I recently bought an old tourist guidebook published in 1931 called "The Lure of the Cambrian Coast". The preface closed with a fine description of this part of the world: "the lovely Cambrian coast resorts are washed by the Atlantic Ocean, and the ozone-laden breezes, mingling with the pure mountain air, bring colour to the cheek and radiance to the eye. Sunshine records are high, and no industrial smoke obscures the beneficent ultra-violet rays."

Aside possibly from the reference to sunshine records, this really is a true description of the area. For those wishing to take in the ozone-rich mountain air, the craggy edifice of Cader Idris looms large over Dolgellau enticing the serious hill walker. For a gentler walk from Dolgellau, or even a bike ride, you can follow the river Wnion and Mawddach Estuary along the old railway line. The old trackbed hugs the estuary and passes through idyllic Penmaenpool to Morfa Mawddach (once Barmouth Junction) where it meets the modern day line. The mile-long bridge to Barmouth has a parallel footpath which is a splendid, often windswept, wooden promenade from which to look down the estuary to your point of departure; Dolgellau. Featured on the BBC's "Railway Walks", presented by Julia Bradbury, this walk is a real treat and must have been one of the most scenic train rides in Wales before the line was closed in the 1960s by Dr. Beeching.

There are several old halls near Dolgellau that once belonged to wealthy families, some of whom acquired their wealth in the aforementioned "industrial smoke". One such is Penmaenuchaf Hall just few miles outside Dolgellau at Penmaenpool. Once the country retreat of the Leigh Taylors from Bolton, it's now a country house hotel set in CADW listed private grounds. If you're looking for an oasis of luxury while inhaling the pure, Celtic breezes this is the place.

www.penhall.co.uk
Penmaenuchaf Hall Hotel
Penmaenpool
Dolgellau
Gwynedd
North Wales
LL40 1YB
t: 01341 422129
(Nearest railway station: Morfa Mawddach)

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Just an excellent holiday home and staff. Great location and proximity to rail station. Lots of restaurants close by. Very clean. 2 mins walk to Metro. Its location near to the termini proved to be very handy as we got a train from the airport. Would definitely recommend and would not hesitate to return. Good value and highly recommended. I suggest everyone who is planning a trip to rome to rent this apartment.

www.leonholidayapartments.com

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Restaurant on the seafront serving quality local dishes with oriental twists.

Boulevard de la Croisette

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I've not stayed with Riviera Pebbles but have found the area pages very useful as well as the restaurant pages.

www.rivierapebbles.com
rivierapebbles.com/location_cannes.php
rivierapebbles.com/cuisine.php

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Great restaurant for grilled fish. Ate here twice. Found the service a little lacking at times for the calibre of restaurant, but food made up for it.

58 La Croisette
tel: 04.93.06.40.21

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Elegant seafood restaurant serving great paella. Service was some of the best I've found in Cannes

43 Rue Felix Faure

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Located up in the Dalt Vila, Ibiza's fortified old town, a great place for a special dinner. Attentive and friendly waiters serving tasty local fresh food. Call to book a table on the terrace - El Olivo stands out from the crowd.

Plaza de Vila 9
07800 Ibiza
Spain
telephone (+34) 971 300 680

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An ancient village inn right by the fishermen's pier at Port Bannatyne. Five guest rooms; continental hospitality; freshly landed seafood including langoustine.

This place is of exceptional quality and thankfully very relaxed about it all... no tablecloths or pack-drill, just French quality meals, real ales, and Russian wines, beers and vodkas.

A mile long sandy beach and 200 seals close by. Be very nice to these good Russians they are providing a service unknown to Scotland! Along the seashore is a little marina and a pitch for playing Petanque.

Behind the village is a 13 hole golf-course with fabulous views over the water to islands, mountains and forests.

The Russian Tavern,
Seashore, Port Bannatyne, Isle of Bute, Argyll
01700 505073
www.butehotel.com
delicious.com/RogerMortimer
portbannatynemarina.co.uk
www.portbannatynepetanque.org.uk
www.portbannatynegolf.co.uk
Ferry for Bute leaves from Wemyss Bay on the A78 between Greenock and Largs. Direct train from Glasgow Central, and from Glasgow Int Airport and Prestwick Airport (RyanAir) RyanAir psssengers go half-price on the train.

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Amidst the chaos of San Antonio, there is a fine restaurant. You may feel initially you are entering the king of kitsch, however the food is excellent with an obligatory cool band playing.

www.villamercedesibiza.com/

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Fantastic cliff side restaurant - fun staff, mohito driven sunsets and unusually good value

Sol D’en Serra
amanteibiza.com/

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Le Nid d'Aigle (aptly named - it's position is indeed an Eagles Nest) is a restaurant in Gourdon; the most beautiful clifftop village in the maritimes Alps, overlooking the Mediterranean.

The quality of food eaten in this restaurant is incredible. Superb. The supremely talented chef - who you spy on occasion through the glass partition to the kitchen, with his tall white *toque* and his oh so French moustache - knows exactly how to tantalize those tastebuds and have you clamouring for more.

Perfect portion sizes, value for money, gastronomic without being pretentious at all, and the yummiest desserts ever. I went with some friends one of whom is vegetarian - at last - proper vegetarian food.

This restaurant puts France very firmly back on the culinary circuit. Too good to pass by without recommending it (we got back home this morning!). We'll be going again and again every time we hit the cote d'Azur. The waiting staff were very helpful and charming - a discreet, efficient, excellent team of waiting staff! Bravo. Felicitations. A restaurant that combines brasserie style eating with gastronomic quality.

