Torquay and Devon Holiday Blog » Activity Holidays in Devon

Belly Dance Break

Vicky — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 12:35:02 +0000

Not sure about booking the male stripper for your hen night?

As brides we want a fun and memorable occasion for the last fleeting moments of our ‘freedom’. The lively and even racy nights with flowing alcohol may not be up everyone’s street. Some may just want a simple and quiet dinner with the girls or a weekend away of pampering or encountering a new experience with close friends. There are so many hen experience packages available from cocktail making, learning to surf and even learning a new dance.

Trying out Belly dancing would be an amazing experience and something a little different from the usual pampering hen party weekends.

Afra - Silk Wings

Hosted by International dance teacher Afra Al Kahira, you and the girls can enjoy a new and exciting Learn to Belly Dance break at the Toorak Hotel. The break includes welcome drinks, tuition, dinner and a talk on the history, costume and styles of belly dancing. On the Saturday night, you will be entertained with a GALA show, featuring performances by Afra and invited guests in a variety of different styles. At the end of the weekend you will be able to put all of your skills learnt together to perform a routine.

What a better way to surprise your guests and even your husband on the big day! If that sounds scary, maybe persuade your girl friends to perform instead!

Check out the TLH website for more details or call 01803 400500.

Belly Dance Break is a post from: Torquay and Devon Holiday Blog

War Horse Putting Dartmoor On the Map

Nigel Beck — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 09:59:02 +0000

Dartmoor is set to become a must see destination in 2012 thanks to the release of the new Spielberg film War Horse.

The film is released in the UK on 13th January and focuses on the moving story of a Devon farm boy who joins the army in an effort to search for his horse, Joey, after he is sold into the cavalry and shipped to France during the First World War. The Michael Morpurgo story has already been adapted for the stage and has been a hit in London’s West End. The ambitious film will definitely be a tearjerker and early reviews tip it for an Oscar.

Steven Spielberg spent many weeks on Dartmoor, back in August 2010 and by all accounts was spellbound by its beauty, saying, “I have never before, in my long and eclectic career, been gifted with such an abundance of natural beauty as I experienced filming War Horse on Dartmoor.”

In fact, South Devon has been the site for scenes shot in many films and TV shows. Torquay and indeed the English Riviera as a whole have inspired such hits as Fawlty Towers as well as being the backdrop for such things as Miss Marple, Churchill: The Hollywood Years (Christian Slater & Neve Campbell…), Blackball (Paul Kaye, Vince Vaughn, Johnny Vegas…) and TV programmes such as the BBC’s The Zoo Keepers (filmed at Paignton Zoo) and Channel 5′s Milkshake Monkey (Children’s prog, 2009). Those of us on the wrong side of 40 will also no doubt remember the Onedin Line, shot in Dartmouth! And bringing us bang up to date, we have Channel 4’s The Hotel causing quite a stir and the recent episode of BBC’s Sherlock showed Dartmoor in all it’s haunting beauty.

Some of these locations are on your doorstep when you stay in Torquay and even those in more rural locations are still only within a short driving distance. You too can experience the beauty that Devon has to offer, visit the sites and inspiration for so many films and set the scene for your own great holiday by staying at TLH Leisure Resort , so well placed for access to many parts of Devon and Cornwall. Why not come down and plan your own location break? There’s nothing quite like visiting the places you’ve seen and enjoyed on the big screen.

Take a look at your holiday options here or call 01803 400500 to find out more.

War Horse Putting Dartmoor On the Map is a post from: Torquay and Devon Holiday Blog

Anyone for Tennis at the Toorak Hotel Torquay?

Nigel Beck — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 10:31:16 +0000

January is traditionally the time to plan and scheme for the year ahead. It’s all so easy whilst curled up with a cup of tea in a nice comfy armchair! You imagine what the ‘new you’ may be capable of. Are you going to get fit, lose weight, book a holiday or try something new?

Well TLH Leisure Resort in Torquay has a whole range of special interest breaks for 2012, which may just tick all these boxes. You get to come on holiday to the lovely English Riviera, maybe learn or improve a skill or hobby and you could even become fitter and leaner in the process.

Our professional tennis coach, Heath Parkin

Amongst some of the breaks on offer are a series of Tennis Breaks at the hotel group’s 3 star Toorak Hotel. Tennis Pro and LTA coach Heath Parkin hosts the weekend breaks which include an amazing 11 hours of coaching.

