I went on a UK coach trip that goes to some of the country's best coastal spots – and very pretty seaside towns
ROAD TRIP I went on a UK coach trip that goes to some of the country's best coastal spots – and very pretty seaside towns
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window)
Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
IT'S not easy to save the planet and save those pounds at the same time – but Daish's Holidays has a solution.
The specialist travel company seamlessly orchestrates coach trips, collecting travellers from locations close to their home and delivering them to the front door of swish hotels in some of the UK's top coastal spots.
Sign up for Scottish Sun
newsletter
Sign up
3
The pretty port of Padstow is just a bus ride away
Credit: Getty - Contributor
Travelling by coach not only means far fewer carbon emissions per passenger than going by car, and we also managed to save buckets of cash by not getting the train. It really is a win-win.
My partner and I were collected from Seaford in East Sussex and transported to the Cornwall surfer spot of Newquay.
Pick-up was on time, our driver was smart and friendly and our luggage was stowed safely for us and delivered straight to our room at the Barrowfield Hotel.
Journey times can be long, but Daish's ensures that customers are comfortable, with regular stops at service stations along the way.
Our hotel, like many of Daish's properties, was in a super-convenient position for a holiday without a car.
We were within walking distance of the town and beach and there was a bus stop opposite that serves several routes as well as a little hop-on-hop-off tourist train which runs every hour.
We hopped on and made our way to Newquay's fishing harbour, where tiny, weathered boats bobbed on the water and dozens of quaint houses lined the cliff edges.
Make sure to pick up a famous Roskilly's Cornish ice cream while you're here. We tucked into ours overlooking fabulous sandy coves with only the sound of waves crashing below and the crunching of our ice cream cones. Bliss.
The seagulls didn't dare to steal them, although they certainly thought about it.
After we hopped back on the train, our round trip revealed a huge number of activities for holidaymakers in the area to get stuck into, some just a ten-minute ride from the hotel. There's a zoo, boating, golf, shopping and more.
Celebrity Coach Trip's Linda Robson jokes Lesley Joseph is a drag queen
We had our eyes set on the beach, though. Famous as a surfing hub, Newquay's shores have swimming and surfing areas marked by flags.
A few minutes' walk from the hotel, a long, windy path leads down to Tolcarne beach, which is breathtakingly beautiful, although the 130-step climb to the promenade can be challenging.
A little further afield sits the picture-postcard little port of Padstow, which is just over an hour away by the No 56 bus, which can be picked up just outside the hotel.
The journey there was an experience in itself – we nabbed top-deck seats and were able to catch views of Cornwall's little coves in the glorious sunshine as we wound our way along coastal roads.
A super fishy lunch in Padstow, and another ice cream overlooking the pretty harbour made for a blissful afternoon.
GO: NEWQUAY
GETTING/STAYING THERE: A four-night coach break to Cornwall costs from £199, based on two people sharing a standard room.
Self-drive options are available from £179. See daishs.com.
Not that we needed any more food – we were still pretty full from last night's slap-up dinner.
Three-course evening meals and coffees are served to Daish's guests at 6.30pm with impressive efficiency.
The only downside was that I found it all a bit too rushed, and dinner was over by 7.30pm – although many guests seemed to like this, as it meant they had plenty of time to then enjoy the evening entertainment.
From 9pm, guests can get stuck into bingo and quizzes, then from 10pm musical entertainment takes to the stage.
3
Our hotel, like many of Daish's properties, was in a super-convenient position for a holiday without a car
Credit: Supplied
3
During the day, the hotel is a great place to kick back and relax too, thanks to an indoor swimming pool
Credit: Supplied
Most of the performers were excellent and encouraged guests up on to the dance floor.
During the day, the hotel is a great place to kick back and relax too, thanks to an indoor swimming pool heated to 28C. Shallow steps and a hand rail made it easy for some guests with mobility issues.
