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Monthly Archives: October 2010

New flying doctor service covers all of rural Scotland

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Posted by trev on October 25, 2010 – 1:20 pm
Filed under Miscellaneous

The Emergency Medical Retrieval Service (EMRS) or flying doctor service originally only covered the Hebrides and West coast of Scotland, but has now extended to the entire Highlands.

The service which is similar in many respects to the Air Ambulance services seen in various cities, launched a few years ago from Glasgow to cover the entire west coast especially for the more remote islands where emergency care for more serious illnesses is more limited.

It has been such a success that the service will now cover the entire Highlands rural areas, offering both locals and tourists the reassurance that despite the remoteness of the area critical medical care is not far away.

Due to the vast size of the area covered, the service not only uses it’s own two helicopters but also RAF Sea King rescue helicopters and even planes to ferry patients mostly to Glasgow.

New Derry Peace Bridge starts to take shape

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Posted by trev on October 25, 2010 – 12:42 pm
Filed under Attractions, Events

The BBC has a picture gallery of the new so called Peace Bridge in Derry which has been going on since March, but now the piles are secured it’s time for the upper structure to take shape.

30 giant piles have been driven into the bed of the River Foyle to hold the bridge, on top of which the bridge deck will sit along with the slightly strange looking spires which sit alongside. Those are now mostly in place and ready for the main part to be added. The image above shows an artists impression of what the bridge will look like in the end.

Picture Gallery of Peace Bridge

More Derry Links:
More attractions in Derry
Hotels in Derry

The appearing and disappearing Tynemouth health spa fountain

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Posted by trev on October 25, 2010 – 12:28 pm
Filed under Events

In a slightly strange tale, a Victorian fountain which was lost for many years under the sands of a Tynemouth beach has been uncovered from the sand….only to be recovered again.

The Lion’s Head Fountain dating from 1860 has slowly been covered by the sands. It was part of a health resort in Tynemouth, North East England, where the waters were thought to have health and healing properties although the area fell out of favour in the 1900s and the well was slowly lost under the sand.

On Saturday the well was dug out by volunteers as part of a charity event to raise money for the Tynemouth Volunteer Life Brigade. However due to financial constraints relating to its maintenance, the council who own the beach have requested that the fountain once again be buried after the event.

One day perhaps the fountain will be unburied for good.

Tynemouth links:
Visitor attractions in Tynemouth

Rumours that The Hobbit filming might move to the UK

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Posted by trev on October 25, 2010 – 11:50 am
Filed under Miscellaneous

The UK has seen somewhat of a revival as a film location in recent years and there are suggestions Peter Jackson’s “The Hobbit” might be filmed here too.

Nothing has been decided yet, but disputes with acting unions in New Zealand mean rumours of the move are getting more likely, especially as Warner Brothers who are funding the film have experience in this country with their smash hit Harry Potter sequels being filmed here.

If this did happen, it is likely to have a significant boost to UK tourism just as Harry Potter did to various parts of the UK and Lord of the Rings did for New Zealand. There are plenty of places in the UK which could be used for The Hobbit, although Scotland, Wales, the Lake District and Dartmoor are very good contenders for scenery parts.

As they say in films….watch this space.

Putting Malton on the map

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Posted by admin on October 25, 2010 – 11:25 am
Filed under Eating & Drinking, Miscellaneous

The town of Malton in North Yorkshire is looking to put itself well and truly on the tourist  map.  Located between York and Scarborough, the town is seeking to attract a top chef to the area to open a restaurant.  So desperate are the townsfolk, it would seem, that they’re even offering a £10,000 prize to the successful ‘applicant’.  Read the article over at The Guardian for more on the subject, or take a look at the Malton Food Lovers Restaurant Chef Challenge advertisement.

A good idea, do you think?

Weston-super-Mare pier reopens after massive fire

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Posted by trev on October 25, 2010 – 11:14 am
Filed under Attractions

In July 2008 the old pier at Weston-super-Mare was just a smouldering mass of wood and metal, but on Saturday the newly refurbished pier reopened.

The pier is privately owned which is possibly the main reason it managed to reopen after a £39 million refit and regeneration following the devastating 2008 fire which all-but destroyed the upper levels and damaged some of the metalwork that supports the pier.

There was no elaborate ceremony to reopen – simply a barrier was moved back and thousands of people patiently waiting in the rain streamed on to discover the new delights of this most modern British seaside pier. Co-owner Kerry Michael said they had planned for a big ceremony originally, but since the pier wasn’t finished at the predicted date of July 2010, they had decided just to let everyone explore rather than a few dignitaries.

The modern glass fronted building was designed by Bristol-based architects Angus Meek and is a very modern take on the old traditional rides and attractions design of most piers. The pier still contains the usual attractions such as amusement arcades, but also has a number of firsts including:

- Britain’s smallest rollercoaster called “the Robocoaster” a large robotic arm ride similar in look to the type they use in factories, but this one can swing two riders round in all kinds of directions. Click here for a video of a similar unit in action in Legoland.

- A 300m electric floor pick-up go-kart track which cost £1m alone.

