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February 28th, 2010 Alex
Nestled in the Derbyshire Peak District, near the honey pot village of Castleton, there lies the Devil’s Arse. Emerging from it is the Peakhole Water, which flows down through the village and into the River Noe. Because of the attraction of the Devil’s Arse and other nearby caves, as well as the appeal of the beautiful village of Castleton, the Peak District cottages available in and near the village are in high demand.
The Devil’s Arse itself gets its name due to the fart-like noises that the cave produces from within. As water splashes inside the cave, the echoes are transformed by the bizarre acoustics of the rock structure to make it sound to those on the outside like the cave has a problem with flatulence.
There are plenty of stories about the cave, and it has an interesting history too. It’s said to be the place where thieves’ cant, a secret language used by thieves to communicate in public without raising the suspicions of guards, was invented during a meeting between Cock Lorel, the leader of rogues and thieves, and the King of the Gypsies. This story probably comes from the fact that the deepest, darkest, dankest depths of the cave were used by bandits for hiding.
The cave was also the last place in Britain where troglodytes, people who lived in caves, existed. Up until 1915 they lived in houses built inside the mouth of the cave and made a living of making rope.
The cave was officially known as the Devil’s Arse right up until 1880, when Queen Victoria paid a visit to a concert. It was renamed “Peak Cavern” in order to stop her from being offended, but recently, people staying at holiday cottages in the Peak District have been able to enjoy the Devil’s Arse under its older, far ruder name.
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February 12th, 2010 Nikki
This weekend, why not step outside and take a brisk walk along Dunstable Downs, Bedfordshire? This beautiful countryside will provide an exhilarating walk for you and your family if you are looking for things to do in Bedfordshire. Along the way you will discover diverse wildlife, Iron Age hill forts and burial mounds but make particular effort to look out for Five Knolls, a scheduled ancient monument which is the largest round barrow cemetery in Bedfordshire. Lying on the edge of the Downs, there are visible burial mounds which are seen as bumps belonging to the late Neolithic and bronze age. Drovers Way is part of a network of tracks and paths which were traditionally used to take livestock to market by Drovers. Wildlife is especially interesting as the chalk grasslands support a wide range of rare wild flowers and butterflies like the chalk hill blue and Duke of Burgundy.
But if you and your family are looking for something a bit more exciting then Dunstable Downs can facilitate, set so high, it provides a fantastic opportunity for kite flyers and Para gliders and has become famous for it. The National Trust has a Visitors Centre at the very top of the Downs where you can buy a kite and get some advice on constructing it and also tips on how to fly it. Their selection offers something for beginners right up to professionals so there is something for all levels. Anyone that is on a Bedfordshire Holiday shouldn’t be allowed to leave until they have flown a kite on the Dunstable Downs. The challenge has been set.
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February 1st, 2010 Alex
Plenty of places in the UK are rumoured to be full of ghosts and other forms of paranormal activity, but what many people fail to realise is just how many ways to explore these rich, unearthly tapestry there are, especially for holiday makers. Sussex is a great place for those looking to have an otherworldly experience.
The number of abbeys in the county is the first sign that there should be plenty of tortured spirits around, due to so many of their inhabitants being horribly killed at various points in history, often on the behest of a king or through religious conflict. As I’m sure you’re aware, people being put to death by kings are some of the most likely to have unfinished business and wander around posthumously. There are plenty of paranormal groups who investigate these places and allow guests to join them for a fee, meaning you get all the benefits of their ghost hunting equipment on your Rye holiday.
There are also plenty of ghost walks around castles (another source of gruesome deaths) or other areas of ethereal note, many of which are available for people of any age. It’s an interesting addition to a holiday, and something that many people take part in during their stay in East Sussex hotels.
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January 27th, 2010 Alex
There are loads of reasons that people go to Scotland, but one that’s drawn people from all over the world again and again and again is the possibility of having a sighting of the Loch Ness Monster. Big game hunters, journalists, scientists and interested members of the public have all been amongst those to engage in the hunt for Nessie.
