Competition: Win a £500 shopping spree at Great Plains (closed 30 June 2015)

Need a capsule wardrobe of modern classics for fuss-free dressing? Look no further than Great Plains' stylish separates.

Sartorial consideration is often a luxury lost in the hubbub of daily life. Who has time to style an outfit before breakfast or space to think about a change of clothes for after-hours dinners or family gatherings? Thanks to Great Plains’ versatile collections – premium designs that fulfil the demands of a modern lifestyle – you don’t have to.

The British brand sets its sights on quality and longevity, meaning collections are always on-point without feeling too trendy and fashion- forward without appearing overt. Ticking the boxes for every eventuality, tailored shift dresses and premium separates are well-considered, savvy investments, made to work for every hour, whether you’re en route to the office, dropping the kids off at school or hosting Sunday brunch.

Building a capsule wardrobe you can be confident in, day in, day out, means choosing the right pieces. Jeans that fit like a second skin, sumptuous knitwear that can be layered and loosened, basic tops, tees and skirts that can be mix and matched to reflect your own personal aesthetic – these are your fail-safe go-to pieces. For evening, embellished party dresses, feminine florals and striking prints are anchored by simple silhouettes, making them effortless to wear. The only thing to decide on is your favourites.

Great Plains is offering an exclusive 10% discount to readers of The Simple Things. Just visit www.greatplains.co.uk and enter the discount code GPTST10. 

WIN A £500 SHOPPING SPREE!

Enter below by 30 June.

Iceberg Press’ full terms and conditions

Competition: Win a beautiful armchair and a good read (closed 30 June 2015)

Curl up in this rabbit-print armchair by sofa.com and Thornback & Peel - and lose yourself in a book on the natural world.

Founded in 2005, sofa.com offers exceptionally well-made, stylish and comfy sofas, chairs and beds, and service that’s second to none. A new addition, the Peggy armchair can be upholstered in any fabric from their house range of over 100 from £460, or in a fabric of your choice. It looks perfectly dressed in the Thornback & Peel Rabbit & Cabbage fabric in delft blue.

Thornback & Peel was established in 2007 to create beautiful, intricate screen- printed pieces for the home. Designers Juliet and Delia borrow imagery that plays on artistic traditions and combine modernist geometric patterns with 19th-century wood engravings. Their work is inspired by an eclectic mixture ofVictoriana, Mrs Beeton’s household management, Mr McGregor’s garden, 17th-century microscope imagery of the natural world, Norfolk and Devon. The Rabbit & Cabbage print is one of their most popular designs; this version is inspired by British blue and white tableware.

We’re even throwing in some reading material – the full shortlist of the Thwaites Wainwright Prize, which rewards the best nature writing. So you can enjoy the great outdoors even when you’re staying in.

What’s included and how to enter

• Sofa.com’s Peggy armchair, upholstered in Thornback & Peel’s delft blue Rabbit & Cabbage print on Ivory Linen, worth £910.
• The six nature books shortlisted for the Thwaites Wainright prize (for full details see page 81).
• Enter below by 30 June 2015. View Iceberg Press’ full terms and conditions

Competition: Win! A yoga retreat on the Isles of Scilly (closed 30 June 2015)

Retreat, reboot and rejuvenate with a yoga retreat on the tranquil island of St Martin’s, Isles of Scilly.

What you could win and how to enter

• A three-night stay for one adult at Karma St Martin’s, including all reboot weekend activities, breakfasts, lunches and dinners.
• A 50-stem bouquet from Scilly Flowers.
• Skybus return flights from Land’s End airport or the Scillonian III passenger ship round trip from Penzance to St Mary’s.

To be in with a chance of winning, enter below by 30 June 2015. 

Full Terms and Conditions: 

The prize consists of a three-night stay for one adult at Karma St. Martin’s, including all reboot weekend activities, breakfasts, lunches and dinners. Plus, a 50-stem bouquet from Scilly Flowers and Skybus return flights from Land’s End airport or the Scillonian III passenger ship round trip from Penzance to St. Mary's.

The prize is valued at up to £1,000; there is no cash alternative available. Entrants must be 18 or over. The break must be taken on 28-31 August, 25-28 September or 23-26 October 2015. Reboot breakfasts, lunches and dinners are included, but all other meals, drinks and sundries are not included in the prize.

The Karma reboot weekend break and travel are subject to availability.

