Image courtesy of Flickr user nonanet.

Throughout history, the people of Scandinavian countries have been using skis to get around snowy landscapes. Whether it was to speedily get from place to place, move large numbers of soldiers around quickly and covertly, to ferry away children in the dead of night or to head out hunting creatures better adapted to the snow (like wolves or bears), skis have been vital in the development of most far northern European countries.

In fact, it wasn’t until after the halfway point of the 19^th century that skiing became a recreational activity, and only after that that people began to holiday specifically in cold, snowy places so that they could engage in winter sports. After this happened, of course, skis began to rapidly change in design to facilitate better turning, less weight and other additions that made them more suited for what were quickly becoming “ski courses”. What for centuries had been used as a tool for hunting, military action or escape quickly became a piece of recreational equipment. It was also around this time that people began mostly skiing downhill, rather than engaging in the cross-country or Nordic skiing which had existed until then.

Now, Singles Ski Holidays are making sure that skis take on an additional task, helping you to meet like minded people that want to enjoy a holiday without all the fuss and hassle of arranging one. Ski holidays for singles are becoming more and more popular, particular in the way they let you enjoy a holiday just for you.

For the less inclined or less able, there are the usual A and B roads to cycle along, plus the networks of child friendly cycle paths and dedicated cycle trails, which have been converted from disused railway lines. These cycle friendly routes pass through or close to many rural villages and other places of interest along the way.

So, whether you are looking for holiday cottages Derbyshire or you would like to rent a local Peak District cottage, you will be sure to be staying in one of the most beautiful places in the UK. You will be well placed to find plenty to do and see in and around the Peak District and the exquisite surrounding area.

Not all visitors to Brixham and the surrounding area were tourists, however, as Prince William of Orange (who later became King William III of Great Britain & Ireland) landed in Brixham with his mainly Dutch army in 1688.

The coastline and sea just off Brixham was where the Spanish Armada was fought off by the British navy and the legendary local Devon hero Sir Francis Drake. To mark this auspicious occasion, the town has its very own full-size replica of Drake’s ship, the Golden Hind, moored in the harbour by the quayside. Visitors can view the ship and get a feel for how life would have been on a sailing ship in the Tudor period.

Annually, there are various events and celebrations marking the town’s nautical heritage, like the Brixham Pirate & Shanty Festival, where participants try to beat the record for the largest gathering of pirates (or people dressed as pirates) in the world, plus many other events taking place that weekend. Also, there other annual events such as the Brixham trawler racing; the Tall Ship events; ‘FishStock’ (the urban seafood and music festival); Festival of the Sea and the Heritage Sailing Fleet events.

So, whether you plan to visit Brixham and stay at a caravan site Devon or take one of the Devon short breaks available near Brixham, you are sure to have a wide range of things to do and see while you stay in this beautiful seaside town.

Today, the main industry is tourism, and millions of people come to visit and spend time in the Peak District for recreational purposes. The historical Derbyshire market town of Bakewell is a great place to use as a base or for a visit on your itinerary; and the town is also known for the famous baked tartlet that it shares its name with.

So, whether you are looking for cottages in the Peak District or you would like to rent local holiday cottages Derbyshire, one thing is for sure: you will have plenty of local activities and things to see and do whilst being in one of England’s most beautiful National Parks.

Then, the rise of the industrial revolution and extension of the railway network down to the South West and deep into Devon and Cornwall brought the opportunity for average Victorian working class people and families to have a holiday away from the factories and cities where they worked.The name ‘the English Riviera’ was coined in the 1920’s from the highly fashionable Côte d’Azur on the Southern French coastline, which was at the time referred to as the French Riviera.

The English Riviera is mainly comprised of the three coastal towns of Torquay, Paignton and Brixham, which are all highly popular today as Torbay holiday seaside resorts.

Each of these delightful seaside town resorts has their own character and attributes; Torquay, being the larger of the locations, has a plethora of local annual attractions and places to visit. There are a wide array of restaurants, café’s, tea rooms, museums, theatres, clubs and concert venues which offer all year round entertainment.

Paignton is slightly smaller than its larger neighbour, has many similar things to offer to Torquay, but is its own unique place. This is also a popular destination for families, as you can walk right off the beach and into the town centre, where there is a wide range of amenities and facilities on offer.

Lastly, Brixham is the smallest of the three, but this by no means reduces the town’s importance or the significance of it as a holiday destination. If anything, it’s slightly more ‘family friendly’, as everything is within close proximity to the town centre. So, if you are looking for a caravan park Torbay or a caravan site around the Brixham area, you will have plenty of choice and be ideally located for your holiday.

The Roman Baths

A visit to Bath would not be complete without a visit to the ancient Roman Baths. This gives you a glimpse of Roman times, when the Roman Empire occupied England, and how they lived. The Roman Baths were combined with Georgian architecture, opened in 1897, and utilise the naturally occurring geothermal hot water spring which runs under the site.In contrast, you can experience the same waters enjoyed by the Romans at the nearby ‘Thermae Spa’ and indulge in many of the Spa Breaks and treatments available, which is why Bath is the number spa destination in the UK.

Jane Austen Centre

The next big attraction for visitors from around the globe to Bath is the Jane Austen Centre, and the many places around the city where this famous literary resident drew inspiration for some of her most well-known books.

