GO READER GO: JOAN SCALESanswers your travel questions
Q I am looking for a pleasant and rural place to stay for a few days in East Sussex, in a camper van, before crossing to France by Eurotunnel.
ED, Waterford
This is a lovely area of England and there are a number of parks that meet your requirements.
Old Mill Holiday Park is on the grounds of a converted windmill and bakery (jasminewindmill.com).
Senlac Wood is in 1066 country and close to Battle Abbey (senlacwood.co.uk).
Horam Manor Touring Park is a quiet rural site with fishing and horse-riding on the estate (horam-manor.co.uk).
Finally, Kloofs Caravan Park is on 22 acres of countryside with views towards the South Downs (kloofs.com).
Places worth visiting in this area are Battle Abbey and Herstmoneaux Castle. The ancient towns of Rye, Bexhill Old Town and Pevensey will remind you of how steeped in history this area is. See 1066country.com for more.
Q Three friends and I would like to fly from Kerry to Faro for a week in September for a cycling holiday. We would plan to cycle around 60kms each day on fairly quiet roads and stay in BBs along the way. Could you suggest a route, maps and or guide books.
LOC, Kerry
Algarve Tourism has been involved in setting up a walking and cycling trail that covers the region and is about 240km long. It is called Via Algarviana and runs from Alcoutim to Cape Saint Vincent.
There is a dedicated website with maps, how to obtain the guidebooks and suppliers for bicycle hire (viaalgarviana.org).
When you have plotted a route, check accommodation on visitalgarve.pt. BBs are usually called private establishments.
Q My sister and I have booked a week’s holiday in Malta in June. We would like to split our holiday between sightseeing and outdoor activities, but we’re conscious of the short amount of time we have and would like your help in making the most of it. Could you suggest some of the top sites and activities. We’re both in our twenties and reasonably fit.
NA, Dublin
A week is a good length of time to explore all that Malta has to offer. I always feel a bus tour is a good way to get your bearings. You could do the north of the island one day and the south the next day.
If you take the tour to the north, there is a cruise from Sliema Harbour for 90 minutes. The bus tours cost around €15. The Blue Grotto on the south of the island is also a lovely day trip.
Top sites to see include the Hal Saflieni Hypogeum and the Grand Masters Palace, massive underground structures dating from 2,500BC.
There is plenty of walking in Malta. You could spend time exploring Valletta, Mdina, Marsaxlokk and The Three Cities.
Take the ferry out to Gozo for a day and explore the little island. You can hire a car or do the hop-on hop-off bus. Gozo’s must see attractions include the Citadella, Ggantija Temples, ta’ Pinu Sanctuary and the Dwejra area.
Diving is very popular and there are dive sites and centres all over the main island of Malta and also on the smaller island of Gozo, so you could give it a try.
For a day on the beach, Golden Sands is worth a visit and, for nightlife, the thriving clubbing scene is around St Julians, Paceville and Bugibba.
Malta Tourism Authority has an office in Dublin and can be contacted on 01-6688209 and visitmalta.com.
Go contact
Email questions, with your name and address, to jscales@irishtimes.com