Travel
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The Coach and Horses, Bolton-by-Bowland, Lancashire Review
Location: The Coach and Horses is a delightful AA five star country inn located in the picturesque village of Bolton-by-Bowland in the Ribble Valley. This scenic part of east Lancashire is centred around the prosperous market town of Clitheroe six miles away and is easily accessible from the M6 motorway with Lancaster being 18 miles…
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The British Asparagus Festival, Vale of Evesham
Asparagus is a highly regarded vegetable grown in the Vale of Evesham and celebrated in style with an annual festival. This part of rural Worcestershire benefits from perfect growing conditions with asparagus being widely available from late April to late June. Getting there: The Vale of Evesham is located in Worcestershire, West Midlands 14 miles…
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Exploring The Vale of Evesham Blossom Trail: A Springtime Delight
The Vale of Evesham in rural Worcestershire has been famous for fruit and vegetable growing since medieval times with the delicate blossom from its fruit trees giving stunning displays between mid-March and mid-May. The Blossom Trail stretches for 55 miles with AA yellow signposts marking the way. Japan might have its Sakura but by visiting…
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GO Outdoors Chester – Grand Opening
Being a lover of the outdoors and walking in the countryside I was delighted to be invited to the Grand Opening Event of the newly refurbished GO Outdoors store in Chester on Saturday 20th May. We were up bright and early to ensure we would be there on time to watch the ribbon cutting ceremony…
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The Alma Inn, Laneshawbridge, Lancashire Review
Hotel Review Location: The Alma Inn is located in an idyllic moorland setting high above the village of Laneshawbridge on the East Lancashire/ North Yorkshire border. Although seemingly remote, it lies within 5 miles of the M65 motorway and less than an hour from Manchester. The inn is also convenient for exploring North Yorkshire and…
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How to Spend One Day in Cannes, France
From our base in Nice it was easy to visit Cannes by public transport as it’s possible to travel there either by bus or train. We chose to take the train (final destination Marseilles) departing from Nice Ville central station (single tickets € 7.20). Do try to sit on the left hand side of the…
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Best Things to Do in Menton in One Day
There are just so many beautiful places that are easily accessible by public transport from Nice that we were able to select a different destination each day. Our plan for the day was to visit Menton, the pearl of France which lies close to the Italian border. It’s possible to reach the town by either…
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A day in Ventimiglia, Italy
From our base in Nice we planned a day trip to Ventimiglia, 8 km across the border in western Liguria, Italy. We took the 10:36 train from Nice Ville station (single tickets €8 for the 55 minute journey). As with our visit the previous day to Antibes we opted to buy single tickets as these…
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Best Things to Do in Antibes in One Day
A day in Antibes was our plan so we took a tram to Nice Ville railway station where we paused briefly to admire its beautiful façade before buying tickets from a machine on the station concourse. As there was no difference in price between purchasing singles or returns we opted for singles so we didn’t…
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How to Spend a Day Exploring Èze, Beaulieu-sur-Mer, and St-Jean-Cap-Ferrat
After breakfast in our aparthotel we caught Bus 82 to the village of Eze which was included in our 7 day travel card, otherwise a €1.50 single fare. The journey took just 25 minutes and on leaving the bus it was then just a few minutes walk up to the village centre which dates back…
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Visiting Monaco in a Day from Nice: What to see and do
The principality of Monaco lies 8 miles (13 km) from Nice, with Monte Carlo often being referred to as a playground for the rich and famous. However, Monaco is an affordable place to visit for a day as it is easily accessible from Nice by public transport. The ultimate way to arrive is by helicopter…
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Exploring Nice, France: Top Things to Do on the Côte d’Azur
It had been thirteen years since our last visit to Nice so we were long overdue a return trip. Our week long stay back in 2010 was memorable in more ways than one as it coincided with the Icelandic ash cloud grounding all flights resulting in a prolonged stay of an additional seven nights. Returning…
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Falcon Manor, Settle, North Yorkshire Review
