Jetsettersblog

Lakeside YMCA is offering families the chance to enjoy an activity packed summer break on the shores of Lake Windermere in the stunning Lake District. But this holiday is made all the more enjoyable knowing that the YMCA uses every penny of profit that it makes to fund its ongoing youth and schools programmes.

The YMCA National Outdoor Centre on Lake Windermere is one of the largest outdoor activity and residential centres in Europe. Set in an area of outstanding natural beauty in the heart of the English Lake District, there are over 400 acres of private woodland estate bordered by a mile and a half of Windermere shoreline – no wonder it’s considered to be one of the finest outdoor activity centres in the world.

FAMILY BREAKS

Families can take advantage of this stunning location and the various activities available on-site. Whether it’s a two night family activity break or a longer break where the children are occupied (allowing the adults to explore the region), fun and adventure are the key words.

The two night family activity break provides a packed programme of exciting water and land based activities, including climbing, abseiling, canoeing and rafting. Full board is provided and all kit is supplied. So all you have to do is turn up and learn some new skills!

Week long breaks are also available where families can dip in and out of the various activities on offer. This gives adults the opportunity to spend time together exploring the beautiful Lake District knowing that the children are in safe hands, and more importantly, enjoying themselves. Again, there are a range of activities from which to choose, including archery, rock climbing, ghyll scrambling, the King Swing and much more… Full board can be provided or families can opt for a self-catering option.

ACCOMMODATION AND CATERING

Families have a choice of accommodation options, including self-catering lodges, bunk house style rooms, tented accommodation and en-suite rooms. There is also an on-site self-contained restaurant, dining hall, purpose built BBQ and bar, which offer a range of carefully selected menus, ensuring all individual and group needs are catered for.

Prices for the two night activity break start at just £90 per person, while the week long breaks and other short break options are available by separate negotiation with the centre.

For more information on the YMCA National Outdoor Centre Lakeside please visit www.lakesideymca.co.uk

YMCA National Centre Lakeside, Newby Bridge, Ulverston, Cumbria LA12 8BD
T: 015395 39000 F : 015395 30015 E: lakesideenq@fyldecoastymca.org

Staff at Chesterfield’s newest hotel, Casa, are celebrating following an AA inspection that saw the venue receive a 4* rating and a merit score of 81%. Casa also received a prestigious AA Rosette for their food – an accolade that is only achieved by a handful of hotels.

Steve Perez, Owner of Casa Hotel, said:

“To discover Casa is the only 4* hotel in Derbyshire to achieve a merit score of over 80% is a great achievement and an excellent reward for all the staff who have worked extremely hard over the last five months to ensure Casa is a success. We had very high expectations to deliver the finest quality of service and to achieve such a high percentage rating is a fantastic result.

The rating was also achieved following a mystery visit which highlights how the team at Casa delivers the same quality of service each and every day.”

He added:
“We don’t intend to rest on our laurels following the inspection and we will instead build on the results to provide a first class hotel for business and leisure visitors.”

Casa is currently the highest ranking hotel in Derbyshire on the world’s largest travel site, TripAdvisor. With 26/30 reviews scoring ‘excellent’ comments range from “Amazing”, “Fabulous” and “Beyond Expectations” to “Outstanding”, “Superior” and “Top Marks”.

From eating with local tribes in the northern hills of Thailand to enjoying home cooked Italian meals, many of Explore’s tours are perfect for foodies looking for something different on their holiday. For foodie families, Explore offers family adventures tailored to budding epicureans.

Explore’s Cycle Vietnam tour is new this year and is perfect for foodies with a sense of adventure. The tour takes guests off the beaten track where they will eat with the locals and learn about their unique cultures and traditions.

Guests will enjoy home cooked dinners, try fresh Vietnamese coffee at a coffee processing plant and be tempted with all manners of noodles, snacks and stir fried delights by food sellers in Hanoi.

Guests will also have a chance to sample a traditional Vietnamese meal of gilled ostrich in bamboo, crocodile with chilli and lemon grass or perhaps snake-head fish. Costing from £1,843 per person, this includes return flights, 12 nights’ hotel and one night train accommodation, 17 meals, transport, the services of a tour leader and local guides.

