A Brief Guide to Devon’s Capital

When staying at a Holiday Cottage in Devon you will no doubt be planning to head to the beach at some point and probably considering exploring at least one of Devon’s two national parks. Another destination you should defiantly be considering is the counties capital Exeter.

The ancient city is great for a day out of sightseeing and shopping or enjoying a wonderful meal before a night on the town.

Most of the Cities attractions stem from its long and fascinating history. One of the best ways to explore the city is on a free Red Coat Tour that will take you on a 90 minute journey around the city. There are a number of different tours available, which will show you different parts of the city and highlight different periods of history from the Romans to the 21^st century and everything in-between.

Some of the cities must see attractions include:

Exeter cathedral - the most iconic landmark in the city and one of the best examples of medieval architecture in the country.

Rougemont Castle - found in the heart of Exeter the castle and surrounding grounds are well worth a stroll around.

Exeter Museum - discover even more about Exeter past at the fascinating museum.

Exeter’s Underground Passages - the tunnels date back to medieval times when they were used to house pipes that brought in water from outside of the city walls. Today you can explore these tunnels deep under the city.

Exeter Quay - watch the rowers and canoeists on the River Exe before visiting the visitors centre to learn about 2,000 years of history in just 15 minutes.

Princesshay - the new shopping development just off the high street contains the very best national stores including All Saints, Apple and Molten Brown as well as a number of great eateries.

Exeter City FC - why not catch the pride of Exeter, the Grecians, in action during their next League 1 home game.

There are plenty more great attractions throughout the city and surrounding area making Exeter a great day out on any Devon holiday.

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Bath’s Christmas Surprise Guest

The city of Bath started its festive season with a touch of Hollywood magic thanks to one of the cities most famous residents. Leading Hollywood actor Nicolas Cage wowed the crowed when he switched on the lights in the city; it’s certainly one up on the usual ex soapstar or reality tv reject.

The beautiful lights around the city are not the only festive attraction in Bath. The big switch on marked the start of a busy and fun packed festive period in the city.

One of the star attractions in Bath this Christmas is the annual Christmas Market, which will once again take place between two of Baths most famous landmarks, the Roman Baths and the Bath Abbey. The market is set to feature over 100 stalls housed in traditional wooden chalets. They will be selling everything from hand made crafted gifts to delicious food and drink. As if all that shopping wasn’t enough there will also be entertainment through out the night and special carols service taking place in the Abbey.

Another festive treat for visitors to Bath is this years panto which starts on the 17^th December and finishes on 24^th January. This year’s panto stars Liza Gooddard, Gemma Bissix and Tom Owen in the classic tale Sleeping Beauty.

With so much else going on now is a great time to have a pre Christmas getaway, there are plenty of hotels in Bath to provide you with accommodation during your stay and many fine restaurants to try when you’re not eating some of the delicious food from the market that is.

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South Wales Holiday Attractions

With over 30 quality attractions within a 50 miles radius you are never short of something to do. In fact the difficult is choosing which places to visit in the time you have available. To help those on a short break in Wales decide how best to spend their time we have selected our favourite 3 leisure destinations.

1. Teifi Valley Railway

This well known narrow gauge railway is keeping the age of steam alive. The 2 mile track runs along the original route of the Great Western Railway which used to run through rural west Wales. This has to be one of the most scenic miniature railways in the UK with fantastic views across the Teifi Valley. 2 steam locomotives run a regular service and allow visitors a close up look when stopped at the station. In addition to the attraction of seeing these fantastic engines in action and the stunning countryside they pass through there are also several other activities on site. These include a woodland walk that allows you to safely take some trackside photos, 3 playgrounds for children of all ages and a crazy golf course.

2. Felinwynt Rainforest Centre

If the Welsh weather gods are not being kind to you, you may be cursing staying in a Wales holiday cottage. Well the Felinwynt Rainforest Centre gives visitors the chance to leave Wales behind and be transported halfway across the globe to the Brazilian rainforest. A tropical hothouse is home to a range of exotic flora & fauna who all feel at home in the warm moist environment regulated by a large man-made waterfall, stream & pond system. Visitors can see some beautiful flowers and meet the inhabitants of the tropical house which include leaf cutter ants and a variety of stunning butterflies. The knowledgeable owners are often on hand to answer questions and provide further information on rainforests. There is also a lovely café and well stocked shop with a range of gifts.

3. Kidwelly Tinplate Museum

Take the chance to explore the rich industrial past of Wales with a visit to Kidwelly Tinplate Museum. This is the oldest Tinplate works in Britain and the area in general was the tinplate manufacturing centre of the world in the 19^th Century. The importance of the area in the 19^th Century is typified by it’s nickname - Tinopolis.

Entrance to the museum is free and with a range of original artefacts and in situation tinplate machinery you are sure to gain a unique insight into the history of tinplate in the area.

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Snow Holidays in Scotland

Who can forget the snow that locked up parts of England last year? People couldn’t make it to work, everything was coated in white, and wherever was hottest became a communal gathering place.

