The AONB covers 171 km sq of coastal landscape stretching from Marsland Mouth, on the Cornish border, to Combe Martin on the boundary of Exmoor National Park.

It’s made up of several different landscapes, each with its own special wildlife habitats. Many are Sites of Special Scientific Interest and Braunton Burrows is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve (www.northdevonbiosphere.org.uk).

The anniversary celebrations – from September 2009-June 2010 will involve lots of different events and activities. We’ll keep you posted. Also, it’s worth visiting: www.northdevon-aonb.org.uk.

The North Devon’s coastline is great for walking but it’s also very popular with surfers. The Atlantic rollers at Woolacombe, Croyde, Putsborough, Westward Ho! and Saunton are all well respected by old hands and novices.

In all these places, there’s usually tuition and equipment hire available. Visitors can try kite-surfing, surf-skiing, sea-kayaking, sand yachting and kite buggying as well as more traditional fishing, climbing and diving. There are also miles of golden sands if you just happen to like nothing more than lying on the beach.

Woolacombe Bay has had a European Blue Flag since 1991. It’s safe and clean. The beaches at Putsborough, Hele Bay and Combe Martin also hold Tidy Britain Seaside Awards for their facilities.

In spring and early summer this year, the area hosts the North Devon festivals, a series of events and activities covering the performing and visual arts, sports, family entertainment and more.

First is the Walking Festival from 30 April-8 May, followed by the North Devon Festival in June. This includes the GoldCoast Oceanfest, a water and beach sports event around Woolacombe over the summer solstice weekend of 19-21 June. Also, look out for Appledore Visual Arts Festival, 28-31 May.

Visit: www.northdevonfestival.org and www.northdevon.com.

Although near neighbours, the two towns have never worked together before. Now they are pooling resources (sorry!) in a new joint marketing campaign.

Bruce Grant-Braham chairman of Poole Tourism Management Board, says, “The collapse of sterling against both the euro and the dollar is forcing many people to re-think their holiday habits, and together we aim to be the first to welcome them back from the costas.”

Alex Carter, chair of Bournemouth Tourism Management Board comments, “Having enjoyed huge success individually, we are now joining forces to offer an even better, unrivalled range of holiday experiences at unbeatable prices.”

Bournemouth and Poole attract about seven million visitors between them a year. Quite a large proportion are regulars who return again and again.

Despite their proximity, the towns have very different personalities. Bournemouth has glorious beaches, well kept gardens and is, in many ways, the quintessential English seaside resort. Poole, with its famous and somewhat exclusive Sandbanks peninsula, a marina for 1500 vessels and fame as Europe’s largest natural harbour, sees itself perhaps as slightly more edgy.

The two tourism bosses feel that, between them, the towns offer just about everything a holidaymaker could want. That includes: 10 miles of sand, accommodation to suit all pockets, live music venues, theatre, museums, galleries, leisure centres, golf (eight courses), restaurants, pubs and tea rooms – and no foreign language problems (not to mention no airport security hassles and delays).

They include stone cottages with log fires and mountainous backdrops; remote loch-side lodges with panoramic views, and an apartment in the handsome town of Crieff, Perthshire.

The Crieff flat is, perhaps, the most romantic of all. St Ninians Church Tower apartment is, as you might expect, part of a converted church. Beautifully presented, it has retained some unique features while offering great views from its balcony: watch the sun set over the hills surrounding Crieff.

Croftweit Crieff, is another luxurious apartment. It’s part of a Grade II listed mansion, in Perthshire. The rooms have high ceilings and stained glass windows and there is a private garden area ideal for romantic alfresco dining (though it will be chilly in February).

A bottle of ‘Famous Grouse’ whisky from the nearby distillery awaits you as well as complimentary champagne and flowers for all Valentine bookings.

Another romantic cottage still available to rent is Pier Cottage in Applecross, Ross-shire. As the name suggests, this cottage is at the old pier in the hamlet of Camusterrach on the scenic Applecross peninsula. Stylish while at the same time retaining its traditional feel, the property features a smart claw-foot bath for two with sea views. There’s also a romantic open fire.

To find out more go to the Cottages and Castles advert on this website. Click  here  www.holidaycottages.cc/cottage-2032.html

Wildlife thrives

Some of Britain’s dairy farmers are playing a vital role in the resurgence of many threatened wild animals and birds. 

Figures from the wildlife scheme, WildCare, which advises farmers on how to create and maintain habitats, show that endangered creatures – such as brown hares, yellowhammers and even the house sparrow – are making a dramatic comeback on participating farms.

The figures, released two years after the launch of  WildCare at 60 dairy farms which supply the supermarket Waitrose, reveal that wildlife habitats have increased by 19% on the farms. Sightings of birds considered to be in decline are up 47%.

