The Forest Way is a linear country park located in the heart of East Sussex. It takes the route of a disused railway line and is used frequently by walkers, bikers and horse riders. The Forest way stretches from East Grinstead to Groombridge. The railway line opened in 1866 and even though it was a busy commuter line it was axed due to cuts in 1966. The line was bought by East Sussex County Council in 1971 and turned into a country park. In 2002 after huge improvements to the surface the Forest Way was added to the national cycle network.
The surface of the trail is flat and is a great place to teach children to ride bikes in safety without worrying about traffic. There are several different trails for visitors to explore all different in respects to length and difficulty from the new beginner to the fully charged mountain biker. As you travel along the route you can see that the trees have regenerated naturally and their chippings have become a great habitat for badgers, foxes and deer.
The Forest way is part of the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty which is soaked in rolling hills, scattered farmlands and small woodlands. The track itself leads past the beautiful country home of Standon House and past the Weir Wood reservoir which is famous for its birdlife and wildlife.
The route passes through the village of Hartfield which was the setting for the famous AA Milne story ‘Winnie the Pooh’ in which Milne wrote about his son Christopher Robin and his friendship with the famous bear. The woodlands around Forest Way has inspired many other people over the years, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle is one such writer that used the forest charm to invoke his imagination.
When you decide to visit the Forest Way country park you can rest assured that there are many Hotels in Sussex for you to choose from. Should you be travelling from afar it may well be wise to contact the local tourist information office to book your East Sussex Hotel with the slightest of ease.
Situated on the river Goyt the charming town of Whaley Bridge sits nestled between Macclesfield and Sheffield. The town is located within the high peak district of Derbyshire and enjoys the same scenic landscapes and views that the area is renowned for.
Whaley Bridge is often referred to as the gateway to the Goyt valley, the valley being a large area of natural beauty that is visited by cyclists and walkers every year.
A large feature of Whaley Bridge is the Peak forest canal and basin. The town sits at the end of the canal and enjoys a great history of boating throughout the ages. Many visitors travel via the canal down to the town for their Peak District holiday. A wonderful barge restaurant now sits at the canal head serving delicious and mouth watering food.
Owing to the town’s rich heritage with water it hosts a festival dedicated to its roots. The Whaley Water Weekend is hosted annually in June by the townsfolk and features activities on water and land. Bands, carnivals and a mini armada are among the attractions that thrill visitors year after year. If staying aboard canal boats is not for you then fear not, there are plenty of Holiday Cottages in the Peak District for you to stay in without getting yourself wet!
The town has a selection of shops and amenities which include something for everyone’s shopping tastes. In recent years the town has expanded with everything from supermarkets to alternative shops to satisfy the needs and virtues of visitors.
The town has a rail link on the Manchester-Buxton line and operates an almost hourly service making the town a great place to visit with ease. The town’s station is very quaint and is maintained and looked after by the local community group known as the Friends of Whaley Bridge Station showing the communities dedication to its town’s history and heritage.
The local council has produced a booklet detailing local parish walks for visitors so they won’t miss out on anything the town and surrounding areas have to offer.
With so many attractions and sights to see your Peak District Holiday simply wouldn’t be complete without a visit to Whaley Bridge.
Stirling castle is one of the most important and historically rich castles in the whole of Scotland. The castle sits atop the geological formation known as the Stirling sil and is surrounded on three sides by rock faces which give the castle a very strong defensive position. The very first record of Stirling castle dates back to 1110 when Alex I the then king of Scotland dedicated a chapel within the castle.
The castle features several important and culturally rich features within its grounds.
The Chapel Royal.
Many features have been built within the castle by request of royalty; the chapel royal was the last such feature. Built in 1594 the chapel took 10 years to complete and rests on the remains of the older chapel where Mary queen of Scots was crowned. The chapel has taken many different forms and uses over the year such as dining room, school room and storeroom. Restored to its previous glory after the First World War the chapel is once again in a glorious condition complete with a magnificent historical frieze that was discovered during its renovation.
The Great Hall.
The great hall was built in 1503 by James IV to impress his new queen Margaret Tudor. The hall is one of the largest banqueting halls within Scotland. The Castle was turned into an army depot in the nineteenth century which resulted in the removal of the roof and the space divided up. Restoration started in 1964 on the great hall and lasted 35 years in which time the hall was returned to its regal splendour and decadence.
The Palace.
The Stirling palace was built for King James V and his second queen Mary of Guise in or around 1540. The palace was intended as a celebration for his forthcoming marriage and built to be grander then any palace that his French bride would have seen before.
At one point the palace was the central hub of the government and was a showcase for George V and his thoroughly modern government.
