Best Activity Weekends

When backpacking around Australia, the best place to start is the Northern Territory. Whether you’re traveling for a few weeks or several months, your trip to Australia can be an exciting and exhilarating experience. When exploring the outback, here are a few helpful tips.

Travel Tips:

1. Determine just how much time and money you can spend away from home. You have to consider both your budget and the commitments you leave behind. It takes time to visit Australia so you have to figure out how much time you’re willing to devote to your trip. Experienced backpackers prepare for lengthy travel time in advance.

2. Backpacking around Australia gives you the opportunity to meet fellow backpackers and allows you to connect to those who share your interests and partake in the Australian experience.

3. In order to keep in touch with family and friends, consider purchasing an international phone card for your cell phone, available from the newsagents.

Items to Bring for Your Trip:

Pack sensibly for the fluctuations in varied destination temperatures. In addition to your sleeping bag, flashlight, batteries, and perhaps a journal, specific clothing is required for trekking the outback. Be sure to take sunglasses, a brimmed hat, and durable, comfortable hiking shoes along with the requisite toiletries you will need during your stay in Australia.

Since your trek will be an expansive one. You’ll need jeans, shorts, and T-shirts, and perhaps additional socks might prove handy. It’s important to think ahead so it may be wise to pack a rain jacket as well. Pack light, airy clothing that will let your skin breathe.

As a backpacker you’ll want to wear comfortable shoes for all the outdoor activities you’ll be participating in. If you’re camping under the stars don’t forget your insect repellent. You’ll also need suntan lotion, aspirin, and any medication you’re taking, tissues and perhaps a small washcloth or towel.

Travel Arrangements:

Campervans-

It’s wise to decide the type of travel arrangements that fit both your time and budget. Campervans are inexpensive and allow the chance to view Australia’s wide open desert, mountains, sandy beaches and the gentle rain forest. Campervan parks are available for overnight trips. Parks allow you to charge your campervan appliances. Before you can hire a campervan you must first answer questions based upon where you wish to go, stay, and your desired comfort.

Conditions apply when hiring a campervan. You’ll want the cheapest per-day rate available; after all additional costs are applied and some items aren’t included with the campervan. Where will you pick up and drop off the campervan? Are there travel and driver restrictions? It’s important to study the Australian road laws. Just because you’re new to the area and don’t understand the laws doesn’t make breaking them excusable. It’s a good idea to get travel insurance to protect you and the company renting to you.

Destinations:

Alice Springs-

Centrally located in the middle of Australia you’ll find Alice Springs, known as the heart of Australia. Alice Springs is in between the capital cities of Darwin and Adelaide. It’s known to many as Australia’s Red Centre and also the location where many South Australian Tours begin. Alice Springs, better known as “Alice” to the locals is known for its hospitality.

Visitors of Ayers Rock and the wondrous Northern Territory of Australia must first pass through Alice Springs, known as the gateway for these incredible locations. There’s authentic Aboriginal artwork displayed at culture centers and it’s even possible to learn a bit of history from talking with Aboriginal elders who speak of the history of dream time before white settlers came to Australia. After their visit, backpackers find it very difficult to leave “Alice”.

Tennant Creek-

Tennant Creek is located 500km north of Alice Springs. The 3500 people that live there are quite content living in cattle country. There’s gold to be found in Tennant Creek along with aboriginal history found in the Culture Centre or the Nyinkka Nyunyu Art. If you are interested in the “golden years”, the Battery Hill Mining Centre allows visitors to see Gold mining the way it was in the past.

Katherine-

Katherine is a wondrous scenic location for backpackers. Visitors can opt for cruises or travel by canoe up the gorge. The bushwalker can go by many different tracks with much to see and do. Check out Edith Falls if you’re looking to swim; camp or have a picnic.

Katherine also offers four Aboriginal art galleries and teachings on weaving baskets, throwing spears and learning to paint. There are historical artifacts from WWII and The Katherine Flood. While visiting Katherine you may be in time for one of their many festivals.

Australia is a huge continent full of wide open spaces, beautiful sandy beaches, grand mountains, and bustling cities. Visitors will find that Aussie sense of humor quite charming. For backpackers seeking adventure and excitement, Australia is quite an alluring, exciting and challenging place to explore. Of course, since you are a backpacker you will want to save as much money as you can, so consider alternative ways to find cheap flights to Australia, like booking way in advance or looking for last minute flights. Of course some Australian companies offer guided tours across the mainland, so you can even book a backpacking holiday package if you like to travel in a larger group. It may be a bit more expensive or not, as all the travel arrangements will be take care of and split up between a larger group of people.

Think Down Under, think vast landscapes and amazing nature. Australia is definitely a place to visit, and the best way to get to know and experience Australia is through backpacking or a road trip.

