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February 8th, 2010 Nikki
The Red Squirrel has been decreasing in numbers for years and fewer than 140, 000 individuals are thought to be left. Approximately 85% reside in Scotland but the remainder are scattered across other parts of the UK. A large part of their decrease is due to the introduction of the grey squirrels from North America, these grey squirrels carry a deadly virus for Red Squirrels, Squirrel pox, and as a result it is illegal to bring in a grey squirrel to red squirrel territory.
The Isle of Wight, a firm favourite for holiday makers staying in a bed and breakfast Isle of Wight, is an important strong hold for Red Squirrels as the solent acts as a barrier to keep the grey squirrel out. The woodland on the island can provide habitation for around 3, 500 red squirrels and they now occupy broadleaved woodland across the island.
The Wight Project, is a charity based on the island working to help keep Red Squirrels from extinction. They tackle anything to do with squirrels from contentious planning applications to campaigning for ‘Squirrel road crossings’. From fundraising to sponsorship they also offer Squirrel Events throughout the year for people on Isle of Wight breaks or locals who have an interest in the beautiful red squirrel. It is a sad fact that a large percentage of people, especially the younger generation, have never seen the Red Squirrel, the only squirrel native to the UK. Chances to see them in their native environment through event walks and talks with the likes of The Wight Project should be taken at any given opportunity and if there is a chance you could help to keep charities like the Wight Project going through help with funding and sponsorship then it would be greatly beneficial to the Red Squirrels.
Posted in attractions, isle of wight, walking | No Comments »
February 3rd, 2010 Alex
Travellers around the UK will no doubt already have seen the huge amount of shops and kiosks that sell Cornish pasties on high streets, train stations and cafes, but now there’s a way to take home a novelty item for pasty lovers who aren’t going on a trip, or don’t have any trips to cottages in Cornwall coming up.
Pasties with chocolate in them have been available for ages, but pasties made purely out of chocolate are something new and tasty. This is, however, exactly what the chocolate and fudge manufacturer’s County’s have done. Supplied to pasty suppliers and delicatessens, these solid chocolate pasties, made from high quality cocoa beans and containing 35% cocoa solids, are ideal to take home for a pasty lover. It doesn’t even matter if they go cold.
Of course, it’s not just a tasty treat, but also a reminder of your family holiday in Cornwall. Whereas some people might bring home sticky rock that ends up looking unappetising very quickly, you’ll still have delicious chocolate in a form that is truly Cornish.
There are plenty of other products available from County’s, including Cornish fudge, and tracking these down in delicatessens or gift shops will make your holiday a whole lot more interesting, not to mention tasty.
Posted in Cornwall, fun | No Comments »
February 2nd, 2010 Alex
The Peak District is, as you might have guessed from the name, full of peaks.
Well, they’re peaks in one sense of the word. The district actually only has two peaks, the white and dark. The former consists mostly of limestone and has the flowing hills and valleys associated with that, and the latter consists mostly of gritstone rock and shale, giving it a much harsher appearance, with tors, moorland and bear rocks jutting up. It all makes for fantastic views for the Peak District cottages that are available to rent there.
The “peaks” of the tors, rocks, and hills, though are all a draw. And as with anything high, most people feel a compulsion to get to the top of it. The best way to manage this in the Peak district is normally the most simple: walking.
The district was the first national park, created in 1951, and since then has drawn millions of visitors to participate in all sorts of activities, but walking has always been one of the favourites, Coleridge and Wordsworth both spent much of their lives there, walking around and generally being inspired by the beauty of the landscape, something which you can also experience on your own Peak District holiday.
Walking can be exhausting, so it’s very important to make sure you’re properly equipped. Comfortable shoes, and enough food and water to get you through however long your trip may be are a must. Hopefully, this will have convinced you to take a healthy walking holiday somewhere, possibly even the Peak District.
Posted in Destinations, walking | No Comments »
February 1st, 2010 Alex
Plenty of places in the UK are rumoured to be full of ghosts and other forms of paranormal activity, but what many people fail to realise is just how many ways to explore these rich, unearthly tapestry there are, especially for holiday makers. Sussex is a great place for those looking to have an otherworldly experience.
