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‘DRINK!’

Sorry, I can’t seem to start off a blog about whiskey without channelling Father Jack, although in all accuracy he’d probably be extolling the virtues of Toilet Duck and not the finest single malt. Probably due to the weather, drink is of course a very British tradition, much to the despair of government health types who think we’re all bingeing knickerless on a park bench somewhere, rather than being trustworthy and sensible enough to imbibe the stuff in moderation. Hic.

Ale from Oxford, cider from Somerset and even tonic wine from Buckfast Abbey are all traditional in England, drawing visitors from around the world as well as from within the country. Further up in Scotland and Northern Ireland, however, the harder stuff like whiskey tends to be the drink of choice. This could arguably be down to the climate. Here’s how to go about your whiskey trail:

The best, and only, malt whiskey specific tour in the globe has to be the imaginatively named Malt Whisky Trail, based in the Scottish Highlands. The trail takes in eight working distilleries all around Speyside, which is the centre of Scotland’s whiskey industry and where half of all Scottish malt distilleries are based. Camping in the area is as plentiful as the whiskey there are almost 100 campsites in the Highlands and Islands area listed on Pitchup.com, with two directly at Speyside. Stay for about a week to really get a feel for the Highlands and a taste for the whiskey. Take a hike around Glencoe or Glen Nevis, spot golden eagles at the Cairngorms or, for the believers out there, have a go at finding the Loch Ness Monster.

Moving across from the Highlands to the Hebrides, we end up at the next port of call for our drinking adventure on the island of Islay, which is host to eight distilleries. All of them offer guided tours, from the large distilleries such as Ardbeg to the small farm of Kilchoman which malts, distils and bottles its whiskey onsite. (There’s also a brewery on the island producing seven different types of real ale.) As with the Highlands, the Hebrides are a good place to stay for a week to take in all the distilleries as well as everything else in the area try birdwatching on the Isle of Colonsay, sailing around the Isle of Mull or go to the Whiskey Galore festival at the Isle of Barra, named after the book and film of the 1940s and based on the real event of a shipwrecked WWII cargo vessel loaded with whiskey… which was quickly consumed. There’s a choice of over 30 sites in the Hebrides on Pitchup.com, and two on Islay itself.

Next up is Edradour, the smallest whiskey distillery in Scotland and with a staff of just three, who distil the whiskey in the same way it’s been done since Edradour opened in 1828. Only 12 casks are distilled per week, ensuring the whiskey has a more bespoke taste. Edradour is in a glen above Pitlochry in Perthshire, where there are five sites, with 39 available in Perthshire itself. Take a break from the whiskey to stay for a while and explore Perthshire the Cairngorms National Park is nearby, and Perthshire is known for its outdoor activities if you’re feeling brave, such as canyoning, cliff jumping and microlighting.

Finally, take your campervan on the ferry or get a cheap flight with your backpack across the Irish Sea to check out the Bushmills Distillery in Co Antrim, the oldest working distillery in Ireland and producing whiskey since 1608. There are two caravan parks in the Bushmills area, and 25 in Co Antrim, an area popular with visitors from all over the world check out the Giant’s Causeway or the coastal towns of Portrush and Portstewart and the villages of Cushendun and Cushendall, or just take in the Causeway coast or the Glens of Antrim.

One last suggestion: print out what you’ve just read, leave it somewhere (casually) around the house, and you may get treated to a whiskey trail tour that you had no idea about. Just be sure not to include this bit. Hope is a many-splendored thing.

The bustling city of Bristol in the South West of England has origins that date back to the Iron Age, and today this historic city attracts around 1.5 million overnight visitors every year. From the intrigue of the slave trade around the Harbourside to the outstanding retail opportunities at Cabot Circus, this is one destination that has something for everyone. Read on for more guidance on Bristol’s top 5 attractions.

