SO here’s the dilemma: you have dear friends you’ve known since school; you’ve grown up, married, had kids, and ended up living on opposite sides of the country. Suddenly visits to each others’ homes – assuming they aren’t the size of your average premiership footballer’s – become tricky, if not impossible.

How, then, do you spend quality time together in comfort, without spending a fortune on hotel stays?

One solution is the humble English cottage. There are thousands of them available for hire all over the British Isles, but you need look no further than Devon and Cornwall for some of the finest.

Story of one family’s perfect holiday in a not so humble North Devon cottage on a 12th century farm. This one comes complete with children’s outdoor play equipment and a hot tub with a stunning view.