Monthly Archives: July 2010

Where’d the Weald Go?

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The Weald is one of the most famous features of South East England, and one of the favourite places to visit for those staying in Hotels in Sussex. Whereas now it is characterised by its diving clay valleys and climbing limestone ridges, it used to be a very different landscape.

Although the shape of the Weald has not changed much in the last five thousand years, what covered it has altered rather dramatically. The name Weald comes from the Old English word ‘weald’, meaning ‘forest’. The entirety of the Weald used to be covered completely in trees, probably even joining up with the New Forest in Hampshire from the borders of Romney Marsh in Kent.

People initially lived only on the fringes of the forest, using it as a resource for firewood or building materials. Gradually, the people began to travel through the forests to transport livestock, but only during the summer months. It was a wild and dangerous place.

Gradually, the forest was cut away as people used all of the wood for shipbuilding and charcoal to fuel the iron furnaces and brick making industry in Sussex. It was also cleared so that more land was available for farming.

So, people staying in East Sussex Hotels can now enjoy walks between the villages that are scattered across the Weald without having to worry about being molested by bears, wolves or wild boars, and can do so even in winter. Whether this is an improvement is for you to decide.

Things to Take on Holiday – Part 1

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sun cream and glasses

Packing for your holiday never seems to be an easy task and you always seem to end up forgetting something so it’s a good idea to make a list a few weeks before you leave to avoid any last minute panics. Whether you’re going to holiday cottages in Wales or villas in Spain there are a few things we all need for your holidays.

Sun Cream

This should be the very top of your list. Even if you are holidaying in the UK you still need to wear sunscreen when you go out. Children and adults alike should be well protected to help keep them safe from the potential harmful affects of the sun.

Camera

Unless you have an amazing camera in your mobile you really should be taking a proper digital camera. Taking plenty of great quality snaps will not only help you remember your holiday for years to come but may also help get you through those post holiday blues.

MP3 Player & Speaker Dock

These are great for the journey to your holiday as whether in the car, train or plane they can help while a way the boring hours till you reach your destination. The speaker dock will not only charge your mp3 player but you can also use it to help get you ready in the morning for a day of sight seeing or at night as you hit the tiles.

Sunglasses

This seems rather obvious but if you are anything like me then you will have turned up in sun destinations leaving your glasses at home leading to an annoying and uncomfortable day.

To be continued…….

Things to Take on a Car Journey

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family car journey

One of the worst, if not the worst, part of any holiday is the journey, its usually long, hot and very boring especially for the kids who will be cooped up in the back seat with very little to do. Boredom often leads to grumpiness, which is never a good way to start a holiday so to make sure you arrive at your Wales Cottages in a good mood it’s a good idea to take some entertainment with you for the journey.

MP3 Players are always a good and popular way to keep people happy and entertained. If you are worried about taking your expensive mp3 player on holiday and losing it then why not buy a cheaper model to use, they may not have the capacity or functions of the more expensive models but you will only need to use for the length of your holiday.

A portable DVD player will not only keep the kids entertained in the back seat but will also provide you with entertainment during the rest of your holiday should you need it.

Travel board games are a great and inexpensive way to have some fun on your journeys. You can get travel versions of many of the most popular board games and their handy small size means you can take them anywhere. You can also have plenty of fun in the evening playing board games that the whole family can enjoy.

Let the kids take their favourite books away with them to enjoy on the journey. The books can also provide some great bedtime reading to help send the kids of to sleep after a long day of fun. You may prefer to take a book on tape to play in the car if you or your children have difficulty reading while driving.

Take some pillows or cushions to allow the children to go to sleep better in the car if they wish.

Car games such as I Spy are always a good way to keep the kids happy and can prove to be a lot of fun too. They also have the added bonus of being completely free and not taking up any more additional room in a packed car.

Hopefully some of these tips will help you have a pleasant journey to start a fantastic holiday.

What’s on in August in the English Riviera?

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The English Riviera which comprises of Torquay, Paignton and Brixham offers something for everyone all year round, whatever their age or taste so it’s little wonder people flock there year after year to have a Torbay Holiday.

