Short Haul Flights - Hard Hitting Polar Bear Video

A short hard hitting video featuring polar bears falling from the sky to drill home the message that short-haul flights are having a massive impact on the climate.

Can I afford a gap year?

Much has been written recently about the cost of university, and the increasing number of young people put off by higher education due to the thought of so much debt after graduation. However, as the new term kicks off this month, it is clear that the recession has made the application process even more competitive as more mature students enrol, at the same time as jobs are cut, pay is frozen and more people find themselves without work. So what are the other options after college or sixth form?

Of course, a gap year has long been an acceptable way to spend time after secondary school in order to build up your ‘life experience’ and to enjoy some well-deserved freedom. But with so much concern about debt, can you really afford one? The easy answer is probably yes, but you must plan and budget carefully.

Whether you decide to volunteer close to home, or want to fly to the east coast of Australia, it is likely that you will need to save up some money for the experience. Of course, earning is one thing, but saving is quite another and it is important that you are taking enough money from your monthly pay and putting it somewhere safe. The more research you can do on this at the moment the better as the best savings accounts available tend to be fixed term – meaning you are more likely to get good returns if you leave your savings alone for a certain amount of time.

Another positive boon to your funding could come from tax. If you are only working for a few months before leaving and not working for the rest of the year, you may be eligible for tax back. If you earn £6,475 or less over a year you do not need to pay tax.

Once your funds are in place you need to estimate how you want to access it, and the currency (or currencies) you are likely to use. Internet banking is a great way for travellers because it is free and is available 24 hours a day. After you know what currency you will need and where, it may also be worth considering a prepaid credit card – despite the bad reputation there are certain credit card options available that are free of debt risk and allow you to take out foreign currencies abroad for no charge.

The next plan is to budget the trip. If you are travelling abroad it is becoming increasingly important to take out travel insurance – and it is a good idea to research specialist gap year cover. If you are planning any special activities such as extreme sports, ensure that these are included on your policy also.

Discover the UK's best-kept secret – roam free in natural North Devon

Be crowd-free as much as carefree in the expanse of unspoilt coast and countryside that is North Devon.

This spacious chunk of the West Country offers shores lined with broad, far-reaching beaches, Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, Sites of Special Scientific Interest and the UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve dune system of Braunton Burrows. The Taw and Torridge estuaries stretch inland towards the greenery of Tarka Country while Exmoor National Park provides a wilderness rich in both natural beauty and cultural heritage.

Vermont USA - An unusual but great summer destination

By Sarah Maple

When it comes to American holidays, the modest northern state of Vermont is usually associated with the winter season instead of the summer. But whilst the state is an excellent ski destination when the snow arrives, during its continental summers, Vermont becomes the land of summer camps, swimming holes and country hikes. So what does The Green Mountain State have to offer?

Vermont is located in the north east of the country and borders with New York, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Canada. Making up around half of its western border however, is Lake Champlain. Named after the French explorer, the founder of Quebec City stumbled across the Lake from the north exactly 4 centuries ago this year. Consequently, 2009 is the perfect year to visit the inspirational lake and the islands scattered upon it that make up Grand Isle County.

The flavour of Vermont is multicultural and diverse, with an unsurprising French influence. Yet, one of the most intriguing resort options has its roots in Austria. The Von Trapp family (their story made famous in The Sound of Music) fled to Vermont in 1942 and opened a ski-lodge eight years later. Today, the Trapp Family Lodge near Stowe offers mountain biking and hiking trails, a fitness centre, and tours for the whole family - all amidst the wholesome nostalgia of their legacy.

Please continue reading here

Gower: UK holiday destination for 2009?

With research recently published by Post Office® warning of the costs of ‘must have’ items for UK holidaymakers, it might be that ‘staycationers’ will need to save money on other areas of their holidays. Travel is likely to be a big cost to some, but the Gower Peninsula in Wales is conveniently located to get to efficiently and cheaply from many parts of the UK, yet is far enough away to offer a uniquely new experience – and it is beautiful to boot.

