Your Primary Resource for Travel Information.
September 26th, 2009 admin
There are many great things about the Isle of Wight, the ongoing events that happen through out the year, the music festivals that have become legendary, the quaint little villages that populate the island and the areas of outstanding beauty that are well looked after and maintained.
With so many areas of outstanding beauty you will be forgiven if you don’t get to seee all of these areas in just one visit. It’s something worth doing and worth doing well so I recommend that you take your time to see what the island has to offer.
One great way to see the Isle of Wight is by cycle. What a great way to see the wildlife and flowers that populate this scenic destination. A long cycle provides the ideal transport to see a vast amount of the island in a detail that would often be missed in a car journey. A nice picnic provides an ideal rest stop and breather for those who want a sit down and a sandwich. The Isle offers many designated cycle paths so you will not have to contend with any motor traffic.
By foot is the other option we recommend to see the Isle of Wight. A leisurely stroll around the Isle is a great reason for a day out in the sunshine. A slow walk around the Island exploring what the is on offer will really allow you to get to experience nature first hand. Following the vast network of footpaths that the Isle of Wight has to offer you will be amazed at the routes you have to choose from. Why not stop for some tea and biscuits when out and about or stop for a picnic and relax and watch the world go by.
If, like many other people you are looking to visit the Isle of Wight for a walking holiday then you will need some accommodation. Hotel Shanklin based accommodation is available and there are a range of Shanklin Hotels from you to choose from.
Posted in isle of wight | No Comments »
September 25th, 2009 Alex
Awkward and unwieldy titles aside, summing up the top three things I’d recommend people do in Devon isn’t an easy task. Despite having a reputation as a sleepy, relaxed county, there’s a lot you can do here.
In other blog entries, we’ve mentioned the obvious (beach trips. Devon means beach trips), as well as those that not many people know about (hot air balloon rides. Devon means… wait, what?). But here I had to choose three. Three places that let you enjoy England.
No point in delaying, is there?
The name is misleading. I mean, technically, Combe Martin Wildlife and Dinosaur Park is a park with wildlife and (animatronic) dinosaurs, but it’s really not the dinosaurs you should be visiting here. Don’t get me wrong; they’re impressive, but the genuinely living, breathing animals are what you should be paying attention to.
Let’s list them, partly because we can and partly to give you a look at the variety you get:-
- Sealions.
- Lemurs (Ringtailed, Black and White Ruffed, and Red Ruffed).
- Monkeys (Goeldi’s, Cotton Top Tamarins, Brown Capuchins, and White-faced Sakis. I’ll be honest and admit I got this list of their website, and I had to look most of them up on wikipedia, despite having seen them in the flesh not that long ago).
- Raccoons.
- Wolves (and Sean Ellis).
- Meerkats.
- Lions.
- Otters.
- Birds of Prey (hawks, falcons, and owls, including a huge Eagle owl).
- Birds not of Prey (parrots of various kinds).
- Jackass Penguins.
- Probably some others, but this is getting long and I can’t remember anything else.
- (Wallabies)
The park at the moment is particularly interesting because the animals have been spurting out babies over the summer. There are otter pups, wolf cubs, meerkittens (There’s not an interesting name for baby meerkats, as far as I know), and penguin chicks. The penguin chicks took their first swim a couple of weeks ago. I happen to know that a video was taken, and if I can get a copy on youtube, I’ll edit this post to include it.
There are two other things that make the park unique. The first is that it’s the only place in the UK where you can swim with sea mammals, unless you want to track them down in the ocean and try it there. I don’t think that’s recommended.
There are also daily shows with the sea lions, where they show off their behaviours (they are definitely not called tricks, see a show and you’ll understand), or Meet and Greet sessions where you can see Morgan, one of the two sea lions, up close. They’ll even give you a peck on the cheek.
The second is wolves. Big, scary wolves. They have big, scary teeth. You can see wolves in other places in the UK though. What makes Combe Martin special is that they’re managed by Shaun Ellis, who it’s possible you may have seen in one of the documentaries about him.
