TheViewPoint-Q2-21

BUOYANT MARKET
BOOSTS SALES
INVESTMENT
HOLIDAY
SUPERMOON
DELIGHT
CELEBRATE OUR
GLORIOUS ISLE
Our brand had 422,331
views on Rightmove from
March — April 2021
Discover a surprisingly enjoyable
alternative to buy-to-let: a UK
holiday home investment
Keep your cameras at the
ready for the fourth and final
supermoon, 24th June
From Christchurch to
Snowdonia, we’ve got your
2021 staycation covered
Q2
21
Durlston Wall, Belle Vue Road
Swanage BH19 2HP
OIEO £2,000,000

MARKET COMMENT
Buoyant market
boosts sales
I think we all know someone who is either
in the process of trying to buy or sell their
property, so it will come as no surprise to hear
that we are busier than I have ever been in my
23 years in property.
As we approach our 5th birthday at the end
of the year, it’s astonishing to think how far we
have come — from working in my third bedroom
with two young children, to building a team
and filling a home office. The rate at which the
brand has expanded, thanks to the support
of our clients and their recommendations,
means I am delighted to report a move to new
commercial premises to house our expanding
team; a team further strengthened by the
addition of Rebecca Brown. Rebecca has a
strong background in the property market
and runs her own marketing agency, joining
us to assist with the ever-growing number of
enquiries we receive.
The property market has remained fully
open throughout the last lockdown, which
has helped to push the average price of
property to an all-time high. Historically,
whilst we have always seen a high number
of people want to relocate to the coast, this
has been countered with people moving away
for work, and to be closer to family. However,
following the latest lockdown, there are less
people than ever looking to leave the area,
and naturally we still have those looking to
move within the local market, due to growing
family needs or downsizing.
At the beginning of lockdown, these local
buyers were initially being met with strong
competition by the influx of second home
buyers. A year on, we are now seeing a second
wave of families choosing to relocate to the
coast, thanks to no longer being committed to
OUR BRAND HAD
422,331
ON RIGHTMOVE
FROM MARCH — APRIL
* F I G U R E S F R O M
RIGHTMOVE APRIL 2021
work in the City. This second wave of buyers,
looking for new space requirements alongside
cheap mortgages and stamp duty holidays
explains why the property market nationally
has reached unprecedented demands. Add to
that, having sandy beaches on our doorstep,
the New Forest, the Purbecks, and being within
a 2-hour commute of London, you can see why
Poole in particular has become a hot spot.
Whilst the number of properties coming
to market has now recovered to normal levels
compared to pre-lockdown, it is still massively
outpaced by this buyer demand. In contrast,
the number of sales agreed is up by 55% on
the same period two years ago, and so the
proportion of available property is at its lowest
ever, recorded by Rightmove.
Wednesday 7th April set a record of
over 9.3 million visits to Rightmove and
March saw time spent on the site surpass two
billion minutes in a month for the first time.
Yet, the biggest challenge local sellers face is the
fear of selling their home and having no where to
go. This is having a direct effect on the number
of properties coming to market locally, and is
effectively causing a log jam. For the first time
ever, when choosing a buyer, we are considering
not only their ability to proceed, but also what
flexibility (time wise) they can offer clients.
My advice to anyone looking to sell locally,
concerned about the lack of visible stock, is to
speak to us first about our Whisper Listings
service. There are a number of different selling
options available which we can discuss. More
than ever before, moving house is about joining
the dots together. A Whisper Listing allows you
to get all of your marketing assets ready; we
can then softly, or silently market your home
to cherry picked buyers that can offer you
flexibility and work to your timescales. Being
able to act quickly when the right home does
come along is vital. Once prepared, then it’s
just a touch of a button to place you on the open
market, if and when required.
As always, when the sales market is
booming the rental market suffers with fewer
properties becoming available. Whilst many
landlords look to take advantage of shortterm
holiday lets, we have many clients looking
to secure a long-term home. If you have a
vacant property, we have a number of qualified
high net-worth clients looking to move, with
budgets up to £7,000 pcm.
So, what is the outlook for the future?
Many predict that some of the froth is likely
to come off this spring/summer surge later
in the year as the challenging economic
conditions come to the fore and the stamp
duty holiday finally ends. Nevertheless, given
our location, whilst I think the market will
calm as demand is met over time, over the
next few months we expect activity to remain
robust for the rest of 2021.
