OCEAN VIEW Interiors, Lifestyle, Food, Sailing, Cruising and so much more...
Issue 01 Volume 15 2015
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Welcome
From our base at the Eastern foot of the South Downs, it’s not hard to appreciate the beauty Britain has to offer. Rolling hills give way to dramatic chalk-white cliffs and the English Channel beyond. Our country really is home to many wonders. This is why on page 55 we’ve listed some of our favourite so-called ‘staycations’, from the balmy Caribbean-feel of Cornwall, to the rugged peaks and mysterious lakes of Cumbria. Also in this issue we fire up for the Rio Carnival, discovering the rhythms and pulses of this vibrant city through food, dance, costume and music. I meanwhile head to North America, experiencing Mannhattan in the aftermath of a massive snow storm. Follow my journey as I unravel this city’s complex heart on page 20.
Zoe Thomas Visits New York, page 20
As always our team have sourced some of the snazziest travel-related products for our Spending It pages, this month targeting the crowded luggage market, and we publish mouth-watering recipes for you to try on page 27. With spring fast approaching, it’s time to schedule in those holidays - whether it’s a trip of a life time, a weekend city break, or perhaps a relaxing family ‘staycation’ right on your doorstep. Wherever you choose to go, I hope you find some inspiration in this issue! Enjoy Your Read! Zoe Thomas Editor
OCEAN VIEW 3
ISSUE 01, VOLUME 15 2015
OCEAN VIEW Interiors, Lifestyle, Food, Sailing, Cruising and so much more...
Issue 01 Volume 15 2015
FREE
IT’S TIME TO ENJOY AN OCEAN VIEW OCEAN VIEW 3
COLUMBIA AD by POETIS DPS 242x210mm-2015FEB.indd 3
24/02/15 12:49
Cover Image: Columbia Hotels and Resorts www.columbia-hotels.com
Ocean View Magazine Managing Director/Publisher: Lee Mansfield lee@lifemediagroup.co.uk Commercial Director: Simon Skinner simon@lifemediagroup.co.uk Operations Director Clare Fermor clare@lifemediagroup.co.uk Advertising Sales Jenny Ardagh jenny@oceanviewuk.co.uk Editor: Zoe Thomas zoe@lifemediagroup.co.uk Production Manager: Harriet Weston harriet@lifemediagroup.co.uk Junior Designer Amy Watson amy@lifemediagroup.co.uk Accounts: Amelia Wellings: amelia@lifemediagroup.co.uk Subscriptions: Linda Grace linda@lifemediagroup.co.uk Published by: LMG SE LTD Unit 1, Swan Barn Business Centre Old Swan Lane, Hailsham, BN27 2BY Printed by: Gemini Press Unit A1 Dolphin Way, Shoreham-by-Sea, West Sussex, BN43 6NZ 01273 464884 All material in this publication is strictly copyright and all rights reserved. Reproduction without permission is prohibited. The views expressed in Ocean View Magazine do not necessarily represent the view of Life Media Group LTD. Every care is taken in compiling the contents but the publishers of Ocean View Magazine assume no reponsibilty for any damage, loss or injury arising from the participation in any offers, competitions or advertisment contained within Ocean View Magazine. All prices featured in Ocean View Magazine are correct at the time of going to press. Copyright Life Media Group 2015 ©
4 OCEAN VIEW
CONTENTS 6. 12. travel accessories Keep it light on your travels with our selection of 14. “The WildEmbrace in the opportunity of a lifetime in a journey; Explore Atlantic Way” in the Northwest 20. Distrikt HotelOcean View’s editor Zoe Thomas spends four nights at The in New York, braving the aftermath of snow storm Juno Water Ways: Ocean View’s Jenny Ardagh reveals five of the most beautiful rivers in Europe Spending It: Ireland:
New York:
27. Poh LingWeYeowtake a look at the new cook book from popular TV cook 32. 38. mountainsDisover this Portuguese paradise between the and the sea 44. carnival in Rio de JaneiroExperience the world’s biggest, liveliest 48. of the UK’s most successful We get an inside look at Craghoppers, one travel clothing brands 55. to Cumbria Great British Staycations: From Cornwall Recipes:
Book Extract: Built on Water - Floating Architecture & Design
Arabida:
South America Carnival:
50 Years of Craghopper:
UK Country Destinations:
OCEAN VIEW 5
Europe’s Most Scenic Waterways Jenny Ardagh reveals five of the most beautiful rivers in Europe
T
here are over 37 rivers in Europe, along which lie some of the most spectacular sights, breathtaking architecture and natural beauty in the world. What better way to experience them than on the river itself? French Waterways The Rhone is one of the major rivers in Europe, beginning its course in Switzerland and continuing to flow through the Alps, along South Eastern
6 OCEAN VIEW
France and ending in the Mediterranean Sea. The main cities along this famous river include Geneva, Lyon, Roquemaure, Avignon and Arles, with miles of meadows, hillsides, cliffs and vineyards to admire in between. Lyon is listed as a World Heritage Site, so is well worth a look to appreciate its Renaissance architecture. With over 15 Michelin stars across 1,800 restaurants, you will have plenty of choice for your taste buds. Travel further from Vienne
to Tournon and Viviers along to Avignon, known as the City of Popes where Medieval becomes Gothic. The Seine runs through the heart of Paris, stretching over 776km and flowing from Dijon in the Alps to Le Havre on the North Coast. From the Seine’s slow flowing and calm waters, the historical evolution of Paris can be seen, with numerous gems to appreciate on the way. Along the way, visit the famous Versailles, Les Andelys, Rouen, Honfleur,
OCEAN VIEW 7
Cityview of Frankfurt
WATERWAYS
the beaches of Normandy and the region of Vernon. German Waterways Germany provides two perfectly linked waterways, transporting any river cruiser from Nuremberg in the South East of Germany to Cologne, in the Mid-West. This journey combines the feel of Old Europe along the Rhine with the highly modernized and cosmopolitan cities residing alongside the river Main, namely Frankfurt. The river Main is the longest river solely in Germany, along which lies many a region famous for wine production. The Danube is Europe’s longest river, originating in the Black Forest in Germany, a wild forested mountain range. This is a journey along the most romantic and elegant river in the world, so much so that it was named the “Queen of Europe’s Rivers” by Napoleon himself. Germany creates a perfect starting point for a European river cruise, offering Medieval cities,
14th Century architecture and Baroque buildings. Nuremberg and Regensburg start off a journey along the Rhine-Main-Danube canal, offering the best of medieval architecture. Frankfurt is one of the major cities lying along the Main, featuring huge skyscrapers that lend it the nickname “Mainhattan”
Experience the views of one of the most renowned scenic routes, enjoying infamous wine-growing regions, beautifully quaint towns such as Lamego, and a World Heritage site, Salamanca. There are many elegant buildings to see here, including universities, cathedrals and the House of Shells. The Plaza Mayor in the centre of Salamanca is regarded as one of the most magnificent Spanish squares, lined with jewelry shops, restaurants, tapas and cocktail bars, cafes and ice cream parlours. The river Douro, as a natural divide between Portugal and Spain, provides a fantastic opportunity to see both countries. Porto, the outlet of the river Douro, is the second largest city in Portugal. It was once an outpost of the Roman Empire and thus is one of the oldest European cities. As you meander into Porto, you cruise. Porto is where famous Port wine is produced and is a majestic place filled with charisma and atmosphere.
“The river Main is the longest river solely in Germany, along which lies many a region famous for wine production”
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. Spanish Waterways: Douro One of the major rivers running through the Iberian Peninsula is the Douro, flowing from Northern Spain and across Portugal to its outlet in Porto. In Spain, the river flows through five provinces and forms part of the National border line to Portugal.
The Grand Danube This majestic river passes through an impressive ten countries, including the four major capital cities of Vienna, Bratislava, Budapest and Belgrade.
