Longleat: Festival of Light

LONGLEAT'S ‘Festival of Light’ which started in 2014, features thousands of giant lanterns and was seen by more than 180,000 visitors last year. 

The festival returned on November 11 for their biggest and brightest show yet which will run until January 2. Europe's largest chinese lantern festival celebrates #Longleat's 50th anniversary this year along with an amazing display of Beatrix Potter characters.

As part of Longleat’s continued 50-year anniversary celebrations, LCI Productions will create and deliver the festival’s 'grand finale’ - a large-scale installation using latest technology. It is designed to enhance the visitor experience over the ‘Festival of Light’ period.

Tickets and further information: https://www.longleat.co.uk/whats-on/festival-of-light

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Picture Credit: A K Gray

Green light for Stonehenge improvements

ENGLISH HERITAGE has been given the go-ahead for improvements at #Stonehenge, Wiltshire, which will bring benefits for tour operators and tour groups arriving by coach. 

The improvements refine and build on the successes of the temporary expansion of the coach park, which has been in place for a year, and will provide a longer term solution to better accommodate the 1.3 million from across the globe who visit the World Heritage site annually, 60% of whom arrive by coach.

Improvements centre on a new coach park which will provide a more efficient welcome for groups, ease parking congestion, and minimize queues with dedicated ticketing, toilet, and shuttle facilities.

Kate Davies, Stonehenge’s general manager says: ‘We are delighted that Wiltshire Council has approved our plans, which are aimed at providing a sustainable permanent solution to give a world class experience for all our visitors, while retaining the integrity of this amazing ancient monument.

‘Once in place, the improvements will allow us to give a better service to operators, tour guides, and group members and to ease the pressure points on the site, which will benefit all visitors. We have no plans to increase visitor numbers to Stonehenge, but rather to get the right balance by meeting the existing demand from visitors around the world in a more efficient and safe way so that they enjoy their time at this World Heritage site to the full.’

Improvement works will be phased to minimize the impact on visitors. English Heritage expects that some of the improvements should be in place ahead of summer 2017.

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Foot Trails launches walks for 2017

AN INN-TO-INN walk across the Cotswolds is among the self-guided routes for 2017 unveiled by Foot Trails, a West Country walking-holiday specialist.

The 10-night independent trip, from Chipping Campden, Gloucestershire to Bath, Somerset, will be designed to follow local paths, avoiding the crowded national trails. Guests will stay in hand-picked, country inns, and notes about local history and nature will given to walkers.

The company will also extend its four- or five-night inn-to-inn journey in Dorset –six- and seven-night itineraries will be available in 2017.

Foot Trails runs walking holidays on more than 900 miles of trails in Somerset, Wiltshire, The Cotswolds, Dorset, and Devon – – and Wales plans to expand into Wales next year.

www.foottrails.co.uk

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See Wiltshire from the air

AERIAL film capturing the beauty of the English county of Wiltshire has been launched on www.visitwiltshire.co.uk/videos, giving visitors bird’s eye views of the breathtaking countryside and iconic attractions including Stonehenge and Avebury.

The film is titled ‘What view did you wake up to this morning?’ and is the first of a three-part series.

Fiona Errington, marketing manager at VisitWiltshire says: ‘This footage will encourage more domestic and international visitors to come and see the magnificent Wiltshire countryside and iconic landmarks and views we have. We are working closely with VisitBritain, VisitEngland, and VisitWiltshire partners to ensure this is shared online and via social media channels.’

Other landmarks and heritage sites seen in the film include Salisbury Cathedral, Malmesbury Abbey, Old Sarum, the White Horses, Silbury Hill, West Kennet Long Barrow, The Ridgeway, and the Kennet & Avon Canal,

To see the films, go to www.visitwiltshire.co.uk/videos

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Festival time …

Children Waltzing Carolyn White -® Larmer Tree Festival.

THE LARMER TREE FESTIVAL returns this summer, presenting a programme of music, comedy, theatre, poetry, and more across five days (July 13-17). It’s set in Victorian gardens in Cranborne Chase, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty spread across Dorset and Wiltshire, 

With more than 80 acts, music forms a major part of the festival bill. The 2016 line-up will see Jamie Cullum and Jack Savoretti joined by Clean Bandit, Calexico, and Caro Emerald.

There will also be a late-night comedy club, poetry readings, workshops, and talks.

