Gillian Birch 
If you are wondering how to occupy youngsters during May half-term, Arlington Court offers a cheap and fun-filled day out with their May-hem Half Term Madness event. It includes building a den and plenty of crafts as well as the extensive woodlands.
We outline some of the great family activities on offer for those planning a visit to this splendid National Trust estate and carriage museum.
As a resident of the Westcountry I have discovered several places to visit that are quiet even on the busiest weekends. The Rame Peninsula is a perfect example, in the extreme southeast corner of Cornwall, which has stately homes, coastal walks and tiny smugglers villages to enjoy.
Discover this forgotten corner of Cornwall by booking a holiday cottage in Kingsand and Cawsand today!
Plymouth is a great city to live & work in, but is even better to visit as a tourist! Behind the slick modern designs of the centre, Plymouth is steeped in maritime history as the city of Drake, Raleigh & the Pilgrim Fathers on the historic Barbican.
With time on your hands and a good guide book, you can easily step back in time to the Golden Age of Exploration. Let us guide you through some of the best bits.
There’s something very intriguing about a castle built on an island, and St Michael’s Mount is certainly a very unique place to visit. It is usually a favourite place to go whenever I have visitors to stay as it has broad appeal and is always very memorable.
St Michael’s Mount is one of 43 tidal islands around the UK which can be accessed across a causeway at low tide. Find out what makes it so special.
The National Trust property of Cotehele is a Tudor manor and gardens which lead down to a quay and preserved barge on the Tamar. Explore the mediaeval Great Hall with its weaponry displays and the furnished family rooms within this dark old house.
Read on to discover why Cotehele was closed up and left in a time warp for centuries, and discover its historic connection with Mount Edgcumbe.
For green-fingered gardeners, a day spent wandering the acreage at RHS Rosemoor is truly a day in heaven. There is so much to see and enjoy there, even in the depths of winter, and the garden shop and cafeteria finish off the visit perfectly.
Even if you are not a garden geek, the beautiful 65-acre grounds have a pleasant woodland area for walks beyond the show gardens.
Coleridge Cottage is in a time warp, capturing the era when Samuel Taylor Coleridge lived in the village of Nether Stowey. See the soot-blackened fireplace and the lime tree bower in this restored property, which clearly inspired his writing.
Read on to learn more about this atmospheric restored attraction and consider a visit to the West Country for a sojourn with the romantic poets!
Some of Britain’s finest gardens can be found in Devon. Known for its mild winters and showery climate, it is no accident than the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) has a spectacular show garden in the Torridge Valley of North Devon.
Rent a Devon cottage and enjoy some beautiful gardens without the hard work!
Cornwall’s mild, damp climate has made the county prime for growing all sorts of exotic ferns, palms and exotic shrubs. In fact one of the largest gardens is the only place in England where tea bushes are grown!
Explore Cornwall’s glorious gardens by renting a Cornish cottage now.
Many visitors to Cornwall avoid visiting the harbour town of Looe as it is busy & difficult to park – but with a little local knowledge you can have a wonderful day. Looe is very pretty with its whitewashed houses and cottages tiered up the surrounding wooded riverbanks
Here are a few tips from a local resident for getting there, parking, dining and shopping in this lovely Cornish gem. However you get there, it’s certainly worth a visit.
One of my favourite places to visit in Devon is the idyllic village of Otterton with its thatched cottages, watermill, craft centre and tea rooms. The best way to reach it is on foot along the Otter Valley from Budleigh Salterton.
Why not book a cottage in East Devon and enjoy this lovely walk along the scenic Otter Valley?
Visiting Plymouth, you can almost picture Drake in his Elizabethan finery, calmly bowling on the green grass here while awaiting news of the approaching Spanish armada. The Hoe still dominates Plymouth’s waterfront, much as it did in Drake’s Day.
The green sward and Victorian Belvedere offers great views of the busy Plymouth and is a great place to visit at any time of year, come rain or shine.
