Rent Find self catering and cottages with a games room in South West England

Greenwood Grange Cottages - Stourcastle, Higher Bockhampton, Dorset, South West England

Sleeps 4
Weekly prices from £900 to £ 1299

Self catering accommodation in Higher Bockhampton sleeps 4.

Features include: • Pool • Short Breaks • Games Room • Sleeps 4

Accommodation overview: Greenwood Grange offers the ideal holiday combination - premium quality accommodation, fine facilities all within a family-run friendly and welcoming atmosphere, and it has achieved a Green Tourism Business Scheme Silver Award in 2009

Set at Higher Bockhampton (which is Hardy’s ‘Upper Mellstock’), Greenwood Grange is a secret hideaway set in its own 4 acres of peaceful grounds and landscaped gardens. All the cottages have undergone a major refurbishment and offer the very highest quality accommodation and facilities, with each cottage having its own individually styled interior using natural and recycled materials where possible.
As well as offering plenty of space for strolling and relaxing, there are two en-tous-cas tennis courts, lawns for croquet and badminton, a children’s play area with swings and yurt (with toys and games) and a dogs’ exercise paddock, in addition to the newly established organic vegetable garden and pick your own fruit area, with free range chickens providing eggs, to be enjoyed by all the family. There is also a magnificent Roman-style indoor heated swimming pool (complete with mural!) with full changing facilities, a large sauna and sitting area.
At the entrance of Greenwood Grange is Thorncombe Wood - a wildlife sanctuary from which a nature trail leads through magnificent chestnuts, beeches and oaks, and through 70 acres of black heath, furze, birch, holly, heather and rhododendrons. This is just one of many walks directly from the door over some of the most beautiful countryside in Dorset, perfect for healthy walks for dog lovers and all the family. Greenwood Grange offers bicycles for hire and a drop-off and pick-up service by prior arrangement.
Those interested in the literary landscape can explore the locations of Hardy’s famous novels. Steeped in history, Greenwood Grange was built by Thomas Hardy’s father, whilst a short distance away is the thatched cottage where Hardy himself was born, built by his great-grandfather and little altered. At Lower Bockhampton, Hardy went to school and there is a lovely walk from there to the next village, Stinsford, where his heart is buried.
All around is a wealth of glorious National Trust countryside, pretty towns and villages as well as the beautiful coastline just 6 miles away. Excellent local village restaurants and pubs can be recommended. Kingston Maurward College with animal park, gardens, conference, function and education centre is within walking distance.
Dorchester (Roman Durnovaria and Hardy’s ‘Casterbridge’) is a pleasant walk away (2 miles) and a most attractive country town, with museums of the dinosaur and the military, swimming pool, golf (good golf can also be found at Weymouth and Charminster) and has plenty of good shops, restaurants and pubs. Also of interest is Prince Charles’s development at Poundbury, near Dorchester.
Weymouth is 8 miles with its Georgian seafront Blue Flag beach - ideal for castle building! It is overlooked by an elegant 3-mile level esplanade; there is swimming from the beach, and there are lots of traditional entertainments. Two nearby RSPB reserves are at Lodmoor and Radipole which has nature trails from which grebes, swans and warblers may be seen. Nearby Portland is set to hold Olympic sailing events in 2012.
The beach at Ringstead Bay (6 miles) is known for its geology, fossils and the vegetation and wildlife of its undercliff; nearby can be seen the outlines of a village abandoned in the Middle Ages.
The Dorset World Heritage Coastal Path offers magnificent views and surprising sights, such as the natural arch of Durdle Door, and the almost circular cove of Lulworth, about 7 miles away.
Further west dotted along the coastline towards West Bay and the market town of Bridport are the ‘chocolate box’ villages of Burton Bradstock and Abbotsbury (famous for its swannery and gardens).
The area offers abundant river stretches for coarse or trout fishing, and ...

Church Farm - The Old Dairy, Leigh, Dorset, South West England

Sleeps 6
Weekly prices from £900 to £ 1299

Self catering accommodation in Leigh sleeps 6.

