White Cliffs of Dover, Kent, England, UK by Harvey Barrison

England’s southern coast is home to a number of important cities, fascinating towns and quaint villages, which is why it’s a good idea to set aside a few days to tour the area. For the best experience of all, you should hire a car in Kent and travel west all the way to Cornwall. Over the course of a week, you can take in some breathtaking scenery as well as some truly unforgettable buildings and landmarks.

Kent is known as the Garden of England, and is one of the most beautiful counties in the whole of the UK. The famous white cliffs of Dover are an iconic symbol of the country, and provide a welcoming vista for ferry passengers who come to Britain from continental Europe. Further along the coast, traditional seaside resorts such as Folkestone and Hastings (which is in Sussex) are lying in wait.

Folkestone, Dover, England, UK by Pierre Metivier

The beauty of Brighton

To the immediate south of London lies the city of Brighton & Hove. It’s an exciting, funky place with a thriving entertainment quarter. Once an exclusive haunt of the rich and famous, nowadays it offers something for everyone. Continuing west, the cathedral city of Chichester is a favourite with history lovers, as well as those people who like to enjoy a little retail therapy from time to time.

Portsmouth, Southampton and Bournemouth are all relatively close together, yet each of them has its own unique character. The latter has been a popular family holiday resort for many decades, and continues to attract plenty of tourists to this day. Continuing through Dorset, the town of Weymouth is worth a little exploration, if only because it hosted the yachting competitions at the 2012 Olympic Games.

Southampton’s Town Walls, England, UK by Christophe.Finot

Devon and Cornwall complete the westerly journey, and in these counties you’ll find a wonderful array of picturesque fishing villages, many of which have changed little over the centuries. The rugged coastline is also home to many secluded coves that offer visitors a golden opportunity to enjoy some much-needed peace and tranquillity. Be sure to bring a camera with you, because the landscapes and seascapes really need to be immortalised on film.

David Showell lives in southern England and works for 121carhire.

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The island, which was made popular in the Victorian era, is popular with a range of visitors of all ages. The Isle of Wight is situated five miles off the south coast of England; measuring 23 miles east to west and 13 miles north to south.

Isle of Wight Landscape. Compton Chine, looking east towards Blackgang by Barbara Mürdter

It’s a small island, but one where lots of fun can be enjoyed. You may have never thought about visiting because it’s not far away enough to be considered as a holiday destination. If you want to go somewhere different for your next holiday, continue reading to find out where to stay, where to go and what to do if you visit the Isle of Wight.

Where to stay

If you are planning a trip to the island then you can choose from a selection of places to stay – each suit different tastes and budgets. Isle of Wight accommodation includes seaside hotels, farm/rural self-catering B&Bs, holiday centres and caravan parks.

Osborne House, Isle of Wight, England, UK by Naturenet

Where to go

The Isle of Wight has plenty of beaches, so when it’s summer and the sun is out, what better way to spend it then on one of them? Some are small, some are commercialised and others are very secluded. So if you want to spend time lounging on the beach or you prefer doing water sports you’ll find a perfect beach for you. After a day at the beach you can visit one of the many museums, galleries and historic sites that showcase the island’s history and culture.

Wherever you go, it’s good to know there are great shopping opportunities; if you want some retail therapy, you can get it on the Isle Wight. There are arts and crafts outlets too, which sell all manner of things from handcrafted jewellery to wood carvings.

If galleries and shopping aren’t your idea of a holiday or if you want to do something more extreme, you could try tree climbing, paragliding and sailing.

Gate to Carisbrooke Castle, Isle of Wight, England, UK by Dave Pape

What to do

If you are not an adrenaline junkie though, but still wanting to have an experience of a lifetime; in the month of June, thousands of revellers can be found mucking out at the Isle of Wight festival. Acts such as Coldplay, Bryan Adam, The Police and Labrinth have all preformed at the festival. All ages can attend.

If you like festivals but want to hear something other than rock and pop, you can attend the island’s open-air midsummer jazz festival. Here you will find more of an older crowd, but it can be enjoyed by all members of the family.

If festivals and loud music isn’t your thing, then you might enjoy a cycling or walking holiday on the Isle of Wight. Walking and cycling are popular because there are over 500 miles of footpaths and bridleways. With attractive scenery and almost every town on the island hosting a hotel, pub or B&B, walkers and cyclists have plenty of choice of routes throughout the island whilst visiting.

