Almost £500,000 has been awarded to Bletchley Park, the top secret code breaking hub of World War II, thanks to lottery money. The development funds from the Heritage Lottery Fund will help the centre towards its goal of £10m for a complete re-vamp. The site opened in 1994 and today attracts around 100,000 visitors a year, but is currently in a state of advanced dilapidation.
Monthly Archives: September 2009
Lottery funding for Bletchley Park, Milton Keynes
0
Filed under Attractions
Picture of the day: Drusillas Park, East Sussex
Filed under Attractions
Today’s picture of the day is of Drusillas Park which lies between Eastbourne and Brighton. It features animals such as Meerkats, Penguins, Bats, Lemurs, Monkeys, Otters, Beavers, Gibbons and Owls. Onsite visits can enjoy 2 restaurants and 5 shops.
Trump in Scotland – tell us your views
Filed under Miscellaneous
Donald Trump looks set to get his way for a world famous golf resort in Scotland, to the disgust of a number of local residents who risk losing their homes due to a compulsory purchase order. Tripping up Trump gives an insight into their perspective and their view of his ‘aggressive use of power’.
What are your views? Is a world class golf resort just what Scotland needs? Will it inject huge benefits into Scotland, or is it an environmental catastrophe? Is a compulsory purchase warranted when planning permission was granted on the grounds that Trump already had all the land he needed for the development?
Our Facebook fans: a breakdown
Filed under Miscellaneous
Interestingly, over two thirds of Facebook fans of UKseries are female, and females aged 25-54 make up more than half of all fans. Why we should have such a female bias, I am not entirely sure, but it is probably a good sign; research has repeatedly indicated that the key decision makers and purchasers when it comes to travel are females. You can become a Facebook fan of UKseries yourself by clicking here.
Picture of the day: Thelnetham Windmill
Filed under Attractions
Today’s picture of the day is of Thelnetham Windmill in Suffolk. It dates back to the early 19th Century and lies on the border between Norfolk and Suffolk. The machinery inside the mill is still in excellent condition and visitors can experience life in a working mill by appointment only.
Winter warmth in a comforting Cornish cottage
Filed under Accommodation, Eating & Drinking
Barclay House, Looe, offers guests a restful base from which to explore the wild winter of the Cornish coast with cliff path or woodland walks followed by relaxing evenings in a luxury lodge.
For foodie visitors wanting to experience the best that Cornwall has to offer, the Taste South East Cornwall food festival is being held from 10th November to 10th December 2009. The festival includes a month of master classes, tastings, guided walks, winter food fairs and mystery tours.
Barclay House offers eight luxury self-catering cottages, which are perched just above the hotel and set in a serene atmosphere, surrounded by six acres of ever changing scenery. The one-, two- or three-bedroomed cottages are designed for couples, families or friends to share.
The cottages are rented on a weekly basis and feature a split level design to include en suite bathrooms with Jacuzzi-style bath tubs as well as a BBQ area and private balcony. Each cottage is named after local woodland and is individually styled with comfortable and soothing interiors to create a home away from home.
Cottage guests can take advantage of the on-site AA Rosette winning restaurant by booking for breakfast and dinner; meals can also be served privately in cottages. The restaurant delivers a range of local dishes showcased by an ever changing seasonal menu. Guests are welcome to use all of the hotel’s facilities including an outdoor heated swimming pool, sauna and gym. A self-catering cottage on the site of the hotel allows guests to find just the right balance between the privacy of self-catering accommodation and the luxury of a hotel.
Mellerstain House, Berwickshire
Filed under Attractions
The lovely Robert Adam designed stately home, Mellerstain House, stands in 80 hectares of magnificent parkland with an Italianate formal terrace garden at the rear and a sweeping stretch of lawn descending to a lake. These gardens and woodlands are well worth a visit at this time of year, displaying fabulous shades of gold, russet and amber; they were designed around 1910 by Sir Reginald Blomfield.
Tiny Scottish island to become an international yoga centre
Filed under Attractions, Miscellaneous
Following a blessing from India’s lifestyle guru, Swami Ramdev (aka Baba Ramdev), the tiny Scottish island of Little Cumbrae in North Ayrshire is to become an international yoga centre. Around 1,000 people – mostly disciples of Ramdev and the media – have descended on the island today to witness its inauguration. Ramdev has a large following with his own TV shows and sell-out camps throughout the world; he claims that his breathing techniques can help cure cancer.
Picture of the day: Burpham Court Farm Park, Surrey
Filed under Attractions
Today’s picture of the day is of Burpham Court Park in Surrey. It lies on the banks of the River Wey and offers a collection of rare farm animals. Visitors can enjoy feeding the hens, ducks, goats and herd the ponies and llamas. Have guided tour by tractor and trailer or enjoy a spot of fishing.
See red deer during Porlock’s Rutting Weekend
Filed under Attractions, Events
Porlock Rutting Weekend, from Friday 16th to Sunday 18th October 2009 -which gives visitors an opportunity to get close to the magnificent Exmoor red deer in their natural surroundings – has now been reduced to £195 per person for double or single room occupancy.
The package includes early morning and late afternoon/evening expeditions to view the rut at dawn and dusk led by ranger Richard Eales from Exmoor National Park and Nigel Hester and Charles Harding from the local National Trust Holnicote Estate. It is a magical experience watching and listening to the wild deer as the stars fade and the sun rises over Exmoor, and vice versa late afternoon. There will also be a Discovery Safari wildlife jeep excursion and a visit to Exmoor Falconry (own transport).
Local B&B accommodation is within easy walking distance of the Village Hall where there will be a jazz supper on the Friday and a dinner with wine and a talk on the Saturday night; both meals will feature local Exmoor produce.
For details and to make a booking contact the Porlock Visitor Centre.
