The Cinque Ports, Surely That’s Something To Do With The French

If you have spent time on holiday in the south east of England, then you may have come across, and possibly been mystified by the phrase “The Cinque Ports”. The word “cinque” is based on the French word for “five”, and although nowadays the phrase has been corrupted so that it is pronounced “sink”,  the clue is very much in the use of the number five.

The five refers to the five south coast ports of Hastings, New Romney, Hythe, Dover and Sandwich, and what is effectively a grouping formed for trade and military reasons has a history that goes way back to 1155. This took the form of a Royal Charter that gave the five ports privileges in return for certain obligations to the Crown in times of need.  As you would probably guess “times of need” normally referred to battles and invasions as these were pretty regular occurrences as England's history unfolded.

Quaint, as only a cinque port can be

“Fifty seven ships for 15 days' service to the king annually, each port fulfilling a proportion of the whole duty.” was how the obligation was phrased and in return, the privileges were pretty wide ranging. Translated from the old English language into more modern usage, the ports could expect the following from the crown, represented by Edward I at the time.

“Exemption from tax and tolls; self-government; permission to levy tolls, punish those who shed blood or flee justice, punish minor offences, detain and execute criminals both inside and outside the port's jurisdiction, and punish breaches of the peace; and possession of lost goods that remain unclaimed after a year, goods thrown overboard, and floating wreckage.”

Smuggling increased because of the latitude shown to the five ports, becoming an important industry in its own right.  Another reason for the grouping was that the Royal Navy was beginning to grow and ports around the country were growing rapidly. There was the appointment of a lord warden, also holding the title of The Constable of Dover Castle.

Nothing stands still in life and as time progressed some of the ports declined and even silted up, with none of the facilities that we take for granted these days in keeping clear passage. The consequence was that in the twelfth century, Rye and Winchelsea were added on to Hastings, and in the fifteenth century, what are loosely known as “corporate limbs” were added. This action meant that places such as Ramsgate,  Margate, Tenterden, Deal, Folkestone, Faversham and Lydd  were added along with lesser ports which would known as “non-corporate limbs”.

Decline continued, and in a part of England's coast where there is coastal erosion and reconfiguration Hastings no longer has a harbour, Hythe is silted up and New Romney and Sandwich are no longer on the coast. By the reign of Elizabeth I the original cinque ports were no longer of any great significance and were eventually absorbed into the rest of the country.  Continuous tinkering with legislation has diminished their powers completely and the importance of the cinque ports has now become all but a slightly quirky episode in the rich tapestry of our history.

The position of Lord Warden and Admiral of the Cinque Ports remains and is considered  to be one of the oldest military honours available in Britain. Currently held by Admiral Michael Boyce since 2004, eminent past holders of the post include Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, Sir Winston Churchill, The First Duke of Wellington, William Pitt, and Prince Henry, later King Henry VIII.. Obviously in view of the decline of the cinque ports ideal, the post is now purely ceremonial. There are a number of events that keep the tradition going and full ceremonial garb is worn on these occasions.

Having started life as an important trade and military agreement, the cinque ports have now become part of the beautifully constructed machine that is British history. It might also explain why the tradition is still upheld with such enthusiasm on the south east coast of England.

                                                                          Hastings

                                                                       New Romney

                                                                            Hythe

                                                                            Dover

                                                                          Sandwich

New £11.2 million Attraction On The Cards For Hadrian’s Wall

Final designs have been unveiled for The Sill, a project backers say will bring a significant jobs and tourism boost relating to the Hadrian’s Wall visitor attraction. Developers are now lining up planning permission for the project, which would showcase the story of the world heritage site. They hope to secure that this summer.

People have now seen the most up-to-date designs for the project, created by award-winning architects Jane Darbyshire and David Kendall. The centre would be at the national park centre at Twice Brewed in the Northumberland National Park.

All part of improving the visitor experience

Environmental features on the building would be among the first of their kind in the country, including a green roof to blend in with the surrounding countryside.

Park authority chief executive Tony Gates said: “I am delighted to announce the final designs for The Sill, which will now be taken into the planning stages of the project.

“In just a short space of time, we have consulted people at 130 meetings and our design team from architects Jane Darbyshire and David Kendall have created concepts which are both sympathetic to the environment and inspiring in their vision. Over the course of this, the development phase of the project, which has been backed by the Heritage Lottery Fund, we have invited members of the public to contribute to the design process, and their feedback and ideas have helped to shape the design.”

                                                               All about Hadrian's Wall

The Ferry Trip Really Makes You Feel As Though You are Going Abroad

This is a phrase that I have heard so many times when I have spoken to fans of the Isle of Wight, the delightful island of some 94,000 acres, separated from mainland England by one of the most famous stretches of maritime water, namely the Solent.

Being a maximum of 23 miles in length and 13 miles in width, it is easy to cover the whole of the island in a day which by the circular road runs at about sixty miles.  As a holiday destination it has everything to satisfy all age groups, and the top south coast resorts such as Sandown and Shanklin hold many excellent weather records, due to the above average sunshine that the island experiences. In the unlikely event of you becoming “stir crazy” and wanting to return to the mainland, there are up to 350 crossings per day.

There is easy access particularly from the western and  eastern ends to Lymington and  Portsmouth/Southsea respectively. The Yarmouth to Lymington run is by conventional ferry only,  but the crossing to Portsmouth offers a choice, that  includes hovercraft, catamaran, Fast Cat and Red Jet.  The bus service on the island is run by Southern Vectis and covers the major centres.