August of course, will not let you down on the events front. First up, there’s a chance to go onboard a vintage 1940′s bus which will take you on a nostalgic trip from Devon to Agatha Christies Greenway House and Banks on the River Dart. This takes place on various dates across the whole of August and buses leave from Belgrave Road and Cary Place at 10am and 2pm.

For all you bike enthusiasts there is a Bike Festival which you can come and visit. Bikes of all shapes, sizes, speeds and ages will take over Paignton Green along with live entertainment and other things to keep you occupied. This is great fun for all the family, especially those who happen to be having their South Devon Breaks. The BMAD Bike Nights take place on the 4th, 11th, 18th and 25th August. Money is raised for various charities so dig deep into your pockets.

In Brixham, there’s the Brixham Pirate Days where the Brixham Buccaneers invite you to experience their swashbuckling antics. There will be face painting, puppets, crafts, stocks, balloon modelling and storytelling to name just a few. This event takes place on the 5th, 12th, 19th and 26th August.

If you are lucky enough to get out for the evening and you happen to be an Elvis fan, then make sure you don’t miss the Elvis Rocks night being held at the Babbacombe Theatre on 7th August. The show encompasses Elvis’s fantastic journey from the beginning to the end.

Here’s just a taster of things to do and see, there are many more events taking place so make sure you check online before you go so you can make the most of your holiday.

Family Activities in Devon

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Devon is one of England’s most idyllic playgrounds thanks to its laid back life style and varied countryside, making it the ideal destination to leave the troubles of your day to day life behind. Whether you come to Devon to enjoy your favourite pastime or try some exciting new sport one thing is certain, you will have an unforgettable Devon holiday.

With mile upon mile of beaches, tall rugged cliffs, rolling green hills, ancient woodland and wild heather strewn moors Devon is the perfect outdoor location for many activities that people of all ages can enjoy. Your family holidays need not be all about sandcastles and theme parks, they can also be about getting out in the great out doors and having plenty of fun and healthy exercise too.

There are 150 miles of the national Cycle route found in Devon, which includes the beautiful Tarka Trails and the scenic Coast to Coast. Cycle trails can be found across the county that are fun, exciting and full of beautiful scenery yet suitable for families and the complete cycling novice.

For those with an interest in horses what could be better than riding across the moors, trekking down quiet country bridle ways or galloping across the beach with the sea spray on your face? Trekking centres allow people of all experience levels to experience the Devon countryside on horse back.

Devon is home to some of the very best surfing beaches in all of Europe so what better place than to try your hand at riding the waves. There are surfing schools found along both coasts that will help you learn all the basics to allow you to enjoy this amazing sport.

Why not go dinosaur hunting along East Devon’s World Heritage coastline. Here you can find amazing fossils that allow you a glimpse of the dinosaurs that inhabited the area hundreds of millions of years ago.

For the more adventurous family you could always try rock-climbing, abseiling or windsurfing amongst others but whatever activity you and your family choose you will leave Devon with fond memories to last a life time.

The Highland Games – a test of strength, skill and endurance.

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Highland Games

Organized to celebrate and cherish the Scottish culture and heritage, the Highland Games date back more than three hundred years.  The games are not one event, but a series of events lasting from May to September. Organized in the breathtaking scenery of the Scottish Highlands and accompanied by dancers and pipers, the Highland Games truly represent the essence of the Scottish experience.

Reminiscent of William Wallace and his army of common folk in Braveheart, thousands of competitors take part in the wide range of games each year. The activities include throwing the hammer, tossing the caber, putting the shot, the famous “tug o’war”, weight over the bar or sheaf tossing, all known as the heavy events. For the lighter categories there are several athletics, track and field events and many complimentary dancing and piping events. The traditional atmosphere is supported by lots of side shows and refreshment stands.

The Highland Games are considered to be the inspirational source for the revival of the Olympic Games in Greece (1896) after Pierre de Courbertin, one of the founding members, saw them displayed at the Exposition Universelle in Paris (1889).

