Flying Families

Avebury

admin — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 04:55:09 +0000

Avebury, with all its Arthurian and mystic connections, is one of those places that can genuinely be called fascinating without any fear of travel writer’s hyperbole. Far less famous than its less impressive cousin Stonehenge, the Avebury stone circle is actually the largest in Europe and, again unlike Stonehenge, is completely accessible, both by road and by air. It is a place with a unique atmosphere and an ability to make hairs stand on the back of the most cynical of necks. As the site covers 28 acres it is difficult to appreciate it as a whole from the ground

From Wycombe Air Park the journey is quite straightforward and as it is within driving distance it is ideal as a ‘Plan B’ destination when weather wipes out flying trips elsewhere. Only by air can you appreciate the overall plan of the site, only on foot can you feel the atmosphere and touch the stones. Ideally you should do both.

Archaeologists tell us that prehistoric Avebury took shape over 600 years, eventually becoming a huge monument consisting of two small stone circles surrounded by a large stone circle of at least 98 stones, some weighing more than 60 tonnes. This outer stone circle is surrounded by a ditch with a high bank. The circle of stones is visible from the air, but more striking is the huge ditch and its accompanying mound. Excavations have shown that the ditch is now only a third of its original 30 foot depth, while the earth work surrounding the circle would have towered a good twenty to twenty five feet above that, a huge project for people who had only primitive tools to mould their monument from the surrounding chalk.

Stonehenge, which is now so famous that it is impossible to visit or fly over, would fit inside the Avebury circle approximately 130 times.

Avebury suffered in the middle ages when local people found a way to break the huge standing stones and carried them off to incorporate in buildings. Other were virtually buried under the rubbish of the era, yet enough remained to leave the site impressive, and King Charles II visited it and walked up nearby Silbury Hill early in his reign.

Two avenues of stones completed the monument and linked it with others which (although no longer visible) made up a huge Neolithic complex, such that some have speculated that Avebury was the capitol of the country in prehistoric times.

The mystery of Avebury is its purpose. Although it is possible to find many astronomical alignments in relation to the stones, no-one is certain what the circle was for especially since at the time of its construction its most striking feature would have been the ditch and surrounding mound, not the stones themselves. It is strange to think that when the Romans conquered Britain, bringing with them roads and other aspects of ‘civilisation’, the stone circle at Avebury was already unbelievably ancient, dating from around 2500 B.C

Later legends have associated Avebury with King Arthur, his father Uther Pendragon and the earlier kings. Geoffrey of Monmouth, the originator of many of the King Arthur stories does not distinguish between Avebury and Stonehenge. Given the age of the stones it does not seem surprising that if Merlin were to choose a place of great significance to declare the young Arthur King before all the lower Kings of Britian, Avebury may have been that place. Hence the stones take their place with Tintagel and Glastonbury in the Arthurian legend, fuelled further by the existence of Merlin’s mound, where the legendary magician was imprisoned by the Lady of the Lake, just a few miles away in the grounds of Marlborough college. Marlborough itself, one of the most ancient boroughs in Britain, supposedly takes its name from the hill or as it was known, Merlin’s Barrow.

We all learn about the ancient Egyptians, the Greeks and the Romans in school history. We learn about the Norman’s, the War of the Roses, the Tudors, the Stewarts and onwards to modern times, but the ancient peoples of this island are largely ignored, their culture still shrouded in mystery. Avebury is a site which reminds us of this islands long history, the builders of Avebury laboured long before Boadicea, before Rome, before even Homer, yet the monument remains relatively unknown, in the shadow of its smaller sister at Stonehenge.

It is likely that in the future this monument, like Stonehenge, will be fenced and protected. We suggest you visit while you still can.