There are Isles of Scilly Travel Skybus flights to St. Mary’s, Scilly’s main island, from Land’s End, Newquay and Exeter airports six days a week, Monday to Saturday. From Land’s End and Newquay airports these flights run all year round; from Exeter Airport, March to October. The Isles of Scilly Travel passenger ship, Scillonian III, sails from Penzance harbour to St. Mary’s six days a week from March to November, and there are Sunday sailings in high season.

By supplying personally identifiable information when entering this free prize draw, the Islands’ Partnership may use it to provide entrants with ongoing information about its products and services. Visit Isles of Scilly will not rent, sell or lease this information to other companies or individuals. Entrants will receive email newsletters from Visit Isles of Scilly but can unsubscribe at any time.

Names and email addresses will be entered into a free prize draw. There is only one entry per person – automated entries will not be accepted. The winner will be notified by email or phone straight away.

Delayed or cancelled travel:

Every effort is made by Isles of Scilly Travel to operate at the times specified on the ticket. However, Isles of Scilly Travel is not liable for additional costs, loss or damage incurred by passengers resulting from delayed or cancelled travel.

If it is not possible to operate flights, passengers may be offered alternative transport or the option to remain at the airport and wait for a flight to become available. These may not necessarily be on the same day. Winners must hold a valid passport.

By entering into the competition, all participants will be deemed to have agreed to the Isles of Scilly Travel terms and conditions as stated on the company’s website: www.islesofscilly-travel.co.uk and Iceberg Press' Competition Rules - see www.icebergpress.co.uk/comprules

WIN! A camper van holiday (closed 1 May 2015)

Isle of Wight campervan holidays are offering the chance to explore the island for six nights in a classic 1970s VW Camper

Get some serious kerb appeal in one of Isle of Wight Campervan Holidays’ candy coloured campers. Overflowing with character, these classics will happily remind you of a simpler time for you, your family and friends.

Anchors Away 

Taking to the sea is where your adventure begins as you cross the Solent on a ferry to the lovely Isle of Wight. With its gorgeous rolling countryside and spectacular beaches, there really is something for everyone. What better way to explore than at your own pace in a charismatic campervan?

Home is where you park it

Well equipped for self-catering, there is nothing more convenient and fun that hitting the open road with all of your kit including your bed and the kitchen sink. Relax at camp in the evenings thanks to two great Island campsites that have joined in to offer this fantastic prize. Ninham Country Holidays is located in a beautiful wooded valley, with a heated pool,landscaped pitches and private coarse fishing. Grange Farm Holidays looks over the sea in an area of outstanding natural beauty with friendly animals to pet and direct access to a sandy beach, so don’t forget your bucket and spade.

What’s included and how to enter

• A six-night self-catering break worth £1,050
• For four people in a 1970s VW Camper on the Isle of Wight
• A return car ferry crossing or passenger tickets to the Isle of Wight 
• Three nights’ camping at both Grange Farm Holidays and Ninham Country Holidays

The prize can be taken from May–October 2015 or May–October 2016. 

Enter below by 1 May 2015.


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Download full insurance terms and conditions. 

Competition Terms and Conditions.

The prize includes a six-night hire for four people in one of Isle of Wight Campervans Holidays’ right-hand drive classic VW campervans. The driver of the camper must be aged between 25 and 75 and comply with all the insurance and collision conditions as set out in Isle of Wight Campervans Terms and Conditions.  The prize must be taken before October 2015 or between May and October 2016 and is subject to availability. The 1970s VW camper can sleep two adults and two children at night. If required, Isle of Wight Campervan Holidays will provide a tent to accommodate groups of more than two adults. 

Isle of Wight Campervan Holidays will provide a return ferry crossing to the Isle of Wight for four people with the most appropriate service provider, to coincide with the hire period. 

The camping pitches offered by Ninham Country Holidays and Grange Farm Holidays is subject to availability and each three-night stay must be taken consecutively. You will have the choice of which to enjoy first. The campsite rules and regulations must be adhered to at all time by the winning group. Isle of Wight Campervan Holidays reserves the right to terminate the hire period with immediate effect if this is not the case.

The prize winner and their group are responsible for all incidental expenses, insurance excesses and petrol. The prize is non-exchangeable and not redeemable for cash or any other prize.

For full terms and conditions please visit www.icebergpress.co.uk/comprules

Competition: WIN! TRAVEL BAGS TO TAKE YOU ANYWHERE (closed 30 April 2015)

Get out and about this spring with a set of Millican bags and accessories worth over £500. 

