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GUIDED WALKING AT LULWORTH COVE WITH HF HOLIDAYS

By Gillian Thornton for Silver Travel Advisor

Standing respectfully back from the cliff edge beside Old Harry Rocks, I’m thrilled to get a clear view across the water to The Needles off the Isle of Wight. For someone who always loved physical geography lessons at school, it’s very special to be standing at the eastern end of one of the world’s most unique coastlines.

In millennia gone by, the Old Harry Rocks and The Needles were part of a continuous land mass, gradually eroded by the sea to leave two groups of chalk stacks. Today Old Harry marks the east Dorset end of the UNESCO-listed Jurassic Coast which runs westward for 95 miles to Exmouth in Devon.

Any outdoor person will tell you that walking is good for both body and soul, but I’d go one further. Group walking trips should be available on the NHS, the perfect antidote to lethargy, loneliness and any fit of the blues. There’s nothing quite like following a footpath in good company to boost the mood. So a spring break with HF Holidays along Dorset’s Jurassic Coast ticked all my boxes. Spectacular coastal scenery, like-minded company and the promise of HF’s plentiful home-cooked food. My base for four nights was West Lulworth House a short walk from the iconic horseshoe bay that is Lulworth Cove. Built in 1881 and brought bang up to date with all modern facilities and stylish decor, the property is open most of the year, but if you want to stay here, you’ll need to book ahead. The 22 well-appointed rooms with views over the village to sea and hills are very popular. But you’ll find similar facilities and an equally warm welcome at all of HF’s 18 country houses.

West Lulworth House follows the company’s tried-and-tested formula - a choice of guided walks each day with qualified, knowledgeable leaders with accommodation on a full-board basis. Spring and winter walkers may find a pub lunch or afternoon tea replacing the usual al fresco picnic, a popular comfort break in case of inclement weather. In March however, just a week after the Siberian snows sent temperatures plummeting across Britain, I was blessed with blue skies and a light sea breeze. Stunning doesn’t even come close. My three days of walking involved two pub lunches – food choices selected the night before – and one of HF’s fabulous picnics. Dinners are all home-cooked and eaten companionably around large tables in the pretty dining room with panoramic windows over the village. And if you are one of the many people suffering from food intolerances, be reassured – many of their home-cooked dishes are marked Gluten Free and managers Mark and Lisa bent over backwards to accommodate my travel companion’s additional allergies. Just as menu choices are made each evening for the day ahead, so too are the walks. In spring we had a choice of two each day, Easier and Harder. Summer clients generally have a third option. Our routes were all between 4 and 8 miles, one starting direct from West Lulworth House, the other two involving a short journey by coach to the start with pick-up afterwards.

This section of the Jurassic Coast does not involve the rugged ascents of mountain landscapes, but there are some long, steady climbs. It is not however beyond the capabilities of any regular rambler, and stops for drinks, snacks or photo moments

ensured that nobody felt overstretched. Along the way, our excellent local guides Kai and Jo added to my rusty school knowledge of this unique coastline. It’s one thing to read about chalk and greensand, Purbeck Beds and Portland Stone, but quite another to see the coloured rock layers jutting out into the sea. The horseshoe shape of Lulworth Cove and the natural arch of Durdle Door still pull visitors by the thousands, but in spring, we were almost alone, and every step brought new views, both coastal and inland.

We walked across protected heathland with views of Poole harbour; headed over chalk downs to the song of skylarks; and stood on shingle beaches to the soothing sound of the sea. After three days on the trail, I’d walked around 22 miles, eaten some great food, and met some really lovely people. I felt energised but mentally relaxed and my bathroom scales proved that walking in the fresh air does a great job of burning off calories.

So what’s not to like? Honestly nothing. So if you’ve ever fancied a walking holiday but hesitated, don’t. An HF holidays short break is the perfect option with its daily choice of routes. All you have to do is turn up and put one sturdy walking boot in front of the other – everything else is done for you. And if you fancy a day off the trail, that’s fine too.