The research published by travel insurance specialists, Post Office®, shows that in order to keep summer car journeys peaceful and stress-free, parents are set to spend hundreds of pounds on travel toys, neck pillows and iPods – leaving little money left over for the travel itself. However it is fair to say that the journey to the Gower Peninsula is anything but boring. If the kids aren’t awe-struck by the three-mile long Second Severn Crossing, then they may well be impressed by the impressive southern Welsh countryside and the hard-to-pronounce town names.

Most Expensive Homes

Take a look at this collection of the world's coolest most expensive homes. This is sourced from Cool Pictures website featuring most expensive homes

Southhampton, Village Oceanfront Sanctuary New York - $80m
The interior space of this 13,500 square feet home runs across four stories and contains nine bedrooms, 11 bathrooms, four powder rooms and a movie theatre.

The home is situated between a pond and the ocean giving it a unique position, and there is 1,000 feet of shore front and 1,000 feet of pond front.


Villa La Leopolda - $500m
Formerly the home of Bill Gates, but now belonging to really rather rich Roman Abramovich, the Villa La Leopolda in Nice, France would set you back roughly £250,000,000 ($1/2 a billion).

Its 10 acres of lush, garden-filled grounds require an astounding 50 gardeners to look after it along with the best home insurance that money can buy.


Mikhail Prokhorov, Russia’s richest man had to pull out on the much reported deal to purchase Villa Leopolda, a $750 million estate in Côte d’Azur, the South of France after seeing a good portion of his amassed fortune lost in the current global recession.

The much reported sale was widely speculated over around August last year and now it seems that all the excitement has been for nothing. But the saga continues as the current owners of the villa simply refuse to hand Prokhorov back his initial deposit of €44 million.
Even though his lawyers are seeking a refund, they might be out of luck since the French law states that purchasers lose their deposits if they pull out after the sales agreement has been signed.

Since having set new property records with this deal last summer, the French Riviera went nuts with the news leaving many property owners excited at the prospects of selling their own nearby homes.
However, much has changed since then and the latest development in the Villa Leopolda story clearly indicate that even billionaires suffer from the current financial situation, leaving them with millions of dollars in losses.
Meanwhile, a spokesman for the wealth magnate denies all the stories as gossip saying that Prokhorov is refusing to do any business unless the French authorities apologizes to him for accusing him of procuring prostitutes for a party in 2007.

Ira Rennert House, New York - $170m
The billionaire found of the Renco Group, Ira Rennert, owns a place in Sagaponack, New York, and at 63 acres of grounds, is considered by many to be the largest residential compound in the whole of America.

The house itself has 29 bedrooms, 39 bathrooms, as well as the usual gigantic dining room, sport courts and bowling alley and contents insurance to cover it all. The property is valued at roughly $170,000,000-180,000,000.



Updown Court, Surrey, England - $140m
With neighbors like Elton John and the Queen of England, Updown Court in Surrey is going to be a rather decadent household. Launched with a price of £70,000,000 (roughly $140,000,000).

Containing 24 bedrooms, each with a marble en-suite bathroom, and an underground garage, the property is estimated to cost around £250,000 ($500,000) a month to run, not to mention the cost of the house insurance!

This property even has it's own website: www.updowncourt.com

And check out the video of this amazing home:


Donald Trump House, Florida - $250m
Donald Trump owns this 18-bedroom waterfront palace, which is listed as costing £125,000,000.

Situated in Florida, Trump says it’s location in Palm Beach is “the richest community in the world” and it doesn’t seem like he’s joking! We also doubt that he's one to settle for cheap building insurance, either!

Check his house out...


Tree Ponds, New York - $75m
In Bridgehampton, New York, there sits a $75,000,000 estate that has its own golf course!

Called “Three Ponds” due to the fact that it has, er, three ponds (each stocks with an ample supply of fish, which are hopefully included in the home insurance), and the expansive grounds also house 14 different gardens, each with their own theme!

Fleur de Lys in Beverly Hills, California - $125m
This $125 million estate was modelled after Louis XIV’s palace at Versailles, France. It encompasses 45,000 square feet and took five years to build in all. It all came to fruition when Suzanne Saperstein accumulated five acres in the 1990s.

What was once a dream became a reality and today Fleur de Lys features a 50-seat screening room, an nine care auto garage with a treasured collection of automobiles and a library filled with first-edition books.



