#Dorset Surf Schools

[rosemaryhelenxo]

Shaka Surf - Branksome Surf School - PR {Press Event}

If you’re looking to learn how to Surf on the Dorset coast, look no further than Shaka Surf Branksome situated on Bournemouth’s sandy shore. Earlier this summer, I was invited as part of Bournemouth Bloggers to stop by and review a session with the lovely folks at Shaka Surf. Based at Branksome Dene in Poole Bay, Shaka Surf is the only Surfing England Accredited surf school on the south…

[elskamo]

Thanks for tagging me! I won’t tag anyone myself as I can never remember who likes being tagged and who doesn’t so if you see this on your feed take it as an open invite to reblog with your own answers.

1. Are you named after anyone?

When I legally changed my name I decided to be named after two people: my first name and surname are taken from my Granddad Ron while my middle name Alistair is the male version of Alice from Alice in Wonderland as I used to cosplay her.

2.  When was the last time you cried?

Technically crying now as I have an eye infection and it will not stop tearing. If that doesn’t count then I’ll go with late night Tuesday/very early morning Wednesday while my chronic pain was flaring up and stopping me sleeping. I forked out some money for a TENS device that will hopefully shock the pain out of me so fingers crossed that works.

3. Do you have kids?

NOPE. I don’t have children, am happily child free, and from what I’ve learnt about my body it’s highly likely that I’m not fertile or would experience significant difficulties having kids anyway. I am debating eventually having my eggs stored so I can donate them provided there’s nothing wrong with them however I’m still on the fence about this.

4.  Do you use sarcasm a lot?

I’m British. Enough said.

5. What’s the first thing you notice about people?

Erm... this is a hard one to answer! Probably whether or not they’re in certain fandoms, I tend to zone in looking for fandom merch on their person or if they use certain catchphrases. 

6. What’s your eye colour?

Blue, though currently my good eye is very, very red. Curse you eye infections, why do you always go for the one eye that can actually see!?

7. Scary movies or happy endings?

I’m very picky about scary movies and given how much shit has been happening over the past year I am definitely more in need of the comfort things so definitely happy endings.

8. Any special talents?

Not sure if any of my talents count as special. Off the top of my head I’m super awesome at getting all the coins and cards out of the Wizard of Oz machine at my local arcade.

9. Where were you born?

I was born in Poole, Dorset which is located in the south of England. Unfortunately I’m still here despite the ongoing decline in the area and general shit the UK is putting itself through. Ideally once I get a new job I’m gonna start putting more money aside so I can eventually pay the fees necessary to relocate to Canada so I can be in a similar time zone to most of my online buds.

10. What are your hobbies?

Drawing (sketching and digital art), writing, pottery, watercolours, incredibly basic video game and animation creation, reading, Warhammer, and video games.

11. Have any pets?

Unfortunately no, but I do have a shit ton of Pokémon on the PokéFarm website if that counts for anything. 

12. What sports do you play/have played?

I’m not so big into sports but I do enjoy going to the gym, walking, boxing, swimming, bodyboarding, and surfing. I used to follow Quadball but even with the rename I still struggle to distance it from She Who Must Not Be Named so I don’t keep up with it anymore not have I played for quite some time now. I have recently gotten into Blood Bowl though. Go Thunder Valley Greenskins!

13. How tall are you?

Either 5′5″ or 5′6″, I haven’t been measured for a while and the last couple of times I was the measurement kept fluctuating somehow. 

14. Favourite subject in school?

Definitely English with IT as a strong second. Although I was better at English Language and it has a stronger link my writing both professionally and in my spare time, I preferred English Literature because who doesn’t love reading and analysing books?

15. Dream job?

Ideally one that’s flexible and hybrid, where I can flex my creative muscles but still do the data things. I’m trained for a career in digital marketing but looking for a new position isn’t going so well right now. Hopefully I have some more luck soon! In the meantime I’ll have to rely on making some extra money through my Ko-Fi and Redbubble accounts *hint hint*

Get to know me (Take Two)

Thank you for the tag @catastrophicmind !! I absolutely love doing these!

Are you named after anyone?: My mom picked my name out (thank God because my dad insisted on naming me Olga 💀). She tells me all the time that I was completely named after the Archangel Gabriel. She’s heavy on religion, especially the angels sooo yeah. My middle name (which I will never reveal unless you’re somehow invited to my wedding) was picked from some show she watched. She really liked one of the characters name and just stuck with it. Starts with an L, that’s all I’ll give. Don’t ask either lmao.

When was the last time you cried?: Yesterday. Did you guys see my posts freaking out about Niall’s new album and the new little teaser for The Little Mermaid? I was freaking tf out.

Do you have kids?: Not yet. I would love to have a big family because (on my moms side) I’m an only child. If we’re going to talk altogether then I’m the oldest of 4. I’m such a perfectionist that I even want my children to be even in terms of numbers and gender 😅 I would love to have two boys and two girls. Though I know when that time comes I’ll be thankful for whatever God throws my way.

Do you use sarcasm a lot?: I was originally going to say yes, but if I really think about it I only use it when I’m annoyed. Like if someone asks a super obvious question or makes me mad. Other than that I don’t find myself using it.

What’s the first thing you notice about people?: The way they introduce themselves. I’m very friendly and always go into meeting new people very warmly. I can tell a lot about a person from that. One, if they don’t say hi with even a bit of a smile I’m immediately wary of them. Not that you need to smile, but just saying hi is a huge deal for me. Two, if it’s in a professional setting it’s the handshake that will determine it. I was always taught to give firm handshakes, so if for some reason someone doesn’t reciprocate that I’m kinda like uhhh what is this??

What’s your eye color?: Dark brown. And let me stress that they are not black! Everyone always goes, “Gaby with the black hair and eyes.” NO. Both are very dark browns. In the light, like full on sunlight, they lighten up a bit and they get very very pretty. Idk people say Pisces have those gorgeous eyes that can somehow see into the soul. I guess?? Lol

Scary movies or happy endings?: Happy endings! I’m a romantic 🥰 tbh I only watch scary movies when I want to be held. Ik how freaking corny of me. I’ll be like, “Marcus can we watch horror movies tonight 🥹” boom, locked and loaded. Now for my happy endings? I’ll watch that whenever and usually alone because he absolutely hates it lmao

Any special talents?: I can recite every single Duncney line in existence. I can recite every word to the Best Song Ever music video. Honestly anything involving One Direction I can recite and I can name every song within a second.

Where were you born?: Philadelphia!! I spent a few years in South Carolina, curtesy of Marcus. It’s lovely, but it’s too slow paced for me so I was miserable. We came back up to Philly almost a year ago now.

What are your hobbies?: I’m always reading, writing, going to the gym, making content. Tbh I’m very open in learning new things so I’m always busy. But those main four are what really interests me.

Have any pets?: Yesss! I love my little fur babies omfg 🤗 Marcus and I have a dog, he’s an Eskipoo named Ranger. He’s literally the cutest and sweetest little baby! Then I have my cat, Nala. Idk what type she is, my bisabuela found her mom who ended up pregnant and that’s how I got her.

What sports do you play/have played?: I’ve done dance, soccer, and martial arts. This was all at a pretty young age too. I did all three from 1st grade, so about 6 or 7 up until I was like 14. Other than those I haven’t gotten into any sports. I like watching them though, I get so into it.

How tall are you?: I feel personally attacked with this question 😂 I’m 5'2", and by the reaction from that one post a few months ago almost everyone I have on here is taller than me, including their younger siblings.