The weekends are ideal for improvers or intermediate players, looking to improve their technique, rather than complete beginners. The tennis courts are set in a stunning location at Torre Abbey Meadows overlooking the sea and conveniently directly opposite the hotel.

Your break starts at 6pm on the Friday with a ‘meet the coach and welcome drinks’ session, followed by dinner. Then it’s down to the serious business of drills and practice, with coaching starting at 10am on the Saturday. All the key strokes are covered and the day ends with competitive drills and match play tips.

Sunday’s coaching will reinforce these skills, but there will be more emphasis on tactics which will nicely set everything up for a competition towards the end of the day, either singles or doubles depending on numbers.

Superb indoor pool

It’s not all about the tennis though – you can enjoy the superb food and comfortable surroundings of the Toorak plus take advantage of the fantastic on-site leisure facilities of TLH Leisure Resort, including the 25 metre indoor Aztec Pool complex, gym and spa, as well as nightly entertainment.

If you’re sat in your comfy armchair reading this now and imagining how you may clean up at the local tennis club this summer, or are looking to resurrect your rusty backhand, then this is a perfect weekend break for you!

Tennis Breaks are on the following dates: 4-6 May, 13-15 July and 28-30th September.

Prices from £185 pp for 2 nights dinner, bed & breakfast and including all coaching.

Call 01803 400500 to book or find out more here.

Anyone for Tennis at the Toorak Hotel Torquay? is a post from: Torquay and Devon Holiday Blog

The Kids Got Bowls!!

Terri — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 11:45:46 +0000

One rainy evening in October, just as we had started our indoor season and were re-acquainting ourselves with long lost teammates and fast carpets, three likely lads strayed in from the rain. They were all teenagers and they stood and watched us for a few minutes before one youngster asked if anyone could have a go. So, I told them to kick off their shoes, I grabbed some spare bowls and one of our under 25’s who was lounging at the bar, and got them all started on a spare rink.

They played for about an hour and it was pretty obvious that there was one in the group who was very interested as he listened to our under 25 star who explained line, delivery, mat laying, jack casting and some of the things that beginners need to know.

After an hour they all disappeared except for the one 14 year old, who stayed on to watch us all again. He also turned up every night for the next week for a ‘practice’.

Since then this lad has been sponsored for his membership and his rink fees, he’s been bought his shoes and bowls by his Dad. Other members have given him measures, towels, chalk etc., and within a couple of weeks he was completely kitted out with whites and greys, and a bowls bag for all this new equipment, most of which was bought in the bowls shop at TLH Leisure Resort.

This youngster is now a ‘super–sub’ playing when any team needs a player in the evening leagues. He has played in several friendly games and has also played in the John Parrot and Wessex League. He is so keen and so eager to do well, he even sits by the green in the evening if he is not playing, and keeps the scorecards for the teams that are. His parents are delighted he has an interest but perhaps do get concerned when we are sitting in the corner doing his homework whilst he plays bowls.

He is so keen to progress that he has even asked to be involved in the School of Excellence that is to be held at ISCA in February.

I am sure that this young man will develop into a very good bowler – and later, perhaps in a couple of years we will all be reading about him. That is my prediction.

But what I really want to say, is a huge thank you to my club, and the wonderful members who have sponsored and encouraged this young man. In a time when human nature is set for self-preservation I applaud you all for the consideration, encouragement and expertise you have given to this one individual. Torquay United IBC, you should be proud of yourselves.

That’s all folks

Dru Close

The Kids Got Bowls!! is a post from: Torquay and Devon Holiday Blog

Dancing Duo

Vicky — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 09:35:56 +0000

Henry and Jeannie Clark, known as Dancing Duo, are among the latest additions to our dance hosts at TLH Leisure Resort and will be at the Toorak Hotel this December and again in March. The couple have been running dance breaks and evening classes around South Devon for over 12 years.

It was the dire need for a hip replacement some years ago which stopped his dancing, that led to a new retirement career fro Henry and his wife Jeannie. By running dances, he reasoned, they could still keep in touch with their many friends in the dancing world.

So from small beginnings, with afternoon tea dances, the hobby shared by the couple has grown into a rewarding business with a busy schedule.

