Tag: holidays

Shoring up travel

VisitScotland and DFDS unveil latest partnership marketing campaign to help encourage year-round travel

The beauty and benefits of a holiday in Scotland during autumn, winter and spring are being showcased to visitors from the Netherlands and Germany, as part of a new marketing partnership between VisitScotland and DFDS Seaways.

The new digital campaign aims to inspire potential visitors to Scotland by ferry, using DFDS Seaways routes connecting mainland Europe to the UK, by highlighting the unique sights and experiences on offer at this time of year.

Visitors travelling during the traditional off-season months can enjoy a stunning array of colours as the seasons change, clear dark skies and cosying up by the fireside after a long day exploring.

The campaign plays on a sense of adventure, appealing to those thinking of Scotland for a touring holiday with their car, motorbike or motorhome with the call to action to travel to Scotland with DFDS on their Amsterdam to Newcastle service.

Inspirational videos have been running across social media platforms Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram since the end of August. The campaign is taking advantage of automated technology media buying platforms Quantcast and Dentsu Programmatic to target and reach potential consumers more effectively with relevant online display advertising. The aim is to ensure Scotland and DFDS are front of mind with those booking a last-minute trip in 2023 and those thinking ahead to spring 2024.

The campaign has included regional imagery from across Scotland, including the South of Scotland, Edinburgh & the Lothians, Aberdeenshire, Arran, and Loch Lomond & the Trossachs, based on insights that show German and Dutch visitors like to tour far and wide when they travel to Scotland.

The initial campaign came to an end on 22 October. It will be followed up by two additional campaigns, delivered in partnership with Visit East Lothian and the South of Scotland Destination Alliance that will run until November.

These smaller campaigns will take advantage of the warmed-up audience to drive further regional spread off the earlier activity.

This latest activity continues a decade-long partnership with DFDS Seaways and aims to build on the success of previous joint campaigns to help support the continued and responsible recovery of the industry.

In 2022, Scotland welcomed 236,000 German visitors, who generated £171m tourism spend that year, as well as 212,000 Dutch visitors who generated £135m spend that year.

VisitScotland Director of Marketing & Digital Vicki Miller said: “Last year record numbers of international visitors chose the October to December period to travel to Scotland, so we know the appetite for our lochs, glens and historic landmarks is strong right across the year.

“Partnership working is at the heart of what we do and our collaboration with DFDS Seaways will help drive international tourism from these key European markets.

“Our marketing aims to connect with visitors, drawing on their emotions and showing them what a visit to Scotland’s diverse regions can feel like year-round. We want all destinations to benefit from tourism and this is reflected in our marketing activity promoting responsible travel in Scotland, including practical information and advice to visitors travelling by caravan and motorhome.”

“International visitors are absolutely key to bringing in revenue for businesses during the remainder of 2023 and into 2024, helping to build on the shoots of recovery in tourism and events, one of Scotland’s most valuable industries.”

Philipp Päper, DFDS Seaways Head of Route Marketing North Sea said: “Our partnership with VisitScotland is a perfect match thanks to DFDS’ presence in the Netherlands and Germany, and VisitScotland’s expertise on Scotland’s beautiful destinations.

“The Amsterdam-Newcastle route provides continental travellers the ideal way to get to their Scottish travel destinations stress-free year-round. Passengers are set to benefit greatly from our partnership campaign, as welcoming them to our DFDS ferries means that they can start their holiday the moment they step aboard.

“They can count on a best-in-class service, with a variety of restaurants, entertainment options and even Duty Free shopping onboard”

David Hope-Jones OBE, Chief Executive of the South of Scotland Destination Alliance (SSDA), said: “The South of Scotland is an unmissable destination 365 days a year and we’re really eager to get the word out about how much there is to see, do and experience in the Scottish Borders and Dumfries and Galloway in every season.

