Your Primary Resource for Travel Information.
April 28th, 2010 Alex
As people grow older, they frequently leave behind their childhood friends, and their faces, voices, and all the things that they used to do together are forgotten. The same is true of the stories and books that we enjoy as children. As we grow older they are left behind for another generation to enjoy.
Hartfield, in East Sussex, gives you the opportunity to recapture all the magic and delight of childhood once more, by allowing you to wander through a place that’s brought a sense of wonder and adventure into children’s lives for decades and decades. The stories of that are set in the nearby Ashdown Forest are those of Winnie-the-Pooh, and the forest is better known to fans of those stories as Hundred Acre Wood (although, actually, Hundred Acre Wood was just a section of the forests that Winnie-the-Pooh and his friends inhabited. The forest itself can be more accurately referred to as ‘Pooh’s Wood’).
Hartfield can be reached from any East Sussex hotel, and from there a twenty minute walk can take you into the forest. Once you’re between the trees, setting out to find the famous locations from the Winnie-the-Pooh stories is perfectly possible. The areas that Christopher Robin and his possibly-make-believe friends visited were all based on the areas that the A.A. Milne’s (ie. The author’s) son (ie. The real Christopher Robin, who was also called Christopher Robin) went to explore. This means that visitors to the forest can play Pooh-sticks on Pooh-sticks Bridge, visit Galleon’s Lap (in reality called Gill’s lap, and a spot from which an excellent Pooh walk starts, which takes people around most of what they wish to see), the Heffalump Trap, Roo’s Sandy Pit and, of course, Eeyore’s Sad and Gloomy Place.
It might be worth starting from one of the forest car parks rather than Hartfield itself, and these are easily accessed from anywhere in East Sussex, including cottages or a Rye hotel.
Posted in Destinations, adventure, attractions, fun, walking | No Comments »
March 28th, 2010 Alex
People might go on holiday to Sussex and stay in a Rye hotel for a large number of reasons. The area is beautiful and great to cycle through, so there are those who’ll bring their bikes and be looking for advice on routes to take on their East Sussex holiday. Some, whilst looking for information on cycle routes, repair shops and places to stay, may run across the handlebar club, and assume that these people will be able to give them what they want.
They would be mistaken, however, as the Handlebar club in East Sussex is nothing to do with bicycles, and everything to do with Handlebar moustaches.
Founded in 1947 by comedian Jimmy Edwards, the Handlebar club have been proudly sporting their Handlebar moustaches for over sixty years, and they show no signs of stopping. Regularly organising charity events to raise money for good causes, some members would rather lose an arm or a leg than their beloved moustache.
There are many different styles of handlebar displayed at club meetings, which can take place in a whole variety of places, they will, for example, sometimes take place in a pub and other times in an East Sussex hotel.
Their charity nights are always a friendly affair, as people chat about anything, not just moustaches, over drinks and snacks. Visitors to East Sussex would do well to plan attending one into their trip, as it’s a great way to see one of the more eccentric sides of British culture.
Posted in fun | No Comments »
March 19th, 2010 Alex
Getting back in touch with nature is enjoyable for almost everyone. Some people like to take one week a year to do it, whereas others will make it a permanent hobby, going out week after week to submerge themselves in all of the wonders that the natural world produces. Whether you’re a weekend rambler or a full-time, nature loving, live in a tree and eat berries hermit, the Peak District has something to offer you.
One of the most popular activities in the Peak District is bird watching, and people will rent out Peak District cottages in order to do just that. There are plenty where birds can be viewed from the window, without any additional equipment needed, and even if you’re not a regular bird watcher, putting out a feeder and watching the various types of bird congregate can be very fulfilling and relaxing, but if you want to spot some of the rarer ones you’ll have to put on your walking boots, grab your binoculars, and very quietly creep through the countryside.
Of course, you’re not entirely without help when looking for some winged friends, there are plenty of guides, groups, clubs and events designed to help people track down the best spots for bird watching, as well as make people aware (but not too many people) of roosting sites for some of the birds.
With a bit of forethought, you can look for cottages in the Peak District that will allow you to take advantage of all the possibilities for bird watching that the Peak District has to offer.
Posted in Destinations, fun, walking | No Comments »
March 1st, 2010 Ben
Although Robin Hood and his Merry Men are synonymous with Nottingham, with legend having it that Sherwood Forest was his chosen place of residence and Nottinghamshire being ‘Robin Hood County’, when it comes to making an epic film, various locations are sourced and chosen. The filming for the remake Robin Hood, starring Russell Crowe and directed by Ridley Scott for Universal Pictures found its way to filming on the National Trusts Freshwater, one of the wildest beaches in Pembrokeshire just months after Harry Potter had scenes filmed there and hundreds of people flocked to have a Short Cottage Break Wales just to see some famous stars.