Essentially, Shaun lived in with wolves at the park for a year and a half as part of their pack, and he didn’t get eaten. He now lives alongside the wolf enclosure and regularly gives talks there. (Edit: I’ve been informed that Mr. Ellis no longer lives on-site, but still works there most days.)
It’s incredible.
Right, I’ve spent quite a few words on Combe Martin, so a quick recap:
- A large variety of interesting and/or cute animals.
- Swimming with Sea Lions.
- Wolves and a man who lived among them.
What’s next?
My mum once called somebody during a birthday outing to the Big Sheep. That somebody didn’t live in Devon. They asked her where she was, because the people yelling and cheering and having a good time in the background were quite obvious. She explained she was at the Big Sheep and they proceeded to laugh.
To some people, the fact Devon has an adventure park called The Big Sheep is funny. Those people can stuff it. The Big Sheep is awesome, no matter your age. When I was younger, the birthday parties were great, and now that I’m older, I can write a blog post explaining why I still enjoy it.
Advertised as one of the best family tourist attractions in Devon on their pun-riddled website (”Ewetopia” the indoor play area, “the best day of your holiday… baa none!”, the “Ewe-ro”, a currency for the park. The list goes on), The Big Sheep is genuinely family orientated, and good all year round.
Most kids gravitate towards the indoor play area, which is fine. It’s soft, safe, there are staff nearby, and they all have a grand time.
Meanwhile, you can head to the brewery, get a take-out keg (in 18, 36 and 72 pint sizes) and go and bet on the sheep races.
And sheep races are exactly what they are; sheep, accompanied by little woollen jockeys, race around a track. Bets are taken by Honest Joe and the whole thing is highly enjoyable, made only better by the brewery.
I want to take the time here to point out that this is not what life in Devon is actually like, but that doesn’t stop this being completely awesome.
The Big Sheep also has the nursery barn. It’s got baby animals. They’re cute. Whereas Combe Martin Wildlife Park has penguins, wolves and raccoons, The Big Sheep has lambs, puppies, kittens, chicks, piglets and more. I’m tempted to advocate a trip to the brewery before this too, but I’d be worried about what you’ll start to think of me.
We’re getting to the point where the whole thing is getting a bit long again, so I’m going to quickly list other activities. There’re sheep shearing demonstrations, duck trials (collies rounding up Indian Runners. It’s genuinely entertaining and informative), pony rides and Battlefield Live.
Battlefield Live is interesting. I hadn’t really looked into it until I started writing this, and now I really want to go. I’d kind of written it off before, as it’s one of those laser gun games advertised as paintball without the pain. I’ve never seen why you’d do this instead of paintball. Then I started reading.
For £30 per person, you get a three to four hour game session, complete with radio headset communications equipment, two smoke grenades for every player, proper missions involving caches of equipment or VIPs, and seven acres of game area strewn with buildings and disabled vehicles. To make this even better, you can get a keg from the brewery (this is actually suggested on their website, so I’m not to blame for that one). You also get entry to the Big Sheep itself included in the price. It’s things like this that make the inner child in me sick with excitement. Exactly the sort of games you’d run around playing with sticks and yelling “pew pew” but upscaled to use thousands of pounds worth of equipment.
Hopefully, that’s all shown you that this place can offer a great day out for people of any age whatever the weather. Oh, and I didn’t even mention the events they’ll be running soon in autumn and winter. Oh well.
A sudden change. From animals, drinking, betting and laser guns to the ancient weather-monitoring devices, barometers. Bear with me though.
If you’re willing to travel to the small village of Merton on a day when Mr. Phillip Collins is in the museum (phone ahead to check), then you will have a chance to talk to one of the world’s foremost experts on Barometers, potentially even seeing the workshop in use (Edit: My mistake. The workshop is in fact purely for restoration, and not open to the public).