“The SSDA is delighted to be working with VisitScotland and DFDS Seaways on this collaboration to highlight our incredible region to overseas visitors and show them that Scotland really does start here.”

Elaine Carmichael, on behalf of Visit East Lothian said: “East Lothian is ideally placed for visitors arriving by DFDS Seaways to the North of England and, as well as being a base for holidays, makes the ideal start or end point for their trip to Scotland.

” This campaign sits well with our key markets, and we know from attending trade shows and our work with the travel trade industry that there is a real appetite from German and Dutch visitors for all that East Lothian has to offer.

“We are delighted to be taking part in this initiative in partnership with VisitScotland and the South of Scotland Destination Alliance to showcase our regions and bring benefits to our businesses over the autumn and winter months.”

The adverts drive traffic to custom in-language landing pages on:

www.visitscotland.com

For advice on responsible travel, visit:

www.visitscotland.com/travel-planning/responsible-tourism

Fred. Olsen makes waves with campaign pouring 175 Years in Every Single Day

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines has launched a new campaign outlining how their 175 years of experience in sailing goes into making every single day count.

With new guest bookings rising significantly, the brand has now tapped into the talents of a multi-award-winning documentary maker and creative team to deliver “175 Years in Every Single Day”.

Along with a television advert, the campaign includes marketing materials and an extensive social media presence giving prospective and returning guests a unique perspective into what makes the brand stand out in a crowded marketplace.

Peter Deer, Managing Director of Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, said: “On a Fred. Olsen cruise, every single thing we’ve learned over 175 years, goes into every single day of sailing with us.

“This dynamic advert celebrates everything that makes sailing with us special and unique – our smaller ships, our hand-crafted itineraries, an on board experience which is designed to enhance each journey and of course, our people.

“Our smaller ships allow our guests to travel into the furthest reaches of Norway’s lesser-known fjords, through narrow waterways and canals and to the very heart of some of the world’s most beautiful cities.

“The team who deliver our hand-crafted itineraries take us to the world’s most wonderful destinations at the very best possible times to experience them and our emphasis on the joy of the journey ensures every single day on board is as stimulating and enjoyable as possible.

“As for our people – they are at the heart of everything we do, and this comes across in this new campaign which shows our pride in the special way we work.”

To create the advert, the marketing team at Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines employed support from Nick Bell and Walter Campbell, two of the most awarded advertising creatives of the last 30 years who have created campaigns in the past for famous brands like Guinness and Cadbury.

Watch the 175 Years in Every Single Day advert.

The TV advert was directed by Kit Lynch-Robinson who has worked on The Grand Tour, Top Gear and Clarkson’s Farm and was Series Director for the Chris Hemsworth hit TV show Limitless. The advert is set to an orchestral, Cinematic Pop version of Sail! by AWOL Nation.

Throughout 2021 and 2022, Fred. Olsen refined their strategy for 2023 and beyond. With two new ships, they identified their target guests, added new cruises and on board experiences and have also reinvented their brand identity to appeal more to this target audience.


Jackie Martin, Marketing and Sales Director from Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, said: “After a tough few years for everyone in the travel industry, we are delighted to have a very clear view of how we will continue to build on this year’s successes.

“This bold campaign marks a significant step forward for a brand with such a proud maritime heritage. We have really enjoyed the slightly unconventional creative approach we took, working directly with Nick, Walter and Kit which delivered a campaign we are all very proud of. It is now time to showcase all that our experience has to offer.”

The company has won numerous awards and most recently has been shortlisted for Customers at the Heart of Everything, Best Customer-Centric Culture and Best Customer Service at the UK Customer Experience Awards 2023 and for Best Ocean Cruise Line, Best Specialist Cruise Line, Best for Solo Travellers, Best for Excursions and Best for Cuisine in the Wave Awards 2023.

This year, Fred. Olsen was also awarded a silver Investors in People accreditation.

