

So, you are renting a holiday cottage with a swimming pool for your family and friends. But beyond using it to splash about or plough up and down doing laps for 30 minutes, have you considered how much fun pool games will add to your holiday?

Many entertaining games for all ages can be played in a small indoor or outdoor swimming pool. Here are a few suggestions:

Marco Polo

This classic pool game is perfect for small pools. One person is “it” and must keep their eyes closed while calling out “Marco!” The other players respond with “Polo!” and the “it” person tries to tag them based on their voices.

Sharks and Minnows

Another classic pool game, Sharks and Minnows, is excellent for small pools. One person is the “shark” and stands in the middle of the pool, while the other players are the “minnows” and line up on one side of the pool. The “shark” tries to tag the “minnows” as they try to swim to the other side of the pool.

Treasure Hunt