Vacationing in the Isle of Wight

Only a short ferry ride away from the south coast of England, you will take a journey back in time to a slower, gentler version of England. Cowes, Ventnor and The Needles are all well-known; and the danger of the Isle of Wight is that for some it becomes an addictive experience, drawing you back for holidays time and time again. Dare you try it? There are some stunning accommodation in the Isle of Wight including the Bakehouse Cottage in Newport, Navarino in Ryde, and Afton Barns in Freshwater.

Bakehouse Cottage, Newport

This stone cottage was once the former bakehouse for the village, hence the properties name. It has been comfortably furnished throughout and offers and open plan living/dining room with seating and dining for 6. There is an attractive fireplace with a wood burner which creates a cosy atmosphere, it also has a fully equipped country style kitchen. Views across surrounding countryside can be enjoyed from the bedrooms. There is a driveway to park on and a mature secret garden that can be enjoyed.

Navarino, Ryde

This regency style Grade II listed building dates back to 1830 and was built and designed by a captain in the Royal Navy, whose last battle before retiring to the Isle of Wight was the victorious battle of Navarino. This charming holiday home has wonderful architectural features, its regency style is emphasised by a large first floor balcony which runs the width of the property and overlooks the lovely garden. A perfect place to enjoy breakfast, afternoon tea or simply relax and watch the beautiful sunset whilst enjoying an aperitif.

Afton Barns, Freshwater

This converted barn, one of a small collection, originally dating back to 1785 offers the perfect retreat. The property is extremely spacious with features including a charming fireplace and exposed beams overhead. Outside, there is a private garden to the side and rear, with a further communal lawn central to the development.

For more information about any of these properties feel free to visit the Cottages website at:

http://cottages.co.uk/

Holidaying in the Heart of England

The heart of England is a fascinating part of the country and when holidaying there the place offers so much variety. The wild and exhilarating peaks of Derbyshire coupled with the ancient woodlands of the East Midlands to provide a fascinating holiday filled with myth, romance and natural drama. Well-known for all kinds of nature watching, and wonderful market towns and gardens, the area has something for everyone.

An excellent choice of accommodation is the Derbyshire Dales Log Cabins, Matlock, Derbyshire:

Offering you four award winning eco-friendly log cabins in a picturesque setting on a hill farm between Matlock, Bakewell, and Ashbourne on the southern edge of the Peak District National Park.

Three of the four properties have been specifically to meet the needs of guests with limited mobility, visual or hearing impairments and wheelchair users. Extra specialist disability equipment is available on request.

Guests are able to book the exclusive use of a genuine Scandinavian hot tub with optional extras including wine or champagne if required. Gourmet meals can be delivered to your door, and a variety of relaxing spa treatments are available for you to enjoy.

For more information feel free to visit the Michael Paul Holidays website at:

http://www.michaelpaulholidays.co.uk/

Holidaying in National Parks

Some of Britain’s breathtaking scenery have been awarded National Park status, so staying in a holiday cottage here comes with the guarantee of stunning views. Parks are often busy with visitors, so Cottages.co.uk have tried to find some hideaway cottages for you to enjoy. Some great accommodation includes Ullacombe Cottage in Bovey Tracey, Strone Cottage in Glen Fruin, Loch Lomond, and Priory Gate in Dunster.

Ullacombe Cottage, Bovey Tracey

Built in the early 1800’s, this semi-detached cottage enjoys a stunning location surrounded by farmland. The owners, who live next door, have provided every comfort making this cottage a true home from home property. The 2 acres of grounds in which the cottage is situated includes a wildlife pond (please take care with children). Guests have their own garden with patio and access to an orchard beyond, where can safely play.

Strone Cottage, Glen Fruin, Loch Lomond

This detached cottage has its own hot tub and is located at the head of Glen Fruin, in Scotland’s first national park. This welcoming beamed holiday cottage sits in an acre of natural gardens, just ten minutes from the shores of Loch Lomond. It is situated near the owner’s 16th century farmhouse with the excellent walking and cycling, 18 hole golf course, Balloch Castle and Hill house all close by. The coast at Helensburgh is 6 miles away, and Glasgow is only 30 miles.

Priory Gate, Dunster

This charming holiday cottage is situated in the heart of the medieval village of Dunster. This property enjoys wonderful views towards Dunster Castle and the Exmoor hills beyond. The property is just half a mile away from the sandy beach at Dunster. It has a delightful, sunny cottage garden with a backdrop of open fields and rich woodland. It has been lovingly refurbished to a high standard, providing attractive and comfortable accommodation.

