Congratulations to Craig Garnett, Glasgow, who is the May winner of our writing competition, winning a £50 Marks & Spencers voucher and the chance to win a short stay at one of our finest properties! Staying in Dorset, he and his wife enjoyed the stunning views and fascinating coastline on offer in this beautiful part of the world. If you would like to be in with a chance of winning the aforementioned fantastic prizes, simply email around 500 words on your favourite activity in the South West to ewan@bluechipvacations.com. To read more of Craig’s break in Dorset, click here.

 A great way to get a feel of the true beauty of this wonderful region is by watching the fascinating Great British Railway Journeys. Presented by Michael Portillo, this great series follows a route around the country through the striking scenery that many railway lines traverse.

 

Blue Chip Vacations recently announced that it has agreed a deal with Comer Homes to market 50 apartments at its Ocean Views Portland development.  The apartments, which include a number that have been booking well since October, will be made available in batches of 10.  The first full batch will be ready in early 2010, with the remainder coming on board throughout the rest of the year, 2011 and in the run up to 2012.

The weather may not be terribly clement at the moment, but if you wrap up nice and warm; the winter months are perfect for going storm watching around the coast in the South West.  These pictures were taken at Portland Cove, on a recent stay in Portland, Dorset.

 Waves crashing on Chesil Beach, Portland

There can be very few locations in the world where you can overlook an Olympic finish line from your own luxury apartment, but that's exactly what you get at Ocean Views, Portland, Dorset.

It seems Santa Claus will be coming to town a little early for one of Blue Chip Vacations guests this Christmas, as one lucky customer will arrive to find £250 of presents specially selected for their party, alongside a luxury Christmas hamper, tree and decorations. So what better time to make Christmas extra special this year and escape to the South West?  Blue Chip Vacations’ great range of cosy Christmas self-catering cottages, lodges, contemporary coastal apartments and holiday homes available in Somerset, Devon and Cornwall are bound to fill you with festive cheer!

Read on for part 2 of Blue Chip's roving reporter - Ewan Davy's  trip to Weymouth and Portland in Dorset.  Today he explores Portland Castle and goes further afield, taking in the nearby village of Cerne Abbas with its famous chalk "Cerne Giant".

 

Sunday was a sleep in day, and why not. Indulgence is what holiday's are all about, and when the beds are as comfortable as those 510, it's hard to muster the energy to actually get up, but I did manage it.

Last weekend Ewan Davy took some time out from managing Blue Chip Vacations' PR to go and visit the fantastic new apartments at Ocean View in Portland. Not only are they Blue Chip's first holiday apartments in Dorset, but they are also in a prime position for taking in all the action of the 2012 Olympic sailing venue.   Read on for Part one of Ewan's trip to Portland. 

 Dorset Revisited...

It must be well over fifteen years since I lived in the dramatic, beautiful and historic county of Dorset, just twenty miles or so from Weymouth. Despite spending the bulk of my childhood there and occasional trips to Weymouth and Chesil Beach, I'd never been to the Island of Portland, so when the opportunity arose to stay there, I leapt at it.