South-England: The Kennet and Avon Canal and the Caen Hill Locks in Devizes

The Kennet and Avon Canal is a canal in southern England. The name may refer to either the route of the original Kennet and Avon Canal Company, which linked the River Kennet at Newbury to the River Avon at Bath, or to the entire navigation between the River Thames at Reading and the Floating Harbour at Bristol, including the earlier improved river navigations of the River Kennet between Reading and Newbury and the River Avon between Bath and Bristol.

Today the canal is a tourism destination. Boating, with both narrowboats and cruisers, is popular, particularly in the summer months.

How To Go About Motorhome Hire

By Peter Lennon

Many people long for the freedom to go anywhere they like when they like on holiday. Until recently the only way to do so was to camp, but motorhome hire can change that. A warm, comfortable truly mobile home enables one to go wherever the fancy takes them. However, a few things need to be taken into consideration beforehand. This article will give some pointers.

First things first - does the standard UK driving licence allow one to drive a vehicle as big as a motorhome? According to the DVLC the answer is 'yes' if one's licence allows one to drive vehicles in category B, C, or C1. There are conditions to satisfy and these can be ascertained by contacting the DVLC or going on line.

Insurance is another worry, but fortunately most hirers include this in the fees. They often also include breakdown assistance. With some hirers it is possible to pay a little extra and drive in Europe. To stay legal when transporting all the family, ensure there are enough seatbelts.

Cost is also an important consideration. Comparing cost online is a good idea. There are several sites available if one does a search using 'motorhome hire'. One will also be able to find out where the nearest hirer is. Close to home picks ups save a long drive before one starts the holiday.

One website has prices ranging from GBP485 to GBP735 for a 2 berth 'home and GBP635 to GBP885 for a week. There is a GBP600 security deposit to pay, but everything is included except towels and linen. 'Homes can also be hired by the day. Don't forget to add on site fees.

There are many campsites with standings for 'homes throughout the UK and Europe. They vary from the simple to the ultra luxurious and tariffs are generally reasonable. Some are open all year round. They also have water points and waste disposal points. Electricity is often included in site fees; sometimes there is a small charge. All that remains to do is decide where one would like to holiday and hire a motorhome. Oh - and don't forget the map!

If you are interested in motorhome hire in Scotland, England, Wales or Northern Ireland call Motorholme on 0800 612 8719 today. The phone line is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. If you would like to rent a motorhome you can also apply online at http://www.motorhomesdirect.co.uk.

Castles in Cornwall

By Thomas G. Craven

There are quite a lot of castles within the boundaries of what is modern-day Cornwall. Much of the reason for this is geography - Cornwall has a lot of coastline (just short of 300 miles) and this means potential avenues of attach from the sea. This meant a lot of coastal defences have been put in place over the years. The south coast of Cornwall faces the English Channel and attacks from Europe; the north coast faces the Atlantic and invasions across the Irish Sea.

Not all of the castles in Cornwall are coastal however, there are a few (generally older castles) that are built to protect different aspects. These include Norman installations to protect river crossings and Iron Age hill forts to protect the population and act as a defensive refuge, which are generally found on hill top locations.

Because the wealth of Cornwall has never really been in agricultural land, there are not as many Norman castles as some other areas of the country because that was the primary driver for installing these defences.

St Mawes Castle
St Mawes sits on the north east side of the Carrick Roads, partnering Pendennis castle on the opposite side. It is a clover leaf shape and was built by Henry VIII as part of the coastal defences aimed at preventing attack from France and Spain.

Carn Brea Castle
Carn Brea was built in the 14th century, although the hill top site near Redruth has been occupied since about 3700BC. The current building is a stone twin towered fortress, probably originally a chapel or hunting lodge. It has been altered and extended over the intervening years.

St Michael's Mount
Located in Mount's Bay and owned by the National Trust, St Michael's Mount is probably Cornwall's best known landmark. The castle sits atop a small island that is accessible by causeway at low tide. Originally a religious site it was held defensively several times before becoming a true castle when Henry VIII seized it as a result of the dissolution of the monasteries.

Tintagel Castle
The castle at Tintagel is probably best known for its link with the Arthurian legend as the birthplace of King Arthur. However, the current castle at the site near Camelford is the remains of a fortress built by the Earls of Cornwall, started by Reginald in 1145 and expanded in the 13th century.

Launceston Castle
The castle is located to protect the Tamar River crossing, and there has been defensive structures here since medieval times. The stonework you see today is mostly 13th century, built by Richard, Earl of Cornwall (who was also responsible for the expansion of Tintagel).

