Travel
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Discover Sligo: Oyster Tasting and Rejuvenating Seaweed Baths
Starting the day in Strandhill, Sligo we drew back the curtains to beautiful views across the bay and after enjoying a delicious breakfast buffet we checked out of Strandhill Lodge and Suites. Leaving there, we took the car the short distance down to the beach where we were pleased to find free parking. It was…
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Discover Donegal Town, Handmade Hanna Hats & Breathtaking Slieve League Cliffs
We slept soundly in our beautiful suite at the Abbey Hotel and feeling refreshed, headed downstairs for breakfast in their Market House restaurant. After being tempted with an array of hot and cold dishes we were ready for the day ahead and a morning stroll around the attractive small town of Donegal. Our walk took…
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Exploring Glenveagh National Park and Letterkenny in Donegal
After enjoying a traditional Irish breakfast at the Dillons Hotel in Letterkenny we explored the town. The hotel is located along Main Street, reputed to be one of the longest in Ireland and is lined with a varied collection of shops, cafes and bars. In the market square we viewed four life size bronze sculptures entitled…
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Giant’s Causeway and Ballycastle Boat Tour: Must-See Attractions in Northern Ireland
After staying overnight at The Causeway Hotel we started the day with a hearty breakfast in the hotel’s elegant dining room to ready ourselves for an action packed day exploring the Giant’s Causeway and surrounding coastline. After returning to our room and checking out we didn’t have far to go as The Causeway Hotel is…
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From Mountain Views to Handmade Chocolates: Binevenagh and Chocolate Manor
We awoke refreshed at The Willows after sleeping on such comfortable mattresses in our delightful Aspen bedroom. Drawing back the curtains we were dismayed to discover it was raining heavily, not a good sign for a planned hiking trip! To lift our spirits we wandered down to the dining room to be greeted by the cheerful…
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Exploring Derry Guildhall and the Historic Bogside, Northern Ireland
We started the day with a leisurely breakfast at the Holiday Inn Express Derry~Londonderry. After checking out of the hotel and leaving our bags to collect later in the day we walked across the Peace Bridge as we had only viewed it after dark the previous evening. Since it’s opening in 2011 the bridge has…
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Exploring Derry, Northern Ireland and Enjoying a Derry Girls Afternoon Tea
This is the first in a series of posts on our recent 10 day road trip across Ireland – starting in Derry/ Londonderry before travelling along the Causeway Coast and then down the Wild Atlantic Way – I hope you enjoy reading. We arrived into City of Derry Airport the previous evening, flying with Loganair…
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Discover Brighton: A Complete Travel Guide
Brighton – What to see and do British Airways i360 Start by visiting the i360 viewing tower, opened in 2016 on the site of the old West Pier. Over 25 minutes the large glass capsule rises to a height of 450ft (138m), offering great views both along the coast and inland across the South Downs.…
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Your Ultimate Guide to Exploring Manchester
MANCHESTER – WHAT TO SEE AND DO Manchester Town Hall Located in Albert Square and one of the most iconic landmarks in the city. It’s a fine example of Neo-Gothic architecture in the United Kingdom. Constructed in 1877 at a cost of £1m and containing more than 14m bricks it’s a joy to behold. The…
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Top Free Things to See and Do in Helsinki
In addition to a large selection of world renowned museums, galleries and attractions for which an entrance ticket is required, there are many inexpensive ways to enjoy a short break in Helsinki. Listed below are my suggestions for some really lovely free things to see and do. Helsinki City Museum – located on the corner of…
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Where to Find the Best Seaside Cafes in Helsinki
Finn’s love their coffee, consuming the most per capita in the world. As you might expect, there’s a vibrant coffee culture and to experience the best that Finland has to offer you really need to try an authentic cinnamon bun (korvapuusti). Versions of these buns have been around since the 18th century and it has…
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Making the Most of the Helsinki Card: Attractions, Transport & Savings
A three day Helsinki Card might at first glance seem expensive as it costs €74 but as it covers a wide range of attractions and scenic boat trips that can cost at least €20 each then it’s possible to make substantial savings whilst using the card. It is also valid on public transport including trams,…
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Helsinki Weekend Break: The Ultimate Guide to Explore the City
