A delightful village situated close to the towns of Wendover and Aylesbury in the county of Buckinghamshire, Weston Turville, has retained much of its old world charm, and still looks much as it has for hundreds of years. In no way overdeveloped, at least not yet, it still has less than three thousand residents. In my memory Weston Turville had 4 pubs, but one has disappeared and it now has 3, the Chandos Arms, the Five Bells Hotel and the Chequers. The parish church was originally built in the twelfth century, and stands slightly apart from the centre of the village. Weston Turville is an ancient place, as most Buckinghamshire villages are, and it traces its history back to Saxon times, it was listed in the Domesday Book. The Weston Turville Golf Club is situated a little outside the village, and of course attracts golfing fans from all over the area. Weston Turville is surrounded by the towns and villages of Aston Clinton, Halton, Wendover, Aylesbury, Buckland, North Lee, Terrick and Stoke Mandeville, it is about 40 miles drive from London.
2011/04/04
2011/04/02
Fuengirola Costa del Sol Andalucia
One of the “big three” resorts located to the south-west of Malaga on the Costa del Sol, Spain, Fuengirola is a popular holiday destination, right through the year, and is an especially attractive winter location, with good holiday deals to be had. Well loved by those of more advanced age, many retired couples and singles, head for Fuengirola and its neighbours Benalmadena, Mijas and Torremolinos, to spend the winter, away from the cold and damp of the UK. The winter weather in Fuengirola can, in fact, be excellent, though cold winds can spoil a sunny day at times, especially when the wind is coming from the direction of Gibraltar. A wonderful sandy beach, good amenities and plenty of entertainment, are what attract the visitors, along, of course, with the weather, for which the Costa del Sol is so well known.
Formentera Island Balearic Islands Spain
A small but pretty island situated just two miles south of Ibiza in the Mediterranean Sea, Formentera has an area of just thirty two square miles. Despite its perfect location, Formentera is pretty much unspoilt by tourism, at least not in a bad way, for it does rely on its summer tourist, who mostly only visit on day trips, but the lack of any real tourist infrastructure discourages many who would otherwise visit. Those who do stay on the island for a holiday are encouraged to hire a bike instead of a car, and most of the locals seem to get about on cyles or scooters rather than by car, this adds to the charm of the place, making it a bit like Corfu used to be before it became commercialised. There is some accommodation to be had in Formentera however, but don’t expect to see high-rise hotels and apartment blocks, because thankfully they don’t exist on the island, in fact there are only around sixteen hotels on Formentera. Do expect to see clean sandy beaches, warm clear waters and serene grassy farmland. The weather in Formentera is similar to that found in Ibiza, and while you can visit the island anytime in the year, the summer months are the best, weather wise. The main resort on Formentera, and the place where most who are on holidays head, is Es Pujols, this resort is still relatively small by Spanish standards, but it does have the best of the facilities on the island and also some of the best beaches. The capital of Formentera is Sant Francesc, and even this place has a population of only just over one thousand.
View a map of Formentera here: Formentera Island Map.
2011/04/01
Hampshire Towns Southsea
A popular little Hampshire seaside town, which is now joined to its big neighbour Portsmouth, Southsea originally grew as a town around a fort built by King Henry VIII. As a settlement, not really of any consequence until the 19th century, the present town expanded as homes were built for the skilled workers of Portsmouth and nearby. As a boy I remember catching the hovercraft from Southsea to the Isle of Wight, and you can still do this today. The beach is a popular place to spend a few hours when the weather is fine, otherwise the main attraction in Southsea is the old castle, other places to visit include the Royal Marine Museum, and the Blue Reef Aquarium. Southsea is surrounded by Portsmouth and is about a drive of 85 miles from central London, it can also be reached by train (South West Railways).
View a map of Southsea Hampshire here: Map of Southsea.
Ibiza Balearic Islands Spain
For many years a favourite of Hippies, the beautiful Balearic Island of Ibiza was at the centre of the rave culture of the late 1980’s. It does, of course, have much more to offer than just its nightlife and it is a popular family holiday destination, with a rugged coastline, peppered with pretty coves and bays, each with its own small sandy beach, most can get quite crowded in the summer, but find one off the beaten track and you may just have a beach to yourself. The three main resorts of Ibiza are the capital Ibiza Town, Santa Eulalia and San Antonio, and it is these three that attract the majority of visitors to the island. The airport is located near to Ibiza Town (also called Eivissa) and from here you can hire a car, or get a taxi or transfer to get you to your destination resort. There are plenty of other resorts, apart from the big 3, and these include Cala Llonga, Es Cana, Cala Bassa and Portinatx. One of the main attractions of the island is the fantastic weather which you can expect there, and this is fairly reliable between the months of May and October, winters can be cooler and wetter, so for guaranteed sun, stick to the summer months, this also applies for the other Balearic Islands of Majorca, Menorca and Formentera. The island is also a favourite with water sports enthusiasts and a particular favourite is scuba diving, with the clear, warm waters an ideal environment, there are also golf facilities with the Club de Golf Roca Llisa one of the favourites.