Lake District-based Millican makes bags using sustainable materials and original, functional designs. Their rucksacks, bags and accessories are made to equip a lifetime of outdoor living and travel – your cargo for life.

Sustainable innovation

It’s all about being smart with materials and mindfulindesign. Millicanbagsaremade using tough, weatherproof, organic cotton canvas (less water); vegetable tanned leather (fewer chemicals), recycled polyester and Lakeland Herdwick wool from their local farm.

Take Les the Cooler Bag (all Millican’s bags are named after local friends and heroes) a comfy canvas shoulder bag, insulated with Herdwick wool to keep a picnic fresh for up to eight hours.

Millican founders Jorrit and Nicky were inspired by Lake District legend, Millican Dalton who left London for Cumbria in the early 1900s and practised self-sufficient living from a cave in Borrowdale. He took guests on rock climbing and mountain adventures, with campfire philosophising on the side. Read more at www.homeofmillican.com.

What you could win

Millican are offering a collection of bags and accessories worth over £500: Harry the Gladstone Bag (£165), Matthew the Daypack (£135), Les the Cooler Bag with Herdwick Wool (above, £95), Keith the Writer’s Bag (£110), Ian the Camera Case with Herdwick wool (£25) and Simon the Water Bottle (£15).

Competition closes 30 April 2015 

How to enter

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Terms and Conditions

Millican products are available in a range of colours, but colour choices for our prizewinners will be subject to stock at the time of the prize being awarded. If for any reason one of the prizes becomes unavailable, we will be happy to offer a Millican gift voucher of equivalent value. No cash alternatives or refunds are available on these prizes.

For full terms and conditions please visit www.icebergpress.co.uk/comprules

Competition: Win a brand-new woollen Bell Twist carpet and fitting worth up to £1,500 (closed)

Whether your bedroom is in need of a spruce underfoot or your living room lacks cosiness, a new carpet will give any room in your home an instant lift. Especially a high-quality wool carpet such as the one up for grabs from Brintons this month.

This year marks the 50th birthday of one of Brinton’s best-loved carpets – the wool-rich Bell Twist. To mark the occasion, we’re offering you the chance to win one – a fantastic prize worth up to £1,500.

LASTING STYLE

The Bell Twist is a carpet that has stood the test of time – and fashion. Originally launched in a modest palette of 10 colours, it now comes in a 50-strong collection of plain shades, from ivory to ebony, via a wide choice of attractive neutrals as well as classic jewel shades and soothing pastels.

Its fashion pedigree includes some memorable campaigns: in 1993, it featured as a carpet dress designed by Vivienne Westwood; and later it starred in ‘the most luxurious carpets in the world campaign’, with renowned shoes designer Manolo Blahnik.

DESIGNED FOR LIFE

A plain carpet leaves poor quality nowhere to hide... Luckily the Bell Twist is a carpet that will stand the test of time. Its wool-rich yarn is specially woven with a depth and texture designed to withstand the rigours of everyday life. Testament to its staying power, it has been in continuous production ever since its debut five decades ago.

What you could win

A new carpet for one room, excluding stairs and hallways, in your choice of colour from the Bell Twist range of 50 shades. Underlay is included. Fitting is part of the prize, so long as the room is empty with no flooring in place.

HOW TO ENTER

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Closing date: 31 March 2015

To find out more about the carpet experts, go to www.brintons.co.uk

Full terms and conditions.

Competition: Win a winter holiday in Norway with Inntravel (closed)

This is your chance to try out cross-country skiing, courtesy of Inntravel and Norway - home of skiing.

The friendliness of fellow skiers, the feeling of being close to nature, and the chance to fully soak up the scenery make cross-country skiing highly enjoyable. And where better to learn than in Norway, where skiing is not so much a sport as a way of life.

We have teamed up with Inntravel to offer one lucky reader and their companion a holiday in Beitostolen in the Norwegian Highlands. As well as sampling a range of other snow-based activities (husky tours, snowmobile safaris and more), you will be able to try out cross-country skiing. Amiable instructor Tor Havard Kolbu and his team of friendly, English-speaking instructors will ensure you soon master the 'gliding stride', and once you get going you will be clocking up the kilometres in no time. 

