Close to the estuary of the River Exe in Devon are some popular seaside towns which you might consider visiting if you are in the area. One of the best known is Sidmouth, which has also become a desirable town in which to retire (similar to Eastbourne in that respect). An ancient settlement, Sidmouth was mentioned in the Domesday Book and spent most of its life as a small fishing village until is became a well known holiday destination during Georgian and Victorian times. Between Sidmouth and Exmouth lies the residencial town of Budleigh Salterton, a quiet town with around 5,000 inhabitants. Budleigh Salterton lies beside the estuary of the River Otter, an important conservation area and haven for migratory birds, it also attracts holidaymakers during the summertime and like Sidmouth has a pebble beach. Right at the mouth of the River Exe, Exmouth is another historic settlement which became popular as a holiday destination, in fact it is claimed to be the oldest holiday resort in Devon, attracting many visitors during the 18th century, who came to enjoy the healing salt waters and the beautiful coastline. Map of Devon.
August 28, 2009
Terra Mitica Aqualandia Mundomar Benidorm
The undisputed holiday capital of Spain is without doubt the resort of Benidorm, located in the Costa Blanca region about 30 minutes drive from Alicante airport. What makes Benidorm so special? Is it the wonderful beaches, Benidorm has two main beaches Playa Poinente and Playa Levante, and these stretch for many kilometres of unbroken sand? Is it the vibrant and exciting night life, Benidorm has hundreds of bars, restaurants, clubs and discos? Is it the wonderful climate, everybody enjoys the weather Benidorm has to offer with over 300 days of sunshine each year? Or is it the great range of theme parks, Benidorm is second to none with the famous Terra Mitica with its unique civilization zones and great rides, the exciting Aqualandia with its super slides, wave machine and range of pools, the fascinating Mundomar Marina and Exotic Animal Park, the inspiring Terra Natura Safari Park? Who knows exactly what it is that attracts visitors to Benidorm, but attract them it does and in fine style with over 4 million visitors per year.
August 27, 2009
The Ancient City of Cadiz
Virtually surrounded by water on the Costa de la Luz coastline of southern Spain, the ancient city and port of Cadiz is claimed to be the oldest inhabited city in Europe. Founded by the Phoenicians as a trading centre in around 1100 BC it now has a population of 130,000 and has been the base of the Spanish Navy since the Spanish Bourbons ascended the throne during the 18th century. Known to the Greeks as Gádeira, in myth it was founded by Hercules, after he had completed his tenth labour. Later controlled by Carthaginians, Romans, Visigoths and Moors, before being returned to Christian hands by Alphonso X in 1262. Cadiz waved off Christopher Columbus on 2 of his famous voyages, and benefited from the huge wealth that subsequently arrived from the Americas during Spain’s Golden Age. The wealth attracted the attention of pirates and Sir Francis Drake occupied the harbour in “The Singeing of the King of Spain’s Beard” incident, which delayed the Armada and possibly led to its eventual failure. Cadiz today has some important historic monuments, its best known perhaps the cathedral which was originally built in the 12th century, burned down in the 16th century and eventually rebuilt in the 18th century with rococo and neoclassical elements. The Cadiz area is also popular with holidaymakers as its coastline has some of the best beaches in Spain, and the Costa de la Luz (Coast of Light) benefits from a splendid climate with Cadiz weather being pleasant for most of the year and especially warm from May to September. Cadiz is just 40 km from the airport at Jerez, the spectacular city of Seville is around 125 kilometres away. Cadiz Map.