Stirling Castle with its countless attractions and unique beauty is guaranteed to enhance and take your Self Catering Scotland holiday to new highs. With local accommodation such as Argyll Cottages, guesthouses and hotels nearby you have no excuse not to visit Stirling Castle!
Hartland Point is renowned for many things but its lighthouse is by far its main attraction. The Trinity Lighthouse was built in 1874 by Mr Yerward of Wales under the keen eye of Sir James Douglass. The lighthouse is 59 feet high and its lamp is situated 37 feet above sea level. Hartland’s lighthouse lamp can be seen from over 25 miles away. The lighthouse’s glow has been a nightly sight through the windows of Bude Cottages to the coastline towns of the welsh coast.
The lighthouse was built on a very large rock at the tip of the point and such was the constant battering of the sea that stone had to be broken from the cliff head behind the lighthouse and used as a natural barrier. This procedure was carried out frequently and as a way to try to remedy the problem a 30 metre long and 6 metre high seawall was built in 1925 to try to protect the buildings from erosion.
The Trinity lighthouse for many years hosted lighthouse keepers and their families but in 1984 it was decided to fully automate the site. The lighthouse was attached to a large accommodation wing with enough room to host up to 4 keepers and their families. The living quarters were demolished after automation had taken place and a helipad built in its place. The Lighthouse is currently monitored from the Trinity House operations centre in Essex.
The lighthouse is currently not open to the public as its access road is liable to rock falls and land slides.
A review this year has put doubt on the Trinity lighthouse’s future. Trinity House, the lighthouse authority for England and Wales are looking into replacing the 136 year old lighthouse and use technologies such as satellite navigation as a means to protect users of the sea.
As such, the organisation is conducting a review of the lighthouse and hopes to work together with current users of the Bristol Channel to ensure that the best and most efficient mode of safety operation is chosen. Hartland lighthouse is one of six Lighthouses that are facing significant changes due to its authority’s evaluations this year.
With times being so unpredictable for Hartland’s Lighthouse its supporters recommend to visit sooner rather then later and with so many places to stay locally like Luxury Bude Cottages now has never been a better time.
Paignton has long been a popular destination thanks to its long sandy beaches, family friendly atmosphere and a plethora of attractions. The town’s fantastic position is also a big draw for the thousands who visit each year. Not only is the town in the beautiful county of Devon but it also occupies a fantastic spot in Torbay, which thanks to its unique topography, enjoys a warm climate that allows the growing of the famous Torbay Palm trees.
Paignton is found right in the centre of the English Riviera and offers some of the best and most popular beach in the UK, but don’t just take our word for it as according to the BBC Coast series in 2007 Paignton has the best sand for building sandcastles. In total the English Riviera has an amazing 22 miles of coastline and 20 beaches which come in all shapes and sizes allowing you to find the beach which is perfect for you.
One of Paignton’s most popular attractions is Paignton Zoo, which is regarded as one of the best in the whole of the country. Here you will find some of the world’s most amazing animals and some of the rarest.
No English seaside resort would be complete without a pier and Paignton is no exception. The pier lies in the heart of the town’s biggest beach. The pier is within easy walking distance of the town centre and offers indoor and outdoor attractions as well as amazing views of Torbay.
The town and surrounding area has many, many more attractions that will delight people of all ages from miniature villages to marine parks, Paignton and the English Riviera.
At the end of the day before you return to your Paignton Caravan Park why not take a stroll along the sea front and enjoy some good old-fashioned fish and chips as the sunsets over Torbay.
The world heritage city of Bath has a wealth of nighttime attractions with a pleasing mix of restaurants, clubs, bars, music and the arts. If you are planning to take a Bath weekend break you will be well catered for when the city’s leading attractions close for the day. In the evenings you will be spoilt for choice when deciding which of Bath’s delights to sample.
The theatres of Bath offer a wide range performances that will appeal to all tastes. The Theatre Royal is the main theatre in the city and offers a year round schedule of quality drama, comedy, opera and dance. The Egg Theatre offers more children and family friendly fun while the Ustinov Theatre showcases cutting edge performances.
Bath has both independent and chain cinemas which offer all the latest Hollywood blockbusters as well as smaller arthouse movies.
For those looking for a more unusual tourist attraction why not join the Bizarre Bath nightly tour which provides an irreverent look at the city. For a more traditional comedy show head to the Komedia’s Krater Comedy Club which offers comedy as well as cabaret and music every night of the week. For a Sunday night chuckle the Porter’s Comedy Cavern is the place for you while the Bath Comedy Festival starts appropriately enough on April fool’s day.
There are plenty of music venues throughout the city offering music lovers the chance to sample a wide range of artists and styles. Bath plays host to performances by local, national and even international acts.
