Winter and early spring at Hill Barn, the Bothy and the Bower

Blow away those winter blues with a short break out of season!

This time of year might be dull and dreary in the city, but here by the sea, it is exhilarating, even in stormy weather. Imagine a walk along the beach, with the surf crashing on the rocks and pluming over the Cobb wall, and the wild cries of seagulls against a dramatic sky of flying clouds. Finish up with a welcome cup of tea or coffee and a delicious cake at one of the seafront pubs or cafés.

Winter is the best time to find fossils too, as storms and high tides expose new rocks. You might be the first person to see that particular fossil, which has lain hidden for almost two hundred million years! (You probably won't find one as good as the Weymouth Pliosaur though!)

Or why not enjoy a winter walk? Wrap up well against the cold and get some much-needed exercise. Enjoy the wonderful scenery at the same time - this is the view from a footpath just ten minutes' walk from us after a light snowfall. Our part of East Devon has a quiet charm all its own - a patchwork of fields and woods, farms and hamlets, hills and valleys. It's a great place to watch the wildlife - the birds are easy to see when the leaves are off the trees, and in early spring, the birdsong is especially delightful to listen to. If you walk quietly, you may even be able to watch roe deer grazing nervously, or glimpse a fox out hunting for food.

Although you can't spend long summer evenings outside, there are lots of places to enjoy a good meal, or a drink by a log fire. And of course, you can see the sunrise without getting up early, and the sunset on your way back to us for a well-deserved rest after a day out!

So, why not consider a short break with us now?

With the famous English weather, you might be just as lucky with dry sunny days as in the middle of summer, and before the summer crowds throng in Lyme, you can park the car easily, enjoy an unhurried break and see the sights without jostling!

Many attractions are open all year - you can find out more by visiting some other web sites - for example, National Trust properties in the south west, or find out what's on closer to home, at the official Tourist Information Centre web site.

For those who haven't visited before, Lyme is a delightful and unspoilt small town, with family-run shops selling local arts and crafts, clothing and jewellery, friendly pubs and restaurants, and of course the famous Cobb and harbour. Bridport (left), just ten miles away in Dorset, has a fascinating street market on Saturdays with many stalls selling local produce, bygones, bric-a-brac, old tools etc. Honiton is famous for its antique shops and pottery, and halfway to the city of Exeter.

Fancy something more active? You can dive or fish locally - boat trips are available from the Cobb; play golf at Lyme or Axmouth - two clifftop courses both with stunning views across Lyme Bay; go for a hack at one of the nearby stables; or swim at one of several local pools for example.

If you like walking or natural history, there are wonderful walks along the beach and through the Undercliff, a national nature reserve, and now part of the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site. Birdwatchers also like to visit the nearby Axe Estuary to see the wide range of birds that frequent the salt marshes: there is a hide on Seaton Marsh - and more are planned at Colyford Common - in an area that is being developed as a special wetlands reserve.