The number of abbeys in the county is the first sign that there should be plenty of tortured spirits around, due to so many of their inhabitants being horribly killed at various points in history, often on the behest of a king or through religious conflict. As I’m sure you’re aware, people being put to death by kings are some of the most likely to have unfinished business and wander around posthumously. There are plenty of paranormal groups who investigate these places and allow guests to join them for a fee, meaning you get all the benefits of their ghost hunting equipment on your Rye holiday.
There are also plenty of ghost walks around castles (another source of gruesome deaths) or other areas of ethereal note, many of which are available for people of any age. It’s an interesting addition to a holiday, and something that many people take part in during their stay in East Sussex hotels.
Posted in Destinations, adventure, attractions | No Comments »
January 30th, 2010 Alex
A popular activity among tourists visiting any destination is exploring the history of the place, but some areas can offer a lot more with regards to this than others. For instance, those who are visiting the Isle of Wight for an Isle of Wight holiday in the near future will no doubt be astounded to find out that very recently (the end of December last year) a three thousand year old bronze dagger was found in a field on the western side of the Island.
It’s never been contested knowledge that the Isle of Wight has been inhabited throughout most of the period in which humans have lived in Western Europe, and so this find is not interesting because it brings new evidence to light; it is interesting because the dagger was then donated by the man who found it (using a metal detector) and the owner of the land it was found on to the Isle of Wight Council’s Museum of Island History.
This means that anybody visiting the island can see this spectacular find for themselves, and the amount of people coming to see it should prove a boon to Isle of Wight hotels. Archaeological finds and artefacts have always been a draw to tourists. Think of the pyramids in Egypt or the Great Library of Alexandria. The Isle of Wight may just have found their own big draw to match these two.
Posted in Destinations, attractions, isle of wight | No Comments »
January 29th, 2010 Ben
I can think of nothing better than being whisked off to the beautiful city of Bath, Somerset for a romantic holiday in Bath and with Valentines Day on the horizon I have a small glimmer of hope that it may happen. Set at the bottom of the Avon Valley and close to the southern edge of the Cotswold’s, it is an idyllic location steeped in history, culture and beauty. The distinctive 18th Century Georgian architecture making up the city adds a feel of mythical greatness and elegance and people unsurprisingly travel far and wide to walk in the footsteps of Jane Austen, visit Bath Abbey, marvel at the excavated Roman baths and shop in the uber trendy boutiques.
Bath has become one of the most alluring small cities in Europe, blissfully unspoilt, it has come to represent the quintessence of rural England with the rolling uplands of the Cotswold’s framing it and the lively, bustling streets comprising it. The City has been immortalised in countless books, paintings and films and is deservedly popular with tourists but despite this has managed to maintain its authenticity and preserve its history.
There are an assortment of hotels, restaurants and things to do in Bath for all budgets and tastes but for the best deals and quieter periods it is best to book a mid week break in Bath. If I have any chance of being whisked off my feet this Valentines I may have to start dropping some fairly obvious hints, especially as the question I had posed to me the other day was ‘Are we doing Valentines this year?’ you can imagine my response.
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January 28th, 2010 Ben
If you’re a bit of a foodie and enjoy nothing more than tasting foods from around the world, then booking yourself into a North Yorkshire Hotel and whiling away the days tasting the cuisines of Yorkshire probably isn’t on your radar. However, Yorkshire has a long history of foods associated with it. Let’s take the most obvious: Yorkshire pudding. Who doesn’t have a Yorkshire pudding with their roast beef? Or chicken? Or any meal that involves gravy? The Yorkshire pudding is a staple of the famous British Sunday Lunch and dates all the way back to 1737.
Another widely known food that originates from Yorkshire and is still manufactured and dispatched from the area today is Wensleydale Cheese. Wensleydale Creamery has been handcrafting cheese for more than 100 years to the time honoured traditional recipes. The business of making the cheese has had its ups and downs over the years but was greatly boosted in the 1990’s by a certain Yorkshire man called Wallace, a cheese enthusiast whose favourite cheese is the now famous Wensleydale. “Gromit, that’s it! Cheese! We’ll go somewhere where there’s cheese!”, “No cheese, Gromit. Not a bit in the house.”, “Get off me cheese! GET OFF!”