Farmers involved in the scheme leave hedgerows to produce blossom and fruit to feed birds in the winter, before they trim them. They’ve also taken a variety of other wildlife-attracting measures which include creating wide field margins so that wild flowers provide food and egg-laying areas for butterflies, and making ponds, ditches, beetle banks, skylark scrapes, barn owl boxes and wetland areas as well as leaving stubble on the ground over winter.

Species in decline nationally, but which have bucked the trend on the participating farms include spotted flycatchers, reed buntings, starlings, house sparrows, yellowhammers and the brown hare.

Sightings of butterflies have also increased ‘significantly’, including meadow brown, gatekeeper, ringlet and large white. www.wildlifetrusts.org

Keira Knightley

No matter how beautiful she actually is, Keira Knightley doesn’t look great in the costume she’s wearing in our photo on the website (news pages), does she? The wig just doesn’t do it for her. Never mind – it’s a great film by all accounts and many of us at Merricks Publishing are looking forward to seeing it.

As I say in the news piece, Knightley chose a holiday cottage to stay in during filming in the Peak District, and the owner said she was ‘a delight’ to be around. I can believe it. In a recent interview with Sam Wollaston of the Guardian, she comes across as someone with a wicked sense of humour who doesn’t take herself too seriously. Here’s an extract from Sam’s piece (or read it in full he re:   Dirty pretty thing).

‘When we talk about her work, she purrs. No, not literally – that would be weird – but she speaks easily, and appears content and relaxed. When I attempt to steer the conversation towards her life outside work, the claws come out. In a very good-natured, playful way, it has to be said. At times the interview feels like a sparring match, and she gives as good as she gets, if not better. She’s very entertaining company, and it’s fun – trying to get under the guard of Keira Knightley.

‘This will sound like the tragic fantasy of a male journalist who has fallen under the spell of a very pretty young lady and somehow imagines he could be her friend, but although she does speak awful proper, there is something nicely unstarry about her. Perhaps it’s being sworn at, but I’m finding it hard to remember that I am talking to the second highest-paid actress in Hollywood last year.’

If you know of any other pieces of information relating to films being made on location in the British Isles, do please let us know.

        The National Trust has come up with some fabulous walks for holiday cottagers and here are just a few of them. For more, go the Trust’s website where you’ll find 100 downloadable treks.

Allen Banks in Northumberland  –  The River Allen has carved out a wooded gorge in this area of ancient woodland. 181 species of fungi have been recorded, along with roe deer and otters. A gentle 2.5 mile walk. Download it for free at www.nationaltrust.org.uk/walks or call 01670 774691.

Blakeney Point to Stiffkey, Norfolk  –  During the winter, hundreds of thousands of birds flock to the salt marshes and fields here to feed. Birds of prey skim the marshes, too. Grey and common seals bask off Blakeney Point. The Trust says, “Don’t forget your binoculars on this four mile walk”. Download it at www.nationaltrust.org.uk/walks or call 01263 740241. 

Box Hill, Surrey  – Box Hill, says the Trust, is a “green jewel in an urban landscape”. It’s  an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) of chalk downland and woodland with terrific views across the South Downs. Follow the footpaths or roam free. Collect a leaflet at Box Hill or call 01306 885502.

Clent Hills, West Midlands  –  With their magnificent views to the Welsh Black Mountains, quiet copses and ancient beech pollards, these hills are a great place to walk. A one mile path leads to the summit and from here you can take woodland or heathland paths back.  Download at www.nationaltrust.org.uk/walks or call 01384 872418.

Dodman Point, Cornwall  – A  three mile walk over the highest headland on the South Cornish coast through a landscape shaped by 4,000 years of human occupation. Iron age earthworks, bronze age barrows, mediaeval strip fields and fabulous views of the Lizard peninsula await. Download the walk at  www.nationaltrust.org.uk/walks or call 01726 844652.

Harting Down, Sussex  – A  moderate two mile walk over one of the largest areas of ancient chalk downland in the care of the National Trust. Magnificent views over the Weald to the North Downs from a path through ancient yew woodland. Download it at www.nationaltrust.org.uk/walks or call 01372 453401.

Hayfield to Kinder Scout in Derbyshire  –  In 1932 more than 500 people gathered to walk this eight mile route – illegally – to campaign for rights of access to the countryside. The Mass Trespass was a milestone in opening up the British countryside to walkers. You, too, can trek through this dramatic landscape.  Download the walk from  www.nationaltrust.org.uk/walks or call 01433 670368.

Old Harry Rocks, Dorset  – This 3.5 mile path leads through ancient coppiced woodland to the rugged sea stacks of Old Harry Rocks on the World Heritage Jurassic Coast, before heading inland over meadows and then back to the sea at Studland beach. Download at www.nationaltrust.org.uk/walks or call 01297 561900.