Staying within South East Asia, Explore’s Hilltribe Trek & Tropical Beaches tour is ideal for foodies looking to sample some authentic Thai food. This 12-day tour of Thailand includes a two-day trek where guests will stay with local tribes overnight and enjoy their hospitality and home cooked meals. During the rest of their visit, guests will enjoy eating in local restaurants and visiting Chiang Mai and Hau Hin night markets where they will find freshly cooked food and a variety of food outlets. There are also opportunities to take part in traditional Thai cooking lessons, creating the dishes enjoyed on the tour. Costing from £1,160 per person, this includes return flights, 11 nights’ accommodation, 13 meals, transport, the services of a tour leader and local guides.

Closer to home, Explore’s new walking tour is ideal for foodies wanting to experience authentic Italian cooking. As well as taking part in planned walks, guests on the eight-day Amalfi Coast Walking tour will stay on a working farm that welcomes guests into the family home, giving them the chance to experience the delights of home made Italian food. Guests will be served South Italian breakfasts, picnics and three to four course evening meals during their stay. Many home-grown ingredients such as fruit, vegetables, nuts, meats and wines will be used. Costing from £921 per person, this includes return flights, seven nights’ farm-stay accommodation, 15 meals, transport and the services of a tour leader.

For foodie families, Explore offers an eight-day family tour of Italy, focussing on the Amalfi Coast. The In The Shadow of Vesuvius tour focuses on the superb scenery and delicious food that the Amalfi Coast is best known for. Families will have a chance to sample local delicacies, walk through olive and lemon groves and see how mozzarella is made. Children can even try their hand at pizza and pasta making.

The tour combines the best elements of this charming corner of Italy and is an education for the whole family. Costing from £995 per person, this includes return flights, seven nights’ hotel accommodation, 8 meals, transport and the services of a tour leader, driver and local guides.

For more information any of these tours, visit www.explore.co.uk  or call 0844 499 0901.

In September 2011, the five-star city hotel Jumeirah Frankfurt will open its doors in the heart of Germany’s financial centre at the Thurn-und-Taxis-Platz. Jumeirah Frankfurt is the first German property of the Dubai-based luxury hospitality management group, Jumeirah, and is located within walking distance of the financial district and stock exchange, pedestrian shopping areas and the city’s opera house.

The hotel is part of the PalaisQuartier complex, which is currently considered as one of the most significant city centre developments in Europe. The modern hotel tower with its glass curtain wall and the opposite office tower, creates an exciting contrast to its baroque neighbour, the reconstruction of the 18th century Thurn und Taxis Palais. The new, modern shopping centre “MyZeil” is adjacent to the hotel. PalaisQuartier is a project of MAB Development and Meyer Bergmann.

Guest Rooms and Suites

The 218 luxurious guest rooms with a minimum size of 35m²will be the biggest in Frankfurt and are located on floors 6 to 25; there is a large proportion of suites in the hotel located throughout the floors. The presidential suite will be located on the 24th floor with a size of 220m²and will include two bedrooms, a private sauna and views over the Frankfurt financial district.

A modern, timeless design dominates the interior of the hotel. The interior design by Peter Silling & Associates Hotel Interior Design – HID is crisp, imaginative and sophisticated, with spacious, airy guestrooms and suites with openness to maximise the city vistas. Jumeirah Frankfurt’s guestrooms display a warm and restful colour palette of walnut, honey and nutmeg, with natural materials such as timber floors and silk carpets.

The theme of the rooms is inspired by the historical connection with the neighbouring Thurn und Taxis Palais, which has been hosting the headquarters of the Thurn und Taxis post for many years. Peter Silling incorporated numerous details evoking the ancient postal service, such as the elegant retro-style secretaries that shall encourage the revival of the beautiful tradition of the handwritten, personal letter. Many rooms feature an open bathroom concept, providing generous spaces through a smooth transition to the living area. The highlight of each room is an original painting by German artist Hartwig Ebersbach.

Design and Art

The interior design from Peter Silling & Associates Hotel Interior Design – HID is crisp, imaginative and sophisticated, with spacious, airy guestrooms and suites to maximise the city vistas. The theme for the rooms was inspired by the historical connection with the neighbouring Thurn und Taxis Palais, which has been hosting the headquarters of the Thurn und Taxis post for many years.

The central element of each room is a large original artwork by renowned German artist Hartwig Ebersbach. Today Ebersbach is known as a as painter, drawer, sculptor, graphic and set designer and is considered one of the most important European contemporary painters. He became recognised with his series “Kaspar” and received numerous international awards and accolades.

Restaurants and Bars

The lobby bar on the ground floor invites to spend some time in a relaxed atmosphere next to the open fireplace, while the adjacent chocolaterie tempts with light snacks, finest French bakeries and specialist chocolate confections.

