Fido Family Friendly Places

Located in south Somerset, midway between Taunton and Ilminster, this spacious wing of the owners charming 250 year old farmhouse, offers ideal holiday accommodation. With many beautiful country walks in the area, this period property is ideal for walkers and with a livery yard next door, horse stabling is available (by arrangement). Visit Taunton, the county town of Somerset, historical houses and gardens including Montacute House, Forde Abbey, Hestercombe Gardens and Barrington Court, or take a trip to Minehead on the nostalgic West Somerset Steam Railway. Exmoor National Park and the Quantock Hills are well worth a visit, as well as a trip to the south to explore the Jurassic Coast between Seaton and Bridport, taking in Lyme Regis. Inland, there is Clarkes Village for some retail therapy, Glastonbury Tor, Somerset Levels, Cheddar Gorge and the spa city of Bath. After spending the day exploring many attractions, return to this delightful property and snuggle up in front of the woodburner, set in a lovely inglenook with bread oven. Beach 20 miles. Shop 2 miles, pub and restaurant 1½ miles.

This charming semi-detached holiday cottage is located in St Margaret’s-at-Cliffe, in Kent. Dudrich Cottage has an enclosed courtyard garden, spacious living room and two comfortable bedrooms. Decorated and furnished to a very good standard, this property will appeal to families and couples, and will also accommodate your four-legged friend. Dudrich Cottage is equipped with Wi-Fi and a Smart TV for cosy evenings in, there is also a private parking space in front of the house for ease of access.
The property is within walking distance of local pubs, the village shop and restaurant serving a range of meals. St Margaret’s-at-Cliffe is a charming village between Dover and Deal, and was once home of the ’James Bond’ author, Ian Fleming. Canterbury is nearby where you can explore the city walls and visit the famous cathedral. Deal with its beautiful coastline and Dover, where you can explore Dover Castle and the secret war tunnels, are within driving distance. There is fishing and an indoor swimming pool available nearby, or take a day trip to France from Dover on the ferry or on the Eurostar from Ashford. Beach ¾ mile. Shop, pub and restaurant 100 yards.

Offering extensive views across the countryside over the downs to Newport, the island’s capital, this attractive holiday barn has been thoughtfully converted. There is access to Newport and Arreton via bridle paths and the rest of the Isle of Wight should you wish to walk or cycle it, while buses into Newport and Ryde (the two main bus stations) are about 5 minutes away to take you anywhere you want to go on the Island. Discover many attractions nearby including Arreton Barns, The Garlic Farm and Robin Hill Adventure Park. Also within easy driving distance are Osborne House, Carisbrooke Castle, Ventnor Botanical Gardens, museums, vineyards and wildlife centres. Centrally located on the Isle of Wight, Fair Isle House is a great base to explore the famous Needles, Alum Bay and Black Gang Chine, which are all within a short drive away. Nearby are the attractions of Robin Hill Adventure Park and Gardens and Arreton Barns, the Isle of Wight’s hub for artisans and craftspeople, as well as Brading Down, a local nature reserve with outstanding natural beauty. Buses into Newport and Ryde (the two main bus stations) are about 5 minutes away to take you anywhere you want to go on the Island. Fishing nearby. Beach 7 miles. Shop and restaurant 1 mile. Pub within 1 mile.

This detached barn conversion is a delight for lovers of the countryside. Although close to the owner’s home, it stands on its own and is a holiday base for visiting the attractions of Norfolk and Suffolk. A pottery can be found in the village, whilst Banham Zoo, Bressingham Gardens and Steam Museum, and Thetford Forest are nearby. The Norfolk Broads and Norwich with its cathedral, castle museum, shopping, pubs and restaurants can be reached within half an hour. 18-hole golf courses at Richmond Park, Watton, Thetford Forest and Barnham Broom. Dinosaur Park, 27 miles. Shop and pub ¾ mile.

Escape to the leafy countryside of Devon and indulge in wonderful comfort in these beautiful cottage. This is the ideal place for blissful escapes, rural adventures and memorable breaks with friends and family.

Fair Maid (ref UK11078) sits in the courtyard of a former farm in the heart of the village of Kentisbeare, East Devon. With its wood clad exterior, it is well laid out with a comfortable interior, making the property perfect for couples, friends or a small family. There is an enclosed patio at the rear of the barn which is bordered by a stream and is the ideal spot for a morning coffee or a glass of your favourite tipple on a balmy summer’s evening. This is a superb house which has been decorated and furnished to a very good standard and boasts a cosy wood burner, together with many original features. The kitchen/breakfast room looks out over the grounds.

Glimsters Cottage (ref UK31014) is a lovely thatched cottage which has been sympathetically restored to uncover much of its original charm and character boasting original exposed beams, stone walls and lots of welcoming touches such as a blazing a wood burner. A spacious living room and a well-equipped kitchen/dining room have been make up the ground floor. On the first floor you will find two sumptuous bedrooms, one with an en-suite shower room, as well as a family bathroom.

Famed for its laid back vibe and surfing lifestyle, Devon hosts an enchanting cocktail of golden beaches, traditional villages and a rich, rolling countryside steeped in history. For walkers and birdwatchers, this really is the most suitable location as there are so many walks to enjoy from the front door. Many activities available in the area include golf, fishing, horse riding and sailing. There are also numerous National Trust properties within a short drive. Exmouth is close by and has a lovely 2-mile stretch of beach and was once home to the wives of Horatio Nelson and Lord Byron, whilst a little further afield lies the genteel town of Budleigh Salterton with its white-washed and thatched cottages which attracted visitors such as Noel Coward and PG Wodehouse. At Exeter, the South West Coastal Path Park is an ideal family day out. Exmoor National Park is also worth a visit with its rugged landscape and roaming ponies. Beach 19 miles. Shop, pub and restaurant 250 yards.
These cottages can be booked together to accommodate up to 8 guests.

