From the highest quality leather shooting accessories such as cartridge cases and gun slips to a gorgeous desk blotter or stationery tray, the words ‘England’, ‘craftsmen’ and ‘leather’ seem to evoke an innate sense of quality.

We almost expect to discover the kind of quality that makes you proud to own the luxury goods, to run your finger along the seams, to smell the leather and admire the way it looks.

If you have a beautiful wooden writing desk then a luxury leather desk blotter not only provides a very practical solution, protecting the surface of your desk and providing a convenient surface for writing or signing letters and documents, but by choosing a luxury leather desk blotter that’s
handmade in England by real craftsmen, then you know that the way it looks and feels is every bit as important and appreciated as how it works.

Hip flasks have long proven popular, whether by those setting off for a long country walk, a highland hike or a day shooting. But hip flasks serve a greater purpose than simply being a portable container for a refreshing drink, or a wee drop of the special Scottish water!

Hip flasks are stylish accessories, beautiful items in themselves, providing convenience, luxury and style all in an elegant, lightweight, durable package that can be carried or worn easily.

Luxury English leather goods can include a range of hip flasks, or containers for hip flasks, enabling you to face nature with a bracing determination and a beautiful hip flask of which you’ll be as pleased with the exterior as much as the interior! Plastic bottles are for students. For the perfect English gentleman, luxury leather hip flasks are the order of the day.

When it comes to choosing gun slips and cartridge cases, leather shooting accessories are head and shoulders above plastic alternatives, providing both the look and style that is the mark of quality. But it’s more than that, because leather is soft, malleable and durable, providing protection from the elements, and ensuring your shooting equipment remains in excellent condition, removing any possible excuse for missing that brace on Sunday!

Peraleja Golf Resort

The resort is situated right next door to the Polaris Resort of Hacienda Riquelme. This resort is an apartment-only development with around 1800 properties. All of the properties and public areas are completed. The golf course is superb and the new town centre area is now well underway with the first units due to open late June 2010.

There are a number of re-sale bargains on both developments plus there are a number of re-possession properties on Hacienda Riquelme and a small number of bank owned properties with up to 90% mortgages available. At Peraleja, there is current availability of several key ready or ‘nearly ready’ plots direct from the developer that can be bought at fantastic prices.

Hacienda promises to be one of the nicest apartment resorts when completed later this year. Peraleja is probably one of the quietest and the best villa only resort.

If you are planning a trip over to Murcia contact Murcia Golf Properties – they are able to offer subsidised accommodation and operate on a ‘no pressure’ basis. As property owners themselves, they can offer first hand advice on buying a Polaris World property.

Campingandcaravandirect

UK Suppliers of famous outdoor brands like Coleman, Campingaz, Sevylor and Royal all at great prices. They also have a camping & caravan site finder that holds the contact details of camping & caravan parks from all parts of the UK for you to choose from for your next holiday, you can even leave your own site review or photos of your holiday.

There are some fantastic reasons for taking up the hobby of metal detecting. Some may even refer to it as a sport due to the exercise you will also be getting as you search for the unknown – the hidden treasure that could lie just beneath your feet. Using a metal detector, could quite simply take you anywhere, the possibilities are endless.

Think of how satisfied and excited Terry Herbet must be right now with his massive find in Staffordshire! Terry may have just unknowingly stumbled upon the discovery of a lifetime, one that has the potential to change our beliefs and challenges the way we will now view history.

In case you are not aware, Terry stumbled upon one of the most amazing treasures of all time whilst metal detecting in Staffordshire, and once the items are valued, the pay off for his hobby will more than likely provide him with millions to last him the rest of his life.

How’s that for a hidden treasure!

We may not all be able to come across as brilliant a find as Terry, however there are definitely some valuable discoveries still to be found out there. They could just be waiting for you and your metal detector to discover them.

So how do you do it?

First and foremost, you will need to ensure you have a good metal detector that will be effective for the places you wish to search. There are different options available if you would like to detect on the beach, park, or underwater. Yes underwater!

Finding treasure underwater is often referred to as deep metal detecting. This can be extremely profitable as many valuable items are lost out at sea and never to be recovered again. That is of course, until you came along!

To achieve success with your metal detecting, it is important to conduct research beforehand. The useful information that you can gather from your local library or through searching the Internet can provide you with a great starting point.

Knowing where to start is one of the key factors for any person wishing to take this hobby seriously. Simply getting out your metal detector and starting on your front lawn may lead you to finding some interesting things, however visiting places from our history, that you have researched beforehand, could prove far more fruitful, as Terry now knows all too well.

