With a new breed of trendy bars and contemporary restaurants Cornwall has sashayed its way onto the ‘in’ list and is now among Europe’s coolest gastronomic hotspots. From chic bistros and family restaurants to funky beachside cafes and stylish cliff top picnics Cornwall has something to satisfy every appetite. See Visit Cornwall’s gourmet breaks for ideas.
Monthly Archives: April 2010
Head for Shropshire to enjoy ‘hawks on walks’
Filed under Miscellaneous
Shropshire, home to more than 3,500 miles of rights of way, is about to launch a new season of its popular walking festivals. Boasting the long distance circular walk The Shropshire Way, walkers are not only guaranteed a great ramble or challenging trek but also a glimpse of its geological roots and historical importance as the heart of Britain’s Industrial Revolution.
A quarter of the county is designated as the stunning Shropshire Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty – and it offers everything from 21st Century GPS treasure hunting to the chance to ‘walk with hawks’ as well as its own walkers’ shuttle bus linking many of the most popular spots.
First out of the walking festival starter’s block will be a combination of world beating history, industrial heritage and good old-fashioned outdoor fun. The annual Ironbridge Gorge Walking Festival, organised by the Green Wood Centre, returns in May offering over 20 guided walks – all free but with pre-booking strongly recommended.
Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival
Filed under Eating & Drinking, Events
The Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival is a major whisky festival with over 200 events taking place across Speyside from 29th April to 3rd May 2010. Visitors to this year’s festival will be able to enjoy the best that Speyside has to offer. Themed on Whisky, Food and the Heritage and Culture of Speyside, the festival will aim to deliver a full range of quality events including the opportunity to visit distilleries not normally open to the public and to follow in the footsteps of whisky smugglers on walks through the countryside.
Another very good reason to holiday in the UK
Filed under Miscellaneous, Transport
According to an article just published on Travelmole, flying out of the UK is about to get a whole lot more expensive. The reason? Because the airlines want to recover some of the costs incurred from the disruption caused by the volcanic ash from Iceland.
This seems a rather backward step on the part of the airlines given that people are now probably very wary about flying anyway. Afterall, there’s no way of telling whether this eruption could wreak yet more havoc in the coming months, or indeed whether the volcano’s near neighbour – which is ten times the size – may also erupt (which, going by most accounts you read, seems likely).
UK travellers can expect to pay an additional £1.8 billion for flights or £48 each on average, according to figures from the Centre for Economics and Business Research for the website Kelkoo. The study also warns that fares are set to rise by 11.5% by 2012.
Anyway, the easy solution to it all for UK holidaymakers? Simply to holiday in the UK, of course!
Paisley Beer Festival
Filed under Eating & Drinking, Events
The Paisley Beer Festival kicks off tomorrow, giving visitors the chance to taste what local breweries have to offer. The annual event attracts thousands of people keen to sample over 130 real cask conditioned ales and ciders not to mention an array of foreign beers. The four-day festival is the biggest real ale festival in Scotland. The brewers will pit their finest ales against the competition in a bid for the gold, silver and bronze medals awarded by a judging panel.
Discover history, heritage and exercise in North East Derbyshire
Filed under Attractions, Events
Grab your walking boots and discover the connection at the fourth Peak District’s Historic Border Country Walking Festival taking place over seven days from 15th to 23rd May 2010.
Stretching from the Elizabethan splendour at Hardwick Hall past the dramatic hillside ruin of Sutton Scarsdale Hall to the fairytale heights of Bolsover Castle and centred around the market town of Chesterfield, the Historic Border Country is where The Peak District meets Robin Hood Country.
History, heritage and exercise come together in the north east Derbyshire festival, which for 2010 features 39 walks.
And after the success of a pilot scheme last year, the festival will again offer the chance to take to the saddle with cycle rides along quiet roads, bridleways and greenways on the Chesterfield Round Ride.
Walkers can follow in Elizabeth Shrewsbury’s footsteps around Hardwick Park, tour Sutton Scarsdale Hall or find out how Whittington is connected to the Revolution of 1688. Or how about discovering the pretty village of Ashover or exploring the beautiful bluebell woods round Linacre Reservoirs?
Celebrate the 50th anniversary of Chesterfield’s twinning link with Darmstadt in Germany with the ‘Grenzgang’, Starting off on a Chesterfield Transport double decker bus to Spitewinter, an area of sloping woodland on the edge of the Peak District, visitors then walk to local brewery Brampton Brewery for English beer and German food before heading back to Chesterfield town centre.
No festival would be complete without the chance to climb the tower of the famous Chesterfield ‘Crooked Spire‘ Church, then pick up an audio trail from the Tourist Information Centre for a self-guided tour of this historic market town. For a more challenging route, try the Chesterfield Round Walk, a 34-mile trek round the outskirts of the town, keeping the famous Spire in view for most of the way.
The full festival programme, along with details of walk charges, times and venues are available at the Chesterfield Tourist Information Centre in Rykneld Square.
North Devon & Exmoor Walking Festival
Filed under Events
The tenth North Devon and Exmoor walking festival will be the biggest yet with 84 guided walks on offer from Thursday 29th April to Friday 7th May 2010.
