How do you tackle a January detox when Easter chocolate eggs appear in the shops before the last of the Christmas decorations are down?!  Easter is another major cause for family get togethers and celebrations and as we get caught up in the fun of it all it’s easy to forget where it all began – a long, long time ago. Tied up in the story are myriad fascinating Easter facts. So, if like us, you’re curious about the origins of Easter, why its dates move and how an egg-laying hare made it into the picture, read on.

Mothering Sunday more commonly referred to as Mother’s Day is only a month away. It’s an age old festival born from Christian roots to celebrate mothers and mother figures.  The date changes annually as it’s held on the 4th Sunday of Lent and this year it lands on Sunday, 11th March 2018.  Whilst the day itself is not a bank holiday, it’s a weekend families typically get together to visit and treat their mothers to a special day of celebration, whether that’s breakfast in bed, the presentation of a posy of flowers, a lunch out or in some cases a special weekend away.

“Say it with flowers” is the advertising slogan to mark the one day in the year you go that extra mile to make your mother feel special. We figured this year why not go that one step further and spoil mum with a weekend (or week long) holiday with everyone she loves.  This time of year is considered low season in UK holiday rentals, so booking a short break during one of the most reasonably priced months of the year, makes it a very affordable treat for mum!

February half-term offers a welcome break for many after the uphill slog through the longest month of the year: January.

Go to work in the dark, come home in the dark, nothing on the horizon to look forward to.

Or is there?

Hosting your very own group party in a holiday home over New Year doesn’t need to be an expensive occasion. In fact we’ve thought of 3 reasons why it could save you money. Plus you get full control over the choice of venue, guests, decor and food!

I don’t know about you but my 50^th is looming and I’ve given this auspicious event a good deal of consideration by reflecting on past milestones.

Never is there a better time to get together and play silly games with the family than at Christmas. If you have teenagers, this is probably the only time you’d get their cooperation! We have thought up a few ideas of games you can play, some requiring a bit of pre-planning, but others just needing a few pencils and some paper.

For a lot of people the Edinburgh Festival means comedy. A budding funny man can go from unknown to household name in a matter of weeks, given the right routine and the right reviews. But what else is on offer in this beautiful city during August? We’ve put together our top pick of the festivals to keep an eye out for.

It’s one of the Highland’s best-known resorts, and once you’ve seen the dramatic setting of Fort William you’ll easily understand why.

With just over 10,000 inhabitants, the town swells as thousands visit the region every year to enjoy the skiing, walking and scenery.

Here are just a few of the best things to do in Fort William that will have you adding a new destination to your bucket list quicker than you can say “wow”.

Best places to eat out in Edinburgh

If you’re lucky enough to visit the beautiful city of Edinburgh, you’ll want to explore the wonderful restaurants and cafes on offer, from the grand Signet Library to the more informal cafes and delis.

But how do you choose where to eat?

Some of my fondest memories growing up are snuggling up on the sofa with my dad while he read Roald Dahl or Enid Blyton to me and my brother and sister aloud – he always did excellent voices for the characters – the BFG had a booming Yorkshire accent while Julian from the Famous Five was very effeminate with a lisp – Dad regularly had me and my brother and sister in stitches.