Your Guide to a Haunted Holiday in Britain

By Kimberlie Hutson

Do you fancy a change from the conventional week by the sea for your holiday this year, are you bored of spending your holiday in the same country cottage? How about a haunted holiday? Britain boasts a very rich and intricate history and the tradition of the ghost story keeps that history alive, we've all heard the stories of the tower of London which is reportedly still home to a whole host of its unfortunate victims, our most popular literature is also full of the supernatural, from Shakespeare through to Harry Potter, as a nation we do seem rather obsessed with supernatural spirits - so why not spend a short break in one of the UK's most haunted hotels, or even just a day trip?

Chillingham Castle in the north east of England is argued to be one of the most haunted castles in the UK and has featured on several television and radio programmes over the years. The castle offers self catering apartments for holidays and its picturesque setting makes it the perfect venue for weddings, romantic weekends away or simply a day trip to see the stunning grounds and castle. With its long and detailed history it's not surprising it's rumoured to be home to several ghosts, including the blue boy, who was trapped behind a brick wall after stumbling across some important documents, when his body was uncovered in the 1920's, his fingers were worn away where he'd tried to scratch his way out. Although the pink room, where his body was found, is closed to the public, screams were still heard coming from behind the wall which witnessed his death. Chillingham Castle is also resident to Lady Mary Berkeley who is rumoured to still be wondering the halls in broken hearted after her husband ran away with her sister.

The stunning Glamis Castle was the childhood home of the Queen Mother and set in the most tranquil of Scottish country side, it was also the setting for Shakespeare's Macbeth and to this day still conjures images of witches and the supernatural. With tickets available for day trips to view the castle and gardens this beautiful castle is the perfect family day out or an exquisite setting for a wedding. Like most castles, particularly of this age (dating back to the 14th century), it is plagued with supernatural stories ranging from secret rooms to conceal deformed children, to soul sucking devil card players to entertain drunk noblemen to traditional old fashion hauntings, all of which promise an interesting story to fascinate even the most firm of sceptics.

It's not just magnificent castles which host the most spectacular ghost stories; the Station Hotel in Dudley may appear to be simply a conventional hotel, with its inviting atmosphere and convenient location in the heart of the country. It's not until you explore its theatrical history and see the impressive list of former guests ranging from Laurel and Hardy to Bob Hope that it starts to become so intriguing. Although many of the ghost stories surrounding this intriguing haunted hotel seem to have found their fame on a popular paranormal television show, the most commonly reported ghost is that of a young woman who was murdered after threatening to inform her killer's wife of his infidelity. She never got the chance as it's reported that after he killed her, he disposed of her body sending it through a chute that ended in the cellar (which along with room 214) is reported to be one of the most haunted places in the building.

So if you're looking for an interesting day trip or a last minute short break away somewhere and you don't want to have to rely on Britain's unpredictable weather, why not visit one of these stunning places?

Author name: Kimberlie Hutson
HotelshopUK are the experts when it comes to last minute breaks, so whether you're looking for a long weekend away, a short break or a day trip for the family, we're bound to have something for you.

Enjoy a Dance Holiday in the UK - It's Simply Wonderful

By Caron J Rose

A dance holiday in the UK is a great way to become immersed in the ever-popular hobby and pastime of dance. Throughout the country you can find companies and organisations staging a dance holiday. Dance holidays are a great way to meet like minded people, offering you a chance to hone up those dance stepping skills.

What can you expect from a dance holiday? Organisers of holidays focussed around a dance theme have had years of experience. They know their market, and they know that Britons love dancing. In fact, it's one of the fastest growing pastimes in the country.

No doubt TV programmes like Strictly Come Dancing have played their part in raising awareness in the exciting and exhilarating world of dance. However, a dance holiday UK style can feature modern dance or exotic dance as well as ballroom dancing.

A dance holiday UK style is likely to feature all the best things that an ordinary holiday will. The hotel will usually be of a high standard, often four stars, and you can expect full room and board. There may be dance workshops where the finer points of dance routines will be taught and demonstrated by experts. The days may feature excursions to local places of interest, but the nights will always be reserved for dancing.