As we move in to the summer months, the
team and I remain on-hand to answer any
questions you have with regards to your move
in these unprecedented times.
Pippa
ART
Blank canvas
Canvas Gallery was born in Wimbledon Village, SW19
in 2008, currently occupying space in Winchester and
most recently in the heart of Canford Cliffs Village.
Cavemen first created art on their walls and
ceilings; a home is not a home without it. Your
artwork is your story, whether it’s a family
montage of photos or a Picasso.
Canvas represents a range of painters,
sculptors and photographers from the wellestablished
such as Terry O’Neill and Bob Dylan
to exciting emerging artists, Daniel Hooper,
James Green and Elsbeth Shaw to name a few.
A program of events and shows is planned
throughout the year, starting with James
Green showing new paintings in Canford Cliffs,
Thursday 20th May to Saturday 5th June.
James is an abstract expressionist painter
who has exhibited in the UK, France and USA
to date; a number of works for this show were
made in collaboration with Monsieur Jamin.
Jamin is hugely successful and is one of, if not
the most successful living artists in France.
Canvas Gallery, Canford Cliffs, 17 Haven Road,
BH13. Opening hours, 11am to 3pm, Wednesday
to Saturday, by appointment.

LIFESTYLE
Open sea
swimming
The past twelve months have
seen more people take to
nature for relief, exercise and
a moment of inspirational
calm than ever before.
Open air swimming has seen such a surge,
particularly with the pools closed and people
still wanting to get their fix.
Walking along the coastline is beautiful,
in any weather yet venturing into the ocean
gives a real sense of freedom and adventure.
Seeing that same coastline from the water
gives a whole new perspective on the view.
It’s a unique experience. Yet, with
no floor or sides to rely on, open water
swimming is more challenging and can
be much more rewarding. The natural
backdrops of open water swims make
them all the more breath taking.
East Dorset Open Air Swimming club
runs regular weekly meets and events
throughout the course of the year. They’re
looking forward to life getting back to
normal again and having a full summer of
swimming in the many beauty spots on the
coastline and lakes in-land around Studland.
With swimming hours, hike and swim days,
membership includes full use of their hot
showers and tea and biscuits after your dip.
‘One way to find these safe places to swim
is to come on our weekly meet ups at Shore
Road and also do the hike and swim where
we discover four local spots on Studland.
We find that our members become great
friends in and out of the water and it offers a
completely new aspect to living in Poole.’
Need inspiration to take the plunge? Lose
yourself in the dreamy pictures of ArtDisco’s
Lucy and Marie who take to the open seas in
North East England, always wearing a warm
beanie to keep their heads nice and toasty.
If you’re ready for an outdoor dip this
summer, you could see many of these
benefits as a result. We all know that exercise
increases the release of the happy hormone,
dopamine – studies have shown that
swimming in waters of 14 degrees Celsius
increased dopamine levels by 250 percent!
And of course, you’ll be breathing in all that
fresh sea air, great for your lungs.
Acclimatising and adapting to the cold
water can help to reduce the risk of heart
attacks. If you’re worried about shocking
yourself, start your dips in August and carry
on; the water is warmest in October and
you’ll be surprised at how used to it you
are by then. A survey by Czech scientists
found that immersing yourself in cold water
for an hour, three times a week increases
your white blood cell count, boosting your
immune system, meaning less colds through
winter, despite regularly dipping yourself in
icy cold water.
If you’re hoping to lose a few pounds,
being immersed in cold water causes your
body temperature to drop, making your body
work harder to warm up, in turn burning fat
and speeding up your metabolism.
The golden rule of open water swimming?
Don’t swim alone. If you do get in to any kind
of trouble you need to know that you have
the support of friends around you. Now
make a good plan and we’ll see you out in
the water!
FOOD & DRINK
Too pretty to drink?
We all know someone who’s obsessed with tea and yet
their obsession may just have gone up a notch over the
past few months with the introduction of tea bombs.
Yes, move over chocolate bombs, these
round balls of pure tea delight is where
it’s at. And we actually don’t write that
lightly - with over five million views on the
hashtag in a few months, the art of making
a tea bomb is proving as popular as some
Netflix shows.