You don’t have to travel too far to experience an exciting and adventurous day or weekend away. One great experience is at one of 27 different Go Ape tree top adventure sites located throughout the UK.

What is a tree top adventure? It’s a sort of obstacle course that takes place high up in forest trees. You are strapped into a harness and given a safety briefing before you begin and then you are free to tackle the different ladders, bridges, zip-wires and tunnels which make up the course.

Part of the tree top adventure course

The views from the course amongst the leaves in the forest canopy are simply stunning and the course itself is exciting and exhilarating.

My nearest Go Ape centre is in Aberfoyle, Scotland and one of my favourite parts of the Go Ape centre in Aberfoyle are the two zip wires which are 150 feet high and travel a distance of around 400 metres. The feeling of travelling along a zip wire in the middle of a forest is so thrilling and is completely different from anything I’ve ever experienced before.

One of the zip wires

The whole experience takes from one hour and a half to three hours depending on how quickly you tackle the course and how many people are in your group. I think tackling the course with a big group of friends or family would be so much fun.

Some of the Go Ape centres in the country also offer forest biking trips and segway experiences, something which I haven’t tried myself but I can imagine they would be fantastic. Although travelling on a segway through the forest might be a bit of a bumpy ride!

The Go Ape centre at Aberfoyle is only an hours drive from the vibrant and exciting city of Glasgow and this makes it a perfect place to stay after an exciting day amongst the trees.

However, if you don’t want to venture into Scotland’s largest city there are places to stay in Aberfoyle itself or in the surrounding area of Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park. Staying here would allow you to experience this unique area which offers both great walks and boating activities on the loch itself.

Loch Lomond

This article was written by Emma Gray, an English Literature student and passionate traveller. I love nothing more than exploring different countries and experiencing different cultures as well as discovering new places within the UK. My favourite places are Barcelona, St. Petersburg and Villefranche-sur-Mer and I’m always eager to add to my favourites list! I write about all my trips on my travel blog, Emma’s Travel Tales.

Taking off on an exciting trip during winter or summer break is a fantastic way to blow off steam between semesters. If you’re a student looking to kick some dust off your heels, a mini break holiday may be just the ticket. However, as adventurous and travel-hungry as a student may be, university students are also often short on disposable income. No need to worry. A budget trip can be easily arranged, delivering a punch of excitement without making your bank account take a hit.

Planning

When looking for a budget holiday, consider the tools available to you. The internet is an important resource for budget travel, and a quick web search will turn up a multitude of sites where students can find thrifty options for cheap flights, trains and hotels. Your local library will also have books available outlining how to save dollars without losing out on the experience. Books like these will often give you tips on other ways to save money while traveling, including cost-saving food ideas and where to get cheap tickets for museums and other attractions.

Also, consider consulting with your school or university. Some campuses have groups designed specifically to provide information on holiday travel. These student groups will have insight specifically on how to travel in a thrifty manner, and can save you some of the time it will take to gather all of the information yourself.

Hotel Alternatives

When considering where to stay, think of some unique ways to sleep on the cheap. Hostels are a natural choice for thrifty travelers. Hostels are shared sleeping arrangements where a number of people usually share one room. Bathrooms are typically dorm style and there are usually lockers available to lock up valuables at night. The trade off for this is that the prices for hostel rooms are incredibly cheap, sometimes just 1/6 of the cost of a night’s stay in a regular hotel.

Another alternative for cheap sleep is camping in the great outdoors. Any student with a tent and a sleeping bag can camp out when touring a national park or mountain range; even in Europe. Some parks charge fees for camping, but the cost will be much, much lower than the cost of a hotel stay. Also consider cooking equipment when camping or taking out on a hiking trail.

Prep Tips

Once you’ve got your budget holiday all sorted out, it’s time to prepare for the actual trip. To cut down on baggage fees when flying, make sure to pack light, a good tip even if baggage fees won’t be a problem. Consider every piece you want to pack and determine if it can be used in more than one way. For example, a pashmina scarf can be wrapped around your neck to keep warm when hiking in the mountains. It can also be wrapped around your shoulders or head for modesty if you’ll be visiting a religious site. Choose pieces that are versatile and can be used a number of ways. And, check with your hotel or hostel to see if laundry facilities will be available.

Another cost-saving prep tip is looking into phone cards. If you’re traveling far from home, an international phone card will save major costs when making that phone call home to mom and dad.

Budget holiday packages make the dream of travel a reality for a multitude of young students. Knowing where to look when planning will help you get your ducks in a row, and using some preparation tips will keep costs down once you arrive at your travel destination. In the end, the experience itself is important, not how many dollars you spend to get there.

Great British sites such as the beautiful Roman baths of Bath and Stonehenge have many amazing qualities that draw in so many tourists year after year. They are both World Heritage Sites, they are both cyclist friendly and they are both with reachable distance of each other. These three factors allow for a site-seeing break with an active twist for anyone wanting to achieve the perfect blend of culture and action from their weekend away.

