As I drove down the stony road that led to Penvale Lakes Lodges 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 saw people sat outside pubs as they drank …
Staycation
In today’s post I’m sharing what to pack for a caravan holiday, which is a packing list I can’t believe I haven’t written sooner! My husband and I own a static caravan in Abersoch which we visit almost every weekend throughout the spring and summer. Before we owned our own caravan we took so many …
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 was only one thing for it; light the …
After looking at these photos you’d be forgiven for thinking that Portmeirion is a pretty Italian village. But is it…? Portmerion has the quaint and brightly coloured houses and narrow, winding streets of a traditional Italian village. There are some beautifully grand buildings with spires and domed roofs. There are ornate details in unexpected places …
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 as you phonetically sound out that strange assortment …
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 the main attractions for visitors, there are also …
Today’s blog is a Forest Holidays Review from my gorgeous stay with Forest Holidays at their Sherwood Forest location. We have had two family holidays with Forest holidays, the first being to Sherwood Forest in the summer and the second was to Forest Holidays Ardgartan Argyll in Scotland in the winter. They were both very …
Did you know that short holidays and weekend escapes can make you just as happy as a longer holiday? With this in mind, I vowed to take more weekends away this year and decided to explore more of what I’ve got right on my doorstep. Here in the UK we have so many quirky, cool …
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 was from Dublin. There are lots of horror …
When writing about Lake Vyrnwy Hotel I could tell you all about the history of the hotel, the tasty menu, the great selection of wine, the friendly staff and the beautiful old building. But, let’s be honest, when you’re staying at Lake Vyrnwy Hotel it’s all about the view. And what a view it is. Imagine waking …
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 discover Wales and I love nothing better than …
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 by a million, trillion miles. (Yes, it was …
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 lesson, yoga session, spa treatments and plenty of time …
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 the beautiful British beaches we have right on our …
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 Sea, Cleveland, is riding a new wave of surfing …
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… Sometimes you just need a break away; to relax, to explore and to recuperate. That’s exactly what I did on a recent trip to Windsor for a …
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 world-renowned Edinburgh Fringe Festival, and the urban centre is punctuated …
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 in the trees but Living Room tree …
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 there together. What do you do when …
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 here before!?’ Birmingham is really cool and not …
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 fabulous website for (would you believe it) booking …
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 its surrounding cloak of trees and shrubs. If …
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 England… it’s a very beautiful (and rare) thing. Just …
“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 find family-friendly hotels. We were in North …
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, I packed a suitcase, filled up the car and …
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, rise the honeyed buildings of Oxford’s most famous …
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 new type of glamping to add to …
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 line the wonky roads and decorate the windows …
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 to find out why…. Photo credit: Mick_Gallagher_1959 1. Can you …
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 incredible secret from me. Why did they not tell …