Steve's World Blog » Travel

Aylesbury Train Station Map

needahand — Thu, 03 May 2012 18:52:21 +0000

Aylesbury Train Station Map:

Above you will find a handy map of Aylesbury Train Station (Aylesbury Railway Station), which is on the main line to London Marylebone, the operator is Chiltern Railways and trains run via Amersham and via High Wycombe (both to London Marylebone). You can book tickets for the train from Aylesbury to London online and get cheap rates: CLICK HERE.

Mortehoe North Devon

needahand — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 07:37:07 +0000

Mortehoe North Devon – A pretty little North Devon village which is steeped in history, Mortehoe is situated high above the town of Woolacombe and surrounded by protected land owned by the National Trust. Located a little inland from Morte Point (a peninsular notorious for shipwrecks), Mortehoe is a charming place with delightful tea rooms, shops, and friendly pubs. Its church (St Mary) dates from Norman times and it also boasts a Heritage Centre which outlines the rich maritime history of the area. Mortehoe is close to Woolacombe, Ilfracombe, Braunton and Barnstaple and is a popular tourist destination for those visiting this rugged coast of Devon.

Devon Map.

Ayamonte Costa de la Luz

needahand — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 18:35:26 +0000

Ayamonte Costa de la Luz – Ayamonte is a Spanish city in the province of Huelva in the autonomous region of Andalucia, Spain. In 2008 there were 19,738 inhabitants. The municipality of Ayamonte has an area of 142 square kilometres and a population density of 136.5 inhabitants per square kilometre. The town lies at the mouth of the Guadiana River on the Atlantic Ocean (Costa de la Luz) and thus on the border with Portugal. The distance to the provincial capital of Huelva is 48 kilometres, to Seville it is 140 kilometres. In Roman times, the mouth of the Guadiana River, was known as the “Ostium Fluminis Anae”. From there, was an important trade route leading north to Merida. It is assumed that even at this time Ayamonte occupied a strategically important position. In 1239, the Moorish domination was ended by troops of King Sancho II of Portugal. In 1263 they designated the river as a border between Portugal and Spain, and the town of Ayamonte came under the jurisdiction of the Castilian crown. First, they belonged to the county of Niebla, but later formed its own marquisate. 1664 Ayamonte was awarded city status by King Philip IV. If you wish to visit Ayamonte, you will find lots of hotels and privately owned apartments for rent. Ayamonte is in the region known as the Costa de la Luz in the region of Andalucia.

Northallerton North Yorkshire

needahand — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 10:32:19 +0000

Northallerton North Yorkshire – Northallerton is a market town and civil parish of England in the district of Hambleton, North Yorkshire . It is in the Mowbray Valley and its population amounts to about 16,000 people. It was formerly the capital of the North Riding of Yorkshire, and since 1974 it has become part of North Yorkshire. The region has been inhabited since Roman times, but the town has gained importance only since the 11th century when William II of England gave the land to the Bishop of Durham. Under the authority of the bishop, Northallerton became a major religious centre. It is also located in the heart of the conflict between the kingdoms of England and Scotland, notably at the Battle of the Standard, in 1138, during which 12,000 men were killed. More recently trade and transport have taken on new importance in the town. Its location on the main road between Scotland and London makes an important stop for buses that travel the route. Northallerton is quite close to the North Yorks Moors and is a good base for touring this popular area, it is roughly midway between Darlington and Thirsk (location of the famous racecourse) and is about thirty two miles from York.

Kendal Cumbria

needahand — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 11:21:34 +0000

Kendal Cumbria – Kendal is an old town and civil parish in the area of Westmorland, in the southern county of Cumbria, in England. It stands on the banks of the River Kent which partly takes its name (Dale Kent means Kent river valley). Concerning the name, others say it has a Celtic source whose meaning would be “bright valley.” Today, Kendal is concerned mainly as a centre of tourism and as the hometown of Kendal mint cake (mint cake). The buildings in Kendal are constructed mostly from the gray limestone of the region, have given the nickname “the Auld Grey Town”. With a population of 27,521 inhabitants in 2001, Kendal was voted the best place to live in England after an eight-year long study undertaken by the University of Strathclyde.