Favorite subject in school?: English, and Language Arts!!! That’s my bread and butter right there. Though in college I really loved my Legal Studies course and whatever my major and minor had me in (Psych and Criminal Justice).

Dream job?: If I could do anything in the whole world and not worry about money I’d be a stay at home mom. Judge all you want, I would give anything to wake up and set up a whole day for my (future) children. I’m going to be the type of mom that volunteer’s at school, goes to their games, plays, etc, is always giving them the most creative parties and whatever else. I’m so ready for that! 🥹 BUT also, to be famous lmao. Total drama really engraved that in my brain. So I guess what I’m doing now as leisure and with my new job can seriously get me to that point. When I was younger I wanted to be President so for most of my middle school/early high school years I was like “I’m going to be lawyer” and tbh I teeter on that a lot. Also, a writer. I write a lot for myself so there’s many things I don’t publish and it’s just for me. But I feel like writing is something I’d enjoy more if it was like how I do it now, no pressure, no deadlines, just me giving what I feel at the moment. When there’s all that outside pressure it kinda ruins it? If that makes sense.

This was so much fun! I loved it!

Tagging: @aprincessnotaqueen @art-by-mira @doitcody @drunkonabroomstick @duncans-unibrow @elskamo @hollowboobtheory @hbalto @marshunter06 @ragamuffin-bites @sentimentalslut @sugarlesswriting @unawarer @withjust-a-bite @wibbadoestd @xwhatababex

[chaoswillfallrpg]

AMIRIA MACNAIR is TWENTY-TWO YEARS OLD and a MIXOLOGIST at THE HOPPING POT in CARKITT MARKET. She looks remarkably like MAYA HAWKE and considers herself NEUTRAL. She is currently TAKEN.

→ OVERVIEW:

If you asked Amiria about her early childhood or her father she’d be unable to give you any clear answers. Between what she thought had been real, what her mother had told her and what her older brother, WALDEN MACNAIR had said, Amiria no longer knew what the truth was. What she did know was that her father was never around and whilst she loved her mother dearly, Walden was more of a parent than both ALEXANDER and JOSELINE MACNAIR. Her family of three lived in a fairly large home located in a wizarding village in Dorset, not far from a Muggle town called Wimborne. Whilst there were often Muggles just down the road, Joseline had warned that they were a bad influence and Walden seemed to stay clear of them, so Amiria did too. She adored her older brother, following him everywhere he went and constantly asking to play. Despite Walden being four years older than her, he would never say no, constantly being a gentle giant. She loved him for that. As they got older and Amiria started to find herself, becoming more independent by the day, her stubborn and strong willed personality came out. Instead of following Walden she’d come up with an idea and ask him to accompany her. Looking back on it all, she’s sure Walden was just going along with it all to prevent any arguments. Amiria had a good childhood regardless of the odd dynamics their household had and would never wish to change it. Sometimes she would wonder what it would have been like if their father hadn’t left, but Amiria would shake the idea out of her mind, contempt with her reality.

When Walden left for Hogwarts Amiria found that she had the whole house to herself. Whilst she originally thought it would be exciting, it turned out to be rather lonely. Joseline would leave in the morning and stay out late only to return and ramble on about how great her own life was; how important it was for Amiria to make friends in high places. Unlike Walden, Amiria would simply roll her eyes to that idea. Who cared who she was friends with? All that mattered was that she actually cared for her friends and that they cared for her. In her mind it was always better to have a small group of friends who would stand up for you rather than a large circle who barely knew your name. She’d spend the next four years finding ways to entertain herself, be that sneaking out the house and into the Muggle library in the next town or playing around with a junior potions set that her mother had got for her. As the months passed, Amiria would find herself growing eager for her brother to come home each holiday, to spend time with him like they had when they were younger. But Walden seemed to change with each holiday. He was moodier, less energetic and it seemed as if the light inside him had been snuffed out. Amiria knew that her brother had changed. That he was doing as their mother had asked simply to keep her happy; those around him changing him for the worse. She promised herself she would never follow in his footsteps. That she would never change to suit those around her and instead be true to herself no matter what.

When she was sorted into Slytherin upon arriving at Hogwarts, Amiria instantly knew that making friends might be a challenge. Whilst she appreciated the complement of being labelled as determined and cunning, she did not appreciate being sorted into a house which everyone on the train described as evil. Although she was in the same house as her brother and it was lovely passing him in the common room, she had seen what his fellow Slytherin friends had done to him. Her first instinct was to cross all her classmates off her potential friends list, all except one. SEVERUS SNAPE was a curious boy and whilst he hung around the likes of REGULUS BLACK and JASPER AVERY, she couldn’t help but find herself sitting next to him in potions, a subject which they both adored. She didn’t push her boundaries with him nor did they speak but she hoped that there was a mutual understanding between them that they were friends as they worked on potion assignments together and made an efficient team. Determined to push herself out of her own comfort zone and try new things, she’d skip her own classes only to attend the same class but for the Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff group. This is how she met BERTHA JORKINS whom she sat next to in the class and GILDEROY LOCKHART whom she had a healthy argument with before being asked to leave by the professor once noticing that she did not belong there. Amiria would continue to bounce between friendship groups, meeting new people yet refusing to conform to a single clique and whilst many gave her a side eye, she managed to make a few other friends including CARADOC DEARBORN and DEMETRIUS MCLAGGEN.

It was only when she found herself trying out for the quidditch team one year that she met GWENOG JONES and EDGAR BONES, both who were passionate about quidditch and willing to help her learn whilst simultaneously being lovely people. Amiria could not understand how Walden had ended up with such rotten apples as friends when Hogwarts was filled with amazing students. Whilst Amiria did not make the quidditch team, she was given kudos for trying and was continuously invited to parties by Gwenog or Edgar. She’d spend the days before stealing ingredients for the potion storeroom and brewing a mighty strong yet delicious moonshine. Her moonshine was a hit amongst those who were willing to drink at school parties and before long she had a list of orders. She began to spend her nights in the bathroom, brewing away and filling orders. All the hype that her moonshine business got her also attracted unwanted attention, especially from the likes of NARCISSA MALFOY who at first offered friendship but when Amiria turned her down, seemed to suddenly have it out for her. Suddenly Amiria had found her own rotten apples to avoid and the school seemed to light up with red flags, including her own brother. When she approached him asking why he bullied so many students, she could see the physical strain on his face before he answered brutally, in a way that would make their mother proud. Whilst she would always love Walden, it was at this point that she realised that they were on two different paths in life and that they would probably never see eye to eye again.

It was in her final years at Hogwarts where Amiria finally settled down and focused wholeheartedly on her school work. She felt satisfied with her Hogwarts experience as she had tried everything she had wanted to try and met a few amazing people whose company she truly enjoyed. Whilst she didn’t have a best friend or a ‘close circle’, she didn’t mind. She enjoyed her own company and felt like that was perfectly fine. Well, at least that’s how she felt until she laid eyes on PANDORA FORTESCUE. Amiria had no idea what love felt like but she thought that this might be it. Whilst she never acted on her feelings nor would she ever admit them to anyone, they were definitely strong and she continued to admire Pandora from a distance. Since then her heart has pined for someone she could share every moment with. To distract herself so threw herself into her potion textbooks and studied hard for her N.E.W.T.S. Whilst all her friends around her spoke about their potential careers or their auror training acceptances, she had no idea what she wanted to do with her life after school. She did not want to work behind a counter all day selling potions to mundane customers and hating her life. No, she wanted something more exciting where no day was the same as the last. Her mother suggested asking Walden for help and perhaps working in the experimental magic department at the Ministry but she refused. The last thing she wanted to do was give her mother the satisfaction of bending to her will or asking her brother for help. No, she wanted to do this on her own and find something that worked for her, something that made her happy. 

