Monthly Archives: March 2009

Top Landmarks of Britain

Posted on by
1

Big Ben

One of the most famous landmarks in the world Big Ben has long been the symbol of London. The famous clock draws millions to it each year but what many might not know is that the tower is actually called St. Stephens tower, Big Ben reefers only to the giant bell who can be heard on the hour every hour. This is a special year for Big Ben as 2009 sees its 150th Birthday.

Bath Hotels

The London Eye

The London Eye was built at the end of the 20th century to commemorate the millennium. The Eye has since gone onto find a place in the heart of the Nation and tourists, which might explain why between 2000 and 2008 an amazing 30 million people have take a trip around the wheel to see its unrivaled views of London.

Luxury Hotel Bath

The Tower of London

The historic and ancient fortress and palace has a fascinating and often bloody history. The tower has seen some of the most fascinating pieces of British history played out with in its solid walls. Taking a tour of the tower with a friendly beef eater will bring the fascinating history back to life. The tower also play host to the Crown Jewels which are on display to the public.

Bath Short Break

Stonehenge

One of the most famous and ancient structures in the world, Stonehenge has amazed and mesmerized people for hundreds of thousands of years. The massive stone circle draws in thousand upon thousands of visitors from across the world, many of who are left in awe at the spectacle up close.

Spa Breaks

Windsor Castle

The ancient castle has long been popular with those fascinated by the sheer size and scale of the castle. Although the castle is still an official residence of the Queen people can take a tour of the fantastic building and its sprawling grounds.

Bath Spa Breaks

Alton Towers

Alton Towers is regarded as the top theme park in Britain which attracts over 3 million visitors each year. The park has a reputation for none stop thrills thanks to its rides which range from fun water rides to ground breaking rollercoaster’s to entertain people of all ages.

Short Breaks Bath

Bath

The picturesque city has so much to offer any tourist’s thinking of taking short breaks in Bath. The city most famous landmark is the ancient Roman Baths. Much of the baths and temple built 2,000 yeas ago can still be seen today. You can even bathe and drink from the same mineral spring waters as the Roman did thousands of years before. The city also blessed with a wealth of fantastic Georgian architecture.

Bath Hotel

Where Can I Find Dog Friendly Cottages?

Posted on by
Reply

For many people going on holiday is a great time to unwind and relax. Yet the planning for the holiday can be a stressful and be a difficult time for some. Especially for those who have pets that don’t want to leave a member of their family behind. Many hotels do not except pets on their premises which can make finding a hotel that will accommodate a pet much more difficult.

There are however many places that will except pets as a companion in their hotels or b and bs, which means many pet owners need to stress no more. Offering a dog friendly environment in a range of locations through out the UK the problem of taking your pet with you has been addressed by the industry.

Dog friendly cottages offers pet owners through out the UK the chance to holiday with all members of the family and really relax knowing everyone is ok. Many locations offer the opportunity to spend the holiday with the family which doesn’t require excluding the family pet. Offering stunning surroundings as well as footpaths and open fields that will allow you and your dog to explore the local area as well as many locations proves to be an ideal break for everyone.

Its well worth checking with the hotel or accommodation provider if your pet is welcome and if they will take more than one if you have several animals. Don’t just ask if they accept pets, explain what breed your pets are and inform them of any other details that you might think are relevant.

Its not just hotels and B and Bs that will accept pets but also pubs are very welcoming to pets. Very often you will find mans best friend sleeping on the floor of a pub while his master enjoys an alcoholic beverage.

With more opportunities opening up to the family with pets, planning a holiday is no longer inconvenient and difficult to arrange. Travel options and destination choice will open up a series of opportunities allowing you to bring the whole family. Taking the family cat or dog on holiday with you will save you a small fortune on kennel fees and give you the knowledge that your pet is being well looked after and close at hand.

