Lanes Merge

INSIDER’S GUIDE UK

0 Comments | Sunday Telegraph, The; London (UK), Feb 7, 2010 | by Sara Macefield

BEACHES

Whitstable, Kent

This busy resort has the right ingredients for a perfect seaside holiday with its pebble and sand beaches, and shallow waters at low tide. The harbour is the hub, a place where oyster boats still land their catches, and the town is an engaging mix of traditional shops, bijou boutiques and smart restaurants. If your budget doesn’t run to those, buy some fish and chips and eat on the beach.

Stay in an old seafront fishing hut, previously used for storing cockle farmers’ clutter. They come with a parking space and accommodate up to two adults and two children. Book through the Hotel Continental (01227 280280; www.hotelcontinental.co.uk), with winter rates from Pounds 100 per night per hut.

Portrush, Northern Ireland

The Antrim coast is known for its safe and sandy beaches, and as a place for scenic cliff-top walks and dolphin-spotting. But watersports fans can try surfing, bodyboarding, kayaking and windsurfing off the wide, sandy Whiterocks Beach at Portrush, which also has a Blue Flag. Nearby is a good golf course, while the town and accompanying harbour offer a choice of restaurants and traditional pubs. And the magnificent Giant’s Causeway is just a 10- minute drive away.

Imagine Ireland (01756 703191; www.imagineireland.com) offers self-catering properties in Portrush, including a beachfront apartment for five people, from Pounds 404 for a week in May.

Praa Sands, Cornwall

With its sweeping stretch of golden sands washed by Atlantic rollers, this hamlet has become a magnet for savvy surfers and beach- lovers wanting to avoid the crowds of its better-known neighbours. Praa Sands not only has one of the largest bays in Cornwall – Mount’s Bay – but also lays claim to the most hours of sunshine in the UK. Nearby are good local seafood restaurants and the reputedly haunted Pengersick Castle.

Stay at the beautifully situated Bojowan Cottage, which has views across the beach and a terraced garden leading to the sands. A week’s self-catering costs from Pounds 504, based on 10 people sharing, with Classic Cottages (01326 555555; www.classic.co.uk).

Argyll, Scotland

Alight on the tiny private island of Eilean Shona and you’ll be following in the footsteps of author J M Barrie, who rented the island in the Twenties when writing the screenplay for Peter Pan. This idyllic retreat comes with picturesque woodland, wild open hills and a beautiful white-powder sand beach. Go crabbing, fishing and – for the brave – swimming in the cold, crystal clear waters.

Stay at Eilean Shona House (01967 431249; www.eileanshona.com), a former hunting lodge sleeping up to 12 adults and six children. Prices are from Pounds 180 per adult per night (children Pounds 90), full board. The house can be rented for a week from Pounds 10,000 or a weekend from Pounds 5,500.

The Witterings, West Sussex

Regarded as Britain’s answer to the Hamptons; the beaches are in a sheltered natural harbour and the area’s timeless beauty and tranquil atmosphere makes it a popular chill-out spot for supermodels and rock stars such as Keith Richards, who owns a beach hut in West Wittering. The area is also popular with kite-surfers. Local villages such as East Wittering, Bracklesham, West Itchenor and Birdham are noted for their restaurants and sprinkling of shops: the cathedral city of Chichester is a few miles away.

Stay at the Crouchers Country Hotel&Restaurant (01243 784995; www.croucherscountryhotel.com), which serves local seafood; doubles from Pounds 95 per night .

HOLIDAY PARKS

Woolacombe Bay Holiday Parks, Devon

There are four parks in proximity along this stretch of coast: Woolacombe, Woolacombe Bay, Twitchen House and Easewell Farm. Together they offer more than 40 free activities and a wide range of self-catering accommodation. Guests can choose between top-of-the- range caravan holiday homes, apartments and lodges, many of which are new for 2010. There’s also an expanded range of pet-friendly places to stay. With 10 swimming pools (indoor and outdoor), water parks, tennis courts, a nine-hole golf course and cinema, plus a nature trail and fitness track planned for later this year, there’s no reason for anyone to get bored.

A one-week self-catering holiday in May costs from Pounds 185 for a family of four (01271 870343; www.woolacombe.com).

Pinewood Holiday Park, North Yorkshire

This family-run business isn’t a holiday park in the traditional sense and it certainly isn’t brimming with facilities
whitstable accommodation