If you have the need for speed, head on down to the Somerset Speedway and witness the Somerset Rebels team taking on all competitors in their pursuit of the Premier League Speedway Crown!

You don’t automatically associate the quiet Somerset countryside with speed and adrenalin, with its idyllic Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty and tranquil walking routes. But did you know that the 2009 Formula 1 World Champion Jenson Button was born and brought up just down the road from Cheddar Woods Resort & Spa in Frome?

In fact engines and thrill seeking are far more widespread in this area than you would imagine, with the exhilarating Somerset Speedway also within easy driving reach for anyone staying at our 5 star Somerset holiday resort, running alongside the M5 motorway near Highbridge.

the premier league

The Somerset Speedway, also known as the Oaktree Arena, is a 300 metre oval circuit which was constructed by Australian rider Glyn Taylor back in 2000. It has become a base for the Somerset Rebels team who compete in the Premier League series which is the second tier of Speedway behind the Elite League.

There are 13 teams who are competing in this category including the Somerset Rebels who were promoted to this category back in 2002, having won junior categories including the Conference League KO Cup and Conference League Trophy.

The Somerset Rebels have consistently been competing for top honours in the Premier League since, with 13 trophies to their name including the outright Premier League Championship trophy in 2013.

the Somerset rebels team

There are four new riders in the team for 2016, including two Australian riders 20 year old Jake Allen, who is having his first season in the UK and 26 year old Rohan Tungate, who has been brought in from the Ipswich team for whom he has competed over the past four years.

Another new recruit to the team is New Zealander Bradley Wilson-Dean, who is highly regarded in the sport having previously been crowned the NZ U21 Champion on two occasions.

The team is staying in touch with its local roots with 18 year old Zach Wajtknecht who comes from Saltford, Bristol. He isn’t just there due to his connection to the local area, with a string of successes on his record being a three time World Longtrack champion having won the 125cc Youth Gold Trophy in 2012, and 2013 as well as being the 250cc Youth Gold Champion in 2014.

Three of the teams riders who won the Premier League KO Coup in 2015 will be retained for the coming season. They are Australian Josh Grajczonek who will captain the team, along with British pairing Paul Starke and Charles Wright who was the named Somerset’s most exciting rider of 2015 by fans. Much is expected of the Somerset Rebels and their new line-up in 2016.

see them in action

Regardless of whether you are a petrol head or not, we highly recommend a visit to the Somerset Speedway if you are staying at Cheddar Woods Resort & Spa. There are two upcoming home fixtures being hosted at the speedway in May where you can see these remarkable daredevils in action. The first is a Premier League KO Cup Match against Workington on the 6th May. There is also a Premier League Match being hosted at the speedway on the 13th May against the Glasgow team.

These remarkable riders with their nerves of steel really have to be seen to be believed, with tickets available from £15 for adults and just £4 for young adults (between the ages of 12 and 18). Children under the age of 11 are admitted free of charge, making it a great and affordable evening out for the whole family.

Surrey has plenty to offer everyone over the summer half term, festivals, live music, nature and beautiful birds! Tilford Woods Lodge Retreat is nestled in the heart of Surrey, surrounded by nature but only a short train journey to London. If you wanted to stick a little closer to “home” and explore the local area this half term, here are a few family fun things to do…

birds of prey week

Where: Godstone Farm
When: 28th May – 5th June

Godstone Farm is a family fun place to visit anytime of year, but over half term there is a special treat in the form of Hawkforce, and their amazing birds of prey! There will be a selection of beautiful birds on display throughout the week, some will be taking flight for demonstrations too! The wonderful Hawkforce team are incredibly knowledgeable and have a real passion for their craft, learn facts to wow your friends from this lovely bunch! There really is nothing quite like getting up close with one of these birds.