Costa Blanca Resort of Cabo Roig
Located on the Southern Costa Blanca coastline is the popular and delightful seaside resort of Cabo Roig. Well loved for its superb sandy “blue flag” beaches, its stunning views of the sparkling blue Mediterranean sea, its picturesque cliff walks and its busy nightlife, Cabo Roig has plenty to offer the discerning holidaymaker. Generally quiet during the winter months, Cabo Roig comes to life around May time and is often busy right through to November. Cabo Roig attracts holidaymakers from all over the world but primarily English, Irish and Spanish (particularly those from the city of Murcia who love this stretch of the coast). The busiest months are July and August, the quietest January and February. The eye-catching 16th century watchtower, around which Cabo Roig originally grew, is now part of a restaurant complex which overlooks the recently modernised marina. An estimated 2 million euros was spent on the refurbishment of what is now one of the Costa Blanca’s most desirable mooring spots. There are a number of excellent beaches to visit whilst on a trip to Cabo Roig. The main beaches are Cala Caleta and Cala Capitan both very popular with holidaymakers. Also within easy reach are the beaches at Campoamor, La Zenia and Playa Flamenca. All of these beaches are kept very clean and are usually raked every day, they are also safe for children. Whilst on a trip to Cabo Roig do not miss the cliff walk to La Zenia, this walk takes you along the back of Cala Caleta beach, above the marina and onwards to Cala Capitan and then to La Zenia beach. This is a very enjoyable walk and offers some exceptional views of the surrounding coastline, don’t forget to take your camera or you will miss some great photo opportunities. You will spot La Manga in the distance and on a clear day you can pick out the towering apartment blocks of this up and coming resort. Cabo Roig has a wonderful climate and the sun shines on over three hundred days per year, the mean temperature being about 20 degrees C. You can usually expect to see little rainfall between May and October and the days are generally long and sunny. When rain does fall it is usually during the winter months, November and February being the most common months for rain. December and January are usually sunny and pleasant but with cold nights. After a day in the sun most visitors head for the bustling Cabo Roig strip with its ever increasing selection of bars and restaurants offering food, fun and frolics to suit every taste. There are some excellent restaurants providing dishes from around the world including Spanish, Italian, Indian, Chinese, Mexican, Hungarian, German, English and Irish. During your visit you may want to venture out from Cabo Roig and enjoy some of the other attractions on offer. A trip to the Rio Safari at Elche is a very rewarding experience and the kids will love feeding the animals and riding on the “train” through the park. Perhaps a round of golf is more your “thing”, there are three excellent golf courses nearby at Villamartin, Campoamor and Las Ramblas. Maybe you could take a coach trip to Benidorm (if you haven’t hired a car) and marvel at the busiest seaside resort in Europe, or visit one of the regions historical cities, Cartagena, Murcia or Alicante have plenty of interesting sight to see. There you have it – Cabo Roig, “the jewel of the Costa Blanca”, the seaside resort with something for everybody. There are plenty of Cabo Roig holiday rentals available in the area should you wish to visit. Be sure to visit Cabo Roig sometime soon.
Bury St Edmunds Sudbury and Mildenhall Suffolk
One of East Anglia’s most historic towns, Bury St Edmunds in Suffolk was considered a royal town by the Saxons and would certainly have been known by the Romans long before this. A monastery was built in Bury St Edmunds in around 633 by order of the King of the East Angles (Sigebert) and it was here that King Edmund was buried in 903 AD. The town grew around the abbey which later became the meeting place of the Barons of England as they formulated the Magna Carta. Much later during the 17th century the infamous Bury St Edmunds witch trials were held there. There are still remains of the abbey close to the town centre, though it was mostly destroyed during the 16th century. To the south of Bury St Edmunds, sitting beside the River Stour, Sudbury is another historic Saxon town, recorded in the Saxon Chronicles of 799 AD. Sudbury later grew prosperous through the wool and silk trade, it was also a well known haunt of famous artists such as John Constable who painted scenes of the area. A village which also benefited from the wool trade is Long Melford (located to the north of Sudbury), the proportions of its Holy Trinity Church attest to this, built with ‘wool’ money, it appears more like a cathedral. Two stately homes in the village of Long Melford, also built with ‘wool’ money, are Melford Hall and Kentwell Hall. To the north-west of Bury St Edmunds is the small market town of Mildenhall, which has held a regular market since the 15th century, Mildenhall made big news in the nineteen forties when a large haul of Roman silver was found there, it is probably best known as the home of the air base RAF Mildenhall. Suffolk Map.
Burriana Costa del Azahar
Located just 13 km from Castellon de la Plana, the town of Burriana lies near the Clot de la Mare, at the mouth of the Anna River on the Costa del Azahar, Spain. A good sized town, Burriana, which is a couple of kilometres inland from its port, has a population of over 35,000 and a history going back to the Arab occupation of Spain. Re-conquered for the Christians in 1233, Burriana was subsequently fortified and walled to ward off attacks by pirates. The town walls were eventually demolished during the 18th century to allow the town to expand. In the coastal area of Burriana, there are several fine beaches and a significant harbour area, which is these days a marina for pleasure craft and a Nautical Club. Places to visit in Burriana include the famous Orange Museum, the El Salvador church and the San José de los Carmelitas church. Burriana Map.