Situated along north Cornwall’s wave battered coast lie a number of popular surfing hot spots, one of these, the village of Perranporth is not quite so well known as nearby Newquay but warrants a visit if only for the fact that it’s beach is generally less crowded that that of Newquay. Perranporth in fact has a splendid beach, which can reach a length of almost 3 miles at low tide, the slight downside is that the beach disappears almost completely at high tide, making it a little dangerous. During the months May to September there are usually lifeguards on duty at the beach giving a feeling of extra security when surfing. Perranporth beach is regarded as a good place for beginners, or to actually learn to surf, with a wide range of waves experienced there. The bigger breakers are produced by hundreds of miles of uniterrupted ‘fetch’ and provide a challenge even for experienced surfers. Those wishing to try their hand at this popular sport can get lessons and learn more from the Perranporth Surf School (tel: 07974 550 823
07974 550 823). Perranporth is situated on the B3285 around 6 miles south-west of Newquay and 8 miles from Truro, it can be easily reached from the main A30 road.
March 8, 2010
Surfing in Perranporth Cornwall
March 3, 2010
Waddesdon Manor Buckinghamshire
One of Buckinghamshire’s most visited tourist attractions Waddesdon Manor is situated in the village of Waddesdon, to the west of the county town of Aylesbury. Constructed in the Renaissance style for the Rothschild family, Waddesdon Manor receives over 300,000 visitors each year, and the house hold numerous functions and events including weddings, shows ie The Antiques Roadshow, and it has been the location of a number of film shoots. Open all year round, perhaps the best time to visit is during the spring and summer when the wonderful gardens are at their best and the weather is most reliable. Waddesdon Manor was designed by Frenchman Destailleur and was completed in 1874, having the appearance of a French Renaissance chateux, it was the brainchild of Baron Ferdinand de Rothschild, part of the wealthy family who own much of the land surrounding the villages of Waddesdon and Eythrope.
Read a guide to Waddesdon here: http://www.waddesdon.my-towns.co.uk/
February 22, 2010
Salou and Cambrils Costa Dorada
Salou Costa Dorada
Two of the best loved resorts on the Costa Dorada coastline of Catalonia, Spain, Cambrils and Salou could not be more different. Salou, the typical Spanish holiday resort, aimed at package holidays and especially British tourists, Cambrils the traditional Spanish fishing town, retaining much of its old charm and attracting a larger number of Spanish nationals rather than International tourists. Cambrils has plenty of sand for the traditional beach style holiday, but is especially renowned for its seafood restaurants which are supplied by local fishermen who land their daily catch in the harbour much as they have done for many centuries. Cambrils has a long history, but has hung on to its traditions and not been spoilt by over-development, the old town still has narrow cobbled streets and the air of a Catalonian fishing village. Despite its modern look and feel, Salou too has a long history and was actually first settled by the Greeks over 2,000 years ago, it was also a Roman settlement as the Romans set out from nearby Tarragona to conquer the Iberian Peninsular, it grew as a tourist resort during the 1960’s and expanded with little regard to aesthetics, becoming a sprawling mess of apartment blocks and high-rise hotels. Salou is still popular however, with those seeking a particular style of holidays and being provided with everything they need in that regard – lots of entertainment, plenty of sandy beaches, amusements and sports activities, in fact there is so much to do that obtaining a car hire vehicle is advisable to get the most from your visit. Salou is the location of the large Port Aventura theme park, one of the largest of its kind in Europe. Both resorts enjoy a wonderful climate which is of course one of the major draws for tourists, the weather in Salou and Cambrils is generally warm and sunny in the summer months and mild during the winter.
February 20, 2010
Vilamoura Algarve Portugal
One of Europe’s largest beach resorts, Vilamoura on the Algarve, Portugal, is a built for tourism complex some 14 miles west of Faro. Covering an area of around 20 square kilometres, Vilamoura is built around its huge marina, where there are moorings for over 1,000 boats and numerous large luxury hotels for accommodation in the resort. The development of Vilamoura began in the 1970’s, with an emphasis on sports facilities, very popular with golfers, there are 6 golf courses in the immediate area. Water sports too, are a big attraction with sailing, scuba diving, windsurfing, water-skiing, fishing and parasailing all well catered for. The wonderful Vilamoura weather is of course one of the main attractions of the resort, as is the fine sandy beach which extends for some three kilometres, those looking for a bit of culture may want to head north of Vilamoura beach, where some Roman remains remind visitors of the areas rich history. Vilamoura Map.
Villajoyosa Benidorm Costa Blanca
Well worth a visit if you are travelling around the northern Costa Blanca in Spain, the town of Villajoyosa, located a few kilometres south of the huge holiday resort of Benidorm, is one of the prettiest in the region. Well known for its multi-coloured houses, Villajoyosa is an old fishing village, turned holiday resort, it has several fine beaches and a charming fishing harbour, where you can watch the locally caught fish, landed and auctioned off. Whilst in Villajoyosa be sure to visit the chocolate factory and the chocolate museum, for this is one of Spain’s major chocolate producing towns, its turron and chocolate delicacies well known throughout Europe. If you can pick your time to visit, try to coincide with a local fiesta, so that you can join in with local customs, the Fiesta de San Isidore is held in May, and in September, a fiesta in honour of the Archangel Michael takes place. If you are visiting between May and October you can expect the Villajoyosa weather to be sunny and dry, as the town experiences over 300 sunny days each year. The nearest airport for Villajoyosa is at Alicante, if you are hiring a car and need a road map you will find a useful one here: Alicante Airport Map.
Get a dedicated guide to Villajoyosa here: http://www.villajoyosa.my-costa-blanca.co.uk/
Newquay Cornwall
The premier coastal resort of north Cornwall, Newquay is noted for its wonderful beaches, spectacular scenery and superb choice of facilities. While there are a number of fine surfing beaches and resorts along this stretch of Cornwall’s coast, Newquay remains the prime spot for this increasingly popular sport. Tourism began in Newquay with the arrival of the railway back in 1875, the town has grown in popularity ever since, its size and population increasing with it. Originally an Iron Age settlement, Newquay relied for many centuries on pilchard fishing for its economic survival, later of course tin mining became important, as for much of Cornwall, along with the export of china clay from the pits of St Austell. Modern day Newquay attracts both surfers and holidaymakers, who all enjoy the golden sandy beaches, the splendid Newquay weather and the excellent facilities of the town. Nearby places to visit include Perranporth, with its 3 mile long beach and attractive coastline (Perranporth also attracts its fair share of surfers), Padstow, with its ancient harbour, 12 miles to the north of Newquay, and St Agnes, and St Agnes, a charming little village to the south of Perranporth and Newquay (look out for Stippy-Stappy, a steep row of slate-roofed cottages at Town Hill). Newquay can be reached via the A3058 from St Austell.