Features include: • Short Breaks • Pets allowed • Pub nearby • Games Room • Garden • Sleeps 6

Accommodation overview: In the quaint village of Leigh, just south of the picturesque abbey town of Sherborne in north west Dorset, these four converted listed barns are set in an L shape around a courtyard on one side and with lovely country views over Thomas Hardy’s famous Blackmoor Vale on the other. They offer an excellent holiday base to explore north west Dorset and south Somerset. All four are renovated to a high standard with exposed beams, are tastefully furnished, and have use of a communal games room with a snooker table, table football and darts. They can be booked individually or together so are ideal for family get togethers. Set on the edge of an organic farm (but in a non working part), there is superb country walking on the doorstep, a village shop within walking distance, golf nearby, horse riding, and water activities such as fishing, yachting, boating, sailing and canoeing at Halstock Reservoir. Within easy driving one can visit the Yeovilton Fleet Air Arm Museum with its prototype of Concorde, the Haynes Motor Museum with its fascinating selection of vintage motor cars, and Montacute House and Gardens (one of the many historic houses in the area). To the north into south Somerset, spend days exploring Glastonbury with its famous and enchanting Tor, Wells cathedral city and Bishops Palace, the famous Cheddar Gorge and Caves, and the Georgian City of Bath with its delightful Roman baths, Pump Room, museums and of course shops and restaurants. Travel south and the spectacular World Heritage Jurassic Coast and Chesil Beach, with the popular seaside resorts of Lyme Regis, Bridport and Weymouth, all offer many attractions, sights and activities to enjoy, or more locally Sherborne Abbey and Castle (5 miles) and Dorchester market town (12 miles) are not too far. Shop 400 yards, pub 1 mile.

Greenwood Grange Cottages - Yalbury, Higher Bockhampton, Dorset, South West England

Sleeps 4
Weekly prices from £900 to £ 1299

Self catering accommodation in Higher Bockhampton sleeps 4.

Features include: • Pool • Short Breaks • Games Room • Sleeps 4

Accommodation overview: Greenwood Grange offers the ideal holiday combination - premium quality accommodation, fine facilities all within a family-run friendly and welcoming atmosphere, and it has achieved a Green Tourism Business Scheme Silver Award in 2009

Set at Higher Bockhampton (which is Hardy’s ‘Upper Mellstock’), Greenwood Grange is a secret hideaway set in its own 4 acres of peaceful grounds and landscaped gardens. All the cottages have undergone a major refurbishment and offer the very highest quality accommodation and facilities, with each cottage having its own individually styled interior using natural and recycled materials where possible.
As well as offering plenty of space for strolling and relaxing, there are two en-tous-cas tennis courts, lawns for croquet and badminton, a children’s play area with swings and yurt (with toys and games) and a dogs’ exercise paddock, in addition to the newly established organic vegetable garden and pick your own fruit area, with free range chickens providing eggs, to be enjoyed by all the family. There is also a magnificent Roman-style indoor heated swimming pool (complete with mural!) with full changing facilities, a large sauna and sitting area.
At the entrance of Greenwood Grange is Thorncombe Wood - a wildlife sanctuary from which a nature trail leads through magnificent chestnuts, beeches and oaks, and through 70 acres of black heath, furze, birch, holly, heather and rhododendrons. This is just one of many walks directly from the door over some of the most beautiful countryside in Dorset, perfect for healthy walks for dog lovers and all the family. Greenwood Grange offers bicycles for hire and a drop-off and pick-up service by prior arrangement.
Those interested in the literary landscape can explore the locations of Hardy’s famous novels. Steeped in history, Greenwood Grange was built by Thomas Hardy’s father, whilst a short distance away is the thatched cottage where Hardy himself was born, built by his great-grandfather and little altered. At Lower Bockhampton, Hardy went to school and there is a lovely walk from there to the next village, Stinsford, where his heart is buried.
All around is a wealth of glorious National Trust countryside, pretty towns and villages as well as the beautiful coastline just 6 miles away. Excellent local village restaurants and pubs can be recommended. Kingston Maurward College with animal park, gardens, conference, function and education centre is within walking distance.
Dorchester (Roman Durnovaria and Hardy’s ‘Casterbridge’) is a pleasant walk away (2 miles) and a most attractive country town, with museums of the dinosaur and the military, swimming pool, golf (good golf can also be found at Weymouth and Charminster) and has plenty of good shops, restaurants and pubs. Also of interest is Prince Charles’s development at Poundbury, near Dorchester.
Weymouth is 8 miles with its Georgian seafront Blue Flag beach - ideal for castle building! It is overlooked by an elegant 3-mile level esplanade; there is swimming from the beach, and there are lots of traditional entertainments. Two nearby RSPB reserves are at Lodmoor and Radipole which has nature trails from which grebes, swans and warblers may be seen. Nearby Portland is set to hold Olympic sailing events in 2012.
The beach at Ringstead Bay (6 miles) is known for its geology, fossils and the vegetation and wildlife of its undercliff; nearby can be seen the outlines of a village abandoned in the Middle Ages.
The Dorset World Heritage Coastal Path offers magnificent views and surprising sights, such as the natural arch of Durdle Door, and the almost circular cove of Lulworth, about 7 miles away.
Further west dotted along the coastline towards West Bay and the market town of Bridport are the ‘chocolate box’ villages of Burton Bradstock and Abbotsbury (famous for its swannery and gardens).
The area offers abundant river stretches for coarse or trout fishing, and ...

