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It’s that time of year when the nights draw in and our thoughts turn towards the most exciting time of year. It’s festive light trail season! Whether you like steam trains or castles or just want a touch a magic to see you through the winter months there’s something to add a bit of sparkle for everyone here. Here’s this year’s pick of light trails across Sussex… Steamlights at Bluebell Railway Where? Sheffield Park, Uckfield When? 15th November until December 30th How much? £35 for adults and children Anything else? Board for the magical journey and be seated in the luxury of your own compartment with your party. Why not make it a whole family affair or bring a group of friends to make the most of the compartment? Perfect for a Christmas adventure! Santa will greet all children on arrival and there will be an opportunity for photos. Glow Wild at Wakehurst Where? Wakehurst, Ardingly When? 28th November until January 1st 2025 How much? £13 – £25, under 4’s are free. Anything else? As darkness falls at Wakehurst, the garden is transformed into an illuminated wonderland, inspired by the hidden world of trees. Escape to over a mile of light installations, handcrafted by leading artists. Discover the iconic Christmas tree, giant flying owl, and fiery hidden dragon, all surrounded by a thousand lanterns, on our award-winning trail. Leonardslee Lights Where? Leonardslee Lakes and Gardens, Near Horsham When? 22nd November – 30th December How much? Adults £17.50, Under 16’s £10.50, under 2’s free. Anything else? Bigger, better, and even more magical than before! Leonardslee Lights is set to bring a fun winter experience for the whole family. Explore their incredible winter trail featuring a whole new route, along with impressive installations inspired by their beautiful gardens. The Brighton Lights at One Garden Where? One Garden, Stanmer Park, Brighton When? 7th – 23rd December 2024 How much? Adults £16, children under 16 £10, under 2’s free Anything else? Immerse yourself in a mesmerising display of festive lights, carefully curated by local artists and brought to life by the creative spirit of Brighton. Burning of the Clocks Where? Brighton When? December 21st How much? Free Anything else? Burning the Clocks is a unique community event bringing the city of Brighton together to celebrate the shortest day of the year and provide an antidote to the excesses of Christmas with a different theme every year. Illuminated Battle Abbey Where? Battle Abbey When? Tuesday 3rd – Sunday 8th December How much? £41.50 for a family ticket (cheaper for English Heritage Members) Anything else? Step into history this festive season with an immersive trail of stunning lights, unique installations, and awe-inspiring effects, all themed around 1066 and the epic Battle of Hastings.
When it’s time to buy new outdoor kit, finding an outlet with years of specialised experience to support you can be invaluable. The Marine Super Store is a family owned business based in Portsmouth with 30 years of experience. These guys know what they are talking about when it comes to outdoor, especially sailing focused gear. If you’re lucky enough to live locally to the store then they even offer free parking to top off their first class shopping experience. Living in Sussex I chose to use their online service, which I found to be a flawless process from start to finish. Here’s the lowdown on my Marine Super Store buys.. Typhoon Storm 3 Full Wetsuit for Women (Back Zip) £29.95 I’ve worn the same wetsuit for the past 20 years, so trading my old faithful in for a newer model was a big deal! The Typhoon Storm 3 is an easy transition though. This model offers 3/2 mm protection so is perfect for spring and summer seas around UK shores. It was previously priced at £79.95 but is now retailing at £29.95 so absolutely perfect if you’re wanting to buy a mid-range product without the price tag! The suit features smooth skin mesh front & back panels, flat lock seam construction, highly durable and reinforced powertex knees and a back-zip entry system. These combined features result in a great entry level everyday wetsuit for multipurpose water sports activities and beach users. Highlights: Easy to use zip system; warm – even in November seas; fits well (true to size). Gill Tall Boots £59.95 Officially designed for boat use rather than stomping across the forest, these boots are incredibly warm and comfortable. I’ve highlighted before some of the issues I have with my wonky feet, but these fit well from the very first wear. The Gill Tall Yachting Boot is a 100% natural rubber calf high boot with the ultimate levels of support and comfort. The boot is ideal for on deck use, with a quick-drying polyester lining and non-slip razor cut soles perfect for extra grip on wet and dry surfaces. The padded tie top and reinforced heel, instep and toe provide exceptional comfort, while the removable ultra light cushioned inner soles provide additional arch support. Of course, I don’t sail but can happily report they are versatile enough to work as regular welly boots! Highlights: Warm and soft interior; very comfortable; look gorgeous. If you are looking for sailing or other outdoor gear make sure you check out the Marine Super Store website for their latest deals. Visit their website here for more details.