The dance holiday UK dancers still prefer the most is ballroom dancing. There's something about the foxtrot, the quickstep and the Viennese waltz that line dancing, break dancing and pole dancing just don't have. It's most likely so because ballroom dancing is social dancing, as opposed to modern free style dancing where it's often the case that having a partner is optional.

Social dancing became popular in the Middle Ages throughout Europe. Ballroom dancing, in a form that would be recognisable today, started around the 16th century and initially was reserved for the noble classes. Ordinary people performed folk dancing, a rougher and coarser form of social dance that was looked down on by the people in the upper classes.

There's one major benefit to be gained from social dancing that dance holiday UK dancers probably don't think too much about, and that's the health benefits. Most people dance for the sheer fun and enjoyment of it, but there are also many health benefits that make dancing one of the best all round pastimes you can have.

If you like walking, or even jogging, dancing can be every bit as beneficial from an exercise point of view. An evening of dancing will burn off as many calories as a good long walk, or a medium jog and you'll have a lot more fun doing it too.

Dancing, especially social dancing helps to relieve stress. It also helps to reduce the risk of heart disease. It can lower high blood pressure and it can be great for keeping your weight down too. A dance holiday can be surprisingly affordable. Britain is still a great country and most of us have barely travelled over it. Why not combine a love of dance with the chance to explore this wonderful country? Go on a dance holiday and expect to have a great time.

Caron J Rose
Ballroom Dance Holidays

Bungee Jumping Adventure Tours

By Mohit K Jain

If you are a person who dares to do anything, here is a sport to test your guts. The bungee jumping is not for frail hearted people. This is the activity which involves jumping from tall fixed bridges while linked to the stretchy string. When you jump using it, the cord extends and the jumper moves upward and again snap back to oscillate up. All people should try bungee jumping minimum once in life time as it is very exciting and thrilling. If you are a person hunting for escapade then the perfect vacation sport is a bungee jumping.

There are more than a few countries organizing it. One can plan a travel to place where you can enjoy jumping for a vacation. Choose a place where you can enjoy your thrilling trip with contented hotels and other accommodations. Jumping in north California trip usually includes jumping from a selection of bridges ranging from 90-250 feet which varies according to the season. Normally jumpers jump in the weekends or the midweek of two jumpers. The primary location from jumping in California is Sierra Nevada Mountains.

You can also try out jumping in a vacation to Nepal where you can drop down 500 feet over the Bhote Koshi River Gorge. Samrat treks also provide a day exclusively for Jumping. If you are planning out for a vacation to US then you can find many bungee jumping locations Over the Edge like Idaho, Beaver Dick's Ferry Bridge and a few more. When it comes to Switzerland, it has two tremendous locations for jumping namely Ticino and bridge over Isorno River.

Reverse bungee jumping and tandem bungee are the other jumping types. Always select the best bungee jumping provider and check the license and safety measures to have a thrilling and safe holiday.

Author is an expert writer on travel domain, and have great experience on travel writing. To get more details on Author, visit Air India Booking and Pnr status

Picnic Under the Table

What is Romance? There is no hard and fast rule, what feels romantic to one person my not feel romantic to another. However a common feeling is that when something is romantic it is something that you do as a couple, something that is done without sharing it with others - such as a romantic dinner for two.

However when you go out for a romantic dinner on Valentines day, you tend to find that every man and other half are also trying to have a romantic dinner for two as well.

This Valentines Day have yourself a real Valentines dinner for just two, by having lunch in secret - have a Valentines Picnic under the table. Yes under the table!

Just image how romantic it could be...
In a nice warm clean room with some essential oils burning away on the side fragrancing the air, drape a clean quilt cover or two over the table so that the covers touch the floor like a cosy little tent. Throw in some big cushions to lean on and to make yourselves comfortable on. You can illuminate your picnic area with a small lamp, or candles. If you do choose to use candles, use small tea light candles in a glass vase so that you don't cause a fire hazard. You could sprinkle a few rose petals about for that overtly Valentines feel. Then all you need is your favourite picnic foods. Eating with cutlery under a table is quite tricky with limited space, so go for finger foods.

