Category Archives: Nature

Your Guide to Beachy Head (It’s a cliff in Sussex)

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Beachy head in SussexWelcome to Beachy Head, the highest chalk sea cliff in Britain. At its height it towers over the English Channel at an impressive one-hundred-and-sixty-two metres.

One of the most dramatic spots in Britain, Beachy Head was formed after the last ice age when the rise in sea levels led to the formation of the English Channel, cutting Britain off from the rest of Europe. The new sea easily cut into the chalk and pushed the coast back further and further. Even today the cliffs continue to be eroded and visitors should keep an eye out for the small but frequent rock slides.

Because of how beautiful the area is it’s become a popular place for people staying in East Sussex hotels to visit. There are plenty of popular walking routes starting, ending or travelling past Beachy Head and a variety of ice cream vans which try to capitalise on this during the summer months.

As hotels in Sussex are popular with walkers due to the sheer number of routes available through beautiful areas in Sussex, Beachy Head and the rest of the South Downs are easily accessible by bus. You’ll find plenty of other like-minded people travelling to the areas too, and transport can easily be arranged from wherever your walk ends back to your accommodation if you don’t feel like doing a circular trip.

It always seems to be Dover that’s famous for its white cliffs, but Sussex easily competes, and nowadays Dover’s cliffs are so industrialised that Sussex’s come off even better, still letting visitors glimpse their raw, unaltered magnificence.

North Devon Coastline Celebrates Golden Jubilee

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The North Devon CoastlineOver the past 10 months North Devon has been celebrating the 50th Anniversary of its coastline being an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Visitors to the area and locals alike will be well aware the reasons this area has been given the title. Its stunning coastline, rugged cliffs, sandy beaches, quaint villages and ancient rural farmland are some of the reasons that the area was designated in 1959 and confirmed in 1960.

The area that has been designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty stretches from Combe Martin to the edge of the Cornwall border at Marsland Mouth and covers 66 square miles of land.  Some areas within the coastline are in need of extra protection and have been designated as Sites of Special Scientific Interest, which means they will be monitored a lot more closely than the rest. To add further protection, it is also been awarded as a Heritage Coast and is located within the country’s only UNESCO Biosphere reserve.

To celebrate the 50 years of the regions coastline being an AONB, a wide range of events are being held that highlight all aspects of North Devon life including the culture, wildlife and the region’s history. Workshops, talks, walks, music performances, exhibitions, and activities will all help raise public awareness within the region and nationally. Some of the events including the Appledore Visual Arts Festival are being held in conjunction with the North Devon Festival which also runs throughout June.

The celebrations will culminate on June 27th with full and half marathons taking place in Woolacombe, with parts of the race being run on the award winning beach. Proceeds from this event are in aid of the North Devon Hospice.

So if you are on holiday and staying in Woolacombe Accommodation why not come along to some of the events or come and watch the marathons on the beach. For more information please visit www.northdevoncoast.org.uk.

The Bizarre Boundaries of the Peak District

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One of the best things about the Peak District from the perspective of a visitor is that there are no boundaries. I mean, of course there are boundaries, but you can walk onto or off the park from any side of it, on any footpath or road. There are no barriers to pass through, not even any signs to indicate that you are leaving the park. One moment you are in the Peak District, the next, whether you know it or not, you are outside it.

This has led to some very odd occurrences with nearby villages. When taking a holiday to the area, many people will choose to stay in one of the Peak District cottages that are available in what are considered Peak District villages, such as Glossop, Buxton and Hayfield [Glossop and Buxton are, in fact, towns, and are in the Peak District, but not within the Peak District National Park. See Comments]. However, these villages all fall outside the boundaries of the Peak District area, not that you’d know it to talk to people visiting them.

The Peak District is often called the Derbyshire Peak District, which is again a misleading development that doesn’t correspond with its boundaries. Although most of England’s first and most visited national park does lie within Derbyshire, it also extends into Greater Manchester, Staffordshire, Cheshire and West and South Yorkshire, and visitors from Leeds and Manchester are a significant portion of the park’s guests all year round.

