Pheasants and lunch

We have pheasant which roam the estate and some fresh sage languishing in the greenhouse - a perfect combination when roasted, to be served with some parsnip chips cooked in olive oil and carrot batons with a honey glaze, reserve your holiday cottage in Wales.

Florida Anna Maria Island My award for the best tasting locally caught fish on Anna Maria Island has to go to Sea Trout cooked outside on the grill by the pool and served with a crisp salad and some White Mountain bread from Publix grocery store.

Self Catering in Torquay. Local caught dabs fresh from the fishmonger on the high street in nearby Paignton are delicious cooked in a very hot oven for 6 minutes with a knob of butter and served with potatoes dauphinoise sprinkled with some finely chopped rosemary from the West Wing Cottage garden.

Thinking about Florida

The weather is warming up on Anna Maria island with of plenty of sunshine. Visitors will find a friendly welcome and there are some beautiful houses and condos to rent at http://www.amisland.com/

Over here in Wales we have chicks and ducklings hatching out - all fluffy, golden and downy. The weather is warmer this week and we have had sunshine this afternoon. 

see our holiday cottages and our life on the farm page

Our last minute visitors in West Wing Cottage enjoyed a weekend away from Stoke on Trent. I phoned in the morning to check they arrived OK as they did not get in until midnight. They say they love the cottage. Westwing Torquay Rental

Take a vacation down by the sea at West Wing Cottage in Torquay. We think it is the prettiest coastal cottage we have seen for a long time and the gardens are beautiful at any time of year.

Lovers of the countryside should stay in our lovely holiday cottages at the Bwlch Tre Banau Estate in glorious Carmarthenshire. Any time of year is good for a visit, but the winter months mean roaring log fires, country walks, lunches at the local pubs and restaurants and relaxation. Bring your dog along with you, it will love exploring the 104 acres of meadows, hillside, woodland and riverbank at your side.

Travelling to Florida from one of the Northern States and want to bring your dog along on the vacation? No problem, bring it along with you. Dogs are welcome at many of our properties. Just make sure you make sure at time of booking to choose a property that is dog friendly. http://www.amisland.com/

Happy campers

Lots of interest in the holiday cottages today, have been busy replying to emails this evening. I think they will get booked up earlier this year than last year. There are loads of great comments in the visitors books that I have posted on our web site 

The holiday cottage in Torquay has booked out early this year. We still have some weeks available so if you want to experience one of the Devon's best coastal cottages go straight to our website

News Update from Florida

I heard today from some guests who stayed in Villa Christina. They loved the new look - we jut employed a professional decorator to create the light and bright island beach decor. and the result is so pretty. They can't wait to come back again in the fall for another week in paradise.

Here in Carmarthenshire the snowdrops carpet the secret woodland just across the meadows and the daffodils are starting to push up beside the main driveway. Prince Charles also loves Carmarthenshire and has bought a similar small country estate just down in the valley below the Bwlch Tre Banau Estate. In a few weeks lambs will be frolicking in the fields in the pale spring sunshine and catkins appear in the trees and hedgerows. Wheatsheaf Cottage is waiting for you.

Daffodils are also peeping through in the gardens of West Wing Cottage down in Torquay, South Devon. The climate there is always warmer than the rest of the County and indeed most of the UK. The beaches surround the waters of Torbay and the cottage is perched right on the edge of the water. It is a dramatic and beautiful position for a delightful holiday cottage. http://www.torquay.uk.com/

Christmas at the farm

Christmas here on the Bwlch Tre Banau Estate was beautiful - the landscape was a snow scene worthy of a picture postcard. Guests in the cottages enjoyed roaring log fires and each cottage found a Christmas tree waiting for them on their arrival. A truly traditional family Christmas was had by one and all.

West Wing Cottage at Torquay also enjoyed a brisk, crisp Christmas Day. Reservations there have started early this year but there are still a few weeks left during the Spring/Summer/Autumn. Guests wanting to spend some time on the "English Riviera" can see the cottage and check availability at

For anyone looking for warmer climes just look at our sister website http://www.amisland.com/http://www.amisland.com/

Beautiful houses and apartments on Florida's pristine white sand on western coast, just below Tampa Bay enjoy a divine climate and a friendly, laid back atmosphere, great restaurants and plenty to see and do.