Why would picnicing under the table be romantic?

The thing about romance is that you tend to remember romantic days when they stand apart from other days. Think back over the years to your most memorable Valentines Day - why was it so romantic?

A picnic under the table is very unusual unless you're five years old and because of this, it will be a day that stands apart from other days. So it will be remembered for being unusual, and remembered because you didn't quite fit under the table properly and you legs were sticking out, and because it was difficult to eat under there and so on.

A Valentine's date under the table will also evoke memories and feeling from childhood, when life was carefree and simple, a time when you felt playful and safe. Bringing back these warm feelings on you Valentines date will also make the time feel romantic.

Last but not least, it will show a wild and wacky side of your nature to your Valentine and they will love you for it.

Wildlife Conservation Holidays - The Perfect Idea For Gap Year Animal Lovers

By Mark Bottell

More and more people are beginning to take gap years between their years of education. Between school and college, college and university, halfway through university and before venturing into the real world to get a job, are times when people decide to take a year out and discover what the world is really about. Wildlife conservation holidays are a great way to spend your time and do something good for the planet.

Contributing to the World
Wildlife conservation holidays are a fantastic way to give something back and to affect the world in a positive way. By helping to conserve some of the beautiful creatures of this earth, we are helping to prevent species' from becoming extinct and thus keeping them alive for future generations to experience. Worthwhile and meaningful, these holidays are not only a superb way of helping to keep species alive and make an impact on the world. They are also a great way of spending your gap year in an enjoyable and memorable way, which will leave you feeling that you have contributed to the fascinating world that we live in.

Make Your CV Stand Out
When it comes to gap years, often people can feel as though they have wasted them. Getting a job for the year may be a way of raking in some extra money and adding some extra experience to your CV, but wildlife conservation holidays are more likely to impress your future employers than a desk job or a year's worth of stacking shelves. In an economic climate where it is hard to find jobs, you could also end up completely wasting a year and feeling as though you have not only put yourself back a step in terms of your education and experience, but also missed a great opportunity to enjoy yourself and learn different things in life. Wildlife conservation holidays show future employers, colleges and universities that you are passionate about something and that you have the ability to see things through to completion; something which is very valuable in terms of demonstrating your maturity.

The Experience of A Lifetime
Once your education is over and you have a job and other commitments, it won't be as easy to just take a year off from your life and see the magical things that you could on a gap year. By going to countries that you might never see again, and seeing species which, if it weren't for your help, may become extinct, you can gain lifelong experience and memories that will never fade. The sense of satisfaction that comes from knowing that you are contributing to saving a species is overwhelming, and you will remember for the rest of your life that you played a part in guaranteeing its survival. With gap years being a great time to experience things whilst you are still young, wildlife conservation holidays are a wonderful option.

Mark Bottell is the General Manager for Worldwide Experience, an online tour operator offering extended breaks on wildlife conservation holidays and various adventurous gap years for adults.

Ghostly Breaks and Haunted Holidays

Bored with the usual activities on offer during a weekend break? A Haunted House Party is a great way to spend a unique weekend. Ghostly breaks and haunting holidays have become more popular in response to the growing interest in the paranormal created by TV programmes such as Living TV’s "Most Haunted". Fortunately, Britain is blessed with a number of haunted hotels where ghosts tell their own stories and doors lock and unlock on their own. The piano in the bar plays on its own. Doors slam themselves shut and shadows have been seen in the corridors. Some people have been so frightened they have run out of their rooms. If you have a nervous disposition it pays to request that your room is not in the area where the ghostly sightings regularly occur.

Ghosts are the souls or spirits of a deceased people, taken to be capable of appearing in visible forms. It is thought that ghosts usually manifest when their death was unjust of particularly gruesome. Britain has a long and bloody history, which is probably why Britain has so many haunted venues to visit.

