Cottage Line

2010-05-08T12:48:00.001+01:00

Salcombe Celebrates

As if sun, sand, sea and sailing aren’t enough, Salcombe is gearing up for a Music Festival on Friday, Saturday and Sunday 11^th,12^th and 13^th June. The music is many and varied with more than ten acts from all over the West Country appearing on the central stage, singers and buskers around town and the Island Street (home of Salcombe Holiday Homes) ‘fringe’; featuring jazz and the exceptional Swamp Ash, who starred at last years festival. Stilt walkers, jugglers, Punch and Judy; face painting, floral dancing, arts and crafts add to the colour and attraction, bringing fun and smiles to children of all ages.

The water will feature a fleet of retired lifeboats, beautiful, classic boats and a race for classic dinghies with steam boats majestically chugging up and down the estuary.

We cannot guarantee the sunshine but Salcombe has its own micro climate that ensures more than our fair share of warm and sunny weather. The sun is bound to be out for the Sailing Regatta on the week of 31^st July and the Town Regatta during the following week. More about these later.

What's Hot in February?

2010-02-02T11:01:00.001Z

An enchanting island walk

Enjoy this walk around the Holy Island of Lindisfarne and feel the atmosphere of serenity unfold as you discover its legendary history. The island, which can only be reached across a causeway at low tide, is the perfect place to get away from it all and rediscover your sense of romance - at the end of your walk, visit the Lindisfarne Oyster Farm which lies on the site of the oyster beds established by the monks of Lindisfarne Priory, or sample a glass of Lindisfarne Mead.

Illuminating Hadrian's Wall

2009-12-30T12:09:00.002Z

Illuminating Hadrian's Wall will be a spectacular line of light from coast to coast, along the length of Hadrian's Wall, in 2010.

This once in a lifetime event will take place on Saturday 13th March 2010 and will follow the route of the 84 mile long Hadrian's Wall Path National Trail. There will be around 500 individual points of light, placed at 250 metre intervals. The first one will be illuminated at Wallsend in the North East, with the line of light then making its way along the Wall to Bowness-on-Solway in Cumbria over the following hour.

The Romans built fortlets, known as milecastles, along the Wall at intervals of one Roman mile. Between each milecastle, and spaced one third of a Roman mile apart, were a series of turrets. The plan is to create a point of light where all the milefortlets and turrets were located, with an additional point of light between each of them.

A camera crew will film the line of light as it makes its way from coast to coast from a helicopter and the pictures will be beamed to giant screens as part of two major events in the north east and at Carlisle to celebrate the illumination of Hadrian's Wall. There will also be a number of stewarded points along the Wall where people will be able to view the line of light.

More information about Illuminating Hadrian's Wall and the events in north east and Carlisle will be available on the website very soon. You can also keep up to date with Illuminating Hadrian's Wall on Facebook or follow @EmperorHadrian on Twitter.

Illuminating Hadrian's Wall is an ambitious project led by Hadrian's Wall Heritage Ltd which forms part of the world-class programme of festivals and events developed by culture10 in the North East of England and the Lakes Alive programme in Cumbria presented by Kendal Arts International and Manchester International Arts. Illuminating Hadrian's Wall is also a flagship event of British Tourism Week 2010.

Remarkable Dorset Coinicidences

2009-12-16T11:22:00.003Z

Our sons five and seven year old daughters were with us in Dorset over the October half term. We walked the Jurassic Coast as always but this time added a visit to the Dinosaur Museum in Dorchester. During a quiet time at home, the five year old drew entirely unaided and without prompting a beautiful double spiral divided into segments, exactly like an ammonite, but with one important difference; she added the head of a snake. I had recently read Tracy Chevaliers new novel Remarkable Creatures which, factually based, tells the story of the famous 19th Century fossil finder and seller Mary Anning from Lyme Regis. The book reveals the lack of understanding of fossils in the 19th Century: when Lyme Regis locals were asked what ammonites were they always replied "coiled snakes"!

The older grand-daughter returned to Glasgow with a piece of an ammonite found on the beach. She took it to school for "Show and Tell" describing how it was found and what it was. This happened to be the day that a previously unknown fossil creature found near Lyme Regis was announced in the press. The teacher had already decided to discuss fossil finds based on the giant 140 million year old plesiosaur and it followed neatly on from the tiny piece of ammonite.

Christmas & New Year Breaks in North Wales

2009-11-24T10:16:00.003Z

Book a Christmas or New Year break in North Wales with Menai Holiday Cottages before Monday 21st December and receive a 10% discount! Click here for further details. http://www.menaiholidays.co.uk/accommodation/christmasall

Northumberland Festivals

2009-11-11T14:09:00.004Z

Northumberland plays host to many events throughout the year, so you will never be short of something to do.

