cottages4you blog: inspiration for your cottage or villa holiday in UK, Ireland and Europe

Haworth is one of those villages that are utterly resplendent in every way. Located within Bradford in West Yorkshire, it has long had a reputation as a great place to visit when on a short break. It is exemplary of the rural way of life, which, if we're to be honest, is best enjoyed and experienced by having, as a base, a cottage. That's got charm.

English Heritage, an executive non-departmental public body, fully aware of this village's magnetism, has revealed that it wants to elevate the already popular destination from "day trip haven" to international tourist destination, reported the Bradford and Telegraph Argus.

We at cottages4you like the ambition that English Heritage has, and fully concur that this well-liked holiday hotspot is worthy of being transformed into a place where people go on extended holidays. Its beauty and history demand it.

"At the moment Haworth isn’t really offering itself to an international audience," Trevor Mitchell, English Heritage's Yorkshire and Humber planning director, told the newspaper.

"It is marketing itself to the people of West Yorkshire on an afternoon out. What Haworth needs is to offer something that appeals to the international tourist who has come for the Bronte connection.”

He added that this is why they are looking to work with various property owners, businesses and of course Bradford Council to see how this can be achieved, or as he put it, to "touch things up a bit".

Two years ago, Haworth was put on the English Heritage's at risk register for fear that it was in risk of falling short of its legacy. As such, a number of projects are under way to repair former buildings and walkways to their former glory, including restoration of the Parish Church Roof and restoring original features on shop fronts on the much enjoyed Main Street.

English Heritage oversees over 400 sites that are open to the public, which collectively attract 11 million visitors every year.

Posted by David Sollberger, cottages4you

Ah, do you remember when the summer wind came blowing in across the sea (thank you Johnny Mercer for the lyrics and Frank Sinatra for singing it so well)?

We do…summer, glorious summer…ah, those were the days. We wait in anticipation for its return. Until then, it is the crisp and cold winter to contend with, which, aside from the bitter frost, is nevertheless a pretty season, going some way to compensate for the chilly air. We also hear Russian hats are in vogue this season, so that’s warmed the cockles of our heart.

Aside from extending our summer holiday, the hot weather experienced by the UK last year in and around September, helped boost domestic tourism, according to Visit England.

The country’s national tourist board found that the number of overnight trips taken in England by Brits in September grew by 22 per cent compared to 2010. This was accompanied by a spending increase of 13 per cent.

“The breadth and diversity of what England has to offer as a destination is evidenced by the fact that holiday trips have increased across the board; town, coast and countryside alike all welcomed more domestic visitors in the first nine months of 2011 than in 2010,” said James Berresford, chief executive of VisitEngland.

The types of holidays that people went on were varied, with small towns being particularly popular (rise of ten per cent), trips to the countryside also saw a healthy increase (eight per cent) and visits to the seaside increased by three per cent.

“The rise in the amount of visits to friends and relations is also very encouraging, as it is the perfect opportunity for hosts to show off all that’s great about their local area,” added Mr Berresford.

Visit England also found that Brits were feeling exceptionally social at around this time, with visits to family and friends increasing by a mega 33 per cent.

All in all, 40 million trips were taken in the first nine months of the year, VisitEngland reported.

Posted by Matt Smith, cottages4you

The city of York is aiming to make 2012 a year to remember with the launch of a new campaign to attract tourists.

It’s 2012 – Time to Visit York promotion is a celebration of everything it has to offer, from festivals to events to exhibitions to festivals, which will appeal to people on a cottage holiday.

This includes the York Festival of Food and Drink, the York 800 & Charter Weekend, the Science and Innovation Grand Tour and the Jorvik Viking Festival.

Let us not forget that the city will also be celebrating the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and taking part in the London 2012 Olympic Games torch relay.

Gillian Cruddas, chief executive of Visit York, launched the campaign on January 16th at the National Railway Museum. Writing in her blog last month, she said that she was committed to making 2012 the best year yet for tourism in York.
“There’s never been so much good news to shout about,” she added.

Her colleague, Kate McMullen, marketing manager at Visit York, told York Press that there will be more events and festivals taking place in the city than ever before, 2012 provided them with “an unprecedented opportunity, enabling us to capitalise on the extension of the staycation and make sure more Britons choose to holiday in York this year”.

“Our campaign will capitalise on the continued popularity of holidaymaking in the UK and make it much easier for visitors to find out what’s happening throughout the year,” she stated.

The multimedia promotion will be seen in the digital world as well as real world, with radio slots, social networking updates, outdoor advertising and printed stories. It is coinciding with the 800th anniversary of the city being granted its Royal Charter by King John, the Yorkshire Post reported.

“The warm welcome residents give to York’s visitors is vitally important for the tourism economy,” said Ms Cruddas last month. “This is our way of saying a big thank you for the very important role residents place in ensuring York’s reputation as one of the friendliest cities to visit in Britain.”

Posted by Andrew Hill, cottages4you

One of the places to be for a staycation in the UK is Cornwall, according to a well-known travel commentator.

