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

If you have always dreamed of owning a cottage by the sea, but it’s not a realistic option, taking time out to go on holiday to one could prove the next best thing.

According to Halifax, prices fell in most seaside towns between 2007 and 2009, although some resorts actually saw a value boost for residential property.

Colwyn Bay in north Wales, in fact, has seen the biggest rise of all, with costs increasing by ten per cent between 2008 and 2009.

So here at cottages4you, we reckon that cottages to rent in Wales could be the ideal way of affordably living by the sea for a bit.

It might not be too surprising that Colwyn Bay has seen a price rise anyway, given all the attractions it has to offer.

The resort boasts cycle tracks, shopping facilities and a number of heritage sites and gardens, as well as its pretty beaches.

More information about Colwyn Bay can be found here.

Posted by Matt Smith, cottages4you

If you’re planning any Wales holidays, you’re probably keen to see the landscape. You should be!

And that’s now become even easier thanks to a new extension by Welsh Highland Railways.

Now you can jump on at Caernarfon Castle and go into a panoramic observation carriage to take in the beauty of the country as you travel.

Visit Wales explains on its blog that the extension isn’t completely finished yet, but you can still travel part of the way to the ultimate destination of Porthmadog and watch the highest peaks in Wales as you go.

It’s not long to wait until the new line is completed anyway; you’ll be able to go all the way to Porthmadog some time next year.

And the new line has already been praised by Simon Calder of the Independent, who went aboard and confirmed that it passes through "some of the finest scenery in the kingdom" and that the carriage itself offers "touches of class" such as fragrant cedar and maroon livery.

Click here to find out more about the railway.

Posted by Andrew Hill, cottages4you

Britain’s beaches should not be underestimated by those visiting cottages in Wales, a new guide suggests.

Here at cottages4you, we have always known the UK has some beautiful beaches, but we felt they often got overshadowed by our European counterparts.

But now the Marine Conservation Society (MCS) has revealed its Good Beach Guide, which paints a positive picture.

According to the MCS, 55 per cent of the 769 bathing beaches in the UK have excellent water quality this year.

This marks a rise from the 50 per cent highlighted last year and such news could come in good time for a family trip to cottages in Wales, a country that has plenty of seaside.

We suggest you and your family go rock pooling at Southerndown Beach, Glamorgan, or take a trip to Oxwich Bay, which VisitWales says has been named the most beautiful beach in the UK.

If you do decide on a holiday cottage in Wales, we suggest you listen to the tourism organisation and see Oxwich Bay for yourself!

If you want to check out the guide yourself click here for more information about Britain’s best beaches.

Posted by Toby Lawrence, cottages4you

When you think of Robin Hood, the place that immediately springs to mind is Nottingham.

But those heading on a Wales holiday may actually stand the best chance of following in the footsteps of Britain’s most famous bow and arrow-wielding star.

That’s because much of the latest film, featuring Russell Crowe, was filmed around the country and on Wales’s Pembrokeshire coast.

Mark Di-Torio, spokesman for VisitBritain, explains the whole of the UK could see an influx of tourists hoping to recreate scenes from the new movie, directed by Ridley Scott.

"Our research shows that 40 per cent of people who watch a film are more likely to visit that location of the film," he states.

If you’re planning a Wales holiday later on in the year, we’ve got an excellent idea for all the family.

Once the film is released to rent and purchase, you might like to watch it in your holiday cottage.

When you’ve got your inspiration, head out to the Pembrokeshire coast and trace the scenes where Crowe and other stars such as Cate Blanchett filmed Robin Hood.

What a fun day out!

Posted by Matt Smith

Adventurous explorers planning Wales holidays may be looking forward to climbing to the top of Snowdon.

We certainly recommend making the effort to do so, as the experience and the sights you see are priceless.

And now you might have even more reason to head up there, after the building at the top was awarded an impressive accolade.

The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors in Wales gave Snowdon’s visitor centre the "Project of the Year" award.

And Peter Trumper from the Snowdonia National Park Authority tells the BBC he is "delighted".

"It is a special day for Snowdonia, this award makes it all worthwhile," he adds.

Those of you looking for a less active time during your stay in a Wales holiday cottage can still sample an inspiring construction by visiting the Scala Cinema and Arts Centre, which won the Golley Slater Community Benefit award.

For details of the centre in Denbighshire, click here.