But what is a tea bomb? In the same
way that chocolate bombs are made from
a thin shell of chocolate, designed to melt
in hot milk and have the treat inside come
to surface, tea bombs are made from any
number of ingredients for the outside shell.
If you take your tea with milk, the tea
bombs for you will be made from fine white
chocolate which melts away to reveal
loose leaf tea, or a folded tea bag within,
perhaps some edible flowers, glitter and
even marshmallows.
Their counterparts are clear in their
nature and spun using hot melted sugar,
cooled into a ball mould and then filled with
tea, dried flowers, and even edible confetti
for an out-of-this world fragrant and
stunning way to drink your next cup of tea.
Some of the more unusual tea bombs
we’ve seen melt away to reveal micro toffee
chunks, choc chips and cookie dough.
Elevenses have never been so good.
With concerns over tea bags containing
plastic in the glue that binds them together,
this is one very pretty way to completely
navigate the issue. And, when they’re made
with Isomalt, the sugar content is low enough
to be suitable for some levels of diabetics -
please check first though!
Easy to make?
There are plenty of recipes online to get
you started but from all of our searching,
we’ve found the general consensus to be
that silicon moulds are an absolute must.
Your sugar thermometer needs to read 300
degrees for the sugar to be at ‘cracking’
stage ready before you shape them and gel
colouring is the best for giving a quick and
easy consistent colour tone to the clear tea
bomb. You’ll need to work quickly to spread
the sugar with the back of a spoon, and make
sure you don’t go over the top edge of the
mould, because when you crack bits off, the
whole lot tends to shatter...
If in doubt - watch TikTok.

INTERIORS
Illuminate
your interior
Original BTC Titan
Size 3 Pendant –
www.originalbtc.com
The Pantone Colour of the Year
for 2021 has been announced!
A pairing of ‘Illuminating’ and ‘Ultimate Gray’.
Ultimate Gray reflects on 2020 as a year and
Illuminating is full of hope for the future.
Ultimate Gray also brings a sense of comfort,
and Illuminating a sense of positivity making
these two shades the perfect combination for
sprucing up your interior this year.
Large Bamboo
Storage Canister Set –
www.curatedpieces.com
AKI lamp –
www.animacontemporanea.com
Nest Chair & Footstool –
www.sofology.co.uk
Vitamin Ninety
Stool Cutout yellow –
www.einrichten-design.de
Astoria Armchair In
Mustard Yellow Velvet –
www.atkinandthyme.co.uk
Pure New Wool Blanket –
www.heating-and-plumbing.com
Classic Housewife
Pillowcase –
chalkpinklinencompany.co.uk

LIFESTYLE
Make way for
peaceful snoozing
An honest review.
Sleep aid apps were topping the app charts
long before lockdown, however with stress
and exhaustion levels rising to new heights,
downloads have soared.
It’s a bitter Catch 22 - the more frustrated
about insomnia, the less you’ll be able to fall
asleep. I’d seen the adverts for the Calm app
for months, however it was 1:30am on day one
million of lockdown, amidst a house move, that I
finally gave in to desperation and downloaded it.
Within minutes I was listening to some
inconspicuous person ease me into my
mattress. ‘Well this will never work’, I muttered
to myself and promptly woke up six hours
later. I was amazed and spent more conscious
hours awake looking at all the app had to offer.
Stories, meditations, wave and whale sounds
all exist and are but a few clicks away. Intrigued,
I decided to try the effects out across the
course of a month. I wanted to see if I could
fall asleep quickly and if I felt more rested the
following day.
I was surprised to find that the opposite
of what I thought rang true for me. I found
that the story telling side of the app which
includes readings from well known actors
and actresses such as Stephen Fry, Harry
Styles and Kate Winslet didn’t send me off to
sleep at all - my curious mind willed itself to
stay awake to find out the ending. However
the opposite happened with the meditations.
I’m on the go constantly during the day with
deadlines and life in general, so my friends
who told me to try meditating were scoffed at
with the excuse of ‘no time to stop’. Yet, the
soft soothing tones of the meditations willing
me to relax from my forehead, neck and arms
down to my toes actually made me realise just
how tense not falling asleep was making me.
