Quirky Traveller's Tales

The staycation is now the trendy way to unwind over the summer – why head abroad when the UK has so much to offer? The growing trend for ‘glamping’ and ‘staycations’ have even attracted celebrities to the scene, including pop star Mark Owen and model Nell McAndrew.

Touring with Towergate are giving away four holidays in four great British holiday locations. The tour will visit Norfolk, Cornwall, Cumbria and Camarthenshire where each of the winners in each stage of the tour can get involved in activities, ranging from the adrenaline fuelled to the ultimate in relaxation and discovery. So … which ones would you choose?

Discovery, wildlife and walking – Norfolk , Reedham Ferry

Norfolk is a real treasure trove of wildlife, nature reserves and coastal discovery. Blickling Hall, for example, is a beautiful house with exquisite gardens. Take your time looking around the property and grounds to make the most of the scenery and peaceful atmosphere. For a brush with nature by the sea, visit Blakeney Nature Reserve. Here you’ll get a great up-close look at the seals and wide variety of bird life which inhabit the area. Alternatively, if you like your animals with a bit more bite, take a walk through the shark tunnels at Hunstanton Sea Life Centre.

 Water, food and fun – St. Ives, Cornwall

No UK holiday article would be complete without a mention of Cornwall. The most South Westerly corner of the UK is famous for its pasties, swashbuckling past and above all, its beautiful, activity filled beaches. We’ll be visiting St. Ives where our winners will be learning to surf over three days as well as visiting other outstanding places such as Lizard Bay. They’ll also be indulging in a traditional Cornish cream tea at the famous Minack Theatre.

Inspire, revive and relax – Eden Valley, Cumbria

Cumbria is renowned for its rugged landscape which attracts hikers and outdoor enthusiasts. The natural beauty of the area is a treat for the eyes where as the luxury spa at Armathwaite Hall provides a treat for the rest of your body! The steamer boats at Ullswater transport you across Britain’s most beautiful lake against the back drop of lovely Lake District fells. If however, you prefer to travel on foot, why not take a stroll around Acorn Bank Gardens where you can enjoy the summer air and a bite to eat in the tea rooms.

Castles, land and folklore – Pembrey, Carmarthenshire

Throughout Wales you’ll find a huge amount of history,  myth and legend. When Touring with Towergate visits Pembrey we’ll be finding out about “Creepy Carmarthen” – a spooky town tour which uncovers the dark secret of the town’s greatest hero as well as finding out where the ghosts walk! Don’t worry if you’re easily spooked as we’ll also be sending our participants on a pony trek across the beautiful landscape of the Gower Peninsula.

Be a part of Touring with Towergate and win a holiday to one of these locations!

If you’ve got the bug to visit one of these cracking UK holiday destinations, enter Touring with Towergate for you chance to win a week’s stay in one of the above locations plus the activities mentioned and more up to a total value of £2000. Visit Touring with Towergate for more details and If you’re new to caravanning – check out our Beginners Guides.

This article was brought to you by Towergate Insurance – a specialist insurer offering cover for a range of leisure vehicles, boats, holiday homes and travel activities.

With winter on its way out and summer fast approaching, many of us are starting to think about that long awaited holiday. For time-poor families, getting away from it all offers the perfect opportunity to reconnect with loved ones.

According to a recent Daily Mail article, a holiday really is good for you. Aside from the obvious benefits of sunshine and fresh air, we eat better on holiday, exercise more, laugh more and sleep better, so investing money in the right break for you and your family is important.  Holidays add to our general sense of wellbeing, but it’s also important that it’s relaxing. This means finding the getaway that suits our family’s needs.  Seasoned parents accustomed to travelling with the tots in tow know that picking the right venue for the yearly getaway is vital when holidaying with children, and ensuring that the whole family will have plenty to keep them entertained while they are away is the key to a fun filled, stress-free break.

Weather is also an important factor. While the UK is great when the sun is shining, the unpredictability of our climate is often a major turn off for families, especially those with young children and teenagers.  With this in mind, the Canary Islands continue to rank in the top five holiday destinations for families looking for a chilled out week in the sun.