Pendennis Castle
Situated on Pendennis Point, this castle guards the Falmouth bank of the Carrick Roads and the entrance into Falmouth Harbour. As with St Mawes it was constructed around 1540-45 by Henry VIII as part of a chain of defences along the south coast of England.

Restormel Castle
Situated near St Austell, Restormel Castle was originally a Normal fortification, and it's beautiful round shape is a reflection of that, although the current stone walls were again a later addition of the 13th century.

St Catherine's Castle
Located at Fowey, St Catherine's was built to defend the harbour and was a part of the south coast castle chain commissioned by Henry VIII. It's a small artillery fort, now in ruins, and is located on the tip of a rock headland.

Chun Castle
An Iron Age hill fort originally created between 3000 and 2000 BC, it is notable because it is made of two concentric rings of the native granite rock. The occupation of this site near Penzance in west Cornwall, goes from this period through the Roman occupation of Britain into the Dark Ages.

This is not an exhaustive list of the castles of Cornwall, more minor or iron age remains can be seen at Bossiney Castle, Bottreaux Castle, Caerhays Castle, Cradinham Castle, Castle Dore, and the castles of Helston, Maen, Pengersick and Tremanton.

Thomas Craven is a freelance writer in the travel sector. He is currently writing for hotels in Cornwall on a range of Cornish subjects.

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.

Oakham and Horshoes

By Simon Haughtone

Oakham resides to the west of one of the largest man-made European lakes, Rutland Water. The town is on an incline and is in the Vale of Catnose. Oakham is part of Rutland. Oakham is the headquarters of the unitary Rutland County Council District Council.

The main tourist attractions are Oakham Castle and All Saints Church. It is possible to see the spire of All Saints Church from several miles away. The tower was built in the decorated gothic style in the 14th century. The majority of the rest of the exterior was designed in the perpendicular gothic style. The oldest part of the church is the south doorway which

dates bake to the early 13th century. The columns inside are beautifully decorated with animals, figures, birds, foliage and various scenes from the Bible.

The only part of Oakham castle that is still standing is the great hall. Surrounding the great hall is the inner bailey used for defense. The hall was constructed between 1180 and 1190. Much of the architecture is Romanesque. The hall was used as the Assize court until 1970. It is licensed for weddings and is occasionally used as the Crown court and Coroner's court. The outer bailey, currently called Cutts Close is a park with bandstand.

It was tradition when royalty passed through Oakham to leave a horseshoe as a forfeit. Royalty left horseshoes in Oakham for over 500 years. Today when royalty visits they present a commemorative horseshoe, over 200 hang n the wall in the great hall. The oldest horseshoe on the wall is from King Edward IV in 1470. The horseshoes are hung upside down to stop the Devil from sitting in the hollow.

Oakham is easily accessible as it has a railway station that has trains traveling to Birmingham, Leicester, Peterborough and Stansted Airport. It is also possible to reach Stamford, Corby, Uppingham, Melton Mowbray, Nottingham and Leicester by motorway.

Look for hotels in Oakham.

Things to Do and Entertainment During August, Around Torquay and Paignton

By Gregory Greene

South Devon in August has always been a special place to be or spend a well earned break or holiday during the summer months. Like many holiday resorts and locations in the UK, Torquay and Paignton were both first established and made fashionable as holiday destinations as far back the Queen Victorian era.

Since then the towns of Torquay, Paignton and Brixham also known as the "English Riviera" (which was coined from the name French Riviera, the holiday area of the south coast of France) has gone from strength to strength as a South Devon holiday resort area. For this area it is no surprise as this part of the Devon coastline has some amazing and breathtaking scenery, with many local attractions that are both new and historic, scattered throughout the area will give you plenty to see and do.

If you're a tennis fan and enjoyed the summer coverage of "Wimbledon" in London, you will be in for a real treat as the "Torbay Open Tennis Championships" starts on the last day of July and carry on for a week into the beginning August. This is a historical event as it was first staged back in 1887 and is now one of the country's leading tennis tournaments and is hosted proudly by the Torquay Tennis Club.