The rumours started in 1933, when a holidaying couple, the Spicers, saw the head and neck of an animal waddling over the road ahead of them, carrying a dead animal in its mouth. They couldn’t see the body as it was obscured by the brow of a hill, but their letter in a newspaper about this encounter was the beginning of seventy seven years of sightings, investigations, explanations, scepticism and hoaxes. People still visit the loch during cottage holidays in Scotland, hoping to be the next Spicers.
Numerous sonar searches and investigations have taken place around the loch, and many sonar “sightings” of Nessie have been recorded, which strange six metre animals being detected moving around the depths. Odd sounds, similar to those used in echo location have also been recorded by sub-surface microphones.
Of course, the most famous sightings are those that have been recorded on film as either photos or videos, and if you want a chance of taking one of those, you don’t have to have a fancy submarine, a camera and a trip to one of the holiday cottages in Scotland.
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January 10th, 2010 Nikki
This January the Isle of Wight is hosting their annual Sandman Snowman spectacular, giving local children and visitors staying in a Isle of Wight Hotel alike an opportunity to build their very own Snowman made of sand. The event, which is organised by the Isle of Wight environmental charity, Island 2000, is one that has been generated so that children aren’t deprived of one of life’s simple pleasures - building snowmen. But with recent weather conditions being as they are, most will have had the opportunity to build their very own snowman in the artic weather conditions that have hit the UK this week.
From Snowmen to igloos, Snow arches to snow benches I think this week has been a chance for people of all ages to have fun in the snow, something many of the younger generation have never experienced. But with the temperatures set to resume to normality in the coming weeks the 24th January could be the perfect opportunity for people to get back into the throes of creativity and make some interesting snowmen and other shapes on Small Hope Beach in Shanklin, Isle of Wight. The event commences at 10.30am on the 24th and is just one of the many attractions visitors to the Island will experience this year whilst they stay in Sandown Hotels and other hotels on the Island.
Around 60 people joined in over a few hours last year, there were carrots and coal and enough hot chocolate to go around. All the necessary ingredients were in place for an excellent day and there were wonderful creations sprouting from the sand. Donations were made to Gift to Nature, a charity which supports the ongoing conservation work across the island and this years fourth Sandman Snowman Spectacular is set to be another great day. This time, there may even be a chance that the snowmen are actually made out of snow.
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January 8th, 2010 Nikki
I’ve been visiting Torquay for as long as I can remember. My family come from Devon and my Nana has resided there since before I was born. Amongst spending time at her home we’ve been here there and everywhere and enjoy nothing better than a good walk along Meadfoot
beach where you get to blow the cobwebs away come rain or shine.
The latest expedition whilst visiting was a trip to Living Coasts, Torquay’s coastal zoo and conservation charity, located on Beacon Quay right on Torquay’s harbour side. It can’t be missed for its rather large net above the Town Dock on the outer harbour. It really has become a successful attraction for the area with holiday makers staying in Torquay Caravan Park and other holiday accommodation making sure they make Living Coasts one of the first days out in their itinerary, and it is easy to see why. This innovative coastal zoo and discovery centre allows you to take a journey around the coasts of the world and see some amazing animals and plants in specially designed naturalistic habitats. You’ll get to see Penguin Beach, Auk Cliff, Waders Estuary, Fur Seal Cove, Sea Ducks and Mangroves, as well as more educational information like coasts at risk.
My favourite area was penguin beach, designed to look like coastal habitats near Cape Town where the African penguins live in large colonies, these penguins wander around freely and mingle in with the visitors. The Juvenille Macaroni penguins, with their golden yellow crests which looks like hair were my absolute favourite and really were making people laugh.
I am fortunate to visit Torquay and all it has to offer as and when I feel, but I never take it for granted and it is not hard to see why people visit from far and wide to stay in a Holiday Park Devon and decide to come back year on year.
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December 23rd, 2009 Alex
Dartmoor is well-known as a tourist attraction, especially in the summer. It has beautiful views of both a serene and dramatic nature, and can provide warm, sun-soaked riversides for picnics and relaxation. Plenty of people taking Devon holidays visit the moor every year, and it’s no wonder why.
