TRAVEL
Home & Away with Robert Walshe Pride of Britain Hotels now offers a wider choice of exceptional places to stay and the chance for regular guests to enjoy special perks and win a free stay at all 43 properties. Newly elected to the exclusive collection of distinctive, privately-owned luxury hotels are Barnsley House, an exquisite 17th-century Cotswold house in a famously beautiful garden; Stapleford Park, a grand Georgian mansion and sporting estate in Leicestershire; and The Swan at Lavenham in Suffolk, a timbered 15th-century building in a picturesque medieval village. Guests staying at these or any of the other member hotels – located from the dramatic Scottish Highlands to the sunny Channel Islands – can expect the outstanding levels of hospitality on which Pride of Britain has built its reputation over 30 years. Frequent visitors may also find themselves invited by their hosts to join the Pride of Britain Club, a new invitation-only membership scheme carrying extra benefits such as room upgrades and late check-outs. Membership also entitles entry to an annual draw with a prize worth £10,000: a night’s dinner, bed and breakfast for two people at every Pride of Britain hotel - or as many as the lucky winner is able to visit in a year. www.prideofbritainhotels.com
Holiday Hotspot
Port Antonio a quaint port located between twin harbours on Jamaica’s northeast coast is considered to be the most beautiful part of the country. The nearby misty Blue Mountains drop down to the warm Caribbean waters and you feel like you are transported to a picture postcard the minute you arrive. Long a favourite holiday getaway of the rich and famous, the town has a relaxed atmosphere and combines Colonial architecture, pristine white sandy beaches and an abundance of local fauna & colour. Although lacking the bustling nightlife and tourist scene of Jamaica’s other famous resort towns, Port Antonio have plenty of attractions to keep you entertained. The area is thriving with orchids, palm trees, and bananas and is dotted with fern-edged pools. The forests in the Blue Mountains are home to more than 100 varieties of butterfly species as also to some rare and exotic birds such as the Giant Swallowtail, the
largest in the northern hemisphere with a six inch wingspan. The best time to watch the birds is early morning or dusk. You can also explore Port Antonio’s natural beauty through organised hiking trips and whichever trail you take, you’ll come across soothing streams, forests and valleys with ferns and bamboo forests, and the panoramic views of the Rio Grande river, John Crow Mountains and Moore n Kanopi Hou Town are spectacular.The Port se Port Ant m, Jamaica. onio Jamai has some very elegant villas n Amy Winehouse, Geeja ca. and charming small hotels nestled in these hillsides including Kanopi House which is luxurious jungle living. Approved by Amy Winehouse, Gwen the National Environmental PlanStefani, Bjork, Sharon ning Agency as an eco-friendly, low Stone, Tom Cruise and Damon impact, organic and green villa that Albarn’s Gorillaz. the proptreads gently upon the earth it’s in- erty is stylishly modern with teresting to know that the local and a Jamaican island vibe. The handcrafted artwork and furnishings Bushbar restaurant recently are produced from renewable Jamai- nominated by the Jamaican can materials. No trees were harmed press as one of the “top ten to design the house and the build- most fascinating places to hang ings were adjusted to accommodate out” offers mouthwatering Jathe natural landscape. Kanopi House maican and Asian-influenced n Views of Port Antonios Beaches & Coves. was conceived and designed by the dishes www.geejamhotel. Hew family, current proprietors of com The beaches nearby are Kamalame Cay, a private island re- the perfect venue to kick off sort in the Bahamas. www.kanopi- your holiday. If you like popuhouse.com At nearby Goblin Hill on lar action and crowds then head to turn your trip into a short break by San San Bay each guest is assigned Boston Bay or Blue Lagoon Beach. taking advantage of the Northern Irea staff member to do the cleaning, On the other hand, if you prefer land Tourist Board’s (NITB) special grocery shopping and cooking for something more quiet and romantic accommodation offer of two nights’ you. Our villa enjoyed amazing views then Frenchman’s Cove and San San accommodation, breakfast at the of the water and the nearby beach, Beach are ideal. Virgin Atlantic fly Glenavon House Hotel, Co. Tyrone, which is only a 10-minute walk away three times weekly to Montego Bay from £69pps. www.discovernorthor you, can take a dip in the pool at from London Gatwick all year round ernireland.com Concorde Travel this resort if you don’t want to make or to Kingston, Jamaica direct up to have