The entries were so good this month that two winners were announced for the February writing competition! Congratulations to Jim Metcalf and Jacob Wiggins, both of whom have been rewarded with a £50 Marks & Spencers voucher, and both will go into the prize draw to win a short stay in one of our finest properties! Jim enjoyed a stay at the charming Fish Cellars in Portwrinkle, while Jacob and his family explored picturesque Paignton. If you fancy a chance of winning this fantastic prize, simply email an article around 500 words long, to ewan@bluechipvacations.com. To read more of Jim’s Portwrinkle adventures, click here, or to read Jacob’s charming account of pretty Paignton, click here.

With summer breaks still available, why not book your summer holiday in Devon or Cornwall today?

 Cornwall’s largest St Piran's Day celebration takes place on 05 March, close to the charming town of Perranporth, where thousands dressed in black, white and gold will march across the dunes to St Piran's Cross.  The colourful flag-bearing pilgrimage culminates in a traditional play on the beach re-enacting the life of St Piran, the Patron Saint of Tinners, starting at 2pm.

 This week, Blue Chip Vacations has three late special offers for properties in Devon and Cornwall that are still available for half-term week, so its not too late to bag a half term bargain and enjoy a fantastic break in the South West!

  The beautiful panorama of the South West was enjoyed by Blue Chip Vacations Marketing Executive Michelle Roberts this weekend when she enjoyed a bike ride from Brixham to Coleton Fishacre along the coastal path, taking in Sharkham Point and the striking Mansands Beach.

 This week's green blog comes from the charming Old Walls Vineyard in Teignbridge, the perfect place to sample the fantastic taste of the West Country. Read on for an account of Blue Chip Vacations' Environmental Coordinator Jon Presslings' visit.

Deciding where to take anyone to showcase the best of the west is difficult. Deciding where to take an Australian friend only visiting South Devon for the weekend is a real challenge. Therefore it may seem a somewhat risky strategy planning a trip into unfamiliar territory but that's what exploring the unknown is all about and often provides the best memories.

 If odd, unusual and entertaining Cornish customs are your thing, the annual Hurling of the Silver Ball held each year in St Ives, could be just the thing for you.

Held on Feast Monday, 08 February, the celebrations start at 10.30am when the silver ball is thrown from the wall of the Parish Church into the thronging crowd below. The ball is then passed from one person to another over the beaches and through the streets of the town, and at noon, the person in possession of the ball receives a traditional reward of five shillings from the Mayor at the Guildhall.

 This week intrepid Environmental Coordinator Jon Pressling has visited the popular Dartmoor National Park, finding some hidden gems and enjoying the beautiful panorama in the process.

Dartmoor, the granite heart of Devon. A landscape of mystery, intrigue and beauty all in perfect natural harmony. From rivers winding their way through wooded valleys to the highest windswept peaks, Dartmoor has a special awe which continually attracts both visitors and locals alike.

 Blue Chip Vacations' Marketing Executive Michelle Roberts took advantage of the glorious weather in sunny Brixham yesterday, enjoying a scenic bike ride around the quaint seaside town. Initially taking in the charming scenery of Berry Head Country Park, and then arcing around to the stunning panorama of the marina, Michelle has provided us with these beautiful shots of her journey.

Stored somewhere in the back of my mind is a list of places that I've always felt compelled to visit but have never quite found time. Each year I try and make the effort but each year it just gets longer.

Folk music, Morris Dancing, storytelling, lantern processions and even a traditional mummer's play will welcome visitors to the beautiful South Hams village of Stoke Gabriel on the evening of Saturday 16th January, when the village's ancient, medieval apple tree wassailing ceremony takes place. The tradition, which dates back to Saxon times, witnesses villagers singing or wassailing to the oldest and best apple tree in the village orchard to ensure a good apple crop for the coming year. The Wassail King and Queen, accompanied by the Wassail Singers, lead a procession of willow lanterns to the orchard, where cider is poured over the tree roots and toast is hung in the branches. The trees are then wassailed by candlelight, blessing them to bring fruitfulness, and saluted with a dramatic volley of shotguns that are fired to chase away evil spirits and to wake the trees from their winter slumber.