With its own microclimate, Ventnor Botanic Garden in the Isle of Wight offers breath-taking surroundings and a wide variety of plants. Located only a 35 minute drive away from our own Woodside Coastal Retreat, in the heart of the Undercliff, Ventnor Botanic Garden is perfectly placed to be protected by the chalk downs from the northerly winds. Spend the day at the hottest garden in the UK, where there are plenty of things to do and fascinating plants to see.

about Ventnor Botanic Garden

In the undercliff of Ventnor it rarely rains, with a climate more similar to the Mediterranean, the Ventnor Botanic Garden in the Isle of Wight boasts an impressive collection of subtropical plants. Because of this warm climate, combined with the moderating impact of the sea, the Botanic Garden is unrivalled in being able to grow plants considered too delicate to grow in mainland Britain outside and unprotected.

Ventnor Botanic Garden Grows succulents, cacti, herbs, mature palm trees, Australian eucalyptus and colourful South African treasures, plus so much more. Enjoy an immersive experience, where you can travel the world through a range of landscapes, with plants designed and grown in geographical regions, for a delightful experience for all.

what’s at Ventnor Botanic Garden

As well as the general garden itself, there are particular places to visit and things to do, so we’ve listed them below for you:

• The Tropical House – this house perfectly showcases the famous Victorian curvilinear conservatories. You’ll enter the conservatory through a derelict mineshaft that opens into a tropically heated house, where warm running water produces the humidity that these plants need to survive. The pool contains 22 tonnes of heated water and is home to the magnificent Amazonian Giant Waterlily during the summer.
• edulis Restaurant – enjoy beautiful food from talented chefs who use the freshest of ingredients, including fruit and vegetables grown in the surrounding gardens. Check opening times as they do vary depending on season.

• Plantation Room Café – a wonderful place to relax and enjoy good food, if the weather is on your side dine on the terrace and soak in the views across the colourful garden
• The Gift Shop – the shop offers a range of products, including gifts and mementos, as well as showcasing local art, photography and fine china. There is also a range of produce made from the exotic and rare ingredients grown at Ventnor Botanic Garden
• The Wellbeing Experience – Ventnor Botanic Garden boasts a rich history of improving health and wellbeing, being a chest and respiratory disease hospital during the Victorian era. Nowadays, they offer a wide range of yoga and wellbeing classes to be enjoyed in the tranquil garden

secret places at Ventnor Botanic Garden

There are many hidden secrets around the garden just waiting to be found and explored, with some secrets dating back to the Royal National Hospital of the 1800’s, we’ve listed the best below.

• The Tunnel – this hidden tunnel runs all the way through the cliff, from the garden to the peaceful shore. In 1875 the hospital requested a tunnel in order to help patients gain access to the shore, however it was rejected. It’s not clear when the tunnel was created, but it is assumed sometime in the 1880’s, but it was not built for patients (or smugglers as rumours suggest), it was actually built for drainage and waste disposal. It was closed at both ends in 1940, it is 350ft long with a vaulted roof. DO NOT try to find the exit or enter the tunnel without a guide. Ventnor Botanic Garden runs free guided tours at 2pm every day.

• The Wall Lizards – these beautiful lizards are also known by their scientific name, Podarcis Muralis . They are often seen basking in the sunshine or heard running through the leaves of the Mediterranean Garden. Their origin is still under debate, with their homeland in Italy, the long standing population could have been accidently be introduced and naturalised, or the Isle of Wight is the northern most part of their natural habitat.
• The Mushroom Chamber – inside the chamber you will find all kinds of mushrooms, as well as the team growing an extensive variety of edible mushrooms in the Fruiting Chamber, Ventnor Botanic Gardens also allows you to sample the grown mushrooms in the Plantation Room Café. Varieties include Shitake, Yellow and Red Oyster.
• Secret Gardens – there are many little secret gardens hidden all over the 22 acres of Ventnor Botanic Garden, all off the beaten track and waiting for you to discover and explore. You’ll find romantic seating areas, tranquil locations and peaceful clifftop meadows boasting beautiful coastline views.

opening times & prices

Located at Undercliff Dr., Ventnor, PO38 1UL – Ventnor Botanic Gardens is only a 40 minute drive from our own Woodside Coastal Retreat destination.