Winter is definitely over earlier in Devon, making Spring a great time to take a weekend break. With Easter, St George’s Day, Mother’s Day, half term and two bank holidays to celebrate, there’s plenty to see and do in the Westcountry.
With spring blooms, food and drink festivals, boat trips, walking events, horseracing, arts, crafts and the Devon County Show, there’s something for everyone!
In the true spirit of a proper walking festival, the North Devon and Exmoor Spring Walking Festival is an itinerant celebration offering a choice of guided walks for all levels and hosted by four towns on the North Devon coast.
If you love walking and want to enjoy some beautiful scenery in the company of other walkers, read on to learn what the Exmoor Walking Festival is all about.
The University city of Exeter really lets its hair down the last weekend in April each year when it hosts the Exeter Food and Drink Festival. The Northernhay Gardens are an ideal venue for hosting dozens of food and drink stands and theatre kitchens.
The nightly Festival After Dark Party in Exeter Castle has music, bars and pop-up restaurants, so read on to learn more before booking your ticket.
Each April Kingsley Village Shopping Outlet near Fraddon hosts the fabulous Cornwall Home Show. It not only has dozens of home and garden exhibitors but also focuses on renewable energy sources and sustainable living solutions.
Discover what makes this show so popular, and read about the regular shops, outlets, crafts and regional foods that are on sale here throughout the year.
Calling all keen walkers and hikers! Why not head down to Cornwall in late April 2013 and be part of the Great South West Walk? This fundraising relay of sponsored walks is celebrating the 40th anniversary of the South West Coast Path Association.
Read all about the event in this fascinating article, which also looks at the history of how the South West Coast Path first came into being.
April 23rd is St George’s Day, a national day celebrating the dragon-slaying patron saint of England. Castle Drogo is hosting a special St Georges Day Lunch for visitors to this quintessential English Castle, now managed by the National Trust.
Learn more about Castle Drogo in this colourful article, and consider booking a reservation for lunch on St Georges Day, wearing a red rose in your buttonhole!
Some of the best rhododendrons, magnolias and camellias will be on display at the RHS National Rhododendron Show at Rosemoor. This colourful annual show attracts garden lovers and growers from all over the UK to this bloomin’ marvellous event.
Get a taste for what’s happening at this April event near Great Torrington with our informative article, then book your tickets for a weekend to remember!
8 Days and 8 Ways to Experience the Arts. That’s the challenge of Art8Newuqay as it hosts over 50 events and exhibitions across Newquay. Live music, drama, dance, writing, art, photography, design and crafts are featured along with local workshops.
Read on to discover more about the Art8 Newquay Festival of Arts and Culture. There’s also a competition to win £500 and produce a work of art for the event.
The best way to appreciate the geological wonder and beauty of Devon’s coastline is from a Stuart Line Jurassic Coast Cruise. These 2-3 hour trips in April offer panoramic views of the sandstone cliffs, historic buildings, castle ruins and birdlife.
Take a virtual trip on the Pride of Exmouth by reading this fact-packed article before booking yourself on one of their splendid April excursions.
Obstacle races are one of the fastest growing sports in the UK, and Devon’s challenging 10km Rock Solid Race takes place in the normally serene estate of Escot Park. Attend solo, as a team or just go and cheer on the runners!
If you believe in working hard and playing harder you owe it to yourself to discover whether this race of endurance and fitness is the event for you!
If you want some brownie points for Mother’s Day, how about taking Mum to the National Trust property of Trerice? The Mother’s Day Posy Making Workshop provides the perfect gift, before devouring a cream tea in the rustic restaurant.
Discover just how unique this Tudor house and gardens are with this informative article, and don’t miss playing “Kayles” and visiting the Lawnmower Museum!
The Vital Spark Festival in Liskeard hits the streets for the first two weeks of March, but events and workshops start well before that, inspiring locals to discover their latent creative talents or hone their existing artistic skills.
The theme for 2013 is Walking in Stile/Style and as you will see below, the festival includes concerts, group walks over stiles and a stylish Art Exhibition.