The stand-out for me, though, was value for money. At less than £200 per couple for four nights, it really doesn't get better than this.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scottish Sun
42 minutes ago
- Scottish Sun
Last minute 7-night package holidays on sale for final weeks of school summer break from £149pp
MAKE A BREAK FOR IT Last minute 7-night package holidays on sale for final weeks of school summer break from £149pp Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) YET to book your summer holiday? Or looking to squeeze one more in before the kids are back to school? The last week of August tends to be the cheapest time to have a summer break and there are plenty of scorching deals still up for grabs. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up From family beach breaks to city escapes for couples, Sophie Swietochowski picks out her top last-minute deals for the end of summer. RHODES 6 Sentido Sunrise Beach hotel in Rhodes gives guests great access to the ocean Credit: Supplied PALM-FRINGED sands frame the clear blue ocean behind the four-star Sentido Sunrise Beach hotel in Rhodes — and guests have direct access to it. Neat and spacious rooms give off a cool Scandi vibe, with wooden furniture and plump pillows on the beds, while the gardens resemble a laid-back beach club, with tables facing the sea and loungers dotted around a long pool. All-inclusive stays don't just include buffet brekky, lunch and dinner, but also limitless ice cream, plus snacks and local spirits. GO: Five nights' all-inclusive costs from £219pp including flights from Stansted on August 24. See LA ROCHELLE 6 La Rochelle is a family holiday favourite for a reason Credit: Getty THIS city on the south-west coast of France is a family holiday favourite for a reason. Its historic streets are crammed with boutique cafes serving proper French grub, it's not short of rainy-day attractions — such as the aquarium — and there are sandy beaches aplenty. Rest your heads at 3* Le Domaine Du Château, which features modern studios and apartments, plus a swimming pool. GO: Seven nights' room-only costs from £149pp, based on two adults and two kids sharing and including flights from Stansted on August 29. See Top 3 Budget-Friendly European Vacation Spots TENERIFE 6 Some bedrooms at this resort have been decorated to look like a fortress Credit: Getty KIDS will love the playful bedrooms at this 4* family-friendly resort on the island's north coast. Some have been decorated to look like a fortress, with 3D tree sculptures bulging from the walls and a set of double bunk beds, that look like a mini castle, plastered in wallpaper that resembles stone bricks. Aside from an outdoor pool, there's a mini playground for younger kids, and a tennis court, on site — and some of the island's top beaches are a short stroll away. Even the fussiest of eaters will be kept happy at the buffet, which has endless international options, both hot and cold. GO: Seven nights' B&B costs from £339pp including flights from Liverpool on August 31. See PARIS 6 In Paris's culturally rich Latin Quarter, the 3* Hotel André Latin makes the perfect base for city explorers Credit: Getty HOW good does this sound? a brief city break enjoying a coffee and a croissant while admiring the Eiffel Tower before a sunny stroll along the tree-lined paths of the Champs-Elysees? In Paris's culturally rich Latin Quarter, the 3* Hotel André Latin makes the perfect base for city explorers, with the Luxembourg Gardens right on your doorstep and very comfortable beds to welcome you back after a busy day of sightseeing. The hotel has a very swish cocktail bar, so night-time tipples here are a must. GO: Two nights' room-only costs from £223pp including flights from Gatwick on August 31. See BOA VISTA, CAPE VERDE 6 The 5* Hotel Riu Touareg has six pools Credit: Alamy THIS one's for grown-ups seeking a luxury fly-and-flop, where sleepy beach days drift into sundowners with the ocean and an orange-tinged sky as your backdrop. The islands, off the coast of West Africa, are likely to be a comfortable 30C towards the end of this month, and the 5* Hotel Riu Touareg has in-pool loungers that will keep you cool while you soak up those rays. With its seven bars, six pools and six restaurants on site, you'll never need to leave. GO: Seven nights' all-inclusive is from £658.51pp, based on two sharing and including flights from Manchester on August 29. See DALAMAN 6 Enjoy the rugged Turkish countryside at the Loryma Resort Credit: Getty THE rugged charm of the Turkish countryside is yours at the Loryma Resort — which at first glance looks more like a family-owned villa than a holiday resort, with its rustic stone facade and quiet pool carved into the cliff face. Even so, there are facilities on site that are suited to families with kids, including a playground and a couple of bars and restaurants. The resort has a great vantage point from the pool, with breathtaking views of towering mountains and the sun-drenched ocean. GO: Seven nights' self-catering is from £522pp, based on four sharing and flying from Leeds Bradford on August 25. See
Scottish Sun
an hour ago
- Scottish Sun
Scots travellers warned over major airline rule change – and it's not the 100ml rule
