Tucked into its own extensive private grounds just twenty-five minutes from Croyde, Mullacott Riding Centre in Ilfracombe is a friendly, well-run centre that caters for everyone from complete beginners to confident riders, making it an ideal activity for us during a recent trip down to Devon. Read on to find out more.One of the things Ive loved about reaching a healthier weight is regaining the ability to ride. Riding is not a size-inclusive hobby, and for good reason. The welfare of the horse is always paramount, and beyond a certain weight, riding simply becomes out of reach.After recently getting back in the saddle after a long absence, I knew it was something I wanted to weave into my life more regularly, and it has since joined my rotation of activities whenever the opportunity arises. With a weekend of glamping at Ruda Holiday Park in Croyde on the horizon, I went looking for local stables.Not only did I find Mullacott Riding Centre in Ilfracombe, just twenty-five minutes from where wed be staying, but they were able to accommodate both me as a returning novice and my husband Mark as a complete beginner. Better yet, there was the promise of trots and canters for me something that isnt always guaranteed when booking a hack.Excitement built as the first horse was brought out. Mark met Spud, a gentle giant standing at 17.2hh and a dependable ex-police horse, absolutely perfect for building confidence. I kept a careful sideways eye on him as he was shown how to mount, and it was genuinely lovely to share his very first time on a horse. He remained relaxed throughout and thoroughly enjoyed every minute of our hour-long hack.Mullacott has extensive countryside right on the property, which means no roads to navigate and no passing vehicles to worry about, just open land and fresh Devon air. We found ourselves on what felt like a private guided hack, just the two of us, with two members of staff, one to stay alongside Mark and one to take me off for a few canters.Having not cantered in a very long time, it was genuinely exhilarating. After a trot following by a first short canter to find my seat, I was asked if Id like to try the longer stretch, which I jumped at, followed by a third shorter one to finish. Bliss!The team were friendly, approachable, knowledgeable and wonderful throughout, and I already have one eye on a return visit ideally when Im competent enough to join them for a beach gallop.A 1 hour hack costs around 40 and you can find out more about Mullacott Riding Centre here. or follow Mullacott Riding Centre on Facebook. A special thank you to local Alsager Saddlery for their help and patience when fitting me for my new riding hat. The post Horse Riding Ilfracombe Hacking Out In Devon With Mullacott Riding Centre appeared first on Camping Blog Camping with Style | Travel, Outdoors & Glamping Blog.

The post Saint Patricks Way: The Pilgrims Walk appeared first on WalkNI.

Going for a walk is one of the simple pleasures in life. Here in Great Britain we are blessed with some extraordinary landscapes, national parks and countryside

This May,we are highlighting the physical and mental health benefits of walking for women for National Walking Month

Lets admit it at first, planning a holiday seems like dreaming about warm evenings spent on a sunny beach and refreshing drinks in hand, but after a couple of hours, it turns into working unpaid for an internship in organisation. Before you even realize what has happened, you have found yourself immersed in an ocean of comparing flights, figuring out public transport routes, and trying to understand which restaurants to visit. This is exactly why all inclusive holidays havent just survived the digital age-they have become a genuine lifeline for those who simply want to be left