Suusex

The thought of taking a nice, quiet break somewhere can often seem quite appealing, especially when exploring parts of England previously unvisited. However, check-ins, organised tours, group outings and timetables for every day can quickly turn a relaxing break into feeling like a rushed school-trip.

The ideal solution to remedy this problem is to take a self-catering holiday, where you are in control of where you go, what things you do and what time you come and go. With an array of apartments, houses and cottages to suit every requirement, taking a short break in beautiful Sussex has never been easier, more affordable, or more appealing!

Sussex Downs


Sussex is home to the South Downs, showcasing some of England’s finest scenery, ranging from beautiful countryside to spectacular cliffs and coastlines. Beachy Head possesses some of the most tranquil and breathtaking coastal scenery that the county has to offer and offers visitors a truly unique walk.

Devils Dyke is another area of outstanding beauty. Britain’s finest Anglo-Saxon earthwork of its kind runs for nearly eight miles presenting an awe-inspiring countryside walk that has been trodden for centuries.

These are simply two examples of the broad spectrum of country walks, pubs, sights and views available along the South Downs Way, and make up part of a rural heritage that can’t all be appreciated in just the one visit!

History and Culture


If you’re looking for a more historical day out, why not visit one of Sussex’s several famous castles or forts? Bodium and Arundel castles are two prime examples of majestic buildings brimming with history, beauty and plenty of things to do, all set within beautiful rural areas and villages.

Hastings offers a glimpse into English history having hosted quite an event in 1066. The battle is chronicled in museums, buildings and the battlefield itself, with plenty of opportunities for visitors to complete the whole 1066 experience.

Sussex’s beautiful countryside is home to and indeed inspires, many talented artists. The county boasts many galleries, ranging from large, exhibition-hosting venues down to small village outlets where local craftspeople hang their wares. If you’re looking for history and culture, then look no further than Sussex and the English coast.

Eating


What holiday would be complete without food and drink? Taking a self-catering holiday home affords you the luxury of substituting mediocre hotel cuisine for award-winning local restaurants and local produce.

If you fancy a quiet night in, there is an abundance of quality locally farmed produce available throughout Sussex’s towns and villages. If a night of wining and dining suits your fancy, then there is a simply limitless array of options to suit even the most discerning taste-buds, whether it’s a local eatery showcasing the best in home-grown and local cuisine or a range of cosmopolitan fine restaurants located in a city. Sussex boasts all of these, as well as some of the finest fish restaurants available on England’s coastline.

Urban Chic


With all of the rural countryside and natural beauty of Sussex, it’s easy to forget that we’re also home to Brighton, one of the country’s most cosmopolitan and fashionable cities. Brighton has excellent transport links to most places in the county and offers a wealth of sights, sounds and activities for your holiday.

Brighton is home to some of the most varied and interesting shops, boutiques and markets in the south of England. The Laines offer a truly unique and independent range of shops, stalls and restaurants which are packed full of colour, character and charm, ensuring that you’ll definitely find something to take back your friends, and plenty more besides!

Brighton Marina naturally affords people boating access, whilst a casino and several restaurants have made this part of the city a very glamorous night out. From yacht hotels to moorings for your own vessel, the Marina offers yet further options to your holiday experience.

Add to this a huge shopping centre, great restaurants and a fantastic array of pubs, bars and nightlife, and you’re never short of somewhere to go or something to do, all within cosmopolitan Brighton!

Accommodation


The final piece of your holiday jigsaw falls into place with the selection of accommodation. The best way to explore our vast and beautiful county is at your own leisure, and nothing offers you this freedom like a self-catering holiday home. There are a broad range of cottages, houses and apartments based in a variety of locations to suit your needs exactly, and ensure that your holiday in Sussex is enjoyed exactly how and where you want it to be.

For the best array of holiday homes that the county has to offer, visit our friends at http://www.bestofbrighton.co.uk who supply the county’s finest holiday homes to the independent visitor.