The garden is open every day, 10am – 5pm

Prices for 2019

Woodside Coastal Retreat offers five star accommodation, with large open plan living spaces, sumptuous bedding and a range of lodges with hot tubs, so you can holiday in style. Guests also have unlimited access to our sister resort, Woodside Bay Lodge Retreat and the exceptional, five start facilities available. Including the Bistro Restaurant serves a range of delicious meals and boasts a fully stocked bar, as well as the Woodside Bay Spa Lodge offering a variety of luxury Aromatherapy Associates treatments.

Why not book your holiday to Woodside Coastal Retreat today and start exploring the Ventnor Botanic Garden, as well as the rest of this fascinating island.

Enjoy a peaceful escape to Cumbria at Thanet Well Lodge Retreat and learn all about the local history of Brougham Castle. This striking castle is only a 20 minute journey from Thanet Well Lodge Retreat and offers a unique look into the history of Penrith. Surrounded by the raw beauty of the Lake District, you can enjoy a picnic and take in the scenic setting of the River Eamont.

Brougham Castle was originally built in the early 13th Century and has been added to and resorted over the centuries. Currently, the Great Keep survives, along with the ‘Tower of League’ and the unusual double gatehouse, you can explore it all!

the history of Brougham Castle

The castle was founded by Robert de Viexpont in the early 13th Century, who was one of the only lords in the area to be loyal to King John, during a time when he was most unpopular in the kingdom.

The Viexpont family were well known and well connected, they owned land all over the North West of England and has spectacular castles in both Brough and Appleby. Robert de Viexpont built the original great keep out of stone and an enclosure out of wood.

However, his grandson lot the castle in 1264, being declared a traitor and having all the family’s property confiscated by King Henry III. The property was eventually returned and stayed within the family until 1269, when it passed through marriage to the Clifford family.

In 1269 the War of Scottish Independence broke out and Brougham Castle was known as a formidable barrier against the invasion and was an important military base for Richard Clifford, the First Baron de Clifford.

During this time, the Baron made impressive fortifications to the castle, including stone walls as an outer defence, and adding a large, stone gatehouse.

Brougham through time

Over the centuries, Brougham intermittently served as a family residence before falling into disrepair. Restoration began at the castle in 1643, when Lady Ann Clifford inherited the property, however after Lady Ann’s death, the 6th Earl of Thanet inherited the castle and he eventually sold all the furnishings, leaving the castle completely empty by 1714.

As the castle was too costly to maintain, it was left to decay until the English Heritage Society took over care of the property. The castle is now listed as a ‘scheduled monument’, which means it is a ‘nationally important’ historic building and archaeological site and it is protected against any and all unauthorised change.

Brougham Castle’s beauty has inspired many creatives over the years, including a painting by JMW Turner and it was even mentioned in The Prelude, a famous poem by William Wordsworth.

opening times & prices

Brougham Castle is located a 20 minute drive from Thanet Well Lodge Retreat, at Moor Lane, Penrith, CA10 2AA

The castle is open every day, 10am – 6pm

Prices for 2019

Spend the day exploring Brougham Castle and discover the maze of complex passages and spiral staircases within the stone keep.

The stunning setting, next to the crossing for the River Eamont, allows for the perfect place for a picturesque picnic (I do love alliteration!).

You can also enjoy views over the Eden Valley from atop the tower, as well as views of the ruins of the old Roman fort, Brocavum adjacent to the castle.

Enjoy beautiful lodge-style accommodation boasting unrivalled views of the Lake District at our Thanet Well Lodge Retreat, where our self-catering holiday lodges offer everything you could need. Including fully equipped kitchens, large living spaces with comfortable sofas and flat screen TVs, sumptuous beds with plenty of storage and beautiful bathrooms. Some of our holiday lodges also boast hot tubs, so you can soak up the surrounding nature in style.

Book your holiday to Thanet Well Lodge Retreat today and explore Penrith’s rich history.