Portinscale Lake District Cumbria

needahand — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 11:58:12 +0000

Portinscale Lake District Cumbria – A farming village located near to Keswick in Cumbria, Portinscale in the northern region of the Lake District between Bassenthwaite Lake and Derwentwater. Portinscale has a long history and was settled way back in prehistoric times. The area is popular with hikers and water sports enthusiasts with windsurfing and sailing top of the agenda for many visitors. The village has the basic facilities with pub, tearoom and village shop. Keswick can be reached on foot from Portinscale, most pleasantly via the footpath which crosses the River Greta. A pretty Cumbria village, Portinscale should certainly be on your list of places to visit or stay in the Lake District.

Ipswich Suffolk

needahand — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 13:02:01 +0000

Ipswich Suffolk – Ipswich is a city of 128,000 inhabitants. Ipswich is the administrative capital of the region of Suffolk in England, United Kingdom. The city is located in the east of the country a hundred miles from London. The centre of Ipswich provides a wide choice of boutiques, shops, bars and restaurants. The town offers a vibrant mix of heritage. The city has preserved traces of ancient origin: 650 houses and 12 medieval churches are classified. The beautiful parks of Ipswich are an important part of the legacies of the city and very popular when the weather is fine. Residents and visitors can access over 500 hectares of green space. Its location on the estuary of the River Orwell, about fifteen miles from the Port of Felixstowe gives it a dual purpose of river port and sailing centre. The city has a very diversified economy. The Orwell River that flows through the city is a real asset for aesthetics and tourism. Ipswich is a student town. Near the town are the coasts of Suffolk, impressive heritage of the region and the natural beauty of the forests of Thetford and Rendlesham. The nearest towns are Felixstowe, in the same area of Suffolk, and Harwich and Colchester in Essex.

Plasencia Extremadura Spain

needahand — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 15:46:25 +0000

Plasencia – An ancient walled city in the Extremadura region of Spain, Plasencia has an interesting history as a garrison town, being for centuries in a significant position on the much disputed Silver Route, on the River Jerte. The city walls which comprise a double line, with sixty eight towers and 6 gateways was begun in the late 12^th century. Plasencia strangely enough, has 2 cathedrals, the first took so long to build, that it was out of date by the time it was completed, so a new, more modern one was constructed though this also took some 200 years to build. One of the gems of the Extremadura region, Plasencia is a must visit place if you are passing by the area.

Spain Map.

Waterfall Picture of Fuentes de Algar

needahand — Fri, 15 Jul 2011 08:27:50 +0000

Fuentes de Algar Waterfall Picture

Waterfall Picture – On the left is a great picture of the main waterfall at Fuentes de Algar, located near to Callosa d’en Sarria on the northern Costa Blanca, Spain.

A popular spot to visit during the summer time, when visitors cool down in the freezing cold water, which remains such despite the high air temperatures experienced in this part of Spain during July and August.

Attracting many visitors from nearby resorts such as Benidorm, Calpe, Altea, Finestrat and Altea, the Fuentes de Algar should be on your list of places to visit if you are in the area.

The Fuentes de Algar can be reached from the motorway near to Benidorm, head towards Callosa D’En Sarria and follow signposts.

Terra Natura Benidorm

needahand — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 08:04:06 +0000

Terra Natura Benidorm – Whilst visiting the Costa Blanca region, be sure to take your family along to Benidorm for a visit to one or more of its amazing theme parks. One very special place is the Terra Natura wildlife park which is one of the most popular attractions in the region. Set in 320,000m2 of parkland the Terra Natura offers the opportunity to view many different species of animals, and you can also interact with some, for instance you can swim with the sea lions. The park has four themed areas, the Europe area, the Asia area, the America area and the Pangea area. In surrounding resorts you can often find discount tickets for the Terra Natura and in summer 2011 there is a promotion offering tickets from just 10 euro, with the option to call back the next day free. So get yourselves along to the Terra Natura in Benidorm and have a great time. Other great attractions in Benidorm include Aqualandia, Terra Mitica and the Mundomar Marine Animal Park.

