Items tagged with tarka-trail

Midweek breaks on a budget can be a bit of a problem. Spend more than £500 and you start feeling like you could have spent just a little more and had a ‘proper holiday’. This 3 part series Midweek Breaks on a Budget looks at some ideas that will give you a good break without costing too much money. In Part One I showed you how it was possible to have a midweek theatre break in London. In Part Two we crossed the Channel for a fun and relaxing mid week break in Lille In Part Three I’m going to suggest a beautiful but overlooked part of the country, North Devon. Now I know North Devon isn’t easy for everyone to get to but I’m going to use it as an example. There are other over-looked bits of countryside all over the UK and there is bound to be somewhere near you. The idea is to stay away from the major tourist hot spots, to avoid the obvious. I’ll say more about this in a later post. North Devon Mid week breaks in North Devon There are lots of things to do in North Devon. It’s got a heritage coastline with stunning views and fabulous surfing, close to lovely countryside. There are lovely villages like Clovelly as well as the major towns like Barnstable and Ilfracombe. There are great walks and cycle trails, like the Tarka Trail Staying for a Short Break in North Devon – 3 choices. 1. Bed & Breakfast or Guest House Can be an excellent choice. B&Bs are not what they, so forget any cliches and take a good look at some of their web sites. One thing people often miss is that there can be special offers tucked away on the B&B or Guest House’s own web site, especially for off season midweek deals. Although many of the agencies are good it is usually worth going to the actual web site if they have one. Do a little bit of research before you book. Check the reviews on some of the review sites but don’t take too much notice of the grumpier ones. Sadly some people like nothing better than complaining. In high season expect to pay £70+ per night for and a double room in a B&B with almost hotel standard accommodation.That can go down as low as £40 per night in the off season! 2. Self – catering Cottage Mid week breaks in a North Devon cottage In high season most cottages will be out of your budget but it is always worth looking for last minute bargains. Someone with a cottage would rather let it at a lower rate than see it stand empty. Check the internet for deals or get some phone numbers & ring round. Out of high season cottages become far more affordable. Owners are happier to let cottages for short mid week breaks in mid season and prices become much more reasonable. Your cottage might cost you as little as £200 for 3 nights April – October, outside the school holidays. 3. A Caravan or Tent Ok so a caravan doesn’t sound that interesting. Sudden visions of trailer parks full of mobile homes might not be quite right for your mid-week get away. Let’s see if I can get you to think again. Ever heard of ‘glamping’? Think yurts, think bell tents, think gypsy caravans, think eco-tourism. Well yes, I suppose they can seem quite worthy but also think: double beds, romantic touches, back to nature, with fridges, wood burning stoves, fully equipped kitchens and flushing toilets, and hot showers. Out of your budget? Not necessarily. An off season stay (April & September) in a rather gorgeous Mongolian yurt, set in acres of beautiful rural countryside might cost you as little as £200 for 3 or even 4 nights. I’m deeply tempted! How about you?

London Breaks

Midweek Breaks on a Budget Part 3

London Theatre Breaks Links

Popular Tags

Search