The village of Beistolen has a wonderfully laid-back atmosphere, thanks to the Hovi family, who run most of it! Your base, the Bergo Hotel, is full of character, as are its restaurant and cosy bar; and you are bound to find yourselves in the lively Svingen pub at some stage. All in all, this is a fantastic holiday, and the connecting flight from Oslo to nearby Fagernes is the icing on the cake.

How to enter

a Rafflecopter giveaway

What you could win

A week-long holiday for two at the Bergo Hotel in Beitostolen, including flights from London and transfers; dinner, breakfast and lunch pack every day; 6 days' ski hire, free use of cross-country trails and two 90-minute lessons. You can also use the excellent pool and spa facilities of the neighbouring Radisson hotel.

Try other activities (not included), such as husky tours, snowmobile safaris, downhill skiing or ice fishing. 

Departures from 1-29 March 2015 (Sundays to Fridays).

www.inntravel.co.uk

Full terms and conditions.

Competition: Win £250 to spend at Surface View (closed 20 December 2014)

Win £250 to spend at Surface View - choose an image from Surface View’s extensive archive to make into a mural, a print, ceramic tiles, even a lampshade. Sometimes wallpaper just doesn’t cut it. Certain rooms need something special – perhaps a wall covered with an enlarged poster to add colour to a child’s room, or lined with a giant photograph of trees to turn the living room into a leafy bower. Which is where Surface View comes in...

Over the years, its owner Michael Ayerst has collected and curated images from many different sources. Some have been retrieved from dusty attics or museum basements – others found among the pages of vintage manuscripts. Many are from well-known designers including Ella Doran and Hemingway Design, or from the V&A and the British Library, among other institutions.

One shortcut to help you choose from their rich archive is Surface View’s Edits Collection. This newly introduced series features new home decor products, including an exclusive range of cushions and wall charts, plus a limited selection of framed matt art prints. Go to www.surfaceview.co.uk to discover the enormous number and variety of images available, such as this County of London mural (above). Choose your image and then select your print medium, from canvases to murals, wall hangings to window films. Alternatively, go for the ready-made option. The only trouble will be knowing where to stop.

What you could win

One of two £250 vouchers to spend at Surface View. Choose from their new Edits Collection and hundreds of other designs, which can be printed as a mural, on tiles, canvas or on a birch ply box. You can even get an image printed onto a blind, window film, or Formica.

How to enter

Go to www.futurecomps.co.uk/surfaceview to enter and for full terms and conditions. Closing date: 20 December 2014.

Competition: Win a KitchenAid mixer worth £429! (closed 6 November 2014)

As the days get shorter and the air gets colder, it feels good to get into the kitchen and bake. Comforting and cosy, it’s no wonder baking is one of the most loved of British pastimes. Create culinary masterpieces with a KitchenAid Food Mixer - we have one to give away courtesy of our friends at Housemakers.

The First Prize

The KitchenAid Mixer is a highly desirable, professional-grade piece of kitchen equipment that is loved by chefs and bakers worldwide. Designed to enable true kitchen creativity, it has 10 speed settings, chic curves and functions that allow you to mix everything from cake, bun and bread mixes through to eggs and cream, achieving perfect results every time. This highly functional piece of equipment is also ideal if you like to do large batches of baking at once.

The lucky winner will be even be able to choose the colour of their prize from the standard mixer range at Housemakers (please see T&Cs). The design is an instantly recognised classic, and the latest range of autumnal colour shades are the perfect finishing touch for any kitchen.

Runner-Up Prize

One runner-up will receive a Circulon Baking Set from Housemakers, which contains:

1 x 12 Cup Muffin Tray

1 x 9” Springform Cake Tin

1 x Loose-Base Flan Tin

1x 9”x5” Loaf Tin.

How to enter:

Visit: www.futurecomps.co.uk/kitchenaid

Closing date: 6 November 2014

About Housemakers

Housemakers is an established family business that sells a broad range of home, garden and leisure items, stocking the best brands at the lowest prices. Housemakers has been in business for more than 40 years and operates from three retail superstores, as well as through its online presence. The business prides itself on offering exceptional customer service combined with value-for-money prices and a carefully chosen and extensive product range. View the entire range by visiting http://www.housemakers.co.uk/

Terms & Conditions

The colour choice of the KitchenAid Mixer must be from selected from the standard mixer range only. This excludes pink, chrome and satin finishes, as well as the later commercial mixer models which are denoted as being 6.9l in size.

