Festival d’Avignon – 4 Jul 2008 to 26 Jul 2008

June 26, 2008

Venue: various venues, Avignon, France

Originally a celebration of theatre, the Avignon Festival has now broadened its vision to include other performing arts such as dance, mime and puppetry.

One of the oldest and largest festivals in France, deemed to be one of the most important event of the year in the theatrical calendar on account of the number of new performances and spectators.

For information visit www.festival-avignon.com

Don’t forget – a cottage can provide the perfect base from which to enjoy many festivals and events throughout Europe – search today at cottages4you.

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Top 10 UK Beachcombing Beaches

June 24, 2008

beachcombing beaches UK

We have selected what we’d consider the best beach-combing beaches around the UK. These beaches were selected using criteria for:

  • Beach cleanliness and provision of litter bins
  • Disabled, pram and pushchair access where reasonable
  • Safe pedestrian access to the beach
  • Safe and well maintained transport access points
  • Provision of well maintained toilets, including disabled toilets
  • Number of signed car parks
  • Enforcement of Dog Ban/Control Order
  • Use of beach zoning to meet differing needs of beach users
  • Full risk assessment & provision of public rescue equipment in peak season
  • Use of beach zoning to meet differing needs of beach users
  • Information points located at main beach access points

Our Top 10

1. Runswick Bay, North Yorkshire

This wide, sandy bay was once a thriving fishing port, but in more recent times has become a popular tourist attraction. With its brightly painted cottages and impressive cliffs the beauty of this alluring bay is often recreated by inspired artists. At low tide exposed rocks are a fossil seekers’ paradise and the flat sands offer the perfect location for a leisurely stroll. The nearby picturesque village is a maze of narrow alleyways and cobbled streets. With its own sailing club and a number of pleasure and fishing boats Runswick Bay is a gem that must be visited.
This beach is a great place to enjoy nature and wildlife. It is a rural beach located close to other places of interest such as historical buildings.

Holiday cottages in North Yorkshire Coast

2. Newgale Beach, Pembrokeshire

Newgale Sands is famous for its two-mile stretch of gloriously golden sand. With its ‘large surf’, it is considered by many one of the best places to take to the board. Bathers should take note of the flags, especially in high tide. The beach is backed by a natural ridge of pebbles which act as a flood defense at high tide. With easy access for wheelchairs and pushchairs, plus excellent facilities, seaside activities and walks, this really is a beach with something for everyone.

Holiday cottages in Pembrokeshire and the South

3. Westward Ho! Beach, Devon

More than two miles of golden sand backed by a unique pebble ridge linking to Northam Burrows Country Park, which is part of the UK’s only United Nations Biosphere Reserve. Access is fairly easy down a concrete ramp from the town of Westward Ho!, named after the famous novel by Charles Kingsley. Perfect for water sports and bathing the beach is adjacent to the South West Coast Path and is well located for visits to many other nearby attractions including the picturesque fishing village of Clovelly.
This beach offers great facilities to enjoy water sports and swimming related activities such as surfing and body boarding.

Holiday cottages in North Devon

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Beachcombing ; Top 5 Tips

June 24, 2008

Our top 5 tips for beach combing:beachcombin

  1. Get the right tools. Creating your own kit is easy. You just need a stick for turning things over, a net for picking things up or rinsing the sand away and small bottles or containers for keeping fragile items in.
  2. Start with the high water line. But remember to look everywhere – you never know what you might be missing!
  3. Examine everything closely. Objects are not always as they appear – driftwood and seaweed may have a treasure hiding it in, a bottle could have a note inside!
  4. Always check for writing and markings – you may be able to track the owner.
  5. Be patient. It may take a little while so be sure to walk for 30mins – 1 hour before you expect to find anything.

Safety Tips

Being out there on the beach, please take into account some safety tips:

  • We recommend that you wear sensible footwear
  • Keep an eye on the tide
  • Beware of slippery or loose rocks
  • Wear sunscreen!
  • Stay clear of unstable cliffs
  • Beware of suspicious objects particularly anything metal or glass

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Holiday packing list for Self Catering holidays

June 16, 2008

Ready for your self-catering cottage holiday? Here are some things to arrange before you set off and a list of items you might decide to bring…

To arrangepacking list

  • Arrange for pet and plant care. (or book a pet friendly cottage)
  • Stop routine deliveries.
  • Make your home seem lived-in while away by putting lights and a radio on timers
  • Turn down thermostat.
  • Empty refrigerator
  • Leave keys and itinerary with a friend.
  • Lock windows, garage, and doors.
  • Notify local police or neighbourhood watch of your absence

To gather and pack:

  • Guide books and maps
  • Passport and visa(s), Personal ID (Drivers license)
  • Student ID (for discount access to museums etc.)
  • Foreign currency of your destination country
  • Cash & Credit cards (foreign currencies?)
  • Coins for tolls
  • Travelers checks or ATM card
  • Insurance: Trip Cancellation/Medical
  • Photocopies of documentation
  • Birth Certificate (if necessary)
  • Marriage License (if necessary)
  • Tickets & itinerary
  • Hotel Reservations
  • Special Event Reservations
  • Paper printout of emergency contacts

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Blue Flag Beaches in Brittany

June 11, 2008

Blue Flag

The Blue Flag Beaches campaign began in 1985 and sets a standard for the environmental quality of beaches and marine habitats. Over the years this standard has been made more difficult to reach and there are strict guidelines covering the awarding of a Blue Flag.