So, bikes and maps at the ready? The ideal place to start this mini cycling tour is Bath. You can make sure you get a good nights sleep and a hearty breakfast before you set off on your weekend of adventure. There are endless cultural offerings in Bath itself so much of the first day should be spent making the most of this amazing UNESCO designated World Heritage Site. For most visitors, a trip to see the Roman baths is probably first on their Bath to-do list. However, we would suggest cycling the streets of bath prior to this, taking the chance to fully appreciate the history of this fine city before venturing to its crowning glory. After exploring, replacing a bike with an audio-guide in the Roman Baths for a few hours strolling around will be a welcome rest and, if feeling so inclined, visitors can even take a dip in the modern Aqua Spa hot springs to rejuvenate before setting off again.

Next stop, Stonehenge. Make sure the bike equipment is ready for a 30km trip over to England’s most famous pre-historic landmark. Stonehenge receives thousands of visitors every year and it is easy to understand why. There is no fee for this privilege and the circle can be walked any time, day or night. Perhaps the most breath-taking images of Stonehenge have been taking at sunset- what a perfect way to end the first day.

Day 2 takes us around 39 km over to the less iconic, but much more spiritual and visually impressive, Avebury site. While Stonehenge was dedicated to the worship of the sun and moon, Avebury seems to have been dedicated to more human themes. The Human cycles of birth, life and death was very important in Neolithic times and this can be seen here. Built in a culture that didn’t keep records, the mysteries surrounding these sites provide guests with much food for thought whilst wandering around the area taking it all in and preparing for the journey home.

photo credit: foxypar4

People who are interested in a golf holiday will find plenty of places for golfing in Scotland. The main season for golf in Scotland runs from May through September. These are the warmest months in Scotland. The golf courses are the most crowded during July and August. Some of the golf courses in Scotland are St Andrews, Carnoustie, Royal Troon, Turnberry and Muirfield.

St Andrews

St Andrews is about an hour north of Edinburgh. Edinburgh is in the southeast part of Scotland. There are seven golf courses here. The courses with 18 holes are The Castle, the Old, the New, Jubilee, Strathtyrum and Eden. Balgove is the only course with nine holes at St Andrews. Golf clubs are available for hire. St Andrews is the most crowded during August.

Carnoustie

Carnoustie is almost two hours north of Edinburgh. The courses here are The Buddon Links, The Burnside Links and The Championship Course. They all have 18 holes. The Buddon course is not as difficult as The Championship Course.

Royal Troon

Royal Troon is on Scotland’s west coast 35 miles south of Glasgow. Visitors can play at this course on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays. Visitors must present current Handicap certificates. The three courses are the Old Course, the Portland Course and the Craigend Course. The Old Course and the Portland Course have 18 holes. The Craigend Course has nine holes.

Turnberry

Turnberry is an hour away from Glasgow at the Turnberry Resort. The two courses here are The Ailsa and The Kintyre. Both courses have 18 holes. The resort sometimes has holiday and break specials.

Muirfield

Muirfield is in East Lothian about 20 miles east of Edinburgh. Visitors can play golf here on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The course has 18 holes.

Further Scotland information

Scottish Cottages Mackays Agency offers a wide variety of Scottish cottages, lodges and other self catering accommodation throughout Scotland. Mackays Agency has the largest network of self catering Scotland holiday cottages at locations across Scotland.

Located on the north Atlantic coast of Cornwall, Newquay is the unofficial surfing capital of Britain. With its secluded coves and family beaches, it is a popular spot for swimming, surfing, sunbathing. Also, the Newquay Harbour provides the perfect place to go fishing, with several great fishing businesses located there. Newquay is a beautiful seaside resort and there is always plenty to do, whether you like to take part in thrilling extreme sports or just want to have a nice relaxing time, Newquay has a lot to offer you.

What Activities?

Surfing, Abseiling, Rock Climbing, Zip Wire, Cliff Hanger, Mountain Biking, Junior Surfing, Coasteering, Horse Riding, Go-Karting, Golf and loads more.

Where To Go

The Adventure Centre – Lusty Glaze Beach

http://www.lustyglaze.co.uk

Lusty Glaze is a privately owned beach on the North coast of Cornwall which has its own leisure centre where you can take part in a variety of thrilling outdoor activities. Their water based activities include surfing and Coasteering and there land based activities range from abseiling and rock climbing to kite boarding and mountain biking. The Lusty Glaze beach is the perfect, secluded area to spend your holiday.

Hollywell Bay Fun Park – Hollywell Beach

http://www.hollywellbay.co.uk/

The Hollywell Bay Fun Park is located a short walk away from Cornwall’s Hollywell Beach and is well known as one of Newquay’s best attractions for action, thrills and family fun. They have a range of things to do including Formula One Go-Karts, Battle Boats, Turret Guns, Bumper Boats, Adventure Golf and loads more.

