Middle Cottage, self catering at a family budget price.

Not every holiday cottage is bang up to the minute, contemporary, top of the range.
But that doesn't mean they are not all worthy.
I visited this one last week that's new to my website, and it did cross my mind that today's Tourism Inspectors would be making copious notes about one or two things on offer.
The crockery is not all the same pattern, and some of the glasses are not a standard size.
The settees and chairs are not all of one suite, but hey it's very much home from home.
And that is reflected in the price.
What is does have is lots of space for your kids to run outdoors, a barbeque area in the garden, 3 toilets, easy parking, peace and quiet, and something that may well appeal to larger families - it's very close, but totally seperate to an up to the minute (flat screen installed) ground floor let, again with good sized garden, so if you have members of your family who want to be on their own, it's an ideal set up.
Both cottages have a clear night sky to enjoy with no light pollution, so anyone with a good telescope would appreciate the set up.
here's my review of Middle Cottage if you want to take a closer look.

Back from Norfolk and already on my soapbox

Just back from a few nights in Norfolk with our younger daughter Elizabeth.
Yes thanks had a lovely time.. We made full use of our Senior Railcards and journeyed from Devon and back for just £64.90 (for 2 of us return !! bargain)
Back at the desk now with fresh inspiration and keen to get under way with my new website which should be in place in time for Easter.

Just before I went away I visited The Welcome Stranger, a pub on the very edge of Dartmoor not far from Trago Mills. Slightly off the beaten track, but nice and friendly, well priced and I think perfect if you want to see all that Dartmoor has on offer, not be far away from the south coast, and keep within your budget too.
At long last accommodation providers are getting their acts together as to what the customer is looking for, nay what the customer now expects from a holiday in the UK.
Number one on the list - they expect en-suite facilties or their own private adjacent bathroom.
Most of us don't mind a second or two on the landing twixt bedroom and bathroom, but there are a few who will only book if the bathing facilities are able to be entered from the bedroom without the threat of prying eyes. As a great many of us have this luxury at home, it's only natural that we don't want to have to dodge fellow guests in any likely toilet queue.
So top marks to Petra at the Welcome Stranger. She has installed brand new up to the minute shower rooms with her 2 bed and breakfast rooms. Click the picture and you will see the quality fittings. Good space and good heating. I applaud you Petra.
Last year I was asked to build a website for a charming B&B, again on the south of the Moor, with the most dreamy garden and very nice interior. They had worked hard at bringing the property up to date, BUT the letting rooms all shared a bathroom. Not only that but the bathroom backed onto the bedhead in the best room, and I instantly made a mental note to only recommend the place to families.
Early this year the owner rang to say that they were closing.


Next on the list of what I consider to be priorities, is the open house rule. Way back in the past poor souls at popular seaside resorts might be expected to leave the 'digs' by 10 and not come back until 5 o'clock, but nowadays guests expect to be able to come and go during the day.
Reasonable people will understand if homeowners have an appointment at the dentist and have to lock up for the odd hour or two. But for the rest of the time, these days visitors might well want just to lie on the bed all day watching the television if they so wish. They can do that at the large national chains such as Premier Inns and the like. ( which I hope all visitors will waive aside in favour of a real experience) Once in this beautiful part of the country, they will soon be itching to venture outside, and it is up to the host to provide information on what it going on in the area.
Good hosts will make sure that visitors can pick up a file with up to date menus from local eating houses too.
Oh dear the post has just arrived.... a week's worth to deal with. I had better get off my high horse at this stage and go and do some real work.
Nice talking to you though.... sorry this entry is rather disjointed.... my life is at the moment.
When the new website comes on line, Tom tells me that I will be entering the world of Tweeting.
I'm finding it hard to keep abreast of popular technology as it is....
Nice to be home.... Jilly

Oh yes, here's the link to my food review of the Welcome Stranger

Just when I yearn for a balaclava for the first time in my life...

Anyone been in the new cafe in Okehampton yet ? Called Toast ?
Click the link to see my review... and pics of the yummy carrot cake on offer.

Even if it's raining you'll be fascinated

Walk on Dartmoor right now and find millions
of treasures .....

You don't need to seek them out.
They are festooned over every surface.
Clinging on to bits of old wood felled on the forest floor. Sitting alongside a carpet of sphagnum moss or a blown up pile of old leaves, shapes and form all but disappeared.
All thriving in the drip drip drip of persistant light rain.
Layers of close fitting fungus like a bank of babies' ears.
Gentle and perfect.


And glistening in the wet grass ...
A few stray buff coloured Fairies' Bonnets.
Latin name Coprinus disseminatus.
Usually showing their heads in Spring, they are already here, eager to get going. Sometimes you come across great brigades of them making their way downhill in a clearing like mini sized extras on a Walt Disney film of the forest.
Dartmoor is stuffed full of such wonders.
Come and see

Click a photo - you can almost smell the undergrowth...

More entries for the auction this Saturday.

More entries for the auction in Chagford this coming weekend - John arrived with a couple of huge boxes, inside which were 113 collectible cars. Corgi classics etc.
You never know what will turn up at the sale. See you there. You'll spot me behind a bacon bap!
Chagford is well worth a visit anyway, as some of the shops have sales on now.
3 pubs and Whiddons Tea room are all great. The Three Crowns is still undergoing upgrading work. The New Forge is closed until Wednesday 25th, but over the road is the Courtyard with good veggie food and next to the post Office is Black's the village delicatessen stuffed with all manner of quiches, big fat olives. So, no need to be worried about food then ?

Chagford Auction in January, a chance for a bargain

If like me you enjoy a good auction, then get yourselves along to Chagford on Saturday 21st later this month for John Wood's regular 'Dartmoor Auctioneer' Auction. He holds them 4 or 5 times a year and I take the pictures for his website of some of the lots as they come in.
Two things that took my eye when he arrived with a bagful of jewellery this week were a large pendant with an iridescent blue stone set in silver.
I meant to ask John just what the stone is, when he came back to collect, but forgot. I think it might be Lapis Lazuli. And an amethyst and pearl ring is something else that Santa could leave in my stocking any year.
John does makes me laugh. Each auction he arrives a few weeks before with an array of goodies for me to picture, and always, he bemoans the fact that he hasn't got enough lots to offer, and then every time without fail for the last 4 years that I have been running his website, come the day of the auction he's saying that there are far too many lots and he doesn't know if he will get through them all. Sometimes late lots have to be held over for the next date.
There will no doubt be more items to show on his website as we get closer to the 21st.
He will arrive with something out of the ordinary under his arm asking me if I could add this to the website, plus one or two other interesting 'things' that happen to be in the back of his lorry.
All manner of stuff turns up. Last year he auctioned off a huge bottle of vintage champagne for charity. Fortunately for the auction onlookers, there are usually a couple of dozen chairs in the sale and the crowd has to rise as the chaps who point out the lots hold them aloft for all to see. Last time a wooden harpsicord made a good price and each time I spot some must-have thing to bid on that Rob puts his foot down about. I have been known to ask someone else in the hall to bid for me so that Rob doesn't get wound up, and then I get wound up at his side thinking that he might just cave in and make a last minute bid for the item if it's going for a low price.
So far that hasn't happened.
You have met Rob have you ?

Click here to see more jewellery on the auction website

Sunday Carvery at Whiddon Down - a treat.

What did I think of our Sunday Carvery lunch at the Post Inn, Whiddon Down just before Christmas?
Click my food review page to find out and see lots more photos.....