Short holidays with a difference

One of the most spectacular carnivals in Europe - with flower festooned floats of up to 45 ft in length, musicians, dancers, marching bands and entertainers – awaits visitors to Jersey on 13 and 14 August.

Competition at the two-day ‘Battle of the Flowers’ festival – which started back in 1902 as a celebration for the coronation of King Edward VII - is fierce and islanders work unceasingly in the run-up to the ‘Battle’ to create the best float. The ‘Day’ parade takes place on 13 August, followed by a ‘Moonlight’ parade – when the floats are covered in twinkling lights –the next evening

Modern Hotels is offering three-night breaks over the festival period at the special twin share price of £209 per person - saving £178 – inclusive of return Fastcat crossing from Poole or Weymouth, transfers and accommodation with breakfast at the three-star Mayfair Hotel in St Helier. See modernhotels.com for more details.

Ever fancied rolling up your trouser legs and treading the grapes? If yes, then head to the Hotel Villa Sonia at Castelmola in Sicily and join in the grape harvest, courtesy of Holiday Options.

This four-star hotel – which has its own vineyard - celebrates the harvest by inviting its guests to a fun day out – this year on 1 October - where they will be invited to participate in all aspects of gathering in the grapes. The day ends with a sumptuous free buffet, with unlimited wine.

A seven-night holiday at the hotel to coincide with this annual event costs £860 per person (twin share) for Gatwick departures on 26 September inclusive of return flights, transfers, accommodation with breakfast, plus four dinners. For more information see holidayoptions.co.uk.

On 22 August canal enthusiasts will be gathering to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the re-opening of the Blisworth Tunnel. This amazing feat of engineering carries the Grand Union Canal under the Northamptonshire countryside for two miles and is as busy today with pleasure craft as it was at the height of the canal industry in the early 19th century.

Blisworth Tunnel – and the fascinating National Waterways Museum at nearby Stoke Bruerne – are the highlights of a week-long narrowboat holiday with Kate Boats. The route also includes lush countryside, pretty villages and plenty of canal-side pubs.

Starting 22 August, a week’s hire of Susan, a five-star narrowboat sleeping four in comfort, costs £1316 including all fuel, an initial ‘driving lesson’ and free car parking at Kate Boats’ Warwickshire base. For more information, visit katecanalboats.co.uk.