The filming, which was granted permission by a number of organizations including Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, The National Trust and Pembrokeshire Council, commenced with an impressive battle scene which involved more than 800 people including 450 extras, 250 crew members, marshals and beach cleaners. It also had a raft of boats and 130 horses which were stabled nearby for the duration of the filming. Whilst it is undisputable that much disruption was caused, the general consensus from locals about the crew being there and the filming taking place was unified in recognizing the positive effects this has brought to the area. Not only in the short term with temporary staff being employed and local businesses being utilized but also the long term benefits of raising the area’s profile and attracting visitors to the region for a Wales Holiday Cottage stay, bringing benefits to the local economy and follow on tourist spend.
Posted in Destinations, fun | No Comments »
February 24th, 2010 Ben
Cornwall’s reigning supremacy of the legendary Cornish Pasty is set to be challenged as a Pie War will begin over the next few weeks in West Wales. A new company ‘Pasty and Pie Co’ is opening its first store in Tenby on the 1st March and will then open a flagship store in Cardiff this summer before it rolls out across England, in an attempt to monopolize the world of consumer pasty buying, historically dominated by the Cornish.
The Pembrokeshire pasties, which have all their ingredients locally sourced in Pembrokeshire and include lamb, red current jelly and currants, are claiming to be unique by the company and the stores will sell six different pies and pasties to rival Cornish firms. If you are due stay in a Wales Holiday Cottage, make sure you get to sample the competing Pasty. The company director is really ‘banging the drum’ for Pembrokeshire and the farming community and hopes to open stores in towns and cities across the UK which will compete with the existing Cornish pasty run firms.
For anyone who may not possibly know what a pasty is, let me fill you in. A pasty is a filled pastry case which differs from a pie in that it is filled on a flat circle pastry shape and folded into wrap the filling with the edges crimped to form a seal. Traditional Cornish pasties are filled with beef, swede, potato and onions, they are then baked. Over the years pasties have begun to have an array of different fillings from pork and apple to cheese and onion to name but a few. Anyone that has been to Cornwall should have experienced the taste of a traditional Cornish pasty, anyone on a short break Wales will now not only experience a traditional Pembrokeshire pasty but will be able to compare against the Cornish pasty and judge for themselves.
Posted in fun | No Comments »
February 3rd, 2010 Alex
Travellers around the UK will no doubt already have seen the huge amount of shops and kiosks that sell Cornish pasties on high streets, train stations and cafes, but now there’s a way to take home a novelty item for pasty lovers who aren’t going on a trip, or don’t have any trips to cottages in Cornwall coming up.
Pasties with chocolate in them have been available for ages, but pasties made purely out of chocolate are something new and tasty. This is, however, exactly what the chocolate and fudge manufacturer’s County’s have done. Supplied to pasty suppliers and delicatessens, these solid chocolate pasties, made from high quality cocoa beans and containing 35% cocoa solids, are ideal to take home for a pasty lover. It doesn’t even matter if they go cold.
Of course, it’s not just a tasty treat, but also a reminder of your family holiday in Cornwall. Whereas some people might bring home sticky rock that ends up looking unappetising very quickly, you’ll still have delicious chocolate in a form that is truly Cornish.
There are plenty of other products available from County’s, including Cornish fudge, and tracking these down in delicatessens or gift shops will make your holiday a whole lot more interesting, not to mention tasty.
Posted in Cornwall, fun | No Comments »
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.
Posted in Destinations, adventure, fun, walking | No Comments »
December 21st, 2009 Alex
With the festive period pretty much upon us, pantomimes all around the country will be starting up. Every year, theatres around the UK put on versions of Aladdin, Puss in Boots, Snow White, Jack and the Beanstalk, and, of course, Cinderella.
Anybody taking a Torbay holiday this Christmas will be able to visit the Princess Theatre between the 17th December and 3rd January and take in a production of Cinderella.
But how do you put together a great pantomime? According to the Princess Theatre, it’s a little like this:
Ingredients
1 Fairy Godmother
1 cup of Buttons
1 Dandini
1 Handsome Prince
2 Ugly Sisters
1 Cinderella
Method
Take 1 Handsome Prince and 1 beautiful, kind and innocent girl,
Combine with 2 ugly step sisters, the worst in the world.
Sprinkle in the star dust of 1 Fairy Godmother and add a generous helping of Buttons.
Whisk until light and fluffy.
Bake at The Princess Theatre between 17th December and 3rd January alternating between 2pm and 7pm.
Put it together and what have you got?
Bibbidi - Bobbidi - Boo!!!
So, if you’re thinking of enjoying one of the Christmas Devon holidays this year, consider Torbay and a pantomime.
Posted in Destinations, attractions, fun | No Comments »
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!
Posted in Cornwall, adventure, fun | No Comments »
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.
Posted in Destinations, adventure, attractions, fun, isle of wight | No Comments »
