Ghost Haunting Breaks in York, England

By Jonathan J.

York is an absolute treasure trove for anyone interested in all things spectral. York was named the most haunted city in Europe by the Ghost Research Foundation International (GRFI) and it seems that every room, building or street seems to be haunted in this beautiful city. York is haunted by no less than 140 different ghosts haunting York, with an amazing 500+ recorded hauntings (this figure is still growing you ghost lovers will be pleased to know). Taking advantage of York's large number of spooks, there is a significant ghost walk/haunt industry here. If you are looking for accommodation in York and intend to take on one of the ghost hunts then try the York Pavilion hotel. They have scheduled events that include 3 course dinner followed by a ghost hunt. Expert guides, psychics, and ghost hunting equipment provide an authentic setting for a spooky touch to your visit.

At the start of any ghost seeking visit you may want to visit the York Dungeon to get you in the mood, where live actors reenact scenes of torture, plague and execution in the most grisly detail - it may be best to do this after lunch, but maybe not straight after! Follow on with a visit to the Micklegate Bar Museum, which stands at the main gateway of the city, and is where the heads of executed traitors were once displayed.

There is an abundance of ghost walks to choose from, some being serious and historically informative, and some being down right silly but lots of fun with actors in grisly costume ambushing the group at particular points on the tour.

The Original Ghost Walk of York started in 1973 and takes place very night at 8pm starting at The Kings Arms, by Ouse Bridge. This is good ghost story telling at its best, and their guides are BTA Blue Badge or Equity award holders.

The Ghost Hunt of York - every night at 7.30pm from the Shambles. This is one of the theatrical walks, and is great for children as the guides are dressed up in period costume. This one is popular so expect large groups.

The Ghost Detective - every night from July to Halloween at 7.30pm from the Jorvik Viking Centre, Coppergate. Another good tour if you have kids with you but best to warn the kids that the guide may involve them when he's telling some of their stories. The guide is an Equity member with an award for stand-up comedy.

The Ghost Trail of York - begins every night at 7.30pm from the West Doors of York Minster, is led by Equity Qualified guides and is great for families. Expect large groups on this tour as it seems very popular.

One of the more famous ghosts to haunt York is the 'lost' Roman Legion that is said to haunt the old Treasurer's House. The first sighting was made in 1953 by an apprentice plumber name Harry Martindale. He was installing a heating system in the cellars of the old Treasurer's House and reported seeing the 2000-year old ghosts all carrying swords and spears walking through a corridor seemingly on the knees. This is interesting since the old Roman road is located roughly fifteen inches below the cellar and it is believed that Martindale wasn't aware of this fact when questioned. So the ghosts would have been walking on their own familiar road, on their way to the Minster. There have been several other sightings since Martindales' but sadly, the old cellars are now closed to visitors.

You can read more ghostly tales and get news on York Ghost Walks at the York England Hotels Guide where Jonathan writes

Sightseeing in the Highlands of Scotland

By Graeme Knights

The Scottish highlands are a beautiful place to visit. The scenery is spectacular, and there are so many things to do. Scotland's highlands offer mountains, castles, distilleries, and an unforgettable coastline. You will find everything from hiking and fishing to shopping and dining to keep you busy. Or you might enjoy a chance to sit back and relax while taking in the wonderful surroundings.

A popular destination in the Scottish highlands is Loch Ness. This area has become famous worldwide for the sightings of their mystical creature, the Loch Ness Monster. He or she is known as Nessie to the groups of people who have made a sport out of trying to catch a glimpse of this mythical sea animal.

Putting the legends aside, Loch Ness is a beautiful area. The Loch is 20 miles long and 700 feet deep. The city of Loch Ness and Inverness have excellent lodging. You can find bed and breakfasts, hotels, and cottages to stay in. They even have a few castles you can rent for weddings and large parties. Loch Ness is perfect for water sports. You can go canoeing or sailing on your own. Boat cruises are available to give tours around the water. A lot of people come for the fishing. Trout, sea trout, salmon, and pike can all be found here. The Great Glen Way has several walking trails. They have long distance trails and hillside trails. They also offer easier trails that are perfect for families to enjoy together. For those looking for a bigger challenge, Loch Ness is great for wind surfing, paragliding, mountain biking, and skiing.

Another good place to see while in the highlands is Whisky Country. Speyside's Whisky Trail takes you along a beautiful tour of the country. It includes seven distilleries and a cooperage. Half of the distilleries in Scotland are in this area. Benromach is one in Forres. It is marked by a tall red brick chimney among small white buildings. This one is the smallest distillery. Dallas Dhu shows you the art of making malt whisky. They have been making their whisky since 1898. Glen Grant still uses a copper still and old fashioned wooden vats. Here you can enjoy a tasting pavilion under a heather-thatched roof, surrounded by Victorian gardens. Don't forget a stop at the cooperage. Coopers here can be seen making oak casks.

