Five Top Beaches in the UK

Sun's out, and so is the bikini. It won't be long before we start complaining that it is too hot in London town. So if the heat is getting to you already, here are my five top beaches in the UK to escape to this summer.

Brighton

I'm lucky to live near Clapham Junction, so for me Brighton Beach is only an hour's train ride away. Besides chilling on the beach, there is lots of other cool stuff to do here. Wander around the Lanes for some bohemian impulse purchases or enjoy some playful fun on the Brighton Pier. Summers are good here in Brighton.

Three Peak Challenge

I have to start this post by saying that this is not about THE Three Peak Challenge, but it's about MY Three Peak Challenge. I didn't climb Ben Nevis, Scafell and Snowdon within 24 hours, I didn't run up and down the three tallest mountains in the UK either, nor did I dress up in fancy dress. Why would you want to do that anyways? My Three Peaks Challenge was to conquer each one at my own pace and on three different days. Boring? Not so much.

Photo by Dave under Creative Commons Licence

Spa Break at Bluestone Wales

Every girl needs to be pampered now and again so when Linzi from Office Breaks asked me to come along for a spa break at Bluestone in Wales, I didn't take long to say yes. Bluestone is a bungalow park smack in the middle of Pembrokeshire near the village of Narberth. It's set in woodlands and has access to numerous walking and biking trails. Whether you're 7 or 70, there are lots of indoor and outdoor activities to choose from, but we were here to try out the Well Spa.

We took a train from Paddington to Whitland on the Friday after work and arrived a swift 4 hours later to check into our comfy rooms. The next morning, after breakfast we checked into the Well Spa Retreat which was conveniently located next to our studios. After checking in, we were shown to the changing room where we put on the fluffiest robes I'd ever felt. We were taken for a little orientation tour through the entire spa. Walking around the calming, purple oasis with classical music playing in the background, oils wafting through the air and the mood lighting creating a warm atmosphere, made my urban stresses slide right off my shoulders.

We relaxed in the Thermal Suite for the next hour or so. We chilled in the brick sauna and the Celtic sauna. Although the latter was a tad too hot for comfort. we cooled off in the salt room and the ice room followed by sessions in the herbal and marine steam rooms. Then it was time for lunch which was served in the Caffi Mor restaurant. We were served a Japanese style bento box filled with healthy grilled chicken, hummus, couscous and pita bread accompanied by a glass of mango and orange smoothie.

After lunch we were scheduled in for our massage treatments. I had booked a hot stone massage which was so relaxing I almost fell asleep on the massage table. Still woozy after the massage I chilled out for a bit in the relaxation room and even had a little snooze. We finished our spa day with a dip in the outdoor whirlpool where we stayed till we started to prune.

After an invigorating shower, we headed to the on-park Carrag Las restaurant, next door for our three course dinner after which we turned in for the night for the best night's sleep in a long while. Ready to take on the challenges of the work week ahead, I travelled back to London on the Sunday, wondering how long this blissful feeling of calmness would last.

Linzi and I were invited for this complimentary spa break by Bluestone Wales.

Red Kite Tree Tent Launches in the UK

Now I'm not big on camping, but the Red Kite Tree Tent might be worth shimmying into a sleeping bag for.

Photo from Sheepskin

A company named Sheepskin that specialises in quirky accommodation, has just launched the Red Kite Tree Tent in Builth Wells in Powys, Wales. It's located in an area private woodlands, great for hiking and tramping.
I've not had the pleasure yet to actually see the tent for myself, but judging from the images on the Sheepskin website, it looks more like a big balloon on stilts, perched in between the branches of a tree.

Photo from Sheepskin

The tent is made of thick wool felt, which keeps guest warm at night. Inside there's space for two people. The beds are suspended from ropes, and decked out with colourful, warm duvets, there's a table and chairs and even a wood stove for those cold winter eves. For those who can really not switch off from the outside world, there's a desk with a socket to charge the laptops and Blackberry's.

Photo from Sheepskin

Shower, wash basin and toilet are located on a separate deck that can be accessed via a suspended walkway. Another walkway connects the tent to an observation deck where guests can enjoy the sunsets while having a glass of wine.

To stay here you pay £299 for three nights which includes a guide and a welcome hamper, but if you want to check it out for less, the tent will be on display at the Exel during the Grand Designs Live on May 4th-12th. Might be worth trekking to East London for.
You can find more information by clicking here.