How to get to Avebury

admin — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 04:54:24 +0000

This is a very simple flight and all the more fun for it! Assuming a westerly wind you will probably take off from R/W 24. You can continue the climb straight ahead and you should see the distinctive bend in the river and Henley-on-Thames straight ahead. Henley should probably be your initial navigational point for this short journey.
Once at your cruising height identify the CPT VOR and set up the DME associated with it. By now you should be just North of Reading which the CPT VOR and DME should confirm. As you get further from Wycombe Air Park, at the weekend it’s prudent to change frequency to Brize Radar for a Flight Service. In our case we got a flight information Service and continued towards the CPT beacon. Once you pass over the beacon (or slightly to the side) you should be tracking away from CPT and again this beacon will be a good confirmation of your position. The co-incident DME at Compton will also help you keep track of your progress.

Within a short time you will pass the disused airfield of Wittle and on a track of roughly 260 degrees you will cross the M4. Marlborough will soon appear ahead and is very distinctive, surrounded on all sides by greenery and with the widest high street in the UK. When you are at Marlborough, turn due West, but be watchful of micro-lights just to the West of Marlborough. Be on the look out for Silbury Hill and make sure that you do not fly into the Lyneham MATZ, which at Silbury hill is just 2-3 miles from the edge of the zone. Make sure to time you Westward leg from Marlborough so that you do not go further West than you need to if you miss Silbury Hill (which would be difficult). You may also get a reminder from Brize about remaining clear of the zone! When you reach Silbury Hill you can turn North and before you know it (about a mile) you’ll see Avebury with its standing stones ahead, or more likely right under the nose.

Travelling North from Silbury Hill again puts you on a course into the Lyneham zone. Do not go further North than Avebury and you’ll be clear of the zone. Once you’ve achieved your objective reverse your course, South to Silbury Hill and East towards Marlborough. From Marlborough track towards CPT. Once at Henley again join the Wycombe circuit as directed by ATC or take a more leisurely route round to Princes Risborough for a Right base join for R/W 24. The entire flight should take no more than 1.5 hours brakes off to brakes on.

A Weekend In Jersey

admin — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 04:53:43 +0000

{mosimage} I do not enjoy journeys. I’m not being anti-GA when I say that – it’s not the means of travel that bothers me, I just don’t have a lot of patience. If I’m to go away for a weekend I want to get where I’m going pretty quickly and get on with the relaxing thing as soon as possible. As a result I like Jersey. It’s different enough to make you feel as though you are ‘away’, but near enough to make the journey short and relatively simple. It’s an international destination, but without a foreign language, and for all these reasons, it gets my vote as a good place to visit. Our last weekend visit, in September 2005, was great. It hasn’t always been that way. Weekends in Jersey can be dire unless you find the right place to stay. We stayed at the Atlantic Hotel which was excellent, but on a previous occasion we stayed at a rather larger hotel where everything was vastly expensive and the service was terrible. You’ll know how bad things were when I tell you the KIDS sent their food back. TWICE.

Jersey is not a cheap place to stay and is not over endowed with tourist attractions. There is a short tourist season and anyone venturing to the island outside it is likely to find things closed and shuttered. A little like the Greek islands then, but without the sunshine. Or the wine. Or the food. Or the people. OK. Maybe not so much like the Greek islands at all.

What Jersey does have is

Excellent seafood
Duty free shopping
A Fantastic zoo

Add some interesting history and you have a leisurely weekend (even long weekend) destination. Hire a car to see the sights and don’t forget to sample the seafood. Of course you can fly to the other islands or to France and boat trips are another possibility. We’d recommend

Jersey Zoo – fascinating animals including gorillas, orangutans and lemurs as well as lovely gardens.
The Falconry display – not much publicity but well worth watching.
The Atlantic Hotel – adult and child friendly, a lovely place to stay
Catherine Best Jewellery. The Channel Islands own exclusive jewellery designer. Not cheap by any means but very different and well worth a visit. The restaurant next door serves excellent seafood.

Other much touted attractions include Jersey Goldsmiths, Jersey Pearl and the Jsery Pottery but none of these proved very exciting.

I enjoyed my weekend break on Jersey, and now that I have found somewhere to stay, I’m looking forward to repeating it.

I Have Found It!

admin — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 04:52:04 +0000

{mosimage} So you have problems persuading the family to fly with you? Don’t we all! There are so many reasons, most of them so very reasonable, and so many other things to do.