Porth Beach Tourist Park – Porth Beach

http://www.porthbeach.co.uk

Porth Beach Tourist Park is situated just 100 metres away from Cornwall’s Porth Beach and is surrounded by open countryside. Porth Beach is regarded as one of the safest places for swimming in the Newquay area and is perfect for families, with lots of room to play in and plenty of rock pools to explore. The Porth Beach Tourist Park is not only situated in this ideal location, it has a wide variety of fully equipped caravans, spacious camping pitches fantastic showering and washing facilities and its own children’s play park. Although the park is quiet and relaxing, it’s in easy reach of all of the amenities that Newquay has to offer.

Fistral Beach

Fistral Beach is a major surfing beach in Newquay which is about 750 metres in length and can produce some great waves. The British Surfing Association and Newquay Board Rider Club are located on the North end of the Bay and provide rental equipment and training packages for people who want to learn how to surf, also, the Cribbar, a reef situated just north of Fistral provides wave faces of up to 40 feet and there’s plenty to explore.

Newquay Harbour Boatsmen’s Association – Newquay Harbour

http://www.newquay-harbour.com

Newquay Harbour is a tidal area and very much a working location for fishing and touring boats. Newquay’s Boatsmen’s Association have the top two angling boats, the Mystique and the Che Sara. They offer half day, full day and evening trips at reasonable prices and are fully licensed and insured. The Harbour also offers Mackerel fishing and pleasure boat and speed boat trips where you can admire Newquay from the sea, looking at the wonderful coastline and beaches.

Watergate Bay – The Hotel and Extreme Academy

http://www.watergatebay.co.uk

Watergate Bay is a two mile long, sandy beach situated just north of Newquay. The beach is a popular location for Watersports, kite flying, and sand art and it provides combinations of adrenaline and total relaxation, dramatic coastline and beautiful countryside. The extreme academy is a great place to try a variety of sports such as kite surfing, wave skiing, mountain boarding, traction kiting and loads more. With the Hotel of Watergate bay sitting close by and with its stunning Oceanside location, it’s the perfect place to stay.

Great Western Beach

Newquay’s Great Western Beach is an extremely popular family beach. The beach is west facing, with several sandy coves and towering cliffs. The fact that the beach is quite sheltered means that it provides smaller surf, ideal for people who are just learning to surf. There are also a wide range of facilities including surf and deck chair hire and a private lift which descends through the cliffs from the Great Western Hotel. However, tides can get quite high, covering most of the sand so make sure you know the times of high water.

Newquay Water World

http://www.newquaywaterworld.co.uk

Waterworld is located in the Trenance Leisure Park, Newquay. Waterworld has two superb swimming pools. A six lane, twenty five metre pool and a tropical fun pool with water canon, tipper, flumes, slides, erupting volcano, spitting snakes and loads more. Other facilities in the Trenance Leisure Park are a wooden Waves Ramp Park, Tennis Centre, Zoo, Crazy Golf, Miniature Railway and children’s play areas.

The Boating Lake

The Boating Lake is located right next to Trenance Hill, near the Trenance Leisure Park and is a beautiful part of the landscape. The Boating Lake Café is a great place to stop off and have a few refreshments before exploring the rest of Newquay. Also, Trenance Riding School (http://www.newquayridingstables.co.uk) are nearby and provide riding lessons at a reasonable price. The Boating Lake is the perfect place to relax and take in the scenery and is a lovely sight to see at night with it’s beautifully illuminated fountain lighting up the whole area.

Dairyland Farm World

http://www.dairylandfarmworld.com/

Dairyland Farmworld is a family friendly attraction, providing fun and entertainment for all ages, whatever the weather. The park provides activities to take part in for all ages including several children’s play areas, drop slides, raging bull rides, Tractor rides, feeding and milking and loads more. The Dairyland farm is the perfect place to experience the sights, sounds and smells of a real working farm.

What You’ll Need

You’ll definitely need to bring a swimsuit (we recommend these guys for Swimwear, Beachwear, and Bikinis) with you and some clothes that you don’t mind getting dirty for when you’re taking part in daytime activities.

Other Useful Links

Super Fun Days Out

At Super Fun Days Out you can use our map to find over 2200 companies across 80 activities. Alternatively you can book a deal direct via us

Mad Ferret Adventure Activities

http://www.madferret.co.uk/

Mad Ferret Adventure Activities is based in Newquay and offers a wide range of activities for all ages including: Coasteering, Body Boarding, Go Karts and Paintball, to name a few. Their website also provides useful tourist information about the local area and a list of possible places to stay in Newquay.

Newquay, Cornwall – Official Website

http://visitnewquaycornwall.co.uk

This is the official website for Newquay which provides useful information about the area. It tells you about the events, nightlife, attractions, activities, accommodation, food and beaches in Newquay. The website is the perfect travel resource for people planning to visit the area.