It’s one of a series of events taking place within the North Devon Coast AONB to celebrate its 50th anniversary; their designated area extends from the Exmoor boundary at Combe Martin down to the Cornish border at Welcombe. Several of the walks will be guided by a member of the AONB team whose specialist knowledge will help explain more about the area and the work they carry out.
The other festival outings will cover most of North Devon and Exmoor with guided walks ranging from a short half-day up to a full day’s hike, so there is something for most abilities. Around half are new for 2010 such as the afternoon Art and Nature walk and the Braunton on the Move, Explorer Walk, which will make use of the North Devon AONB’s handheld multi-media GPS controlled device.
The only election-free zone in the British Isles
Filed under Miscellaneous
As general election fever swarms across the nation, the subject on everyone’s lips is which party will win the British vote. Despite this, many people are already bored of the endless campaigning and are looking for a break to get away from the politics. The Isle of Man has therefore announced that it will become Britain’s only ‘election free zone’ and has responded to demand by creating a unique ‘Election Free’ holiday package, available between now and 6th May 2010.
The ‘Election Free’ holiday package guarantees a break from being questioned on your thoughts of the political candidates, as hotel proprietors have been specifically asked not to mention the upcoming election. In addition, Isle of Man Tourism has confirmed that the Island will have no campaigning billboards tied to lamp posts or election leaflets on B&B entrance hall tables.
Once the election is over, the Isle of Man invites the three major party leaders a chance to escape the hustle and bustle of city life and visit the Island, as there is something for each of them.
David Cameron can take cycling to a whole new level by testing some of the mountain bike tracks on Island. Choose from the scenic Ramsey trail or the more adventurous Port Erin route – with lots of hills and spectacular views of the Manx coast. For the ultimate challenge David could enter the Manx End2End challenge taking place on the 12th September 2010. Top riders have been known to complete the course in 3 hours whilst mere mortals usually take between 4 and 6 hours to cover the varied and demanding 75 km ride.
Gordon Brown can replace his running machine for the real outdoors with over 500 miles of walking routes to choose from on island taking in the Manx coastline and an array of bird species in a variety of habitats ranging from mountain and moor land to sea-cliffs to and sandy beaches. Or take time to relax on one of the nine golf courses on offer. No golf club is more than a 45 minute drive from the next and like the roads, the courses are uncrowded so you can take your time and truly relax.
Nick Clegg has five languages under his belt but could add one more with an opportunity to pick up the Manx language while on Island. Manx Gaelic is a Celtic language similar to Scottish and Irish Gaelic and was universally spoken until the 19th century when it went into decline. The language has now been revived on island thanks to the Manx Language Society and the Department of Education. Book into a class by visiting www.learnmanx.com
Steam – not volcanic ash – at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard
Filed under Attractions, Events
Unlike the current news headlines, the effects of steam and travel are being celebrated at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard and there will be no fear of being stranded from Saturday 8th – Sunday 9th May 2010!
Portsmouth Historic Dockyard’s Celebration of Steam is a two day event, where visitors will be transported into the wonderful world of steam, both traditional and modern, with displays of traction engines and road locomotives at work to ferry visitors around the site, steam wagons, boats, model and ride-on railways and a whole host of Victorian dockyard characters.
New this year is the chance to compare 150 years of steam technology from the launch of sail and steam powered warship, HMS Warrior 1860, who when built was quite simply bigger, faster and more heavily armoured than any other warship afloat – her magnificent Penn steam engine will be bought to life with smoke pouring from her funnels; to a special appearance of the 2009 land speed record-breaking British Steam Car, along with its dynamic team – including driver Don Wales!
Celebrating the fifth successful year of the event with a special appearance is the British Steam Car team which broke the world land speed record in 2009 by achieving an average speed of 148.308 mph over a measured kilometre. The team behind it will be taking things at a more leisurely pace as they chat to visitors, show them the inner workings of the vehicle and give them the opportunity to sit in the car’s cock pit!
Driver Don Wales, nephew of the legendary Donald Campbell and grandson of Sir Malcolm, will be giving fascinating talks throughout the event on the car’s magnificent achievement. Don holds 11 land speed records, nine in his electric car “Bluebird” and two with the British Steam Car Team.
Tickets for the event are adults: £12, concessions: £10, family (up to 5 people, maximum of 2 adults/seniors): £36. Tickets include entrance to all attractions on site: HMS Warrior 1860, HMS Victory, Mary Rose Museum, National Museum of the Royal Navy and Action Stations (excludes Harbour Tours).
Art Scilly
Filed under Attractions, Events
It’s recognized as one of the most beautiful destinations in the UK and was voted one of the Top 10 Worldwide places to visit in 2010, and now the Isles of Scilly is also hosting a brand new Arts Festival.
Taking place between 8th and 15th May 2010, Art Scilly will highlight the diverse and talented range of artists that live and work across the unique Island archipelago. With a range of events including exhibitions and workshops, Art Scilly gives you the perfect opportunity to enjoy an arty stay on Islands.
Art Scilly events will include:
· Arts Across Scilly Exhibition on Bryher
· Outdoor Ink sketching – St Mary’s
· Tiffany Glass Workshops – St Mary’s
· Watercolour workshop – St Mary’s
· The Summer Collection – Art Exhibition – Tresco
· Aura Soma Arts Sessions – St Mary’s