 Tenerife, with a manageable average flight time of just over four hours, is a popular choice. The largest of the Canary Islands, Tenerife offers year-round sunshine, modern resorts and various opportunities for day-trips and sightseeing.  The island is famous for its unusual lunar-like landscape, and a trip to Teide National Park is not to be missed: a cable-car ascent to the top of Mount Teide provides spectacular views of the surrounding landscape and great photo opportunities for the family album.

Siam Park – Tenerife

Another attraction to add to your Tenerife hit-list is Siam Park Tenerife. This is Europe’s biggest water-park and offers something to entertain all ages, from tots to teens. There’s a wave pool which will keep the toddlers happy, scream-inducing rides and slides for those hard-to-please teenagers, and a mini-aquatic park just for the kids.

Siam Park is extremely popular so it’s wise to book your family tickets in advance to avoid disappointment and to get the best price – sites such as Attraction World enable you to pre-order tickets and have them sent straight to your email inbox. It’s fast and convenient and will save you time and money while you’re away.  There’s also the option of purchasing a Siam Park twin ticket which combines entrance to Siam Park and Loro Parque, another top Tenerife attraction.

But that’s just the start: there’s plenty more to see and do on the island for days away from the beach. Families looking for educational days out may wish to take a trip to the Pyramids of Güímar – six rectangular pyramid style structures which are thought to date back to the 19^th Century.  The Botanical Gardens, one of Spain’s oldest botanical gardens, is also well worth a look with over 3,000 specimens of the world’s most unusual plants and trees.

They say that families who ‘play together stay together’, and with the options of sun, sea and sightseeing, Tenerife and its attractions ticks all the right boxes  when it comes to family fun in the sun …

This article is brought to you by Attraction World.

Did you know Tenerife has one of the biggest Carnivals in the world? Every year thousands of people visit the island for a lengthy festival of craziness, colour, exhuberance and yes, quirkiness.  You can read about my magical day at Tenerife Carnival here.

In this fascinating article in the World Travel Blogger Series, Linda Wainwright tells how a 1990s film triggered a trip to one of America’s more out-of-the-way places. 

The movie “Message in a Bottle” inspired my interest in the Outer Banks of North Carolina and via subsequent reading of Nicholas Sparks, I realized that location is as much a character in his work as  any protagonist.  So what was so special about this skinny string of islands off the North Carolina coast?  During a trip to the USA, I decided to see for myself.  With a couple of free weeks, I flew to Raleigh Durham and drove to Nags Head, in the middle of the island chain. Sitting in my hotel room, an electrical storm raging overhead, disappointment set in. What I’d seen so far was nothing like the remote area I’d imagined. The main drag appeared to be tourist tat and surf shops. Was I, I wondered, a victim of Hollywood hype? 

By morning, the storms gone, I strolled the beach in peace, collecting shells, taking snaps and dreaming of living in one of those wooden houses with steps down to the white sand. In the afternoon I drove to Kitty Hawk, scene of man’s first flight, and the Wright Brothers’ Museum, and wondered at the dearth of equipment and excess of ambition which drove them.

The next day I crossed to Roanoke Island, where I began to appreciate the area’s complex history. It’s one of pirates, shipwrecks, and ghosts in an area known as The Graveyard of the Atlantic. Along its shores lie wrecks from the early pioneers, treasure ships, the American Civil War and from World War II. The name ‘Nag’s Head’ is said to come from the wreckers, who tied lamps to horses tramping the shoreline, fooling ships into thinking they were the lights of boats bobbing safely in habour, luring them to break up on the coast. But the biggest mystery of all is the Lost Colony. The first English settlers arrived in 1587, but when a supply ship returned three years later they had disappeared without trace, and no-one has ever discovered exactly what happened to them. There are theories, of course, but no proof.

Nag’s Head may have disappointed, but my mood lifted as I wandered south along the islands, and away from the busier spots. I explored beaches where fishermen lined up along the tideline; saw a lighthouse which was moved in its entirety some 2,900 feet when the coastline shifted; walking through woodland one day I came across a tiny, pretty graveyard, marked by picket fencing, discovering that it was a British war grave. Finally, at the southern tip of Hatteras Island I came to the point where the road ran out, and the only way to Okracoke, the next island, was by ferry, a larger version of the one which plies Lake Windermere in the Lake District, UK.

