If you love the great outdoors, the majesty of nature, the outstanding north Wales holiday cottages and the smell of fresh air, and coupled with that you happen to like a good walk too – you could do a lot worse than taking a trip to wales for a walking holiday.

It’s never far away and you are literally spoiled for choice when it comes to deciding exactly where to go – from Pembrokeshire to Snowdownia the hiking opportunities are endless.

Snowdownia

In southern Wales this national park is full of rolling hills and mountains, not to mention the largest mountain in Wales; mount Snowdon. The walk is a challenge but the view is worth it ten times over.

Pembrokeshire

The coastal path will take you over 180 miles from one end of the county to the other – it’s certainly not a walk for part timers, but if you are a hiking addict you need to at least try a portion of it. The route will show you stunning sea cliffs and calm sandy beaches.

Offa’s Dyke

There are 12 national trails and this is one of them. The Dyke itself was built around 750 AD to form the boundary between Wales and England.

The Brecon Beacons

This is a national park of world class beauty – more than 500 square miles filled with hills, mountains, forests, rivers, gorges and all manner of natural beauty to explore. In fact it’s hard to know where to start, although Pen y Fan isn’t a terrible option.

If you are more adventurous, have a look into some of the more obscure trails – these are often less well marked, but the prizes include castles, roman ruins and waterfalls a plenty.

Swansea Bay

Right on the south coast Swansea offers arguably a more relaxing and less demanding array of walking opportunities along the coast lines. Plenty of stunning views await you, along with some pleasant sandy beaches and a nice sea breeze.

So there you have it. Why not book one of the holiday cottages in Wales, dust off your hiking boots and start planning your trip to wales. All of that outdoors is waiting!

This guest post was written by Ricky from the Miami Port Parking people, thanks for reading.

We’ve all had our fair share of relationship problems; over time, and it’s probably true that repeatedly discussing them at 11pm on weeknights is not the most reliable way to solve them. As every good Vulcan knows, dissection and logic don’t apply all that well to emotions, and sometimes it’s better to try and remember – then rediscover, through action – what you enjoyed about each other’s company in the first place.

The problem with trying this at home is that you’re surrounded by all the little practical reminders – the washing that’s not getting done, the pants draped over your record collection, the bathroom light that still keeps getting left on – so spending a weekend away together is an excellent chance to forget all that and focus on the positive aspects of your mutual dynamic.

Some tips for choosing a destination:

• Avoid places where you already know people. This is about you two, not hooking up with mates.
• Getting out for a ramble in nature can be particularly relaxing, unless your partner is irrationally scared of ants
• Find somewhere with plenty of nice chilled out cafes, for coffee and cake-fuelled chats
• Avoid anywhere that’s a stag/hen do mecca (Bournemouth, last time I checked)
• Don’t base your choice on whether or not there’s a Sky Sports pub in the area
• Make sure there’s a fair bit to look at. Comfortable silences in a relationship are lovely, but it’s nice to have something to look at, during them, that isn’t a newspaper/teacup/your iPhone
• Avoid crowds, e.g. London during the Olympics. You want to spend your weekend sauntering peacefully together, not shuffling along pavements and navigating elbows.

…and some ready-made suggestions:

Edinburgh by Sleeper Train

If you live in the South, and you’re feeling over-familiar with London as a city-break weekender, try heading up on the Scotrail Caledonian Sleeper train from London Euston to Edinburgh. It runs every night except Saturday, departing around 9pm and arriving in Edinburgh in time for a nice breakfast the next morning. It’s travel and one night’s accommodation rolled into one, and once in Scotland you can drop your bags off and set off to explore the castle, the Dungeons, the museums, the botanic gardens, the aquarium… And if you have a little longer to spend, there’s a nice beachy coast only a short hop on the train east from the city.

Exploring the Lake District

I’m a bit obsessed with the Lake District at the moment, having only recently discovered it; it’s beautiful, dramatic, yet accessible, with trains to Windermere from all over the UK, friendly locals, and an excellent, helpful administration running the Lake District National Park. You can stroll, hike or cycle the peaks, and sail, row, motorboat, kayak, paddleboard or even zorb your way around the lakes, with Coniston Water and Windermere typically the most popular. Camping isn’t always the route to domestic harmony, so perhaps leave that until things have settled down, and opt for a nice old coaching inn instead.

The first section deals with the traffic in each selected airport. You can quickly see which locations are the busiest so you know how far in advance to arrive when planning for your flight. The second infographic outlines certain common costs dealt with in European airports. Most notably the cost of wireless internet within the airport and long-term parking at the airport are broken down.