No sightseeing trip to Scotland would be complete without driving along the Highland Coast. You will find 7,000 miles of amazing beaches and cliffs. This is a wonderful area to see Scotland's wildlife. Bike trips and self guided car trips can be arranged ahead of time. You are sure to leave Scotland wanting to come back again.

So whether you are driving yourself across the border, or looking for coach breaks to the highlands, give it a go, there is something special just waiting to be discovered.....maybe Nessie!

Graeme supplies his wizardry to http://oneagency.co, an SEO Agency - writing on behalf of Grand UK Coach Tour Holidays.

Planning Your Beach Holiday in Ireland - Where Is Best?

By Ian Bowland

What does a beach holiday mean to you? We took a straw poll around the office and it's interesting to find out just what the beach holiday favourites are. For those of us with a nostalgic streak a beach holiday is set in a UK seaside resort with a long sandy beach, brightly coloured wind breaks, a picnic lunch, bracing dips in the waves and hunting for sea-life in rock pools. For the sun-seekers it's a baking, busy Spanish beach with guaranteed sunshine, warm seas and siestas. For the romantics or wild at heart it's a stroll along a deserted beach alongside crashing waves and dramatic sea cliffs.

Many of the well-known seaside resorts and beaches in the UK have been family beach favourites for decades - Scarborough, Morecombe Bay, Bournemouth to name but a few. But how many of us would think of taking a beach holiday in Ireland? Ireland has over 3000 miles of stunning coastline and more than 80 beaches; from golden sands to pebbled coves. And many are a well-kept local secret so you won't be fighting for space for your towel!

So you're ready to go... here are some great Irish beaches for you to try.

Portrush is one of Northern Ireland's top seaside destinations. It has two beaches to choose from the West Strand Beach and the East Strand Beach. The West Strand is a long sandy beach that slopes gently into the sea - plenty of room for everyone. This sheltered seaside resort has great facilities for the traditional beach holiday and also boasts stunning scenery both on and offshore. The East Strand with its large sand dunes backs onto the Royal Portrush Golf Course and is a popular surf beach.

Wicklow is Ireland's sunshine county and it's here that you'll find Brittas Bay. The Bay shelters this long sandy beach and the whole area is dominated by the Brittas Bay dune which cover over 100 hectares. If you're looking for more than just sun and sand from your beach holiday you'll find some beautiful landscapes and wildlife in the Special Area of Conservation.

Moving south you'll find the beautiful blue flag beach of Ballyheigue in County Kerry. The sands run 2 miles south from the lively resort of Ballyheigue and there are stunning views out across Tralee Bay. This is a great beach for families as it is patrolled by lifeguards during the holiday season.

Mullaghroe, County Mayo, is on the west coast of Ireland. This blue flag beach is great for a more adventurous seaside holiday with swimming, sailing and surfing. It's more exposed location on the west coast makes it a perfect beach for coastal walks and bird watching.

And one final thought - make the most of your beach holiday with a beach front holiday cottage, that way the fun and sun of the beach will be just a short walk away.

If you want to stay in one of over 1500 Irish Cottages or even stay in a choice of over 700 Beach Holiday Cottages in Ireland Imagine Ireland offers the widest choice. Ian works alongside ImagineIreland.com in the UK - helping build sales for their internet site.

Top Tips for Choosing a Holiday Cottage

By Richard A Bowen

1. Value for money. Don't flock to the traditional holiday destinations - beat the crowds and save money simply by choosing somewhere less obvious. e.g. a five star luxury farm cottage in Wales for 4 costs under £10 per person per night off-peak to around £20 per person per night in peak season. With an entire farm to enjoy in with the price, it is astonishingly cheap. When friends boasted how they rented a tiny Thai beach hut for £12 a night, I thought it was a rip off!

2. Food. Usually cottages are self catering, so check with the owner where the nearest shops are so that you can stock up on arrival. Your rural holiday cottage may be only a couple of minutes from a 24 hour supermarket! The super-organised could even order an online delivery to arrive when you do! Some cottage owners provide a small welcome pack including a few essentials like milk and bread.Treat the food shopping trip as the holiday's first adventure - listen to the local accents and discover the local specialities. Again, the owners should know where you can source free range eggs and prize winning butcher's sausages as well as being able to point you in the direction of good restaurants. Otherwise, if you really don't fancy venturing out - stock up before you leave home and remember to ask the owner if the cottage has a freezer.

3. Heating. Check out the heating situation. Make sure the owner turns it on before you arrive in the winter. Is there a real fire or wood burner, can you buy extra fuel, and what is the cost?

4. Sneaky Extra Charges. Always be sure to ask the cottage owner if there are any extra charges upon arrival. Always make sure that electricity, linen, heating, use of the washing machine and internet is included in the price.

