Holiday cottages

The South West region is probably England's most well-known holiday hotspot, being home to some of the most famous seaside resorts. Pretty villages and harbours in Cornwall, many with sweeping sandy beaches, such as St Ives, Polzeath and Port Isaac to name but a few, give way to sophisticated seaside resorts in Devon and Dorset which include Bournemouth, Torquay and Ilfracombe. The history of this region is unrivalled; Wiltshire's spectacular downland and the stone circles at Avebury and Stonehenge, through Hardy's Dorset, dramatic Dartmoor and gentler Exmoor, to the mining landscapes of Cornwall and West Devon, which are now recognised as being of international significance, having been awarded World Heritage Site status in 2006. The Trust protects 370 miles of the coastline in Devon and Cornwall and, wherever you are in the two far western counties, you're never more than 25 miles from the sea. As well as this peninsula, the Trust also cares for much of the countryside in Gloucestershire, Somerset, Wiltshire and Dorset and a wide array of fascinating properties to visit and explore. Not surprisingly, perhaps, this area is also home to the widest selection of National Trust holiday cottages.

The far west of Cornwall has a unique atmosphere. The most southerly point in Britain, the Lizard, with its turbulent seas, treacherous reefs and towering cliffs, has an unusual quality which sets it apart from the rest of Cornwall. Yet, with its unique flora, tiny fishing villages and fascinating caves and coves, this quiet corner is ideal for the visitor who appreciates untamed natural beauty and many dramatic views. Land?s End Peninsula, also known as West Penwith, has equally magnificent cliffs and turbulent seas, but is very different in character to the Lizard. Here, granite moorland meets the sea: an ancient haunting landscape of small, rocky fields, isolated farms and hamlets and an extraordinary wealth of archaelogical remains. This tiny corner abounds in places to visit and the Trust manages or owns many of these including St Michael's Mount and the nearby Trengwainton Gardens, Levant Mine at St Just, the ancient house of Godolphin and Lizard Point. Aside from the wealth of National Trust properties other attractions include the famous seaside town of St. Ives, beloved of artists over the years and now the home of the Tate Gallery, the underground tour of Geevor Mine, St Just, Penzance, with its helicopter and boat links to Isles of Scilly, RSPB site at Marazion, the pretty harbour at Mousehole, Penlee Gallery in Newlyn - the list is endless! For the more energetic, outdoor activities abound with wonderful sandy beaches, watersports, walking, horse-ridnig, fishing, golf and cycling.