It was brilliant.

Scotland, being further north, had it even better, with up to sixteen inches of snow falling in some places. If anything close to that is predicted this winter, then I can’t think of anything better to do than gather food, drink, music (portable and battery powered in case of power cuts) and friends, and head to a holiday cottage in Scotland, perhaps one of the Argyll cottages, or maybe somewhere higher up.

Once there, you wait for the snow to set in whilst making sure you have plenty of wood, coal, or whatever the fireplace requires, and have yourself a merry little lock-in.

As the snow and wind billows around outside, you stay warm and cosy in with your friends in one of the holiday cottages in Scotland, eating drinking and being merry.

Sounds like the perfect blizzard to me.

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Sailing in the Peak District

As far as lakes go, the Peak District is never going to beat the Lake district (the clue is in the name), but it by no means plays second fiddle, and lakes mean sailing.

Sailing is fantastic, especially on lakes. Whereas there’s definitely fun to be had on the sea, it can be much, much rougher. If you want something a little less scary and intimidating, even on a wet and windy day, sailing on a lake is a much better option. It also tends to be warmer, lacking any cold sea breeze.

Whether you want to clip along the water at a fair pace, leaning over the side to stop your boat capsizing, or gently tack to and fro making your way up wind, sailing can either be exciting or relaxing.

There’s also windsurfing, kayaking, canoeing and more, and they’ll all offer a good time, but my favourite of all of them is definitely the boat-bound activities.

The only thing you have to remember is that it’s very likely you’re going to get wet. Whether it’s launching your boat, pulling it in or, God forbid, capsizing, you’re going to want somewhere warm and dry to stay afterwards.

Luckily, due to the tourism that the Peak District brings, there are plenty of cottages in the Peak District to take advantage of on your Peak District holiday.

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Something a little different…

As a break from our usual posts, we thought we’d throw in something a little different and, we thought, ridiculous.

When you go on holiday, a degree of comfort is important to your enjoyment, but we think you’ll agree that some people are taking it a little too far.

It’s not just the size of the thing that’s ridiculous (imagine driving that into a UK caravan park, let alone being able to get it on some of our country roads), but the amount of money spent on the interior. Most homes don’t have a 42 inch HD televison, or a bluray player to go with it.

And what’s wrong with a coolbox? Do you really need a 2 drawer freezer? A coffee machine? A garbage disposal unit?

With its marble floored galley (it is honestly described as a galley), extra-large bath, and leather interior, we can’t see a reason that you’d actually want to leave this place, and that’s not what should happen when you’re in the sort of beautiful area that staying in, for instance, a Devon holiday park would put you in.

It’s not just the Americans doing it, though, there are German companies offering a similar service, except that these include a parking space for your car! Once again, you’re offered a leather and wood interior, and get separate living, sleeping, kitchen and bathing areas, which themselves are decorated with marble and granite.

Call us crazy, but we’ve always thought that a holiday should be a more down to Earth affair, involving barbecues, walks, swimming and ice creams, not driving to a serene location and sitting inside, doing exactly what you’d do at home.

Now, if you were to offer us half of the features those luxury RVs have, but fitted in our own homes? That would be a different story entirely…

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Family Cycle Trails of Pembrokeshire

If you are heading for a short break in Pembrokeshire and are a keen cyclist then you are in luck as there are a number of great family friendly cycle trails throughout the region.

The Tramway

2 miles one way

The Tramway cycle route is an easy and relaxing route to follow and is accessible to cyclist, walkers and wheelchair users. The scenic route starts at Pleasant Valley and goes down to Saundersfoot Harbour. The trail starts at the heritage centre and follows the old railway line through a wooded valley with the path meandering along with the river to Wisemans Bridge. Here you will join route 4 the Celtic Trail which takes in fantastic sea views and head to Coppet Hall and the disused railway tunnels. It’s important to note that you must dismount before entering the tunnels. Once through the tunnels you come to Cross Coppet Hall Car Park, you can take a short cut across the car park and make your way down to the harbour and your journeys end.

Brunel Trail

9 miles one way

The Brunel cycle trail is a traffic free route which runs between Haverfordwest and Neyland and is accessible to cyclists and walkers. This purpose built path boast some great views of the open countryside. The cycle path is 9 miles long and will take an hour and a quarter one way. The track starts at county hall car park and will take you through water meadows, a nature reserve and along the Great Western Railway built by Isambard Kingdom Brunel. The trail ends at Brunel Qual in Neyland where refreshments can be found before the ride back.

Cardi Bach

3 miles one way

The Cardi Bach cycle trail starts at Cardigan Bridge and runs along the river bank and is traffic free. The route then follows the disused railway line which winds its way through the Welsh Wildlife Reserve. The Welsh Wildlife center provides a great stopping point for refreshments and even a picnic. At this stage you can either cycle back or continue onto Cilgerran though this section of the trail does have traffic.

