Write for Realm magazine and win a luxury cruise holiday

Have you enjoyed an unforgettable historic holiday in Britain that you’re itching to share? Do you want to tell the world about an amazing heritage site that you have stumbled upon? Have you always wanted to try your hand at writing a feature for a travel magazine? Then here’s your chance!

We’ve launched a new competition to find Britain’s best amateur travel writers and give them the opportunity to tell their best historic holiday stories for a chance to win a dream holiday and see their story in print.

Perhaps you have taken a stroll around a magnificent castle in the Scottish Highlands, enjoyed an unforgettable ride on a steam train in Snowdonia or think you have found England’s most spectacular stately home and gardens? All we ask is that your story is about your experience of visiting a site of historical interest in Britain. The inspiration for your tale could be anything from a day trip to a historic city or village to a weekend spent exploring your favourite stretch of coast or countryside. Perhaps you want to share your wonder at finding an incredible stone circle or Roman ruin, battlefield or battleship? Just remember, the more entertaining you make your story the more chance you have of winning the vote of our judges! The author of the best story will win a fantastic seven night cruise around the western isles of Scotland courtesy of Hebridean Cruises.

“Hebridean Island Cruises has been setting the benchmark for small ship luxury cruising for 20 years,” says Hebridean’s Hannah Kingsley. “MV Hebridean Princess is living proof that small is beautiful. Each all-inclusive cruise is carefully planned by our own highly experienced researchers, whose brief is to capture the cultural essence and historical significance of each port of call.”

If you fancy giving it a go, the rules of entry are simple: stories can be a maximum of 500 words and must be first hand accounts of your experience. Anyone can enter, but the story you supply must not have been published anywhere else. All entries will then be judged by the Realm magazine editorial team. The winner and four runners up will then be printed in a special feature in the August 2010 issue of the magazine and other selected stories will be published on the magazine website.

How to enter

To submit your story, click here. Alternatively you can send your work to us by post to Reader Writing Competition, Heritage/Realm magazine, Archant House, Oriel Road, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire GL50 1BB. The closing date for all entries is Friday 26th February 2010.

The prizes

1st prize: An luxurious seven night cruise for two people worth up to £7310 per person, staying in a G-Grade double or twin Castle cabin on board the Hebridean Princess in 2010.

2nd prize: A two night stay for two adults and two children at the stunning Auchrannie Spa Resort on the Isle of Arran, Scotland, including a bottle of fizz on arrival, use of all leisure facilities, a complimentary express beauty treatment and a full Scottish breakfast

3rd prize: An overnight stay for two in a four poster room at Bibury Court Hotel, a stunning Jacobean mansion in the heart of the Cotswolds, with complimentary afternoon tea, dinner in the newly refurbished restaurant and a full English breakfast

4th prize: Two tickets to a forthcoming exhibition of your choice at the Royal Academy of Arts

5th prize: A Thorntons Chocolates Chocoholic gift set, containing an assortment of goodies for any chocolate lover

Rules: Closing date for entries Friday 26th February 2010. All prizes are subject to availability and must be taken before the end of 2010. Travel expenses, supplements, upgrades, travel insurance and other incidentals are not included. Only one entry is allowed per person. This competition is not open to employees (and relatives) of Archant, Hebridean Cruises, Auchrannie Spa Resort, Bibury Court Hotel, the Royal Academy of Arts, Thorntons and associated companies. The winner will be chosen at random from all the correct entries received. No cash alternative will be offered and the prize is non-transferable. Entrants must be 18 or over. No bulk or third entries accepted. Entries will not be acknowledged or returned. No purchase is necessary. Archant cannot be held responsible for the manner in which prizes are provided. Any extra spending beyond the prize described is the responsibility of the winners. The winner must be willing to take part in post-event publicity if necessary. The winners’ names may be published at a future date. Entries that are illegible or not in accordance with the rules will be disqualified. The judges’ decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into. Winners will be notified within 21 days of the closing date. The prize may not be assigned to any other person and no alternative prize is available.