For more information about Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, please visit www.fredolsencruises.com, call Reservations on 0800 0355 242 (Monday to Friday 8.30am to 6pm, Saturday 9am to 5pm, Sunday 10am to 4pm), or contact your local ABTA travel agent.

Jet2.com and Jet2holidays announces major expansion at Edinburgh Airport

Significant expansion sees FOUR new routes go on sale in response to strong demand – Rome, Malta, Chambery, and Prague

Jet2.com and Jet2holidays has today responded to continued strong demand from holidaymakers in Scotland, by announcing significant expansion at Edinburgh Airport. This growth includes four new routes, extra summer and winter capacity, as well as an additional aircraft coming into operation for Summer 24.

The UK’s largest tour operator and third largest airline has added a 7th based aircraft at Edinburgh Airport for Summer 24, enabling them to introduce two new routes for next summer. This gives customers and independent travel agents even more choice and flexibility when it comes to choosing some summer sunshine next year.

The two new routes added for Summer 24 are as follows:

  • Rome – new Monday and Friday services beginning from 8th March.
  • Malta – new Wednesday services starting from 1st May.

As well as summer demand, Jet2.com has also experienced strong demand for ski flights from local snow sports fans and has added new flights to Chambery from Edinburgh Airport for Winter 23/24 and Winter 24/25 in response. Chambery offers quick and easy access to world-famous ski resorts in France, including the Three Valleys. The popular ski areas of the Alpe d’Huez, Chamonix, La Plagne and Val d’Isère are also easily accessible from Chambery, providing memorable skiing whether you are a beginner or an expert.

This coming winter, weekly Saturday services will operate to Chambery between 10th February and 6th April 2024. In Winter 24/25, Saturday services will operate from 21st December 2024.

The good news does not stop there, as scheduled winter services and city breaks have also gone on sale to Prague from Edinburgh Airport for Winter 24/25 too.

Services will operate to Prague from the airport from 3rd October 2024 to 27th March 2025, with up to two weekly services (Thursday and Sunday) operating during this time. With long-weekend and mid-week breaks available from Edinburgh Airport, the addition of this city break favourite offers fantastic choice and flexibility when it comes to visiting the Czech capital in winter.

In addition to this, the strong demand the companies are seeing for flights and great value ATOL protected package holidays means the companies have also added thousands of extra seats for Summer 24 to over ten of their most popular destinations across the Canary Islands, Mainland Spain, Turkey, Cyprus, Greece, Croatia and Italy.

The destinations where additional flights and holidays have been added (peak weekly departures from Edinburgh Airport in brackets following the increases) are: Lanzarote (5), Malaga (5), Antalya (6), Bodrum (2), Larnaca (2), Gran Canaria (3), Naples (2), Split (2), Tenerife (8), Verona (2) and Zante (3).

This expansion means that Jet2.com and Jet2holidays will now operate up to 96 weekly flights during peak periods to 32 destinations from Edinburgh Airport in Summer 24, meaning unrivalled choice for holidaymakers departing from the airport. With nearly one million seats now on sale from Edinburgh Airport in Summer 24, this represents a capacity increase of more than 20% compared to Summer 23.

With Winter Sun also proving popular from Edinburgh Airport, today’s expansion sees Jet2.com and Jet2holidays add capacity to Lanzarote, Alicante, Antalya, Fuerteventura and Tenerife for Winter 23/24 and to Alicante, Madeira, Fuerteventura and Tenerife and for Winter 24/25. In addition, the companies will operate services to Malta in Winter 24/25, which is a continuation of their summer services.

Steve Heapy, CEO of Jet2.com and Jet2holidays, said: “Today’s announcement represents a significant investment at Edinburgh Airport and means we are massively expanding our Summer and Winter programmes.

“We are looking forward to our biggest ever Summer 24 from Edinburgh Airport, and this huge expansion to our programme is a demonstration of our continued commitment to investing in our operations at the base ahead of it.

