My wife’s best friend has just moved away from Cornwall and is now living in Exmouth.

She has been phoning regularly informing my wife about the area and what it has to offer. “Exeter is only 7 miles away, there is some great shopping to be had” she tells my wife!

Apart from retail therapy she has found some lovely FREE areas to wander in. The Western end of the Jurassic coast line to walk her dogs on, or the length of the beach on the estuary at Exmouth, this part of Devon is criss crossed with footpaths and bridal ways.

Being a keen eventer she is delighted with the equestrian facilities in the area which include of course Bicton Park with its cross country course, used for basic riders and the most advanced and I understand well thought about in the horsy world. There are great hacks across Woodbury Common full of diverse wild life and the odd Marine training at Lympston commando camp. She also informed us that there are many stables offering livery for holidays periods, so you and your horse can go self catering together if you so desire!

All in all she seems delighted with her move to the region and its opened her eyes up to what this town has to offer.

This holiday destination in West Cornwall should soon start to get busy with an influx of holiday makers heading towards the area for the Easter holiday season.

Only 2 months and the county will see tourists back on the streets. Having recently spoken to a shop owner in St Ives he stated that he will be delighted when the dust is blown from the tables of cafes closed out of season and the ice cream parlors open all day everyday, as this is when he can sigh in relief  knowing that money will soon be back in the area.

Again I was lucky enough to speak with a couple of owners of Self catering cottages in the St Ives / Carbis Bay area. They are delighted that spring is on its way. After a good season last year and a busy Christmas period, the properties are now having the last finishing touches to ready them for the 2007 spring season. The smell of Gloss paint and furniture polish made the air heavy in one property I visited!!

All that is left now is the Lawns to be mown and the windows to have there last polish, then the roads to fill with eager tourists to Cornwall.

Last year was a good one for the area and people are hoping to build on its foundations.

We now have 55 cottages for rent in Cornwall.

There is accommodation from all the corners of the county and to suite all pockets and most requirements.

We have 2 cottages which are located very close to the Eden Project, in the St Austell area. The Eden Project as I am sure everyone knows by now is a Garden, part covered which is home to many species of plant from all around the world.

One of our most recent cottages is in the Lizard, located about 6 miles south of Helston and is famed for being the most southerly tip of UK mainland. The area has a diverse natural history, many Cornish villages close by to visit as well as general visitor attractions like Flambards.

Padstow accommodation currently compromises of 2 cottages. Renowned for it quaint streets and brought to the media by Rick Stein, Padstow is a delight and a place not to be missed if you are considering a visit to the county of Cornwall.

I will post part 2 in the next few days.