Rutland Water – Leicestershire / Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by NotFromUtrecht

Rutland Water is a 4200 acre park set in some of the most beautiful countryside in the Midlands. It is a nature reserve and conservation area so there are plenty of interesting plants and animals to see whilst you are there. The park has 2 visitor centres and a range of nature trails and cycling routes of different lengths. The Rutland Circular route is one of the most popular as it offers an exciting glimpse of the half sunken Normanton Church. In total there are over 23 miles of cycle paths at the reservoir for you to enjoy.  When you fancy a change from cycling, Leicestershire has a number of attractions including the National Space Centre, Belvoir Castle and Foxton Locks.

Huguenot Canterbury / Photo under public domain created by SuzanneKn

The Viking Coast Trail is a 27 mile loop on the Isle of Thanet. Contrary to its name, Thanet is no longer an island but sits at the most easterly point in Kent. The route passes through a number of traditional Kentish villages and extremely pretty churches. You can do as much or as little of the route as you like. If you want to do something shorter then you could try the 9 mile stretch of the route that goes from Ramsgate to Reculver along the sea wall. Other local activities include a fun mini-golf course, a leisure centre and an enchanting shell grotto.

Chipping Campden – Cotswolds. This route from Chipping Campden to Moreton-in-Marsh is a lovely circular route of 30miles. This route can be challenging in part especially around Batsford Park and Kineton Hill but it is very scenic and extremely enjoyable. You will find yourself meandering through leafy woodland, secret valleys and historic villages on this route. It is worth mentioning though that a small section of this route runs along a busy road which would be unsuitable for child cyclists. Other points of interest include Broadway tower, Moreton Falconry Centre and the Cotswold Farm Park. All of which would be a fun break for tired legs!

Cotswolds Panorama Fields / Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Saffron Blaze

Vicky works alongside Cotswold Country Cycles. She loves outdoor activities including cycling, horse-riding and walking.

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Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Hector Garcia

If you should head to the Canary Islands then you will be certain to have a great holiday and there are many things that bring visitors to them time after time. First of all, these islands boast incredible weather. Being just off of the coast of Africa they are very hot as you can imagine, and this makes them ideal for beach holidays and for relaxing in the sun. At the same time as islands they also have lots of beach, and many of these are great for surfers.

The tourism on many of these islands is very pronounced meaning that there is a lot laid on for anyone wanting to visit including great nightlife and clubbing, and lots of places to eat and relax. However the islands are also known for their unusual and often stunning scenery – these islands feature volcanic terrain that looks sparse and desolate and almost like the surface of the moon or Mars.

If you want to visit the Canary Islands then you have several options of places to visit:

Tenerife

Of the Canaries, Tenerife is perhaps the best for night life and the one most associated with clubbing holidays and nights out drinking. To this end it has a fantastic strip of clubs and activities and a hugely bustling nightlife. At the same time though it also has plenty to do in the day and has great beaches and places to eat. One of the sites of most interest for tourists is undoubtedly Mount Tiede which is a volcano you can travel to the top of. Here the volcanic terrain is perhaps at its best – and interestingly this was actually the site on which the original Planet of the Apes was filmed.

Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Bill

Gran Canaria

Gran Canaria is another great spot if you’re after a good nightlife and the best spot for that is the YUMBO center which has everything you could need for a great night out. Again the island also has brilliant beaches for relaxing and even a small desert that you can trek through and get some great photos.

Lanzarote

Lanzarote is similar to both Tenerife and Gran Canaria in terms of climate and night life, though it enjoys a slightly more muted evening out with a little less drunken debauchery (though some of that still goes on) and a marginally cooler climate due to an ever-present breeze. This makes it the Canary island of choice for those who want to relax and kick back. At the same time it is also the island with the most impressively varied landscape of all – with more volcanic terrain, as well as mountain ranges, another desert and even caves. At the volcanic region of the island you can also enjoy having your dinner cooked for you by the heat of a volcano.

Nick Ball is a web enthusiast and maintains a Lanzarote Guidebook for all his travel queries which he likes to share through his blog. The latest column added to his guide are the list of Flights to Lanzarote.

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Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Felix O

There are plenty of good reasons why more people may be considering coach travel as opposed to other methods. The most obvious and selfish reason is the low cost, which has its firm appeal in times of recession. More altruistically, is the environmental impact of travelling by coach – which uses 6 times less energy than planes and cars and 2 times less than trains. In addition, rising fuel costs are prohibiting some families from taking their own car and travelling across the continent.

So, what if you’re new to the idea of a coach holiday? What is on offer on the market and how much is it likely to cost? Here are five top European Coach tours departing from the UK this summer:

1. Florence and Tuscany

Many coach travel operators offer tours of Florence and Tuscany, however, Travelstyle’s “Treasures of Tuscany” tour at £499.95 for 10 days is one of the best value options. Highlights include the Renaissance architecture of Florence, the world heritage site of Sienna and the eternal city of Rome.

2. Greece

A major part of the original European Grand Tour, coach holidays to Greece are still very popular with trips to the ancient city of Athens usually high on the itinerary. Prices start from around £765 for an 8 day tour departing from London. Coachholidays.com offer a good range of options to Greece.

3. Spain

The Brits love their sunny beach holidays and Spain has always been a favourite. Coach holidays to Spain depart regularly from across the UK and are usually for 8 to 10 days. Prices start from around £565 which usually includes coach travel and Eurotunnel, plus overnight hotels on the outward and return journeys.

4. Disneyland Paris

According to the Coach Tourism Council; shorter coach holidays are becoming increasingly popular too, with Disneyland Paris amongst the most popular. Prices for a 4 day trip for 2 adults and 2 children start at around £750.

5. Austria

Finally, coach tours are a great way to see the mountainous areas of mainland Europe too. 10 days in Austria will often include scenic excursions to Salzburg alongside the countries natural wonders. Leger Holidays offer tours from just £420 per person.

If you’ve never considered a coach holiday before, check out the sites referenced to see more of what’s on offer.

James Hubbard is a freelance travel writer based in Hove.

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