Stringent new regulations and a demanding checklist mean it’s more difficult than ever for Britain’s beaches to receive a Blue Flag Award, but that didn’t stop Torbay in South Devon, Poole and Bournemouth in Dorset and the Isle of Wight cleaning up with four each for 2013.

The beaches have met the tough new EU standards to achieve the award, which represents excellent standards of cleanliness, convenience and safety, and they’ll be flying their flags with pride this summer. So, if you’re booked to enjoy a stay in one of our Isle of Wight holiday cottages, Torbay properties or Dorset pads then check to find your closest Blue Flag beach.

In Bournemouth Alum Chine, Durley Chine, Fisherman’s Walk and Southbourne joined the UK’s Blue Flag beaches while Poole’s winners were Canford Cliffs, Sandbanks, Shore Road and Branksome Chine.

It’s all happening in Torbay this bank holiday weekend, as Torquay plays host to the annual Classic Powerboat Race and nearby Brixham welcomes the traditional Heritage Sailing Regatta.

Guests of our Torquay holiday cottages will be spoilt for choice when it comes to free entertainment as both events make for great watching for those on the shore. The Torbay Classic Powerboat Race will take place on Saturday 25 and Sunday 26 May, and the raceboats will be on Haldon Pier for those who want to go and admire them from Friday. You’ll even be able to meet some of the teams while you’re there as the event has an informal atmosphere that’s always great fun.

The first race starts at 3pm on Saturday and Sunday’s racing starts at 12.30pm, so if you want to watch the action from a great vantage point head down to the pier early. The terrace area in the Living Coasts restaurant is one of the best spots to sit and watch the racing, and you can visit the cafe even if you haven’t got a ticket for the attraction itself. The race pits will based in Torquay harbour so spectators can get close to the action throughout the weekend.

It’s no secret that Cornwall has a warm welcome for any visitor (as any of you who have been will know), but the county is preparing to give a very special greeting as Her Majesty the Queen and His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh will be paying a visit to St Ives and St Michael’s Mount on Friday. Guests of our St Ives holiday cottages will be able to go along and join in this historical moment for Cornwall, so start practicing your most regal waves...

The exciting royal visit will see the royal pair wander along the stunning St Ives seafront before touring the RNLI lifeboat station. They should arrive at the RNLI station at 10.40am., where they will greet the brave team of volunteers and their families. After the tour they will be taken to the Tate St Ives to enjoy some of the artwork on display.

The royal visit will be the couple’s first to St Ives, and huge crowds are expected to turn out for a glimpse as they make their way around. St Ives remains one of Cornwall’s best loved resorts, and the couple will no doubt appreciate the beauty that has inspired generations of artists.

South Devon may have some of the UK’s most stunning coastal scenery but the English Riviera isn’t just a pretty face, it’s also a UNESCO-recognised Global Geopark, and it’s packed with fascinating geology and landscape. This unique annual festival brings the past back to life for the whole family and it’s set for 25 May – 2 June.

The festival programme includes a huge range of events that showcase Torbay and its natural heritage, and visitors can enjoy walks and talks, cruises, stories in the caves, a rock pool safari, family firecraft and much more.

The Seafari cruise lasts for an hour and enables passengers to have a look at the landscape from the best vantage point – the sea. Greenway Ferries will make sure you see some of the area’s wildlife along the way, and they depart from Torquay and Brixham. If you’re staying in one of our Torquay or Brixham holiday cottages during the festival don’t miss the chance to take to the water and celebrate the region’s impressive past.

Newquay’s Watergate Bay hosts the award winning Veuve Clicquot Polo on the Beach once again from 18 – 19 May, so get ready to watch the action as the players battle it out in the surf.

Some of the best polo players in the world will descend on Cornwall’s infamous beach for an exhibition polo match to thrill the watching crowds. It’s the first time the popular waterside event has been set for a weekend, so don’t miss the chance to get close to the excitement as the high speed game unfolds in this spectacular setting.

The weekend will include live events, entertainment and a beach barbeque and bar, so if you’re staying in one of our luxury Watergate Bay holiday apartments you couldn’t be closer to the fun. The event is free for everyone, and two teams of international polo players are set to demonstrate how it’s done.