Nowadays, seasoned dancer (on two artificial hips) Henri and Jeannie often partner single people in their dances, while Henry simultaneously plays the very best of CD music for Ballroom, Latin and Social Sequence dancing.

The Torquay based couple are great believers in making every dance evening feel like a special event with an ambience created by themed stage decorations and attractively dressed tables around the ballroom. The music is always carefully selected to appeal to enthusiastic dancers at all levels.

Up to six dance holidays a year and even their more local dances, attract support from far and wide. Henry and Jeannie aim to provide ‘quality dancing with an element of fun’. By mixing closely with their dancers, they both encourage great social evenings. Only the best hotels with good well-sprung dance floors are selected for their breaks in coastal resorts such as Newquay, Dawlish, Bournemouth and now the Toorak Hotel in Torquay.

Before their retirement hobby became a new career, Henry was a farmer at Staverton near Totnes and Jeannie, a former journalist and public relations officer in TV and publishing, was a hotelier in Totnes.

You can join Dancing Duo at the Toorak Hotel on the 11^th December for 3 nights and again on the 12th March for 4 nights. To find out more visit www.tlh.co.uk/dancing

Dancing Duo is a post from: Torquay and Devon Holiday Blog

Benefits of Lifelong Learning

Vicky — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 16:22:44 +0000

Does ‘learning’ conjure up school desks and musty old books? It’s a word we often associate with our school days but it is something we can carry on in to adulthood and gain a lot of pleasure from.

In fact, studies have shown that learning new skills can help fend off dementia and ease depression. Our brains act a little like a muscle and need to be used and challenged in different ways in order to grow and become stronger.

Learning something new needn’t be confined to books or evening classes, what about a skill you’ve never considered before such as painting, flower arranging or baking? Or it could be something more physical like dancing, playing tennis or skiing. Perhaps putting a specific time aside to take a ‘learn to’ holiday is a way to get a taster of your new hobby.

So why don’t more of us venture into new territory? Is it fear of failure maybe? Or lack of time? A few of these quotes may help you to reconsider:

Commit yourself to lifelong learning. The most valuable asset you’ll ever have is your mind and what you put into it.-Brian Tracy
Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever. – Gandhi
You learn more quickly under the guidance of experienced teachers. You waste a lot of time going down blind alleys if you have no one to lead you. – W. Somerset Maugham
You cannot teach a man anything. You can only help him discover it within himself. – Galileo Galilei

Taking a break to discover new things will benefit mind, body and soul. What new things will you learn to do in 2012?

Benefits of Lifelong Learning is a post from: Torquay and Devon Holiday Blog

Strictly Fever Grips TLH!

Kazzy — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 08:00:19 +0000

It’s that time of the year again where our Saturday nights and living rooms are transformed into a sea of celebrity dancing– people from the celebrity world join forces with beautiful dancers to form sequinned scantily clad duos. The inevitable questions arise – who will fall for who (in both the romantic and literal sense)? Who will succumb to the dreaded first vote off? What will they be wearing? Who will be the next Anne Widdicombe?

It’s inevitable that it will only be a matter of time before Strictly Fever hits the nation, here at TLH Leisure Resort our lunch breaks are already filled with the latest gossip from the shows! We’ve all, perhaps inadvertently, seen the programme and let’s be honest, we all secretly (or perhaps not so secretly) wish we could lavishly transform into elegant dancers the way the celebrities on Strictly do.

At TLH we are well aware that not everyone has been dancing for the majority of their lives and we have seen a stark rise in the people taking an interest in learning to dance. That is why we have launched our ‘Learn to Dance’ breaks, starting with our 3 stage Ballroom & Latin breaks where you can learn your favourite moves with Pam Peters, one of our most experienced and popular dance teachers at TLH Leisure Resort, Torquay. The breaks are divided into 3 stages, stage 1 for beginners, stage 2 for intermediate and stage 3 for advanced. Whether you want to start from the beginning and work your way through the 3 stages, or simply join in at the middle or end, this is the best place to perfect your steps to a various array of dances, including the Waltz, Social Foxtrot, Quickstep, Tango, Cha Cha, Samba and Rhumba, along with some popular social dances.

Alongside our Pam Peters breaks, we are also offering Ballroom & Latin for complete beginners or for beginners & improvers, both hosted by Gerald and Margaret Thompson, former Modern Ballroom competitive dancers who retired from the world of competition dancing and qualified as Professional Teachers of Dance. This break is perfect for you if you wish to further develop your dancing or update your dance techniques, or perhaps you have already attended one of our Learn to Dance breaks and you simply wish to improve your Ballroom and Latin dance moves.

