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GREAT VALUE 5 DAY HALF BOARD BREAKS
£229from 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.
DATE
Local pick up points from make it easy to get away.
Price includes return coach travel from: G2 Pick-up: Rochdale, Royton, Oldham, Ashton-under-Lyme, Hyde, Stockport, Cheadle, Lymm Services.
All offers are subject to availability and standard terms and conditions (see brochure or website for T&C’s).
HOTEL DAYS PRICE DATE HOTEL DAYS PRICE
JULY AUGUST
01 Somerset Hotel – Llandudno 5 £274
03 Daish’s Blackpool Hotel - Blackpool 5 £239
07 Daish’s Hotel – Isle of Wight 5 £234
14 Sands Hotel – Bournemouth 5 £229
17 Hotel Prince Regent – Weymouth 5 £289
26 Devonshire Hotel – Torquay 5 £254
27 Daish’s Blackpool Hotel - Blackpool 5 £264
29 Somerset Hotel – Llandudno 5 £289
AUGUST
03 Imperial Hotel – Eastbourne 5 £294
05 County Hotel – Lake District 5 £339 13 Russell Hotel – Weymouth 5 £264
14 Abbey Lawn Hotel – Torquay 5 £289
19 Imperial Hotel – Eastbourne 5 £274
SEPTEMBER
02 Esplanade Hotel – Scarborough 5 £279
16 Sands Hotel – Bournemouth 5 £254
19 Daish’s Hotel – Isle of Wight 7 £429
21 Hotel Prince Regent – Weymouth 5 £279
28 Devonshire Hotel – Torquay 5 £244
OCTOBER
30 Abbey Lawn Hotel – Torquay 5 £254
facebook.com/robinsonsholidays1 @RobinsonsHolida
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 - 50PlusRG2 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
3 LEGAL CHALLENGES THAT OVER 50s SHOULD BE PREPARED FOR
Power Of Attorney
A power of attorney appoints somebody to act on your behalf if you are unable to make decisions for yourself. This might not seem like something you need to do now because you’re still in good health. However, if your health deteriorates rapidly and you haven’t appointed somebody to handle your affairs, things can get very difficult. You will need somebody to help you buy a retirement property and arrange for medical care etc. It’s much better to get ahead of things and do it now, so if the worst does happen, you have a plan in place. When deciding who to appoint, think carefully about who you trust to manage your estate. You should also choose somebody that works well under pressure and has a good relationship with everybody in the family.
Estate Management
This is another legal issue that people don’t always think about until it is too late. You need to have a clear plan in place for what happens to your assets after you are gone. In some cases, the person you appoint as power of attorney will make these decisions, but it’s best if you write a detailed will now, while you are still able to make those decisions. The power of attorney will enact the will exactly as you have written it, so you can make sure that everybody in your family is looked after properly.
Dealing with these legal challenges can be tough if you don’t have much experience. However, as you pass 50, they are more likely to come up, so you need to be prepared.
As you get older, there are a lot of legal issues that you will be confronted with. If you don’t have much experience dealing with solicitors or lawyers in the past, this can be quite daunting. However, there are certain legal preparations that you need to make once you get past 50, and if you leave it too late, it could lead to a lot of difficulties for you and your family. There are also some unexpected legal problems that are more likely to come up as you get older. These are the big legal challenges you need to be prepared for once you pass 50.
Divorce
Relationships can break down at any age, so divorce is something that you may have dealt with already. However, as people get older and their priorities in life change, they may decide to go their separate ways. Divorce is more socially acceptable these days, so a lot of older couples that would not have divorced when they were younger are not considering it. If you’re happily married, this isn’t something that you like to think about, but it’s worth keeping in mind because the process can be quite long and complicated. Depending on the age of your children, you may need to attend an FHDRA Hearing to discuss custody. You will also need to file a financial order and decide how all of your assets are split. Hopefully, most of this can be settled amicably but if there is a lot of conflict, you will need to work with a legal professional to resolve it.
Brighter Future Wills and Trusts Make or update We also specilise in: your WILL Probate
Special Offer: Single Will £149 Now £79 inclusive of vat Asset Trusts Inheritance Tax Advice Court of Protection
Special Offer: Funeral Plans from Lasting Power of £6.29 per week
Attorney £299 Now £149* inclusive of vat based locally *plus court fees where applicable
Call us on 0161 503 4222
TWITTERING ON
BY ANGELA KELLY
LOCKDOWN HUMOUR – TRADEMARK OF STOIC BRITS
IT may be a particularly British trait but when it comes to ongoing disaster and major concern we tend to turn to humour.
I’m sure it was the same in wartime and in other countries. When something enduringly scary threatens, we discover the funny side of it and use it as a form of defence against the awfulness.