Metal detecting can be fun and rewarding for anyone wishing to give it a go. It doesn’t have to cost you the earth to purchase a metal detector – Terry got his from a jumble sale!

Murcia golf properties

Location of Los Olivos Resort

Los Olivos residential resort is situated within the main golf resort of Mosa Trajectum in the Murcia region of Spain. Currently the San Javier airport is the closest to the resort and a mere 20 minute journey by hire car or taxi. From 2010, the new Corvera airport will open close to Los Olivos substantially cutting that journey time. The Polaris World resorts of El Valle, Hacienda Riquelme, La Torre and Mar Menor are a short journey from Los Olivos and the beautiful beaches of the Costa Calida and crystal clear waters of the Mar Menor lagoon are within a 15 minute drive.

Los Olivos Facilities

As this exclusive residential resort is within the established Mosa Trajectum Golf Resort, many of the facilities are fully open and operational while others will open in the near future.

At the heart of the resort is the 300 year-old Parador farm building which has been converted to a restaurant, Tapas bar and guest-house. Two more hotels are planned for the resort – a 5 star hotel overlooking the Parador and a 4-star sports hotel which will be adjacent to the sports academy (where you’ll find tennis courts and other sporting facilities).

Next to the Parador is a 19^th century chapel available for wedding ceremonies and worship. The shopping village has recently opened and is spread across nine buildings. Here you’ll find various shops along with restaurants serving Spanish and Italian cuisine. There is also a music venue planned and Billi’s Sports Bar has recently opened offering snacks, drinks and Sky TV.

Los Olivos Golfing

Before we talk about the golf courses available to Los Olivos residents we should mention the conservation of nature and the surrounding environment which has played an important role in implementing three golf courses that are the most ecological in Spain. The courses at Mosa Trajectum use biodegradable foam and slow release fertilisers to avoid contaminating groundwater while also helping to reduce water evaporation by 70%. The lakes around the resort are the first in the world to be free from legionella and both wastewater and rainwater is purified at the on-site plant.

Mosa Trajectum boasts three nine-hole courses with a combined 27-holes offering the possibility of three separate rounds of 18-hole golfing. Each course has been given a different name and each presents a unique challenge to your game. There is also a par-3 practice course and driving range.

The Stone Course – If your game is suited to a technical challenge and plenty of strategy then the Stone Course will provide a real test of those skills. The nine holes here offer a breathtaking landscape created using over 8,000 palm tress and over 20,000 cacti.

The Olive Course – These nine holes characterise a typical Spanish countryside meandering through olive trees and designed in a links style resemble courses found in the UK.

The Pine Course – At the highest point of the resort you’ll find the Pine Course and its stunning views across Mosa Trajectum and the landscape beyond. The fairways and greens are guarded by over 3,000 pine tress and the hidden water hazards will test your course management skills.

Los Olivos Villas

The Los Olivos development at Mosa Trajectum has 27 villas with just 16 currently left for sale. The villas have private communal swimming pools and many have front line views of the golf course. The villas have been built in a typical Spanish style and finished to a high standard.

Recommended properties

	This beautiful three bedroom villa has full air conditioning, central heating, garage, private garden and access to a communal swimming pool. The property also benefits from a piped music system throughout and a video entry system. It is currently discounted by 15% with further discounts available on quick completion.
	This 3-bed, 3-bathroom villa has all the benefits of the property above with the same great discounts. The communal pool for this property is shared with only six other villas.
	Another great three bedroom villa, this property backs on to the golf course and offers the same features as the first two properties. Favourable discounts are also available on quick completion.

Getting to El Valle Golf Resort

Flying in from the UK will take approximately two hours and by 2010 there’ll be a choice of airports. Currently, San Javier airport is the closest with just a 20 minute drive to El Valle. Alternatively, Alicante airport is a 45 minute journey but by next year the new airport under construction at Corvera will open which means journey time to El Valle will be down to just 15 minutes.

If you’re looking to travel within the country or perhaps are already located in Spain, the golf resort is 3.5 hours drive from Madrid, 2.5 hours from Valencia and 2 hours from Granada.

Location of El Valle Golf Resort

As the name of the resort suggests, El Valle is located in a valley at the foot of the Carrascoy Mountains next to Baños Y Mendigo, a hamlet with only 340 inhabitants. The name ‘Baños Y Mendigo’ translates as ‘Baths and Beggar (or pauper)’ and refers to the historical waters which were used for irrigation and bathing of locals and a small chapel which was once home to a beggar.

