Here is a slide show of stunning pictures taken during a walk from Lydstep to Stackpole. You too could take the same route along the beautiful Pembrokeshire Coast Path when you stay in a Pembrokeshire cottage. The Pembrokeshire Coast Path runs for 186 miles and encompasses some of the very finest coastal scenery in all of the UK.
Sussex has always been a popular destination for people wanting to get away from urban life. Because of its location near the biggest city in the UK, it’s long been popular amongst those who want a quick getaway, whether it’s for a week, a bank holiday weekend, or even just for a weekend on its own.
Those who do travel down, be it for one night or five, might find themselves staying in a Rye hotel which is surrounded by beautiful countryside, and they’re sure to give in to the same thing that has tempted people for centuries into the beautiful county. That is of course exploring the surrounding countryside, best done on foot.
The number of forests, fields and footpaths in Sussex, all of which lead you through the some of the most eye-pleasing wilderness in Britain, have drawn people out of their East Sussex hotels and into the areas around them for decades.
The southern areas of Sussex have the coast, which offers a completely different visual appeal. The trees that are so densely scattered further inland disappear, to be replaced by sloping cliff tops and sharp drops past white cliff walls and into the sea.
So, whichever area of Sussex you end up travelling too, you’re guaranteed to discover gorgeous landscapes through which you can spend days walking, always returning to one of the stately country house hotels which can be found throughout the Sussex in the evening, already anticipating what is waiting to be discovered tomorrow.
Life can be hectic from time to time. All of us are subject to busy schedules that do not seem to calm down. Sadly the second life seems to calm, the business resumes. Therefore, it seems like the only way to ensure that you get the rest you need is to plan a holiday. Scheduling a holiday will allow you to find refuge from your normal routine and enjoy the beautiful areas that the world has to offer. And fortunately, you do not have to go far. There are great areas in England to visit. Consider taking short breaks in Woolacombe. A weekend holiday at this fun area of North Devon will provide you with entertainment, relaxation, and beauty. And you might want to go to the area when they are holding their walking festival.
Most Scenic Walking Festival
The North Devon and Exmoor Walking Festival was voted the most scenic walking festival by Country Life Magazine. Those that have walked this festival already know this. There are easy walks that you can do with your family, challenging hikes, and so many breathtaking views of the countryside. This event occurs annually and it is beloved by many. It is a great option for a weekend holiday.
84 Guided Walks
The festival offers 84 guided walks. These walks have added up over the years as the festival has gained popularity. Some of the walks are half day and others are full days. They range from 2 miles to 10 miles. Therefore, there is a perfect walk for every participant.
Different Types of Walks
In addition, the walks are meant to please those that walk them. There are different types to suit the personality of those that walk them. There are food walks, safari walks, island walks, and more. The goal is to offer choice in an effort to accommodate the tastes of those that decide to participate.
Sign Up NOW
If you are interested in walking this amazing festival, sign up now. Many of the walks are already fully booked. However, there is still availability for some of the walks, allowing for opportunity to explore the fun areas of North Devon. If you are interested, do not hesitate. It will be an experience you will remember forever. This is an exciting activity for al to participate in. And the sooner you sign up the better! Be apart of the fun and adventure.
Are you planning a family holiday in Devon? If you are, there are plenty of things to do that you will want to put on your agenda. One area to visit in Devon is the beautiful area of Woolacombe. It is extremely popular for cycling and walking. Here are some of the highlights of this area and the reasons you will not want to miss it on your holiday.
Most Popular Cycle Path in North Devon
Woolacombe Bay has the most popular cycling paths in North Devon. This path is called the Tarka trail and it is actually named after a famous story. The trail stretches 180 miles long, so there are many areas where you can bike through. While you are biking, you will see many exciting architectural structures. You will also see amazing rivers and great landscapes.
Well Maintained
A lot of times when people ride on paths of this length, some areas are better than others. If the path is not maintained, people are often hesitant to bike and walk it because trash and clutter can take away from the beauty of the path. It can also cause accidents. Fortunately, cyclists riding in the Woolacombe will not experience accidents. They will be able to ride clean roads and easily cycle through different parts of Devon. It is a fantastic way to spend your holiday.
