Dreams definitely are made of this 

Well, fortune was on my side and I did make it to the wonderful Farm holiday at West Ilkerton Farm .

What a wonderful place this was, modern and comfortable, yet far removed from the real world!

As a competition winner, I won a three night break at the farm, but, unfortunately could not arrange to take all those I had hoped to s

hare the holiday with because of the short notice.

Having sorted out who could make it I travelled up the North Devon Link Road on the Friday afternoon and arrived at the farm just before 17:00. The farm is located about 2 or 3 miles from Lynton and Lynmouth and has it's own world dedicated to it.

I went with my daughter and her friend, both recently relieved to have completed their GCSE's. We were met on arrival and shown the accommodation, it was all we could have hoped for.

I had a king sized four poster bed, and they shared a room with two singles. The other king sized bedroom was spare! We rattled around in the space, but it was so good to be able to relax without any constraints. 

We took plenty of BBQ food and decided that we should get the most out of the outdoor cooking facility, and we certainly did that! As we cooked on the first evening we had the delights of rural North Devon to survey and were accompanied by some of the farm animals to help us out. The homemade burgers, with a hint of curry and chilli were a hit, along with the sausages and accompaniments. The wood for the BBQ was given to us by our host and certainly did the trick. To cleanse myself of the smell from the BBQ I took a soak in the bath, which was long enough for me to lay almost flat, that was so relaxing.

On the second day the girls went off into Lynton and Lynmouth, travelled back by bus and then walked the last mile up the rather steep approach and they had a wonderful time. They toured the selection of shops they found and also went for a dip in the rather chilly sea, time for another BBQ, followed by a few drinks and a relaxing time with some of the video's that were available in the house. The girls also found the table football entertaining, but I was limited by a cricket injury to my hand, so couldn't make much use of it. Luckily, that was good news as I was also chief BBQ cook.

The weather had been good to us, especially after recent wet periods, and on Sunday we travelled to Porlock where we met up with a couple of friends who would share the day with us. Of course, we also shared another BBQ and went to town with Prawns, kebabs, more home made burgers and so many sausages! Just for consistency and to keep ourselves lubricated, we also had a few drinks, testament to this could be found in the recycling bin in the kitchen. We had a race against the weather as signs of wetter things to come greeted us. We managed to get the BBQ done and eaten and cleared away before the low cloud over the hill (which felt like rain) brought an end to our outdoor eating. We retired to the comfort of the lovely farmhouse and chatted whilst we finished our drinks. 

Such a simple, but hugely relaxing time was had, no mobile phone calls or messages, there's virtually no chance because of the lack of signal, and that gave us the opportunity to remove ourselves from everyday life.

I must recommend the farm itself and the holiday company CartwheelHolidays because they have been fantastic. Just enough involvement, but not too pushy to put you off. I managed to give my head an almighty clatter on the way out of the back door, it nearly brought me to my knees, but this was to be expected at least once, having been warned about it, but luckily there was no lasting damage and I look forward to another opportunity to share the delights of this farm. The next time will hopefully be with more of my close family, but this was certainly special.

 By Simon Bailey, Blog competition winner

Terms and Conditions

Prizes as shown no cash alternative. All Cottage breaks will be subject to availability and will be arranged directly with the owner of each property. The breaks will be available from October – March 2011 and will exclude half terms, Xmas and New Year. With the exception of Church Farm Stables which will be by arrangement for 2011.

To enter the competition

From 1st August 2010, text 'RINGWOOD' to 81025 or visit www.ringwoodbrewery.co.uk/tamaradrewe for your chance to win.

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After leaving her sleepy Dorset village as a gawky teenager to seek her fame and fortune in London, Tamara Drewe is forced to return to Ewedown after the death of her mother, to renovate and sell on the family home. Much changed from the teenage ugly duckling with the enormous conk, Tamara returns as a smouldering femme fatale, media celebrity and aspiring novelist, and most importantly with her new nose job.

Her arrival sends shockwaves through this quiet community, particularly amongst its male contingent: there’s successful 50-something thriller writer Nicholas Hardiment, a serial philander to his poor wife Beth, and who once spurned the advances of a teenage Tamara; there’s Andy Cobb, her teenage boyfriend, now handyman and gardener at the Hardiments’ writers’ retreat, but surely too much of a local yokel for the new Tamara; and there’s Ben Sergeant from Swipe, rock musician and teen idol, who moves to Ewedown to be with Tamara after she interviews him at a local music festival. His arrival creates yet more ripples amongst the villagers, particularly for Jody and Casey, two local schoolgirls obsessively smitten with Ben and harbouring fantasies of ‘living the dream’ and the rock star lifestyle.