OCEAN VIEW 9
10 OCEAN VIEW
WATERWAYS
Budapest, Hungary
As you travel into Austria, get your camera out for the Wachau Valley, which boasts fine castles and gold leaf decoration – before you head onwards to Vienna. Vienna is known as the “City of Music” or the “City of Dreams” depending on which iconic individuals you regard as most prevalent to the city: Sigmund Freud or the likes of Schubert and Strauss. Some of the main sites to see include the world-famous opera house, Burgtheatre, St. Stephen’s Cathedral and the Imperial Palace. Bratislava is the capital of Slovakia, and the country’s largest city, bordering both Austria and Hungary. Moving onwards on the Danube trail, you will find yourself in Belgrade, the capital city of Serbia. Budapest also features along this massive stretch of water, with its lively, vibrant and cosmopolitan feel and beautiful World Heritage Sites such as Buda Castle Quarter. Along this long stretch of river, between Belgrade and Bucharest, you will experience the Iron Gate. This is a famous gorge on
the Danube forming part of the boundary between Serbia and Romania, before separating in to the Carpathian and the Balkan Mountains. Dutch & Belgian Waterways These waterways will take you on a journey through Amsterdam’s quiet canals and into the Flemish countryside characterised by stunning scenery and iconic windmills. This route allows you to see both sides of Europe: the countryside and the cities. Belgium has plenty of beautiful cities offering Viking folklore, a legacy from World War II, Medieval Cities and most important of all – chocolate. Amsterdam’s canals stretch 100 km in combined length, all lined with ornate buildings and villages from the 17th Century, filled with tradition and legacy. Amsterdam’s main river, flowing through its heart is the Amstel, which is Dutch for “water area”. Whilst there, take the time to visit the Anne Frank House and see the Van Gogh Museum before making your way
along the Ijsselmeer to Horn and Arnhem, then on to the populous Belgian city of Antwerp residing on the river Scheldt which is Belgium’s biggest port linking itself to the sea. This city is a hub of fashion, art galleries and diamonds close to the city of Bruges, known as the ‘Venice of the North’. The farm areas of Holland exhibit approximately 7m tulips over 79 acres of land alongside daffodils and hyacinths, offering an explosion of colour and fragrance. Along the way discover waterfalls, windmills and quaint villages and towns. Visit the town made famous for its cheese as well as its ship building: Edam, with its 17th Century architecture. This makes for an intriguing contrast with the 13th Century feel of Hoorn. Despite its largely historical townscape, Hoorn has a substantial amount of modern architecture blended in with intimate boutiques, plenty of stylish interiors and antique and unusual gift shops. This really is a fascinating area of the world – and what quainter way to navigate it than by boat? OCEAN VIEW 11
SPENDING IT
Beurer LS06 Luggage Scales
Flourish Luggage Tag
Always to hand - Beurer luggage scales save time and money. Say goodbye to repacking your luggage at the check-in counter or paying extra for excess baggage. £12.99. www.amazon.co.uk www.beurer.com
A gorgeous way to make your baggage stand out from the crowd, this pretty passport cover and luggage tag are really feminine and a great way to give mundane holiday essentials a facelift!. £6. www.tch.net
Pack In Style Keep it light while on your travels
Tumi Lejeune Backpack Tote - Hickory Transform your everyday luggage with this Alpha Bravo Lejeune backpack from Tumi. This stylish bag has numerous pockets to easily organise your possessions and features two waterproof sections to store water bottles or umbrellas without disturbing the remainder of your bag. £395. www.amara.com
Tumi - Passport cover - Sunrise Add style to your passport with this Prism passport cover from Tumi. Made from indulgent leather, the bold colour allows you to quickly identify your own passport whilst providing protection for the document whilst it is in your travel bag. £75. www.amara.com
Leather Weekender Bag - Stags
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Luxury Weekender Bag in fine Italian leather embossed with stags and luxuriously lined with satin. Two outer and two inner pockets, with zips. The bag dimensions conform to carry on hand (cabin) luggage allowance for air travel. £265. www.annabeljames.co.uk
SPENDING IT
Luxurious leather travel jewellery roll This multifunctional luxury jewellery roll is large enough to store a wide variety of jewellery types for exceptional storage thanks to 3 capacious interior zipped pockets.£195. www.stowlondon.co.uk
Crew Clothing Ashby Leather/ Canvas Wash Bag Chocolate Pack smart on weekends away with our canvas Ashby Wash Bag with smart leather trims. Featuring a webbing handle for easy carrying. £20. www.crewclothing.co.uk/
Luggage Strap
Jasper Conran at Tripp Black Opulence Croc Wheel Duffle The Jasper Conran at Tripp Opulence Croc Medium Wheel Duffle in Black is feminine and supremely practical with a distinctly modern look and feel. £75. www.debenhams.com
Easily spot your suitcase on the airport conveyor with this luggage strap. Double your chances of quickly recognising your bags in the arrivals hall with the colourful strap. £2. www.tigerstores.co.uk
Style Lite Plum, Graphite & Plum Lightweight premium and sleek soft side collection, available in graphite with a contrasting chartreuse highlight and Plum a vibrant raspberry highlight. Comes with a built in TSA Lock for safe and secure travel. £89. www.debenhams.com
OCEAN VIEW 13
On the Crest of a Wave Embrace in the opportunity of a lifetime in a journey; Explore “The Wild Atlantic Way” in the Northwest!
To really experience Ireland you need to feel it – the land, the rain, the bursting rays of sunlight that change in a heartbeat, but most of all, its ability to permeate the core of your entire being. This is a country that cannot be rushed, and exploring it with a combination of driving, walking, cycling, and climbing is one of the best ways to experience it. This allows you the opportunity to meet the locals, unfold thousands of years of history and understand what makes Irish people so unique. Choosing the Inishowen Peninsula as the starting point in the Northwest, the journey of a lifetime begins. The Wild Atlantic Way is Ireland’s first long-distance driving route and one of the 14 OCEAN VIEW
longest in the world. Stretching from the Inishowen Peninsula in Donegal to Kinsale in County Cork, the route offers an open road to truly discover the West Coast. It stretches down the Western Seaboard approximately 2500km,and boasts 15 Iconic signature points and spectacular places of interest, with a further 160 discovery points to engrave memories you will never forget. 150 Hidden Gems, where the locals frequent lie off the beaten track can be shared with visitors to get a true Irish experience. Donegal has 3 of these signature points; the first is located at Malin Head, followed by Fanad Head and Slieve League traditionally known as Sliabh Liag in Irish.
There is 1100 km of coastline to trace in Donegal. The County’s stark beauty is encapsulated in a journey of a lifetime; lost is the restrictive urban life, immersion in a carefree downtime can rejuvenate your entire being. Once you’ve adopted a “Laissez- faire” attitude, you’ll know you’ve been charmed by this special place, and only dream of the next time you can return. With a driving route that covers miles of panoramic coastline scenery, Enterprise Car Hire have recently announced a special WAW product, to accommodate the independent traveller offering a pick up and drop off service at no extra cost. This option leaves the visitor the chance to
do as little or as much of the route as you want, leaving them with more Euros in their pocket to indulge wherever and whenever they choose. In a hinterland previously associated with political and economic turmoil now a story of the past, the county can now encompass the visitor with a positive memorable experience equalling its southern counterparts as a “must see and explore” destination. When the weather is fine, Donegal’s 14 blue flag beach resorts can rival any in Europe, and make perfect destinations for a summer getaway. In the wintertime, the Donegal experience defies the weather, for here there’s no need to set sail to brave the sea – the sea charges ashore and the mists drift on Atlantic winds over fields and into the towns. Storms arrive unannounced, and just as abruptly break into brilliant sunshine, transforming the blue and grey into sparkling greenery. A unique attraction to the Inishowen Peninsula in recent years is the Northern Lights or the Aurora Borealis. The lack of light
pollution allows for spectacular images to be appreciated by visitors and photographers alike to chase the dream-like scenes. The arrays of neon colours stream like strobe lights across the Inishowen skyline. The Inishowen Peninsula is bounded to the North and West by the Atlantic coastline. As part of the exciting project launched in March 2014 by Tourism Ireland, “The Wild Atlantic Way “introduces to the avid explorer to a land less travelled, and a voyage of personal discovery at every touch point. The journey hosts signature point 1 at Malin Head and 10 discovery points within the peninsula. Follow the route that starts at Muff; historical enthusiasts can visit the IOSAS Centre, a place of Celtic Christian Heritage, with a cafe and gift shop on site. Redcastle is host to a 4 Star resort with 9 hole golf course and health spa on the shores of Lough Foyle; providing superior accommodation for a relaxing break. Moving along to Moville, a Victorian seaside market town sets the scene for a leisurely coastal walk to Greencastle. This
is a great place for a picnic and stopover for families/couples to take in breathtaking scenic views over Lough Foyle. In Shroove, “The Door” to a lovely cave “Port-a-doris” puts the Shroove area in the spotlight, special requests can be made by drinking from the wishing well. Small coves lead to a beautiful sandy beach known as “The Big White Bay” overlooked by Shroove Lighthouse designated as having European Blue Flag Beach status, excellent for bathing, and various water sports. From the Inishowen Head to Culdaff Bay there are numerous historical sites, ancient monuments, birthplaces of famous authors who have written on a variety of aspects relating to life in the local area with historical content. Descending into Kinnego Bay, another world awaits, feeling totally cut off by the sea in front and the sheer cliffs to every side. Winding country roads skirt stark mountains, carpeted with bog and heather, craggy peninsulas, sheep-studded pastures, pristine strands, icy streams, new horizons at every bend. The unspoilt landscape, steeped OCEAN VIEW 15
Fanad Head Lighthouse
