The Cove, Pentewan

The Cove in Pentewan, near St. Austell, Cornwall, is a popular bed and breakfast run by a friendly and attentive mother and daughter team from a building known as Piskey Cove. "Piskey" is Cornish for "pixie".

The rear part of the building was constructed in the seventeenth century and was originally a row of fishermen's cottages occupying the banks of a small estuary. The front part was appended to three of the cottages to form one building.

A comfortable lounge area is available for guests to use, with a wood burner, coffee tables, two settees and an armchair carved from the root of a pine tree. A wide range of games and books are on offer for visitors to use.

Despite its modest size as a dwelling one has a selection of options at breakfast time. Whether the guest has a traditional English in mind or something altogether more healthy, the hosts are eager to please. The "bed" part of the deal is equally attractive, with clean, spacious and comfortable rooms.

The locality is convenient for visits to The Eden Project, Lanhydrock House and Caerhays Castle, but it is worth spending a little quality time also in Pentewan's picturesque village.

Merry Christmas from The Holiday Zone

The Holiday Zone wishes its visitors a Merry Christmas filled with festive joy and a very Happy and Prosperous New Year for 2015.

Langstone Hotel, Portsmouth

Hayling Island is not the buzzing family seaside resort it once was, which could be why the Langstone Hotel advertises itself as being in Portsmouth. But it is on the island, across the bridge from the mainland, and is the first accommodation one encounters upon crossing.

It is also a wonderful hotel with luxurious facilities and quality provision at what some would consider to be guest house prices.

With pleasant views across the water and generous car parking the impression gained by the new visitor is always good. But it gets significantly better when one enters the hotel and is attended to by the highly professional staff at reception.

The Langstone boasts 148 luxury and executive bedrooms, ten modern conference halls, a fully-equipped fitness centre, spa and swimming pool. Its immaculate presentation and state of the art facilities may go some way to explaining its popularity as a venue for weddings and other functions.

The restaurant overlooks the harbour and estuary, allowing the option of al fresco dining in pleasant surroundings. Service is always of the highest quality and the menu lists a wide range of options.

Also appealing is the convenience of the Langstone's location - just a couple of miles from the beach at the south of the island but also within easy reach of the mainland, which it looks out onto.

The Langstone Hotel is quality accommodation for anybody who is staying on Hayling Island - presentable but not at all pricey as hotels of its kind go. All in all it combines excellent value with some really first class service.

New Leaseholder Set to "Restore Gurnard Pines to its Former Glory"

The new leaseholder of Gurnard Pines Holiday Village on the north of the Island has spoken of his plans to restore the complex to its former glory.

Island-based businessman John Perrett, who already runs thriteen Spar convenience shops on the Island, has secured a twenty-year lease on the swimming pool, gym, and other leisure buildings. The lease does not cover the holiday homes, which will be continue to be hired out by a new company.

"All funds paid in respect of ground rents and service charges will be protected. A statement will be sent to all leaseholders in due course with details of how to pay in future," said Terry Prosser, director of the freehold operator. "Any deposits paid for holidays or parties will be honoured by the new company."

Reproduced with acknowledgements to Isle of Wight Review.

The Walpole Bay Hotel, Cliftonville

Cliftonville, like Margate of which it is effectively a part, is a one-time buzzing family holiday resort which is slowly recovering from the serious blight and neglect which had afflicted it for a great many years.

Back in the 1970s the seafront was alive with activity, largely due to the presence of Butlin's which owned several hotels in close proximity to one another. However once they departed Cliftonville ceased to be a holiday destination in any meaningful sense of the term and most of the buildings went into a state of serious neglect, just as Margate itself suffered the loss of Dreamland (later Bembom Brothers) and much of its identity as the summer retreat for Londoners famously referenced in a song by Chas and Dave.

However in the years pending the fairly recent arrival of the popular Turner Contemporary art gallery in Margate, the rejuvenation of the Harbour and the promised rebirth of Dreamland there was something of note that remained in Cliftonville, still attracting lots of visitors and enjoying the support and patronage of many visitors of renown, and that was the exquisite Walpole Bay Hotel and Museum.

Offering a unique combination of modern accommodation standards and provision with the ambience of a bygone era, the Walpole Bay has attracted a veritable roll call of celebrities, the names of whom are featured around the building alongside untold exhibits of yesteryear such as typewriters, dolls, tills, domestic appliances and household effects which render the whole building simultaneously a hotel and a museum. With its flowered terraces and verandas and its unique 1927 Otis trellis gated lift, the Walpole Bay Hotel has been featured on the sets of so many films and advertisements that the owners claim to have "lost count", but they include EastEnders, Sky Sports, GMTV, One Foot in the Past and a programme featuring local artist Tracy Emin.

