Recently we were invited to stay at Highcliffe House, a luxury bed and breakfast in Lynton, North Devon.  Highcliffe House is a 5 star AA rated bed and breakfast with views overlooking the Bristol channel. The winner of many awards including Tripadvisor's Travellers Choice Award 2022, this boutique adult-only bed and breakfast is perfectly situated to explore the Exmoor National Park.

Welcome

Unfortunately, the heavens decided to open just before we arrived and as we sheltered in our car in the car park, Robert, one of the owners, came to our rescue with a big umbrella. With a warm friendly nature, Robert sheltered us from the rain as he escorted us into Highcliffe House. 

Robert showed us into the lounge where we made ourselves comfortable. The lounge was beautifully decorated and Robert explained the paintings on the wall were collected from his and his partner Richards's, travels around the world.  

Of course, it would be rude not to partake in a G & T, cheers Mr W!

Breakfast

Breakfast was served in a breakfast room that had plenty of light and amazing sea views.

Food is locally sourced wherever possible and I can highly recommend the Ivan Clark Butchers back bacon - it was delicious with pancakes and maple syrup. Yum!

Breakfast started with a choice of berries or porridge. Then a choice of full cooked breakfast, pancakes and bacon, eggs benedict or eggs royal, or a gourmet breakfast bap. Lots of thick toast and lashings of tea and coffee were also served as well as a choice of juice. Granola and yoghurt parfait and smoothie shots were also available. 

Everything was well cooked and of high quality. Did I say how much I enjoyed the bacon? Well, I did?! The pancakes were a recipe from Richard's grandmother and were super light. Gluten-free and vegan options could also be provided if notified in advance. 

Hosting

The hosting of Robert and Richard was exceptional during our stay. Nothing was too much trouble for them and they make extremely attentive hosts. They gave us some great recommendations for places to eat dinner as well, more of that below.

They are very well-travelled and it was interesting listening to them talk about their adventures around the world. You can see some of the art they have collected throughout Highcliffe House. They have been recognised for their hosting skills as well as the quality of their establishment by being awarded TripAdvisor's Best Of The Best Award for 2022, and the AA five-star Bed and Breakfast Award.

Location

In an elevated position up a steep hill, the short 5-minute walk from the centre of Lynton was worth it for these views. In the area, there are plenty of easy walks as well as more strenuous hikes such as those to the Valley Of The Rocks and walks in Lorna Doone country in the Exmoor National Park.

Lynton has some great independent shops and a handful of good restaurants and pubs. We can highly recommend The Old Bank for an upmarket meal with delicious steaks and great vegetarian options. Lynmouth is worth a visit and you can get there from the Lynton and Lynmouth funicular Cliff Railway which is powdered by water and takes less than 5 minutes to ascend. Lynmouth is very picturesque with a small marina, lots of cafes, a couple of pubs, and tourist shops.

We had fun playing mini golf in Lynmouth and of course, I beat Mr W (he will say the opposite!).

Conclusion

Highcliffe House is a well-appointed luxury bed and breakfast with stunning sea views in Lynton North Devon. If you are looking for a high-end place to stay in the area, with luxurious furnishing and modern amenities we can absolutely say this is truly the place to stay. The hosts are extremely attentive, the views are amazing, the breakfast is delightful and with 5 AA stars, you can be assured you will not be disappointed. Highly recommended. 

Since I've been young I have really enjoyed looking at architecture. There is something about the design of buildings that appeals to me and how designs change over time. The UK has many architectural styles from Georgian to Edwardian, Victorian and more. Let's have a look at my personal choice for my top three cities in the UK for architecture.

Bath

Bath is one of the great Spa towns of Europe and the city of Bath is a World Heritage Site. The Roman remains at the Roman Baths are very well preserved and the thermae bath waters still run although you can't bathe in the waters there.  You can visit but be sure to book in advance as it is very popular.  

Bath is also known for its Georgian architecture, with the Royal Crescent, a row of 30 terraced houses laid out in a large crescent, being the highlight.  It was built between 1767 and 1774 and is among the greatest example of Georgian architecture to be found in the UK. Bath is a beautiful city and is well worth a visit for its history and architecture as well as its cathedral, independent shops, cafes, bars and restaurants. 