Competition: Win! A sofa from Graham & Green worth £1,600 (closed 30 November 2014)

This month’s prize winner gets to curl up on a two-seater sofa, in their choice of fabric, from Graham & Green, the interiors specialists.

The sofa comes into its own at this time of year: an inviting retreat for curling up with a good book or for watching the glut of autumn telly – feet up, pyjamas on. Let our competition be your cue to do it in style.

What you could win:

A two-seater sofa worth £1,600 from Graham & Green’s Rose collection (H85cm x W186cm x D105cm). Choose from 16 fabrics, ranging from olive velvet to storm blue felt, plus a range of textured neutrals. Made to order in 8–12 weeks after the closing date.

How to enter:

Visit https://www.futurecompetitions.com/sofa/ Closing date: 30 November 2014. See website for full terms and conditions.

Autumn at Graham & Green

In celebration of the new autumn collections at Graham & Green, we have teamed up with the colourful retailer, known for its stylish gifts and interiors, to offer one reader the chance to win a two-seater sofa from the Rose Collection. This beautiful hardwood framed sofa combines comfort (foam padding and fibrewool ball back cushions, since you ask) with sleek design. There are 16 beautifully contemporary fabrics you can choose from: finely textured plains including Divine Pink (pictured); slub neutrals from Natural to Anthracite, and, for fans of colour, tastefully bright velvets and felts.

More than furniture Graham & Green’s expertise goes far beyond sofas. The company has offered wonderfully eclectic interiors for 40 years, inspired by exotic destinations and quirky design. It’s a characterful heritage that comes through in everything from their statement lighting, to their covetable mirrors and accessories – their range covers living rooms, bedrooms, bathrooms and kitchens, too.

Visit their new showroom in Acton, west London, or find the full range online at www.grahamandgreen.co.uk.

Competition: win £500 of Inntravel holiday vouchers (archived)

In our competition you could win £500 worth of vouchers towards a Slow Holiday courtesy of Inntravel, the Slow Holiday people. Just click here to ‘like’ their Facebook page, enter your details, and then imagine where Inntravel could take you. Walk the wild undiscovered coastline of Portugal; cycle the back lanes of France; discover the “End of the World” in the Canary Islands; explore the impressive fjords of Norway… there are countless memories to be made. Inntravel’s carefully crafted holidays ease you into the rhythm of everyday life as you journey through wonderful landscapes, discover hidden gems and encounter friendly local people along the way. Slow holidays allow you to travel at your own pace, giving you time to enjoy delicious regional cuisine and relax in family-run hotels and inns. Remember the moment with Inntravel. Enter here.

Please note: £500 holiday voucher is to be used against the purchase of any Inntravel holiday for departure before 24th October 2015, subject to availability.

Competition: Win! A £500 new wardrobe from People Tree (closed 13 October 2014)

People Tree, the ethical fashion website, is giving away £1,000-worth of vouchers with four brilliant prizes in this month's competition.

Ethical fashion has come a long way since it started: rustically styled capsule collections have been replaced with clothes and accessories to rival any online fashion store, nowhere more so than at People Tree, the ethical fashion pioneers. We're celebrating the arrival of their Autumn/Winter 2014 collection with four fabulous prizes this month (see box for details).

A wardrobe upgrade

This is your chance to win a wealth of vouchers to spend on their covetable new 'Sustainable Elegance' collection. It's inspired by the grace and style of classic Hollywood, using a rich palette of bordeaux, teal, golden palm and peacoat navy. Then, there are the cuts: cinched waists and elegant shifts in a great range of fabrics from striking prints, to embroidered cottons and hand knits. You'll find everything from tops to trousers, dresses, skirts – even accessories and sleepwear – with a smattering of pieces from well-known designers, too.

Clothes with a conscience

People Tree were the first international clothing company to be awarded the World Fair Trade Organization Fair Trade product label. They launched the first Soil Association certified Global Organic Textile Standard for organic fabrics manufactured in the developing world. Today, the company work with 50 Fair Trade groups of organic cotton farmers and artistans around the world. In a nutshell – for every beautiful garment People Tree makes, there's an equally beautiful change happening somewhere in the world.

www.peopletree.co.uk

What you could win

First prize: £500 in vouchers to spend at People Tree

Second prize: £250-worth of People Tree vouchers

Runners-up: two prizes of £125-worth of People Tree vouchers

How to enter

Visit www.futurecomps.co.uk/peopletree.

Closing date: 13 October 2014.