For more information about any of these cottages please feel free to contact Cottages.co.uk at:

http://cottages.co.uk/

South Westerly Wonders

The South West of England is one of nine official regions of England. It is the largest region in area, covering 9,200 square miles containing Bristol, Gloucestershire, Somerset, Dorset, Wiltshire, Devon, Cornwall, and the Isles of Scilly. The South West has a population of 5 million people. There is a variety of holiday accommodation available in this part of England which includes Wheel Farm in Combe Martin, Devon, Treworgie Barton in Bude, Cornwall, and Southview Lodges in Exeter, Devon.

Wheel Farm, Combe Martin, Devon

Wheel farm is situated a few miles away from Exmoor National Park and within a 20 minute  drive away from the sandy beaches of Woolacombe. The beauty spots of Lynton, Lynmouth, Watersmeet and the Valley of the Rocks are all 15 minutes away. Wheel Farm is located at the end of a private drive within its own 7 acre grounds, perfect for picnics. There is also plenty of off-road parking available.

Treworgie Barton, Bude, Cornwall

The cottages are situated 2 miles from the coast at Crackington Haven and 3 miles from the glorious sandy beach at Widemouth Bay. Treworgie Barton sits in 36 acres of pasture and woodland. From its prominent hilltop position you can see stunning views over rolling countryside to Bude on the horizon. The accommodation has been lovingly restored and includes the farmhouse and traditional barns placed around a landscaped courtyard.

Southview Lodges, Exeter, Devon

The holiday lodges are 2 years old and offer lakeside views on the outside and are beautifully furnished and comfortable on the inside, featuring contemporary interiors with superb soft furnishings, luxury fitted kitchens and log burning stoves to ensure every comfort whatever the season. Both lodges have their own private hot tubs from which you can enjoy their stunning and tranquil location with breathtaking lakeside views.

For more information please feel free to contact Michael Paul Holidays at:

http://www.michaelpaulholidays.co.uk

Britain's Best Waterfalls

When you think of Britain, waterfalls might not be the first thing that comes to mind, but did you know that the island is full of them? Here are some of the beautiful waterfalls that definitely deserve a visit. Why not pack a picnic and head out to one of them at the weekend? There's no time like the present!

Gaping Gill, Yorkshire

This is Britain's highest unbroken waterfall and plummets an impressive 100m into Gaping Gill, which is one of Britain's largest cave structures. Normally only experienced cavers are allowed to enter, but several days each summer the Bradford Pothole Club allows members of the public to enter if they wish to do so.

Aira Force, Cumbria

You might be familiar with this waterfall as it has featured in three of Wordsworth's poems. It's situated less than a mile from Ullswater, the second largest lake in the Lake District. Visitors can cross the falls by means of a small bridge and then view the breathtaking water crashing onto the rocks below.

Aysgarth Falls, Yorkshire

This waterfall is a movie star after appearing in Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves. It's situated on the River Ure in the pretty Yorkshire Dales. The waterfall is split into three levels and visitors are able to visit the whole site if they follow the riverside route.

Falls of Glomach, Scotland

This waterfall reaches an impressive 115m and is therefore one of Britain's highest waterfalls. The waterfall is 2.5 miles from the village of Dorusduain and is also known as 'The Forbidding Falls' and 'The Gloomy Falls'.

Pistyll Rhaeadr, Wales

Pistyll Rhaeadr is often described as one of the Seven Wonders of Wales. It falls in three stages and is 70m high. The bottom of the waterfall is only a four mile walk from Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochnant and you can easily get to the top of the falls by using the public footpath.

Kisdon Force, Yorkshire

What's cool about this area is that there are several waterfalls to choose from! The River Swale in the Yorkshire Dales is home to many waterfalls such as Catrake Force, Wain Wath Force and East Gill Force. A riverside path links visitors to Kisdon Force from the quaint village of Keld.

Sgwd Yr Eira, Wales

This waterfall's name actually means 'fall of snow' and it happens to not be the only fall in the Mellte Valley in the Brecon Beacons. The waterfall can be reached from many points with one track giving visitors access to all five waterfalls.

Eas a' Chual Aluinn, Scotland

This fall holds the title of Britain's highest single-drop waterfall due to its astonishing height of 200m! It's even three times higher than Niagara Falls, but the downside is that it's difficult to access. There's a walk along the south side of Loch Glencoul which takes about 1.5 hours to reach the base of the falls.

Bio:

This has been a guest post by Rachel, writer of many blogs including the hungryhouse magazine from one of the UK's leading online takeaway platforms that features restaurants across the country including Bristol, Nottingham, Leeds and many, many more.

Photo source: Nigel Wilson http://www.flickr.com/photos/cocca/3538606879/sizes/m/in/photostream/