Camping in Cornwall a Great Option

The rise in Brits taking domestic camping holidays will generate £6.1 billion for the UK tourism industry this year, according to an industry specialist - though this should not lead to a decrease in travel insurance payments.

LV= has estimated that the number of people going camping in Britain this year will generate a substantial amount of money for the UK in 2009, with sites in Cornwall, the Lake District and the Yorkshire Dales likely to be popular.

The Camping and Caravanning Club published data last month that seemed to support this claim, revealing that it had witnessed a 50 per cent rise in occupancy rates over the Easter weekend.

Emma Holyer, spokeswoman for LV=, predicted that the positive weather forecasts made by the Met Office last month will increase the attractiveness of domestic breaks.

She said: "It's a cumulative effect that people are thinking about going camping this year [and] it is really good news for the travel industry in the UK."

Earlier this month, Skyscanner disclosed that the strength of the euro is preventing many Brits from travelling to destinations abroad.

Camping Holidays in the UK | Travel Insurance Cover

Technorati Tags: cornwall, uk, camping, travel,

Now Easier than Ever to Visit Cornwall, UK

Newquay Cornwall Airport’s Head of Commercial Development, Karen Medweth, announced “We are extremely happy to extend our route network with flights from Birmingham, which will open up a strong new link from Cornwall’s largest market in the heart of the country. We especially anticipate the flights being popular with leisure travellers looking to enjoy Newquay, which is regarded as the surf capital of the UK. Cornwall has developed its own unique culture and offers award winning beaches, fashionable bars and superb cuisine, as well as first class local attractions including the Eden Project, The Tate at St. Ives and The National Maritime Museum.

“We are very aware of the value placed on time in the short-break market and with this in mind, the Friday and Sunday departure times have been deliberately scheduled to maximise the potential for weekend visitors to Cornwall. The flight time of just over one hour also compares extremely favourably with an estimated drive time of 4hrs 30 minutes, representing even more time-saving benefits.”

Newquay Cornwall Airport Birmingham flights - Low Cost Airline News

Technorati Tags: cornwall, newquay, airport, flights, birmingham

Cornwall Takes the Gold for Wine

Bob Lindo of Camel Valley spent 20 years cultivating his victorious vineyards in Cornwall.

He's just won the UK's first ever gold medal in the International Wine Challenge - the Oscars of the wine world.

"Every time anybody in the English wine industry wins something it's good for everybody," he said.

"We all gain and it raises the profile of English wine in general."

Since winning the prize, sales of his Bacchus 2007 have soared, and they're not just toasting the success of English wines in Cornwall.

A total of 24 medals were awarded to British bottles.

One of the judges, the wine critic Tim Atkin, says it's no surprise home-grown wine is going down well.

"The lovely thing about English wines is they're a bit like English apples - they've got a beautiful perfume to them, those hedgerow flavours you get in English wine are just like a beautiful Autumn afternoon," he said.

The UK is the largest importer of wines and often considered the hub of the international wine trade. But only 0.3% of the bottles we buy are British.

There are currently 383 vineyards in the UK. And every year they produce 2.2 million bottles of wine.

But that's nothing compared to France which makes nearly seven billion.

English Wine Bacchus 2007 By Bob Lindo Wins Industry Oscar Gold | Business | Sky News

UK Tourism on the Rise, Along with the Weather

Positive weather predictions boost UK tourism

The Met Office's prediction that the UK would see warm and dry weather this summer has led to a surge of domestic holiday bookings, according to the Daily Telegraph.

The newspaper claims that many leading travel agents and tour operators are seeing significant increases in bookings from Britons taking their summer holidays at home in 2009, as households cut back on overseas holidays due to the economic pressures of the global recession.

One travel company told the Telegraph that, on the day of the Met Office announcement - Thursday April 30 - online bookings more than doubled. And over last week's Bank Holiday weekend, the number of reservations were up by 103 per cent on the same period in 2008.

Scotland is proving to be one of the most popular destinations for domestic tourists this year, with tourists flocking to the Edinburgh festivals in August, scenic spots in the Highlands and Islands of north Scotland and Homecoming Scotland events across the country.

Other destinations sought out by those holidaying at home are the Lake District- England's biggest national park - and Cornwall in the south west, which is home to several seaside towns like Newquay and Falmouth.

As well as traditional hotels and cottages, camping and caravanning also looks set to be popular in 2009. Jon Dale from The Camping and Caravanning Club told the Telegraph:

"The interest in both camping and caravanning since the turn of the year has been quite incredible. If the weather is as good as predicted by the Met Office then I expect us to have one of our busiest summers on record."

Official tourist board Visit Britain has forecast a 20 per cent rise in the number of people holidaying at home, will Visit Scotland has predicted a 25 per cent increase in domestic tourists.

Technorati Tags: tourism, uk, weather, climate

Cornwall to Host Dive Fest

Dive Fest in Cornwall UK by Sara-Lise Haith on DeeperBlue.com

The DIVE FEST 2009 which is to take place at Pentewan Sands Holiday Park on May 15th to 17th 2009, is a brand-new festival set to be the UK’s biggest diving event of the year.

There’s going to be diving, snorkelling, and try dives. There is also a party on the beach on the Saturday night, with a band, hog/lamb roast, dancing and a bonfire. Famous divers, such as Monty Halls, will be speaking about their work and there will be films showing throughout the weekend. It’s an event for all the family with MCS beachcombing walks, volley ball and other beach games.

The PADI sponsored film "DROP ZONE", first shown at DEMA 2008, will have its UK premiere on Friday the 15th May at the festival.

There will be an underwater treasure hunt with some great prizes, as well as a photo competition. Diving manufacturers will also be on hand to show their latest products and in some cases give people a chance to dive with their new kit.

Winning entries to the British Underwater Image Festival will also be on view, with a prizegiving ceremony on the Sunday.

The event starts a 6pm on Friday 15th and concludes on Sunday 17th at 5pm. For further information see the Dive Fest website.

Technorati Tags: cornwall, diving, pentewan sands

May Events

May 2009



1st - Padstow Obby Oss Day

2nd to 4th May - National Surfing Championships at Watergate Bay

7th to 16th May - Daphne du Maurier Festival in Fowey

8th - Flora day for the Furry Dance in Helston

10th - Bluebell Sunday at Pencarrow House Bodmin

13th-14th - Bocconnoc Spring Fair near Lostwithiel

23rd to 31st - Fal River Festival

24th to 25th - Wartime Weekend at Pendennis Castle Falmouth

30th - 65th D-Day Anniversary at TrebahGarden near Falmouth

30th to 31st - Food and Craft Fair at Trelissick Gardens near Truro

May - From the farm

What a lovely April we have had. The blossom on the fruit trees is amazing so here’s hoping for a bumper crop of apples and pears come the Autumn.

Family home over Easter – had a good picnic in the sunshine at Godrevy on the Sunday. Loads of seals to be seen on the rocks there. Went over to St. Mawes on the King Harry Ferry – amazing to see these huge ships lying idle moored up in the deep waters of the Fal.

Planning to get over to Helston for Flora Day – always a lovely experience especially first thing in the morning for the Hal –an-Tow.

Will shortly be moving the in-calf cows into the three front fields where we can keep an eye on the calving situation.

No sign of the swallows in the courtyard yet.