Landing on the thin sliver of 13.5 miles, where the infamous pirate Blackbeard met his death, I finally felt that sense of isolation and differentness apparent in Sparks’ books. Here was a small community, a mixture of locals proud of their history and a vibrant group of new-comers, artists, writers and folk seeking a simpler life.

I found dunes of white sand where turtles return to lay their eggs; another immaculate Commonwealth graveyard dating back to WW2; wild horses; more pirate history; an iconic lighthouse, and craft shops full of the handiwork of local potters, artists, photographers and writers.  I was so happy in Okracoke that I didn’t go on to the even quieter islands further south, and finally I understand why the area plays such an important role in Nicholas Sparks’ books – and they definitely qualify as “quirky.”

Linda Wainwright left the damp coast of North West England over 20 years ago and is currently based in the Canary Islands. She says that she’s “re-inventing” herself  for her “Third Age”, which includes indulging in writing and photography, passions she has had since junior school.  For more, visit her blog Island Momma’s New Life, find her on Face Book and follow on Twitter.

There is something wonderfully compelling about the statue of Eric Morecambe on the promenade overlooking Morecambe Bay in Lancashire … Virtually everyone who sees it has to pose for their photo in that dancey, head-on-one side, hopping-on-one foot stance he made so famous in the 60s, 70s and 80s.  He has his back to one of the loveliest views in the country as Morecambe promenade faces out to the beautiful Lake District fells across the deceptively peaceful sands of the Bay.

Eric Morecambe was an English comedian who formed the award-winning double act Morecambe and Wise with fellow northerner Ernie Wise. He took his stage name from his home town of Morecambe in the north west of England.  This larger-than-life statue was created by sculptor Graham Ibbeson and was unveiled by the Queen at Morecambe in July 1999, the same year he was voted Britain’s funniest person of the 20th century.  The sculpture  is surrounded by inscriptions of many of his favourite catchphrases and a lengthy list of the many famous guest stars who appeared on the show.  They include The Beatles, Tom Jones, Laurence Olivier, Glenda Jackson, Shirley Bassey, Angela Rippon and perhaps most famously, the conductor Andre Previn.

Not far along the Promenade is the recently restored Art Deco Midland Hotel, where another famous sculptor, Eric Gill, created some very fine murals and sculptures that grace the building, adding a touch of glamour to this traditional English seaside town.  Opposite is Brucciani’s Ice Cream Parlour next to the red-brick Victorian Winter Gardens, venue for many famous names from the days when Morecambe was a very popular seaside resort, attracting big names from theatre and other performing arts.  It’s still waiting rather forlornly for enough funding to be restored to its former lively wondrousness.

The spirit of Eric must be very happy to see his life-like presence giving so much pleasure to so many – and will hopefully continue to do so for many years to come …

Inveterate traveller Tammy writes about some lesser known places in Cambodia that guarantee a more in-depth look at this fascinating country, in the next of our World Travel Blogger series

“You want a tuk tuk sir?” We have arrived in Phnom Penh and we will be asked this same question many times more during our 12 months stay here in Cambodia. I still don’t understand that, despite the fact that I am indeed a lady, I am always addressed as ‘sir’. I am not one to hold a grudge though and tuk tuks are still our favourite way to travel around in Cambodia. We use them whenever we can, even to destinations further a field. Most people do the usual sightseeing trips whilst in Phnom Penh, such as the Royal Palace, Killing Fields etc, but there are some hidden gems in and around Phnom Penh that not many tourists take advantage off:

• For about $20 you can charter your own 30-passenger boat for a sunset cruise down the Mekong. You can bring your own drinks and food, some friends and enjoy a ride into the sunset.
• Ta Prohm is a temple not to be mistaken for its famous sister at Angkor Wat. It is about 30km south of Phnom Penh and you re likely to be the only tourist there, so perfect for some exploring and finding your inner Indiana Jones.

• The Tonle Bati Lake is about 5 minutes away from the Ta Prohm temple and a perfect spot to relax in a hammock on one of the wooden huts on the water. Even though local kids use the lake for a refreshing swim I wouldn’t recommend swimming in the lake unless you have bowels of steel.

