At West Wing Cottage on Devon's coastline in Torquay http://www.torquay.uk.com/ the driveway has just been repaved with brindle pavers and it is lined with daffodils, shrubs and trees emerging from Winter into Spring. The lawns are greening and the flowers in the borders appearing. I never fail to be bowled over by the expansive view of the water that unfolds as you walk through the French windows onto the terrace.

Up near the Brecon Beacons, in Carmarthenshire, on the Bwlch Tre Banau Estate the carp pond is fed by spring water and at this time of year the water iris are starting to grow around the edge, protecting the fish from the heron. They should be starting to come to the surface soon to feed. http://www.walesholidaycottages.com/ The pond is also home to a myriad of wildlife including a couple of frogs who languish in the shallows enjoying the spring sunshine. When you walk by they hide under the nearest stone or just freeze, thinking that you can't see them if they don't move, floating suspended in the water.

On Anna Maria Island in Florida http://annamaria.com/ it is time for the white flamingos to arrive in the bay. They don't stay around for long and the flock is an incredible sight to see. Take aboat trip with Captain Don Meilmer out around the island and explore the intracoastal waterway. Ask him to take along a barbeque grill and cookout on a sandy beach or small island. Just pick up a few steaks, a salad and some crusty white mountain bread and you have a feast to enjoy in the sunshine. Washed down with a cold beer or a glass of Californian wine, this is outdoor dining at its best. Anna Maria Island is all about the sunshine and the water.

Torquay's premier vacation rental, The West Wing Cottage http://www.torquay.uk.com/ has one of the best positions on the South Devon coastline.

Choosing a holiday by the sea or in the countyside need not be an issue. Spend some time in both places http://www.walesholidaycottages.com/ Carmarthenshire is home to 3 holiday rental cottages near the Brecon Beacons is South Wales. Easy access from the motway and set in stunning countryside with unsurpassed views.

For unrivalled sunshine and a relaxed and friendly environment http://annamaria.com/ you cannot beat Anna Maria Island on Florida's west coast. Fly direct to Tampa. The island lies in the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico just off the coast and is accessed by either of 2 bridges from the mainland.

The weather has been superb and there has never been a better time to spend time in Torquay. Sparkling seas, spring flowers in the gardens, primroses in the hedgerows and some great restaurants. Just love Devon http://www.torquay.uk.com/

Carmarthenshire is also a great place to spend a week or just short break. Rivers, waterfalls, gorgeous countryside and a friendly welcome. Excellent restaurants, some pretty small towns to explore and many attractions to keep everyone happy. Just an hour to spectacular south wales coastline. http://www.walesholidaycottages.com/

Thinking of warmer climates, try Anna Maria Island in Florida USA http://annamaria.com/ for gorgeous villas with private swimming pools and direct beachfront apartments.

http://www.walesholidaycottages.com/ Our holiday cottages on the Bwlch Tre Banau Estate have recently opened and are attracting a lot of interest. Sarah, her husband and their new baby arrived for a week's stay and they say they love the peace and quiet of the location. The baby is adorable, what a lovely family. I took them over some new laid eggs from the chicken house - they are hard to come by at the moment as Bob wants them all for hatching. Our first chick arrived yesterday and a number of the other shells show signs of hatching. We are hoping t see goslings, ducklings and chicks over the next week or so.

Woke this morning to the sunshine streaming in through the window. Spring is certainly here. Everything is growing and the gardens and parklands both on the Estate http://www.walesholidaycottages.com/ and at the house on the headland overlooking the sea http://www.torquay.uk.com/

The sea air is crisp and clear, the sunshine is warm and the gardens are sheltered and warm. Just the perfect day for a picnic on the terrace with the most beautiful views out over the water.

Torquay justly deserves the name the English Riviera. Elegant villas and houses on the hillsides, a huge south facing bay of sparkling waters facing the English Channel, the exclusive Hoopers Department store, award winning restaurants and it fringes some the most beautiful countryside known as the South Hams. Add in plenty of beaches to visit, attractions such as the newly restored ancient Torre Abbey, The Riviera Centre's heated swimming pool, gardens, theatres, a colourful marina. Newly opened West Wing Cottage has the best position of any rental you can find all along the south coast. Just yards from the water's edge with half an acre of lawns and landscaped gardens, the cottage is one of Listed Heritage's latest properties to be opened for holiday rentals. Bookings can be made direct on the web site at http://www.torquay.uk.com/ The company also cottages on the Bwlch Tre Banau estate available for holiday rentals.
http://www.walesholidaycottages.com/

The finishing touches on the West Wing Cottage are underway. Equipping the kitchen, polishing the furniture, checking all the decor and now selecting the lamps, pictures and fixtures. Always the most fun part after the builders have left. Plenty of polishing and cleaning, making up the beds with fresh new 400 thread count cotton sateen linens and pristine white quilts and waxing the oak floors to an even sheen. As beautiful as the cottage is, it has to be said that for the first few minutes when you arrive all you will be looking at is the incredible uninterrupted view out over the sparking waters of Torbay with its drifts of sailboats and the distant headland of Berry Head curving out to the West. The sheltered bay is protected and is known as a warmer microclimate, allowing all nature of plants to flourish including the Torbay Palm Trees. Spring comes early to this area. The Winters are shorter and Summers are long and balmy, with hazy sunfilled days to be spent lazing in the extensive private gardens that extend out to the waters edge.

This is a new venture for us in Devon. We have 3 gorgeous cottages on the Bwlch Tre Banau Estate in Carmarthenshire on which we have lavished much care and attention http://www.walesholidaycottages.com/the-estate-views.html and The West Wing Cottage down here in Torquay will be no exception. http://www.torquay.uk.com/

If you are thinking of travelling over to America this year for a few weeks, take a look at Villa Serena on http://annamaria.com/