By Kate Hodges
27th September 2017
Glynn Barton Cottages (Pictured Above)
You’ll find this small cluster of eight, award-winning cottages two miles from the hamlet of Cardinham in North Cornwall. Gold Members of the Green Tourism initiative, the beautiful cottages are heated by bio mass, the swimming pool uses a Heatsvr solar blanket, the site has its own, chemical-free water supply and all rubbish is separated and recycled as far as possible. Kids will love feeding the animals, hanging out in the soft play barn, the mini football pitch and the all-weather tennis court, and the maze, while frazzled parents can indulge in on-site massages, oven-ready meals and mid-week maid service.
Bosinver Cottages
You could easily spend a week at these beautiful north Cornish cottages without venturing off site. Every member of the family is made to feel welcome, right down to your dog! 20 beautifully furnished cottages are set out like a large hamlet, with landscaped gardens and wildflower meadows between them. The bigger places to stay have large, open-plan living areas, perfect for large family gatherings, and all are clustered around the indoor pool, the farm where you can help collect eggs and feed animals, pony rides, play barn, outdoor play areas, lakes and tennis courts – all activities are included in your holiday cost. The weekly Wild Kids sessions are a highlight; a forest school leader organises activities to help kids connect with nature. Plus, of course, there are all the delights of the nearby Eden Project and Lost Gardens of Heligan to explore.
Monkton Wyld Court
An education centre for sustainable living, Monkton Wyld Court is the ideal place to be invigorated in mind, body and soul. A resident community, maintained by volunteers, visitors can stay in their bed and breakfast, hostel, or camping accomodation, and learn low-impact, land based skills such as bee-keeping, scything or yoga, or try a brain-feeding writer’s retreat. All meals are vegetarian, and served at communal tables, while the entire setting is eco-friendly, with reed-bed filtered water, solar energy fans and a commitment to recycling. Stay during one of their family weeks, and explore the fossil-rich beaches of Dorset’s Jurassic Coast - that’s if you can pry the kids away from the wonder-filled grounds of the Court. A quirky, back-to-basics place to truly unwind, meet like-minded souls and learn more about sustainable living.
Court Farm Holidays
Part of a working farm – the daily animal feeding sessions are an unmissable highlight – these self-catering retreats are in the Cornish village of Marhamchurch, very near the wonderful coastal town of Bude. Choose from a house with a hot tub, a traditional cornish cottage, a beach retreat or barn conversion. The Northcott Farm rural retreats are all set on the farm, just half a mile from the beach, the barns in the village, and there’s a modern house set right on Widemouth Bay. All cottages have been adapted to be child-friendly, with fitted stairgates, highchairs, cots, booster seats and toy boxes on request, and buggies and monitors available to hire, plus there’s a communal heated pool, play area and tennis courts.
Flear Farm Cottages
Wonderfully indulgent, this eco-and-baby-friendly set of luxury holiday cottages are set among the rolling hills of the South Hams in South Devon. Peaceful, and relaxing, the cottages are set in 27 acres of private countryside, which includes Flear Wood. The exceptional pool and spa complex includes a large, heated pool, big enough for a proper swim, plus a star-lit steam room, sun terrace and hand-tiled hot tub, all of which use the estate’s natural spring water. Other facilities include a playbarn, pitch and putt course, pony paddock and tennis court. If you can tear yourself away from the site, there is a stunning range of beaches within 4-6 miles of the site; make the most of that sunny micro-climate!