Other foods associated with the county are Curd tart, along with Parkin, a sweet ginger cake, the beverage ginger beer, Liquorice Sweet and of course the many chocolate factories that have played a prominent role in the confectionary industry: Rowntree’s, Terry’s and Thornton’s. Now, if this doesn’t make you book into North Yorkshire Accommodation and eat Yorkshire Pud and Wensleydale cheese all day then maybe knowing that Yorkshire has a beautiful scenic countryside, chic cities and over 800 attractions ranging from World Heritage sites to mining museums, ruined castles and abbeys along with serene gardens, interesting breweries, thrilling rides and industrial heritage will.
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January 27th, 2010 Alex
There are loads of reasons that people go to Scotland, but one that’s drawn people from all over the world again and again and again is the possibility of having a sighting of the Loch Ness Monster. Big game hunters, journalists, scientists and interested members of the public have all been amongst those to engage in the hunt for Nessie.
The rumours started in 1933, when a holidaying couple, the Spicers, saw the head and neck of an animal waddling over the road ahead of them, carrying a dead animal in its mouth. They couldn’t see the body as it was obscured by the brow of a hill, but their letter in a newspaper about this encounter was the beginning of seventy seven years of sightings, investigations, explanations, scepticism and hoaxes. People still visit the loch during cottage holidays in Scotland, hoping to be the next Spicers.
Numerous sonar searches and investigations have taken place around the loch, and many sonar “sightings” of Nessie have been recorded, which strange six metre animals being detected moving around the depths. Odd sounds, similar to those used in echo location have also been recorded by sub-surface microphones.
Of course, the most famous sightings are those that have been recorded on film as either photos or videos, and if you want a chance of taking one of those, you don’t have to have a fancy submarine, a camera and a trip to one of the holiday cottages in Scotland.
Posted in Destinations, adventure, attractions | No Comments »
January 26th, 2010 Ben
Tourists travel far and wide to visit the historic and beautiful city of Bath. Located just over 100 miles west of London it is the ideal location to soak in some culture and explore the West Country with Stonehenge and the Cotswold’s close at hand. The city was built around the natural hot springs by the Romans and the remains continue to show many artifacts today. Along with the more famous tourist attractions in Bath, one of the best activities to do is shopping. Having a Short Breaks Bath is popular for people to enjoy a memorable experience with a fabulous selection of small shops and stylish boutiques alongside the familiar big name stores.
Bath is the perfect place to stroll around at your leisure in the compact and easily walkable grand Georgian streets and small picturesque passageways. There is a vast array of Accommodation in Bath to choose and once there you’ll get to plan your shopping trip soaking up Bath’s eclectic mix of shops. Find small independent book shops tucked away along quiet streets, local jewellery shops and independent retailers catering to every taste and budget, uncover cutting edge fashion in luxurious boutiques and pick up exclusive labels. Choose from an abundance of galleries including Victoria Art Gallery and Museum of East Asian Art. Many commercial galleries can be found offering contemporary visual arts along with changing exhibitions, talks and readings. Classic, Jazz and Rock music along with many other musical genres is catered for in Bath’s music shops and throughout the year Bath holds a number of music festivals, the most prestigious of which are the bath International Music Festival and the International Guitar Festival.
After a long day of shopping, pick from a wondrous variety of award winning restaurants, quaint tearooms and welcoming cosy pubs for an evening of fine wine and food. Bath is renowned for great hospitality, with all tastes catered for and British and International food in all prices ranges served in the city.
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January 25th, 2010 Ben
In a recent survey conducted by Visit Wales the overwhelming majority of visitors left Wales with a positive impression of the country. The survey discovered that the warm welcome given and the general and the friendliness of the Welsh people towards visitors during there stay was among some of the very best parts of a Welsh holiday.
Of those surveyed 86% said that they would recommend a trip to Wales to friend and family. 70% also said that they themselves would definitely return within the next few years.
Wales total score amongst visitors came out as a highly impressive 4.5 out of 5.
Out of the 5,601 people who took part in the survey 92% said their stay was either very good or excellent. The survey participants were made up of day trip visitors as well as those who stayed for short and long breaks.
Wales beautiful scenery came top of visitors best Welsh attractions. Its hardly surprising in a country who can boast snow capped mountains, golden beaches, lonely islands, wooded valley and wild moor land all within just a few hours of each other. Wales other top attraction included its historic sites such as its magical castles and grand stately homes.
When visiting Wales 45% of people preferred a short break compared to just a day trip or a long stay.
If you have yet to experience Wales for yourself why not consider taking a short break Wales and see for yourself just what this wonderful country and its people have to offer.
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