Why go abroad when the Isle of Wight beckons

You would think that in historical terms, islands would experience considerably less in the way of action and development because of their relative remoteness.  This certainly doesn't apply to the Isle of Wight, where early Romans wrote of “capturing” the island, suggesting that they were not the first settlers. After the Romans left, there was a fair bit of to-ing and fro-ing between  local kings, and even the Vikings got in on the act, suffering a defeat at the hands of Alfred the Great.

The Normans left an indelible foot print in the form of an “updating” (that's a relative term!) of Carisbrooke Castle as well as Carisbrooke Priory. The development of the Royal Navy under the stewardship of Henry VIII led to further fortifications at Yarmouth, Sandown, Cowes and East Cowes.

The Victorians were the first real generation of tourists, which is very apt, as Queen Victoria made the island immensely popular by making Osborne House her summer residence, and  it was here that she died in 1901.  The island also played significant roles in the Second World War having transmitters and observation stations, as well as being the starting point of an under-Channel oil pipeline to serve the invading Normandy forces.  Today, although tourism is the biggest industry, there is still a place for agriculture, sail making, and the manufacture of composite materials.

As a  British tourist destination, the island is ideal, especially for families, with cottages, apartments, holiday parks and caravan parks aplenty. The attractions are really centred on quality family entertainment, which supplement the wide range of quality beaches which hold thirteen awards between them including three prestigious Blue Flag Awards. The majority of these are to be found at the eastern end of the island between Gurnard in the north and Ventnor in the south, although Freshwater to the west would grace many other top resorts throughout the country.

It's hard to offer a definitive list of the places that should be on your Isle of Wight “hit list”, because to include one at the expense of another may be doing a family member out of something that may be a personal favourite.  Try seeing as many of the following as you can to get the full flavour of the island:-

Shanklin Chine, Amazon World near Arreton,  Winkle Street at Calbourne,  Godshill's Model Village,  Studio Glass at St. Lawrence, Isle of Wight Zoo,  Appledurcombe House at Wroxall, Osborne House, the Isle of Wight Steam Railway near Ryde,  Ventnor Botanic Gardens, Carisbrooke Castle, Robin Hill Adventure Park and Gardens,  Dinosaur Isle at Sandown, The Needles Park,Fort Victoria Country Park, Blackgang Chine, the Owl and Monkey Haven at Newport, and the Butterfly World.

How long were planning on staying? Even a fortnight may not be enough to cover all of those! It may well involve another visit next year -I know it's tough, but someone has to do it, and it might as well be you.

                                                                Isle of Wight Tourism

Blackpool Promises Better Results This Year

With criticism still ringing in their years after last year’s debacle with the switching on of the world famous illuminations, Blackpool Council are making strong efforts to ensure that attractions this year are built on sturdier foundations.

Work is going on behind the scenes to secure a switch-on star for this year’s Illuminations and to also to bring events including Strictly Come Dancing back to the Blackpool, councillors have been told.
The Town Crier’s competition has already been re-secured for July 19 after an absence of a few years.

Blackpool - being iconic isn't always enough

Blackpool Council deputy leader Coun Fred Jackson told a meeting of the full council: “We are hoping to tell you some good news very soon. I believe lots of things are going on behind the scenes. The council is always trying to get these events to Blackpool. We are trying again for Strictly Come Dancing.”

This was in response to comments by Tory councillor Maxine Callow who said: “After last year’s switch-on we won’t be able to attract any big stars to switch on the lights without a fee, or a line-up without a fee.”

You may recall that the late withdrawal of The Script meant that the organisers of the switching on of the illuminations had to fall back on the good will of Take That star Gary Barlow, who stepped in at short notice. It is understood that a fee was donated to charity.

                                                                  Blackpool Tourism

Yorkshire Screen Success Brings European Funding

They say that Scotland is going to have a year of it in 2014, what with the Commonwealth Games, the Ryder Cup and its Year of Homecoming, but Yorkshire is also showing that it can run a good race.

It is already going to be the setting for the Grand Depart, the start of the 2014 Tour De France, which is widely recognised as one of the premier world sporting events of the season, and now it is emerging that it has been successful in attracting an extra £7.5 million of funding from the European Regional Development Fund as a result of its recent high profile in the film and television world.

Screen Yorkshire reported that there had been a "real surge in film making" in the region over the past two years. It was hoping that the money would help attract more projects such as Peaky Blinders, Death Comes to Pemberley and Get Santa.         

The Great Train Robbery was moved to Yorkshire for filming purposes

Private investors are said to be willing to match the fund on a project-by-project basis.
Screen Yorkshire chief executive Sally Joynson said: "Two years ago we launched the Yorkshire Content Fund with an initial grant [of £7.5m] from Europe and it's been so successful that we've now been awarded this top-up grant. That's really in recognition of the fact that the region and Screen Yorkshire has managed to create some ideal conditions which have led to a real surge in filmmaking here. The whole point of this fund is demonstrating that you don't have to be based in London to build a successful career in filmmaking."

Screen Yorkshire's investments include TV dramas The Great Train Robbery and Jamaica Inn, which were partly filmed on location in Yorkshire.

                                               Learn more about the Yorkshire film success story

Lake District’s Heritage Bid “Is Good, But Not Essential”

Undoubtedly landing the prize of being recognised as a World Heritage Site is a prestigious moment, but with the Lake District within sniffing distance of achieving this goal, having been proposed as the UK next nomination in 2016, there are rumblings in some quarters as to the financial importance of such an award.

Despite the general feeling of euphoria surrounding the bid, there are some people who think the unthinkable, and that is whether the award is the be all and end all that it is cracked up to be.

"Being added to the list gets a destination a real lift in terms of publicity," says Lonely Planet website editor Tom Hall. "I think it's a good thing. The question is whether it's an essential thing."

Would World Heritage status be " a good thing?"

