Tag Archives: Easter

The Best Spring Walks in the UK 2015 part 2

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Continuing on from our blog post on Tuesday, we're continuing our series on the Best Spring Walks in the UK 2015. Last time we covered the Pennine Way, Pembrokeshire Coast Path, Millennium Coastal Path, Cotswold Way and the South West Coast Path. This time we're exploring more fantastic spring walks across the country.

Thames Path, Berkshire

The Thames Path crosses Wiltshire, Berkshire and London from the source of the Thames river in Cirencester into the capital. It takes in some of the best parts of the centre of England such as Henley, Windsor and Oxford and ends up in the centre of London. It's an interesting path that takes in the calm and serenity of the countryside before depositing you in the hustle and bustle of the city.

Hadrian's Wall Path, Cumbria

Hadrian's Wall is one of our most famous historical landmarks. Designed and built by the Romans to keep the Picts out of England, the remains of the wall still remains. Stretching from Bowness-on-Solway in Cumbria to Wallsend in Tyne and Wear, this is an excellent walk that traverses the width of the country.

Farndale, North Yorkshire

Farndale is another very popular walk that sees thousands of visitors each year. Famous for its daffodils and in the centre of the North York Moors, there's nothing not to like about this walk. Spring is a particularly good time for this walk as all those daffodils are in full bloom.

Wyre Forest, Shropshire

The Wyre Forest isn't as long as the Penine Way or as picturesque as the South West Coast Path but in spring it is amazing. This ancient woodland comes to life in an awesome way with thousands of daffodils, bluebells and celandines all coming into bloom while the rest of this forest begins turning green. It's a great place to spend time on a shorter walk.

Norfolk Coast Path, Norfolk

We have mentioned the Norfolk Coast Path before as it is one of the few truly great walks in East Anglia. The walk takes in come of the best eastern beaches we have, some lovely sandy cliffs and even a nature reserve. If you like your walking calm and tranquil, this is one to try.

Like those walks in Tuesday's post, we have holiday cottages within easy reach of all of these locations. What better way to spend Easter or a spring day than exploring one of these walks and then coming home to a warm, comfortable holiday cottage and putting your feet up?

Use the map on the site to choose your location. There's a whole country to explore and holidaycottages.net can help!

The Best Spring Walks in the UK 2015

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This week's two posts are going to feature some of the best spring walks this country has to offer. With the weather warming up, the days getting longer and the countryside around waking up from its winter slumber, now is a great time to explore the world around you. Better still, we have dozens of holiday cottages close to each of these walks!

Pennine Way, Derbyshire

The Pennine Way is probably the UK's most walked path. It is 429km of sometimes challenging walking that takes in some of the best scenery in the country as well as three national parks. It would take around three weeks to do the whole trail but it is easily broken down into smaller sections.

Pembrokeshire Coast Path, Wales

The Pembrokeshire Coast Path is another long one at 299km from end to end. Like the Pennine Way, there are lots of small towns and villages where you can break journeys up. As the name suggests, it takes in some dramatic coastline across Wales. St David's is a favourite starting point.

Millennium Coastal Path, Wales

Staying in Wales, we move to Llanelli and to the Millennium Coastal Path. This is "only" around 35km long and begins at the Discovery Centre in the town. It runs across coastline, town and countryside before ending at Pembrey Forest. It is open to walkers and cyclists and is traffic free for the entire length.

Cotswold Way, Gloucestershire

The Cotswold Way is another of the country's favourite walks. At just over 160km, it isn't the longest but it is certainly one of the most picturesque. It runs from Bath to Chipping Camden and includes some of the mid-country's highlights. There are also castles, hill forts and lots of history to take in too.

South West Coast Path, Cornwall

The South West Coast Path actually traverses Cornwall, Devon, Somerset and Dorset and is a staggering 1011km long. It takes in the entire coastlines of all four counties and some of the best coastline of anywhere in the world. Sometimes dramatic, sometimes peaceful but always scenic. Fortunately, like many of the longer paths in the country, it can be broken down into manageable chunks!

Holidaycottages.net has a huge range of holiday lets within a short drive of each of these fantastic spring walks. Each of our cottages represent excellent value for money and offer some of the best quality holiday rentals in the country. If you're planning to explore any of these walks this spring, they would make the ideal place to rest your feet.

Check you the interactive map to find your perfect holiday cottage!

Top 10 dog friendly beaches in the UK part 2

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Welcome to part two of our top 10 dog friendly beaches in the UK. Last time we covered Perranporth and Seaton in Cornwall, Hengistbury West Beach in Bournemouth, Lepe Country Park, Hampshire and Snettisham Beach, Kings Lynn.