Jacobean Manor, Greenwich, Connecticut - $90m
The manor sits proudly on 40 acres of rolling green hills, broken only by lawns and meadows to provide ample privacy for the owners.


The 14 bedrooms and 13 bathrooms are spread over 21,897 square feet. Features such as marble floors, vaulted ceilings, limestone walls, bay windows and wood panelling impress the ficklest of visitor.

There is also a 52-foot long indoor swimming pool. Ah yes, the manor is priced at a hefty $90 million. It is advertised on LuxuryRealEstate.com


Tranquility” Lake Tahoe, Nevada - $100m
Situated on the tax-free side of Nevada’s Lake Tahoe, this 210-acre property is owned by Joel Horowitz, the co-founder of fashion label Tommy Hilfiger. He built the property from scratch.



The house is made up of 20,000 square feet of living space and modelled after a northern European mountain home. It also has a 3,500-bottle wine cellar, an indoor swimming pool and atrium, as well as a 19-seat movie theatre, ensuring constant entertainment, even if snowed in. It is worth $100 million.


Eurasia Estate, Moscow, Russia - $100m
No list is complete without a bit of Russian flavour.

This property consists of an 11,700-square-foot manor house, as well as two 4,000-square-foot guest houses and a massive 91,000-square-foot recreation centre that features a pool, Turkish and Russian baths, a gym, sauna and lounges. Eurasia is worth $100 million.


Hillandale, Stamford, Connecticut - $95m
You will be forgiven to think you are looking at an English country manor when you see Hillandale. With a stone construction, hedged and manicured gardens, a grassy tennis court and distinctive chimneys, this 20,000-square-foot residence has eight bedrooms and 10 bathrooms.
Hillandale is so big that the property straddles the New York-Connecticut border. The grounds also include four guest and staff residences and two barns, all connected by five miles of private roads. The price tag is $95 million.

BootJack Ranch, Pagosa Springs, Colorado - $88m
The ranch includes a massive 3,100 acres of land. This luxury property is much more than a working ranch. The main house alone is 13,800 square feet and has four bedrooms and four bathrooms.

Further, outlying guest cabins and lodges can host up to 50 people and bring the total interior space up to 77,000 square feet.

In addition, there’s a 12,000-square-foot spa and aquatic centre. Just the right thing to soak your weary feet at the end of a long working day. That is if you can part with $88 million.

Heathrow Expansion: Opposition and supporters get vocal during May

May has seen some of the most vocal behaviour from both sides of the Heathrow expansion fence since the government agreed to support the plans in January. The debate became heated during a month in which UK airport travel figures reported a significant fall in numbers, averaging 7.3 percent across the country and a 3.9 percent fall for Heathrow itself. But does the recession look to halt any of BAA’splans?

On Saturday 16th May Heathrow was subjected to a “Euro Flashmob” in which expansion protestors arrived at the airport adorned in fancy dress singing popular Eurovision hits, such as Just a Little Bit by Gina G and Congratulations by Cliff Richard. With the protest tied in with the Eurovision Song Contest, the flash mob was orchestrated by the HACAN group via the website euroflashmob.eu.

Cheaper Petrol Makes for Cheaper Holidays at Top European Destinations

New research published by Post Office® shows that petrol and diesel prices have plummeted in Europe – making certain holiday destinations even more enticing as the UK weather continues to disappoint.

As the pound continues to make gains on the euro, many holidaymakers still considering a last-minute trip abroad will welcome news that fuel is cheapest on the continent. Switzerland came in as cheapest for petrol at just 91p per litre. Additionally, Austria proved the cheapest for diesel at just 83p per litre – having fallen 18 percent year on year.

Post Office® Report Finds Massive Cost Variations at Top Summer Destinations

Beach Barometer 2009*, the latest report by Post Office® has shed new light on the prices UK holiday-makers are likely to be paying for ‘must have’ items this summer. The research shows wild variations in the cost of products, such as beach towels and lilos, from country to country.

The research shows that despite the fact that almost half of UK tourists are looking for ways to reduce their holiday costs, families heading to resorts abroad may get stung by hidden costs – and this is something they may be even less prepared for as the pound slowly rises in value.