Richard Greenwood, of Cumbria Tourism, which is involved in the campaign, admits the fight is "fraught with problems" but believes the area must grasp the opportunity. "The places everyone seems to be talking about are China, India, Russia and the UAE, where people are just discovering overseas travel," he says. "They tend to use heritage sites as a bit of a bucket list of places to visit."While existing hotels could cope with an increase in tourists, Mr Greenwood adds it could "trigger interest from branded chains to position themselves in the Lake District".

The Lake District currently attracts 14.8 million visitors each year, and they spend a total of £2.2bn. Even a 1% increase in visitor numbers, Mr Greenwood says, could be worth about £20m a year to the local economy through spending on accommodation, food and drink, and leisure activities.

The award of World Heritage status brings along hefty preservation responsibilities and is no guarantee of extra money. For instance, the Hadrian's Wall Trust is currently struggling with a cash crisis despite the Roman structure being on Unesco's list since 1987. It is estimated that the total cost of the Lake District's bid for World Heritage status is expected to be in the region of £400,000, as suggested by some people “in the know” You can see therefore that some people raise unthinkable questions as to whether the winning of the coveted status is worthy of the name.

Back to Mr. Hall of The Lonely Planet. "Lots of visitors to the UK go on quite a well-trodden route that takes in London, Bath, Stonehenge, York and Edinburgh," says Lonely Planet's Mr Hall. To get people off that [route] is a slightly different thing but there's a potential gain to be had."
Mr. Greenwood remains upbeat about the whole thing, but admits that there are certain expenses involved. Overseas marketing is "very expensive" and the Lake District's current spend is "pretty modest", Mr Greenwood reveals.

"We'd have to work cleverly. Creative thinking and close working with organisations such as Visit Britain would be required. It would be a gradual transition. It's not going to happen overnight - and it's not going to happen if we sit on our hands."

Cautious eyes are cast in the direction of the Hadrian’s Wall, where the Trust are the first to admit that the award has not cured all ills

The trust's chief executive Linda Tuttiett has admitted that it is "very difficult to say" whether World Heritage status has resulted in more visitors and while the status is sought-after by many, it brings with it challenges. Indeed a  report commissioned by the Lakes bid has suggested that visitor numbers fell for the first 15 to 18 years after Hadrian's Wall's status was secured.

Philip Johnston is the managing director of a holiday lets firm in the Coppermines Valley near Coniston village. The poet Wordsworth tried to stop the railways. Every generation has conflicts and tries to stop something," he says.

"What I hope will never happen is in planning committees people saying 'we can't do that because it's a World Heritage site'. I want it them to be able to say 'let's inspire the economy, let's go forward and give our young people something for future generations and let's get on with moving the Lake District forward'."

                                                             The Lake District National Park

Honey Coloured Stanton Is The Cotswolds At Its Very Best

Many British travel guides over the years have labelled Stanton in Gloucestershire the very best example of pure Cotswold beauty and it is hard not to disagree. You certainly won’t go there for the quality shopping as there are no shops, and the night life is pretty non-existent, apart from the one pub, but what you will get is the chance to wander slowly throughout a main street choc full of the most enticing honey coloured buildings that you would wish to find.

We can thank Sir Philip Stott for this, because he owned the estate from 1906 to 1937. It takes its name from Stan (“stone”) farmstead, and can be found three miles south west of Broadway, close to where the Gloucestershire and Worcestershire borders join.

Stanton is one of the most beautiful of the Cotswold villages

Behind the village cross which has a medieval base, is the church of St. Michael. This is a happy mix of the old and the new, but doesn’t suffer because of that. Some damage inflicted by Civil War soldiers who were locked in the church has been tastefully repaired.

This is a church that offers stone flagged floors worn down with use through the ages. Look out for the medieval pews, to be found under the organ loft. The gouge marks are said to be made by shepherds taking their dogs to church and tying the leads around the “poppy heads”.

Look out also for the road dividing at the northern end. This is known locally as Sheppey Corner, dating from the time when sheep were driven off the hills to the farm belonging to the manor for shearing.

                                                            Find out more about Stanton

Call For Greater Access To The Welsh Outdoors

Nothing seems to polarise opinion more in British tourism than when a call is made for greater access to the countryside. If I tell you that the two opposing sides in the current “debate” are the British Mountaineering Council (BMC) and the Country Landowners Association (CLA), you wouldn’t need to be an Einstein to work out which side is which.

The BMC represents climbers and hill walkers, and has called for greater access to the outdoors in Wales, ahead of a Welsh government review on laws. It said that changes to current laws could "fundamentally improve" the way people enjoy the outdoors.

Wales is renowned for beautiful scenery such as this

Ah, but along comes CLA, saying that it has concerns about the cost of "unfettered access". A Welsh government green paper on the review is due to be published soon.

 The review will focus on three main areas:
•    increasing responsible access to the outdoors, both in urban and rural areas
•    improving the extensive public path network
•    increasing the amount of land available for allotments and community gardening

Elfyn Jones, the organisation's access officer for Wales, said the review was a "rare and vital opportunity to drastically improve access for the people of Wales and its many visitors".
"Responsible recreation and conservation have been proven to go hand in hand," he said. "That is why we're calling on everyone who values access to our countryside, mountains, rivers and coastline to support our Open Wales campaign to see access laws extended and simplified."  He said the BMC had 5,000 members in Wales but the proposals would also affect its entire membership of 76,000.

For its part, the CLA has already said it wants to see sensitive wildlife and fish spawning sites protected, members of the public kept safe from livestock, and to avoid conflict with legitimate users.  It said there was concern over the potential legal liabilities and insurance costs that would be "heaped onto rural businesses as a result of unfettered access to the countryside".

