Country Vacations & Resorts

The most hotly anticipated movie of this year’s Christmas holidays is undoubtedly Steven Spielberg’s ‘War Horse’.

If you haven’t yet seen the previews for “War Horse” – in theaters in the US Christmas Day – here’s a quick look – and then some great information on cottages available for rent in this beautiful region of England.

Thanks to our neighbors at My Favourite Holiday Cottages – I can hardly wait to see this film!

Released on Christmas Day, War Horse tells the story of Joey the horse and his human companion, a young Devon boy called Albert Narracott. With the outbreak of the First World War Joey is shipped to France separating the pair, leaving Joey to experience some of the bloodiest battles of the 20th century serving both in the British and German armies. Unable to forget Joey, Albert then embarks on a ambitious journey to France to find Joey and return him to back to Devon.

Shooting the film took Spielberg through many locations in Southern England, however, much of the filming was done in Dartmoor National Park, the fictional home of the Narracott family. With its kilometres of natural rugged beauty, Dartmoor is one of the most popular rural locations in the South West of England.

The National Park has always been incredibly popular for walkers, cyclists and horse riders throughout the year. To experience some of the scenic locations and stunning beauty of the moor there are a variety of self-catering holiday cottages both in and around the area to spend a vacation.

On the west side of Dartmoor is Owls Roost Cottage, a charming stone built property which sleeps 2. With exposed wooden beams and a king sized pine bed the property has been designed for luxury and romance.

Alternatively, to experience both the joys of town and country, Tavistock Railway Cottages are a a set of 3, 5-Star rated self-catering properties which can sleep up to 14 people. The cottages have also recently won the ‘best restored railway station’ award by the National Railway Heritage Group and can provide an ideal location to explore the Dartmoor area.

Finally for those looking for a property big enough to accommodate multiple families Chestnut and Elderberry Cottages at Sherrill Farm might be your answer. Connected by an internal door, the two properties can be joined together and can sleep 26 people. The cottages also come with shared access to the swimming pool, Jacuzzi and sauna, which are an ideal way to spend an evening after a long ramble.

Review our “UK Cottage of the Month” series for more holiday cottage rentals…