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South Newlands Farm Cottages , York
Easily accessible from the A1, M1 and M62 motorways ensuring you are never far from attractions, shopping, history, culture, outdoor activities. York is a 15-minute drive away but there's no need to drive into the city, take advantage of the park and ride service at York's Designer Outlet (leave enough time to visit the Outlet and bag that designer bargain!). The market town of Selby with its abbey, Carlton Towers House and vineyard are on the doorstep. North Yorkshire Moors and east coast resorts are within 1 to 1-1/2 hrs drive. Butterwell Farm, Cornwall Four riverside holiday properties on a private 40-acre estate with direct access to the Camel Trail. An abundance of nature and wildlife, river, valley and vineyard views. All properties have private enclosed gardens and log burners. Enjoy woodland walks in ancient woodland, explore wetlands, ponds and get up close to wildlife. Walking distance to pub, tea garden and vineyard and 10 miles from Padstow on the Camel Trail. Millmoor Farm, Cheshire Self-catering cottages in rural location near Chester on a family working farm. Peace and quiet guaranteed. Short breaks available, pub meals and village shop nearby. Ride-on tractors for children with swings and slides and 20 minutes drive to Chester. These self-catering cottages are in a valley overlooking the picturesque village of Malpas. Hoe Grange Holidays, Derbyshire A peaceful haven with four award-winning log cabins on a working farm with views over the Peak District countryside. Family friendly, excellent accessible facilities. Dogs welcome. With stunning views across the fields, escape the everyday, breath in fresh air and watch the wildlife. Log cabins are fully equipped with everything you need. The perfect base to explore all that the Peak District has to offer.  Corsican Places invites adventure enthusiasts to embark on a journey through Corsica's landscapes with its 2024 walking holidays, now on sale. There is a choice of eight self-guided itineraries, from moderate leisurely strolls to one of Europe's most challenging treks, allowing customers to immerse themselves in some of Corsica's most breath taking scenery and bucket-list adventures.
With over 36 years expertise, Corsican Places collaborates directly with local walking providers, ensuring variety and some of the island's best walking. Marked trails guarantee diverse experiences, the operator's specialist sales team provide personalised advice, while its local provider offers 24/7 on-the-ground support. Tours include: Corsica Island Mystery Tour: A seven-night holiday combining four days self-guided walking at moderate level along footpaths and trails of Corsica's north-west. Providing the perfect contrast between coastal scenery and rugged mountains, pine forests, rivers and waterfalls with natural rock pools, the tour includes character accommodation and traditional food, with an optional fifth day of walking for those keen to explore more. After arriving at Calvi airport, customers are transferred to the nearby train station for the short journey to Corte, once Corsica's capital and where the walking begins. Luggage transfers are included between hotels enroute. Weekend departures are available between May and September, with packages from £1745 pp (two sharing). Price includes flights, accommodation, transfers, map and route notes. The GR20 For experienced hikers, the legendary GR20 trek is a must. Corsican Places offers 14-night packages tackling 13 of the full 16 GR20 sections, as well as seven-night tours and six-day treks through challenging sections of GR20 North or GR20 South. Sample tour: GR20 North: A seven-night bucket-list adventure for seasoned hikers, featuring six days strenuous self-guided walking along one of Europe's most challenging treks. Prices from £1770pp, including flights, accommodation (options include camping and shepherds' cabins), meals and luggage transfers. For bookings and more information, visit Corsica.co.uk or call 01489 866931. (image (c) Corsican Places via Travmedia) I have no personal experience of these tours, just sharing press news  Celestyal has launched a new onboard coffee bar in partnership with globally renowned Italian coffee brand illy.