The beaches at Mar Menor and the other golf resorts of La Loma, La Torre, Hacienda Riquelme, Laa Terrazas de la Torre and Mar Menor are within a 15 minute drive.

Facilities and things to do at El Valle

As with many of the golf resorts in Murcia, construction is still ongoing but once complete El Valle will boast some high quality facilities. The clubhouse opened last summer and is home to the El Asador restaurant, the Sandalo Bar and the Clover Irish Bar. Once the town centre is complete, all the amenities you’d expect such as shops, gym and a health spa will become available.

In the meantime, El Valle is on the Polaris World shuttle bus route which means as a resident you can travel to the nearby resorts of Hacienda Riquelme, La Torre and Mar Menor and take advantage of their facilities without having to drive.

If you want a break from golfing, the city of Murcia is a 15 minute drive from El Valle. There you’ll find stunning architecture, a grand cathedral, museums, high street shops and pavement cafés. The Aqua Natura water park is also close to Murcia city combining water slides with a zoo.

The clear blue seas of Mar Menor and its splendid beaches are just 10 minutes from El Valle. Mar Menor is perfect for the water sports enthusiast. If water isn’t your thing, you can go hiking, cycling and fishing around the nature reserves and mountains of Murcia.

El Valle Resale Golf Property

Just 668 properties including apartments and three types of villa have been built at El Valle. Apartments range from two bedroom/1bathroom to 2 bed/2 bathroom. Villas are available as three bedroom/two bathroom, three bed/three bathroom and huge five bed/five bathroom. Interiors have been fitted with superior finishes including air conditioning, fully fitted kitchens, timber shutters and private pools.

Recommended properties

	This apartment has been reduced to a fantastic price. Two bedroom and two bathrooms and has air-conditioning throughout, central heating and double glazed windows. It has a great terrace with two aspects and is not far from the sports facilities and golf clubhouse.
	Ground floor apartment with large garden around front and side of apartment including a jacuzzi.  Views over the communal pool towards the town centre. The apartment has 2 bedrooms and one bathroom and is in a great position on this exclusive resort. The apartment is located on a corner and is in a close to the town centre and hotel.
	This beautiful villa has three bedrooms with fitted wardrobes, two bathrooms (one with whirlpool bath), living room with high vaulted ceiling and doors onto the rear patio, covered eating area with built-in barbeque, private heated swimming pool, driveway, kitchen with fitted appliances and utility room.

El Valle Golf Course

The real reason for buying a property at El Valle is to play the Jack Nicklaus designed championship golf course. An 18-hole desert-style par 71 challenge awaits you each day and this undulating course utilises the natural terrain and hazards you’d expect of golfing set in Murcian hills and countryside.

El Valle is by no means a long course at 6,161 yards and any golfer with a long game will score well provided they steer clear of the many hazards. With few trees and very little out of bounds areas even the wayward shots off the tee can pick up an advance forward on the ball and get back in play without problem.

Residents of El Valle receive favourable discounts on Green Fees. Special promotional periods where you can get free buggies are also sometimes available. Once you’ve played the El Valle challenge, there’s the other Nicklaus golf trail courses located at each of the Polaris World resorts to visit where you can receive up to 50% of your Green Fees.

Why charter a yacht with a skipper?

Chartering a skippered yacht on the Solent has many benefits whether it’s a business day out, social occasion with family and friends or a long summer cruise. From corporate events to special birthdays; anniversaries to stag days, a safely handled skippered yacht charter offers a unique and memorable day out for everyone. Sailing out from Bucklers Hard Marina, down the Beaulieu River and then out into the Solent, you’ll enjoy an exciting and rewarding experience bonding as a team or taking time out with the family. If you need to recharge your batteries or learn some new skills in a fun and thrilling environment, skippered Solent yacht charter offers a unique and unforgettable experience with the added safety and guidance of a professional skipper at the helm.

Skippered family yacht charter

Skippered Solent yacht charter is the perfect way to celebrate a special family occasion or an ideal adventure day for parents and children. You’ll get to spend some quality time together and under the guidance of an experienced skipper learn new skills that will challenge everyone in the family helping to build closer bonds between you while creating some lasting memories.

If it’s a family occasion with children you’ll need a family friendly yacht charter. Safety is paramount so try and charter a yacht with safety netting to help prevent anyone accidentally falling overboard. Ensure the yacht you charter complies with the minimum safety provisions and is coded to DTI regulations. This will ensure the yacht will have all the necessary safety equipment on board, is able to safely carry the required number of people and can operate a specified distance offshore. A category 2 yacht is able to sail 60 miles from the shore with a maximum of eight people on board.