Posted by Matt Smith

If you’ve got a Wales holiday booked in the near future and want to sample some of the country’s finest produce, why not track down some wine from Ancre Hill Estates?

According to the Western Mail, the vineyard, which can be found on the outskirts of Monouth, is comparable to those usually found in France.

Richard Morris runs the business along with his family and their hard work is obviously paying dividends, as Ancre Hill Estates recently picked up a bronze medal at this year’s International Wine and Spirit Competition.

"We knew we had the potential to make world-class wine and we are obviously delighted to have picked up these awards," Mr Morris was quoted by the news source as saying.

If your heart is now set on trying the best tipples he and his family have to offer then you have to travel to the vineyard in person, as the wines are currently only available for purchase straight from the cellar door.

Visitors can also learn more about the site on a tour, which run from April to September at a price of £7 per head.

Click here for more information on Ancre Hill Estates.

On your next stay at a Wales holiday cottage, you might like to see something completely different.

And if museums are not usually your thing, an exhibition at the Llangollen Museum in Denbighshire could be the perfect way to change this opinion.

New technology has made it possible to show holographic images of various artefacts without the site – which was set up by volunteers in 2002 – having to own the actual items.

Professor Hans Bjelkhagan of Glyndwr University in Wrexham developed this fascinating technique and the BBC quotes him as saying: "It’s an imaging technology that is absolutely perfect. No computer can reproduce images like this."

It is so convincing, even those who have seen the real items next to their holograms cannot tell the difference.

The museum explains smaller organisations like this often miss out on borrowing certain artefacts from larger sites because of security and storage problems – but the new system means there is no longer a need for this.

Find out more about what you could do at the museum on your next Wales holiday by clicking here.

Posted by Andrew Hill, cottages4you

Fans of Cheryl Cole who are planning holidays in Wales may be pleased to hear she has been confirmed to appear at BBC Radio 1′s Big Weekend.

Held in Wales’s Vaynol estate from May 22nd-23rd, the event has a star-studded line-up.

Cole is the latest singer to confirm her presence at the popular music festival, but there are many other acts to please most people.

Florence and the Machine, Dizzee Rascal and Paramore are all among the artists involved with the weekend.

And families staying in a Wales holiday cottage with teenagers may like to catch US teen sensation Justin Bieber.

The youngster has proved popular in the UK, with hits such as Baby, which features Ludacris.

Music lovers who like to discover lesser-known talent may also enjoy the weekend as there promises to be a number or new artists performing.

It has previously been held in Cardiff, Londonderry, Manchester and Birmingham.

Posted by Andrew Hill

Families who spend their holidays in Wales will have probably paid a visit to the beach at one time or another.

But if you’re planning a stay in a holiday cottage in Wales in the near future, you may notice a difference when you head to the beach.

That’s because 50 Welsh beaches have met the Green Coast Award criteria to be named among the tidiest sandy spots.

Introduced by Keep Wales Tidy thirteen years ago, the award has now been given to a record number of beaches.

Chief executive of the body Lesley Jones said: "We can tell the world to visit Wales if they want to enjoy a quality beach experience far removed from the intrusions normally associated with traditional resort beaches."

Those staying in cottages near Pwllheli might want to visit Abererch beach, which is among the 50 Green Coast Award spots.

And heritage minister Alun Ffred Jones has unveiled a plaque to mark the honour, so why not take a look?

Keep Wales Tidy aims to create greater public confidence in their local areas and make the country safer – it certainly seems like this is on its way to being achieved.

Posted by Toby Lawrence

Visitors to Welsh holiday cottages in the coming months might like to explore some of the country’s most historic buildings, which are due to undergo a number of restoration works.

Minister for heritage Alun Ffred Jones revealed there will be grants from the Welsh Assembly government of between £2,750 and £56,000.

Tourists renting cottages in Wales may enjoy visiting the sites as the work progresses.

Mr Jones said he is "delighted" to offer the money, which he claims "will ensure that some of our most important buildings are restored and maintained for the enjoyment of future generations".

In total the funds are worth £203,626 and some of the buildings to benefit from the money include The Willows in Llangollen, Denbighshire.

The Willows is said to originate from the 18th century and the grant will help with the interior and exterior of the building.

For those on holiday in Wales looking for a more active trip, travel writer Daniela David recently explained that the country has the ideal landscape for horseback excursions.

The Black Mountains are particularly popular for such activities, she added.