One lady who had damaged her knee since booking still came with her sister-in-law and simply drove herself to local attractions such as Corfe Castle and Swanage. Another woman let her husband do the walking one

Durdle Door

day whilst she sat in the sun at Lulworth Cove. And the company can be invigorating too. I walked with a lovely young French girl living in Oxford and a lady from Bergen in Norway, together putting Europe to rights as we tramped the undulations of Dorset. Just three days on the trail, but an immeasurable boost to both wellbeing and fitness!

For more information about HF Holidays call 0203 974 8878 or visit www.hfholidays.co.uk. HF Holidays offer a Book and Travel with Confidence policy which includes flexible booking and full financial protection for all holidays. Their country houses are Covidcompliant; they only work with handpicked partners who are ‘Covid-compliant’ ; and they only operate and travel to locations that are deemed ‘Covid safe’ by the FCDO.

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Self-drive & coach inclusive breaks

GREAT VALUE 5 DAY HALF BOARD BREAKS

£204from per person

When it comes to inviting, relaxing breaks, we have the ideal holiday for you...

Whether you’re looking for a romantic break for two, a family holiday or getting away with friends, Robinsons’s Holidays offers 12 hotels in 10 of the most popular UK destinations. Our fleet of 26 luxury Mercedes coaches provide return travel in comfort and style from your pick up point and will take you directly to your hotel, aiming to arrive between 3 – 5pm. If you’d like to get out and about to explore the local area on your holiday, then all of our breaks can also be booked on a self-drive basis so you’ve got the freedom of having your own car.

Request your brochure now!

Every break includes:

Return coach travel (self-drive option available) Comfy en suite accommodation Breakfast & 3-course evening meal Live nightly entertainment*

Trip Advisor’s Travellers’ Choice

We are proud to announce that six of our group – Barrowfield, Daish’s, Devonshire, Bournemouth Sands, Claremont, Hotel Prince Regent – have been awarded the coveted TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice award for 2020.

Local pick up points from make it easy to get away.

Price includes return coach travel from: G1 Pick-up: Bolton, Farnworth, Walkden, Eccles, Stretford, Sale, Altrincham, Lymm Services. L2 Pick-up: Skipton, Colne, Nelson, Brierfield, Burnley, Accrington, Darwen Services.

All offers are subject to availability and standard terms and conditions (see brochure or website for T&C’s).