We have holiday cottages within easy reach of all of these so your dog is well served if you’re staying close by. Those aren’t the only dog friendly beaches around though. There are hundreds dotted around England and Ireland. Here are five more.

  1.        Balmedie Beach, Aberdeen

Heading north now to Aberdeen and to Balmedie Beach. It offers five miles of lovely coastline with sandy beaches, dunes, gentle seas and lovely scenery. There are literally miles of beach to explore and to run and play and is one of the friendliest beaches in Scotland.

  2.        Gairloch Beach, Highlands

Gairloch Beach is set inside the lovely Scottish Highlands. It’s a secluded bay beach set amongst the dramatic scenery of mountains, islands and highlands. It offers a large beach that is somewhat sheltered from the wind, plenty of space to run and play and everything you and your dog needs for a day at the seaside.

  3.        Blundellsands, Sefton

Blundellsands not only has miles of golden sands and lots of dunes to explore, it also features that statue of Antony Gormley looking out to see. It takes a while to get used to, but it’s a point of interest in a beach full of them. A great place to run and play for all the family.

  4.        Rhossili Bay, Gower

Rhossili Bay has often been voted the Best Beach in Britain and for good reason. It’s a lovely stretch of Welsh coastline that goes on for three miles. There are lots of green spaces bordering the beach ripe for exploration too. Located at the end of the Gower Peninsula, this is a great day out for everyone.

  5.        Burnham Beach, Burnham on sea

Last but certainly not least is Burnham Beach by Burnham on sea. Another year round dog friendly beach where our four legged friends can run and play to their hearts content. Six miles of lovely sand, dunes, sea and lots of space to stretch your legs make this one of our top ten dog friendly beaches in the UK!

Holidaycottages.net has a wide range of dog friendly cottages spread across the UK and Ireland. Now there’s no need to keep your faithful friend in a kennel when you have a holiday, they can come too. It’s a fantastic way to spend family time and we regard time away with our dogs as time well spent!

Top 10 dog friendly beaches in the UK

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This week’s posts are going to feature ten of the best beaches in the UK to take your dog. With the weather slowly warming up, the beach is returning as one of the most alluring destinations either for a day out or an explore with our four legged friends. So this post and the post on Thursday will feature what are considered excellent beaches for both you and your dog.

If your dog is anything like mine, they will smell the sea a mile away and begin running towards it before they can even see it. Whenever we take him with us to a holiday cottage, we have to be near the sea. We love it, but he loves it more. So with that in mind, here are what we think are some of the best dog friendly beaches in the country.

  1.        Perranporth, Cornwall

Perranporth is in north Cornwall and offers miles of golden sand and is dog friendly all year round. There’s plenty for humans here too, with plenty of space, lots of sea and sand and some facilities dotted along the coast. Much of Cornwall is dog friendly, but this is one of the best.

  2.        Seaton, Cornwall

Staying in Cornwall, Seaton beach is another dog friendly beach with a lot to offer. It has miles of coastline where you can walk to Looe in one direction and Downderry in another. Dog walkers also meet up on weekend mornings to let their dogs run and play together in the sand and the sea. There’s also a café, parking and fresh water for the dogs.

  3.        Hengistbury West Beach, Bournemouth

Hengistbury West Beach is another dog friendly beach that allows year-round access off lead. There’s miles of sand for humans and dogs, there are usually other dogs to play with and it’s a great spot for all the family. Being near Bournemouth, we have a few holiday cottages within easy reach too.

  4.        Lepe Country Park, Hampshire

Lepe Country Park is a dogs paradise. Miles of beach, acres of woodland, cliffs and all sorts of new smells. The park also has a café, play area and some fantastic views of the Isle of Wight. Dogs can play all year round but are restricted to a large section of the beach during summer.

  5.        Snettisham Beach, Kings Lynn

Heading away from the south coast up to Norfolk to Snettisham Beach. This is uniquely a west facing beach on the East coast. It’s miles of lovely beach, the sea goes out a long way and dogs have unrestricted access at all times of the year. Spring and summer runs along Snettisham Beach are a real highlight of the year!

So that’s the first five dog friendly beaches. Join us Thursday for the other five!

Get on your bike this spring!

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We have had quite a few clients asking about local cycle routes around their holiday cottage when making bookings since the New Year. We thought we would help by providing a quick overview of what you need to get on your bike. If you’re planning on getting fit, getting out on two wheels or exploring Great Britain or Ireland on a bike, this post is for you!