For the very first time, children’s tickets for under 10s are free, with prices for youth tickets frozen.

www.larmertreefestival.co.uk

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Good news for tour groups in planned Stonehenge improvements

ENGLISH HERITAGE has submitted a planning application for a range of permanent improvements to accommodate the 1.3 million visitors each year to #Stonehenge in England. 

Suggested changes include the creation of a new coach park with a more streamlined lay-out and permanent spaces for up to 53 60-seater coaches; a group reception building in a more convenient location, with WC facilities just for group visitors; and a visitor transit shuttle pick-up-point exclusively for groups, so they can go directly from their coach to the stone circle at peak times.

#EnglishHeritage expects to get a decision on its proposals for the World Heritage site from Wiltshire County Council by the end of July.

Kate Davies, Stonehenge’s general manager says: ‘The temporary expanded coach park which has provided extra parking for more than 20 coaches over the past year has made a substantial difference to the efficiency of our operation at Stonehenge, and brought benefits to all our visitors. But permission for this temporary parking expires in 2017. So we are now seeking to introduce a sustainable longer term and permanent solution, which also addresses other pressure points that have impacted negatively on our ability to fully offer world class facilities at this leading UK attraction.’

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Make time for Wiltshire

Gardens … 2016 sees the 300th anniversary of the birth of master landscaper Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown. Many of Britain’s great houses owe their pastoral settings to his groundbreaking vision, and his creativity is still inspiring gardeners today. In #Wiltshire, Bowood House, Longleat, Corsham Court, Wilton House, Lacock Abbey, and Old Wardour Castle all have connections with Brown. 

There are many other stunning gardens in Wiltshire including Iford Manor and The Peto Garden, Larmer Tree Gardens, Lydiard House & Park, Abbey House Gardens, Heale Gardens and Arundells. Wiltshire is also home to many National Trust gardens such as Stourhead, Great Chalfield Manor, and Mompesson House.

Stonehenge and Avebury are magical places shrouded in history. If you stand on Salisbury Plain at sunrise or sunset, it’s easy to understand why the ancient Britons believed Stonehenge was special. Its orientation on the rising and setting sun is one of its many outstanding features, but why it was built in this way remains a mystery. 

Wiltshire is home to archaeology collections of outstanding national importance. Salisbury Museum has three major exhibitions planned for 2016, and together with the Wiltshire Museum in Devizes, visitors immerse themselves in the full Stonehenge and Avebury story.

There are opportunities to access the expertise of the museum staff who have a detailed understanding of Wiltshire’s archaeology and who care for internationally important finds from these iconic sites. There is a unique opportunity to see Marden Henge – the third super henge in Wiltshire - being excavated as part of an archaeology tour being run by Wiltshire Museum in July.


Market towns & and medieval Salisbury … Wiltshire’s historic towns and villages have something unique to offer. Market towns include Bradford on Avon, Amesbury, Cricklade, Malmesbury, Corsham, Calne, and Marlborough. Quintessentially English villages such as Castle Combe and Lacock are often used as filming locations. Salisbury was one of the top ten cities in the world to visit according to Lonely Planet last year. Home to Salisbury Cathedral and Magna Carta, Salisbury Museum, The Rifles Berkshire & Wiltshire Museum, and Mompesson House … all within a stone’s throw from each other.

Food & drink … Local breweries include Wadworths and Arkells, the latter a family brewer since 1843 with many pubs around the county. Award-winning restaurants in the county include Red Lion Freehouse, East Chisenbury, the Harrow at Little Bedwyn in Marlborough, and the Manor House at Castle Combe.

Wiltshire's visitor economy currently generates an estimated £1.5 billion a year and supports more than 28,000 jobs.
www.visitwiltshire.co.uk 

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Halloween horrors at Longleat

#LONGLEAT in Wiltshire is planning a Halloween Spooktacular (October 23-November 1).

There will be a Skeleton Maze, a ghoulish Ghost Train, Nasty but Nice shows, Dracula's Bat Cave, a witches coven, face painting, a Trick & Treat trail, the opportunity to learn about the spookier aspects of Longleat’s history … and firework displays on October 29, 30, and 31. 

www.longleat.co.uk/halloween

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Record year for Wiltshire tourism

HEADLINE figures in a report on the economic impact of Wiltshire’s visitor economy show that 2014 was a record year for tourism in the county. 