Dorset’s Christchurch should be firmly on the radar of any dedicated foodie, and the Christchurch Food and Wine Festival is set to get mouths watering between 10 – 19 May.  

The festival has a number of awards to its name, and the packed programme includes events, demonstrations and themed meals at various locations across Christchurch.  

One of the highlights is the Festival Market which takes place on Saturday 11 and Sunday 12 May, where more than 100 traders pack into the centre of town to offer high quality foods, drink and local produce. It’s a great day out if you’re staying in one of our Dorset holiday cottages, and there are always plenty of opportunities to try before you buy.

You haven’t experienced a festival until you’ve been to one on the Isle of Wight, and the island  hosts the Yarmouth Old Gaffers Festival between 31 May and 2 June. Better still, this year’s marks 50 years of the Old Gaffers Association. The festival opens on The Quay at noon on Friday 31 May, so come along and watch Vectis Corps of Drums make their way to the waterside to greet Neptune as he arrives by sea on a traditional old gaffer.

Yarmouth turns into one big party during the event, and gaff rigged vessels will fill the harbour. Like all good festivals Old Gaffers will include all kinds of live entertainment on the shore too, and the crowds will gather to watch the race on the Solent on Saturday. Each year sees more than a hundred Gaffers take part in the event, and it’s one of the island’s best-loved traditions. We still have Isle of Wight holiday cottages available for the weekend, so search today to get your first pick of a property.

The many acts set to perform throughout the weekend include Bournemouth Carnival Band, Wight Hot Pipes, Last Orders with their classic Irish sound, the one man band that is Vic Ellis, Voxpop, Caribbean Melody Steel Band, The Slipshod Singers and many more. The event also sees Yarmouth bustle with tasty continental market stalls, the Gaffers Bar Real Ale Festival and a display of veteran and classic vehicles.

Well ladies and gentlemen the results are out - The Radio Times have revealed their eight favourite beaches in Britain, so how did your favourite fare? Taking its inspiration from the BBC2 series Coast, The Radio Times has put together its favourite beaches for lounging, exploring and enjoying the scenery – and we have a selection of luxury holiday cottages close to two of the winners.

Newquay’s no stranger to the top of a beach poll, and the beautifully modest Crantock flies the flag for it at number one. Crantock is one of the quieter beaches in the Newquay area, and it’s just out of the way enough to avoid the crowds that its neighbours attract. If you park up in the National Trust car park at the bottom of Crantock village and make your way over the dune you’ll see just why it’s today’s number one.

The sprawling sandy beach feels miles away from anywhere, and it’s easy to spend hours enjoying the views without even realising it. You can even catch a ferry across the Gannel to Fern Pit and sample the fresh lobster before returning. We have Newquay holiday apartments within easy reach of Crantock Beach, and many of them welcome dogs too (don’t forget that Crantock Beach is dog friendly all year round).

There was a new arrival causing hearts to melt at Paignton Zoo last week, as the attraction's Bornean orangutan, Mali welcomed her baby.

Mother and baby already have access to the Ape Centre so lucky visitors will be increasingly likely to spot the cuddly pair throughout the summer. The baby is the first orangutan to be born at the zoo since 1997, and the birth last Thursday has excited keepers as well as visitors.

Paignton Zoo Environmental Park Director of Operations and Curator of Mammals Neil Bemment said “We are absolutely thrilled that our years of patience have been rewarded and that Mali is proving to be an excellent and attentive mother. The babies are such enchanting and vulnerable looking creatures that you can’t help but want to do something to save orangs from extinction”.

There’s a special event coming to Somerset as the 150^th Royal Bath and West Show takes place between 29^th May and 1^st June.

A show’s got to be pretty special to run for 150 years, and this one’s still the biggest event in the county. Taking place at Shepton Mallet’s showground, the historic event will include fine livestock, motorcycle displays, local produce and a wide range of activities for the whole family.

The show has always attracted animal lovers and there’s no shortage of displays, competitions and chances to say hello to some of the South West’s four-legged folk. The programme includes the ‘Best in Show’ trials for livestock, a Fur and Feather zone where you can get up close to smaller animals and birds, falconry displays, heavy horses and show jumping.