Spring is traditionally a time when the weather warms and people begin going outside for pleasure once again. We would encourage everyone to cycle as it’s relatively cheap, easy to learn and has far-reaching health benefits. Many of our clients take their bikes away with them to their holiday cottage as it’s a great way to explore the area around you.

If you’re planning to rediscover cycling, or want to enjoy the area around your holiday cottage on two wheels, bear these things in mind.

Rent before you buy

There are probably hundreds of thousands of bikes slowly decaying in garages across the country. Don’t let yours be one of them. It’s easy to get caught up in the moment and buy a bike and only ever use it a few times. If you’re unsure whether cycling is for you, rent one first.

There are plenty of places around the UK that will hire a bike by the hour or day. It’s a simple way to enjoy cycling while on holiday and trying before you buy.

Get the right bike for the terrain

Bikes come in all shapes and sizes and not all are equally suitable for every type of riding. Planning to spend most of your time off road? Get a mountain bike. Planning to use country lanes to get around? A road bike would be fine for this. Planning on mixing it up? A hybrid would probably be best here.

If you’re renting, talk to the people managing the rental. They will know the area and what bike would best suit.

Size is everything

Having the right size bike, right size helmet, jacket, rucksack gloves or whatever becomes even more important when you’re on a bike. To be truly comfortable, your kit needs to fit. It doesn’t matter how expensive or how cheap it is, if it doesn’t fit it isn’t going to work properly.

Be safe

Helmets aren’t compulsory but they are a very good idea. Get one that fits you well and you will soon forget you’re even wearing one. The benefits of wearing one far outweigh the negatives. If you’re planning on cycling with the children, you also have to set an example, so put that lid on!

Exploring the countryside by bike is a simple way to enhance your holiday cottage experience. Do it right and you could have the time of your life.

Ten ways to keep the kids occupied this Easter holiday!

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Easter is only four weeks away, meaning it’s time to begin planning an Easter break with the family. Or at least, coming up with ways to keep the children’ occupied while they are off school. Here at holidaycottages.net, we are always on the lookout for ways to enhance your time in one in our holiday cottages, so this is what we came up with.

Ten ways to keep the kids occupied this Easter holiday is our way of helping you manage to combine a relaxing Easter weekend in a holiday cottage and the demands children place on your time. All are quick, easy and simple to arrange and all will keep children occupied!

1.    A movie day – Ideal for if the weather isn’t agreeable. Pack enough DVDs to keep the kids occupied if it’s raining outside.

2.    Magic show – If the weather isn’t great, or you have already explored the area around your cottage, why not get the kids to put on a magic or comedy show? Preparations will keep them occupied for hours!

3.    Galleries or museums – Many venues lay on special events over Easter that will entertain the children as well as you adults. Check the listings where you are for something interesting and engaging.

4.    Easter egg hunt – Many National Trust properties are holding Easter egg hunts on their properties. Many other venues hold them too as they are great fun. Why not find one near where you are?

5.    Visit the zoo – A classic occasion for the school holidays. It’s a classic because it works. Nothing entertains children more than seeing the animals in a good quality zoo. Some might have special events for Easter too.

6.    Reading time – Reading to your children is a very powerful bonding exercise that brings you closer together. It also helps them value and appreciate books, utilise their imaginations and become good with language.

7.    A tea party – If your children are young enough, why not hold a “grown up” tea party with cups, saucers, cake stands and lots of cakes. To make it last a little longer, you could bake the cakes too!

8.    Play some outdoor games – Playing football, Frisbee or running around with the dog in the garden is a great way to keep them entertained, exercised and exhausted. It’s a good bonding exercise for all of you.

9.    Board games – It’s easy to forget that board games exist in these times of computers and smartphones. Yet a good family board game can provide hours of fun in the evening or if it’s raining outside.

10. Learn a new skill – Learning together can be fun too. Why not all learn origami or drawing or painting? There are lots of skills that can be picked up relatively easily and learned as a group.

Those are just ten of hundreds of ideas to keep the children occupied while spending Easter in one of our holiday cottages. If you have any to add, leave a comment below!

Top five reasons why a holiday cottage is better than a hotel

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Anyone who has already stayed in a holiday cottage with holidaycottages.net will know why their experience was so much better than a hotel break. For those of you who have yet to try it or are on the fence, here are five great reasons why a holiday cottage is better than a hotel.

