One of Cornwall’s most popular annual events is the St Piran Play, which is held every year in Perranporth on the north coast of the county. The town gets its name from this famous Saint, who is credited with the accidental invention of tin smelting, when silver liquid poured from a black stone, thrown on a fire. Now recognised as the patron Saint of Cornwall, St Piran arrived in Perranporth from Ireland during the sixth century, the local St Piran Beach, was of course, where he supposedly landed. Well worth a visit if you are in the Perranporth area during March, the St Piran Festival and the St Piran Play attract hundreds of visitors to the town. The play takes place annually on the Friday closest to 5th March.
2011/03/22
2011/03/21
Dawlish and Dawlish Warren Devon
A wonderful place for a holiday, Dawlish in Devon, England, boasts miles of beautiful sandy beaches, and adventure centre, a pretty harbour, superb cliff walks, a nature reserve (at nearby Dawlish Warren), a golf course (also at Dawlish Warren), a terrific local museum (the Dawlish Museum), and many other splendid attractions which will keep you and the kids amused during your stay there. Many visitors, of course, head for the beach, especially when the weather is sunny, it is a great place to relax and unwind, maybe you could take a dip in the sea or try your hand at surfing, when the breakers allow. There is plenty of holiday accommodation in Dawlish and at Dawlish Warren there are numerous holiday parks and caravan parks, where self.-catering is the order of the day. In the town itself you might stay at the Langstone Cliff Inn or one of the local guest houses, where you can get bed and breakfast accommodation. Whatever the purpose of your visit, business or leisure, you will surely have an enjoyable time at the Devon town of Dawlish.
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2011/03/20
Perranporth Cornwall
A popular Cornish seaside town, located on the counties north coast, Perranporth is perhaps best known for its long sandy beach and its surfing. Popular for holidays and short breaks, Perranporth is a great base for visiting many of the top attractions in Cornwall, even the Eden Project is only a forty minute drive away. Named after Saint Piran (the patron saint of Cornwall), Perranporth is in an area that was once important for the production of tin, and it was Saint Piran who supposedly, accidentally, discovered the process of smelting tin. A good month to visit Perranporth is March, when the Festival of Saint Piran takes place, and also the Saint Piran Play is performed. The 3 mile long beach is a super spot, especially when the weather is warm, when the sea is rough the surfers appear. The town is also well known for its excellent golf course, the Perranporth Golf Club, an attractive par 72 links course, with spectacular views.
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2011/03/18
Weymouth Dorset Facts
Here are some facts and figures about the Dorset town of Weymouth, a well known seaside resort on the south coast of England, United Kingdom. The population of Weymouth, Dorset is 52,950, the distance from London is approximately 120 miles, the postcode for Weymouth is DT3 and DT4, the telephone dialling code for Weymouth is 01305, the district is called Weymouth and Portland, the location of the town is south-west England, the town originally developed around Weymouth Harbour, in the area now known as Wyke Regis, the Ordnance Survey grid reference for Weymouth is SY6779, it is at the mouth of the River Wey which rises in nearby Upwey, Weymouth is 8 miles from Dorchester, Weymouth is the largest town in this part of Dorset, though it is not the capital, an honour which falls to Dorchester. Weymouth weather conditions are temperate with an average annual mean temperature of 11° Centigrade. There are plenty of hotels in Weymouth, also a number of caravan parks, holiday parks and self-catering cottages and flats.
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2011/03/16
Lowestoft Beaches Suffolk
The Suffolk coastal town of Lowestoft is perhaps best known for its harbour and its fishing industry, however it is also a popular holiday destination with some fine sandy beaches on which to spend some lazy days whilst visiting the area. Lowestoft in fact has 3 beaches, and the popular South Beach even holds Blue Flag status for cleanliness and safety. The South Beach is in fact the main tourist beach for Lowestoft, and the promenade and seafront have been much refurbished in recent years. Events are organised on the beach, and when the weather is fine, it can get pretty busy. North of Claremont is another superb beach with beach huts which are always in great demand, this beach attracts both local visitors and holidaymakers, the Lifeguard Station overlooks this beach. The other major beach of Lowestoft is Victoria Beach, again very popular with locals and visitors. Head up the coast about three miles and you will come to Corton village, here another fine beach is waiting for your deckchair, head even further and you will come to Great Yarmouth, with miles of sandy beaches to enjoy.
