Holset House, East Portlemouth (sleeps 12) This luxury VisitEngland Five Star Gold awarded elegant country house is ideal for a large family gathering. The property has beautiful gardens, children’s play equipment and a fantastic South facing terrace, perfect for an alfresco meal. A truly rural retreat, the property is within easy reach of the South West Coast Path, and the foot passenger ferry to the popular sailing town of Salcombe. The weeks commencing 26^th August and 28^th October are now available to book. For more information visit www.coastandcountry.co.uk/cottage-details/HOLSET

Mothering Sunday is under a week away, and for those yet to organise a gift for their Mum, Coast & Country Cottages have the perfect solution! Why not club together with siblings, and buy some holiday gift vouchers. Available to any value, your Mum can then book a break in a Coast & Country Cottages self-catering holiday property of her choice, at a time that suits her best. Whether she would prefer a short break or week in beautiful South Devon to recharge those batteries, this is the perfect gift for special Mums. For more information, email marketing@coastandcountry.co.uk or call 01548 843773.  

Alternatively, book a break away for the whole family and enjoy Mother’s Day together in the South Devon countryside. For some fabulous last minute savings, visit www.coastandcountry.co.uk/special-offers. Go on - treat your Mum with a well-deserved holiday!

Various events are taking place across South Devon in celebration of the day, and many local restaurants are putting on special menus. The Venus Café at Blackpool Sands is offering a delicious two or three course Mothering Sunday lunch on Sunday 18^th March. Guests can enjoy the stunning views across the bay whilst dining on an organic and locally-source meal made with the finest ingredients. For more information visit www.lovingthebeach.co.uk. 

If you are looking to make the break extra special for your Mum, Coast & Country Cottages would be delighted to help you arrange the finer touches. From organising a bouquet to be delivered from local florist Studio Flowers (www.studioflowers.net), to booking pampering sessions at Haven Spa & Therapy (www.havenspaandtherapy.co.uk), Coast & Country Cottages would be happy to help you plan your stay, ensuring the holiday is a fabulous experience for everyone, especially your Mum!

Tomorrow marks the start of the VisitEngland English Tourism Week 2012! This year is a fabulous year for British tourism, with exciting events like the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games and the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee taking place. The excitement doesn’t stop with events in London either – South Devon is this year playing host to two major sporting events in the historic maritime town of Dartmouth. The National SQUIB sailing championships are taking place from 7th-13th July, and the UK J80 2012 world sailing championships will be taking place from 9^th-15^th June. These championships are in addition to the annual popular events taking place in Salcombe and Dartmouth, ranging from Regattas to Festivals. For a full list of events going on in beautiful South Devon in 2012 visit www.coastandcountry.co.uk/planning-your-stay/events.

If you are looking for accommodation for a particular event in South Devon, our experienced, locally based team would be delighted to help you find the perfect self-catering holiday property for your stay – call 01548 843773 today! With so much going on right here in the UK, why would anyone want to holiday abroad in 2012?

In celebration of VisitEngland’s ‘Holidays at Home are Great’ campaign, Coast & Country Cottages are delighted to offer a fantastic promotional code for those yet to book their Summer 2012 holiday. The code GREAT2012 entitles customers to £20.12 off their week long* stay this July or August, as well as a free Riverford Organic Holiday Box filled with seasonal British produce to enjoy during their holiday.

With the Olympics fast approaching, the UK is sure to be the holiday destination of choice for travellers worldwide this year… for those living here, why choose to holiday anywhere else in 2012? Choose from over 425 self-catering holiday properties with Coast & Country Cottages  - like the elegant country house Broadsands in the South Devon countryside (sleeps 12). Bring all the family and enjoy your own Olympic games in the beautiful spacious garden! For more information and availability call 01548 843773 or visit www.coastandcountry.co.uk/great2012.

*Applicable on High season July and August 2012 weeks only. Quote GREAT2012 at time of booking - code can only be used on bookings made by 31^st May 2012. Code cannot be used retrospectively. Subject to availability and not in conjunction with any other offer. 

The RockFish restaurant in Dartmouth is holding a fabulous Fruit de Mer & Muscadet Party on Thursday 22^nd March. Guests can expect shellfish galore, with platters of crab, lobster, crevettes, and oysters – plus Muscadet and Brittany Cider. It will be a great night not to be missed! The price is £60 per person and includes ½ a bottle of Muscadet. For more information visit www.rockfishdevon.co.uk/events.

Spend Easter a little differently this year with a break in South Devon. Coast & Country Cottages have a fabulous choice of over 425 self-catering holiday cottages ranging from luxury country houses to chic waterside apartments, sleeping 2-12. Book a holiday and spend sunny afternoons exploring rock pools, or taking long walks along the unspoilt sandy beaches and coastal paths in this Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Visit the maritime town of Dartmouth and browse the boutique shops, or head to the popular sailing town of Salcombe and give some watersports a whirl! With countless all weather family attractions and places of historical and natural interest, there is plenty for visitors of all ages to enjoy! Choose a property with Coast & Country Cottages, and spend Easter in style this year. Visit www.coastandcountry.co.uk or call 01548 843773 for more information.