It’s also known for pony trekking, horse riding, and walking without any other animal involved: on foot. Walks across Dartmoor can be challenging, gruelling affairs, such as the Ten Tors or Dartmoor Beast challenges, but holiday-makers will find that the moor offers them something too. More relaxed and pleasant walks can be taken, and one of the best ways of doing this is to follow the route of a leat.
Leats are man-made water channels that were designed to carry water away from its natural route. Along the leat or at its destination, it could supply water for drinking, washing or farming, or power industrial equipment, even producing electricity. The leats were made using incredibly slight gradients, designed to keep the water travelling fast enough that it didn’t stagnate, but slow enough that it didn’t flood. One of the results of this is that in places the water appears to be flowing uphill.
Because of the way the leats are made, they provide excellent, gentle walking routes, and are easy enough to follow, especially if still filled with water. This makes them ideal for the slower gait of children, perhaps those who might stay with their family in a Devon holiday park. Along the route, walkers will see things such as sheep leaps, two granite platforms jutting out over the leat to allow sheep to jump across the water, and possibly a Bullseye stone, granite blocks with a hole through them that is the right size to divert just the right amount of water off a leat for use somewhere else.
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December 20th, 2009 Alex
Whilst some people have been watching for the Geminid shower over the last week, and the clear skies of the South West can provide a perfect vantage point to see it, others have been looking to the sky trying to see something a little different.
A site dedicated to recording UFO sightings has got a decent collection of information for Cornwall sightings, and the spooky thing? There are quite clear patterns that emerge.
Sightings of groups of orange lights reoccur every few months, and multiple accounts come in of people seeing them from different places at around the same time. People taking trips to try and spot UFOs is nothing new, but maybe Cornwall will start attracting these visitors as well. The clear skies of Cornwall that make for such a good family holiday in Cornwall also provide excellent views for sighting the unknown.
The possibility of spotting UFOs can bring families and friends together, as they all sit outside in the crisp Cornish air, heads peering skyward. Even if you don’t see UFOs you can still see shooting stars and supernovas on a clear night. I saw one of the former last Sunday night in fact.
So, why not book one of the cottages in Cornwall and make use of any cloudless nights to see what you can find. And remember, keep watching the skies!
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December 18th, 2009 Alex
The Scottish Avalanche Information Service is now live for this winter period, monitoring the areas that could be affected by avalanches. People staying near these regions for cottage holidays in Scotland, or any sort of holiday for that matter, should keep an eye on weather reports and this, especially if they’re thinking of venturing into the mountains.
The areas monitored are Lochaber in the Nevis range, Creag Meagaidh, South Cairngorms, North Cairngorms and Glencoe in Argyll, which should provide you with piece of mind if you’re staying in one of the many Argyll cottages anytime this winter.
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December 17th, 2009 Nikki
A magical day awaits you and your family at the Isle of Wight Steam Railway whilst on your Isle of Wight breaks. What could be more enchanting than a visit to Santa in his magnificently decorated grotto, where each child receives their very own gift? Days that Santa will be there (it is his busiest time of year) are the 19th, 20th, 21st, 22nd, 23rd & 24th December. Not only will you get to see Santa, but you’ll get to stroll through the beautiful Winter Wonderland, take a relaxing ride on the steam trains and enjoy a variety of free entertainment. You’ll also get to do any further Christmas shopping you may have in the fantastically packed gift shop and sample some seasonal delights in the Restaurant and buffet.
The Isle of Wight Steam Railway is actually well worthy of a visit anytime with trains running throughout the year. You’ll get a chance to step back to a bygone era when steam power was the order of the day and certain times of the year will stage a myriad of special events from a ‘Day out with Thomas’ to ‘Wizards Week’, Music Events, Wine and Real Ale Festivals and of course Santa Specials. Whilst on your Bed and breakfast Isle of Wight holiday make sure this is one stop you don’t miss out on as kids and adults alike will enjoy a day at the Isle of Wight Steam Railway.
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