A Weekend Break in Cornwall

One easy solution to this is to take a weekend break within the British Isles, an option that is becoming increasingly popular, and it’s easy to see why. Without the need to book flights, arrange travel insurance and spend your hard earned on pesky phrase books, the cost of your break will be significantly cut – and there is no better destination in Britain for a relaxed weekend of great weather and beautiful scenery than Cornwall.

If you think a weekend away in the most southerly county in England is for you, then perhaps consider the Cornish south coast town of Falmouth. Falmouth is the rising star of Cornwall’s holiday destinations, combining a great atmosphere and lots to do for all the family, with beautiful scenery and a position then lends itself ideally to exploring the Cornish countryside and coastline.

Begin your weekend away with a lounge on one of Falmouth’s 3 local beaches. Take in the beautiful scenery and sandy beaches of Gyllyngvase beach, a Blue Flag registered beach that is only a short walk from the town centre. When you are fully tanned and relaxed you can hop over to the Gylly Beach Café that overlooks the sand, serving a great mix of food made with fresh local ingredients and a full range of tea, coffee, wine and beer.

Take a short walk up the sea-front, up and around the famous Pendennis point and you will be able to see the magnificent Pendennis Castle, a mighty fortress built by Henry VIII to defend the country against invasion from the sea. The castle is open to visitors with regular guided tours to provide you with all the information on the castle you could ever need.

If you find that you are still eager to learn, then take another short walk back into Falmouth town centre, where you can visit the National Maritime Museum. Perfect for kids and adults alike the museum hosts a staggering array of historical nautical items, alongside interactive displays and regular exhibitions, workshops and special events.

As the day begins to draw to a close, stroll into the town centre and check out one of Falmouth’s many pubs and bars. For the true Cornish experience and friendly atmosphere, visit the Star and Garter public house on the town’s old high street. Stocked with a great selection of Cornish ales and blessed with incredible views over Falmouth harbour, the Star and Garter is a great place to take the weight off your feet after a hard days exploring.

To finish the day, visit every shellfish lover’s dream – The Wheel House – nestled down a tiny side street in Falmouth’s town centre. Although this restaurant has only been open for a year, it has already become Falmouth’s most talked about eateries. With a simple menu of the very freshest, straight of the quay shellfish, in a friendly ‘living room style’ surrounding, you will be sure to leave a very satisfied customer. Be sure to book your table at The Wheelhouse in advance, as waiting times for a table are often measured in months, not weeks or days.

Photo Credits: Tim Green & Darren Shilson
Article sponsored by the Post Office

Benidorm Skyline

Benidorm may have a reputation in the UK for sun, sand and…er…sangria, but the area around it has plenty to offer the adventurous traveller. Here’s just one example…

4-Wheel Drive Around Benidorm

You don’t need to travel far beyond Benidorm’s skyscrapers to find some open space. After driving for only about ten minutes with Marco Polo, a local 4WD company, we were bouncing right the way up the side of the Sierra Cortina mountain, surrounded by unexpectedly vicious palm fronds.

From the top, you get a great view of the Benidorm skyline, a kind of “Manhattan on the Beach.”

An Adventure Weekend in Benidorm

The return drive passes through traditional white-washed towns, with windows decorated with ornate metallic bars. There’s also an optional excursion to a waterfall, but it’s heavily adapted for tourists and occasionally enhanced with artificial water supplies, so if you’re the adventurous type, you might decide to give it a miss.

You can book a trip for a half or a full day – or if you really want to stretch your legs, you can hike up the mountain yourself. If your driver’s licence is clean enough, you can even drive yourself.

Cheap Weekend Breaksvisited Benidorm as a guest of Land of Valencia, but the views expressed here are our own. Find the full, exciting disclosure policy here. Find out more about hotels in Benidorm here.

Devil's Dyke, South Downs

I grew up near the South Downs – which means that I completely took them for granted. Don’t make the same mistake, as the South Downs actually make a great place for (you guessed it) a cheap weekend break.

The South Downs

The South Downs are a series of gentle, chalky hills that roll over Hampshire and East and West Sussex. Covered with soft grass and offering frequent glimpses of the coast, The Downs, as they’re called locally, provide an easy path into outdoor adventure.

Easy-going adventure in the South Downs

You don’t need to pack well and prepare for the elements, as you do in the Peak District or the Brecons. You don’t need specialist equipment. You can walk, fly a kite, cycle and run – or you can stop for lunch and a pint at one of the many atmospheric English pubs.

It’s called Devil’s Dyke (to much sniggering across Sussex classrooms). Legend has it that the devil carved the valley up like this in order to flood the inhabitants of the Weald. Geologists have a few other theories, but either way, it’s a stunning viewpoint.