Of course a haunted evening can’t be guaranteed, however you can search online for Hotels and accommodation that has been awarded a haunted seal of approval by the Poltergeist Society, to increase the chances of a ghostly sighting during your visit.

What can you expect from a Haunted Weekend Break?
Haunted weekends are packed with activities ranging from supernatural history tours, ghost hunts, tarot readings and of course dinner, bed and breakfast in the location itself. You can of course subscribe to as many or as few of the activities as you wish. Breakfast is always a good time to chat to other visitors of the hotel to find out if they head anything during the night.

If you want to increase your chances of a ghostly sighting during your haunted weekend getaway, it’s always best to do your homework. Find out as much information about the hotel as possible beforehand. Get a brief idea of the history of the location and building and research what ghosts have already been recorded there, and in which rooms they have been most frequently seen. That way you can strive to be in the right place at the right time to witness and ghostly apparitions yourself.

If you are looking for something more than just the opportunity to spend the night in a haunted hotel, and want to actually join a paranormal investigation team and track down ghosts with specialised equipment, there are weekend breaks for that too. Ghost Hunt events regularly take place at hotels up and down the UK. Ghost hunts include Dinner, Bed and Breakfast plus full paranormal investigation led by a professional investigative team with Mediums; Group Vigils and Séances. Ghost hunts are not for the faint hearted.

If you have ever fancied ghost hunting or if you have an interest in the paranormal or are searching for a weekend break with a difference then a ghostly break in a haunted venue could be the idea mini holiday for you.

Romantic Victorian Photo Shoot

Have you ever thought of having a romantic day dressing up in Victorian style clothing and having your photo taken?

You can got to a photographer's studio and get some professional photos taken. This would have to be booked in advance, and you could let them know when you book that you would like Victorian costumes and setting for your photos.

The advantage of having a professional photographer taking the photos is obviously the photos will be of a high quality, and the composition and lighting will be perfect. Additionally a professional photographer may also have an assistant who can help you with dressing up and applying makeup and styling hair to give the finished images the right look.

However, you could hire Victorian costumes from the local costume hire shop and keep the costs down. Ask the shop assistant for help choosing something that would suit you and that would also represent the Victorian era. Also ask if they have any accessories, a lace parasol, ladies gloves and so on.

Once dressed as a Victorian aristocrat you could drive to where you know there are some old looking buildings and take a few photos of one another. Old Victorian parks make great setting with their wrought iron railings and band stands. Old cobbled streets also make a fantastic backdrop.

If you camera allows, take a few photos in black and white to make the photos look more authentic. And remember that Victorian photos took a long while to take, so on most Victorian photos the subjects are not smiling. So don't over do it with the big beaming smiles. However, trying not to smile will probably give you both the giggles.

Also when out taking the photos, make sure that you ask passers by to take a couple of photos of the both of you together.

After all the excitement of the photo shoot, have a look through the images that you took and choose a couple to frame to remind you of your romantic day.

Have a Perfect Valentines Day with Perfect Valentines.co.uk ~ Perfect Valentines Craft ideas, Valentines Poems, Print Valentines Cards, Valentine Recipes and more Valentine Crafts

Have You Thought About Taking a Holiday In Tree House Accommodation?

As a child did you enjoy playing in trees and longed to have a tree house retreat? Staying in tree house accommodation for your holiday can be a very nostalgic holiday with reminds you of bygone days. People seeking an adventurous Swiss Family Robinson-style getaway without the pricey investment of making your own tree house can look for hotels among the branches.

Tree house designs have come along way from makeshift shacks made of flimsy wooden planks and rope ladders. The atmosphere in a tree house hotel is very personal and welcoming. Tree houses offer romantic accommodation to make memories that last.

Considered by nature lovers to be one of the most effective ways to observe wildlife, tree houses are eco-friendly and astonishingly safe. Some of them offer more than you could find in a luxury hotel or cruise ship.