in peace. It isnt merely about the convenience of a buffet; its about achieving that elusive, high-definition state of mind where decision fatigue finally evaporates into the salt air.The Mental Freedom of an Autopilot EscapeIve encountered plenty of travelers who dismiss the all-in format as a retreat for the unadventurous. Id argue the opposite. It is a strategic move for those who recognize that their mental energy is a finite resource. When you arent tethered to your banking app or performing frantic mental arithmetic over the cost of a bottled water, your nervous system finally receives the stand down order.Financial SilenceThere exists an overwhelming sense of peace that arises out of locking ones wallet in the hotel safe and then not touching it anymore. If it is the third cup of espresso or even a late-night drink when the tide is pulling on the shoreline, the answer lies in Yes. As it turns out, the ultimate luxury isnt gold leaf or marble, its the absence of a price tag for seven straight days.The Reclamation of TimeQuantify the hours typically lost to the friction of travel: waiting for the check, scouting for a functional ATM, or the inevitable debate with your partner over which bistro looks like a tourist trap. In a resort setting, those stolen minutes are reclaimed. They are traded for an extra chapter of your book, a spontaneous nap, or twenty more minutes floating in the sea.Low-Stakes Culinary CuriosityWe have all felt that pang of order regret at a high-end local bistro-the expensive dish that just doesnt hit the mark. Here, the buffet acts as your low-risk playground. You can sample that obscure local stew or the alien-looking fruit youve never seen in a grocery store. If its not for you? No harm done. You simply walk five steps and try something else.Architecting Your EnvironmentThe most frequent mistake travelers make is treating all resorts as a monolith. They arent. In case you need romance, your best bet would be to avoid the big hubs characterized by water parks and colorful play zones for children. Rather, you need to look out for the Adults Only havens. These havens usually feature a mature environment with elements like ambient jazz music in the pools and cozy nooks for a relaxed coffee in the morning sun.On the other hand, if your family has kids, then a well-chosen resort is everything. A professional kids club shouldnt be viewed as a mere babysitting service; its an immersive adventure for them and a rare, golden window of silence for you.The Base Camp StrategyHere is a pro-tip for the restless: dont view the gates as a cage. Treat the resort as your high-end base camp. Go right ahead and rent a car, drive through the mountain roads, immerse yourself in an absolute chaos of a local bazaar, and get truly dirty. Magic strikes at exactly six p.m. At this precise time, while all around you are in search of a place to eat or purchase from, you are returning back home. All that you get to enjoy are new sheets to sleep on, a nice bath, and a delicious dinner prepared by the master chef.Ultimately, vacationing does not have to be an item on your agenda anymore. In case you find yourself in need of a holiday from your holiday, then it simply means that you did not succeed. Choose a destination that will foresee your needs even before you state them. This time around, let someone else do the hard work while you just enjoy idleness.Where to next?ACTIVE | Kayaking at Astbury Mere Cheshire with Peak PursuitsGEAR | Active Era 2-in-1 Inflatable SUP with Kayak Conversion ReviewACTIVE | Exploring The St Agnes Coast With Koru Kayaking, Trevaunance Cove in CornwallThe post All-Inclusive Discover The Joy Of The All Inclusive Holiday appeared first on Camping Blog Camping with Style | Travel, Outdoors & Glamping Blog.