Even though I was in bed, I definitely wasn’t as
relaxed as I thought …
You need to experiment with the app for
yourself. Some voices will work for you and you
learn to give up on the ones that irritate you
pretty quickly. The ‘recently listened to’ will
guide you to your last selection in a speedy
manner. The moment I press the button and
hear familiar voices, I know I’m going to sleep
well, and that in itself says everything about
the confidence in sleep that this app gives
you. I’m thoroughly impressed. I now only use
it when I need to but I know it’s there to assist
and that’s enough.
However, no app is going to do the entire
job for you. There are other choices you can
make to ensure you give yourself the best
chance at a good night’s sleep.
If restless sleeping is keeping you awake,
try investing in a weighted blanket, the theory
behind which is to mimic the feeling of being
swaddled. Ranging from 4kg to 9.5kg, the
weight and cosiness of the spread rests on you,
making you feel quite secure, discouraging any
tossing and turning and reducing it by 50%.
Makers of such blankets suggest purchasing
one that is 10% of your body weight.
Memory foam mattresses have come on
leaps and bounds since they were first released.
If you found the original ones to be too hot or
lacking in support, perhaps now is a good time
to revisit them. Otty are made with cooling
bamboo, charcoal and springs, and are designed
to cushion your pressure points with the aim of
relieving tension and inspiring weightlessness.
Both of these options complement the
sleep aid app revolution and I can honestly say
that combined, they have changed my attitude
to sleep. Have you been part of the sleep app
aid revolution or are you yet to try it?
PROPERTY
FOR SALE
Traditional
architecture
CLIFTON ROAD
BH14
MARKET PRICE
£1,350,000
A stunning four bedroom, four bath/shower
room, detached family home, built by Elwood
Homes in 2016. Boasting traditional architecture
with contemporary living. Large open-plan
kitchen/living room with private sun terrace,
additional formal living room, gym, integral
garage and utility room. Located in a quiet culde-sac
in the heart of Lower Parkstone.

SOLD OFF-MARKET
£635,000
£1,395,000
£2,795,000
£1,750,000
£1,750,000
£1,850,000

SOLD OFF-MARKET
£725,000
£525,000
We’re shouting about them now, but all these
properties were sold off-market using our
whisper listing services. Whisper listings are
discreetly marketed to a pool of qualified, waiting
buyers, ensuring a swift and private sale, often
in excess of perceived market value. Talk to
us today about finding your buyer, without
splashing your house all over the portals.
£1,750,000
£1,450,000
£850,000

FOOD
Bring home
the bacon
While we're overcome with joy to be able to dine in
restaurants again, it doesn't mean we can't make
nights in a bit more special.
Put down Deliveroo for a second and take
a gander at some tasty meals you can whip
up, all courtesy of some top restaurants,
delivered complete with idiot-proof
directions. The arrival of a DIY meal kit will
bring some excitement to cooking. Here’s a
few of our favourites.
STEIN AT HOME
www.shop.rickstein.com/collections/
steins-at-home-food-boxes
If sticky burgers don’t suit, seafood stalwart,
Rick Stein, can come to the rescue with a
delectable collection of ‘At Home’ food boxes,
working their way from luxury breakfasts to
lobster, via a bit of hake. Ideal for taking all
the credit when hosting a dinner party!
DISHOOM
www.store.dishoom.com
If it’s something a little different you’re
after, then Dishoom’s Marmalade Mimosa
& Bacon Naan’ roll kit is a winner for a
decadent weekend brunch. This kit contains
everything required to devour two bacon
naan rolls in your own home plus an extra
naan dough ball for experimentation.
It also includes Chai spices and looseleaf
tea to make delicious Dishoom chai
for two, and of course the all-important
Marmalade Mimosa!
HAWKSMOOR AT HOME
www.shop.thehawksmoor.com
Hawksmoor changed up its at-home range
in time for lockdown 2, with the introduction
of The Rib-Eye Box, claiming it has all the
makings of a perfect steak night (which the
celebrated steakhouse group should know
a thing or two about). Not only that, but
they also offer a range of Roast Boxes; easy
Sunday, yes please!
BAO MADE BY YOU
www.baolondon.com/shop
Enjoy London restaurant chain, Bao’s pillowy
Taiwanese buns in the comfort of your own
home with these kits that include either six
classic pork bao, or six vegetarian daikon bao.
