Farne Island:

Farne Island lies between the fishing port of Seahouses and the village of Bamburgh which houses a number of seals and sea birds to give a unique view to it which is managed by The National Trust of Britain. This island is considered as the summer heaven of UK for the largest colony of grey seals and a number of other seabirds as they give picturesque coastal sceneries for the photographers visiting this island.

Farne Island, UK by Jo Jakeman

Holy Island:

This is one of the largest islands in U.K. from where lies near the northeastern coast of Northumberland. Due to the visit of St. Aidan from Iona to found the monastery here in 635 AD, this island got the status of place of pilgrimage for the people visiting here.

St. Mary’s Island:

This island is one of the UK’s most beautiful islands which lie near the Whitley Bay, down off the southern coast of Northumberland and has a beautiful lighthouse which you can climb on and a café to enjoy during your visit to this island.

A view of St Mary’s Island, UK by Johnwalton

Walney and Piel Island:

Walney Island is an 11 miles long island on the offshore of Britain which is connected to the mainland through a bridge at Barrow-in-Furness. Piel Island is another island close to Barrow having remains of Piel Castle and can be visited easily through ferryboats during summer season.

Anglesey:

This is one of the largest islands in Wales and is known for its attractive seaside town, wide spread white sand beaches and a village having longest name ever heard. There’s also plenty to do for all the family with events, attractions and outdoor activities on offer, all set in beautiful untouched scenery.

Isles of Scilly:

The unique scenic beauty and outlying nature of this collection of islands make it quiet different from the mainland of Cornwall. St. Martin’s, St. Mary’s, islands of St. Agnes and Gugh and islands of Bryher and Tresco are some of the main islands of this group.

Isles of Scilly, UK by Tom Corser www.tomcorser.com. Licensed under Creative Commons.

Isle of Arran:

This island is one of the UK’s most beautiful islands which is also recognized as mini Scotland as it has almost all the facilities and features of Scotland including pebble beaches, sand, rugged landscape, woodlands, outstanding mountain scenery and wildlife in it.

Skye and Lochalsh Islands:

Skye and Lochalsh Islands had recently been honoured to be world’s fourth best island by the National Geographic magazine of UK situated in Scotland in the north of Inner Hebrides. You can reach there by air as well as by road transports easily.

Skye isle, UK by John Allan

Lundy Island:

This is more than three miles long and a mile wide island lies in the Bristol Channel, off the northern coast of Devon. It is also known as Site of Special Scientific Interest as it has a number of breeds of birds and wildlife species as its main habitants.

Orkney Islands:

This is a group of UK’s most beautiful islands off the shores of Scotland which can not be avoided to visit due to their picturesque natural beauty.

Orkney Islands, UK by Paul Wordingham

Author Bio- This post has been written by Susain Alberta. She loves to write about various travelling experiences throughout the most beautiful places in the world. She prefers Peterborough Limo Service for travelling to various places in a luxurious way.

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A tiny island off the coast of Sicily, Favignana is the largest one of Aegadian Islands, which also include Marettimo and Levanzo. Whilst Favignana was once prominently involved with tuna fishing and packing, it is now focussed on tourism. But you won’t find scores of people flocking to the white sand beaches with cool boxes in hand, like some other European holiday destinations; the island is relatively untouched by the cruel hands of mass tourism and remains a safe haven for those looking for some peace and quiet.

Cala Rossa, Favignana, Italy by rivaalessandro

Places to Stay

There are a variety of different hotels to stay in around the island and you can be sure a beautiful view of the azure sea is never far away. My two favourites are the Hotel Tempo di Mare and the Hotel Cave Bianche.

The Hotel Tempo di Mare is a four star, stunning white-walled hotel whose entranceway beautifully frames the crystalline waters. It is not a huge hotel and has around 45 rooms, each designed in a simple but chic way with white linens and hints of pale blue. There is a restaurant within the hotel which serves delicious Italian and Sicilian fusion food, using the mouth-wateringly plentiful frutti-di-mare.

The Cave Bianche is a little further away from the island’s main city, only around a 10-15 minute drive, and is set in an old mining quarry. This is a striking hotel unlike anything else in the world; submerged within a quarry with huge vaulted ceilings and characteristic pale sandstone walls. There is also a large pool and Jacuzzi’s not to mention plenty of sunbeds, so you can take advantage of the warming Mediterranean sun.

All in all both hotels are stunning and a real design feat, certainly eons better than what you would find on the Costa del Sol!

Church in Favignana, Sicily, Italy by giovanni.gambaro

Beaches

There are a number of beaches scattered throughout the island, the best has to be the gorgeous Lido Burrone and Cala Azzurra. Both of these beaches are around the south of the island and easily accessible by car or moped. The real thing that makes them special is the fact that the sea is so clear, and the sea beds are covered with luminous white sand stretching out from the coastline. This makes it easy to see all of the amazing sea-life around the area, including octopi, moray eels, crabs and jellyfish, although the majority of these will be found in deeper waters so you don’t have to worry about getting stung!