The Escape Surf School

http://www.escapesurfschool.co.uk

Escape Surf School is centrally located just a five minute walk away from both Fistral Beach and Great Western Beach and is based at Belushis, Newquay’s premier surf bar and hostel. They practice at both beaches and offer package deals for accommodation and surfing lessons. Their site tells you about important surfing events and has special offers for discounted times of the year listed on their site.

Newquay.net

http://newquaynet.com

This is a tourist information site which has an extensive list of activities, attractions, accommodation, beaches nightlife and news and events that are located in Newquay. It acts as a travel directory for the area and has a lot of information that a tourist will need to know when planning to visit Newquay.

More travel information

Holiday rentals – Self-catering holiday rental accommodation in France

Surf South West – Learn to surf with the UK’s leading provider of surfing tuition and surf holidays.

SafariNow.com offers a range of South Africa accommodation establishments, including hotels, guest houses and safari lodges throughout the country.

Further Newquay Information

Newquay People – Newquay People is a great way to stay in touch with your community.  

newquaypeople.co.uk

Super Fun Days Out – At Super Fun Days Out you can use our map to find over 2200 companies across 80 activities. Alternatively you can book a deal direct via us.  

superfundaysout.com

Walking is one of North Wales largest assets. People come from all across the UK to loose themselves in the wild, open hills and mountains of North Wales. Most people instinctively think of climbing the peak of Snowdon when they start out on a walking holiday to North Wales, but there is so much more to discover from a North Wales cottage.

Anglesey is an often overlooked walking haven in North Wales. The 125 miles of the Anglesey Coastal Path, which runs through an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty for the majority of its course, must not be ignored. It takes in a huge range of coastal landscapes, including dunes, cliffs, marshes and woodland, and although walking the whole route will test even serious walkers (can take up to 2 weeks to circumnavigate), but short stretches can be easily enjoyed to even the most inexperienced hiker. You shall see an enormous range of wildlife and many seabirds during your walk, with puffin, razorbills and guillemots being regularly seen. If you are lucky, it is not unheard of to see dolphin from the path either.

During the summer, as personal favourite is the North Wales Path. The reason that it excels in summer is because it takes in all of the best, most hidden and cleanest beaches North Wales has to offer, which is a considerable amount. There are 60 miles of sea along the North Wales Path, and progress can be very slow, as it is almost impossible to resist nipping down to the beach for a quick swim, or to sit and watch seabirds drifting on the breeze.

There are also a great range of walking festivals and events in North Wales. Throughout the year, guided walks and themed events like the Halloween Night Ghost Walk and the Dawn Chorus Walk, as well as geographical festivals including the Anglesey Walking Festival, encourage visitors and locals alike to get out and explore, enjoy and conserve the natural beauty of North Wales. Of course, these events are great fun, although they do mean that you will be walking with many other people, which I know for many is exactly the opposite of the idea of getting out into the wilderness! You can find knowledgeable local guides to show you the best unknown walks, and even walk with you along the most challenging routes in North Wales. Whatever your level of experience and fitness, there is no corner of North Wales which is not open to you.
With 840 square miles of national parks, 142 miles of coastal paths and 90 mountain peaks to scale, there is no shortage of routes to take through the countryside of North Wales. There is a huge range of nature to enjoy, and most importantly, the area is littered with fantastic little country pubs serving cold pints, hot food and often keeping the crackling log fire ablaze for walkers coming down off the hills in the evening. Be warned though, once you settle into one of these pubs in an evening, leaving again is harder than any of the climbs you will have tackled during the day!

We aren’t talking about Bristol Palin and neither are we talking about the other 34 places on Earth named Bristol. We’re talking about Bristol in England. There’s something about England that appeal to the majority of the population here on earth. England, London and the British Monarchy have been mentioned, used and portrayed in many, many ways through popular culture and much of Britain has been seen through the lenses of a camera, TV and even movies by people in Tokyo, Mumbai, Singapore, Cape Town, Rio de Janeiro and practically everywhere people have access to communication means. Every city in England has its very own appeal and attraction and you have to be living in these cities to truly experience the culture uniqueness of it. Though that, a taste of life in these places can be experienced by short visits such as to Cambridge, Leeds, Bristol Salisbury and Manchester.

Bristol must be on your agenda

Bristol is one city that is a must-visit to anyone touring England. The city needs no expansive introductory to the outside world as the city ranks seventh as UK’s most popular destination for foreign tourists, with over nine million visitors annually. This shows that Bristol is indeed on the ‘must-visit’ list of foreigners.