“The demand we are seeing from customers and independent travel agents remains strong, so we have responded by expanding our operations at Edinburgh Airport with new routes, extra capacity and an additional 7th based aircraft for Summer 24.

“As a result, we are giving holidaymakers in the region even more choice to get away on our award-winning package holidays and flights whether that is in the summer or the winter.”

Kate Sherry, Chief Commercial Officer (Aero) at Edinburgh Airport said: “It’s always good news when we expand choice for our passengers, so having more destinations to jet to with Jet2.com next summer will allow people to already start thinking about that special holiday.

“We know there’s a strong market in Edinburgh and the addition of an extra based aircraft for summer 2024 is a real show of commitment from Jet2.com in Scotland’s capital and to delivering seamless travel and more opportunities to explore.”

Key Summer Sun facts for 2024 from Edinburgh Airport include:

  • 32 sun and city destinations on sale (peak number of flights per week in brackets).
  • Includes TWO NEW ROUTES – Rome (2) and Malta (1).
  • Other destinations on sale are: Antalya (6), Bodrum (2), Dalaman (5), Izmir (1), Tenerife (8), Lanzarote (5), Fuerteventura (2), Gran Canaria (3), Reus (2), Alicante (5), Malaga (5), Palma (Majorca) (9), Ibiza (4), Menorca (2), Faro (Algarve) (7), Madeira (1), Crete (Heraklion) (2), Corfu (2), Santorini (1), Kos (2), Preveza (1), Rhodes (2), Halkidiki (1), Zante (3), Larnaca (2), Paphos (2), Naples (2), Verona (2), Dubrovnik (2), Split (2)
  • Up to 96 departing weekly flights during peak periods.
  • A 7th based aircraft coming into operation for Summer 24.

For further information and to book visit www.jet2.com or www.jet2holidays.com   

Independent travel agents can visit: trade.jet2holidays.com

Summer seaside escapes with Rabbies

This summer, avoid the mercury-busting heatwave overseas and explore coasts that rival the world’s best right here in the UK and Ireland with a Rabbie’s (www.rabbies.com) small group tour.

Stunning South West Seaside

Escape to the beautiful counties of Dorset, Devon and Cornwall to enjoy tales of Arthurian legend and iconic natural wonders. There are few coastal locations more famous than Durdle Door in Lulworth, Dorset. The limestone arch on the Jurassic Coast is one of Dorset’s most photographed landmarks and the coastline it calls home was designated England’s first natural World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

Venture further west and discover Cornwall’s coast, from the clifftop castle of Tintagel where King Arthur is believed to have been born to the cobbled streets, cottages and sandy beaches of the idyllic fishing town of St Ives.  Its neighbour, Devon, doesn’t disappoint either, and this tour isn’t complete without a visit to the picturesque coastal resort of Lynton for its incredible natural beauty and rich history. Join Rabbie’s four-day Cornwall, Devon & Stonehenge tour, departing from Bristol, from just £295 per person.

West Coast Exploring

Discover the soaring mountains, spectacular wildlife, and mystical history of Ireland’s West Coast. Take in the rugged beauty of one of the longest-defined coastal routes in the world, The Wild Atlantic Way. The 2,500km-long coastal road boasts historical spots, natural wonders and many of Ireland’s top attractions, including the Cliffs of Moher. Walk cliff-top trails boasting gorgeous views over the rugged Atlantic waves and watch rare seabirds swooping through the air.

At the picturesque, coastal market town of Clifden in County Galway, nestled between the Twelve Bens mountains and the Atlantic Ocean, take in the National Park, you’ll also enjoy the majesty of the Sky Road. Join Rabbie’s three-day West Coast Explorer tour, departing from Dublin, from just €389 per person.

Rabbie’s UK and Ireland tours depart from Edinburgh, Glasgow, Inverness, Aberdeen, London, Manchester, Bristol, Belfast and Dublin. For more information about Rabbie’s and to book a private or a scheduled tour, visit www.rabbies.com.   