in rich ancestral culture, surmounted rugged sea cliffs, makes the island’s northernmost point at Malin Head, part of a county that seems eternally braced to hold its own, on its own. The journey to the first signature point at Malin Head reveals vistas to fuel the naked eye with unbridled fantasy and earthly tones that ground the soul. Banba’s Crown, is a highlight on the Atlantic Coast tour. This is acknowledged statistically as the sunniest place in Ireland. As sun sets on the day enjoying a pint in Ireland’s most northerly pubs, Farren’s Bar or dining at The Seaview Tavern rounds off a day to remember. Banbas Crown at Malin Head is not just Ireland’s most northerly point, but a concoction of historical, scientific, and ecological importance in the backdrop of landscape that can only be described as second to none in any part of the world. On the other side of the Peninsula there are coves and bays strewn along the coastal route; “Five Fingers Strand” is backed by some of the highest sand dunes in Europe. 17th century plantation village, Malin Town is picturesquely situated at the head of Trawbreaga Bay. Malin also features a stone bridge with ten arches, and is the second largest of its kind in Ireland. 16 OCEAN VIEW
Nearby Carndonagh showcases St Patricks Cross dating from the 7th century, and is recognised as one of the earliest crosses outside mainland Europe. Ballilffen Lodge &Spa, The Strand Hotel, are set in a sea resort that has over 2miles of golden sand with superb conditions for windsurfing and surfing. The Carrickabraghy Castle is a short drive from one of Donegal’s top cultural sites, Doagh Famine Village, an outdoor museum dedicated to the period between the Famine of the 1840s through the 1900s and the present. The singular challenges of living in this harsh, remote region during a time of such hardship are sobering. Highly recommended are the guided tours, and diverse cultural representation, hence informative and thought provoking. Descending south in the peninsula a trip down the Urris Mountains through Mamore Gap towards Urris on the steep winding road is one of the most breath taking sights in the area. A must is taking in magnificient views to Dunaff Head, with Tory Island visible on a clear day. Traditional Irish villages such as Clonmany, which is host to the famous Clonmany Festival, lead to a walk to Glenevin Waterfall, with nearby beautiful Binion and Tullagh Strands. Here
you can stroll along at your leisure, or hire a horse to take in an elevated alternative. Mamore Gap is a walking paradise for the active explorer as this location provides an exciting terrain; Urris Lakes Loop and Butlers Glen Loop walking trails. For those who are keen to visit a majestically perched landmark of significant importance in coastal defence, Fort Dunree played a vital role in military neutrality protection during the War, and the museum displays artefacts with a complete expose of coastal artillery. As the route enters the town of Buncrana, stop off for a chat with local tourist staff, or perhaps stay in the local Inishowen Gateway Hotel, and walk to the local pubs and share your experiences so far. Learn more about the wonderful sights and events that await you on your next stop to a wild bird reserve at Inch Island, or the impressive An Grianan of Aileach in Burt, that when the sun goes down on this original 1700 BC Ringfort, you can see the excellent panorama of Counties Donegal, Derry, Tyrone and Antrim. Don’t forget to come back sometime and visit Inishowen, see us at www. visitinishowen.com for adventure and action packed activity based pursuits, the peninsula
“Perhaps the jewel of all hidden gems is the last signature point; wide open spaces offering singularly beautiful scenery; the 600m-high Sliabh Liag (aka Slieve League) one of the highest sea cliffs in Europe” has it all. This is just the beginning. Fanad Head follows the next dramatic coastline with a magnificent lighthouse now open to the public with accommodation. Perhaps the jewel of all hidden gems is the last signature point; wide open spaces offering singularly beautiful scenery; the 600m-high Sliabh Liag (aka Slieve League) one of the highest sea cliffs in Europe. Boat trips take people below the lofty cliffs for the imposing view and a chance to spot dolphins, seals and even whales. The adventurous are invited to take a swim in one of the coves. Alternatively, the winding spectacular drive from the top of the cliffs is rewarded with a breathtaking view of the surging sea and the crashing Atlantic waves. With a steady increase in tourism to Ireland in the last few years, and the introduction of Killybegs as a cruise liner port, Donegal can now offer the discerning traveller the “Wild Atlantic Way”. This a county that is unspoilt by overcrowding seeking little havens along a road less travelled. Explore and enjoy, until the next time; because for sure there will be a next time to meet and greet those that made those memories with you.
Slieve League
Killybegs Harbour
OCEAN VIEW 17
Explore the Emerald Isle with Titan Titan’s fully-escorted 8-day tour, The Best of Ireland, offers a comprehensive Award winning escorted tours introduction to the highlights of both the Republic of Ireland and Ulster, Titan are the undisputed experts of escorted touring, and 19 awards at the 2014 British spending two nights each in Dublin, Cork and Belfast and one night in Travel Awards are testament to this. Among Athlone, all at carefully chosen four-star hotels. The itinerary covers a lot our awards, Titan were named Best Medium of ground in a relatively short time, and is a perfect overview for anyone Holiday Company for Escorted Touring, as well as Best Medium Holiday Company for interested in the history, heritage and dramatic landscapes of the Customer Service. And no other tour operator Emerald Isle. There are seven excursions and visits included in the price includes more! ‘As standard’ in your holiday of the holiday, ensuring you get the most out of your time. price, enjoy VIP Home Departure Service for Fly from London Heathrow to Dublin, transferring to Belfast for the first two nights, with time to relax before sitting down to a three-course dinner. From here, there are included excursions to Carrickfergus Castle, the UNESCO World Heritage Site of The
Giant’s Causeway and the Titanic Belfast Exhibition. Enjoy the spectacular scenery of the south with visits to Sligo, the Cliffs of Moher, the Ring of Kerry and Killarney National Park and return to Dublin to conclude the tour.
door-to-door transfers wherever you live in the UK with no mileage supplements to pay, the services of an experienced Titan tour manager throughout, named hotels selected for their location and quality, the best coaches available with daily seat rotation, and so much more.
T Ir ta b a
Tour ref: IRL
D D y d O c w ta
G I A N T’ S C A U SEWAY
NORTHERN IRELAND EnniskillenCarrickfergus 2 Belfast Sligo
Cliffs of Moher
1
Athlone
IRELAND
Cork 2
D T m R s Ir c T u c h la
2 Dublin
Wicklow Waterford
DU BLI N
Titan’s VIP Home Departure Service® Door-to-door transfers included from every UK address† and complimentary connecting flights to London‡
For further details of the above tour and to book visit titantravel.co.uk or call free on
0800 988 5915 quoting ref. OV8 IRL
Opening times: Mon - Fri 9am - 6pm, Sat 9am - 5pm, Sun 10am - 4pm (see our website for the most current opening hours)
18 OCEAN VIEW
Calls free from BT landlines; mobiles may vary. Price shown is per person based on twin-share. All prices are subject to availability and will be confirmed upon enquiry. †Excludes Scottish islands and Sark where vehicle access is restricted. ‡For customers in northern England, Scotland, Northern Ireland, the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands. Conditions apply.
D A to u c W s o a p
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Day 7 Dublin. Today we introduce you to South Ireland’s capital city. Our first stop is St Patrick’s Cathedral to wonder at the majestic presence of this famous landmark. We then stop at Trinity College and proceed through the grounds of this hallowed educational site to its famous library to view the lavishly decorated Book of Kells. Later we visit the Guinness Storehouse, located in St James’ Gate. This evening you are free to choose where to dine, so why not enjoy one of the many restaurants in Temple Bar and take in the atmosphere of this lively city. Day 8 Dublin - London. We transfer to Dublin Airport for our direct, scheduled British Airways flight to London Heathrow Airport. On arrival you will be met and guided to your Titan vehicle, for the journey home.
7
Excursions & Visits
3 What is included • 7 nights in hotels (accommodation as specified or similar)
This wonderful eight-day journey encompasses the highlights of both Eire and Northern Ireland, presenting a magnificent and comprehensive introduction to the ‘emerald isle’, taking in both the wonderful cities of Belfast and Dublin. There are sites of unique beauty to appreciate, from the unspoilt Ring of Kerry to the dramatic Cliffs of Moher and the extraordinary Giant’s Causeway. Day 1 London - Dublin - Belfast. Titan’s VIP Home Departure Service® collects you from home, for your journey to London Heathrow Airport and your direct, scheduled British Airways flight to Dublin. On arrival, we will transfer to Belfast and the centrally-located 4-star Europa Hotel, where you will have time to unwind before a three-course table d’hôte dinner is served. Day 2 Carrickfergus - Causeway Coastal Route. This morning, we depart on Northern Ireland’s most essential journey - the Causeway Coastal Route - alongside the glens of Antrim. The first stop is Carrickfergus Castle, one of Northern Ireland’s most striking medieval monuments. We continue to the UNESCO World Heritage Site The Giant’s Causeway. This geological feat is an unforgettable force of nature; or maybe you will choose to believe the myth that this was the handiwork of a local ogre! We return to our hotel later this afternoon. Day 3 Titanic Exhibition - Sligo - Knock Shrine Athlone. This morning we depart for our excursion to the Titanic Belfast Exhibition, where you will uncover the true story of the Titanic, from its construction to the famous maiden voyage. We then bid farewell to Belfast and journey south, making a short stop in the county town of Sligo, before our visit to the Knock Shrine, a major pilgrimage site, attracting 500,000 catholic pilgrims each year.
We later arrive at the 4-star Hodson Bay Hotel, situated on the shore of Lough Ree in Athlone. Day 4 Cliffs of Moher - Cork (Douglas). Today we depart for Cork. En route we will travel around Liscannor Bay where we encounter the rugged Cliffs of Moher rising some 700 feet above the Atlantic Ocean. This afternoon we arrive at the 4-star Rochestown Park Hotel, located in the village of Douglas, a short drive from the centre of Cork and where we will spend the next two nights. Day 5 Muckross House - Ring of Kerry. Today we make an early start for our excursion into Killarney National Park, where Ireland’s highest mountains sweep down to meet lake shores, and where we will visit the delightful Victorian Muckross House for a guided tour. Our journey continues on the Ring of Kerry. The 179-km route displays the raw natural beauty and spectacular scenery of Southern Ireland, a section of which we will experience on our travels today. We will return to our hotel late afternoon. Day 6 Cork - Waterford - Dublin. This morning we depart Cork for Ireland’s oldest city, Waterford, home to the famous crystal glass and Waterford Crystal Visitor Centre. Here we have free time to roam the riverside town, before travelling through the Wicklow Mountains to Dublin and the 4-star Camden Court Hotel, where we will spend the next two nights.