Place Victoria
06620 GOURDON
Tél. : 0493775128
nid-daigle@orange.fr

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Maria's walls are illustrated with characters from children's fairy tales. This kooky charm extends into the handwritten jotter style menu's.

True to form the food is magical and if the characters could come to life they would surely follow cartoon wafts of delicious food all the way to your table. Pizza's are fantastic with a choice of mozzarella or feta cheese with more or less what ever else you want (the feta one is better). Feta stuffed garlic bread is the best I've ever had and jugs of house red and white are just as good as any of the overpriced bottles.

All this takes place al fresco under the leafy protection of a beautiful Mulberry tree. There is limited seating inside.

Only open at night. Expect to wait for a table at high season. A pizza and salad (both shared between two) + wine came to under €30. There is a great jeweller's/treasure trove next door where you can browse and chat to Harris(the owner) while you are waiting.

Skiathos sqaure near the church

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A roast meat restaurant in Vieux Nice: if you're looking for an alternative to pasta, pizza or nicoise cuisine this place will sort you out in no time.

It's a tiny new (opened May 2009) good-looking restaurant/take-away by Place Rossetti offering simply five types of roasted meats, with a choice of either mash, roast potatoes or ratatouille on the side - eat in and you get a mesclun salad included in the price.

We've tried the beef, which is served French-style rare, and lamb so far and they were both delicious: seriously good value at 11euro each. After sharing one generous take-out serving of lamb between two at our apartment rental we were so impressed we went back to dine in the next day.

It's a brilliant concept and a very welcome addition (for carnivores at least) to the Vieille Ville's restaurant scene. Go early if you want the half chicken - or the window seat!

Rossetti - Serie
8 rue Mascoinat (just off Place Rossetti)
Vieux Nice 06300

open Tuesday to Saturday, 12-2pm & 8-10pm

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Last weekend I had visitors to Buenos Aires and we went for an evening of tango in "La Boca", Buenos Aires. The setting and atmosphere were perfect. Boca is a traditional, folkloric area of Buenos Aires, full of colourful houses and cobbled streets...

The tango was equally as impressive. It began with a comic take on immigrant life in the 30's and progressed to fulfil the more glamorous, elegant expectations we have of tango, accompanied by a fantastic orchestra!

We ate nearby, in a small restaurant decorated with antiques and Argentine memorabilia; all in all it was a thoroughly fascinating evening, which I will never forget! A MUST for every Buenos Aires visitor…

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It's a restaurant event serving traditional breakfast and brunch in Barcelona.

I recommend it because of the great salads, amazing apple crumble pie, friendly service and cool music.

www.homecookingbarcelona.com

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The Highcliff Grill Restaurant in Bournemouth is a fantastic place. The restaurant offers a great environment, friendly members of staff, superb choice, excellent food quality and a fantastic location overlooking the sea – it’s simply the best restaurant in Bournemouth.

Highcliff Grill Restaurant
Bournemouth Highcliff Marriott Hotel
St Michael's Road
Bournemouth BH2 5DU

T. 01202 200 800
W. www.highcliffgrill.co.uk

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Excellent Thai restaurant - with lots of veggie options, and some more unusual dishes too. Try some of the chef's specialities. Everything we had was great. If Jintana was in London (my home town) I would definitely be a regular.

Jintana Thai Restaurant
Lake Road,
Bowness-on-Windermere,
Cumbria,
LA23 3BJ

Telephone: 015394 45002

Email: eat@jintanathaicuisine.com

www.jintanathaicuisine.com/

nearest station: Windermere

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Fantastic Lebanese veggie / vegan menu at Flandres de Liban (website even has English menu) in Wazemmes.

More centrally, Aux Indes, do a great veggie set lunch and dinner - but you have to ask for it.

And don't miss trying a 'palette' of four (small) different beers at Les Trois Brasseurs close to the old Lille Station (Lille Flandres, rather than the Eurostar station).

www.flandresliban.net/
Aux Indes is at 38, Rue Thiers, Lille

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Maat is a private dining club in the district of Belgrano in Buenos Aires. You normally need to be a member to eat here but they will accept tourists. Please book ahead and expect a formal dining room and incredible service. The six-course tasting menu is great value. Expect upwards of $100 for two.

Sucre 2168, Belgrano. Buenos Aires
tel 48961818
www.maatclubprivado.com.ar

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Manor is a huge department store near Cornavin. It has a wonderful food department - akin to M&S or higher quality. The entire floor is taken up with deli counters and wonderful fresh food.

The bakery section is particularly good and you can also watch them make enormous ciabatta sandwiches (1m x 2m) that they then cut up, or roll out croissants to bake on the premises.

If you also go upstairs there is a wonderful cafe/restaurant in a self-service canteen style which is a great place to have breakfast (try the Birchermeusli), lunch (the fried fish is yummy) or tea (coffee and cakes...mmmm). The food is all prepared in front of you, and often cooked for you, but the price is very reasonable, and if you are lucky you can get a seat with a great view across the rooftops to the Saleve.

And then you can do shopping on three more floors filled with everything from beauty products and clothes to electrical items.

Rue de Chantepoulet
Link: <maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=Manor+&sll=46.207361,6.146834&sspn=0.001737,0.004533&ie=UTF8&ll=46.20869,6.14464&spn=0.00695,0.018132&t=h&z=16&iwloc=A>

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