The Tiny, The Calm
and The Quiet
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CHAPTER 4: The Tiny, The Calm and The Quiet
Tired of loud noises, constant movement and lots of people? Or maybe just prefer being in a less
occupied place? Look no further, this Chapter was specially made for you. No town in Britain is the
same, every single one has something to offer and it’s just a matter of time and energy that you are
willing to give in order to see as many as you possibly can.
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Portreath, Cornwall
Portreath is a small resort with a very
narrow harbour located about 5 miles
north of Redruth. It was once a busy
port, importing coal and exporting
copper but now only sheltering the
occasional fishing boat. The original
loading ramp can still be seen in the
village. The pretty, sandy beach has a stream running down to the sea on the left hand side. It is a
popular family beach which, like many beaches on the north Cornish coast, is popular with surfers
and in particular bodyboarders who turn up in force at high tide on big swells to surf the harbour
wall, or Vortex as it is known. The beach is cleaned daily during the season and dogs are not allowed
on the beach from Easter Day to 1st October each year.
There are several shops, cafés and holiday accommodation in Portreath. The village has a very
friendly atmosphere and caters for most needs of tourists, whilst not being over-commercialised.
Some of the old tram-roads, used for transporting ore from the mines, have been made into cycle
paths and it possible to cycle from Portreath on the north coast to Devoran on the south coast.
This is good walking country with beautiful views from the spectacular cliffs. One good walk is south
to Bassets Cove, about five miles there and back. Although the walk is strenuous in parts, there are lovely views, lots of wild flowers and various sea birds. North to Porthtowan is a longer walk of about eight miles there and back. The cliffs in the area are made up of slate and sandstone and are subject
to erosion, so care should be taken when walking the coastal path.
There are various sports and leisure facilities within a short drive of the village. These include indoor
swimming pools, squash, badminton and outdoor bowls. There are six local golf courses, one within
a mile, and several centres for horse riding, two with indoor facilities.
Tehidy Country Park is about a mile and a half from Portreath, situated in a valley of one of the upper
tributaries of the Red River which flows into the sea near Gwithian. It is a beautiful country park of
around 250 acres. Most of the park is woodland and there are around 9 miles of nature trails. It was
formerly the estate of the Bassett family who made a fortune from tin but is now owned by Cornwall
County Council and is open to the public all year round. Within the park are also bridleways for horse
riding and tracks for mountain bikes. There are several ponds and a lovely lake with swans and various
kinds of ducks.
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Accommodation
a) Bed and breakfast
1) Miners Arms - Miners Arms is set in Redruth, 4.8km from Portreath, 18 km from St Ives.
Guests can enjoy the on-site bar. Free private parking is available on site. Rooms include a
flat-screen TV. You will find a kettle in the room. All rooms are fitted with a shared
bathroom. Miners Arms features free WiFi. There is a shared lounge at the property.
Newquay is 22 km from Miners Arms, while Falmouth is 15 km away. Newquay Cornwall
Airport is 28 km from the property. Bookings from £59.
a) Guest house
1) Inn for all Seasons - Inn for all Seasons offers pet-friendly accommodation in Redruth. Guests
can enjoy the on-site bar. Free private parking is available on site. The rooms have a flat-
screen TV. Every room is equipped with a private bathroom. Extras include free toiletries and
a hair dryer. Inn for all Seasons features free WiFi throughout the property. You will find
room service at the property. St Ives is 18 km from Inn for all Seasons, while Newquay is 21
km from the property. Newquay Cornwall Airport is 27 km away. Bookings from £59.
a) Hotel
1) Portreath Arms Hotel - Along the north Cornwall coast, around 30 minutes’drive from
Newquay and St Ives, Portreath Arms Hotel has a cosy bar and restaurant serving fresh
home-cooked food. Dating back to the 1850s, it offers en suite rooms, a garden, free parking
and free Wi-Fi. Each guest room at Portreath Arms Hotel has a flat-screen TV, hairdryer and
tea and coffee facilities. En suite or shared bathroom facilities have a shower with towels and
complementary toiletries. The Portreath Arms Hotel serves an excellent choice of home
cooked food, freshly prepared from locally sourced ingredients. Cornwall’s county town
Truro is a little over 19.3 km from Portreath, and Penzance is just 30 minutes away. It is less
than 1 hour’s drive to the spectacular Eden Project near St Austell. Bookings from £84.
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Places to Visit
Cornish Goldsmiths - An
all-weather family
attraction, where visitors
can watch the experts
produce exquisite pieces
of hand crafted jewellery.
In addition to being the
largest gold and silver
jewellery showroom in
Cornwall making and
selling hand crafted
jewellery, Cornish Goldsmiths also has fascinating exhibits, attractions and various hands-on
activities for all age groups. Visitors can pan for gold, dig for hidden pirate treasure and see such
unlikely exhibits as the De Lorean time machine and an Aston Martin DB5. The centre itself is
surrounded by lovely landscaped gardens and has a fully licensed coffee shop. It is situated at
Tolgus Mill in Portreath near Redruth.
