Classic Cottages offers £1,000 prize money for South West spring-back snaps

Classic Cottages, the UK’s leading independent cottage holiday company and South West specialist, has launched a photography competition to show that the West Country has generally weathered the winter storms and is revealing its beautiful self as spring arrives.

Throughout March, Classic Cottages invites amateur and professional photographers either visiting or living in Cornwall, Devon, Somerset and Dorset to enter their pictures of the South West, taken this month, showing that the area is still one of the most beautiful parts of the country, despite the recent bad weather.

The company has put forward a prize pot of £1,000 in cash to encourage people to submit their photographs, with £500 for the winner and runner-up prizes of £300 and £200.

Following better than average bookings in January, the Helston-based self-catering specialist saw a marked decrease in February, which they believe is down to national media coverage of the storms and flooding, putting off potential guests.

Chairman of Classic Cottages, Simon Tregoning, comments: “The tourism industry in the South West has been hit hard by the recent bad weather, but the negative perception is actually more painful than the reality. Yes, there have been pockets of acute damage and our hearts go out to the people affected, but those of us who live here know that is not the full picture.”

“We want to prove that the South West was not as battered as many people thought. It has well and truly come through the winter storms and is still a fantastic place to visit. We’re hoping that, with £1,000 in cash waiting to be won, it will encourage both amateur and professional photographers to go out and capture the stunning sights that make the South West one of the best holiday destinations in the world.”

The South West in Spring photography competition is open until Monday 31 March. Entries can be submitted by emailing nas@classic.co.uk, and winners will be chosen and announced in April.

The best entries will be showcased on Classic Cottages’ website, Facebook page and Pinterest board.

More details and terms and conditions can be found at www.classic.co.uk/nas. Entries can be viewed at www.pinterest.com/holidayclassic/spring-in-the-south-west-photo-competition/.

For more information and to book one of Classic Cottages’ coastal and country properties, call 01326 555 555 or visit www.classic.co.uk.

To help plan your visit to the South West, with plenty of ideas of places to go and things to do suggested by Classic’s local experts, visit www.classicguide.co.uk.

Ends – 13 March, 2014

Press: For further information and high-resolution images, please contact Rebecca Milne or Mischa Mack at Travel PR on 020 8891 4440 or email r.milne@travelpr.co.uk or m.mack@travelpr.co.uk.