Visiting Helsinki, Finland’s beautiful capital city is a delight at any time of year. Located on the shores of the Gulf of Finland, the Helsinki archipelago consists of over 300 picturesque islands and wherever you are in the city, it is never far from the sea. Getting there: Helsinki International Airport is located in the…
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A Leisurely Walk from Bournemouth to Westbourne: What to See Along the Way
Continuing my series of walks in and around Bournemouth, we recently took a 3.5 mile looped walk along the promenade, through Alum Chine to Westbourne and then returning through the Central and Lower Gardens. The scenery is varied and there are some lovely cafes along the way to stop off for a bite to eat…
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A walk around Christchurch, Dorset
The picturesque riverside town of Christchurch lies a short distance from its larger neighbour Bournemouth on the south coast of England in beautiful Dorset. The town is easily accessible as it is on the main rail line between London Waterloo and Weymouth and is well connected to nearby larger towns by regular bus services. It…
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Newbury Canal Walk to Speen Moors: A Scenic Nature Trail
We decided to spend the day in the attractive market town of Newbury which lies in the heart of West Berkshire. The town is approximately 30 minutes drive from Oxford and around an hour by train from London. We left the car in the Newbury Goldwell car park beside the leisure centre on Northcroft Lane…
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Regent’s Canal Walk: From King’s Cross to Paddington – A Scenic Urban Stroll
This 5 mile walk along the Regent’s Canal passes through some of London’s best kept secrets including Regent’s Park and Little Venice whilst avoiding the congestion and crowds of life in the capital. Our walk started outside King’s Cross station from where we wandered around the corner to Granary Square and the vibrant Coal Drops…
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A Day Out in The Wirral: Port Sunlight and The Ness Gardens
After starting the day with a brisk walk along the seafront at Hoylake, we popped back into the car and headed to Ness Botanic Gardens located in Neston, Cheshire. The gardens are open daily from 10.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. with standard admission £8.25. The gardens were founded in 1898 by Arthur Kilpin Bulley, a Liverpool…
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A Day at The National Waterways Museum: Exploring The Wirral’s Maritime Heritage
After recently spending an enjoyable weekend in nearby Liverpool, we decided to turn our attention to the Wirral Peninsula. This stretch of land is bordered by the River Mersey to the east, the Irish Sea and River Dee to the west and the Shropshire Union Canal to the south providing us with 25 miles of…
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Bournemouth Air Show 2021
The Bournemouth Air Show takes place at the end of August/ early September each year featuring air displays over four days against a backdrop of the beautiful sweeping bay. There is no admittance charge to the festival and thousands of plane lovers flock to the Dorset resort on the south coast of England to watch…
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The Gibbon Bridge Hotel, Chipping, Lancashire Review
Location: The Gibbon Bridge Hotel & Restaurant is located on the edge of the charming village of Chipping in the picturesque Forest of Bowland, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty within the Ribble Valley, Lancashire. The hotel is set in 23 acres of beautiful gardens in a secluded position yet is easily accessible to the…
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A Day in Clitheroe and the Ribble Valley: What to See and Do
Our stay at the gorgeous Gibbon Bridge Hotel in Chipping had been lovely and after packing up the car we didn’t hurry off but instead relaxed awhile on its sun drenched terrace. Overlooking the beautiful landscaped gardens and rolling hills beyond, the setting is idyllic and the perfect place to unwind. Although we could have lazed there…
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Discover the Ribble Valley: Browsholme Hall, Charming Chipping & Gibbon Bridge Hotel
It was the perfect way to start our day, sitting in the conservatory of the Gibbon Bridge Hotel enjoying a cooked breakfast with views across the delightful landscaped gardens. Our first activity of the day was then just down the road at Leagrams Organic Dairy just outside the picturesque village of Chipping. The entrance to…
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Outdoor Fun: E-Biking the Trough of Bowland and Wild Boar Park Experience
The scenic Ribble Valley is one of northern England’s best kept secrets being an area of outstanding natural beauty noted for its rural landscape and welcoming hospitality. How do we find this hidden gem, you may well ask? Well, it’s quite easy actually as the Ribble Valley is located in Lancashire and accessible from the…
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