Both of Jane Austen’s books ‘Northanger Abbey’ and ‘Persuasion’ use Bath as a setting, featuring descriptions of ‘taking the waters’, the social life and music recitals within them. So it’s no wonder that experiencing the world of Jane Austen and this famous city is so prevalent with the huge number of fans who visit the city.

Number 1 Royal Crescent

Make sure to pay a visit to experience the beauty, grandeur and lovely views from the most famous address in the city of Bath, Number 1 Royal Crescent. A beautifully restored Georgian townhouse, and the first house to be built in the Crescent, it has been residence to both aristocrats and Royalty in the past and is now a museum portraying life in the 18th century.

If you are looking for a Bath City Centre Hotel, you will have plenty to choose from that offer convenient access to the city centre and all of the attractions on offer.

One of the first things to do is to check before leaving on Ski holidays for singles your airline’s luggage policies. Depending upon your ticket type you may have restrictions on just how much you can take with you. Skis and other skiing accessories are certainly not the smallest of items, so being clear on any size or weight limits can deter any drama at the airport check in desk.

Obviously, unless you are hiring them, make sure you pack your skis, boots, jacket and trousers. There are many other essential items such as gloves and socks that will keep you warm that you certainly cannot forget to pack. Obviously, you will be able to buy pretty much every item at your ski resort, but to save you money if applicable you should be taking whatever you can carry, giving you more money to spend on enjoy yourself.

One of the largest visitor attractions in the UK is the Eden Project, located just outside of the town of St. Austell; the project, amongst other things, incorporates the world’s largest greenhouse.  Throughout the year a great many people head to the attraction as it holds a variety of attractions for both young and old to enjoy. Throughout the summer, several one day concerts take place, so you may be fortunate enough to catch your favourite artists or bands whilst enjoying staying in Cornwall cottages

Just a short distance from St Ives cottages  is the wonderful St. Michaels mount; the island is located near Marazion and holds a wonderful castle that can be explored. There are plenty of other great attractions to see and do, such as sub-tropical gardens and wonderful restaurants and cafes.

If you are looking for other locations to explore inCornwall, you could venture down to Land’s End on the very westerly tip ofCornwall.  Not only does it contain some great shops and exhibitions but you can also get your picture taken at the iconic signpost pointing towards the opposite end of the country, John O’Groats.

Image credit: Michael Gwyther-Jones (flickr)

Image courtesy of Flickr user Bods.

Yorkshireis a great holiday destination, especially around its coast. Whether you are staying at hotels in Whitby or hotels in Scarborough, there are a whole host of ways for you to get out and about, making use of this wonderful part of the English geography. However, we’re going to concentrate on just one location today, but it’s a spot that is rich in activities and things to see, somewhere that you could easily spend a day or more looking around.

That spot is Robin Hood’s Bay, a village on Yorkshire’s coast, betweenWhitbyandScarborough, that is picturesque, beautiful and charming. It’s rumoured to have taken its name from the Robin Hood legend in which the infamous do-gooder fought off some French plunderers and returned the loot to the village. This may have led to the thriving smuggling trade that built up in the village during the 1700s.

As for things to see, thelong beachoffers plenty of opportunities for exploration. It’s not a wonderful beach for swimming or playing in the sand, but there are plenty of pools to clamber around and the cliffs that rise up on either side are spectacular.

The village itself has plenty to see too. The Falling Foss Waterfall is a must see, and the tea garden that accompanies to gives you the perfect chance to sit down and recuperate, ready to begin heading around the steep, cobbled streets of the village once again. The museum is also of interest, and you can learn about Robin Hood’s Bay’s fascinating lifeboat history.

So, next time you’re holidaying inYorkshire, take a trip to this wonderful village.

Heading for South Devon breaks and looking for an active challenge to take part in whilst on holiday? Then consider the Trailblaze inSouth Devon. This challenging event sees participants see how far they can make it along a coast trail fromDartmouth toPlymouth. This brand new concept lets runners test their limits and see how many hot spots they can make it to.

What prize you receive depends on how far you can make it.The best part of this the Trailblaze system is that you don’t run against others on a specific date; you can go to the trails whenever you like, which is ideal for those heading to an area like the South West on holiday.

Once you register with the company, you are sent a timing tag that you insert into a checkpoint as you make your way along the trails. Once you have completed a trail, your times will be entered onto the online leader board and you will receive your reward, which comes in the form of coloured wrist bands. This might not seem like much, but every time you look down at that band you will know the challenge that you completed.

Whether you are in a small group, with family or are competing as an individual, you can enjoy this challenging route that sees you start at Dartmouth, run to Little Dartmouth and then onto Blackpool Sands, which is the end of the moderate 8k challenge. You can then push on to Torcross, through Start Point and Prawle Point which is at the end of the 28k difficult challenges. The next stage is the hard stage, which sees you run through Salcombe onto Bolt Head and then to Bolt Tail, where you will have to run 45k. If you are a really serious runner you can take on the severe and extreme challenges which see you reach 89k at the end.

There are a number of trails around the county including inWales,South Downs Way, Pennine Wayand the South West Coastal route.

If you are staying in accommodation in Brixham,Dartmouth is only around 30 minutes drive away so there is no excuse for not getting involved.

Image courtesy of Flickr user col&tasha