Archive for category Walking

Durham Lumiere

Nov 23

Posted by elisa in Advertisers, art, Articles, Availability, Coast, Cottages Search, Durham, Events, Exhibitions, family days out, Festivals, Fun, Group holidays, Holiday advice, shopping and culture, Tips, Uncategorized, Walking | No Comments

Cedric Le Borgne 'Les Voyageurs'

Deadgood Studio 'Rainbow'

Jaques Rival 'I Love Durham'

This weekend I went to the Lumiere festival in Durham. It was a wonderful event which showed off this beautiful city to its best advantage. Light art illuminated prominent parts of this historic place, such as Kingsgate bridge transformed into a huge illuminated waterfall entitled ‘Splash’ by artist Peter Lewis and engineered by Water Sculptures. Martin Warren lit up three more of Durham’s bridges, Cedric Le Borgne suspended brightly illuminated sculptures of men above a particularly narrow cobbled street giving a magical essence to the walk. These, along with many more made for a really enjoyable experience and would also encourage me to visit again, even without the festival.

A small drive away in Northallerton are these 4 cottages which sleep 2-4. These former farm buildings have been imaginatively converted into 4 well equipped and attractive holiday cottages. Original beams have been retained and there is central heating for year round appeal. All the cottages have TV with Freeview, video and radio cassette/CD player, fully equipped kitchens with washer/dryer, fridge/freezer, dishwasher and microwave, cots and highchairs. The cottages are set in peaceful countryside and have magnificent views. They are perfect if you want to combine a visit to Durham, with great walks and even a drive over to the seaside with Whitby within easy reach.

Half Term holidays in the West Country

Oct 12

Posted by elisa in Advertisers, art, Cornwall, Cottages Search, Devon, family days out, Festivals, Food and Drink, Fun, Group holidays, Walking, West Country | No Comments

With half term fast approaching you may still be scratching your head about what to do and where to go. Well, ponder no more with our list of things going on in the West Country!

24th – 28th October is spooky time at Pecorama in Beer. There are shows such as Ben the Juggler, A Wizard Called Ozz and Dan the Hat. Alongside these are face painting, special dishes in the Garden Room Restaurant and free spooky treats for children as part of the fancy dress party!

27th October sees a return to nature with the Mortonhampstead Family Bush Craft Day with Dan Thompson-Mills. Learn the skills of wild fire-making, making shelters in the woods, collecting and eating wild foods, and other outdoor skills. Also, learn how to read the language of the birds and develop a deeper connection to nature. The best thing is that children under 15yrs go free with a paying adult.

22nd – 30th October allows visitors of Lanhydrock in Bodmin to join a spooky garden trail for just £1.50 a ticket. Or you could learn how to make a lantern with local artist Liz Tyrell for £5 a ticket.

22nd – 30th October Celebrate Halloween at the Eden Project on their beautiful and unique wintry rink, which has a new design for 2011. Halloween activities and events include: ice skating, pumpkin carving demonstrations, wand making and potion mixing.

If any of these take your fancy, look at Helpful Holidays for accommodation down in the beautiful West Country.

Reach for the sun lotion!

Sep 26

Posted by elisa in Cottages Search, Cycling, Events, family days out, Food and Drink, Fun, Walking, Weather, West Country, wildlife | No Comments

Quick, take a few days off work this week if you can to enjoy the Indian summer we’re having! It looks as if this sunny weather, with temperatures reaching 27C (80F) in some parts of the UK, is only set to last one week as the country is bathed in warm weather blowing in from the continent. After one of the worst summers for 20 years, we will be able to appreciate a little of what it could have been, if only for this week.

So, this has inspired me to write a top ten list of things that you can easily do on a whim while the sun is shining!

1. Have a picnic in your local park

2. Play tennis

3. Visit an outdoor pool

4. Make your own mini kite (very easy with some tissue paper and string) and fly it in the park or your garden

5. Go for a bike ride

6. Gather your friends for a water fight

7. Have a BBQ

8. Head to a theme park, such as Alton Towers

9. Laze in your garden with a good book and a cool drink.

10. Book a last minute holiday cottage with Holiday Cottages!

There are many other things you could do of course, so if you have any other ideas, please leave them as a comment below as we’d love to hear them!

New Forest promises free family fun

Jun 23

Posted by jason in family days out, New Forest, Walking, wildlife | No Comments

The New Forest in Hampshire is aiming to attract more families this summer with a range of walks, picnics, wildlife rambles and other events – all free and, it’s promised, fun.

The area’s website, allows you to download a podcast for a do-it-yourself guided walk, find the ideal picnic spot, discover a whole new world on a bug hunt, go crabbing on the coast or simply to have a great day out at one of the country’s best National Parks.