How you spend your day sailing is up to you. If you’ve never sailed before then don’t worry, experience isn’t necessary. Your skipper will get every family member to participate in the handling of the yacht including helming (taking control of steering the boat). You can lunch on board or berth at a local town quay and lunch ashore in a pub or restaurant. Sailing is a rewarding family experience and a healthy way to spend time together.

Skippered corporate yacht charter

If you’re looking for an alternative to the usual paintball day-out or round of golf with the sales team, a skippered corporate yacht charter on the Solent is a memorable and rewarding way to motivate your staff or impress your clients. As an organised event, Solent yacht charter can help develop strong team-building skills or strengthen relationships with clients.

Allow an experienced skipper to be your team’s ‘boss’ for the day guiding management and staff together to help sail the yacht for an exhilarating day on the Solent. The whole day can be geared toward sailing or you can combine a morning seminar with an afternoon’s sail. Have lunch on board while at anchor along the Beaulieu river or berth at a local destination and go ashore to eat. Choose a company who is able to provide catering with their corporate Solent yacht charter package and discuss the exact day’s arrangements with them.

Useful things to take with you

The yacht charterer will be able to provide all the equipment you’ll need but you may need to bring a few things with you.

• Wet weather gear – Some charterers will either hire this to you or have sufficient jackets and trousers on board for everyone. Decent waterproof clothing is essential so check when booking if you’ll need to bring these items with you or hire them.
• Non-slip trainers or deck shoes.
• Wellies – Yacht wellies have drawstring tops that tighten up preventing water from getting in. Your charterer may hire these to you but check when booking to see if you’ll need a pair.
• Sun cream – even on a slightly overcast day you should never underestimate the sun especially when at sea where you’re exposed. Bring enough sun cream for everyone in the party.
• Camera – Don’t forger your camera to take some snaps of your sail. You’ll want a visual reminder of your fantastic day out on the Solent but make sure your camera has got a secure wrist-strap as you wouldn’t want to lose it overboard!

Hacienda Riquelme Resales

The Hacienda Riquelme Polaris World golf resort is apartment only which means a low-density of buildings – indeed the first thing you’ll notice is how expansive this resort feels with its stunning gardens and apartments modelled on the existing colonial architectural style. Some of the best Hacienda Riquelme resale properties currently available are listed below:

	This beautiful 2-bedroom apartment is situated on the second-floor and served by a lift to a private underground car-park. It’s ‘L’ shaped terrace is south-east facing and overlooks the golf course, private communal swimming pool and resort lakes.
	With views across the 17th fairway of the golf course, this first floor 2-bedroom apartment is situated within landscaped gardens and offers air-conditioned living spaces with double bedrooms opening out onto a rear terrace.
	Those looking for ground floor living will find this apartment situated at the 13th hole with views across the golf course and pool. 2 bedrooms and air-conditioned living areas plus a private underground parking space make this property an attractive purchase.

Hacienda Riquelme facilities

The golf resort is benefiting from ongoing development providing residents with an ever expanding selection of new facilities. The main focus is around the restoration of the Hacienda building which will eventually be the site of a new clubhouse, shops and restaurants (the building itself will be home to two themed Italian and Mexican restaurants). Once completed the resort will have a 5 star town plaza but in the meantime residents can take advantage of the excellent facilities within the other nearby Polaris World resorts of Mar Menor, La Torre, El Valle and Las Terrazas.

The highlight of the Hacienda Riquelme development is the Jack Nicklaus designed golf course. One of the longest courses on the Nicklaus golf trail, Hacienda Riquelme is a good test for golfers with plenty of lakes and olive-tree lined fairways.

There are plenty of discounts to be found on green fees and annual memberships. A year’s annual membership to play on all of the Nicklaus Golf Trail courses (9 in total) costs around 2,500 Euros or you can get a round of golf during the spring summer months on the Hacienda Riquelme course and other Polaris World courses after 3pm (twilight) for about 30 Euros. A shuttle bus service links the Polaris World resorts should you want to leave the car behind.

Hacienda Riquelme currently has a Sports Area under construction which will contain tennis courts, paddle tennis courts and and a floodlit multi-sport area as well as a playground.

Out and about

Outside of the resort you’ll find plenty of activities and places of interest. The Murcia region has some fantastic local markets to visit in the nearby towns and villages of Sucina, Los Alcavares, San Pedro del Pinatar and Torre Pacheco. Each town hosts a market on different days of the week typically between 9:00am and 1:30pm. Sucina is the closest town but all the other locations are within a short 20-30 minute drive from the resort.