That has certainly been true of the pandemic. While it’s too difficult and too raw to actually laugh at Covid-19 itself, we have been turning instead to the sideeffects and restriction of lockdown to cheer ourselves up.
In fact, I think we are at our most inventive here.
Humour surfaced early in the first lockdown and mainly online. One of the first things that made me laugh – a surprise, really, given the seriousness and overwhelming worry of the threat then – was a short video of a good-looking shirtless man in a hat dancing. The before lockdown and after lockdown footage showed the tight torso changing to a wobbly belly. We laughed at the change, soon learning the irony as many of us munched our way through the months ahead. We’ve laughed at the possible results of lockdown. One of my favourite Facebook postings was: “Do you ever get up in the morning, look in the mirror and think ‘that can’t be accurate!’”
We’ve become happy to laugh at ourselves. We smiled at jokes about over-zealous hand-washing, mask-wearing and taking precautions.
“Pretty wild how we used to eat cake after someone had blown on it. Good times ….” went one popular post. And so many were crazily accurate. “Set in retrospect, in 2015, not a single person got the answer right to ‘Where do you see yourself five years from now?’”
We even found our own occasional desperation worth a smile. “Where is far far away and how do I get there?” was a post offering a bitter tinge. Then there was: “I’m looking for a moisturiser that hides the fact that I’ve been tired since 2010” which hit home.
Then there were the clever ones: “I told my suitcases that there will be no vacation this year. Now I’m dealing with emotional baggage.” Add those to the many cartoons, videos, memes and observational humour and you discover a funny underside to what is plainly an international disaster that could scarcely have been predicted.
Personally, I feel it says something fine and stoic about our individual make-up that allows us to react to very dark times by sometimes laughing out loud. Little has been innately funny about this global pandemic and its terrible effects on people. But, our ability to find the humour in it, to share that with others and to laugh together has proved to be a brilliant way
FANCY A PAIR OF OUR BET’S BEST EARRINGS?
WHEN actress Julie Goodyear became an unusual sort of national icon as Coronation Street’s brassy landlady Bet Lynch her wardrobe was not the envy of women everywhere.
The too-short skirts, too-tight tops, heavy make-up and upfront behaviour behind the bar of the Rovers Return brought out the prude in most of us.
Tutting at Bet became a national habit – when we weren’t laughing at her antics and lines, that is.
Fast forward from 1966 to 2003 when she was in The Street to last year and Julie Goodyear MBE impressing the nation in a different way. The Manchester actress donated a large amount of Bet’s jewellery and her own to help local hospice Willow Wood.
“When I heard that they had been forced to cancel almost all of their fundraising events in this their 21st year, I wanted to do something to help,” compassionate Julie explained. The jewellery was sold in an online auction as part of Coronation Street’s 60th birthday in December, resulting no doubt on a major donation for Willow Wood and some delighted purchasers. Who today, though, would really wear Bet’s finest horrors? Well, me for one. Bring on those earrings like a birdcage – they’re great!
COP SHOWS THAT BECOME PART OF OUR LIVES
IF there’s one thing the past year or so has taught us to appreciate it’s the TV. Pre-lockdown, we might have been a bit reticent to list telly-watching among our hobbies but now we’re happy to admit its importance in our lives.
It’s also been interesting to see how our habits have changed. More of us have come to appreciate Netflix and iPlayer and become binge-watchers of series. One thing we’ve also perhaps noticed is how some types of programmes have altered. If you’ve watched daily doses of old police programmes The Bill and then back-to-backs of Line of Duty or Unforgotten you can see how far cop series have come. New series of either of the latter are eagerly awaited – that’s not to take away anything from The Bill, its plot lines and acting. But with Line of Duty and Unforgotten, we’re actually hungry to see it – we can’t wait. Writer Jed Mercurio certainly knows how to tell a riveting tale in LoD. You’re frightened to miss a second as you might skip a vital clue or move towards identifying who “H” might be or whether the OCG (Organised Crime Group) has more police in its pocket.
Yes, they’re big on acronyms in Line of Duty. The three main characters – played by Vicky McClure, Martin Compston and Adrian Dunbar - have their own little nuances so that everything feels familiar. Yet, things are happening all the time that take us into new territory.
Unforgotten is a marvellous showcase for the talents of writer Chris Lang and the acting of Sanjeev Bhaskar and Nicola Walker. I don’t think I’ve ever seen an actress with such talent for showing emotions in her face. The whole plotline is there sometimes.
How lucky we are in this country to have such fine writers and performers. And, oddly, lockdown gave us the time to appreciate them anew.