If you love to explore and have an interest in fossils then you go back in time visiting beaches at Shanklin and Brook Bay, as you can find dinosaur remains in the cliffs and on the beaches. Happy hunting!

Brook Bay, Isle of Wight, England, UK by Jim Champion

Are you planning a visit to the Isle of Wight? If so, where are you going to stay and visit?

Author: Stuart enjoys mountain biking on the south coast of England and writes on behalf of Island View Holidays.

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The Shore, Leith, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK by Zaian

Located, as its name suggests, near the shore, this area of Edinburgh offers a great variety of interesting things to see and do. There are a many great gastro pubs, and very fine restaurants along the shore, all of which offer fresh locally caught fish. The Loch Finn restaurant is particularly good, serving some of the best fish in the area, as cooked by expert chefs. Also good is the Shore bar, a high class Scottish pub, with a modern feel and a very family friendly atmosphere.

The Royal Yacht Britannia is one of the key tourist attractions in Edinburgh, and it is located in the Shore area. A fascinating ship, and a great feat of engineering and naval architecture, the royal yacht has a bold and interesting history, and has housed many very famous celebrities, not the least of which Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. The tour offers a great insight into this famous Royal residence, and is well worth the time if you are interested in history.

Royal Yacht Britannia, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK by Robert Breuer

If you are looking to do some shopping while you are visiting Edinburgh, there is no better place to do it than the Ocean Terminal shopping centre, which offers various different shops and boutiques, arranged across a series of floors. From Topman, to Dorothy Perkins, to Pizza Express, the shopping centre has every modern convenience, and is a fantastic place to get some quality retail therapy in. There is also a cinema and a gym, so if you aren’t much of a shopper, but your partner is, then you have other options to keep yourself entertained, while your other half satisfies some consumer urges.

There are many interesting attractions which spring up during the summer months in Scotland’s Capital city, be sure to make the most of them by finding yourself a good hotel. Edinburgh festival hotel deals are available at most hotels, some offering a few days, some a week, and some the full four week duration of the festival at discount rates. Accommodation tends to fill up fast during the summer months, and it is not unusual for unwary tourists to find themselves with nowhere to stay if they don’t act fast and make sure to book well in advance, so make sure you don’t make this mistake, and that you plan your holiday well ahead.. The City of the Edinburgh offers a fantastic array of different attractions, and The Shore area is no exception. So whether you are looking for a short break or a longer stay, make sure to include The Shore in your travel itinerary.

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Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Pedro Gonçalves

Tramuntana Mountains

One of the most scenic parts of the island is the mountains of Tramuntana. These mountains are best explored on foot or on a bike. There is so much to see while you climb the trails of the mountains and you may be gob smacked with the views.

There is the Castell d’Alaro that is perched on the top of a rocky mountain overlooking the village of Alaro. This is a ruined castle and hilltop chapel that offers amazing views out towards the Tramuntana Mountains, Palma and further away the Mediterranean.

Coastline

The coastline of Majorca is varied dependant on the area of the island that you are visiting. The north is wild and rocky with steep cliffs while the south has coves, caves and ports. If you are looking for long walks along the beaches then the east and west coasts of the island are your best bet.

If you are looking for some privacy then you could hire a boat and sail to one of the quieter beaches that are only accessible by sea. There are many of these types of beaches so you can have some alone time.

Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Misty

Palma

Palma has a massive reputation for partying as does Magalluf but if you stray from the norm then you will find that Palma has an old town that is worth a walk around. Discovering the architecture and culture that Majorca has to offer. Palma has a cathedral, ‘La Seu’, that took nearly four hundred years to build but the gothic architecture is amazing.

You could also relax in the ‘Banys Arabs’ (Arab baths). These are remnants of Palma’s Moorish past. Or if you would rather do some shopping then the streets of Palma are the best on the island to grab some retail therapy. There is everything from up-market boutiques to some more familiar high street stores.

Most of the towns in Majorca have their own weekly markets that typically start early in the morning and last until noon, the most traditional of these markets is the medieval town of Sineu.

Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Vix_B

Above All

Be sure to enjoy yourself whatever you decide to do while you are on your get away in Majorca. Whether it is relaxing on the beach or exploring the hills and mountains of the countryside Majorca has everything all on one fantastic island.

Majorca is a lively but mysterious place to travel to and there are many resorts to stay at.

Why not find the perfect location to stay at using Majorcanholidays.co.uk

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