Love food, hate fuss? The Earl of March is for you.
Fine dining in a relaxed pub setting is the best of both worlds for those who love food but hate fuss. The Earl of March near Chichester is a perfect balance between the two. This is a country pub in the West Sussex village of Lavant with a delightful garden and set against the picturesque backdrop of Goodwood and the South Downs. The food is as … Continue reading Love food, hate fuss? The Earl of March is for you.
Father’s Day. What sort of Dad is yours?
What do you buy the dad who’s got everything? Well, we live in a spectacular part of the British Isles, so why not treat him to some of its highlights. Give him the gift of a wonderful summer memory! Yee ha dad For the yee ha dad how about a cowboy stay in an iconic Airstream thanks to Vintage Vacations on the Isle of Wight? … Continue reading Father’s Day. What sort of Dad is yours?
A quintessentially Cornish break
Porthcothan is a little-known village with a stunning, quintessentially Cornish Bay with grassy dunes, a huge swathe of sand and fantastic rock-pooling at low tide. Despite being close to the tourist draw of Padstow, it has a ‘step back in time’ quality reminiscent of the beach holidays we had as children. Ruddy cheeks, flip flops and sandy picnics. It’s idyllic for body boarding and water … Continue reading A quintessentially Cornish break
Southsea – a feast of the world
Gunwharf Quays is Portsmouth’s big draw for eating out and the queues of cars into the city pay testament to this reputation – who can resist a spot of retail therapy followed by a meal out and a glass of wine, all while overlooking the sea? For a more bohemian, off-the-beaten-track experience, head to Southsea. It’s where you will find most of the locals eating … Continue reading Southsea – a feast of the world
Family and dog-friendly break in Dorset
For those happy campers who are brave enough to battle some elements for a stunning view, there can be few better places to stay than Highlands End At Eype near Bridport in Dorset. Continue reading Family and dog-friendly break in Dorset
New Forest Manor lunch and Prosecco offer
Burley Manor in the New Forest National Park is currently offering a three-course lunch with complimentary Prosecco for just £25 – so we headed off for a little midweek indulgence. This is a special seasonal menu being offered by this relaxed restaurant with rooms, a Grade II Listed manor house dating back to 1852 which was fully refurbished three years ago. We started our morning with … Continue reading New Forest Manor lunch and Prosecco offer
A spring kaleidoscope of colour
In the Spring, the 200 acres of Exbury Gardens near Beaulieu in the New Forest are transformed into a kaleidoscope of colour as the world-famous Rothshilds collection of rhododendrons, azaleas, and camelias burst into life after the winter months. There are more than 20 miles of paths criss-crossing the gardens, and you can choose as many of those to explore as you like. We visited … Continue reading A spring kaleidoscope of colour
Fort Nelson Poppies at Portsmouth
My 92-year-old mum is disabled so a visit to The Tower of London’s ‘Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red’ wasn’t an option. Today we headed off with her to Portsmouth to the Royal Armouries’ Fort Nelson to see Poppies:Wave, the last stop on the #PoppiesTour. Wave is the sculpture which was the key dramatic element of the 2014 Tower installation. An arc of crimson flowers which, … Continue reading Fort Nelson Poppies at Portsmouth
A long leisurely pint with a changing harbour view
There’s something about water, especially when there’s lots happening on it, that is both therapeutic and time-wasting. So, if you’ve got a couple of hours to spare and fancy a pint of real ale or a speciality gin, whatever the weather, then head to the Still & West at Old Portsmouth. This is a very old Grade II listed pub which sits right on the … Continue reading A long leisurely pint with a changing harbour view
Perfect stay for 20 in Somerset
Perfect break for 20 in Somerset
We recently found a gem of a holiday home, The Old Stone Barns in Somerset, the perfect self catering stay for an extended family of no less than 20 people. It was a birthday bash for our lovely ‘Grandma and Grandad’ – four generations headed off for the weekend to celebrate with them. Continue reading Perfect stay for 20 in Somerset