Bristol is known for certain exclusive things: the thriving British Aerospace industry and the Rolls Royce. If you are a fan of the Rolls Royce, then visiting its city of birth is a must, even if you don’t own a Rolls Royce. The city of Bristol is the largest and most dynamic city in the South West of England and is home to about half a million of people compromising a colourful ethnicity from whites, blacks, Asian and other mixed races. Synonymous with luxury and prosperity, Bristol sits between Somerset and Gloucestershire with Avon and Frome as its rivers providing its population with scenic views, picturesque settings and interesting flora and fauna. A trip down to Brandon Hill Park climbing the 105-foot Cabot Tower will give visitors a truly breathtaking panoramic view. Cabot Tower was built to commemorate the 400th anniversary of John Cabot’s voyage to America.

The history of Bristol

Before all that, Bristol is a seafaring town that once was home to Port of Bristol, a thriving maritime port with rich history in shipbuilding. This city with the largest culture, employment and education in the South West region, Bristol was second after London for at least half a millennium ever since the 13th century. This city’s glory as a famous port was expertly chronicled by the Maritime Heritage Center. When Bristol is mentioned, the magnificent Clifton Suspension Bridge and the SS Great Ship are associated to the city as both these attractions are designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel, a local legend of the city. Other must visit places in Bristol include Berkely Castle, Clevedon beach, Dyrham Park and the ever popular Weston-Super-Mare resort.

Music, film and culture in Bristol

There is more to Bristol than just cars and ships as the city also boasts a strong presence in the world of music and film. In 2008, Bristol was named as the European Capital of Culture with organizations such as the Bristol Old Vic and the Theatre Royal founded in 1946 and 1766 respectively. The Theatre Royal is the oldest and continuously operating theatre in England and is a grade I listed building. Apart from these two famous landmarks in arts and culture, Bristol is also home to the Bristol Hippodrome which is a large theatre that can seat up to 1981 seats and is host to national touring productions. Of course, Bristol also has numerous other theatres that has become the training ground and the raison d’être of its naming as the Capital of European culture from the Tobacco Factory, QEH, Redgrave Theatre as well as the Show of Strength Theatre Company.

Eating and drinking in Bristol

So during the day you tour the city. Apart from the many place of interest to visit, the restaurants that Bristol houses is also a must go if you want to taste the cuisine of this rich city. Yes Bristol has its usual scene of chain restaurants and fast food franchises but as someone new to the city; branch out your horizons to sample the locally owned restaurants that offer a wide variety of comfort food, international flavours as well as upscale dining rooms.

For pubs, check out the Slug and Lettuce that is popular among the city’s young as it personifies modernity. The airy city wine bar has food with a twist such as organic sausages with potatoes and leeks. Want to dine overlooking the harbour? Then head over to The Cottage Inn and sit outside the patio, watch harbour ships go by while feasting on fish, steak and traditional stout pie and washing it all down with good old original beer. The Boston Tea Party gives you a more fashionable dining experience as you can sample some freshly brewed original gourmet coffee. At the Boston Tea Party, fresh is the main goal here as they serve coffees, teas, and delicious roast cod with pasta and chilli sauce that is all fresh and aromatic to the senses.

Bristol nightlife

For a city with half a million people, you’d think there was no nightlife? Bristol offers locals and tourists alike a wide range of clubs and pubs with a variety of styles, music and concepts. Fancy live music? Then head over to Fiddles Club for your dose of live music presented to you by Fiddlers’ regular musicians as well as groups from all England and all around the world. This is the place to go to rest your weary feet after hours of touring the sights and sounds of Bristol. Fiddlers Club is known for its laid back ambiance – combined with their good drink selection and good music, it’s a good place to mingle with the folk in Bristol.

Bristol has quite quirky names for their clubs and bars such as Fleece and Firkin, Bristol Bierkeller and Lakota. Lakota is one of Bristol’s hottest and most popular dance clubs that normally has famous DJs playing a blend of the eclectic, modern and funky sounds that get the crowd cheering as the night goes on. Bristol Bierkeller on the other hand is in a class of its own. Apart from live DJs spinning the hottest hits in town, Bierkeller also attracts crowd by staging comedy acts and live bands. It is a combination of live and fun entertainment that makes your Saturday nights always fun.

So when in England, drop by in Bristol to experiences the city’s culture, its people and the lifestyle as Bristol is one place that needs your involvement to have fun!

Further Bristol Information

Razorcat Tours – Trike Rides in South West England – Chauffeured Trike Tours to Bath, Lacock, Castle Combe, Bradford on Avon, Avebury and Stonehenge for tourists and special occasions.  

razorcattours.com

Weston-super-mare People – Weston-super-Mare People is a great way to stay in touch with your community.  

westonsupermarepeople.co.uk

Bristol Airport Cars – Airport transfers from Bristol to any UK destination…  

bristolairportcars.com

Cardiff is the capital and the largest city and county in Wales. In recent years it has grown in stature as a tourist destination. It was recently voted the eighth favourite UK city by readers of the Guardian, listed as one of the top 10 destinations in the UK on the official British tourist boards’ website Visit Britain and US travel guide Frommers listed it as one of the top 13 destinations worldwide for 2008. Cardiff is a beautiful developing city and an ideal destination to take a short break.