New Post Office® Research set to make Last Minute Trips Abroad even more enticing

As if the perpetual rain isn’t enough, Post Office® research published last month has given UK holidaymakers another reason to consider travelling abroad last minute this summer. Alongside the growing strength of pound sterling against the euro, the report found that the cost of car rental, holiday resorts and fuel on the continent is making a trip overseas just that bit more tempting.

Post Office® examined car hire costs in 20 countries with the USA showing some of the highest prices – especially for unleaded vehicles. By comparison, Portugal has seen a 21 percent year-on-year drop and now boasts the best value for hire cars, with Greece and Sweden close behind.

This means that at around £101, Portugal’s overall average unleaded motoring cost is just 38 percent of the amount in France – which averages £264.10.

The cheapest place for unleaded petrol is Switzerland at just 91p per litre. Yet, Austria and Spain are better value overall due to the cheap price of diesel in each. In Austria the average price of diesel is just 83p per litre – and Spain isn’t far behind.

By comparison, the UK proved to be the only country where diesel costs more than petrol, even though fuel has dropped by 19 percent over the last year.

If this is seen as a positive point for ‘staycationers’, Sarah Munro, holiday and travel insurance specialist at Post Office® reminds holidaymakers of other abroad bonuses. "This year’s report shows more evidence of price cutting activity to boost tourism in popular European summer holiday resorts. The huge drop in car hire costs in both Portugal and Greece is great news for UK tourists and is another factor that should be taken into consideration when choosing a holiday this year.”

However, Munro also offered some advice for holidaymakers considering driving abroad, she said: "While motoring tourists can make great savings by choosing destinations with lower fuel or car hire prices, they should remember to buy their travel money in advance of their trip. By no means all petrol stations accept credit card payment and so it is wise to carry foreign currency purchased in the UK where the exchange rates are likely to be lower than at an ATM overseas."

Top 10 UK Car Drives

UK top 10 best car road drives - forget speed cameras, roadworks and traffic jams: blow away the cobwebs with the best British country drives. Stuck in a rut of the daily commute? Leave the hustle and bustle behind and head for the British countryside. Even in these congested times, the UK has plenty to offer in terms of scenic drives and cracking roads; you just need to know where to find them. Here we show you the route to happiness with the top ten British country drives…

1. Hebrides
It may take a bit of effort to get there, but the Isle of Skye is an unspoiled haven within the Inner Hebrides.

Take the A87 from Portree - it skirts the coastline round the island and turns into the A855. There are numerous single-track roads for the really keen, while the harbour at Portree is perfect for a few snaps. There’ll be something for drivers and sightseers alike.

2. Northumberland
The North East has more than its fair share of rugged coastlines and spectacular scenery.

Start at Berwick-upon-Tweed (taking in the view of Lindisfarne) and head south to Alnwick. Pick up the B6431, which turns into the B6432, skirting Northumberland National Park. Stop for a brew at Farlam Hall in Brampton and marvel at the feat that is Hadrian’s Wall.


3. Lake District
The Lake District’s twisty country lanes are a driver’s delight - if you can avoid the peak of summer.

The B5289, just outside Cockermouth in Cumbria, loops around Derwentwater to picturesque Keswick. Stretch your legs with a walk through the Lake District National Park, then head south to Hardknott Pass - the steepest road in England. You’ll end up in the Victorian town of Ambleside for a well-deserved cuppa.

4. Peak District
Perfect for a family getaway, Britain’s first national park offers magnificent views of peaks and valleys in almost every direction.

To get the most out of them, you can’t do much better than the A57 from Glossop. Wind your way over the Moorland for miles, keeping an eye out for the Ladybower, Howden and Derwent Reservoirs. Finish up at Bakewell for, you’ve guessed it, the essential Bakewell Tart! If you’re taking little ones with you, take a look at Confused.com’s Guide to Keeping Kids Happy on Long Journeys.

5. Isle of Wight
This often-overlooked nugget of seaside delight is only half an hour from the mainland.

The Military road runs across the south coast of the island, following the sea cliffs as they look out over the English Channel. Rising and falling, they’re ideal for a slow cruise or an enthusiastic sprint. The road itself was part of the Palmerston Forts, built in the 1860s, in response to the perceived threat of French invasion.