Linsey McNeill, a freelance travel writer who has contributed pieces on travel to publications like the Daily Telegraph, the Observer and the Express, explained that one of the big draws for Brits in coming to Cornwall – which includes staying at some of its sublime cottages – is its spectacular beaches.

"If it had reliable weather it would be one of the best places in the world for beach holidays," she said.

"It's cool now [too] – it's got the surfing and camping, which has become a very cool thing to do in the last five years. For families on a budget it's just unbeatable, really – the only downside is the weather."

Ms McNeill went to say that Cornwall is a great place for families looking to go on an adventure holiday where new experiences can be found in great abundance. She said that surfing in particular is a great way to explore the region's beaches.

"More people are getting into surfing, families are starting to take it up," she added. "For that aspect it's better than other parts of the UK, I think."
The travel expert went on to suggest other areas Brits could holiday in when on a short break in the UK. Again, all of these regions are known for having a variety of cottages to form as a base.

"The Lake District is absolutely fantastic for family holidays," she stated.

Wales, Ms McNeill added, was becoming quite the trendy place, similar to Cornwall in so many ways in its various offerings.

"Many people are getting switched on to Pembrokeshire and places like that, and stunning parts of Sussex as well," she went on to say.

"Places like that are fabulous for family holidays."

Posted by David Sollberger, cottages4you

Something magical appears to be happening in Yorkshire, which is elevating the region to a supremely high standard.

Welcome to Yorkshire, which promotes the region as a pre-eminent tourist destination in the UK for both Brits and overseas travellers – has once again won the well-respected World Travel Award for the World's Leading Marketing Campaign.

This meant that it defeated other exceptional destinations and their respective brands like Brazil, India, South Africa, Abu Dhabi, Qatar, Etihad, Kuoni, Expedia, Visit London, Thomas Cook and Visit Scotland, testament to the fact it runs a tight campaign and that Yorkshire is a fabulous place to visit. A cottage break there is always recommended.

"Yorkshire is a world beater and winning this award for the second year running proves it. We have gone head-to-head with some of the best brands with bigger budgets than us and come out on top again," said Gary Verity, chief executive of Welcome to Yorkshire.

"The award is testament to the 25,000 brilliant businesses that make up Yorkshire's tourism industry; their quality ensures we are able to compete on a global scale with the best in the world."

He added that it was reflective of how far they had come as an organisation since launching three years ago.
"We now judge ourselves against the world's best and not just our competitors in the UK," Mr Verity concluded.

Places to eat and drink in Yorkshire

The Old Vicarage in Sheffield
The Black Swan in Oldstead
Ye Old Sun Inn in Colton
Anthony's Restaurant in Leeds
Discovery Bay in Huddersfield

Some attractions in Yorkshire

National Railway Museum
York Castle Prison at York Castle Museum
Bronte Parsonage Museum
Beningbrough Hall Gardens
Burnby Hall Gardens
Constable Burton Hall and Gardens
York Minster
The Church of St Michaels & All Angels
Wakefield Cathedral

Key facts about Yorkshire's tourism:

Approximately 216 million people visit Yorkshire annually

The tourism industry contributes around £7 billion each year to Yorkshire

Over a quarter of a million people are employed by the industry

Posted by David Sollberger, cottages4you
 

Today’s the day we all end up being a bit mischievous. Now that Santa Claus is off somewhere hot, a suitable vacation after flying across the world in one night – varying time zones making his job that much easier – we are less inclined to think he’s watching if we’ve been naughty or nice.

Good job, because after a mere nine days of the New Year, we are beginning to crack – our new resolutions are taking a battering.

Three-quarters of Brits will break their commitments to stay fit, eat healthy, stay off the booze and all the rest, according to a new survey of 3,000 people.

The study, which was conducted by allabouthealth.org, revealed that with the first proper week underway, most people felt unable to keep to their promises.

It’s no surprise as we often make resolutions with a genuine determination to see them through, but they are usually made in an environment where we’re on a holiday – we’re relaxed and we’ve enjoyed ourselves. As such, a resolution seems easy in some ways – after all that food and partying, exercise and healthy diets appear like fun alternatives. It’s only when we finish a long day of work and head on home, battered by how difficult it seemed to adjust to reality, that we realise we were a little foolish. In place of the gym we want the TV, in place of a hearty salad we want a pizza and in place of herbal tea we want a beer.

There’s nothing wrong in that, we’re human, but maybe we should stop making resolutions we can’t keep.

“‘While 2011 took its toll for many of us financially, it’s important that people look after their emotional and physical health to make sure you can deal with the demands of today’s busy lifestyles,” said Ajit Malhi, spokesman for the health website.

“Setting resolutions is a great way to start afresh but as the stats show it can be difficult to kick out old habits.”

Interestingly, one of the promises people made was to save money for a family holiday, recognising how important it is to take a break during the year. It’s a treat that we all deserve.

In the top twenty resolutions made by people, to “travel more” was in at number six. Unsurprisingly, get fit and exercise was number one, followed by save money and then lose weight.

Posted by Matt Smith, cottages4you