Bath also has plenty of bars, pubs and nightclubs that really offer something for everyone with traditional English pubs to trendy nightclubs and everything in-between.
This is the second part of our guide to what to take with you on a summer holiday.
A Good Book
Whether it’s for those lazy days on the beach, waiting to catch your flight or for some bed time reading, a good book will provide some essential boredom relief and a great way to relax and unwind.
Toiletries
Take all those essentials you will need during your stay such as toothpaste, deodorant, shampoo, toothbrush, razors and moisturisers. Take any other bits the might consider essential but only try to take as much as you will need during your holiday, you don’t want your suitcases weighed down with loads of bottles.
Beach Towel
If you are visiting a Devon holiday cottages this summer then there is a very good chance you will at some point be heading to the beach. If this is the case then make sure you take a good beach towel to help dry you off and help stop the sand finding its way into every nook and cranny.
Games
At some point during your holiday it’s inevitable that your children will become bored and inpatient so it’s a good idea to bring a few games along with you. These can be traditional board games you can break out during an evening or a particularly rainy day. They could be travel games that can be played in the car. Handheld games consoles such as the Nintendo DS that can be played anywhere and are certain to keep kids entertained for hours, they are also great fun for adults too.
Documentation
This is perhaps the most important of all as without for passport, tickets or any reservation documentation your whole holiday could be ruined. Make sure you keep all these essentials in a secure place that you are unlikely to loose.
The Weald is one of the most famous features of South East England, and one of the favourite places to visit for those staying in Hotels in Sussex. Whereas now it is characterised by its diving clay valleys and climbing limestone ridges, it used to be a very different landscape.
Although the shape of the Weald has not changed much in the last five thousand years, what covered it has altered rather dramatically. The name Weald comes from the Old English word ‘weald’, meaning ‘forest’. The entirety of the Weald used to be covered completely in trees, probably even joining up with the New Forest in Hampshire from the borders of Romney Marsh in Kent.
People initially lived only on the fringes of the forest, using it as a resource for firewood or building materials. Gradually, the people began to travel through the forests to transport livestock, but only during the summer months. It was a wild and dangerous place.
Gradually, the forest was cut away as people used all of the wood for shipbuilding and charcoal to fuel the iron furnaces and brick making industry in Sussex. It was also cleared so that more land was available for farming.
So, people staying in East Sussex Hotels can now enjoy walks between the villages that are scattered across the Weald without having to worry about being molested by bears, wolves or wild boars, and can do so even in winter. Whether this is an improvement is for you to decide.
When staying in your Whitby Hotel there are so many sights to see in Whitby. The town has a long and fascinating history, which has created a rich patchwork or attractions and sights. This video shows many of the towns finest landmarks and attractions including its legendary abbey.
Packing for your holiday never seems to be an easy task and you always seem to end up forgetting something so it’s a good idea to make a list a few weeks before you leave to avoid any last minute panics. Whether you’re going to holiday cottages in Wales or villas in Spain there are a few things we all need for your holidays.
Sun Cream
This should be the very top of your list. Even if you are holidaying in the UK you still need to wear sunscreen when you go out. Children and adults alike should be well protected to help keep them safe from the potential harmful affects of the sun.
Camera
Unless you have an amazing camera in your mobile you really should be taking a proper digital camera. Taking plenty of great quality snaps will not only help you remember your holiday for years to come but may also help get you through those post holiday blues.
MP3 Player & Speaker Dock
These are great for the journey to your holiday as whether in the car, train or plane they can help while a way the boring hours till you reach your destination. The speaker dock will not only charge your mp3 player but you can also use it to help get you ready in the morning for a day of sight seeing or at night as you hit the tiles.
Sunglasses
This seems rather obvious but if you are anything like me then you will have turned up in sun destinations leaving your glasses at home leading to an annoying and uncomfortable day.
The Forest Way is a linear country park located in the heart of East Sussex. It takes the route of a disused railway line and is used frequently by walkers, bikers and horse riders. The Forest way stretches from East Grinstead to Groombridge. The railway line opened in 1866 and even though it was a busy commuter line it was axed due to cuts in 1966. The line was bought by East Sussex County Council in 1971 and turned into a country park. In 2002 after huge improvements to the surface the Forest Way was added to the national cycle network.
Situated on the river Goyt the charming town of Whaley Bridge sits nestled between Macclesfield and Sheffield. The town is located within the high peak district of Derbyshire and enjoys the same scenic landscapes and views that the area is renowned for.
Stirling castle is one of the most important and historically rich castles in the whole of Scotland. The castle sits atop the geological formation known as the Stirling sil and is surrounded on three sides by rock faces which give the castle a very strong defensive position. The very first record of Stirling castle dates back to 1110 when Alex I the then king of Scotland dedicated a chapel within the castle.