The Jumeirah Frankfurt restaurant, “Max On One”, is located on the first floor and seats up to 90 guests. It is designed by leading Japanese designer Takashi Sugimoto and his team at Super Potato, one of today’s most respected and innovative restaurant design consultancies. The restaurant is divided into an open kitchen, a private dining area, two walk-in wine cubes and a steakhouse front-grill, creating a contemporary, urban atmosphere in the centre of Frankfurt. Martin Steiner, who previously headed the Michelin starred gourmet restaurant Val D’Or, has been appointed as Executive Chef.

Conference and Banqueting Facilities

With its abundance of natural daylight, spacious meeting rooms and state-of-the-art facilities, Jumeirah Frankfurt is ideal for meeting and event organisers.

The 364m²ballroom can be divided into two smaller areas and offer stunning views of the Thurn und Taxis Palais. For functions and banquets, four meeting rooms accommodating between 30 and 100 persons are available in Jumeirah Frankfurt.

Talise Spa

The hotel offers a 400m² Spa of Jumeirah’s own Spa brand Talise. Exquisite materials such as dark woods and natural stone create a minimalistic wellness landscape. Located behind sliding doors, stand-alone bathtubs, tropical rain showers and Zen-inspired relaxation areas add an Asian touch to the Spa.

General Manager

Dagmar Woodward will manage Jumeirah Frankfurt as General Manager. A German national, she brings 35 years of international operational experience in the luxury hospitality industry, in four countries and three continents. After managing hotels in Atlanta, London, New York, Paris and Dubai, she is now returning to her home country. Before coming to Frankfurt, Dagmar was the General Manager of Mina A’ Salam, one of the luxurious properties of the Madinat Jumeirah resort in Dubai.

The tour allows you to meet like-minded people of a similar age, within a small group and with each tour lead by your own BOB Holidays representative, they ensure that the tour itself is hassle free, so you can relax and enjoy your holiday!

All the mini coaches are equipped to make your journey as comfortable as possible with extra wide seats and legroom, air conditioning, DVD Players, MP3/Ipod connection points, free WIFI and luggage compartments.

What sets this company apart from the others is that they give you the opportunity to get off the beaten track and request additional stops en route.

Why bother going through the task of planning your own private trip when BOB Holidays does it all for you? Accommodation within hotels and transport are included in the price of the tour, as are some meals.

Here are just some of the deals they have to offer:
England, Scotland and Wales in 7 Days
Exclusively for 18-35′s, this 7 day UK tour combines fun and excitement with heritage and culture as we travel through England, Scotland & Wales visiting historic landmarks, beautiful countryside and vibrant cities!
City Tour – 7 Days
Exclusively for 18-35′s, this 7 day UK tour focuses on 10 famous cities of England, Scotland & Wales providing the opportunity to enjoy the history and architecture as well as experiencing the culture and city nightlife!

Really Big Tour – 12 Days

Exclusively for 18-35′s, this is the longest of our UK tours – 12 days gives us time to travel all the way up into the Scottish Highlands in search of the Loch Ness Monster as well as visiting historical sites, famous cities, national parks and seaside resorts in England and Wales!

Football Tour – 4 Days

Suitable for all ages, this 4 day UK tour is especially for football fanatics and includes visits to the homes of Manchester United, Liverpool and Arsenal as well as the New Wembley Stadium!

Three Peaks Challenge – 4 Days

Suitable for all ages, this is the most challenging of our UK tours, led by Alan Hinkes OBE, it provides the opportunity to complete the Three Peaks Challenge by climbing Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Snowdon, the three highest peaks in Scotland, England and Wales respectively, in successive days!

Eurocamp, official partners of the Change4Life initiative, to encourage families to live longer, healthier and happier lives together, researched children’s holiday behavior to find that a whopping two thirds of youngsters (69.1%) get more than seven hours of exercise a week when on holiday, while only half that figure are that active at home.*

Why not fuel this natural zest for holiday activities with the up-coming Olympic Games? Ignite your youngsters’ ambition to get fitter and faster this summer at a wide range of sporting activities by picking an adrenaline-packed holiday from Eurocamp and impress your mini gold medalists of the future.

Fun and games in Brittany, France

With an on-parc activity list worthy of any budding sporting hero, Eurocamp’s Château des Ormes parc in the beautiful Brittany countryside will not disappoint – what’s more, it’s just a hop, skip and a jump from UK shores and just a half hour drive from St Malo ferry port.

