I recently decided to visit one of this country’s most mystical landmarks, Stonehenge. And as I live in London, I decided to see what else was on offer in that area, because I rarely get to explore this country’s heritage outside of the city.

On this road trip I discovered the marvellous array of attractions and historic sites around Stonehenge itself. I also found a recently renovated English tradition along the way.

Coming from London the journey involves taking the M3 south before heading West on the A303. It is here, near Basingstoke, that I discovered the reborn English tradition that is the recently renovated Little Chef in Popham, this featured on Michelin Starred chef Heston Blumenthal’s documentary “Big Chef takes on Little Chef”. This is well worth a visit if you’re travelling on the A303, although be prepared for a more crowded atmosphere than your standard Little Chef.

From here continue West until reaching the Legendary Stonehenge and take some time to marvel at its shear size and shrouded history. There are plans for the A303 to be placed in a 2km tunnel in the future, removing the road from sight and sound of the stones and meaning a coach journey, with a 1km walk to get there. So go and visit it sooner rather than later.

Why not drive further west enjoying the beautiful thatched housing and country roads that Wiltshire and Somerset have to offer, heading towards Glastonbury. Here you can venture into King Arthurs Avalon, also riddled with legend or enjoy a leisurely walk up Glastonbury Tor and enjoy the breathtaking views.

There are tons of heritage sites to visit in this area so I would recommend having a look around as there is far too much to cover off in this Blog. This drive around the Wiltshire and Somerset area will whisk you back in time and leave you wishing you had hired that car for just one day longer.

I’ve always considered the switching on of lights in London the official kick off to the festive season, and this morning it was announced on the radio that lights ceremony would be next weekend. When I arrived at the office, ready to share my new found Christmas spirit, one of my colleagues pointed out he is way ahead of me, as he has already finished his Christmas shopping. This sparked an animated conversation about the best places in the UK for Christmas shopping, here are our favourites. Let us know what you think and give us your suggestion.

Westfield shopping centre – London
This is one of my favourites; it is one of the largest shopping centres in Europe, with over 275 shops for you to choose from. No matter if you’re looking for Tiffany’s or Next it’s all there for you to choose from. Also with loads of great restaurants and the fact that it’s open until 9pm most evenings, you can make a whole day of it.

MetroCentre – Gateshead
If you are up in the Gateshead and Newcastle area then visit the MetroCentre. This is THE largest shopping centre in Europe, with over 330 stores, 50 restaurants and a cinema. There is a great mix of designer stores and ‘highstreet’ shops, so you should be able to find exactly what you are after.

Brighton
Although it is not the time of year to be sitting on the beach, Brighton has some great and unique shopping areas. If you are looking for ‘highstreet’ shops then Churchill Square is the place for you, but if you are looking for an array of boutiques, unique shops and restaurants then you need to head down to The Lanes. But if you are looking for a bargain then make sure you head down to the outlet shops at Brighton Marina. This charming seaside town has something for everyone.

Bicester Village, York Outlet Village and Gunwarf Quays
Also for all you bargain hunters out there make sure you check out one of these outlet villages. Bag yourself a great bargain on designer brands and highstreet labels, but all at affordable prices. Also with places to eat or have a coffee you can spend all day shopping to your hearts content (or until you have get everything you need).

Hyde Park London – Christmas Market
If you’re in London between the 21st November to 3rd January and looking to get into the Christmas spirit then make sure you head over to the Christmas market at Hyde Park. This winter wonderland has traditional Christmas market stall, fair ground rides, great food and drinks and much more. You’ll have a great day out and be able to do some Christmas shopping at the same time.

Bath Christmas Market
As Rob mentioned last year Bath Christmas market has been highly recommended as somewhere to go to get in the mood for Christmas. So this year make sure you visit spectacular Christmas market between 26th November and 6th December. There are loads of great stalls to brows and buy unique Christmas gifts form for your family and friends.