Ben Underwood, CLA Wales director, said: "Reaching agreements at a local level ensures local people and visitors alike can explore the Welsh countryside safely without damaging the interests of thousands of rural businesses who make their living from the land. We would strongly resist any blanket proposals that did not take into account local diversity."

The Welsh government said there was a "general consensus that the current legislation surrounding access and outdoor recreation is outdated and often difficult to comprehend".

A spokesperson added: "There is a need for greater clarity over where people can go and what they can do in terms of access to the outdoors as better access can bring a number of benefits to Wales in terms of tourism, physical activity, health and well-being, jobs and the economy."He said the Welsh government would welcome responses from all interested groups.

                                                       British Mountaineering Council

                                                      Country Landowners Association

Five Places To Find A Good Windmill

And we are not talking of those modern wind turbines here, but one of those good old fashioned machines straight out of  “Camberwick Green”. Introduced as they used the power of the wind prior to Industrial Revolution days, their purpose initially was to grind the grain for food production. As time passed, their use expanded to include early industrial needs and water extraction.

Many have now disappeared, but those that remain have often been lovingly restored and often provide a dramatic picture on stark flat landscapes where wind conditions can be favourable.
Those that have been turned into private residences obviously cannot be visited, but we can offer details of five scattered around the countryside where you can have a good old nose round.

Bembridge, Isle of Wight

Bembridge Windmill

The only remaining windmill on the island. Now in the care of the National Trust you can link their web page about Bembridge Mill to find out more.
If you are thinking of visiting the Isle of Wight for a holiday, Brit Breaks can recommend Stonewind Farm at Totland as a delightful place to stay

White Mill, Sandwich, Kent

This windmill stopped its working life only about sixty years ago, dating from about 1760. It has the advantage of being open all year round, and learn more about it on this helpful web page. For something different consider staying at The Old Post Office at Ruckinge for a great holiday break.

Alford Windmill, Lincolnshire

A five sailed windmill ( that means that it has five blades). Constructed in about 1837, it is still in working use now. Check further details and opening times on this page which gives full details

Little Walk Cottage at Thorganby Hall offers super accommodation in Lincolnshire if you think you could spend some time in this lovely county.

Skidby Windmill, Yorkshire

Built in 1832, and now the last remaining working mill in Yorkshire. At one time the sails were disconnected and electric machinery installed, but in 1974 it was reconverted to wind power. There is some great information, including opening times on the Skidby Windmill web site.

There is plenty of choice on The Brit Breaks site if you want to spend some time in Yorkshire. We particularly recommend The Bosun's Cottage at Whitby which sleeps eight people and is ideal for larger groups.

Stow Windmill, Paston, Norfolk

A tower mill built between 1825 & 1827 and last worked around 1930, when all machinery was removed except the brakewheel. Some restoration work has been undertaken, including new sails, fantail & stage in 2003. Log on to this interesting site for more information
Norfolk is choc full of wonderful holiday properties, search the properties on our web site for some of the best.

If you catch the windmill bug, look out for National Mills Weekend, the 10th and 11th May 2014. Check this fascinating site for full details.

2012 Olympics Aquatics Park Due To Reopen

Great news for swimming enthusiasts and followers of the aquatic arts generally, with the headline that the Aquatics Centre used in the 2012 Olympics and Paralympics is to reopen for the first time since the games. The centre on the Olympic Park in Stratford, east London, will host a series of events and public swimming sessions from 1 March.

Further to that, the London Legacy Development Corporation (LLDC) has also announced that they plan to reopen the southern section of the park on 5 April.  Disappointingly visitors will not be able to access the Olympic Stadium until 2016. The stadium, which will also be the new home for West Ham United, is due to open in August 2016, although it will host five matches during the 2015 Rugby World Cup.

Aquatics Park soon to be reopened

From 5 April, part of the landscaping from the south of the park's main entrance by the aquatics centre towards the north of the site up to the VeloPark will open to the public, the LLDC said. LLDC chief executive Dennis Hone commented that the opening of the south of the park was "a huge moment in our vision to create a new heart of east London".

The 375.7ft (114.5m) ArcelorMittal Orbit tower, which has two viewing platforms, will also open in April with ticket prices announced later this month. As a guide to the popularity that the various stadia can expect to attract, more than 100,000 people have visited the Copper Box Arena since it reopened in July 2012. It hosted handball, fencing and Paralympic goalball during the games.

Visitor ticket prices for the Aquatics Centre will start from £4.50 a session when it opens in March, according to the LLDC. The centre, which has two 50m pools, a diving pool and a newly installed gym, will also host the 2014 Diving World Series.

Learn more about the London Aquatics Centre

Substantial Regeneration Scheme On The Cards For Lowestoft

Developers have submitted an application to build 850 waterfront homes on former industrial land in Lowestoft. Estimates are that Cardy Construction's scheme for the Brooke Peninsula on the south bank of Lake Lothing would cost in the region of £150m.

The proposals also include a marina, a wildlife area, retail units, a new primary school and a commitment for 15% of the homes to be social housing. The planning application is due to be considered by Waveney District Council.

Lowestoft regeneration on the cards

The development will take the form of a regeneration of a 'brownfield' site, formerly used by the Brooke Marine boat yard and the Jeld Wen joinery plant. Cardy said many of the homes would be built on 10ft (3m) stilts to protect them from flooding at the 45 acre (18 hectare) site.

Neil Connolly, representative for Cardy and other investors, said: "We've done a full viability test over three years and are confident this scheme can demonstrate Lowestoft and Suffolk are open for business. Waveney Council has produced a regeneration plan which is sustainable and therefore has attracted the private funding to allow this move forward."

Cardy said that, if granted planning permission, it hoped to start building at the end of the year. The project would take about 10 years to complete.

