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Set against the spectacular Atlantic coastline, the 17,000 acres of the Hartland Peninsula, North Devon, offer a landscape of wonderful contrasts.  Tucked away in the far north west corner of Devon, this area is a haven of peace and tranquillity, perfect for those wishing to escape the hustle and bustle of city life.

As you cross the peninsula, high open moorland and ancient woodland give way to coastal waterfalls tumbling from hanging valleys onto rocky shores. These meandering valleys create sheltered micro-climates which support an abundance of wild flowers, insects, birds and animals.

The Hartland Peninsula has twelve miles of spectacular coastline, including part of the South West Coast Path.  The three mile walk from Hartland Quay to Hartland Point, with views across to Lundy Island from Hartland Point is a must do for any visitor.

Other attractions in and around Hartland include a selection of charming villages nestled in green valleys. Visit St Nectan’s Church, nicknamed the Cathedral of North Devon, or enjoy superb gardens at Hartland Abbey and around the restored water mill at Docton Mill Gardens.  There are many secluded beaches, ideal for swimming, surfing and fishing and some stunning waterfalls.  Hartland Quay has a museum with some amazing artefacts and reports of shipwrecks around the local area.  The quay was originally built in the late 16th century but was swept away in 1887 and the museum shows how the quay worked in days gone by and has some salvage from the ships that have gone down on our dramatic coast.

The Cottage, at West Titchberry Farm, Hartland Point, offers self catering accommodation for up to six people.

The Black and White Trail gives visitors a closer look at the beautiful countryside and villages between Leominster and Kington in the north-west of Herefordshire. The trail, as the name suggests, is characterised by the large number of timbered and half-timbered houses in the area some dating from medieval times, others from more recent periods. 

The official Trail is a 40-mile journey around Herefordshire villages including award winning Eardisland, Weobley with an extraordinary variety of medieval buildings, Eardisley with its giant oak tree, Dilwyn with its village green surrounded by cottages and the two market towns of Kington and Leominster.

Each village is a treasure trove of cottages, inns and shops all constructed with timber framing so characteristic of this wood-rich area.   At the centre of each is a fascinating church, as varied as the ancient black and white buildings grouped around them. 

Many of the houses in Herefordshire date from the 16th and 17th century or earlier, when timbers were often left unpainted to weather naturally,while the panels were painted with pigmented lime wash.  The framework was built from green (unseasoned) oak and the panels are in-filled with lath woven strips of wood and plaster. The idea of decorating timber framed houses by painting the beams black and the panels white is a recent one.

Base yourself in Weobley at one of the self catering cottages offered at Mellington House.  The Hayloft has been converted into an attractive apartment that can sleep four.  The Coach House can sleep up to three people.

Tucked away at the foot of thickly wooded hills, you will discover one of Perthshire’s gems - the cathedral town of Dunkeld which has an air or timeless tranquillity.  Resting on the opposite bank of the River Tay is the Victorian village of Birnam. Together, the beautifully restored buildings and rich heritage are an inspiration for lovers of history, the arts and the great outdoors.

The Dunkeld and Birnam area is an excellent centre for walking much of Perthshire, with a well signposted network of local walks from 3, to almost 12 miles long. These are mainly low level walks ranging from gentle riverside strolls, to somewhat more strenuous woodland walks.  In the splendid woodland area of The Hermitage (NTS) you will find one of the tallest trees in Britain. The walk to the Scottish Wildlife Trust’s centre at Loch of the Lowes is wonderful at any time of the year.  Walk to the Birnam Oak, a fragment of the ancient forest described in Shakespeare’s “Macbeth”.

Visit the Birnam Institute, home to the Beatrix Potter Exhibition & Garden. Beatrix Potter drew inspiration for ‘The Tales of Peter Rabbit’ from childhood holidays spent along the banks of The River Tay.

Golden Pond is a Scandinavian style log cabin offering self catering accommodation for up to eight people.  Nestling in 3 acres of countryside in the Atholl Estates, surrounded by breathtaking scenery of lochs and glens it is the perfect location for birdwatchers, hill walkers, fishermen, golfers and cyclists.

Hatfield, dating from Saxon times, grew to importance as a coaching town.  With the arrival of the railway in 1850 the town developed rapidly and in the 1930’s its further growth was linked to the aviation industry.  Many well-known aircraft, including the Mosquito, Comet and Trident, were built here. 