I started running a good five years ago now. I can’t believe I’ve kept it up. I’m now at a point now where running has become so entrenched in my weekly routine it feels wrong to miss out. I’m still not massively fit, but I drag myself out there, whatever the weather and always feel better for it. I definitely feel mentally fitter! When you start running you quickly learn the value of good running shoes. I’m pretty tight and hate spending money on myself, so finding running shoes that don’t cost the world whilst serving there purpose has become a skill of mine. As you can imagine, over five years you work your way through a lot of women’s running trainers. Here’s my top tips for buying budget running shoes, so like me, you can hold onto your cash but still run like the wind! Lightweight I’ve found that the weight of my running shoe really matters. I always choose an outer material that looks like it has some give better allowing it to shape to my feet over time. For me, this means that heavier (and more expensive) materials like leather are out and light weight fabrics are in. In Soles Invest in a pair of insoles that can stay with you as your shoes change. I have found this to be an absolute godsend and makes buying new shoes so much easier. I have collapsed arches so the support my shoe offers when I run is crucial. Having the security that my insoles offer me support that is already familiar to my feet means the support from my shoe is secondary. Stick to a brand I have found that adidas running shoes work well for my feet. As one of the best know names in sport this means that whenever I find a model of shoe that works for me there are plenty of options to either repeat buy or try a similar model. I know what I’m getting each time I buy. Plus, adidas have an excellent range of footwear made using sustainable materials, which I love! Consider your surface If you’re running on road you may want to choose a shoe with more padding or cushioning to soften the blow on impact. If you’re morel likely to be running on dirt tracks or grassy surfaces you may want to look at investing in a trail shoe which will provide better support on uneven surfaces and will be likely to offer protection against wet surfaces etc. Don’t feel disheartened if it takes a bit of trial and error before you find your perfect running shoe. If you’re totally new to the sport it’s worth visiting a running store to get some advice on your sizing, fit and gait (even if you don’t actually buy from the..shhh). The most important thing is to stay focused on what feels right for you. Ignore the marketing. Ignore the trends. Stay focused on what feels right.
The Relais Cooden Beach This stunning hotel sat right next to Cooden Beach has been a destination venue for generations. In years gone by the likes of Wallis Simpson and Winston Churchill have stayed here as guests, spending afternoons sipping on Pol Roger Champagne on the decking as they soaked up the Sussex seaside air. Stepping through the pretty entrance there remains an immediate sense of grandeur and historic familiarity reminiscent of the 1920’s art deco era. The hotel had a significant revamp in 2022 when Relais Retreats took over, the venue now offers the perfect balance of classic and modern décor. From the moment you walk through the doors you are transported to a place of luxurious serenity and absolute escapism. The opening of the Relais Retreat Spa is the most recent phase of improvements. I was thrilled to have the opportunity to indulge in a few hours of divine relaxation all in the name of research, of course. I shall share my findings with you below… Relais Retreat Spa Having only opened in October 2024 the Relais Retreat Spa is still very much in its early days. However, having spoken to staff and clients during my visit word is starting to spread and don’t think it will be long before this place really takes off. I’ve been to a few spas in my time, but the Relais Retreat stands out as being imitate, friendly and high-end yet incredibly relaxed. Staff are welcoming, happy to help and knowledgeable about treatments. Despite visiting on my own I felt totally comfortable and not remotely awkward as I sometimes do in smarter venues! Spa facilities include a gorgeous, bright space with heated loungers (bliss!), vitality pool, infrared sauna, aroma essence steam room, foot spa and wellness shower. I could have spent all day here. Despite snowing outside I was the warmest I had been in weeks in this tropical haven. At its busiest there were three of us sharing the facilities in this space, most of the time I had it to myself! Treatments As part of my experience I received a 60 minute treatment called Changing Tides. This was one of the most relaxing experiences I’ve ever had in my life (big up to Amy who looked after me!) Rather than focusing on one specific area this treatment includes a back massage, skin exfoliation, facial and scalp massage. I walked out of there as though I were walking on air. Tension released, stress reduced and zen fully restored. I finished my visit with lunch, served in the Rally Restaurant overlooking the beach. The spa has its own menu with delicious salads and lighter dishes although you are welcome to order from the main restaurant menu instead should you want to. I opted for the daily special which was a Goats Cheese Quiche with salad and fries. It’s amazing how much of an appetite you can work up with all that relaxing – this hit the spot perfectly. The Relais Retreat is now open for bookings. Please visit their website for full details on packages and treatments.