Archive for the 'self catering nature breaks' Category

If you think the cost of holidays is too high look to Eastern Europe

Published on January 12, 2012 in barn conversions, self catering nature breaks and Uncategorized. 0 Comments

some of the desserts you could eat on holiday in Eastern EuropeIf you have been browsing the web for holidays but keep finding that costs have risen beyond your reach then do consider a holiday in eastern Europe and you could have a brilliant holiday that is within your budget.  We all feel so much better when we obtain great value for money. Talk to the Czechs, Slovakians, Poles and Hungarians that you know to find out more about their homelands, best  places to visit, the food and climate.  Eastern Europeans work in the UK because even the minimum wage is more than they would earn in their own country and that tells you that certain costs in their countries are much less than here. Some of the desserts to be found in a restaurant in Poland are shown on the right.

The type of accommodation to avoid for a cheap break is international hotel chains because they tend to be similarly priced across the board. Try seeking out accommodation that is run by local families and you will find low prices and good standards. In all these countries there is a host of B&Bs and pensions as well as self catering accommodation to rent. The advantage of self catering is that you can cook for yourself if you are not keen on the local cuisine. Fresh food is still much less expensive in Eastern Europe than in Britain. If you do choose to eat out, you will find a wide range of restaurants in city centres so that you can select a menu and price that suits you, and lower costs in rural areas.

The very best value can be obtained by staying in a rural area and travelling to the cities for days out. Ideally you should hire a car for your holiday to get the most from your visit. There are fabulous places to visit and incredible scenery. Most Eastern European countries have natural hot springs and swimming pools or lakes that are geothermally heated. Now that is an experience. National parks abound where you can go walking, hire a bicycle, ride on a horse and cart and picnic. The national parks are wide open spaces with stunning scenery, rich in wildlife and wild flowers. Go in spring to see pussy willws draped over rivers, masses of primroses and cowslips.

Take a look at self catering holidays in Eastern Europe to see the type of accommodation you could rent and some of the places to visit. Stretch your money that bit further and have a different type of holiday in eastern Europe. If you’re used to beach holidays, try a holiday beside a lake instead although Poland has good beaches on its Baltic coast, for example Sopot. The city of Gdansk nearby has one of the most artistic and pretty city centres. Amber that is used in Polish jewellery and lamp making comes from Baltic beaches.

Thousands of people visit Prague in the Czech Republic each year without visiting anywhere outside the city. It too has fabulous national parks. Some of the most beautiful glass objects, including chandeliers, are made in the Czech Republic. Bring back a souvenir to treasure.

Nesting storks can be seen throughout Eastern Europe in late spring and summer. Visit Hungary for storks and nature and dishes with a touch of paprika.

In these challenging economic times we need to adapt and consider new avenues. A trip to eastern Europe will open your eyes.

 

Looking forward to holidays in 2012

Published on December 28, 2011 in holidays in 2012, holidays with wild flowers, self catering nature breaks and spotting wildlife. 0 Comments

2012 is almost upon us and it’s that time when many of us beginning to plan our holidays for the coming year.  Where should we go on holiday this year?

I used to think about holidays in terms which country would I like to visit? I’ve never been to Russia for example, how about there?

I find that I have changed and although I love to explore new destinations, I also like to spend time doing the things that give me pleasure and that is far removed from just booking a package tour.  The things that give me pleasure are:

Wild flower meadows – I would like to see a different one each year. Something that many people do not realise is that what we consider garden plants actually grow wild in many other countries. Go to Israel and the south eastern Mediterranean around Easter to see meadows full of wild iris and pink cyclamen and red and blue anemones growing under the shade of trees.  Visit the mountains of Turkey for daisies, poppies, violets and wild hyacinth. Turkey is said to have more species of wild flower in its countryside than the rest of Europe put together. The island of Corsica is known as the island of flowers where they grow in profusion. The meadows of Colorado in the States are full of vibrant reds, blues and yellows. Each meadow is a colourful tapestry and a thing of beauty.  The higher and more mountainous the landscape, the rarer the flowers.  All over Europe there are mountains where crocus blooms in profusion at the edge of receding snowdrifts. Go to northern Greece to see yellow crocus or the Tatra mountains of Poland for valleys full of purple flowered crocus.  A roadside verge in Greece in May is shown on the right.  The very best places to see magnificent displays of wild flowers are the totally unspoilt remote locations. I like to stay in a log cabin or cottage and go out and about for walks of discovery. Views of wild flowers are good for the soul, they instantly calm and present an image of the world as a paradise.

Interacting with animals and nature – I have an endless fascination with animals on Earth.  I  feel that we have not yet developed  relationships with anything other than domestic cats, dogs and horses. That relationship developed over thousands of years. We talk about communicating with animals and even where some form of communication is established we don’t think in terms of the animal but ourselves. The dog expressing a wish to go for a walk by bringing us his lead does not always fill us with glee. However, we have to be proud of the fact that British attitude to animals is arguably the best in the world. We do consider the feelings of animals or we wouldn’t support charities that try to improve the lot of working donkeys, performing animals and those kept in poor and cruel conditions. Animals are an important part of our world and I especially enjoy seeing them in the wild. Red squirrels in the Lake District and Scotland, seals on our beaches (Wales, Ireland and Scotland) and wild ponies of Bodmin, Dartmoor and the New Forest all give me pleasure to view.

Zoos have a part to play in protecting endangered species, however, one of the best forms of zoo for me is the safari park. We have several safari parks in the UK, all of which allow us to see animals from the safety of our cars.  A safari on a game reserve in Africa is especially thrilling when an element of danger is added to the drive. Mind you, anyone who has been through the monkey and bear enclosure at Woburn Safari Park (stay in a cottage in Bedfordshire)  has many a tale to tell of their experience and missing car parts.

Coastal walk in Padstow, CornwallSea views – I like to be by the sea. Not just anywhere by the sea. You can keep those concrete monstrosities and high rise developments on the coast, my dream is of a crescent of sandy beach backed by pines and hills, where the occasional house nestles. The waves gently lap the shore and the water is crystal clear and there are few people on the beach. This is the kind of sea where I can go snorkelling and spot fish and sea creatures, or swim out to a boat just offshore.  My ideal coastal views are natural. For beaches in the UK, I head to Cornwall or north. We have some of the most fantastic long and deep sandy beaches anywhere. Again, thinking nature and thousands of sea birds, my favourite destinations are remote.  All around the rocky headlands of Scotland are rocks and nesting places for birds. Coastal walking has increased in popularity in recent years and the coastal paths of Wales and the south of England are very well developed. Go walking in the north east of Scotland, see the incredible cliffs of Bullers of Buchan near Cruden Bay in Aberdeenshire for a magnifient sight.  Or. go to County Cork for the Irish version and seas warmed by the Gulf Stream.  There is whale and dolphin spotting off the Moray Firth in Scotland and the coast of Count Cork.  Find somewhere to rent for a holiday in County Cork or the north east of Scotland. Take bird spotting books and teach the children to identifiy various species of sea bird and wader.

I think 2012 will be a year when people decide to stay in Britain and discover more about their own country. Lots of other people like myself will be be thinking, what would I like to do on holiday rather than simply where shall I go? Decide what you would like to do and that will help you decide where you are likely to find those outdoor pursuits and activities.  Take a look at activity self catering breaks if you like to participate in outdoor sports with your children or cottages in rural locations where you can spot wildlife. Perhaps in 2012 we will all try something new and discover something about ourselves and our own country?