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 near-perfect 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, doublelobed 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.
If you’ve not tried coach holidays before why not let Ellen Smith’s take you on your first coach experience. We’ve been established for over 120 years – so we know a bit about coaching holidays!
We do things a bit differently than our rivals All our tours include our ‘Door to Door’ service. That means that you are picked up by a taxi or small minibus right from your front door. No feeders, no interchanges, no changing coaches, no changing drivers and definitely no hassle!
Within 30 minutes We normally have everyone on board and we’re on our way. We often have a second pickup at Stockport, but again this is timed for minimal delay.
We are fully Financially Bonded And use some excellent privately-owned hotels. All visits and excursions are included in the price. We use modern coaches and mature friendly drivers. How does it work? On the morning of travel we pick you up at a prearranged time and take you to our waiting coach at Birch Services.
We’re off on holiday then! The same happens on the way back too, taxi back to your front door!
We never discount We charge the correct price in the first place – therefore everybody on board pays the same price.
Finally If you can find the same or similar holiday for sale cheaper in the UK we’ll refund the difference to the whole coach!
‘Door to Door’ Coach Tours 2021 Brochure OUT NOW, telephone us on: 01706 648126 for your free copy.
Once you’ve gone the Ellen Smith way you’ll never go back!
DO O R TO DO O R C OAC H TOUR S 2 02 1www.ellensmith.co.uk MAY 2021 - MARCH 2022 DOOR TO DOOR COACH TOURS & DAY EXCURSIONS
www.ellensmith.co.uk www.ellensmith.co.uk
DISCOVERING WILTSHIRE Best Western Plus Angel Hotel
Overview: Wiltshire with its rolling green downs, ancient woodlands and bustling market towns is a beautiful county in the south west of England. Tour Highlights: ‘Steam’ – Great Western Railway Museum, Swindon, Devizes and Caen Hill ‘Staircase Locks’, Historic Village of Lacock, Bradford-uponAvon and Chippenham, McArthur Glen Outlet, Swindon, Cathedral City of Salisbury. THE BEAUTIFUL ISLE OF MAN
The Chesterhouse Hotel
Overview: This beautiful island, 32 miles long and 14 miles wide, lies in the Irish sea, approximately equidistant from Britain and Ireland. Tour Highlights: Manx Electric Railway, Snaefell Mountain Railway, Isle of Man Steam, Train, Douglas to Port Erin, Cregneash Folk Village.
01 July | 5 Days | £439 09 July | 6 Days | £559 CASTLE & CRUISE IN CARDIGAN BAY Cliff Hotel & Spa
Overview: The largest bay in the British Isles, stretching at approximately 50 miles, Cardigan Bay is one to remember. Tour Highlights: 1-Hour New Quay Boat Trip, 50-Minute Guided Tour of Picton Castle, Free Time to Explore Picton Castle Gardens, Light Lunch of Soup & Sandwiches at Picton Castle, Seaside Village of Aberystwyth.
12 July | 5 Days | £429
DUBLIN & WICKLOW ‘RIVER AND RAIL’ The Royal Hotel
Overview: A themed tour for 2021 staying in Bray, Co. Wicklow which brings you an exciting look at Ireland’s seaside, city & countryside. Tour Highlights: A guided coastal railway journey and a scenic river cruise are also included, a lovely way to see this part of Ireland. CLASSIC STEAM BREAK The Winnock Hotel
Tour Highlights: In-House Entertainment on 2 Nights, Cruise on the Clyde on the Vintage Paddle Steamer – The Waverley, Hop on-board the Jacobite Steam Train from Ft. William to Mallaig (return journey) Marvel at The Falkirk Wheel, Enjoy a relaxing cruise on the SS Sir Walter Scott as she meanders along Loch Katrine. CROMER, NORFOLK COAST & COUNTRY RETREATS Dukes Head Hotel
Overview: Explore the much-loved Norfolk country retreat of Her Majesty The Queen along with one of the Treasure Houses of England. Tour Highlights: We also enjoy a nostalgic steam train journey to the heart of the Norfolk Broads to discover this magical waterland on a memorable scenic river cruise.
