Staycations are the latest trend and there has never been a better time to skip the airport queues, avoid paying over the odds for stowing children’s kit and clobber in the hold and escaping in a more leisurely way to the West Country.The South West has everything that the foreign beloved destinations of choice also have but there is little risk of sunburn and more chance of being understood by the locals.

Families love the West Country for many reasons, there is plenty of fresh air, open spaces and a temperate sub-tropical climate which suits young children well but the main draws of the South West for families are:

1.  The beaches.  The bright red bucket and spade combo, the stripy wind break and the moat digging are all part and parcel of spending time on the South West peninsula.  There are over 600 miles of coastline and over 300 beaches to choose from between north Somerset and the fossil rich Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site in East Devon and Dorset to the south.Water sports enthusiasts will love the opportunity to try surfing, body boarding, kayaking or even kite surfing which all add adventure to the coast. The entire coastline is enchantingly pretty with unusual featuers like the Durdle Door arch and Lulworth Cove in Dorset and the spectacular fairy tale castle perched atop an off sea island at St Michael’s Mount on the South Cornish Coast.  Children will marvel at the tales of pirates and mermaids that are rife in the West Country.
2. The attractions.  Cornwall, Devon, Somerset, Dorset and The Cotswolds are chock full of family fun all weather attractions from the Land’s End theme park and picturesque Minack Theatre in Cornwall to the Bird Land Park and Gardens in the Cotswolds.  Devon has some brilliant farm parks such as The Big Sheep and Somerset has the incredible Wookey Hole and Cheddar Gorge.  Add in an Enid Blyton style trip around Corfe Castle in Dorset and you can enjoy lots of all-weather fun in the West Country.
3. The food.  The tasty food of the West Country is comforting, tasty and easy on little tummies.  The abundance of dairy farms means that the creamy handmade ice cream of the South West and unctuous and rich clotted cream add luxury to any meal.  The original D shaped hand crimped Cornish pasty is a ‘must’ when in Cornwall and the cheddar cheese from Cheddar in Somerset is s cupboard staple that children will recognise and enjoy.  Fussy eating need not be a problem on a trip to the West Country.

Every family needs a home from home when they go away so choosing a beautiful cottage will turn a good holiday into a great holiday and provide lasting memories forever.  Holidaycottages.co.uk are specialists at finding the perfect cottage in the perfect location for a getaway in Cornwall, Devon, Somerset, Dorset and the Cotswolds.

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