Monthly Archives: October 2009

Calling all bird watchers to the Holy Island

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Birds Migrating

Lindisfarne, or the Holy Island as people often call it, has a national reputation as a wildlife haven, home to a wealth of rare bird breeds and a national nature reserve. Access is available just twice a day at low tides by means of a 3 mile long causeway, built in 1954. The island is within the Northumberland Coast, classed as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and most parts of the island are protected by the National Nature Reserve to help safeguard the internationally important wintering bird population.

If you appreciate the great outdoors and have a penchant for birds then choose from a wealth of cottages to rent in Northumberland and get your binoculars packed. Species which the reserve is responsible for protecting include Pale bellied Brent Goose, a small goose, about 60 cm long with a short, stubby bill. The Wigeon, a dabbling duck, the Teal, Pintail, Dunlin and the Bar Tailed Godwit, a large wader in the family Scolopacidae, to name but a few.

Due to its location, the Holy Island makes a wonderful place for observing migrating birds arriving from the East, some of which include large numbers of Redwing and Fieldfare both part of the thrush family and the more sparser species like the Siberian birds including the Yellow Browed Warblers, one of the smallest “Old World warblers”, 9.5-10 cm long, its song is weak and high pitched and the call faintly disyllabic.

A total of 300 species of birds have been recorded on Holy Island and the reserve, with some of the rarest species included like Radde’s Warbler, Dusky Warbler and Red Flanked Bluetail, a small passerine bird that was formerly classed as a member of the thrush family Turdidae, The area therefore is not surprisingly popular with bird watchers coming far and wide each year to spot species and it is widely recognised as a place not to be missed on any bird watchers diary with Autumn and Winter the ideal time to go. Booking from one a host of Northumberland cottages as your retreat each night will provide you all the homely comforts you’ll need after a day of Autumnal weather and bird watching on the Holy Island.

Trekking in the Atlas Mountains

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atlas mountains

If you’re anything like me you may have considered taking a more adventurous holiday than the usual ones frequented. As much as reclining on a sun lounger for a week in Majorca may be some people’s idea of an idyllic holiday, just how many of those can you do before you get a little fatigued by it all? Not that I would refuse the holiday if it was offered to me (on a plate), its just every now and then I feel there must be something more rewarding, something more exhilarating, and of course there is. Not that I have got as far as booking one, but (and it’s a big but) I am closer than I ever was before having spent some invaluable time researching the multitude of adventure holidays available to us mere mortals these days.

Top of my list is trekking in the Atlas Mountains.  This was an easy one for me as I went to Marrakech (Morrocco) a few years ago and sampled all the delights it had to offer. From the startling scenery to the rich colours and vibrant cultures, it is a place that really does fill your senses, so much so I never actually got out of the city. I would hear about the Atlas Mountains from the local Souk owners and they would often call me and my girlfriends ‘Berber women’, something I would later learn to be a woman of the Atlas Mountains, inherently strong and more self sufficient than their urban counterparts (it was a compliment after all).

Although there are numerous Moroccan Holidays to take, from the city breaks to the coastal explorations, I would choose the Atlas Mountains. A short drive from the red walled city of Marrakesh, it promises to be a million miles away from the chaotic streets of the city, a haven of peace. Once there, numerous villages and trails wait to be discovered by foot. Trekking up routes that are guaranteed to be zig zaggy, steep and narrow I am sure this wouldn’t be for the faint hearted but after a few days of ascending the promise of views stretching from the Atlantic Ocean to the Sahara dessert are surely not to be scoffed at.

Research has educated me enough to know when I come to book my adventure holiday I will ensure I choose an experienced adventure travel company to co-ordinate my trip allowing me to see a mix of cultural experiences and ‘must see’ highlights, without any of the hassle of organising it myself.

Fishing in Pembrokeshire

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The coast of Pembrokeshire is excellent for a number of things. Swimming, visiting beaches, any number of water sports, and, of course, fishing.

Fishing is something that many people find dull and uninteresting, but if you have the patience and devotion to really commit to it, it can be very rewarding.

Booking one of the coastal cottages in Wales can be the perfect start to your own fishing trip. With a week to spare, you’ll be able to try plenty of different locations, and with one of the self-catering luxury cottages in Wales waiting for you, you can cook what you catch!

Fishing isn’t just relaxing at the seaside or riverbank though, when you’re by the coast, why not go out for a sea fishing trips? A boat out onto the waves means you can be catching bigger and more interesting fish, and then eat them.

Of course, catching fish isn’t guaranteed, so it’s always best to make sure the cupboards of your cottage are well-stocked with other foodstuffs. But even if that does happen you’ll still have had a great day dangling a hook in some water.

Beautiful Bath

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Bath is a lovely city. I know because I’ve visited it. My trip was a little different to that of most holiday makers, as I was there to take part in a stand-up competition.

