Locking Bar Eglu Classic

[docsquid]

DH will be 50 this year (I'm already past that!). I would like to give him a really special treat for this special birthday. Because both our birthdays are in October, we usually go away for one or other birthday, usually on a walking holiday.

 

This year I'd like to do something really special. The problem is I don't really know what.

 

We both like active holidays, rather than sitting on a beach, or walking round museums. Our last non-skiing holiday was to Club La Santa on Lanzarote (a sports training camp) where we did aerobics all morning and went cycling or walking all afternoon, then finished off with a bit of aerobics and yoga before supper! That's the sort of holiday we like. We like outdoors, active, and definitely don't like manufactured "tourist attractions" like Eurodisney. Even on our honeymoon we were water-skiing, kayaking, snorkelling, cycling and so on every day.

 

I'd really like to do something different, possibly abroad, for the weekend. I had thought of a trip to Paris, or Rome, or Amsterdam, but not sure how that will go down, although there is certainly lots to see. Alternatively something completely off the wall like a trip to the Hebrides, or Orkneys, or the Isle of Man. Or the Channel Islands.

 

It will have to be a weekend, as we'll have used up most of our chicken-feeding volunteers' goodwill on our September trip to Belfast for my cousin's wedding.

 

If anybody can think up any other ideas, that would be brilliant.

[Cinnamon]

OK, how about...................

 

The Holy Land - help out on a Kibbutz (*sp) or something?

 

America - white water rafting,hiking,drive type of holiday

 

Sweden/Denmark/Norway - Dog sledging,Northern lights, skiing,Kayaking

 

I am exhausted just thinking about it!

[tom123]

My aunty and uncle went horse riding in Andalusia as they, like you, enjoy active holidays. they said this was absolutely fantastic

 

[docsquid]

OK, how about...................

 

The Holy Land - help out on a Kibbutz (*sp) or something?

 

America - white water rafting,hiking,drive type of holiday

 

Sweden/Denmark/Norway - Dog sledging,Northern lights, skiing,Kayaking

 

I am exhausted just thinking about it!

 

They sound fab, but America/Holy Land isn't really a weekend trip.

 

Also, I can't go out of the EU because of difficulties with medical insurance for travel - I should have said that.

 

I don't know if you can do Northern Lights in a weekend, but that would be fantastic! That is a great idea.

[Cinnamon]

Ah,right.

 

I agree - the Northern Lights would be my top choice.

I think you can do short cruises,but I guess you may feel constricted on a ship???

[Lewis]

A friend of mine goes ice climbing for the week/weekend here there and everywhere and the photos always look

 

Might be an idea, but I suppose you'd have to be good at it in the first place

 

Something different again, and not as active but I know people who hired a barge for the week and stopped off at different places to go cycling and walking everyday

[docsquid]

Something different again, and not as active but I know people who hired a barge for the week and stopped off at different places to go cycling and walking everyday

 

That's an idea. There is are two boatyards in Tamworth so we could go straight from home! I'm sure one of them would do a short let, and we could put the bikes on the boat. There's some good pubs on the local canal too

[Lewis]

Something different again, and not as active but I know people who hired a barge for the week and stopped off at different places to go cycling and walking everyday

 

That's an idea. There is are two boatyards in Tamworth so we could go straight from home! I'm sure one of them would do a short let, and we could put the bikes on the boat. There's some good pubs on the local canal too

 

Will you be going in October time?

I know some of them only hire out for the summer season when we looked, but another friend worked with the waterways company for a while and some are all year, so they do exist at other times

[docsquid]

Will you be going in October time?

I know some of them only hire out for the summer season when we looked, but another friend worked with the waterways company for a while and some are all year, so they do exist at other times

 

Yes, it would be October, as both our birthdays are then. The actual date would depend on when we get back from Ireland in September - I don't know the dates yet. I don't want to stretch the chicken-sitting goodwill too far, even though we have an agricultural engineer who knows about chickens and who has said he'll look after them

 

It would be just my luck if they all start to moult/fight/go broody at that time!

[Treekeeper]

Go to North West Scotland you get the Northern lights there and there are loads of hills to climb, sea kayaking, horse riding, mountain biking the list is endless and it's a brilliant place, breathtaking scenery loads of beautiful beaches the Gulf stream you can never get bored

[Sam Palmer]

We went on a trip to St Kilda and the Outer Hebrides to celebrate both turning 40. It was a fantastic trip. We went through http://www.northernlight-uk.com/ , but on Chalice with http://www.mvchalice.com/scottish_wildlife_cruises.htm .

However the weather wouldn't be ideal in October and most don't run trips then.

Whilst looking to book for that trip, I came across http://www.wildernessscotland.com/index.php , far too energetic for me, but it may suit you. They have mountain biking and kyaking and walking holidays available in October.

[docsquid]

I'm still tempted by Northern Lights. Both of us have wanted to go to Iceland all our lives, and there are some fantastic holidays available including 3-4 night breaks, although by the time we've travelled to and from London for the flights it will be longer than that. There's also a package doing the northern lights and the icehotel in Sweden.

 

Iceland isn't in the EU but is in the reciprocal health scheme (along with Non-EU Norway and Switzerland).

 

Hmm - keep the ideas coming!

 

Northern Scotland is another one on the wish list, but probably one to do in the Summer.

[Happy chickens!]

