Archive for the ‘England’ Category

Get on your bike

Thursday, June 16th, 2011

Spurred on by Team Green Britain Bike Week – not to mention the warmer weather – we’ve been getting on our bikes in the easycottages.com office recently and comparing our favourite cycling routes.

Along with the obvious health benefits, a really good cycling route allows you to soak up some of the country’s most beautiful locations at a pace where you can really appreciate the natural beauty on display. Though, if you’re anything like us, you may get a little sick of seeing the same view as you breathlessly make your way up a gentle slope!

Still, undeterred, we’re going to list a few of our favourite riding routes below. There should be something for everyone, from challenging climbs to put your mountain bike through its paces to safe, slow and scenic rides for all the family.

The Tarka Trail ticks all the boxes for a great family bike-riding route. This 180-mile loop follows the same path through rural Devon as taken by the titular hero of Henry Williamson’s novel. You’ll find plenty of beautiful scenery along the way and what’s more, the route is completely free from traffic so you can concentrate on enjoying the beautiful scenery.

Grizedale Forest is an unlikely combination of first-class mountain biking and artistic heritage, but as anyone who’s cycled there will attest: it works! The trails range from woodland paths to steep gravel slopes, so there’s something for everyone. We’d recommend stopping for a little on-foot exploration though, and if you’d prefer a better view, checking out the ‘Go Ape’ course.

As Britain’s first National Forest Park you perhaps wouldn’t be surprised to find the Forest of Dean offers some of the country’s most beautiful and tranquil woodland. You might be surprised, however, to find that it offers one of the best family cycling routes. The custom-built cycle paths in the Cannop Valley will keep you safely away from traffic, but if you fancy something a little faster-paced, the forest tracks provide an excellent dedicated off-road area.

If you fancy heading further north, you’ll find Perthshire offers some of the best off-road riding in Scotland. With rugged tracks that make the most of the Highlands – not to mention rolling rural pathways – there are many ways to take in over 2000 square miles of beautiful Scotland.

Perhaps better known for its waterways, the Cotswolds also offers some of the Britain’s best cycling, with stunning scenery to match its routes (hardly surprising from the UK’s largest Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty!). You’ll find both gentle slopes and more challenging ridges – not to mention plenty of sleepy villages to explore and enjoy.

Do you have your own favourite route? Leave us a comment below!

Posted in England, Scotland |

New iPhone travel apps

Tuesday, May 10th, 2011

The Good Food Guide

As well as offering all the content you’ll find in the print version in the palm of your hand, perhaps the most impressive addition to the Good Food Guide app is a GPS feature which allows you to find the best restaurants nearest to your location. From there you can read the Guide’s review, call direct to make your booking and share / show-off your selection on Facebook and Twitter.

The app also allows you to browse by map, look at different lists of award-winners and bookmark your favourite restaurants for later. At £4.99, the Good Food Guide is one of the pricier apps, but with the amount of content and features we think it’s worth it. And although we think that exploring the local area to find a lovely place to eat is half the fun of a holiday, if you’re away with a die-hard foodie then this is a small price to pay for guaranteed culinary satisfaction!

If you are more of a fun-foodie, and are less bothered about your dining selections, then you might have more fun with our next selection…

Urbanspoon

Like the Good Food Guide app, Urbanspoon finds your location and randomly selects a nearby eatery using a selection of factors, such as food type, location and price. Like a slot machine you hold the columns that you like and have the app randomly select the rest. So if you fancy seafood in Cornwall, but are spoilt for choice by fish restaurants, then let the app select one for you.

As its interface suggests, Urbanspoon is more of a gamble than the Good Food Guide, but it’s arguably more fun and, perhaps most importantly, is completely free! And if you don’t fancy gambling with your holiday dining experiences then you’ll always find a kitchen in your holiday cottage.

Plane Finder

Like ice creams and ball games, no lazy day in the sun is complete without hearing ‘I wonder where that plane’s going?’ at least once. Well, after years of debate, the Plane Finder app has arrived to give you the answers. Using live tracking of flight routes the app allows you to find and identify the nearest commercial flights – including flight number, carrier, departure and arrival times, and destination.

