For budding olympians...

It's been an exciting year for the UK, London and Dorset alike. After a huge celebration for the Olympics that saw London and Weymouth in particular come alive with a series of excellent sporting successes, we've seen a nation inspired by a series of incredibly talented Olympians! Here at Loving Dorset we've been caught up in this as much as the next person, which is why we jumped at the chance to take a peek at some of the great products from The Medal Hanger Shop - a company selling a unique range of sporty-themed hangers for your budding athletes! We opted for the 'Wall of Fame' and the 'Runner Male' and we certainly weren't disappointed! 

Our first thoughts when we opened the hangers were just what great quality they were! Well packaged, and made of thick, good quality metal, perfectly shaped and smoothed. Although even better than that, they come with a little packet containing all the bits and bobs you need to put them  up on the wall! They're also much bigger in real life than they look on the website which was a pleasant surprise! All in all, they serve as the perfect way to display medals without using coat hangers, door knobs etc! 

Their range features an excellent choice of hangers for all sorts of sports including swimming, running, football and triathlon, as well as some with humorous mottos! They make the perfect accessory for your little one's rooms, but they are also a great gift for a sporty friend! 

To get your hands on one of these all you need to do is head over to their website! Prices start at an excellent £20.99, and gift vouchers are also available starting at £15. You can also catch them at this years London Marathon Expo on April 17th so be sure to pop and say hello and mention Loving Dorset! 

Luxury Escapes

We recently visited Launceston Farm in Blandford where we decided to explore the different elements that make a luxury escape. What should you look for? What should you avoid? After a great chat with Sarah, her daughter in law Catherine and a brief hellogoodbye with her farmer son Jimi, not only do we feel utterly overwhelmed by how amazing Launceston Farm is, but we could now almost class ourselves experts when it comes to choosing a luxury retreat! 

Their beautiful bed and breakfast, which has remained in the family since Sarah's grandfather owned the property and land years ago, has an amazing classy and stylish feel about it, that still hits the nail on the head perfectly when it comes to a farm/countryside stay. 

Owner Sarah highlighted a few things to us that she felt made Launceston luxurious and unique, and we agree;
- Family Run
- Strictly adults only!

- Emphasis on the great location.

- Excellent locally sourced food (from their HUGE working farm)

- Constant effort to ensure peace and tranquility for guests.

- Beautifully designed rooms that certainly have the 'wow factor' when it comes to beds, baths and artwork! 

- The little details - homemade biscuits in room, chalkboards for breakfast orders etc

- Gay friendly

- Large dining tables for banquet style dining at breakfast, dinner etc

- Personalised tours of the farm and local area

- Personal recommendations (Sarah makes lists of 'Top 5...' in the local area including places to go, places to eat, places to get coffee and cake etc!)

- A swimming pool (well, who can blame her)

- 'Real Life' farm experiences. Sarah described how a recent guest was and still is mesmerised after seeing a calf being born as he arrived. 

One of the main things that stood out to us, was the real focus on the farm and food. The farm supplies to various local supermarkets, and Sarah offers evening meals to guests on Mondays and Fridays. We were absolutely awestruck as Sarah began to explain the food available to guests, which includes her famous Goat Tagine, Andalusian Lamb and Rustic Casseroles. (one of her dishes is even featuring in the Waitrose Magazine soon so look out for it!).
From the beautiful roll top baths, outstanding furniture, gorgeous outside gardens, well-stocked honesty bar and beautiful countryside views, the whole experience just oozes luxury and tranquility. 

When Loving Dorset arrived at Launceston Farm, we became very aware very quickly that this was not going to be a place that we forgot in a hurry, and after being greeted so warmly by everybody there, we are already checking our diaries for our next free weekends....! 

For anyone looking to get away this summer to either explore the area or avoid Weymouth and Portland's Olympic Mayhem then this will certainly be a great place for a luxury retreat and with prices starting at £55 for single occupancy £80 for double occupancy, you can't NOT really....! Plus, if you visit over the next few months, you may even find a little potted conker plant in your room - a little souvenir from Sarah's home-grown conker tree to remind you of your stay! (how amazing is that!). 
For more information about Launceston Farm, visit their website, like them on their Facebook Page or follow them on Twitter! You won't be disappointed! Now lets enjoy a couple more images......

5 Star holiday Park - Yes, you did read that right!

The Dorset coast has it's fair share of Holiday Parks, and let's be honest, when we think about Holiday Parks, we do get an image of over crowded  Haven and Butlin-esque type parks with chlorine overdosed swimming pools. That's why at Loving Dorset, we were intrigued to come across Newlands Holiday Park in Charmouth, at 5 Star, it's Glamping at it's very best!

Perched on the Jurassic Coast just outside Lyme Regis, they're only half an hour from Weymouth, making it a bit of a find for anyone looking for a tranquil base, especially during the Olympics! (For visitors driving to the park, using the M5 will mean you stick to the Western side of the country, meaning you neatly avoid the manic traffic of people driving to both London and Weymouth over the period of the Games.)

We were impressed with the well thought out and extra special accommodation on offer there, with a choice of lodges, apartments and caravans - we particularly loved the lodges! The park itself also boasts loads of facilities including indoor and outdoor pools, bar and lounge and shops on-site for your bits and bobs!

So if you're not from Dorset but are taking a trip or are having family or friends visit - Newlands Holiday Park is definitely an option for people wanting a family break in the midst of the beautiful Dorset Countryside! They're offering some great rates for over the Olympic Period so do take a look at their website and get in early!