Corkboard: our weekly travel news roundup

A Napoleonic fort turned luxury gaff in the Solent, Greece's other Olympics – in fancy dress – and your rude waiter encounters
  
  

Spitbank Fort in the Solent near Portsmouth
Spitbank Fort in the Solent near Portsmouth Photograph: PR

Escapism

A former Napoleonic fort in the Solent has been transformed into a luxury holiday let, available through agents including Amazing Retreats (clarenco.com/venues). Spitbank Fort is reached by boat from Portsmouth and features an outdoor hot tub and sauna, rooftop champagne bar, library, games room, and sleeps 18 in nine bedrooms. One night exclusive use costs £5,500 (transfer included) until the end of September. Rooms are available individually for events, such as a champagne and oyster masterclass on 20-21 July for £2,000 for two for two nights, including meals.

What's new?

Sports events
Didn't get Olympics tickets? Head instead to Greece's Nemean Games (nemeangames.org) in the southern Peloponnese, which date back to 300BC. The modern version takes place every four years, with the next one set to happen on 23 June. Anyone can take part for free in events such as the 100m and 7.5km races – competitors are expected to dress in the clothes of the day – that means white tunics, bare feet, and a crown of wild celery for the winners. Register by 15 May.
• Sunvil Holidays (020-8758 4758, sunvil.co.uk) has a week from 17 June for £671pp including flights and apartment accommodation

UK B&B
Dartington Hall, a grand Grade I-listed 14th-century mansion near Totnes in south Devon, specialising in weddings and events, is now offering B&B. The hall has 50 rooms, costing from £64 a night for a single, and is set in 1,200 acres of countryside, including a deer park.
dartington.org/stay

Walk
A new set of poems by West Yorkshire poet Simon Armitage have been engraved on stones along a 47-mile trail across the Pennines, from Marsden to Ilkley. The Stanza Stones project is part of Yorkshire's Cultural Olympiad.
ilkleyliteraturefestival.org.uk. See our new North Yorkshire holiday guide at guardian.co.uk/travel

Trend alert

If 007 had been a pensioner, this is what he would have taken on holiday ... The Sealander Schwimmcaravan is an amphibious camping trailer that can be towed behind a car then taken out onto a lake, powered by a 5hp electric motor.
£15,000, firebox.com/product/4964

Cheap date

Singapore Airlines has discounted flights from London to south-east Asia and Australasia if you book before 31 May to travel before 30 November 2012. Economy return fare to Singapore is £585, to Thailand, Cambodia, Malaysia and Burma around £660, Australia £755-£800, and New Zealand £875.
singaporeair.com/en_UK/special-offers

Travel trash

Beep beep beep not annoying enough for you? Edinburgh's new Premier Inn on Princes Street has launched a bagpipe wake-up call service. A piper in Highland dress will come to your room and play your choice of tune – Scotland the Brave, Flower of Scotland, Amazing Grace ... Rolling over and going back to sleep is not an option.
premierinn.com/en, doubles from £61

Tweet ur trip: Rude waiters

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