Suggestions for days out include:

Enjoying the freedom of the forest with a shady walk under the forest canopy, where children can enjoy the freedom of 200 square miles of beautiful National Park.
Rambling with a ‘ranger’ by downloading one of a choice of podcasts for your MP3 player, then putting on your headphones and listening to a Forestry Commission ranger.
Enjoying the view at Lepe Country Park, where there are stunning views across the Solent to the Isle of Wight and from Hurst Castle to Portsmouth’s Spinnaker tower. With over a mile of beach, pine fringed cliffs, historic D-Day remains and wild flower meadows, Lepe is a great day out.
Picking the perfect picnic spot from the top tips list at New Forest National Park
Giving your dog a beach walk – the New Forest has 43 miles of coastline to explore and dogs are allowed on the beach at Barton-on-Sea, Calshot, Hordle Cliff, Keyhaven, Lepe (part of) and Milford on Sea.

Tags: hampshire, Lepe Country Park, New Forest National Park, picnic

Go for a walk on Exmoor

Jun 8

Posted by elisa in Advertisers, Cottages Search, Devon, Events, Group holidays, Walking, West Country | No Comments

For all the keen walkers out there, this 25th June is the annual Exmoor Perambulation, the longest circular one day walk in the busy Exmoor calendar taking participants around 31 miles of wonderful countryside. The walk dates back over 725 year and its route covers areas of the National Park not normally open to the public, so it’s a great opportunity for exercise and beautiful scenery.

The Perambulation of Exmoor Forest is organised annually by the Exmoor Tourist Association and the Exmoor National Park Authority. The walk is rather arduous and would require a bit of training for the inexperienced, but if 31 miles isn’t quite your bag then there is also a half distance option. It starts at the same time and place as the main event but terminates at Check Point 5 (Picked Stones Lane) where you can enjoy a BBQ while waiting for the free mini bus service to the finish at the Pinkery Centre.

After such a long walk it would be lovely to collapse down in one of these two beautiful adjacent cottages in Barbrook, Exmoor from Helpful Holidays.

Devon’s big day out!

May 9

Posted by elisa in Advertisers, Articles, Availability, Cottages Search, Devon, Events, Exhibitions, Festivals, Food and Drink, Somerset, Tips, Walking, West Country, wildlife | No Comments

From the 19th – 21st May is the Devon County Show in Exeter. Enjoy three full days of West Country food and drink, the very best horses, goats, sheep, bunnies and cows, including the famous Devon cattle known as Red Rubies. Kids can plant seeds, bake bread, milk Daisy the model cow, weave willow wands, see chicks hatch and pet gentle farm animals. For those of you interested in craft there are lace-makers, quilters, weavers, spinners and dyers. Look out for demonstrations and take the chance to talk to these skilled crafts’ people to get practical advice on anything you may be working on at home. For a nibble, check out the BIG Devon cream tea marquee, with scones made by Richard Hunt, Executive Chef of the Grand Hotel, thick clotted cream and lashings of jam. There is such a huge list of things to do, it’s probably best to go to the website for full details. If that’s not tempting enough, then kids go free on Saturday!

After all this excitement, why not go back to nearby Ottery St Mary (of flaming barrel running fame) to this gorgeous little cottage from Helpful Holidays that sleeps 4. A long, elegant hall leads to L-shaped living/dining/kitchen with TV/DVD and beautifully fitted kitchen area (dishwasher, washer-drier, microwave, fridge-freezer, gas hob) with small breakfast table (larger table/chairs kept folded in hall for more formal dining). French windows open to small patio area (table/chairs) immediately to the front of the house.. Oak stairs to first floor and two bedrooms – a double, and a single; very luxurious bathroom. On the second floor, a double bedroom under the eaves with smart en suite shower-room (suite) and 2 steps up to French windows to a small and very private roof terrace (table/chairs) with fine views over the town.

Tags: Cottages, Devon County Show, Helpful Holidays

The New Forest

Feb 15

Posted by elisa in Advertisers, Coast, Cottages Search, family days out, Holiday advice, New Forest, Romantic breaks, Walking, wildlife | No Comments

Now that spring is in the air the New Forest would be a good place to visit for a romantic break or family holiday. With idyllic woods and open moorland across 90,000 acres of National Park and 43 miles of coastline, it has a lot to offer. You can go on some extremely picturesque walks through ancient woodland where ponies, cattle and deer roam over wild heathland. The National Park is only 90 minutes from London Waterloo but so far away in terms of city life’s stresses and strains.

For the more adventurous amongst you, there are a range of water sports on the Beaulieu River and Go Ape’s extreme high-wire forest fun is not easily forgotten.

Beaulieu is famous for its National Motor Museum, which features more than 250 vehicles from every era and Paultons Park has become a family favourite for its many rides and activities as well as the soon-to-open Peppa Pig World attraction. At Longdown Activity Farm children can learn about the animals and you can hold and fly some of Britain’s most beautiful birds of prey at Amews Falconry.

Another appeal of the New Forest is that it’s only a short drive from the woodland heart to the coast to enjoy some fish & chips and crabbing at Lymington. A great starting point for any visit is the New Forest Centre at Lyndhurst where you can find everything you need to know, and during the summer you can also jump on the New Forest Tour bus to guide you around coast and forest scenery from 15 feet up!

How about this lovely cottage that sleeps up to 5 and is situated along a quiet residential lane in the village of Sway, on the southern edge of the New Forest, four miles from the coast at Lymington and the same distance to Brockenhurst. Newly built and carefully designed to incorporate many period features, combined with quality fixtures and fittings. The ground floor is completely open plan for informal living and the cottage offers light and bright holiday accommodation. Lovely in the summer with the French doors and stable doors open to the garden, warm and cosy in the winter with a wood burning stove for snug evenings around the fire.