Back in March Rob posted his blog post “What are the United Kingdom’s seven natural wonders?”. While it highlights just how beautiful the British landscape is, I think there are plenty of architectural marvels on our doorsteps also. So today I launch our poll to find out what you think are the UK’s seven man-made wonders. And if your favourites aren’t on the list let us know by posting a comment and we will add them.

PS – we’re going to publish the results of the natural wonders next week so this your last chance to get your vote in for this one as well.

PPS – if you’re interested in visiting any of these places and need a car to get you there then we do currently have an offer on weekend car hire. There is more info on our website: www.avis.co.uk/weekend_inspiration

Hi, my name is Dan and I am the station leader of Exeter Airport.

Following Darren’s blog post last week, I thought I would write a something to tell you about a new travel option for those visiting the South West by train. We have just opened a new service from Exeter St Davids train station that is really easy and simple to use. For those arriving on the train, we are providing a complimentary taxi transfer from the train station to our rental office where the Exeter team will be able to get you on your way with no fuss. Simply show your taxi receipt to our rental agent and they will take the cost of the taxi off the bill. There is a regular train service from London Paddington to Exeter and it usually takes 2.5 hours. To book just go to avis.co.uk and select Exeter St Davids as the rental branch you would like to rent from.

For those of you who have not come to Exeter before let me tell you a little bit about my home city. Exeter is a vibrant university city with loads to do for all tastes. We have an excellent range of shops, all the big high street names as well as many independents. The new Princesshay shopping centre contains over 50 shops and has won prizes for its innovative design. It also contains restaurants and bars for when you need a break!

When you are shopped out there are plenty of things to see. You can walk along the roman wall which dates back to 180 -200AD or take a trip through the underground passages which are medieval aquaducts built in the 12th century. Exeter cathedral is also well worth a visit. Free redcoat tours are available and meet on cathedral green daily.

My personal favorite place is down on the quay which grew around the canal in the late middle ages. It is a great place to sit and watch the world go by or grab a drink and dustbin lid pizza at The Waterfront. After all that pizza you can walk or cycle along the canal all the way to the coast- a really nice way to spend an afternoon.

Hope to see some of you soon.

I haven’t had a chance to blog about it until now but a few weeks back I drove up to the Peak District for the weekend. The Peak District had never really appealed to me but a few recent trips around the UK had opened my eyes to how beautiful our country can be and, as it is very accessible from the south, I thought I’d make the drive up. Armed with my “Walk Britain: Great Views” book, I set my sights on hiking The Roaches and Mam Tor. Here is my account of my two hikes:

The Roaches
As you drive through Upper Hulme and approach the gritstone cliffs and clustered rock formations of the Roaches, you can’t help but get a little excited. While I’ve seen plenty of beautiful sights on the British landscape, I’ve never seen anything so quite unusual. When you approach the gritstone rocks themselves you will wonder what natural events could possibly have led them to take on such mangled and twisted shapes. But there is plenty more going on. On the larger cliff faces you’ll find rock climbers taking on the challenge of scaling them. Surrounding the rocks are clusters of woodlands, pasturelands and moorlands that add plenty of colour and texture to the scene. The problem is that if you focus too much on the details in front of you, you may miss the stunning panoramic views of the hilly Peak District countyside beyond. The views are visible from all the way along the ridge and stretch for miles.

Starting at the road alongside the Roaches, you can start your hike at Hen Cloud, the first of four distinct summits. Make your way along the The Roaches until you come to Roach End. Many people turn back here but I’d recommend carrying on through on the “Concession Path to Danebridge”. Then, at the intersection, if you turn right, heading in the direction of Gradbach, you’ll come to Lud’s Church. Which, incidentally, is not actually a church but a green, mossy chasm that seemingly appears out of the middle of nowhere. It is the stuff of fairytales. From here, make your way back along the ridge towards Hen Cloud. All in all, the hike is about 8.5 miles.

Mam Tor
My second hike was Mam Tor, or the “Shivering Mountain” as it also known. The hike centres around the Great Ridge, where you hike up to the top of Lose Hill and make your way along up to Mam Tor. The views are amazing, particularly over Hope Valley where you can see cliffs, moorland and the dramatic gorges – most notably Winnat’s Pass which is believed to have once been an undersea ravine. Meanwhile, the cliff-face of Mam Tor reveals it’s layers of shale and grit, an awesome addition to the view.