• 9 meals: 7 breakfasts (days 2-8) 2 dinners (days 1 and 3) Included excursions and visits: 7 - Excursion to Carrickfergus Castle and the Giant’s Causeway - Excursion to the Titanic Belfast Exhibition - Visit to the Knock Shrine - Visit to Cliffs of Moher - Visit to Muckross House and the Ring of Kerry - Visit to Waterford - Visit to St Patrick’s Cathedral, Trinity College and the Guinness Storehouse Plus all these benefits: • Titan’s VIP Home Departure Service® • Free connecting flights from regional airports • Check-in service by Titan staff • Services of an experienced Titan tour manager • Scheduled British Airways direct flights • Best available coaches with experienced drivers • Hotel porterage (one bag per person) • Airport taxes, security charges and fuel surcharges • UK Air Passenger Duty (APD)
£
Dates and prices
2015 April 21 June 2
£1,179
September 8 October 27
£1,239 £1,199
£1,249
Single supplement: from £250 Prices are per person. Spaces are limited at these prices, subject to change and will be confirmed upon enquiry. See our website for latest pricing details. Please note: This tour includes a considerable amount of walking, sometimes over uneven surfaces and19 a OCEAN VIEW number of steps.
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Mad for Manhattan
Ocean View’s editor Zoe Thomas spends four nights at The Distrikt Hotel in New York, braving the aftermath of snow storm Juno to visit some of the city’s most indulgent bakeries, famous diners and colossal skyscrapers…
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“Flights from JFK International have been grounded as the biggest storm in New York’s history continues to batter the East coast” is not what you want to hear 24 hours before you’re due to fly into JKF airport. Miraculously, the gale-force winds died down, three feet of snow cleared and after an eight hour flight, our Norwegian dreamliner landed safely and soundly in the ‘city that never sleeps’. Except, apparently it does sleep. As our tiny old cab driver accelerated fearlessly through the icy streets of Manhattan, hardly a soul was to be seen. Shops were closed, bars empty and, quite incredibly – Times Square was dark. Broadway was out of action for the first time since Hurricane Sandy. The Distrikt Hotel was just around the corner from Times Square, on W42 street between a pizza place and the Port Authority bus station. It was tall and narrow, squeezed onto the side of a large building. We were 22 OCEAN VIEW
relieved to step into the warm lobby, which was classically Manhattan with a retro twist - lots of dark woods, pale walls, leather trimmings and contemporary light instalments. If you want a room with a city view, you’ll have to pay slightly more for the privilege - but it’s worth it. We were 19 floors up, about halfway to the top, with a view right across midtown to the river. “I always tell people to split the map into three parts - uptown, midtown and downtown,” the receptionist advised us after a welcome (and extremely comfortable) sleep. The idea of venturing into NYC for the first time in our lives was naturally daunting, so we took the receptionist’s advice and set about planning our tour of midtown over breakfast, which was served in The Distrikt Hotel’s Collage Bistro – windowless and a little uninspiring. You can choose from a number of breakfast options ($13-$16 exc. tax and tips), from the
continental buffet (cereals, oatmeal, pastries, bagels, cold meats, eggs and cheese), to the outrageously-American banana-nut french toast (brioche dipped in egg batter, lightly fried and topped with sliced bananas and warm Nutella drizzle, served with fruit garnish, maple syrup and applewood smoked bacon or chicken apple sausage).
Midtown
You can explore the whole of midtown on foot straight from the hotel. We set out west, past Times Square towards the Empire State Building, our first tourist stop for the trip. Big tip: don’t get swept away by the ticket touts outside the building. We were charmed into buying a ticket for $60, which included the Sky Ride, observation deck and a 60 minute cruise around the Statue of Liberty - but we were told this was the only way to get to the top of the Empire State Building. If you’re not super keen to be taken on a
Empire State Building Facts • 103 floors, 1,250 feet tall. • Designed by architect William Lamb. • 3,400 construction workers built it. • Completed in 410 days and officially opened on May 1, 1931. • It was the tallest building in the world until 1972, when it was surpassed by the twin towers. • An annual race takes place where athletes climb 1,576 steps to the 86th floor. • 4 million people visit the Empire State every year.
virtual roller-coaster tour around Manhattan with Kevin Bacon (a very bizarre cinema experience with moving seats), then go straight to the counter and buy a Main Deck Only ticket for $29 ($23 for children). Even better, avoid lengthy queues for the lifts by opting for the Express Ticket. We stood inline for about 40 minutes (I expect this would be far longer in summer). There is a museum on the 80th floor with information on how the Empire State Building was constructed, but by this stage you will probably be desperate to get out and see the incredible view (we were), so I recommend you stop off on your way back down. And don’t forget to visit the gift shop, where you can get your hands on glittery pink Empire State Building cafetieres and other timeless souveneirs. One thing all visits to New York must include is a pizza slice. Luckily, half the population is descended from Italians, so there’s an independent pizza take-away on practically every block. We stumbled into a gem of a place on E 41st St, just off Lexington Avenue, called Previti Pizza. It was satisfyingly ‘New York’, with Nirvana playing on the big screen, Buds in the refrigerators and locals perched on bar stools reading the New York Post. We bought two OCEAN VIEW 23
super-sized slices of cheese pizza and a can of Coke for $5 and found a window seat perfect for people-watching. All cheesed-out, we continued East towards Grand Central and the iconic Art Deco Chrysler Building - both unmissable stop-offs on your midtown tour. Also worth a visit is the enigmatically named Tudor City, on the eastern edge of the equally enigmatically-named Turtle Bay. We visited purely for the names but a little research showed that this place has an interesting heritage as the world’s first residential skyscraper complex. Before the tall, neogothic high rises were built, the area was a slum known as Goat Hill (it was allegedly home to a lot of goats wandering hurriedly away from the nearby slaughterhouses). In the 1920s, a property developer called Fred F. French took his concept of an urban utopia, a ‘human residential enclave’ complete with ‘tulip gardens, small golf courses and private parks’ to the area, creating Tudor City. Although just minutes from the bustle of midtown, it felt to us like a town of its own: noticeably older, incredibly quiet, with untouched snow covering the family SUVs that lined the roads. If you’re looking for a place to escape 24 OCEAN VIEW
and get a taste of the ‘old’ New York, this is it.
Downtown
Our grand plans of tasting Broadway’s vibrant nightlife were postponed by a quick nap that turned into a 12 hour, jetlag induced coma. The next morning, we walked two minutes to the metro station and went Downtown, to the World Trade Centre. One WTC is colossal. Like a giant mirrored finger pointing out of Manhattan, it can be seen from miles around. It stands today as the Western Hemisphere’s tallest building at 104-storeys. There’s a strange feeling around this part of town. The memory of the 911 attacks are still fresh in the minds of New Yorkers, and today two huge recessed pools mark the original footprints of the Twin Towers, embedded in a plaza peppered with swamp white oak trees. The names of those who died are inscribed on the parapets surrounding the memorials. It was an eerie place to stand. It felt strange to visit a museum about a tragedy that happened just 14 years ago, but the National September 11 Memorial
& Museum attracts millions of curious tourists every year. In it you can see parts of the original structure, including the steel columns that were hit directly by the plane, twisted unrecognisably with the immense force of the impact. You can also see mugshots of nearly every person who died, and remnants of those lost lives in the form of driving licenses, mobile phones and items of clothing found in the rubble. Visiting the museum was a moving experience, but 911 was a defining moment in New York’s history – and as tragic as it was, it’s important for visitors to understand its impact on the city. Lunch in Downtown Manhattan was busy. Here the suited and booted office workers of Wall Street swarm into sandwich shops, cafes and pizza places, and between 12-1pm you’ll find yourself battling through the crowds in most places. By chance we happened upon the bustling Amish Market in Tribeca, a quirky grocery store with a salad bar and communal seating area. This is a top spot for listening into conversations and getting a taste of everyday life in the city. The salad bar was amazing, with hot choices like baked yams (sweet potatoes), pasta dishes and grilled
peppers as well as an impressive variety of salads. In the afternoon we walked over the Brooklyn Bridge - which turned out to be the highlight of the whole trip. Looking back at the huge skyscrapers that dominate Downtown offered a new sense of perspective. It was refreshing to be away from the relentless traffic and crowded streets, and feel normal-sized again.
Uptown
beyond that infamous day in September 2001. Once you’ve paid the initial $14 fee, you can access all of the museum’s exhibitions, which change routinely. Don’t miss the ongoing 22 minute documentary Timescapes, which traces the development of the city from its early days as a
also buy fresh brownies, chunky cookies and occasion cakes. Sex And The City fans should definitely put Magnolia’s on their visit list, as this cupcake shop starred in one episode and is now credited with starting the worldwide cupcake craze. If you’re spending the evening in West Village, head over to Cozy’s Soup & Burger. No, it’s not fine dining. It’s not going to win a Michelin star anytime soon. It’s a classic all-American diner, complete with plastic booths, laminate menus and a wall of fame featuring Adam Sandler and Justin Bieber. But the food is delicious: everything you could want from a diner, and the staff are very friendly. New York has so much to offer. Each district has a distinct personality - they’re micro cities. It’s worth setting off in any direction, without a plan or a map, and simply seeing what you stumble into. There is a sense of opportunity here, a feeling that anything could happen. No two stays in New York are ever the same.
