Getting the flavour of…
A watersports holiday for all
For families with disabled children, creating holidays that work for everyone can be a challenge – so thank heavens for the Children’s Sailing Trust, says David Hutt in The Sunday Times. This charity has a watersports centre and six “super-stylish” self-catering holiday lets next to Trevassack Lake on Cornwall’s Lizard peninsula. The newest, Clare Milne House, has a wooden deck with a hot tub, and the living room has big sliding doors, so children feel connected to the action outside even on rainy days. There are “amazing” volunteer supervisors, lifts to all facilities, and equipment for all needs, including personal hoists, double kayaks, oversized paddleboards and even a “floating classroom” for wheelchairs. Being on water can be magical, and chances are the whole family will find a stay here “liberating” and “rewarding”. From £735 for three nights, excluding activities (childrenssailingtrust.org.uk).
A Spanish seafood spectacular
It gets crowded with Spanish holidaymakers in high summer, but the “slightly shabby” Andalucian seaside town of Barbate is a delight from April to June, during the almadraba tuna season, says Annie Bennett in The Daily Telegraph. Perched on the Costa de la Luz – the region’s Atlantic coast – it has splendid beaches that are good for sunbathing from April (unless the “vicious” Levante wind is up), and sits beside a nature reserve that is great for hiking, riding and so on. But the biggest treats are gastronomic. Caught in tunnels of nets – the traditional almadraba method – Barbate’s strictly regulated quota of bluefin shows up in wonderful tapas and tasting menus all over town. El Campero is “astounding” – but trying various places is “one of the best ways to spend a weekend” here. El Hotel Madreselva (califavejer.com) has double rooms from £60 b&b.
Switzerland’s extraordinary railways
Switzerland has the most spectacular network of mountain railways in the world – and Great Rail Journeys’ “Mountaintops of Switzerland” group tour is a sociable way to explore it, says Adrian Bridge in The Sunday Telegraph. This nine-day adventure includes the two “biggies” – the Bernina Express (which includes the highest rail summit in the Alps, the Ospizio Bernina, at 7,290ft), and the Glacier Express, connecting Zermatt and St Moritz via the “stunning” Rhine Gorge. But woven between them are other journeys, each with its own magic – Brienz to Rothorn by steam, for instance. Seats are all in First Class, and there are extra treats in the form of funicular ascents to three of the elegant hotels on the itinerary. The tour costs from £2,795pp including Eurostar tickets (greatrail.com).