CollaborationWith the early May bank holiday upon us, we packed the car and headed off for a long weekend on the coast of Devon to stay in a safari tent at Ruda Holiday Park. Read on for our Ruda Holiday Park review.Where Did We Stay?Ruda Holiday ParkCroydeNorth DevonBook accommodation or find out more at johnfowlerholidays.comGlamping3 nights safari tent glamping 399Our VisitIn order to maximise our time in Devon, we made the decision to set off from Cheshire at a frankly ungodly hour on Friday morning. With a loose plan of places to visit, a booking for a hack at Mullacot Riding Centre, and a boot stuffed with everything from bodyboards and wetsuits to riding apparel, I set off bleary-eyed, already mentally fast-forwarding to our first coffee stop.I wont bore you with the travel details, were all painfully aware that Devon might as well be on another continent if youre travelling from the north, suffice to say, several hours later than anticipated, we finally pulled into our first pre-check-in destination.Im typically not a fan of captive animals and havent visited a zoo in close to twenty years, but I was willing to make this one exception. Ever since discovering the existence of African Shoebills, Ive been utterly obsessed giant, prehistoric-looking birds that appear to have been designed by Jim Henson after a particularly wild fever dream, and are completely, mesmerisingly otherworldly.Deep in the recesses of my perimenopausal brain, I recalled that the only Shoebill in the UK could be found at Exmoor Zoo. A quick Google confirmed I hadnt fabricated this fact and I was indeed right. A further search revealed it was less than half an hour from Ruda Holiday Park, and with check-in not until 4pm, Exmoor Zoological and Conservation Centre proved the perfect place to stretch our legs, take in some fascinating wildlife and finally see my beloved Shoebill, Abou, in person. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Camping with Style Blog (@campingwithstyle)Upon arriving at the holiday park, check-in was straightforward and we were soon making our way to the glamping village, consisting of four neat rows of safari tents with a distant shimmer of sea on the horizon. There are three different styles of safari tent to choose from, each sleeping up to six people across two bedrooms.Safari TentsOur Croyde safari tent came with a double bedroom housing a gloriously comfortable bed, a separate twin bedroom, a living area with a kitchen at one end, a flushing loo with sink, and outside, a covered veranda with a table and seating. In short, everything you need for a genuinely comfortable family break.Having never stayed in a safari tent before, I was immediately won over by the combination of the proper camping feel of canvas and fresh air, paired with all the creature comforts (and warmth) of self-catering accommodation.An electric heater took the edge off the spring chill, hot running water meant no trudging across the park to wash up, an induction hob and microwave made hot drinks and hot water bottles effortless, and perhaps most importantly, a flushing loo meant no 3am torch-lit pilgrimages to the toilet block.As a notoriously poor sleeper, It was a revelation to sleep so exceptionally well every single night. In fact, the double bed was supremely comfortable and, with the addition of an extra blanket, genuinely snug too despite the weather being so chilly and wet.Site FacilitiesRuda largely attracts families including those with young children, teenagers and extended multi-generational family group booking across several units, and with such close proximity to Croyde Bay Beach, accommodation to suit a range of budgets and excellent on-site facilities, its easy to understand the appeal.The on-site surf shop is a standout, stocking everything from wetsuits and bodyboards to current-season Roxy and Rip Curl clothing, and theres a second surf shop and hire facility directly at the beach too. The Cascades Tropical Adventure Pool is a big draw for younger visitors complete with a thrilling 200-foot water slide, lazy river and jacuzzi. Theres a craft hub with regular activities for creative kids, an indoor soft play area and a lovely adventure playground.When it comes to food and drink, the choices are numerous, with plenty of family-pleasing options. The Boardwalk Bar and Restaurant, Robertos Pizza, Hollerbird Fried Chicken, Stateside burger joint, The Catch fish and chip shop, a Flying Scoop ice cream parlour and with Costa Coffee available on site too, theres enough to keep most happily fed and caffeinated. The Nisa Local is impressively well-stocked for self-caterers, theres a launderette on site, and the Showbar delivers regular family-friendly entertainment.Ruda holds a four-star Visit England rating and, nestled within the North Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, the setting alone is worth the journey. This truly is a lovely area of Devon to explore and spend time in. The park itself is immaculately kept and we particularly loved the wildflower banks, a thoughtful touch that feels both beautiful and ecologically minded, softening the boundary between holiday park and the natural landscape beyond.Croyde Bay Beach is just a five-minute walk away, and the charming village of Croyde, with its handful of independent shops and some excellent places to eat, is a leisurely fifteen-minute stroll. Blue Groove is a great shout for relaxed dining, but if you visit just one restaurant, make it Roku quite simply outstanding. For post-surf or swim fuel, Biffens is non-negotiable. Their Barrel wraps are, and I say this with complete conviction, absolute perfection.Ruda Holiday Park VerdictRuda is a relatively large and very lively park and thats exactly what you get! If youre positioned near the adventure playground, as we were, expect the full, glorious, unfiltered soundtrack of children having an absolute blast from early morning until well into the evening.For families with energetic kids, this is all part of the fun. For couples or anyone seeking a peaceful retreat, its worth looking for a mid-week stay and avoiding the school holidays and peak holiday season. In short, Ruda is ideal for lively family holidays, and I mean lively in the very best, most wonderfully chaotic sense of the word!Would we stay in a safari tent again? Absolutely, and as someone who has been glamping since its earliest days, Im slightly embarrassed that it took me this long to tick a safari tent off the list! As for Ruda, its a park that knows its audience and delivers everything families tend to look for.DISCLOSURE | We were invited to stay at Ruda Holiday Park. We have not been paid to write this review, but we did receive free accommodation.Where to next?GLAMPING | We Reconnect With Nature & Ourselves While Glamping at Idyllic Treheli FarmGLAMPING | Sea Spray Discover This Quirky Glamping Hidden Gem in North DevonGLAMPING | Heres What You Should Pack For A Glamping Trip Your Complete Glamping Packing ListThe post Safari Tent Glamping in Devon at Ruda Holiday Park Review appeared first on Camping Blog Camping with Style | Travel, Outdoors & Glamping Blog.