Talacre Beach Resort’s facilities have recently undergone a fabulous £1 million renovation, settle in with a cuppa and have a sneak peek below at the images of our brand new 5 star facilities

How fantastic does that all look? Talacre Beach Resort offers a wonderful place to holiday along the North Wales coastline, so book your holiday now!

did you know that talacre beach resort offers holiday home ownership too?

Talacre Beach Resort has been a popular holiday home owners destination for over 50 years, and with such fantastic 5 star facilities and an ideal location, being just a 5 minute walk from the beach, it’s easy to see why!

Owning your own holiday home at Talacre Beach Resort is much easier than you think, our Sales Advisors are always on hand to answer any questions and to talk you through the process, as well as being able to introduce you to independent financial advisor’s who can help you spread the cost of your dream holiday home.

Why not book your park tour today to come and visit our team, have a look around our wide variety of holiday homes and lodges for sale in North Wales and see our newly renovated facilities for yourself!

You can also find out more about ownership at Talacre Beach from our dedicated Ownership Team, give them a call on 01745 858010.

Lyme Regis and the surrounding area has endless activities for Easter, as well as Hawkchurch Resort & Spa having their own event!

If you’re visiting Hawkchurch Resort & Spa this Easter, you’re in luck, there are countless Easter activities and events in and around Lyme Regis to enjoy a chocolatey treat at! Get stuck in and explore the local area through these events, from the annual Beer Festival to the traditional Easter Bonnet Parade, there will something for everyone to enjoy.

once upon a time easter trail

When: 19th – 22nd April / Where: Forde Abbey

Enjoy an enchanting Easter weekend at Forde Abbey, where you’ll meet a host of Fairy Tale characters along your adventure of following the trail. There will be a chocolate prize for everyone who takes part in the trail, finds the clues and solves the challenges.

easter bonnet parade

When: 21st April / Where: Baptist Church

A wonderful, traditional parade celebrating Easter. You can either make your own Easter Bonnet to join in on the Parade or go along and enjoy the spectacle of the parade and see the amazing array of Easter Bonnets. Judging of the bonnets will be at the Baptist Church, there will be prizes handed out and special prizes for those under 5, as well as the Treetops Cup being awarded to the best overall entry!

dinosaur easter egg hunt

When: 30th March – 28th April / Where: Torquay’s Dinosaur World

Are you brave enough to get up close and personal with the dinosaurs? Discover all sorts of wonderful fossils and join in with the Easter Dinosaur Egg Hunt, see if you can solve the clues to uncover the mystery to win a special chocolate treat.

easter holiday family fun

When: 6th – 22nd April / Where: World of Country Life Exmouth

There will be a full programme of activities to get stuck into, including feeding baby lambs and watching the beautiful Hawkridge Birds of Prey flying display show, there will also be Easter arts and crafts to enjoy, the Easter egg trail to follow where you need to find all the hidden eggs for a tasty prize!

cadbury easter egg hunt at national trust

When: 2nd – 28th April* / Where: Killerton House, Agatha Christie’s Greenway and Compton Castle

Join in with Cadbury’s annual Easter egg hunt at National Trust Properties, where you can explore these stunning pieces of history, from inside the castles and stately homes, to the luscious gardens and woodland surrounding them. Follow the trails, find the hidden clues and solve the activities for a chocolate prize.

*check dates at each location before visiting

So if you’re in the Hawkchurch area or visiting our 5-star location over the Easter period, there are lots of family-friendly events and activities to get stuck into while you’re here.

Visit the Jurassic Coastline this Easter and enjoy some family fun activities in Dorset while exploring the local area

Enjoy the peaceful Wareham Forest Lodge Retreat offering a unique holiday experience, where you can explore the Dorset coastline this Easter, which a plethora of events to get involved in all over the local area. Kick off your Easter holidays the right way Wareham Forest, where you’ll get some mini eggs during check in (best check in ever, right?).

easter at haynes

When: 5th – 22nd April / Where: Haynes International Motor Museum

Haynes museum will be offering family fun this Easter, with a Bentley Bunny Bingo trail for little ones to keep an eye out for rabbits hidden all over the exhibition, there is also a quiz booklet which contains fun facts and games to enjoy, once all these are completed you can get your chocolate treat!