Tasty stuff! You can also add sweet red bean
bao for pudding, or plain gua bao if you want
to invent your own — bacon bao anyone?
BURGER & BEYOND
www.burgerandbeyondshop.co.uk
If insanely dirty burgers are your thing, then
Burger & Beyond is right up your street.
Essex-born and London-based, these guys
turned a burger truck into one of London’s
most talked about burger joints. Alongside
the top chef-quality burgers, they offer
American-style sides including Dirty Tots or
Fries with bone marrow gravy, plus sauces
such as the signature Burnt Butter Mayo, and
a drinks list of cocktails, craft beers and wine.
Their ‘At Home’ kits are second to none and
provide you with everything you need to get
your burger fix from home.
DIY SHORYU RAMEN KIT
www.japancentre.com
Ramen feels like it should be simple, but as
soon as you start looking into it you realise that
the signature deep, rich flavour comes from
hours of simmering and countless topping
techniques from the marinated eggs to the
slowly cooked meat. This cheat from Shoryu
allows you to skip past the hard work and enjoy
all the spoils while hardly having to lift a finger.
There are a few DIY ramen kits to choose from,
including vegan and gluten free options. Your
kit will include step-by-step instructions for
how to assemble your bowl, and just like that,
you’ll feel like a ramen master.
SUPERMOONS
Superb
Supermoons
Night skies in 2021 see us graced with four
supermoons. Following the first three in
March, April and May, cross your fingers
for cloud free skies the night of the 24th
June, for the last Super Strawberry Moon
and make sure you have your camera ready
as the moon will appear to be enormous on
the horizon.
Looking up to the skies with your family?
Don’t worry we’ve got you covered for when
the questions start…
What causes a supermoon?
A supermoon occurs when the Moon is at
its closest point along its orbit to the Earth
at the same time as a full moon. During a
supermoon, the Moon appears up to 14 per
cent bigger and 30 per cent brighter than
the furthest a full moon can be.
OK so it’s closer, but why does it look so big?
The moon’s size during a supermoon is actually
an optical illusion. During moonrise, the Moon
looks bigger than it is because our brain
doesn’t understand that the sky is a dome. It
falsely pro-jects things near the horizon to
appear larger than they actually are. For this
it’s no bad thing.
What is a supermoon?
The distance between the Moon and the Earth
varies, because the Earth is not right at the
centre of the Moon’s orbit and the Moon’s
orbit is not a circle (it’s an ellipse).
Will the supermoons affect our tides?
The tides are caused by the gravitational
forces of the Sun and the Moon on the Earth’s
oceans. When the Moon is closer to the Earth
during a supermoon, the gravitational pull is
slightly stronger, and so the tides are bigger.
It might only be a couple of inches difference
between a normal full moon and supermoon
tide but it may mean that you can spend the
24 hours playing in the waves. Definitely keep
your wetsuit and board ready.

MOTORING
Electric dreams
Electric cars are becoming more mainstream;
the costs are dropping rapidly and there are a wide
variety of benefits for drivers making the switch.
From the environmental impact, to the savings
on fuel, tax and maintenance costs, electric
vehicles can save significant amounts of money
through lower running costs.
Fully electric cars have zero tailpipe emissions,
making them greener, and better for the
environment. Popularity and interest are also
growing with 57% of respondents having stated
they’d like to change to electric for their next car.
Charging an electric car at home or work is cost
efficient, simple and fast. A compact, all-weather
home charging unit can be installed outside
your home and you’ll potentially be eligible for a
government grant to cover installation. Granted,
the public charging infrastructure needs to catch
up, but you’ll be surprised by how many fastcharging
outlets are available around the UK.
The government is very keen to get more
and more drivers into zero emission cars as
quickly as possible. One way to encourage the
change is to make electric cars as tax efficient as
possible. If you choose a fully electric vehicle as
your company car, the Benefit in Kind tax is now
just 1% of the vehicles taxable value during this
current tax year, rising to 2% until 2025.
As an example, the monthly tax burden for a
higher rate taxpayer choosing a Volkswagen Golf
GTD as your company car would be around £336
per month in tax. The fully electric Volkswagen
ID.3 is around £12 per month. Add in the fuel
savings and lower running costs such as cheaper
servicing; the overall savings are substantial.