Llys Y Fran

Family trail - 1.5 miles

Mountain Bike Trail - 6.5 miles

The family trail at Llys Y Fran begins at the visitor’s centre of this 350 acre country park and follows the eastern edge of the reservoir. The advantages of being set in a country park mean that the more adventurous could try a little bit of off road cycling. If all your off roading get too tiring there are plenty of great places to stop and enjoy the views.

The Mountain Bike Trail also begins at the visitors centre and follows the 1.5 miles of the family trail before joining there own route. The trail then heads south through wooded slopes with a steep descent and then a great climb back to the visitors centre.

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The History of Northampton

Previously known as North Hamm Tun back in 914, Historians believe this was to distinguish itself from Southampton.

Northampton was known as a place of trade and where craftsman worked and where goods were brought and sold at a market. Northampton was captured and burned by the Danes in 1010, however it recovered and continues to this day to grow, its current population stands at around 189,477 this makes Northampton the 21^st largest Settlement in England.

Northampton begun a regeneration programme to try and increase population and encourage settlement especially Londoners to try and boost business investment and to secure and establish the future of Northampton. The building and regeneration has been ongoing for many years with new districts and Industrial estates to attract new industries to Northampton. Today the main industries comprise of financial services, soft drinks, cosmetics and brewing.

Northampton has a rapidly growing population due to resources and investments the city continues to make in the younger generation and local business. With many now opting for further education youngsters have a range of options open to them from the University of Northampton to Full & Part time courses available from the College in Northampton. Partnerships have also been established with the Council for Ethnic Minority Communities, the Northamptonshire Chamber of Commerce and other bodies to provide targeted initiatives for local needs.

With Investments in the younger generation and the business industry The Regeneration of Northampton is an ongoing development with a mission to develop the town so that it’s a place where people will choose to live and future business will want to invest.

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Gardens of the Isle of Wight

The Isle of Wight is often nicknamed as ‘The Garden Isle’ and today I’d like to share with you a few of the places that have helped the Island to earn it’s name. If you’re coming to the Island on holiday now is your chance to get acquainted with a few of the quiet places where you can enjoy a little bit of the tranquillity for which the Island is famed.

Isle of Wight Holidays are all about relaxation and getting away from it all. And there is no place an Englishman likes to do that more than in a well tended garden. This country has a long history of horticulture and owns much of it’s modern style and diversity to the Victorian pioneers, both plant collectors and designers alike.

If you have only the time for short breaks to the Isle of Wight then the must see garden is the Ventnor Botanic Garden. Located on the site of the Royal National Hospital for Diseases of the Chest, it first used the original layout of the hospital grounds as it’s cue for future development. The Botanic Gardens take full advantage of the mild climate it is afforded by the Ventnor under cliff to grow a range of tender species originating from the Mediterranean, New Zealand, Australia & South Africa, not often seen in the UK.

In contrast to the relaxed style of the Botanic Gardens the grounds of Osbourne House are a classic example of formal Italianate terrace gardens. No Isle of Wight holiday is complete without a trip to the former residence of Queen Victoria. Of particular interest are the statues dotted around the terraces that depict the different seasons. Other highlights include the mature trees of the pleasure grounds and the walled garden that would have provided produce for the house.

A final treat are the gardens at Morton Manor. They are recognised as one of the finest gardens in southern England and have won many awards over the past decade. Morton Manor Garden is famed for having year round colour through the use of exceptionally well planned planting. The gardens are not open all year round and visitors are advised to check in advance before setting out.

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Places to see in Cornwall

If you’re headed to Cornwall, there are many places that you should see. Here are three that you don’t want to miss:

1. The beaches - Cornwall has many miles of beaches that are there to be enjoyed by friends and family members who get together on holiday. There are also there for people who want solitude and for people who want to walk with their loved one. No matter what you’re looking for - a romantic rendezvous or a fun play day with your children - you can get it on the beaches of Cornwall. There are so many of them and they are all the same but yet just a little bit different. It ensures that you can get what you want and need from a beach experience while you’re on holiday.

2. The coast - the coastline and the beaches aren’t the same thing, although a lot of people seem to think that’s the case. Beaches are for frolicking and sunbathing. They are for swimming and for letting children make sandcastles. The coast, though, is more rugged. It can be rocky; there are cliffs. The coast is for watching the waves crash on a chilly, windy day. They are for admiring nature’s beauty when there’s a storm coming in. They are for letting the sun shine on you and looking out across the water to see how far you can see. It’s something that you don’t want to miss out on, especially if you enjoy the awe-inspiring beauty that nature can have.

3. Cornwall Gardens - when you’re exploring the beauty of nature, one of the best ways to do it is through gardens and plants. Visiting Cornwall Gardens is a way that you can do this in a little bit of a controlled environment. You don’t have to go all over Cornwall and the surrounding areas to see nature’s bounty but you still get to see a wide variety of plants. It’s something that both young and old can really enjoy looking at for hours, and there are many different garden areas within Cornwall Gardens, so there is something for everyone.

Why not make the most of a visit to Cornwall and stay somewhere nice? Try West Cornwall who offer great Cottage Holidays that will make your trip even more special.

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