6. Cotswolds
Burford, just 16miles west of Oxford, is one of England’s prettiest medieval towns.

The 1000 locals will welcome you as you partake in the delightful high street and quaint shops. From there, pick up the B4425. You’ll enjoy a fabulous fast and flowing open road for almost 15 miles before you reach Cirencester. Unwind and explore the weekday markets and renowned Corinium Museum.

7. Suffolk
Situated in the east of the UK, Suffolk offers some architectural delights, while the rural roads provide some challenging routes once you head off the beaten track.

Castle Hedingham

Follow the A12 south out of Ipswich, through the delightful Vale of Denham, before heading to Sudbury and picking up the B1058 towards Castle Hedingham. This, and the subsequent B1053 and B1057, loop around Saffron Walden – explore Audley End, one of the most ostentatious Jacobean houses in England.

8. North Wales
Find yourself in the right part of Wales and you can enjoy some of the best roads the UK has to offer.

Start at Bala and take the A42122 through the heart of Snowdonia. Head through Porthmadog and Pwllheli along the south coast of the Lleyn Peninsula, then back up along Caernarfon Bay. If you’re really keen, head north to Anglesey, and try out its race circuit, which looks out over the Irish sea.

9. Dorset
Take pleasure in the stunning views on offer in Dorset. Enjoy the traditional seaside town of Weymouth before following the coastal road up to the A352, visiting the iconic Lulworth Cove.

Gold Hill, Shaftsbury, Dorset

Head into Poole and explore its natural harbour, the second largest in the world, before looping back along the A35 through Tolpuddle to Dorchester - the home of Thomas Hardy and the Dorset County Museum.

10. Cornwall
A part of the UK not to be missed, head south along the coast from Bodmin to Lizard Point, and across to Land’s End. From there, drive north through the popular beaches of St Ives and Newquay.



For one final flourish, follow the A30 out of Bodmin again and head over the challenging moor roads, but be prepared for the Brown Willy effect: a localised weather phenomenon that brings heavy rain and flash flooding. Check out the amazing Cornwall Sunrise if you get the chance!

Country roads may take a bit of negotiating. Before you leave the hustle and bustle behind, make sure your car insurance is up to date and you’re covered for breakdown.

Enjoy South West - My South West

Favourite View
Choosing a favourite view is easy. It’s the view from the closest bit of coast to my home on the Lizard in West Cornwall. Church Cove at Gunwalloe, just a few hundred yards across Mullion Golf Course, is the quintessential Cornish cove but also has a tiny church backed into the headland flanking the beach.

It is a beautiful place but we have another link with this special part of Cornwall going back more than 30 years. In our family, the headland into which the church cowers is called ‘Decision Point’, because that is where my parents made the decision to move our life down here. So it was really where Classic Cottages was born. They started with just four fisherman’s cottages and we now have a portfolio of some 680 holiday homes spread across Cornwall, Devon, Somerset and Dorset. As we celebrate our 30th year in business, I am very grateful that, standing on the cliffs looking across to Land’s End, my parents decided to make that bold step.

It is easy to get complacent about the place we live in, but I walk or run that piece of coast almost every day and, whatever the weather, it always reminds me how lucky I am.

My South West Speciality
Fresh mussels from the Helford River, plucked from their host rocks with my own hands, cleaned and potted that day; how could it get better than that?

We have come a long way in the south west over the last 20 years. Touring the food tents at both the Devon and Cornwall County Shows bears testament to the incredible energy, imagination and enthusiasm of the local food producers. Back in the ‘old days’ we could not have shone a light on the standard of food in the south west, it simply would not have passed the ’credibility test’ with our guests. But now we promote local produce and gastronomy as another great reason to come to the south west and book a Classic Cottage. The likes of Messrs Stein, Caines and Oliver have been enormously influential in shining the spotlight on our part of the country, but the real progress has been made in the village shops, local pubs and restaurants where the high profile hype is backed with consistently high quality food and produce wherever you go.