                                                       Learn more about Lowestoft

Some Towns Don’t Have A Castle, Sherborne In Dorset Has Two

Sherborne is a delightful market town ideally located in the north west corner of the county of Dorset. It has a lovely setting on the River Yeo, and is within touching distance of the Blackmore Vale, an area that was a great inspiration to the famous Dorset born author, Thomas Hardy, of Tess of the D'Ubervilles fame.

When tourists travel to Britain from abroad, they are often hoping to visit places that are pleasing to the eye, as well as having an interesting history. Sherborne certainly fits the bill in both those respects. There are many buildings in the old town which are constructed of an appealing ochre coloured ham stone, while as far as history goes, it is hard to better a town that has mentions going back to Saxon times, was once the capital of Wessex which was one of seven such kingdoms at the time, and has two kings buried in its abbey.

Sherborne Castle - the more "modern" version

As befits a town that wears its history well, the abbey and the manor house are joined by not one but two castles, Sherborne being one of the very few English towns that has this distinction. One is the remains of a twelfth century fortified palace-style building, while in true British fashion, the “new” castle dates from the sixteenth century, having been constructed by Sir Walter Raleigh. In truth it was intended more as an Elizabethan mansion, but bears the name Sherborne Castle.

Again, a little casually, Sherborne can rightly claim that it was home to its first educational establishment as far back as Saxon times, and indeed it is said that King Alfred was educated in the town. History was probably a popular subject as there was very little of it at the time! Now known simply as Sherborne School it is deemed to be one of the top independent schools in the country. There are a number of other well regarded education establishments in the area.

Sherborne is a popular area for those who are retired, with nearly a third of the population being of retirement age. This is probably because of the easy pace of life and the attractiveness of the environment, and in many ways this is why it has proved a popular destination with tourists.

Its location makes it easy to reach if you are holidaying in Dorset, Somerset, Wiltshire and north Devon, and there are many other family based attractions that will keep the whole family happy. The Fleet Air Arm Museum at Yeovilton has always been close to the top of any self respecting day tripping list, and Salisbury Plain, Stonehenge and Longleat will keep the family entertained. Slightly further away you have the excitement and vibrancy of south coastal resorts such as  Weymouth, Poole and Bournemouth, with Weymouth in particular having an increased popularity this year with the Olympic sailing events taking place there.

To the north of Sherborne you will come under the influence of the north Devon tourist fraternity, where brooding Exmoor National Park is another beautiful area that inspired a famous author, namely R.D. Blackmore who wrote Lorna Doone.

                                                        Sherborne Tourism Information

The Oaks Of Sherwood Forest, Nottinghamshire

Legendary home to the famous Robin Hood, you know “rob from the rich, give to the poor” etc, etc and general all round good guy. Did he exist, or is he just a gift to Nottinghamshire Tourism?

There is enough evidence to suggest that he may have existed, or at least an amalgam of many folklore tales suggests that he did, but what certainly exists is the Major Oak, an eight hundred year old tree that was central to many of Robin’s stories as a meeting and hiding place for the men in Lincoln Green.

The Major Oak, in good nick considering its age

Now rather looking its age with its ancient boughs and branches supported by crutch like structures, its hollow trunk suggests a vibrant and fascinating past.

Certainly the forest has a rich history of hunting as is often shown in film and television stories of the Merrie Men, and there are many ancient trees to be found in the forest, perhaps the largest such gathering in Europe. At the right time of year marvel at these old men of the woods as they stand guard surrounded by swathes of bluebells and their more juvenile neighbours, some as young as two hundred years old.

Take in the atmospheric delights of one of the most unique parts of Britain, and while you are at it, arrange a quick visit to nearby Cresswell Crags Caves. This is where the history of settlement goes back some fifty thousand years. Engravings of beasts such as elk and bison were found here some ten years ago.

                                                                   Sherwood Forest

                                                                Cresswell Crags Caves

Five Hidden Gems To Discover When Touring Wales

Why follow the crowds to the usual tourist honey pots? Every country has its own hidden delights to attract you, and Wales is no different. Many are not even mentioned in guide books, and you will often need a pretty good map to find them. But it will be worth the effort when you get there.

Start exploring by investigating these five off the beaten track gems:

Llanthony Priory

Llanthony Priory

To be found located high up in the Black Mountains, this attraction is a delightful alternative to the more famous Tintern Abbey to the south. Dating from about 1100, this ruined Augustinian priory carries a Grade I listing.
Post Code:  NP7 7NN
Coordinates    51°56′40″N 3°02′16″W

                                                                Llanthony Priory

Pistyll Rhaeadr

It is surprising that this should be described as a hidden gem as it is in fact the highest waterfall in Wales. Located south of Corwen in Denbighshire’s Berwyn Mountains, the falls constitute a beautiful sight, especially on the rare occasion when it is cold enough for them to freeze
Post Code:  SY10 0BZ

                                                                  Pistyll Rhaeadr

Blue Lagoon

Located near the beach at Abereiddy in Pembrokeshire, the “lagoon” is in fact a flooded slate quarry, the reason for the distinct green-blue hue.
Post Code:   SA62 6DT
OS Grid Reference       SM 79724 31055   

                                                                     Blue Lagoon

Plas Cadnant

Located between Beaumaris and Menai Bridge on Anglesey, they originally date from the early 1800’s. The gardens have survived a period of neglect, which thankfully ended when the current owners began their restoration in 1996.
Post Code:   LL59 5NH

                                                                     Plas Cadnant

St. Govan’s Chapel

Constructed in a fissure in the rocks just south of Stackpole, it appears as though it is hewn from the cliff face itself. Visible only from the sea until you are almost with reach of it.
OS Reference    OS Reference: SR967929

                                                                 St. Govans Chapel

New Scheme Launched To Make Sure Your Bottle Of Scotch Is Genuine

In order to make sure that it is “exactly what it says on the label”, The Spirit Drinks Verification Scheme has been set up by the UK government to help consumers identify genuine UK-made products. An obvious beneficiary of the scheme is the Scotch whisky industry, whose product is probably one of the most copied in the world

Producers will have to sign up for the scheme if they want to sell within the European Union, and Scotch Whisky is the first drink to be covered. The industry said the measure would be "warmly welcomed".