DATE HOTEL DAYS ROUTE PRICE DATE HOTEL DAYS ROUTE PRICE

MAY

19 Sands Hotel – Bournemouth 5 L2 £204

23 Devonshire Hotel – Torquay 5 G1 £204

24 Hotel Prince Regent – Weymouth 5 L2 £254

31 Devonshire Hotel – Torquay 5 L2 £214

JUNE

06 Russell Hotel – Weymouth 5 G1 £224

11 Abbey Lawn Hotel – Torquay 5 G1 £229

12 Imperial Hotel – Eastbourne 5 G1 £264

15 Abbey Lawn Hotel – Torquay 5 L2 £234

18 Russell Hotel – Weymouth 5 L2 £234

20 Imperial Hotel – Eastbourne 5 L2 £254

25 Daish’s Blackpool Hotel - Blackpool 5 G1 £239

27 Somerset Hotel – Llandudno 5 G1 £279

30 Esplanade Hotel – Scarborough 5 G1 £284 JULY

05 Abbey Lawn Hotel – Torquay 5 G1 £249

07 Daish’s Hotel – Isle of Wight 5 G1 £244

08 Esplanade Hotel – Scarborough 5 L2 £289

13 Somerset Hotel – Llandudno 5 L2 £274

14 Sands Hotel – Bournemouth 5 G1 £259

15 Daish’s Hotel – Isle of Wight 5 L2 £254

17 Barrowfield Hotel – Newquay 5 G1 £229

19 Hotel Prince Regent – Weymouth 5 G1 £299

22 Sands Hotel – Bournemouth 5 L2 £264

25 Barrowfield Hotel – Newquay 5 L2 £254

26 Devonshire Hotel – Torquay 5 G1 £264

27 Hotel Prince Regent – Weymouth 5 L2 £304

29 Somerset Hotel – Llandudno 5 G1 £299

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Prices shown are per person based on two people sharing a Standard Room. Supplements apply on twin/double rooms with sole occupancy. Optional local excursions can be booked at the hotel. Many more coach or self-drive holiday dates available in 2021. If you would prefer to self-drive, deduct £20 per person from prices shown. Call - 0800 083 9900 Quote - 50PlusB&B or visit robinsons-holidays.co.uk

10 fabulous locations, 12 great hotels.

Bournemouth

Bournemouth Sands Llandudno

Somerset Hotel Newquay

Barrowfield Hotel Weymouth

Hotel Prince Regent Weymouth

Russell Hotel Eastbourne

Imperial Hotel

Isle of Wight Scarborough Torquay Torquay Blackpool Lake District

Brecon Beacons

GREAT HOLIDAYS IN THE GREAT OUTDOORS

Camping, glamping and touring holidays are more popular than ever, and it isn’t hard to see why

Whether looking for a weekend away near home or a road trip around the country, the options are endless when travelling in your own campervan, caravan or motorhome. Alternatively, glamping enables you to travel light but still enjoy plenty of creature comforts. As for where to go, the options are endless! The Caravan and Motorhome Club is a great champion of the great outdoors and it has been helping its members have exciting adventures across the UK and beyond since 1907. Membership is just £54 per year, which gives you access to 2700 quality sites in the UK and overseas.

For those looking for a glamping getaway, Experience Freedom from the Caravan and Motorhome Club offers many options for members and non-members alike across the UK. From camping pods and yurts to safari tents, glamping pods and glamping cabins, there are options to suit every taste and budget all year round.

Cool Campsites From the Scottish Highlands to the Cornish coast, the Caravan and Motorhome Club’s campsites are located all across the UK.

Here are some of our favourites: Alderstead Heath, Surrey

Alderstead Heath Caravan and Motorhome Club Campsite has a peaceful and picturesque setting, but also offers convenient access to the M25. The campsite is surrounded by rolling wooded countryside and situated near the Pilgrims Way, so there are many lovely walking trails to explore, especially across the North Downs.

There’s an abundance of day trip options to choose from, including National Trust property Chartwell, RHS Wisley, and Denbies Wine Estate in Dorking. Golfing enthusiasts will be delighted as there are several golf courses in the immediate area.

Battle Normanhurst Court, East Sussex

Located close to the 1066 Trail and set within what was the garden of a manor house, Battle Normanhurst Court Caravan and Motorhome Club Campsite offers great facilities including a lovely dog walk route. The area is rich with scenic delights for walkers, nature lovers and those who simply crave a quiet escape from the hustle and bustle of daily life. The attractive seaside towns of Eastbourne, Hastings and Rye are close by and Battle itself is well worth the visit for its rich history.

Buxton, Derbyshire

Nestled peacefully in an idyllic valley, Buxton Caravan and Motorhome Club Campsite is conveniently located for easy access to the beautiful Peak District and its extensive network of cycle ways and walking routes. The small, pretty town of Buxton is within walking distance of the campsite and so are some splendid stately homes. Hikers will relish in reaching the summit of Grin Hill, where they can witness Solomon’s Temple and spectacular views of Buxton and High Peak.

Brecon Beacons, Wales

Brecon Beacons Caravan and Motorhome Club Campsite is situated near the foothills of the glorious Welsh countryside. With dramatic views of Pen-y-Fan, Cribyn and Corn Dufeatures, it can lay claim to some of the best views of the central Beacons.