If you want a true experience of Northumberland, look no further than the wide selection of festivals and shows. From traditional village shows in the shadows of the Cheviot Hills to the increasingly popular Northumberland County Show, all have a distinct programme of events and friendly atmosphere.

As you would expect from Northumberland, many of our events take place in, and take advantage of, our wonderful landscapes. Throughout the year you can take part in guided walks to discover the beauty and history of remote areas of countryside, or you can join expert guides to spot our rarest wildlife.

If you’re planning to visit Northumberland during the school holidays or on bank holidays you won’t be disappointed. Many of the English Heritage and National Trust managed properties host everything from themed fairs to historical re-enactments.

New blog

2009-10-27T12:24:00.001Z

A WICKED WEEK OF FUN AT
THE ALNWICK GARDEN

Come along to The Alnwick Garden to celebrate the October holidays and Halloween with lots of fun events and activities for the whole family.

Tuesday 27th and Thursday 29th October
Magic spells and potions workshop
Take part in a workshop to stir up magical spells and potions using dragon poo and stinky snake slime. Sign up on arrival.

Wednesday 28th October
Ghosts and Ghouls workshop
Make your own gruesome ghost or ghoul puppet pal. Sign up on arrival.

Thursday 29th October
Wand Emporium workshop
Come along to Galli Wandsmith's Wand Emporium to make your own wizardly wand. Sign up on arrival.

Thursday 29th, Friday 30th and Saturday 31st October
Pumpkin Carving
Bring your pumpkin, or buy one from our store, and learn to carve gruesome faces to create your own spooky lantern.

Friday 30th October, 1-4pm
Spooky Tales with Taffy Thomas
With spine-tingling stories especially for Halloween, storyteller Taffy Thomas will spend the afternoon in The Garden.

Saturday 31st October
Trick or Treat
Bring your family to trick or treat together in The Garden. Knock on our doors if you dare, to find a trick or treat behind them.

The Treehouse Carved Pumpkin Competition
Enter your pumpkin in The Treehouse carving competition. Bring it along to The Treehouse from 29th October to be displayed, before the competition is judged at midnight on Saturday 31st October. To download an entry form click here to be directed to our website, or pick one up from our information desk.

Activities are drop-in 11am-4pm, free after paying admission to The Garden and with no booking required, unless otherwise stated.

Northumbria Coast & Country Cottages Ltd.

Trip Advisor True or False?

2009-10-23T06:45:00.001+01:00

With its 25 million user-generated reviews, TripAdvisor has become a traveller's necessity. But criticism is mounting over the reliability of its reviews and the damage it could be doing to the industry.

http://www.caterersearch.com/Articles/2009/08/24/329312/tripadvisor-true-or-false-you-decide.html

Norwich Beer Festival

2009-10-23T06:42:00.002+01:00

Norwich Beer Festival Oct 26-31: 200+ cask-conditioned ales AND a Cider & Perry event with varieties from East Anglia & the West Country. www.norwichcamra.org.uk marketing norwich

blog

2009-10-14T16:56:00.002+01:00

Northumbria Coast & Country Cottages’s 2010 is now available and popular weeks are going fast. Visit our website to view up to date availability, new additions and special offers. www.northumbria-cottages.co.uk

Nikki Brierley
Director
Northumbria Coast & Country Cottages Ltd.

Blog

2009-10-14T16:49:00.001+01:00

Good weather ensured that the Alwinton Border Shepherds' Show was packed out by visitors on Saturday.

The show, which takes place against the stunning backdrop of the Coquet Valley, featured fell racing, terrier racing, Northumberland wresting, trade stands, industrial and horticultural exhibitions, sheep classes and a children's fairground.

Now in its 144th year, the Alwinton Show takes place annually on the second Saturday in October, and is the last country show in the Northumberland calendar.

Nikki Brierley
Director
Northumbria Coast & Country Cottages Ltd.
Registered in Uk 3916403 Vat Reg No 747 1982 96

www.northumbria-cottages.co.uk

Norfolks Best Beaches

2009-10-14T16:04:00.002+01:00

Norfolk’s coastline is long and full of contrasts, and all the way from the Wash to Great Yarmouth it’s home to some of the best beaches in the country.

In the north of the county the sea appears almost in retreat, giving rise to sandbanks, spits of shingle and silted harbours. But once the coastline turns in a more easterly direction the tides fight back – here, the beaches are sandy and there’s evidence of erosion in the soft clay cliffs.

Wherever you base your <<a href=" http://www.norfolkcottages.co.uk/information/find-a-cottage.html"> Norfolk cottage holiday</a>., this part of East Anglia makes the ideal setting for a seaside getaway, where a day out means buckets and spades, beach huts and windbreaks – and enough ice cream to have even the biggest of appetites licked!

Here's our pick of some of the finest beaches to be found in Norfolk.