I didn’t win, but it was still had a great time because, as I said, Bath is a lovely city. Exactly the sort of city you’d walk around and think “Wow. I’d really like to take a short break in Bath.” I know because that’s what I thought when I visited Bath.

There are plenty of places to stay, from hostels to hotels, and everything in between. Bed and Breakfast Bath is one possibility, which is a way of saying that you want a Bed and Breakfast in Bath, rather than Bed and Breakfast in a bath, which would be weird. I stayed in a hostel, but I really wish I’d stayed in a B&B when I’d visited Bath. Did I mention that I’ve visited Bath?

The architecture of the city is probably what wow’d me the most. It really is a beautiful city. I had the pleasure of exploring and finding somewhere to eat on a wonderfully sunny summer afternoon. The parks, the river Avon running through it, and, I know I’m repeating myself but, the buildings, all come together to make one of the most beautiful cities in the UK. I would know, having visited Bath.

This is without even mentioning the baths themselves, too! I’ve never been there though, even though I’ve visited Bath. They’re probably pretty good.

Rock Climbing in Wales

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Rock climbing is an exhilarating sport, and there are plenty of places in Britain where people can give it a go. Many people choose to start off on an indoor wall, but when I was dragged out into the hills and mountains of Wales by a friend, that was not a luxury I had.

Whereas many people will book out one of the holiday cottages in Wales for a week, and use that as a base for exertions, we had a fairly long drive from our student accommodation to get to the designated spot.

That spot turned out to be a fifty foot cliff face, which I imagine is small fry for experienced climbers, but looked pretty massive to me.

My friend went first, setting up the metal things that get hammered into the wall that I don’t know the name of. He also set up the rope. I know the name of rope.

The climb itself was great at first. I felt like some sort of mighty climbing creature, grabbing small, jutting pieces of rock and pulling myself up. Then I began to realise that I lacked a lot of the upper body strength necessary for climbing, but managed to make up for it with my oddly dexterous feet and legs.

Then I looked down, and realised why the line “Don’t look down” became a cliché in the first place. Fear took me, and I lost my nerve. Luckily, I knew that climbing back down would be harder than going up the last ten feet (and my girlfriend at the time was watching) so I pulled myself together and scrambled up to the crest of the cliff.

I’d been to the top before, as I’d had a wander around before we began, but getting up there the hard way was so much more rewarding; I even appreciated the view more.

We sat under some trees for lunch, which I had cleverly brought along, and then my friend did a bit more climbing whilst I relaxed. As the sun began to set, and other climbers were going off to their Wales cottages, we set off once again to our small, cheap student accommodation, and slept well that night.

Brixham’s Black House

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Brixham’s reputation is that of a lovely holiday village by the sea, the perfect place to enjoy Devon holidays, but in reality, it is far from that.

Well, it isn’t far from that. Brixham is a lovely holiday village by the sea, the perfect place to enjoy Devon holidays.

But it is also spooky!

The Black House in Brixham plays host to a ghost. Mysteriously locking and unlocking doors are one of the best known occurrences, but the standard signs of haunting, including odd sounds emanating from dark corners or rooms that nobody is in, have also been reported. Ghostly footsteps too.

Every ghost has a story though, and the Black House’s is that of Squire Hilliard. In life, he had a son, and that son fell in love with a peasant girl. Squire Hilliard would not allow his son to marry the girl, and to stop it going ahead, he arranged a marriage between his son’s love and somebody of her own station.

Squire Hilliard’s son saw the two leaving the church and immediately ran off to hang himself. His father now walks around the house seeking the forgiveness of his son, hence the haunting.

People living in the house have found themselves locked out of it, or woken by strange bumps in the night.

Whilst haunted houses can provide excellent attractions, it’s easy to avoid haunted accommodation, possibly by staying in a Devon holiday park, or some other, less tragic setting. In fact, we recommend it.

Paradise Park

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So you’re visiting Cornwall on your next St Ives Cottage break? Then there is something you don’t want to miss. Of course Cornish ice creams, Cornish pasties and Cider are a great way to get a good feel for the local area, but what other experiences are there I hear you say?

Well, try this for a treat. The Paradise Park is fun for any animal lover. Established in 1973 originally as a tropical bird centre, popularity of the park has gone from strength to strength and seen many new additions come to the park such as the otters, red pandas, red squirrels and the rare Cornish Chough.

The award winning park has proven to be a big hit will all ages of visitors with a ‘Fun Farm’ for the kids and daily events will allow you to get closer to the wildlife than you ever expected. Inside the park you will also find a great range of tropical plants that thrive well in the Cornish climate.  2005 saw the opening of the greatly anticipated Jungle Barn indoor play centre providing a vast amount of entertainment for children no matter what the weather has in store.

For all of you that take a particular shine to the animals there is a opportunity that allows you to adopt an animal for a year. Prices vary depending on the size of the bird but complimentary tickets come as part of the package.

