West Country cottage specialist Helpful Holidays new 2016 brochure features nearly 600 places to stay, with a marked increase in holiday homes across Cornwall and north Devon. There has also been a rise in the number earning higher star ratings and offering pools, demonstrating Helpful Holidays' commitment to continually upgrade their portfolio and the quality of facilities offered to guests.

There is a huge variety of holiday homes, from romantic retreats for two up to big country houses accommodating a maximum of 38 guests, most with stunning views out to sea or across rolling countryside; prices range from £179 to £7,175 for a week's stay.

Below is a selection of some of the best:

Cornwall

Amongst the larger new places in Cornwall is Mays Cottage on the edge of St Issey, just three miles from Padstow; sleeping eight, it's ideal for two families holidaying together, or one larger family. Attention to detail and design flair give this delightful cottage a rustic French feel but with all modern comforts. Inside, the beamed living room has thick uneven walls, big sofas and an inglenook with woodburner. There's also a large, enclosed sunny garden with two patios and a warm outside shower for sandy children or muddy dogs. With a high 4½ star rating, a week's stay costs from £420 or £53 per person, pets welcome (details can be found on page 194 of the 2016 brochure, ref P115).

Pen Nare is another large family house for nine, just 150 yards from Portscatho   village centre and beach in south Cornwall. Set in an elevated position, the double-fronted period house has big bay windows with stunning views across Gerrans Bay from the front seaward-facing rooms. The open plan living/dining/kitchen area has an oil-fired range and cosy woodburner to sit around, while outhouses provide ample storage for surf/beach gear. With a 3½ star rating, a week's stay costs from £644 or £72 per person, pets welcome (details can be found on page 167 of the 2016 brochure, ref S82).

Helpful Holidays is now letting a fifth apartment at Fort Picklecombe, which was built back in 1848 to protect Plymouth from the French and is now converted into holiday homes with stunning views of the sea, boats and sometimes warships. It has shared use of the pretty terraced gardens and rock pool beach for windsurfing and fishing, there's also sand at low tide. Sleeping just two, the elegant ground-floor studio apartment has patio doors opening onto a small balcony with splendid sea views. With a 4½ star rating, a week's stay costs from £268 or £134 per person (details can be found on page 154 of the 2016 brochure, ref R120).

More luxury lodges at Bovey Castle Hotel, Dartmoor

The number of luxury granite lodges available for holiday lets in the grounds of Bovey Castle Hotel, Dartmoor has been increased to 12 for 2016, plus Rose Cottage, the estate's former gatehouse. Guests staying in the individually furnished lodges, which sleep six and welcome pets, have use of the hotel's superb facilities including the indoor pool, spa, 18 hole championship golf course, tennis courts and two refurbished restaurants. Other activities are available by arrangement and meals can be delivered to the door (extra). With a top 5 star rating, a week's stay in a lodge is priced from £815 or £136 per person (details of the five new lodges can be found on pages 128-129 of the 2016 brochure, refs A231, A232, A233, A235 and A236).

Dartmoor

On the edge of Dartmoor, near the exceptionally pretty village of Drewsteignton, is quirky detached Grade II* listed Honeyford Cottage sitting snug in its own three acre valley. Inside and out the cottage is the stuff of fairy tales, but if you're over 6ft or favour level floors and ceilings then perhaps it's not for you. Full of character with low beams, exposed stonework and masses of charm it sleeps six in four bedrooms/two bathrooms. Outside it's surrounded by a cottage-style garden with a stream and large pond with ducks; there's also a paddock shared with two cats, guinea fowl and hens that live in the barn at the end of the drive. Honeyford Cottage has a 4 star rating; a week's stay is priced from £412 or £69 per person, pets welcome (details can be found on page 130 of the 2016 brochure, ref A229).

North Devon

Holiday homes joining Helpful Holidays for 2016 have included several restorations on working farms, often with a number of places on the same site.

At Pillhead Farm, two miles from Bideford in North Devon, are three individual cottages sleeping four to six. Converted from barns and the oldest part of the original farmhouse, they share an outdoor solar-heated pool, sunbathing terrace, mown orchard and picnic area; guests are also welcome to roam the 130 acre working sheep farm. The Cart Linhay, Corn Tallet and Garden Cottage have each been given a 3½ star rating, a week's stay costs from £291 or £73 per person; pets welcome at The Cart Linhay (details can be found on page 35 of the 2016 brochure, refs K48, K49 and K50).

Striking houses in South Devon and Dorset

Tucked high on the edge of Dittisham, in south Devon is Dove Cottage, which sleeps eight. A huge width-of-house balcony makes the most of the panoramic views over the river Dart, perfect for a sundowner or stargazing; there's even a telescope to pick-out highlights in the ever changing view. Modern comforts, original artwork, polished wood floors and soft furnishings in shades of cream and grey, with the occasional bright orange cushion, make this an elegant and relaxing house in which to linger. Rated 5 star, a week's stay is priced from £1,096 or £137 per person (details can be found on page 72 of the 2016 brochure, ref L295).

In Milborne St Andrew in the heart of Dorset's Thomas Hardy country, the former Methodist chapel has been recreated as a contemporary and stylish house sleeping four. Double doors open into the living/dining/kitchen with its huge vaulted ceiling and leaded-light windows. Two separate towering, spiral staircases lead up to the two ensuite bedrooms under the eaves; there's also an enclosed garden to one side. This is an extraordinary architect designed conversion ideal for two couples or a family with older children due to the bedrooms being reached by separate stairs. The Chapel has a 5 star rating; a week's stay is priced from £373 or £93 per person (details can be found on page 10 of the 2016 brochure, ref Y1).

Helpful Holidays has received a prestigious British Travel Award for four years in succession and has been nominated as a finalist in two categories for the 2015 BTAs. The agency has also achieved Feefo Gold Trusted Merchant Accreditation for the past two years.

For a copy of Helpful Holidays 2016 brochure call 01647 434063, email help@helpfulholidays.com or order online at www.helpfulholidays.com. The agency's nominated charity for 2016 will be Devon Air Ambulance Trust; in 2015 Helpful Holidays raised over £10,000 for Farms for City Children. Helpful Holidays can be followed on Twitter @helpfulholidays, Facebook and Pinterest.

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For press enquiries, images or a copy of Helpful Holidays 2016 brochure, please contact:

Pat Edgar, PR Matters, Email: PRMatters@dsl.pipex.com 

Tel: 01494 764932 / 07836 786043                     

October 2015