After Hogwarts it wasn’t long until Amiria was couch surfing from one friends apartment to the next. She refused to stay at home with her purist mother whilst she found a place of her own. It was at this point that she saw an opening for a mixologist at the Hopping Pot and she applied for the position. The owner, GABRIELLE BRAITHWAITE was impressed by her own brand, hiring her and offering to buy her recipe. She gladly accepted and began work straight away. What started as a way for her to make money soon became a job that she adored. She’d meet new customers everyday whilst maintaining relationships with frequent drinkers. Her moonshine was now on the menu as a drink that anyone could order and Gabrielle had offered her a room in the Braithwaite flat upstairs. This is how she met ZYRELL BRAITHWAITE, whom she worked with in the bar and BETTY BRAITHWAITE, who worked at The Daily Prophet but would also spend the evenings helping her cousin and Amiria close up. Late one night Amiria was taking out the trash when she overheard a conversation down the back alley. The two men were speaking about a ‘Dark Lord’ and his secret army. Amiria instantly knew that her ears were never meant to hear the conversation and quickly hurried back inside before they noticed her. Normally a conversation like this would slip her mind, but she could have sworn on Merlin’s beard that one of the voices had been none other than Severus Snape. She needed to know more, who was this Dark Lord and what army? It seemed like it was time to pay one of her old friends a visit because whatever it was, it didn’t sound good. 

→ ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

Blood Status → Half-Blood

Pronouns → She/Her

Identification → Cis Female 

Sexuality  → Homosexual

Relationship Status → Single

Previous Education → Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry (Slytherin)

Societies → TBD

Family → Alexander MacNair (father), Joseline Garrick (mother), Walden MacNair (brother)

Connections  → Pandora Fortescue (object of affection), Zyrell Braithwaite (friend/colleague), Severus Snape (friend), Bertha Jorkins (friend), Gilderoy Lockhart (friend), Caradoc Dearborn (friend), Demetrius McLaggen (friend), Gwenog Jones (friend), Edgar Bones (friend), Betty Braithwaite (friend), Narcissa Black (adversary), Gabrielle Braithwaite (boss)

Future Information → N/A

AMIRIA MACNAIR IS A LEVEL 5 WITCH.

[tripstations]

5 great reasons to holiday in the UK this Autumn

As we begin to say goodbye to Summer and hello to the first whisper of Autumn, you may think that the perfect time to set off on a UK adventure is fading into the distance, only to emerge again with the arrival of Spring next year. However, Autumn comes hand in hand with some of the best times to pack your bag and explore the coast and countryside. Keep this quiet, but some might say it’s a better time to explore than the summer! We’ve picked five reasons to enjoy a staycation in Autumn, whether you’re venturing to the far reaches of Cornwall, through Devon, Somerset, Dorset, Sussex or the Isle of Wight.

Dog friendly beaches

With most beaches open again to dogs, now’s the best time to make the most of them. It’s gloriously quiet which means it’s a wonderful time to enjoy the empty stretches of sand on offer, where your dog (and you!) can take a dip in the sea any time of day. Generally, autumn provides us with some gorgeous crisp sunny days perfect for walking along the shore and spending an afternoon watching the comings and goings of the tide, hot chocolate in hand.

Cosy evenings

Cosy autumnal evenings are the perfect opportunity to head back to your cottage after a day of exploring. Relax on the sofa with a good book in front of the toasty fire or slip into the warmth of a hot tub with a glass of something tasty. Really, what’s better?

Peace and quiet

We’re all for enjoying the summertime but the school holidays ending for another year means it’s a lot quieter around. This makes it a great time to explore the local area without getting stuck in traffic and with parking spots aplenty! Whether you’re venturing out to a nearby beach, a woodland walk, or a gorgeous town or village, it’s a great time to explore and reap the benefits of the tranquility that autumn brings. It’s also the perfect opportunity to get a spot on the beach for those gorgeous sunsets!

Great time for activities

There’s plenty of activities to keep you busy in Autumn, including surfing whilst it’s quieter but the water temperature’s still pleasant from the warmth of the summer sun. It’s also one of the best times of the year for walking – witness the change in nature as the leaves start to fall, head off on colourful autumnal walks in that crisp, refreshing air and feel the crunch of leaves underfoot. There are also many wonderful events taking place, including food and literary festivals and free Heritage Open Days for a step back in time at no cost to you.

Photo opportunities aplenty

The changing of the seasons brings a shift in nature’s colours, making it an optimal time for photography. Capture the golden and amber hues of the foliage in the countryside, photograph the complementing colours of the sunrise and the sunset and take advantage of the golden light that sticks around for much longer this time of year.

Where’s your favourite place to visit during the autumn?

Simon Tregoning is the Chairman at Classic Cottages. Classic Cottages have an exclusive portfolio of places to stay, handpicked in the best locations from the tip of far west Cornwall across the south of England and over on the Isle of Wight.

If you would like to be a guest blogger on A Luxury Travel Blog in order to raise your profile, please contact us.

The post 5 great reasons to holiday in the UK this Autumn appeared first on Tripstations.

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[landscapeusa]

The Modern Rules Of Cox Tractor | cox tractor

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[cynthiabryanuk]

Best September Holiday Deals: 15 UK Destinations With Late Summer Savings

If you’re not tied to the school holidays, September can be the perfect time to get away. Not only will you skip the summer crowds, you’ll find there are brilliant September holiday deals to be had with rental home prices taking a dip after peak season.

Holiday Deals: Best Places To Travel In September

We’ve analysed pricing data for late summer holiday home stays to reveal 15 great September holiday deals. What’s left is a list of UK destinations where you’re better off waiting until September to book your stay instead of August—with savings as high as 43%! So, if you’re wondering where to go in September, you’ve come to right place! Take a look and claim your very own September steal right here on Holiday Lettings.

Savings below are based off the average cost of a two-bedroom rental (weeklong stay) in September 2017 compared to August 2017.*

Maenporth, Cornwall

Cornish charm at its very best? Maenporth fits the bill! Situated just two miles to the southwest of Falmouth, and boasting a beautiful beach and secluded cove, it’s the perfect coastal getaway for late-summer travellers. September stays here come at a tempting price, too, with savings of up to 43% compared to high summer.

See all rentals in Maenporth

Crantock, Cornwall

Another hidden gem in Cornwall, Crantock is a tranquil coastal village just a couple of miles south of Newquay. Ideal for surfing away from the crowds or treating your dog to a fun walk along its glorious beach, Crantock is one of the UK’s best places to travel in September. Save yourself up to 40% by booking a late summer holiday in this charming destination.

See all holiday homes in Crantock

Marhamchurch, Cornwall

Tucked away near Bude, this sleepy Cornish village is a perfect choice for a peaceful September getaway. Visitors can expect to pay far less (up to 39%!) for Marhamchurch holiday homes in September, given that it’s a touch further inland from popular holiday hotspot Bude and moving out of peak summer season. But you’ll still enjoy its charming thatched cottages and surrounding rural landscape.

See all rentals in Marhamchurch

Bigbury-on-Sea, Devon

Situated in the North Devon Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, Bigbury-on-Sea is surrounded by Devon’s beautiful countryside and coast. Its stunning sandy beach is ideal for families, and it’s a popular spot for all kinds of surfing. So if your group likes a mix of fun beach activities and quiet coastal walks–Bigbury sits right on the South West Coast Path–you won’t go far wrong. With savings up to 39%, this is a September holiday deal you shouldn’t pass up.