I've always wanted to visit Iceland, sounds like it ticks a lot of boxes, but if you decide not to travel so far how about Portmeirion http://www.portmeirion-village.com/ in Wales. It's a fab place like nowhere else, the accomodation is different, but luxurious, and there's plenty to do in the surrounding area - you're just on the outskirts of snowdonia with all the outdoor stuff going on anyone can want!

[A chickychickychick-ENN!!]

Iceland or Scandinavia. Lots of hiking, canoeing, swimming, spas for massages after, those lights (jealous!) and is there snow very north for a bit of dog sledding and curling up in an amazing wooden shack with fur throws and a log burner of an evening?

 

Actually, if you do all that, can I come?

[Treekeeper]

Don;t go to Scotland in summer the dreaded midges are everywhere. In October the red deer are rutting and that's another amazing sight to see. Our car was challenged by a 10 point stag one night who charged into the road and stopped us until his ladies had gone across the road and then gave us a look as if to say on you go now before striding majestically after his harem. Must have been memorable cos it kept our two technology mad kids talking about it for weeks to anyone who would listen

[The Dogmother]

I bought The Boy an aerobatic flight for his 50th; he loved it, but was a bit when they landed.

[Olly]

Iceland sounds fabulous, but if you can really only spare a weekend then I'd go closer to home - how about a weekend in the Peak District, not too far to go and loads of different places to visit, of course the weather in October is uncertain but if it's good then there is plenty of walking there.

 

Or Whitby/North York Moors - is there a part of the UK that you've never been to and always meant to visit?

 

I'd love to see the Northern Lights, and Iceland is on my wish-list, but in your shoes I'd probably want to save it for when I could go away for a week.

[patsylabrador]

How about Munich. It's a good place for a weekend, there is the HofbrauHaus if you like beer and oompah music. The beerhall is massive and cavernous and almost drips with delicious beer, and they serve good German food. Munich has markets and the Marienplatz and in the tourist shops it has incredibly odd and expensive ornaments that look like bits of roadkill stuck together. I've never seen an explanation for those. You can visit the Olympic Stadium as well. I guess as it would be October, tho Oktoberfest would be on.

It's quick and easy to fly there.

[Old Speckled Hen]

How about The Ice Hotel in Sweden

My daughter and I went with Discover The World

http://www.discover-the-world.co.uk/en/holidays/sweden/icehotel-break/

 

We actually went on a five day dog sled safari into the wilds with one night in the Ice Hotel at the end but they do shorter packages.

We saw Northern Lights and they were wonderful

[Chickendoodle]

We had an absolutely fantastic weekend in Tromso, Norway . Went for 3 nights and did a husky safari (the best thing I have ever done) followed by a magical evening in a farm where we sat in a tent, played snowballs and then lay on our backs on the snow - on reindeer skins - watching the Northern Lights.

 

It was only 3 days but it was as satisfying as a fortnights holiday. Even the flight was beautiful as after you go above the Arctic Circle the light is pink and you can see the fiords bathed in this amazing light.

 

We went with a company called Scantours and they do lots of weekend things, including the Ice Hotel which might be another idea!

 

Not sure if October is cold enough tho? We went in January

[Old Speckled Hen]

Yes, the tours don't start till December and we went over New Year when the sun was just below the horizon all day. Still there was enough light to take our teams out for four hours. I must admit I thought I had bitten off more than I could chew having to learn how to harness my team and balance on the sled but I got there pretty quickly

It was a wonderful trip.

[docsquid]

Ooh, a husky safari. Now that sounds even more amazing. I'm thinking that something arctic would be excellent!

 

The Peak District is fabulous, but unfortunately it is very close for us, so is more of a day trip. We stayed there in October for a weekend (just before the chickens arrived).

 

So, either Iceland or the Ice Hotel are looking good. Maybe we can stretch the holiday to a week provided chicken care can be assured.

 

I've been onto the Discover the World people and ordered some brochures, so hopefully I can find something suitable there.

[Seagazer]

Oh I'd definitely do Iceland or somewhere like that. We did one of those Santa Finnish Lapland days and I would love to go back and spend longer in that type of country. The captain said you could see the Northern Lights on the other side of the plane coming back but I didn't manage to see them.

 

I will get to Iceland one day. Quite fancy Norway too.

 

Have a great time whatever you decide to do.

[Margalot]

I took my hubby to Jersey for a long weekend for his 40th. It was absolutely beautiful! We stopped in St Helier at the Royal Yacht but toured the whole island, If I went again I wouldnt stop in St Helier as it is obviously busy, but agian it is really convenient for eating out in the evening. The island is so unspoilt and uncommercialised and has many green lanes where walkers / cyclists are given the priority and the speed limt is 10 mph if you chose to drive down these lanes.

 

there are lots of beautiful walks and the island is steeped in history, the people are lovely and we managed to look at every cove! We also ate some wonderful meals one at the Salty Dog in St Aubin.....mmmmmmmm. Have a look at http://www.jersey.com and the discover Jersey page where people have visited and done different things.

 

We will definately be going back!

[Goosey Lucy]

Just quickly read this and want you to to know that from April 1 there is no Reciprocal Health Agreement between UK and IOM

 

UK Gov have cancelled it

 

Otherwise I'd say come here, there are loads of outdoor things to do, even a small mountain to walk up (if the tram isn't running ) IOM Tourism board recently ran a series of ads on tv showing people climbing cliffs, jumping off and kayaking around to next cliff...not my cup of tea but it sounds as though it might be yours

 

Hope you find something memorable (Iceland gets my vote)