Hunstanton:
At the mouth of The Wash, Hunstanton is known as ‘Sunny Hunny’ because its beach and cliffs face west, which means they capture the best of the sunshine. The golden beach runs for two miles along the coast to Brancaster, while the shallow sea here makes for safe family bathing and is a favourite spot for wind- and kitesurfing.
Hunstanton’s seafront is bordered by large Victorian and Edwardian houses and there’s a pleasant walk along the top of the cliffs to the lighthouse… this is very much a traditional resort with something for everyone and plenty to do, whatever the weather.

Wells-next-the-Sea:
No holiday in Norfolk would be complete without a trip to Wells, a timeless little town with a picturesque harbour and, a brisk one-mile walk away, a vast sandy beach. There is space for everyone on the Wells sands which, lined by colourful beach huts and backed by aromatic pine woodlands, are ideal for sunbathing, picnics and kite-flying.
For those who love to be busy, Wells is great for windsurfing And as the tide goes out it’s also the perfect foraging ground for a seafood supper – the main channel of water that leads through the sands from the North Sea into the harbour provides a rich harvest of cockles and mussels. But don’t get caught out by the notorious Wells tide – there is a danger of being trapped on the wrong side of the channel when the tide turns, so listen out for the siren which is sounded when the waters start to rise.

Blakeney Point:
Once a busy working port, Blakeney is one of the prettiest places in north Norfolk and an absolute must for those with an interest in birds and wildlife. In Blakeney itself, narrow streets packed with quaint holiday cottages lead to the quay, which is now mainly used for sailing and pleasure craft. The quay is perfect for old-fashioned family fun with buckets and crab-lines while the estuary leading to it is a fun – if muddy! – place for youngsters to paddle and potter around in rowing boats.

But it’s Blakeney Point that is the real gem along this part of the Norfolk coastline – the three-and-a-half-mile sand and shingle spit is noted for its colonies of breeding terns and migrant birds passing through in summer. It is also an important breeding and haul-out site for grey and common seals – walk along the spit or take a boat trip out to see them for a truly memorable seaside experience.

<a href=" http://www.norfolkcottages.co.uk/cottage-search/dosearch///CROME/7//////////////"> Cromer </a>:
The Victorians made Cromer a popular resort and though it has expanded over the years, it retains an air of elegance along with an all-year holiday atmosphere.
A popular destination for families, the golden sands and gently sloping beach make Cromer ideal for summer swimming, while out of season they’re filled with an enthusiastic – and growing – surfing fraternity.
The seafront promenade has beach huts, cafes and amusement arcades, and there’s still a traditional theatre at the end of Cromer’s picturesque pier, while the town centre is just a short stroll away.

Sea Palling:
Set mid-way between the better-known resorts of Cromer and Great Yarmouth, the beach at Sea Palling is one of the most stunning in Norfolk. Miles of golden sand stretch in either direction from the village and – thanks mainly to the nine offshore reefs built as part of a flood prevention scheme – have retained the coveted Blue Flag award for several years. The water here is safe for swimming and paddling and the Sea Palling dunes are officially designated Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
Seals are sometimes seen in the sea or sunning themselves on the sands to the south of the village, where you can walk along the coastline to the equally beautiful beaches of Waxham and Horsey.

Great Yarmouth:
It may have a reputation for kiss-me-quick hats and amusement arcades, but Great Yarmouth is home to a beautiful beach which is a perfect place to sit and watch the world go by.
Spotlessly clean sands slope gently to the sea just yards from the fast-paced action of the pier and Pleasure Beach, while on the horizon is the Scroby Sands wind farm and seal colony.
This is a beach for buckets and spades, sunbathing and swimming – traditional family fun and lots of it!

Welcome

2009-08-25T14:12:00.002+01:00

Welcome to the new Cottageline Blog. Here we will be writing about some of the most exciting locations across the UK. As more and more people are spending time holidaying in parts of England, Scotland, and Wales we will use our network of high quality cottage letting companies to highlight some of Britain's most popular destinations along with some hidden gems too.

We are keen to hear about your holidays, where you have been in the UK and what made your summer holiday special this year. Perhaps you have been to the Isle of Wight for the first time, the gorgeous Lake District, tried surfing in Devon, walking & biking in North Norfolk, or do you already know your perfect location. We have cottages all over the UK, but that doesn't mean we don't have that local knowledge that can make such a difference to your holiday.

All of our members have people in the local area, so when you speak to them, they understand the area, they know what makes each cottage special, and what you can do in the local area. They can recommend great places to eat, the best local food producers, and the best places to visit. Whatever you need, ask a local!

As well as Cottageline members writing about their part of the country, we are really keen to hear from you! Tell us where you have been and where you are going next in Britain, we will send the best posts a special prize as a thank you!

Norman