The Castles of Devon and Cornwall Aside from it’s beautiful, rugged coastline and red cliffs Devon and Cornwall are home to some very impressive Castles: Totnes Castle – On top of the charming little Devon town of Totnes stands the Norman fortress of Totnes Castle. The views from the top of the castle are outstanding, offering a panorama view of the entire town and River Dart. The castle itself was thought to have been built sometime in the 10th century. After visiting the castle be … [Read more...]
River and Coastal Cruises in Devon
June 30, 2009 by
River Cruises Along The River Dart and Wildlife Cruises Along The Devon Coast One of the most charming activities while visiting Devon is to take in a cruise along the River Dart. River Link is the largest operator of Dart River cruises and a typical cruise will start from Dartmouth and end at the lovely town of Totnes. The River Dart is one of the most beautiful estuaries in Britain – and a cruise provides the holidaymaker with an opportunity to drink in the rich tapestry of history, … [Read more...]
Surfing and diving in Cornwall
June 29, 2009 by
Surfing and Diving in Cornwall: Cornwall is fast being recognised as one of the premier surfing and diving locations within the UK. This is due to the multiple of good beach resorts such as Newquay, Bude and Perranporth to name a few. Cornwall also has a huge stretch of coastline, more so than along any other part of England. This means that Cornwall as a diving location has naturally evolved, and now offers excellent prospects for those wanting to surf as well as do some diving in … [Read more...]
Travel to Cologne | Rhine River Cruise
June 22, 2009 by
A city of towering spires: As our riverboat approaches the city of Cologne, the three landmark buildings that stand out boldly from the Rhine River are the towering spires of Cologne Cathedral, the Groß St. Martin and the Rathaus. We hop into little green and gold trains which at first sight look and feel a little kitsch and touristy, but we soon learn to be thankful for them as the walk from our Rhine River mooring into the city is not a small one. Cologne Cathedral The mini-trains … [Read more...]
Stonehenge | Summer Solstice
June 21, 2009 by
Stonehenge still intrigues after 5,000 years: June 21st is Summer solstice in the northern hemisphere and on this longest day of the year, thousands flock to Wiltshire to visit Stonehenge and to watch the sun rise. Shrouded in Mystery This world-famous prehistoric monument is a place shrouded in mystery. Numerous myths surround Stonehenge - the sacred circle of standing stones on Salisbury Plain in Wiltshire. Such is the fascination with the strange ring that many have devoted their entire … [Read more...]
Hadrian's Wall Holidays | Walking and cycling
June 21, 2009 by
Hadrian's Wall - Oh what a Wall: Hadrian's Wall was a Roman frontier built in the years AD122-30 by order of the Emperor Hadrian. Imagine this colossal ancient wall when it was in tact - 73 miles long, 15 feet high and 10 feet wide! Although some of it has fallen away, it still remains the largest ancient monument in northern Europe. Hadrian's Wall was built to protect Roman Britain from the Picts to the north. It ran from Wallsend-on-Tyne in the east to Bowness on the Solway Firth in the … [Read more...]
Limoges porcelain | Limoges travel
June 19, 2009 by
Limoges is synonymous with Limoges porcelain: For many people Limoges is synonymous with Limoges porcelain and china. When we travelled through the Limousin region, our visit to Le Pavillon de la Porcelaine of the Haviland Limoges showroom was exciting for many in our group as this was the opportunity to buy the real Limoges porcelain from the place of origin. For those who are souvenir-fatigued, the showroom contains interesting replicas of work that were commissioned for the rich, the … [Read more...]
Avignon Holiday – Provence
June 18, 2009 by
Avignon's Palais des Papes was the Residence of the Popes of Avignon: Our modern hotel stands outside the massive ramparts which enclose the amazing town of Avignon. The hotel was very much lacking in any style or character and we could have been anywhere else in the world but France. But once we walk through the main fortress gate of Avignon, a whole different world unfolds before us and I feel much happier here. Cour Jean Jaures is the main street of Avignon and just a little down this … [Read more...]
Lorelei Rock and the Lorelei Siren
June 15, 2009 by
Of legends, forklores and the Rhine Siren: The Rhine river is steeped in myths, sagas, legends, forklore and fairytales and the many castles along the Rhine hold tales of historical and political events, medieval battles, military conflicts and knights brandishing swords. The Lorelei Legend One legend that you'll hear most about on a Rhine river cruise is that of the Lorelei Rock. The legend is as old as time itself and tells of Lorelei, a beautiful young maiden who committed suicide … [Read more...]
St-Paul de Vence | Provence – France
June 14, 2009 by
St-Paul de Vence, a painter's destination: As we approached this picturesque fortified hilltop village of St-Paul de Vence, it’s easy to see why this landscape was a favourite subject for artists in the past. If, like me, you can't paint to save your life, then the next best thing to do to try and capture the imposing image is to click frantically on our digital cameras. St-Paul de Vence was founded in the 9th century, but its more modern ramparts were the work of King François I. During … [Read more...]