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September 26th, 2008 admin
Brittany is home to some of the best Golf courses in all of France and with many flights to Brittany available it’s a great location for a golfing holiday, so here is a list of what we consider to be the top 5 courses:
5. Dinard
Dinard is the oldest golf course in Brittany and the second oldest in France. The course was designed by famous golfing architect Willie Dunn in 1887. Despite it age Dinard has actually improved with age and can boast great golf, amazing costal views and a pretty Art Deco clubhouse. However this course shouldn’t be undertaken by the novice golfer, although is starts of easy as you make your way round the course the difficulty increases sharply and challenges even the most experienced golfer.
4. Nantes La Vigneux
Nantes Vigneux is a course that perhaps should be avoided by the novice golfers. The course is full of surprises that some may find daunting yet other will relish. Designed by Frank Pennink the course is full of lovely fairways, beautiful woodland and a cheerful relaxed atmosphere while the small greens and the river Cens add to the difficulty. After your first go you may not be rewarded with a great score yet this is one course you will keep coming back to and enjoy more and more every time you play it and with regular flights to St Brieuc its easy to come back.
3. Val Andre
Val Andre is relatively new course, especially when compared to many of Brittany’s old courses, at 15 years old, but don’t let its ages put you off as it is more than a match to its well established rivals. In fact Val Andre is regarded as one of the best ‘new’ courses in all of France. With its wide fairways and costal winds Val Andre is much more challenging than it appears. The course is maintained to a very high standard and the fantastic local seafood restaurants make this an ideal golf destination
2. Saint-Laurent
Saint-Laurent is probably the most famous golf course in Brittany. Saint-Laurent has of course played host to the PGA Championship on numerous occasions, offering a challenging parkland course. The course has been know to be tough off the back yet friendly off the front and you are going to have to use all the shots in your bag to get a good score.
1. La Baule
La Baule is the most popular golf course in Brittany. Not only does it offer one fantastic course but other another great course, the Red and Blue, people are still divided as to which of the courses is better. The course was designed by none other than Dave Thomas, Michel Gayon, Jack Nicklaus Jnr and Peter Alliss and they certainly don’t disappoint. The course has it own hotel meaning you can stay a few days and take on both course, not to mention try the many nearby restaurants and frequent the fantastic thatched-roof clubhouse. With many flights to St Brieuc in Brittany available you aren’t going to find many better golf breaks than this.
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September 24th, 2008 admin
Camping is once again in style. The numbers of us who are choosing to spend our times in tents rather than hotels are on the up. With a recent survey suggesting that 50% of Brits are choosing to stay in Britain for their holidays it seems camp sites across the country will be full for sometime yet.
There are many reasons why camping is once again a top holiday choice for most British families. The obvious one which is affecting many of us at the moment is the credit crunch. Families across the country are having to tighten their belts and foreign holidays in top hotels are looking like just one luxury to far at the moment. Choosing to go camping whether it is camping in France, or any other European country, or in Britain is a much more cost affective holiday.
Environmental concerns are also important for many families. Flying abroad for your holidays creates a massive carbon footprint, especially when compared to camping which has to be one of the greenest forms of holiday available at the moment.
Another factor behind the rise of camping is that many of today’s Mums and Dads went camping when they were young. Now that they have children they want to relive some of those fond childhood memories, as well as let there own children experience what they did many years before. Many are even choosing to go back to the very same campsites that they visited with there parents.
The call of the wild is a strong force on an increasing number of us. With the vast majority of people in Britain living in towns and cities the closest we ever get to the countryside is watching it out of the window as we drive past. But now this is changing, more and more of us want to get back to nature and explore the countryside all around us. The best way to do this of course is camping.
So why not join the fun and start planning your next camping holiday.
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August 27th, 2008 admin
A recent poll taken by children around the UK has returned with the surprising news that nearly a third of them think that a holiday is boring! Unfortunately it seems that wherever parents decide to go, its proving a difficult job to keep the nations kids busy.
Maybe a nice trip to a summer camp will keep them happy? At least parents will be able to lay back and relax, no complaining and no theatrics. (at least not from the children…) If sending them away doesn’t work then perhaps try a few of my ideas below:
If thrill seeking is what your children are after then take them to Itry a specialist outdoor activity company in Snowdonia, Wales. There are loads of different activities which are bound to keep them busy and tire them out by the end of the day. The list includes Canoeing, Climbing, Coasteering, Skiing, Rope Climbing, Adventure days and much much more. Equipment is all provided for by Itry, although it is advised that you bring a change of clothes and a towel as its pretty likely that you’ll be getting wet at some point! For any climbing activity comfortable, warm clothing as well as a rainproof coat is a must.
