Monthly Archives: October 2009

Isle of Wight things to do: Butterfly World

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Welcome back to blog two about the wonderful attraction on the Isle of Wight that you might not have heard about. Our last travel blog was all about the Fired Art centre that allowed you to create and design your own works of art.

Now it’s time for a little treat for all of you insect fans reading this blog. The butterfly farm is a treat for anyone who loves these little winged creatures. Butterfly world is your chance to see hundreds of butterflies of all size and colour flying freely around a natural environment.

This is becoming a massively popular attraction and is a great source of information and a chance to see these stunning beauties first hand. This wonderful undercover attraction features some really exotic flying friends as well as a Chinese Painted Quail eating all the uninvited insects.

Information is at every step of the way, with regular talks and leaflets to quench your thirst for information and provide a great insight to the world of the butterfly.

You can also snap up some great gifts for your friends and family in the large gift shop that is on offer and as you can imagine there is a massive butterfly theme.

There is also a wonderful garden centre for all of you green fingered enthusiasts that like to dabble in nature.

For the little ones there is a delightfully themed small world to keep theme entertained and amused at the nicely themed and well presented. This is a well themed dark fairytale setting with complimentary mood lighting and a wonderful array of animals and characters and scenes featuring clowns and pirates.

For a great day out during one of your Isle of Wight breaks make sure you visit Butterfly World.

Winter Holidays in Scotland

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Winter in Scotland doesn’t just mean wrapping up warm. As with many places, there are plenty of celebrations and events to chase away the winter gloom.

Glasgow, for instance, has its lights switched on each year in a magnificent display. The Christmas tree, George square and even the sky itself (courtesy of fireworks) are lit up for the gathered onlookers, whilst street entertainers and festive music entertain everybody present.

Afterwards, and until January 3rd, the open air ice rink ‘Glasgow on Ice’ will be open for the public, allowing for a truly wintery experience. Ice skating and cold evenings out watching fireworks are then perfectly complimented by an evening spent in self catering cottages in Scotland, wrapped up cosy and warm.

Skiing is also a possibility during the winter, and Scotland boasts an array of slopes. Glencoe, in Argyll, can offer you days of snow sports and give you a convenient base of operations in one of the many Argyll cottages.

With a higher chance of snow than many parts of England, if you want a real winter holiday, Scotland might be a great choice.

Isle of Wight things to do: Fired Art

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Welcome, to the first in a series of blogs about great things to do on the Isle of Wight. These blogs will highlight and inform you of some hidden gems that you might not find in local tourist attractions and your Isle of Wight Hotel might not be aware of.

The first on our list of things to do is the Fired Art Ceramic Café. This is a must see place if you are looking for something that is creative and fun for the family. This family run attraction runs workshops for all age groups making it a lot of fun. The workshops teach you all about the different aspects of ceramic art including slip moulds, thumb pots, plaques and jewellery. The workshops will also allow you to find out about he use of colour as well as the different types of glazes that can be used.

You also have the opportunity to purchase some of these wonderful one off pieces that have been created there.

The website features a section of How Fired Art Works of you want more information now. The café onsite is also a great destination for parties of all kinds and they even offer evening parties.

Lover of Jewellery? Then this is your chance to make your own. The Fired Art Ceramic Café offers a new and exciting Bead Bar for those looking fro something a little different. This is a great opportunity for those of you who like something original and would make a great Christmas present for friends and family.

If you are not of a creative disposition then why not opt for the Commission fired art? Get your designs produced to your exact requirements.

For more information about Fired Art Ceramic Café then email: firedart@btconnect.com now.

Isle of Wight Wax Works

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So much to do and so little time, so you will be forgiven for not having enough time to do everything that is on offer whilst enjoying your Holiday Accommodation Shanklin based break.

There is one thing that I would suggest that you do before you leave to make your trip that little bit special: ‘Brading the Experience’. This is a great chance for you to see first hand some of the most original wax works on the Isle of Wight. This delightful little attraction is run by an Islander who has developed the museum to be a wonderful tourist attraction. The attraction also now includes the World of Wheels, a stunningly themed café serving homemade delights and an outlet store and gift shop.

You will find a wonderful array of famous faces in the wax works that include such figures as Queen Victoria, Princess Diana and Sir Winston Churchill with his last car the 1964 Hilman Husky – a must for anyone keen on the Great British Empire.

The Chambers of Torture is a great place for those wanting something a little more gruesome. Featuring some of the most painful and violent deaths known to man. You will be able to see first hand, severed heads, burning to death. fingernail torture, rat torture, the death pit, and the whipping wheel to name a small fraction of what you can expect.

For all of you who love all things engine related, the museum offers the ‘World of Wheels’. A collection of steam tractors and vintage cars, there is bound to be something for everyone.