From Mam Tor you can either head back down to town via Winnat’s Pass or through Cave Dale. The latter option provides this hike’s fairytale addition: Peveril Castle, which sits nestled along the edge of the cavern. The town you are heading into (which is also where you’ll start) is Castleton is blessed with an abundance of great pubs that you can visit for a well earned post-hike drink. Castleton also has a number of other great local attractions most notably Peak Cavern.

Despite my preconceptions, these hikes opened my eyes to what a stunning addition the Peak District National Park is to the British landscape. The Roaches is now one of my favourite UK hikes. And the best thing is that it’s central position makes it a highly accessible park to visit from many parts of the country!

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When you think of festivals at the moment you’re mind is probably going to turn to the upcoming music heavyweights such as Reading/Leeds and V. But my colleague Vicky has tried to think outside the box and, in doing so, has put together this great guide to some weird and wonderful festivals that you might not know about. Some of them look brilliant. The 80’s Rewind festival in Henley is not too far from me… although I’m not so sure about brushing off the spandex…

The Out Of The Ordinary Festival 2009
A three day eco-friendly family festival from the 18th – 20th September, set in the lovely Sussex countryside. A chance to experience the Equinox Sunrise and really get back to nature, with solar-powered music stages, a green market and a zero waste policy. Tickets available via the site from just £57 for three days.

Festibelly 2009
A one day festival on the 29th August, this is an intimate event with only 1000 tickets on sale. Set in gorgeous countryside in Hampshire, it features up-and-coming new musical talent and street-art battles. At just £25 per ticket you’ll be able to watch some fantastic bands, eat some scrumptious food, and enjoy what’s set to be one big party. Oh and they’re throwing in camping for free!

Solfest 2009
Held on the August bank holiday weekend (28th- 30th August) at Tarnside Farm in West Cumbria, Solfest aims to create a great atmosphere through its sense of community. Welcoming everyone from all walks of life to four music stages, workshops and classes from Yoga to Burlesque; drumming to Sing-A-Long-A-Soundwave! Tickets are £85 for the weekend, and for some added luxury, why not rent a yurt or a squirt for the weekend?

One Love Reggae Festival
Head down to Port Lympne Safari Park in Kent from 21st-23rd August for three days of live reggae music. Not only will you be spoilt for choice with five stages playing everything from roots to ragga, but you’ll also have unlimited access to the wildlife park for just £5 extra! Where else in the UK can you chill out to drum beats in the company of rhinos, tigers and elephants? Weekend tickets are £70.

Wizard Festival
Is taking place from the 28th- 29th of August in Aberdeenshire. A Scottish festival for families and festival-goers alike in its third year, featuring fabulous bands and family entertainment. A ticket for the entire weekend only costs £70 – including camping!

80’s Rewind Festival
On the 21st – 23rd of August in Temple Island Meadows, Henley on Thames. If you’ve got love for the 80’s then this is the festival for you! All the original acts of the era will be dusting off their spandex and busting the moves on stage once more. You can visit the fun fair, comedy tent and eat all the posh nosh you like at this festival and you can even moor your boat for the weekend if you please! Tickets £90 including camping.

Newquay Fish Festival
Being held from the 18th-20th of September, this festival is not just for fans of the fruits of the sea, but those looking for a fun day out too. There will be live bands and entertainers, dolphin and shark-spotting trips, a fresh fish BBQ, beer tent and a sandcastle competition, just to mention a few of the activities lined up.

PS – please let us know if you have any alternative festivals of your own!

Carrying on with our Best Of British theme, today our staff tell us their favourite British castles…

Dover Castle, Kent

“Dover Castle can be considered one of Britain’s great defences, protecting the border against invaders from the continent for 800 years. More recently, the castle performed important defensive duties during the Second World War where underground tunnels were converted into a secret military command centre and underground hospital – now restored and open for everyone to experience! The castle was critical in the evacuation of French and English soldiers from Dunkirk. But even without its incredible history, the castle poses a formidable structure. You really need a whole day there to see everything – it’s well worth the £10 entry fee.

