Fishy business
A new aquarium opens in Portsmouth this month. The Blue Reef Aquarium, with more than 30 naturally themed displays, including a tropical ocean reef tank with a walk-through tunnel, opens on March 20 on Clarence Esplanade, Southsea. Open 10am daily. Adults £5.95, children £3.95. Information: 02392 875222, bluereefaquarium.co.uk.
Rich tapestry
Tapestry Holidays, better known for its off-the-beaten-track properties in Turkey and Greece, has launched a number of new activity breaks. They include painting, walking, bridge and yoga holidays. For further details see tapestryholidays.com.
Orchestral manoeuvres
The National Trust are organising nearly 40 special events between April and July this year, to celebrate the Queen's golden jubilee. They include an evening of 20th-century classics from the English Philharmonic Orchestra at Kedleston Hall, Derbyshire, on July 27. For details: 0870 4584000, nationaltrust.org.uk.
Park life
Details of 20 camping and caravanning parks in Shropshire are contained in a new leaflet, Shropshire: Caravan and Camping 2002. Available from Shropshire Tourism 01743 462462, ShropshireBreaks.co.uk.
Trail finders
The second edition of the Ridgeway National Trail Companion, a guide for walkers, horse riders and cyclists on the 85 miles of road from Overton Hill in Wiltshire to Ivinghoe Beacon in Bucks, is available for £3.95, plus £1.05 p&p, from the National Trails Office, Holton, Oxford OX33 1QQ (01865 810224, nationaltrails.gov.uk).
Andes trek
The YWCA is running a women-only trek in the Andes, raising money to help disadvantaged young women. The trip lasts 11 days: four are spent trekking and two volunteering in a Venezuelan orphanage. The target is for each participant to raise £2,600. For details ring 01865 304217, ywca-gb.org.uk.
Other animals
Authors and broadcasters will be among those participating in the inaugural Durrell School of Corfu on the island from May 26-31 and June 3-7, 2002. The School will celebrate the life and works of the novelist, poet and travel writer Lawrence Durrell and his brother, the zoologist and broadcaster Gerald. Both lived on Corfu. Among those taking part will be Mario Vargas Llosa and Nicholas Gage, Misha Glenny and Professor David Bellamy. For full details, contact Peter Cookson at Spear Travels on 01423 324545 or see durrellschoolcorfu.org.
Walk on
Countrywide walking holidays (01942 823456, countrywidewalking.com) has produced its new brochure which features new breaks on the Sussex coast, the North York moors and in the Lake District as well as Austria, Ireland, Italy and Spain. All the walks are graded (leisurely, moderate or strenuous). Some are self-guided, others in groups, with a total of 46 destinations on offer.