One of the barriers of changing to an electric
car is range anxiety, but the rate of technological
advancement is staggering. The new
Volkswagen ID.3 will cover 263 miles on a single
charge. Another barrier is that of cost; prices
quoted are higher than that of conventional
engine cars. Leasing does go some way to
make that step into electric affordable. Leasing
rentals have dropped over the last year, with
many electric cars being available from a modest
monthly leasing cost.
Dorset Car Leasing are seeing the changes.
The demand for the Range Rover Sport has
translated into demand for the Tesla Model
3. Andrew Garaway, Director, says “From
supplying countless Range Rovers in 2020, we
supplied one this year. But we’ve lost count of
how many Tesla Model 3’s we’ve supplied” Since
the beginning of 2021, we’ve seen the enquiry
levels for electric increase dramatically. Today
we’re talking to clients about electric and hybrid,
not diesel or petrol”.
The benefits of driving electric cars are clear.
With exciting new technologies now available,
reducing charging times and extending range
significantly, there has never been a better time
to consider that switch to an electric vehicle.
Dorset Car Leasing. Discovery Court Business
Centre, Wallisdown Road, Poole, BH12 5AG
GARDENS
Inspirational
garden design
Now that Spring has finally
sprung with longer days
and promising signs of new
growth, we can refocus our
attention on our gardens.
After our long winter of confinement, spending
time outdoors is so important for boosting
mood and overall wellbeing. As you catch your
breath and step outside, now is the time to think
about how your garden works for you. Maybe
the luxurious entertaining space that you’ve
always dreamt of could be in your grasp.
Perhaps you’d like to improve the flow of
your garden space or create a place of sanctuary
where you can relax and unwind. Just as you
would employ an architect to redesign your
interior spaces, a garden designer will enable
you to unlock your garden’s potential. Whether
it’s a particular style that you’d like or simply
wanting to inject more interest and colour, a
designer will produce a plan that works for you
and your lifestyle. Garden designers provide a
new perspective, and their expert knowledge
of planting will bring your ideas to life. Even
a simple, cost effective, carefully planned
transformation can make all the difference
to your garden and the way you live. Just
think, this time next year you could be looking
forward to memorable summer evenings with
friends in a stylish contemporary garden
or fun family gatherings around a gorgeous
fire pit. Those relaxed afternoons that you
crave, immersed in a tranquil garden or being
transported to a place of childhood memories
and favourite plants and scents. Maybe you’ve
always wanted a place where you can grow your
own vegetables and fruit or a luxurious sunken
garden that you’ve always dreamt of but never
thought possible.
Planting Works are a local, well-established
company who are happy to come and see your
garden and discuss your requirements, so just
give us a call.
Words — Rachel McLeodon, Planting Works

TRAVEL
Britain is home to many
stunning places to visit.
We’re starting off our
staycation recommendations
this summer, with these four…
Why travel
afar when
we have a
glorious Isle
to celebrate?
Tintagel Castle coastline
SNOWDONIA - NORTH WALES
Prepare to be wowed when driving through
Snowdonia - its wild mountains rival the
beauty of its Scottish Highland counterpart.
There are seven approaches to hiking up
Snowdon, the highest mountain in Wales.
Celebrate your summit in style in their top
notch fully serviced café, boasting one of
the best views across the landscape. If you
don’t fancy hiking, be sure to book a ticket
on the Snowdon Light Railway and enjoy a
leisurely train ride up to the top. Tickets get
booked up very quickly so the second you
know your dates, get booking! If an adrenalin
rush is more your thing, Snowdonia also
plays home to the world’s fastest zip line,
Malverne hills at sunrise
reaching speeds of over 100 mph. It’s also
a mecca for mountain biking, horse riding,
caving and any number of outdoor activities.
When you’re happily worn out and needing
to chill, take a leisurely stroll around the
town of Caenarfon with its historic castle,
then journey over the Menai Bridge onto
Anglesey island. Alternatively, drive to the
west coast of Snowdonia and explore Sir
Clough William-Ellis’ Portmeirion; an entire
Italian style village which formed the set of
the 70’s cult show, The Prisoner. Play human
sized chess, relax with a book from the shop
on the cliff top bench or while away the hours
enjoying delectable food and fine wines at
the water’s edge in their cosy restaurant.