What Activities

Sailing, Canoeing, Power Boating, Kayaking, Rock Climbing, Paragliding, Mountain Biking, White Water Rafting, Caving, Horse Riding, Cycling and loads more.

Where to go?

Cardiff Bay

http://www.cardiffbay.co.uk/

Cardiff Bay is Europe’s largest waterfront development and has a variety of leisure activities which are available both on and off the water. The bay is home to loads of attractions, shops, hotels and restaurants, so there’s plenty to do for everyone. A number of boat tours also depart from the bay and allow you to explore the coast of Southampton from the water. The website guides you to the services and attractions that are available in and around the bay.

The Brecon Beacons National Park

http://www.breconbeacons.org/

The Brecon Beacons is a beautiful National Park in Cardiff with a gorgeous landscape, canal paths, castles and plenty of family friendly attractions. There’s plenty to do for everyone with lots of old castles and museums to explore. Also, the vast landscape and several waterways provide a great adventure playground for all and several businesses run activity sessions throughout the national park. This is the perfect place to go if you want to explore the outdoors whilst having fun. The website provides you with information about things to do, accommodation and the environment in and around the Beacons making the planning of your trip a lot easier.

The Vale Hotel, Golf and Spa Resort

http://www.vale-hotel.com/

This is a luxury resort with a four star hotel, spa and golf academy. There are two 18 hole golf courses, several putting greens, top professional coaches, a pro shop and computer technology which allows you to use video analysis and swing check. The fantastic spa has the most up to date facilities and offers treatments for all over the body ranging from simple facials and manicures to full body massages and Electrolysis. The resort also has a health and racquets club with a state of the art gym with very latest computer-aided fitness equipment, a luxury 20 metre indoor pool fitness studios, plus squash and tennis courts, sauna, steam rooms and a whirlpool bath.

The Cardiff Bay Water Activity Centre

http://www.adventurecardiff.com

At the Cardiff Adventure Centre both tourists and local residents can enjoy a variety of water based activities and adrenalin sports including power boating, windsurfing, canoeing, kayaking, climbing and sailing. They run several courses including a multi activity day which allows you to take part in a mixture of activities all in one day. The website gives you directions to the centre, lists the courses that they run, guides you through the booking process and provides an overview of the weather in the area. If you’re interested in taking part in outdoor activities, this could be a good place to visit.

Walk or Bike Wales

http://www.walkorbikewales.com/

Walk or Bike Wales offers high quality getaways in the Brecon Beacons and across the border in England.
Walk Offa’s Dyke, The Wye Valley, The Beacons Way, Pembrokshire Coast Path, visit the Black Mountains and the Llantony Valley.
Ride some of the fantastic road and mountain bike trails across the Brecon Beacons and Wales. Routes to suite all, the 4 Castle Ride, Lon Las Cymru Holyhead to Cardiff or Chepstow, The Sarn Helen Trail (longest off road route in Wales.

The Red Dragon Centre

http://www.thereddragoncentre.co.uk

Located in the middle of Cardiff Bay, the Red Dragon Centre offers a range of leisure and entertainment venues all in one place. Among the venues at the centre are an Odeon cinema, Hollywood Bowl and Casino, as well as a large number of bars and restaurants. The centre also has its own radio station, Doctor Who exhibition and Cadwaladers ice cream bar. The wide range of venues at the centre makes it a great place to visit for both adults and kids. This is the perfect place for family fun and would be a great place to spend the day.

Celtic Water Sports

http://celtic-watersports.co.uk/

Celtic Water Sports is a business which is based in Cardiff city. They provide loads of courses for several different activities and no previous experience is necessary to take part in any of their activities. They practice their activities in several locations throughout Wales, one of which is Neath Valley, part of the Brecon Beacons National Park. Many of the areas where the group practice are considered to be areas of outstanding natural beauty and are a great place to go to take in the beautiful scenery of Wales. The centre runs several activities such as Coasteering, river rafting, canoeing, kayaking and gorge scrambling. If you enjoy taking part in challenging water sports, this is the place to go.

Boulders Indoor Climbing Centre

http://www.bouldersclimbingcentre.co.uk

The Boulders Climbing Centre is located not far from Cardiff’s city centre and has a variety of facilities for both experienced climbers and newcomers to the sport. The centre has a number of climbing walls varying in difficulty and they also rent out climbing equipment to visitors. Competent climbers can visit the centre and climb alone under no supervision, but if you haven’t climbed before you can take a taster course to get you started and once you’ve learned the basics, you can take a number of other courses to improve your skills. So if you want to learn something new or practice climbing this would be a great place to go when you’re in Cardiff.