Bristol Attractions: Tourism Profile

Bristol Harbourside

Much of Bristol’s history is defined by the part the city’s port played in the slave trade of the 17^th and 18^th century. Visitors to the city should put some time aside to visit the regenerated Bristol Harbour to learn more about this defining era of history. Popular attractions that tend to pull in the crowds at the Harbourside include the Museum of Bristol, the At-Bristol science centre, Isambard Kingdom Brunel’s SS Great Britain ocean liner, and a replica of John Cabot’s celebrated 15^th century liner, Matthew,

Bristol City Museum and Art Gallery

Culture vultures keen to expand their horizons can spend a relaxed hour or two examining the exhibitions on display at the versatile Bristol City Museum and Art Gallery. Split into a number of different sections, this museum is particularly renowned for its natural history, architecture and industry exhibitions, but the Art Gallery is also notable for a collection of ornaments from the Chinese Tang dynasty.

Clifton Suspension Bridge

It’s arguably Bristol’s most famous landmark, and visitors will have to pay nothing to stroll across this bridge. Walk along the Clifton Suspension Bridge to enjoy unrivalled views of Avon Gorge and panoramic vistas of the city itself. Finished in 1864, it’s one of Isambard Kingdom Brunel’s defining works.

Bristol Zoo

Enjoy a fun day out with all the family at Bristol Zoo, uniformly voted amongst the city’s top attractions. The oldest provincial zoo in the world, bring your camera to photograph monkeys, lions, seals, penguins, gorillas, flamingos and butterflies.

Cabot Circus

Opened amidst great local interest in 2008, Cabot Circus is the largest shopping centre in the south west of England, offering over 120 shops, a cinema, several restaurants and even an adventure golf centre. So if retail therapy isn’t your thing, you should at least find something of interest at this multipurpose venue.

And finally

With so much to enjoy in Bristol, it’s little surprise that the local property market remains in a relatively healthy state in comparison with the rest of the UK, and rooms for rent in Bristol city centre remain particularly popular.

For many, the best way to capture the quintessentially British experience is by boat, negotiating the 2,200 miles of canals and rivers by water. A canal boat holiday offers an engaging family adventure, allowing you to explore picturesque landmarks at your own pace and it may also encourage an aspirational glance or two at boating websites such as boatshop24 should you get the boating bug. Read on for a profile of five great canal boat destinations.

Canal Boat Holidays in Great Britain: Top 5

Llangolen Canal

Llangolen has frequently been named the UK’s prettiest canal, and any holidaymaker who has the good fortune to negotiate this inland waterway will be hard pressed to disagree. Crossing the Welsh border, holidaymakers should get their cameras out at Pontcysyllte Aqueduct, constructed in 1805 and the largest aqueduct in Britain

Caledonian Canal

Appreciate the rugged backdrop of the Scottish Highlands on a trip down the Caledonian canal, constructed at the start of the 19^th century to increase employment options in the region. The sister of Gota canal in Sweden, the canal runs 62 miles, and is dominated by some of Scotland’s most famous lochs along the way, including Loch Lomond and Loch Oich.

Oxford Canal

Fans of British detective shows will enjoy traversing the Oxford canal, as it takes in many of the landmarks made famous by popular dramas such as Morse, Lewis and Midsomer Murders. Linking Oxford with Coventry, the canal acted as a key trading point between the East Midlands and London. In the 21st century, it’s become popular with tourists looking to enjoy the scenic Oxfordshire countryside.

Leeds-Liverpool Canal

The Leeds-Liverpool Canal is the longest canal in Britain connecting two of Northern England’s most popular cities. Leeds is famed for its shopping and nightlife, whilst Liverpool boasts culture and heritage in abundance, but for many boating enthusiasts, it’s the famous canal that holds the most appeal.

Stratford-upon-Avon Canal

For literary types looking for an educational British getaway, a journey down the Stratford-upon-Avon canal is a must, as it passes through the home one of Britain’s major icons, William Shakespeare. Fans of the Bard should put some time aside to visit Stratford-upon-Avon itself, visiting sites including Shakespeare’s Birthplace and Anne Hathaway’s Cottage.