As autumn turns to winter and spring, Andy sets about renovating Tamara’s family home, with hopes of reviving their teenage trysts in the shed; Tamara starts writing her first autobiographical novel; Ben tries his best to adjust to rural life with his beloved; and Nicholas sees a way to reinvigorate both his life and writing, and free himself from the cosy domesticity of Beth and the writers’ retreat. All the while the romantic machinations going on all around them provide plenty of grist for the literary mills of American Thomas Hardy scholar Glen and the other writers at the retreat.

Can life at Ewedown ever return to normal after Tamara Drewe enters the village, leaving a trail of envy, lust and gossip in her wake? And will Tamara make the right choice about who is the right man for her?

Visit the Official Website at www.tamaradrewe-movie.com

Become a fan at  www.facebook.com/TamaraDreweUK

Click here to enter the competition

TAMARA DREWE - IN CINEMAS SEPTEMBER 10

Tamara Drewe (Gemma Arterton) has transformed herself. A new nose, a different wardrobe and a glamorous job have given her confidence and a thrilling power to attract. Having left her childhood home and village as an awkward teenager, she returns as a smouldering femme fatale, kicking up a storm of envy, lust and gossip wherever she goes.
Love, passion and rock ‘n’ roll… Life in the country has never been so far from dull...
But is this quaint idyllic countryside ready for Tamara Drewe?

Visit the Official Website at www.tamaradrewe-movie.com

Become a fan at  www.facebook.com/TamaraDreweUK

Click here for more about the film

Watch The Trailer Here

Click here to enter

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On Saturday 15th July, the Camborne Show is being held at Park Withian Farm in Treswithian, Camborne. This agricultural show incorporates horses, cattle, dogs, sheep, birds, pigeon and poultry sections, as well as children's amusements, trade stands, crafts and horticulture sections, plus demonstrations of falconry and entertainment and music

The Camborne Music Festival is an annual competitive festival for amateur musicians of all disciplines, ages and abilities held each November. Competitors, who must be amateur (i.e. who do not derive their main source of income from the discipline being entered), compete in classes of an appropriate standard and are assessed and marked by a professional adjudicator, who has been specially selected to give helpful advice to improve the performances.

The 36th Festival takes place at Centenary Methodist Church in Camborne. For more information about this event, visit the festival website or telephone Malcolm Dearnley on the number below.

Saturday 15th and Sunday 16th November 10am to 4pm. £2 entry charge for over 16's. Set in the beautiful grounds of the National Trust's Cotehele, the intimate atmosphere of the Great Barn will create the perfect shopping experience and an opportunity to stock up on indulgent Christmas gifts for friends & family from more than 30 of Cornwall's finest food and drink producers. Exhibitors include Cornish Orchards, who will be serving samples of warm mulled cider and apple juice, Vicky's breads for the best in organic French style sourdough, Atlantic Brewery with their organic ales and the multi award winning Cornish Cheese Company. Deli Farm Charcuterie, winner of the Champion Product at the 2007 Taste of the West Awards for their Coppa Ham, will also be handing out samples of their delicious salamis and air-dried hams. With budgets tight this year, it's an ideal opportunity to give your loved ones food and drink. A gift they can enjoy straight away and share with the family on Christmas day. The National Trust Cotehele is located between Callington and Saltash, just follow the brown signs from the A390 and A388

Attend the Fifteen Cornwall Farmers' Market, 9am - 3.30pm right in front of Fifteen Cornwall at Watergate Bay: 'Fifteen farmers' markets showcase some of the best producers in Cornwall and the huge variety of produce on offer. Meet the talented people who rear, grow, catch or make the fantastic food and have the opportunity to buy some of it yourself. Throughout the day there will be cooking demonstrations from local chefs including Fifteen's Executive Chef, Neil Haydock, with the Fifteen Cornwall apprentices. There will also be delicious food and drink to enjoy whilst you're there.'

An interactive workshop; The Roseland, the Living Land, place, people and purpose Venue: Trelissick Barn, nr Truro Date: Monday 10th November Time: 10.00-15.30 For more information go to: http://www.cstn.org.uk/Page3.asp?id=239

GTBS Green Tourism Business Scheme- workshop Penwith Venue: Cape Cornwall, Penwith Date: Thursday 6th November Time: 10.00-13.00 For more information email: info@coastproject.co.uk or call 01872-562057