Benidorm Map.

Rio Safari Park Elche

needahand — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 06:55:17 +0000

Rio Safari Park Elche

Whilst traveling around the Costa Blanca region this year make sure you take a day out to visit the wonderful Rio Safari Elche, a unique and enjoyable animal park with a ‘train’ ride and some entertaining animal shows to enjoy, including an elephant show a parrot show and a sea lion show. Feeding the animals is allowed, with monkey nuts and carrots for sale in the park shop, and the kids love feeding the giraffes and the hippo especially. You can also take a ride on a camel or a donkey and visit the farm animals section with cows, pigs, goats, horses and sheep. Afterwards why not head into the city of Elche which is especially famous for its palm tree forest, containing hundreds of thousands of palm trees.

Cabo Roig Marina

needahand — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 08:09:13 +0000

Cabo Roig Marina

Cabo Roig Marina – Boating fans visiting the Costa Blanca in the near future, should consider mooring up at the fantastic Cabo Roig marina – one of the best regarded marinas on this popular coastline. Located in an attractive area it has over two hundred mooring spaces, a restaurant and some other good facilities. The marine is right beside Cala Caleta beach and meandering above the marina is the pretty Cabo Roig to La Zenia cliff walk. The exact co-ordinates for the marina are 37º 54’ 04’’ N 0º 43’ 5’’ W. Access Cabo Roig marina from the N332 or exit the AP-7 motoway at La Zenia.

Lighthouse Picture at La Manga

needahand — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 08:38:39 +0000

Lighthouse Picture La Manga

Lighthouse Picture at La Manga – Beautiful picture of a lighthouse, located at Cabo de Palos close to La Manga, in the Murcia region of Spain.

A lovely spot to visit if you are in the Costa Calida region, make sure you go and enjoy a coffee in the pretty harbour nearby.

Cabo de Palos is at the start of the La Manga strip.

Lo Pagan Mud Baths

needahand — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 08:15:57 +0000

Lo Pagan Mud Baths

Great places to visit – the healing mud baths of Lo Pagan. If you are visiting the Costa Calida, in the Murcia region of Spain this year you should take time out to visit the famous healing mud baths at Lo Pagan – completely free for visitors to use, these well laid-out mud baths include wooden platform areas with steps for elderly and disabled visitors. The hot healing mud is renowned for its healing properties and can be very helpful for a variety of ailments and skin complaints. To get to Lo Pagan follow the N-332 from Torevieja or the Orihuela Costa and turn off just before San Pedro del Pinatar, by the roundabout with the little boat, Lo Pagan is clearly signposted. Get there early to get parking nearby, it can get pretty busy in summer time and parking spaces are limited close to the beach, though there is plenty of parking before you get to the beach.

Lo Pagan Map.

Sticklepath Dartmoor Devon

needahand — Sun, 08 May 2011 18:07:24 +0000

A tiny village situated in Devon, on the northern edge of the Dartmoor National Park, Sticklepath is in an area of picturesque countryside, challenging walking country and historic monuments. Location of the National Trust’s Finch Foundry, Sticklepath attracts its fair share of visitors, who come to enjoy the peace and quiet, the walking, the fishing, the pony trekking, and to enjoy the Tarka Trail which runs through the village. Another attraction is the Lady Well, a historic well which never dries up and has provided drinking water for people passing Sticklepath for many centuries. Located close to Okehampton and midway between Exeter and Launceston, Sticklepath is well worth a visit if you are in the Dartmoor region.