The report – by The South West Research Company – shows that in 2014 the number of visitors, value of tourism spend, and tourism’s economic impact reached record levels

Peter Wragg, VisitWiltshire’s Chairman and Swindon & Wiltshire Local Enterprise Partnership Board member, says: ‘This report is hugely encouraging and gives further evidence of how important tourism is to our overall economy. Since 2011 Swindon and Wiltshire’s total tourism business turnover and gross value added has increased by 30%. Wiltshire’s visitor economy is worth £1.5 billion per annum and supports more than 28,000 jobs.”

At #VisitWiltshire, CEO David Andrews added: ‘We are particularly pleased to see such strong growth in overnight stays, which are up 5%. Growth across the county reached a record 19.9 million visitors in 2014, and there is evidence that we’re extending the visitor season.’

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Longleat lit up

A FESTIVAL OF LIGHT at #Longleat, Wiltshire, will throw a spotlight on the safari park's 50th birthday celebrations. 

Starting on November 13 and running through to January 3, the winter spectacular takes the age-old tradition of the Chinese lantern and transforms it for a 21st century audience.

Displays will light up Longleat’s landscaped grounds featuring temples, Terracotta Army warriors, and a dragon boat floating on the park’s lake.

Prices … Adults £28.95 and children £21.95, with a 10% discount when booking online. Admission includes the #Chineselanterns, all of the Christmas celebrations, entry to the safari park, and all of the Longleat Adventure Park attractions.

www.longleat.co.uk/festivaloflight

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Concierge extras for self-caterers

PREMIUM #selfcatering specialist Blue Chip Holidays is launching a bespoke concierge service – Blue Chip Experience – across its UK portfolio, providing unique activities and adventures exclusively for guests. 

Experts will offer a personal consultation and tailor each holiday to suit every type of guest, handpicking the best local operators. Promising an unrivalled knowledge of the region, they aim to create bespoke experiences that can’t be replicated elsewhere. Examples include: 

• Beach foraging for precious shells followed by a jewellery-making workshop in a Blue Chip holiday home
• A molecular gastronomy and mixology masterclass at sundown 
• Pilates at sunrise on a local beach 
• A picnic on a secluded bay reached by private yacht. 
• Llama trekking on Dartmoor 
• Fishing 
• Clay pigeon shooting 

Blue Chip Holidays’ managing director, Allan Lambert, says: ‘Self-catering holidays provide our guests with great flexibility, allowing them to explore the local area and all it has to offer without being tied to hotel schedules. It follows therefore that increasingly our guests have sought guidance on the experiences available to them, which is why we are launching a concierge service to help them make the most of their time away. We never organize off-the-shelf activities that guests might find themselves, making the experiences we offer unique.’

The company manages premium #holidayproperties Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Wiltshire, Hampshire, Somerset, Sussex, Yorkshire, and the Isle of Wight.

www.bluechipholidays.co.uk

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Saints and Sinners in Wiltshire

THE Churches Conservation Trust – the national charity protecting historic churches at risk – has partnered with #VisitWiltshire to launch a heritage trail featuring four of its Wiltshire churches with four of the county’s best pubs and hotels.

The trust’s 21 churches in Wiltshire are open as free heritage attractions, many of which represent almost 1,000 years of English history and together attract more than 38,000 visitors a year.

As part of a drive to boost the number of visitors to these historic buildings, the charity and VisitWiltshire have matched four of its most idyllic countryside churches with four outstanding lunch venues to make a day out or short break for locals and tourists.

Katrina Hurford, national marketing manager at The Churches Conservation Trust, explains: ‘Our churches have a lot to offer in the way of nourishment for the eyes, ears, and soul, but nothing in the way of more practical nourishment! With these new partnerships, each pairing provides opportunities to explore the Wiltshire countryside by foot, bike, or car, to discover hidden gems offering irreplaceable examples of architecture, archaeology, and art, and to enjoy some of the finest produce Wiltshire has to offer, expertly presented.’

The four churches featured are: All Saints’ in Alton Priors; St. Leonard’s in Sutton Veny; St. Mary’s in Old Dilton; and St. John the Baptist in Inglesham. They are partnered with The Red Lion Freehouse in Pewsey, The Beckford Arms in Fonthill Gifford, The Three Daggers in Edington, and Stanton House Hotel in Stanton Fitzwarren.

To download the trail, go to www.visitchurches.org.uk/saintsandsinnerswiltshire

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Picture Credit: "All Saints Alton Priors" by Kevin Farmer. Licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons, 

Take a wild walk in Wiltshire

WILTSHIRE has a large array of wildlife and a huge variety of habitats, including chalk grassland, ancient woodland, heaths, and forest. One way to see it up close and personal is to join a Wiltshire Wild Walk.