Review of 2010

Jan 5

Posted by elisa in art, Articles, Coast, Cottages Search, Devon, Events, Exhibitions, family days out, Festivals, Food and Drink, Fun, Group holidays, Holiday advice, News, North West, Rail, shopping and culture, Surveys, Tips, Tourist Board, Transport, Wales, Walking, Weather, West Country, Yorkshire | 1 Comment

2010 was a year jam-packed with travel related news stories, festivals and events. I’ve taken the liberty of collating some of Holiday Cottages’ best blog posts over the year to give an overall review so you don’t have to go searching for them yourself!

January started with testing out my culinary skills at the Ashburton Cookery School in Devon.

A survey in February showed high speed rail was more important to people than airport expansions.

The Shambles in York was voted most picturesque street in March. There was also trouble on the railways with a Network Rail threatened strike.

Easter was a staycation preference in April.

There were many family fun festivals between May and August.

Even before the Royal wedding announcement we found out how the Royals are key to UK tourism.

27 West Country beaches were awarded blue flags in August, showing that the West Country is a great place to visit!

We were given tips on how to give tourists a better welcome during the Olympics.

Taxing times for holiday rental businesses.

The famous Exmoor Food Festival was in October, tickling visitor’s taste buds!

Bonfire Night had many events to travel to, including the flaming barrel run in Ottery St. Mary’s!

It got very cold in November and December as part of the big freeze.

The year ended with a little early Christmas cheer for the travel industry!

So there’s a pick of the Holiday Cottages blog coverage of events and news over the year. For travel news pertaining to outbound travel don’t forget to check out our sister site’s blog, Villaseek. There will be a run down of the year’s news on there very soon also!

Sculpture parks

Nov 15

Posted by elisa in art, Cumbria, East England, Exhibitions, family days out, Fun, Walking, West Country, Yorkshire | 1 Comment

Yorkshire Sculpture Park picture by Flickr User chris-rice

I was talking to a friend about the Yorkshire Sculpture Park (YSP) today. We agreed that it is a brilliant place to visit on a weekend and should go soon. We live close enough to drive to the Park from Manchester in around an hour as it lies close to Wakefield in West Yorkshire, and as it’s only £4 to park and free to roam about in then it isn’t a day trip that will break the bank.

The park is around 500 acres in size and holds some of the most highly regarded sculptors’ work such as Antony Gormley, Barbara Hepworth, Andy Goldsworthy and Elisabeth Fink. It also has four galleries for days when the weather is less than accommodating. Recently opened is ‘MADE’ at the Park’s shop which will be selling work from some of the UK’s top recent craft and design graduates. The main park is also hosting a special autumn exhibition of over 200 pieces of work by artist David Nash.

The UK is actually full of wonderful sculpture parks, so if you can’t get to the YSP, how about trying some of these:

Kielder Water and Forest Park, Northumberland - a 27-mile forest trail around a lake with many wonderful sculptures scattered around is great for keen walkers and art lovers alike. Free admission.

Forest of Dean Sculpture Trail, Gloucestershire – this is one of the oldest trails in Britain, it is 3.5 miles long but follows a circular pattern and can take up to three hours to complete, make sure to stick to the path however, as the surrounding forest is huge! Free admission.

Pride of the Valley Sculpture Park, Surrey – with around 180 sculptures in a fairly small area the longest walk is around two hours long. Adults £6, children £3, under-5s free.

Another Place, Crosby Beach, Merseyside- this is Antony Gormley’s work of around 100 cast-iron figures scattered around the beach and staring out towards the sea. I went to this a few weeks ago, it was brilliant but very, very cold and windy at this time of year so I’d advise wrapping up warm! Free.

So, I hope that my friend and I will visit the YSP soon and I also hope this list may have inspired some of you to consider visiting a sculpture park either near you, or as a day trip on your holiday.

Exmoor Food Festival

Sep 27

Posted by elisa in Advertisers, Cottages Search, Devon, Events, Festivals, Food and Drink, Walking, West Country | No Comments

From the 2nd to the 10th October, the wonderful area of Exmoor will pay host to a variety of events and showcases of local food produce in the Exmoor Food Festival. This year, the festival will also include the North Devon and Exmoor Autumn Walking Festival.

There will be food walks, cookery courses, tasting platters, farm visits, a food fayre plus much much more. There will also be the Moor Rover Servicethat will pick up within the West Somerset area of Exmoor National Park and drop you off at pre-arranged drop-off points anywhere on Exmoor. Book your journey at least a day in advance between Monday to Friday 9.00am and 4.00pm. They also operate a luggage transfer service. Please call 01643 709701 for more information or visit the moor rover website.

If you are considering going to the Exmoor area for a holiday to take advantage of the food and walking festivals, you might like to consider this two bedroom apartment that sleeps four in Chulmleigh; with easy access to North Devon beaches and the Tarka Trail for some walking, 28 Langley View prices start from £329.

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