With a choice of self catering cottages, apartments and hotels all offering ideal accommodation in some stunning locations you are more than likely to find something that is perfect for you and your pets. Easy travel to most parts of the country and a broad range of rural landscapes, the UK makes an ideal place for holidaying with your pets. Cornwall, Devon and Dorset are just three popular destinations that holiday makers visit each year with their pets.

There are many dog friendly country cottages available like those at doggy cottages – visit the site today for further information.

The Finest seaside breaks in Britain

Posted on by
Reply

If you need a break, there are many beautiful places in Britain that you can go to. You don’t need to go to a different country. The UK is not always rainy, and there are many warm, sunny days where a person can enjoy the beach. Even on cooler days where the weather is not that good, the seaside can be gorgeous. Deciding where to go along the coast can be difficult, but the Pembrokeshire coast is one of the most popular choices for those taking a short break in Wales. How popular a beach is for a particular person, though, all depends on what he or she wants and what is most important for their holiday. If children are coming along there will be different considerations made then there will be if adults are going by themselves. What stage of life they are in and what kinds of funds they have to spend are also worth consideration. However, there are some seaside breaks, like Barafundle Bay on the Pembrokeshire coast that just about everyone can enjoy. Others include Embleton Bay and Runswick Bay. These provide not just beach, but birds to watch, fishing villages, and quaint shops that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. The area is also home to many different types of accommodation suitable for families, couples and groups. The area has many fine hotels, B&B’s and some pretty Pembrokeshire cottages.

Holkham National Nature Reserve in Norfolk and Formby, in Merseyside are also valuable places to visit for what they have to offer. The shops and the cafes that are seen in these seaside villages are great places to visit for adults and children both and they are very picturesque, so they’re also great places to hold special occasions. The food there is wonderful, and people, who like to visit museums, go to zoos or nature preserve areas, or just walk along the seashore can all enjoy these kinds of areas. For people who really want to bake themselves on the beach, that option is open as well. When it comes to the finest seaside breaks in Britain, though, a person really has to judge for himself or herself. They are all similar, but yet they’re all a little bit different, and what appeals to one person might not really appeal to another. It’s best to explore what each seaside break area really has to offer and choose the one that provides you with the largest number of opportunities for the people in your group to enjoy. If you’re by yourself, picking a place where there will be more people can be more enjoyable, as well.

What to consider when camping

Posted on by
Reply

campsite and campingCamping can be great holiday for all of those who decide to experience what the outside world has to offer. It can also be a cheap alternative to hotels and B and Bs, however there are a few things that you will need to think about before setting out to your camp site destination.

Keeping the cost down is an important part of the experience if you are on a budget and if you are travelling with a group of friends or in large numbers then cooperation from those who are going is an important part. It might be worth while considering setting up a cooking rota if you choose to stay onsite and eat cooked food for evening meals or breakfasts; you don’t want to be branded as the cook for the entire duration of the trip. It there is going to be a communal eating arrangement, it might be worth while getting everyone to throw in a few pounds towards food before you turn up on site. This will allow you to get some food from a supermarket on the way to the camp site and ensure you stock up on all of the essentials. There maybe some goods that you might find will be unnecessary to buy as you won’t use a lot of some things, like: salt, pepper, sugar, cooking oil and margarine are probably best if you manage to get some from home before you leave.

Another worth while idea might be issuing people with certain task and distributing some of the responsibility. Get them to bring their own plates and cutlery and get them to provide food for their own lunches.  Set out set dinner times for breakfast and evening meals so people know what time to be back and ready for food.

Each person should be responsible for their own sleeping equipment; this will free you of any burden from that ‘mother’ role. Obviously this wont work if your are a family and have with you small children.

It might be advisable to book a ‘group site’ or if that is not achievable try and obtain several camping spaces together. This way you be able to ensure that your party is not distributed through out the site.  It will also be worth while checking with the campsite how many vehicles will be allowed to park near your designated camping area.

The evenings will provide a great time to relax and unwind with your friends. Around the campfire will be a great time for sharing scary stories and ‘the most embarrassing moment’ stories.

