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On Camel Estuary, a stone’s-throw from Polzeath and a ferry-crossing from Padstow, Rock in Cornwall is beloved by boaties. Its long, sandy beach and wonderful walking trails also make it a magnet for holidaymakers. But when the waterfront’s busy, it can all feel a bit hectic, so praise be for the marvellous St Enodoc Hotel. … Read more
It’s grape Britain! English wine is booming – and this Herefordshire vineyard is perfect for a vintage break David Atkinson takes a tour around Wythall Estate Vineyard in the Wye Valley He stops at Coddington Vineyard, where wines have a ‘fruity, floral flavour’ English Wine Week, beginning on June 18, will celebrate 195 British wineries By … Read more
Gretna Green for singletons! The UK’s ‘marriage capital’ hosts 3,500 weddings a year – but here’s why normal tourists will love it, too Gretna Green is a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it sort of place, says Emma Cowing But linger and you’ll discover a ‘pretty and welcoming’ village, she declares Plus, she notes, it’s an ideal launch pad for … Read more
Why Britons who fancy a bargain weekend break should go Dutch – and head to elegant Amsterdam Grab bread, cheese, fruit and stroopwafels at the Lindengracht Market Visit the top-floor terrace of The Central Library for great views of the city Enjoy free live music at the intimate jazz bar Cafe Alto in Leidseplein By Ben … Read more
The daffodils were out in force in the hamlet of Bowland Bridge in the Lake District National Park during my visit. Across the road from The Hare & Hounds Inn, a bench, appropriately dedicated to a woman called Joy, looks in the direction of sumptuously green fields, dry-stone walls, contented sheep and wooded hills. The … Read more
Admittedly, the sun is shining. Spring lambs are scampering about and we’re aware that others have loved Callow Hall. But a gilded reputation does not always help. Heightened expectations can be dangerous. But not here. Callow Hall, on the edge of the Peak District in Derbyshire, is a stylish but not stylised hotel where everyone … Read more
If you think of Lanza-grotty or tacky Tenerife when someone mentions the Canary Islands, it really is time to ditch those impressions. Because away from the large resorts on the main drags are secret bays and charming interiors, with chic boutique hotels, haciendas and fincas for secluded stays. Or head to one of the smaller … Read more
The Inspector calls at Liverpool’s Hope Street Hotel… but concludes it’s mostly hopeless, with a bedroom ‘that should be used for storage’ and a ‘depressing’ spa experience The property, a former warehouse, was converted into a hotel 20 years ago The Inspector visits the spa but finds the sauna is ‘nothing like hot enough’ Remember, The … Read more
As I leave my bicycle, unlocked, in the bike rack at Tresco’s Abbey Gardens, I feel more than a slight twinge of unease. The Londoner in me can’t shake the conviction that it will be gone by the time I get back. But, sure enough, when I return an hour later, it’s still there. In … Read more
A miracle occurs as we sit munching our sandwiches in duvet-thick fog on the rim of a volcanic crater. The wind changes direction, a cascade of cloud spills silently over the cliff, and proof of the world’s strangeness unfurls. For, suddenly we are in sunshine, gazing across a vast caldera to miles-long tongues of solidified … Read more