Cambridge, UK

Plymouth, UK

Cornwall, UK

Jardin des Douars, Essaouria, Morocco

Less than a twenty minute drive from Essaouria Airport in Morocco, and up an unmade, dusty road, almost in the middle of nowhere, is an oasis of calm and tranquillity in the form of the hotel Jardin des Douars. The hotel was opened just over three years ago, and is privately owned by three couples, one of whom run this hotel, which may be why the hotel has such a friendly, personal feel to it.

The gardens surrounding the property are what first make you feel like you are in a very special place, as they are beautifully kept and are abundant in their numbers and species of plants. On the way from the airport our driver told us about the protected forests of argan trees which lined the roads, whose fruit yields Essaouira’s “gold”: argan oil. Argan oil has subtle properties scientifically recognised for their effects on skin and beauty and many botanists have tried to plant argan trees around the world, all the way to Asia. However, all attempts have failed, so seemingly the tree prefer its native land of Essaouira to all others.

As you enter the property, there are three stunning villas, each with four bedrooms, that are available to rent, and believe me, are breath- taking, and the outdoor areas are perfect, with large swimming pools, comfortable, padded sun loungers, and their own beautiful gardens, just right for family holidays or trips with a group of friends. Each villa has its own staff member, who will come in every morning and make breakfast, and can then also cook dinner for you at an extra charge, or you can choose to eat in the hotel, or cater for yourselves in the well-equipped kitchen. We were told that there is a well stocked supermarket in Essaouria itself, which is about a fifteen minute drive from the hotel. Driving is very safe in this area, so you can either hire a car or take the shuttle or a taxi.

The hotel itself is built in the Moroccan style, with rustic, terracotta walls, floor tiles and bedrooms which all have en suite bathrooms and their own private outdoor space. Some of these spaces are more private than others, and some rooms have rooftop terraces. All the buildings are no more than two stories high, and are built on different levels, so they are not imposing at all, and blend well with the ambience of the entire hotel.

The bathrooms have showers, and some have large, tiled baths, that do take quite a long time to fill up, as they really are large, but well worth the wait if like me, you are a bath lover! The towels aren’t the usual soft fluffy type, but traditional cloth which adds to the authenticity of the hotel.

The Jardin des Douars has two restaurants, one for families, with a large glass tiled wall looking out on to beautiful scenery, and a comfortable communal area around the open fire, whilst the other adult only restaurant, which offers the same menu, is a quieter, more intimate atmosphere. There is also a fabulous outdoor terrace that is used for lunchtimes, and I am sure is popular in the summer, and would be a great place to enjoy a drink whilst chatting to fellow guests, before enjoying the Moroccan cuisine. Each evening there is a set menu on offer, as well as the à la carte menu, and this is the same for lunchtimes, although the menus are different.

Breakfast is taken in the family restaurant, and is continental in style, offering cereals, cold meats, cheese, jam, and then there are four extra options to choose from the menu, including Moroccan pancakes, French Toast, Eggs and Omelettes.

There are two immaculate swimming pools at the hotel, one for families and the other adults only, and both have a sunbathing terrace with thick sun loungers and the occasional waiter service should you require a drink. At around 4pm, Moroccan tea and cake are served to guests by the pool, which incidentally is heated to a very acceptable level!

The hotel does have a spa which offers the traditional Hamman treatment, but as I had a sun tan and didn’t want to lose it, I had a sports massage which was expertly done by one of the masseurs in a candlelit room that was beautifully scented with shafts of daylight shining through tiny holes in the wooden windows, creating a very relaxing and calming atmosphere.

There is a shuttle service or taxi service into Essaouria, should you wish to go shopping or dine in one of the restaurants, and the hotel can also organise picnic lunches to the beach or waterfall.

Flights to Essaouria are run by Easyjet from Luton Airport every Tuesday and Saturday, and take just over 3 hours.

We spent a very pleasant three nights at the hotel, which, if you are looking for peace and relaxation, is a perfect venue, whether you are going with the family or just on your own.

Salcombe & South Hams, South Devon

Holidays to Devon and the West Country were the staple of my childhood, even the mere mention of the county conjures up memories of huddling in small coves behind colourful windbreaks, jumping through crashing waves and trying to dig to Australia, which was the eternal quest of my brother and I. Years later I was drawn back to the region to study for a degree, and fell in love with Devon all over again. There is the charm of the many quaint, chocolate box villages, the raw rugged beauty of Dartmoor and the beautiful coastline with its abundance of small rocky coves and sandy beaches. One place I had never visited, but had heard a great deal about was Salcombe, so it was with great expectation we set off with our two boys to visit the South Hams region on the South Coast of Devon.