TINTAGEL - CORNWALL
Where legends come to life. This part of the
north Cornish coast is steeped with history
and legend. Explore Tintagel, restored by
English Heritage, you can walk across the new
bridge to see the remains of King Arthur’s
castle, pose with the striking bronze statue on
the promontory, get a sense of Merlin’s magic
in the cave and understand the inspiration for
many of Lord Tennyson’s poems. A few miles
south down the coast is Port Isaac, home of the
infamous Fisherman’s Friends and Doc Martin.
Walk through the characterful fishermen’s
cottages to explore the tiny town, ensuring
that you peruse the stunning array of painted
porcelain and photographs inside the artist’s
store and café just past Doc Martin’s house.
Travel north up the coast to Camelford, hire
a bike and ride leisurely over the tarmacked
railway line into the bustling fishing town
of Padstow. Made famous by Rick Stein, his
original restaurants there showcase a multitude
of his culinary creations, or opt for one of the
many independents putting their own twist on
the day’s fresh catch. Hike the rugged cliffs that
lead into Boscastle and then enjoy an afternoon
tea with Cornish clotted cream at the cafe
by the harbour. End your staycation with the
ultimate luxurious treat - book into one of The
Scarlet’s rooms and enjoy a hot tub on a cliff top
with Champagne before a sumptuous feast for
dinner. Heaven, in front of the waves …
CHRISTCHURCH
Keen to stay closer to home? There are
plenty of places still to discover locally.
Christchurch is a burgeoning hub on both
the food and live music scene. A fifteen
minute drive from Bournemouth, you’ll
feel as though you’re in another world, it’s
well worth planning a weekend stay-over.
Enjoy a stroll through the beautifully
tended Exbury Gardens and wander around
Highcliffe Castle, formerly owned by none
other than Harry Selfridge. Explore the old
priory and wander through the gardens to
the water’s edge. Try your hand at a spot of
sailing or simply laze on the grassland and
watch the yachts sail by, then indulge in the
culinary delights at the award-winning Jetty.
After being cancelled last year, the highly
anticipated Christchurch Food Festival is
making a victorious come-back this summer
- time your trip for August Bank Holiday and
sample over 100 independent food and drink
brands in one day. Book early before the best
places get taken up!
MALVERN
Her Majesty, The Queen prefers her water
to hail from this natural spa made famous
in the 1920’s and the town still retains much
of its charm today. The high street has been
revamped in recent years and includes a
mix of independents, chains and eateries
to peruse. And of course, all restaurants
serve neighbouring local Herefordshire
beef. Edward Elgar’s birthplace and
first home has been transformed into a
beautiful tribute to the composer and
is a great way to immerse yourself in his
music and life story. There are also several
National Trust properties to discover in
the local area. Fancy stretching your legs
or trying a spot of paragliding? Take in
marvellous views of Herefordshire and
Worcestershire as they flank either side
of the famous Malvern hills. Challenge
yourself to walk all or part of their eight
mile stretch, then relax in a traditional pub,
sampling pure Herefordshire cider to toast
your mini break away in the evening.

FOOD
Easy-peasy Nutella cookies
Whether you're trying to keep screen-time
down or simply entertain little ones at the
weekend, these easy cookies really are
fool-proof for the aspiring mini-chef!
INGREDIENTS
5oz / 15g all-purpose flour
8oz / 240g Nutella
1 large egg
METHOD
❶ Heat the oven to 350°F (180°C) and line a
large tray with baking paper (if you don’t have
any of this, grease it with butter or margarine).
❷ Add the Nutella, flour, and egg to a large bowl
and mix until well combined in a thick dough.
Baking with kids can be a great escape,
creating a few precious moments of family
harmony (and, we don’t lie to you, a lot of
washing-up).
Rather than complex recipes with 47
exotic ingredients, we’ve found a surefire
winner that requires only three - yes,
three ingredients (one of which is Nutella,
everyone’s favourite store-cupboard staple).
It’s also simple, easy to follow, and superrewarding
for little ones. The results don’t
taste too shabby, either.
Roll your sleeves up, accept things are
going to get messy, and prepare to indulge in
some delicious home baking!
❸ Use your hands to roll two tablespoons of
dough at a time into balls, placing each one on
the baking sheet and flattening slightly with
you fingertips of the bottom of a glass.