Surfing HQ – Portreath Sea Front
fully stocked Surf shop that
offers sales & hire on wetsuits,
bodyboards,
surfboards,
clothing & accessories. We also
offer Surfing & Bodyboarding
lessons as well as Surfboard,
wetsuit and kayak rental.
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Oxford, Oxfordshire
Not just one of the elite universities of
the World, but also one of the most
beautiful areas in Britain, gridded by
channels and filled with gorgeous parks
with many spots to relax. Must be a
perfect place for stressed students and
curious tourists alike. Christ Church, the
Old Market, the annual Oxford vs Cambridge Rowing Competition and much more to be discovered
in this one-of-a-kind town.
Oxford and Oxfordshire has a lot to offer to
visitors and there is a reason why people return
to the county again and again. From the
ancient university of Oxford to the rolling hills of
the Cotswolds there is so much rich history and
culture for you to explore. Whether you want to
discover an ancient civilisation at a world
famous museum, wander around some of the
most famous landmarks in the UK or relax with
an afternoon tea, you will find something to do
for all occasions and all members of the family.
Oxford, the “City of Dreaming Spires” boasts 1,500 listed buildings from every major period of British
architectural history from the 11th century onwards. The centre looks like an enchanted fairy-tale
city - no wonder Oxford is a firm favourite of film makers from all over the world, and has inspired
countless famous writers over the centuries!
Oxford is flat and compact, with many of its major attractions, such as the old colleges, Bodleian
Library, the museums, and Oxford Castle right in the centre – perfect to explore on foot. Just a little
out of the centre, you can find large green spaces, like Christ Church Meadows (with excellent views
of Oxford’s spires), University Parks, the riverbanks and Port Meadow.
Whether you are looking for a romantic getaway, a history & heritage holiday, cultured city break, a
family holiday or a weekend out with friends – Oxford has plenty to offer for everyone.
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Accommodation
a) Bed and breakfast
1) Star Bed and Breakfast - Star Bed and Breakfast provides comfortable accommodation right
in the heart of Oxford city centre. Just a 2-minute walk from George Street’s many
restaurants, theatre and cinema and the Ashmolean Museum, it has free Wi-Fi and a coffee
shop just downstairs. Rooms have a flat-screen TV with Freeview, hairdryer and tea and
coffee facilities. There are shared bathrooms with towels and toiletries. Continental
breakfast is served each morning in the room. The city has a huge number of cafés,
restaurants and bars, with many less than 5 minutes’ walk from Gloucester Street. Oxford
Castle is a 5-minute walk away, and the Bodleian Library can be reached on foot in 15
minutes. The Oxford Playhouse theatre is just 2 minutes’ walk away, and the New Theatre
only 1 minute from Star. Bookings from £93.
b) Guest house
1) White House View Guest House - White House View is a 10-minute walk from Oxford city
centre and offers a garden and bedrooms with free Wi-Fi and Freeview TV. The guest house is
located just off Abingdon Road, in quiet and pleasant surroundings. Buses to the city centre
stop close by. Christchurch College is about 0.8 km away. White House View Guest House
offers a full English breakfast and continental items, all served in the dining room. Bookings
from £63.
c) Hotel
1) Victoria House Hotel - Located in the heart of Oxford on a lively street, Victoria House Hotel
offers single, double and twin rooms with free WiFi access. The University of Oxford is located
a 5-minute walk from the property. Rooms at Victoria House Hotel come with a TV and tea
and coffee making facilities. They all comprise a private bathroom fitted with either a bathtub
or a shower. There is an array of cafés, pubs, supermarkets and restaurants serving British and
international specialities in the surroundings of the hotel. Busy commercial streets are just 1
minute away from the property. Oxford's Train Station is 400 m from the accommodation and
offers regular connections with London. The Oxford University Parks and the Christ Church
Meadow are located within 500 m from the hotel. Gloucester Green coach station is just 100
m away. Bookings from £127.
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Places to Visit
Blenheim Palace - Blenheim Palace
is home to the 12th Duke and
Duchess of Marlborough and
birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill. A
true masterpiece of 18th Century
Baroque architecture, Blenheim
Palace delivers an awe-inspiring
experience for visitors. Discover the
beauty of this World Heritage Site
amongst over 2000 acres of
‘Capability’ Brown parkland and
Formal Gardens. Ride the miniature train to The Pleasure Gardens, a dedicated family area that
offers a giant hedge maze, butterfly house and adventure playground. Tours, exhibitions and events
reveal the sheer splendour of Britain’s Greatest Palace.
The Ashmolean
Museum - The
Ashmolean is the
University of Oxford’s
museum of art and
archaeology, founded
in 1683. Their world
famous collections range from Egyptian mummies to contemporary art, telling human stories
across cultures and across time. The Ashmolean’s collections are extraordinarily diverse,
representing most of the world’s great civilisations, with objects dating from 8000 BC to the present
day. Among many riches we have the world’s greatest collection of Raphael drawings, the most
important collection of Egyptian pre-Dynastic sculpture and ceramics outside Cairo, the only great
Minoan collection in Britain, outstanding Anglo-Saxon treasures, and the foremost collection of
modern Chinese painting in the Western world.
