Bursting into life in April and May in Cornwall, bluebells transform woodland scenes across the county. Here are our top 10 bluebell woods in Cornwall you need to visit this spring.
The Cotswolds covers 800 glorious square miles of undulating hills and sprawling countryside, not to mention unique honey-coloured villages and medieval market towns. Let's take a look.
An ever so enchanted part of Wales, the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park will have you falling over backwards with the amount of walks, beaches and wildlife on show. Here's a few highlights...
The ultimate guide to the things you have to do while visiting Cornwall in the summer. From the annual county show to discovering the hidden gems off the beaten track, Cornwall is waiting for you.
Any time of year is always great for resurrecting some of the simple pleasures of yesteryear. Forests become wonderlands of fun, discovery and adventure. Here’s a round-up of some simple forest fun ideas to try.
We had driven through the town of Lyndhurst earlier in the day and made a note to stop off on our way back to our holiday cottage in Lymington, not least because of the large number of New Forest ponies we had seen just on the outskirts of the town.
Come rain or shine, this Dartmoor walk is enjoyable at any time of year. Winter, spring, summer or autumn, you'll find our writer, Philip heading to Haytor Quarries.
Dartmoor is made for dogs. Wide open spaces and plenty of miles to walk. Join our writer, Philip, on a tour of his favourite dog-walking routes on Dartmoor.
This ancient Dorset town is so tranquil and laid back, R&R is practically guaranteed so you can kick back and zone out. But if you like to occupy your time away, there are plenty of things to do in Tolpuddle.
Get a breath of fresh air with a family walk along the beach and through the woods near Yarmouth. This dog friendly beach means every member of your clan can enjoy the Great Outdoors of the Isle of Wight.
A golden, sandy beach on the north coast of Cornwall, entangled with a legend about a giant. This is a dog friendly place to go for a walk on the beach while enjoying the Cornish countryside.
From fancy seafood restaurants to takeaway falafel vans, Falmouth is brimming with excellent food and drink to devour. There’s so much choice for restaurants, cafes and places to eat in this sunny seaside town.
A small but busy beach close to Falmouth. Great location for a quick walk or a whole day of swimming, kayaking, sun-bathing, paddle boarding and general beach fun.
Whether you started your resolutions and then lapsed, or never actually got round to starting, there is no time like the present - or no time like when you're on holiday in Dorset, to walk off the weight, with or without the dog as motivation.
Greenway was the beloved holiday home of Agatha Christie and, although my children are old enough to have heard of her, they’ve never read any of her stories. So, to keep their interest up on a visit to her property we play a game of...
I cannot recommend Moors Valley Country Park highly enough, in fact I've already sent a number of friends and family along and hope to go back again myself soon.
Charlotte and I decided to see if we could find a takeaway for dinner. Yes, there was a fully equipped kitchen to cater to our self-catering needs, but being so close to the sea, our hearts (and stomachs) were set on a fresh fish supper. So fish and chips it was to be.
With a backpack full of essentials we headed off to start on our epic journey... all eight miles of it! We were both shattered by the end, but it was absolutely brilliant.
Luckily for me and my black dog, Cornwall is extremely dog friendly – our butcher even lets the black dog in to choose his own bone! We’ve tried quite a few dog-friendly pubs over the years - and these are our favourites.
If you’re looking for somewhere traditional, cosy and with views to swoon over for days, look no further. Situated smack bang on the coastal path, it would be rude not to pop in The Paris Hotel, a dog-friendly pub in Cornwall.
As the colder months draw in, and golden and red hues fill the trees then empty over the paths as we head through winter, there’s nothing quite like gathering the family for a stroll through the countryside. Embrace the fresh air, wrap up warm and soak in the beauty of Somerset on these ten autumn walks.
The festivities have come to a close but there are still plenty of places to explore across Cornwall. Make the most of your stay in the county with some of our favourite activities to do at New Year.
6 of our favourite places to take your doggy friends on the Isle of Wight. These dog friendly pubs are just the ticket after a long walk with your four-legged friend.
Hestercombe Gardens are the most beautiful estate gardens in the south. With over 300 years of garden design all in one place, those who enjoy flora and fauna it certainly is a great choice for a day out in Somerset.
Bailey's back to walk you around Torquay on a cultural route around the old town and harbour. It's a circular walk for dogs with a little bit of theatre for their owner.
Take a dog or two, an area of woodland and a picnic basket and enjoy some Dorset woodland dog walking. There are one or two dog-friendly pubs to discover along the way.