An impressive 13 sporting activities are available on-parc, for energetic youngsters to get stuck in to, including archery, canoeing, horse riding and volleyball to name but just a few.

Plus, with five free kids’ clubs, all with age-specific activities to suit, there’s something for every youngster to try out. Why not treat aspiring footballers to some additional football training with Eurocamp’s Soccer Station.** FA qualified coaches are on hand with helpful hints and tips for youngsters to brush up on their footie skills before returning to the school team and impressing their mates!

Alternatively, turn the whole family golf-mad at the parc’s very own 18-hole golf course and exclusive club house, all set within the parc’s vast landscaped estate overlooked by the charming French Château.

A six night break from 13th July 2011 at Eurocamp’s Château des Ormes parc in Dol-de-Bretagne, Northern Brittany, costs just £596 – a saving of £140 – for the whole family, staying in a 2 Bedroom Comfort plus decking (sleeps up to 7, maximum 6 adults), accommodation only.

*Eurocamp surveyed more than 1,000 parents with Netmums to find out just how much exercise children do get – both at home and on holiday. Please contact Gemma Cowburn on the below email/telephone number to request the full research data results.
**Eurocamp’s Soccer Station is aimed at children aged 5 to 16 years, and runs from 27th June to 2nd September 2011. Available on 4 parcs, with sessions 6 days per week. Run by FA qualified coaches trained and selected by King’s Camps.

For further information on Eurocamp, please call 0844 406 0552 or visit www.eurocamp.co.uk

Grasshoppers Glasgow is a sleek new penthouse hotel in the heart of Glasgow’s vibrant city centre.

The 30 bed boutique hotel offers modern luxury at affordable prices in a fantastic city centre location, just metres from bustling Buchanan Street, routinely named the best UK shopping street outside London.

All guests enjoy complimentary breakfast and free wifi internet access. SKY HD TV, featuring SKY Sports and SKY Movies, is available in every bedroom.

The Scandinavian style bedrooms feature Caledonian oak floors, ash laminate furniture, specially designed and made for Grasshoppers, king size beds with Egyptian cotton sheets, Grohe power showers and complimentary Arran Aromatics toiletries. The views from the bedrooms of Glasgow’s skyline are spectacular.

To celebrate the opening of Grasshoppers Glasgow, we’re offering a competition prize of a weekend stay for travel publications. If you’d like more information, contact Donald Morrison on 07915 853129.

Tour/stay at Grasshoppers Glasgow

Grasshoppers Glasgow would also like to invite travel writers to tour the new hotel, and stay for evening supper. And, if you’d like to review the hotel, you’re welcome to stay overnight in the individually designed Scandinavian style bedrooms, featuring handmade wallpaper, king size beds with Egyptian cotton sheets, free wifi and SKY HD TV, including SKY Sports and SKY Movies.

If you would like to review Grasshoppers Glasgow, contact Donald Morison on 07915 853129 / info@newhorizon-media.co.uk

Widely regarded as the greatest driver of all time, Ayrton Senna enjoyed ten years of successful Formula 1 racing before his tragic death while leading the way at the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix. The new documentary feature film ‘Senna’ (in cinemas now) is based entirely of footage from his life, much of it previously unseen, giving the audience an insight into the highs and lows of the world of F1.

Audiences thrilled by the adrenalin-fuelled action have the opportunity to experience it first-hand throughout the F1 calendar with Thomson Sport.

Belgian Grand Prix (26th – 28th August 2011)
Among the most historic and picturesque circuits in the F1 calendar, as well as the longest, Belgium’s Spa-Francorchamps hosted a (non-championship) Grand Prix as long ago as 1924. Run on narrow public roads, around two thirds of the track use the original circuit layout and have kept much of its magic – most drivers still rank it among their favourite circuits.

Packages start from £874pp (26th – 29th August) including an Bronze Grandstand weekend ticket, travel on the Eurostar, hotel transfers, three nights B&B accommodation at the 3* Domain du Hauf Hotel and Spa and tickets to the track museum.

Italian Grand Prix (9th – 11th September 2011)
The quickest circuit in the Formula One calendar and nicknamed by the Italian’s “La Pista Magica,” the magic track, Monza definitely gets a fan’s pulse racing. Dating back to 1922, the Italian Grand Prix at Monza has seen extraordinary victories and horrifying accidents. It is also a unique experience to see the local ‘tifosi’ turn out in their thousands to will Ferrari to victory. All this makes the Italian Grand Prix one of the most magical places in motorsport.