The Hatfield of today is a very modern town but Old Hatfield, at its heart, still retains a village feel.   Old Hatfield is also the site of the magnificent Hatfield House, a country house set in a large park, the Great Park, on the eastern side of the town.  Built by Robert Cecil in 1611, and home to the Cecil family ever since, the facinating Jacobean mansion contains the surviving wing of the original Royal Palace of Hatfield where Elizabeth I spent most of her childhood.  The house and its beautiful grounds are open to visitors.   

Mill Green Museum and Mill, Mill Green, Hatfield, is a restored and operational watermill that probably stands on the site of one of the four Hatfield mills mentioned in the Doomsday Book. Flour produced here is supplied to a local bakery, who produce the ‘Mill Green’ loaf. The local museum is next door in a 16th century house, home of millers for generations.

Nearby Paradise Wildlife Park has an amazing range of animals including tigers, lions, monkeys, zebras, camels and wolves and what makes it really unique is the fact that you can get up close and personal, meeting and feeding many of the animals. 

The Old Saddlers is a three storey house in Hatfield offering self catering accommodation for up to seven people.

This is Britain’s only truly coastal National Park. Pembrokeshire Coast National Park boasts some of the most spectacular scenery and diverse wildlife in Britain. It’s a spectacular landscape of rugged cliffs, sandy beaches, wooded estuaries and wild inland hills, and a place of sanctuary for wildlife.  In spring the coastal grassland is a colourful blaze of wild flowers; there’s a huge variety of bird life, from puffins to peregrine falcons; and if you’re lucky you might see grey seals, porpoises or dolphins out at sea.

Pembrokeshire Coast National Park boasts a wealth of wonderful places to explore and enjoy. Its stunning coastline offers safe, sandy beaches ideal for families, as well as rugged cliffs and secluded rocky coves.   The 186 mile Pembrokeshire Coast Path is one of 15 National Trails in England and Wales.

The park is also a focus for activities, from hiking and bird-watching to high-adrenaline sports such as surfing, coasteering, sea kayaking and rock climbing. There is plenty for the history buff to explore in the area as well, from prehistoric tombs, Celtic crosses, Victorian forts, the great cathedral of St David’s and the massive castle at Pembroke, as well as a host of small towns to linger in such as the foodie haven of Newport and the fishing village of Fishguard.

Holiday accommodation in the area includes four cottage set around a courtyard at Lower Lamphey Park.  The cottages can sleep between two and eight people.

Broughton was once an important market town, particularly for the woollen and cattle trades. Most of the houses are Georgian, including those in the elegant Square.   In the Square is the ‘Town Hall’, once the market hall, and now the Tourist Information Centre, two slate fish market slabs, and old stocks, which together with the surrounding three storey merchants houses and Town Hall, creates a unique feeling to this historic market town.

Broughton-in-Furness is about two miles from the railway station at Foxfield which is on the scenic Cumbrian Coast Line from Whitehaven to Barrow-in-Furness. The Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway runs for seven miles from the Lake District National Park’s only coastal village of Ravenglass in the Western Lake District, through hidden Miterdale, to the grandeur of the Eskdale valley. The station at Dalegarth for Boot nestles at the foot of England’s highest mountains.  Take a trip on the Lakeside and Haverthwaite Railway in the picturesque Leven Valley at the southern end of Windermere.

Broughton in Furness is a popular spot for walkers and cyclists (the Cumbria Cycle Way and Coastal Way are both nearby). The scenery, nearby nature reserves, the Furness fells, and Lakeland attractions make this quiet village in a Duddon Valley hollow a spot to stop and enjoy.

A short distance from Broughton-in-Furness is the restored remains of Duddon Ironworks, one of the most impressive charcoal-fired blast furnaces in Britain.

Muncaster Castle & Gardens are well worth a visit.  A tour of the house may be made with audio commentary, narrated by Patrick Gordon-Duff-Pennington, the present owner, describing what can be seen in the great hall, the library, the dining room, the drawing room and the bedrooms.
Relish in the 77 acres of 18th Century Gardens with the spectacular rhododendron collection.  Visit Cumbrian Heavy Horses and enjoy the ultimate horse riding experience in the stunning Lake District, riding magnificent Clydesdale and Shire horses.