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2011/03/04
Minehead a Brief History
The popular Somerset seaside town of Minehead has a surprisingly long history with Bronze Age barrows being found at nearby Selworthy Beacon, further evidence of an Iron Age settlement to the west of the town, show that it has been inhabited for thousands of years. The first recorded name of the town was Mynedd, and various other versions have been used over the years, all relating to the meaning mountain or hill. Recorded in the Domesday Book in 1086, the manor of Minehead was listed as belonging to William de Moyon of Dunster. The port was established by the year 1380, and it developed over the years as a significant harbour, only falling into decline in the 20th century, in Elizabeth I reign it even had its own Port Officer. In the 18th century trade took place between Minehead, Ireland, South Wales and Bristol. The SS Pelican ran aground in bad weather in Minehead Bay in 1928, the town took on a number of evacuees during the Second World War, the nearby Exmoor National Park was made into a National Park in 1954, and Butlins Holiday Camp opened in 1962.
Nearby Places: Luccombe
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2011/03/03
Margate Kent
One of the earliest English seaside resorts, the town of Margate in Kent has a proud maritime tradition going back to the days of the Cinque Ports when it was considered as a limb of Dover. The first mention of the town is as “Meregate” in 1264, the modern version of the name came a little later in 1299. Margate originally became a popular holiday resort around 250 years ago, and was one of the primary locations for Georgian and Victorian holidaymakers from London and the suburbs. It is often claimed that Margate was the first resort to introduce bathing machines and also deck chairs though this may not be the case. The charming old Victorian pier at Margate was unfortunately destroyed during the great storm of 1978, further bad luck for the town also resulted severe damage to the Dreamland amusement park in 2 successive fires. Margate is situated approximately seventeen miles from Canterbury and seventy six miles from London.
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2011/03/01
A Brief History of Leeds Yorkshire
The large English city of Leeds is today a bustling modern place, though few who would visit today would realise that its history goes back to the 5th century. Located in West Yorkshire and traditionally part of Yorkshire’s West Riding, Leeds these days has a population of three quarters of a million. The name of Leeds appears to originate from the Celtic word Loidis, a name given to a forest in the area, the original settlement was part of an ancient Celtic Kingdom known and the Kingdom of Elmet, some time later in the Domesday Book is was called Ledes. For many centuries a market town, Leeds was granted the right to hold a market in the early 13th century, and by Tudor times had a thriving cloth industry, even more growth due to the wool trade occurred during the Industrial Revolution, helped by the building of the Leeds and Liverpool Canal and also by the arrival of the railway in 1848. Officially named a city in 1893, Leeds continued to boom through textile related industries and through coal mining, right into the 20th century, although later in the century much of this industry began to decline. Leeds Map.
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Visit Lowestoft Suffolk
Located beside the Broads National Park in Suffolk, Lowestoft has a long history as a fishing town and is also a renowned tourist and holiday destination, with a good number of beaches along the surrounding coastline. The second most populated town in Suffolk with about 68,000 residents, Lowestoft is situated on Lowestoft Ness, the British Isles most easterly point. Recorded in the Domesday Book (1086) as Lothu Wistoft, Lowestoft beacame a significant fishing town during the Middle Ages, its biggest period of growth as a port was during the nineteenth century, after the arrival of the railway line. The railway also brought Lowestoft to the forefront as a coastal holiday resort, particularly the areas to the south of the town centre, though throughout these times, the main industry was still fishing and related trades. Lowestoft is also well known for its soft paste porcelain, mostly produced during the eighteenth century, these peices are now collectors items. To the north of the town, you will find a tiny village called Corton, which grew around an estate built byJeremiah Coleman, of mustard fame, he named the house The Clyffe and developed it as one of the most attractive estates on the eastern coast, the estate was later acquired by the Warner Leisure Group and is now a popular holiday camp and resort providing holidays for elder citizens (no children allowed), with first class food and lots of entertainment and activities. You can view a map of Lowestoft here: Lowestoft Map.