South Downs: Gentle, rolling hills...

The South Downshave even more reason to be pleased with themselves than usual, since they became Britain’s 15th National Park earlier this year.

You can find a full and helpful guide to the South Downs here. Photo Credits: Dominic & Travelcwb

Where is Catanzaro?

Tropea Beach, Calabria

Catanzaro is just 30 minutes from the Lamezia Terme international airport and is idyllically located between the Ionian and Tyrrhenian Seas, making it easy for travellers to visit beaches on both sides of the peninsula within the same day.

Mountains in Calabria

If you can’t take the Calabrian heat, stay away from the beaches. La Sila National Park is just 45 minutes from Catanzaro, where you can stroll through Alpine villages and national forests, enjoy a traditional Calabrese lunch or hike along any of the 31 designated nature trails.

Ruins in Calabria

The Archaeological Park of Scolacium, or Roccelletta as we say in Calabria, features Roman and Greek ruins that date back to the 4^th Century BC. Just 90 minutes north in the province of Crotone, are the ruins of Capo Colonna and the last remaining temple dedicated to Hera Lacinia, from 470 BC.

Food in Calabria

Calabrian food is among the best in Italy, with specialties that include ‘nduja, a super spicy sausage spread,  soppressata, a spicy sausage or capocollo, a thinly-sliced pork lunch meat.  Can you spot a trend here?

If pork is not your thing, then try the fresh vegetables – particularly the prized aubergine or Tropea onions, fresh figs, bergamot or cedri fruit, the local olive oil or the mamma of all Calabrian spices – the red chilli pepper.

Affordability

Capo Colonna Ruins, Calabria

Calabria is one of Italy’s best value destinations. You can rent a car at the Lamezia Terme airport for as little as €30 a day and plan on eating that great Calabrian food for as little as €20 per person.

As it happens, I have first-hand knowledge of a good, clean B&B near Catanzaro Lido where you can find a double room, with breakfast, free parking and wireless Internet for €60 a night in high season. (OK, I run the B&B but it’s still true!)

Cherrye Moore is a Calabria travel consultant and freelance writer living in southern Italy. She writes about travel for MNUI Travel Insurance  and about living and traveling in southern Italy on her site, My Bella Vita. She and her Calabrese husband own Il Cedro Bed and Breakfast in Catanzaro.

Ready to Go: Bloggers @velvetescape and @wildjunket

Catalonia (or Catalunya, depending upon which language you’re using) is a region in northeast Spain characterised by its own language, distinctive culture and quest for autonomy.

And adventure.

Adventure in Catalonia

Catalonia already builds giant human pyramids in the name of celebration, so it’s not surprising that adventure travel thrives here now that the local mining industry has wound down.

Berga is a small farming town in the Berguedà province, an hour and a half from Barcelona. It’s surrounded by rolling fields, the sort that gather steam before growing into the peaks of the Pyrenees nearby.

You can quadbike through the streets of Berga, before turning onto the dusty track that loops through tight corners, puddles and ditches, surrounded (and sometimes chased) by cattle.

If you have an attack of nerves, you can always become the passenger and leave someone else to do the driving, though in my experience it’s better to be the one in control…

Here’s a short video of the warm up (no time to film once we really got going):

Richard from BrilliantTips drives in this clip. Keith from Velvet Escape and Nellie from Wild Junket smile in the photo.
Disclosure  – the Catalunya Tourist Board organized this quadbike adventure as part of their Blogtrip for Influential European Bloggers.

The Indomit Centre d’Aventura organizes quadbiking excursions from the village of Berga, as well as segway tours, paintballing, archery and more. To make the weekend cheaper, it’s better to travel as a group and hire a car from Barcelona.

I’ve travelled there a couple of times but I got in touch with former resident Susie Froude, for some inside information. Here’s how she recommends spending a cheap weekend break in Jersey:

Enjoy the Great Outdoors at the Weekend in Jersey

Jersey has plenty of stunning coastline.It is an island after all…

For walking, take the path to Elizabeth Castle, built by Walter Raleigh and used as a hiding place by the future King Charles II during the Civil War. The walkway gets washed over by the tide so you’d better be quick…

For lounging on the sand, travel to Beauport Beach. Protected by cliffs on three sides and a smug covering of golden sand, Beauport is Susie’s favourite beach because it’s “small and nearly always empty.”

Surf the waves at St Ouens Beach, which stretches for a delicious three miles of white sand. Recover from all that exertion with brunch at Big Verns, “possibly the best brunch establishment in the known world.”