Next a graphic outlines distance from each airport to the major city it services. This is invaluable when booking a hotel as it tells you exactly how far away you’ll likely be staying and how soon to leave the hotel to reach your flight. For instance for Manchester airport hotels you can easily see the airport is very close to the center, so when booking a hotel you can budget for a short and cheap taxi ride. Finally the graphic outlines amenities of each airport such as food and climate. It will help complete your visit to the airport, alerting you to any factors you may not have considered when packing and planning.

Click here to copy the image! Feel free to use the image on your own website or blog, if you have one.

Cheap flights with Expedia

Sticking to the green grass of home may be one of the best ways to save yourself plenty of money this year, especially with the early promise of fantastic weather so soon after the clocks were put forward. With the  NHS in place for Britons as a back-up should they need emergency assistance after getting into a spot of bother, it’s still worth making sure you have the correct medication and aids to patch you up in less troublesome moments!

Just a quick visit to the likes of the Lloydspharmacy Online Doctor can establish what you need for your trip across the UK. There are plenty of ailments that you may not account for and, if you’re away from your GP or even a hospital, there are a few things you can get hold of to make sure through prescriptions and delivered to your door. You can take comfort in the fact that you’re able to focus on the more enjoyable parts of your trip while your medication is delivered to your door before you leave.

You could be diabetic and need the insulin necessary to keep you ticking over until you return home, or simply want allergy tablets that deal with the plethora of pollen that comes out during the summer. Of course, you can also buy over-the-counter medicines that can be packaged up alongside your prescription, meaning you can fill your first aid kit at one easy and affordable place.

If you’re in the UK and staying at a hotel for two or three days, you can also get your prescription delivered after going online and tapping in your latest coordinates. If you find yourself running low of something and you forgot to take account of it – the pill, for example, or a repeat prescription to overcome a chest infection – you can use extensive services of online pharmacies to get you what you need, when you need it, without having to break away from a planned holiday.

As parents we are constantly on the lookout for interesting days out that the whole family can enjoy. The little ones can be difficult crowd please, and though we may wish to pack their developing brains with learning experiences sometimes it’s best to throw in the towel and go for something that’s pure entertainment.

Luckily, the UK is awash with theme parks, exciting activities and stunning places to visit so if you are looking for thrills and spills you won’t be disappointed. Many also offer the chance to learn more about the world we live, so perhaps a little bit of knowledge can be hidden with the fun.

Surely the U.K.’s most famous theme park attraction is Alton Towers. They constantly staying on the cutting edge of ride technology and year in year out deliver a brand-new white-knuckle ride that keeps fans returning in hoards. This year is the Nemesis Sub-Tera makes its debut – this is a must for thrill seekers.

For a more sedate day out The Natural History Museum offers a truly unique day out that will thrill children of all ages. It’s housed in a truly impressive building that boasts a huge collection of dinosaurs and animals from all over the world. If the site of the diplodocus skeleton as you walk through the front doors is not thrilling enough just wait until you encounter the animatronic T Rex, which is sure to send a shiver down your spine.

A must for film lovers is the Harry Potter studio tour from Warner Brothers that is brand-new for 2012. It allows fans to get up at close and personal with the film they so adore and your junior witches and wizards will be thrilled at with this opportunity to step into the world of Harry Potter.

In the South West, @Bristol is a unique experiential day for kids offering them the opportunity to interact with a whole host of exhibits so fascinating that will probably not even realise that they are being educated.

Children adore animals, so a trip to a farm is always a good idea. If you’re in Devon then Pennywell farm is particularly worth a visit, as its home to some of the cutest animals you will ever see. Miniature pigs and ponies can be stroked and fed, whilst the sight of ferret racing will amuse your older children.

Also for older children is the City of London dungeon. It’s an attraction that is sure to deliver thrills and chills. A truly spooky experience where actors recreate the lives of those unfortunate to be incarcerated macabre and fascinating part of our history.

Whilst you’re in London Madame Tussauds is always worth a visit. Children are fascinated by the lifelike qualities of Madame Tussaud’s displays and if you’re traveling by train you may qualify for reduced admission to this attraction.

For children with an interest in animals the Wildfowl and Wetlands trust has nine centres dotted around the UK. If your close to one they are all well worth a visit, allowing visitors the chance to experience the U.K.’s diverse wildlife in its natural setting.

