The Mayflower and Speedwell in Dartmouth Although the annual Thanksgiving Dinner marks the survival of the early European settlers in New England, the less remarked upon, but nonetheless remarkable story, is of the initial obstacles they encountered even before setting sail across the perilous Atlantic Ocean. This is set to change with a series of […]
Discovering Dartmouth
Dartmouth – Heaven on Earth in Devon “Ruby’s going to Heaven for her holiday” announced my young daughter, not registering my look of shocked concern. Further probing clarified that rather than departing to a celestial paradise, Ruby (our trusty motor) was hitting the highway and heading to Devon, a destination which, as I recently discovered […]
A Cottage on the Coast
An idyllic weekend in Tenby, Pembrokeshire A visit to Pembrokeshire is worth the trip any season and in any year but 2018 is Wales’ Year of the Sea, when it is celebrating its outstanding coastal scenery and inviting visitors to special events and attractions, so now is a really good time to jump in the […]
The Restaurant at Drakes Brighton – Review
Sophisticated seaside sustenance at Drakes Brighton: There’s something quite special about a boutique hotel with a good restaurant, especially when you love fine dining as much as me. Having a mid-winter Brighton short break staying at Drakes, a top UK boutique hotel, I learnt that The Restaurant at Drakes had yet again received the highest score for […]
Brighton Short Break at Drakes Boutique Hotel
Brighton’s Best – Short Break Brighton: On a stunningly bright and clear January day, we headed down the M23 to Brighton for a short break and a winter getaway. Brighton is the perfect destination for a quick trip with super fast road and rail connections to London. We were excited to be staying at Drakes […]
The Beach at Bude – A Luxurious Short Break in Cornwall
The Beach at Bude – A luxury boutique hotel in North Cornwall North Cornwall is part of England I know and love. I grew up there and then, thirteen years ago, having spent several holidays in Boscastle, we bought a holiday cottage there. We loved the area and wanted to have somewhere to stay as […]
The Grand Hotel, Eastbourne
English Seaside Deluxe in Eastbourne: For a quintessential English seaside luxury hotel experience, look no further than The Grand Hotel, Eastbourne, part of The Elite Hotels group.Built in 1875 and nestling between the sea and the chalk downs of Beachy Head, The Grand maintains a respect for its Victorian and Edwardian heritage but with a […]
Historic Eastbourne – Fine English Heritage and Culture
A Cultured Seaside Resort – Eastbourne: A month or so ago, while I was busy working on another project, Adrian was lucky enough to spend a mid-week break exploring Eastbourne. It’s one of those places that really deserves a visit, not only because of the beaches, there’s so much more on offer. Here are just […]
Culture, Cannons and Cuisine in Eastbourne
Mid-Week Break in Eastbourne: Eastbourne has the reputation of being the prim maiden aunt of the south coast. It doesn’t have Brighton’s raffishness or Hastings’ artsy scene, but it does have extraordinary scenery on its doorstep and some hidden treasures which I’m hoping to uncover on this trip. If you are driving then you should stop […]
Brighton Revisited
Brighton Rocked – a Short Trip to Brighton. It’s a short trip from London to Brighton. The journey from London by train takes any visitor out from the City then south through suburban Croydon. If you are lucky, the train will speed through the ugly dormitory towns of Surrey, stopping briefly at East Croydon and […]