These are definitely the real thing!

Other beverages that will benefit shortly are other brands with a geographical origin, such as Somerset Cider Brandy and whiskey from Northern Ireland.  Producers, blenders, bottlers, labellers and bulk importers will need to apply to HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) if they want to be verified.

For their part, HMRC will carry out checks on all businesses involved in the production of the spirits to make sure that the strict EU requirements are met.

Scotch Whisky Association chief executive David Frost said: "This is a change in the protection of Scotch whisky and should be warmly welcomed. We fully support the introduction of the verification scheme by the UK government. It will give even more protection to consumers of Scotch whisky.  It will greatly improve the industry's ability to stop the sale of adulterated Scotch whiskies bottled abroad."

Launching the scheme, Chief Secretary to the Treasury Danny Alexander said: "The verification scheme will make sure people who buy Scotch get what they pay for - the finest spirit in the world. The Scotch whisky industry is now worth around £4bn to the Scottish economy and employs more than 10,000 people in Scotland. The booming Scotch whisky industry is a huge asset to Scotland and the UK which benefits from being part of the UK and European market."

Lack Of Mendip Local Plan Encouraging Developers

The lack of a Local Plan in the Mendip area of Somerset is creating something of a loop hole that is attracting unhealthy attention from developers. It is a requirement placed on District Councils that an active policy be in place to specify where development will be allowed, but Mendip District Council's expired in 2011. As a result, villages in the area are being exploited by housing developers, residents claim.

Speaking on their behalf, David Heath, MP for Somerton and Frome, said this has left villagers feeling as if they are being "steam-rollered". Better late than never, the district council said it has now submitted a Local Plan for examination.

Areas such as this are under planning pressure

The appropriately named Pitchfork Rebels, a campaign group in Norton St Philip, said because there is no Local Plan, planning applications are being evaluated against the  National Planning Policy Framework  which has a "presumption in favour of sustainable development".

Graham Binns, of the Pitchfork Rebels, said more than 50 houses are already being built in his village and another 150 could double its size. "With 52 houses already granted planning permission we have already more than taken our share," he said.

Back to Mr Heath, who was speaking in Parliament when he called on Planning Minister Nick Boles to set out more clearly the number of new homes the villages must accept.

He said: "The problem at the moment is that, in the absence of a local plan, we have a situation where developers are making opportunistic planning applications all over the place and the local councils are in a very weak position to respond. I simply want a system which provides for the housing we need in the right places, that allows villages to grow, but doesn't allow villages to simply be destroyed and built over for the profits of house builders."

Once again in the Commons, Mr Boles responded by saying that schemes for more housing can be rejected, but only in "exceptional circumstances". Although obviously pleased that the ball is finally rolling, The Pitchfork Rebels claim it could be June before a revised Local Plan - submitted by the district council on Tuesday - is accepted by central government.

Councillor Nigel Woollcombe-Adams, who is in charge of planning at Mendip District Council, agreed that some developers are "getting away" with building houses they might not have, were there a plan in place. It is important that our Local Plan is examined and adopted as quickly as possible because this will give the council a much stronger hand in deciding where planning applications should be approved or refused," he added.

                                                                     Mendip Tourism

Magna Carta To Be Displayed In Bury St Edmunds

Although it was eventually sealed in Surrey in 1215, the history of the Magna Carta has a strong Suffolk connection, as it was in the county that the influential barons are said to have met in a year earlier to discuss how they could get King John to put his name to what became one of the most famous documents in the world.

As a consequence of that the copy that is normally held in Lincoln Cathedral will go on display at St. Edmundsbury Cathedral in Bury St. Edmunds as part of celebrations marking the town's connection with the charter of rights. A "spectacular sound and light event" will also be held in October.

King John signs on the dotted line

The Magna Carta was the first formal document that stated that a monarch had to follow the laws of the land, and it also paved the way for trial by jury and guaranteed the civil rights of the individual. The Bury Society said the celebrations and loan of the copy of the Magna Carta had been made possible by an £86,400 grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund.

Margaret Charlesworth, chairman of the Magna Carta 800 committee, said she was "determined to celebrate the crucial role that Bury St Edmunds played in the Magna Carta story in the year before it was sealed. The motto of Bury St Edmunds is 'shrine of a king, cradle of the law', which reflects the pivotal role this town has played over the years," she said. Now, thanks to the Heritage Lottery Fund, we will bring that story alive for people of all ages."

Robyn Llewellyn, Heritage Lottery Fund, said: "We at HLF are delighted to support this project that will offer residents of Bury St Edmunds the very rare opportunity to view the Magna Carta, whilst also exploring the town's somewhat unknown connection to this important historical event."

                                                       Learn all about the Magna Carta

                                                           Bury St. Edmunds Tourism

British Travel Writers Say That Cornwall’s Beaches Are The Best

A survey of over one hundred of Britain’s most influential travel writers has resulted in Cornish beaches being named some of the best in the country. Although you have to go down to fourth place in the best beach category to find the first Cornish entrant, namely Watergate Bay, the county won the largest slice of the votes, with Porthcurno, Kynance Cove on the Lizard Peninsula and Lantic Bay near Fowey all pulling their weight.