The venue, Café Nation, is available on the 1266-guest Celestyal Discovery and marks the first-time the cruise line has had a dedicated coffee bar. The ship joined the Celestyal fleet earlier this month. Founded in 1933, illy is one of the most recognisable coffee brands in the world. Its unique blend originates from nine of the best 100% Arabica varieties, sourced from the top 1% of Arabica varieties cultivated worldwide. Guests onboard Celestyal Discovery will have the option to consume illy blend classico, decaf, the four illy origins (Guatemala, Costa Rica, Ethiopia and Brazil) or illy cold brew. The Café Nation menu offers over 90 specialised drinks alongside the option for guests to personalise their orders. The menu includes a selection of barista poured hot coffee beverages, herbal infused teas, creamy hot chocolates, iced coffees and teas. Lee Haslett, Chief Commercial Officer at Celestyal, said: 'We’re delighted to introduce our new onboard coffee venue in partnership with such a recognisable and popular coffee brand. Café Nation not only brings the world-renowned quality of illy coffee to our ships, but also showcases our commitment to providing premium experiences to our guests across the globe'. Throughout the ship, unlimited specialty coffees and a selection of herbal teas are included in the ‘Caffeinator’ onboard drinks package priced at €12pppd and the €47pppd ‘Sky’s the Limit’ drinks package also includes the barista coffee from Café Nation. Additionally, the Café Nation menu items are priced individually for guests to enjoy as they please. image (c) Celestyal More information at celestyal.com or call 0800 411 8038.  The tiny Grand Duchy of Luxembourg is landlocked by Belgium, France and Germany. This constitutional monarchy with Grand-Duc Henri at the helm, has as its capital Luxembourg City. Built on a plateau dotted with ravines at the confluence of two rivers, this banking centre is one of Europe's most prosperous. Generations of listeners may also remember it as the home of Radio Luxembourg which broadcast around Europe for 59 years until 1992. The city is an eclectic blend of old and new where history and high fashion rub shoulders with chic restaurants, culture and – it has to be said - a somewhat slow-paced nightlife. If you’re in town on a Wednesday or Saturday visit the market in Place Guillaume for a dose of local colour. Stalls are piled high with rich textured local wines, stacks of hearty cheeses, homemade preserves and fresh flowers.  photos (c) Mike & Gilly Pickup Click on any image to enlarge Picturesque landscapes greet you wherever you go in this land of meandering rivers, dense forests, green valleys and steep ridges, more often than not topped by a ruined castle. The toy sized village of Vianden, a stone’s throw from the German border, has one such theatrically dramatic medieval castle, particularly beautiful when floodlit at night. It's a calf-wrenching climb to reach it, up a steeply pitched, cobblestoned road, but it's worth it for the king-of-the-world views that await you. From Vianden, take an afternoon’s gentle sightseeing cruise on the Moselle river to Trier and enjoy Kaffee und Kuchen (coffee and cakes) en route. Trier, said to be Germany’s oldest city, is famed for its Roman ruins and bustling market. The Moselle flows through Luxembourg's main wine-producing region and many larger wineries including Domaines Vinsmoselle, offer tours of their cellars with tastings of white and sparkling wines. Nowhere is far from anywhere here. Müllerthal, ‘valley of millers’, so-called because of its abundance of watermills, is known as 'Little Switzerland'. Imposing rock formations date from the ice age, clear silver streams rumble and cascade between boulders while pine, birches and hornbeams reach up towards the skies. The road is lined with bizarrely shaped rocks with strange sounding names like Hölle (Hell) and l'Ile du diable (Devil's Island). Little Switzerland is also popular with hikers and cyclists. Tips for Travellers
  Known for its commitment to responsible tourism and community engagement, Khao Lak's boutique residence The Sarojin has announced the addition of visits to local autistic social enterprise Avautis as part of its 'Sarojin Cares' volunteering programme. This follows a recent $4,000 plus donation directed towards building a new classroom facility, which was completed and inaugurated in November.
Avautis is a social enterprise project developed by The Parent Club of Phang Nga Autistic Persons whose aim is to provide sustainable employment, education and financial support for autistic adults and children. They do this by providing the skills and resources required to operate an organic farm and also to produce and distribute FDA-approved skin care products. These include Avautis Serum, Avautis Facial Cream and Avautis Hands and Nails Cream produced with natural herbs sourced in the area, such as turmeric from Thap Put District in the Phang Nga Province. Promoting inclusivity and empowerment of the local community are values that align with The Sarojin. Including visits to the facilities under the 'Sarojin Cares' umbrella will allow staff and guests who wish to take part to assist however needed. This could include helping clean facilities, assisting with skincare product production, farm maintenance or planning activities with the children. Guests staying at The Sarojin receive a complimentary invitation to take part in the 'Sarojin Cares Days' , monthly team outings to take part in volunteer community work. The resort offers guests the chance to immerse themselves in hands-on activities, get involved with the local community and care for the environment whilst enjoying a luxurious escape. To date excursions have included cleaning in nearby towns, coastlines and waterfalls, longtail boat and bridge restorations, orphanage visits, joining a local facility for disabled children for arts, crafts, games, singing and dancing, tree planting and mangrove restoration as part of the 'One Booking One Tree' scheme. More on The Sarojin and its community initiatives: https://www.sarojin.com/en/khao-lak-resort-sarojin/community-and-environment/ image (c) The Sarojin |