Taking your dog abroad this summer? Time to get your pooch travel ready

Vets are advising anyone planning to travel abroad this summer with their pets or assistance dogs to book an appointment with their vet practice well in advance to allow plenty of time to complete all the required health checks and paperwork.

With school summer holidays here, the British Veterinary Association (BVA) is calling on owners to first carefully consider if it would be in their pets’ best interests to travel overseas with them.

For anyone choosing to holiday abroad with their pet, BVA has issued a handy checklist to remind owners about the checks their animal will need before travel. This includes trips from Great Britain and Northern Ireland to the European Union, as post-Brexit rules mean owners now have to get the more complex and time-consuming Animal Health Certificate (AHC) from a vet trained to issue them no more than ten days before travel.

British Veterinary Association Senior Vice President Justine Shotton said: “The countdown to summer break has begun. While we should all consider whether a holiday abroad is appropriate for our pets’ welfare or their carbon pawprint, if you are making plans that include travelling with your pet or assistance dog, now is the time to contact your local vet for information on pet travel requirements.

“Book an appointment as soon as possible to make sure your pet has all the necessary paperwork and is fully protected against diseases they may encounter in their travels.

“We’d like to remind owners that the post-Brexit requirements for travel to the EU are a significant change from the previous and much simpler ‘pet passport’ system, so they will take longer to complete and cost more. A pet travel consult at the vets can now take around an hour and even longer where there are multiple animals.

“Vet practices are already under a huge workload pressure. To help make the process as smooth and stress-free as possible for yourself, your pet and your vet, we would urge you to contact your vet as early as you can ahead of travel to make sure there’s a vet available for this certification work and enough time to complete the required health checks and paperwork.”

Prior to Brexit, as many as 250,000 cats and dogs from the UK were taken to the EU on holiday every year.

BVA has prepared a seven-point checklist for to help pet owners:

  • Timings: Contact your vet well in advance to ensure that you can get an appointment at least three weeks before your planned travel. Dogs, cats and ferrets need an Animal Health Certificate (AHC) for each trip from Great Britain to an EU country or Northern Ireland. Unlike pet passports, AHCs are 9-12 pages long, which means a much more complex, time consuming and costly paperwork process. Some vaccinations, like rabies, are time-sensitive, so even a one-day delay could result in your papers being rejected at the border. As Northern Ireland remains part of the EU pet travel scheme, travellers from the country can use an EU pet passport as an alternative to an AHC. Contact your vet to update the pet passport.
  • Destination: Be clear about the countries you intend to travel to so that your vet can identify specific health risks your pet may be exposed to, such as ticks, sandflies, heartworm or tapeworm.
  • Rabies: Check that your pet’s rabies vaccination is up to date.
  • Microchip: Ensure your pet’s microchip is working and contact details are up to date.
  • Heat: Talk to your vet if going somewhere hot to discuss prevention of heatstroke and how to recognise symptoms in your dog.
  • Emergencies: Identify a local vet in the area where you will be holidaying in case of an emergency and to administer compulsory tapeworm treatment to dogs one to five days before arrival back into the UK. 
  • Return: If your pet becomes ill after returning to the UK, it is very important to tell your vet that you have been abroad with your pet, even if it was some time ago.

More information for travellers from Great Britain is available on the government website: https://www.gov.uk/taking-your-pet-abroad/travelling-to-an-eu-country-or-northern-ireland

Edinburgh disability charity to hold summer holiday camp with help from local school

Picture – Chris Watt Photography 07887554193 info@chriswatt.com www.chriswatt.com

Edinburgh-based charity SuperTroop, which provides residential breaks for children with learning disabilities, will hold a summer holiday camp on the grounds of Fettes College thanks to the school’s generosity. 

The event is a community effort, with students, teaching staff and the operational team involved throughout the week, meaning Fettes is much more than just a host for the holiday camp.