Malcolm Bell, head of Visit Cornwall, said: “Cornwall has over 300 beaches offering everything from long and golden stretches of sand, to secluded coves and iconic coastlines. Our beaches are loved by both visitors and locals alike and for them to be applauded by travel journalists, who experience exotic beaches around the globe, is a huge coup.”

Watergate Bay, Cornwall

Whilst Holkham in North Norfolk was voted the most popular beach overall, as an area Cornwall collected the most votes, ahead of both Wales and Scotland. It was also voted fifth in the UK’s best travel destination, behind London in first and ahead of the Isles of Scilly in tenth. Other Cornish areas to pick up votes included Bedruthan Steps, Bude, Crackington Haven, Daymer Bay, Harlyn, Hawkers Cove, Mawgan Porth and Nanjizal.

Top Five UK best beaches

1. Holkham, Norfolk
2. Rhossili, Gower, South Wales
3. Brighton, Sussex
4. Watergate Bay, Cornwall
5. Bamburgh, Northumberland

Top Five UK regions with the best beach

1. Cornwall
2. Wales
3. Scotland
4. Norfolk
5. Sussex

Top Five Favourite UK travel destinations

1. London
2. Edinburgh
3. Hebrides
4. Lake District
5. Cornwall

                                                           See here for the full survey results

Independent Survey Confirms That Worcester Is A Great Place

Only serving to confirm what residents of Worcester already know, an independent survey commissioned by the local council has confirmed that Worcester has been deemed to be a great city.

The city council approached Zeta Economics, a major research firm, to undertake a root-and-branch review of Worcester at a cost of £10,000, and what they came up with lifts a fascinating lid on where Worcester has been heading and what the key aims should be in the years ahead. It says the city is “moving in the right direction” and that since 2007, public spending of around £70 million has resulted in £370 million of private sector investment going in.

Worcester is just waiting to be discovered

The key features of the 89 page report are that –

- 5,941 new jobs have been created in Worcester since 1998, an excellent 13 per cent growth rate “unlike” other parts of the UK

- It has a “buoyant” shopping and leisure offer that outperforms even rival cities like York

- Comparisons with the likes of Exeter, Bath and Durham reveal how Worcester has done very well in attracting jobs, money and year-on-year improvements despite the economy

- The city should make far more of its canals and waterways, be bolder and model itself on the likes of Venice

- Worcester’s challenge now is to raise its ambitions, with assessors saying the city has been guilty of not shouting about itself more and “overlooking higher aspirations”

- The ‘quality of life’ is so high, it should be looking to attract more major employers, as living in Worcester would be preferable to London for many people

As a company that specialises in the tourism industry, we at Brit Breaks were interested to see what the report had to say about where Worcester is placed in the tourist stakes. The suggestions are that Worcester has been slightly underperforming, with a need to for greater self promotion.

Despite having “a rich history and architectural heritage” Worcester could be doing better, especially when compared to rival cities. There are 2.5 million visitors per year to Worcester, most of them from the UK, compared to York’s 3.9 million, despite the report’s assessors saying the Faithful City has a superb offer.  It says Birmingham and Cheltenham either side of Worcester are major markets for Irish tourists, but only “a very small number” spill over and come here.

In 2006, £23 million was spent by tourists in Worcester, but in 2011 it fell to £18 million, despite Worcester becoming more and more impressive.

It points out Worcester’s world-renowned assets like the Cathedral, The Hive, the cricket and rugby sides, the Royal Worcester Porcelain museum and The Commandery, coming to the conclusion that the city has a lot to boast about.  It says Worcester is not featuring anywhere near prominently enough on major web sites like Visit England, where it tends to be elbowed out the way by rivals like Bath and Cambridge.

It calls for a fresh focus on marketing the city as a UK-class destination for overseas people, suggesting the assets Worcester has are not in doubt, but it must shout about them louder.  It also hails the development of the new Premier Inns hotel at New Road, saying that could see a step-change in accommodation.

Robin Walker, Worcester’s MP said: “There are a number of challenges but we are getting better, particularly with hospitality.  If you look at how close we are to the Cotswolds and Stratford-upon-Avon, they get massive numbers of international visitors - there’s a huge opportunity there.”

Councillor Geoff Williams, city council deputy leader and cabinet member for economic prosperity, said: “The Zeta report indicates the city is well placed to take advantage of opportunities for economic growth. I welcome the report as a significant contribution to our ambitious plans to make Worcester a great city for all.”

                                                              Worcester Tourism Web Site

Plans Are On Track Say Yorkshire Tour De France Organisers

It’s going to be one of the big stories of the tourism year, so let’s have an early update on how things are going with Yorkshire’s plans to host the start of the 2014 Tour De France.

Scheduled for six months time, the authorities say their plans are on track, with the Grand Départ taking place in Leeds on 5 July, when competitors will race to Harrogate.  The second stage is from York to Sheffield the day after. York City Council said it was finalising plans for spectator hubs and Welcome to Yorkshire said it was in a "great position" with six months to go.

As far as the money side of things is concerned,  the local authorities involved in the race are stumping up about £10.6m towards the £27m budget of hosting the English legs, which also includes the third leg on 7 July from Cambridge to London (more of that in weeks to come).

Just six months to go

Organisers TDF Hub 2014, chaired by Sir Rodney Walker, said about a third of the money had already been spent on "bid related and preparatory costs" to secure the event. Interestingly, about £4m of the budget is allocated for road resurfacing and highway maintenance work, which a report  produced by the company last month said was on schedule. At least motorists in the area will have a worthwhile legacy!

York councillor Sonja Crisp said: "We are busy getting the city ready. We're planning further events for businesses in February and March to help them make the most of the opportunities, such as a city-wide discount scheme on the day to help turn event footfall into retail footfall."

