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Weymouth in Dorset - a Royal Favourite
After King George III visited Weymouth in 1789 and declared “I never enjoyed a sight so pleasing.” this seaside town has been a popular place for holidaymakers. Thereafter George III, who suffered ill-health, regularly visited the town. It was during his reign that fresh air and bathing in the…
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The Walks of Wareham in Dorset
Situated between the Rivers Frome and Piddle in idyllic Dorset countryside Wareham is well-placed for walks to suit all ages and standards. The Two Rivers Walks are short, circular trails following footpaths and quiet roads alongside the rivers Frome and Piddle that flow through the town. The…
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An Adventure on the Isle of Wight - Victoria's Island
After disembarking from the car ferry at East Cowes on the Isle of Wight I made my way to the Tourist Information centre a short distance from the terminal. Armed with bus timetables and maps I set off to find Osborne House. I had been assured it was just ten minutes up the hill. Twenty minutes…
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A Warm Welcome Awaits in the Dorset Town of Wimborne
The welcoming town centre of Wimborne is a large open space filled with the chairs and tables of cafés and restaurants that surround it. When I arrived it was summer and the sun was shining, brightening the blooms that decorated the pavement. It looked more continental than English even though I…
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Christchurch - A Dorset Diamond
On arrival in the Dorset town of Christchurch I was intrigued by a sign directing me to the Ducking Stool. I set off down a narrow lane beside Ye Olde George Inn the oldest pub in the town. Originally called the George and Dragon this old coach house was built during the fifteenth century. In…
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Hardship to Holidaymakers on Pico Island in the Azores
In an extraordinary turn around the hardships of the islanders on Pico during the last century have now been turned into tourist attractions. Visitors to the island arrive at Madalena, the main town and port. When I arrived it was blurry through the rain but I could see it was an attractive,…
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Horta, the Charming Capital of Faial Island in the Azores
Anyone sailing into Horta who does not feel a thrill must be either sleeping or throwing up. Colourful yachts bob within the walls of the busiest marina in the Azores. Pastel painted buildings creep up the hill towards majestic churches that dominate the skyline. And arms of imposing cliffs…
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Whale Watching and Volcanology on Faial, an Island in the Azores
My tour of Faial Island is the closest to nature I have been for a long time. But it started with a technical hitch as our flight to the island was delayed. We were due to go out on a whale watching trip and arrived more than hour after we should have left the port. We raced there from the…
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Ponta Delgada, a Portrait in Black and White with Splashes of Colour
Architecture is the most striking aspect of Ponta Delgada on the island of São Miguel in the Azores archipelago. Simple whitewashed buildings striped with black basalt stand out against a backdrop of green vegetation beyond the town. This architecture originated from Portugal of which the islands…
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Hiding Away in Sherwood Forest - A Uniquely English Experience
I am always on the look-out for new experiences – I have zip-wired in Guatemala, ridden an ostrich in South Africa and been white-water rafting through a gorge in Bali. But none of these experiences have given me such lasting pleasure as a recent stay at the Sherwood Hideaway … Check out some…