Around two dozen students will give up the first week of their summer break to volunteer with the holidaymakers and help give them support and friendship. Fettes teaching staff also volunteer to organise and support the holiday, with some taking the lead in activities throughout the week.

In just 24 hours, Dalmeny House – a boarding house on the Fettes campus – is transformed into the perfect accessible location for attendees to SuperTroop’s week-long camp.

Dalmeny House is a modern, accessible building with dorm bedrooms, shared bathrooms and lots of relaxation space. 16 children and young people with learning disabilities take part in the holiday week, receiving 24/7 one-to-one support. Many of the participants have never had a night away from home before.

Picture – Chris Watt Photography 07887554193 info@chriswatt.com www.chriswatt.com

Student Louisa said: “The relationship between SuperTroop and Fettes has not only provided incredible holidays but also a transformative learning experience for us as Fettesians.

“We all hold SuperTroop dear to our hearts and hope that future Fettesians can continue to support this beautiful charity in the future.”

The holidaymakers stay on campus, sleep in dorm rooms with their peers and 1:1 helpers, and eat meals as a group in the dining hall. Fettes provides a high-quality and accessible residence, catering for the week, and facilities such as outdoor spaces, swimming pool and sports hall. 

Sue Fletcher-Watson, Founder of SuperTroop said: “We are thrilled with the efforts from the students and staff at Fettes College towards SuperTroop’s residential break. Their generosity will make sure that this residential break is truly special for all involved and make for some very happy campers.

“SuperTroop’s goal is to provide extraordinary holidays, creating an environment in which holiday makers feel surrounded by friends. The support we have from Fettes, as fundraisers, hosts and volunteers, is vital to provide the best experience possible.”

Picture – Chris Watt Photography 07887554193 info@chriswatt.com www.chriswatt.com

Mr Rhys Rowlands, Director of Service at Fettes College said: “The work that SuperTroop do to bring a fun break to these young people is truly remarkable. Fettes is proud to be able to support this charity in any way we can and help provide a fun summer for everyone taking part.”

£10,000 raised from a log-carrying challenge will allow SuperTroop to provide travel, admission to places such as Edinburgh Zoo, fun activities and art supplies for 16 young people.

In March, every Fettes College student took a turn carrying a 100kg metal log up and down the school’s drive for 24 hours, taking it in 15-minute shifts. 

To find out how you can join the troop or lend your support, go to supertroop.org/

Edinburgh families stick together this Summer

73% of vacationers in Edinburgh are planning a holiday with at least three generations of their family this year

Multigenerational holidays are a key trend for 2023, with people desperate to make up for lost time after Covid.

According to a new survey, 73% of vacationers in Edinburgh are now contemplating the idea of planning a getaway involving at least three generations of their family. Grandparents are excited to celebrate milestone events with 33% with a fifth saying it is key they can indulge in luxury experiences.

It can be difficult to keep three generations happy, 52% want to explore and discover shared interests together. For parents with children under one, the excitement of booking multigenerational holidays is just beginning with 95% saying they would consider booking one.

Having other members of the family about helps take the burden off new parents with 55% saying a multigenerational holiday is so important for them as they are more relaxed than when they are at home.

The research, commissioned by Visit Dubai and based on a survey of a thousand British adults, suggests families are increasingly looking for opportunities to spend quality time together with 70% expressing a desire to creating lasting memories while on holiday.

One thing that the whole family can agree on is that good weather is at the top of the agenda with parents saying this is the most important thing for them (60%). Grandparents agree at 52%, and kids at 46%.