happy days festival

Where: Imber Court, Esher
When: 28th & 29th May

This weekend festival is back by popular demand and blending three decades of music, the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s! They make sure to recreate the sure-fire, feel good factor of your youth (and my youth!) all in a beautiful 40 acre site at the heart of Surrey. There will be a fun retro themed bar, fun pyrotechnics, brilliant games area and plenty of family fun activities! Artists confirmed to perform are The Human League, Vula (Basement Jaxx vocalist) and DJ Jazzie B (Soul II Soul front man) to name a few, but there are many more! Tickets for the festival are available at the door, so go get your happy on!

spring festival

Where: Farnham
When: 29th May

This family fun festival is to celebrate the Queen’s special birthday, with live music, plenty of tasty food and drink on offer and huge range of activities! Including learning how to taiko drum with Farnham taiko club, practicing your football skills with Aldershot Football Club, as well as learning how to street dance with the Farnham Dance Movement! A family fun day out in Farnham!

cherryfest

Where: The Duke of Cambridge
When: 30th May

The Duke of Cambridge pub is right next door to Tilford Woods and having just undergone a major renovation now is the perfect time to drop in. Cherryfest is an annual event at the Duke and is hugely popular, a fantastic day out for the whole family! With fabulous live music, a children’s entertainer, a bouncy castle, inflatable climbing wall and loads more! Delicious food and a charity raffle on offer, so drop in, have fun and help raise some funds!

Happy Adventuring this half term!

Settled near the peaceful village of Axminister in North Devon and close to the historic coastal village of Lyme Regis, there is plenty going on this half term…

Hawkchurch Resort & Spa is fast becoming known as the perfect place to take a relaxing holiday, with our state of the art facilities, mouth-watering food at The Beeches and breathtaking hydrotherapy pool. The sleepy village of Axminister offers centuries of history to explore and the near by Lyme Regis has unrivalled views of the beautiful Jurassic Coast.

Although you can sit back and relax this half term if you choose to, Lyme Regis and the surrounding areas, also have some great family fun on offer too…

Sherborne Castle country fair

Where: Sherborne Castle
When: 30th May

This annual and traditional country fair will show off the areas traditional rural skills for everyone to marvel at! With lots of family fun thrown in, including family activities, fun dog shows and dog agility courses (I love these!) along with fabulous dragon boat racing (not actual dragons, I was upset to find that out) and archery! With plenty of trade and boutique stalls to look through as well as crafts in the courtyard and a delicious sounding food hall selling local produce! A great traditional day out for all the family!

annual art society exhibition

Where: Lyme Regis Town Hall
When: 28th May – 8th June

The Lyme Regis Art Society are a hugely talented bunch and every year the members have the opportunity to share their recent art work at the town hall. With a huge range of skills the exhibitions shows the best the society has to offer, pop along for a few hours and you might find a masterpiece or two! Also certain items are on sale if anything does catch your artistic eye!

King Arthur and the inglewood

Where: Marine Theatre
When: 2nd June

A fantastic modern rendition of the classic King Arthur tale, set deep in the enchanted forest with fantastic supernatural beings and when the realm holding the dead crosses over with living King Arthur has the ultimate challenge bestowed on him! Enjoy this ancient tale in a while new way with super exciting visuals, live action, music to tap your feet to and even fantastic puppetry!

Have a fabulous half term holidays at Hawkchurch Resort & Spa and happy adventuring folks!

It’s that time of year where we all have to figure out how to change our car clocks again, but the same things happen every year…

Now if you didn’t know how this all started, we can blame a gentleman named William Willett, not Benjamin Franklin as most people think. Good old Will first came up with the idea in the 1700’s because he wanted to be able to get up an hour earlier for a horse ride around London before it got ‘busy’, and not be in the dark, so cheers Will! But to be fair to him, we didn’t actually adopt the practice until during the Second World War to help conserve energy and resources.

So now we are at that time of year where we have to change the clocks and lose an hours sleep. Now in the grand scheme of things my brain says, logically it’s only an hour, it doesn’t make that much difference, but my brain is lying. It makes a big difference to the amount I moan at everyone for not getting enough sleep, for about a week afterwards.

every year the same things happen when the clocks go back, it’s inevitable, do you recognise any of these?

