Hidden Valley

Advantages: Good food, good wine ,friendly people and great country.
Disadvantages: Lack of french

...'Oye." The Chateau's battlement tower is surrounded with glassed-in rooms showing wax figures in scenes from the "The sleeping beauty". Not the most tasteful display and obvious exploitation, but the girls will like it! The castle played another part in 'history' when it stood as a model for the design of Disney's famous Cinderella's Castle in Disney World. Designers used this and other castles of the Loire Valley. The chapel, which is hidden away in the park, contains stalls from the 17th century, a ceramic Virgin Mary by Luca Della Robbia (15th century), a series of Aubusson tapestries (17th century) and a Tuscan triptych from the 15th century (well you might be into this sort of thing) all worth a look. Langeais The chateau at Langeais is worth a visit as you are immediately taken by its preposterous position slap bang in the middle... Read review

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Advantages: Children can burn off some energy, dogs are welcome and cyclists, great views.
Disadvantages: Dirty toilets and no rubbish bins

...Moors Valley Country Park and Forest www.moors-valley.co.uk Horton Road Ashley Heath Nr Ringwood BH24 2ET Email: moorsvalley@eastdorset.gov.uk Tel: 01425 477880 Looking for something a bit different for a Sunday afternoon stroll, then this place could tick all the boxes. Moors Valley covers 750 acres in the Valley of the Moors River. Not easily sign posted until you are right on top of the entrance, a Sat Nav device could prove invaluable to get you here. However, if you type in the above postcode on the RAC route planner website (www.rac.co.uk), it will find the place for you and can print off directions for a return route home. There are no admission charges. Opening times are from 8 am to dusk all year round except Christmas Day and a few days in January for cleaning the site. For public transport... Read review

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Advantages: Fascinating
Disadvantages: A little claustrophobic

...Edinburgh is an amazing city. For my money, it's architecturally the most beautiful in Britain and it has a history that is truly fascinating. I go there every August for the comedy festival and normally see only the shops, the bars and the comedy venues. This year, however, I was determined to get up earlier than usual and give myself time to take some of the tourist trails. After scouring the net and reading some guide books, my mate and I decided that one thing we must do was take the guided tour of Edinburgh's hidden underground vaults run by Mercat Tours. Edinburgh's underground vaults have only recently been uncovered after lying abandoned and full of waste for many years. Now open to the public on accompanied viewings only, accessible only via huge locked doors which look like any others in the city's winding old streets... Read review

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