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News, Information and Ideas for Managing or Booking UK Holiday Cottages

View articles for holiday cottage owners and bookers. Many of these articles are mentioned in The Holiday Homefront, a monthly newsletter for holiday cottage owners published free of charge. 

Other articles help anyone interested in planning a self-catering holiday with advice on planning and booking different types of property to information on cottages offering discounts. These are published in a Newsletter for people interested in booking holiday cottages and wanting to know more about booking procedures, discounts and holiday ideas. To receive a copy, click the Newsletter button at the bottom of the page.

Contents vary but will include the following:

  • Tips on getting it right when finding and booking a particular type of holiday cottage - such as one with 'the right kind of pool' pool, or what to expect to be included in the rental price. 
  • Inspiring articles on our 'favourite holiday cottages' for holidays on a theme or particular location, such as holiday cottages for walkers' best luxury beach holiday cottages in Cornwall.
  • When to discuss (and when not to discuss discounts) and some great deals available at the time of writing. 

  • Never heard of Sutton-on-the-Forest?

    It's a small but vibrant and attractive village in the heart of North Yorkshire. It's perfectly placed for self-catering holidays in all seasons, being within easy reach of York and many beautiful locations and attractions throughout the County. Enjoy day trips to the little side villages of Staithes and Robin Hood's Bay or the larger coastal resort of Whitby.

    We've put together our A-List list of places to visit and activities to enjoy within easy reach of holiday cottages in Sutton on the Forest for visitors of all ages to help you plan your holiday.

  • The Quantock Hills in West Somerset is one of those -forgotten-by-time locations with a cluster of scenic villages. Read this snapshot of villages to visit on self-catering holidays in the Quantocks.
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    The Quantock Hills is a delightful area for a week’s holiday or a weekend break. It lies within easy reach of the West Somerset Coast and has a steam heritage railway running through the valley that separates The Quantocks from the neighbouring Brendon Hills.

    In addition to their attractiveness, the small and sleepy villages nestling in the lee of The Quantock Hills have much In common; most tend to have ancient churches all worthy of exploration, an old Manor House and a pub boasting a good restaurant menu (although sadly, West Bagborough lost its hostelry at the end of 2022). Most have excellent pubs and ancient churches that beg further investigation and bucketfuls of thatched cottages. It is hoped that it will reopen one day soon. The Quantock Hills have long been associated with Wordsworth and Coleridge, who lived in the area for some years. These venerated poets probably drank in most village pubs, so feel free to follow in their footsteps.

  • A list of recommended ways to spend a holiday when staying in Allerford, a small village on EXmoor.
  • These days, buying a brick-and-mortar holiday home as an investment and revenue generator is a difficult task, especially in coastal resorts such as Devon and Cornwall, where house prices have risen sharply. So step forward the new solution to your problem: Holiday parks now offer private ownership of static caravans and lodges. This policy means you can purchase a holiday home and generate an income to cover the costs and create a return on your investment whilst providing you with a free place to stay.

    Many holiday parks have transformed in recent years into 'owner-only' parks. They offer an ideal solution for second home ownership. These tend to be quality parks, possibly smaller in size, that are purely targeted at owner-only lodges and caravans. The benefit is a quieter park with a community feel where owners get to know each other. The vast majority of these parks offer sub-letting where you can let your caravan or lodge in the park to generate

  • Six Reasons to Visit Woolacombe Out of Season

    We can all appreciate the appeal of a great British summer holiday in North Devon's Woolacombe; endless days at the beach, ice creams on a sunny day, and meals served alfresco style in the sunshine… what's not to love?

    But what many are now starting to discover is just how magical and romantic Woolacombe can be out of season - those empty weekends outside the school holidays. Once the temperature drops down and the crowds start to head home, Woolacombe pops into colour and comes alive with bright orange autumnal leaves, dramatic scenery and vibrant sunsets. If that wasn't already enough, here are six reasons to get excited about a beach holiday in Woolacombe out of season.

     

    1.     Stunning autumnal walks

     

    The South West Coast Path Above Heddon's Mouth in North Devon

    No matter what time of year you visit, Woolacombe's spectacular coastline of cliffs, sandy coves, miles of

  • What to do Out of Season in… Whitchurch (The Shropshire one)

     

    This characterful little market town in North Shropshire certainly punches well above its weight when it comes to its appeal to visitors out of season. The town offers a host of artisan shops interspersed with some enticing cafes and bars. Whether you are seeking relaxing or lively weekend breaks in Shropshire outside the school holidays that involve a little walking, a little discovering, a boat trip or two blended with some fine dining and a good pub or two, then here are some suggestions for a 2-3-night break in Whitchurch. Also included are our recommended Whitchurch holiday cottages in which to stay.

     

    1.    Whitchurch Heritage Centre

    12 St. Marys Street, Whitchurch SY13 1QY

    An excellent place to visit at the start of your holiday and discover the town’s fascinating historical past through displays and exhibits appealing to all ages.

  • Autumnal Greetings!

    As autumn’s fingers lose their grip on the countryside, we welcome you to pop another log on the woodburner or another marshmallow in your hot chocolate and invest a little time in this month’s top tips and advice to help holiday cottage owners everywhere stay at the very top of their game.

    As ever, we provide a summary of an article. If you’d like to learn more, click on the title.

     

    Welcome Packs: The Impact of Natasha’s Law.

    From October 1st, the UK Food Information Act Amendment (aka Natasha’s law) came into force. This has significant implications for all holiday property owners who provide a welcome pack for their guests. You are strongly advised to acquaint yourself with it before your local environmental health office comes knocking.

    The law is covered in the Pink Book. We also recommend the intelligently written ‘user guide’ on the PASC Website; click on the title above to download it. The guide

  • Welcome to the September 2021 issue of The Holiday Homefront and this month's collection of advice and information that all good holiday cottage owners need to continue to improve their businesses. Here's a summary of all this month's recommended articles. Where relevant, click on the title to open and read the full article.

     

    Why are UK holiday costs so expensive?

    It turns out there is a good reason for the prices charged by UK holiday cottage owners that goes beyond the sheer greed that the media would like to portray. Despite the occasional media article suggesting otherwise, it's not just because accommodation owners are greedy and inflating prices. Read this concise explanation about the factors that UK tourism accommodation providers have to consider when setting prices.

    Sadly, a return to VAT 20% in the UK, putting it above rates in many EU countries, doesn't get a mention. Another consideration is that soaring UK house prices in