Hunting Butts Cottages - The Dovecote, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, South West England

Sleeps 5
Weekly prices from £600 to £ 899

Self catering accommodation in Cheltenham sleeps 5.

Features include: • Pool • Short Breaks • Pets allowed • Pub nearby • Games Room • Sleeps 5

Accommodation overview: Fine cottages and facilities – just a mile from one of England’s finest Regency towns . . .

Occupying a superb position with wonderful rural views, yet within a mile or so of Cheltenham’s elegant town centre, these delightful holiday cottages have been created from a range of 19th-century barns and are furnished and equipped to high standards. All cottages enjoy a good choice of shared facilities including a covered heated swimming pool, an all-weather tennis court and a croquet lawn. The cottages are well equipped, with an automatic washing machine, microwave oven and dishwasher, and each cottage has its own sitting out area with patio and furniture.
All the fascinating corners of the beautiful Regency spa town of Cheltenham are immediately to hand: there is an art gallery, a museum, tempting boutiques, antique shops, plentiful restaurants and inns. Only a short walk away is Cheltenham’s racecourse, famous as the home of National Hunt Racing, which stages the Cheltenham Festival in March, as well as several other top quality race meetings between October and the end of April. The Pittville Pump Room, a magnificent Grade I listed building opened in 1830, has a museum on its top floor. In the ballroom it is possible to taste spa water from the original pump. Historic illustrations, photographs and small displays tell the story of Cheltenham from its beginnings in Anglo-Saxon times. The building is surrounded by attractive parkland with a lake and children’s playground, public tennis courts and golf course. Number 4 Clarence Road, built in 1832 by James Creed, is the house in which Gustav Holst was born on 21 September 1874, and where he spent the first seven years of his childhood. The Holst Birthplace Museum is a memorial to the composer and a rare treat for lovers of music. On the summit of nearby Leckhampton Hill above the Devil’s Chimney, a teetering rock column, is the site of an Iron Age fort; keen walkers can follow the Cotswold Way.
Hunting Butts Cottages provide a perfect base to explore the beautiful countryside and villages of the Cotswolds as well as the attractions of the Heart of England. The Cotswolds cast their spell on artists, naturalists, walkers and everyone with a love for rural peace and tranquillity: Broadway – the ‘Venice’ of the Cotswolds; delightful Chipping Campden; Blockley, described as the most beautiful village in England, and Stow-on-the-Wold boasting England’s oldest pub, are all within half an hour’s drive. The variety of attractions is almost endless. Exploring this region at any time of year is a rewarding experience, each season throwing a different light on the changing scene. Heritage attractions in the area include Sudeley Castle (7 miles), once home of Catherine Parr, containing Europe’s largest collection of toys, arms and armour. Forest of Dean 23 miles. Birmingham, Bath, Oxford and Stratford-upon-Avon are all within one hour by car. Sailing and wind-surfing on 15,000 acres of lakes near the ancient Roman town of Cirencester are available within 30 minutes’ drive. Shops ½ mile.

The Retreat, Uploders, Dorset, South West England

Sleeps 10
Weekly prices from £1300

Self catering accommodation in Uploders sleeps 10.