The campsite’s circular dog walk leads to a quaint stream and woodland area, where you’ll find an adventure course. Its centrality provides the ideal base for touring the towns of Brecon and Talgarth, and the countryside of mid and south Wales as well as the Brecon Beacons National Park. Plus, there’s a great pub just a 10-minute walk from the site.

Portscatho, Cornwall

Merrose Farm Caravan and Motorhome Club Campsite near Portscatho, Cornwall is in an immaculately kept, well-landscaped parkland location with a great feeling of open space and good views of the surrounding countryside. The campsite is also close to a scenic coastal path that’s a delight to explore. The charming towns of St Mawes, Portscatho, Portloe and Mevagissey are all nearby, as is the ever-popular Eden Project. Quite simply, this campsite puts nature’s bounty on your doorstep.

Yellowcraig, East Lothian

Yellowcraig Caravan and Motorhome Club Campsite is a splendid choice for nature lovers. The nearby Scottish Seabird Centre at North Berwick offers a spectacular Gannet Experience sound and light show. The campsite offers convenient access to the John Muir Way, a coast-to-coast long distance walking path that stretches right across Scotland. There are also loads of sporting activities available in the area such as waterskiing, sailing, windsurfing, plus nineteen golf courses.

Glorious Glamping Sites

Accommodation options:

Experience Freedom offers a range of glamping accommodation, all of which accommodate at least up to two adults and two children: Camping pods are well-insulated wooden huts that come equipped with simple home comforts such as beds, lighting, electric sockets and seating. Safari tents are opening later this year at Experience Freedom’s Southlands site on the Isle of Wight. Designed for families, they sleep up to five adults in two separate bedrooms and offer flexible living areas with a kitchen and dining area, plus a spacious covered verandah. Glamping pods offer very comfortable accommodation, featuring a double bed, small sofa bed (and a child’s bunk-style bed) with bedding, en-suite bathroom facilities, simple cooking equipment, utensils & tableware, a wardrobe and hangers, foldaway table, WIFI, TV and DVD player with Bluetooth speakers. Each pod also comes with an outside table with four chairs and a parasol, plus a BBQ station (disposable BBQs are available) and a box for muddy shoes. Glamping Cabins offer all the amenities of the glamping pods and more, plus a lot more space to relax for a longer break. Yurts feature a rustic king-size bed, two single beds, soft lighting and blankets to snuggle under. They are waterproof, well-insulated and include basic cooking equipment and a BBQ station outside.

Camping – Experience Freedom also offers tent camping on its sites.

Where to stay:

Experience Freedom has sites across the country – here are just some of the options:

Brighton, East Sussex

Nestled within the South Downs, the Brighton site is ideally located just two miles east of the city and a 15-minute walk from the Marina. The site offers camping pods and glamping pods. Brighton offers a wealth of attractions including its famous pier and beach, the impressive British Airways i360 viewing tower and a 300-metere zip line, Brighton Zip.

Daleacres, Kent

Located on a ‘patchwork quilt’ of farmers’ fields in Kent, the Dalecares site is nice and relaxed, and the yurt accommodation offers proper camping, but with proper beds! The site is tantalisingly close to soft, sandy beaches and Port Lympne Wildlife Park, and a little further afield are the sand dunes of Camber Sands, making it a particularly great spot for the summer.

Troutbeck Head, Cumbria

Situated below the Great Mell Fell and with spectacular views of Blencathra to the west, the Troutbeck Head site offers access to some of the prettiest walks in the country. It is also just four miles from the restaurants and shops of Ullswater.

The site offers camping pods, glamping pods and the larger glamping cabins, so there is something for everyone.

Find out more For further information about becoming a member of the Caravan and Motorhome Club, please visit www.camc.com or call 01342 318 813.