Admittedly, this is not for everyone. Not everybody is going to find themselves interested by the subject. Not everybody is going to enjoy learning about barometers, their history, the minutiae of how they work, the advancements made over time, or their use in maritime life. It’s all a bit nerdy.
Actually, it’s not a bit nerdy, it’s very nerdy.
But it’s fascinating! If you are the sort of person who can spend a day absorbing knowledge about something and find it interesting and enjoyable, then Barometer World is one of the gems hidden around the country. It might be odd for some people (Lenny Henry used Barometer World in a mock ‘Exciting things to do in Devon’-type skit. He had a point, really), but to others, it’s enthralling.
They even have a working copy of the leech barometer, or ‘The Tempest Prognosticator‘, a “gold plated exhibit of Victorian eccentricity” that uses leeches to predict storms. Click that link and read it. It’s brilliant.
Well, that was quite a bit longer than I intended, and there’s a lot of information stuffed in there. If you want to ask about anything mentioned here, then either visit the websites or drop a comment here. If you do the latter, I’ll try my hardest to answer.
I hope this has been helpful to you, or at least entertaining.
- Alex Douglas-Mann
All images reproduced with the consent of the owners.
Posted in Advice, attractions | 1 Comment »
September 24th, 2009 Alex
As a break from our usual posts, we thought we’d throw in something a little different and, we thought, ridiculous.
When you go on holiday, a degree of comfort is important to your enjoyment, but we think you’ll agree that some people are taking it a little too far.
It’s not just the size of the thing that’s ridiculous (imagine driving that into a UK caravan park, let alone being able to get it on some of our country roads), but the amount of money spent on the interior. Most homes don’t have a 42 inch HD televison, or a bluray player to go with it.
And what’s wrong with a coolbox? Do you really need a 2 drawer freezer? A coffee machine? A garbage disposal unit?
With its marble floored galley (it is honestly described as a galley), extra-large bath, and leather interior, we can’t see a reason that you’d actually want to leave this place, and that’s not what should happen when you’re in the sort of beautiful area that staying in, for instance, a Devon holiday park would put you in.
It’s not just the Americans doing it, though, there are German companies offering a similar service, except that these include a parking space for your car! Once again, you’re offered a leather and wood interior, and get separate living, sleeping, kitchen and bathing areas, which themselves are decorated with marble and granite.
Call us crazy, but we’ve always thought that a holiday should be a more down to Earth affair, involving barbecues, walks, swimming and ice creams, not driving to a serene location and sitting inside, doing exactly what you’d do at home.
Now, if you were to offer us half of the features those luxury RVs have, but fitted in our own homes? That would be a different story entirely…
Posted in Uncategorized, caravan, holiday parks | No Comments »
September 22nd, 2009 Ben
There is a famous Welsh poem mentioning the Seven Wonders of Wales written by an unknown author along time ago. Not everyone who visits these wonders though agree that these are the finest in Wales which has arisen to many alternative lists. Here is our alternative Seven Wonders of Wales which would make a great visit during a short cottage break in Wales.
Pembroke Castle
The huge Pembroke Castle sits next to a very picturesque mill pond. Largely restored in the Victorian era much of the castle still remains today, including the impressive gate house and round keep. The walled town of Pembroke has sprung up around the castle.
National Botanic Gardens of Wales
See the truly beautiful gardens on display here at the National Botanic Gardens of Wales. Some of the displays of British and more exotic flowers will take your breathe away and are well worth a visit.
Caldey Island
Along the Pembrokeshire coastline the Isle of Caldey is one of the holiest islands in Britain. The island is home to an order of Cistercian monks who have continued a thousand year tradition of prayer and tranquility on the island.
Gower Peninsula
The Gower Peninsula is one of the most beautiful places in all of Wales; in fact it was the very first area of Wales to be awarded an AONB (Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty).
Snowdon
Home to one of the most famous mountains in all of the British Isle Snowdon is a hugely beautiful and popular destination. Snowdonia National Park is the largest of the three National Parks in Wales.