Head over to the Isle of Wight for your next holiday and see for yourselves what is on offer.

Top 6 self catering holiday tips

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Families enjoying self catering holiday

Foray into the world of self catering holidays and you won’t be disappointed. Eradicate the time restrictions put on you and your family for meal times, save the disappointment of a limiting and repetitive menu choice, avoid having to share your table with the family from hell. Self catering holidays give you the ultimate freedom and flexibility. For families and large groups, staying in a self catering cottage can often end up a much more affordable option than hotels and it also accommodates the entire party size, rather than splitting it up per room. Children can be put to bed to co inside with their normal routine and adults can continue to socialise together long into the evening in a most enjoyable and safe environment. If you are considering self catering for the first time then here are a few handy tips to get you started:

  • Decide where you and your party want to stay. It goes without saying but choosing the destination, what the area has to offer and how accessible it is will make the difference between a great holiday and not such a great holiday. Search the length and breadth of the country from Self catering cottages in Northumberland to Cornwall and the Cotswolds to compare counties and what’s on offer.
  • Search for cottages that meet your requirement. Once you have agreed on your destination look for cottages that will best suit you and your parties requirements. Popular requests tend to be the following:  ‘pets welcome, ‘nearby pub’, ‘Wood burner’, ‘cot available’ ‘garden’ ‘parking’ etc. Make sure the cottage accommodates your party size and fits your criteria best.
  • Agree prior to travelling who will be sleeping where to avoid disappointment and arguments on arrival. If you are holidaying with another party it is advisable to all agree on whose sleeping where to avoid unnecessary conflict at the start of your holiday.
  • Find out prior to leaving the properties details. Reputable cottage lettings will have an array of entertainment in the property from board games to cards to a choice of DVD’s. If there is anything you know you will want whilst on holiday that isn’t stated then the chances are it isn’t there, make sure you pack it to save disappointment.
  • Shopping. Talk to any experienced ‘self caterer’ and they each have their own views on shopping. I would suggest getting the essentials at your own local supermarket (car space permitting) and then topping up once settled into your cottage. There is nothing worse after a long drive to be faced with no milk and tea bags for a fresh brew. Often cottages won’t be that close to amenities so a dedicated trip will have to be made once there. Even more reason to bring as much as you can initially.
  • Work out who’s cooking, when and what. It may sound a little military but again, this saves arguments once there and lets everyone know what is expected of them. Make sure you allow for at least one breakfast, lunch and dinner out so you get to experience some local places and everyone gets a rest from the domestic chores.

Once you start your self catering holiday search you will be faced with an array of companies all competing and a host of businesses that could steer you away from what your criteria is. So if your party has decided on self catering in Northumbria, make sure you don’t end up with a package holiday in Cyprus.

What Really Goes in a Cornish Pasty?

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Cornish pastys (PAST-ies. I heard some American tourists pronouncing it PASTE-ie once) are known throughout the UK and are a staple of a family holiday in Cornwall. But what should really go in a Cornish pasty?

A friend of mine remains adamant that a pasty should never contain carrots, and if it does, it’s definitely not a Cornish pasty. Yet I have had pasties with carrots in advertised as traditional Cornish pasties.

Of course, this friend also maintained that he was a train which people followed to the pub whenever he blew a whistle, so who’s going to believe anything he says?

Throughout the history of Cornwall though, pasties have had whatever was available stuffed in them. You can’t be picky about what you eat when you have to go and mine tin every day! This even resulted in a little piece of folklore claiming that the Devil would never cross the Tamar (the river that marks the Cornish border) for fear he’d be placed in a pasty himself.

This seemed to lose its truth at some point, and for a while all you could buy was one of the many forms of the ‘Traditional Cornish Pasty’, Cheese and Onion pasties, or, occasionally, a steak pasty.

Now though, with shops that sell pasties and nothing else, we’re getting back to being able to shove anything in them. Spicy chicken pasties, chickpea and lentil pasties, pork and apple pasties, I even had a chocolate and banana pasty a few weeks ago, but then I went to a funfair and it, combined with the rides, made me feel a bit ill.

So, anything can go in a pasty, it seems, as long as it stays edible. Why not book a stay in one of the self catering cottages in Cornwall and see what recipes you can make whilst there? Book a Christmas holiday and have mince pasties instead of pies.

A Magical Spot in Devon

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In the UK, is there any spot more magical, more serene, more beautiful than the Gnome Reserve?

Probably.

How about in Devon?

Yeah, there are probably more magical places in Devon too.

There is not, however, anywhere more magical, more serene and more beautiful in West Putford than the Gnome Reserve.

