See the Hadron Collider in Edinburgh

A SECTION of the world's biggest scientific experiment – the #LargeHadronCollider (LHC) – will be part of an exhibition at Edinburgh's Dynamic Earth starting on July 31.

A life-sized mock-up of part of the 17-mile particle accelerator will be on display at the attraction until August 24.

The exhibition will feature walk-through section of the LHC tunnel and accelerator, the machine that confirmed the existence of the Higgs Boson particle, as proposed by University of #Edinburgh professor and Nobel prize-winner, Peter Higgs.

Hermione Cockburn, scientific director at Dynamic Earth, said: ‘The CERN Hadron Collider is pushing the boundaries of scientific discovery, and changing what we know about the composition of our universe. It's incredibly exciting to have a section of the world's largest experiment on display, and fitting that it should visit us here in Edinburgh, where Professor Higgs theorized the existence of his proposed particle.’

Eilidh Massie, marketing manager at #Dynamic Earth, adds: ‘Alongside this impressive machine section, there will also be iconic images from the world of science, and interactive exhibits.’

Access to the exhibition is free with admission to Dynamic Earth.
www.dynamicearth.co.uk

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Brits flock to Greece despite economic warnings

WITH overall sales to #Greece up 40 percent on the same time last year across its 400-plus contingent of independent travel agents, The Global Travel Group reports that bookings show no signs of slowing down.

The average sales value of package holidays has risen by more than £300, with Rhodes, Crete, and Corfu topping the list as the most booked destinations, the company says.

The Global Travel Group’s managing director, Andy Stark, commented: ‘It’s encouraging to hear that the ongoing economic turmoil in Greece is not deterring British holidaymakers from booking trips to the country. Enquiries and bookings are on the up, showcasing once again that we Brits are savvy when it comes to a good deal, informed, and will travel this summer regardless of the country’s economic problems.

‘Our agents are reporting some stand-out deals to Greece and its islands. I would encourage people travelling to Greece to keep abreast of the situation and ensure they take the relevant measures with cash to ensure they are well prepared, but I firmly believe that a holiday to Greece right now is a good idea all round.’

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Picture Credit: "Oia in Santorini, Greece 003" by Moonik - Own work. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons 

Kent top spot for family holidays

KENT is Europe's top spot for a family holiday, according to the compilers of Lonely Planet's Best in Europe 2015, with County Kerry in Ireland in second place. Two other UK destinations – the island of Skomer off the Pembrokeshire coast and nearby Marloes Sands – were combined by the compilers and took ninth place in the top ten list.

Singled out in #Kent was Broadstairs, the White Cliffs of Dover, and #Margate which has become 'gentrified without losing its personality'.

Lonely Planet also drew up a list of the ten best beaches in Europe, with two UK beaches in it. In sixth place was Bantham Beach near Kingsbridge in Devon, and in seventh place was Sandwood Bay, in Sutherland, Scotland.

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Picture Credit: Leeds Castle -Kent -England by Martin Pettitt - originally posted to Flickr as Leeds Castel Kent 3 July 2007-102. Licensed under CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons 

Morocco steps up security after Tunisia massacre

HOLIDAY resorts in #Morocco are reportedly being swamped with armed police as the country goes on high alert after last month’s beach massacre in Tunisia. The North African country’s security services have also stepped up surveillance of domestic militant cells, The Times reports.

A recent anti-terror raid was directed at a nine-member Isis cell operating in northern cities, the interior ministry said. The group had allegedly been recruiting fighters to Syria and made explosives and chemical materials for attacks on home soil.

‘No organized networks can develop here in Morocco because we dismantle them before they can get anywhere,’ said Mustapha El Khalfi, a government official. ‘Last summer, authorities launched the Vigilance programme, which means we have posted many more military police at main tourist places and in front of airports. It follows a comprehensive plan we have developed since 2004 of religious reform, security measures, and fighting extremist ideas.”

Tourism has increased by at least 8% since 2010 and accounts for 9% of Morocco’s gross domestic product. More than 500,000 British tourists visit the country every year, the second largest group of visitors after the French.

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Picture Credit: Maroc Essaouira Luc Viatour 4 by I, Luc Viatour. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons 

Garden delights . . .