See all Bigbury-on-Sea holiday rentals

Saunton, Devon

Three miles of golden sand lines the North Devon coast at Saunton. Make the most of the tail-end of summer sunshine with a September escape to this beautiful part of the South West. Not only will you enjoy its gorgeous coast and some of the best surfing to be had in the UK, you’ll save up to 35% on holiday home bookings.

See all holiday homes for rent in Saunton

Harlech, Gwynedd

Standing proud near the coast in northeast Wales you’ll find the historic town of Harlech. Its forbidding castle is one of the area’s most awe-inspiring sights, sitting atop a rocky outcrop and dominating the surrounding landscape. Book a stay here and you’ll not be too far from the picturesque peaks of the Snowdonia National Park, either–quite a backdrop for a September holiday.

See all holiday homes in Harlech

Woolacombe, Devon

One of the South West’s most iconic seaside resorts, Woolacombe has been attracting holidaymakers for decades… and with good reason! Aside from its three miles of wonderful golden sand, it’s part of the North Devon Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. September visitors to holiday homes in Woolacombe can expect to save around 35% compared to August. Where’s my bucket and spade?!

See all Woolacombe holiday rentals

Colyton, Devon

Colyton, a historic village in Devon’s Coly Valley, is next on our list of the UK’s best places to travel in September. Renowned for its friendly local inns and historic reenactments as well as an idyllic rural location near Axminster, Colyton enjoys some of the most unspoilt surroundings in East Devon. So if you fancy a peaceful September escape, explore Colyton and you’ll save up to 35% compared to peak summer stays.

See all holiday rentals in Colyton

Dorchester, Dorset

Packed with historic buildings and interesting walks, Dorset’s county town is well worth a visit all year round–but especially in September where rental prices are as much as 34% lower than July and August. Its charming Brewery Square brings a Covent Garden vibe to the town’s social scene, but venture a little further and you’ll discover nearby attractions of ancient Maumbury Rings and Maiden Castle as well as beautiful Borough Gardens.

See all Dorchester holiday homes

Brixham, Devon

Devon’s delights await visitors in the charming coastal town of Brixham—as seaside towns go, it’s as charming as they come. Foodies will love sampling the delicious seafood on offer in its specialised fish restaurants, while history buffs will be in their element discovering its swashbuckling past. Plan an off-season September stay in Brixham and you’ll save up to a cool 34%.

See all holiday homes in Brixham

Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire

Pembrokeshire is a patchwork of picturesque rural landscapes and captivating coastal scenery, with highlights including St David’s Cathedral and some of the UK’s best beaches. For September holiday deals (and up to 35% savings), one of the best places to choose is Haverfordwest. A little further inland compared to the county’s usual hotspots, it’s still within easy driving distance of all the main attractions.

See all rentals in Haverfordwest

Lanivet, Cornwall

Houses cluster around Lanivet village green, painting a picture of English rural charm. This spot in Cornwall is just south of Bodmin and ideally placed for driving to both Padstow and the Polperro Heritage Coast. It’s also prime Poldark country, and a perfect base for exploring the many filming locations nearby!

See all rentals in Lanivet

Newquay, Cornwall

Ever-popular with sea and surfing enthusiasts, Newquay usually features high up on the summer holiday sun-chasing charts. And that comes, predictably, with a hike in peak season prices. However, we’ve found that stays in this hotspot crash by around 34% in September compared to August. So, grab your surfboard and catch the tail-end of the summer sun in Newquay this year!

See all holiday homes in Newquay

St Merryn, Cornwall

Another Cornish gem with impressive September savings (up to 34%) is St Merryn. As you drive into the village, you’ll see a sign saying “Seven Bays for Seven Days”. This’ll give you some idea of the stunning coastal scenery this quiet parish has in store for you. The Trevose Head Heritage Coast exudes a beguiling sense of natural beauty, tracing an intricate thread of coves, cliffs, and beaches from Porthcothan all the way round to Padstow.

See all St Merryn holiday rentals

St Ives, Cornwall

Artistic powerhouse and cultural capital, St Ives is without doubt one of the summer’s most sought-after staycation destinations. But, as our latest data shows, you’re guaranteed a better value stay here simply by shifting your dates from August to September. Just a week or two can make the difference, with prices tumbling by as much as 34%.

See all holiday homes in St Ives

*Savings are according to TripAdvisor Rentals data. Holiday Lettings is a TripAdvisor company.

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The post Best September Holiday Deals: 15 UK Destinations With Late Summer Savings appeared first on Holiday Lettings Blog.

from News And Tips For Traveling https://blog.holidaylettings.co.uk/september-holiday-deals-best-places-to-travel-affordable/

[healthfitness04]

Festival Season

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With summer in full swing, we can see a heap of amazing Festivals looming on the horizon. We’ve made a list of the best.

BEST FOR:

FITNESS BUNNIES

Lovefit Festival, St Clere Estate, Kent, July 28-31

This year sees the arrival of a brand-new weekend of fitness, wellbeing and music
in a beautiful forest setting. Spend the day working out with an al-fresco spin class or gym session in the forest, a paddleboard yoga session on the lake or a Muay Thai lesson overlooking the Kent Downs. Unwind in the forest spa, where you’ll find bubbling hot tubs, saunas, hammocks and organic treatments. Then dance the night away, as the forest transforms into a music festival. Take your tent or upgrade to glamping accommodation, from bell tents to deluxe tenthouses. COST: from £140, including three days and nights’ entrance to the festival camping, plus four complimentary classes a day; lovefitfestival.com

Refresh Festival, Wellington Country Park, Berkshire, September 2-3

If you’re on the hunt for a family-friendly fitness festival, look no further than Refresh. Olympic runner Dame Kelly Holmes will host the debut festival, which has eight different zones including workout stages, yoga and Pilates workshops, nutritional advisors, spa treatments, healthy food stalls, shopping and chill out areas. The festival is keen to become the most environmentally sustainable festival in the market and is encouraging families to attend by including a children’s sport day and plenty more activities for little fit bunnies. COST: Early bird family tickets start from £55; refreshfestival.co.uk

BEST FOR:

BEACH LOVERS

Boardmasters, Cornwall, August 9-13

Inspired by the freedom, adventure and the creativity involved in surfing and music, Boardmasters is an exhilarating five-day festival of surf and music action. It spreads across two stunning Cornish locations: Fistral Beach, the UK’s surf mecca where the world class International Surf Competitions are held; and the beautiful Watergate Bay, where you can catch live music from acts including Alt-J, Jamiroquai and Jake Bugg. Party into the night, then revive your senses with a Boardmasters Beach Yoga Session on Fistral Beach or a coastal run, before spending the day surfing or lazing on the beach. New this year, the Holistic Tent at Watergate Bay will offer luxury therapies including massage, reiki and holistic massage. COST: Weekend tickets from £169 including Wednesday to Monday entry, camping and access to Fistral beach for
all competitions; boardmasters.co.uk

BEST FOR:

YOGIS

Soul Circus Yoga & Wellness Festival, Gloucester,
August 18-20

Yoga fans will love this new fusion festival. Start your day soaking up nature with
an outdoor sunrise yoga class, then immerse yourself in a whole range of yoga sessions – from rocket to restorative – led by top teachers. You can fuel your practice with delicious, wholesome food sourced from local farmers at The Circus Kitchen and Dining Room. Then, enjoy cosy supper clubs at the Counter Bar; music from a mix of genres, or dance your way into the night with the DJ after-party in the woods. COST: A weekend ticket costs £199 including classes, workshops and entertainment; soulcircus.yoga