On Saturday 10th September watch the qualifying rounds and find out the final positions for the big race on Sunday 11th September. Prices start from £1,115pp (9th – 12th September 2011) including an official weekend Grandstand tickets (Altavelocita A ticket. Option to upgrade is available), return international flights, three nights B&B accommodation at the 3* Hotel Britannia Excelsior (on the shores of Lake Como), airport transfers and circuit transfers.

Singapore Grand Prix (23rd – 25th September 2011)
Experience the breath-taking spectacle of floodlit racing at the Singapore F1 Grand Prix, the only night-time race, with the city skyline providing a spectacular backdrop. Using public roads around the Marina Bay area, the circuit makes use of two bridges across the harbour, the famous Padang Park and the space alongside the Singapore Flyer (similar to the London Eye). The race also gives the perfect excuse to spend a few days exploring the outstanding attractions of one of Asia’s most dynamic and enthralling cities, whether that be in the modern shopping malls and entertainment centres or learning about some of the oldest methods of spiritual growth.

Packages to the Singapore Grand Prix start from £1,334pp (21st – 26th September 2011) including Grandstand ticket, three nights B&B accommodation at the 4* Park Royal Hotel, flights, airport transfers and circuit transfers.

Korean Grand Prix (14th – 16th October 2011)
The Korean Grand Prix is still in its prime as it is only in its second year. The track is found in the rural South Jeolla region, with stunning natural scenery including Mount Jirisan and Mount Wolchulsan as well as a number of beautiful islands such as Hongdo and Baekdo. The city of Jeollanam-do is developing around the race circuit and is expected to one day rival Singapore and Dubai.

Visit this new event in an unique location from £1,394pp (10th – 17th October 2011) including official weekend ticket for the Korean Grand Prix, flights, seven nights B&B accommodation, return circuit and airport transfers and sightseeing with an English speaking guide. Sightseeing includes a city tour of Seoul, a traditional folk village, Jeomju City, Jeonju Hanok village and the Byunsan Peninsula.

Abu Dhabi Grand Prix (11th – 13th November 2011)
Towards the end of each electrifying season, the ultra-modern circuit in Abu Dhabi is be a popular venue for spectators, and the backdrop of the descending desert sun (it is a twilight race) makes it even more desirable. As the largest and wealthiest of the United Arab Emirates, Abu Dhabi has a huge amount to offer visitors, from the traditional camel market in Al Ain to the Ferrari Theme Park featuring a G-Force Tower, hi-tech theatres and driving schools. Packages to the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix even include a Pit Walk pass, allowing fans to get close to the action, drivers and cars in the Pit Lane.

Prices start from £1,568pp (10th – 13th November 2011) including weekend Grandstand tickets, two nights accommodation at the 5* Bonnington Hotel, Dubai, on B&B basis, Pit Walk general pass, two-day general admission to Ferrari World, flights, airport transfers and circuit transfers.

For more information call Thomson Sport on 0845 121 2018 or visit www.thomsonsport.com

Active families keen to get fit, not fat, on holiday, can head for the French Alps where the air is fresh, the sun beats down and where family activities include hiking, rafting, pony trekking, hydro-speeding, mountain biking, canyoning, white water rafting and zip-wiring.

Family active holiday specialist Esprit Holidays has a week’s stay in a French Alpine chalet-style hotel for £150pp, arriving on 2nd July (£175pp on 16th July, £199pp on 23rd July) and weekly active packages for adults and children for £135 / adult, £85 / child, to include different outdoor activities each day, while babies and toddlers can be cared for in the nurseries and Alpies Clubs.

Book with Esprit Family Adventures, www.espritfamilyadventures.com  and 01252 618300
Secret Brides’ Business in Grampians Revealed
21 Jun 11
The Grampians region has long been a favorite spot for brides and grooms, but now the secret is out on one of Australia’s top wedding destinations.

With spectacular scenery, unique function spaces, fabulous photographers and a swag of professionals to pull the big day together, couples are increasingly choosing this part of Western Victoria for their wedding.

From majestic mountains, native bush land and waterfalls, to the rolling vineyards of the nearby Pyrenees region, other attractive features of the area include group accommodation, nature-based activities and award-winning food and wine.

To help both visiting and local brides easily research, plan and coordinate their Grampians wedding, Stawell local Beth Gibson is launching the first-ever online Grampians Wedding Directory.