Guests reach their secluded tree-house suite by winding wooden walkways that meander through the forest canopy or guests must use a wooden ladder for access. Some tree houses have a private deck so you can sit in elevated splendour and watch the world go by below, and inside a living room with a roaring log fire, a bedroom with floor-to-ceiling windows and an enormous bathroom with a free-standing stone tub.

All mod cons are available in tree house hotels; most of the tree houses are equipped with a DVD player and feature a seating area.

Local workers with exceptional carpentry and building skills usually build the tree house hotels, and the quality of the accommodation is beautiful. Very often the tree houses have been built using local materials with no removal of indigenous trees.

Tree-houses and tree forts can be built solely within a huge tree; they can be partially supported by tree trunks or totally free standing. The tree house can be any height off the ground and finished in so many different ways. It’s a good idea to shop around when looking for Tree house accommodation so that you get the right tree house for your holiday and to avoid disappointment.

Tree houses are gaining popularity, and aren't just for kids anymore. Tree houses represent freedom: from adults or adulthood, from duties and responsibilities, from an earthbound perspective. Tree houses have a good pedigree. The Roman emperor Caligula held banquets in one and the Medici vied to see who could build the grandest. So why not re-visit your childhood and have an old fashioned holiday with a fully mod cons twist in a tree house hotel getaway.

An Old Fashioned Holiday in a Romany or Gypsy Caravan

Indulge your childhood fantasies about running away with the gypsies by staying in an original Romany wagon or 'Vardo'.

A horsedrawn caravan is sometimes called a Romany Caravan. This kind of caravan has been used since about 1840 by Irish people living a nomadic lifestyle.

As old-fashioned holidays become more popular, and holiday makers want to experience history and take a break from the 21 century, Romany Caravanning holidays have become a sort after holiday experience.

There are two types of Romany Caravan holidays, their is the holiday where the caravan is static set up in an idyllic place, usually a field with great views. Or there is a touring holiday, complete with horse. If you do choose the touring option, you do need to be able to take care of the horse. This is not usually a big problem as the horses are very friendly and docile.

On you Romany Caravan holiday you need to be away that space is very limited in the Romany Caravan, so you may wish to 'test' out the experience with a short break before embarking on a longer trip.

Romany Caravan holidays make for wonderful holidays and its little wonder - the colourful hand painted caravans are enchanting, the trip is filled with nostalgia and it transports you to a by gone age where the summers were longer and the pace of live was slower, and you went wherever the road took you. And now we are offered that same wonderful experience to enjoy life on the road in a hand painted Romany Caravan.

Old Fashioned Teepee Holiday

Enjoy an Old fashioned Holiday in a Teepee or Wigwam. Staying in a canvas tipi with family or friends, living close to the earth and the rhythm of nature, is an extraordinary experience that whisks you back in time. 

Tipi's have come a long way since the native American's first started using them. You can hire a traditional wigwam complete with animal skin rugs, however you can also hire Tipi's complete with double beds and log burning stoves. 

A 21-foot diameter tipi is surprisingly spacious. Easily accommodating a double bed with a proper mattress, cushions and a coffee table, sheepskin rugs and a wood burning stove. Tipis are usually lit by an abundance of candles in lanterns however the wood burner might offer you enough light for your evening of romance. 

Of course with creature comforts like a double bed to sleep in and a wooden floor, it hardly feels like camping at all. However you still have the romantic ambience and seductive lighting of the wigwam and the benefit of combining the luxury of a hotel with the excitement of living deep in the natural world. 

The burning stove inside the wigwam means that you certainly wont have an evening of shivering. The chimneys of the stoves go through the canvas of the teepee to take all the smoke away so that you won't smell like an old kipper in the morning. 

Not only are the evenings in the teepee romantic, but also the wigwam camps or settlements are usually in a quiet rural location, so there is lots of opportunity for romantic ambles around the countryside. 

Outdoor living has never been easier, or more comfortable. By day you can enjoy the light airiness of the tipi and by night nothing beats cuddling up next to a cosy log fire.