Catch Up on Some History in Jersey

Nazi Germany invaded and occupied Jersey in World War II, an experience captured in the Jersey War Tunnels of the underground hospital. Entry is free to the Research Centre, War Trail and Garden of
Reflection.

Delight Your Tastebuds in Jersey

Celebrate peacetime and all that outdoor activity with a slap-up meal at the Salty Dog Bistro in St Aubin. “the best place for dinner, although booking is essential.”

Practical Advice for a Cheap Weekend Break in Jersey

A number of attractions close over the winter, so check availability before you book with the websites listed above.  Photo Credits: Davey-Boy & Photomage.

Salt Plains of the Camargue

The Camargue is described as the wild west of south France (if that doesn’t confuse your compass too much.) It is western Europe’s largest river delta, formed as the Rhône River splashes into the Mediterranean Sea, a legendary place where cowboys ride on horseback, dicing with death and danger. Since the Camargue raises aggressive bulls to satisfy both France and Spain’s bullfighting traditions, perhaps there’s an element of truth in the myth.

For most visitors, however, the lingering memories will include fields of tawny-white horses, flamingos stretching their wings across the lakes and the violet salt plains.

Camargue Horses

Even in September, the Camargue is an exposed and windy place to visit, making August really the only alternative. What the Camargue offers in terms of natural beauty it sullies a little with concrete towns and mass commercial tourism: racks of nothing but flamenco dresses and soft, cuddly bulls that cry “Ole!” when squeezed.

Breeding Bulls for Fighting

It’s the camping that makes the delta a suitable place for a cheap weekend break, however – either isolated, alone and free on the beach – or strictly monitored within the grey campsites.

The colour and spice of the salt plains make it all worthwhile. Although it’s a drive through industrial wasteland to reach them, the shifting lilac, pink, crystallized white and charcoal form rippling horizons complete with chilled-out flamingos.  

You can reach the Camargue by car from Marseilles.

Highlights of a Cheap Weekend Break in Ronda

Puento Nuevo

The Puento Nuevo – or New Bridge – is the highlight of a visit to Ronda. Although it appears entirely ordinary when walking or driving across its relatively short length, one glance over the side reveals an almost 100 metre drop to the floor of the Tajo gorge.

To get a great view of the bridge walk around the grounds of Ronda’s Parador, or else follow the zig-zag pathway down into the valley. Be warned, though – there’s no lift so you’ll need to be able to walk back up again.

You can visit inside the bridge, which used to be a prison, for 2 Euros.

 Walk to the Arab Bridge

Palacio del Marques de Salvatierra

Start at the Convento de Santo Domingo and follow the signposts down to the Arab Bridge. You will pass the honeyed statues of the Palacio de Marques de Salvetierra, the Old Bridge and the Puerte de Felipe V.

Arab Baths

Sadly, these are no longer functional. But you can visit the arching remains of these public baths, where star-shaped holes in the ceiling let in the light.

The Bullring

Ronda claims to have invented bullfighting – a somewhat controversial accolade for many reasons.

However, Ronda’s bullring is surrounded by spectacular scenery and the museum inside the ring offers one way to get acquainted with this Andalucian event without getting involved with the blood and gore.

The Birthplace of Bullfighting

You can walk around the bullring, taking stock of the heavy metal gates used for safety and the rather flimsy wooden shields within the ring for hiding behind when the bull charges. Watch out for the deep grooves in the wood and wonder, once again, why anyone chooses to do this…

Eating Out

The restaurants overlooking the Puente Nuevo are, predictably, not that cheap. The Duquesa de Parcent, however, offers excellent value for money as well as a fresh and open view of the bridge – and the drop to the floor of the gorge below. Service, as is often the case in this part of Spain, could be summarized as “the customer may very occasionally, although we doubt it, be right.”

Duquesa de Parcent

You can find very cheap tapas, however, further out of town by the city walls, where dishes of chorizo in wine or sliced cheese with anchovies cost €1.20 per dish.

Getting There

Fly to either Seville or Malaga and then drive up to Ronda. The drive takes between 1 and 2 hours depending upon your interpretation of the speed limits and willingness to emulate Spanish drivers on the mountain roads.

Have a great cheap weekend break in Ronda!

Gower Coast - Nick Russill

 The Gower Coast stretches over the wild and grassy sand dunes of south Wales and offers plenty of invigorating options for an adventure weekend break.

 As Britain’s first official Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, the Gower offers rugged coastal paths and wide beaches for walking along or just appreciating the view.

Surf the Gower Coast

It’s also a great place to learn to surf, or to hone your technique, as long as the waves play along. So much so, that the Observer listed it as THE best place to learn to surf in the UK.