Thirdly, Philip Wylie is hosting our Modern Latin & Ballroom Learn and Improve sessions for all levels, which include basic and advanced choreography, movement, styling and floor craft. The break also offers a separate programme for guests wishing to ‘Learn to Dance’ in easy, friendly and fun sessions.

So, whatever your dancing ability there really is no reason why you too can’t learn to dance like the stars!

Click here to view the embedded video.

Ballroom & Latin with Pam Peters

Stage 1: 24th – 27th October 2011

Stage 2: 9th – 11th March 2012

Stage 3: 29th June – 1st July 2012

Ballroom & Latin with Gerald & Margaret Thompson

Complete beginners: 13th – 17th November 2011

Beginners & Improvers: 22nd – 26th January 2012

Modern Latin & Ballroom with Philip Wylie

2nd – 5th January 2012

Complete beginners: 12th – 15th March 2012

Strictly Fever Grips TLH! is a post from: Torquay and Devon Holiday Blog

Half Term Family Holidays at TLH Leisure Resort Torquay

Vicky — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 19:30:10 +0000

Well if this heatwave lasts you could be in for a truly amazing October half term holiday in Torquay! I may be a little optimistic with the weather forecast, but even if it’s not as warm and sunny as it is this week, you can be sure of plenty to keep the whole family happy at TLH Leisure Resort this October.

If you’re looking for a bargain (and frankly who isn’t these days) then TLH’s group of 4 hotels has some great offers to tempt you. All children under 5 stay free in their parent’s rooms, no matter what time of year you come, but your under 10s can also stay for free with us on selected dates. With 2 nights midweek at just £106pp at the Dewent Hotel, then it makes an October family break an affordable option.

A truly all-weather resort, TLH has Kids and Teens clubs offering a full programme of daytime activities or you could take advantage of our TLH Guest Discount card and visit some of Torbay’s amazing attractions. And whilst the children make the most of the indoor pool complex, Aztec Falls, the grown ups can retreat to the Aztec themed Spa and Gym or perhaps try an exercise class in the Aztec Fitness Studio. After dark sees a variety of evening entertainment, including discos, cabaret and comedians, appealing to the whole family.

Of course, October means Halloween and TLH’s Spooky Weekend provides a suitably chilling edge to your weekend away with Halloween themed games, activities and entertainment. The English Riviera’s many attractions also have spooky events planned over this period. Why not plan to visit Kent’s Cavern, Paignton Zoo and Babbacombe Model Village, to name but a few, whilst you’re here?

So, what’s not to like?! An October break can be the perfect time to regroup as a family and prepare for the pre-Christmas onslaught! Take a look at www.tlh.co.uk or call us on 01803 400500.

Half Term Family Holidays at TLH Leisure Resort Torquay is a post from: Torquay and Devon Holiday Blog

Holidaying with Teens

Vicky — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 09:11:34 +0000

It seemed to happen overnight and in my experience happened earlier with my daughter than with my son. I’m talking about the transformation from a loving, engaged, pliable child into a grunting, grumpy, awkward teenager.

courtesy of Tom Clare

This ‘morphing’ process takes it toll, not least on family life. Days out, family celebrations, shopping trips, all become fraught as your teen either refuses to participate or grudgingly joins you and makes everyone’s life a misery. One of the worst casualties, sadly, is the ‘Family Holiday’. Once a joy to plan, involving trips to the beach, a token visit to a fairground and even something cultural, as long as copious ice cream was promised, has now become a battle, almost certainly resulting in tears, tantrums and hitting the drinks cupboard – and I’m not talking about the teenagers!

So, what’s to be done? How can you recreate that blissful, carefree family holiday of old? Well, for starters it’s probably not going to happen in exactly the same way, but you can replace it with another kind of holiday, equally as fun and as memorable. The key is compromise and to treat your teen more like the adult they are shortly about to become.