Pembrokeshire Coastline
The Pembrokeshire coastline is regarded as one of the most beautiful stretches of coastline anywhere in the British Isles. The stretch of coastline has been deemed so important it was given the countries only predominantly coastal National Park in order to protect this beautiful area for generations to come.
Cardiff
The capital of Wales is quickly establishing itself as one of the premier city destinations in the country thanks to its mix of fantastic sporting venues, great entertainment centers, fantastic eateries and superb shopping.
Posted in Destinations | 2 Comments »
September 22nd, 2009 admin
Derbyshire and the Peak District are home to a number of fantastic towns each with their own charms and attractions. These are just a few of the most popular towns to visit amongst people taking a Peak District Holiday, there are many more great towns in the area to see.
Alfreton
Just 14 miles to the north east of Derby lays the market town of Alfreton. Legend has it that the town is named after the English King, Alfred the Great.
Ashbourne
The town of Ashbourne, also known as ‘The Gateway to Dovedale’ is great for shopping especially antiques, though there is plenty more to the town than this.
Bakewell
Bakewell is known to many has the home of the popular and delicious Bakewelll Tart, though in the town you can buy the original creation the Bakewell Pudding. Bakewell is also the largest market town within the National Park boarders.
Belper
The town of Belper lies with in the Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site.
Bolsover
The town of Bolsover was once well known for the ‘Bolsover Buckle’ though today it’s better known for its castle.
Buxton
The world renowned town of Buxton has seen people flock to it for century’s in order to drink and bath in its spring waters. The town’s popularity over the centuries has seen many fantastic grand buildings built around the town while the surrounding countryside is often regarded as some of the most beautiful in all of England.
Chesterfield
The old market town of Chesterfield’s most famous landmark is the crooked spire on the church of Saint Mary and All Saints. The popular town still holds a market every Monday, Friday and Saturday and a farmers market every 2nd Thursday of every month.
Glossop
The town of Glossop is often referred to as the main gateways to the Peak District. The town has an ancient history and dates back all the way to Roman times and was also an important centre during Victorian cotton industry. To celebrate this each year the town host a Victorian weekend.
Matlock
Matlock is well known for its spa treatments thanks to its spring waters. It is situated half way between Buxton and Derby and is today the commercial centre of the Derbyshire Dales.
Posted in Destinations | No Comments »
September 21st, 2009 Alex
The UK has some awesome beaches up and down the coast. West coast, East coast, South coast, Scottish coast, Welsh coast, Northern Irish coast, all of them offer swimming and more.
I’ve gathered a decent collection of stories from the UK beach holidays of my childhood, most of them ending with me being either sandy, soaked, sun burnt, or any combination of those.
I don’t think I’m anywhere near being alone in this (the amount of other families we’d run into on these cheap family holidays backs me up in this), but at some point during most summers, the big six-man tent would be loaded into the boot of the car, and we’d be driven from London to some campsite by the sea. Mostly it was Devon or Cornwall, but sometimes we’d go to Wales or somewhere along the south coast.
Anyway, once the tent had been set up, and we’d done some basic shopping, it’d be down to the beach nearly every day we were there. Whilst on the beach, there were a number of different things that could happen.
The most common occurrence is that I’d have a great day and not want to leave. What this normally resulted in was me running down the beach towards the sea once my parents decided it was time to leave. Normally, my dad would be in hot pursuit. Having just convinced me to change and get ready for the ride home, there was no way he’d let me remember how great the sea was.
More frequently than I would care to admit, I’d make it to the sea, run in and turn around to smirk at my dad, then wonder why he was stood at the edge of the water staring at something behind me. I’d look over my shoulder just in time to be knocked from my feet by some enormous wave, and get tumbled by it right up to wherever he was standing (I still don’t know how he managed to position himself this well).