On nature watching walks, participants are given binoculars and telescopes. There are also photography walks in areas of outstanding beauty.

Half day tours – approximately four hours – allow plenty of time to visit a diverse range of wildlife habitats in and around some of Wiltshire’s beautiful and historic landmarks. Full day tours run for approximately eight hours, including a lunch break.

Groups, families, and individuals are all welcome and the walking tours are available to everyone regardless of their level of fitness or ability. Half day tours start from £60 and full day tours are from £95.

For full details, call 07977 070451 or send an e-mail to nature@wiltshirewildwalks.com 

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Picture Credit: Bluebells on the earthworks at Castle Ditches - geograph.org.uk by Jim Champion. Licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons, Stourhead, gardens and the lake by Delta 51 - Own work. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons

Make time for Wiltshire this Easter

THERE will be Easter Trails at Old Sarum and Lydiard Park, and the annual Easter egg hunt at Stourhead Gardens. 

Salisbury Cathedral will be running an Easter trail, plus craft events for children.

Imber Church, now under the care of the Churches Conservation Trust, will be open on April 3, 4, 5, and 6, with an egg hunt on Easter Sunday. This will be a rare opportunity to visit the ‘lost’ village of Imber in the heart of MOD-controlled land on Salisbury Plain.

And to spot the first signs of spring, there will be garden walks at Bowood, the Peto Garden at Iford Manor, and Larmer Tree Gardens.

www.visitwiltshire.co.uk

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Picture Credit: "Easter bunny" by Lesekreis (Own work) [CC0], via Wikimedia Commons

Reasons to take a break in Wiltshire

Salisbury is celebrating the 800th anniversary of Magna Carta, with the finest preserved of four original 1215 documents displayed from March in Salisbury Cathedral. 

 A Barons’ trail of statues created by local artists and community groups is going on display in the streets, and there’s a Magna Carta trail leaflet to guide visitors to Stonehenge, with its new visitor centre.

Warminster is a market town surrounded by historic attractions, nature trails and cycling routes. It’s renowned for being the country’s UFO capital with Cradle Hill to the north and Cley Hill, an Iron Age hill fort to the west, being unofficial UFO ‘observatories’.

New Attractions … 2015 is the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Britain and Wiltshire’s contribution to Spitfire production will be a week of commemoration, education, and events, billed as Salisbury Wings Week. It starts on September 14.

Wiltshire has a number of cookery schools. Vaughan's Kitchen Cookery School in Devizes gives you hands-on tips with weekend cookery courses including Mexican Street Food, Great British Food Masterclass, and Student Survival courses. Lucknam Park Hotel Cookery School in Colerne has state-of-the-art facilities and offers daily courses throughout the year.

Walking Tours … The Wiltshire countryside alters with the changing seasons. The county has more than 8,200 paths for walkers and cyclists.

www.visitwiltshire.co.uk

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Picture Credit: "Salisbury - Cathedral Cloister Garth - geograph.org.uk - 943858" by Chris Talbot  via Wikimedia Commons; 

Wiltshire lights up for Xmas

WILTSHIRE is playing host to a fun-packed programme of festive fun and entertainment this Christmas, with activities taking place across the county.  

Here are some of VisitWiltshire’s festive highlights........

                     

• Longleat Safari & Adventure Park is to stage Europe’s largest ever display of giant Chinese lanterns at its Festival of Light event (November 14-January 4). 

•  Salisbury will once again be a focal point for the festive season with carols and services at Salisbury Cathedral together with a  Christmas market from November 27 t0 December 20.  Mother Goose is the Christmas production at Salisbury Playhouse, from December 3 to January 10. 

• Devizes has Christmas events including a Santa Cruise on the Kennet & Avon Canal (December 13-14 and 20-23).  

• Children can meet Father Christmas at Stourhead in his new grotto from December 6 to December 21.  

• Lady Lansdowne’s festive shopping celebration returns for its third year with the Bowood House Christmas Extravaganza (December 3-5). There’ll be gift stalls, carols in the chapel, fires, candles, good food, and mulled wine.

 www.visitwiltshire.co.uk/whats-on/christmas

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Picture Credit: From Top -  "Santa with child " By Jacob Windham from Mobile, USA  via Wikimedia Commons

On the trail of Magna Carta …

VISITWILTSHIRE and Salisbury Cathedral have created a two-day Magna Carta tourist trail to increase domestic and international tourism in Wiltshire.