1. You worry your phone won’t automatically change, like they all do. So you end up using Google to find out, still not believing in it and setting another alarm just in case your phone is the only one in the world that won’t change.
2. Your parents become obsessed with telling you when the clocks change (every year without fail my mum texts me to tell me, and it’s generally the only reason I actually know)
3. You will forget to change the clock in your car for months – oh well it’s right for 6 months out the year.
4. You struggle to remember the saying “spring forward, fall back” – because we aren’t American and it’s called autumn.
5. Your tummy doesn’t understand that clocks have changed and grumbles away, a lot! How is it possibly another hour until lunch? (although mine grumbles ALL day anyway)

How many of these happen to you? Hawaii, Pueto Rico and Arizona State don’t have daylight saving, because I guess they don’t need to get up earlier for more sun, another reason to move to Hawaii (apart from being able to see the Hawaii Five- O show!). There are some adverse side effects to the clocks changing, there is a high risk of car accidents and workplace injuries so please be careful guys! There are also major cases of cyberloafing (you’re probably doing it now) by fatigued workers, and not to mention everyone is in a bad mood from losing an hour sleep – like me.

However, it does mean that we get an extra hour in the afternoon to be able to do whatever we want with without being in the dark. Like going out for a walk on the beach, or playing a round of golf, or like me you could pop to a spa and have a lovely treatment or get your nails done, perfect way to relax!

So good and bad points to the clocks changing – just bare with me while my mood adjusts to this new sleeping schedule, after a few coffees I’ll be back to normal!

Be Safe, Enjoy Sleep and Happy Extra Hour Adventuring!

Family fun in the heart of Somerset at our 5 Star Cheddar Woods Resort & Spa! Cheddar Woods is set in the heart of Somerset countryside, and this award winning resort is perfectly placed for endless family fun. With an amazing Go Active programme, the Mendip Hills offering beautiful scenic woodland walks and just a stone’s throw away from the magical Cheddar Gorge.

You will never struggle for things to do!It is no different at Easter, with the lovely Go Active and Cheddar Woods team having put their heads together for some egg-tastic fun (har-de-har!). Make a bonnet, cards and paint some eggs at the Easter Crafts session or show us your best baking skills at the Easter Cookery. For something a little more peaceful, you could settle down to watch a fantastic Easter movie in your luxury lodge.

Of course on Easter Sunday, enjoy the all day family egg hunt! Easter fancy dress is fully encouraged throughout the Easter break and pre-booking for the Easter events is advised due to their high popularity.

Have an amazing Easter break, eat lots of chocolate and enjoy making some crafts with our wonderful team!

Happy easter from Cheddar Woods!

Family fun this Easter break in Bude, Cornwall, with laughs, sea, sand and fantastic entertainment on offer!

Set in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, Sandymouth Holiday Resort has the best of both worlds, being close to the sandy beaches but also offering the beautiful rural Cornish countryside. With our fun entertainment programme, indoor heated swimming pool, as well as being surrounded by picturesque fishing villages and market towns you will never be short of something to do in beautiful Bude!

Our Easter entertainment programme includes fun children’s activities, games and of course the always cheeky Charlie Bear! We will also have a performance from fantastic magician and illusionist Alexander J, as well as the superb vocalist Sam Wrey who will be taking the stage in the Ocean Bar, where you can feast your eyes on the shows, indulge in some mouth watering food and grab a drink to enjoy your night! The little ones will have a blast at the traditional fun day, where there will be loads going on including Easter bonnet decorating, parade and the traditional fun Easter egg hunt. You could also have a wondrous blast with a fantastic full day of Alice and the Mad Hatter’s tea party! Change places!

We hope you have plenty of family fun this Easter break at our beautiful Sandymouth Holiday Resort, in the stunning Cornish countryside.

happy easter from Sandymouth!

Newquay is one of Cornwall’s most popular destinations, and the award winning Piran Meadows Resort & Spa is the perfect location to make your base and explore…

If you are spending some time at Piran Meadows Resrot & Spa, or around Newquay, I have found some great places to visit! Family friendly and fun places, as well as relaxing gardens to lose yourself in too.