• The Phnom Tamao Wildlife Sanctuary is about 15 minutes away from the Tonle Bati and Ta Prohm. The sanctuary is home to rescued animals such as gibbons, sunbears, elephants and tigers. They were all taken from poachers or abusive owners and are kept here for their safekeeping.

For most people visiting Cambodia, Angkor Wat is the main attraction, but Cambodia has got many more undiscovered destinations to offer, so it is really worth spending some more time in this beautiful country. Kratie is such a place. A a sleepy riverside town in the north of Cambodia, the main attraction here are the Irrawaddy River Dolphins. There are only an estimated 40 dolphins left in this river, so being able to spot them is very special.

Cambodia travel also offers miles of unspoilt coastline that can easily compete with Thailand’s beaches in terms of beauty. Most people go to Sihanoukville or Kep, but whilst there are a few quieter beaches there, the majority is overrun with drinking backpackers now, so we prefer heading out to the lesser known islands:

• Bamboo Island for example can be reached by boat from Sihanoukville and is the perfect spot to unwind from a stressful day of sightseeing. Nobody lives on this island and there are only a handful of huts available for rent, which you can only reach by trekking through the island jungle for about 30 minutes. It doesn’t get more secluded than this.

• Rabbit Island is off the coastal town of Kep and can also only be reached via boat. There are a few local families who live on this island who also rent out some beach huts. There is no electricity here at night, so the perfect place for a true Robinson Crusoe type experience.

About Tammy & Chris hail from Germany and England respectively and are therefore unable to talk about football or history. They are currently working on justice and human right issues in Cambodia. Whenever they get some time off, they travel around South East Asia or plan in which country they will live and work in next. Follow their journey on their blog, Tammy & Chris on the move, on Twitter @TammyOnTheMove, or on Facebook.

Read more top tips for places to visit in Siem Reap, site of Cambodia’s famous Angkor Wat temple, and many more intriguing and interesting places of culture and tradition here.

The UK is home to a number of unique travel destinations, which means it’s ideal to consider if you have a wedding coming up and are looking for an unusual location. Of course, the traditional “destination wedding” generally aims at a tropical beach setting or something of that nature, but if you want to make your wedding particularly distinctive or fun, you may want to consider one of the many beautiful, popular and culturally interesting places the UK has to offer.

Brides at Leighton Hall, Lancashire

Having a wedding away from your home town is not without its complications. However, the important thing to remember is that this is your wedding and people can help you to make it happen.  You can order all the food and drink, the cake and other essentials from Marks and Spencer, book accommodation in advance, and trust that with excellent planning it will all fall into place by the time the wedding day arrives! So, instead of worrying too much about the details in the early stages, concentrate first on picking a fun and interesting destination. Here are a few examples to consider.

The Lake District

Champagne is served at The Gilpin

One of the UK’s most beautiful, well-known and more remote destinations, the Lake District offers you the kind of getaway that most locations only aspire to offer. It is very common to host weddings in countryside settings or by lovely bodies of water, but in the Lake District you can have both and truly feel as if you are in the loveliest place on earth.  And it’s absolutely perfect for the smaller, more intimate marriage ceremony.

Stratford-upon-Avon

Anne Hathaway’s Cottage – photo by MW Errikson

If you are looking for something a bit more quirky, why not host a Shakespearean themed marriage in or around Stratford-upon-Avon, the playwright’s birthplace? This popular tourist destination offers a wide variety of venue and accommodation options for both small and large gatherings for the kind of unique, more unusual wedding that many people long for.

Medieval Castles

Leighton Hall in Lancashire

Similarly, if you want a different sort of themed wedding, or a historical backdrop to your ceremony, there are entire regions full of medieval castles in England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland.  Can you imagine how impressive the wedding photos will look?  Many of these places have convenient accommodation and can offer complete packages for a truly memorable occasion for the happy couple, family and guests.

Blackpool

Blackpool Tower & Beach – photo by Visit Blackpool

Finally, if you like the idea of a seaside wedding and more fun than the typical tropical setting, consider Blackpool. This famous resort offers an almost carnival-like atmosphere with its sea views, iconic Tower, three Piers and Pleasure Beach that is quintessentially English.  This type of destination offers you a great blend of the traditional and unique, with a guaranteed British twist to your special day.

This article is brought to you by Marks & Spencer