Fantastic value

It’s hard to beat value as a reason for choosing a holiday cottage over a hotel. While headline prices may look very similar, the pricing structure is very different. For example, a hotel room costing £120 per night will usually be for two people. A holiday cottage costing £120 per night could be for anything up to eight or ten.

Add to that the fact that you have an entire property at your disposal with multiple rooms and often a garden or some kind of outdoor space, it’s really hard to compare the two.

Privacy

Hotels can be fantastic to stay in but you’re always conscious you’re one of potentially hundreds of people all within a small space sharing many facilities. Walls are thin, you can hear what next door are talking about, or worse and people walk up and down the corridor at all hours.

A holiday cottage can offer the privacy of your own property, your own garden and are often detached too. That counts for a lot if you value your privacy.

Locations

If you love city life, a hotel is hard to beat. However, if you love the countryside and some exclusive locations, a holiday cottage is king. There aren’t many affordable hotels next to rivers, inside or next to National Parks, on the beach, in a forest or beside a lake. Yet we have hundreds of holiday cottages that offer just that.

We also have holiday cottages in towns, cities, quaint villages and just about everywhere you’re likely to want to visit.

Home away from home

Some people are happy leaving everything at home and experiencing a completely new environment without any reference to the old. Many people are not. For those, a holiday cottage is a perfect opportunity to have a holiday and explore somewhere new while also having familiar surroundings.

You can bring what you like to make you feel comfortable. There’s usually room for everything.

Bring the dog

There are a few hotels in the UK and Ireland that allow dogs but there are usually strict rules about where they can go and when. There are no such rules in your own holiday cottage. As long as you leave the cottage the same way you found it, your well-behaved dog is welcome at hundreds of locations across the country.

Our dogs are part of the family and deserve a holiday as much as we do. After all, they will love exploring their new surroundings, running through woods or along the beach so it would be a shame to leave them behind!

What to do with the kids this Easter

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Easter 2015 runs from 3rd April until 6th April and that’s really not far away. Taking a family break in a holiday cottage over Easter is a great way to enjoy time away from home and quality time with the family. There’s no better way to reconnect than getting away from it all.

If you’re staying in one of our lovely holiday cottages this Easter, you might be interested in these family activities running across the country. They are just five of hundreds of activities, but we like the look of them a lot.

National Trust Easter Egg Trails

National Trust Easter Egg Trails are an annual thing jointly organised by the National Trust and Cadbury. Held at a variety of locations, these Easter egg trails are great fun while also offering exercise and a challenging trail to follow using clues and puzzles they have to solve.

These are great fun and are happening at 300 National Trust locations across the UK. Check out the website here to find a location near your holiday cottage.

The John Muir Way and festival

The John Muir Way and festival in Scotland is going to be a good way to spend Easter this year. If you’re in one of our many Scottish holiday cottages, you should try it. John Muir was a famous naturalist who was responsible for creating many national parks in the US, including Yosemite. To celebrate his life, a 134 mile trail has been created from his birthplace in Dunbar to Helensburg.

During 17th and 26th April, a festival will be held with a range of events from fireworks, readings, music, theatre and a range of outdoor events.

Easter hatchings at the Bristol Science Centre

Easter eggs aren’t always made of chocolate as the Bristol Science Centre would like to demonstrate. To that end, they are running Easter hatchings at the At-Bristol Live Lab hatchery. Kids will be able to watch new chicks hatch, dissect daffodils and other plants, design their own mini garden and all the usual things that are going on at the centre.

The Bristol Science Centre is one of an increasing number of venues that aim to make science fun. We can imagine watching new life enter the world has to be something nobody wants to miss!

Chester food festival

The Chester food festival is an annual event that runs from 19th to 21st April and offers a little more variety for the taste buds after all that chocolate. With over 150 exhibitors offering talks, demonstrations, classes and chances to taste, there’s no reason we can think of not to go.

There is also a culinary school especially for children which makes this a fun and education way to entertain the little ones this Easter.

Willy Wonka at Kew Gardens

Finally, we think Willy Wonka at Kew Gardens will be a big draw for families this Easter. To celebrate 50 years of the character, Kew Gardens and the Roald Dhal Museum and Story Centre have partnered up to hold this special event. Kids will get to design their own eggs, taste different chocolates from through the ages and lots of other activities.

We think this will be a sure fire hit!

Enjoy Wales this spring!

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Wales is a fantastic part of the country that always has something going on. With a rich culture, vibrant energy and the kind of environment that just begs you to explore, it’s no wonder our Welsh holiday cottages are some of our busiest. There’s more to Wales than just walking though and this list of spring highlights proves that.

