Top Tips: Planning a self-catering staycation without a car
Something we hear from time to time over here at Studio Cottage is “I’d love to stay in a cottage in Devon, but I don’t have a car!”
We love being able to reassure people that a car is definitely NOT an essential for a holiday at Studio Cottage - or indeed for other self-catering holidays across the UK. With a bit of thought and planning, holidays in gorgeous country and coastal cottages can be for everyone - whether or not you’re in possession of a set of wheels. It’s also a more environmentally friendly way of planning a holiday, so for a short break makes particular sense for the planet.
So close the car-hire tabs currently open in your browser, stop worrying about when exactly you’ll pass your driving test, start feeling good about reducing your carbon footprint, and read on for our mini-guide to planning your car-free staycation…
Location, location, location
Top of the list is location: you’ll want to be staying somewhere that is reasonably easy to get to on public transport, somewhere that offers the type of rural or coastal experience that you’re looking for, and somewhere that - once you’re there - has plenty of practical amenities within easy walking distance.
Start by thinking about areas or regions that appeal: are you hoping for a classic Cotswold idyll? A dose of vitamin sea? A dreamy escape to the Norfolk broads? A hiking holiday in the Peaks? Once you’ve narrowed down a region, start having a look at the rail network in the area, and see if you can spot a few stations that might make a good starting point for a more specific search.
Here at Studio Cottage, we’re lucky that Totnes Station is just a 25 minute taxi ride away, with fast connections to London, Bristol, Birmingham, the Midlands, Leeds, York, Newcastle and even Edinburgh.
Embrace village life
Once you’ve got a more specific region in mind, consider looking for a cottage or self-catering option in a village location. Villages (particularly ones with a thriving year-round community) tend to have plenty of local amenities, while also offering easy walking or cycling routes into the surrounding area.
An excellent pub within walking distance is often at the top of a rural holiday wish-list, so find one with great reviews that you could happily imagine eating at for a night or two. A general store or village shop is a god-send for daily essentials and extras, and anything else is a bonus: perhaps there is a local bike or boat hire business, a local restaurant or particular attractions right on the doorstep.
One of the reasons we love Studio Cottage is its location right in the heart of the village of Stoke Fleming. The village has a wonderful local pub, a highly-regarded bar and restaurant AND a village shop (which also serves fresh coffee and pastries in the morning) all within a 3 minute walk. One of Devon’s best beaches (the gorgeous Blackpool Sands) and the Venus Beach Cafe are just a 15 minute walk away, and the village is right on the South West Coast Path, offering brilliant walking routes to Dartmouth, Slapton Sands and beyond.
It’s worth thinking about what you want from your holiday: are you keen for beaches and watersports? Perhaps you love dramatic coastal scenery? Are you excited by the idea of countryside rambles or more challenging hikes? Are you a cyclist, and planning to take the bike? Walking maps, cycling maps, or the Ordnance Survey’s excellent web maps can be a great way to get a sense of the ways to get out and explore once you’ve narrowed down a few potential village options.
Get connected
The last eighteen months have seen even rural and local businesses offering more and more of their services online, and if you don’t have a car, then digital ordering and home delivery is your friend!
Book a food shop delivery slot for shortly after you arrive, and make sure the self-catering option that you book has excellent WiFi so that it’s easy to get further deliveries to the door should you need them during your stay.
We were actually really surprised that we were able to get super SUPER fast broadband at Studio Cottage - we have faster broadband speeds than major UK cities! - so a rural location no longer means dodgy signal and patchy internet. Phew!
Taxis and timetables are your friend
So you’ve identified your perfect location and found your connected cottage. You might have made sure that there’s plenty right on your doorstep for the perfect break, but it’s still worth doing a bit of research into transport options that can take you further afield.
Local taxi firms can be extremely useful, whether to get you to and from the train station at the start and end of your holiday, or for journeys in between. Perhaps you want to get to a specific place that’s a little further afield, or perhaps you’ve walked to a nearby town or village for a slap up lunch and don’t quite fancy the hike home (we wouldn’t blame you!). Having a few local taxi firm numbers saved to speed dial can be a godsend. If you know you’re going to need a taxi at a specific time (for example, for getting to and from a station), then it’s ALWAYS a good idea to pre-book. Whilst rural taxi services tend to be plentiful, it’s rare that they can provide the kind of instant pick-up service typical of more urban areas, and Friday and Saturday evenings can get booked up quickly.
You might also be surprised by how useful a local bus route can be. Check what buses operate through the village that you’ve chosen, and see what towns, villages and attractions they can take you too - and then download, save or print a copy of the timetable for easy access.
And down here in South Devon, it’s not just buses that have timetables! From Studio Cottage, a walk, bus or taxi to Dartmouth (only 3 miles away) connects you with a whole range of ferries, boats and even steam trains that offer fabulous ways of exploring the local area.
Get booking!
So what are you waiting for? Ditch the car, and start planning your perfect staycation - and if you fancy going car-free on a holiday at Studio Cottage, then we’d be absolutely delighted to have you. Feel free to contact us if you are planning to visit without a car, and we’ll help make sure you get the most out of your stay.
Happy holidays!
Studio Cottage x