Camping is really a great way to socialise with your friends and family in a beautifully natural environment and really relax at the pace that you deserve.

Top things to do on a summer break in the Peak District

Posted on by
Reply

peak District Cottages

Millions of us are busy booking our summer holidays and counting down the days till we can leave work behind and enjoy an unforgettable week away. If you are one of the many who have chosen to take your holiday in the Peak District then here are a few great things to do on your Peak District holiday.

One of the many great things about the Peak District is the variety of activities available to you. Regardless or age or tastes you are sure to find something to delight you and make a memorable holiday.

If you are looking to taking in a few relaxing activities while in the Peak District then bird watching might be just for you. It’s hard to find anything more relaxing and peaceful than being surrounded by stunning country side and watching beautiful and fascinating birds. There are a number of special bird watching sites throughout the park, often each site has different types of birds you can spot. Some more relaxed activities include taking a magical balloon ride over some of the most picturesque parts of the area. Fossil hunting is another fun and interesting activity as you delve into the Peaks pre historic past. Cycling and fishing are two very popular sports with a number of fishing lakes and cycle paths right across the national park.

If you’re unfortunate to find the weather changes on you then don’t panic! There are a number of great indoor attractions including museums, historic sites and some magnificent stately homes such as Chatsworth house. And if the weather turns truly bad you can head back to your Peak District cottage for a night around the fire.

If you are looking for something a bit more active then are a whole range of great outdoor sports and activities. Canoeing, kayaking and sailing are some of the great water sports you can undertake. Don’t worry if you have never tried them before because there are a number of schools around the park who will teach you the basics. Caving and climbing are one of a number of extreme sports that can be found in the National Park and is a great place to visit for the adrenaline junkies amongst you.

Great Tips to make your North Devon holiday memorable Part 1

Posted on by
Reply

Here is our rundown of the top things to either do, visit or eat in North Devon whether you are staying in a holiday park, camping or staying at one of the many hotels in the area.

1. Visit Woolacombe Beach

Many visitors to North Devon will head to Woolacombe if they want to experience the sea and the county’s stunning coastlines. Woolacombe itself won an “England for Excellence Gold Award” for best family resort in 1999. But it’s the beach that people will most be looking forward to and rightly so as it was voted the best British Beach in the Mail of Sunday in 2000.

The beach is three miles long of golden sand and has been given the blue flag and a Premier Seaside Beach award for its cleanliness, facilities and water quality. Both surfers and tourists flock to the beach in the summer for one of the best beaches in the country.

Woolacombe Beach

Insider Tip: Woolacombe’s Car Parks can get extremely busy in the summer so if you want a space, get their early. Or even better, help the environment by getting the bus.

2. See the Dinosaurs at Combe Martin Wildlife Park

If you are travelling with any children or if you are a big kid at heart, you should definitely pay a visit to the Combe Martin Wildlife park to see the Dinosaurs. The park is home to a full size animatronic T-Rex that’s roars and is sure to scare the living daylights out of young and old alike. The park is also great for animal lovers, with a great selection including Wolves, Sea Lions, Monkeys and Lemurs.

combe martin wildlife park

Insider Tip: Bring a camera as you will be extremely disappointed it you don’t get the chance to have your picture take next to the Dinosaurs.

3. Take a walk on Exmoor

For the nature living visitors to North Devon, Exmoor provides a stunning setting to gentle walks or adventurous hikes. Exmoor National Park is home to some of the most breathtaking sights that are to be found in North Devon. If you are lucky, you may catch a glimpse of the Red Deer or the Exmoor Pony.

http://www.exmoor-nationalpark.gov.uk/

Exmoor

Insider Tip: Read the book, Lorna Doon to find out about Devon’s very own Romeo and Juliet. This love story takes place on and around Exmoor and you can even visit the church where the couple got married.