Located only a few minutes drive from Newquay, Piran Meadows is the perfect place to base yourself when exploring the sights and sounds of the Cornish countryside and golden sandy beaches! If you’re looking to spend time on park you’ll find there is lots to offer too, from the relaxing Serenity Spa to the fun kids Splash Zone and play areas, as well as the beautiful accommodation and luxury indoor tropically heated swimming pool.

Here are my top 5 places to visit on your Newquay adventure…

1. the Japanese Garden – tranquil, beautiful and peaceful

The Japanese Garden combines the beauty of nature with an artistic refinement by shaping and styling the plants and natural elements. A Japanese Garden will traditioinally strive for perfection and balance with a combination of man made and natural elements, making it a place of tranquillity and peace, containing a variety of breath taking plants and calming water features. The garden was built as a meditative space, a place to calm the mind and let go of any unwanted stress through contemplation and reflection in the wonder of nature. Reopening it’s doors on March 1st, Spring is the perfect time to visit while the garden is awakening from its winter slumber, so drop in and calm your mind and marvel at the beauty of the garden and peace around you.

2. Kingsurf Surf School – water sports fun and beautiful beaches

Newquay is known for it’s golden sandy beaches and beautiful scenery, as well as being the epicentre for UK surfing. Kingsurf is a fantastic surfing school with its own base, including warm and dry changing rooms. The facility is located opposite the stunning Mawgan Beach that the Kingsuft school has a private licence for ensuring uncrowded perfection in a unique, unspoiled location. The school has been going for 19 years, and caters to all abilities, whether you are looking for a one lesson taster, or a week long progression course with fun and professional, qualified coaches. The beach is one of the best for beginners learning how to catch their first wave, and with plenty of cafés, shops and even Jamie Oliver’s Fifteen restaurant just a short walk away you can grab a bite to eat on your way home. Why not try out a lesson with people that will make you fall in love with the waves in Newquay, with the best kit, approachable and friendly coaches and the natural amphitheatre style cliffs?

3. the Lost Gardens of Helgian – beauty and history in one

With outstanding gardens set in an historical estate, The Lost Gardens of Heligan are a wonder to behold. They were resurrected from a lost part of history in the Cornish countryside, the 200 acre estate is a fascinating story through the ages, starting with the Thunderbox Room, and the wonderful inscription from August 1914 etched into the lime stone “Don’t come here to sleep or slumber” by the gardeners at the time. There are beautiful gardens to marvel at, a working productive garden where you can see how they would have farmed back in the day, as well as gorgeous farm animals too (who doesn’t love a cute pig?). With magical woodlands to offer, exotic flowers that have been planted on the grounds centuries ago, and 400 years of history the Lost Gardens will capture your imagination and your heart.

4. Holywell Bay Fun Park – family fun in Newquay

Ride, slide, splash and spin in fun at the wonderful Holywell Bay Fun Park, it has something for every age (even the big kids!) to enjoy. They have a unique ‘your day, your way’ approach which means that it is free to enter the park, and free parking is available too – which is always a bonus! And then you pay as you play, meaning you only pay for the rides you actually go on, how cool is that? They have an great diner to fuel up when your energy levels get low, and a new ice cream parlour for that tasty in between rides treat! The rides and attractions include, adventure golf, bouncy castles, the classic arcade and the hill billy shooting range, along with the Italian Job where you control 8 remote control cars, including a new mini, to recreate the all time classic movie! Or try your hand at the Merlin’s Magical Maze and enter at your own peril, dodge the waterfall, enter the caves unique labyrinth of paths and tunnels, there will be decisions to make and tricks to avoid, think you can get out? There is also the fantastic Sand and Digger Pit for the little’uns, where they can move mountains with the mechanical diggers while you watch from the picnic area and recharge your batteries. And then move on to the fantastic F1 Go Karts, where the adrenaline pumping experience will have you laughing with delight, while going up to speeds of 25mph in the high performance karts! There is also an option of the Whizz Kids and other karting rides for the littler ones in the group, that is just as much fun hearing their screeches of delight! A great family fun filled day out!

