Travel News

Steel your nerves for a trip to Cardona's famous Corre del Bou, or bull run, this September.

The bovine stampede forms part of the hugely popular Festa Major - one of the most important dates in the Catalonian cultural calendar - and this year takes place between September 12th and 16th.

Visitors who fancy their chances against beefy adversaries can jump into the makeshift bull pen in the town square, which remains open for three days.

Once inside, dodging horns can only be avoided by clambering up a limited array of dangling ropes or leaping the arena walls.

The big highlight of the festival however, is the infamous cargolera where a man, largely encased in a round wicker basket, faces the bull's blows on his own before (hopefully!) rolling to safety.

Spain's most renowned bull-running event - in Pamplona - took place over eight consecutive days between July 7th and 14th.

Travel into the Cornish past with a new ferry service from Falmouth to St Mawes.

The vessel is made from traditional wooden materials rather than contemporary fibreglass products for a real sense of history recreated.

In addition, it was designed and created by a local boatbuilder in Penryn, who slaved over the plans and building for two years.

The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall, the latter of which gave the boat her title, opened the 20-minute service this month. They also took turns driving the ferry over to Falmouth.

Garrick Royle, operations manager for Cornwall Ferries, said: "The new ferry looks lovely and we were all surprised when they both expressed an interest in taking the wheel. They seemed very relaxed and were obviously enjoying the trip."

For ocean activities in the area, Orca Sea Safaris operates wildlife watching, boat trips and eco tourism excursions from its base in Falmouth all year round.

As if there wasn't enough art in Florence already, luxury hotelier Four Seasons has opened new accommodation to suit design aficionados from all over the world.

It is the company's first central Italy property and is located in the 15th-century Della Gherardesca Palazzo, which has been lovingly renovated under the direction of the ministry of fine arts and culture.

Inside, the 117 rooms boast magnificent neo-classical style, including original frescoes and sculptured reliefs.

Meanwhile, the Il Palagio restaurant features stunning vaulted ceilings and a tranquil garden courtyard to digest the overwhelming art and tempting meals in serene surrounds.

A recent Vanity Fair review expounds: "You are nobody unless you have booked into the Four Seasons Florence. It is an oasis in the city centre: eight-acre park, pool (unusual), spa (unheard of) and two palazzos, one of which is dedicated to quiet with a soft-footed personal concierge."

As well as the Florence project, Four Seasons has also opened a new hotel in a converted Ottoman palace in Instanbul, Turkey.

Proving there is much more to the Irish pub than Guinness on tap and horseracing on TV, the Crown Liquor Saloon in Belfast is a drinking house gem and probably the most famous bar in Ulster.

Owned by the National Trust, the historic building retains much of its original Victorian charm thanks mainly to the organisation's £400,000 restoration investment in 1981.

It dates back to 1826 when it was known as the Railway Tavern after the first train that ran from Belfast to Lisburn.

Period features include ten elaborately carved booths or snugs, containing gun metal plates for striking matches and an antique bell system to warn bar staff your pint is running low.

Swing doors and wooden floors add to the historic ambience, as do ancient ceiling gas lamps and Victorian etched-windows.

Those looking for a more contemporary bar experience in Belfast should head to the trendy Apartment.

The big smoke may seem an unlikely place to host a village fete but smoothie giant innocent will do just that in August.

Regent's Park will come alive with Morris dancing, welly wanging, duck herding and ferret-racing - to name just a few of the attractions - over the first weekend of the month.

The summer highlight also features cake stalls, a coconut shy, dog shows, a knitting tent and a host of traditional funfair rides.

Meanwhile, live music will be provided by the likes of the James Taylor Quartet, Imelda May, the Ukulele Orchestra, the Fairey Band and the Boy Least Likely To.

Money raised from the event is donated to a range of charities including the Samaritans, Friends of the Earth and Wellchild.

Interestingly, the innocent drinks company has its origins in a London festival. Its three founders started the business from a stall at a music event in the capital with just £500 worth of fruit in 1998.