After I’d been fished out of the water, I’d be led to the car where I would sit in my wet clothes, quietly and sullenly reflecting on where my hubris had led me, and slowly dripping a puddle of sea water on to the floor.
Posted in Cornwall, camping | No Comments »
September 20th, 2009 admin
Wales is lucky to be home to some of the finest coastline anywhere in the British Isles so it’s with little wonder that there are a number of fantastic coastal walks to be had. If you are heading for a short break in Wales why not try out a few of these beautiful walks.
Stackpole Quay, Wales
6.5 miles (3 hours)
Up and down walking to begin with but eventually levels as you reach the ornamental lake.
This walk takes in wild cliff tops, beautiful seabirds and a serene lake. The walk will take you to the harbour at Stackpole Quay as well as the sandy sweep of Barafundle Bay and offers some beautiful views along the way of coves, headlands and wildlife.
Porthclais, Wales
5.5 miles (3.5 hours)
Gentle walking along cliff top paths and quite country lanes.
This walks is found along the western rim of Wales and goes from open countryside to a cliff top path. The likes of St David’s cathedral, St Non’s Bay, Holy wells and the ruins of St Non’s Chapel can all be seen during this walk.
Poppit Sands, Wales
5.5 miles (3 ½ hours)
A fairly challenging walk.
This walk takes you from the shore to the soaring heights of the cliff tops, along the way it offers some stunning views across the Teifi estuary towards Cardigan Island.
Oxwich, Wales
3.5 miles (2 hours)
Can be muddy after heavy rain, some steep and rouged sections.
This is an invigorating walk taking in wooded headland and offers sea views as well as the chance to see a secluded Norman Church and beautiful Tudor mansion.
Posted in walking | No Comments »
September 19th, 2009 Alex
South Devon is full of places to go and things to do whilst you’re there on holiday. So many, in fact, that you may find yourself overwhelmed by the choices. Luckily for you, we’ve put together a list of ten activities for you to look at, highlighting some of the best.
- Cycling - The Coast to Coast route runs from North Devon into south Devon, ending at Plymouth. A trip from or to Okehampton or Plymouth will give you a great day out.
- Horse Riding - Dartmoor is a fantastic place for a trek. The valleys and hills offer spectacular views, and there are routes suitable for riders of any skill level.
- Hot Air Balloon Rides - If you happen to be enjoying a Torbay holiday, then you might want to take advantage of the availability of rides in a Hot Air Balloon. Available at other locations around south Devon as well, riding to heights of up to 3000 feet is not something many people expect from a Devon holiday.
- Golf - If you prefer to keep your feet planted firmly on the ground, then the multitude of golf courses throughout south Devon might appeal to you. Many also include driving ranges and putting greens, so now might be the time to make a start to your golfing career if you’ve never played before.
- Walking - Devon has many beautiful walks and areas to travel through. With an abundance of public footpaths and coastal walks, both hikers and gentle strollers can find something that is to their tastes.
- Beaches - South Devon is well-known for its beautiful beaches, and with those come a whole host of activities. Surfing, jet skiing, sailing, windsurfing or just simple sunbathing are all available. Accommodation near or even on the beach front is often available. Renting a cottage or booking in at a Torbay holiday park can severely reduce the distance you have to walk to reach a beach.
- Fishing - Continuing the water-based activities, we move on to fishing. South Devon has not only fish-filled rivers and the sea, but also a large number of fisheries to take advantage of.
- Outdoor Paintball or Laser Games - If competitive, combat-orientated sports are more up your street, then paintball or laser games should appeal.
- Bird Watching or Wildlife Spotting - Something a bit quieter. Given the diversity of habitats available in south Devon, and the conservation efforts that take place, there are plenty of areas to go and try to find some of the wonderful creatures that the UK acts as a home to.
- Boat Trips - One of the best boat trips you could take would be up the River Dart, though harbour tours or sea trips, especially for fishing, are also available.
We hope that this has helped you narrow down what you want to do in south Devon, and we look forward to hearing about you enjoying your holiday.
