May 22

The nation of Scotland is a splendid destination in which to take a couple of weeks vacation. The nation great for a large amount of varying vacations, featuring extensive expanses of lovely countryside with incomparable amounts of sites of outstanding natural beauty (perfect for ramblers, hikers, hill-walkers, mountain climbers and the likes). The country also features some of the smartest attractions, including, some of the most interesting galleries and museums in the whole of the United Kingdom, majestic spots, stately homes, castles, fortified houses and historical buildings plus much more. In the article below I discuss Stranraer.

Stranraer is a town located in southerly Scotland in the district of Dumfries & Galloway, it is most widely known for it being where it is possible to sail to Belfast in Northern Ireland. Regrettably the largest numbers of tourists fail to see some of the tourist attractions in and around Stranraer. This fact is something of a puzzle, if you arrive at the town, and book a room in a Stranraer bed & breakfast, a day early you can get to see a couple of the local attractions before sailing to the city of Belfast.

There are a selection of things to see and do in the town including the medieval tower house of the Castle of St John situated in the centre of Stranraer. The castle was built in 1510 as a residence for the Laird of Wigtownshire, Ninian Adair of Kilhurst. The castle underwent restoration, during 1988/89, in 1988/89, by Wigtown District Council who made it available to the public in 1990.

Another attraction close to the town is the gardens at Castle Kennedy. The castle is the centrepiece of the gardens which are situated, between 2 lochs, on a hill (it is important to know that you are not allowed to visit the ruins. The castle’s gardens extend across 75 acres. You can purchase plants from a store which has grown them from seed and plants in the gardens.

A further lovely visitor attraction worth seeing is Glenluce Abbey, about seven miles from Stranraer. Although Glenluce Abbey is ruined (actually the most ruined of a trio of Cistercian monasteries found in the South West of Scotland) it has an incredible fifteenth-century Chapter House. Other places worth consideration include, the Machars, Port Logan, Portpatrick and the Mull of Galloway.

If you are thinking about taking a vacation in Stranraer you will be pleased to learn that there is a reasonable selection of Stranraer hotels. Please take a look at our extensive listings of Stranraer hotels and guest house accommodation.

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Dec 05

Many folk are deciding to take vacations closer to home this year. For the majority of us it is to cut costs but is this a wise decision or a terrible mistake? Frequently many of us fail to see the many local tourist attractions but they are frequently brilliant and far better than those we see somewhere else. Folk resident in the UK have a mindblowing list of vacation destinations each of which has a massive selection of top class visitor attractions to visit. In the following article I introduce the English city of York and hotels in York.

York is situated in the English county of Yorkshire and was, hundreds of years ago, the capital city of a huge kingdom covering most of northern England. In such an ancient city it will not be an enormous surprise to discover a large collection of incredibly old buildings, but you might not expect the astounding sight of the 12th century Gothic York Minster.

The earliest incarnation of York Minster was a humble church of wood in which the Northumbrian King Edwin was baptised in 627. It wasn’t until the time of the Norman Conquest that the earliest sunstantial construction made from stone appeared on the site. Constructed by Thomas of Bayeux, a Norman Archbishop it was extended by Archbishop Roger who constructed a north transept and a south transept. Following many more alterations it was declared complete and consecrated in 1472. Inside has the biggest medieval stained glass window in the world. York has other places to visit including; the National Railway Museum, the Jorvik Viking Centre, Barley Hall, The Shambles, York Castle Museum and York Dungeon.

On top of all of the incredible historic and ancient tourist attractions introduced above, York is an exciting place to go out partying in or experience live music, the opera or theatre. It that doesn’t thrill you then you could visit a pub instead there are certainly plenty to choose from, including; Old Star Inn, Oscars Wine Bar, The Bluebell Inn, the Slug and Lettuce and The Royal Oak, and, lastly, the Black Swan. Of all of them the Black Swan is probably the finest with a superb atmosphere and sometimes having live music.

B&B Accommodation In York

Like many other UK cities you will find a massive variety of York bed and breakfast accommodation ranging from cheap and cheerful guest houses to first class hotels. The Middlethorpe Hall hotel is just two miles from the city centre of York but provides superb accommodation with it’s own private gardens, gym, sauna and steam room, and it also offers massages. Other top York hotels include; Marriott on Tadcaster Road, Hotel du Vin and Bistro, Parsonage Country House Hotel and Bishops at 135 Holgate Road and one of the best guest houses is Crossways on Wigginto Road, or if you are looking for something different why not consider Marmadukes Boutique Hotel.

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Oct 14

Vacations in the UK appear to be increasingly popular at the moment, most probably due to the economic downturn and the low value of the pound Sterling. The United Kingdom has many top vacation destinations including London (the capital city of England) and other fascinating cities plus a fine collection of seaside resorts such as; Blackpool, Bognor Regis, Bournemouth and Brighton. One town commonly overlooked is Plymouth in the south of England.

When you first arrive Plymouth appears a little plain and primarily modern, but investigating a little deeper and you will very quickly find that the city of Plymouth has a rich history and a deep association with the sea. As far back as the 16th C the town has had a busy port. In fifteen eighty eight Francis Drake embarked from the port to successfully defend the English from the Spanish Armada. Another historic moment occurred in sixteen twenty when the Pilgrim Fathers embarked from the port.

It is possible to enjoy inexpensive Plymouth weekend city breaks by booking Plymouth bed and breakfast rather than booking rooms in a overpriced hotel. A simple online search will reveal that rooms are available from as little as £29 a night and many guest houses have reasonably priced dinners also, commonly equal to, or less costly than local restaurants.

Tourist Attractions In Plymouth

There are a great many interesting places in the town which are worth a visit. Popular visitor attractions include; Smeaton’s Tower and Plymouth Dome, the Barbican district, the Elizabethan House and the Royal Citadel. A boat cruise around the waters of the port is an interesting way to spend some time but if you find that you have more time why not take a day out to places outside Plymouth, such as; Saltram House, Mount Edgcumbe or Buckland Abbey.

Saltram House is a lovely Tudor Mansion which is situated 2m east of the town of Plymouth, Mount Edgcumbe is another Tudor house with parklands, coastal paths and landscaped gardens, and Buckland Abbey, approximately 6 miles from Plymouth, is a Cistercian abbey which was at one time by Francis Drake and was at a later date converted into a family home.

If you and your family are currently considering spending a few weeks in the city of  Plymouth it is crucial that you book your  lodgings at the earliest opportunity because, sadly hotels in Plymouth tend to be surprisingly busy and are commonly fully booked well in advance. If you are travelling in a group you may find that Plymouth apartments are a reasonable option to Plymouth bed and breakfast accommodation. If you are visiting the United Kingdom from abroad then you could consider making a reservation for a room in hotels in London to take in the attractions of the English capital too.

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