18 July | 5 Days | £499 22 July | 5 Days | £499
PICTURESQUE PEMBROKESHIRE & BEAUTIFUL GOWER Ivy Bush Royal Hotel
Overview: The natural beauty of the Pembrokeshire coast and the Gower peninsula are famed all over the world. Glorious sandy beaches and seemingly endless rugged coastline give way to the Preseli Hills, historic towns and little villages. For these tours we stay in Carmarthen, ideal for visiting this delightful corner of Wales. NORFOLK ~ SEALS, COAST & CITY Best Western Brook Hotel
Overview: For this tour we have chosen a nice mix of excursions, ranging from a delightful boat trip to see the seals; a unique paddle steamer cruise; the city of Norwich and a visit to the popular seaside resort of Great Yarmouth. Tour Highlights: Blakeney & The Seal Colonies Boat Trip, Norfolk Broads Paddle Steamer Cruise, Great Yarmouth, City of Norwich, Holt and Wells-next-theSea, Little Walsingham. 25 July | 5 Days | £459
ANGUS SECRET COASTLINE & GLAMIS CASTLE Park Hotel
Overview: A tour delving into Scotland’s past taking in some fine places including the 13th century Glamis Castle, the new Victoria and Albert Museum and a visit to see “the finest regiment in the world”. Tour Highlights: Brechin & Arbroath, The “Granite” city of Aberdeen, 5* Attraction - Gordon Highlanders Museum, Glamis Castle & Gardens, Dundee & The V&A Museum.
01 August | 5 Days | £399 02 August | 5 Days | £439 09 August | 5 Days | £399
Membership No: 10228
ELLEN SMITH 2021 BROCHURE.indd 1
LONDON & BUCKINGHAM PALACE Tower Hotel
Overview: London is a city for all seasons and full of so much life, bursting with so much to see and do. For this short break we are including a visit to Buckingham Palace – which serves as both the office and London residence of Her Majesty the Queen and is one of the few working palaces remaining in the world today. The rest of the time is for you to explore London at your own pace. HEART OF ENGLAND
Abbey Hotel
Overview: A lovely sightseeing tour with many things of interest, based in Great Malvern with the beautiful Malvern Hills overlooking the town. We feature some of the delightful Black & White villages in Herefordshire as well as visits to Leominster & The Cotswolds. We also take time to visit the Museum of Royal Worcester. LUDLOW & THE COUNTY OF SHROPSHIRE Buckatree Hall Hotel
Overview: Along the upper reaches of the River Severn and the borders between England & Wales, the countryside of Shropshire shelters some of the most beautiful landscapes and unspoilt towns that you can imagine.
13 August | 3 Days | £349 16 August | 5 Days | £389 23 August | 5 Days | £439
ISLE OF BUTE, LOCH FYNE & INVERARAY Gleburn Hotel
Overview: A spectacular scenic tour for summer staying on the lovely Isle of Bute and including visits to the Victorian Gothic mansion that is Mount Stuart as well as a visit to the Duke of Argyll’s home ~ Inveraray Castle. BATH, BRISTOL & WEST SOMERSET RAILWAY
Doubletree by Hilton Bristol City Hotel
Overview: A delightful tour for the summer as we enjoy a visit to the beautiful Georgian city of Bath, relax with a steam train ride on the West Somerset Railway, explore Bristol’s harbour-side with a Harbour Cruise as well as discovering the city. LITTLE BOATS & TRAINS OF NORFOLK Holiday Inn Hotel, Norwich
Overview: For this great little tour, we feature a journey on a miniature railway, a preserved main line railway as well as a boat trip and a visit to Royal Sandringham, something to suit all tastes.
23 August | 5 Days | £389
LLANDUDNO - 5 DAYS IN AUTUMN The Tynedale Hotel
Overview: Llandudno is Wales’s largest resort, uniquely situated between the Great and Little Ormes with two wonderful beaches. Tour Highlights: We enjoy the short journey to Conwy, a delightful small town. We also include a visit to Portmeirion, situated on a private peninsula overlooking stunning coastal scenery with its cluster of colour-washed buildings around a central piazza. 26 August | 5 Days | £539
THE ENGLISH RIVIERA ~ TORQUAY
The Derwent Hotel
Overview: Torquay, with its iconic palm trees, busy harbour, international marina, sandy beach and wonderful array of continental style cafes, restaurants and cocktail bars. Tour Highlights: Exmouth and Sidmouth. We head into Cornwall to visit the quaint towns of Looe & Polperro and also enjoy an excursion over Dartmoor National Park to the pleasant market town of Tavistock. 02 September | 5 Days | £419
CAPTIVATING CORNWALL Rosemundy House Hotel
Overview: Located in the far west of Great Britain on a peninsula tumbling into the vast Atlantic ocean, almost completely surrounded by the sea, Cornwall is loved for its dramatic coastline, captivating fishing harbours, spectacular beaches and of course its pasties and cream teas! Tour Highlights: Admission to The Lost Gardens of Heligan, Mevagissey, Polperro & Fowey, St. Ives & Marazion, Port Isaac & Padstow.
02 September | 5 Days | £409 05 September | 6 Days | £399 06 September | 6 Days | £489
50 Plus Travel sponsored by
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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