The South Hams is a region of rural and coastal Devon, much of which is designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, stretching as far as the edges of Dartmoor National Park and featuring one of the most beautiful stretches of coastline in the UK which spans between Torbay and Plymouth. Our initial destination was the Thurlestone Hotel where we would be staying for the next two nights. This hotel is nestled in the small village of Thurlestone; a charming place that provides the ideal base for exploring the region, complete with a shop/post office, pub and golf course with stunning panoramic views. From here you can access the South West coastal path within a few minutes and can walk in either direction to access sandy beaches along with smaller secluded coves. We were blessed with good weather during our stay, so following our breakfast on both mornings we set out to explore on foot, ending up at beautiful Bantham beach one day and Thurlestone’s own beach the next, with its iconic arched rock from which the village takes its name.

The Thurlestone Hotel is family owned and has an impressive array of facilities making it an ideal place to visit with the whole family, including the dog! Indeed, while we were there we noticed quite a few family groups spanning several generations who had all come on holiday together; we could see why, because there is something here to please everyone. The choice of sporting activities includes a 9-hole golf course, badminton, squash and tennis courts, an outdoor heated swimming pool, croquet lawn and table tennis. For those with relaxation in mind the spa comprises a swimming pool, fitness suite, hydrotherapy pool, steam room, sauna and laconium, along with treatment rooms. I had never (knowingly) used a laconium before, but Google reliably informs me that it is a dry sweating room in which the heat radiates evenly and is held at around 60° making it a good alternative for anyone who finds a traditional sauna too hot, i.e. me! For the dogs, there is the myriad of ‘walkies’ opportunities just outside the door, along with thoughtful touches such as blankets and water bowls.

The attractive gardens offer tucked away nooks ideal for enjoying peace and quiet over a cup of tea, or alternatively there is the outside terrace, with its stunning views across the coastline and Thurlestone Rock. In fact, you are really spoilt for choice when it comes to eating and drinking as the lounges, bar, restaurant and poolside dining area all offer spectacular views in the most comfortable surroundings. After spending time in the outdoor pool we checked into our room which was spacious and comfortable, with a separate lounge/bedroom for the boys. They were delighted to find that just along the corridor were the children’s play rooms, featuring a whole array of activities, including games consoles, board games and large screen for watching movies. These rooms have been recently refurbished with great attention to detail, and offer a really appealing, well equipped space for children of all ages. There is also entertainment for children through the school holidays at Big T’s Surf Club which includes, amongst many other activities, magicians, movies & popcorn, cocktail making, arts and crafts and sports.

Breakfast was a very civilised affair. The buffet offered a good selection of cereals, fresh fruit, yoghurts, pastries and juices. Our boys’ measure of a good breakfast is whether or not there is Nutella available - and I’m pleased to report that it made the grade! The muffins and pancakes were an added bonus. Cooked breakfast is ordered from the menu, and I particularly enjoyed the smoked haddock with poached egg, whilst my husband tucked in to the full English complete with a side of baked beans - his measure of a good breakfast! Visit www.thurlestone.co.uk for further information.

A great place to start any visit to a new area is the Tourist Information Office, and the Salcombe branch is so friendly you may end up chatting away a whole morning. There is so much on offer in the area; you can learn to sail, hire a dinghy, charter a yacht, go canoeing, kayaking or stand-up paddle boarding. Then there’s surfing, fishing, power boating, rib riding, coastal walking, golf (both Thurlestone and Bigbury golf clubs have stunning coastal views) or just relaxing on one of the beautiful beaches. Equally enjoyable is the opportunity to mooch round the characterful streets of Salcombe or Kingsbridge taking in the atmosphere, views and shopping opportunities. If you love arts and crafts, like I do, then you will be totally spoilt by the abundance of galleries and small shops selling local artists work, along with the many independent retailers selling everything from designer clothing and shoes to hand made pottery, jewellery and accessories. Further afield you can visit Woodlands Adventure Park, Pennywell Farm, South Devon Chilli Farm, Sharpham Vineyard and Avon Mill Garden Centre, along with many other places, including a local cinema, which you can find leaflets and information about at the Tourist Information Centre in Salcombe or Kingsbridge.

From this enormous range of activities, we had booked a family lesson in Stand-up Paddle Boarding (SUP). The weather was perfect as we set off to Bigbury-on-Sea, a short drive round the coast through some of Devon’s narrowest country lanes. Bigbury has a large sandy beach and looks across to Burgh Island, which can be reached by walking across the tidal causeway or taking a ride in the sea tractor, the only one of its kind in the world. Burgh Island served as a retreat for Agatha Christie in the 1930s, and she wrote and set two of her novels here.

