Steve's World Blog Information and articles on cities, towns and villages around the world.

March 4, 2011

Minehead and the Exmoor National Park

Filed under: England,Holidays,United Kingdom — Tags: , , , , , — needahand @ 4:13 pm

A coastal town and civil parish located on the edge of the Exmoor National Park, in Somerset, Minehead has a population of just over 10,000 and a history stretching back to the Iron Age. Perhaps best known as the location of the famous Butlins Holiday Camp, which opened its doors in 1962, and is still popular today, Minehead has also been a significant port over the centuries, though has lost most of this trade over the last hundred years or so. A pretty seaside town, Minehead attracts many tourists, especially during the summer months, when the weather is at its best, it has the usual seafront promenade, lined with cafes, amusement arcades and guest houses. Ideal as a base for touring the Exmoor National Park, Minehead offers the opportunity for enjoying a traditional seaside holiday, whilst being close to areas of great natural beauty. Within the Exmoor National Park are numerous pretty little villages, which are a joy to visit, one of the closest, Dunster, is famous for its castle. Other nearby villages include Porlock, Luccombe and Tivington. Minehead is also the starting point of the longest countryside walking trail, the South West Coast Path, if you fancy an extremely long walk. The nearby coastline is craggy and treacherous, but also very picturesque, so be sure to enjoy some coastal walks while you are there.

Minehead Street Map.

And a map of Exmoor here: http://www.my-towns.co.uk/exmoor-national-park.html

A Stroll Around Alicante

Filed under: Costa Blanca,Spain,Travel — Tags: , , — needahand @ 1:33 pm

Located in a natural bay and sitting against the backdrop of the Monte Benacatil peak, the city of Alicante is a modern city with a chequered history leading it to where it lies today. Its strategic position has meant it has long been a major port but also a tourism centre, providing the city with much of its income. The 2nd largest city in Comunidad de Valencia, Alicante enjoys a booming economy, though this has declined somewhat due to the current financial constraints. The main shopping centre for the region Alicante attracts plenty of visitors just due to this one feature, with many of the surrounding, and popular, coastal resorts, having little in the way of retail outlets. It also has some great attractions and one of its most famous, the Santa Barbara Castle, looks proudly down on Alicante from its lofty position on Mount Benacatil. On the seafront you will find the beautiful Paseo de la Esplanada, a popular place to take an evening or weekend stroll. The Spanish just love to walk along the promenade, and Alicante is no exception, with thousands taking in the sea air, and enjoying the cooler evening weather conditions. Rows of palm trees line the promenade making this an attractive spot to sit and enjoy some lunch in one of the seafront restaurants. Easy to reach from the airport, which is just outside the city at El Altet, Alicante should be on your list of places to visit if you are heading to the Costa Blanca this year, or in fact any year. Alicante Map.

March 3, 2011

La Marina Costa Blanca

Filed under: Costa Blanca,Spain,Travel — Tags: , , , , , , — needahand @ 5:21 pm

An extremely popular area for relocation and holidays on the Costa Blanca, especially with the Brits, La Marina is basically split into two distinct parts, the old coastal town and beach area, and the purpose built residential development, a short distance inland on the other side of the main coastal road the N-332. The coastal part of the town has some fantastic sandy beaches, which even in the peak season are so big that they never get packed, and you can always find a spot away from the crowds, to enjoy the sunny weather. The town itself has the usual rows of shops, banks, bars and restaurants, just a run of the mill coastal town. The residential development across the road has one of the largest concentrations of expats in Spain, it’s a bit like little Britain here, with a smattering of Germans and others, and even the odd Spanish person! The La Marina urbanization has all its own amenities, making it pretty much self sufficient, and of course there are a glut of rental properties in the area, though if you are thinking of renting there, you will certainly need a car to get to the beach. A good option is to rent a villa with pool, so that most day you can simply laze by the pool, cook on the barbeque and make the most of the superb weather conditions that are enjoyed here throughout the year. With a car you will be able to get out and about and visit the numerous coastal resorts, as well as attractions like the Rio Safari park, between Santa Pola and Elche, you can also get to local golf courses, of which there are plenty in the area. Don’t forget a trip into the city of Alicante, where the best shopping area can be found, and for culture maybe a visit to the Santa Barbara Castle. La Marina is surrounded by some charming little towns and villages such as Daya Vieja, Daya Nueva, Almoradi, Algorfa, Rojales, Formentera del Segura, San Fulgencio and Catral. All have been developed to a degree and if you are looking to buy property, there are plenty of villas and apartments for sale. Certainly worth a look if you are touring the Costa Blanca, La Marina will be waiting for your visit.

La Marina Map.

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