5. Quiksilver Surf School – sun, sand and surf

Newquay has the well deserved title of the UK’s epicentre for surfing, and with beaches like Fistral Beach with the waves and golden sand it is easy to see why. The Quiksilver Surf School overlooks the famous Newquay beach and offers surf hire, surf lessons and group bookings, as well as the infamous Roxy, all girls surfing weekend and fantastic Coasteering. The school has hot showers, lockers and up to date kit, with cracking views, as well as a great surf shop where you can pick up fantastic surfing kit, as well as the latest Roxy and Quiksilver clothing ranges. The Roxy weekend takes place once a year, it is an all girls weekend and it’s jam packed with fun fitness events, yoga classes, spa treatments to relax those aching muscles, buffet lunches, of course surfing and loads of Roxy goodies too! It’s an extremely popular weekend every year, catering to both newcomers catching their first wave and intermediate surfers looking for some more advanced coaching to hone those fantastic surfing skills. I would love to have a go and end up looking like I was Blue Crush (that Paul Walker movie?) but I know it would be more like Jaws knowing my luck!

…for the adventurous type!

I might try my hand at Coasteering, exploring the beautiful and rugged Cornish coastline from an new and intriguing angle, free falling off rock faces into the sea. This adrenaline-filled adventure will take you from secluded beaches to smugglers coves and secret caves, all inhabited by stunning and fascinating sea life, such as fun loving seals, playful dolphins and even basking sharks! Coasteering is one of the UK’s fastest growing sports, with a mix of sea swimming, wildlife watching and cliff jumping with qualified instructors who take everything into account, you will get hooked on the buzz from free falling!

And those are my top 5 things to do in Newquay! The place is buzzing with nightlife, wildlife and all kinds of life! (what other kind of life is there?) You will never be short of family fun, adrenaline-junky sports and outstanding views, visit Piran Meadows and have the adventure of a lifetime!

happy adventuring ladies and gents!

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5 Star family fun at our award winning Cornish resort, Piran Meadows Resort & Spa

Winning the prestigious ‘Best in Britian’ 2015 Accolade at the Hoseasons awards last year, Piran Meadows Resort & Spa has an unrivalled range of family facilities in the stunning North Cornwall Countryside. Just a few miles away from the beautiful golden beaches of Newquay, Piran Meadows has a lot to offer holiday makers and holiday home owners a like. Undergoing an extensive redevelopment and opening its doors in 2014, it couldn’t have asked for a better first year!

Piran Meadows has pulled all the stops out for the Easter break this year! The lovely Go Active team are putting on the traditional Easter egg hunt, fantastic Easter crafts including fun egg decorating! As well as Easter Archery, using Easter egg targets and if you hit them you get a delicious chocolate egg! And then you can all settle down, put your feet up and enjoy a fun Easter movie and grab a drink at the bar too.

Our relaxing Serenity Spa also has some great offers on for Easter too, if you book yourself a treat of a 30 minute express massage or a 30 minute express facial you’ll get a £20 voucher to spend on any Ren Products. We also have special teen treatments available, as well as fun and funky child’s Easter nails!

The View Bar & Bistro are also offering for a limited time, a decadent Cream Egg Sundae for dessert! While playing host to two fabulous cabaret shows, Jay Washington who is offering a soul and Motown tribute and some fantastic vocals from Mark Andrew Smith!

With so much on this Easter at Piran Meadows you will find the perfect Easter fun for you and your family!
Happy Easter from Piran Meadows!

Welcome to a love local blog post, we are adventuring to stunning Devon and the delightful Hele Corn Mill!

Hele Bay in Devon is a stunning part of the world, with breath taking views of the coastline. Beach Cove Coastal Retreat is set on the stunning cliffside overlooking Hele bay, with one of a kind beach hut accommodation showcasing glorious views of the ocean. Ilfracombe has a lot to offer and I looked at some great hidden gems last year, including the wonderful Hele Corn Mill.

centuries of history (diesel engines and mill mishaps!)