Base yourself in self catering accommodation at Duddon Bridge, near Broughton in Furness.  The Dower House is a late Victorian house that has been converted into four self catering apartments sleeping two to four people.

Tiverton is a busy market town in the middle of Devon, convenient for both coasts, the Exmoor and Dartmoor National Parks and the cities of Exeter and Plymouth. Originally named Twyfyrde, meaning town of two fords, Tiverton stands on two rivers - the Lowman and the Exe.   The town has a small, busy, shopping centre and a local cinema. There are still many fine old merchant’s buildings in the town. Buildings of note include the Old Police Station which has been restored and converted into private dwellings, and the Council Offices.

Tiverton once used the rivers as a source of power for its woollen industry. Much of Tiverton now centres on the Heathcoat lace factory, which has been in operation since 1816.

Tiverton Castle was originally built in the early 12th century and was the seat of the Earls of Devon for several centuries. It was rebuilt and enlarged in 1293 and now houses an interesting collection of Civil War arms and armour.  The castle is a favourite venue for weddings.  The Tiverton Museum of Mid Devon Life contains the largest social history collection in the South-West of England, in addition to displays on agriculture, industry and transport. The Tiverton Craft Centre is a Victorian shop with showrooms exhibiting many examples of local craft work including pottery, basketwork, painting and slate work.

The Great Western Canal is a pleasant venue for boat trips and trips on one of the last horse drawn barges in the country.  Cycle along the towpath which runs for 16 miles between Tiverton and the Somerset boundary.

There are many interesting places to visit around Tiverton. One of these is the National Trust property, Knightshayes Court, known principally for its beautiful gardens but the Gothic, Victorian house is facinating in its own right.  Knightshayes Court has one of the finest gardens in Devon. The gardens have something of interest each season and consist mainly of woodland and shrubs. There is a wonderful display of spring bulbs, summer flowering shrubs, delightful animal topiary and a pool garden.

Olde Forde House Cottages are two self catering cottages at Pennymoor, near Tiverton that can sleep four and six people.

Loch Lomond, probably the world’s most famous loch, presents the perfect holiday location, set amidst one of Scotland’s ”most idyllic and unspoilt areas, with the largest” expanse of fresh water in Britain and the backdrop of the mountains looming beyond.  The area is renowned for its beauty and tranquillity and offers picture postcard views around every corner.

The loch is 24 miles long and five miles wide and at its deepest point is some 600 feet deep. On the loch there are approximately 38 Islands, some of them inhabited and there is even a hotel on one.

With water skiing, fishing, nature trails and cycle routes there is something for people of all ages.

It is also ideally situated for touring within Scotland with The Highlands to the north of the loch, the West Coast and Islands a short drive away and Central Scotland, Glasgow and Edinburgh to the east.

Just five miles from Loch Lomond is The Bothy, part of former hunting lodge,  now offering self catering accommodation for four people. Only two miles from Loch Lomond, at Arrochar, on the banks of Loch Long, is Argyll View Cottage which can sleep three people.  It overlooks the Arrochar Alps and has unrestricted views of Ben Arthur.

Holt is a lovely rural Georgian Norfolk town with plenty of unusual shops and surrounded by well-wooded parks. Having been completely burnt down in 1708, Holt now has a comparatively modern appearance, with a spacious market place, dominated by a fine cross of Clipsham stone to commemorate the war dead. A jumble of streets and alleyways fan out from the main high street, offering plenty of facilities including pubs, cafes, galleries, and shops to enjoy. There is a lovely country park just to the south of Holt and the North Norfolk Railway (the poppy line) runs steam and diesel trains to Weybourne and Sheringham.

Holt is particularly attractive at Christmas, when all the shops adourn themselves in pretty white fairy lights, making for a really festive wonderland.

The surrounding area offers several National Trust and English Heritage attractions such as Blickling Hall,  Felbrigg Hall and Sheringham Park.  Stody Gardens specialise in Azaelia’s and Rhododendron bushes, but they only open for a about 4 days during the month of May, because these flowers are only at their best during May!  The wonderful North Norfolk coastal towns of Sheringham and Cromer are 6 miles.

For holiday cottage accommodation in the area stay at The Cart Lodge, 3 miles from Holt.  This recently converted cart lodge, in the courtyard of Church Farmhouse, offers self catering accommodation for two people.