Author Archives: Henry Murray

Weekend in Prague

7th February, 2018 | Article By Henry Murray

Budget TravelHotelsRestaurantsSightseeingTravel Tips

We stayed at a hotel called U Malvaze near Charles Bridge, which was an ideal location in order to be able to see both sides of the historic city of Prague. I’d recommend having breakfast at the hotel otherwise the choice is quite limited, however, there are plenty of places to eat lunch and diner that offer very good food and value. Try not to get sucked in with the people who tout for business. We had a lovely meal at a restaurant called The Bistro, which was a wine bar, 30 minutes walk from Charles Bridge. The atmosphere was great and the food was excellent, well worth the walk.

The historic castle was very picturesque with an incredible view of the city. Make sure you also see the old town square and John Lennon Wall.

I Spy The Eastern Eye

5th April, 2015 | Article By Henry Murray

Food and DrinkRestaurants

Following a relaxing stroll around the historic city of Bath my partner and I decided to get a bite to eat at an Indian Restaurant called ‘The Eastern Eye’.   The name is well suited as it portrays India as if you were looking through the eye of someone actually there. Although the outside was nothing too extravagant, the main dining hall was very traditional, one large room crammed full of people (in a good way) and we were very lucky to find a table having not reserved in advance.

After sitting down we were made tantalisingly hungry by the smells exuding from each dish that passed us by. The main meal came and as you usually do at a curry house, we both ate way too much. However our guilt was tempered by the fact the food was very tasty.

Overall for me, the best element of this restaurant was the atmosphere, just how I like it and a perfect finish to the day.

A Place Beyond the Signs

23rd September, 2014 | Article By Henry Murray

BoatingFunLeisurePubs & BarsRelaxing

From the busy centre of Cambridge, we rented a punt from Mill Pond and set out to find a quiet spot to enjoy a sunny, weekend afternoon.  Within 20 minutes we had passed by some of the most famous colleges of Cambridge University, as well as it’s Engineering Department building, and descended below some of the City’s most historic bridges.

After the “blast from the past” we soon found ourselves in the hidden, peaceful countryside of Grantchester Meadows, surrounded by cattle and horses, all less than 1km from the centre of Cambridge.  If a tranquil getaway is what you are looking for then there really isn’t somewhere better to release you from the stresses of everyday life; right on your doorstep.  Encompassed by fields of lush green grass, we moored the punt on the bank of the River Cam and set up camp on the river side.  Having brought plenty of food and beverages we quickly “set to” and lit the BBQ.

The return journey was just as as much fun, seeing Cambridge from an entirely different perspective.  The sound of the water swashing beside the punt evoked a certain melancholic sense of dreaminess.  However, uplifted by the sudden cheers of camaraderie from fellow punters passing us by, brought me back into the real world.  Upon arriving home we finished the afternoon with a quick pint in The Mill Pub, the perfect place to enjoy one last drink before seeing the sun set; sitting on the bank with our feet paddling in the river.

The Hills are Alive!

15th September, 2014 | Article By Henry Murray

AccommodationActivitiesRelaxingSceneryWalking

As the end of our final year at college came about, we all thought it would be nice to spend a week together relaxing and catching up before we went our separate ways.  We decided to book a house in Shropshire, trekking out into the country.

Little Brampton Farmhouse (sleeps 30 people) was perfect for a group get-together.  Located near the Welsh border, Clunbury was the village (if you can call it a village) just a few houses really and we did feel like we were in the middle of nowhere surrounded by forests and hills dotted with grazing farm animals.

Less than a 20 minute car drive away was the slightly more cosmopolitan, ha ha, town of Ludlow, home to all basic amenities such as Tesco and Boots.  You might say to yourself that being in the middle of nowhere would render a group of crazy college kids, incredibly bored.  However, being in the country introduces you to a whole new variety of activities that just aren’t possible in a city.

We took regular walks up and over the hills and discovered many lovely landscapes which was a perfect remedy for those extremely hung over mornings.  Although if you’re looking for something a bit more adventurous, fear not, as there is an activity centre 20 minutes away offering a wide range of sports such as paint balling, quad biking, rock climbing and many more.  There was also the opportunity to go kayaking and canoeing in nearby rivers.  There was really no reason for anyone to be bored.  Paint balling did result with a few bruises I must admit.

The house itself was rather traditional hence lacking modern necessities such as good wifi (yes, internet is a necessity to anyone under 25).  Nevertheless we spent most of our evenings in the Jacuzzi and sauna, listening to music and socialising and I admit probably nice to be disconnected for a long weekend.  Although not much good in an emergency because you couldn’t get a mobile phone signal for love nor money!

With a huge dining and breakfast area, meals were like feeding time at the zoo, however this just added to the atmosphere and we all appreciated the opportunity to make as much noise as we liked, being out in the sticks!  Late nights in the basement seemed to be Lad-Central mainly due to the English Pool table, which kept us boys amused well into the early hours.

One Minet Park – A few of my favourite things

18th July, 2014 | Article By Henry Murray

ActivitiesAdrenalineFunParks-GardensSports

Having heard rumours about this Skate Park located in Saffron Walden Essex, near the Lord Butler Leisure Centre, I thought I would go and see what all the fuss was about.  Knowing it is the first American-built skate park in the UK, I assumed it would be something a bit out of the ordinary, and it was.

The skate park is ideal for both skateboarders and BMX riders alike, however it is probably more suited to intermediate level skaters rather than absolute beginners, even though there are a few gradual ramps.

The park consists of three bowls all aligned which are easily transferable for an advanced rider.  Most parts of the bowls are vert however there are appropriate drop-in and fly-out sections to easily enter and exit each bowl.  Down the left-hand side of the park, there is a reasonable rhythm section with a nice grind rail which is perfect for BMX pegs.  The other side is more wide-spread with a pump-double followed by a stair set with box grinds.  These are just a few of my favourite features of the park; there is also plenty of free space to practice flat-land tricks and stand-alone boxes which are great for learning to grind.

Overall, this park is really fluid and easy to get some big air, although it is made entirely from concrete, so I would definitely recommend bringing your pads to protect against those major wipeouts and spin-outs.