In the meantime, Welcome to Yorkshire and the First Direct Arena in Leeds have announced plans for a team presentation event on 3 July. Welcome to Yorkshire chief executive Gary Verity said: "We collectively promised... to host the grandest of Grand Départs.  By the time the teams take their place on the [arena] stage, people will truly realise how massive this event is for Yorkshire and globally."

The Leeds to Harrogate leg of the race will start on the Headrow in Leeds and head in a  northly direction out of the city towards Harewood through Skipton, Hawes, Leyburn and Ripon - a distance of 118 miles (190 km).

The second stage travels from York through Keighley, Hebden Bridge, Huddersfield and High Bradfield before arriving at Sheffield Arena 124 miles (200km) later. The race will continue from  Cambridge to London on Monday 7, prior to the French stages from 8 until 27 July.

                                   All about Yorkshire's involvement in the Tour De France 2014

Judges Reveal The Reasons For Hull’s Culture Success

As the calendar has now clicked over another year, Hull’s big year as the UK City of Culture in 2017 seems just that little bit nearer. In a timely interview, the judges of the final short list that also included Dundee, Swansea and Leicester have provided a little bit more information on how their thinking formulated the final choice.

With an estimation of a cash boost in the region of £60 million in 2017 alone, there was much talk during the Hull bid of ensuring a lasting legacy. It appears that this was one of the main points that struck a chord with the judges. It also appears that Hull demonstrated how culture plays such an important part in its city plan and the interesting focus on architecture and places and use of spaces and buildings. It also highlights evidence of engagement to date at a grassroots level across the city, strong support from the private sector and the active role played by the University of Hull in the bid.

A year closer to the big event!

Speaking after the city was announced as the winner last month, Councillor Steven Bayes, portfolio holder for Hull City of Culture 2017 said: "Our City of Culture year will provide us with the building blocks to grow. Over the next three years, we will put the scaffolding up and around the city and build the infrastructure needed to ensure we attract business and increase investment in 2017 and beyond."

The judges said that they were also impressed with the wide-ranging proposed programme, which incorporates national and international elements. Plans include a 365-day programme, with an estimated 1,500 special events, including 15 national and international commissions, 12 artists' residencies, 25 festivals and eight major community participation projects, plus conferences and broadcasting events.

The city is set to celebrate winning the UK City of Culture 2017 title with a commemorative event in the new year. The event, which was initially planned to take place before Christmas but will now take place next year, will be themed around the idea of "a city coming out of the shadows", highlighting Hull's rich cultural past and future potential.

Judges' reasons for choosing Hull -

• The city demonstrated why culture is such an important part of its city plan.

• The focus on legacy and the commitment by the council to enhance funding beyond 2017.

• Evidence of engagement to date at a grassroots level across Hull, the strong support from the private sector and the Creative People and Places programme.

 • The active role played by the University of Hull in the bid.

• The wide-ranging proposed programme, which incorporates national and international elements.

• The clarity on how different groups will be engaged and how positive social impacts will be delivered.

• The freedom theme in the programme and the use of culture to explore challenging issues such as slavery.

• The panel was impressed with the excellent international links Hull has already made and is building: to be part of Europe linked to the Baltic, to Sierra Leone and South Africa.

• The interesting focus on architecture and places and use of spaces and buildings.

Top Cornish Attraction Receives Tax Payers Cash

It is easily recognisable as one of the top tourism attractions in the country, and very few visitors to Cornwall leave without having paid a visit. It therefore comes as a bit of a surprise to learn that the Eden Project just outside St. Austell is being described in some quarters as “ailing”, and has recently been in receipt of some £1.3 million of tax payers money from Cornwall County Council.

The attraction is one of the UK’s most popular but dozens of its staff have been made redundant, with falling attendances and financial losses in recent years.

In a statement, the local authority said it paid out £345,000 in direct funding, as well as contributing £815,108 via “third parties” and a further £194,833 for “everyday business”.

The recognisable biomes of the Eden Project

“Following investigation it would seem that three payments (totalling £205,000) were incorrectly posted in the accounts which led to them not being picked up in the report that populates the transparency report,” the council said in a statement. During this period the council was moving to a new financial management system, which may have caused this error for which we apologise.

However, although the three payments were not included in the transparency report, they would have been open to public inspection during the statutory 20-day period after the close of each year’s accounts.”

The figures were obtained by the Press Association under the Freedom of Information (FoI) Act.
Wanting to put a positive spin on what is essentially a rather downbeat position, an Eden Project spokesman said that the attraction has generated more than £1 billion for the wider Cornish economy and has been credited with creating 2,000 jobs elsewhere.

“It is correct that, since 2009, Eden has received £345,000 of grants directly from Cornwall Council to support the creation of new projects. We are grateful for this investment at a crucial time in our development but would like to make it clear that it would be fundamentally wrong to suggest that Eden is dependent on local authority funding. Since the project became active it has consistently generated more than 85% of its annual turnover from trading.”

Already the best part of twelve years old, the Eden Project was originally opened in March 2001, taking its place as one of the landmark projects to commemorate the new millennium. It is to be found in a former clay quarry in the Cornish countryside, and opened its doors to its one millionth visitor within a few months. As well as a tourist attraction, it sees itself very much as an educational venue.

High profile recent visitors have included the Prince of Wales, and you probably remember the Olympic Torch also stopping at the attraction as part of its tour of the UK in 2012. The venue, famed for its hexagonal-panelled “biomes”, has also attracted a succession of high-profile environmental guest speakers, as well as hosting concerts by the likes of Oasis, Mumford & Sons, Jessie J and Basement Jaxx.

                                                              The Eden Project Web Site