“Central Park in the snow is unforgettable. Beautiful at all times of year, the park takes on an other-worldly feel in the depths of winter”
Central Park in the snow is unforgettable. Beautiful at all times of year, the park takes on an other-worldly feel in the depths of winter. We took the metro from the hotel to 86th street and followed the running track around the frozen lake. Apart from two brave joggers, we were completely alone. Our destination for the morning was the Museum of the City of New York, located East of the park. Everyone’s got their ideas about what New York is, but we wanted to peek under the surface - to see how it all began and the things it’s been through
settlement of a few hundred Europeans, Africans and native Americans, to its present-day status as one of the world’s most iconic cities. After the museum we were peckish. For quite possibly the best cupcake you will ever try, head across town to Magnolia’s in the West Village. Cupcake choices include caramel (buttery, rich with meringue buttercream), peanut butter and jelly, red velvet and vanilla chocolate. You can
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KITCHEN GOODIES
Newgate Discovery Kitchen Timer Clock, £60. www.redcandy.co.uk
Zeal Handy Kitchen Tongs, £7.95. www.kitchenbuddies.co.uk Joseph Joseph Gadgets Gift Set £20. www.redcandy.co.uk
Foodie Gadgets
camper van toaster, £35. www.TheGreatGiftCompany.co.uk
MUST HAVES Salt And Pepper Wind Up Robots, £9.95. www.prezzybox.com
Herb Infuser, £10. www.TheGreatGiftCompany.co.uk
Retro Slush Maker, £49.95. www.prezzybox.com
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ESSENTIAL RECIPES
Same Same but Different
The new cookbook from popular TV cook Poh Ling Yeow. Come on a new journey with Poh Ling Yeow with her long awaited cookbook ‘Same Same ut Different’, the follow-up to her bestselling ‘Poh’s Kitchen - My Cooking Adventures’, which stayed in the top 10 Australian bestsellers list for six weeks
Seared Scallops with Green Apple and Wasabi Cream 12 large scallops (more if they are small) 2 tablespoons olive oil 30g unsalted butter OR omit olive oil and use 40g clarified butter instead portion of Wasabi Cream (see opposite page) 1 small Granny Smith, quartered, core removed, cut into matchsticks Lay the scallops on a double layer of paper towel, then pat dry with more paper towel. Combine the olive oil and butter in a heavy-based non-stick pan over medium–high heat until the butter is foaming, then quickly arrange the scallops in the pan, leaving space between them so they don’t overcrowd, and steam. Cooking these on the BBQ is also an excellent option. Cook for about 30 seconds–1 minute, depending on size. You want some nice caramelisation on at least one side and the best way to check if they are cooked is to give them a prod. Just like all meat, you want just the right amount of resistance and yes, it is a bit of a Goldilocks situation but the best way to learn is from experience – squidgy is under-done, hard is overdone, you want something in between. Also don’t forget that when you’re dealing with such a small morsel, residual heat can be your friend or enemy. To serve, be as creative as you like. I usually pipe or dollop about a teaspoon of wasabi cream on the top or at the base of each scallop then arrange a teepee shaped pile of apple on top. Serve immediately as a canape or entree. A blunt or serrated knife will make fruit and vegetables turn brown quicker so always work with a freshly sharpened one and you will burst less cells along the way. Salt or citrus will also help retard oxidisation – you can sprinkle a little of either over the cut apple but it will still eventually go brown so don’t do this too much ahead of time. Fennel can also be treated like this.
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ESSENTIAL RECIPES
Tearaway Dumpling Soup Dumpling Dough 3 cups (450g) plain flour 1 teaspoon salt 2 eggs, lightly whisked about 3 cups (750ml) water 4–5 L water Toppings 1 cup (250ml) vegetable oil 6 cloves garlic, peeled, finely chopped 250g minced chicken OR pork 10 medium shiitake mushrooms, soaked in hot water for 30 minutes, stems discarded, thinly sliced 2 tablespoons light soy sauce 2 teaspoons dark soy sauce 1 tablespoon oyster sauce 2 teaspoons sugar 1 teaspoon ground white pepper 1 bunch choy sum OR 3 bunches bok choy, cut across stalks in half 4 cups (1 L) boiling water 4 cups (1 L) vegetable oil + 1 teaspoon extra 1 cups ikan bilis* (Asian dried anchovies) 2 eggs, lightly whisked 1 portion of Neutral Chicken Stock 1 portion of Sambal (see page 219)
Continue to do this until you have enough dumplings to feed 5–6. If you want to be certain of an al dente result, plunge the cooked dumplings into cold water before draining. To prepare the toppings, heat the oil in a medium frypan over medium heat and sauté the garlic for a few seconds OR until golden. Leave 2–3 tablespoons of the garlic and oil in the pan and pour the remainder over the dumplings then toss to prevent sticking. Add the minced chicken or pork and shiitake to the pan, increase to a high heat and sauté until the meat is brown, using a spatula or wooden spoon to break the mince into smaller pieces. Add the light and dark soy, oyster sauce, sugar and pepper, then toss to combine and transfer to a bowl. Set aside. To blanch the choy sum, place in a medium bowl and cover with freshly boiled water. Allow to sit for 10 seconds, then drain in a colander and set aside. To fry the ikan bilis, heat the 4 cups of oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. To test if oil is ready, toss a few ikan bilis into the oil – if they turn golden in about 10 seconds, all is well.
Garnish 1 cup chopped spring onions 1 cup roughly chopped coriander leaves and stalks cup deep-fried shallots*
Deep-fry all the ikan bilis until golden, drain in a sieve lined with paper towel and set aside.
To make the dumpling dough, combine the flour and salt in a large mixing bowl and mix roughly.
Heat the extra teaspoon of oil over medium–high heat then coat thinly with the egg.
Make a well in the middle, add the eggs and 2 cups of the water.
Cook for only a few seconds on each side so the omelette doesn’t dry out, then roll into a cylinder and slice thinly.
Bring the dough together, gradually adding more water as needed and kneading until very smooth and pliable and not too stiff. Cover with cling wrap and rest for 30 minutes. To cook the dumplings, bring the water to the boil in a large pot. Sit your piece of dough on the edge of a clean benchtop and start pulling and stretching the dough away from the bench.
To make the omelette garnish, evenly coat the surface of a medium frypan with oil using paper towel.
Toss to unravel the long threads, cover with cling wrap and set aside. To serve, portion into each bowl a cup of dumplings, 2 or so ladles of the chicken stock, 2 tablespoons full of the mince, a sprinkle of the egg threads, a small cluster of the blanched choy sum, a sprinkle of the fried ikan bilis, spring onions, deep-fried shallots and then a teaspoon of the sambal. Enjoy!
As thin areas, roughly the length of your fingers, are stretched out, thrust your hands in an upwards motion then pull away so the tips of your fingers cut out a ragged-edged piece of dough. Immediately drop into the boiling water and wait for it to rise to the surface, then scoop out with a Chinese spider OR slotted spoon to drain in a colander.
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Right: Tearaway Dumpling Soup
OCEAN VIEW 29
ESSENTIAL RECIPES
Steamed Tiew Chew Fish (Snapper) SERVES 2-4 AS A SHARED DISH Fish 1 baby snapper, cleaned and scaled 1 tablespoon shaoxing rice wine* teaspoon caster sugar dash of white pepper Sauce 5 medium shiitake mushrooms 80g pork belly, thinly sliced 3–4 leaves pickled mustard stem*, sliced into 5mm shreds 200g silken tofu*, diced into 2cm cubes 2 pickled plums*, deseeded and squashed 1 medium tomato, cut into 8–10 wedges 1 tablespoon fish sauce OR to taste 1 teaspoon soy . teaspoon caster sugar white pepper 2–3 tablespoons finely shredded ginger Special Equipment: wok with a domed lid + steaming trivet with 3cm high legs + 25–30cm heatproof dish with 4cm high sides + a largish ceramic tart dish Soak the shiitake mushrooms for the sauce in hot water for 40 minutes OR until soft, then squeeze to remove excess moisture. Discard stems and slice caps thinly. Score the flesh of the fish to the bone at 2cm intervals – 3 times on each side. Rub the shaoxing, sugar and pepper all over the fish and marinate for 10 minutes. Place the fish in a heatproof dish and spread the sauce ingredients around the dish, finishing with the ginger sprinkled directly over the fish. Place the dish on a steaming trivet and steam covered in a wok with a domed lid over high heat for 10–20 minutes OR until the fish is perfectly cooked. Halfway through, baste the fish with the surrounding juices. If you are unsure whether the fish is cooked, make a very small incision at the fattest part of the fish and gently pry apart the flesh to check. If the flesh closest to the bone is the tiniest bit translucent, it is ready. Remove the wok from the heat, keeping the fish covered and the residual heat will finish off the cooking. Serve with steamed jasmine rice as a shared dish. Bream or baby barramundi are good alternatives or fillets of your favourite fish if you are too scared to go for a whole one.
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Same Same But Different by Poh Ling Yeow Harper Collins Publishers Ltd, £18.99 www.harpercollins.co.uk
OCEAN VIEW 31
Built onWater
Floating Architecture + Design The vision of living on water has recently become a professional focus among architects and urban planners. Climate change, the rise of the sea level, and the constantly increasing global population are issues that render treating water surfaces as settlement areas as topical as never before.