To find out more about glamping with Experience Freedom, visit www.experiencefreedom.co.uk

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Open Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday all year round, 9am - 4.30pm

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T: 01253 887651 Victoria Street / Adelaide Street, Fleetwood, Lancashire FY7 6AB

DISCOVER THE BEAUTY OF THE SEYCHELLES WITHOUT RESTRICTIONS

At STORY Seychelles

SEYCHELLES OPENS UP TO THE WORLD

The Indian Ocean island destination has announced that it will be welcoming visitors from across the globe, irrespective of their vaccination status, as from March 25, 2021. Visitors from South Africa will still not be permitted to enter Seychelles for the time being until further review.

The announcement was made by the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Tourism, Sylvestre Radegonde in a press briefing this morning, Thursday, March 4, 2021, at the Seychelles Tourism Board (STB) conference room at Botanical House following the Tourism Task Force Committee meeting.

• Visitors will now only be required to present a negative PCR test taken 72 hours prior to departure. • There will be no quarantine requirement nor restriction on movement upon entry into Seychelles. • Additionally, the minimum stay in establishments upon arrival will no longer be applicable.

However, visitors will still be required to adhere to other public health measures put in place in view of the pandemic these will include wearing of face masks, social distancing, regular sanitisation or washing of hands. The new measures also give visitors access to all communal area within the hotel premises inclusive of bars, swimming pools, spas and Kid’s club. Minister Radegonde stated that the decision to review and relax the entry procedures in the country has been made possible in view of the success registered in the aggressive vaccination campaign that the country embarked on earlier in the year.

“The vaccination campaign has been quite successful. The government has done everything in its power to make sure that the population is protected. We have now arrived at the point where opening our borders further is the next step to allow for our economic recovery. The measures being announced reflect broadly the recommendation of our tourism partners and have been done in full consultation with and the endorsement of our health authorities.” The small island nation off the east coast of Africa whose economy is based primarily on tourism was the first African country to launch a bold, comprehensive and effective Covid-19 immunisation campaign, in January 2021.

The destination will continuously review the new entry measures to ensure that at all times the health and safety of the visitors and the local population are not compromised. More details will be available shortly through the updated travel advisory on www.tourism.gov.sc.

STORY SEYCHELLES – YOUR PRIVATE PARADISE RETREAT

Seychelles is winning a reputation for being a stand-out holiday destination for discerning travellers in search of

authenticity, harmony, safety and one of the most extraordinary experiences of nature on the planet, A tranquil, boutique and culturally connected, the resort offers guests a chance to create a story of a lifetime, Located on stunning 3k safe white sandy beach of Beau Vallon which lays northwest on the island of Mahé. STORY Seychelles offers guests an award winning spa and top TripAdvisor rated eclectic dining experiences as part of its flagship services, make STORY Seychelles your private paradise.

STORY Seychelles offers an unparalleled collection of opulently appointed accommodations, relaxation and recreational spaces that showcase the true heritage of their Seychellois surroundings. The 100 villas and suites redefine paradise – stylish comfort and idyllic bliss. Designed to represent a blend between creole and colonial architecture – the resort is an epitome of a lush paradise all overlooking the topical tropical gardens that surround it and lead you to the beach. Overview Seychelles, all the islands have been blessed with many natural assets and attributes including possessing a nearperfect and disease-free climate; an endless list of world-beating beaches; a sanctuary for some of the world’s rarest species of flora & fauna and an enviable conservation record whereby almost half of the 455 sq.km landmass has been set aside as natural parks and reserves. There are also no less than two UNESCO World Heritage Sites: the extraordinary Vallée de Mai where the legendary, double-lobed coconut, the Coco-de-Mer grows high on ancient palms in a setting so surreal it was once thought to be the original site of the Garden of Eden, and Aldabra atoll, the planet’s largest raised coral atoll.

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WE CAN PROVIDE YOU SUPPORT IN YOUR HOME WITH:

• Your daily routine, helping you get up and having a wash, to getting dressed and ready • Help with taking medication and medication collection from the pharmacy • House work tasks including laundry and cleaning • Help with your shopping, pension collection and any other task you may require • Support with activities such as gardening, visiting people, going for a walk and pet walking • Awake Night Care

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