Potato print competition: Winner announced

Back in April, The Simple Things teamed up with Kettle Chips and Red Hen Originals to invite you to create a potato print. Were you the winner of our competition?

Congratulations to Diane Rose, who is the winner of the potato print competition. Julia Burns of Red Hen Originals said of Diane's entry:

'This is a really up-lifting painting. The composition is beautifully balanced. The complimentary use of oranges and blues, set against a shimmering yellow background gives the work a vibrant sense of warmth and joy. But perhaps most important of all given the nature of the competition, the repeat pattern- making, the over-lapping shapes and the unique textural qualities achieved are all so obviously indicative of potato printing. A lovely piece of work.'

For all the entries, view our gallery.

Diane wins an overnight hotel stay with Handpicked Hotels, a Red Hen Original (worth £250), and a year's supply of Kettle Chips.

Competition: win a memento box with Inntravel (archived)

In our new competition, Inntravel is offering one lucky ready the chance to win this elegant memento box! It’s specially designed to keep your holiday postcards, photos, souvenirs and letters safe. And to make it totally personal, you can choose an original map to cover it.

Measuring 22.5cm x 11.5 cm x 5.5cm, this delightful keepsake by Bombus is handmade to order in birch wood ply.

Not only can you use it for your own holiday mementoes but you could also use it to hold the postcards, letters and notes you receive from loved ones abroad.

‘Like’ the Inntravel Facebook page and enter your details for a chance to win this exquisite prize. Remember the Moment with Inntravel, the Slow Holiday People.

WIN £50 worth of Dragonfly tea (archived)

WIN £50 worth of Dragonfly tea We love a cuppa here at The Simple Things and so are pleased to tell you about a competition to win £50 worth of organic Dragonfly tea. Five winners will receive a mahogany tea chest filled with all 15 speciality teas (96 sachets in total). For your chance to win, click here 

Competition: Win £150 worth of Earthborn Claypaint (closed 29 August 2014)

Earthborn is giving away £150 worth of lovely Claypaint to one lucky reader of The Simple Things. This fabulous prize includes two 750ml tins of Earthborn’s new Claypaint - designed especially for furniture and smaller painting projects - and a tin of Furniture Wax, plus some other Earthborn goodies.

Claypaint - a clay-based emulsion that has a distinctive, ultra matt finish that softens and enhances the light in your room - is available in 60 luxurious shades.

Not only beautiful and a pleasure to use, Earthborn paints are also designed to be healthier to live with. There are many wolves in sheep’s clothing making eco claims, but there’s no need for dressing up here – Earthborn Claypaint contains no oils or acrylics and are VOC free, which means no nasty emissions and high breathability. Add to that they are licensed to carry the EU Ecolabel, you are reassured the paints are better for you, your home and the environment.

Even if you don’t win, you can still finds lots of information, browse colours and buy Sample Pots at www.earthbornpaints.co.uk.

And for even more inspiration and to keep in touch, say hello via twitter, Facebook and Pinterest.

Enter the competition to win Earthborn Claypaint:

Visit www.futurecompetitions.com/earthborn before 29 August 2014.

Terms and conditions apply. See www.futuretcs.com For more information visit www.earthbornpaints.co.uk

Competition: Win a Feather Down Farm Days holiday! (closed 15 September 2014)

Feather Down Farm Days and Brittany Ferries bring you this month’s fab prize – an outdoorsy holiday in France.

There’s more than a hint of nostalgia about this month’s brilliant competition. The family glamping experts at Feather Down Farm Days are offering to whisk you and your family and friends to their luxury campsite on an idylllic farm in Brittany. And slow-travel fans Brittany Ferries will pop you across the Channel in style.

Great Breton

La Ferme de Penquelen Huella is an organic dairy farm situated between Lorient and Quimper, just 30km from the coast. It’s utterly rural there, surrounded by 600 acres of forest, criss-crossed with walking trails. On the farm itself there are cattle, pigs, sheep and chickens, and Feather Down’s luxury tents of course. Each is equipped with a separate double bedroom, a canopy bed and bunk beds. The style is wonderfully old fashioned – no WiFi or TV – just a wood-burning stove, oil lamps and candles, plus the great outdoors on your doorstep. www.featherdown.co.uk

Channel hopping

Why not make the journey part of the holiday? Brittany Ferries will float you across the Channel to your luxury camping stay. Their smart and modern cruise-ferries take you in as little as three hours – or overnight – to western France from Portsmouth, Poole and Plymouth, saving you a longer drive on the continent. www.brittanyferries.com

What you could win

•  A three-night weekend or four-night midweek stay in a luxury tent at La Ferme de Penquelen Huella for up to six (maximum five adults).
•  Return ferry crossings for one car and up to six people either daytime or overnight with a cabin (sleeps four, plus two reclining seats).
•  Go in September or October this year, or 10th April–30th June 2015.