Features include: • Pool • Short Breaks • Detached • Games Room • Sleeps 10

Accommodation overview: Within 3 miles of the beach, this Grade II listed, thatched former barn offers spacious, very comfortable accommodation and a good range of facilities, including its own indoor heated swimming pool and games room. Sympathetically converted and very well equipped, it has its own lawned area and patio, and is surrounded by lovely countryside. The ancient town of Bridport
(2 miles), once famous for its rope-making industry, was Thomas Hardy’s ‘Port Bredy’, and holds a twice-weekly market in its broad streets. At West Bay (3 miles) there are fishing trips and rowing boats for hire. At Seaton (6 miles), the lush Winniford Valley opens to an unspoilt beach of golden shingle, shelving steeply to sand at low tide. To the west of the beach, the Dorset Coast Path climbs to Golden Cap – at 626ft the highest point on the southern coast, with superb views along the coastline. The National Trust owns 2,000 acres of land here, offering 15 miles of footpaths for walkers. Ten miles away is the attractive seaside town of Lyme Regis. Jane Austen’s novel Persuasion gives a good picture of the town in the early 19th-century, and its history is displayed in the local museum. The ancient town of Dorchester (14 miles), built on the site of the Roman town, has much of historical interest: the remains of a Roman town house and a mosaic in Colliton Park, the old county court where the Tolpuddle Martyrs were tried, and Thomas Hardy’s study in the Dorset County Museum. Shops 2 miles.

Large hall/study with full-length windows. Dining room with additional TV and steps down to sun room. Spacious sitting-room with electric fire and French doors to patio and courtyard. Well-equipped modern fitted kitchen. Utility room. Cloakroom with toilet. First floor: Two pretty double bedrooms, one with en-suite bathroom with over-bath shower and toilet, and one with en-suite shower room and toilet. Twin bedroom with en-suite bathroom with over-bath shower and toilet. Small children’s twin bedroom with sloping ceiling. Second twin bedroom. Bathroom with over-bath shower and toilet.

Robin Hill Farm Cottages - Heron Cottage, Bideford, Devon, South West England

Sleeps 6
Weekly prices from £900 to £ 1299

Self catering accommodation in Bideford sleeps 6.

Features include: Hot Tub • Pool • Short Breaks • Games Room • Sleeps 6

Accommodation overview: Character farm cottages in glorious countryside above an unspoilt hidden valley...with all-weather leisure facilities

Robin Hill Farm is set in 14 acres of beautiful rolling countryside in the North Devon biosphere. The six properties, converted from stone farm barns and buildings, are centred around the old cobbled farmyard. The location offers a peaceful and secluded setting away from the daily hustle and bustle, yet it is only 3 miles to shops, entertainment and the beach. Inside the holiday cottages are well furnished and provide a relaxing haven after a long day sightseeing, walking, cycling or on the beach. The heated indoor swimming pool room includes a hot tub and a stunning conservatory attached. From the conservatory and decking area guests can enjoy the beautiful views over the valley towards Exmoor, whilst drying off or enjoy a coffee or glass of wine no matter what the weather. There is a very well equipped games room for all ages and for big and little kids video games can be enjoyed on a 60in plasma screen.
Outside the grounds have been landscaped to create two play areas, one with ball games, the other with playhouse and climbing frame. A communal patio means that adults can relax whilst watching their children play. Guests can enjoy the farm’s 14 acres of land and woodland walk which are host to a variety of wildlife and wild flowers with lovely views of Jennetts Reservoir. Nearby there is plenty to keep visitors busy. Many quaint villages await discovery - the photogenic ‘chocolate box’ village of Clovelly being of particular note. Appledore offers all the olde worlde charm of a fishing village, famous for its arts, crafts and maritime heritage. Beach lovers will delight in the wide sandy beaches, the nearest being the Blue Flag Westward Ho!. Walkers can enjoy the spectacular scenery of the coastal path, while the Tarka Trail traces the steps of Henry Williamson’s Tarka the Otter and provides miles of traffic-free cycling (and walking) - bikes can be stored securely or hired locally. Award-winning farm parks, The Milky Way and The Big Sheep, will fascinate the younger ones. Gardens within 30 minutes’ drive include RHS Rosemoor, Docton Mill and Tapeley Park. Several local pubs nearby, with the nearest in Littleham village serving real ale and home cooked food. Shops 3 miles, pub 1½ miles.

Tuckenhay Mill - Waterwheel, Bow Creek, Devon, South West England

Sleeps 6
Weekly prices from £900 to £ 1299

Self catering accommodation in Bow Creek sleeps 6.

Features include: Hot Tub • Pool • Open Fire or Woodburner Stove • Short Breaks • Pets allowed • Pub nearby • Games Room • Sleeps 6

Accommodation overview: Devon’s best kept secret... Just inland from some of Devon’s loveliest and most natural beaches lies the village of Tuckenhay set along Bow Creek on the River Dart....