The beginning of August also sees the "Cockington Fayre" at Cockington Court and Country Park in the typically quaint Devon village of Cockington, just on the outskirts of Torquay. It's largely a traditional old English country fayre, with side stalls with local produce, as well as arts & crafts, there is also music and dance, as well as displays by exhibitors. The fayre will also feature traditional "Morris Men Dancing" dressed in all of their regalia. As well as all of the attractions at the fayre there will also horse carriage rides, art galleries, a medieval church, cafe selling freshly made dishes plus a 460 acre award-winning Cockington country park with lakes and woodland to explore, so it makes a great family day out.

Next on your list of things to do and see in early August should be the "Torbay Steam Fair" at Churston Ferrers, situated just on the edge of the town of Brixham and this year the Steam Fair see's itself having its 25th Anniversary. This is another good family orientated event with much to experience, the fair is largely aimed at showing off all the wonderful working steam engines, vintage, and classic cars, old trucks and lorries by their loving owner's. There are also military displays, market stalls, a range of local cider's to sample and for the children there is entertainment from Como the Clown, pony rides and also a beautiful birds of prey display and you can even handle some playful parrots. One thing is for sure there is plenty for all the family to see and do around Torquay and Paignton in August.

Gregory Greene is writing on behalf of "H and H Caravans" of Torquay in South Devon, for a great choice in Paignton Caravans or when you are looking for the best Holiday Park Devon with a relaxing atmosphere near the sea.

Ghosts of Chillingham Castle

By Jackie Reynolds

Chillingham Castle, Northumberland, UK is said to be the most haunted castle in the UK and not surprisingly since the castle houses dark dungeons and macabre torture chambers. This ancient fortress dates back to 1246, when the Earl Grey lords built this remarkable building and where the Earl Grey ancestors have resided for centuries.

The castle is presently the home of Sir Humphry Wakefield Bt., his wife The Hon. Lady Wakefield and their family. The family claim it is the most haunted castle because of the many ghosts which frequently haunt their home.

The most notable ghostly apparition is the 'blue boy' (or 'radiant boy') who is said to haunt the castle's Pink Room. Many guests, whilst occupying the room, have heard terrifying wailing sounds soon to be followed by a halo of blue light appearing above their bed.

Although that particular haunting ended when a gruesome discovery during renovation work revealed the bones of a young boy and a man who had been bricked inside a wall. It was intended that no one should ever hear their piteous cries for help, as the wall was built 10 feet thick.

This was not the end to the hauntings in Chillingham Castle. The owners have also witnessed a much more sinister energy which wanders the halls...the terryfying spectre of the once evil torturer - John Sage.

JOHN SAGE - A GHOST OF EVIL PAST

When nightime falls around Chillingham Castle, one of the most feared sounds to be heard on occasions is that of 'something' slowly dragging its foot as it wanders the corridors. It is believed to be the spirit of former Lieutenant, John Sage who earned the nickname 'dragfoot', when in life, his leg was injured by a spear during his final battle in the ongoing wars with his Scottish neighbours.

After his injury he was desperate for a position of work and was proud to be given the title of Chillingham Castle torturer by the castle owner Edward Longshanks (1200 AD). Sage was a monster of a man and his gruesome work would give him immense satisfaction for the next 3 years, where he would go on to torture at least 50 of his Scottish enemies per week.

Sage would revel as the Scots were captured and tossed into the castle's dungeons. These poor souls would wish they had perished on the battlefield, as Sage was renowned for carrying out the most hideous tortures in history. One torture device came to be known as one of the most feared...'the cage'. This apparatus would trap its victim and then be placed over a blazing fire - roasting the captive for hours, whilst Sage sat studying his enemy - writhing and screaming for their death.

Sage's insatiable thirst for torture would eventually lead to his downfall, when one day his lover Elizabeth Charlton paid him a visit. During their sexual liaison, Sage decided to place Elizabeth on one of his other torture devices - 'the rack'. Sage then began strangling her during the height of her sexual pleasure, but he went too far and accidentally killed her.

Elizabeth's father (a Border Reiver, clan leader and outlaw), upon hearing of his daughter's death, warned the now almost penniless Longshanks, if he did not have Sage killed he would join in an allied attack with the Scots against the Castle.

Longshanks' dwindling resources due to the war and the fact that the Border Reiver's were a powerful force gave him little choice but to put Sage to death. He was hanged on the grounds of the castle on 'Devil's Mile' (aka, Devil's Walk) before a crowd of jeering onlookers.

As Sage's body still twitched with life, the crowd set about him - slicing pieces from his body, including his nose, toes, and testicles. A rather 'cutting' fate, some may say, for one who's greatest rapture was the sight of an ungodly end.

http://www.worldmysteriesandtrueghosttales.com