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2010/06/13
Brixham – A Historic Fishing Village
Located at the southern end of Tor Bay, the historic fishing town and resort of Brixham is popular with holidaymakers and artists alike. With a population of just under 18,000, Brixham is a small town with a pretty harbour and port, with a long fishing tradition. William of Orange landed in Brixham in 1688 and a statue commemorating this historic event can be seen on the quayside today. Brixham stands in a good position and is sheltered from south-westerly gales, enjoying mild weather conditions. Among Brixham’s attractions are a full sized reproduction of Francis Drake’s ship, the Golden Hind, the St Mary’s parish church, with its buttressed tower, and the Brixham Heritage Museum in New Road, offering an insight into Brixham’s past history and maritime traditions.
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2010/03/28
Cornwall Villages Boscastle
The charming village of Boscastle lies north-east of Tintagel in the county of Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. Part of the parish of Forrabury and Minster, Boscastle has a population of just 888 and developed mostly due to its small harbour, which though tricky for incoming vessels, is the only navigable harbour for at least 20 miles. Standing at the point where the River Jordan and River Valency meet the sea, Boscastle was the scene of a dreadful flood in 2004, which caused much damage to the village. Worth a look in Boscastle is the Museum of Witchcraft, which has the biggest collection of witchcraft artefacts in the world. Boscastle can be reached from the A39 via the B3263.
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2009/12/12
Maidenhead Berkshire
An ancient town standing on the banks of the River Thames in Berks, England, Maidenhead began life as a Saxon settlement in the centuries before the Norman conquest. The name probable derives from an early name ‘Maiden Hythe’ and it was mentioned in the Domesday Book as ‘Ellington’. An early ferry which ran across the Thames river was replaced by a bridge in 1280, the Great Western Road was rediverted to utilise this new bridge. As a result Maidenhead became a popular stopping off point for coaches on the busy route between Bath and London, and this led to the growth of the historic town centre where many inns and establishments were erected, some still remain today such as the Bear Inn. The present day bridge over the Thames dates from 1777 its construction cost just 19,000 pounds. Maidenhead took on something approaching its present look after the arrival of the railway line in the 19th century, it has continued to grow to this day. A nice way to approach the town is by boat along the river (weather permitting) and this stretch of the Thames is very attractive and popular with users of pleasure craft. When you have seen the best of Maidenhead, take a trip along the Thames to Cookham, a historic village, birthplace of English painter Sir Stanley Spencer, Cookham is a very attractive village which retains its old English village charm. Map of Maidenhead.
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2009/12/07
Hatfield House Hertfordshire
While the town of Hatfield in Hertfordshire, has much the look of a modern town, its most famous landmark dates back to some of town’s more interesting times. That landmark is Hatfield House, a Jacobean style house built for the First Earl of Salisbury, Robert Cecil in 1611, and home to the Cecil family ever since. Set in Hatfield’s Great Park, Hatfield House was built on the same site as an earlier Royal Palace (1497) which was a favourite haunt of Queen Elizabeth I. These days Hatfield House is a popular tourist attraction, many drawn by its associations with one of England’s best loved Queens, visitors can view a number of items owned by the queen including a pair of silk stockings, possibly the first to be seen in England at that time. Also popular are the gardens at Hatfield House, covering some 42 acres, the gardens were designed by John Tradescent the Elder during the early 17th century. Hatfield Map.
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2009/12/01
Hemel Hempstead
A bustling town within the English county of Hertfordshire, Hemel Hempstead was possibly settled as long ago as the Roman times, with remains of a Roman villa being found in nearby Boxmoor. The first records mentioning the town date from the 8th century and its name drived from the Anglo-Saxon Hean-Hempsted (or High Hempstead), in the Domesday Book it was named as Hamelamesede. The Norman conquest saw its land owned by Robert, Count of Mortain, it was later controlled by Thomas Becket, Hemel Hempstead was later granted a Royal Charter by Henry 8th. The town has mostly grown however since WW2 as it was developed as a ‘new town’, it now has a population of around 81,000. With good road access Hemel Hempstead is a busy commuter town with easy access to St Albans, Luton and London, with property prices very reasonable it makes sense for many to live here and commute. There was a huge explosion and fire in Hemel Hempstead in December 2005, when the Buncefield Oil Storage Depot exploded.
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