York 

York is a city in Yorkshire in the north of England and is known for its cathedral and one of the best-preserved medieval streets in the world called The Shambles. The buildings in the Shambles date back to around 1350 to 1475.  Known to the Romans and the Vikings you can see some of the city's history at the Jorvik Viking Centre, where you can see the sounds and even smells of the Viking era.  

York Minster

Don't forget to check out York Minster which is the largest Gothic cathedral in Northern Europe. It's worth a visit even if you are not religious to admire the architecture.

Edinburgh

 

Edinburgh Castle

Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland has some fantastic architecture and is well worth visiting. Another UNESCO world heritage site, it has a spectacular collection of medieval and classic architecture. Edinburgh Castle is a must-visit, with a long rich history as a royal residence, military garrison, prison and fortress. 

Scottish Parliament Building 

Whilst the Old Town is, yes you guessed it, the oldest part of the centre and is home to The Royal Mile. Visit the Real Mary King's Close to see the hidden history of the area, a street frozen in time, from the 17th century. Visit Holyrood Palace the official residence of the Queen in Scotland and see the modern Scottish parliament building.

Where to book 

If you are looking to book a hotel in these cities, I advise either going to the hotel direct or if you don't know where you want to stay, using a booking site like Ebooking where you can filter your requirements such as free cancellation, star rating, accommodation type, neighbourhood and more. 

Let me know, have you visited any of these cities? Do you have a favourite city in the UK

*Collaborative post

Photo of York by Hayden Pollard on Unsplash

This year it has been difficult to travel abroad, due to multiple testing and the traffic light system implemented due to the pandemic.  This has led to many people staying in the UK. Of course, that isn't a hardship as the UK has some beautiful countryside, as well as historic cities and incredible things to see and do.  So if you are looking for some ideas of where to go on your next UK staycation, I have some inspiration for you. Let's have a look at 6 of the top UK staycation destinations for a holiday.

Scottish Highlands

Cornwall

Cornwall is a top UK destination for its pretty villages, fabulous beaches and warm climate. Our favourite village in Cornwall is St Ives. It is famous for its artistic community and has some lovely shops selling crafts and pottery. It also has the wonderful Tate St Ives which is a fabulous little art museum. If you want to explore further afield, the Cornish Seal Sanctuary is worth visiting to see rescued seals and The Eden Project is a world-famous eco-park and educational centre. Other recommended places to visit include Padstow, Fowey and Looe. If you want to read more about Cornwall, check out this post on Cornwall's hidden gems.

Lake District

The Lake District is a popular area to visit in Cumbria as it has clear blue lakes, rugged mountains and interesting little market towns like Kendal, Amberside and Keswick. Lake Windermere should not be missed, take a boat trip on the lake, or visit the Beatrix Potter gallery where you can see her original artwork as well as the original manuscript for The Tale of Squirrel Nutkin. Grizedale Forest has walking and cycle trails with art sculptures dotted around and the Lakes Aquarium has the UK's largest collection of freshwater fish. There is so much to see around this area for all the family.

Yorkshire

Yorkshire in the north of England is known for its Roman and Viking heritage as well as medieval abbeys, castles and two national parks. We personally love York, a great historic city with amazing independent shopping. We recommend visiting for the York Christmas market to pick up some unique gifts. If you are visiting with kids the Jorvik Viking Centre is a popular tourist attraction. Visitors are taken through Viking scenes in carriages with the sounds and smell of Viking life all around them.  Other things to do in Yorkshire include exploring the Yorkshire Moors, visiting Castle Howard where Brideshead Revisited and Bridgeton was filmed and seeing Whitby Abbey, the inspiration for Mary Shelly's Dracula. 