Dawn breaks over Loch Katrine, and steam rises from my coffee cup as I watch a heron stalk the shallows. Twenty metres away, my kayak sits beached on the pebbles where I dragged it last night. This is what camping and kayaking together offers: waking up already at the waters edge, ready to slip into a world most campers never experience.The two activities work better together than apart. Your tent becomes a waterside base camp. Your paddle becomes a key to hidden coves and quiet backwaters that car-bound campers never reach. Planning takes more thought than either activity alone, but anyone whos done it once tends to keep coming back.Choosing Your Camping and Kayaking BaseLocation drives everything else. You need a campsite that welcomes paddlers and provideswater access that actually works.Some campsites advertise lakeside pitches but place you fifty metres from water across boggy ground. Others offer perfect launch spots but charge extra for waterside pitches that book up months ahead. It pays to research the actual access before committing. Phone the campsite directly and ask about launching, overnight kayak storage, and whether you can drag boats across their land. Many owners appreciate the call and offer useful local knowledge in return.Wild camping opens more possibilities but requires careful planning. Scotlands right to roam includes most waterways, which makes it particularly appealing for paddle camping. England and Wales demand more research into access rights and landowner permissions, but the Norfolk Broads and parts of the Wye Valley have established arrangements that make multi-day trips workable.Essential Gear for Water-Based CampingPacking for a combined trip means thinking in layers: what you need on the water, what you need in camp, and what serves both.Dry bags do most of the heavy lifting. Everything that matters goes in waterproof storage even on calm-looking days. UK weather has a habit of turning, and a sudden downpour can soak gear you thought was safely stowed under a deck bungee.Your tent choice matters more here than for standard camping. The waterproof ratings that handle a wet weekend in the Peaks may not cope with the constant humidity of pitching three metres from a loch shore. Ventilation becomes critical when condensation is the main enemy rather than direct rain.Clothing needs a similar rethink. Quick-dry synthetics or merino work far better than cotton when youre moving between wet and dry environments all day. Pack spare layers in sealed bags, because damp clothes in a humid tent make for miserable nights.Think about kayak storage overnight too. Some paddlers sleep with expensive boats locked to their car or a tree. Others feel fine leaving them pulled well up the beach with a cable lock. Know your comfort level and the campsites setup before you arrive.Planning Your Paddle RoutesThe best combined trips balance ambitious paddling with proper base camp time. Overplanning kills the spontaneous joy of following an interesting creek or exploring an inviting bay just because it caught your eye.Start with shorter routes than youd attempt on a day trip. Carrying camping kit changes your boats handling. It sits lower, turns slower, and youll want energy left for setting up camp and enjoying the evening rather than collapsing into your sleeping bag at sunset.Weather windows matter more once youre committed to sleeping outdoors. Check forecasts obsessively, but also learn to read local conditions. Wind direction affects different stretches of water differently, and what looks calm from your tent might be choppy around the next headland.Tidal waters add complexity but also opportunity. Timing your paddle with the tide can turn a tough slog into an effortless glide, especially on the longer estuary trips around Pembrokeshire or Cornwall. The free Easytide service from the UK Hydrographic Office covers most launch points worth knowing about.Leave room in your plans for what the weather actually does. Bad weather might trap you in camp for a day; perfect conditions might tempt you further than youd planned. Razor Kayaks packable inflatables work especially well for this kind of flexible trip. When you can stash the kayak back in your boot for a rest day, the whole approach gets easier.UK Destinations Worth the JourneyThe Lake District combines reliable campsites with stunning paddling, though popularity means booking ahead for waterside pitches. Ullswater offers some of the best combinations in the country, with several campsites providing direct water access and routes that suit different skill levels.Scotlands lochs deliver the more remote experiences. Loch Lomonds eastern shore has campsites that cater specifically to paddlers, while the Trossachs and Loch Awe offer wild camping options for anyone comfortable with more adventurous setups.River systems are easy to overlook but well worth considering. The Wye Valley provides gentle paddling with numerous campsites along the route, ideal for multi-day trips where you move camp each day rather than basing yourself in one spot. The Norfolk Broads offer a different landscape entirely. Flat water, wide skies, and a network of moorings and campsites that blends camping and kayaking into something close to a floating holiday.Coastal options exist but require more careful planning around tides and weather. The Pembrokeshire coast has campsites positioned for sea kayaking, though these suit more experienced paddlers comfortable with marine conditions and Atlantic swells.Making the Most of Your AdventureThe best moments often come outside the active paddling hours. Early launches when mist still clings to the water. Evening returns when other day-trippers have left and the water belongs to wildlife again. A camp chair that faces the water earns its place in the boot. Youll spend more time watching the lake or river than youd expect.Photography equipment needs extra protection but rewards the effort. Sunrise and sunset shots from waterside camps capture light that day-visitors miss entirely. Cheap waterproof phone pouches prevent expensive accidents during launches and landings, and theyre worth the few pounds even on calm days.Food planning differs from standard camping. Youll work harder on the water and want more substantial meals, but youll also have less appetite for complex cooking after a full day paddling. Simple one-pot stuff usually wins out over ambitious camp cuisine. Pre-cooked rice, a tin of beans, some chorizo, hot sauce: ten minutes from stove to plate, and youre back to watching the water.Weather will test gear and patience. Some days youll spend more time in your tent than on the water, so bring a book, a deck of cards, or whatever else keeps you content under canvas for an afternoon. The trips that go best tend to be the ones that work with whatever conditions turn up rather than fighting them.The first combined trip teaches more than any amount of reading. Start modest, see what you actually enjoy, then build from there.Where to next?ACTIVE | Kayaking at Astbury Mere Cheshire with Peak PursuitsGEAR | Active Era 2-in-1 Inflatable SUP with Kayak Conversion ReviewACTIVE | Exploring The St Agnes Coast With Koru Kayaking, Trevaunance Cove in CornwallThe post Camping and Kayaking Planning the Ultimate UK Paddle Adventure appeared first on Camping Blog Camping with Style | Travel, Outdoors & Glamping Blog.

The post Carnagh Forest Carnagh Lake Trail appeared first on WalkNI.