Sunset at Favignana, Sicily, Italy by payhere

How to get there?

I am from London and so one way I found to get there was flying from Heathrow to Palermo in Sicily which is only a short flight, then hire a car from Palermo to Trapani and then hop on a hydrofoil for around 20 minutes to then get to Favignana’s main port. If all this may seem a little too much, why not try a cruise and stay Caribbean cruise? They are run regularly by many operators and stop right alongside Sicily making it much easier for you to get to Favignana.

However you find it, Favignana is a real hidden gem, so why not discover it now before everybody else does?

The post Top 5 reasons why Favignana is the perfect place for your next holiday appeared first on Europe Explored.

Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain by Alquiler de Coches

Beach Vacation

Tenerife, Canary Islands
Tenerife is the largest of the seven Canary Islands, and a beach-lover’s paradise. A Spanish island and province, it is located off the coast of northwest Africa and features grey-sand beaches, one of the largest volcanoes in the world and a warm tropical climate. Tenerife’s average year-round temperatures are in the mid-20s C, earning it the nickname ‘Island of the Eternal Spring’ and attracting tourists from around Europe and beyond (more than five million annually). Known for its yearly carnival, Tenerife is a surprisingly affordable cheap, even destination, offering fun and relaxing holidays for the whole family.

Rural Retreat

Lake Bled, Slovenia
Slovenia markets itself as the ‘Green Piece of Europe’ and visitors will find plenty of green in Lake Bled, a pristine glacial lake and sleepy resort town just over 30 miles from the capital, Ljubljana. Surrounded by lush woodlands and the towering Julian Alps, the area is a haven for walkers and mountain-bikers. In the middle of the lake is a medieval church, accessible by boat, with stone walls offering stunning views. Overlooking over the lake in the hills above is the medieval Bled Castle, which is available for tours. Families will find Slovenia affordable on the whole, and off-season, visitors will find Lake Bled to be particularly low-cost.

City Break

Lisbon, Portugal
Lisbon is a city on seven hills that still maintains an historic quarter — including original Roman walls — despite several massive earthquakes throughout its history. It is an affordable cultural centre known for its mournful Fado music, unique carriage museum, imposing cathedral filled with the graves of famous Portuguese explorers, and world-famous pastries. Beautiful countryside awaits a short drive from the city, and a view of the sea is never far. Lisbon is continental Europe’s westernmost city and one of the oldest in Europe, predating London. There are two UNESCO sites to visit, though many things of interest in this affordable capital.

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Bray-Dunes, France by aimee daniells

A visit to the North Sea

While the southern beaches are great for those that like to enjoy the sun, do not neglect the North Sea from your route. Here, the weather is not as hot as on the French Riviera, so you can enjoy walking on the shores without fear of getting burned. During the nights, the temperature can get quite cold, so it is best to pack some warmer clothes with your luggage.

Some of the nicest resorts on the north coast are Zuydcoote and Bray-Dunes.

Visiting the English Channel

For families that love the quaint and the quiet part of France, there is no better place to embark on a vacation than the English Channel. Etretat is one of family friendly resorts that you can find in this area, especially known for the white cliffs and the white sand beaches that can be found nearby. Honfleur is a resort ideal for visiting historical places, as the local port and house are filled with history.

Other great family resorts along the English Channel are Perros-Guirrec, Berck on Sea and Granville.

Taking your family on the Atlantic Coast

When you want a bit of action and hotter weather, you can take your family with you on the Atlantic Coast of France. Some of the best known resorts here is Biarritz, a place where celebrities often meet. However, if you do not like the hustle and bustle of the trendiest resorts, you have plenty of others to choose from. Les Sables d’Olonne is famous for its beaches and for its boats.

Biarritz, France by Emmanuel Dyan

La Trinite-sur-Mer and La Baule are also great picturesque resorts where you can take your family.

A trip to the Mediterranean Coast

A great thing about France is that it can offer all kinds of weather, due to its spread from the North Sea to the Mediterranean Sea. Here the water is warmer and the weather is sweeter, which makes children really enjoy the many water activities that can be performed in the area.

Great family resorts on the Mediterranean Coast include Valras and Collioure.

Paris

If the beach and its attractions are not enough to complete a great vacation to France, there is always Paris. You cannot go wrong if you take your family on a trip to the famous capital. While seen as a trendy destination, Paris can also be very children friendly, with its Cite des Sciences (with a whole department dedicated exclusively to kids), and Centre Pompidou, with its Galerie des Enfants. The famous French deserts will definitely have your children beg you to stay more.

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