If you get time afterwards, you can walk along the White Cliffs of Dover and visit South Foreland Lighthouse, where Guglielmo Marconi transmitted the first international wireless message in 1899. Entry to both is free for National Trust members.”
Sara – Avis HQ

Stirling Castle, Scotland

“One of Scotland’s finest! Takes visitors back in time through the ages of Scottish history. Explore also the Wallace monument and Bannockburn Heritage Centre and relax in the many bars and restaurants in this truly vibrant city”
Gordon – Avis Stirling

Bodiam Castle, East Sussex

“Bodiam Castle is the stereotypical castle that you rarely actually ever see – a quadrangular castle in design with dominanting towers, surrounded by a moat. It’s the stuff of fairytales – close your eyes and you can imagine the castle wrapped under the claws of a menancing, fire-breathing dragon as it fends off the attacks from the knight on horseback who, of course, has ridden to the fallen castle’s rescue. You can find the castle in East Sussex although it is seemingly in the middle of nowhere (which only adds to the mystique). For the complete experience, take the steam train to the castle from Tenterden in Kent.”
Rob – Avis HQ
Photo courtesy of The National Trust

Oxford Castle, Oxfordshire

“A castle-cum-prison-cum-gastro-centre! Used as a prison until just a few years ago, Oxford Castle now combines its historic ambience with the best selection of bistros in the city – a great way to mix old and new!”
Mark – Avis Oxford

Windsor Castle, Buckinghamshire

“One of three principal residences of the British monarchy, Windsor Castle is beautiful as castles come. The huge, sprawling complex is intrinsically linked with the history of the monarchy over
the past 650 years. It is equally important to the Windsor community today, dominating the city centre.”
Vicki, Avis HQ

For more information on our Best Of British: Top 5 Castles, visit our website www.avis.co.uk. As always, if you’ve got any suggestions of castles of your own then please feel free to send them!

We recently ran a survey asking you “How well do you know our world?”. But the survey was actually designed to ask you “How well do you know our Great Britain?”. The survey placed photos of beautiful and, some times, exotic looking places and asked participants to select where they thought the photo was taken. The questions were asked using multiple choice and the options generally stacked stunning holiday destinations that we all aspire to visit, against some British destinations that are a little closer to home. The correct answers were invariably the British option.

The aim of the survey was to challenge people to realise just how beautiful our country is and I think it achieved just this. For example, 30% confused the Scottish Sands of Morar for a beach in the Caribbean. And UK ports were mistaken for sunny Mediterrean ones while the skyline of the city of Manchester was repeatedly identified as that of New York or Sao Paulo. Perhaps more surprisingly, many struggled to identify some of Britain’s most famous landmarks. 45% of respondents incorrectly identified the location of Stonehenge while 40% did not know where Windsor Castle is.

In many ways it’s a shame because, while the results show that we take the beauty of our country for granted, it also implies (through our poor knowledge) that perhaps many of Britain’s top attractions are yet to be enjoyed by us Brits. Great Britain attracts an army of tourists every year and maybe, in that 1 or 2 weeks they are here, they visit some amazing places that, over our entire lifetime, we still haven’t found the time to enjoy.

Yet we live in a relatively small country that is easy to drive around while flying is relatively cheap. So when you next think about how you use your 104 weekend days, your 20+ days holiday and your 8 bank holidays, maybe try going somewhere a little closer to home. You might be surprised by what you find.

To help keep the children entertained during the school holidays, my colleague Vicky has put together this great guide on ideas for days out this summer. Please let us know if you have any ideas of your own!…

Best for outdoor adventure

For a family fit for adventure, head to Dorset’s Moors Valley Country Park and explore its tree-lined trails on foot or by bicycle. Or for those wanting more of a challenge, why not sign up for a tree-top adventure? Get yourself harnessed and prepare for rope bridges, Tarzan swings, scramble nets and ladders – the Go Ape challenge will really put you through your paces.