This sort of activity is suitable for all members of the family, catering from kids to seniors. The instructors or guides are very experienced and their knowledge on their particular activity will keep you interested regardless of ability. One things for sure a day out with Itry is something you won’t be forgetting for a while!
To find out information on Snowdonia Holiday Cottages visit http://www.stsholidays.com/
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August 5th, 2008 Travel Guru
Bath is a city of breathtaking beauty with a romantic history. People have traveled to Bath ever since the legendary Prince Bladud was restored to health around 860 BC by its mysterious waters. The Celts dedicated the hot springs to their deity Sul. Then the Romans in 43AD created a great temple in honour of their goddess Minerva over the healing springs.
In 1987 Bath was designated a ‘World Heritage Site’, the only city so honoured in Britain. Today, visitors come to see the most famous Roman remains in Britain and also the classical architecture of the eighteenth-century Georgian Bath.
Three remarkable men were largely responsible for the creation of Bath. Ralph Allen saw the potential for quarrying Bath stone. He was the patron of the visionary architect, John Wood, who displayed the stone’s qualities in one fine building and one crescent after another.
At the same time Bath society was being transformed by a successful gambler and ‘bon viveur’ extraordinaire, Richard ‘Beau’ Nash.
He became the city’s Master of Ceremonies in 1705 and established the Assembly Rooms as the centre of fashionable life in Bath. He was the undisputed ‘King of Bath’ for 40 years.
It was the plan by John Wood the elder (1705 - 1754) that inspired the city of Bath. After his death he was well served by his son John Wood the younger (1728 - 1801), who completed his father’s plans, most notably the Circus, and then embarked on his own brilliant designs. His masterpiece was the Royal Crescent, which is one of the great set pieces of European architecture and the world’s finest crescent.
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July 21st, 2008 Travel Guru
If you want to travel through Europe and camp instead of staying in hotels, there are thousands of places you can stay. Did you know that there are more than 4000 designated, official camping places worldwide? And that doesn’t even count all the places that people camp in a more casual manner. If you want any amenities, though, you should stick with the recognized camping places, which shouldn’t be a problem. Read the rest of this entry »
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July 20th, 2008 Travel Guru
No matter whether this will be your first trip to the UK lake district or whether you visit every year, buying a holiday home might be a great choice. When you have a holiday home, you can enjoy a self catering holiday and don’t have to spend as much money as you would if you stayed in a hotel and went out to eat every night. That gives you more money for attractions that you might want to visit and lets you do more on your travel dollar. Read the rest of this entry »
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June 25th, 2008 admin
With summer supposedly here we thought we would compile some camping tips if you dare brave the out doors for a dreaded camping holiday
1. Practice pitching your tent
To save embarrassment when arriving at the campsite, why not practice setting up your tent in your garden before you leave. It may seem silly, but you will be glad that you know equipment well, especially if you arrive at the campsite and it’s dark.
2. Be Prepared
I tend to use checklists even when going on a package holiday. They are a great way of knowing that you take the things you need and you can check off the items as you pack them for your trip. This will also come in handy on the return journey.
3. Don’t trip over
Most tents now come with reflective guy lines which will hopefully lower the chance of making a fool out of yourself by tripping over the tent (we have all done it!). If yours aren’t already protective, you can use some coloured tape to make them noticeable.
4. Comfortable floor
Before setting up your tent, you should clear the ground of sticks and stones (they may break your bones) as they will be uncomfortable to lie on and may damage your tent.
5. Pitch somewhere sensible
Use common sense when setting up your tent, avoid camping near rivers or beaches where the water can rise and make sure prevailing wind will be deflected by the shape of the tent.
6. Facilities
It is a good idea to be fairly close to a campsites facilities, but if you are too close you maybe woken up in the night and mornings by noise and nasty smells.
7. Take Spares
It is a good idea to be prepared by taking spare tent items such as tent pegs, duck tape, guy lines and a tent repair kit that you can purchase from a outdoor supply shop.
Hopefully these tips will be useful for you next time you visit any of Britain’s amazing campsites
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June 12th, 2008 admin
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Paignton Zoo is a grand day out for all the family. Home to thousands of wonderful animals and plants, the zoo is setup into six various habitats in which they all co-exist. The habitats are Primley, Savannah, Forest, Wetland, Tropical Forest and Desert. The most popular animals being the elephants, monkeys, lions (who you can all watch being fed at specific times) and the crocodiles, pythons and giant tortoises.
You have to use most of your senses to find out about the wild world. Look about, listen in on the animals, you’ll use your sense of smell too!