COMBERMERE ABBEY ESTATE in Whitchurch, Shropshire, is hosting a series of Open Garden Afternoons this summer, providing a rare chance to see this privately-owned historic estate.

They will be held on August 26, and September 23.

Visitors will be able to explore the estate’s Victorian walled gardens and glasshouse, its pleasure garden and garden wood, fruit tree maze, and lake.

The estate’s team of gardeners will be on hand to answer questions and share tips.

Tickets are priced at £5. Gates will open at 1pm, with the last entry at 4pm. Dogs and picnics are not permitted.

The abbey was built in 1133 as a Cistercian monastery. Now a family home, it is a venue for weddings, corporate events, and has ten holiday cottages.
www.combermereabbey.co.uk

AN open-air gallery of contemporary sculpture in the grounds of a Georgian mansion is the centrepiece of the first of an occasional series of visitor trails published by Congham Hall Hotel, near King’s Lynn, Norfolk. 

The Magnificent Seven… Norfolk #Gardens – the hotel's illustrated trail – features the collection, which is on display at nearby Houghton Hall.

The 90-mile self-guided circuit of the seven gardens begins with Congham Hall's herb collection. Others include Gooderstone Water Gardens, a naturalistic re-interpretation of a wet meadow, and Sandringham Gardens, a chronicle of the changing tastes in horticultural design over the past 150 years.

The trail can be download online or obtained from the hotel's reception desk.
www.conghamhallhotel.co.uk

GARDENERS and walkers – and #gardeners who like walking – might be interested Adagio's Channel Isles walking tour of the gardens of Guernsey, Sark, and Herm.

Highlights include strolls in St Martin to #SausmarezManor with its sub-tropical gardens, a ferry ride to Herm to meet the head gardener for a private tour of the island's gardens, and a private tour of the #LaSeigneurieGardens on Sark, with its Victorian glasshouse, hedge maze, and stone walls.

The company’s UK manager, Amber Parish-Smith, says: ‘We couldn't miss out on visiting both the small islands of Sark and Herm for a day each. Traffic is prohibited on the islands, so horse-drawn carts, cycling, and walking are the ways to get around. It really does feel like you are stepping back in time when one visits these islands.’ 

Price are from £1,155 per person, including return flights, transfers, half board at a three-star hotel on Guernsey.   www.adagio.co.uk

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Picture Credit: Combermere clocktower by Espresso Addict - Own work. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons, Gooderstone Water Gardens, Gooderstone, Norfolk - geograph.org.uk - 794060 by David Mills. Licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons, Sark-aerial by Phillip Capper - Sark, Channel Islands, 17 September 2005. Licensed under CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons

easyJet adds Vienna & Basel to Bristol schedules

FLIGHTS from Bristol to #Vienna and #Basel are to be started by easyJet in November, taking the number of destinations served by #easyJet from Bristol to 55.

With prices starting from £23.49 one-way, Bristol to Basel in Switzerland will be a year-round service flying four times a week. Bristol to the Austrian capital will be a year-round, twice-weekly service with prices starting from £23.99 

one-way.

Ali Gayward, easyJet’s UK Commercial manager, said: ‘These two destinations are a fantastic addition to our offering from Bristol Airport and further highlight our commitment to serving the South West.’

Shaun Browne, Aviation Director, Bristol Airport, commented: ‘The addition of Vienna links Bristol to yet another capital city, taking the total number of European capitals served by us to 16.’

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Picture Credit: Parlament Vienna Austria by Jebulon - Own work. Licensed under CC0 via Wikimedia Commons 

Ryanair takes off for Israel flights

RYANAIR has announced its first Israeli flights, with three new routes to Eilat Ovda from Budapest (Hungary), Kaunas (Lithuania), and Krakow (Poland) to start in November. 

The flights are on sale at the Ryanair.com website at fares from €29.99/£21.63 for travel in November and December. 

Ryanair said that it will negotiate with the Israeli authorities over future routes and looks forward to growing Israeli tourism, traffic, and jobs.

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Picture Credit: OldCityJerusalem by by Ester Inbar, available from http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:ST.. Licensed under Attribution via Wikimedia Commons