❹ Bake for 8-10 minutes, until the cookies are
firm around the edges but still slightly soft in
the middle.
❺ Leave to sit on the sheet for 5 minutes, then
cool on a rack.
SERVE
These little baking beauties are great on their
own, or jazzed up with chocolate chips, peanut
butter, nuts, or sprinkles!
PROPERTY INVESTMENT
Investment
Holiday
Property investment for most
people means buy-to-let or,
less frequently, owning and letting
commercial premises or land.
However, many are discovering a surprising
and often highly enjoyable alternative: a
UK holiday home investment. Property
investment for most people means buy-tolet
or, less frequently, owning and letting
commercial premises or land. However,
many are discovering a surprising and often
highly enjoyable alternative: a UK holiday
home investment.
As buy-to-let has become more restrictive,
investors cannot, for example, deduct interest
on a mortgage from rental income declared to
HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC), so holiday
home appeal has grown. HMRC classifies
a ‘furnished holiday let’ as a business, with
consequently lower taxes. Owners must
meet certain criteria, chiefly that the home
is available to let for 201 days a year and
is actually let for at least 105 days, with no
single letting exceeding 31 days. And, of
course, the property must be fully furnished.
These rules are highly specific, but sticking to
them is worthwhile in order to be classed as
a business. This would mean paying business
rates instead of the usually higher Council
Tax, while holiday homeowners can offset
many operating costs against tax. And if the
qualifying conditions are met for a furnished
holiday let, there are also Inheritance Tax
allowances you can utilise.
There’s an extra bonus, too: you, as the
owner, can use your holiday home for up to
155 days per year without compromising the
tax advantages. Lenders will, however, need
to be reassured about a holiday homeowner’s
ability to cover mortgage payments during
‘quiet seasons’ for letting, or when you occupy
the property yourself. For that reason, you
cannot use a standard buy-to-let mortgage,
and instead need one designed for a holiday
home. Most require at least a 25% deposit,
and the best interest rates are available to
those who can put down a 40% deposit.
There are plenty of other considerations
you should take into account before taking
on a holiday let, of course. These range
from the type of holiday home you buy (is
it aimed at couples or whole families and
groups of friends?) and whether you want
to cater to an increasingly mobile, flexible
workforce (for example, by ensuring you have
Wi-Fi internet installed), to where you buy.
Other factors to think about are the
additional 3% stamp duty charged on the
purchase price of holiday homes, and the
ongoing cost and arrangement of people
to clean and maintain a property between
tenants. This latter point sounds complex,
but most areas popular with holiday home
investors have a network of letting agents
and local residents working in the field,
doing everything from changing bed linen to
tending gardens and it’s likely you can offset
their charges against tax. In the longer term,
income from a holiday home or possible
ongoing capital appreciation can of course be
used to save for retirement or complement a
pension, although residential property such
as holiday homes cannot be put into selfinvested
personal pensions.
As usual, expert, regulated guidance
offers peace of mind and can help place this
option in the context of a tailored overall
plan. Less usual is the fact that this is one
investment that isn’t just good for your
long-term finances, but for your short-term
wellbeing too.
Words — Robert Marler
www.deltachelmsford.co.uk

PROPERTY
FOR SALE
Stunning
family home
MUNSTER ROAD
BH14
MARKET PRICE
£920,000
A stunning, interior designed four bedroom
family home in the heart of Lower Parkstone.
Bright and spacious open-plan kitchen,
living, dining room, luxury en-suite to master,
family bathroom, integral garage, separate
office, south-facing garden, underfloor
heating throughout.
FOR SALE
Beautifully
proportioned
ROSLIN ROAD SOUTH
BH3
MARKET PRICE
£1,695,000
An imposing and spacious double fronted
home, which offers beautifully proportioned
accommodation. There is a master suite and
three further bedrooms along with an annexe.
Located behind electric gates with two
entrances, in the prestigious Talbot Woods
area, this home is presented in excellent
decorative order.
SELL YOUR HOME WITH OUR AWARD WINNING TEAM
"Thank you to all at Philippa Sole – what a great team. So glad we had
you all on board to sell our home – a delight to deal with"
Mark and Penny Hockey
philippasole.co.uk | 01202 747 999