Fish for Lodges

FISHING vacation website fishlodges.com has been updated with a new search experience, allowing users of the site to filter fishing lodges and resorts in the North American Northwest by a wide array of attributes.

"Our search tool has been the defining feature of the site since day one" states "Chief Navigator" Eric Embacher. "Our mission is to help anglers find their ideal fishing lodge vacation with far more efficiency than using Google, and the power of this tool is key to that."

The Search tool allows users to filter the entire set of lodges by 20 of the 124 types of information collected for every fishing lodge. Filters include location, price, fish species and type of fishing, guided or unguided trips, trip duration, lodge rating and number of reviews, and more. Once lodges are filtered they can be compared "apples-to-apples" and then individual lodges inspected in detail.

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What a catch . . .

FISHING #vacation website fishlodges.com recently listed their 100th fishing lodge in the Pacific Northwest (North America). The major milestone comes as the site is gearing up to expand beyond the Pacific Northwest for a portion of the next 100 #fishing lodge listings. Having started with Alaska and BC, where the majority of features lodges are located, the site has already started signing up lodges in Washington, Oregon, Yukon, and the Northwest Territories.

"The idea behind fishlodges.com-consolidating key information from lodge websites into a searchable database and making it easily accessible-has been a popular since day one" states "Chief Navigator" Eric Embacher. "Our website traffic growth has validated the execution of this idea, and this in turn has proven popular with lodge owners, who increasingly want to list with us."

fishlodges.com.

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Family Forays at Warwick Castle

WARWICK Castle is a medieval castle developed from an original built by William the Conqueror in 1068 in the county town of Warwickshire, England and it was a private residence up until 1978 when it was opened as a tourist attraction.

Commanding an unrivalled location on the banks of the River Avon, the mediaeval themed Knight’s Village comprises 28 riverside lodges and seasonal Mediaeval Glamping, set in the wooded grounds of Warwick Castle. Opened in summer 2016, Knight’s Village offers Warwick Castle guests year-round accommodation, with a new range of seasonal two-day short breaks available for 2017:

Fab February (February 17- 25) 

Half term short breaks includes breakfast and car parking, and two days’ Castle admission.

Tiny Knights (March & May) 

In addition to breakfast, car parking and two days’ entrance to Warwick Castle, Tiny Knights enjoy a free two-hour playtime in the Tiny Knight’s Club. Hosted by the Castle jester, it’s a hands-on play experience with crafts, colouring, building, songs and story telling. (Selected dates available)

Easter Breaks (7 - 22 April) 

An opportunity to explore the Towers & Ramparts, following the story of Devile Warwick., Admire birds of prey soaring over the ancient castle; navigate the Horrible Histories® Maze and meet characters from history in a real castle.

War of the Roses Live Summer Spectacle (50 selected dates May 27 - September 3)
Based on true events that tore apart England in the fifteenth century, War of the Roses Live. The Houses of York and Lancaster – cousins at war – take over Warwick Castle. Sleepover in the Mediaeval Glamping Village or a lodge in the wooded glade and enjoy an overnight stay in a themed lodge; an encounter with the knights themselves; longbow shooting and sword handling; breakfast and car parking; and two days’ entry to Warwick Castle.

Starlit Summer Sleepover (June and July) 

With a full day out exploring the attractions and shows at Warwick Castle followed by a sleepover under the star-filled skies.

The Haunted Castle (October 20 - 31)

With wondrous witches, heinous hags, Horrible Histories® and the return of the Trebuchet fireball spectacular. After a day of fearsome fun for all ages the fright factor is cranked high after dark and the Castle remains open until 9pm then head back to your Knight’s Village lodge to hear tales from the battlefield from a real-life knight.

Book before the 31st January and save up to 30 percent on all dates throughout the year.

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Picture Credit: Kotomi flickr.com/photos/23586209@N03/3439567626 Warwick Castle via photopin

How to see Poldark’s Cornwall

WITH #Poldark making a return to TV screens in Britain this autumn, Cornwall's beauty will be showcased again. Holidaymakers can indulge their Poldark fantasies at the 5-star Gwel an Mor resort with its strong connections to the series. 

