Somerset…  whether you’re a hardy hiker or a first time trekker you’ll love this county of beautiful and diverse countryside; of high cliff tops and coastal paths, wild heaths, rugged hills, a network of quiet lanes and footpaths, and miles and miles of glorious open countryside intersected with wooded coombes and softly rolling valleys.

Mother’s Day is just around the corner, March the 11th to be precise; time to show some love and appreciation. If you haven’t got anything organised yet, we’ve got some fantastic offers on some of the best large group accommodation in the South West. Read on and you could soon be looking forward to a Mother’s Day weekend to remember, with your nearest and dearest gathered close at one of our luxury holiday properties.

One of the latest properties we’ve added to our portfolio of luxury large group holiday houses is this beautiful 15th century chateau not far from Poitiers in the heart of the Poitou-Charentes region of France. Trust us, it doesn’t get much more perfect than this; 7 bedrooms sleep 20 people, there’s heaps of room, unique interiors, a heated pool, and 23 acres of private grounds to wander in.

Look what we’ve got! A fantastic new property for your luxury large group holiday or short stay! Great for families, celebrations, getting your friends together, for hen parties, stag parties and corporate away breaks. It sleeps 12 people in 6 bedrooms and has a games room, a stunning dining room, and outside, a hot tub, swim spa, large secure garden, and breath taking rural views. We added this gorgeous house to our portfolio just last week and it’s already proving to be very popular with bookings taken as soon as it went live. It’s called Dancing Hill.

It's important to us that many of our large and luxurious self catering holiday properties are suitable for people who are not so able bodied; we don't want anyone to feel left out of a fabulous large group stay or big celebration, whether it's a family holiday, a hen party, or a corporate gathering.

Happy New Year Folks! We hope you all enjoyed the festive season and are looking forward to a very positive 2018, even if your waistbands are a little tighter and you’re feeling the need for fresh air and exercise!

Tis the season to be jolly, falalalala, lalalala! With less than a week to go, the Christmas spirit is really kicking in and there’s a sense of excitement in the air. The tree’s up, the wreath is hanging on the door, the turkey’s been ordered, cards written, the Christmas cake is snug as a bug in its tin, just the presents to wrap...

Imagine a Christmas stay with all your favourite people, the present opening under the tree, a table heaving with scrumptious food…. but it’s not always possible as there are other obligations, work commitments, friends and family in far flung places. So why not have a pre-Christmas get together, or just start your celebrating a little earlier this year?

Chink, fizz... we'll soon be celebrating New Year folks, and if you're still looking for a luxury large group getaway, then read on; The Benches is the perfect self catering accommodation for such special occasions!