- The world’s first double laser maze. This is also the only laser maze in the UK.

This is the third regeneration of the pier which was originally built in 1904 and rebuilt in the 1930s following a fire, which lasted until 2008. The Weston-super-Mare pier might pave the way for other piers which are either damaged or falling down to be revamped especially as this modern design is a lot easier to get fire insurance for than a wooden structure.

Considering it was raining and after the school holidays, the number of people who wanted to visit the Weston Super Mare pier suggests it will be a popular attraction for many years to come.

Other Weston-super-Mare links:
Weston-super-Mare visitor attractions
Weston-super-Mare visitor hotels
Self-catering cottages in Weston-super-Mare

Northumberland’s newest boutique hotel

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Posted by admin on October 25, 2010 – 11:05 am
Filed under Accommodation

After a £1 million renovation, Northumberland has launched its newest boutique hotel, Eshott Hall near Morpeth. This elegant 11 bedroom house with its own Personal House Managers, is definitely the quintessential country home for relaxing and getting away from the stresses of modern day living.

Eshott Hall itself is one of Northumberland’s most stunning 17th Century houses with high ceilings, ornate cornices and a sweeping staircase dominated by the stunning William Morris stained glass window. Its former owners include Emerson Bainbridge, founder of the worlds’ first department store Bainbridge’s of Newcastle. Now one of the best things about Eshott is that is it one of those rare places that offers the kind of weekend we dream about but seldom have. Eshott is both a million miles and twenty minutes from civilization with Newcastle and its excellent rail and air links less than half an hour by car.

Outside there are 35 acres of grounds to wander in including a fernery and lake and an abundance of wildlife including red squirrels. For the more energetic there is the chance to play tennis or organise a fishing trip with the resident gillie. Inside the huge soft sofas in the living room and library beg for an afternoon curled up with a book or the Sunday papers.

Eshott Hall has been lovingly brought back to life by husband and wife team Dan and Louise Ball who live in the house Louise explains “We know visitors like it here at Eshott Hall because they can really adopt it as their own home for the duration of their stay. They can pop out for a game of tennis, check out the kitchen garden or drop into the kitchen for a chat.”

Louise’s eye for detail and comfort is also evident in the bedrooms. Each is individually styled and ranging from French Provencal to Oriental to the more masculine Highland Suite. All offer everything expected in today’s best hotels including fine white linen, free standing baths and ipod docks.

Everything in the hotel is locally sourced from the luxurious Natural Empathy products in the bathrooms to the food. Wherever possible, produce is seasonal including the vegetables picked fresh from the kitchen garden and then transformed by Head Chef Chris Wood.

The full Northumbrian breakfast includes Sunny Hill free range eggs, kippers from Seahouses and smoked salmon from Craster. The dinner menu changes according to season but a typical meal might include North Sea Crab Tortellini, Ingram Valley Lamb with shallot mash, creamed spinach confit garlic and apple mint jus followed by Meadowsweet Brulee or a selection of tangy Northumbrian cheeses.

Once checked in, should you wish to venture further (many guests don’t), Eshott is only a short distance from Alnwick with its historic castle, gardens and Treehouse, Bamburgh, the Holy Isle of Lindisfarne, the wild and rugged Heritage Coastline, the Cheviot Hills and the Northumberland National Park.

Eshott Hall is ideal for mid-week and weekend breaks and is available for exclusive private parties, family celebrations and weddings.

Useful links:
Hotels in North-East England
B&Bs in North-East England
Self-catering in North-East England
Tourist attractions in North-East England

Wizard Week at Isle of Wight Steam Railway

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Posted by admin on October 23, 2010 – 5:21 pm
Filed under Attractions, Events

Have a ‘wail’ of a time dressing-up as wizards to experience some Hallowe’en fun with magic shows, an enchanting Woodland Walk and steam train rides courtesy of the Isle of Wight Steam Railway. There is also the chance to get up close and personal with the birds of prey and owls…not to mention the bats!

Britain’s brightest bridge… in Berwick?

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Posted by admin on October 23, 2010 – 10:41 am
Filed under Attractions, Events

Berwick-upon-Tweed’s world-famous Royal Border Bridge will be brilliantly lit next month, turning the 160-year-old structure into a night-time attraction. The bridge connects England and Scotland by rail and was officially opened by Queen Victoria in 1860. The lighting will be officially illuminated on 27th November 2010, and will continue through into 2011. Plan your winter break in or near Berwick and make sure you see this dazzling attraction.

Useful links:
Berwick hotels
Berwick B&Bs
Berwick self-catering
Berwick attractions

Family fun from Tate Britain and Tate Modern

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Posted by admin on October 23, 2010 – 8:48 am
Filed under Attractions, Events

If you’re in London and fancy doing something for free with the family, why not unleash your creativity with a visit to the Tate Britain Art Trolley? Make drawings, collage and explore! Open from 11.00 – 14.00 every day during half term. Whilst over at Tate Modern, the Start desk will be open for family fun in the galleries. Drop by to meet the team and borrow a free game or activity.

Useful links:
Hotels in Westminster
Tourist attractions in Westminster