Holemoor Cottage is peacefully located amidst the glorious Devon countryside yet only 7 miles from the golden sands of the Cornish coast with Bude and Widemouth Bay, which has excellent surfing, pretty coves and dramatic coastal walks. This delightful wing of the owner’s 17th century farmhouse is situated down a secluded country lane with electric gates to the driveway making this an ideal holiday retreat. Guests can enjoy the luxury of their own private indoor heated pool and Jacuzzi. The whole area is alive with wildlife, so regular sightings of barn owls, rare British birds and roe deer are not unusual. The sunny patio area is the perfect spot for a summer BBQ or a lazy breakfast before exploring the grounds. Children can let off steam in the play field with a swing and slide, and will be thrilled to see the ponies and chickens - they might even be able to help collect the eggs. A cream tea and a welcome pack on your arrival is the finishing touch to make this a holiday to remember.
A superb holiday choice whatever the time of year with the indoor pool it is ideal for families or couples seeking peace and seclusion. If you can bear to drag yourself away, there are water sports and fishing at the nearby Tamar Lakes, coastal and country walking, golf, surfing, horse riding, cycling or simply relaxing. Family theme parks including The Milky Way and The Big Sheep. Pretty fishing villages and spectacular beaches and coves are dotted all along this coastline from Padstow, Tintagel, Crackington Haven to Bude in Cornwall and on to Westward Ho!, Clovelly and Instow in Devon, and for a great day out, the famous Eden Project is within easy reach. Beach 7 miles. Shop, pub and restaurant 1½ miles.

Royal Oak Cottages are all on the site of the former pub that they take their name from, in the heart of the village of Wainfleet. Just 5 miles from the seafront of the popular family holiday resort of Skegness.
Each property has been converted to a high standard, providing luxury and utmost comfort during your stay. Ground floor underfloor heating is to be found in all the cottages, along with a cosy wood burner for added comfort and to cosy up in front of after a day spent exploring.
The nearby family seaside resort of Skegness provides something for everyone to enjoy with a fun fair, amusements, aquarium, seal sanctuary and miles of Blue Flag sandy beaches to walk along. Gibraltar Point nature Reserve as well as Frampton Nature Reserve offer miles of walks as well as the opportunity to see a huge range of wildlife and migrating birds.
Wainfleet has a selection of pubs, shops and takeaways as well as a railway station providing a link to the coast. There are good walks and cycle routes throughout the area with the nearby River Steeping about a mile away for fishing from the bank. Beach 5 miles.
These properties can be booked together to accommodate up to 22 guests.

This beautiful timber frame barn conversion is all on one level making a perfect holiday retreat for couples and small families. Perfect location to explore all the area has to offer including the wonderful coastline. St Osyth has its own wonderful sandy beach. The busting traditional seaside town of Clacton-on-Sea backed with an array of entertainment facilities including a pleasure pier, promenade, arcades, theatre, golf course, water sports and fabulous sandy beach. The main shopping area contains many of the more familiar national chains, independent boutiques as well as many eateries. A shoppers’ delight is Clacton Shopping Village with famous name brands at discounted prices.
Furnished to provide a warm welcome all year round. Boasting open plan accommodation offering contemporary design. The main double bedroom has a separated area with bunk beds, suited to children. The bathroom has roll top bath and walk in shower. To the rear is a private enclosed lawn garden.
This area is well regarded as Essex’s best kept secret having the interesting and popular small towns of Brightlingsea, Wivenhoe, Mersea, Frinton and Walton-on-the-Naze, all within ½ hours drive. The town of Colchester is close by, famous for its cobbled streets, castle and zoo, with a wide variety of shops, pubs and restaurants. Further afield are Ipswich, Chelmsford and Felixstowe. Many picturesque villages and Constable country are close by, with Dedham, Manningtree, Nayland, Lavenham and Long Melford to name but a few. Other local pastimes include golf and horse riding. Beach 5 miles.

Set in the grounds of the owner’s home and refurbished in the summer of 2019, these charming former stables are surrounded by wonderful countryside and have been converted to a very good standard. It is a superbly convenient holiday base for the world heritage city of Bath with its historic buildings, world famous theatre and river trips, and Bradford-On-Avon and its beautiful canals, as well as the city of Wells, Glastonbury Tor, Longleat House and Safari Park, Cheddar Gorge and caves, Stourhead and Wookey Hole. Close by is the village of Kilmersdon, home to the nursery rhyme Jack and Jill. Also the beautiful picturesque village of Mells is only 2.5 miles away. There are many wonderful country pubs and restaurants in the surrounding area. There are several sandy and dramatic coastal beaches to the west and south, such as Lyme Regis, Weston-super-Mare and Burnham-on-Sea. It also makes a perfect place from which to cycle, walk and play golf. Shop and pub with food 1½ miles.

"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, Mill Bank (ref UK33902) is the latest addition to a superb choice of cottages at Tuckenhay Mill. An extremely spacious two-person cottage having a living, dining, kitchen area on the higher level with two south-facing balconies overlooking the stream towards the Mill. The master bedroom and en-suite shower room are on the lower level, together with the riverside day room. Your own footpath leads from the garden via a footbridge to the facilities at the Mill.
Tuckenhay Mill is the centrepiece of a cluster of country homes and cottages with superb leisure facilities including two indoor and one outdoor pools.
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. There is golf nearby and a pub within 1 mile.



South Devon awaits you
Tuckenhay is only a 20-minute drive from the superb award-winning 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.
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
Great care has been taken to retain the feel of the original buildings. Most have garden, terrace or patio. 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 cottages: Mill Leat, Mill Stream, Mill Spring and now Mill Bank. 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.