At the heart of the Isle of Wight, Newport is an excellent base for adventures across the rest of the island. Perfect for your first Isle of Wight holiday.
Explore a new town and find things to do with children in Totnes - as we eliminated suspects and weapons we explored places with great names like Warland and Ticklemore Street.
Want bucket loads of seaside charm? Head to Looe! Whether you decide to base yourself here, or pop over for a day trip, there are plenty of things to do to keep you busy here.
A selection of dog friendly cafes to stop for a brew with a four legged friend in tow. Go for a long coastal walk and then call in at one of these lovely locations.
Whether you’ve got a week or an afternoon to spend, Lerryn makes the perfect place for a spot of pottering. There are things to do in Lerryn to keep you occupied while you relax and unwind on holiday in Cornwall.
Dorset walks, places to eat and things to see and do in the unassuming but very pretty little market town of Beaminster, north of Bridport. It's worth a quick visit when you're on holiday in Dorset.
As voted for by Nigel, the yellow labrador. We holiday on the Isle of Wight a lot and like to make the most of the dog-friendly beaches on the island. These are the ones we think are the best.
They say that good things come in small packages. In the case of Beaulieu, nestling in the historic heart of the New Forest, they're spot on. There's lots of wonderful things to do in Beaulieu.
Newton Abbot is a medium-sized market town, surrounded by great parks and beautiful countryside with access to great seaside one way and great moorland the other way. It also has some of the best parks and open space land you can find plenty of things to do in.
For a postcard perfect Cornish village, head to Mevagissey. This sweet fishing port on the south coast of Cornwall offers up buckets of old school charm and the freshest fish of your life.
Whether you’ve just been on a fantastic stomp around the Fowey Valley or you’re simply in the mood for a cream tea with a view, you have to check out the Duchy Cafe in Lostwithiel.
Little known Dorset town Wimborne Minster has a lot of activities to offer, whether you are after a family day out, or a quiet relaxing weekend for two.
Join Liz Arnell and her Labrador Retriever, Nigel, on a circular walk on the east of the Isle of Wight. The walk takes in stunning sea views and magical woodland on the island.
A visit to Tintagel in North Cornwall is like taking a pilgrimage to a peculiarly mythical land. The castle ruins perched high on the clifftop are the quintessence of one of the greatest legends that course throughout Cornwall’s history.
One of the best things about holidaying in Dorset is long walks that end up in a cosy pub – and it’s just not the same if you don’t take your four-legged friend with you. Luckily we have some of the best dog-friendly cottages in Dorset.
Hidden in plain sight on the Jubilee Wharf at the bottom of Penryn, Muddy Beach cafe is a quiet river side haven to stop for breakfast, lunch or dinner while out exploring Cornwall. Take a look at what we tasted (and highly recommend).
The New Forest Centre is a hub of information and activities through which to learn about the beautiful scenery which surrounds you, and provides a great educational day out for families holidaying nearby.
The pretty harbour village of Watchet offers a charming holiday experience in West Somerset. During the summer it is a hive of activity with the winter months in contrast proving a quiet and tranquil ambiance. For a little town, there’s plenty going on, so I’ve picked some of my highlights for a day out in Watchet.
On a glorious spring day last year, we did two things of note. We looked at the sky. Then we gazed at the sea. Then we enjoyed many of the things to do in Southampton that make for a great family holiday.
The Isle of Wight is one of the few places in the UK where you could get away with a relaxed approach to holidaymaking. From the centre of the Island you are never more than half an hour from the sea, and you'll find family friendly bays, beaches and coves scattered all over. There are lots of things to do on a visit to the Isle of Wight.
I wonder if Weymouth is actually rather overlooked and under-rated, with visitors flocking more to other Dorset locations such as Bournemouth, but Weymouth has some brilliant hidden gems that I want to share with you.
Dogs are man's best friend and who wouldn't want to take their best friend on holiday? Choose one of our dog friendly cottages for a great stay with your four legged friend.
Charlestown is immediately recognisable to fans of Poldark as the harbour in the series. The joy of it as a location is that they’ve hardly had to change much at all.
Even my twelve-year-old son was soon bashing away at rocks with his hammer and proudly announcing his discovery of belemnites, crinoid stems and an ammonite
The first of our county blogs in the run up to the end of the month, when the beaches become dog friendly once more. Dog friendly beaches in Dorset and holiday cottages on the Jurassic Coast.