Wanderlust 108, Victoria Park, London, September 23

Calling all yogis, the producers of the largest yoga lifestyle events in the world, is bringing Wanderlust 108 to London. Wanderlust has worked with leading fitness brand Adidas to create a ‘mindful triathlon’, which includes a 5K run (or walk), a 90-minute yoga class and a guided meditation. After you’ve completed your ‘mindful triathlon’ you can enjoy live music, delicious food, and a free class such as aerial yoga, acro-yoga, hooping and walking meditations. COST: Early bird tickets start from £26.25; wanderlust.com/108-events/london/

BEST FOR:

CULTURE VULTURES

Port Eliot Festival, St Germans Estate, Cornwall,
July 27-30

Set in the beautiful, rolling countryside and gardens of St Germans estate, this magical celebration of words, music, food, fashion and imagination is the original boutique festival and still manages to feel like a private garden party. For four days, you can roam the grounds wild swimming in the estuary, picnicking under the trees, watching cooking demos from top foodies, including Gizzi Erskine and Thomasina Miers or listening to gigs in Cornwall’s oldest church. When you’ve sated your cultural appetite, head to Lark’s Haven, an oasis of Zen with hot tubs and saunas to soothe weary limbs and workshops to help you find inner peace. Stretch out, meditate and dance in The Yoga Yurt with sessions including Vinyasa flow, Disco Yoga and Tibetan chanting. There’s also medicinal foraging sessions, astronomy adventures, a host of activities for kids from a Forest School to Amazing Art Cart workshops, and so much more. COST: A weekend ticket costs from £165; porteliotfestival.com

BEST FOR:

FOODIES

Foodies Festival, Syon Park London and across the UK. from May 27-29 and dates through the summer.

Dubbed the ‘Gastronomic
Glastonbury’, this series of
(non-residential) food-loving
festivals has a healthy living
focus this year so you can
indulge, guilt free! The largest
food festival in the UK, it visits
Newcastle, Birmingham, Edinburgh, Oxford and more, celebrating local food and small producers, talented chefs and bakers. Alongside cookery demos from top foodies and chefs, Q&A sessions with nutritionists and stars including Nadia Hussain, there’s meditation, yoga classes and live music. COST: London Day tickets cost from £12; weekend tickets cost from £25; foodiesfestival.com

The Big Feastival, Cotswolds Farm, Kingham, Oxfordshire, August 25-27

Looking to make plans for the August bank holiday weekend? Jamie Oliver and Alex James’ six-year-old event The Big Feastival combines the perfect mixture of great food and music for an amazing weekend on the idyllic Cotswolds Farm. Enjoy classes and demonstrations from world-class chefs, award-winning street food, live music from British favourites, and plenty of fun activities for teenagers and little festival-goers. COST: Day tickets start from £37 and weekend tickets from £104.50. You can also book a campsite from £104.50; uk.thebigfeastival.com

BEST FOR:

ECO QUEENS

Wilderness, Cornbury Park, Oxfordshire,
August 3-6

If you love camping and communing with nature just as much as you enjoy the music and partying side of festivals, head for Wilderness. Set in a private nature reserve with ancient forests, undulating meadows and a fresh-water lake where you can wild swim, there’s space to breathe and dream while you enjoy the magic. With no day-guest passes, it’s a truly immersive experience. You could spend the entire festival lazing at The Lakeside Spa, being pampered in the Neals’ Yard yurts or trying the huge array of yoga, Pilates and Barre classes. But then you’d miss the pop-up banquets from chefs such as Ottolenghi, amazing theatre performances and stimulating debates, clubbing deep in the forest at The Valley and rocking out to this year’s headliners including Grace Jones. COST: From £168.50 for a weekend ticket; wildernessfestival.com

BEST FOR:

MUSIC FANS

Bestival, Lulworth Estate, Dorset, September 7-10

For all you die-hard music lovers, Bestifval will quench your desire for a classic summer music festival, packed with a myriad of national and international talent. Catch renowned British band The XX as they headline the event with their brand new album I See You, or boogie down to iconic 90s band A Tribe Called Quest’s sounds. It’s not all about the music, though – there is heaps more to do. Stroll up to the Slow Motion arena where you can take part in yoga and spin classes, nature runs, or relax in hot tubs and enjoy healthy food. All this, with the beautiful Lulworth Castle as a backdrop! COST: Adult weekend tickets start from £196, with discounted options available for students and children aged under 17 years old; bestival.net

Camp Bestival, Lulworth Estate, Dorset, July 27-30

If you can’t make Bestival but still want a taste of the action, why not check out it’s little sister event, held earlier in the year, in the same location. The festival includes similar activities to Bestival, such as the Slow Motion wellness and fitness area. Again, live-music trumps the festival with almost 100 incredible performances to enjoy over the weekend. More family-orientated, Camp Bestival features a huge kids’ area where you can let your little ones run around and explore the many activities including soft play, circus skills, go-carts and shows. COST: Adult day tickets start from £65; campbestival.net

News

Article Ellie Robinson Jul 13, 2017 from http://www.womensfitness.co.uk/news/1708/festival-season

[mlephoebe]

Slam Dunk Part 1: Volunteering

Before I delve into this blog post I think it highlights very strongly how I need to stop starting posts and then moving on to others. What I have done for the past 5 posts is start them then move onto the other to then later come back to. Which is stupid as it messes with the flow of things. As you will find here it has been nearly 3 weeks since Slam Dunk not 4 days lol. Anyways enjoy…

Some cool things happened in the month of May and some more sick adventures are to be had in the coming months, so I felt it was only right to blog about it. I’m not going to blog in chronological order of events as what’s the fun in that, aye? Plus the past weekend is still very much lodged in my mind and 4 days on my mind is now settling and coming to terms that Slam Dunk 2017 is overrr, :’(

As soon as Slam Dunk 2017 tickets went on sale back in November I purchased my south date ticket at 9am on the dot. And until February thought I was attending only as a fan of the festival, but I was wrong. The midlands date, held in Birmingham would be where I volunteered, and would also be one of the best/worst days of my life, let’s just say travel is not my forte.

Now where would the fun be if we were to plan our trip to Birmingham in plenty of time? Nowhere! We would have been relaxed and calm as a clam, but in reality not even 12hours before we had to be at the venue did we decide to sort out travel. Now I will outline here that Tom is a genius and had his head in the game when it came to travel but that was something the rest of us lacked. I’ll point out here that I went to Slam Dunk with fellow students Tom and Michael and our friend Beth, just so you have some idea who ‘they’ are. The thought of paying for a train up to Birmingham international then paying for a coach home worth another £28 sounded too pricey for the rest us all, bar Tom. But in hindsight was a very smart idea and something we all should have done, as it would have prevented Michael, Beth and myself being stuck in Birmingham with nowhere to stay until 9:10am the next day. But we survived, just, and I am here to tell the tale.

So at 6:30am we just about caught the train to Oxford. When I say just I mean they let me on the train with a card with ‘pay at Oxford’ scribbled on it. This was due to the fact the train was just pulling in and there was not enough time to buy my tickets due to the hassle Michael had. Now you may be thinking you should have gotten to the station earlier Phoebe. But Michael for one had been there since half 5 due to his hiccup in purchasing the wrong ticket.

So once we had settled on the train we could relax, we were actually on our way for a very long day ahead.