For the film-lovers among you, the shopping centre complex at Los Najeros (just north of Los Alcavares and a 25 minute drive away) has a cinema showing English-speaking films as does the cinema at Pilar de la Horadada on alternate weekends (about 30 minutes drive from the golf resort).

If you love the beach and water sports, the Mar Menor coast with its crystal clear water and pretty beaches is just a 20 minute drive away.

Getting to Murcia – Flights and Airports

Murcia is just 75km south of Alicante and both cities have their own airport from which you can travel to Mar Menor. Currently there are 10 airlines flying to both these airports which means plenty of low-cost flights. In 2010, another airport will open in Corvera just 20 minutes outside of Murcia city.

With a flight time from London to Murcia airport at just under 2 hours, and many UK regional airports also providing daily flights to the region, Mar Menor is simple to get to making it a great golf resort for long breaks or a short weekend trip.

If you’re flying into Alicante you’re just a 45 minute drive from the Polaris World Mar Menor resort via the A7, AP7 and A30 motorways. From Murcia airport, which is actually situated near the town of San Javier (45km from the city of Murcia) it’s a mere 10 minute car or taxi journey.

Getting to Mar Menor Golf Resort – Taxi or Car Hire

If your flight lands at Murcia airport then your best options for getting to the Mar Menor Golf Resort are by taxi or hiring a car – public transport does not serve the area well.

A taxi from Murcia airport will cost around €20.00 and take approximately 10 minutes. If you’re landing at Alicante, expect to pay around €70.00 for a 40 minute journey into the Mar Menor Golf Resort.

If your search for a golf property at Mar Menor is over a few days why not take advantage of hiring a car so you can get around and visit some of the fantastic attractions, mountains and beaches the region has to offer. Spanish car hire is relatively cheap and you’ll find a good choice at both Murcia and Alicante airports. Book ahead and then pick up your keys from the terminal rental office on arrival. You can get some great deals using online internet car hire brokers such as Sky Cars or Car Jet.

Once you become a Polaris World Mar Menor Golf Resort resident or owner you’ll be able to take advantage of Polaris World’s own car rental service. You’ll find the service offers some competitive rates and exclusive services such as collection from the airport and your car being delivered to your golf property. Prices for this exclusive service for a small hatchback begin at around €40-50 per day.

Staying at Mar Menor Golf Resort

Given that your golf property search is at Mar Menor it makes sense to try and stay in the heart of the golf resort to soak up the atmosphere, play a round of golf and see for yourself all that this quality resort has to offer. Mar Menor has its own 5-Star hotel with all the facilities you’d expect from a world-class hotel including a pool, gym and a number of bars and restaurants.

A short car journey west of the Mar Menor Golf Resort is the municipal of Torre Pacheco where you’ll find some quality accommodation for your stay in Murcia. A few miles East of the resort is Los Alcazares, a village on the coast of the Mar Menor sea famous for its therapeutic waters. Here you’ll find some great 4-Star hotels ideally placed for water sports and your journey to Mar Menor to check out some golfing properties.

Polaris World Mar Menor Golf Resort Properties

Once you’ve arrived safely in the sunny region of Murcia you can begin your search for the ideal golf property at Mar Menor. The resort boasts a Jack Nicholas designed golf course surrounded by lush green vegetation and palm tree lined pathways which will guide you around this magnificent resort. Created as place for complete luxury, relaxation and a healthy lifestyle for its residents, you won’t be disappointed by the unique atmosphere Mar Menor has to offer.

Here’s a selection of the great Polaris World golf properties currently available at Mar Menor.

	Mar Menor Golf Resort – 2 Bed Villa A beautifully furnished 2 bed villa with 2 bathrooms and a living/dining room area. West facing with air-conditioning, central heating, a glazed terrace area, private swimming pool and solarium.
	Mar Menor Golf Resort – 2 Bed Villa West facing semi-detached 2 bedroom villa with large rear garden that’s well-established with plants and borders. Both floors have their own terrace and the property comes complete with its own Jacuzzi.
	Mar Menor Golf Resort – First Floor Apartment Ready for late 2009, this first floor apartment boats south facing views over the golf course. 2 bedrooms and constructed over two floors this is effectively a penthouse that offers a great value way into property on the resort.
	Mar Menor Golf Resort – Ground Floor Apartment Only 9 of these large terraced apartments are being built at present and will be ready late 2009. South facing with views over the golf course, the property offers 2 bedrooms and a great internal design.