January 29, 2010
Those staying in Norfolk holiday cottages this weekend will be able to check out a piece of British history before it goes under the hammer at an auctioneer in the county.
A cigar half-smoked by Sir Winston Churchill is currently on display at Keys in Aylsham and is expected to fetch as much as £350 when it goes up for grabs, the BBC reports.
The item was picked from an ashtray by Nellie Goble, a member of the staff at 10 Downing Street, after it was discarded by the then-prime minister 69 years ago as he rushed to a cabinet meeting.
It was passed down through the generations to an anonymous woman, who has now decided to put the cigar up for sale.
Measuring 9.5cm in length, it is embossed with Sir Winston’’s initials and Andrew Bullock of Keys told the news source that the item will attract a lot of attention.
"It is a collector’’s dream to own something that is so very, very scarce, or even unique," he stated.
Sir Winston was famed for his love of cigars and was rarely seen without such an item whether the country was at war or peace.
Posted by Toby Lawrence
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Posted by cottages4you
January 29, 2010
Tourists flocked to west Norfolk during 2009, according to new figures.
Statistics produced by West Norfolk Council showed that there was a year-on-year increase of almost 16 per cent during 2009, Lynn News reports.
Visitor numbers – which came in at just under 154,000 for the year – were boosted by the number of people opting to enjoy staycations, rather than jetting off abroad in the recession.
Demand for Norfolk holiday cottages may well be high over the coming months, as councillor Jason Law said in a report submitted to the council that people who have visited Hunstanton "want to come back next year".
"Hardly a week goes by when you don”t see Norfolk in the media. It’’s selling itself quite well," he added.
Norfolk could be set to get a further tourism boost in the coming months, as it was recently announced that the iconic St Benet’’s Abbey in Horning is to receive £51,000 in Heritage Lottery Fund money to make it more accessible to visitors.
Posted by Toby Lawrence
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January 28, 2010
Those staying in Cotswolds holiday cottages during a break in the Midlands could also attend a literary festival in the area set up by a former Bond girl.
Fiona Fullerton, who played KGB spy Pola Ivanova in A View To A Kill, has masterminded the Kempsford Literary Festival, which will be opened for the first time by Her Royal Highness the Countess of Wessex, the Citizen reports.
Other celebrities appearing at the event include literary favourites Joanna Trollope, Gyles Brandreth and Lord Douglas Hurd, while Nicholas Coleridge and Michael Dobbs will also make readings and sign books.
"Everyone is terribly excited that we have such literary luminaries descending on our village. We can hardly believe it," said Fullerton of the showcase, which will take place Dean Close School in Cheltenham in March.
Travellers could use the 2010 Visit Cotswolds Visitor Guide, which was recently released by the organisation and offers info on all of the towns and villages to see, cultural attractions to call at and restaurants to finish the day with an evening meal.
Posted by Toby Lawrence
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January 28, 2010
A cycling event could attract fans of two-wheel transport to stay in Dorset holiday cottages this month.
The Party on the Path ride, organised by environmental charity SusTrans, will celebrate the opening of a new ten-mile traffic-free cycle path from Maiden Newton to Bridport on Saturday (January 30th).
Flag-making, wheel-weaving and musical entertainment will also be provided on the day, while holidaymakers can take part in a raffle to be in with the chance of winning a £2,000 hand-built bike.
Peter Henshaw, spokesperson for Sustrans, said: "Party on the Path will be an exciting event for people of all ages to get together and celebrate the fantastic progress [that] has been made towards the trailway development."
The BBC recently reported that Dorset County Council is to ask local residents where new cycle paths would be best placed, which could be good news for those looking to head out on their bike while holidaying in the area.
Posted by Andrew Hill
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January 28, 2010
The late Hollywood actress Jean Simmons was a fan of the picturesque landscape of Norfolk, it has emerged.
According to the Eastern Daily Press, the British star, who passed away earlier this month, fell in love with the area while filming Shadows In The Sun two years ago.
Visitors staying in Norfolk holiday cottages will be able to see the film – which turned out to be her last – in March, as the Regal Experience is organising a special one-off screening on the 28th of the month.
The group contacted Ms Simmons when they heard she was to be filming on Norfolk and she even invited them to come to the US for tea in her Santa Monica home.
Commenting on her death, chairman Michael Armstrong told the news source that it was "like losing a member of the family".
In an interview about the film, Ms Simmons – famed for her role in Guys and Dolls – described Norfolk as "the most beautiful place", adding that the country and sea air made it a healthy place to be.