TOP HOLIDAY PRIORITIES BY GENERATION

Parents:
Good value (61%)
Good weather (60%)
Plenty of activities for everyone (54%)
A stress-free and relaxing experience (52%)
Entertainment (50%)

Children:
Lots of kid’s activities (68%)
Entertainment (65%)
Good weather (46%)
Plenty of activities for everyone (37%)
Safety (25%)

Grandparents:
Good weather (52%)
A stress-free and relaxing experience (49%)
Good value (47%)
Safety (37%)
Entertainment (32%)

Over 23,000 celebrate Easter with the National Trust for Scotland

  • Scotland’s largest conservation charity welcomed 23,822 children to take part in its Easter Egg Trails 
  • Events took place across 32 Trust places throughout the country, with Crathes Castle welcoming 3,363 children, Newhailes 3,251 and Brodie Castle 2,261

The National Trust for Scotland welcomed 23,822 children to its places over Easter weekend, as people flocked to sites such as Crathes Castle, Robert Burns Birthplace Museum and Glencoe National Nature Reserve, to take part in its Easter Egg Trails and enjoy the country’s nature, beauty and heritage.

Following the popularity of last year’s Easter Egg Trails, which saw nearly 20,000 children take part in activities at 21 National Trust for Scotland places between Good Friday and Easter Monday, this year even more events took place across Scotland to encourage more families to get outdoors and enjoy some fun-filled activities in the beautiful surrounds of the Trust’s properties. This resulted in an increase in participants of almost 20%.

This year’s Easter trails took place across 32 Trust properties, from Friday 7 to Monday 10 April, where the family-friendly events tasked visitors with collecting clues dotted around the gardens, grounds, hills and woodland owned and cared for by the conservation charity, before solving the puzzle and winning some tasty chocolate prizes.

Certain places across the country saw a remarkable increase in participants this year, with figures at Hill of Tarvit up 155% to 846 children, meanwhile Crathes Castle welcomed 3,363 children (up 51% on last year), Newhailes 3,251 and Brodie Castle 2,261. House of the Binns, which recently re-opened its doors to the public on 1 April, participated for the first year and sold out in advance, with 478 children taking part.

Philip Long OBE, Chief Executive of National Trust for Scotland, said: “Easter is one of the highlights of the National Trust for Scotland’s calendar, giving people and especially families the chance to enjoy nature, beauty and heritage at our fantastic places.

“All over the country, our places were alive with people from across generations spending time together outdoors, while the sun mostly shone. What a great start to spring for everyone who loves Scotland’s special places. This support means so much to our charity and allows us to continue our vital work to care for and protect Scotland’s rich heritage, now and in the future.”

The Easter Egg Trails are just one example of the events and activities the National Trust for Scotland has made available this year, as part of its commitment to making Scotland’s heritage more accessible, as outlined in the charity’s 10-year strategy, Nature, Beauty & Heritage for Everyone. 

Focused on caring for, sharing, and speaking up for Scotland’s heritage which doesn’t have a voice, the Trust offers its members and visitors the opportunity to explore over 100 sites, while learning about some of the most magnificent buildings, collections and landscapes in the country.

For more information on the National Trust for Scotland visit www.nts.org.uk. 

Butlin’s launch £2.5 million SKYPARK

  • Butlin’s officially opens SKYPARK – a brand new inclusive playground – at its Skegness resort
  • New research reveals three quarters of UK parents believe more should be done to support children with additional needs
  • Almost half (44%) of parents say they’ve had to cut back on play opportunities for their children in the last 12 months due to financial concerns

A brand-new £2.5M playground, Butlin’s SKYPARK has opened today at the home of entertainment’s Skegness resort – designed specifically so children of all abilities can play together, shoulder to shoulder.

The opening comes as new national research reveals the majority of parents believe children with additional needs do not receive sufficient support, with three quarters (75%) saying more should be done in this area.

What’s more, the research found that almost half of parents (44%) have had to cut back on play opportunities for their children in the last 12 months due to financial concerns. With parents on average spending £100 (£94.31) per month on paid for activities, such as assault courses and soft play. 

Despite UK parents cutting back on paid for activities, they unveiled that the top skills they feel their children develop through socialising and playing with others include; confidence (55%), sharing (51%), cooperation (46%), patience (42%) and respect (41%).

