Dancing on ice with Fatboy
sea captains, hidden in the trees, plus the idyllic little waterside village of Dittisham, as well as Agatha Christie’s country home, Greenway, which is open to the public. Downriver again, n, with steam trains from Paignton now running alongside, the river becomes a boat-laden creek where it arrives in Dartmouth, with the Royal Naval College – the Navy’s Sandhurst – high on the hill above.
Conventional craft run this 90-minute trip most of the year, and from May the venerable coal-fired paddle-steamer Kingswear Castle joins in.
You can also buy tickets that combine the boat trip with the steam railway. River trip from £7.50, dartmouthrailriver.co.uk. SKI the enormous Portes du Soleil ski area then dance the night away to Fatboy y Slim and Chase & Status wit with a trip to Avoriaz and the S Snowboxx Festival. Inghams is offering s seven nights hts fully catered a at the Chalet alet Jean France Weekend sailings down the Clyde have long been a tradition tr amongst the hardworking ship-building and an textile-weaving folk of Glasgow.
Little remains of those heavy industries but the tradition tr of Clyde cruising persists. There is a lot to see. se Firstly all the boat-building hinterland, some of which has been converted to leisure use. Then the widening banks and the soaring Erskine Bridge, with Helensburgh on the north bank and Greenock on the south.
There’s a good chance of spotting a nuclear submarine manoeuvring out of the Trident base in Loch Long.
In the old days the Clyde steamers would make a day of it, stopping over in seaside resorts such as Rothesay and Dunoon, but today passengers in the French resort from £699 per person based on two sharing. For details about the trip, which leaves Edinburgh on March 17, call 01483 791114 or go to inghams.co.uk. Festival details at snowboxx.com. stay aboard for the two-hour 45 minute round trip. £18, clydecruises.com. The Caledonian MacBrayne ferry, which does the circuit of Canna, Rhum, Eigg and Muck – aka the Cocktail Isles or Small Isles – must be one of the most spectacular ferry journeys in the world. It’s a daily, day-long run, departing from Mallaig on the mainland and heading for these small island outposts s scattered across the sea to the south of the Isle of Skye. As a rule the ferry does three of th the four islands each day, delivering sup supplies and carrying a mix of holiday ma makers and members of these remote co communities. The schedule doesn’t allow an any time for sightseeing on each island, bu but each has a special magic and it is we well worth using this route as the itin itinerary for an island-hopping holiday. Sma Small isles cruise, £10.50, calmac.co.uk. WE want to visit a music festival but do not want to rough it. What do you suggest? LOTS of smaller festivals are popping up and if you are visiting London this summer you could check out the brand new All Points East festival. The ten-day event from May 25 in East London’s Victoria Park includes a three-day music festival and a series of headline shows. On June 1 indie rockers Catfish and the Bottlemen will head the bill, while US stars The National will do likewise on June 2. Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds and Vampire Weekend are among scores of bands due to liven up the city this summer. For details about the event and to buy tickets see allpointseastfestival.com. THIS fake bottle of suncream is a clever way to trick a potential thief into thinking there is nothing worth stealing on your beach towel when you nip off for a dip. You can fit in your keys, cash, a phone and even sunglasses. Then pray the beach thief does not actually want to nick sun cream...