cadbury’s easter egg hunt

When: 6th – 22nd April / Where: Corfe Castle

Enjoy the annual Cadbury’s Easter Egg Hunt at Corfe Castle and explore all the secret places around the Medieval ruins, follow the trail and get stuck into the activities in order to claim your chocolate treat at the end of the trail.

easter holidays

When: 6th – 22nd April / Where: The Tank Museum

There will be free family trails with teasers and puzzles to keep everyone engaged, as well as all the fantastic activities they have all year round including demonstrations, with real lifelike explosions and expert commentary so you can all learn how tanks have evolved and how they are used in battles. Keep your eyes peeled for the brand new Spring exhibition too!

eggcellent easter

When: 19th – 22nd April / Where: Farmer Palmer’s

Farmer Palmer’s offers a fun family day out, with daily egg hunts over Easter weekend, with the Easter Bunny making an appearance too you’re sure to have a great time. There will also be adorable baby animals to meet and great, including Pygmy Goats, Lambs and Chicks to marvel at.

easter eggstravaganza

When: 14th – 17th April / Where: Monkey World

Visit this amazing attraction and learn all about the rescue of the Monkey World inhabitants and get a free Easter Egg upon entry over Easter weekend. Wander around the park and meet all the interesting characters, before exploring the Children’s Activity Centre, which will be bursting with fun activities and information for all ages.

easter at Lulworth

When: 19th – 22nd April / Where: Lulworth Castle

Lulworth is celebrating Easter with Alice in Wonderland themed activities, fall down the rabbit hole and join in with the Easter hunts, trails and crafts, there will also be a bouncy castle, soft play for the little ones, crazy golf for the whole family and White Rabbits and Easter eggs! The Mad Hatter will be waiting in the castle for your visit with a variety of refreshments.

Wareham Forest Lodge Retreat allows you to explore Dorset and all it’s wonderful activities this Easter, there will be something for the whole family to enjoy!

Piran Meadows Resort & Spa offers the perfect place to base yourself while exploring Newquay this Easter

Visit Newquay for Easter and stay with us at Piran Meadows Resort & Spa for a family fun Easter break in Cornwall! With the local area bursting with fun activities to join in on, plus the park having a plethora of activities to enjoy onsite, including a full Go Active + programme including a climbing wall, water walkers, mini jet skis and archery. There really will be something for everyone to enjoy this Easter in Newquay!

cadbury’s easter egg hunt

When: 6th April – 25th April / Where: Cotehele

Pick up a map from the ticket office and follow all the clue around the garden of Cotehele in the annual Cadbury Easter Egg Hunt, which will lead you to a chocolatey treat! Don your thinking caps to decipher Bunny’s clues and have a fun, family day outdoors in the spring sunshine.

easter golden egg challenge

When: 6th April – 22nd April / Where: Paradise Park Wildlife Sanctuary

The beautiful Golden Eagle ‘Tails’ will be joining in on the Eagle of Paradise flying display for Easter! In celebration Paradise Park have hidden a golden egg somewhere in the park, find the golden egg and you’ll get a chocolate treat at the end! There is a whole two weeks filled with family friendly events at Paradise Park for Easter.

easter trail extraordinaire

When: 7th April – 22nd April / Where: St Michael’s Mount

Follow the curious trail all around the harbour and quaint village, you’ll learn about the people who have visited and created homes at the Mount. Answer and find all the clues on the trail to get a fabulous reward!

easter fun

When: 19th April – 22nd April / Where: Lappa Valley Steam Railway

Visit Lappa Valley Steam Railway this Easter for some eggtastic family fun, including a colouring competition, an eggciting egg hunt and fun duck racing! All events are included in the admission price, enjoy a steam train journey this Easter at Lappa Valley.

Book your Easter break in Newquay, Cornwall and stay at Piran Meadows to enjoy all the fun of the stunning countryside, while still being a short distance from the world-renowned beaches of coastline.

Join in on the fun family activities of the Go Active + programme, or have a blast in the splash zone, and if the weather isn’t on your side, never fear because Piran Meadows has a fabulous indoor entertainments area, with golf simulator and two-lane bowling alley.