My Own Personal Haven
A recent episode of ’Coast’ covering Cornwall included a scientific study of the quality of the light in St Ives. A sample of air from London was pumped through a piece of filter paper and compared with the air from St Ives. Unsurprisingly the London filter was filthy and the St Ives one pristine. But it did highlight one of the things I like best about living in the south west. It is the sense of open space, big skies and fresh air. The same applies whether I am on the cliffs or trudging across Dartmoor. This sense of freshness and vitality is at its strongest when I am on the sea or, even better, in it. As a mid-life-crisis surfer, there is nothing I like better than sitting in the still water beyond the breaking waves on an autumn evening following the setting sun as it drops behind Land’s End – closely followed a rude wake-up call from ‘Mother Ocean’ as she shakes me out of my reverie and refreshes me with a well targeted wave.

Sum up the South west
There is no doubt that, down here in the south west, we are all shaped in some way by the special nature of our environment. But there is an implicit assumption that, because we live in such a great ‘playground’ all we ever do is play. There is so much more to the area than chocolate box villages and rural idyll. Scratch the surface and everywhere you look you will find pockets of enterprise and innovation.

We do not have a core business, so we each have to find our own niche. It is that bit harder, but I also think that the variety of activity means that it is healthier. Looking at my own business, it would be easy to classify us as just another tourist business, but we have a collection of more than 25 people who are all specialists in a range of roles including marketing, building web sites, programming, inspecting properties, and customer relations. Classic Cottages is not unique, there are many businesses like us throughout the region, all with their own expertise, competing on national and international stages. So it is not all play, our surrounding also gives us the energy and inspiration to be quite good at work too.

Simon Tregoning is managing director of Classic Cottages, a specialist letting agency based in Helston in Cornwall. The agency markets more than 600 high quality self catering holiday homes across the south west and this year the family run business is celebrating its 30th anniversary. Go to Classic.co.uk and you will find a great selection of quality holiday cottages, country cottages and pet friendly cottages.

TIP: Check out the Classic Holiday Guide for things to do in the South West: Holiday Guide Cornwall, Holiday Guide Devon, Holiday Guide Somerset & Holiday Guide Dorset

Top 5 Beaches in Cornwall, 2009

The Marine Conservation Society has recently released their Good Beach Guide for 2009. The guide is taken from data compiled over the summer of 2008 and includes England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Island, as well as The Channel Islands and The Isle of Man. With many UK tourists opting to save their travel money and head to our own holiday resorts this summer , I thought I would compile my top five beaches in Cornwall.
(All of the following have been recommended by the MCS as having excellent water quality).

5. Trebarwith Strand
Trebarwith lies on the north coast just over two miles from the popular destination, Tintagel.

Trebarwith Strand Beach, Tintagel

Often regarded as one of the nicest stretches of coast in the country, the quality of water and waves make the beach a great destination for surfers. However, keep an eye on the tide times because the beach can be completely submerged at high tide, causing a high risk of being stranded on the rocks.

Map and Directions to Trebarwith Strand


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4. Mother Iveys Bay
More family friendly and just as breathtaking, Mother Iveys Bay retains its quality despite being popular with tourists.

Mother Iveys Bay Beach, Padstow

Being near Padstow is another plus, whilst the surf is often also good. The beach gets its name after Mother Ivey, a white witch who is said to have cursed a local field in anger for Harlyn’s starving villagers.

Map and Directions to Mother Ivey


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3. Maenporth
Just around the corner from the busy harbour town of Falmouth and its beaches Gyllingvase and Swanpool, the beach at Maenporth is more sheltered and famed for its gently sloping bay.

Maenporth Beach, Falmouth

Situated on the south coast, the area is not known for its surf but it does offer facilities that are sometimes hard to find at the nicer spots in Cornwall, such as car parking, the Cove restaurant and toilets.

Map and Directions to Maenporth


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2. Sennen Cove
Lands End is the most westerly area of mainland England, and Sennen Cove lies just north, boasting golden sands and crystal clear waters. The beach is popular with surfers and bathers but also benefits from its impressive length.




Map and Directions to Sennes Cove


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1. Porthcurno
Sheltered by high cliffs and offering a funnel shaped beach, Porthcurno is often considered number one by tourists and locals alike.

Porthcurno Beach, just off Minack Theatre

Dramatic geography and clean waters proved so beautiful, that Rowena Cade decided to build an open air theatre to overlook the bay as a backdrop. Subsequently the beach is very popular with visitors who are also drawn to the Porthcurno Telegraph Museum.


Map and Directions to Porthcurno


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