BLACK’S GUIDE-BOOKS Alton Towers and Dovedale, Is Belfast and Giant’s Causeway, Is Brighton, Is Buxton, Is Channel Islands (Jersey, Guernsey, Alderney), 3s 6d Cheltenham and Bath, Is Cornwall (and Seilly Isles), 2s 6d Derbyshire (Buxton, Matlock, Chatsworth), 2S 6d Devonshire (Torquay, Plymouth, Exeter), 2s 6d Dorsetshire (Swanage, Weymouth, &e.), Is 6d Dublin and Wicklow, Is Edinburgh, 6d England (with Plans of Towns), 10s 6d English Lakes (Plintoft’s & Foster’s Illustrations), 3s 6d Cheap Edition, Is Galway, Connemara, and the Shannon, Is Glasgow and Environs, Is Gloucestershire, 2s 6d Guernsey (St. Peter Port, &c.), Is National Library of Scotland lllEllllIlllIllllllil *6000352089* Black’s Guide-Books—continued. Hampshire (Bournemouth, Portsmouth, &c.) 2s 0d Harrogate, Is Hereford and Monmouth, 2s 6d Ireland, 6s Isle of Man, 2s 6d Isle of Wight, Is 6d Jersey (St. HeUer’s, &c.), Is Kent (Dover, Ramsgate, Margate), 3s 6d Killarney Lakes, Is Leamington and Environs, Is , Leicester and Rutland, 2s 6d Liverpool and Birkenhead (with Environs), Is London and Environs, 3s 6d Manchester and Salford, Is Moffat Spa (Dumfriesshire), Is Nottinghamshire, 3s 8d Scarborough and Whitby, Is Scotland (Twenty-seventh Edition), 8s 6d Scotland, Shilling Edition, Is Surrey, 2s 6d Sussex (Brighton, Hastings, Eastbourne), 2s 6d Trosachs and Loch Lomond, Is Wales (complete in 1 vol.), 5s Do. North, 3s 6d Do. South, 2s 6d Do. ShUling Edition, Is Warwickshire (Birm., Leamington, Stratford), 2s 6d Where shall we Go ? (Watering-Places) 2s 6d; cloth 3s Yorkshire (with Map), 5s LONDON, BRIGHTON, & SOUTH COAST RAILWAY. THE DIRECT MID-SUSSEX LINE. The Shortest and Quickest Main Line Route to or from the City and West End of London and the Isle of Wight. BOATS from RYDE and also from COWES, connecting with WestFast Trains End Stations.) Direct to London Bridge and Victoria. (The City and Portsmouth Harbour Station and Pier. This New versa,Station under enables a covered Passengers platform. to walk direct from Train to Boat, and vice Ryde Pier Railway. Isle of Wight Trains now run to andSteamers from ofthe this Pier Route. Head Station, connecting with the Through Service The BEST ROUTE also, via Victoria, to or from the Northern and Midland Districts. SPECIAL FACILITIES for the Comfort and Convenience of Families. The andOnly West Route End of London to and without from PORTSMOUTHchange of carriage. and the City THROUGH TICKETS issued and LUGGAGE Registered including all charges. LONDON STATIONS. London Bridge, Victoria, Kensington (Addison Road), West Peckham,Brompton, Denmark Chelsea, Hill,Clapham Tulse Junction, Hill, Brixton, New Cross,Streatham, Old Kent&c. Road, Victoria Station connects with the London and North-Western, Greatand Dover, Western, Metropolitan, Great Northern, and District Midland, Railways. North London, Chatham, Kensington (Addison Road) Station connects with the London andRailways. North-Western, Great Western, Metropolitan, and District London Bridge Station connects with the Charing Cross, Cannon Street, and South Eastern Railway. EsplanadeBooking ; &Messrs. Enquiry Pickford Offices.—Ryde: and Co.’s, 71 the Union Pier; Street. Messrs. Ventnor:Curtis and Messrs. Son’s, Newport:Pickford andRailway Co.’s, Station High ;Street the Company’s ; Messrs. Office,Curtis Highand StreetSon’s, (adjoiningSpring Hill. the ‘ BoatBugle Quay Hotel); ; Messrs. Messrs. Pickford Pickford and and Co.’s, Co.’s, Town 113 St.Quay. James Portsea Street. : theCowes Company’s : Steam Office,District 4 Agent,Marmion 4 OrdnanceRoad, and Row. all the Southsea Stations :on General the Isle Booking of Wight and Railways. Enquiry ^,• Ask for through Tickets by “ South Coast Railway.” , A. SARLE, Secretary and General Manager. ^ % London Bridge Station. 4"^ HEALTHIEST AND MOST BEAUTIFUL WATERING PLACES IN THE BRITISH ISLANDS, % 19 75 " PREFACE. Where shall we go 1—is a question that often perplexes us, as our imagination calls up, first one and then another vision of sea- side or inland resort that we have either read about, or heard others talk o£ Limited as are the opportunities for relaxation, we feel that we must make the very best of them when they do occur. We take up hooks for enlightenment, at such times, in the same way as we consult a Mend; and in order that we may get just such answers, and no more, as may satisfy without confusing us. To he such a Mend is the aim of this little volume; and it attempts to answer the question already put, by placing, in alpha- betical order, notices of every sea-side or inland watering-place in the United Kingdom and Ireland of the slightest pretension. Turn to any of these, as prepossession, or local convenience, or (if an invalid) physical requirements suggest, and there will be found an attempt to shew what each place really is, what it looks like, and how far it is adapted to particular tastes, wishes, or necessities. The usual details of topography, or local