How to enter

Visit www.futurecompetitions.com/brittany to enter and for full terms and conditions. Closing date: 15th September 2014.

Competition: Win tickets to The Big Feastival! (closed 31 July 2014)

Win a family camping ticket to The Big Feastival with Wyld Wood Organic Cider. This summer the Wyld Wood Organic Cider Teepee returns to The Big Feastival in Oxfordshire (29th–31st August). Thanks to Wyld Wood Organic Cider we have a weekend family camping ticket for two adults and two children (12 and under) to give away!

If you fancy a weekend at Alex James’ farm near Kingham, enjoying food and flavours from around the country as well as fantastic live music, then this prize is a great way to round off your summer!

The Big Feastival is the brainchild of Jamie Oliver and Alex James and will see chef demonstrations, markets, fun fairs and farmyard animals to keep the whole family happy all weekend.

The Wyld Wood Teepee, a cross between a traditional cider bar and Café Del Mar, is perfectly situated to soak up the atmosphere while enjoying a premium organic cider and letting the sounds of Fatboy Slim, Jamie Cullum and Del La Soul wash over you.

Made from Herefordshire’s finest organic apples and matured in old oak vats at Westons Cider Mill in Much Marcle, Wyld Wood has a full-bodied taste with a ripe fresh aroma making it the perfect drink to wash down the delicious foods and flavours on offer at The Big Feastival. To find out more follow us on @westonswyldwood or ‘like’ our Facebook page.

How to enter

Enter by 31 July 2014, filling in your details to be in with a chance of winning this fantastic prize.

Terms and conditions

http://www.westons-cider.co.uk/corporate/contact-us/online-competition-terms-and-conditions/

Competition: win a Moleskine notebook cover with Inntravel (closed)

Have you seen our new competition - you could win a gorgeous leather Millican ‘Matt the Moleskine Cover’ and Moleskine notebook courtesy of Inntravel, the Slow Holiday people. Follow in the tradition of the great travel diarists and keep your journals spic and span with this beautiful hand crafted leather cover. The bridle leather used to make these simply stunning covers comes from the only remaining traditional oak bark tannery in Britain, the oak bark being sourced from sustainable forests in the Lake District.

Inntravel are offering one lucky reader the chance to win a ‘Matt the Moleskine Cover’, including the Moleskin notebook inside, from the good people at Millican. Retailing at £75, Matt fits the standard pocket Moleskine notebooks (9x14cm); is designed to accommodate the classic Moleskine elastic band and expandable back pocket, and has handy integrated loops for holding your pen, pencil, or quill (not included)! For more details of the prize click here.

Fancy yourself as Hemingway, Chatwin or Bryson? Remember the moment with Inntravel. Just ‘like’ the Inntravel Facebook page to enter!

Competition: Win Dawes bikes for all the family! (ended 11th August 2014)

Dawes has put together a prize set to make your summer: brand new bikes for two adults and two children. Enter our competition!

The Tour de France’s arrival in the UK is likely to bring more than yellow jerseys to our shores. Cycle fever – kickstarted by the 2012 Olympics and now cemented by the world’s most famous bicycle race coming to Yorkshire – is in full flow. And this month we’re doing our bit for the two-wheel revolution with a brilliant prize.

Homegrown bike company Dawes Cycles has come up with an incredible package to get the whole family out and about on two wheels (Lycra optional). They’ve been making bikes since 1926 and craft each model with carefully tailored components to ensure a smooth ride. Enter this month’s competition for your chance to win four brand-new Dawes bikes (two adult frames and two for children), worth over £1,000.

How to enter

Visit https://www.futurecompetitions.com/BIKES/ by 11th August 2014 for your chance to win four new bikes from Dawes Cycles.

For more about Dawes Cycles and to see their full range of bikes, visit www.dawescycles.com.

the bikes you could win:

1 Duchess (ladies)

1 Ambassador (gents)

1 Lightning (boys)

1 Venus (girls)

The prize can be adjusted to suit your required frame sizes, subject to availability, of course.