The expansion of the support for the parrots has seen the trust support groups in USA, Africa, Canada, Australia, Benelux, France, Germany, Italy, Scandinavia, and Switzerland. The funds that have been raised have totaled over £1 million and helped 23 different species of parrot.

Red squirrels also reside at the park and are in captivity due to a breeding program that is aimed at increasing their numbers and then releasing them back into the wild.

You will also find a few otters living at the park, as the destruction of their natural habitat has seen numbers fall and the park have committed their work to stabilizing dropping figures and even getting them to incline again.

For a grand day out to see red squirrels, talking birds and a lot of otters, head over to Paradise Park and make your Cornish stay a memorable one.

The Dolphins and Whales of Pembrokeshire

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Dolphins and Whales of Pembrokeshire

If you are planning on taking a short break in Wales at any time of year don’t forget to experience one of the regions finest attractions. No it’s not the breathtaking scenery or the delicious local produce, it’s the wildlife.

There is a whole fascinating range of wildlife to be seen in Pembrokeshire, many of which you will have difficulty finding anywhere else in the country. Some of these rare animals, rare to the rest of the country anyway, include the Puffin, Grey Seal and a number of different Dolphins, Whales and Porpoises.

In Cardigan Bay over a hundred Bottlenose Dolphins live there permanently along side even more of their cousins, the Harbour Porpoises. Thousands more of visiting dolphins visit the coastline each year, often they are with their young calves. Dolphins aren’t the only visitors to the Pembrokeshire coastline; different types of Whale can also be seen. Large Whales such as the Fin Whale can be seen on their way up the Irish Sea as well as some smaller whales such as the Minke Whale.

If you want to spot the Dolphins the coastline between Poppit and Fishguard is perhaps your best bet, while Porpoises can be seen between Poppit and Strumble. There are regular Whale and Dolphin watching trips which sail from St Justinians.

If you are a lover of these beautiful animals then a Pembrokeshire Cottage Holiday may be just a perfect opportunity for you to get a little closer to them.

Torbay’s Agatha Christie

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Torbay has one big thing going for it, and that’s Agatha Christie. Towering over the English Riviera at a massive three hundred feet, Christie devours all in sight. Buildings, farms, and even a Devon holiday park or two have fallen victim to her hunger.

Well, not really, but Agatha Christie’s presence can definitely be felt in the Torbay area, especially during the week-long Christie festival that takes place there once a year.

Throughout the festival, visitors can watch enactments of plays, listen to productions of her radio plays or view films and television shows of, or based off, the famous crime-writer’s work.

There are also organised trails around some of the places that Christie used to frequent, including viewings of her old house. The gardens and stations of the area are always open to the public, and many of them have even featured, though often under pseudonyms, in her work.

The town hall where she worked as a pharmacist and acquired her knowledge of poisons is still there, and Kents Cavern, which featured in ‘The Man in the Brown Suit’ as Hempsley Cavern, is open to the public. Kents Cavern is interesting on its own, but any fans of Christie’s work will undoubtedly enjoy it that little bit more.

Unfortunately, it’s over for this year, but that doesn’t mean there’s not a lot to discover on a trip to Torbay. Most of the locations, as mentioned, can always be visited. So, on your Torbay caravan holiday, why not spend the time to learn about one of the area’s most famous people?

Northumberland Tourism offer innovative ‘try before you buy’ option for Northumberland Visitors.

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Those innovative fellows over at Northumberland Tourism have come over all web 2.0 and have decided to engage with potential visitors through social media website Facebook. They are inviting those interested in visiting Northumberland to join their group and take part in their Autumn Warmth initiative. Users can view hundreds of photos that have been grouped into over 40 themed albums. In addition to that there will be fresh content promoting forthcoming events and information on the huge range of activities available to a visitor to the area.

These photo albums will give interested visitors the opportunity to get a flavour of the county before booking a holiday. It will help them to decide which area to stay in and give them ideas of all the beautiful places they could visit.

And it’s not just Northumberland Tourism that will be showcasing the county’s unique attractions. Users will be able to interact with one another and share photos and stories of their own Northumberland experiences. This could prove to be an invaluable resource for a visitor planning a trip to Northumberland as it is the ideal way to get the inside scoop on those special hidden places not mentioned in the guide books.

I think this Autumn Warmth campaign is a great idea and the ability to directly engage with Northumberland Tourism and other visitors to Northumberland is an exciting prospect. If you want to know where the best Northumberland Cottages are just ask. Other users are more inclined to give an honest opinion than a guidebook and they may even be able to post their own personal photos of the cottage they have stayed in. In addition to that they may point you in the direction of an interesting walk or deserted beach you wouldn’t have found without their help.

It’s also going to be handy having regular updates on events in the area. Too often you visit an area and see a roadside sign promoting a fair or market you would like to attend only to realise it had happened the day before. With Northumberland Tourism’s Facebook updates you can plan which events you want to attend before you go.

And if you enjoy a cottage holiday in Northumbria don’t forget to share your experiences (and your photos!) with others on Facebook when you get back home.