In a setting of stunning natural beauty, Tuckenhay Mill is the centrepiece of a cluster of country homes and cottages with superb leisure facilities including two indoor and one outdoor pools, making it ideal for a family holiday for all ages.
The Mill which once produced some of the finest paper in the land, nestles in the green and shady Bow Creek, a languid inlet of the River Dart where private yachts have replaced the old tall-masted ships and barges. Around the mill are all the buildings which once went to make up a small bustling village port. These listed buildings have been sympathetically restored and converted to a delightful range of holiday properties to suit larger family parties. Awards have been won for the conversion of buildings and the conservation of the area. With so much to do, many holidaymakers return year after year.



South Devon awaits you
Tuckenhay is only a 20-minute drive from the superb Blue Flag beach at Blackpool Sands and about 30 minutes from a surfing beach at Bantham, as well as some of the best natural beaches to be found anywhere in the UK.
There is also extensive access to the coastal footpath for walking and the wilderness that is Dartmoor for walking, climbing and riding.
This is a mecca for ramblers, bird-watchers, swimmers, surfers, horse riders, golfers and those interested in fishing, boating, sailing and windsurfing.
In addition, there are many historic NT houses to visit including Agatha Christies’s Greenway as well as a local vineyard (with award-winning wines) at Sharpham.
Tuckenhay is only 5 miles inland from Dartmouth and 3 from the market town of Totnes. Village shop 3½ miles. Riverside inn and restaurant within walking distance.



A superb choice of cottages
Each of the cottages has been individually styled to offer comfortable and spacious accommodation. Great care has been taken to retain the feel of the original buildings and extensive use has been made of traditional materials. Most have garden, terrace or patio. Individual cottage details are shown on the following pages.
Many cottages have more than one bathroom and some have an en-suite bathroom to every bedroom. Kitchens are comprehensively equipped: most have dishwashers and all have microwave cookers.
Couples and honeymooners will feel snug and comfortable in the small cottages: Mill Leat, Mill Stream and Mill Spring. Families can spread out in Papermaker’s or Turbine Cottages, while Mill Lodge, Edgecombe Barn and Tuckenhay Mill House will sleep larger parties in comfort. Of course, combinations of cottages can accommodate bigger gatherings of family or friends.

Higher Churchtown Farm - Proper Job, Launceston, Cornwall, South West England

Sleeps 6
Weekly prices from £900 to £ 1299

Self catering accommodation in Launceston sleeps 6.

Features include: • Pool • Short Breaks • Golf nearby • Games Room • Easy Walking • Sleeps 6

Accommodation overview: Character cottages in a countryside setting, ideal for an activity-filled family holiday..

Nestling in glorious Cornish countryside on the edge of the pretty Cornish village of Tresmeer, just 6 miles from Launceston, the ancient capital city of Cornwall, and 10 miles from the stunning North Cornish Coast, Higher Churchtown Farm offers the ideal holiday location for friends and family to escape and unwind or as a wedding venue as the owners have been granted a licence to conduct weddings on site.
Set beside the historic village church and with glorious views reaching to Dartmoor, these four delightful converted barns are very spacious and beautifully presented with oak furniture, underfloor heating on the ground floors and heated towel rails in most of the bathrooms. They retain much of their original charm with vaulted ceilings, exposed stone walls and beams. Kettle’s On is a detached single-storey barn with its own rear garden; each of the others has its own small patio and all enjoy shared use of a large garden area with 18ft circular above-ground swimming pool (summer only) and an additional ½-acre games field which provides a great place for children to play. For amusement indoors, a selection of reading material is also provided, together with games, puzzles, DVDs and a 42in television. The largest of the barns also has its own games room with pool table, darts and board games. A local artist displays her work in the barns of scenes around Cornwall, which can be purchased and taken home as a memento. Lambing also takes place on the farm during the first few months of the year up to the beginning of April.
Whether surfing, walking the coastal path, playing golf, fishing or simply relaxing this stunning location has something for everyone. Riding, cycling and walking trails are in abundance including a lovely riverside walk from the barns across the owners’ farmland. This really is a superb holiday choice for friends, families or when booked as a whole for a celebration gathering. Launceston has a good selection of local shops, town amenities, and restaurants.
There are many family attractions in the area including Trethorne Leisure Park and Golf Club, Harlequins Bude, Crealy Adventure Park, Newquay Zoo and the Blue Reef Aquarium. The properties are ideally situated to visit the North Cornwall coastal resorts of Tintagel (the mythical home of King Arthur), Boscastle, Port Isaac (where the TV series Doc Martin is filmed), and Padstow where Rick Stein’s famous fish restaurant can be found. For a great day out, take a trip to the famous Eden Project and the Lost Gardens of Heligan. Shop 440 yards, pub and restaurant 4 miles.