Combermere Abbey Cottages: A luxurious family retreat
Our weekend trip to Combermere Abbey was gifted. This is our experience of a family staycation in their Wellington Cottage. We visited Combermere Abbey during the weekend Storm Dennis made an unwelcome appearance. The rain lashed incessantly against the windows while the wind hammered on the door. There
Taste of the Bay at Watergate Bay Hotel: Our favourite staycation for active relaxation
Elle and I spent three days at Watergate Bay Hotel on the north coast of Cornwall. We enjoyed their Taste of the Bay package which allowed us to dine at Zacry's restaurant, The Beach Hut and Jamie Oliver's Fifteen Cornwall. We also had an incredible surf
10 best British beaches you have to visit this summer
If you're looking for the best British beaches to add to your summer wish list then you've come to the right place! We Brits are often guilty of travelling all over the world in search of white sandy beaches and crystal clear seas while forgetting about
A cosy staycation at The Runnymede on Thames Hotel and Spa in Windsor
Our latest contributor, Eppie Shepherd from Eppie.me.uk, recently took a cosy staycation at The Runnymede on Thames Hotel and Spa in Windsor. Here's how she got on
A weekend guide to Devon
Devon is one of the UK’s most popular holiday locations, and for a very good reason too. It’s a beautiful English county known for its picturesque towns, charming villages, atmospheric harbours, and those gorgeous beaches. While Devon’s coastlines (uniquely the county has two) serve as one of
A Mini Guide To Birmingham
Birmingham is arguably one of the most underrated cities in the UK. I visited for the first time this summer to stay at the brand new AC Hotel Birmingham with Marriott Rewards (more about that further down!). My first reaction to the city was, 'Why haven't I been
Review: The Wild Duck, Cotswolds
EWEN, Cirencester – Even from the car park it’s not hard to see why The Wild Duck near Cirencester attracts the sort of names you’d expect at a Royal Wedding. For a start, the 16th century pub is barely visible underneath its ever-creeping overcoat of ivy and
Review: Using Villas.com for a villa or apartment getaway
We’ve all heard of Booking.com, the booking fabulous website for hotels. They’re now known for their cheeky adverts that make you do a double take and say, ‘Did he just say what I think he said!? Before the watershed…?’ But do you know about Villas.com, the equally
What’s All the Fuss About Hadrian’s Wall?
What's so special about Hadrian's Wall? After all, it's just a lump of stones cobbled together, to create a physical barrier. You call that a tourist destination? I mean, I know the Great Wall of China is a tourist attraction, but crikey that's visible from space, and
Enjoy the Tyne of Your Life with these Quirky Newcastle Attractions
As with many British cities, Newcastle has its fair share of galleries, museums, historical attractions and sporting attractions to pick from. But what if you are looking for something a little different? A little less mainstream perhaps? Maybe you prefer the unusual, or downright bizarre. If that
Forest Holidays: The ultimate stress buster in the forest
“The NHS should prescribe this for stress,” I thought as I sat back in the steaming hot tub, took a sip of champagne and looked up at the stars. This is much better than popping pills or any relaxation technique I’ve ever heard of. If you’re feeling
Staying in a villa with a baby
8 reasons why staying in a villa while you travel with a baby is awesome I love hotels, but staying in a hotel with a baby or young kids can be difficult. You’re restricted to a small room and unless you have a suite you’re all stuck in
The Travel Hack’s Guide To Brighton
It seem's I spend all my time seeking beaches on the other side of the world and find myself neglecting the beauty we have here in England. Admittedly, it's really the weather I'm seeking on the other side of the world but when the sun shines in
Road Trip to Brighton – My weekend in pictures
Hello! It's me again! Mollie - 'The Adventurer'. Last weekend, you may have seen on our Instagram @thetravelhack, I headed down to Brighton on a road trip with the RAC for the weekend. #RACstaycation. We were blessed with beautiful weather on the Saturday and one of those 'grey drizzly
Why Tregarthens is the best baby-friendly hotel and what other hotels can learn from it
Last month I had an incredible 5-night stay at Tregarthens Hotel on St Mary’s island, the largest of the Isles of Scilly. I was travelling with Sam and our four-month old son, George. We’ve stayed in a few hotels with George already but Tregarthens was the best