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Ark Hotel, Sochi, Russia Architects: Remistudio OCEAN VIEW 33 Picture: Remistudio
Het Bosch, Amsterdam, The Netherlands Architects: Dreissen architects, Jager Janssen architects Structural engineers: L端ning Photo:idem
IBA Dock, Hamburg, Germany Architects: Han Slawik Architekt/ architech Structural engineers: ims Ingenieurgesellschaft Detail design: bof architekten Energy concept: Immosolar Photo: R端diger Mosler
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itech
haft
Thematic Pavilion, Interior. Yeosu, South Korea Architects: ONL [Oosterhuis_Lénard] Pictures: ONL [Oosterhuis_Lénard]
Thematic Pavilion, Exterior. Yeosu, South Korea Architects: ONL [Oosterhuis_Lénard] Pictures: ONL [Oosterhuis_Lénard]
r
Built on Water: Floating Architecture + Design Published by Braun OCEAN VIEW 35 €49,90 www.braun-publishing.ch
“Most seafoods ... should be simply threatened with heat and then celebrated with joy.“
Jeff Smith
Seafood, fresh from the morning’s catch, is just one of the culinary highlights offered by the award-winning Columbia Beach Resort’s Apollo Taverna, you can also try the famous and extensive Cyprus Meze; consisting of a vast array of small dishes, with recipes unique to each chef. Here, you have the opportunity to taste authentically fresh and commonly organic Cypriot and Mediterranean cuisine, where the spoils of the sea are the main focus, whilst surrounded by rustic stone and lush greenery, all set off by the turquoise beauty of Pissouri bay. Arouse your senses and fulfill your appetite’s desires at the luxurious 5 star Columbia Beach Resort.
Cyprus's Leading Resort
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Arrábida:
Between the Mountains and the Sea
S
erra da Arrábida is a mountain range that lies on the southern coast of the Setúbal Peninsula, about 30 kilometres from Portugal’s capital, Lisbon. It runs from the city of Setúbal to Praia da Foz, north of Cabo Espichel, on the western coast, and across the municipalities of Setúbal, Palmela and Sesimbra. It forms an orographical barrier between the coast and the hinterland and is subdivided into three parts. The first of these comprises the gentle slopes around Sesimbra, the Risco and Arrábida ranges and the hills between Outão and Setúbal.
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The second part is made up of the S. Luís and Gaiteiros ranges and the third of the Louro and São Francisco ranges. At its highest point, Formosinho reaches 501 metres and the coastal limestone escarpment of the Serra do Risco, peaking at 380 metres above sea level, is Europe’s highest. It is generally acknowledged to be one of Portugal’s most beautiful Mediterraneaninfluenced landscapes and, over the ages, it has inspired many a writer, poet, painter and filmmaker. One of the most striking images it has to offer is the sight of the green of
the Mediterranean vegetation, tumbling vertiginously down to meet the deep blue of the sea. The very special nature of this limestone massif has resulted in many attempts, dating back to the 1940s, to preserve the local geology, flora, fauna and countryside. Similar conservation efforts have addressed the cultural and historical artefacts to be found in the area. These initiatives culminated, in 1971, in the setting up of the Arrábida Reserve and then, five years later, the Arrábida Natural Park as we know it today, which also
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ARRÁBIDA
includes the Luiz Saldanha Marine Park. Recently, a candidature was prepared, albeit unsuccessfully, for inclusion on UNESCO’s list of world heritage sites. One of the most engaging aspects of the natural wealth that the Arrábida region has to offer is its sheer geo-diversity. There are numerous sites of geological and geomorphologic interest, known as geosites. Some of these are of exceptional scientific value, while others are of didactic and cultural interest. The list of known geosites includes such highlights as the Pedro da Mua, Lagosteiros and Pedreira do Avelino dinosaur tracks, in the municipality of Sesimbra. These have been classified as national monuments and are open to visitors.
Archaeological remains tell us that human occupation of the area around the Serra da Arrábida dates back to the Lower Palaeolithic, with the arrival of groups of Homo erectus. These early inhabitants settled along the coast, between Cabo Espichel and Sesimbra.
fortified Iron Age settlements at Chibanes and Pedrão, in Quinta do Anjo, the various factories from the Roman era where fish was salted before being sent to all corners of the empire and the medieval castles and the multitude of Arabic place names all serve as evidence to the historical importance of the region. Its geographical location and isolation have influenced human settlement here in two ways: one being defence and the projection of military power and the other mystical and spiritual reflection. Chapels, convents, churches, hermitages, sanctuaries, castles, fortifications and other religious manifestations stand as true witness to this historical reality. The most notable constructions in the area are the medieval castles at Palmela and
“Arrábida’s climate and location have favoured the development of much biodiversity and a wide range of habitats”
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The Neolithic necropolis in the foothills at Quinta do Anjo, the Roça do Casal do Meio burial ground, which bears witness to one of the largest Bronze Age communities known to have lived in Serra do Risco, the
ARRÁBIDA
Sesimbra, the São Filipe fort, in Setúbal, and the coastal fortifications, built between the 14th and 17th Centuries to defend the region. On the religious front, the sanctuary at Cabo Espichel is striking, both for its worship of Our Lady of the Cape, which harks back to the 14th Century and still attracts devotees in their thousands, and for the stunning way it is framed by the landscape. Arrábida’s climate and location have favoured the development of much biodiversity and a wide range of habitats. On land, there are various types of vegetation, including a number of endemic species. The stock of fauna is also hugely rich, with hundreds of vertebrate and invertebrate land species having been recorded in the area. One of these is Europe’s smallest spider, a member of the Anapistula genus. It was discovered by the
Costa Azul Speleology Club in 2007, in the network of karstic caverns embedded in the Arrábida chain. More than 1,400 marine species are known to inhabit the waters of the region, once again emphasising the degree of biodiversity and the importance this has in both economic and environmental terms. The region is well known for the quality of its agricultural and fisheries produce, a reflection of two of the main sources of employment in the area. Wine is a major product of the region’s farms, particularly the Moscatel de Setúbal, which has rightfully had considerable local and international exposure. The unique climate, soil and vegetation do not only favour arable farming, but also many other rural activities, including the keeping of livestock and bees. In addition to the wine, the Arrábida region, and its member municipalities of Sesimbra, Palmela and Setúbal, offer up a wide variety
“The region is well known for the quality of its agricultural and fisheries produce, a reflection of two of the main sources of employment in the area”
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ARRÁBIDA
of top-quality produce, including Azeitão cheese, honey and Camoesa or Férrea Azoia apples. Fish is another great asset for the region. Sesimbra is a fishing hub, not simply because it is one of the largest fishing ports in the country, but also because of the high quality of its catch. The connection that the people of Sesimbra have with the sea goes to the very heart of local traditions. Arte Xávega or chincha, a type of seine fishing using nets cast from the shore and towed out to sea by boats, is still very much practised today in Sesimbra. It has been developed into a highly local form that involves the use of the aiola, a small wooden boat typical of the area. This vessel is also used in jig fishing. At Praia do Moinho de Baixo, in the village of Meco, xávega is also practised, but from a different type of boat. The people of Arrábida are also well known for their religious observances, in the form of devotional feasts. Amongst these is the feast in honour of Our Lord Jesus of the Wounds, patron saint of the fisher folk of Sesimbra, held on 4 May. Other feasts include Our Lady of Cape Espichel, in September, and the Alfarim feast, in December. 42 OCEAN VIEW
Vertente Natural
ADVERTORIAL
Follow your journey, travel through contents, culture, beauty and calm Vertente Natural is an activity company that offers a fantastic way to see the outstanding landscape of the Arrabida Natural Park, while learning about the environment surrounding you and getting a kick of adrenaline. Activities offered include: canoeing, climbing, mountaineering, orienteering, snorkeling, mountain biking and parasailing. Vertente Natural aims to educate people about the Sesimbra district’s cultural and environmental values, its natural beauty and local gastronomy. This is a totally unique and alternative way of seeing this region of Portugal in the safe hands of accredited instructors with all the necessary equipment
to give you an adventure you’ll never forget. For the less adventure-seeking visitors, walking tours and wine tours are also offered. These last from half a day to a full day, exploring the region calmly at your own pace. Choose from Jurassic trails, historical tours around the Achada and Risco Mountains, geological and flora and fauna walks. Wine tours last half a day and include visits to the three main wineries of the region, tasting six delicious Portuguese wines, cheeses and homemade bread. Packages are also offered by Vertente Natural, including a stay at a local four star hotel or B&B with purchase of an activity. Make this a real holiday and spend seven
nights in a comfortable hotel after six walks of your choice to fill your days, and a relaxing spa experience to revitalise. See the website for details. If it’s the sea-life or coastal region you’re more interested in, purchase a package that allows you to watch dolphins in their natural environment or go coasteering and have lunch on a beautiful beach, all including transfers, insurance and instructors.
T: 00351 21 084 89 19 E: info@vertentenatural.com W: www.vertentenatural.com
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Spice And Life In South America Experience the world’s biggest, liveliest Carnival in Rio de Janeiro
C
arnival is one big street party exploding with colour, passion, dance and music. Taste sizzling street food, learn to dance the Samba with locals, and see the dazzling costumes – the glitter, feathers and breath-taking acrobatics. The festivities take place in many Christian communities across the world, from Trinidad and Tobago, to San Fransisco in the US. There’s no disputing 44 OCEAN VIEW
though that the biggest, brightest, wildest Carnival of all takes place in Rio de Janeiro, in South America. In Rio, Carnival is huge. The ancient Catholic tradition has been turned on its head and transformed into a vibrant celebration that spans over many weeks in the lead-up to lent.
