Posted by Jennifer on April 30, 2009 – 7:19 pm
Bluestone is a purpose built holiday development which opened in July 2008 and is set in the picturesque Pembrokeshire Coast National Park. Surrounding 182 wooden lodges are beautiful trees and rolling fields. Each lodge enjoys breathtaking views of the Preseli Hills. Bluestone spreads over 500 acres and features a traditional and small welshe village which offers a collection of shops, restaurants and bars. The lodges have between two and four bedrooms and ensuite bathrooms. Children will love the Blue Lagoon described as a ’subtropical paradise’ and the Landsker Sports Club which offers a gym, badminton courts, tennis courts, snooker, pool, archery and volleyball. Outdoor activities include horse riding, golf and fishing. Prices start from £902 per week.
Posted by Paul on April 30, 2009 – 3:54 pm
It’s wet across much of the UK today yet summer has ‘officially’ started. Since the late 14th Century Benedictine monks have eagerly anticipated the arrival of the first baby swans at Abbotsbury Swannery in Dorset, believing that it signifies the start of summer. And the first cygnets have now hatched! Head along to Abbotsbury to see the only colony of nesting mute swans that can be visited anywhere in the world. There are lots of pathways to roam as well as an ugly duckling trail, audiovisual display, play area, shop and café.
Posted by Paul on April 30, 2009 – 3:13 pm
The Medina Monarch is the world’s smallest commercial paddle steamer and one of only three passenger carrying steamers in the UK. And Portsmouth Historic Dockyard is delighted to announce she will be giving free rides (weather permitting!) to visitors at the Celebration of Steam on 9th and 10th May 2009.
From the River Medina on the Isle of Wight, this 42ft long beauty holds up to 12 passengers and weighs approximately 10 tonnes. She was built 25 years ago and houses a 100 year-old engine which was originally used to pump tar. She is powered by steam and paddle power alone and visitors will be able to view the entire engine room and speak with the crew. She will be craned out of the Medina on the Isle of Wight onto a low loader and then shipped across to the Historic Dockyard via the Wightlink Car Ferry.
Tickets for the Celebration of Steam event cost adults: £12, concessions: £10, family (up to 5 people, maximum of 2 adults/seniors): £36. They include entrance to all attractions on site: HMS Warrior 1860, HMS Victory, Mary Rose, Royal Naval Museum and Action Stations (excludes Harbour Tours).
Posted by Lesley on April 30, 2009 – 3:06 pm
The annual festival of food and drink is returning to Newcastle next this weekend, and this time it promises to be bigger, better, and tastier than ever before.
The EAT! Festival will be spread across several venues in Newcastle and Gateshead, and will run from the 2nd to the 17th May 2009.
The festival will feature more than 30 different ‘food adventures’, including IncrEdible - which celebrates the productivity of the land and sea, and EAT!NG: 10 Secret Paladares - where local restaurants will team up with home chefs so you can sample the work of the chefs before going to dine at their homes.
If you are interested in trying new foods, or learning where the foods you enjoy come from, then a visit to the EAT! Festival will broaden your horizons and gve you a taste of local and international flavours.
Posted by Paul on April 30, 2009 – 1:10 pm
After ‘wash-out’ summers in the UK for two years on the run, people have been waiting with baited breath to hear this year’s long-term weather forecast from the Met Office which was released today. Apparently we are due a bumper summer this year with warmer than average temperatures expected. Temperatures could top 30 degrees Centigrade at times. Last year was the fifth wettest in the UK since records began, and 2007 was the wettest ever.
This bodes well not only for tourism in the UK this year, but also potentially for subsequent years to come. It’s thought that many more UK residents are holidaying in the UK this year and so, if they enjoy good weather, who’s to say they won’t consider doing the same again next year?
Posted by Paul on April 30, 2009 – 12:45 pm
Tomorrow sees the start of Show Scotland 2009, a big event weekend (1st-4th May 2009) for museums and galleries. The packed programme of events across Scotland includes late night openings, fun family activities and specially created arts performances, with something to suit all tastes.
Posted by Paul on April 30, 2009 – 11:58 am
Today’s picture of the day is of Cill Chriosd Chapel at Torrin on the Isle of Skye. Now in ruins, but with an interesting graveyard, the chapel can be found on the road from Broadland to Elgol. It was the area’s parish church from the 16th Century to the mid 19th Century when a new chapel was church was built in Broadland.
Posted by Paul on April 30, 2009 – 11:25 am
A luxury five star hotel is currently being developed in Glasgow by the Town House Collection which already runs a number of luxury hotels in Edinburgh. Situated in Glasgow city centre, the landmark Blythwood Square property will be the first of their properties to include a spa. The spa will cover an area of 10,000 sq ft and will have 12 treatment rooms. The hotel is scheduled to open in September 2009.
Posted by Paul on April 30, 2009 – 10:28 am
Congratulationsn go to The Olde Bell in the village of Hurley, near Maidenhead, which picked up two awards this week. At the Restaurant and Bar Design Awards 2009, it walked away with ‘Best Overall UK Restaurant Design’ and the other for ‘Best Restaurant Interior’.
Parts of this building date back to 1135, with nooks and crannies and crooked floors. It is only an hour from central London, 20 minutes from Heathrow and has good transport links. Despite its history, it has kept with the times and has wifi throughout, making it a modern day inn within an historic frame.
Posted by Jennifer on April 29, 2009 – 4:00 pm
Just yards from beautiful sandy beaches offering cheap and friendly accommodation, beachside hostels are a new breed of hangouts knocking spots off pricey resort hotels. Goofys hostel in Newquay has made it onto the Times Online’s top ten beach hostels in Europe list. Cornwall’s beaches are arguably the best in Europe and there are lots of hostels along the coastline. Goofys stands out from the crowd, perched overlooking the Fistral beach and enjoying fantastic views. The rooms are comfortable with ensuites and well equipped with modern amenities such as flatscreen TVs. Prices start from £90 for two nights bed and breakfast.