4. Have a Devonshire Cream Tea

One of the most famous delicacies from Devon has to be the Cream Tea. There are plenty of tea rooms dotted around the county where you can get one of these scrumptious warm home made Scones, local clotted cream finished off with some Strawberry jam.

devonshire cream tea

Insider Tip: Don’t fall for imitation cream teas where they will try to fob you off with whipped cream!

5. Have a meal in Damien Hurst’s Restaurant

Damien Hurt maybe best known for his whacky art pieces like diamond encrusted skulls, but he has other business ventures including his Ilfracombe based restaurant. The Quay Restaurant and White Hart Bar is based in Ilfracombe’s picturesque harbour and is host to some of his work.

With the harbour setting of a restaurant, you would expect an abundance of seafood and the Quay delivers with their amazing seafood platters that include Crab, Mussels, Oysters and Lobsters.

Meat lovers will be pleased to hear that the restaurant sources meat from nearby farms and from Exmoor.

http://www.11thequay.co.uk/

Damien Hurst

6. Cycle along the Tarka Trail

After all the delicious food you will have eaten from Damien Hurst’s restaurant you may fancy some exercise to work it off. North Devon’s Tarka trail is over 30 miles of old railway line that runs between Braunton and Meeth. The line has been resurfaced and is great for walking or cycling. There are many car parks along the way so you can join the trail at any point and make the journey as long or as short as you want. The trail will lead you along through some stunning countryside where you will see rolling fields and dense woodland.

tarka trail

http://www.devon.gov.uk/tarkatrail.htm

Insider Tip: There is a bike hire service at the stop outside of Torrington which is ideal for anyone who wasn’t brought a bike with them on holiday.

A Guide to Newquay’s Beaches

Posted on by
Reply

newquay hotel

If you are taking a Newquay summer break you should read up on some of the great beaches the town has to offer. Most people will know of the famous Fistral Beach, but there is much more to Newquay than just Fistral.

Crantock Beach – this pretty golden beach is popular with both surfers and families. The river Gannel which runs through the beach others some great sheltered bathing, while the waves are ideal for surfers of all abilities.

Great Western Beach – is an ideal place to escape the heat of the morning sun, the high sea cliffs provide refreshing and cooling shade.

Harbour Beach – is located within the harbour wall of the town. It is the smallest beach in Newquay but the sheltered position and unpopularity with surfers makes it great for families with small children.

Lusty Glaze Beach – is one of the funnest beaches in town with volleyball, abseiling, children’s story telling and junior Baywatch just some of the great activities the beach has to offer. A number of different festivals take place on the beach during the year to add to even more great activities on offer.

Porth Beach – the beaches large tidal reach creates a large expanse of sand, ideal for those looking to create sand castles. The beach flanked by cliffs does not allow surfing and bans dogs from the beach.

Tolcarne Beach – makes up one of the four town centre beaches, the other being Great Western, Harbour and Towan. The beach is popular among families.

Towan Beach – located next to the quay, Towan is the most sheltered beach in Newquay. It has become popular with those you just want to sit back, relax and watch the world go by.

Watergate Bay – one of the largest beaches in the area with over 2 miles of golden sand gently lapped by a beautiful blue sea. As well as being picturesque the beach is great for people who like there extreme sports. The Extreme Academy at Watergate Bay is an outdoor sports centre who offers training, demonstrations and events for a range of sports.

Whipsiderry Beach – is found in a sheltered cove at Porth headland. The beach can only be accessed at low tide as at high tide it is totally submerged.

Fistral Beach – the most famous of all Newquay beaches, Fistral is at the heart of the town. Fistral is regarded as one of the premier beaches for surfing in the whole of Europe and regularly attracts thousands to try its waves. Each year the beach plays host to the Broadmaster festival, the largest skate, surf and music festival in Europe. As well as surfing Fistral’s waters are also ideal for a number of other water sports. Many Newquay hotels are just a stones throw from the beach meaning you can go from your hotel to the beach in a matter of minuets.