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Author Archives: Sarah

Christmas in Cornwall

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Posted by Sarah on November 5, 2009 – 9:57 am
Filed under Events, Miscellaneous

Padstow is well known as a popular choice for tourists in the summer months, when thousands of people visit the town and surrounding area to enjoy the many attractions the area has to offer.

With beaches, shops, galleries and restaurants all aiming to offer something special to visitors, many people forget that the town has much to offer out of season as well.

From the ancient May Day festival to the Christmas shopping weekend, there is lots going on in Padstow whenever you choose to visit.

The winter months, though the weather can be unpredictable, often showcase the more dramatic side of Cornwall’s landscape, especially on the north coast where the beaches are often magical (if bracing) places to visit on a windswept winter afternoon.

The towns, too, are usually less crowded; shopkeepers have more time to stop and chat, and are often very knowledgeable about the local area and its history.

Next month, Padstow will be hosting a Christmas shopping weekend, on 4th, 5th and 6th December 2009, and, alongside the usual attractions such as local food and wine, late night shopping, fireworks and Christmas lights, there will also be an outdoor ice rink. This will be open from 10am – 6pm on Saturday, and 9:30am – 5:30pm on Sunday, for half hour sessions at £4.50 for children and £5.50 per adult.

In the last couple of years, the Christmas festival has expanded to an event spanning three days, and has been a great success for the town, bringing both revenue and visitors to enliven what is fast becoming a very popular local event.

Sarah Osborne is the Bookings Administrator at Cornish Horizons

Green retreats

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Posted by Sarah on March 7, 2009 – 12:32 pm
Filed under Accommodation

Next time you book a weekend getaway, consider checking into one of these top green hotels with a difference. The award-winning Bedruthan Steps in Mawgan Porth, Cornwall is a cosy beachfront hotel with a commitment to recycling and sustainable tourism while the Austwick Traddock in Austwick, North Yorkshire occupies an attractive Georgian home equipped with a restaurant that only serves organic food. Alternatively, don’t miss the Chilgrove White Horse in Chilgrove, West Sussex, a refurbished 18th Century coaching inn with an environmental policy. Prices for a double room inclusive of dinner and breakfast start at £95.

Upscale pub accommodation at a snip

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Posted by Sarah on March 7, 2009 – 12:24 pm
Filed under Accommodation

Out with overpriced hotels and guest houses and in with posh pub accommodation. Today Britain’s old coaching inns are increasingly offering well-priced rooms to complement their award-winning pub grub. These cosy lodgings offer a perfect taste of ye olde English with their log fires, traditional breakfasts and friendly hospitality. Here’s our top three picks for you to try:

The Inn on the Tay, Grandtully, Perth and Kinross: with a superb restaurant and bar overlooking the River Tay, this is one posh pub you shouldn’t miss.

The Sun Inn, Kirkby Lonsdale, Cumbria: cute and cosy beamed rooms with vistas over the Yorkshire Dales make this a favourite.

The Black Swan, Helmsley, Yorkshire: new ownership has seen this classy pub revamped into a real gem.

Pembrokeshire farmers’ markets

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Posted by Sarah on March 7, 2009 – 5:10 am
Filed under Accommodation, Attractions, Eating & Drinking

Tired of microwave meals, neatly packaged food and flavourless vegetables from the supermarket? It is time to check out some of Britain’s best gastro markets—starting with Pembrokeshire farmers’ markets. Here you will find amazingly fresh food that tastes as it should, and a visit to one of these gastro markets can be an ideal opportunity to turn a money-saving Welsh cottage self-catering holiday into a gourmet delight. First stop is Haverfordwest, home to award-winning riverside market stalls on alternate Friday mornings. Best buys include Welsh cakes, bacon steaks, spicy green tomato chutney, rainbow trout and free range eggs.

Britain’s best walk for history buffs

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Posted by Sarah on March 7, 2009 – 4:48 am
Filed under Accommodation, Attractions

The best way to get a grip on Britain’s history is to walk it. Step back in time alongside Britain’s most historic wall by following Hadrian’s Wall National Trail, an 84-mile path that spans from coast to coast. The trail, having only been completed in 2003 after 10 years of construction and at double the cost of the wall itself, has helped to make this momentous achievement accessible to all. Trekkers who walk the trail can tick off each of the 79 ‘milecastles’ as they pass them by. The wall stands in various states of disrepair, with the best preserved section spanning from Chollerford to Birdoswald, and once stood 15ft high. Accommodation is available en route, with the lodgings at Gibbs Hill Farm being a favourite among walkers.

Norwich ale trail

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Posted by Sarah on March 7, 2009 – 4:19 am
Filed under Eating & Drinking

With almost 30 breweries and dozens of pubs, Norwich is one of the UK’s capitals of real ale. To discover the town’s ale trail, start at the King’s Head on Magdalen Street, a consecutive winner of the Norwich CAMRA pub of the year award. This delightful Victorian pub offers 10 real ales on draught as well as bottled beers, billiards and even pork pies. Alternatively, stop by the Cidershed on Lawson Road or the Duke of Wellington, the former hosting its own microbrewery and regular blues gigs. Another Norwich award-winning pub can be found on West End Street, the Fat Cat, where international beers can be sampled.

London rail access improvements for disabled behind schedule

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Posted by Sarah on March 7, 2009 – 3:49 am
Filed under Transport

Efforts to make London rail stations more accessible to disabled passengers are behind schedule, with only five stations currently wheelchair-friendly. Targets set by the Department for Transport (DfT) include making 13 stations wheelchair-accessible by the end of 2009 and improving accessibility in 40 stations by 2015. Network Rail, who are implementing the improvements, have received £370m from DfT since 2006 but Conservative MP for Putney, Miss Greening, says the strategy is a “shambles”. Disability campaigners have express concern over the upcoming Olympics—to be held in London in 2012, including the Paralympics—yet DfT has expressed its commitment to delivering improved services.

Lambing and Spring Bulbs at Suffolk’s Kentwell Hall

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Posted by Sarah on March 4, 2009 – 11:44 am
Filed under Events

Starting in mid-February and spanning until the end of March, Kentwell Hall’s Gardens & Farm are open to the public, who can come to enjoy the sheep lambing and the arrival of the spring bulbs. Visitors will have the opportunity to bottle-feed lambs and maybe even see them being born while the heavy horses are also groomed at this time. Young piglets, goatlings, ducklings and chicks are also available for viewing. The daffodils that come into bloom in February last into April but are best visited in March. Violets, forget-me-nots and primroses are also seen on the lawns. Kentwell Hall was voted the Best Visitor Attraction in 2008 by the Tourism in Suffolk Awards.

Luxury hotel in Durham offers 20% off

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Posted by Sarah on March 4, 2009 – 11:40 am
Filed under Accommodation

Durham’s Manor House Hotel & Country Club is offering 20 per cent off rack rates throughout February and March. This 35-room quintessential English manor has foundations which date to the 12th century and a history as Henry VIII’s hunting lodge, making it a perfect getaway for those looking to unwind in traditional styled surroundings. Guests can choose between four-poster and executive guest rooms, all of which are equipped with modern facilities. The onsite restaurant serves up top-notch brasserie cuisine while an indoor swimming pool and other comforts make for a memorable stay. The offer is subject to availability and hotel terms and conditions apply.