It was Christmas Eve and all was quiet in the log cabin.

Snug against the frosty night, we cuddled up on the sofa, mesmerised by the tree lights twinkling in the corner of the room.

The only sound from outside was the faint cry of geese and water lapping on the side of the lake.

It may sound like a idyllic fairytale, but this is where I found myself, last year: in a beautifully-equipped log cabin, surrounded by fields, lakes and woodland.

I was a world away from the last minute shopping crush and not in Canada, as you might think, but only three hours' drive from Oxford.

We had packed up the car with goodies, the dog and our Christmas presents, and set off for North Devon on December 23.

I took extra blankets and lots of jumpers I was, after all, about to spend Christmas in a log cabin and wasn't about to take any risks.

A straight run down the M4, the M5 and just off the A39, near the picturesque hillside village of Clovelly, we found Clovelly Lakeside Lodges.

The owner of the property, one Mr Symons, greeted us at his amazing home, Ravensfield House, which is situated at the entrance to the lakes.

A welcoming chap, he wished us a Happy Christmas and asked what we we were hoping to do during our week-long stay.

We asked about walking in the area, so he promised to drop in a map of local routes before showing us to our cabin.

Now, I have to admit, up until that point, log cabins to me, were slightly rickety, draughty places, just one up from a garden shed.

How wrong can a person be?

'Well-equipped' doesn't really do the Clovelly Lakeside Lodges justice.

Mr Symons gave us a tour of the lounge and integral kitchen, complete with leather sofas, television, CD player, cooker, fridge freezer, dishwasher and of course a Christmas tree.

Everything was of the highest quality, and sparkled. Mr Symons explained this was one of a collection of new cabins on the site.

The two double bedrooms, which were equally impressive, were separated by a bathroom, which came with a shower that looked like something out of a Beverley Hills mansion.

Big enough for three people and complete with lights, dozens of different water jets and even a radio, this touch of luxury just about summed up the whole cabin.

Everything, even towels, were included. What's more, it was warm and toasty and I realised I wasn't going to need those extra blankets after all.

A little later, when we had settled in, Mr Symons dropped back and gave us a map of local walks.

"Let me know if there's anything you need and drop in to the house anytime and don't be afraid to feed the ponies," he said, pointing to the tiny Shetlands grazing around the lakes.

On Christmas Day, we awoke to bright sunshine and by the afternoon were sitting on top of a cliff, high above Clovelly, looking out to sea.

This was the life.

We didn't forget it was Christmas completely we ate lots of chocolate and nuts, and unwrapped our presents.

But rather than vegetate in front of the box, we spent the week exploring the beautiful beaches, and villages around us.

On Boxing Day, we walked the length of the gorgeous beach in nearby Westward Ho!

And of course we made the mountainous trek down through the wondrous village of Clovelly, peeking at people making Christmas lunch in their tiny doll-like houses as we passed.

Bude, which is also nearby, offers all the facilities you'd expect from an English seaside town.

But there is also a shop within two miles, golf within five miles and a swimming pool, also five miles away.

Rather than being loners at the Lakes over Christmas, we noticed that most of the other 17 lodges were also full of families and couples.

The five lakes within the 40-acre site are stocked with carp, roach, ruff, tench, trout and brown trout and offer free sport to all guests.

And one guy, obviously in his element, spent the whole of Christmas fishing outside his cabin, while his family brought him regular drinks and treats.

On December 30, our penultimate day, we awoke to deep snow and our perfect Christmas was complete.

The next day, we left Clovelly Lakeside Lodges, waved off by Mr Symons.

A little fatter, perhaps a little fitter, and wishing we had a super shower that played Radio One, we promised to return.

For more information on Clovelly Lakeside Lodges, and other properties, contact Farm & Cottage Holidays on 01237 479146 or log on to www.farmcott.co.uk