If you’re planning a spring break in one of our fabulous holiday cottages in Wales this year, here are just a few things you can do.

Crickhowell Walking Festival

The Crickhowell Walking Festival is nine days of guided walks around the Black Mountains and Brecon Beacons. It’s an ideal way to explore the local geography and trails through the eyes of an expert. It’s a great introduction and the perfect way to scout out the region while being able to call on the advice of an experienced guide.

The Crickhowell Walking Festival runs from 28th February until 8th March.

FOCUS Wales 2015

FOCUS Wales 2015 is a four day event that happens in Wrexham each April. It’s a showcase of music from beginning to end and provides an excellent opportunity for local performers to reach an audience they wouldn’t normally get the chance to play to. It also gives a diverse audience and opportunity to listen to music they might not usually listen to. A packed itinerary lasts all day long for the entire period of the festival.

FOCUS Wales 2015 runs from 22nd until 25th April 2015.

RHS Flower Show Cardiff

The RHS Flower Show Cardiff is something to enjoy every year. It draws thousands of visitors every year and for very good reasons. If your holiday cottage is within driving distance of Cardiff, we recommend this show wholeheartedly!

The RHS Flower Show Cardiff is one of the largest and finest of its kind anywhere in the world. It’s an opportunity to wonder at fantastic plants and flowers and take inspiration for your own garden.

The RHS Flower Show Cardiff runs from 17th to 19th April 2015.

The Machynlleth Comedy Festival

The Machynlleth Comedy Festival is about much more than just stand up. It’s a festival of all things Welsh, including local food, culture, performers and more. The festival features lots of top comedians, but also theatre productions, music, food, drink, art and plenty of stuff for the kids. It’s a great day out for all the family!

The The Machynlleth Comedy Festival runs from 1st to 3rd May 2015.

Bangor Music Festival

The Bangor Music Festival this year celebrates the life and work of the very original Frank Zappa. While there will be a definite air of Zappa about the place, there will also be a huge range of contemporary music, jazz and all sorts of genres represented here. If you want to discover a new sound and are in Wales, this is the place to be.

The Bangor Music Festival runs from March 4th until 8th 2015.

Top spring food festivals in the UK

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It’s easy to work up an appetite when you’re staying in one of our holiday cottages. With lots to see and do, hundreds of miles of walks, forests and cities to explore, activities to enjoy and books to read, a great lunch is the perfect antidote. That’s why we have put together this quick guide to the top spring food festivals in the UK.

Food festivals and artisan producers are enjoying more popularity than ever before. Never in recent history have we been more interested in local produce, small producers and small scale food manufacturing. Artisan bakers, speciality brewers, famer-butchers and the like have never been so popular!

So here are some great food festivals for you to explore this spring.

Kendal Festival Of Food

The Kendal Festival Of Food is a weekend full of food. Set over two days in the picturesque town of Kendal in the Lake District, this festival has everything from chef demonstrations, food tastings, talks, stalls and more. Local and national chefs, farmers and producers will all be showcasing their wares and you can try and buy to your hearts content.

The Kendal Festival Of Food runs over 7th/8th of March 2015.

Ludlow Spring Festival

The Ludlow Spring Festival is one of the longest running festivals we know of. It’s one of the largest too, with over 60 exhibitors offering talks, demonstrations, new products and of course, the opportunity to try the best of what they offer. The festival also has its own pub, live music, a classic car show and much more.

The Ludlow Spring Festival is held in Ludlow, Shropshire on 9th and 10th May 2015. We have a few holiday cottages close by here…

Budleigh Buy Local Food and Drink Festival

The Budleigh Buy Local Food & Drink Festival is held in Budleigh Salterton in Devon. It’s a well-established festival with top chefs, local brewers, farmers and producers all congregating for three days of food fun. There are the usual stalls, demonstrations, talks, displays and a local version of Ready Steady Cook. It’s a good day out for all the family.

The Budleigh Buy Local Food & Drink Festival runs over 13th, 14th and 15th March 2015.

The Chocolate Festival

The Chocolate Festival should need no introduction and no convincing for lovers of the brown stuff to visit. Held in Islington, London, The Chocolate Festival is fast becoming the largest of its kind. Held in the huge business design centre, the festival includes The Cocoa Spa, Taste Zone, Chocolate Market, Chocolate Café, lots of stalls from chocolatiers, live music and everything you would expect from a festival dedicated to our favourite sweet treat.

The Chocolate Festival is held in Islington on the 27th to 29th March.