antiquities, are not dwelt on, except in so far as they may add to recreation; but the beauties of a place, if it is beautiful, are particularly described; and an account is given of the climate and temperature, exposure, and prevailing IV PREFACE. winds; for it is now well known how much comfort, animal spirits, and health, depend upon these things. And as, hy the general arrangement of the hook, a reader will be able to find at once the place he may require, so in the account of that place we have endeavoured to give him a ready command over the special information he may wish, hy distributing the materials under the following heads:—The Place, as signified by its name; Climate; Bathing; Mineral Waters, if any; Recreations ; Newspapers ; Places of Worship ; Markets and Fairs ; Population ; Conveyances ; Telegraph Stations ; and Hotels. And thus do we hope to aid in the solution of the pleasing but perplexing problem—Where shall we go? REMARKS ON CLIMATE ADDRESSED CHIEFLY TO INVALIDS. “ Of all the climates of Europe, England seems to me,” says Sir Humphrey Davy, “ to be most fitted for activity of mind, and the least suited for repose. The alternations of a climate so varied and rapid, constantly awaken new sensations; and the changes of the sky from dryness to moisture, from the blue ethereal to cloudiness and fogs, seem to keep the nervous system in a constant state of excitement. In the changeful and tumultuous atmosphere of England, to be tranquil is a labour, and employment is necessary in order to ward off ennui.” Every one must feel the truth of these remarks, yet there are few who draw from them the obvious conclusion, that we should endeavour to restore the natural balance of the powers, by measures calculated in some degree to give a bodily activity, to correspond with the mental activity Sir Humphrey speaks of; and thus to enable the system to bear, without serious injury, the excessive nervous excitement to which we are all subject. But whatever we may do in our ordinary state of life, it is clear that the man who leaves the busy haunts of society, jaded and spiritless from over-wrought exertions, to seek rest and refreshment,—and that invalids of all classes, who need even longer period's of change of air and residence,—should, at all events, determine at the outset what it is they want, and what they do not want; i. e., they do require rest for the mind and nerves, but they do not require rest for the mechanical framework of the body; on the contrary, they need, and should have, as much vigorous employment as possible, in walking at all periods of the day, riding, boating, angling, etc. Such recreations should be looked on as no unimportant part of the life at the watering-place. We may observe in passing, that Great Britain is, notwithstanding all disad- vantages. now known to be the healthiest of all European countries;— vi KEMARKS ON CLIMATE. a fact that should be chiefly valuable in stimulating us to conquer even those disadvantages, and to raise the health and permanence of life a step higher. To the general reader we need not further address our- selves ; but as the question of climate is one of the most serious import- ance to invalids, and involves for them such serious result, in the answer to the question of “Where shall we go?” we will incorporate with our own remarks here following, the substance of the advice given by Sir James Clark, in his admirable and well-known book; which, though published many years ago, remains to this hour the standard authority on the subject:— • The influence of climate in the prevention and cure of diseases, is, for many reasons, a subject of peculiar interest to the inhabitants of this country. To the inclemency of our seasons, we are justified in attribut- ing some of our most fatal diseases; and many others of great frequency, if they do not derive their origin immediately from our climate, are at least greatly aggravated by it. Among this number may be reckoned pulmonary consumption and some other fatal diseases of the chest, scrofu- lous affections, rheumatism, disorders of the digestive organs, hypochon- driasis, and a numerous train of nervous disorders. For the prevention of some, and the cure of others, of these diseases, a temporary resi- dence in a milder climate is the best, often the only effectual remedy we possess. Change of climate and change of air have been considered by physi-. cians as remedial agents of great efficiency from a very early period, and the correctness of the opinion is supported both by reason and experience. It is reasonable, for example, to believe that, a change of residence from a crowded city to the country, or from a cold exposed part of the country to a warmer or more sheltered one, or from a confined humid valley to a dry elevated situation, or the reverse, would produce very sensible effects on the living body j and we find by daily experience that such is the case.