Padstow

When the ancient Cornish settled in the area many centuries ago they chose the site for Padstow with great care and foresight.  Nestling in a narrow gulley on the western side of the River Camel estuary, the town is sheltered from the prevailing winds and the air is generally soft and balmy.  Moving down the hill the buildings huddle closer together until they crowd around the harbour. There you’ll find a great mixture of houses, quays, boat slips, inns, cafés, restaurants, gift shops, a fishmonger and the like. None of this was planned; it just evolved as the years moved on. No architect could have designed the magic of Padstow. It is just the result of years of adaptation to change, of getting the best out of local materials and then using the buildings and the surrounding environment to meet the needs of a working and friendly harbour town.

Port Isaac

with its winding streets and busy harbour, has been a fishing village since the 14th century where it provided one of few havens along the otherwise rugged North Cornwall coast. Its granite and whitewashed old cottages are extremely photogenic, and it’s a real pleasure simply to stroll around the narrow lanes.

The coast around Port Isaac is absolutely stunning, so the village makes a good base if you want to spend a holiday exploring North Cornwall. Here’s a closer look at the Cornish fishing village that’s also known as Portwenn.

The beautiful village of Widecombe-in-the-Moor lies between green fields and high, moorland hills in a sheltered valley on the East side of Dartmoor. Run entirely by volunteers to raise money for local good causes, as well as providing an opportunity for farmers to compare the size of their tractors, Widecombe Fair takes place on the second Tuesday of September each year and attracts visitors from far and wide.

Cotehele estate has a vast history spanning back centuries. As you explore the house and its interiors, layers of its past are revealed. Cotehele was a medieval home, owned by the Edgecumbe family and developed after Richard Edgecumbe was rewarded for his part in Battle of Bosworth. A Tudor house with connections to early transatlantic trade became the family estate gifted to the National Trust after the Second World War.

Nestled below Worcestershire’s glorious Malvern Hills, the event is a seasonal showcase celebrating the very best of autumn, from giant fruits and vegetables to demos from celebrity chefs, artisan ciders and perries to locally produced food and drink.

A real highlight is always the CANNA UK National Giant Vegetables Championship, where competitors from across the country battle it out for a chance to win the coveted Guinness World Records title. Each year new records are set with gigantic legumes and enormous fruits. Visitors can peruse everything from super-sized pumpkins to extra-long leeks in a purpose-built marquee, housing hundreds of entrants. Meanwhile, in the colossal Harvest Pavilion, visitors can admire over 175 different Grow to Show classes where growers present the very best produce grown in their garden or allotment space including cut flowers, fruit, vegetables and succulents.

The RHS Flower Show will bring a riot of colour and fragrance with dazzling seasonal blooms, as some of the UK’s best nurseries and growers compete for recognition from the esteemed RHS judges. Visitors feeling inspired can pick up some interesting bulbs, plants and flowers to take home and transform their own outdoor space in the plant nurseries and plant and bulb arcades. Expert growers will be on hand to offer helpful suggestions and advice for the best plants to suit your space.

The Family Green will host a range of entertainment and activities for all ages, including willow weaving, pedal tractors, circus and bushcraft skills, wand making and broomstick making. There will also be animals to meet, including rabbits, cavies, ponies, dogs, pigs and exotic animals. After working up an appetite, tuck in to a delicious dish from an impressive range of street food traders in the Food and Drink Festival, or pick up foodie treats to take home from the Artisan Food and Drink Market.

Cardiff Castle is one of Wales’ leading heritage attractions and a site of international significance, walk through our gates and you will discover a story 2,000 years in the making.

From the Roman occupation of Britain to the Norman Conquest, through civil war turbulence, a Victorian transformation and even the terrors of World War 2, these walls have seen it all.

Wales is world-renowned for its castles but, here in Cardiff, we’re proud to be a little different; having not only survived the centuries but evolved with them in a fashion few others can claim.

2000 YEARS OF HISTORY IN THE HEART OF THE CITY

It all started in the 1st century AD by the Romans who built the first in a series of forts. In the 11th century, the Normans constructed the Keep that still dominates the Castle Green to this day. The medieval Lords of Glamorgan began work on the House during the 15th century.

The Bute family left their mark on the entire city in the 19th century, they also transformed the House into the opulent Victorian Gothic home it is today. During World War II the walls which surround the Castle were used as air raid shelters; a place of safety for thousands of Cardiff citizens. A reconstruction of the shelters has been opened for visitors to explore.

Tavistock

Tavistock is a thriving, beautifully friendly market town that is worthy of any visitor. An ancient stannary town and home of the cream tea, Tavistock is the only town in Devon to hold world heritage status. The vibrancy and uniqueness of Tavistock is undeniable with a range of beautiful local independent shops which are a far cry from today’s typical high street. Not to be overlooked is the famous pannier market or the award-winning farmers’ market. It is truly a shoppers paradise. Tavistock has direct access to Dartmoor. The Western Moor is magical and fantastic for walking, cycling and riding. Several National Trust properties are in easy reach: Lydford Gorge, Buckland Abbey and Cotehele are all nearby.
 
National Cycle Route 27, Drakes Trail and the West Devon Way to Plymouth are all easily accessible from the town centre. There are guided walks from and around the town, wild swimming in the rivers, a golf course, museum, gym, swimming pool and arts centre. 

Bow Garden Centre

The Tucker family started farming in Devon back in the 1400s. The latest generation’s roots are still firmly in gardening, as well as fish-keeping, with a huge passion for both.

Bow Garden & Aquatic Centre’s recently expanded centre offers everything you need for plants, gardening & aquatics – we are big enough to have everything for all your garden needs but small enough to care and go the extra mile for you whilst giving you a personal and friendly service.