5. Washing Machine. Is this in the kitchen and free of charge or is it coin operated and outside in a shed?

6. WIFI. Does your accommodation offer wireless internet? A quality holiday cottage operator should offer this free of charge.

7. Tourist Information. When you arrive in a new area, it can take quite a while to get your bearings. Is the tourist information provided in an easy to read folder or has the owner just dumped a few hundred leaflets into a box on the windowsill? Remember to take your Sat Nav with you on holiday. Much easier to find those attractions.

8. Weather. In the UK, it has been known to rain from time to time. This needn't spoil a cottage holiday. Pack your waterproofs and ask the owner if there are any good attractions nearby that are suited to inclement weather - there may be caves, museums, waterfalls or theme pools nearby which are all great for a rainy day. Maybe the cottage has a collection of DVDs if you fancy a cosy afternoon in?

9. Bathroom. Is there a bath or shower or both? When on holiday it can be nice to have a bath.

10. Activities. Are there plenty of activities in the area? Are they easily accessible from the cottage?

11. Cleanliness. Arguably the most important thing of all! All cottage owners will claim their cottages are clean, but the best way to check this out is to look at their website's testimonial page or visitor book. The comments of previous holiday makers are as good an indicator as any.

12. Accessibility. Make sure there is adequate parking and where it is - is there a car parking spot outside the cottage or is parking restricted? It can also be helpful to know the cottage is easy to find, especially when you arrive in the dark, late at night.

13. Green Credentials. If you are concerned about the environment, it is always worth checking out the green credentials of the cottage you are interested in e.g. do they use eco-friendly cleaning products, is there any carbon-offsetting scheme, and is recycling encouraged? Example of eco-friendly holiday cottages in Wales.

14. Accreditation. Accreditation by the national tourist board (e.g. in Wales, Visit Wales) is a sign of quality. Star ratings are not easy to get and they are assessed on a yearly basis.

15. Awards. If an establishment has a history of winning industry awards, that is a very good indication of quality. The holiday cottage industry is very competitive and awards are very difficult to win.

16. Pet Friendly or not. If you intend taking pets, make sure you book them in to a pet-friendly establishment. If you have allergies, you may wish to double check with the cottage owner that their pet-free cottage has always been pet-free.

17. Size of cottage. If there are only 2 of you in your party, it is worth asking for a discount as most cottages will sleep 4 people. Small cottages are hard to come by. If you have a large party, why not look for a complex of cottages on a farm rather than one huge cottage? This can give you more options.

18. Short Breaks in Peak Season. Many cottage operators will not allow short breaks during peak season (or if they do allow them, you must pay for the whole week). It's always worth asking the owner if they would get in touch if any short periods come up in their booking schedule (e.g. someone may book two and a half weeks, leaving a few days spare which may be available as a short break).

19. Emergency number. Do you have a contact number to call if there are any problems with the cottage or simply to ask for local advice? e.g. where is the nearest garage.

20. If you have found a cottage that ticks all these boxes then go ahead and book it!

Richard Bowen has worked for over 15 years in the holiday cottage industry and runs a website for cottages in Wales. He has published travel guides in his native country of Wales in the United Kingdom.

What Goes on in Sheerness

By Simon Haughtone

Sheerness is found in Kent on the Isle of Sheppey. It was originally founded in the 16th century when a fort was built to protect the nearby river from any naval invasions. A Royal Navy Dockyard was created in 1669 where the Navy ships could be repaired and stock up on provisions. This dockyard was in use until 1960.

Sheerness eventually gained a reputation as a popular seaside resort as a promenade and pier was built in the 19th century. The town experienced little rain and a lot of sun and it was easily reached by train or steamboat. Since the dockyard closed the m ain industry has changed to being the largest port for motor imports in the UK.

Sheerness has several different windmills that have been important throughout the town's history. The smock mill was built in 1813 though it later burned to the ground in 1862. There was a small tower mill called the Hundred Acre Mill of which the base can still be seen today though it was demolished in 1878.

Another smock mill, the Great Mill, was demolished in 1924 but a replica of the mill body has since been rebuilt and houses flats. The fourth mill was supposedly a vertical axle windmill.

The Port at Sheerness contributes as a significant part of the town's economy. Besides importing foreign cars it also brings in tons of meat and fruit products form around the globe. The rail network makes it easy to transport the goods throughout the UK and it also attaches the port to other nearby industries such as sausages, pharmaceuticals, garden gnomes and steel.

The one beach at Sheerness has been aware a European Blue Flag for safety and cleanliness. There are flower gardens up and down the seafront and the Leisure Complex is close to the beach and contains tennis courts, a swimming pool, squash courts and badminton.

Find your next Sheerness hotel: here.