Devon

Devon in South West England is a popular UK destination and is well known to us as it's an easy 2 to 3 hour drive. Known for its soft sand beaches, breathtaking cliffs, fossil beaches, medieval towns and areas of outstanding beauty, a visit to Devon is always very memorable. Have a Devon cream tea where the cream is always before the jam, visit the English Riveria towns of Paignton and Torquay and learn to surf in Croyde Bay. We loved the little village of Lynton and Lynmouth connected by the funicular railways. 

For more beautiful UK staycations check out Luxury Coastal who specialises in Cornwall, Devon and Somerset holidays with an upmarket vibe. 

Let me know where do you like to visit in the UK?

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Caravan holidays are going through a resurgence. After all, there are many benefits of going on a caravan holiday especially at the moment, where it's more difficult to go abroad. Caravan holidays are easy to plan, cost-effective in the long run and flexible. Let's have a look at the benefits of caravan holidays and especially the 6 berth touring caravans. This is an advertorial in conjunction with Bailey of Bristol Caravans and Motorhomes but all words and opinions are my own.

The benefits of a caravan holiday

Today there is no need to use the campsite's toilet block for a shower as toilets and showers are usually standard in caravans these days. Most also have cooking facilities and a fridge too so you can be completely self-sufficient. In these pandemic times, it's always good to have your own shower facilities and be able to cook food for yourself if needed. The new models of caravans are definitely more high end and luxurious than in the past.

Caravan holidays are also flexible, you can go at short notice, as there is no need to book a hotel in advance just a pitch for your caravan. Some places allow you just to turn up if there is space too without booking. It's great for impulse weekends away. Although you do have the expense of a caravan initially, pitch fees are so much cheaper than a hotel too.

Caravan holidays are great if you have a dog. Many dog lovers love caravan holidays as they can take their pet with them, and they don't have the cost and worry of putting their dog in a kennel.

Why I personally would like a Bailey 6 berth caravan

Firstly I have always wanted a caravan. When I was a child we went on many camping holidays and I used to look in envy at the caravans at my local stockist. Caravanning looked... exotic! Having your home with you when you travel still seems exciting today. Being able to park by a beach or a beauty spot and sit in comfort with a cup of tea, admiring the view is my idea of heaven.

Secondly, holidays abroad are really difficult at the moment. With countries' travel status changing on a regular basis and the fuss of having to get PCR tests and possibly isolate, a caravan holiday in the UK seems like a great idea, without all the fuss.

Thirdly, the flexibility of a caravan holiday is a great thing. When borders opening up again, it will be especially good for us. We can take the caravan abroad on a ferry or the Eurotunnel, and no flying is involved. As someone who is an anxious flyer then that is obviously a great thing.

Lastly, a 6 berth touring caravan from Bailey of Bristol would be a great spacious choice even more so if you are a couple. We can also take my mum or my grown-up son with us if we need to as well. 

The caravan I would choose

Bailey Caravans have a website with 360 virtual tours which were really useful when choosing the perfect caravan. In fact, all the current caravans and motorhomes have virtual tours so you can see the inside of each one. Check out the caravan virtual showroom and the motorhome virtual showroom. My favourite caravan was the Pegasus Grand SE caravan range which is spacious, high-end and luxurious looking. The Alliance silver edition motorhome with their Alu-Tech technologically advanced strong body shell is also another favourite.

The Pegasus Grand SE has 6 different models with roomy layouts. I like the Turin model. It has a generous front lounge with a parallel seating area that can be converted into a double bed or two singles. Perfect for my son. It also has another seating area that can be converted into a double bed. Great if my mum was with us. At the back of the caravan, there is a fixed double bed that is screened from the rest of the caravan with a curtain, which would be perfect for my husband and I. What really makes it for me though is a corner washroom with a large shower cubicle. No having to run to the shower block in the cold. It also has a dual fuel hob and microwave which is so handy if restaurants are busy in tourist areas.

Where I would go and what would I do

In the autumn a trip to Cornwall would be a must when the beaches become quieter. I would visit the pretty little seaside towns like St Ives and explore the Cornish coast, checking out the chip shops along the way. I mean you have to have fish and chips when visiting the seaside don't you?! 

So let me know, would you get a caravan or motorhome? Do you like the Bailey of Bristol caravans and motorhomes?

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