Ultimately, the boundaries that the Peak District is given are mostly for administrative purposes, and anybody staying in one of the Derbyshire cottages either on or near the district will realise that the beauty and appeal of the areas spreads far beyond those artificial boundaries.

Green Tourism in North Devon

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Green Tourism in North Devon

Tourism is a big business in North Devon, but there’s also a movement toward going green that’s taking place there. It’s something to be aware of when you visit the Devon Holiday Parks for your family holidays. Devon hasn’t changed that much, but some of the ways in which it handles tourism and does business have. Since the area is trying to go green, it’s important that you understand what steps are being taken. That’ll help you be aware of how the choice to go green might affect the Devon holiday parks and other areas you’ll be visiting during your family holiday adventure.

Going Green at Devon Holiday Parks

By going green, the Devon holiday parks are working to maintain the stunning and tranquil natural beauty that the area has been blessed with. There are awards given to businesses that go green and that do the most work toward that objective each year. This shows that Devon businesses are being recognized for their efforts. The Devon holiday parks are just as much fun when they are green as they are otherwise. Don’t feel as though you’ll be losing anything. Instead, you’ll be gaining long-lasting and sustainable natural beauty, which is something everyone can enjoy.

Going Green on Your Family Holidays, Devon Style

Devon prides itself on how nice it looks. If you appreciate the natural beauty of the area, help to preserve that. If you bring pets on your family holidays, Devon asks that you please pick up after them. The same is true from any litter or rubbish that you have. Throw it away properly, instead of just dropping it on the ground. It’s very easy to keep places clean if everyone does there part. If people don’t litter and don’t let their animals make a mess, things stay beautiful without much work, because the planet naturally takes care of itself.

Other Ways You Can Help Devon

In addition to visiting the Devon holiday parks and picking up after yourself and your pets on your family holidays, Devon invites you to buy local produce. That’s another great way to help the planet and to help out the local area in general.

When you buy local, the area is more sustainable, and the farmers get a much-needed boost, so they can keep producing great crops. Not everyone buys local, of course, but getting tourism business is important to a lot of farmers and the continuation of their farms and crops. You can help them out, and locally-grown food is often fresher and better for you, as well.

North Devon Wildlife To See On Your Camping Holiday

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Seagulls

If you’re coming to Devon to camp or see the wildlife, you’ve definitely made the right choice. There is so much to see in Devon that you don’t have to ever worry about running out of things to enjoy. There are caravan holidays in Devon where you can see all types of wildlife, and if you’re camping Devon, you’ll also have the opportunity to see birds, animals, and plants that you might not have otherwise gotten to enjoy. The beauty of the area is really stunning, and it’s not something people often think about until they’ve arrived and realise what they’ve been missing out on.

Where to See the Most Wildlife

When you’re camping in Devon, or if you plan to take one of the caravan holidays in Devon, you should visit Exmoor National Park and Lundy Island, as well as Devon Wildlife Trust, and the AONB/UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. Those are the best places to encounter everything from exotic plants to wild goats to puffins and buzzards. No matter what kinds of plants and animals you’re interested in, you’ll be able to find them in those locations. A little light research and a quick chat with the locals can point you in just the right direction depending on what specific plants and animals you’re looking for, as well.

Animal Encounters Whist Camping Devon

If you’re camping in Devon, be sure to be aware of your surroundings. While it’s generally a very safe area, it’s important that you realise it’s still wild country, and the animals you’ll find there aren’t pets. They might be somewhat used to people, but they can still be dangerous. Don’t leave food out where animals can get it, and don’t bother a mother animal of any kind or get to close to her babies. If you keep your distance you’ll be safe and you can observe the natural interaction between the wildlife and the environment in which it exists.

Plants for Your Viewing Pleasure

Caravan holidays in Devon will show you some beautiful plants, just as camping in Devon will. It’s really your choice how you want to travel and what kinds of accommodation you want to stay in. No matter what you choose, though, don’t overlook the variety of beautiful, blooming plants that you can find in Devon. All kinds of flowers await your arrival, and you’ll find them very beautiful, no matter what time of year you visit.

Camping in Devon can be quite rewarding, and so can caravan holidays in Devon. Rather than stay in a fancy hotel, get close to nature and enjoy what it has to offer. You’ll be glad you did.