All Skill Levels Welcome
Another great thing about the trail is the fact that all skill levels are welcome. The tarka trail is great for a family afternoon of cycling. And it is also popular among avid cyclists that might prefer a little off roading action. It is usually free from traffic. And if you need a bike, you can always rent one when you get there.
Walking the Bay
If you’d rather walk, than you can do that too in Woolacombe. There are a lot of different areas for walking. It is a nice opportunity for family time and relaxation. Many people enjoy walking on the beach. Others like to take walks to the countryside to view the beautiful atmosphere there. Wherever you prefer to go, there are usually trails and paths. In fact, many people walk from the parks to the beach. It is a fun adventure to experience in Devon and a great opportunity to enjoy the outdoors and be among the beautiful nature of the area. Bring your walking shoes so you are prepared when you arrive!
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.
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.
Please note before you carry on reading this blog post that the use of “wild” in the title refers to the fact they are nature-focussed, not that they are “crazy”, “wicked”, or “out of this world, man”. With that firmly established, let’s explore exactly what draws people on their cottage holidays to take part in one of these wild walks.
Firstly, what is a wild walk exactly? The Wild Walks website has plenty of information about them, but the general idea is that you are walked along a set route, occasionally moving off it to find various plants, and all the while are informed of which are edible, how to absolutely guarantee that you have correctly identified the plant, and potential things you can do with them once you’ve found them.
The idea behind the walks is that by giving people the knowledge they need to forage in the wild, they can reduce how much waste their household produces, cut down on their food bills and learn a few more tasty recipes.
The walks have taken place in a variety of locations, and each one offers different foods. The time of year is also important, as different plants will produce edible goods at different times, meaning that whenever you decide to stay in one of the Cornwall cottages you’ll be able to participate in one of these walks and discover something new and exciting.
Activities like this just go to show that although Cornwall is best known for its beaches, there’s a lot more to do in the county for those willing to look.
The Bath Skyline walk has proved the most popular amongst users of the National Trust website with more downloads of its 6-mile guide than any other walk.
The route takes in woodlands, meadows, Roman remains, an 18th century folly, an abundance of wildlife and an Iron Age fort on its trail around the World Heritage City.
One highlight of the walk is Little Solsbury Hill, which offers wonderful views over Bath. The Site of an Iron Age fort has gentle grassland slopes, which is home to a number of plants and wildlife.
The beautiful Prior Park is another highlight of this walk. The stunning landscape garden contains the famous Palladian Bridge, one of only four found in the world.
During the last year downloads from the National Trust site for walking routes more than doubled to 250,000. The site currently has 130 walks to download, a number that is set to increase to 1,000 in just two years time. The huge demeaned on the site just goes to show that people are eager to get out into the beautiful British countryside and explore all that it has to offer.
It’s hardly surprising that Bath has become the most popular amongst walkers, the city and beautiful surrounding countryside just has so much to offer.
If you are planning on taking a short break in Bath then why not download the guide yourself and try the walk out to discover all that Bath has to offer.
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.
The Red Squirrel has been decreasing in numbers for years and fewer than 140, 000 individuals are thought to be left. Approximately 85% reside in Scotland but the remainder are scattered across other parts of the UK. A large part of their decrease is due to the introduction of the grey squirrels from North America, these grey squirrels carry a deadly virus for Red Squirrels, Squirrel pox, and as a result it is illegal to bring in a grey squirrel to red squirrel territory.
The Isle of Wight, a firm favourite for holiday makers staying in a bed and breakfast Isle of Wight, is an important strong hold for Red Squirrels as the solent acts as a barrier to keep the grey squirrel out. The woodland on the island can provide habitation for around 3, 500 red squirrels and they now occupy broadleaved woodland across the island.
The Wight Project, is a charity based on the island working to help keep Red Squirrels from extinction. They tackle anything to do with squirrels from contentious planning applications to campaigning for ‘Squirrel road crossings’. From fundraising to sponsorship they also offer Squirrel Events throughout the year for people on Isle of Wight breaks or locals who have an interest in the beautiful red squirrel. It is a sad fact that a large percentage of people, especially the younger generation, have never seen the Red Squirrel, the only squirrel native to the UK. Chances to see them in their native environment through event walks and talks with the likes of The Wight Project should be taken at any given opportunity and if there is a chance you could help to keep charities like the Wight Project going through help with funding and sponsorship then it would be greatly beneficial to the Red Squirrels.
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