There is at least one way to start chipping away at their earth bound resolve, and that is the lure of interesting places to go. Romantic hideaways are an obvious line of persuasion, but suppose you have the whole family to deal with, kids and all, where can you go?

There are several articles on the site which cover destinations which are especially good for families (take a look at ‘related items’) but one way we know to persuade a reluctant parent is to point out the educational possibilities of the destination. Don’t mention it to the kids though, you don’t want to put them off!

One such destination is EUREKA, a one of a kind museum near Halifax. This 4500 square metre structure was opened in 1992 and has already welcomed its four millionth visitor. For details of activities at Eureka over the summer holidays, click here . http://www.eureka.org.uk/events.htm

One reason for Eureka’s popularity is the care taken in its design and construction. Throughout the planning phase, and subsequent development, the ultimate consumer was consulted at every turn to ensure that the galleries would fulfil their stated purpose – to teach children of up to 12 about the world and the way it works and to do it in a ‘hands-on’ fun and entertaining way. As the museum expands and explores new opportunities, children’s ideas and opinions have been sought at every stage. In each case the latest technology has been put to use to ensure that each child’s journey of discovery is stimulating, interactive, and designed to encourage enquiring minds.

{mospagebreak title =The Galleries&heading=About The Galleries}

{mosimage} The Galleries

Eureka has four main Galleries with more than 400 interactive activities for children aged 3 to 12: as well as two new galleries especially for children under 5.

Me and My Body is introduced by Scoot, the talking robot, who encourages children to pick up a passport and find out more about the body and the five different senses. Children can step inside a giant mouth to find the wobbly tooth, play pinball digestion and learn how joints and muscles work by riding the skeleton bike. In this gallery, the ‘What if I couldn’t’ section also enables visitors to use various aids to experience what it is like to have a disability.

Living and Working Together recreates a Town Square environment where visitors can discover the mysteries of daily life and try out the jobs people do in the many buildings you would expect to find on any modern high street. Money can be printed, withdrawn or deposited at the Eureka! Bank, the week’s shopping can be selected and paid for in the mini Marks & Spencer food hall, while letters and parcels can be sorted at the Post Office. Children can fill up the car with petrol or change a wheel in the Garage and there is also a House, with every room from the kitchen to the bathroom with its own flush toilet and Jacuzzi, as well as an attic and a magic corridor to explore.

Our Global Garden features Alan Titchmarsh as the voice of Gordon Gnome. Children are invited to follow a fascinating journey from the familiar ‘backyard’ to amazing gardens around the world! Children follow Gordon Gnome around the world learning about the different ‘gardens’, finding out what makes them precious and how best to look after them.

The ‘gardens’ include:

· The Town Garden

· The Country Garden

· The Jungle Garden

· The Ocean Garden

· The Ice Garden

· The Desert Garden

· And finally, to help consolidate all that has been learnt; The Ideas Garden

{mosimage}Sound Space opened in July 2004 and provides children with a truly unique experience, enabling them to explore sound, music and performance through state-of-the-art technology, inspiring them to unlock their creativity. Visitors help Orby – a young visiting alien, understand and enjoy sound and music. Children can explore the physics of sound by seeing and feeling vibrations and creating their very own musical sequences. They will be able to perform live on stage, mix and sample sounds on virtual DJ decks, tour the world in a musical spaceship and experiment with sound and lighting in a futuristic studio. Throughout the experience, SoundSpace aims to enhance the understanding of Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) by exploring the unique relationships that exist between music and creativity, science, technology and the arts.

Soundgarden and Desert Discovery
Eureka!’s newest galleries opened early in 2005 and aim to extend opportunities in the museum for babies and young children to develop their senses and stretch their imaginations. Both galleries are especially designed for children under five, and support early education principles of learning through play; reflecting the intentions of the Birth to Three Matters framework and the Foundation Stage curriculum.

Desert Discovery inspires children to explore the natural world and the concepts of night and day through activities set in the desert daytime and a unique interactive ‘desert in the dark’ exhibit. The gallery presents a host of opportunities for role-play and communication – children are invited to dress in hard hats and jackets, collect rocks, build structures and use an innovative ‘bucket lift’ to help to create special desert dwellings. Another feature is the Baby Oasis – a colourful oasis in the desert where tiny babies can play, with a giant peek-a-boo palm and touchy-feely activities to encourage their natural development.