Finally, if you have recovered from your T-Rex encounter at the Natural History Museum there’s a chance this for another sighting at Cornwall’s Eden Project. Alongside its other exhibits a new time-travel themed attraction now boasts an angry T-Rex roaming the grounds this half term.

If you’re planning a trip to the UK that lasts more than a month or so, you might want to consider buying a mobile (cell) phone to use while you’re here. This will save you from running up huge costs on your overseas phone and will allow you to stay in touch. Smart phones are a great travel tool so it would be a shame not to be able to use it while in the UK.

Choosing a smart phone these days is far more complicated than choosing phones in the past. Not long ago, all you had to worry about when picking out a phone was the initial cost, and your plan for minutes and text messages. Now, however, because people expect so much more out of their phones, you need to consider a number of other aspects. For example, you need to decide how much you are willing to spend on data texts, and, through this, how far you want to extend your phone’s smart capabilities. When you consider the concept of traveling abroad with your smart phone, you have even more to consider, as, for example, many UK phones from mobile providers such as O2 have varying plans and payment methods for charges abroad.

Generally, mobile phone users in the UK pick between Pay Monthly and Pay As You Go plans, with both types of payment plans having their own costs and benefits. Typically, Pay Monthly plans are more popular, and operate essentially just as they sound. Users pay a basic monthly fee that is predetermined, and allows for a certain number of minutes, texts, and data charges per month. Typically, these plans end up offering cheaper charges; however, people who do not use their smart phones as often should be aware that it is fairly common for people not to use enough data, texts, and calls to justify the per month cost. Essentially, for people who use their phones fairly often, Pay Monthly is a good sort of plan to go with. However, if you use your phone less frequently, you may want to consider the alternative.

That alternative, again, is a Pay-As-You-Go plan, which is essentially an entirely different way of covering your phone usage costs. Basically, the idea of this sort of plan is that you pay only for the calls, texts and data that you do use, which does away with the issue mentioned above, of people paying for plans that they do not fully use. However, the payments you do make are often slightly more expensive than the per minute costs, etc. of a Pay Monthly plan, which means that Pay-As-You-Go plans are generally better for people who plan on using their phones less frequently.

There are of course other factors to consider as you select your smart phone. How much will you be using your phone? Will you be traveling abroad with your phone? What aspects of your phone will you be using most when you travel abroad? These are all things that you ought to consider while choosing your plan. Travel, specifically, can have a large impact on how people choose their plans, as phone usage costs abroad can quickly add up without a carefully planned payment approach.

Many people come to London looking for work. Some chose to arrive during busy tourist seasons, such as Christmas or summer, and some come looking to start or change the direction of their career.

Short-term Work for Travellers

Many seasonal workers get engaged in retail or the tourism sector. With thousands and thousands of visitors coming to London each year there is often demand for knowledgeable staff. Indeed, for the London Olympics more or less every hotel room in the city is expected to be booked.

Numerous travellers who visit the city for a short period of time are looking for quick money. This incentive can often be so strong that the temptation of not paying tax and skipping all the administrative hassle related to securing employment is given into and a traveller decides to take a job on the black market.

This leaves you, as an employee, very vulnerable as you will have a difficult time enforcing your employment-law rights in the absence of an employment contract. However, you may still be able to get justice and enforce your rights if you contact specialist solicitors. Their help will be invaluable to you as they will be able to fight for your interests.

Long-term Employment

If you decide to stay in London, or in any other part of the country, for a significant period of time then it is important that you are aware of your rights as an employee.

Many who come to London hope to get into the financial sector where there they have the chance of making fast and big money. However, this is not always a secure form of employment.

In the current straining financial climate many employees are finding themselves being made redundant, and banks have been hit particularly hard. If you have been made redundant then it is essential that you contact employment law solicitors, who can help to secure an outcome centred around your best interests.

Redundancy is a form of dismissal and you may be able to claim for unfair dismissal if your employer has made you redundant. There are several requirements that need to be fulfilled for you to make a successful claim. For instance, you must have been with your employer for two continuous years.

In order to know your rights and to not have your experience abroad ruined, contact a specialist solicitor who can help you.

This is a guest blog post from our friends at Latitude 50, who offer luxury holiday cottages in Cornwall – the perfect base from which to experience the quirky and fun experiences detailed below!

Cornwall is a popular holiday destination for tourists all year round and particularly during the summer months. So how can one be sure to get the very best out of a planned break to the county? Here we set out to give you a selection of fantastic things to do that will take you off the beaten track in Cornwall and straight to the heart of this magical county.