Tarn Hows, Cumbria  – This  five mile walk heads from Coniston water up to Tarn Hows. Some of the most famous Lakeland fells stretch before you, including Wetherlam, the Old Man of Coniston, Langdale Pike and Helvellyn: www.nationaltrust.org.uk/walks or call 01539 441951.

Whitford Burrows, Gower Peninsula  –  Whitford Burrows sit at the more northerly end of the spectacular Gower Peninsula in south Wales. The four mile walk takes you along the dunes, past mediaeval marshes, and through pine forests planted to help stabilise the  sands. The walk back is along the beach. Download at www.nationaltrust.org.uk/walks or call 01792 390636.

Munsterlander?

Or spaniel/collie cross?

In the latest edition of Holiday Cottages I’ve written about a ‘walking cure’ for Charlie, my dog – you can read the full article in the holiday cottages online magazine, or in a web version on the holiday cottages website.

Charlie, who came to us as a rescue dog three years ago, had begun to behave a little strangely. He’d started to develop obsessions: most notably, a passion for table legs – he’d lick and lick them for hours on end, ignoring everyone and everything. It was very weird behaviour!

“Oh, he must have collie in him” people would say. “They’re obsessive.” We wondered if he did. In the piece, I describe him as a “cheerful bouncy mix of spaniel, collie and possibly boxer” but some people tell me that he’s actually a Munsterlander.

Anyway, as you might have read, we took him on a cottage holiday (Wringworthy Cottages, at Morval, near Looe in south east Cornwall) where we did lots of walking along the coast path and gave him plenty of TLC, hoping that we’d manage to get him back to the well-balanced and intelligent dog he’d once been. And it worked. By the end of the holiday, he was calm and playful and pretty much back to his old self.

Owners are more relaxed and their dogs benefit from the extra time and attention they get on a holiday in the countryside. And so I’d definitely recommend that you get away with your dog – mad or not – as often as you can, even if it’s just for a few days.

Now I’ve brought the episode of Charlie’s odd behaviour into the open, I wonder if anyone out there has any theories about: a) why he went a bit loopy and: b) whether he’s a munsterlander or a collie cross (with perhaps a bit of boxer thrown in).

Stephanie Hilborne, chief executive of the Wildlife Trusts, says: “This is a good day for science, public opinion and common sense. We congratulate Hilary Benn on sticking to the scientific evidence and drawing a line under any consideration of a badger cull. 

“There is no single solution to this disease, but now is the time for all parties to throw their weight behind cattle-to-cattle control measures, vaccine development and improved biosecurity to deal with bovine TB.”

www.wildlifetrusts.org

As a result, that particular reserve, at Westhay, near Bridgwater, has become a huge tourist attraction during the winter months when each evening, the starlings arrive in vast flocks to roost in the marshes. 

Now there are plans for more wetlands as conservation bodies get together to return huge swathes of land to their original marshy states. And they’re doing it not just because of the enormous benefits for wildlife and landscapes but to prevent flooding elsewhere and  help deal with climate change.

In the Wetlands Vision initiative, conservation bodies, including Natural England, the Wildlife Trusts, and the RSPB, have produced maps pinpointing existing wetlands and places that used to be marshy but which have been drained over the years . Since the days of William the Conqueror, 90 per cent of our wetlands have disappeared.

Up to £2 million a year will be spent over the next three years with the meres and mosses of the Midlands, the fens of South Lincolnshire, and the peatlands of the Humberhead Levels among the first areas to be restored.

Alastair Burn, of Natural England, said: “Wetlands are some of the most important landscapes on earth. These landscapes provide vital wildlife habitats and public services. He added, “By increasing the natural capacity of the countryside to absorb and hold excess water, the risk of flooding could be dramatically decreased. The restoration and enhancement of wetland peat bogs could save around 400,000 tonnes of carbon a year.”

The new district has attracted big names like American Apparel (now open), the north west’s largest John Lewis, Urban Outfitters, and a number of independents as well. There are new bars and cafés, including Loch Fyne and Wagamama, many with outdoor terraces and views.

Liverpool seems to have learned a lot from being European Capital of Culture. It’s adopted European opening times so that people can shop until 8pm. And its 3,000 space car park is hidden underground and covered by greenery in a pleasant green space called Chavasse Park. French cities like Lyon have reaped the benefit of this arrangement of hidden vehicles under city centre oases for many years.

If the rest of your family or group can only take a limited amount of shopping, don’t forget that Liverpool has ferry rides on the Mersey, Beatle attractions, and apparently more museums and art galleries than any other city in the country. www.liverpool-one.com