the ideal package for you to esthe trek to the sand. www.goblinhill. March 2012 Fares start at £655.50 cape the madness of Christmas and com Port Antonio’s unparalleled (including tax). For more informa- jet off to the beautiful island of Malta beauty makes it a popular setting for tion please call 0044 8444 2092 770 to enjoy some holiday fun, value ofmovies and fashion shoots, while sev- www.virginatlantic.com For more fers include the 3* Hotel Santana on eral celebrities, writers, royalty, and information on Jamaica, visit www. a B&B basis, Qawra, from & euro489 captains of industry, commerce and visitjamaica.com per person or the luxurious 5* Le politics make it their home. Among Meridien Hotel on a B&B basis, St. the famous names linked to the area Weekly Best Buy Julian’s Bay, &euro599 per person. include Charlton Heston also ChrisStock up early on unique Christmas Departing on the 19th December for tian Bale who did Treasure Island presents and stocking fillers with 7 nights, this Concorde Travel Christthe movie here while Audrey Hep- a visit to the Christmas Craft Fair mas package includes flights, taxes, burn and her family spent a month at the Baurnavon Arts and Cultural transfers and accommodation on a nearby before losing her battle with Centre, Cookstown, Co. Tyrone. The B&B basis. www.concordetravel.ie cancer three months later. Nearby fair is back for its fifth year, from Noat Gee jam I felt like a pop star over vember 19 – 20, with a better than Robert Walshe is a freelance conlunch because it’s where the rock ‘n’ ever selection of quality crafts and tributor / broadcaster and guest roll elite hang out. Originally founded foods, featuring many well known travel writer for River Media by music producer Jon Baker as a re- producers and makers. While visit- newspaper titles across the island cording hideaway that played host to ing the Christmas Craft Fair why not of Ireland
Pet’s Corner...
Farm animals Farm animals are a worry for many people. If you have never been raised on a farm or have not spent time on one then you may be disturbed by conditions that are sometimes seen in the winter or in very wet weather on farms. Cattle are often the biggest concern for people. When people are out driving in the countryside they may see cattle standing in muck in fields. Standing in muck is one thing but sinking up to their arm pits is another. People see this as cruelty and often report this to the proper authorities.
Living
The reason that I’m writing this is because it is good to know what is cruel and what is not. First of all it is important to understand that cattle are very heavy animals. Even a rabbit will break the ground in wet weather from running up and down. They will wear a mucky little path into the ground. Dogs that are excited will wear a path from pacing on wet ground very quickly, so it is not hard to turn the ground to muck. Feeding stands for cattle are usually close to a gate so that food can be put there eas-
with Kathleen Murray
ily and regularly. Cattle come to the feeding stand to eat and as they are heavy animals they churn up the ground as they walk around the stand. They are often happy to stay there for lengthy periods of time and if there is heavy rain then the whole scene becomes a mud bath. The cruelty part comes in if the cattle do not have dry ground that they can move to, away from the feeder, in order to dry off or lie down to rest when they need to. Sometimes this involves having to move cattle from one field to another every
now and then to give the ground a chance to recover. Farmers are normally very good at taking care of their livestock, even under the worst weather conditions… but you will always get the one that doesn’t. If you are concerned about a farm animal then you could ring the Dept of Agriculture for help or you can report it to any of the animal welfare organisations or the Gardai. Any of them will be happy to help you. Numbers for these organisations can be got at your local Garda Station.
Home and Away Extra Seven months after much of its north-east coast was destroyed by a tsunami, Japan is attempting to revive tourism by offering free return flights to 10,000 foreign visitors. Japan’s tourism agency said the programme, which will begin in April, is expected to cost more than 1bn yen (£10m), equivalent to about 10% of its budget request for next year. Applicants will be asked to outline their travel plans and answer questions about post-disaster tourism in Japan, recently named favourite long-haul country by readers of the Guardian and Observer in the newspapers’ annual travel awards. Tokyo won favourite city for the second year in a row. The successful applicants will receive free return air tickets, but must pay for their accommodation and other expenses.