Holidays in Wales for the Whole Family

by Jake Stevens


Wales is a beautiful country and is a place of choice for family holidays. The fact that it is only a short drive away from most locations in the UK makes it an obvious ideal location for a spontaneous break. Moreover, Wales constitutes a realistic competitor to foreign countries for summer holidays as it has a lot to offer for the whole family.

In South Wales, the Brecon National Park offers a marvellous landscape composed of fantastic mountains and fabulous waterfalls and rivers, sprinkled with old churches. Don't forget your camera if you choose to head there.

For keen sport practitioners, the Glasfyn Park, situated in North Wales, offers any possible activity from Welsh fishing and archery to bowling and bike safari.

Kids and zoos go hand in hand and Wales doesn't disappoint on this front with the Welsh Mountain Zoo. With animals from each continent, this really is a treat for the kids and one they will savour and remember especially as a highlight from their trip to Wales. Some favourites are the rare Snow Leopard, the Sumatran Tiger and the amusing Penguin Parade. And the nearby Cardigan Island Coastal Farm Park is well worth a visit too. A petting zoo cum farm which features a wild assortment of wildlife such as guinea pigs, rabbits ponies and even dolphins - a great day out for the whole family.

For a grand day out, take a train to Wale's highest mountain peak from Snowdon Mountain Railway station. This hundred-year-old train ride treats you to the scenic extravagance of Wales from heights that reach nearly 4000 feet above sea level.

Very few know that Wales also hosts the Rhyl Sun Centre: Europe's largest indoor water park, where the whole family can enjoy the indoor surfing pools, the lagoon pool and the amazing dragon slide as well as other themed pools and exciting water slides

Portmeirion Village and Gardens is a visually stimulating gimlet nestled on a private peninsula. Created by famous architect Sir Clough Williams-Ellis, of Welsh descent, it is home to many shops, restaurants, walking trails, parks and delightful beaches. A great and stimulating day out famous for its pottery souvenirs - so remember to take you wallet along.

In South Wales, the Caerphilly Castle Town Centre will satisfy those interested in Welsh history. Here you'll encounter a fortress spread over 30 acres, this is the largest of Wales' castles and is surrounded by lakes and an interesting artificial islands - lose yourself in Welsh history.

To satisfy your shopping urge and find some quality bargains, head to the Tweedsmill Factory Outlet and its thirty thousand square feet of shops where everything from clothing and footwear to holiday souvenirs can be found.




About the Author:

If you're thinking about heading off to Wales for your next family holiday, why not try to find some family holiday deals today?


The Many Types Of Staffordshire Pottery

by Bethany E. Power


Pottery is one of the world's oldest art forms, with the origins of clays pots dating back to around 29,000BC, although it wasn't until around 4,000BC that the production of pottery really kicked in. Although techniques and materials have developed over the years, the general idea of using clay to create everything from functional bowls to refined figurines remains the same.

There are many different geographic techniques to creating pottery all over the world, with countries from China to Mexico creating their own unique yet equally beautiful ceramics. There are, however, just four main types of ceramics; earthenware, stoneware, porcelain and bone china, and each has its own unique quality.

One of the cheapest types of ceramics is earthenware, which, despite being perhaps easiest to work with, is the weakest, and is often prone to chipping. Stoneware, just like earthenware, is a cheaper option, but is instead stronger and more opaque than the previous type. Porcelain is stronger still, with the added benefit of not needing to be glazed due to its impermeable nature. Many potters, however, do opt to glaze porcelain with coloured enamels for the sake of decoration.

The final form of ceramic is bone china, which is one of the most popular and sought after types of pottery around the world. Best loved for its natural whiteness and translucency, bone china is also the strongest, and is therefore often used to make thinner products for a more refined finish.

Today, the home of British pottery is the county of Staffordshire, although more precisely it is Stoke-on-Trent which most people consider the home of modern pottery manufacture. Ever since the 17th Century when Stoke-on-Trent became one of the first industrialised cities, the city has produced the best ceramics in the country, and can boast being the home and creator of the likes of Royal Doulton and Wedgewood. Thanks to the ideal location of Staffordshire, with the immediate abundance of coal and clay, the area remains the home to the best ceramic products in the UK.




About the Author:

There is a great range of Staffordshire pottery on Staffordshiregifts.org.uk, with a wide range of other products such as bone china flowers for your valentine

Sign Up for our Free Newsletter

Enter email address here