The Hele Corn Mill dates back to around 1525 and was built by John Bourchier, the Earl of Bath. It is a unique, Grade II listed building and worked as a flour mill until about 1940, although production had dropped significantly by the 1920s. The mill fell into disrepair in the late 1960’s but was renovated in the 1970’s by a local man, Chris Lovell, who restored it all to working order. They also have a 1920’s National Diesel Engine, which is in full working order and is able to power the waterwheel if there is not enough water (this often happens during the summer). The current owners provide guided tours, as much as possible, around the mill and regale with hilarious mishaps that have befallen the millers over the years, as well as the interesting history of the mill itself.

The little ones are sure to enjoy the tours too, with great games like ‘find the mice’ and ‘count the millstones’ keeping them entertained and intrigued throughout, as well as enjoying having a go at making flour using the hand quern too! They currently mill an organic heritage wheat from Dorset as well as wheat grown in Chittlehampton, Barnstaple. They do demonstration days to show how the mill worked, and they still use the 100 year old Blackstone Mill for the delicious homemade cakes at the Millers Wife Tea Room.

meet the millers! (isn’t that a movie?)

Here are Kathy and David, Kathy bakes all the delicious cakes on offer at the Tea Room from flour milled on site! A lovely couple, with a passion for history and everything about the mill, they will be able to tell you anything want to know about the history of this historic site.

award winning tea room (and lots of cake…)

The Miller’s Wife Tea Room has been named the winner of the North Devon Best Tea Room competition for the past three years. This consecutive run of excellence kind of speaks for itself! All the cakes are baked on the premises by the very talented Miller’s Wife, and the selection of cakes changes daily but always features a tempting selection of mill-made cakes. There is good range of cream teas on offer, with plain or fruit scones to choose from, and they serve delicious Devonshire splits for a truly traditional tea experience.

Try the speciality Thunder and Lightning tea which is a scone or split with cream and black treacle or syrup instead of strawberry jam, there is also savoury tea on offer, with cheese scones and onion marmalade, take your pick! Or if you wanted some lunch, the Tea Room has that to offer as well, with locally produced and prize winning pasties by Paul the Pieman (best name ever) and daily changing, homemade soup and crusty bread. The charming tea room can sit up to 25 people, and is perfect for a small party or bridal shower, along with the lovely garden area for extra seating on a sunny day, with beautiful views of the watermill.

Being only 5 minutes from the beach, why not drop in to the award winning Miller’s Wife Tea Room, marvel at the historic Corn Mill and Water Mill, and enjoy some cake! (it always comes down to cake…)

All images taken from the Hele Corn Mill Facebook page, make sure to keep up to date with them here.

Aberconwy is opulence and luxury personified, this Easter our lovely owners and members are in for a treat! Nestled between the glorious Conwy Morfa Beach and the breath taking Snowdonia Mountain Range, Aberconwy Resort & Spa has outstanding views from all angles. Some of the spectacular elements that make the Aberconwy Experience are the wonderful Mail’s Hair Salon, putting a spring in your step after a luxury hair treatment. Dine at the award winning Signatures Restaurant, work up a sweat at the state of the art Langley’s Country Club gym and indulge in relaxing treatment at The Langley Spa.

And introducing the brand new Langley’s Lounge to the Aberconwy Experience! Opening it’s doors on the 25th of March, the Langley’s Lounge will be serving Costa Coffee throughout the day and delicious alcoholic beverages throughout the evening. Having been worked and custom built over the past few months, the Langley’s Lounge is sure to be jaw dropping. The reception will also be playing host to the Easter Lucky Dip on Easter Sunday, inviting children and grandchildren to have a go and see if they win a prize, starting at 10am! All money donated will be going to the fantastic Welsh Air Ambulance.

Have a wonderful Easter, enjoy the beautiful new Langley’s Lounge, and see what you can win at the Easter Lucky Dip!

Happy Easter from Aberconwy!