Best for battle-troopers

Bring battleships to life by heading down to The Historic Dockyard, Chatham, Kent. Explore three warships – the Victorian sloop Gannet, World War-II destroyer Cavalier and the Cold-War submarine, Ocelot, before discovering The Royal National Lifeboat Institute’s historic collection of 17 lifesaving vessels.

Best for rock-pooling

Best for rook-pooling, Devon’s Shoalstone beach is a family favourite. This shingle rock beach is a minefield of rock-pools, home to secretive sea creatures seeking sanctuary until the next tide. During the summer months, it is manned by lifeguards, so swimming in the 25 metre sea water swimming pool is safe with care.

Best for car buffs

If you have a budding Jeremy Clarkson in the family then you should head down to Beaulieu in Hampshire for the day. Its world-famous National Motor Museum showcases over 250 vehicles taking you through the motoring ages. Between the James Bond experience, veteran bus ride and go-karting there’s something for the whole family to enjoy!

Best for re-living fairytales

The Beatrix Potter Trail set within the idyllic Lake District is truly breathtaking. Explore the scenes where our childhood favourites Peter Rabbit and Squirrel Nutkins’ tales unravelled. Between the lakes and the trees, prepare yourself for a trip full of adventure and fresh air.

Best for getting ahead at school

It may sound like homework, but a trip to Hampton Court Palace will not only help you get to the top of your class but you’ll be in danger of having one of the best days of your holidays too! Try to memorise all of Henry’s wives whilst attempting to conquer the maze created in 1702! Don’t miss the vast Tudor kitchens; here 800 meals were produced twice a day, so no more complaints from Mum please.

Best for cycling

The Lizard Peninsula, South Cornwall, is set in an area of outstanding natural beauty. Here, the cycling enthusiast will be spoilt for choice. The famous Penzance to Lizard Point path is a popular trail and at 34 miles it has a difficulty rating of 6/10. The stunning views, stretching as far as the eye can see, will help spur you on!

Best for underground adventure

Aladdin’s cave, eat your heart out! Venture down into the caverns that surround the enchanting village of Castleton. Some say this Peak District village should have been called ‘Caveton’, and its easy to see why; you enter the cave via an old lead mine and then by boat, as the entrance is partially flooded. Once inside you can enjoy the walks round the stalactites, stalagmites and the ‘Bottomless Pit’ shaft!

Best for horror stories

The Edinburgh Dungeon and the Real Mary King’s Close, seemingly haunted with witches, grave robbers and executioners, are guaranteed to get your imagination running wild! Prepare for a day of shocking surprises, ear piercing screams and flashing lights. This is not for the faint-hearted and it is advised that families stick together!

Most people think of Cornwall when surfing in the UK is mentioned, but it’s a little known fact that North Devon has several of the best surfing areas in the UK, let alone the South West. Not only is the surfing fantastic but Devon is a designated area of outstanding natural beauty, with two national parks (Exmoor and Dartmoor).

The hub of surfing life in Devon is Croyde Bay, considered a world class surf break and setup, with local surf schools for beginners. You’ll find beautiful sandy beach, dunes, campsites, ice cream shop and the all important pasty shop (yes Devon loves the Pasty too!!). Its all you need in this unspoilt village gem.

But when the surf is “On” at Croyde it’s a place for only the most experienced surfer, a barrelling beast of a wave that will break boards. That’s if you can paddle out! So check out Putsborough Beach to the north. It has several miles of sandy beach heads all the way up to Woolacombe. To the south is Saunton Sands and miles of empty beach, sand dunes and white water where beginners can perfect their surfing technique. When you’re done you can eat at the Sands Café by the car park. And if you want to really treat yourself then stay at the Sands Hotel, which is kind of like Monaco, on a cliff top, in Devon!

If surfing isn’t your thing then there are the National Parks to explore, with villages such a Lynmouth & Lynton (btw, the best point break in the country is at Lynmouth), Clovelly, Bude and Ilfracombe to name just a few.