Origins of Carnival
There are many theories surrounding the
origins of Carnival, some of which stretch right back to ancient Greek and Roman times, where the people celebrated their gods of wine - Dionysus and Bacchus respectively - with a spot of harmless drunken revelry. This ancient tradition was then thought to have been modified by the Roman Catholic church to tone down the drinking and make it more about feasting before Lent. The idea was that households would
consume all rich foods like meat, dairy and sugar the night before Lent to remove all temptation during the fast. Today, Carnival in many cultures is a massive event involving street parades, glittering balls and a level of revelry the ancient Romans and Grecians would be proud of.
Rio Carnival History
The Carnival in Brazil’s capital is considered to be the biggest in the world, enticing as many as two million people out onto the streets every day. The city’s first festivals took place back in 1723 when Portuguese immigrants from the slands of madeira, Acores and Cabo Verde took to the streets to soak each other with buckets of water and food – a tradition known and Entrudo (final day before Lent). As the event evolved over the years, people began to introduce organised parades to the celebrations, and even the Emperor and aristocracy would get involved with the ‘grandees sociedades’ (great societies), for which they would don masks and ornate costumes. During times of military censorship, Carnival would be used to express political dissatisfaction, with the use of satire to express displeasure at the government’s choices. During African slavery in the 1800s, Samba was introduced to Brazil. This is an eclectic mix of music, song and dance that is now an integral part of the city’s character and the heart of Rio Carnival.
Rio Samba Parade
This is the piece de resistance of the Rio Carnival and possibly one of the biggest parties on earth, inviting all visitors to spend the week singing, dancing, drinking and moving to the cacophony of rhythms on Rio’s streets. This is an explosion of Brazilian culture – a time for the local people to show the world who they are. Since 1984 the Samba Parade has been held at the Sambadrome, where twelve of the best samba schools in the city compete OCEAN VIEW 45
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for the prestigious championship each year. The schools are required to present a theme portrayed through live musicians, dancers and incredible costumes and floats. Preparations for this event last all year, and the final result is breath-taking. The Parade is officially started on the Friday before Lent by the mayor, who crowns ‘King Momo’ (representing joy and prosperity) to set the ball in motion and spread the fever all over the streets, bars and clubs of the city.
Carnival Costumes
Dressing up is at the heart of Carnival – it’s a way of freeing oneself from the rigours of daily life, of becoming a part of the crowd and of the Carnival itself. While some of the Samba dancers wear next to nothing, full nudity is not allowed at Carnival. Many of the costumes are risque but beautiful, with a dazzling array of sequins, sparkles and feathers. A costume is your ticket to the Samba parade, enabling you to join in with the festivities. You can buy these made to measure in the lead-up to the event. Outsiders are more than welcome to party with the parade.
The Carioca
Brazilians are known as Carioca, and they are generally a spirited community – friendly and welcoming to outsiders, with an infectious love for partying. The name comes from the Portuguese immigrants who settled on these shores in the 1700s. They built houses that the native Tupi Indians called karai oca, translating as ‘white house’. Before long, the Portuguese adopted the name and began calling themselves Cariocas. Often, you don’t need to be a Rio native to be classed as a Carioca: it’s all about attitude and spirit – a way of life. Cariocas are characteristically laid back – half an hour late for meeting someone? It doesn’t matter. They are also extremely friendly and tourists find themselves making friends with the locals very quickly. They are very open with their body language and both men and women greet each other with kisses, hugging and friendly back slaps. Passions include the beach, partying and playing sports. They often enjoy all three at once, and large groups will hit the beach to enjoy an afternoon playing football and drinking beer in the sunshine.
Rio Info
Location - Rio de Jeneiro is located in Brazil, on the east coast of South America. Climate - The city benefits from a tropical climate, which means the temperature is fairly warm all year round and the weather is usually sunny. Summer falls between December and January as it’s located in the southern hemisphere. Expect hot, humid weather during Carnival season. Currency - The currency in Brazil is called the Real (BRL). All major credit cards are accepted. Intercity Transport - Rio has a public bus service that takes passengers to all parts of the city. There is also an underground train system - Metro Rio, although it only has two lines and 35 stations. For the more active visitors, cycling offers an ideal way of seeing the city and all of its top sites. Rio is in fact listed as one of the top 20 cities in the world to use bicycle as transport. The city has 450km of cycle lanes and plenty of bike racks – as well as a bicycle rental programme called SAMBA. OCEAN VIEW 47
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Exploring New Frontiers We get an inside look at Craghoppers, one of the UK’s most successful travel clothing brands
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What’s the story behind this famous brand?
A true British brand, Craghoppers began as a meeting of minds in 1965 in a makeshift clothing workshop in Batley, Yorkshire. The brand had the Peak District on its doorstep, but Mount Everest was in its sights. However, they understood one thing: “you go prepared, or you don’t go”. Unable to find the kind of performance and protective fabrics they needed to tackle such a challenge, the group decided to make their own gear, and Craghoppers was born.
How does Craghoppers compete with other outdoors/travel brands?
Craghoppers’ survival and on-going success is greatly attributed to understanding the needs of its existing customers as well as recognising the developing needs of a constantly evolving market. By consistently 50 OCEAN VIEW
adapting its offering in line with these, the brand has managed to stay ahead of its competitors and at the forefront of the industry. As a pioneer of smart protective fabric technologies, Craghoppers has become a leader in the travel clothing market and its travel range; NosiLife; is distinguished by its ground breaking world exclusive insect repellent fabric innovation. NosiLife was at the time and still is today, a huge USP for Craghoppers as they are the only brand worldwide to offer this fabric technology and one of the few to offer the whole family a range of permanent insect repellent clothing from t-shirts to trousers. The full NosiLife range has been designed with the traveller in mind, with added features and benefits such as sun protection, security pockets, drying loops, dry bags and sunglasses wipes, plus plenty more.
What have some of the company’s biggest milestones been over the years? Success of the Kiwi Trouser Behind every stitch of Craghoppers’ gear lies almost 50 years of outdoor experience, 50 years of intuitive design, 50 years of meticulous construction and 50 years of fun. Today the brand is a firm favourite on both the hill side and the high street, with its flagship Kiwi Trouser now the best-selling walking trouser in Europe, making it one of the UK’s leading outdoor apparel brands. Bear Grylls Partnership A long-time partner of Craghoppers in the UK is survival expert Bear Grylls. The relationship with Bear began in 2007 and has flourished over the last six years. Craghoppers were looking for a true survival expert to put their kit through
“Bear works closely with the team during the design process and then goes onto rigorously field test the Bear Grylls by Craghoppers apparel in some of the toughest conditions in the world�
its paces and Bear was seeking a brand to develop a clothing range with - not just a product to stick his name to. Bear works closely with the team during the design process and then goes onto rigorously field test the Bear Grylls by Craghoppers apparel in some of the toughest conditions in the world. Bear justly makes a great ambassador for the brand as he characterises the true spirit of the brand and helps to differentiate Craghoppers in a competitive marketplace. Craghoppers is looking forward to continuing to work with Bear in the future. DofE Partnership Craghoppers is proud to collaborate with the Duke of Edinburgh organisation. Part of the DofE recommended kit list, Craghoppers DofE range uses fabrics and technology from its main collection. Craghoppers has ensured that the range is appealing to this younger audience through the use of vibrant colours and flattering fits, resulting in fashionable yet functional garments, which perform in a multitude of environments. Moving Stateside One of the biggest milestones for Craghoppers in recent years is the brand’s OCEAN VIEW 51
successful launch in the United States, one of the largest and most competitive outdoor markets in the world. After initial testing in 2009, the brand officially launched stateside in May 2011, introducing a unique range of performance travel and outdoor apparel to millions of outdoor enthusiasts across North America. Since then, Craghoppers has opened a dedicated distribution facility in Seattle, WA., a North America headquarters in New Market, NH. complete with brand showroom, and has developed a strong following in the outdoor industry.
Volcanoes National Park, nearly 47 years after Dian Fossey began her work in the region. With exclusive access to the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund’s Karisoke Research Center, the documentary gives new meaning to the term conservation as it explores the extreme, intensive and sometimes-dangerous
comment on the documentary via social media to help raise awareness. The clothing company is a sponsor of the charity. In 2013 it donated £45,000 worth of kit from its NosiLife and Kiwi range to help the trackers and anti-poaching patrols as they go about their daily monitoring in difficult conditions. As well as making the film, Craghoppers is selling a specially designed t-shirt with £5 from the sale of each top going directly to the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International.
“Craghoppers has ensured that the range is appealing to this younger audience through the use of vibrant colours and flattering fits, resulting in fashionable yet functional garments”
Dian Fossey ‘Hope’ Campaign In 2014 Craghoppers launched a campaign to raise awareness for the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund in Rwanda and produced a short documentary entitled ‘Hope’ which revisits the mountain gorillas at the 52 OCEAN VIEW
methods employed to protect the great apes. Hope aims to send out a clear message to the world – we must support the people protecting the mountain gorillas – they are the gorillas’ only hope of survival. Hope is available to view online at http:// www.craghoppers.com and its makers, Craghoppers, are encouraging as many people as possible to view, share and
National Geographic Partnership In 2014 National Geographic selected Craghoppers adventure travel apparel as an exclusive licensed apparel partner for North America, providing National Geographicbranded apparel for the United States, Canada, and Mexico at stand-alone retail and online stores. Select key styles will be specifically manufactured for the National Geographic-branded product line.