 Llangennith is my favourite beach along the Gower. It’s wide and sandy, with an easy-going campsite and friendly café behind the dunes.

 At peak weekends, the Hillend campsite (01792 386204) becomes crowded but most of the time just turning up will get you a pitch. The area attracts young families and casual 20-somethings with a relaxed yet boisterous atmosphere that rarely settles before midnight. 

A Weekend on the Gower Coast

PJ’s surfshop, the lone institution on the single road to the sea, offers board and wetsuit hire as well as a surf report.

 The Kings Head, the only pub in the area, also throngs with those who’ve either forgotten their trangias or given up on the whole cooking outdoors idea.

I love the Gower Coast, but especially Llangennith, for a cheap weekend break. It’s ideal for groups of friends or families because there are so many options. Take to the surf if you want, or lie on the beach. Go for a walk or eat your body weight in ice cream. The organisation and logistics are minimal, making group weekends away that much easier.

Biarritz Surfer - By Benjamin Mercadier

Do not expect to relax on the beach and then paddle along the shoreline or, heaven forbid, swim along gently without getting your hair wet. Even in the more sheltered plage near the town centre, the ocean packs a punch.

Not surprisingly, Biarritz has a large number of surf schools, although I would probably recommend travelling to a gentler coastline for your first ever taste of the waves.

Europe’s Surfing Capital

Anglet Beach, a 4km expanse of sand, also goes by the name of Europe’s Surfing Capital. Each year around Easter, surfers from all over the world arrive for the Biarritz Maïder Arosteguy – or Biarritz Surf Festival.

For your weekend break, you can either reach Anglet by bus from the city centre, drive and park in the numerous car parks or camp in Anglet itself. Unfortunately many French campsites are only open for July and August.

Alternatives to Surfing

So what if you try to surf – and you haven’t got the knack for it or it turns out that you just don’t like it?

Promenade Along the Waterfront

Napoleon and Hemingway have cruised along this fashionable resort in their time. Follow in their footsteps and walk from Anglet to Biarritz. You’ll pass stripy parasols, dated ice-cream stalls and the Rocher de la Vierge – a white statue on a rocky outcrop that stretches into the sea.

Dine by the Port des Pêcheurs

This cosy harbour once worked as a real fishing port. Today, pleasure boats bob on its waves and bars and restaurants line its edges.

Relax on a Beach

Although the surf may be menacing, the beaches are still sandy soft. Take a good book for entertainment – or watch the neoprene figures do battle with the surf from the safety of the shore.

Getting There

Both Easyjet and Ryanair fly direct to Biarritz airport.

Sneak Preview

To get in the mood for your surfing weekend, watch this clip from the Biarritz surf festival, the Biarritz Maïder Arosteguy:

Biarritz. It’s all about the surf.

Lake Engolasters, Andorra

Andorra is a fantastic place to stay for a cheap weekend break. I thought I’d get that out of the way because Andorra seems to have such a bad reputation. Perhaps people judge the whole mountainous principality by dreary, concrete Pas de la Casa, the frontier town with France. Perhaps there’s another reason, I’m not sure. 

However, Andorra offers the beauty of the mountains, outdoor adventure, tax-free shopping and an incredible thermal spa that even cynical blokes enjoy.

Make the Most of the Hiking

 
Fresh pine, snow-capped peaks, lakes and paths. What’s not to like? Farmers shepherd goats through cobbled streets, cats stretch out on flagstones and Romanesque churches decorate the horizon.

For serious walkers, GR7 passes through Andorra. For holiday hikes, pick up a pamphlet from the tourist office in the capital Andorra la Vella. The circuit around the Engolasters Lake is a gentle, scenic route. The path past the intriguing Meritxell Sanctuary is a little tougher. Always check with the tourist office first, however, as changing weather conditions can close off some routes.

Feeling More Adventurous?

Then try canyoning, climbing, archery, horse-riding or quadbiking.

 
Unwind in Andorra’s flagship Caldea Spa

Bubbling flumes transport you from the spaceship atrium inside to a series of interconnecting whirlpools in the fresh mountain air, with the stars visible through the steam. Caldea welcomes both couples and families and its size means that it’s still possible to find your own space – and relax….

Tuck In

Andorra doesn’t have the most sophisticated reputation for food, I’ll admit, but what it does, it does well. This tiny principality specialises in seasoned pork sausages – either dried or grilled over a flaming hearth while you watch.

For fine dining in the capital, try the Taberna Angel Belmonte. For the traditional Andorran experience, visit La Borda de l’Avi (reservations recommended.)