Once arriving at Birmingham International at around 8:30am we headed to the entrance outside hall 1, which was where we were told to meet Michelle, the lady in charge. (Who by the way was lovely, and I will definitely be helping out again, major shout out[ps1]  to Michelle) Once exiting the train I had my first fan girl moment of the weekend, I’d say the calmest and shyest, actually still bummed I didn’t say hi. Like we were on the same carriage, how?, I could have spent the ride chatting cool shit with her. By her I mean Hannah from the fantastic band Creeper, who btw are insane live, really cool band I would highly recommend checking out. Any ways, once I noticed her she looked like she was in a rush and I was slightly confused because I knew Creeper weren’t playing Slam Dunk, any how it turns out it was her, as little did I know until seeing Frank Iero’s Instagram the next day that she was selling his merch at Slam Dunk, so that’s a pointless cool story of my stupidity, but shout out to Creeper lol.

Right time to get into actual volunteering role as this blog is typically for the purpose of outlining work experiences over the summer, and some of you viewing this may be here solely for that purpose only, so I do apologise about the rambling, but Slam Dunk is always a beautiful time and so I need to blog about it all, probably going to split this into 2 parts, volunteering and enjoying the event because boy did I have a wonderful time, painful time, but wonderful none the less. (I ended the weekend broken, physically broken).

9:15am was our meeting time, along with 8 other people who were here for the same reason as us we headed into the main hall to get our hi-vis jackets and be taught the ropes of the role. The role being wrist-banding and scanning on entrance. I know what you may be thinking, how boring but I kid you not it was actually really fun and the time flew by. Plus the Fireball stage was in the same hall, hid from us by a curtain but the sound was very much still there, YAYYY, which meant I could hear Zebrahead even if I could not see them. Also my 15minute break lined beautifully with the Ataris’s set, which made my day. If you did not know they are one of my faves and seeing them live was something I thought I would never get to do, so my dreams have been made.

I keep getting side tracked but we started our role at 10:30 and carried on through till 5pm. At 3pm the queue was starting to die off, after scanning in a total of 12,000 people it was starting to take its toll, especially on our legs. We were told by Michelle that half of us could leave but who was the question. Pizza and drink vouchers were at offer for those who stayed, honestly not really making much of a difference to most and to us either but we pulled the small straw and had to stay later which in the end wasn’t too bad as it saved us £7 on a pizza each and we got to help break down the set up of the lines, take down signage and the barriers, which was different and quite fun. Plus getting to wear the hi-vis longer made us all feel like part of the crew, haha.

What I enjoyed most about wrist banding was getting to talk to so many different people. The lines were divided, 2 for women over 18, 2 for over 18 males and 2 for under 18s, one for females and one for males. The reason for the divide was due to the Manchester bombing the week prior to the event, bag and body checks were vigilant plus women were checked by women, men by men. I paired up with Beth and we were in the over 18’s Male queue, which was great fun. The amount of middle aged men dressed like 2002 Deryck Whibley made my absolute day, also was hilarious for later when we got to enjoy the festival as everyone remembered us, and we moshed out little hearts out to Enter Shikari with people we had wristbanded. When I say moshed out little hearts out I quite literally mean it, for the last 2 songs I could not even clap along I was a broken being, emotionally and physically. Take this picture of my arm, this picture was taken not even 30 seconds after I left the floor from watching Seaway, one of the best shows of the weekend. I swear Seaway just get better and better everytime, they always put on an incredible show. Singing into the mic made me feel very special.

The funniest thing about Seaways set was me walking onto the floor before they began and telling Michael and Beth how I wanted to crowd surf during their show but was slightly bummed as the crowd was not big enough, however once Seaway began the crowd turned absolutely nuts, honestly the crowd despite its size was better than the crowd for Bury Tomorrow on Monday, something I will touch on in a bit, the difference between venues, which was very real. However, I was battered during their set, Beth had to take a 5minute breather and I was in the mist of it all, an experience I never thought I was experience during Seaway.

 Crazy small world story time during their set though was how I bumped into a girl I went to secondary school with. I’m from Dorset so a fair bit away from Birmingham, this girl still lives their and I bumped into her during Seaway, how crazy is that? It had been about 3 years since I had seen her and was nuts that I noticed by getting her dreadlock caught on me lol.

Well for a post that was simply started to outline my amazing time volunteering at Slam Dunk has become quite lengthy so I will leave it here and start part 2, a post about the rest of my time at Slam Dunk 2017 and the adventures that were to come later in the evening at Birmingham. Let’s just say train stations are quite comfortable and there is something warm and comforting about them.

 [ps1]

[alexander40wong]

50 Ways To Keep The Kids Busy In February Half Term

February half term is nearly upon us. Luckily, there’s lots going on all over the UK during the holiday – even if the weather is cold.

If you live in London, we’ve put together 50 great day trip ideas to inspire you. But if you want to pack up the family for a longer road-trip, we’ve researched where you can go for the best weekend breaks in the UK, from Scotland right down to Lands End in Cornwall.

And if you fancy flying away from the winter and grabbing some much needed sun – here’s where’s hot in February.

But to those of you staying at home, whatever your budget and location, here are some other things to do (including freebies).

What’s on in London

The Great Court at the British Museum

1. The British Museum has recently become one of the most popular places to visit in London and it has free workshops over half term too.

2. The V&A Museum of Childhood is a great place to go in east London and it’s also free. It has great collections of toys throughout the ages and oodles of interactive exhibits to tinker with. Adults can also get all nostalgic too, and this half term, it’s been turned into a giant board game, to celebrate the museum’s Game Plan: Board Games Rediscovered exhibition.

The cavernous V & A Museum of Childhood, which has a cafe & meeting area right at its heart

3. Go see a matinee – there are plenty of family friendly theatre shows in the West End during the February half term. Try The Lion King – brilliant music, stunning sets, a fantastic cast in an array of costumes. or the magical Matilda, which is really funny.

London’s off-West End and fringe theatre scene is also great for kids, and even has venues devoted entirely to younger audiences. Islington’s famous Little Angel Theatre has puppet shows suitable for ages 3-11, while the Unicorn Theatre’s The Hunting Lodge is aimed at tweens and teens.

4. Comedy Club 4 Kids features well-known comics, performing special child-friendly sets, in venues around London – including Wimbledon, Deptford, Hayes and Soho. There will also be shows during the half-term week in Chichester, Guildford, Brighton, Salford, Leicester, Ipswich and Norwich.

5. Grab the kids for a James Bond-esque experience on the Thames Jet Boat Rush. Along with the speedy bits there is also a bit of irreverent commentary on the London riverside landmarks. Or head up high and visit the View from the Shard.

St James’s Park

6. Use your loaf and feed the ducks in St James’s Park for free. The Royal Parks always have some half-term wildlife activities on offer, many of them free. To discover our picks and find out what’s on – read our post on London parks.

7. The Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in Stratford is home to the London Aquatics Centre, one of the finest swimming pools in the world. You can also try cycling at the Velodrome, tennis at Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre, and lots of other sports over the school holidays.

8. While you’re in the park, take the lift up to the top of the ArcelorMittal Orbit, see the sights, and then climb (or slide) back down.

Night View from ArcelorMittal Orbit

9. Head to the Discover Children’s Story Centre in Stratford for the fantastic world of Dr. Seuss.

10. Book in for some indoor ice-skating at Alexandra Palace.

11. Hit the South Bank and wander down London’s cultural Thames walk, stopping off at one of the family-friendly cafes and restaurants alongside the river. This half term, the Southbank Centre will be hosting the Imagine Children’s Festival, which will feature an exciting programme of events, from readings by renowned children’s authors, to workshops, and even the first ever London gig by smash hit Finnish children’s heavy metal band Hevisaurus.