We headed to the Discovery Surf School to get kitted out and meet Hazel, our instructor. The lesson began on the beach, and after a quick familiarisation of the board, paddle and introduction to the technique, we were in the sea wading out beyond the body boarders and paddled to the calm waters where we could practice. Our 13-year-old and 10-year-old proved to be naturals, mastering the art of balancing and paddling within the first ten minutes. My husband and I, however, were a different matter! Getting up onto your knees it the first step, and not too tricky. From this position you can paddle around happily, but the very name suggests that this does not really count as real Paddleboarding, so we were determined to get on our feet and stay there for more than a couple of minutes! It is very satisfying once you manage to stay balanced and paddle around, and is a really enjoyable, relaxing sport (when you stop falling in at every wobble), and one which I would love to return to. Hazel, our instructor was really relaxed and encouraging and we would thoroughly recommend Discovery Surf School if you visit the area. They offer a whole range of lessons including kayaking, for groups, families, or one to one. A 2-hour private family lesson for Paddleboarding is £125. Visit www.discoverysurf.com or email martin@discoverysurf.com for further information.

I cannot write about South Devon without mentioning food and drink. The other abiding memory of family holidays here, apart from the ones I mentioned at the beginning, are the delicious ice cream and cream teas - both of which you must sample if you visit, especially the locally made Salcombe Dairy Ice Cream. As you’d hope for by the sea, there is an enormous choice of pubs, restaurants and cafés serving local produce, and in particular locally caught crab and seafood. We visited ‘The Winking Prawn’ in North Sands, Salcombe. This popular beach café/restaurant has a really relaxed vibe. Looking onto North Sands beach there is an outdoor dining area where barbeque food is served until 8:30pm, or you can choose to dine inside, as we did. The shabby chic interior with its pastel coloured décor along with whitewashed wooden flooring, tables and chairs gives it the perfect seaside ambience. Being a family of great prawn-lovers we ordered the deep fried Pop Corn Shrimps with chilli dip, along with the Whole King Prawns Cooked with Crushed Garlic Butter to start. These were quickly devoured, and followed by our main course choices of Sea Bream Fillet with Chilli, Soy & Ginger Salsa and Half a Lobster Grilled with Garlic, Parsley & Lemon Butter. The table next to us tucked into an impressive Fruits De Mer platter with half a Lobster, which looked amazing (see the photograph for an idea as to what this looks like!). Our boys ordered the Tempura prawns and fries from the children’s menu. Our empty plates were testament to the quality and taste of the food. We just about had room to share a couple of their impressive ice cream sundaes, made with the aforementioned Salcombe Dairy Ice Cream. The Banoffeebocker Glory was my personal favourite, whilst the Nutella lovers in my family were fighting over the Chocolate Chip Cookie Rocky Road Sundae! We also loved the fun touches at the Winking Prawn such as the dressing up box, buckets and spades and ‘face stand ins’. Visit www.winkingprawngroup.co.uk for further information and please note that reservations are recommended.

Salcombe and nearby Slapton have a strong American connection, as we discovered through our visit to the Salcombe Maritime Museum. This small, quirky little museum has display cases filled with artefacts, booklets and many photographs dedicated to the time that the American forces were stationed here during the Second World War. During 1943 many of the homes, hotels and public buildings in Salcombe were requisitioned and occupied by the United States Navy. Nissen huts were assembled to house the troops, and the waterfront became a hive of industry as the repair and maintenance of landing craft became the primary objective. In 1944, much larger ships, along with barrage balloons, appeared in the harbour as D-day preparations were made. Boats were moored two and three abreast as the day approached, and then on the 4th June 1944, 66 ships of the US Navy sailed from Salcombe to the Normandy beaches to take part in the assault on the enemy. This invaluable contribution to the war effort is commemorated by a plaque on one of Salcombe’s streets bearing the name ‘Normandy Way’. The Maritime Museum is a treasure trove of other artefacts and interesting tales of shipwreck and bravery at sea and really is worth a visit if you are interested in the town’s colourful history. Visit www.salcombemuseum.org.uk.

After taking in a final morning of walking, swimming and table tennis at the hotel, our trip to South Hams had sadly come to an end, and it was time to embark on the journey home. This part of the country holds a very special place in my heart and now that I have had a taste of all that South Hams in particular has to offer, I will definitely be back in the near future with my family, hopefully to improve on those Paddleboarding skills.