Callum Saunders is a freelance writer with over five years worth of writing experience. His extensive portfolio includes copywriting for local businesses, including marketing, advertising and promotional copy as well as web content and press releases. He also possesses a broad range of journalistic experience, having written for several publications including The Sussex Express, The Wharf, Docklands News and TNT magazine. With an individual approach tailored to your specific requirements, Callum can ensure that words work for you! callum@castlegate-tech.co.uk

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Portsmouth Historic Dockyard

A Brief History of Portsmouth

It had been more years than I care to remember since my parents took me to visit Lord Nelson's flagship, HMS Victory, at Portsmouth. It was on board the HMS Victory that Lord Nelson lead the navy into action at the Battle of Trafalgar and defeated the French in 1805. After that battle, it was more than 100 years before the Royal Navy's superiority at sea was tested again.
Since my last visit, the Portsmouth Historic Dockyard concept has been created and there are a wealth of new museums and attractions so we headed down to the south coast of England to pay a visit. Parking wasn't a problem for us as there is a multi-storey car park a few hundred yards to the entrance to the dockyards. However, in the summer, it does get busy but there is also a bus and train station near the gates too. In order to gain entrance to the museums, exhibitions as well as on board the HMS Victory and HMS Warrior, you do need to purchase a ticket. However, it is possible to walk up to and around the outside of the HMS Victory as well as accessing the shops and catering facilities without a ticket. Family tickets are excellent value at 50.50GBP which includes 2 adults and up to 3 children.
The visitors centre at the Portsmouth Historic Dockyard offer a suggest itinerary which gives a start time of 10.30am and finishes at around 4.45pm which gives you an idea of how much there is to see here. The itinerary is designed to take you through the history of the Royal Navy starting back in the 16th Century with the Mary Rose Museum. It is filled with thousands of artefacts recovered from Henry VIII's flagship which sank in battle not far from here. There is a small cinema showing a film of how the Mary Rose was discovered and finally raised. The story is very similar to a Swedish ship called the Vasa which has been fully restored and is on display in Stockholm. Once the Mary Rose has been restored, it too will be on display but that won't be until 2012.
Next, we moved to the 18th century and went on board the HMS Victory. Unfortunately, the weather was terrible so the quarterdeck (top deck) wasn't open but there is still plenty to see inside the HMS Victory. The tour lasts for just under and hour and you get to thoroughly explore the ship. Moving around is quite cramped so one can only imagine how difficult it was for sailors in the middle of a storm at sea or in the heat of battle. The guide really helps bring the HMS Victory to life and printed handouts are available in a number of foreign languages. Just a point to be aware of is that the tours only operate during off-peak periods. During the holiday periods, it operates a free flow system.
After the HMS Victory tour, we headed to the Royal Naval Museum which has a fascinating collection of displays aimed at both adults and children including some interactive screens to help children absorb the information. Although the HMS Victory is the most famous part of the Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, there are plenty of other equalling interesting displays. Another survivor of the Battle of Trafalgar is one of the original sails from HMS Victory and it is on display in one of the buildings.
After lunch, we boarded the HMS Warrior which dates back to 1860 and was the world's first iron hulled, steam powered, armoured warship. The Warrior is also available for private hire and part of the ship was out of bounds due to a wedding reception taking place on board. Next to the Warrior is where the harbour tours which are included but unfortunately, the weather meant the harbours tours weren't running.
One area of the Portsmouth Historic Dockyards we didn't get to visit was the "Action Stations". This part of the dockyard brings the modern aspects of the Royal Navy to life with various physical challenges, simulators and technological experiments. It also features the tallest indoor climbing tower in the UK.
In the years since my last visit, the Portsmouth Historic Dockyard has developed into an fantastic day out for both adults and children alike. If you are looking for a South East England day out where you can explore an important part of British history, then you'll find it hard to beat a day at the Portsmouth Historic Dockyard.
Rob AthertonExplorer Travelhttp://staycationsukholidays.co.uk/visit-england/south-east-england/
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