The trail includes Salisbury Cathedral and Magna Carta, Stonehenge, Avebury, and Trowbridge. 

It is one of six special trails, each covering different aspects of the Magna Carta story as part of the commemoration of the 800th anniversary of Magna Carta in 2015.

Momentum has been building in anticipation of June 15, exactly 800 years after King John put his seal to Magna Carta, as presented to him by barons at Runnymede on the Thames near Windsor. 

Magna Carta is widely regarded across the English-speaking world as the first key document in an historical process that led to the establishment of constitutional law in England and beyond. 

It influenced the early settlers in New England and inspired later constitutional documents, including the United States constitution.

Salisbury Cathedral is home to the finest preserved of only four remaining original 1215 Magna Carta, to be re-displayed in an interactive exhibition for 2015.

The trails, lasting from two to four days, are detailed in a new leaflet and dedicated website. They are deigned to be self-guided, and suitable for both British and foreign visitors.

www.visitwiltshire.co.uk/magnacarta

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Dorset hill fort bought by National Trust

AN Iron Age hill fort has been bought by the National Trust for £450,000, the BBC reports. Built more than 2,000 years ago, Hambledon Hill, near Blandford Forum in Dorset, stands at 620ft and spans the size of 50 football pitches.

The trust said its historical uses included communal occupation, farming, feasting, conflict, and burial.

It is the first hill fort acquired by the trust in Dorset for 30 years and joins its six other sites in the county, including Hod Hill, Lamberts Castle, Badbury Rings and Pilsdon Pen.

The National Trust said it decided to buy the site to secure its future, and ensure maintenance and access for the public was maintained.

The chalk grassland is home to at least five species of orchids, while 28 species of butterfly have been recorded at the site over the years.

From its summit visitors can see across three counties: Dorset, Somerset, and Wiltshire.

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Wiltshire’s scope for tourism growth

WILTSHIRE has the potential to offer more types of tourist accommodation, a report suggests. 

A five-year plan has been developed from the report, commissioned by VisitWiltshire, that could see more luxury country house hotels, golf hotels and family hotels spring up, as well as the potential for a hotel at Longleat.

Other development areas cited included the need for more boutique and budget options in towns such as Salisbury and Bradford-on-Avon, as well as serviced apartments in Swindon. Pubs, self-catering accommodation, camping, holiday parks, and lodging were also all named as potential growth areas.

Sites and planning policies are now in development with the aim to boost accommodation numbers.

‘While the number of bed-spaces outside London has grown by more than 20% in the last 10 years, Wiltshire’s bed-stock has remained static,” said David Andrews, chief executive of VisitWiltshire. ‘This report is extremely important in helping us identify and prioritize opportunities for growth and, as a result, we are already working on a number of strong leads to secure new types of accommodation for the county. Tourism continues to grow at 5% per annum and this study will help us make sure we have the right blend of accommodation, in the right locations across Wiltshire,’ he added.

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Back to the Neolithic at Stonehenge

Over the past five months, a 60-strong team of English Heritage volunteers built the houses using authentic local materials – weaving hundreds of hazel rods through the main supporting stakes, thatching the roofs with wheat-straw, and covering the walls with a daub of chalk, hay and water.

The re-created houses are based on the remains of Neolithic houses discovered during excavations in 2006 and 2007 at Durrington Walls, a large ceremonial earthwork enclosure just over a mile to the north-east of Stonehenge. Radio-carbon dating showed that the buildings were built at around the same time as the large sarsen stones were being put up at Stonehenge in, approximately, 2,500 BC.

Pre-booked timed tickets are essential for group visits. Advance booking is also required for individual visitors, who can book online at www.english-heritage.org.uk/stonehenge.

FIVE re-created Neolithic houses have opened at Stonehenge, revealing the type of homes the builders of the ancient monument might have lived in 4,500 years ago.

The houses are the latest phase in the major programme by English Heritage to improve both the setting around the monument and the overall experience of visitors to Stonehenge. They sit alongside the new visitor centre and are furnished with replica Neolithic axes, pottery and other artefacts. 

Stonehenge manager Kate Davies says: ‘The houses help visitors re-connect the ancient stones with the people that lived and worked in the surrounding landscape. They can step through the door of the houses and get a sense of what everyday life might have been like when Stonehenge was built.’





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