Meet the Cornish Camels, Rosuick Organic Farm
Do something a little out of the ordinary and visit a flock of camels living happily on Rosuick Organic farm near Goonhilly. Visitors are welcome to explore the Camel Centre free of charge all year round, where they can meet the famous camels as well as having the option to walk a farm trail. During peak season the farm also offers a café, farm shop and gift shop with local crafts and much more on offer, making it a truly fun day out for all ages.

Take a dip in the Jubilee Pool, Penzance
This wonderful swimming pool, originally opened in May 1935 to celebrate King George V’s silver jubilee, is now one of England’s finest remaining Lido’s. Its impressive size and triangular design, coupled with its stunning location, close to the harbour in Penzance make it a brilliant spot for visitors who are clever enough to discover it. There is a full public swimming timetable from May to September, as well as regular classes and a safely enclosed baby pool for children and a great poolside café on site too.

Discover the Minack Theatre, Porthcurno
Spend an evening taking in one of the many performances on offer at this stunning open-air theatre, with the cliffs and sea as a dramatic backdrop. Or you can visit by day to explore the impressive site in daylight and visit the Rowena Cade Exhibition, telling the story of how this unusual theatre came to be. The Minack is set in beautiful cliff-side gardens, so these are well worth a wander and the site also boasts a gift shop and cafe where one can enjoy a Cornish cream tea with some of the best views in the county.

Take a trip to the wild side with a Sea Safari, Rock
Rock holidays can be made even more exciting thanks to Cornish Sea tours who offer the opportunity to get out and hunt for wildlife off the North Cornish coastline whilst experiencing the thrill of riding in a powerful 9m Rib. Passengers can look out for basking sharks, dolphins, porpoises, seals and all types of seabirds and enjoy getting to see some of Cornwall’s finest nature up close. And even before the wildlife, seeing the coastline from the water is a great and original way to get off the beaten track on your Cornish holiday.

Get into the festival vibe at the Eden Project’s Eden Sessions
The Eden Project itself is an inspiring example of regeneration of a once -industrial site, famed for its array of plants and trees from around the globe and credited for its mission to educate visitors about climate matters. But what is less well known is that it is also home to the Eden Sessions, a fantastic series of music events, during the summer months. Here visitors can see world-class bands and artists perform in the beautiful outdoor gardens and the natural amphitheatre created by the old-mine site, whilst truly relaxing into the summer festival vibe. As well as all the top-class acts, the Eden Sessions also offers ticket holders a variety of affordable and delicious food and drink, street performers and so much more. And what’s even better is each Eden Sessions ticket grants full entry to the rest of the Eden Project on the day and day after the ticket, making it great value for money too.

Step into the back streets to find the Barbara Hepworth Museum, St Ives
St Ives is well known for its Tate Gallery which sits overlooking the picturesque Porthmeor Beach but the Barbara Hepworth Museum and Sculpture Gallery, set up in the artists own home/studio, just a few streets away, offers a different and remarkable way to take in the work of one of the twentieth centuries most important artists. Once there you can stroll around the artist’s old studio, see her workshop and learn a wealth of information about the artist’s life and works. Take time to meander around the garden, which is now home to a considerable display of her sculptures in stone, bronze and wood. This is a hidden gem of a museum, which is a must for all visitors to this pretty seaside town.

Cheap weekend breaks in the UK can be a fabulous way to get away from it all without spending a small fortune. Bath in Somerset is perhaps one of the most popular weekend breaks as it is easily accessible from all corners of the country and its historical charm will make you feel as though you have stepped back in time. The city has been classified a UNESCO World Heritage site because of its spectacular Georgian architecture and the quaint cobbled streets provide ample opportunity for relaxed exploration. Here are five things for you to enjoy whilst enjoying a cheap weekend in Bath.

Visit the Spa

Whether it’s the historic Roman Baths or the modern Bath Thermae Spa, you can unwind in the warm waters of the city’s natural spring. Feel your tensions melt away whilst you enjoy spectacular views of the skyline.

Splash Out on Afternoon Tea

After a day of wandering around Bath, you will more than likely have worked up a bit of an appetite and what better way to satisfy that hunger than with a decadent afternoon tea? The 18^th Century Pump Room is one of the grandest buildings in Bath and is well worth a visit. Why not enjoy a glass of champagne as an extra treat?