12. Spend a memorable day in the Tower of London. You’ll learn all about the Tower’s history (more than a thousand years of it) and meet the people that actually live and work there too.

13. Take the kids to see something different at one of London’s independent cinemas. A lot of the venues run special kids clubs during half term or screenings for toddlers groups.

Ritzy (c) Picturehouse Cinema Group

14. Challenge the kids to some vintage board games at Draughts in Haggerston – they have more than 500 games to choose from.

15. There’s loads of free half-term activities at the Museum of London – including walking tours marking the Great Fire of London anniversary and a Crossrail Place-inspired craft session at the Museum of London Docklands.

16. Take a jaunt around ZSL London Zoo and get to know over 650 species of wildlife, including many exotic and endangered species. Make sure you check when the feeding times and daily demonstrations are by the keepers.

Science Museum (c) V&A estates department.

17. Experiment in your week off at the Science Museum in London’s South Kensington.

18. Pop along to the Natural History Museum, South Kensington. There’s lots of interesting exhibits to capture the imagination of kids and adults alike – and they have half-term activities for the children to get involved with.

19. While you’re in the area – explore the magical and historical collections in the Victoria & Albert Museum with 1000s of items of cultural significance from all over the world.

V&A Exterior (c) Victoria and Albert Museum, London

20. Get the guided Harry Potter Bus Tour of London for Two and visit the sites used in the film – including Gringotts Bank, and Platform 9¾ at Kings Cross.

21. Buy an Oyster card and spend the day taking the bus around town. Routes 24, RV1, and 11 are good, cheaper alternatives to a sightseeing bus.

22. Visit your local library to pick up some books. Even better, make a day of it and visit the world renowned British Library, it’s modern and right near Kings Cross St Pancras. Their current exhibition looks at pantomimes, circuses and entertainment in the Victorian era.

23. Head out of town to Surrey and visit the Maze, Henry VIII’s State Apartments, the vast Tudor kitchens and more at Hampton Court Palace.

Sunken Garden at Hampton Court

24. Walk along the Thames path and take in the sights – get your free walking guide here.

25. And don’t worry if the weather is wet – we’ve got plenty of suggestions for things to do in London when it rains.

Outside London

Bedfordshire 26. Stroll across acres of beautiful English countryside and watch lions, tigers, elephants, hippos and giraffes out and about in one of Europe’s largest conservation areas at ZSL Whipsnade Zoo, in Dunstable.

27. Get out of the cold and visit Bodyflight near Milton Keynes, where you can try indoor skydiving and fly around the specially-built chamber. You could go for an adventure pass and also try indoor surfing and climbing on a day experience pass.

Birmingham

28. @ Think Tank is the is a series of events for kids at the Birmingham Science Museum, which includes workshops, animation and story telling. Lots of activities are free or under £10.

East Sussex

29. Meet racoons, meerkats, lemurs and snakes at the animal experiences at Drusillas Park in Alfriston. You can feed some of the animals, while others you have the chance to pet and get to know on your behind-the-scenes tour.

Dorset and Hampshire 30. Saddle up this half-term and mosey on down to the New Forest and try the Cowboy Riding Trail. This two-hour horse trail will give you a chance to discover more about the wildlife in the forest as well as having a barbecue at the end to share your experiences.

If you fancy making at longer break out of it with your posse – we’ve found plenty of things to do in this beautiful county, including Poole Harbour, Bournemouth and more things going on in the New Forest – Dorset weekend breaks.

View from Alum Chine of Bournemouth Pier. VisitEngland & Bournemouth Tourism

Oxford

31. The famous university city has several world class museums – here’s nine other suggestions for things to do in Oxford.

Brighton 32. We’ve found the best places to have breakfast with the kids, and also picked out 15 of our favourite Brighton hotels to stay in. Here are 44 things to do in Brighton to keep you entertained.

Brighton Pavilion

Peterborough 33. Every half term the Peterborough Museum has activities for youngsters of all ages. This half term, there’ll be hands-on sessions every day on Superhero Science.

Cumbria 34. Get your walking boots on, grab a packed lunch and take the kids for a stroll around The Lake District – home to children’s author Beatrix Potter and The World of Beatrix Potter.

If you’re planning on going for more than a day – read our suggested places to visit in the Lake District – England’s largest National Park.

West Somerset

35. Get the family on the historic West Somerset Railway train. You’ll visit the Exmoor Coast and Quantock Hills on your tour as well as Dunster Castle and Minehead on this hop-on-off steam train.

Durham 36. Diggerland is a fun-packed theme park with 18 different rides, drives and attractions using real full sized construction machinery set in 15 acres of adventure park surroundings. They also have parks in Devon, Kent and Yorkshire.

East Yorkshire 37. The Deep in Hull is one of the biggest aquariums in the UK and has more than 3,500 fish including sharks and rays. If you have small children and live fairly locally – get a day plus pass which allows unlimited entry for a year (some t&cs apply).

Hull has also been named 2017’s UK City of Culture, and there’ll be several family-friendly events happening over the holidays, including The Really, Really Wild Day, a day of activities inspired by the Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition.

The Making of Harry Potter (c) Warner Bros. Studio Tour

Hertfordshire 38. Head to Hertfordshire and Kings Langley for The Warner Bros. Studio Tours – the Making of Harry Potter. See the Great Hall, Hagrid’s Hut and the Knight Bus, and discuss all this over a butterbeer at the end of the tour.

West Yorkshire 39. Eureka! The National Children’s Museum in Halifax have a whole range of activities for disabled children, with their Access all Areas programme.

Spinnaker Tower (c) Portsmouth City Council

Portsmouth 40. The Blue Reef Aquarium has more than 30 living displays, as well as informative talks and feeding demonstrations. They also have Aquariums in Hastings, Newquay and Tynemouth. If you’re in the area – here are our 15 things to do in Portsmouth.

Ripon, North Yorkshire 41. The Lightwater Valley Theme Park has a thrilling line-up of rides, including Europe’s longest rollercoaster, The Ultimate, as well as the stomach churning mighty Eagle’s Claw and The Hornet’s Nest.

Scotland 42. We’ve found 100 Things To Do In Edinburgh, from visiting the zoo to seeing the city in a whole new light at the Camera Obscura experience. If you want to make it a longer trip – here are our suggestions for a week or weekend break in Scotland.

Cairngorm National Park Highlands Picture Credit : P.Tomkins / VisitScotland / Scottish Viewpoint

Staffordshire

43. Head to Drayton Manor. Rides and attractions are set in 280 acres of lakes and parkland – including Apocalypse, the world’s first stand up tower drop, and Shockwave, Europe’s only stand up rollercoaster.

Gloucestershire

44. Bark up the right tree at Westonbirt, The National Arboretum near Tetbury. This half term’s activity programme includes tree bark-themed craft sessions and challenges. The Arboretum also has more than 15,000 tree and shrub specimens from around the world, nature walks and specially created trails for different age groups.

Warwick 45. Find out how they battled it out in the medieval days on a trip to Warwick Castle. Among the historical highlights this half-term are a live show featuring the world’s largest working catapault, and a maze inspired by the wildly popular Horrible Histories series.

Windsor 46. Go to Legoland Windsor., and take a stroll around town too. You’ll easily spot the castle and can walk over the bridge to Eton riverside. We’ve put together 18 Royally Good Things To Do In Windsor to keep you and the kids entertained.