Rouen Notre-Dame Cathedral

needahand — Tue, 26 Apr 2011 15:21:52 +0000

One of the main tourist attractions in the French city of Rouen is the Notre-Dame Cathedral, which was the site of a church as far back as the 4^th century AD. This great cathedral which attracts millions of visitors from all over the world is huge and awe inspiring, with an amazing history which features characters like Charlemagne, Rollo, and Richard I. The cathedral which contains the tomb of Richard the Lionheart, reaches a height of 151 metres, and was at one time the tallest spire in the world.

Map of France.

Lyme Regis Dorset

needahand — Thu, 21 Apr 2011 15:12:55 +0000

A charming little coastal resort on Lyme Bay in West Dorset, Lyme Regis was a significant medieval port which became a holiday resort during the eighteenth century. It was awarded it royal title “Regis” by Edward I in the late 13^th century. The harbour, which became a haven for vessels in stormy weather, it protected by a wall called “The Cobb”, which also allowed the port to build and launch ships. The ill-fated Monmouth Rebellion to overthrow James I, began here in 1685, after the Duke of Monmouth landed there. Lyme Regis was a popular area for smugglers during centuries past and later featured in two books, Jane Austen’s “Persuasion” and John Fowls “The French Lieutenant’s Woman” (later made into a film starring Jeremy Irons and Meryl Streep. Lyme Regis and neighbouring Charmouth are two of the best areas for fossils, this being part of the Jurassic Coast Heritage Coast of Dorset.

St Lucia Windward Islands Caribbean

needahand — Sun, 03 Apr 2011 16:57:31 +0000

An island country situated in the Windward Islands, Lesser Antilles, in the Caribbean Sea, St Lucia covers an area of about two hundred and thirty eight square miles, it has a resident population of just over one hundred and seventy three thousand. The first settlers in St Lucia came from France, and they found the native Carib people already on the island, control of St Lucia changed continually between France and England, until 1814, when the British finally took over total control of the island. St Lucia is a popular holiday destination and the most poplar time to visit is between January and April when the weather is at its best (this being the dry season). The capital of St Lucia is Castries.

Ibiza Resorts Santa Eulalia

needahand — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 16:31:02 +0000

One of the largest towns and resorts on the island of Ibiza, in the Spanish Balearics, Santa Eulalia des Riu has a pretty palm tree peppered town square, typical of Ibiza (and Spain for that matter), and this is an ideal spot to order a coffee in one of the surrounding bars, and simply watch the world go by. The beach at Santa Eulalia is, of course, the main attraction, and THE place for enjoying the sunny Ibiza weather, relaxing, or maybe even taking part in some water sports. At night don’t expect the vibrant nightclub scene that youmight find in San Antonio or Ibiza Town, but Santa Eulalia is still buzzing, with plenty going on for those who like a bit of nightlife, and entertainment. When you have a spare day, pop along to Es Cana and visit the Hippy Market, the best place to buy gifts for those left at home.

Santa Eulalia Map.

Coventry West Midlands

needahand — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 09:00:35 +0000

Previously part of Warwickshire, but, since the 1974 counties shake up, one of the cities of the West Midlands, Coventry is a large city with over 300,000 residents. It has a proud history of industry, first in weaving, then coal mining and finally car manufacture. The history of the city however goes back beyond any of these industries, to Saxon times, when it grew up around a Saxon nunnery during the seventh century. The modern history of Coventry is more brutal, with its almost total destruction by German bombing during World War 2. Due to this damage the city appears mostly modern, though a surprising number of old buildings survived, including Bird’s Hospital, the Charterhouse, the Golden Cross Inn and the St Mary’s Guild Hall. Many may not realise that a river runs under Coventry city centre, the River Sherbourne was mostly paved over, during the rebuilding work that took place after the War, outside the city the river is a nice place to take a stroll when the weather is fine. Coventry is approximately ninety seven miles from central London.