 
Getting Around

Andorra doesn’t have an airport, so most people fly to either Toulouse or Barcelona, hire a car and drive up the winding mountain roads (approx 2 hours from either city.) Having a car is a great help for travelling between Andorra’s valleys, although buses do connect the towns.

For accommodation – try to stay in one of the smaller towns like La Massana or Soldeu for a more atmospheric trip.

Ladybower Reservoir, The Peak District

Castleton in the Peak District - a Great Base for Exploring England’s Oldest National Park.

England has many protected outdoor areas, each with their own character. The Peak District National Park showcases the highs and lows of visiting rural Britain. This splodgy area between the industrial cities of Sheffield and Manchester contains history, outstanding natural beauty, local character and sporting activities.

Yet the wind and water that lurk in the clouds can still derail all those outdoor plans…think walking boots with ankle support, umbrellas and waterproof trousers.

Easy Leisurely Walks

With the Yorkshire Bridge Inn car park as a starting point, skirt around the edges of the Ladybower Reservoir on the clearly marked paths. With the right weather, this flat path should take you around the calm ripples of the artificial lake, guarded by gently sloping hills on each side. Sheep may well welcome completely ignore you, so remember – as always – to close any gates you use. Walking time – approx 1 hour.

More Strenuous Walks

Still starting from the Yorkshire Bridge Inn car park, stick to Ladybower until you reach the giant plug hole. From here, several paths dart off to the left to direct you to the summit of Win Hill. They vary slightly, but as long as you are travelling upwards then you will reach the peak. Win Hill showcases the rugged splendour of the Peak District – and also exposes you to the elements. Take care in bad weather, as the descent can be treacherous. Walking time (up and down) – approx 2 hours, depending on fitness levels.

Longer but Easier: Walk Through the Hope Valley to Castleton

 This walk takes you alongside the reservoir, through farms, hills and occasionally along quiet roads. Depending on energy and enthusiasm, it takes 2-3 hours each way. Buy a proper Ordnance Survey Map before you set out. To give you a taste of the route, here’s an outline provided by Every Trail:

08/12/07 Castleton Walk III at EveryTrail

Map created by EveryTrail: GPS Community

Cycling

If sitting down is more your thing, then hire a bike and enjoy the many cycle routes.

Indoor Activities – The Dambusters Museum

During WWII, pilots trained over the Peak District for one of history’s most dangerous raids: flying at 18 metres above the ground in the heartland of enemy Germany to drop bouncing bombs. The squadron became known as the Dambusters and a small museum tucked into the West Tower of the Derwent Dam tells their story.

Food & Drink – there’s a reason all of these walks start at pubs, after all.

A Giant Yorkshire Pudding

The Peak District specialises in hearty, warming food and ale – and Castleton is no exception. Expect to find Giant Yorkshire Puddings filled with sausages, Full English Breakfasts and Black Pudding Pies. Wash those down with a variety of local(ish) ales such as the honeyed Yorkshire Pride.

You’ll also find a charming, olde-worlde sweet shop in Castleton – full of mint humbugs and homemade fudge transported all the way from the shop next door. That’s fudge with a pretty low carbon footprint.

Just for Fun…

Peak Hotel. Peak District.

Watch for the pub names painted in block-white letters on the slate tiles – a Peak District tradition.

Getting Around

Sigh. Like so many national parks, there are plenty of options for getting to the Peak District but once you are there, the easiest way to get around is by car. Check out the transport options available here.

Enjoy exploring the world, one weekend at a time – in Castleton, the Peak District, England’s Oldest National Park.

Walk alongside Europe's longest waterfall

A Weekend Walking in France

Every now and then, you come across something so beautiful and so much of a surprise, that you can’t believe your luck. The Cirque de Gavarnie in the Pyrenees is one of those things.

Once I’d seen it, I wondered how it was that I hadn’t heard about it earlier. Years earlier. After all, UNESCO feature it on their list of World Heritage Sites. But even the tourist office in Toulouse – its nearest city – barely promotes it.

So much the better for the rest of us, I suppose.

The Cirque is a curving slice of the Pyrenees that forms what is often – and convincingly – described as a natural amphitheatre. Its peaks reach up to 3000 metres and waterfall jets breed across its splintered rocky surfaces, forming rainbow haloes against the snow. Most of these springs are small and spirited, but one gathers momentum to form the Grand Cascade de Gavarnie – or in other words – Europe’s longest waterfall.

As you might expect, plenty of walking routes roam around this 423 metre high cascade, with difficulty levels ranging from the seriously-keen to the I-only-do-this-sort-of-thing-when-I’m-on-holiday.

Getting There