View from York Minster

York 47. Have a grand old day in York. Choose from over 50 attractions in and beyond York with a York Pass – including Europe’s largest Gothic Cathedral York Minster, the Jorvik Viking Museum and the world famous Castle Museum. Tickets from £20.

Wales 48. SeeWales Gower Walking Tour includes glorious golden stretches of sandy beaches, spectacular cliff top views and ancient monuments – all part of the UK’s first Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Venues all over the UK 49. Try a visit to Sea Life – based in Scarborough, Loch Lomond, Brighton, Birmingham, Blackpool, Great Yarmouth Great and Weymouth .

50. Take to the treetops at Go Ape, with family tickets available. They have nearly 30 locations up and down the country from Aberdeen in Scotland to Exeter in Devon. Just strap on the safety harness and roam across the forest canopy.

Feeling inspired?

Walking in London

We have plenty of places to stay in London if you’re thinking of heading down for the week or weekend during February half term.

For the latest London events – check out our weekly what’s on in London round-up.

The post 50 Ways To Keep The Kids Busy In February Half Term appeared first on lastminute.com Blog.

from lastminute.com Blog http://www.lastminute.com/blog/50-ways-to-have-a-fun-filled-half-term/

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VOTE: THE UK’S MOST POPULAR SUMMER MUSIC FESTIVAL

Over the last few decades, music festivals have become a much-loved and fun feature of the UK’s summer calendar. From world-famous headline acts to eco-friendly arts and crafts, the sheer diversity of festivals on offer over the summer months is staggering. Everyone’s heard of Glastonbury, but we’re searching the secret side of the summer festival calendar to find the UK’s best emerging music festival.

Here are the contenders… but which is your favourite? You have until 25th July to cast your vote!

Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

Shambala Festival

Shambala is a special place where you play, revitalise, make lots of new friends and return to the world fuelled-up on the beauty of being alive. Over its long history, the festival has always stayed true to the principle of “purposeful hedonism”. This means throwing the best party, with as little impact on the environment as possible, and inspiring people to make a difference.

The theme for 2017 is Open Hearts, Open Minds, Open Sourced: a look at how openness, collaboration and sharing might be essential to our future. Over 200 diverse musical acts will provide the soundtrack for this year’s adventures – expect show-stopping musical gems and discoveries from all corners of the globe.

Boardmasters

Boardmasters Festival returns to Watergate Bay and Fistral Beach from Wednesday 9 to Sunday 13 August 2017. Combining music with surfing, skating and BMXing, the festival has been a huge success year after year. This year sees Alt J, Two Door Cinema Club and Jamiroquai headlining, with loads more acts across the bill, including Stormzy, The Vaccines, The Flaming Lips and many more.

Camp Bestival 2017

Helping to celebrate the festival’s 10th anniversary at Lulworth Castle, Dorset, are Mark Ronson, Madness, Brian Wilson, Holly Johnson, All Saints, Leftfield, Anne-Marie and many more. With family fun and theatre from School of Rock – The Musical, Mr Tumble, Dick and Dom, Mister Maker, The Bear & The Piano live, and more, it’s guaranteed to be an unforgettable event for the whole family. You’ll also be able to marvel at spectacles galore including The World’s Largest Disco Ball, the World’s Biggest Bouncy Castle, Caravanserai and The Feast Collective, all at a castle campsite by the sea.

Reading and Leeds Festival

One of the biggest parties of the summer, the iconic Reading & Leeds Festival consistently plays host the very best in modern music. From global headliners, majestic rock royalty, cutting edge grime and dance figureheads and arena-sized comedians, Reading & Leeds boasts the biggest names, sounds and unmissable festival moments of the year.

Boomtown

Boomtown is one of the UK’s most innovative independent festivals which leads the way in terms of set design and production values. Offering its 60,000 attendees a fully immersive, theatrically-led experience, with hundreds of actors bringing the nine uniquely themed districts to life along with the mega stage sets, it is a festival experience unlike any other.  

From mind-blowing stages to intimate street venues, Boomtown offers over 120 music venues to discover a soundtrack of a vast spectrum of musical genres including folk, dub, soul, funk, reggae, world, drum and bass. Boomtown’s large family area (including Kidztown, family camping, family car park, forest school, activities and workshops for all ages) means it’s perfect for the entire family to enjoy!

Sunflowerfest

Sunflowerfest is Northern Ireland’s only independent three-day festival of music and arts on the magical Tubby’s Farm in Hillsborough just outside Belfast. Festival organisers put the emphasis on world-building with a new takeover theme each year. From steampunk and retro-futurism to Ancient Viking settlements, Sunflowerfest dares to be different each year.

This year’s ‘A Parallel Universe’ theme sees ambitions turn to transcending science fiction across six stages of music, interactive arts and some of the finest food Northern Ireland has to offer – all while keeping a close check on environmental impact. This family-friendly festival boldly goes where no festival has gone before!

Festival No.6

Taking place over the weekend of 7-10 September in the magical village of Portmeirion, Wales, Festival No.6 is an intimate, bespoke banquet of music, arts and culture.

The eclectic live line-up includes The Flaming Lips, Mogwai, Bloc Party, Rag’n’Bone Man, Laura Mvula, Kate Tempest, The Cribs, Jagwar Ma and many more. There’s also an exciting 50th anniversary celebration of Sgt. Peppers and The Summer of Love with The Royal Liverpool Philharmonic & The Bootleg Beatles.

Also on the bill for 2017 includes DJ sets from Goldie, Hercules and Love Affair, Joy Orbison, Benji B, Joe Goddard Live, Mr Scruff, Horse Meat Disco, Justin Robertson, Gerd Janson as well as an arts and culture programme that includes The Brythoniaid Welsh Male Voice Choir, Maxine Peake, Steve Davis, Ian Martin plus many more. Acts will perform across the entire site, by the whimsical Italianate architecture of the village, the historic town hall, piazza, Bristol Colonnade, the picturesque Estuary stage, the atmospheric woods and the promenade along the River Dwyryd.

THE LLANDUDNO JAZZ FESTIVAL

Welcome to a weekend of the most amazing live jazz music at the fabulous Bodafon Farm Park, overlooking the Llandudno Promenade. Three days and nights of pure jazz awaits with a great line-up of jazz stars from all over the world including Alan Barnes, Neil Yates, Clark Tracey, Dave Newton, Greg Abate, Art Themen, Jim Mullen as well as some new faces – Sara Oschlag and many more. With camping and caravan areas available with all the facilities you could need, your jazz weekend will certainly be a memorable one.

SOUTH WEST FOUR

Photo credit: South West Four festival

This August Bank Holiday weekend, Clapham Common will be echoing with the beats from South West Four. A “bucket-list festival” for performers and attendees alike, a superb line-up will grace the main outdoor stage; Tinie Tempah, Pendulum Live, Deadmau5 and Duke Dumont top the bill, with a long list of supporting artists. For a high-energy and thrilling end to the summer music scene, there’s nowhere better than SW4.

BELLADRUM TARTAN HEART FESTIVAL

Franz Ferdinand, Sister Sledge, Feeder, KT Tunstall and The Pretenders… that’s just a taste of the musical talent on offer from 3 – 5 August in Beauly, Inverness. A celebration of the Scottish, “Bella” even has its very own signature tartan for festival-goers to don while they’re there. Don’t miss out on becoming part of the clan this summer!

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The post VOTE: THE UK’S MOST POPULAR SUMMER MUSIC FESTIVAL appeared first on The Holiday Lettings Blog.

from News And Tips For Traveling https://blog.holidaylettings.co.uk/uks-most-popular-summer-music-festival/