As well as the animals and plants the zoo has a Jungle express mini railway, a jungle bridge in Lemur wood, special feeder talks and specific feeding times, space to sit and eat in over 80 acres of natural environment.
The Zoo has a scientific and educational charity devoted to conserving out worldwide
Wildlife traditions and stimulating its visitors into looking after and respecting the environment and the animals that live in it.
The keeping staff and veterinary team look after all the animals in the Zoo, working hard alongside the research staff to make sure that the environment is right for all of them. This might sound fairly easy but due to the large variety of animals on display this can sometimes prove very tricky! All the teams in the background enable the animals to be happy, active and enthusiastic.
After a fun trip out with the family it’s pretty certain you’ll be looking for a place to stay and one of my favourite areas is Hoburne Torbay as the people are friendly and there is plenty to do.
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May 28th, 2008 admin
1. Great Bay – St Martin’s – Isles of Scilly – Voted as one of the top 10 beaches in England, Great bay obviously has some excellent pedigree. The Scilly Isles do have many fine beaches and choosing is difficult but the beautiful turquoise sea and glistening white sands are enough to put this top.
2. Harlyn Beach – Padstow – Cornwall – Complemented with great rock pools and superb surf. The Harlyn Beach has plenty of wide open spaces particularly during low tide for beach fun.
3. Preston Beach – Torbay – Devon – This red sand beach is a particularly family favourite. The beach has a European Blue Flag which is an award given to beaches that have impeccable environmental standards as well as 1st class health and safety facilities.
4. Porthmeor - St Ives – Cornwall – A well known surf and sand beach the Portmeor is based near the great beach café and Porthmeor studios. The Tate St Ives is based nearby so can be very handy if you wanted to surf in the morning and view some art later on!
5. Porthminster - St Ives – Cornwall – Based very close to the Porthmeor beach the Porthminster is a classic sandy beach and the longest in St Ives. Close by is the world renowned Porthminster café specializing in Asian and Mediterranean cuisine.
6. Kynance Cove – Lizard – Cornwall - Popular with sightseers since Victorian times this National Trust beach can get very busy on a hot day. The beach has numerous caves to explore but be careful!
7. Lantic Bay – Fowey – Cornwall – A quiet but gorgeous beach with white sands. The remoteness of the beach makes it’s quite hard to find meaning it is often empty. If you can make it there it is definitely worth seeing.
8. Polridmouth - Nr Fowey, - Cornwall – Another secluded and quiet beach the Polridmouth beach appeals to people looking to get away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.
9. Helford Passage - Nr Falmouth – Cornwall – A safe sandy beach with a little shop and a popular family pub. Boats can be hired to explore the river and creeks.
10. Perran Sands – Perranporth – Cornwall – Is set within an area of outstanding beauty along side over 3 miles of sandy beach a well loved surfer’s beach with a great bar.
This year there is an expected increase in people taking holidays within the UK and not going abroad. If you plan to do similar and need a Cornwall Cottage or looking for a Cottage to Rent in Cornwall then there are many places you can find one.
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May 23rd, 2008 admin
The Isle of Wight Festival is well known around the U.K and the world. The music festival is run annually and originated in 1968 with such bands as T-rex and Jefferson Airplane. The event was widely seen as the first great UK rock festival and a massive success. The 1970 festival was when the festival really kicked on and looking back at the lineup you can understand why it was deemed a classic. Bands and artists like Jimi Hendrix, The Doors, Miles Davis, Bob Dylan and The Who playing over five days for an attendance that surpassed Woodstock!
However the unexpected success of the event (and high attendance levels) resulted in Parliament passing the “Isle of Wight Act” meaning that gatherings with more than 5,000 people on the Island would be made illegal. However hard they tried the local authorities and organizers couldn’t guarantee the safety for all the general public.
Fast forward 32 years and the festival has been revived led by ex Led Zeppelin frontman Robert Plant. Him and his band play alongside other popular acts like The Coral, Ash and The Charlatans. Although it isn’t as big as the 1970 event the general public are glad to see the festival back where it belongs. Between 2003-2007 there have been many classic bands come and play here amongst them Iggy Pop, David Bowie, REM, The Rolling Stones and Muse. There is a real buzz of anticipation about this years festival as bands old and new are playing in the Isle of Wight. After last years “Best Major UK Festival” award the headliners have got a lot to live up to although I’m sure your agree there are some good bands playing like The Sex Pistols, N.E.R.D., Kaiser Chiefs, The Police, The Kooks and many more.
The Isle of Wight Festival 2008 takes place on 13th, 14th and 15th of June and with an
estimated attendance of 65,000. With that in mind Isle of Wight Accommodation or Isle of Wight Hotels could be hard to find. To avoid disappointment I’d make sure to book early.
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