A haven for plants and wildlife, this mini-attraction has ecological thought at its heart, but with the added eccentricity that only a collection of over a thousand garden gnomes can bring.

Upon arrival, visitors don their gnomish hats and gnomish fishing rods, which allow them to better fit in amongst the gnomes. The necessity of this can not be exaggerated; if the gnomes see humans they will bolt. Only by making them believe visitors are travelling gnomes can the reserve continue to operate. Luckily, gnomes are a little dim and very self-obsessed, and don’t notice the difference in size.

The park also plays host to over two hundred and fifty species of wild plant, providing excellent cover for the gnomes, and excellent spotting opportunities for botanists.

As part of a UK beach holiday, the gnome reserve can make up part of an entertaining day out, but it is only open for the rest of the month so, should you want to make a trip to it as part of a family holiday this year, you’d better hurry.

A beginner’s guide to Pembrokeshire National Park.

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Puffins seen off the coast of Pembrokeshire

Ever considered a short break in Pembrokeshire? No? Well, allow me to change your mind. Let’s start with how accessible it is. Located in South West Wales, London is just 4 hours away, Birmingham 3.5, the Severn Bridge 2 hours and Cardiff a mere 1.5 hours. Strong access to Britain’s motorway links really does make it a place worth visiting wherever you reside.

Pembrokeshire Coast National Park boasts some of the most breathtaking views and diverse range of wildlife in the UK. Covering 240 square miles and with a coastline stretching 258 miles long it really is something to marvel. It has little islands just off the coastline that can be accessed by boat, you’ll get to see puffins and gannets and admire the panoramic views. Walks, biking, golf, fishing are all par for the course, coupled with quaint little villages and the more bustling towns like Tenby, your trip is sure to be full and varied. Of all the things that can be experienced, here is just a snippet for you

  1. Cilgerran Castle: Steeped in history this castle which was first mentioned back in 1164 overlooks the River Teifi. An imposing masonry castle not to be missed.
  2. Melin Tregwynt Mill: Gives you a chance to watch traditional weaving in process and offers a unique shopping experience for its visitors from individual throws to stylish blankets and lampshades. Located in a beautifully remote wooden valley on the Pembrokeshire coast line.
  3. Strumble Head and Fishguard: The closest point to Ireland from Wales, this magnificent headland boasts stunning views of the coastline. Blow the cobwebs away with a walk there and back. You will not regret it.
  4. Skomer Island: Located in St Brides Bay off the West coast of Pembrokeshire, regular boat trips are held to get there where you will see a wide variety of plants and birds.
  5. Celtic Haven Spa: After all the great outdoor pursuits, you may wish to unwind and relax in the only Elemis Premier spa in West Wales. Choose from a range of therapies and treatments on offer.

Choose to stay in one of a wide range of Pembrokeshire Cottages to make your stay truly memorable.

Spend this half term exploring the Scottish Borders!

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Family holiday in Scottish Borders

Half term is looming, and for all those parents who have only just recovered from the long summer holiday and are at a loss as to how to entertain the family for another full week, you have come to the right place. As winter sets in with the dreaded dark nights and rainy days why not pack you and your family off for a fun filled week staying in a Scottish Borders cottage and exploring the countryside surrounding it? ‘But the weather will be just as bad if not worse’ I hear you say, this may be the case, but where land and sea, moors and hills all cohabit to become a truly spectacular area of beauty, this really is the place to visit come rain or shine. Plus, it’s a far cry from the same four walls of your home. So what are you waiting for?

Things to do

Aside from the vast array of forest and woodland areas where cycling and walking is a must, try Craik Forest, Yair Forest and Cragbank wood to blow the cobwebs away,  here is a list (not definitive) but a start to help you plan your half term week in the Scottish borders so it is truly unforgettable for the whole family:

  1. Wildlife Discovery Centre: Get to see puffins, gannets and much more at the award winning 5 Star Scottish Sea Bird Centre, North Bewick, Scotland.
  2. Chain Bridge Honey Farm, Berwick upon Tweed: Get to see bees at work in a special glass observation hive and learn all about their activity. The kids will be ‘buzzing’ with enthusiasm.
  3. Jedforest Deer and Farm Park, Jedburgh, Scotland. Visit this working farm where they have everything from bottle feeding the lambs to bird of prey demonstrations. This really is a wonderful day out.
  4. Gunsgreen House Museum, Eyemouth. Learn all about the smugglers trade and the influences it had on the town, fascinating for adults and kids alike.
  5. The Place to Potter: Peebles, Scotland. Turn your hand at decorating some fine pottery. Kids will love it and you’ll get to sip tea or coffee whilst they go to town.

Book a Cottage in the Scottish Border soon to avoid disappointment and don’t forget to pack your Macs and Wellies.