The service isn't bad either! The comfortable Restaurant, Bar Lounge and Terrace is open from 7am each day and serves everything from breakfasts, through Sunday lunches to cream teas, including to non-residents. Rooms are available at highly competitive rates and offer all the facilities that one would expect from quality accommodation.

Without question the Walpole Bay is the place to stay in Cliftonville, and being within reasonable walking distance of Margate proper is also an attractive option for anybody visiting the recovering Kent seaside resort.

The Inn at Ardgour

The Inn at Ardgour is a splendid small hotel on the shores of Loch Linnhe in the Scottish Highlands, just outside Fort William. After driving a few miles south of the town a short crossing on the Corran Ferry will take you more or less to the front door. Travel on the ferry is free for foot passengers, but there is a charge for vehicles. Ardgour is directly accessible by road from Fort William, but it is a very long drive and when dark it is not for the faint-hearted.

The hotel has twelve en-suite bedrooms and a family suite, each of them enjoying a breathtaking view of Loch Linnhe. It describes itself as a "pet-friendly establishment", but the caveat is that yours should be friendly pets. No dangerous breeds of dog are permitted, nor any other dog that is considered likely to frighten the kids. Petless visitors should be aware however that the hotel management is very mindful of the comfort of all guests. Rooms are cleaned meticulously and some are kept permanently pet-free, whilst inside the hotel pets are kept very much under control.

Many visitors use The Inn as a convenient base when climbing Ben Nevis, the UK's tallest mountain, or en route to Skye or other islands. However it should not be overlooked as a holiday destination in its own right - Ardgour and the area around Glencoe and Loch Linnhe is quite beautiful, and the hotel is very clean, friendly and well-run, with spacious rooms, pleasant dining area in which excellent food is served, and a well-stocked and very comfortable bar.

As well as a website The Inn at Ardgour also now has its own Facebook page. All contact details are given, but we recommend booking some time in advance to avoid disappointment.

December Hot Tub Short Breaks from £119 Per Family

Enjoy a break away in a lovely, luxurious cottage from just £119 per break. With your own outdoor tub to relax in, Island View Holidays is dedicated to providing customers with the ultimate luxury holiday experience.

Be one of the first guests to secure your 2015 holiday at one of Island View's stunning award winning parks on the Isle of Wight. Book before 1st December 2014 and get a further £30 off!

Enjoy Short Breaks at Mill Rythe Holiday Village, Hayling Island

Tucked away beside Chichester Harbour on Hayling Island in Hampshire, Mill Rythe is the ideal destination for a wonderful British holiday. With its stunning coastlines, beautiful beaches and local attractions it is the perfect location for couples, families, and groups and offers something for every generation to enjoy.

All breaks are Half Board, meaning every great value break includes your bed, breakfast and delicious evening meals. The offers below are for Standard accommodation in a twin room for two people. Cots can also be provided upon request.

Musical entertainment is provided by some of the best tribute bands, chart-topping groups, visiting cabaret, great performers, a resident band and even iconic West End Shows. Deals on offer for 2015 include the following:

Half Term Break (16th to 20th February) - tons and activities for the kids and entertainment. £139 per twin room, breakfast and dinner included.

Festival of Tributes (6th to 9th March) - ideal for couples and families, amazing tribute acts each night. £109 per twin room, breakfast and dinner included.

May Day Entertainment Break (1st to 4th May) - great value weekend activity and entertainment break. £159 per twin room, breakfast and dinner included.

May Whitsun Activity Breaks (22nd to 25th and 25th to 28th May) - entertainment for everyone from small tots to grandparents. £169 per twin room, breakfast and dinner included.

All bookings through Break Free Holidays.

Christmas and New Year breaks from just £459 for the whole family

Island View Holidays are offering relaxing Christmas holidays in their exquisite home-from-home style cottages at Rookley Country Park on the Isle of Wight.

Choose from a short break holiday (22nd to 26th December) from just £459 for a whole family, or a full week (20th to 27th December) from £499. A family can include up to eight people.

Christmas packages include accommodation, complementary mince pies and mulled wine, three course Christmas lunch (for up to 4 people, £25 per extra person), and "all you can eat" Boxing Day breakfast (for up to 4 people, £5 per extra person).

New Year packages are also available and include a complimentary bottle of bubbly and tickets for the New Year's Eve Party.

For more information 'phone 01983 898916, or e-mail info@islandviewholidays.co.uk.

Secret Escapes - Keeping You Posted

Sometimes we need a little help in selecting the best deals on hotels and holiday locations, especially when we are looking for a little luxury.

Secret Escapes offers you hand-picked hotels and holidays, great rates and exclusive deals for its own members. All you have to do is provide your e-mail address.

A bona fide service featured in the London Evening Standard and the Sunday Times, Secret Escapes provides an invaluable aid to your search for a luxury getaway. Just visit the website and leave your contact details, and the rest will be taken care of.