Dorset is home to some of the UK’s most beautiful and historic beaches, so what are the hidden gems in the beautiful region?

Our own Wareham Forest Lodge Retreat is ideally located in Dorset to explore all the big tourist traps and those hidden secrets not found in the guides, we’ve managed to list a few of these hidden gems for you in this post, explore this historic region and learn all about the history of the area!

Lulworth Castle & Park

Nestled in the heart of privately owned Lulworth Estate, this 17th Century Marvel stands in all its beauty. The current owners have had the Estate and Castle in the family since 1641, so 375 years, in which the exterior of the castle has hardly changed at all. With stunning views of the Jurassic Coast and under rated Dorset countryside, the surrounding grounds offer a magical and ancient woodland, family fun lawn games (giant Jenga!) and an activity room for the kids inside for the wetter days.

Mapperton House & Gardens

This stunning Tudor Manor house was re-modelled in 1660 and has remained unchanged since, with a charming café on the grounds to enjoy a spot of tea and cake while you survey the beautiful three tiered gardens. Including a lovely little croquet lawn, grottoes, ornamental birds and animals, water fountain, fish ponds and magical wild gardens, all ready for you to explore! The beautiful gardens have even featured in a few movies, including Jane Austin’s novel adaption Emma (1995), starring Gwyneth Paltrow.

the Globe Inn

A wonderful traditional local pub, with a warm and friendly atmosphere, even to the furbabies of your family, as dogs are welcomed with open arms too! The Globe Inn has a novel arrangement with talented Chef Ash, he rents the kitchen out to cater to customers on Thursday and Friday evenings, as well as weekends. Make sure to book a table in advance, Ash’s food is a hit with locals and tourists alike, you can have a drink and some grub while watching sports on TV or playing a game of pool.

The Victorian belief of bathing helping to heal ailments helped to create the wonderful Tunnels Beaches in 1820’s

The Tunnels Beaches are around a 30 minute walk (or a 10 minute drive) away from our beautiful Beach Cove Coastal Retreat, where you can enjoy a romantic getaway to Hele Bay, Ilfracombe in picturesque North Devon. The Tunnels are an award-winning and must-see tourist attraction in Ilfracombe, with subterranean tunnels carved in the 1820’s leading to bathing pools and fabulous coves.

The Tunnels’ history

Local entrepreneurs helped to transform Ilfracombe from a small fishing village in North Devon into an extremely popular seaside resort by employing a team of hundreds of Welsh miners to hand carve 6 tunnels, leading to 3 tidal bathing pools. Four tunnels are still in use today, with the coastline virtually unchanged from the 1800s, but it is now an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and marine conservation area.

Before the tunnels were carved, the surrounding coves and caves were known to be used by smugglers, and one was even the site where famous Knight William De Tracey hid after the murder of Thomas Becket, the Archbishop of Canterbury in 1170.

The Tunnels took two years to build, with 950 cubic metres of rock removed by the Welsh miners and you can still see the pickaxe marks today all throughout the tunnels.

The Bath House

The Victorian cities were home to beautiful bath houses, and with Ilfracombe now a favourite tourist spot of city dwellers, the local population saw the need for an indoor bathing house.
The Ilfracombe Sea Bathing Company commissioned and built a large and elegant Bath House in 1836. There was sea water sent from the Tunnels Beaches by a wood fuelled boiler that powered a pump, baths were taken inside a labyrinth of small enclosures beneath the house for privacy.

It is key to remember that during this time, bathing was seen as an aid to health and doctors often prescribed ‘bathing’ as acute to medical ailments, it was not seen as something that was done for pleasure at the time.

Bathing, either inside or outside, was segregated and tightly enforced with any man attempting to spy on the women promptly arrested. Mixed bathing was eventually allowed in 1905.

rock pooling

Ilfracombe was made world famous for rock pooling during the Victorian era by a renowned biologist called Philip Henry Gosse, who was a friend of Charles Darwin. Gosse discovered several new species of marine life at the Tunnels Beaches, which made thousands of tourists head to the area to enjoy the new fashionable hobby of rock pooling.