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Cotswold Wildlife Park and
Gardens - A fantastic day out for
all the family. Stroll around the
Park and enjoy uninterrupted
views of the animals, so it feels
as though you are in a wild
setting. Watch Rhinos graze on
the lawns in front of the Gothic
Manor House. Walk up the
Giraffe walkway and get eye-to-
eye with these amazing
creatures or explore the Old
Walled Garden’s Tropical House with free roaming sloths, birds and bats. Watch the Penguin’s
being fed (daily at 11am & 3pm) and then get up close with the Lemurs in their free-roaming
Madagascar Exhibit. Over 260 animal species, reptile, insect and bat houses to see, as well as a train
ride around the park (April – October) and cafe and picnic areas to finish of your day.
Bodleian Library - See one of the
oldest libraries at the heart of
Oxford's historic University.
Discover the Divinity School, a
masterpiece of English Gothic
architecture and the oldest
teaching and examination hall in
the University. Or choose one of
he guided tours of the reading
rooms, including a visit to Duke Humfrey's famous library.
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Radcliffe Camera - The
Radcliffe Camera, a large
circular building with a lofty
dome, was built by James Gibbs
between 1737 and 1749 with
money bequeathed by John
Radcliffe (1650-1714), the
famous physician, and was
designed to house a library
endowed by Radcliffe. In 1860
the Trustees of Dr Radcliffe's will transferred all works on natural sciences to premises in the
University Museum, where they formed the nucleus of what is now the Radcliffe Science Library, in
South Parks Road. The Camera itself was first lent to the Bodleian Curators and later, in 1927, the
Trustees presented the freehold to the University. The exterior stonework has been cleaned and
partly refaced at the expense of the Historic Buildings Appeal. The Camera now contains two
reading rooms, mainly used by undergraduates. Beneath the lawn to the north is an underground
book-store, built in 1912, connected with the Camera, and, by a subway, with the Old Library.
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Dover, Kent
It is a town and
major ferry port in
the home
county of Kent,
in South East
England. Its
strategic position
has been evident
throughout its
history:
archaeological finds have revealed that the area has always been a focus for peoples entering and
leaving Britain. The Dover Harbour Board is the responsible authority for the running of the Port of
Dover. The English Channel, here at its narrowest point in the Straits of Dover, is the busiest
shipping lane in the world. The town's main shopping streets are the High Street and Biggin Street.
The Castleton Retail Park is to the north-west of the town centre. One event which gets media
attention is that of swimming the English Channel. Mostly known for having white cliffs and being
the other end of the Eurotunnel, Dover will provide everyone travelling from France with a warm
welcome. A great town for a great first impression that is much more than a drive-by place.
England's most charismatic chunks of chalk, chic eateries, boutique sleep spots, history-rich ports
and prime golf courses, make this a must-see stretch of Kent coast.
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Accommodation
a) Bed and breakfast
1) Guston House - Guston House offers pet-friendly accommodation in Dover. Free private
parking is available on site. All rooms have a flat-screen TV. Guston House features free WiFi
throughout the property. Dover Beach is 2.7 km from Guston House, while Dover Castle is
2.9 km away. The nearest airport is London Southend Airport, 63 km from Guston House.
Bookings from £67.
b) Guest house
1) The West Bank Guest House - A warm welcome awaits you at this family run guesthouse
that rests at the edge of Dover. Free Wi-Fi is available and each room has a flat-screen TV.
The West Bank is within walking distance of the town centre and train station, a 5 minute
drive from the docks and cruise terminal and 10 minutes from the Channel Tunnel.
Accommodation here ranges from single to family rooms for up to 4 people. The guesthouse
boasts a lounge, a bar and secure flood lit car park. Bookings from £54.
c) Hotel
1) Best Western Plus Dover Marina Hotel and Spa - This 4-star hotel is just a 10-minute walk
from Dover’s port, and 5 minutes’ walk from the centre. It offers tours of Dover, charming
Regency decor, and many rooms with picturesque waterfront views. The hotel is set in a
Georgian terrace, steeped in history, nestled under the famous White Cliffs in the shadow of
Dover Castle with uninterrupted views across the English Channel. Enjoy a light bite or
gourmet dinner; coffee or traditional English tea; or our extensive wine selection from The
Waterfront Restaurant's beautiful sea-facing terrace. Guests can also enjoy light snacks in
the bar and terrace or the Waterfront Cafe, both overlooking the Dover coastline. Free Wi-Fi
is accessible, and there is parking available opposite the hotel. Bookings from £75.
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Places to Visit
The White Cliffs of Dover - There
can be no doubt that the White
Cliffs of Dover are one of this
county's most spectacular natural
features. They are an official Icon
of Britain and have been a sign of
hope and freedom for centuries.
You can appreciate their beauty
and enjoy their special appeal
through the seasons by taking one
of the dramatic cliff-top walks offering unrivalled views of the busy English Channel and the French
coast. While you're there, you can learn more about the fascinating military and penal history of the
White Cliffs and savour the rare flora and fauna that can only be found across this chalk grassland.
South Fo