SoundGarden is a vibrant magical garden packed with larger-than-life exhibits and musical activities to encourage creative learning and development. Highlights include butterfly painting using touch-screen technology, dressing up, singing lullaby leaves, an intriguing puzzle pot and a giant magpie’s nest – filled with musical treasures!

This is the sort of visit that gives parents brownie points in the school car park and gets the teachers asking YOU about educational possibilities! The visit isn’t devoid of interest for the pilot either as the nearest airport to Eureka is Leeds Bradford, a ‘proper’ airport which will accept general aviation. Yes, there is a price attached but it’s not THAT high and it will be an experience!

——————————————————————————–

{mospagebreak title = Contact and Entrance Information}
What You Need to Know

Euerka is open 7 days a week and has frequent weekend Events for parents and children, and if you are frightened of missing the football this summer, Eureka will be showing all England’s games.

Eating
There is a museum cafe which serves hot and cold meals and snacks every day from 9.30am to 4.30pm. An outdoor picnic area, playground and heated railway carriage are also available for visitors wishing to bring their own lunches. In the warmer months (usually March-October) a marquee and Tuck Shop, serving snacks and ice-creams, are available outside the museum.

Access
Eureka! is accessible and suitable for all visitors. For anyone with visual or hearing impairments, there is a full range of multi-sensory exhibits available. Museum information is available in large print and from Talking Maps and there is level access with a lift between floors. A limited number of wheelchairs are available on loan.
Location

Eureka! is in the centre of Halifax next to the railway station, five minutes from junction 24 of M62. It is approximately 12 miles from Leeds Bradford airport.

For more information, contact the museum direct.
Eureka! The Museum for Children
Discovery Road, Halifax, West Yorkshire, HX1 2NE, UK

Telephone: 01422 330069
E-mail: info@eureka.org.uk
Fax: 01422 330275

You can contact Leeds Bradford Air Traffic Control on 0113 3913282 and look at the Leeds Bradford International Airport web site at
http://www.lbia.co.uk

A Day Out at Blenheim, near Oxford

admin — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 04:50:19 +0000

{mosimage}There is so much history in Oxford and the surrounding area, from the many historic colleges and landmarks in the City itself to the towns and villages in the surrounding area. One such area is Blenheim, a distinctive sight laid out in beautiful grounds near the village of Woodstock just North of Oxford.

Throughout the summer Blenheim has an extensive programme of events for just about everyone, from classical concerts to jousting tournaments, so it’s well worth keeping an eye out for the latest events on the web site at www.blenheimpalace.com

For the summer of 2007 the major events are as follows

July
22nd – Fly to the Past – a festival of the history of flight

28th – Battle Proms Concert
more info

From 23rd – Summer Holiday Entertainment
more info

August

10th – 12th – Blenheim Palace Jousting Tournament
more info

25th – 27th – Living Heritage Oxfordshire Craft Fair
more info

September

6th – 9th – Blenheim International Horse Trials
more info

In addition to the events Blenheim is well worth seeing on it’s own account and has a fascinating history.

In recent times the palace was the birth place of Sir Winston Churchill (30th November 1874) and houses an exhibition devoted to the wartime leader.He is buried in the nearby churchyard of Bladon. This is useful as a ‘field trip’ with your children if they are studying the war, and war is very much feature of the history of the palace.

Designed by Sir John Vanbrugh, the palace was the gift of a grateful nation to John Churchill who was granted the Royal Manor of Woodstock (and £240,000 from Queen Anne herself) in recognition of his victory over the armies of the French King Louis the Fourteenth at the battle of Blenheim. £240,000 is still a great deal of money today. It’s value in 1705 was incaculable. Unfortunately the Duke (and his wife Sarah, a Lady in waiting of the Queen) feel from favour after the victory and the promised money was never paid with the result that the ‘grateful nation’ left it’s greatest general in debt to the tune of over 40,000. The palace was left unfinished until the Queen died, when the Duke and his Duchess negotiated direct with the craftsmen involved and finished the palace at their own expense.