The Tunnels Beaches is still a very popular rock pooling destination and is rated the 3rd best beach for rock pooling in the UK by the BBC Wildlife Magazine. The unrivalled rock pools are perfectly placed to make the most of the rugged coastline and are always teaming with sea-life of rare species and even rare sea coral.

Victorian etiquette

The Victorians are known for their manners and importance on politeness, the Tunnels Beaches had ‘etiquette guides’ for boating, as well as boys and girls habits. We have collated a few lines from each below to see what life was a little bit like in the Victorian era…

Etiquette for Boating

• men who cannot swim should never take ladies upon the water
• Great care must be taken not to splash the ladies, either in first dipping the oars or subsequently
• Neither should anything be done to cause them fright

Etiquette for Boys

• Respect your father and mother, and give them their proper titles at all times
• Guard against a profusion of slang that would do credit to a pickpocket

Etiquette for Girls

• When you talk, keep your hands still
• Get up in time for breakfast
• Be natural: a pure diamond is better than a good imitation
• Be reticent: the world at large has no interest in your private affairs

opening times & prices

Always check the Tunnels Beaches website for the most up to date times and prices.

Prices

The Tunnels Beaches is a Blue Flag award-winning location, with a rich history in the local area. They are also a popular wedding venue located on the private beach of the Gentlemen’s Pool, there is an option of a beautiful thatched gazebo overlooking the sea or have your ceremony inside the stylish and bespoke venue building also with wonderful sea views.

Beach Cove Coastal Retreat offers a romantic getaway in our beautiful boutique Beach Hut accommodation, which only sleeps 2 for the ultimate break in Devon. Our Beach Huts have everything you could need for a self-catering holiday, including essential kitchen facilities, the comfiest of beds and wonderfully sumptuous sofas, as well as a range of hot tub accommodation to add a little extra to your holiday.

Mary Anning was a wonderfully fascinating 19th Century female fossilist in Lyme Regis, who helped to change the way scientists look at the world

Mary Anning has been mentioned as being in consideration as one of the historical figures to be printed on the new £50 notes, and she has been part of our culture for centuries, Mary is the lady behind the “she sells sea shells on the sea shore” children’s rhyme!

Mary lived in Lyme Regis, making a living by searching the cliffs and beach in Lyme Bay for fossils and selling them to wealthy scholars and collectors. She also took these scholars on excursions around the Bay and even consulted with them on anatomy and classification. She managed to carve a career doing what she loved during a time when women struggled for independence.

Mary’s history

Mary’s discoveries were some of the most important geological finds of all time, they provided evidence which was central in developing new ideas about the geological history of the Earth and what happened to create our landscapes. During the 19th Century, women were not allowed to vote, hold public office or attend university and the Geological Society of London did not allow women to become members or attend meetings. Mary was seen as an outsider within the scientific community of the age, she did however become well thought of and was eventually held in high regard by a few influential members of the society.

Mary actually knew a lot more about fossils than the wealthy scholars she sold to. They would buy the fossil and listen to her analysis, they would then publish it as their own finding and never credit Mary. This was actually a common pattern in the 19th Century against working class people, with many fossils being found by construction workers or quarrymen, who would then sell to weather collections, who in turn were credited with the find if they were of scientific value. Mary grew tired and angry about this and frequently wrote about her frustrations to friends and in her diary.

Although Mary was not allowed to be part of the societies or scientific community, she did manage to carve a name for herself with a number of high profile discoveries, a lot of hard work and her seemingly endless knowledge.

Mary’s discoveries

Mary Anning’s discoveries came at a time when there was little knowledge about the world outside of religious teachings, her geological findings shock the scientific community to the core. It made them start to think about the world slightly differently and look at alternative explanations for the changes that have occurred in the Earth.

Her very first famous discovery was in 1811 and was the fossil of an Ichthyosaurus skeleton found along the Lyme Bay cliffs. It was actually the first Ichthyosaurus skeleton to come to the attention of the scientific circles in London.