The state-of-the-art playground is equipped with a wheelchair-accessible trampoline and roundabout, sit-up swings for support and sociability, and wheelchair-friendly walkways and ramps, to ensure no child is left on the side lines.

Butlin’s SKYPARK further features four epic climbing towers with the tallest standing at 14 metres high, offering an incredible panoramic sea view.

The site, at Butlin’s Skegness resort, is also home to the UK’s longest interactive seesaw, at an impressive 24 metres long, children and adults can work together to generate enough energy to light up the area.

Alongside the park sits the Butlin’s SKYPARK Café, where the adults can relax and keep an eye on the children enjoying themselves.

Featuring an array of indoor and outdoor seating, with a selection of hot and cold drinks and snacks, the café also has a specially curated music playlist, set at an appropriate volume setting and to a calming low beat with inclusivity in mind. 

Jon Hendry-Pickup, CEO at Butlin’s, said: “As the home of entertainment, we’re really proud to be able to offer a playground that’s designed to be truly inclusive for all families – with Butlin’s SKYPARK included in the price of a break.

“Launching Butlin’s SKYPARK is an incredibly proud moment for us as a business and it is the first of many exciting investments we’re making across our three resorts in the next few years.

“Our new playground provides a safe, stimulating place for children of all abilities to play together. We can’t wait to see families enjoying our incredible new playground this Easter and beyond.”

To see more about Butlin’s SKYPARK, including full information on the different zones and key features, please head to: www.butlins.com/discover-butlins/things-to-do/skypark

Decathlon helps parents save on kids activities over half term

  • UK first Rentals service allows customers to rent kayaks, paddleboards, bikes and much more at a fraction of their price
  • Rentals encourages people to take up sport without commitment after research finds costs stop one in four Brits from trying something new

Decathlon is the first major retailer to launch sports rentals across all UK stores. The rental service will encourage more people to try out a new sport without the financial commitment of having to buy all the gear first.

Products from bikes and kayaks for weekend getaways to stand up paddle boards and tennis rackets for family playtime can all be rented via the new service. Paddleboards and kayaks can be hired for £30 a day whilst tennis rackets are £10, with all rentals being 50 percent off on the second day.

Decathlon Rentals aims to make the joy of sports more accessible to people by allowing them to pick up something new at a fraction of the retail price. For example, eBikes available in the service cost £899.99 to buy, but can be rented for just £45/day. Decathlon is committing over £1m of products to the scheme in 2023 alone.

The cost of living continues to impact sport and fitness participation across the UK with new research from Decathlon finding that one in four (28 per cent) of Brits are keen to take up a new sport but the cost of doing so is holding them back.

Rentals can be ordered online and collected in store just an hour later – they can also be cancelled up to 24 hours in advance to allow for any weather changes. Making the service the perfect option for weekend getaways which continue to grow in popularity since the cost of living crisis. New research from Decathlon found that a third of Brits (33 per cent) are more likely to holiday in the UK this year to save money.

Decathlon’s Rental platform is the latest development within their growing circular offering. Decathlon already offers repairs and maintenance on a range of products, refurbishment and resale of goods and product recycling, with more in the pipeline for later this year.

The rental service, which is powered by circular commerce platform Rentle, has been rolled out across all UK stores following a successful trial at four stores, where customers found that the offering allowed them to stay active without investing in new kit whilst overcoming common obstacles like a lack of storage at home.

Chris Allen, sustainability leader at Decathlon UK, comments: “Despite having the appetite to try sports, committing to the cost of buying gear is one of the biggest barriers to people taking up something new.

“Rentals gives customers across the UK the opportunity to overcome this challenge by discovering the joy of different activities at an affordable price and in a sustainable way. We are proud to be the first business to offer nationwide rentals and this is a positive step forward for sustainable sports retail.”

Decathlon Rentals are available online with collection at all stores nationwide from today. For more information, visit: www.decathlon.co.uk/rentals.