Hotel Review Falcon Manor is a beautiful country house hotel dating from 1841 that was constructed for Reverend Swale with money provided by his two grandmothers to befit his status in the local community. Originally known as Ingfield Hall after the field in which it was built, this grand Tudor mansion has changed ownership several times.…
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The Brudenell Hotel, Aldeburgh, Suffolk Review
Hotel Review Location: Aldeburgh is a seaside town in Suffolk, south east England situated between the county town of Ipswich and Norwich just across the border in Norfolk. The town has good road links being just off the A12 and for guests arriving by train, the nearest station is Saxmundham 7 miles away. Arrival and…
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The Swan at Lavenham, Suffolk Review
Hotel Review Lavenham is one of the country’s best preserved medieval villages with its streets lined with Tudor half timbered houses and cottages. The village has been used as the backdrop of numerous television programmes and films such as Lovejoy and Harry Potter. Location: The Swan Hotel is situated in Suffolk, south east England, lying…
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The Angel Hotel, Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk Review
Hotel Review The Angel Hotel is a luxury hotel and former historic coaching inn spread across Nos. 1, 2 and 3 Angel Hill. No. 3 was the original building constructed around 1778 with the remainder added in the 1830’s. Charles Dickens stayed at the hotel on two occasions, once in 1859 and again in 1861…
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Best Things to Do in Bucharest on a Weekend Trip
After a good night’s sleep at the Mercure Bucharest City Centre we walked the short distance to the Romanian Athenaeum concert hall which stands on the edge of Revolution Square. This ornate domed, circular building is an architectural gem and is the city’s main classical music venue. As well as being able to purchase tickets for…
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How to Plan a Trip to Bucharest: Top Tips & Travel Guide
Day 1 On noticing that the low cost Hungarian airline Wizz Air had introduced flights from Leeds-Bradford airport to the Romanian capital of Bucharest, we were soon tapping away on our laptop to book flights. The day soon arrived for our 3 hour morning flight over to Bucharest which departed slightly later than scheduled. With…
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Hotel Indigo Chester Review
Hotel Review Hotel Indigo Chester is a boutique hotel located in the heart of Chester’s beautiful and historic city. Newly built in 2019, it was designed to reflect the Roman city’s architecture and its famous racecourse. Location: The hotel is conveniently located being just a ten minute walk from Chester railway station. Direct trains from…
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Chester Travel Guide: Top Things to Do, See & Explore
Chester is a beautiful historic city located on the banks of the River Dee in north west England. It’s famous for its half timbered buildings, Roman ruins, medieval city centre and for having the oldest racecourse in the country. Check out my suggestions below of how to make the most of a weekend break in…
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The Fleece, Addingham, West Yorkshire Review
Restaurant Review The Fleece pub and restaurant is located in the village of Addingham which lies between Ilkley and Silsden in West Yorkshire. The pub stands in a handsome Yorkshire stone building and even in winter its large outdoor terrace looked inviting with its covered canopy illuminated with fairy lights. On entering the door there’s…
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Espoo, Finland Winter Travel Guide: The Perfect Nordic Getaway
Espoo lies close to Helsinki in southern Finland and despite not being as well known as the capital city, it is a lovely place to spend a few days. The city boundary covers the attractive centres of Tapiola and Matinkylä and the beautiful Nuuksio National Park. Getting there: Arrive into Helsinki Vantaa Airport (flights from…
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Hotel Matts, Matinkylä, Espoo, Finland Review
Hotel Review Location: Hotel Matts is a luxurious 4 star hotel which has been open in Matinkylä, Espoo since early 2021. The hotel has a metro and bus station just outside the door enabling guests easy access to travel around the scenic Espoo coastal area and into the centre of Helsinki in under 20 minutes.…
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Why Helsinki Is the Ultimate Winter City Break
Finland’s capital Helsinki is beautiful all year round and although it attracts more visitors during the summer months, winter breaks to this Nordic city are an absolute delight. Below are my suggestions for making the most of this winter wonderland. Market Square (Kauppatori) Start with a walk around the market square and admire the harbour…