In 1823 Mary found an almost complete skeleton of a Plesiosaurus in Lyme Bay, it was then sold to William Conybeare who published his findings and neglected to mention Mary, not crediting her for the find much her frustration. However, in 1830, she found another complete Plesiosaurus skeleton and was credited for this find.

She also made a number of smaller, but still significant discoveries which greatly contributed to early Paleontology, including a number of fossilised ink chambers and the first Pterosaur skeleton found outside of Germany.

Mary was also a key role for scholars to visit Lyme Regis in search for excursions to the Bay, as well as offering consultations and classification advice to many in the societies.

hardships & passing

Mary was a little unlucky and had faced a number of financial hardships throughout her life. The worst came when she lost her life savings, around £300 (a huge sum in those days), to a bad investment. Her friend William Buckland persuaded the British Association for the Advancement of Science, as well as the Government, to award a civil list pension in return for her geological contributions. The £25 a year pension allowed her some security until her next geological find.

At 47 Mary passed away after suffering from breast cancer for around a year. The Geological community showed their high regard for Mary when they heard about her cancer diagnosis in 1846, they managed to raise money to help her with expenses for medical help and general living. The Dorset Museum also made her an honouree member.

After her death Mary was buried at St Michael’s Church, a deeply religious person, Mary was devout to her church throughout her life. The Geological community contributed to a stained glass window in her memory at St Michael’s Church, you can visit the church, gravesite and see the window today.

Mary was well thought of in the scientific community of this point, with her childhood and lifelong friend the President of the Geological Society. He wrote a eulogy which was published in the quarterly transactions, it was the first ever given to a woman, as this honour was only reserved for society members. Later on, Charles Dickens wrote an article about her life and hardships, emphasising all the difficulties she overcame to make a name for herself.

Mary Anning created a career and status for herself, by hard work and relentless self-teaching of fossils. Finding fantastic geological specimens along the Jurassic Coast in Lyme Regis cemented her story and her knowledge ensured her legacy.

Why not spend the day scouring Lyme Bay for any fossils Mary may have missed? You can learn more about Mary at the Lyme Regis Museum, which is only a short drive from our very own Hawkchurch Resort & Spa in South Devon, a 5 star luxurious location with first-class facilities like no other.

Relax in the soothing Hydrotherapy pool, or soak up the heat in the sauna and steam room, before indulging in a luxurious Aromatherapy Associates treatment at our on-park Ezina Spa. Grab a bite to eat at our Bistro Restaurant and sit back with a drink from our fully stocked bar, or hit the weights in our state-of-the-art gym.

Book your holiday at Hawkchurch, or book a park tour and find out about our holiday home ownership options, allowing you to explore the local area in your own time and taking advantage of our facilities, views and stunning lodges for sale in South Devon.

Call our dedicated team on 01745 858010 for more ownership information or feel free to talk to an advisor via our Live Chat service.

Take a look at the pictures below for a little sneak peek inside our stunning beach hut accommodation at Beach Cove Coastal Retreat

Beach Cove is located on the cliff-side of Hele Bay, in picturesque Ilfracombe, Devon. Our quirky beach hut accommodation offers everything you will need on a romantic escape to the English Coast with sumptuous beds and a plethora of entertainment features. They certainly aren’t devoid of home from home luxuries, being almost like a Tardis when you walk through the patio doors.

A number of our beach huts come with hot tubs which you can enjoy whilst soaking up the coastal views. You can even bring your furbaby along with you, with pet friendly accommodation options available on-site too. Your dog will love the gorgeous Hele Bay beach setting.

Take a sneak peak of our beautiful beach huts in the images below to gain an understanding as to why Beach Cove Coastal Retreat has harnessed a reputation for being the romance capital of the UK.

How amazing do these beach huts look?

Imagine sitting back in your own private hot tub and gazing out over the dramatic coastline with your loved one before retreating into your very own heated quirky beach hut to watch a film or two in complete comfort.

There is also plenty to do in the local area around the resort, with wonderful pubs and restaurants offering delicious meals. This is without mentioning the plethora of scenic walks which await you should you fancy a romantic stroll. For romantic breaks, think Darwin Escapes and our beautiful Beach Cove Coastal Retreat!