“With most couples now researching all elements of their wedding online, our website can save couples getting married in the Grampians precious time,” Beth said. “It also showcases the region as a wedding destination for small or large groups and for couples eloping.”

Beth said the growing online directory covered photographers, florists, celebrants and beauty specialists in places like Hamilton, Horsham, Stawell, Ararat, Great Western and Moonambel.

“We profile big names like Seppelt in Great Western, Warrenmang Vineyard and Resort in Moonambel and The Royal Mail Hotel in Dunkeld,” she explained, “We’re also unearthing local artisans who make items like jewellery and bridal gowns. We’ve even found a flower grower in Pomonal who creates stunning bouquets from native and South African varieties.”

Beth said Grampians Wedding Directory also had a ‘Wedding Helper’ page for brides with unique questions like finding a charming little chapel, historical building for photos, or a last-minute seamstress.

“The Grampians is a beautiful place to get married at any time of year,” Beth said. “With the support of Northern Grampians Shire Council and other tourism stakeholders, the local wedding industry is keen to attract more weddings here – not just for a day, but a whole weekend.”

For more visit www.grampiansweddingdirectory.com.au  or facebook/grampiansweddings

Summer in the Peak District’s Historic Border Country will see a season of celebrations for a country custom that offers visitors a chance to not only see, but actually join-in, one of the UK’s most colourful traditions.

While the roots of the ancient custom of Well Dressing may have been lost in time, each year entire communities in over 100 villages and towns across Derbyshire take part in the practice.

And the historic market town of Chesterfield, home of the famous twisted spire church, will have a special reason to celebrate in 2011 – with the 20th anniversary of the revival of its Well Dressing.

Believed to have been practised in Derbyshire since the days of the Ancient Britons – who devised it as a means of giving thanks for their natural supplies of fresh water – a succession of different villages mark the custom in their own style and design throughout the summer up until September.

The art and mystery of well-dressing is, at its simplest, the tradition of decorating springs and wells with decorative pictures made only from ‘natural’ materials, which range from flower petals and stems to leaves and berries and from bark and cones to wool and peat.

As well as ceremonies across the Peak District itself, the tradition also spreads in to the towns and villages of The Peak District’s Historic Border Country.

Stretching from the Elizabethan splendour at Hardwick Hall past the dramatic hillside ruin of Sutton Scarsdale Hall to the fairytale heights of Bolsover Castle and centred around the market town of Chesterfield, the Historic Border Country is where The Peak District meets Robin Hood Country.

For 2011, Chesterfield will have two well dressings as it marks the 20th anniversary of the revival of this colourful custom in the town.

Chesterfield began well dressing in 1864 when the Town Pump in Market Place was decorated after a very dry summer. Over time, the custom died out, but it was revived in 1991 when a well was dressed as part of an exhibition about Derbyshire traditions.

This September well dressings will take place once again at the Town Pump, but also in the ‘Crooked Spire’ Church Porch, Market Place, 10-17 September. There’s also a chance to watch the well dressers at work at the Chesterfield Well Dressing under Construction being staged at the ‘Crooked Spire’ Church, and in the Pavements Shopping Centre, 5-9 September.

Elsewhere in the Peak District’s Historic Border Country, visitors can find fresh and original designs in different villages every week throughout the summer, including Barlborough (23-26 July), where two wells are dressed, Barlow (17-23 August), where villagers claim that well dressing began in Elizabethan times, and Holymoorside (25 Aug – 5 Sep), where whole flower heads are used to decorate three wells that are illuminated at night.

Well Dressing has become such a popular attraction that a special leaflet and website now list all of the venues, highlighting not only dressings themselves, but also details of ‘in the making’ events – where visitors can watch the skilful art and, in many cases, actually ‘have a go’ themselves.

The process itself all starts with a wooden board that’s thrown into the local river to soak for a few days. This is then filled with soft, wet clay before being transformed by locals into a colourful work of art – often depicting a religious, or topical, scene. No two designs are ever the same; and dressing a well can take a team of villagers up to a week to complete.

This year will also see a double bonus for visitors to the area with flower festivals being staged in many towns and villages.

Among the best will be Ashover, which only holds a flower festival every two years, when beautiful flower displays transform the village’s All Saints Church, 27-30 August.

For a list of villages and dates of well dressings visit: www.visitpeakdistrict.com/events/well-dressing.aspx

For details of flower festival and other events as well as accommodation suggestions and short break ideas in the area, visit www.visitchesterfield.info