Broadsands, Thurlestone (sleeps 12) £150 OFF the Easter weeks commencing 31^st March & 7^th April 2012 at this elegant country house, overlooking a coastal golf course and out to sea, just a short walk from the beach at Thurlestone. This spacious Five Star Gold VisitBritain awarded house has a stylish drawing room with mini grand piano, a contemporary kitchen and exquisite orangery, formal dining room, bar and games room. With such flexible accommodation and so much space, this luxury holiday property is perfect for an extended family party or group of friends this Easter – with beautiful spacious gardens you can even enjoy a family Easter egg hunt with the children! The popular sailing town of Salcombe, with its beaches, shops and quayside is a 10 minute drive away. For more information visit www.coastandcountry.co.uk/cottage-details/BROADS.  Now £3100, under £37 per person per night, based on 12 sharing.

Broxdowne Cottage, Dartmouth Green, near Dartmouth (sleeps 4) £50 OFF the Easter weeks commencing 29^th March and 5^th April at this stylish VisitBritain Five Star awarded thatched stone cottage, finished to an exceptional standard with luxurious furnishings throughout. Relax in the sunny conservatory, head to nearby family theme park Woodlands with the children, or enjoy a game of tennis on Dartmouth Green’s shared court this Easter. Situated adjacent to the Championship Golf course, guests at Broxdowne Cottage can enjoy the reduced green fees and free access to the Lakeside Health and Beauty Suite within the clubhouse, where facilities include an indoor pool and Jacuzzi.  The historic maritime town of Dartmouth, with its boutique shops, art galleries and award-winning restaurants, is four miles away. For more information visit www.coastandcountry.co.uk/cottage-details/BROXD. Now £690, under £25 per person per night, based on four sharing.

This week marks the launch of the new Steven Spielberg film, War Horse, based on the book by Devon author, Michael Morpurgo.  Reports suggest that Steven Spielberg was particularly taken by the wild beauty of the Dartmoor scenery which will now be seen by audiences worldwide. The film crew spent months on Dartmoor in Devon, filming scenes for this spellbinding production, with several locations on Dartmoor, including Haytor and Sheepstor, used during filming.

The story, which has also become an award-winning West End production,  follows the emotional journey of a young boy, Albert, who leaves his farm on Dartmoor to search for his beloved horse, Joey, after it is sold to the cavalry and sent to France during the First World War. The film had an exclusive Royal Premiere earlier this week and will be shown in cinemas across the UK from Friday 13^th January.

If you would like to experience the natural beauty of Dartmoor, why not book a short break or family holiday in South Devon. Ideally located for you to enjoy the stunning moorland of Dartmoor, just a short drive away, and the beautiful South Devon coastline, contact Coast & Country Cottages today to find the perfect rural retreat for your Devon break.

Jacks Cottage, near Totnes (sleeps 4) - £100 off selected Summer weeks at this luxury property sleeping up to 4 people. Situated on a 300 acre working farm, this VisitBritain Four Star Gold awarded cottage is the perfect retreat for those looking  to explore Dartmoor or to experience the delights of farm life! Relax in this beautiful, baby friendly, barn conversion with a sun terrace and fantastic rural views to the moors beyond, or head outside and explore the farm, see the livestock up close and collect fresh eggs.  So why not book your holiday to this fascinating area and enjoy exhilarating walks on Dartmoor, dine in award-winning restaurants or relax on the stunning South Devon beaches.  Jack’s Cottage is now £946, under £34 per person per night, based on 4 sharing.  Visit www.coastandcountry.co.uk  or call 01548 843773 for more information.

For those looking to learn more about South Devon, why not head to Salcombe on 15^th January and take a guided walk along the picturesque coastline in the Bolt Head and Overbecks area. Learn about the fabulous surrounding landscape and about what lies beneath the surface off this rugged shoreline. Whether you live locally or are visiting South Devon on holiday, this Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty is very culturally, historically and environmentally interesting – this guided walk is not to be missed!

Those interested should meet at the junction of the road to Overbecks and the South West coast path, at 10.30am. Adults £4 Children £2. Visit www.southdevonaonb.org.uk for more information.

If you are looking for a treat this January, take advantage of Haven Spa and Therapy’s latest offer  -  3 for 2 on all spa treatments! Book any 3 treatments and the cheapest is free! Why not have an eyelash tint, eyebrow tint and free eyebrow shape, or enjoy an Elemis Facial, Deep Tissue Massage and a free luxury pedicure - create your own package! With branches in both Kingsbridge and Dartington, choose a treatment in a place that suits you best. Haven Spa and Therapy are also offering over 50% off selected products in their Dartington branch, with savings on everything from Fake Bake to Spa Find products. For more information visit www.havenspaandtherapy.co.uk.