It comes after a rise in incidents onboard planes across the world DON'T BANK ON IT Scots travellers warned over major airline rule change – and it's not the 100ml rule Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A POPULAR airline has announced a major new rule about items passengers can bring onboard. Emirates fly thousands of holidaymakers from Glasgow and Edinburgh to Dubai and each year. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 6 Emirates have introduced strict new rules Credit: Alamy 6 It will impact every passenger boarding one of their planes Credit: Alamy 6 The strict new regulations impact where you can store everyday items in the cabin Credit: Alamy Scores of people flock to the desert paradise onboard their planes. But they have been urged to be aware about the new regulations about an everyday item. Passengers are currently allowed to bring battery power packs on board in carry on luggage. The handy devices are widely used to keep electronics charged enough while on the go. But airline chiefs have changed the rules over fears the power packs could catch fire or even explode. Airlines have seen a surge in incidents involving the charging devices. A major safety review was carried out amid fears of "thermal runaways" - where the battery can no longer stop itself from becoming too hot and it cannot dissipate heat. This leads to an uncontrollable surge in temperature causing it to catch fire, explode or give off toxic gases. New rules onboard Emirates flights will be in place from October 1. Passengers will only be allowed to bring on ONE power bank and it must be kept with them at all times. Horror moment fire erupts on packed plane as passengers scream in panic after power bank bursts into flames injuring two It has to be kept in the seat pocket or a bag underneath a seat so crew members can get to it quickly if it catches fire. Power banks over 100 Watt Hours will also be banned from onboard Emirates planes. The charging devices' capacity information will also need to be available. Passengers will also be banned from charging their devices using a power bank or using plug sockets on the plane to charge their power packs. Emirates' new power bank rules FROM October 1 these new rules will apply to passengers bringing a power bank onboard an Emirates flight. Emirates customers may carry one power bank that is under 100 Watt Hours. Power banks may not be used to charge any personal devices onboard. Charging a power bank using the aircraft's power supply is not permitted. All power banks accepted for transport must have capacity rating information available. Power banks may not be placed in the overhead stowage bin onboard the aircraft and must now be placed in the seat pocket or in a bag under the seat in front of you. Power banks are not permitted in checked luggage (existing rule). An Emirates spokesperson said: "After a comprehensive safety review, Emirates is taking a firm and proactive stance to mitigate risk when it comes to power banks onboard. "There has been a significant growth in customers using power banks in recent years, resulting in an increasing number of lithium battery-related incidents onboard flights across the wider aviation industry. "Most phones and sophisticated lithium battery-powered devices have an internal trickle system which slowly adds current into the battery to prevent overcharging, but many basic power banks may not have this safeguard, increasing the risk. 6 The devices can catch fire or explode if they overheat Credit: Alamy 6 Phone power banks have been blamed for fires onboard planes Credit: Alamy "All power banks are subject to the new rules onboard Emirates. "Emirates new regulations will significantly reduce risks associated with power banks by prohibiting their use while onboard the aircraft. "Storing power banks in accessible locations within the cabin ensures that in the rare event of a fire, trained cabin crew can quickly respond and extinguish the fire. "Safety is one of Emirates' core values, and a cornerstone of all operations and practices. "Emirates is committed to maintaining and improving levels of safety on an ongoing basis, safeguarding customers and staff at all times." What are the Jet2 and easyJet rules? Emirates has joined scores of airlines which have introduced strict new curbs on the devices. Currently, Jet2 has banned power banks from being stored in the hold. The popular airline has banned punters from bringing on damaged power banks because of the risks they pose. They also cannot bring on power banks which don't clearly state the watt-hour rating or lithium content. EasyJet has said passengers are only allowed to have TWO power banks on board with them, and they must be in their carry-on luggage. They also cannot be over 160Wh and must be individually protected to prevent short circuits. Other items banned from hand luggage Sharp Objects – Knives, scissors (blades over 6cm), razor blades. Flammable Items – Lighters, matches, petrol, fireworks. Large Liquids – Liquids over 100ml (except essentials like baby food or medicine). Weapons – Firearms, stun guns, self-defence sprays, martial arts gear. Explosives – Gas canisters, flares, smoke bombs. Tools – Hammers, drills, saws. Hazardous Substances – Chemicals, poisons, radioactive materials Hong Kong's aviation regulator has banned passengers from using the travel gadget during flights. It comes after a Hong Kong Airlines flight was forced to make an emergency landing after a fire broke out in one of the overhead bins which was suspected to have been sparked by a power bank. Passengers on Thai Airways and AirAsia were also impacted after Thailand's authorities brought in a similar measure. Air Busan was the first airline in the world to roll out a power bank ban. The ban came earlier this year after a power bank caught fire on a flight on January 28. All passengers made it safely off the plane but it had to be decommissioned because the damage was so bad. Singapore Airlines, Scoot and China Airlines have also banned passengers using power banks onboard flights. Eva Air said they could be taken into the cabin, they were not allowed to be used during the flight.