The palace is still the home of the Dukes of Marlborough.

Inverness and the Great Glen

admin — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 04:49:14 +0000

One of my most pleasant memories is of a drive down Loch Ness. It was the end of March, the air was cold but the sky was clean and blue. There had been a heavy snowfall before we got there and the trees and mountains were all edged with a sparkling white line, as though an artist had taken the scene and added highlights and glitter. The drive felt like moving through a Christmas card. As the sun went down the half light made the trees sparkle, it was a magical experience, yet the North of Scotland is not somewhere most people think to visit in the winter. Of course the weather CAN be vicious. I’ve travelled (by road) from Aberdeen to Inverness in whiteout conditions and that was no joke – it’s a distance of 100 miles but that day it took us six hours. If you watch the regular weather reports (and what pilot doesn’t) and choose you days well, you can be rewarded with scenery that surpasses anything you would see in even the most glorious of summers.

Sheffield

admin — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 04:48:11 +0000

Sheffield is probably not the first place you think of when you start looking for somewhere interesting to go for a trip. If the name conjures any pictures in your mind, the chances are these are of heavy industry. From the 14th century Sheffield has been known for the production of knives, an industry which sprang from the plentiful streams and deposits of iron ore to be found in the locality. Silver plating, the Bessemer process and the grant of a Royal Charter during the 19th century brought Sheffield from the status of small town to thriving city. By 1930 George Orwell claimed that Sheffield could be called ‘The ugliest town in the whole world’.

Yet in the 1990’s Sheffield reinvented itself from a depressed town, suffering the death of the coal and steel industries, to a centre able to celebrate the beauties of an England which, while enshrined in song and fable, may only now becoming a reality.

Places to Visit for Families

Just a few miles outside of Sheffield at Castleton are the local caves, including the Peak Cavern, known more colourfully as ‘The Devil’s Arse’ and the largest cave entrance on Britain. http://www.peakcavern.co.uk/

Kids will also enjoy a visit to the speedwell cavern, where the cave is permanently flooded and the tour begins in a boat. Visitors descend over 100 steps and embark on the boat only to return to land to view the spectacular ‘Bottomless Pit’ a chamber over 100 metres high and containing a 20metre waterfall. Tours take approximately 45 minutes. http://www.speedwellcavern.co.uk/index.html.

For the very adventurous Sheffield has the Magna Centre, which has many worthwhile educational activities plus the world’s only indoor bungee jump. (Maybe not for the kids, but who says Mum and Dad can’t have fun?) The 130ft high jump-station is reached by a tension-raising climb through the old steelworks. With dry ice all around, seven huge display screens and music to match, you climb the stairs and pitch yourself off into the twilight of ‘the Abyss’ For more details check out http://www.ukbungee.co.uk/the_abyss_at_magna.html .

For a list of Magna’s other activities for children over the Easter period, take a look here. http://www.visitmagna.co.uk/leisure/leisure.html

If you’re after something more sedate or cultural don’t despair. At the centre of Sheffield’s re-birth are the Winter Gardens, opened in 2003 and the largest urban glass house in Europe. It is home to over 2000 plants from all over the world and the display of bedding plants is changed five times per year. Attached to the winter gardens are the Millennium Galleries, where in addition to seeing exhibits devoted to Sheffield’s distinguished metal working past, you can see visiting exhibitions from London based galleries such as the V&A and the Tate.

If you plan a longer stay, Chatsworth house, http://www.chatsworth.org with it’s history, gardens and fountains is only 25 minutes drive from Sheffield or you can drive through the scenery of the Peak district, the UK first National Park or visit Bakewell, home of the famous tart.

To find out what is on in Sheffield, visit this page http://www.sheffieldwhatson.org.uk/ and make the most of your visit.

