6 of the best eco, family friendly holiday stays in the South West

From coastal towns and villages such as Lyme Regis, Abbotsbury and Swanage, to country retreats near Yeovil, Evershot and Beaminster, Dorset is a versatile county filled with natural beauty. With thatched cottages and lakeside barns to lighthouse keeper’s cottages and houses overlooking the sea, we’ve got something for everyone. Many of our properties are dog friendly too, so your four-legged friend can enjoy the abundance of walks this region has to offer. Our expert local team is always on hand to help find your perfect getaway and assist you throughout your stay, so why not escape to Dorset today?

FAMILY FACILITIES Games rooms, hot tubs, swimming pools, walks nearby (some properties). SLEEPS 2 - 20 GREEN CREDENTIALS Solar panels, air source heat pumps, walking trails (some properties). LOCATIONS Across Dorset TEL 01929 448 708. WEB dorsethideaways.co.uk. EMAIL [email protected]. PRICES FROM Weekly: £407 Short Stay: £299

Set in beautiful North Devon, our 8 family friendly award winning cottages sleep 2-10 each with their own private hot tub to relax in at the end of a busy day. Come and help feed the animals twice a day, collect the eggs, bottle feed the Spring lambs, groom the goats, hold the chicks and enjoy daily donkey rides each morning. Enjoy outdoor freedom with our farm trails and Free Rangers Club. EYFS curriculum-based activity packs also available, an indoor Games Room and Under 7’s Play barn, locally prepared meals to order as well as Holistic therapy treatments and babysitting.

FAMILY FACILITIES Hot tubs, Animals, Autism Friendly, Babysitting, Activity clubs, Donkey rides. GREEN CREDENTIALS Plastic free champions, Local Suppliers, Bat walks, Nature trails, energy management, waste management. LOCATION North Hayne Farm, Bishops Nympton, South Molton, Devon EX36 3QR. WEB northhaynefarmcottages.co.uk EMAIL [email protected]. TEL 01769 550807 SLEEPS 2 to 10 (or up to 47 if whole complex booked). PRICES FROM Weekly: £423 Short Stay: £275

Our collection of family-friendly cottages in the New Forest come in all shapes and sizes. For young families with babies and toddlers, provision has been made to include cots, stair gates, and high chairs in our baby-friendly cottages. Cottages in the family-friendly range are often large cottages with three bedrooms or more, featuring large communal areas and a good sized fully-equipped kitchen. Big gardens and plenty of space to play are also key features. Our New Forest holiday cottages offer the perfect break away for families, with a whole host of great attractions and activities on the doorstep.

FAMILY FACILITIES Games rooms, outdoor play areas, toys (some properties). GREEN CREDENTIALS Public transport encouraged, increased recycling (some properties). LOCATIONS Across the New Forest. WEB newforestliving.co.uk TEL 01590 690924. EMAIL [email protected] SLEEPS 3-11. PRICES FROM Weekly: £498 Short Stay: £399

Get back to nature with our 5 star resort and go on a green adventure for your next family break. Perfect for short or long breaks, our luxury accommodation is a wonderful base for exploring Cornwall. Experience our wildlife centre where you can hand-feed our rescued foxes, fly our birds of prey and meet our reindeer brothers. Take aim with the indoor archery range, take on the climbing walls and challenge yourself with a round of golf. Explore the woodland trail down to the long stretch of sandy beach just half a mile away or relax in your private hot tub.

FAMILY FACILITIES Golf course, grass putting, tennis courts, boules, fishing lake, woodland nature trail, soft play, climbing walls, archery SLEEPS 1-6. GREEN CREDENTIALS David Bellamy Gold Award, Wildlife Centre, Solar Panels, Wildflower Areas, Local Food Suppliers, Cornwall Good Seafood Guide LOCATION Portreath, Cornwall. WEB www.gwelanmor.com TEL 01209 842354. EMAIL [email protected] PRICES FROM Weekly: £449 Short Stay: £299

Sandy Balls Holiday Village is a world away from the everyday, with more trees than you can, well, shake a stick at. With a beautiful range of accommodation for every budget, on-site bars and restaurants, resident alpacas, PLAY and My Active activity programmes to keep kids (and adults) of all ages entertained and top-class entertainment to top it off; there’s something for everyone. Book yourself a 2020 break now to give the whole family something to look forward to!

FAMILY FACILITIES. Evening entertainment, soft play, bike hire, PLAY & My Active activities. GREEN CREDENTIALS 80% of waste is recycled. Awarded David Bellamy Gold 2019/20. LOCATION Fordingbridge, Hampshire. WEB www.awayresorts.co.uk/sandy-balls. EMAIL [email protected]. TEL 0330 053 7000 SLEEPS 4-10 PRICES FROM Weekly: £270 Short Stay: £162

Five award-winning luxury self-catering holiday cottages, each sleeping 2 – 4 adults, lovingly converted from old stone farm buildings set in 70 acres of meadow and woodland. An exquisite and tranquil base for exploring the Oxfordshire Cotswolds. These very individual stone cottages offer guests the ultimate in comfort, quality and cleanliness and a chance to enjoy the high standards of craftsmanship which is the hallmark of this idyllic retreat. Award winning. Gold standard, Four and five star self catering. Open fires and free firewood. Spring water on tap. Owners on site. Pet free accommodation. Electric vehicle charging point.

FAMILY FACILITIES Games Lawn, Games Room, Toys, Nature Trails, Woodland stage, Woodland SLEEPS 2-14. GREEN CREDENTIALS Gold rating with Green Tourism LOCATION Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire WEB heathfarm.com EMAIL [email protected]. TEL 01608683270. PRICES FROM Weekly: £501 Short Stay: £361