February 2nd, 2010
As wonderful as a good countryside view is, here at Essential Travel we were surprised (and pleased) to hear that it’s the Bath Skyline that has been heralded the National Trust’s most popular walking trail. Rather than rewarding walkers with green woodland views at the top of the hill, the walk ends with glorious vistas of Bath city and its iconic Georgian terraces.
The National Trust recently revealed that the Bath Skyline walk was the most downloaded trail available from 130 trails on their website, closely followed by Clumber Park in Nottinghamshire and Ashridge in Hertfordshire, while the White Cliffs of Dover in Kent were a big draw in the wildlife walks category.
So, dust down that anorak, get your boots on and get walking!
Bath Skyline
The main draw of this six mile walk is the peerless views of Bath below. Still, there’s plenty on offer en route from valleys, woodlands and patchworks of meadows to an Iron Age hill-fort, Roman settlements, and 18th-century follies.
Clumber Park, North Nottinghamshire
This 3,800 acres estate (of the Duke Of Newcastle) is a walkers paradise. Try the National Trust’s one and a half mile walk that takes you past the estate’s temple, pleasure ground and through Ash Hill Tree Wood.
Ashridge, Hertfordshire
The Ashridge Estate wildlife walk is ever popular with families and much of the two mile trail is pushchair friendly. Look up and try to spot buzzards and red kites, or look into the ancient woodlands to spy allow deer.
White Cliffs of Dover, Kent
This four mile coastal cliff walk gives you the chance to get up to close to one of England’s most famous natural landmarks. As well as sweeping views of the cliffs, look out for rare flora and fauna.
January 25th, 2010
Earlier this month we summed up the top travel destinations for 2010, but no list would be complete without Istanbul – this year’s European Capital Of Culture. Below, we list some of Istanbul’s must see highlights.
Istiklal Caddesi
This lengthy pedestrian avenue (about two miles long) is where you’ll find the hub of Istanbul’s commercial culture. Bars, cafes, restaurants, boutiques, cinemas and markets range from the hip and expensive, to everyday and affordable. Take a stroll in the morning for a quiet perspective, or join the throngs as the sun begins to set.
Turkish tea and coffee
Caffeine is available on every corner in Istanbul so throw out your one-a-day rule and indulge in copious amounts of freshly brewed tea and coffee. The Turkish like their tea strong and served in small glass cups with plenty of sugar. Expect the coffee in espresso cups with a thick, undrinkable coffee base about a centimetre thick.
Pera Palas
This original 1890s hotel has had a complete makeover in honour of the city’s new title and will reopen in April. The grand Pera Palas was known as the hotel of choice for Orient-Express passengers and once counted Agatha Christie, Ernest Hemmingway and Alfred Hitchcock as guests. www.perapalas.com
Cemberlitas Bath
Where better to enjoy a Turkish hamam than in the country of its origin. This steamy institute was built in the late 1500s and continues to accommodate both men and woman looking for a hot dip. Cemberlitas Square on Divanyolu Street. www.cemberlitashamami.com.
January 19th, 2010
With the FIFA World Cup only a few months away, fans are getting ready for the biggest sporting event on the 2010 calendar.
For those supporters wanting to utilize a truly South African artifact, why not give the Vuvu-Zela a go? The Vuvu-Zela is South Africa’s cheering device of choice. Its basically a plastic bugle, roughly the length of a clarinet, and sounds a bit like a walrus stubbing its fin on a sharp rock.
What the Vuvu-Zela lacks in sound quality, it makes up in effectiveness – it’s mighty, blunt bewailing can be heard almost continents away, ensuring that players on the field know you’re behind them.
Don’t be fooled by it’s simplicity though. Blowing the Vuvu-Zela takes skill and understanding. It may not be a concert piano, but its not the triangle, either. Many a drunken fan has passed out in frustration, blue-lipped and red faced after 20 minutes of silent dry-heaving. You’ve got to purse your lips, the way young children kiss a distant auntie with facial hair, and release pockets of air through narrow opening. Its important that you keep your lips tight and body loose. This is key strategy information: its not how hard you blow, its the flow of air that counts.
The Vuvu-Zela transcends the game of soccer, too. On the walk home, it doubles as a great sword fighting toy to use with your mates. Many a Vuvu-Zela dual takes place once the dust has settled and the studded boots are hung up. Otherwise it makes a stunning household ornament and a useful conversation starter. “Ah, I see you play the Vuvu-Zela – mind if I have a go?” that sort of thing….
January 19th, 2010
If you’ve ever walked around your kitchen talking into a spatula imitating Jamie or Nigella, a cooking course if for you! Cooking courses in authentic cuisine have become quite the tourist attraction in parts of the world. And if you’re willing to be taught, they’re willing to spoil you with gorgeous local flavours.
See our run down of some of the best cooking holidays around:
SPAIN TASTE
These guys offer you three different packages all consisting of a five night stay in beautiful Catalonia. Each package teaches you Spanish culinary skills from a different region through two cooking classes, lunch, dinner, a food visit and, of course, wine tasting. Prices start at £1,410 per person for double occupancy.
ORGANIC TUSCANY
Now if you’re an organic foodie, you’ll enjoy this 7 day escape to the Italian countryside. Situated only a few miles out of Florence, you can experience four Italian cooking classes using authentic recipes with only the best organic ingredients. And the wine tasting? Well, it wouldn’t be a visit to Italy without it. As well as beautiful surroundings and the opportunity to meet fellow food enthusiasts, this cooking holiday in Tuscany provides accommodation, various meals and walking tours for around £1242 per person.
PLEASURE COOKERS
Learn how to really do Indian cuisine with this three day or seven day cooking holiday in Goa. This Indian gastronomic getaway includes accommodation, tours to spice villages and dinners after your cooking lessons. Once you’re done in the kitchen, Goa has sun, sand and beaches in abundance to round off the holiday experience. The three day trip is around £739 and the seven day trip will cost you around £1452 for two people.
January 8th, 2010
Architects can be pretty off the wall at the best of times, but architect Jacob Tigges’s plan to build a 1000m mountain in Berlin could be the craziest idea to date.
Surprisingly the project, The Berg, has won a fair amount of support from the German public. The artificial mountain is aiming to become the city’s largest tourist attraction, though we suspect the team behind The Berg will have to literally move mountains to make this ambitious plan a reality.
Berlin Artificial Mountain
Aside from tourism, the aim of the ‘mountain’, which still remains firmly in the pipeline, is to create a habitat for wildlife such as deer and fox. If The Berg is erected, it will be a platform for natural snow cover during winter and provide a place for winter sports in the city.
In fairness to Germany, it’s not the first country to manufacture ‘natural’ attractions – Dubai does it with artificial beaches, the UK with lakes. At least you can be sure that Germany’s offering will run like clockwork!
Copyright © 2010 Essential Travel Ltd