Eureka Events, Jan-Jun 2007

admin — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 04:47:12 +0000

{mosimage} EUREKA! THE MUSEUM FOR CHILDREN, HALIFAX, WEST YORKS

Events for children at Eureka!
Visit the UK’s number 1 children’s museum to take part in action-packed events for families and groups!
Suitable for children age 0-11 – and grown-ups of every age! – Eureka! has special events
every weekend and school holiday, plus some unmissable ‘wacky weekends’ offering a
festival of themed events, workshops, crafts and competitions.

Unless otherwise stated events run regularly throughout the day and are free on entry to Eureka!.

SCIENCE BUSKERS
Every Saturday & Sunday and during school holidays
Suitable for all ages
Various times throughout the day
Get to grips with weird and wonderful science tricks in these lively one-person shows.
Discover how to launch a rocket, make confetti dance and become part of a human circuit.
Isn’t science brilliant?!
INTERACTIVE STORY TIME
Every Saturday & Sunday and during school holidays
Suitable for children age 3+
Various times throughout the day
Join in with the telling of new and classic stories for all ages in these interactive sessions.

FEB HALF-TERM: CREATION STATION
Daily during school holidays
Suitable for children age 3+
1.30 – 4.30pm
Get stuck into fun craft activities in the Creation Station, open every day during school
holidays. For younger children the Early Years Activities Room is also open, with hands-on
activities suitable for under 5s.

FEB HALF-TERM: THE INSPIRATIONAL SCIENCE THEATRE CO. PRESENTS ‘SCIENCE IN A
SUITCASE’
Tuesday 13 and Wednesday 14 February
12.00, 2.00 and 3.00 (40 min show)
Suitable for children age 6+
How many bizarre science stunts can you fit into a suitcase? Two comedy scientists have
the answer, drawing on strange props to blend science learning with a hilarious mix of
mime, music and eccentric behaviour.
EVENTS TO CELEBRATE CHINESE NEW YEAR: DRAGON MAKING WORKSHOP
Saturday 17 and Sunday 18 February
Drop in session 11.00am – 1.15pm
Suitable for all ages
Make a Chinese dragon in this fun craft session for all the family and bring your creations
with you to join in a Chinese New Year parade.

EVENTS TO CELEBRATE CHINESE NEW YEAR: PANDORA’S DAUGHETER PRESENTS ‘MRS
TROPOLIS AND HER SLEEPING CITY’
Saturday 17 and Sunday 18 February
2.15pm (1 hr performance)
Suitable for children age 4-10 years
Join Mrs Tropolis and find out how we celebrate Chinese New Year, Divali, Christmas and
other festivals from around the world in this interactive puppet performance. Puppets of all
shapes and sizes, from 9 inches to 9 feet high, bring Mrs Tropolis’ stories to life in joyful
celebration.
SHROVE TUESDAY: PANCAKE SCIENCE
Tuesday 20 February
Various times throughout the day
Suitable for children age 3+
Learn some amazing tricks to try with your eggs and milk before they end up in the batter!

FEB HALF-TERM: QUANTUM THEATRE PRESENTS ‘QUIRKS IN THE WORKS’
Wednesday 21 to Friday 23 February
1.00 and 2.45 (1 hr show)
Suitable for children age 6+
Melvin knows nothing about electricity so when his TV grinds to a halt he’s in for a sudden
awakening! Join this unlikely hero on his musical voyage of discovery as he travels through
an electrical circuit to find out about switches, wires and connections.

EVENTS CELEBRATING NATIONAL SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING WEEK: ‘SPLASH!’
Saturday 10 and Sunday 11 March
11.00, 2.00, 3.30 (40min show)
Suitable for children age 6+
Join resident scientists Fizz and Flash for this interactive show introducing children to the
wilder side of water! Be amazed by spectacular demonstrations including a tornado in a
bottle and a bubble big enough to climb into!

EASTER HOLIDAYS: EASTER MADNESS!
Friday 6 to Monday 9 April
Various events throughout the day
Suitable for all ages
Go mad as a March hare and get stuck into Easter arts and crafts, an egg hunt competition
and a visit from the Easter Bunny!