48 hours in Saltburn: The surf capital of the North
Sure, anyone can go to Cornwall or Devon surfing. But what’s the fun in following the beaten track? If you’ve a bit more grit to your grin and a tad more industry to your spirit, then about-turn on your kitten heels, my friend. Saltburn by the
53 photogenic reasons to fall in love with the Isles of Scilly
I'm suffering from the post- Isles of Scilly holiday blues today. It's a real thing; I checked and other people are suffering too. I'm missing that fresh, salty smell of the sea and icy blue waters where bright boats bob about. I'm missing the flamboyant flowers that
Gorgeous glamping in Swansea Bay in a Shepherd Hut
I love glamping. You get to enjoy the great outdoors and feel closer to nature but without the nasty side of camping. You know, the bit with cold, leaky tents and deflated airbeds. I love bell tents and teepees, pods and treehouses and now I have a
A Sweet Weekend in Alice’s Oxford
In today's post, Claire takes us on a trip around Oxford to visit the locations that inspired Lewis Carol's Alice in Wonderland. I lift my hand to my eyes, shielding them from the thick June glare, whilst the sun slowly and evenly toasts my neck. Before me,
The Travel Hack’s Guide to Edinburgh
Not many places do the whole “old meets new” vibe better than Edinburgh. There’s so much to love about this city: gothic glamour, friendly locals and all the major landmarks in walking distance. A thriving culture and arts scene explodes in August in time for the
3 days in North Wales: Portmeirion, Criccieth and Nefyn Itinerary
Wales is my favourite place for a short break or a weekend away. I’m always surprised by how beautiful this little country is and the small size makes it easy to discover a lot in a short space of time. Road tripping is the best way to
Would you go on holiday half an hour from home?
I’ve been taking the concept of a ‘staycation’ to a whole new level recently as I’ve been taking holidays close to home. REALLY close to home. A few weeks ago I even went on holiday just half an hour from home when I visited Llangollen. Yes,
Visiting North Wales’ best beaches and a stay at Bron Eifion Country House
“Oooh a country house. That sounds fancy.” My mum and I were searching through the trivago App looking for somewhere to stay for the following night. We were half way through our trivago App Family Challenge whereby trivago had challenged us to use their new app to
Visiting Portmeirion: The Italian style Village in North Wales
“Mon, I didn’t know you were going away. Are you in Italy!?” This was a text message I received from a friend immediately after I’d posted a photo from Portmeirion on Facebook. (It was the photo above as I was feeling particularly proud of it!) The sun was
Niagra Lodge Review, Llangollen North Wales
As I drove down the stony road that led to Niagra Lodge I instantly felt like I was driving into somewhere special. I'd just passed through the pretty Welsh town of Llangollen, driven alongside the river and canal, seen tourists queuing for homemade ice creams and
An Insider’s Guide to Newcastle
I'm delighted to welcome Rachel Kershaw to the blog today. Rachel is the blogger behind Life in Geordieland, an awesome blog about Newcastle upon Tyne and Gateshead in the UK. She's bringing us an Insider's Guide to Newcastle, which is the UK's favourite city. Keep reading
A Blood and Earth Cookery Course in Dublin with Domestic Godless
Last weekend I was in Dublin for the city's annual Bram Stoker Festival. I went to this festival last year too and I loved it so much I knew I had to go back with Sam. If you’re unsure, Bram Stoker was the author of Dracula and
Living Room Tree House Review: A luxury glamping experience in Wales
My video and Living Room Tree House review from an incredible weekend staying in a tree house in Powys, Wales. This weekend I had the chance to make a childhood dream come true and stay in a real tree house! You may be picturing a rickety shack
A luxurious day at Loch Lomond, Scotland
Scotland is one of those places where, with the right weather, it’s jaw-droppingly beautiful. You can’t believe you’re just a few hours from home (if you live in the UK that is) and I had the overwhelming feeling the whole of Scotland has been keeping this
A Weekend in Wales at Penmaenuchaf Hall Hotel
As much as I love to travel abroad you really can’t beat a staycation, particularly when you have gorgeous weather like we did this weekend. On Friday evening my boyfriend and I travelled from our home in Chester to Penmaenuchaf Hall Hotel. I know what you’re thinking