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Glenridding looking over Ullswater
Great British Staycations
From Cornwall To Cumbria W
hile most Brits are desperate to get on the next flight/cruise ship out of here, more than 32 million overseas visitors flock to British soil every year. And why? Because Great Britain is home to some of the most stunning, culturally and historically significant places on Earth. Some of us travel miles to find crystal clear waters, palm trees and exotic wildlife – but all of this and more is just a drive away, from the turquoise shallows off the Cornish coast, to the deep blue lakes of Cumbria. Why miss out on the beauty, just because it’s on our doorstep? Cornwall The sea is the heart and soul of Cornish life. This county, which juts out into the
Atlantic ocean on the southern-most corner of Britain, has a rich maritime heritage stretching back through centuries of fishing, shipping, smuggling and piracy. Arriving here, whether by car, plane or train, you feel as though you’ve left the country. There’s a different feel in the air once you cross the Devon border - perhaps it’s the sea breeze, or the warmer climate coming in from the Gulf Stream. Or perhaps it’s the palm trees (known as Cornish Palms) that grow here in abundance, making the coastal towns of St Ives and Penzance look like Caribbean colonies. For British holidaymakers, Cornwall is the furthest you can get from home without leaving the country – both culturally and geographically.
Unlike the manicured Victorian promenades of the south east, the Cornish coastline is truly wild. On the north coast you’ll find miles of untouched sand fringed with foamy Atlantic surf. Here, surfers flock to places like Nequay’s Fistral Beach and Gwithian in search of the beast breakers to practice their skills and test their nerves on some of the biggest waves in the country. For land-lubbers, there is still plenty of excitement to be had along the coast, from long walks along the dramatic cliffs to the tranquil bay of St Agnes, to ice creams and fish n’ chips in the bustling harbour towns of Falmouth and St Mawes. The wildlife found along the Cornish coast is breathtaking, from 30ft basking sharks drifting metres from the shore, to the OCEAN VIEW 55
Kingsand in Cornwall
hundreds of seals you can find lolling on the craggy shores of Godrevy Bay in summer. Cornwall really is the Caribbean of Great Britain. Cumbria Cumbria boasts one of Europe’s most dramatic landscapes. It encompasses the famous Lake District, home to the deepest and widest lakes in the country (Wastwater and Windermere respectively) – as well as the highest mountain, Scafell Pike. Natural wonders may be in abundance, but you can also find some of Britain’s most significant man-made structures, including numerous castles, 50 stone circles and Hadrian’s Wall, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Castlerigg Stone Circle lies on the outskirts of Keswick and is one of the first stone circles to have been built in Britain. It dates from around 3000 BC, with various theories put forward as to why
and how it came to be there but no solid conclusions. For a more tasty experience, indulge in the Famous 1657 Chocolate House, offering a large range of locally-made ice cream with hot chocolate sauce, the world’s best fudge and even a chocolate plant. The café here provides 20 different chocolate drinks and
third highest mountain in the Lake District, and one of the most popular walking trails. The summit of Skiddaw is reachable within just a couple of hours with spectacular views over the Pennines, Irish Sea, Isle of Man and the heart of the Lake District fells. There are many enchanting corners of this breathtaking landscape. Winster Valley is considered one of them, famed for the damson trees which bloom every spring, covering the valley with fluffy white blossom. The event is such a spectacle that it draws crowds of people each year, including local producers, farmers and craftspeople who come together to celebrate the beautiful tree. In autumn, the trees are laden with ripe, purple fruits with locals setting up stalls to get in on the action. If you’re taking children or teenagers away with you, there is plenty to do besides walking and sight-seeing. In Grizedale Forest you’ll find a Go Ape centre perfect
“Cumbria boasts one of Europe’s most dramatic landscapes. It encompasses the famous Lake District home to the deepest and widest lakes in the country”
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14 hand-made cakes. But don’t worry, you can burn it all off when taking advantage of the many walks that Cumbria provides, especially around the Lake District. Of course the best way to appreciate Cumbria’s sublime mountain scenery is by foot. One of the most admired peaks in Britain can be found here: Helvellyn, the
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for adventurous little monkeys. Here you can take to the trees and navigate an exciting course of tartan swings, rope bridges and zip slides. Alternatively, you can skip the active part altogether by taking a guided segway tour around the beautiful grounds surrounding Cartmel Racecourse and The Holker Estate in Grange-over-Sands. For a family outing that everyone can enjoy, visit Ducky’s Park Farm which provides a safe and friendly environment for visitors to get close and personal to a wide variety of animals. There is also an indoor play-frame and toddlers area for the younger family members. For a bit of history and literature, visit Brantwood, where John Ruskin spent the last two decades of his life. Children can also enjoy this fascinating insight in to the world of John Ruskin and 19th Century influence by taking part in quizzes and various activities. The Wordsworth Museum is also not far away in the heart of the Lake District, set in Dove Cottage – home to Wordsworth himself. This is where he wrote his greatest poetry, so you can soak up his life and work. In case you haven’t had enough of the world of literature, the World
of Beatrix Potter, an indoor re-creation of the Lakeland countryside where Peter Rabbit and his friends reside, is an essential part of a Lake District holiday. Yorkshire As well as tea and vampires, Yorkshire is also famous for its miles of beautiful rugged coastline peppered with ancient windswept hamlets and bustling market towns. One of this county’s most famous seaside towns is Whitby, one of the settings in Bram Stoker’s gothic novel Dracula. Here you can visit some of the story’s most chilling sites, including the skeletal ruins of Whitby Abbey. Take a picnic and explore these romantic ruins, taking in the spectacular views over the bay. If you feel like getting away from the bustle of Yorkshire’s tourist destinations, head to Robin Hood’s Bay where the fish n’ chip shops and arcades give way to green undulating hills and sleepy villages. Don a sturdy pair of walking boots and head out onto the winding coastal trail, taking you through cobbled hamlets and over old smugglers routes. Sites of note along the way include Laurel Inn, which has a bar
carved out of solid rock, and Robin Hood’s Bay beach, which is one of the UK’s best spots for fossil hunting. For the quintessential British getaway, pay a visit to Hornsea, further down the coast towards Hull. Here you can stroll down the quaint promenade, marvel at the towering Victorian folly, or spend the day cycling, hiking, or pony trekking the eastern end of the Trans Pennine Trail. History buffs will love the depth and breadth of this town’s heritage, and you can explore it all at the award-winning Hornsea Folk Museum, where children can enjoy interactive displays and the biggest collection of the famous Hornsea Pottery in the world. Also of historical significance is the Grade II Listed Bettison Folly, built in the 19th century and faced with locally-made ‘treacle’ bricks. The Yorkshire Dales is a place full of dramatic waterfalls, including Aysgarth Falls, Cautley Spout, Hardraw Force and Thornton Force, and is home to some of the most classic karst (limestone) scenery in Britain. There’s over 2,000 kilometres of public footpaths and bridleways in the Yorkshire Dales so why not make the most OCEAN VIEW 57
of it and wonder through the wonderful landscape. In July Hornsea plays host to a familyfriendly carnival, with fairground rides, stalls and a spectacular firework display. Whether you’re trying to save money, cut down on travel time, or if you’re simply keen to discover more about the beautiful landscapes your own home has to offer, why not make your holiday this year a Great British staycation? Lake District Cumbria
Men-An-Tol in Cornwall
Fishing village of Port Isaac, on the North Cornwall Coast
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Accommodation So what is the best way to soak up the stunning and dramatic coastline, to unearth the breathtaking countryside of England? There is a vast range of accommodation types to choose from in all of these areas, to suit individuals, families, couples and those who just love the outdoors. English Country Cottages offer lovely homes from home, including grouped properties, luxury properties, and romantic cottages. Grouped properties are perfect for everyone because they’re versatile. They can be large or small, ranging from 2-21 cottages on the same site, adult only or full of family fun, and in some of the best locations, whether it be for outdoor activities or central. They offer great facilities for children, including swimming pools, games rooms and a play area. There are also on-site activities for the whole family to enjoy after a day of site-seeing, enjoying the great outdoors or just relaxing in your home from home. Their hand-picked indulgent hideaways include special extras such as a welcome pack and carefully coordinated interiors and furnishings to offer the ultimate comfort. Whether you want a private, peaceful location, by the sea or in the depth of the countryside, a relaxation holiday or an active exploration holiday, there is something for you across all these beautiful locations in the form of country cottages. You can enjoy sailing, hiking, walking, running, gold, horse riding and bike rides with the knowledge that you can go back to a comfortable cottage with the ones you love, just to do it all again the next day with just a few steps from the front door.
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The new ‘directory’ of award-winning Titan holidays ■ 189 worldwide adventures ■ Save from £50 to £500pp on selected itineraries ■ Special offers for solo travellers Titan’s most comprehensive Worldwide brochure showcases 189 outstanding escorted tours and cruise holidays, including new travel adventures to destinations as diverse as India and Canada, Tunisia and Normandy.
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