Here are a few tips:

Include your teenager in the ‘where to go’ discussion. Listen to their ideas, you may be pleasantly surprised!
Choose somewhere with lots to do. It doesn’t have to be an exotic location, but it does have to have lots of options. Boredom will lead to strife! Some exciting activities, coupled with plenty of ‘chill out’ time is a good idea.
Let them have their own bedrooms. Privacy is hugely important to teens and the prospect of sharing with parents and/or younger siblings is enough to send them running. It needn’t be expensive. Look out for teen booking offers where discounts apply if they share their own twin room.
Children and adults of all ages love a good waterslide or swimming pool – combine with other teenagers, preferably of the opposite sex and you’re on to a winner!
Relax on the food front. Half board accommodation can be off putting for some, but at least your teen can choose from the menu themselves and eating in a restaurant environment means they can dress up for dinner (popular with girls I’ve found).
In my experience, teenagers love to be as lazy and as undisciplined as we do on holiday. Allow them the freedom to choose their own activities at their own pace. If lolling around poolside plugged into their iPod is what they want to do – so be it – it’s their holiday too!
Evening entertainment can be a bonus, as long as you’re not watching their every move! Somewhere where they can enjoy themselves but within a stone’s throw of Mum and Dad can be good (plus they know you’ll be there to fund their insatiable appetite for fizzy drinks all night!).
Booking an ‘on-site’ experience means you don’t have to worry if your teenager disappears for a few hours. They have probably found some like- minded soul of the opposite sex (see point 3!) who are on holiday at the same place. And they’ll soon be back when they need food/drink/money!

If you consider a hotel and self-catering complex, like TLH Leisure Resort in Torquay, you can cheerfully tick off all the above points. And if you’ve missed out on a fabulous summer holiday experience (as we did this year, due to endless wrangling and arguing over where to go!), then October half term may be the perfect time to get your ‘Family Holiday’ back on track! With a teen sharing their own room offer and children under 10 going completely free when staying 4 or more nights it needn’t break the bank.

Finally just a word of hope. Almost as quickly as they become grumpy teenagers, they turn into witty, fun young adults -you may even find that your teenager becomes the perfect holidaying companion!

Holidaying with Teens is a post from: Torquay and Devon Holiday Blog

Ode to Bowls

Terri — Sat, 17 Sep 2011 08:00:52 +0000

I had only been bowling for a couple of weeks when some bright spark suggested that I take part in a friendly game at the club one day. So onto the green I trooped with my new bowls and new white bowling skirt and top. I was quite proud to have been asked to play and very much in awe of the etiquette and other players. It was 1982.

It was a lovely sunny day but very windy, and the green was set out so that when you played a bowl in one direction is seemed turbo charged with the wind behind it and then, when bowling in the opposite direction, the bowls were pulling up as if they had brakes.

Being a beginner and not able to control my bowls very well in these conditions, I mentioned that I was having problems with the wind to my skip and she very kindly put her arm around me and said, ‘Don’t worry, my dear, I have some Bisodol in my handbag’

How do you explain the mistake without howling with laughter, and that is exactly what we did. It was a hands on knees, real belly laugh, which forged a friendship which has lasted to this day.

Some of the things we say to each other are also quite funny and can sometimes have a double meaning. Just imagine you can hear what is being said without seeing the game taking place.

With this in mind Iwill publish this little Ode:

It’s all in the Game

On bowling days on various greens

Peculiar sounds and sometimes screams

To passers by it must sound strange

To hear the remarks that bowlers exchange

‘Where do you want it?’ ‘Tickle it here’

To the unseen listener it must sound really queer.

‘I like it, I like it’ comes a feminine scream

‘You’re a little too heavy but try it again’

‘Come up this way, oh well done my dear’

This bowling lingo to me is quite clear.

Listeners can be excused of the giggle

With a skips ‘Why don’t you try one right up the middle’

‘Don’t touch the kitty’ ‘just tickle the jack’

It just shows what happens when you stand on the mat.

A voice calls to me ‘You’re making it rough,

put a bit on and make sure you’re up’

‘Oh bad luck you missed but your weight was just right,

Oh that’s better, oh no, it’s just a bit tight’

‘Now follow it up but don’t kill the end

you’ll have a great toucher if it only will bend’.

The skip moves out to show you the track

‘Now please I’d like one just round the back’

‘Be sure you’re here, no don’t touch the head’

These are the phrases that so often are said.

What must people think, for this is no crime,

It’s just part of a game that we all find sublime.

That’s all folks.

For more information on bowling at TLH Leisure Resort, click here.

Ode to Bowls is a post from: Torquay and Devon Holiday Blog