On the county’s north coast at #Portreath, it’s close to many Poldark locations, such as mining heritage sites, coves, and villages. Guests can even get the opportunity to stay in one of the luxury lodges where 'Ross', 'Demelza' and 'Elizabeth' lived during the filming of the latest series, as the resort was the base for the principal cast during their time in #Cornwall.

The resort has luxury self-catering lodges (two- and three-bedroom) and facilities including a spa, tennis courts and a children’s play barn and climbing wall. All of the lodges have sea views. Gwel an Mor is also home to Feadon Farm, the resort's own wildlife and conservation centre, where guests can have guided ranger-led experiences and meet the tame and rescue animals which live on site.

For Poldark fans, the resort runs guided tours of the Cornish locations which appear in the programme.
www.gwelanmor.com 

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Warwick Castle opens Knights Village

#WARWICKCASTLE has opened its Knight’s Village, a £5 million investment in 28 year-round, medieval-themed woodland lodges and 41 seasonal glamping tents. 

Fifty jobs will be created and the castle expects to welcome more than 20,000 overnight guests this year. The village, in the castle’s grounds, adds more than 10,000 room nights to Warwick and is expected to bring £2.1 million a year in economic benefit to the district.

The castle showcases its role in English history and aims to offer an authentic experience to guests from across the UK and overseas.

Divisional director of Warwick Castle Nick Blofeld comments: ‘We’re evolving as a world-class visitor destination and now offer a more compelling experience than ever before, putting Warwick firmly on the tourism map. Our all-year Woodland Lodge and Tower Suite accommodation, in addition to our seasonal mediaeval glamping, significantly upgrades the diversity and quantity of guest beds offered in Warwickshire.’

Knight’s Village comprises semi-detached lodges and glamping tents, linked by a raised wooden boardwalk.

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Picture Credit: 8765199@N07/26682633942 Two generations of medieval reenactors via photopin.com

Warwick Castle launches lodge accommodation

#WARWICKCASTLE has opened Knights Village, comprising 28 lodges in the castle’s 64-acre wooded estate. 

From July 1, prices start from £203 per lodge per night including breakfast and two- day castle entry, based on four guests sharing a two-bedroom Woodland Lodge.

The lodges have full ensuite facilities, including wet rooms, and come equipped with TV, fridge, coffee-maker, and central heating. Medieval-style features in the lodges and banqueting hall include lofty ceilings – echoing the castle’s Great Hall – wooden beams, and stonework.

Geoff Spooner, general manager at Warwick Castle, said: ‘This is a new chapter for Warwick Castle. From July 1, we’ll offer guests year-round lodge-style accommodation to complement the castle’s two sumptuous Tower Suites in the 14th century Caesar’s Tower, and our seasonal Mediaeval Glamping Village.’

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Try a break in the woods

WOODLAND-BASED lodge breaks for those looking to make the most of the great outdoors has been introduced by domestic holiday specialist Hoseasons.

Available to book now - www.hoseasons.co.uk/lodges - for the start of next year, Wanderwood offers nature escapes at six locations in England and Scotland: Norfolk, Surrey, Somerset, Shropshire, the Lake District, and the Northern Highlands.

The lodges are pet-friendly and come with complimentary binoculars, and umbrellas WiFi is also included, and hot tubs feature at all locations.

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Angling for a break?

NATURAL RETREATS is offering fishing adventures for all ages and abilities at its most northern outpost, John O’ Groats in Scotland. 

Loch fishing – Head inland to the lochs of Sutherland for trout and salmon fishing in the heart of the Highlands. With eight-hour trips running from £100, there is also the opportunity to explore the plains of Flow Country or the verdant River Forss. Transport, rods, fish bait and a picnic lunch are provided, along with tuition if needed. 

There is also the option to start the session later in the day, with a night-fishing experience that ends at 3am. Trout fishing is available from May–October, and March-November for salmon fishing.

Guided sea fishing – Head out to sea in a traditional Scottish fishing boat for coley, cod, mackerel, and halibut.  