Barry Island Pleasure Park

http://www.barryislandpleasurepark.co.uk

Barry Island Pleasure Park is situated right on the Cardiff Seafront and is a great place to go if you’re planning on having a family day out. The park has a selection of places to eat, thriller rides, family rides and rides especially for the kids so whether you’re a thrill seeker wanting a challenge or you just want to have a family day out, the park has what you’re looking for. The park is only open at certain times of the year, from Easter through to the end of September depending on the weather so make sure that you check that it’s open on the day of your visit to avoid disappointment.

What You’ll need

You’ll need swimwear and clothes that you don’t mind getting dirty. Also, you could bring your bike with you and go for a ride around the national park or the local area.

Other Useful Links

Visit Cardiff

http://www.visitcardiff.com

Visit Cardiff is the main tourist information site for the city and has an extensive amount of useful information for tourists visiting the city. The site has information about attractions, events, landmarks, where to stay and where to eat. It also has maps of the area, a business directory and information on how to get there. It has literally all of the information that a tourist would need to know when they’re planning a trip to Cardiff and will allow you to have a well planned, carefree break.

Itchy Cardiff

http://www.itchycardiff.co.uk/

Itchy Cardiff is a tourist site which keeps potential visitors to Cardiff posted about attractions, events, activities, culture and loads more that’s happening in the city. Tourists can visit this site and plan every aspect of their trip making their stay in Cardiff a lot more relaxed and care free. Itchy Cardiff is a useful resource and would prove to help make your trip to Cardiff a lot more enjoyable.

Edge of Wales Walk

Walking holidays in North Wales

A Walking Holiday in North Wales along the Llŷn Coastal Path, one of the great Celtic Trails, operated by local people offering a complete package of accommodation, local information, maps, gps, baggage transfer and transport. Enjoy the spectacular Welsh countryside on the 47 mile (75.6 km) coastal path along the Llŷn Peninsula leading to Bardsey Island or walk the whole way around the Llŷn from Caernarfon to Porthmadog, 95 miles in all.

More fun activities in & near Cardiff

Cycling in North Wales

Mountain Bike Holidays with Style

Further Cardiff Information

One way car hire – Will search and compare many leading car rental companies to find the best deals…  

onewaycarhireonline.co.uk

Snowdonia and Anglesey pull in weekend visitors from all over Wales and England. They go here to take advantage of the Welsh mountains, rivers, and forests for hiking, biking, and just to relax in the green countryside.

Snowdonia is a dramatic landscape of deep valleys and high mountains. High enough, in fact, to have served as a training camp for Mt. Everest expeditions! At the same time, Mt Snowdon is easy enough to climb most days, though avoid days of cold weather as the slopes and peak are exposed and much colder than the base levels.

Around the Gwynedd area there are four stretches of Heritage Coast: North Anglesey Heritage Coast, Aberffraw Heritage Coast, Holyhead Mountain Heritage Coast and Lleyn Peninsula Heritage Coast. These provide visitors with rugged rocky coastlines and beautiful sea views all year round.

You’ll also encounter many historical sites. This is a part of Wales dotted with old monasteries and abbeys, as well as forts, castles and much older sites as well. In fact, history here begins in pre-historic times, with ancient burial grounds and pagan holy sites aplenty.

If you’re more into historic homes and gardens, these northern parts of Wales will keep you happy. For example, visit Bryn Bras Castle for its stunning gardens and architecture, or Aberconwy House, where you can view exhibits of Roman times in Gwynedd.

All this nature and history adds up to an ideal destination for culture seekers and adrenaline junkies alike. Here are some of our ideas on what to do in Anglesey & Snowdonia.

What activities

Sailing, Canoeing, Power Boating, Kayaking, Rock Climbing, Paragliding, Mountain Biking, White Water Rafting, Caving, Horse Riding, Cycling and loads more.

Where to go in Snowdonia & Anglesey

Anglesey Walking Holidays
Trekking, walking and cycling holidays on the Isle of Anglesey, Wicklow, Snowdonia and the North Wales Path.

What You’ll need

Bring outdoors clothing, including warm layers year round. Winter can be taxing, with driving wind and rain, so you’ll appreciate good waterproofs. Summers range from hot to damp, so in any case quick drying fabrics come in handy. Spring and autumn are mixed, so come well prepared. As far as sporting equipment, well, anything goes here so take what you have. Wales is known for hearty foods and good beer and cider, so do make sure to pack your appetite too!

Travel sites

Private Escorted Tours of Scotland – Private tours driver guide offering personal driver guided tours around Scotland. Fiona Maxwell has extensive knowledge and experience touring Scotland and specialises in multi activity holidays, historical tours including Whiskey trails and Parliament tours.

Falmouth Photos – Here you will find photos from in and around Falmouth as well as a new photo blog…