Rent a Castle for a Unique Holiday in Perth

By Dipika Patel

Choosing to rent a castle in Scotland can provide you with the perfect luxury base from which to explore a little more of this historic country - and there is no better place to start than Perth.

If you are a history enthusiast then you will find so much to see and do here, including exploring one of the many castles to see how your own accommodation fares against it.

One of the most famous is Scone Palace. Once the place where the King of Scotland - including Bonnie Prince Charlie and Robert the Bruce - was crowned, today you can find out more about its past while browsing a host of interesting artefacts.

If this has sparked your interest then next on the agenda should be a trip to the centre of town, where you will find St John's Kirk. This is the oldest building in the market town and dates back to 1159, making it significantly older than the nearby St Ninian's Cathedral.

Elcho Castle or Huntingtower Castle are nearby heritage centres you may wish to check out, while art enthusiasts can see a collection of paintings by the celebrated colourist John Duncan Fergusson at the Fergusson Gallery, or head to Perth Museum and Art Gallery for a more varied affair.

Meanwhile, shopaholics will not be disappointed - many of the streets are lined with boutiques and stores where you can get stuck into a spot of retail therapy, before relaxing with a coffee at the cafe corner of St John's Place.

And if you are looking to sample some traditional Scottish fare during your stay, you're in luck. The sights and sounds of the weekend Perth Farmers Market are likely to whet your appetite and in the evening you can choose from a range of modern bistros or luxury restaurants, before relaxing with a moonlit walk down the banks of the River Tay.

One of the best things about choosing Perth when you rent castles in Scotland is that you are also ideally situated to enjoy the beautiful surrounding countryside, or play a few rounds of golf.

When your holiday does draw to an end, do not be surprised if you soon find yourself planning your next castle break.

Scotts Castle Holidays specialises in large properties, mansions and castles for rent in Scotland. If you want to rent a castle, then we can find the best castles in Scotland for you that will perfectly suit your holiday.

A Tour Around Sydney Gardens in Bath

Are you planning a trip to Sydney Gardens in Bath and what to know what to expect?

Take a look at this video tour of Sydney Gardens, taking in narrow boats on the Kennet and Avon canal and the trains whizzing along the railway lines. Notice how close you get to the train lines.

Sydney Gardens also has tennis courts and a play area for kids.

If you would like more information about Sydney Gardens, visithttp://www.narrowboatholidays-kennet.co.uk/sydney-pleasure-gardens-bath.php

Great Yarmouth - Traditional Seaside Holiday Resort

By Gary Smithe

Great Yarmouth in the UK is a buzzing seaside resort on the splendid Norfolk coast and has all the perfect ingredients for an enjoyable seaside holiday.

The long stretches of golden beach, indoor and outdoor attractions for people of all ages and the various places to eat with the traditional seaside fish and chips with locally caught fish available too, making Great Yarmouth the ideal holiday destination for all.

The primary element of a holiday at the seaside must be the beach. The long stretch of sandy beach on Yarmouth seafront is about 15 miles, the beautiful coastline between Winterton-on-Sea to Hopton and the famous sand dunes make Great Yarmouth more attractive. You can build sand castles, have a swim in the coastline or just walk near the sea to experience some magical moments at the great British resort at the seaside.

The theme parks at the sea front by Yarmouths piers are sure to offer children an adventure that they would never forget. Great Yarmouth caters to the whole family with everything available you could want from a seaside resort. There are also mini golf courses and facilities to hire a rowing boat or a pedalo boat for a tour of the lake at Fritton Park situated nearby.

There are terrific indoor attractions too. Discover the creatures living in our oceans at Sea World or reptiles at Amazonia. Locally various swimming pools beckon visitors to take a dip and enjoy a swim. Also Great Yarmouth provides an opportunity to go back in time at its latest attraction Yesterdays World museum. Enjoy first class entertainment in a conventional theatre showing comedy acts on the pier at Yarmouth. For those preferring to stay active all the time, there is a bowling alley and ample amusement centres by the sea front. Enjoy some excitement and thrills at the local dog racing stadium or major horse racing events at Yarmouth Race Track.

Great Yarmouth is a holiday destination apt for all months of the year. When the sun sets, Great Yarmouth comes alive as the night time entertainment beckons with casinos, restaurants and nightclubs for you to enjoy a night out.

Be sure to include Greater Yarmouth in your holiday itinerary and get ready for a rekindling of memories of childhood holidays and for a rich experience of British tradition.

Visit Great Yarmouth in Norfolk, East Anglia to experience an amazing British holiday destination that offers many holiday activities. As well as the piers and seafront at Great Yarmouth the surrounding area of Norfolk offers boating opportunities on the famous Norfolk Broads as well as having some of the best coarse fishing in East Anglia. Along the coast from Yarmouth you will find Scratby Caravans Hemsby holiday parks and chalet hire centres all catering for visitors to the Norfolk area. The popular resort of California Cliffs offers close proximity to the sandy beach and many holiday camps including full daytime and nightime entertainment programs for visitors to stay and enjoy the various activities within the Yarmouth Norfolk area.

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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.