For £2.99 you too can become an aircraft anorak, which we think is a small price to pay. It’s certainly cheaper and less stressful than actually catching a flight! Though we would advise using Plane Finder sparingly as it can become quite addictive. Now if you’ll excuse us, we’re off to look for an Airbus A380…

Posted in England, France, Scotland, Wales |

The UK’s 5 best science attractions

Tuesday, April 19th, 2011

With Edinburgh Science Festival running until the end of the month we thought there was no better time to celebrate the history of British Science. So we’ve decided to research the UK’s best science attractions and, like all good scientists, present our findings in a clear and compelling manor.

Do you disagree with any of our choices? Leave a comment below!

The Science Museum

Not only one of London’s premier attractions, the Science Museum is also the UK’s go-to attractions for anyone with a hunger for scientific knowledge. And it’s not really surprising as amongst its permanent exhibits, rolling attractions and workshops you can really get a decent understanding of every area of science. But perhaps most importantly, it makes science FUN!

Entry to the museum is free but there may be additional charges for some features (IMAX cinema, special exhibitions etc).

Jodrell Bank

More practical pursuits of scientific discovery can be found just south of Manchester at Jodrell Bank observatory. Visitors can learn the difference between quasars and pulsars in the recently opened discovery centre but perhaps the biggest attraction (literally) is the Lovell Telescope. With a maximum height above ground of nearly 100 metres and a diameter of nearly 80 metres, the Lovell Telescope is an awe-inspiring sight and the highlight of many visits to Jodrell Bank.

National Space Centre

While Jodrell Bank may be the closest many of us get to outer space, a visit to the National Space Centre in Leicester is not a bad concession. Along with many historic space items and artefacts you will also find a celebration of alternative types of space history – including Doctor Who and Star Wars. So in some ways it’s actually better than real space!

National Media Museum

If you do prefer screen science to real science then you’ll gain a great understanding of the history of the moving image at the National Media Museum. Comprising of a fantastic range of historically and culturally significant items – alongside a number of hands-on exhibits – the museum really does allow for a great all-round appreciation of the moving image.

When you’ve finished your tour you can watch a film in the cinema, or go one better with a visit to the IMAX 3D screen.

Eureka

All of the above exhibits make science entertaining, but Eureka distils this into a uniquely fun experience that’s perfect for kids – not to mention science sceptics of all ages. Based in Halifax you’ll find hundreds of fun interactive exhibits that are designed to engage children and help them gain a greater understanding of the world around them.

Posted in England |

World Theatre Day

Tuesday, March 22nd, 2011

World Theatre Day is a rare opportunity to celebrate theatre without finding yourself shushed by your fellow theatregoers or being forcibly ejected before the end of the show. Taking place on the 27 March, and marked with events around the globe, the event celebrates of every aspect of theatre’s rich history.

At easycottages.com, one of our favourite things about going to the theatre is the venues themselves. You’ll often find that historic theatre buildings tell their own tales, and nowhere has more spectacular theatres than the UK. So to do our bit for World Theatre Day we’re going to highlight a few of our favourites.

The Royal Shakespeare Theatre

The Royal Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford is not just home to the definitive performances of Shakespeare’s plays, it’s also a great place to enjoy every aspect of UK theatre. Recently re-opened following a renovation, it now offers a new café and rooftop restaurant – perfect for admiring the River Avon. You’ll also find art exhibitions, guided tours, treasure trails and a number of informal events to enjoy.

Theatre Royal, Bath

One of the oldest theatres in Britain, the Theatre Royal is as much a showcase for Georgian architecture as it is for UK theatre. Recently renovated, it offers bars, restaurants and workshops along with a packed schedule of shows spread across its three auditoria.

Wales Millennium Centre

Not every venue needs to boast hundreds of years of history to impress; sometimes it’s enough to spend hundreds of millions of pounds on a huge iconic building and then have Her Majesty open it. The Wales Millenium Centre in Cardiff is one of these rare breed, offering an undeniably impressive experience for visitors.

The WMC has a varied programme but, due to its increased capacity, tends to showcase more mainstream performances. But even if you don’t fancy catching a show, you can take a tour of the building, which is an event in itself.

The Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester

We’re back to historic buildings for our final theatre. The Royal Exchange Theatre in Manchester offers a stunning venue but, thanks to its huge theatre in the round, offers all audience members a terrific view of the action. If you fancy somewhere a little more intimate there’s also The Studio, a 120 seat venue, specialising in touring theatre performances.

We’re going to pull the curtain down on this feature but before we do, we’d like to remind you that you can search our range of featured cheap holiday cottages if you fancy somewhere to stay in the UK.

Do you have your own favourite theatres? Leave a comment below!

Posted in England, Wales |

Fine dining breaks in the UK

Friday, February 25th, 2011

One of the greatest pleasures of holidaying in the UK is the opportunity to sample fantastic local cuisine. So, partly inspired by our new copy of the Good Food Guide, we’ve decided to use this post to highlight a few of the best places to eat in some of the UK’s most spectacular locations.

At easycottages.com, we’re firm believers in getting more for your money, so we won’t be recommending anywhere that will break the bank. Then again, if you’re booking a cheap holiday cottage there’s probably nothing wrong with treating yourself. Besides, you can always spend the rest of the holiday cooking up a storm in your cottage kitchen!

Snowdonia offers thousands of square metres of wild coastline, rolling moorlands and sprawling forests under the shadow of the majestic mount Snowdon. But if braving the wilds doesn’t sound like your cup of tea then perhaps you’d prefer the view from the restaurant at Penmaenuchaf Hall.

A stunning country hall set in tranquil woodland, Penmaenuchaf Hall enjoys spectacular views of the Mawddach Estuary and the mountains of Southern Snowdonia beyond. And the food isn’t bad either! The restaurant specialises in contemporary British food made with local produce – including herbs, salads and vegetables from the grounds. Having so much surrounding space also provides you with ample opportunity to walk off your meal while you admire the views!

Set on the high banks of the River Hodder, and offering majestic views of the surrounding valley, The Inn at Whitewell offers an equally enticing combination of great food and beautiful surroundings. The food is wholesome, unfussy and with a focus on local produce. This relaxed approach also extends to where you have your meal. Eat in the bar with a round of drinks or move into the dining room for a more formal affair – the choice is yours!

Like the Inn itself, The Trough of Bowland is one of Lancashire’s hidden delights. Boasting landscapes that can easily rival the best of the Lakes (minus the crowds), the area is perfect for those after a more tranquil appreciation of northern England’s beauty. Though if you’re after something a little wilder then we’d recommend a visit to the nearby Bowland Wild Boar Park.

The Yorkshire Dales National Park boasts many surprises, but perhaps the biggest for food tourists is the fact that it houses one of the UK’s finest fish restaurants. The Wensleydale Heifer has all the benefits of a traditional inn: warm welcome, lovely ales and a cosy ambience, combined with an incredible, and incredibly varied, seafood menu.

The local area is equally rich with plenty of things to see and do. Walking is perhaps the most popular pastimes in the Dales, however the Wensleydale Railway is one of the most relaxing. And if you fancy preparing your own dishes in the comfort of your holiday cottage, there are ample opportunities to go river fishing in the region.

Fans of continental cuisine will be delighted with the selection at the Bouchon Bistrot in Hexham, Northumberland. Applying a no-nonsense approach to its food, it offers a range of simply cooked, French country style dishes and presents a friendly atmosphere in which to enjoy them. It’s a simple approach but one that obviously works; The F Word’s ‘Best Local French Restaurant UK’ and ‘Best European Restaurant’ are just some of the recent accolades bestowed on the Bouchon Bistrot.

The surrounding area is equally satisfying, if not quite as continental! Hexham itself is a historic market town and also no stranger to awards, winning ‘England’s Favourite Market Town’ from Country Life magazine in recent years. Nearby you have the city of Newcastle and of course, the fantastic Northumbrian wilds to explore.

Do you have your own UK dining recommendations to share? Please leave a comment below. And if you’d like a place to stay while you explore nation’s eateries, you can search the featured range of cheap holiday cottages on easycottages.com.

Posted in England, Scotland, Wales |