EASTER HOLIDAYS: DYNAMIC NEW ANIMATION PRESENTS ‘CHICKEN LICKEN’
Saturday 7 and Sunday 8 April
1.00 and 2.45pm (45 min show)
Suitable for children age 3-6
Magical early years theatre combining music and puppetry and weaving an enchanting
story from three classic Ladybird tales – Chicken Licken, The Little Red Hen and The Fox and
the Hen. Follow the adventures of a growing chick and her encounters with the hungry fix.
Can Chicken Licken outwit Foxy Loxy and save her stuffing?

MUSUEMS AND GALLERIES MONTH: SPY SCHOOL
Saturday 5 to Monday 7 May
Various events throughout the day
Suitable for all ages
Dip your toes into the glamorous double life of a secret agent! Code-cracking, hidden
identities, secret missions, invisible inks – visit the Eureka! Spy School and discover how its
done!

MUSUEMS AND GALLERIES MONTH/MAY HALF-TERM: CREATION STATION
Daily during school holidays
Suitable for children age 3+
1.30 – 4.30pm
Get stuck into fun craft activities in the Creation Station, open every day during school
holidays. For younger children the Early Years Activities Room is also open, with hands-on
activities suitable for under 5s.
EUREKA! ‘WACKY WEEKENDS’: CREATURE FEATURE
Saturday 23 and Sunday 24 June
Various events throughout the day
Suitable for all ages
Get closer to the wild and meet some unusual friends in this lively animal-themed
weekend.

Alderney Events 2007

admin — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 04:45:32 +0000

Alderney Seafood Festival: 10 – 20 May 2007
The annual Alderney Seafood Festival takes place from 10 to 20 May and is the island’s biggest culinary event, with Alderney’s chefs working extra hard to create exciting new recipes for the 10 day celebration of seafood. The finest mouth watering dishes are prepared and served in participating restaurants, with meals ranging from shellfish such as delicious lobster, crab and moules (mussels) to tasty fish dishes of sea bass, plaice, turbot and sole as well as many other seafood delicacies and a seafood special of the day, guaranteed to appeal to every taste.

Salon Culinaire : 23 May 2007

The Salon Culinaire is a highly competitive event where the island’s finest amateur and professional chefs compete for the best dish in any of the ten categories or indeed for the best dish in show. There is both a Junior and Senior section so anyone of any age can enter the competition. Spectators are also welcome. The Boat House (The Moorings) from 12 midday to 5pm.

Prestwick and South Ayrshire

admin — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 04:43:16 +0000

Prestwick is a famous international airport. Recent discoveries indicate that it has been a home to aviation since 1913, only 10 years after the Wright Brothers. Take a glance at the map and you’d be forgiven for believing that the airport is in the middle of nowhere – South Ayrshire is not renowned as a centre of population, yet Prestwick, with its excellent GA facilities is only 30 minutes from Glasgow city centre, making it an excellent holiday centre for all sorts of reasons. {mosimage}

There is no need to venture into the big city. This is Scotland oldest baronial burgh, filled with history and tales of love and war. If you have never visited Scotland before, and even if you have, South Ayrshire can provide an excellent snapshot of the country as a whole.

There is one thing Prestwick is more famous for than it’s airport, and that’s golf. The first-ever British Golf Open Championship was held at Old Prestwick Golf Course in 1860. There are far too many golf courses around to mention them all, both Ayr and Turnberry as close by.

Sandy beaches abound, making this a great place for a family visit. One of the most romantically named is Ballantrae beach, famous for it’s views of the Clyde estuary and the island of Ailsa Craig. There are boat and fishing trips avilable from Troon and Ayr, only a short drive from the airport. These can take you to explore the wildlife of the islands, to relax on the many beaches or simply to enjoy the sunset. The climate in this part of Scotland is relatively mild as a a result of the gulf stream. If you don’t believe me take a look at this picture of Culzean Castle and note the palm trees!

South Ayrshire is also home to two significant castles, the relativley modern Culzean and the older Dundonald, built for Robert II, grandson and sucessor to Robert the Bruce.

Ayrshire is also synonymous with the life of Robert Burns, Scotland’s national poet. His birthplace, in Alloway is only a short distance from Prestwick.

For more information about visiting Prestwick and Ayrshire in general, take a look at http://www.ayrshire-arran.com/