Natural Retreats can arrange accommodation at one of its self-catering lodges or apartments in John O’ Groats.

www.naturalretreats.com


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Picture Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/26314424@N08/2851653474">Sundown</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com">photopin</a> <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/2.0/">(license), http://www.flickr.com/photos/38061770@N00/5150080922">Gone fishing</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com">photopin</a> <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/">(license)

Delight doubled

Self-catering v hotel holidays? It doesn’t have to be an either/or choice, says David Kernek 

#SELF-CATERING holidays are great, giving you the flexibility, privacy, and freedom that hotels and B&Bs can’t offer, but there’s a but: there are times when the last thing you want when on holiday is a home from home, and the tedious stuff – the routine cooking routine, washing up, putting out the rubbish – that you have to do at home. Well, I have to put the rubbish out.

That’s where hotels such as the Tregenna Castle in St. Ives – one of Cornwall’s premiere resorts – come into their own. They offer the perks and treats (restaurants, bars, swimming pools, spas, golf courses) that come with the hotel deal, along with luxury self-catering lodges dotted around their extensive grounds.

Tregenna – an 81-room hotel high on the hill overlooking the harbour – has 70 first-class lodges, cottages, and apartments across its 72-acre estate.

Built – as a very large family mansion – in 1774 and expanded 1844, the Grade II Listed Tregenna Castle was leased by the Great Western Railway (GWR) in 1878, the intention being to run it not just as an old railway hotel, but as a holiday resort in its own right. (The GWR named two of its locomotives after the hotel. For train-heads, they were the Duke Class number 3280, which was Tregenna from 1897 to 1930, and Castle Class number 5006, which was given the name Tregenna Castle in 1927.)

Its ownership has changed (given the reckless dismantling of British Rail), but its function remains unchanged. Guests – both self-catering and hotel – have an 18-hole golf course, two swimming pools (outdoors and in), tennis, squash and badminton courts, a croquet lawn, a gym, a sauna, woodland walks, sub-tropical gardens, a beauty salon, an Ofsted-approved facility that there to keep children entertained and active - and out of their parents’ way – for up to £4 an hour. The hotel can arrange surfing and kite buggying sessions, and fishing trips.

The self-catering choices includes three- and four-bedroom lodges with saunas and balconies, stone cottages (one of which is called Lady Chatterley’s), apartments, and converted barns. Some of the properties have sea views and private gardens.

The walk from the hotel down to the town (named Best UK Seaside Town in the British Travel Awards in 2010 and 2011) and its harbour takes ten to 15 minutes (and a little longer on the return journey). Buses and taxis are alternatives, but try very hard to avoid driving into the town: the streets are very narrow, parking is very limited, and the harbour area is very busy.

Once there, you have four beaches, the stylish Tate St. Ives gallery, the Barbara Hepworth Museum, excellent pubs and restaurants, and the coastal views and light that has attracted artists – mainly painters and sculptors – to the town since the 1920s.

This was my first visit to #St.Ives since my honeymoon, centuries ago. I was pleased to see that – apart from the horrendously high property prices that are far beyond the reach of local people – very little has changed since then … unlike, sadly, me.

Tel: 01736 795254
E-mail: hotel@tregenna-castle.co.uk
www.tregenna-castle.co.uk

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Picture Credit: www.tregenna-castle.co.uk

Super-lodges for sale at prestigious Osmington Park redevelopment

OSMINGTON HOLIDAY PARK, a five-star luxury lodge park which offers both holidays and holiday home ownership on Dorset’s Jurassic coast, is being re-developed. 

Two new lodge developments – The Oaks and Cedar Falls – will open this summer.

Their cedar-clad lodges will sell for upwards of £300,000, will have hidden roof terraces, saunas, hot-tubs, glass-fronted verandahs, and luxury bathrooms, and will be decorated according to the buyer’s specifications.

The park is in the village of Osmington Mills, near Weymouth.

www.watersidelodgesales.co.uk

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Picture Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/95672737@N00/9607422484">Jurassic Coast 2013 - 043</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com">photopin</a> <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/">(license)