Scottish Sun
7 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
I snapped my leg just before my wedding & had to swap dream castle for hospital nuptials, pain was worse than childbirth
BROKEN BRIDE I snapped my leg just before my wedding & had to swap dream castle for hospital nuptials, pain was worse than childbirth Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A bride snapped her leg the day before her wedding - and had to get hitched in hospital instead of her dream castle venue. Lisa Whitaker was supposed to walk down the aisle on August 5 at Duart Castle on the Isle of Mull, off the Scottish coast. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 2 Lisa and Ian Whitaker were due to get married at a Scottish castle Credit: Kennedy News The 39-year-old said her family had come on a caravan holiday to the Inner Hebridean island and the wedding was planned for mid-way through the trip. But it ended in disaster when she slipped on wet grass and broke her leg during a stormy family walk on the eve of her big day. Lisa, from Scunthorpe, Lincolnshire, said: 'Me and my son who is seven were walking along laughing at how much water there was that came off the hills. 'As I turned the corner, it wasn't even much of a slope at all, my foot must have slipped on the wet grass. That's all I can put it down to. 'As my foot flew it stopped and then it turned back on itself right underneath me and I heard the whole of my leg just break. I heard the snap. 'I was trying to keep it all together and not pass out. I knew instantly that it was broken. 'All that was going through my head was, 'tomorrow is my wedding day.' 'They managed to get me up on this picnic bench. I couldn't put any weight on it. It was a floppy mess. It looked like there were no bones in the bottom of my leg. It was awful. 'They say childbirth is the worst pain. This has taken over that pain. It was unbearable." The mum-of-two, who works as a florist, was rushed to Mull and Iona Community Hospital by her now husband, Ian Whitaker, 39, where doctors X-rayed her leg. I'm a Celtic-daft bride – I called off the big day but I still celebrated in my wedding dress at Parkhead Medics told her she had broken her tibia, ankle and femur and would need to be airlifted to the mainland for treatment. But she would not be moved until the following day due to the extreme weather - allowing Lisa to salvage her island wedding. The bride-to-be, who had her heart set on marrying Ian on their chosen date, contacted their registrar to ask if he could marry them at the hospital and he was happy to oblige. Ward staff also helped to make her day special by decorating her room with lights leftover from Christmas and garlands made from surgical gloves. The happy couple got married on the morning of August 5 like they had planned and a few hours later Lisa went to the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Paisley by air ambulance. After doctors performed surgery on her leg, Lisa is now having physiotherapy and hopes to be discharged this week. Recalling her unusual big day, she said: 'I was adamant that I was off to the castle. That's where we were getting married. 'The nurses were like, 'Lisa, we can't get you there. We can't even get you there in a wheelchair because there's no access. It's all steps up to the castle.' 2 After Lisa broke her leg, the couple tied the knot in hospital instead Credit: Kennedy News 'We didn't have to carry on with the wedding, we could have postponed it until next year. Many brides wouldn't want anything other than perfect whereas this was perfect for us.' The couple went on their first date to the cinema more than 14 years ago and have been engaged for 10 years. They decided to get married in Scotland because it is their favourite place to come on a caravan holiday and luckily their six guests were able to watch them say 'I do' in hospital. And the wedding venue has even allowed Lisa to transfer her booking to next year for a one-year anniversary vow renewal. She said: 'We'd seen it [the venue] on a previous holiday, we'd been to look at it. 'Scotland is our favourite place to come with the kids and the Isle of Mull means so much to us. It was a dream location for us. 'I am devastated that I couldn't get married there in the end but the staff at the hospital who were with me made it perfect. 'At the end of the day it's about us not about the materialistic surroundings. The nurses were just fabulous.' Doctors in Paisley inserted a rod in Lisa's leg during surgery on August 7 and she is now working on walking on her leg. Lisa said: 'Obviously when a bride thinks of her wedding day it's not like this. 'There were a lot of emotions taking off waving to my husband after only just being married. 'I'm a florist so I should have been making my bridal bouquet about half an hour after the incident. 'In the end my dad and my daughter made them for me and they were so much more special. 'To be honest if I'd not gotten married I would have been even more gutted I think. 'The way it all happened was perfect for me and has brought us even closer than ever. 'The vows are for better and for worse. We've been through the worse.'