Marvel at the Architecture

Bath’s grand Georgian buildings are what the city is most famous for and will undoubtedly have you wishing that you could afford one of your own. The most well-known street in Bath is without a doubt The Royal Crescent consisting of 30 terraced houses overlooking a beautiful park. No1 is now open to the public so you can get a glimpse into what life on the Crescent used to be like. The Circus is another architectural marvel and there are even rumours that Johnny Depp was looking to buy here!

Shop, Shop, Shop

No matter what your tastes are Bath has something for you. In 2010, the main street was voted Britain’s Best Fashion Street in the Google Street View Awards and there are a number of arcades and cobbled side streets which offer the best in high street and boutique fashion. One of Bath’s many charms is the fact that it is so compact, which means that as long as you wear sensible shoes, you can get around most of the sites in one day.

Make the Most of the Pubs

What better way to end the day than with a nice meal and a bottle of wine in a cosy pub. Bath has an abundance of welcoming establishments, the majority of which serve delicious food and offer great hospitality. If you have chosen to bring your car with you on your weekend break, you should take a drive into the surrounding countryside where you will stumble upon a number of the lovely country pubs for which Somerset is so well known.

London is one of the world´s top tourist destinations, attracting some 30 million visitors every year.  Due to the volume of tourists that pass through London, all of the United Kingdom´s most frequently visited tourist sites are located in London!

With five major airports in the greater London area and a wide variety of London flights available, Britain´s top tourist attractions are easily accessible.  Cheap London flights and many free museums and galleries mean that these attractions are not only accessible but also affordable!  According to data gathered by the Association of Leading Visitor Attractions, the 10 most frequently visited tourist sites in the United Kingdom are as follows:

1. The British Museum is a fantastic museum with no admission charge and an impressive display of artifacts from over 2 million years of human history. Museum highlights include the original Rosetta Stone, an extensive collection of mummies, the Royal Tombs of Ur, and the Parthenon.
2. Tate Modern is another free attraction, with the exception of some special exhibits which have a nominal admission fee.  This gallery features international modern art representing all major movements from Fauvism onward. The permanent collection includes works by artists like Picasso, Dalí, Pollack, Lichtenstein, Miro, Warhol, and Matisse, just to name a few!
3. The National Gallery is yet another one of London’s free art museums. The extensive permanent collection brags one of the most impressive collections of European paintings in the world and in particular, of western European paintings. Works by masters like da Vinci, Goya, Velazquez, Monet, Renoir, van Gogh, and Rembrandt are just a few of the museum highlights.
4. London’s Natural History Museum is also completely free! Not only is it a museum featuring life and earth specimens from as much as 70 million years ago, but it is also a leading research center, specializing in taxonomy, conservation, and species identification. The aptly nicknamed cathedral of nature houses an impressive collection of dinosaur skeletons and some of Darwin´s original specimens.
5. The Science Museum is one of the three museums on Exhibition Road in the London neighborhood of South Kensington. Also completely free, the Science Museum offers a little of everything, from photography to astronomy and biochemistry. Interactive exhibits, shows, and demonstrations make it a remarkably kid-friendly.
6. The V & A Museum, formally called the Victoria and Albert Museum, is another free museum located on Exhibition Row in South Kensington. As the largest museum of decorative arts and design in the world, it is home to over 4.5 million objects. The comprehensive collection includes ceramics, silver, ironwork , textiles, photography, sculpture, and costumes from different time periods and from all over the world.
7. The National Maritime Museum is perhaps the largest museum of its kind in the world. It is also a free museum, though some temporary exhibits have admissions charges.  This massive museum explores Britain’s history with the sea.  Visitors can practice steering a ship, fire cannon or see the uniform Nelson was wearing at the Battle of Trafalgar.
8. Tower of London is the top tourist site in the United Kingdom that charges an admissions fee. This historic castle has played a prominent role in London’s history, serving many functions over the years, such as housing the Crown Jewels and the Royal Mint, and serving as both a prison and a royal residence.
9. St. Paul’s Cathedral is located at the highest point in London, and its iconic dome is a prominent feature of London’s skyline. Visitors can climb up the dome, visit the crypt, learn about St. Paul’s history through a film, and of course, enjoy the cathedral’s spectacular interior.
10. The National Portrait Gallery displays a collection of portraits of Britons occupying prominent places in British history.  Interesting paintings and informative posters bring Britain’s history alive at this free London attraction.

Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/datablog/2011/feb/23/british-tourist-attractions-visitor-figures