Close to home holiday fun

For a fun day on the beach, head to Woolacombe Bay in North Devon on 12 July, venue of the UK National Sandcastle Championships. Now in its 16th year and attracting teams from all parts of the UK, participants have just three hours to complete their masterpiece from seven square metres of sand.

Entrants are invited to let their imagination run wild…in the past sculptures have included sea lions, igloos, bathing bells, crocodiles and Spiderman.

For those who fancy checking out the event, Woolacombe Bay Holiday Parks is offering three-night breaks, starting on 10 July, from just £250 for a family of four with accommodation in a fully-equipped two-bedroom caravan holiday home. For more information see woolacombe.com/bp.

16 July sees the start of the 138th British Open Golf Championship taking place at Turnberry in Scotland and where top players – including the world’s current number one, Tiger Woods – will be battling for four days to win the prestigious ‘claret jug’.

Scottish cottage agency, Ecosse Unique, is highlighting a wide selection of cottages well-placed for taking in the championship including ‘Little Laight Cottage’ (sleeping six), set high on a hill above the village of Cairnryan in Galloway and around a 30-minute drive from Turnberry.

A nine-night break in this high spec property, starting on 11 July, costs £1250 inclusive of electric heating – powered by the cottage’s own wind turbine – along with bed linen and towels. Log on to unique-cottages.co.uk for more details.

A fishy tale from Modern Hotels…head to Jersey on 25 July and join the locals for the 2009 Jersey Fish Festival, a fun day to celebrate the island’s sea fishing industry.

Highlights of the event, which takes place between 10am and 10pm at Victoria Pier in St Helier, include a water carnival, the decoration of the fleet, live music with sea-shanty bands, a simulated sea rescue and cookery demonstrations by French and local chefs. There will also be a craft market, plus lots of stalls selling seafood and local beers and ciders.

For those who fancy joining in the fun, a three-night break with Modern Hotels - starting on 23 or 24 July – costs £229 per adult (saving £55) and £138 per child (two-11 years and sharing with two adults) inclusive of return Fastcat crossing from Weymouth or Poole, transfers and accommodation with breakfast at the three-star Mayfair Hotel in St Helier. Log on to modernhotels.com to find out more.