The games are organized in different parts of the Highlands every year. However, two of them are particularly famous. Firstly, the Cowal Highland Gathering is considered to be the largest event of the games. Gathering more than 3500 competitors and over 20000 spectators, “the cowal” differentiates itself through diversity of the events and unique wrestling competitions such as the Ceilidh Tent. Also, the event is host to the World Highland Dancing Championship as well as several piping competitions. The event takes place from the 26th to the 28th of August in Dunoon.  The other noticeable Highland Games competition is the Braemar Gathering which is unquestionably the most popular due to its patronage by Her Majesty the Queen. Taking place in the elegant Princess Royal and Duke of Fife Memorial Park, the event comprises both Highland Games competitions and also some authentic cultural opportunities, even offering the  chance to cheer at the Royal Family.  The grounds are surrounded by clan tents and different types of vendors as well as swords and armours displays, organized mock battles or even herding dog trials.

I strongly recommend the Highland Games to be one of the best ways to discover the unique spirit of Scotland. The mixture of people, culture and scenery makes it one of the top attractions in Scotland. Getting there has never been easier with Zoombu, a travel search engine and innovative London based start-up, which can help you plan your journey. Discover the best route from your home to the games by browsing the hundreds routes we find you depending on your time, budget or environmental views. And Coorie up! The games are about to commence.

Peter Bruntnell Comes to Woolacombe

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People camping in Woolacombe this summer can look forward to some every special entertainment on offer. The British singer-songwriter, Peter Bruntnell, is to head back to North Devon to play a residency at the Old Mill at Golden Coast from 25th July. Peter who spent many years living in Mortehoe is said to be looking forward to being able to perform locally again.

Peter has a very loyal following and is a firm favourite with the critics; the Sun Newspaper described his voice as “a delicate instrument worthy of cherishing”. Peter released his latest album, Peter and the Murder of Crows, just last year and has recently toured in America with the Peter Bruntnell Trio.

Peter is to perform his first show on the 25th starting at 8pm, he will then perform every Wednesday through till the end of September. Guests of Gold Coast Holiday parks in Devon are certainly in for a treat this summer.

Something Old for your Cornwall Holiday

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When most people start to consider taking a holiday to Cornwall they’ll think about the beaches, the numerous attractions that they can visit, and of course they’ll think about relaxing in their Sennen Cove cottages. What many people don’t realise is that there are plenty of other things to do in Cornwall as well, in particular visiting interesting historical sites.

It’s this last forgotten element of staying in a self catering cottage in Cornwall that a group near Tintagel are trying to improve. Recently, a discovery has been made in the beautifully named Slaughterbridge, close to Camelford, that will apparently put the area “on the archaeological map” according to Dr Niall Finneran of the University of Winchester.

What they’ve found is the site of a thirteenth century village, and they hope that it can help to reveal what everyday life was like for people living at this point, especially in this area.

What does this mean for tourists though? Not very much at the moment. The groups that own and operate the site, however, are keen to set up a visitor’s centre there and have submitted a business plan to secure funding for it. If this goes ahead then not only will archaeologists from around the world be able to come and examine the site, but the information will be made openly available for tourists as well, and within a relatively short time there could be another area as interesting and involving as the castle at Tintagel for people to visit and explore.

Watersports on the Isle of Wight

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The Isle of Wight is famed for its beautiful coastal scenes, rugged countryside and lovely towns and villages. Cowes is world renowned for its sailing, whilst the Isle of Wight Festival gets bigger in size and status each year with the likes of P!nk, Jay-Z, Paul McCartney and The Strokes headlining this year.

There is a lot to see and do on the Island and there is little reason to wonder why thousands flock across the Solent year after year to spend their summer holiday in Isle of Wight Hotels. From fishing to walking, bike riding to horse riding the island, although small, packs a great punch.

One of the biggest reasons people are holidaying there these days is the rising opportunities for Watersports. Being on an island, of course, lends itself to these activities naturally. Surfing, kayaking, sailing, body boarding and windsurfing are all available on the Isle of Wight on the fantastic beaches the island boasts. There are lessons available for all of these activities from reputable companies who can offer not only a lesson, but also BBQ’ing at night, summer parties with hot DJs, beach games and lots more so people can really get into the beach spirit whilst on holiday.

If lessons aren’t your thing, then many of these Watersports companies offer a hiring service for either a daily rate or weekly charge but if you are serious about improving your skills or if you are a complete novice to the water then taking up a batch of lessons could just make the perfect Short Breaks Isle of Wight.