Posted in fun | 1 Comment »
September 18th, 2009 Alex
One of the biggest advantages of renting Northumberland cottages is the closeness of Lindisfarne. And one of the biggest advantages of Lindisfarne can be summed up in two words: Lindisfarne Mead.
For those of you not familiar with mead, you’ve really no excuse; it’s been around for around nine-thousand years. Are you really going to tell me you’ve never had the opportunity to try it for all that time? It’s been drunk by monks, Vikings, the ancient Greeks and Chinese, featured in epic poems, films, stories and songs, and had halls built specifically for its consumption, but you haven’t had it. Really? Really?
Well, fine. You haven’t had mead. That’s fine. Nobody is going to judge you for it. Not if you don’t tell them anyway. That’s a good plan. Don’t tell anybody that you’ve never drunk mead; then they can’t ridicule you.
But what happens when somebody brings it up in conversation? What then? How can you cover up your complete lack of knowledge about mead? I mean, I’ve given you some small facts, but can you spin those into a thorough knowledge?
Let’s face it: you can’t.
Luckily for you, I’m presenting an alternative. There’s a huge amount of cottages to rent in Northumberland, and Northumberland has Lindisfarne, and you know what Lindisfarne has?
That’s right.
Mead.
Only the best mead is brewed on the burial sites of dead saints, and only the best mead is brewed on the sites of Viking attacks and invasions.
So what about mead that’s brewed on the site of both dead saints and Viking invasions?
That’s right.
It’s double best!
A holiday to Northumbria isn’t complete without a trip to Lindisfarne. The island has a lot to offer, and although you do owe it to yourself to take a trip to the brewery and sample some mead, the seal and bird colonies aren’t to be overlooked. Of course, there’s no reason why you can’t drink mead whilst looking at seals and birds. In fact, there’s no reason you can’t drink mead whilst doing most things. In fact, I’m going to get myself some mead right now. Right now!
Enjoy mead responsibly.
Posted in Destinations, attractions, northumberland | No Comments »
September 16th, 2009 Alex
Only this year, though.
The multi-award winning Bestival, one of the Isle of Wight’s many annual music festivals, has been going for five years now. You’ve missed it this year, but given its success there’s no reason that you couldn’t take the opportunity to visit next year.
The volume of festivals and carnivals are an excellent reason to consider Isle of Wight holidays, but with Bestival winding up last Sunday, let’s review that to see exactly what you were missing.
Headliners this year were Massive Attack, Kraftwerk and Elbow, each of which gave a spectacular performance to those near the stage, but sound problems on the Friday and Sunday meant that for those further back, Massive Attack and Elbow were lost amongst the sound drifting over from the other tents. Kraftwerk, on Saturday, avoided these problems, and gave a spectacular performance.
In addition to the mix of headliners, performances from Lily Alan, Florence and the Machine, the Fleet Foxes and Seasick Steve, as well as DJs Zane Lowe, Annie Mac and Rob da Bank, meant that the variety of music available at Bestival was truly eclectic; something that the festival aspires to.
Every year there is also a theme, and punters are encouraged to dress up to match it. This year’s was space, and even the bands took part, with Elbow’s Guy Garvey telling the crowd they wouldn’t get an encore unless they hummed the Star Trek theme tune.
Although camping space is available, and the festival organisers provide a selection of gypsy caravans, yurts, squrts, cloudhouses, podpads and bellepads for visitors, there’re plenty of other options for Isle of Wight accommodation available. Hotels or Bed and Breakfasts guarantee you a degree more comfort and the opportunity to shower each day. It also means avoiding the festival toilets, at least some of the time.
Remember that Bestival isn’t the only music festival on the Isle of Wight either, and if you want something different you’ll probably be able to find it. If, on the other hand, it does sound like your type of thing, then I’m glad to have been of service.
Posted in Festivals, camping, isle of wight | 2 Comments »