Posted by Ben Webster
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January 28, 2010
People heading for a stay in Lake District holiday cottages may soon get the chance to see a legendary vessel on one of the area’’s most famous lakes.
A consultation has been launched regarding whether or not the Bluebird – which currently holds the British water speed record of 273.3 mph – should be able to travel along Coniston Water.
Current byelaws state that boats can only move in excess of 10 mph if a world record bid is being attempted, but in 2008 the team rebuilding the Bluebird K7 submitted a request to be able to carry out trial runs that exceed the current speed limit.
Issues such as timing, health and safety and environmental damage will need to be taken into consideration by Lake District residents, but if they vote in favour of the move, the Lakes could soon have visitors flocking to yet another attraction.
The original boat was recovered from Coniston Water in 2001 following a crash that killed Donald Campbell while he was attempting to break his own record in 1967.
Posted by Andrew Hill
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Posted by cottages4you
January 28, 2010
Those staying in Cornwall holiday cottages this year will be able to check out the views from a historic ferry crossing before they set off, thanks to the new installation of a webcam.
St Mawes Ferry Company, which runs the Falmouth ferry crossing, has set up the device onto the Duchess of Cornwall, transmitting an image every ten seconds for visitors to the company’’s website.
According to the Packet, the route has been popular for 120 years and could be a must-see for those spending some time away in Cornwall – with the webcam acting as a way to find out if the ferry is running.
Paul Harry, who installed the webcam, told the newspaper: ””We are now looking at other webcams … that we can install around the river in addition to the cameras already installed at the National Maritime Museum Cornwall and on Gyllyngvase Beach."
The King Harry’’s Cornwall website currently offers webcam views of the Falmouth docks, Trevano Gardens and Events Square.
Posted by Ben Webster
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January 27, 2010
If you”re planning on getting married and are looking for some inspiration to make the big day as special as possible, booking a Norfolk holiday cottage may be the first step to an unforgettable wedding.
This is because the Wedding Show is heading to Norwich next month, taking over the Norfolk Showground for two days, the Norwich Evening News reports.
The event is being organised by the newspaper’’s sister publication the Eastern Daily Press and will be held on February 20th and 21st.
Each day will feature three 45-minute fashion shows exhibiting the latest bridal trends, as well as dedicated hair and makeup sessions.
Diana Sims, display sales manager, told the news source that the event "will showcase everything about weddings under one roof and promises to give couples a fun day out".
However, if marriage isn”t on the agenda just yet, or if you”re already happily settled down, Norfolk Showground will be hosting a number of other events over the coming months, including an antiques exhibition and the East Anglian Game & Country Fair, which both take place in April.
Posted by Matt Smith
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January 27, 2010
The Eden Project has helped play a part in the creation of a new seasonal beer in Cornwall.
Berries from the site – which is an ideal attraction for those that are planning a stay in Cornwall holiday cottages – have been used on the creation of Winter Berry Ale, which has been produced by Sharp’’s Brewery.
Staff at Eden picked sloes, rosehips and hawthorn berries in October to help create the beer and sales and marketing manager for the brewery James Nicholls said he was "excited" about the collaboration.
"We believe we”ve got the right mix of character, flavour and depth in the beers," he remarked, adding that the drink will appear to "consumers looking to satisfy an inquisitive palate", as well as traditional cask beer drinkers.
The beverage is on sale now in pubs across the UK and is also available in the restaurants and bars inside the Eden Project.
Those planning to visit the attraction can expect to pay £16 per adult on the door, while family tickets are available for £38.
Posted by Ben Webster
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Posted by cottages4you
January 27, 2010
Those who discovered a new favourite food or drink during their stay in a Dorset holiday cottage can now pick up a new supply from the comfort of their own home.
According to the Dorset Echo, food producers in the county have launched what they claim is the world’’s first virtual 3D farmers” market.
It is designed to let shoppers pick up their favourites 24 hours a day, offering video clips that let buyers ”meet” the farmers, who reveal the methods behind making their local produce.
"If you love the idea of being able to visit a farmers” market each week but just don”t have the time or the means, then the market offers the next best thing," a spokesman for the online portal was quoted as saying.
And Dorset is certainly not short of good quality local food, according to one chef.
Speaking to the Times last year, Paul Merrett described the seafood on offer at local markets as "great", noting that he always tries to pick up crabs or mussels when he is in the area.
Posted by Ben Webster
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