The award of a European Blue Flag is based on compliance with 27 criteria covering the aspBlue Flag Beaches Brittanyects of

  • Water Quality
  • Environmental Education and Information
  • Environmental Management
  • Safety and Services

A Blue Flag gives you the peace of mind to take full advantage of the sea. Whether that’s simply letting a toddler puddle or surfing and sailing.

As a testament to Brittany’s coastline, the following beaches all have Blue Flags:

  • Vannes (Morbihan): Bassin de Conleau
  • Fouesnant (Finistère): Cap Coz Milieu
  • Fouesnant (Finistère): Kerambigorn
  • Fouesnant: Kerler
  • Saint Lunaire: La Fosse aux vaults
  • Saint Lunaire (Ile et Vilaine): Longchamps Est
  • Fouesnant: Maner Coat Clevarec
  • Roscoff (Finistère): Saint Luc (Roch-kroum)

For more details and a full list of Blue Flag Beaches in Brittany please visit the Blue Flag website and be sure to visit the cottages4you website to find and book a holiday cottage in Brittany.

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Exploring France…Languedoc-Rousillon

June 9, 2008

The fortified city of CarcassonneThe Languedoc-Rousillon is a land of ancient cities and a generous sea; less frenetic than the Côte d’Azur, its coastline curves towards the Pyrénées as an almost continuous strip of sand.

This stretch of coastline was the first place in Gaul to be settled by the Romans, their enduring legacy evident in the great amphitheatre at Nîmes and the magnificent engineering of the Pont du Gard.

Ancient Roussillon, a small region of Languedoc, was a Spanish possession until 1659 and, even today, is inspired more by Barcelona than by Paris. This is, effectively, French Catalonia and the pretty town of Collioure certainly feels more Catalan than French.

Hemmed in by golden bays and with its Read the rest of this entry »

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Exploring the UK…the Cotswolds and Severn Valley

June 2, 2008

Regency houses in CheltenhamFor a lot of people, the Cotswolds, with their rich and varied landscape sprinkled with golden coloured churches, grand houses, villages and towns, are often considered to represent the very core of England.

Here are rolling green hills, honey-hued limestone walls, rose-covered cottages and babbling streams. Described in 1933 by J B Priestley as ‘the most English and least spoiled of all our countrysides’, this is a region for which the word ‘peaceful’ seems specially suited. Over it, as a whole, quietness reigns.

Creamy limestone is what makes the Cotswolds. Warmer toned in the north, pearly in the central areas and light grey in the south, the stone seems to glow with absorbed sunlight. Hamlets, villages, churches and towns grow out of the landscape in such a pleasing way just because this local stone has a warm and enduring quality. Read the rest of this entry »

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Exploring the UK… Top-10 Picture Perfect Destinations

June 1, 2008

lake district

Looking for artistic inspiration for your next holiday? A picturesque backdrop to test your photography skills, or to brush up on your painting and sketching? Here are ten great suggestions to get your creative juices flowing…

  1. The Lake District. Generations of romantics have found their muse amid the majestic mountains and sparkling waters of the Lakes. For tranquillity head to Wasdale – its remote and truly beautiful landscape is home to the deepest lake in England.
  2. Cornwall. Any artist will tell you that there’s something special about Cornish light. St Ives is famous for its local vistas, but the lesser-known and enchantingly sleepy harbour at Mousehole wins our vote.
  3. The Scottish Highlands. For sheer rugged beauty, the wilderness of the Highlands wins hands down. In the Northern Highlands, you’ll find Loch Maree with deer, eagles, and otters to be found among its breathtaking scenery. Nearby there’s Victoria Falls and Rua Reidh Lighthouse to aim your eye at.
  4. The North Yorkshire Coast. From the gothic Abbey at Whitby, to the steep cobbled streets and quaint cottages at Robin Hoods Bay, this rough-hewn coast makes a breathtaking backdrop. Get up early to enjoy the magical light of an East Coast sunrise.
  5. The New Forest. To capture wildlife in your lens, the New Forest is an obvious choice. Under its dappled canopy of mighty oak and beech, you’ll find natural scenes unchanged by the modern world – free roaming deer and ponies, plus an unexpected abundance of frogs, toads and lizards!
  6. Somerset. For misty panoramas and mysterious ancient sites, Somerset’s a firm favourite. Visit the medieval town of Dunster for sepia-toned images of times gone by. It’s hard not to be inspired at Exmoor, Cheddar Gorge or Glastonbury Tor.cornwall beach
  7. Northumbria. For seabird photography, the North East Coast takes the biscuit, and no-where is more enchanting than the Holy Island of Lindisfarne. The cliffs around the ancient priory are home to puffins, terns, guillemots, eider ducks, and seals.
  8. The Pembrokeshire Coast. For panoramic bliss, the expansive coastline of Pembrokeshire offers rolling beaches, wooded estuaries and grassy cliff tops, rich in flowers and wildlife. Barafundle Beach is perfect, while nearby Portmeirion is one of the most photographed villages in the UK.
  9. Wiltshire. Head to Laycock, near Chippenham for a snapshot of chocolate box England and wonder at the 750 year old abbey. Or visit the nearby medieval village of Castle Combe, with a 15th Century pack-bridge and market cross.
  10. The Yorkshire Dales. The fine scenery of the Yorkshire Dales is home to some of the UK’s most spectacular waterfall and woodland scenery. Take the Ingleton Waterfall Trail, through wooded gorges and over limestone scars and soak up the magic.

Do you agree? Tell us about your family’s favourite locations by leaving your comments below…

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