THIS SUMMER Fall in love with

Britain

YORK YORK YORK

SHOPPING IN THE SHAMBLES

Shambles (also known as The Shambles) is a bustling centre piece of historic York. The street today is one of the UKs most visited and has become a wealth of shopping, tourist attractions, restaurants and many other things to see and do, including tours, ghost walks and historic talks. If you want to know York, you need to know The Shambles. The way that fifteenth century buildings lean into the middle of the cobbled street means that the roofs almost touch in the middle. Mentioned in the Domesday book (making it date over 900 years), we know Shambles to be York s oldest street, and Europes best preserved Medieval street. It really is a very special place. The word Shambles originates from the Medieval word Shamel, which meant booth or bench. It was once also referred to as Flesshammel, a word with meaning around flesh; this is because Shambles was historically a street of butchers shops and houses. Records state that in1872 there were 26 butchers on the street. The last butcher to trade on Shambles was at number 27 of the name Dewhurst. Today it features great shops, cafes, restaurants and tourist attractions. A fantastic place to stroll on a day in York or visit to take in some shopping, history and culture - also this years winner of Googles Most Picturesque Street in Britain.

to know

york,

you need to

TOP 5 HOTELS

IN THE CITY

know the shambles

1) Middlethorpe Hall And Spa Lonely planet top choice and double winner Tourism Awards 2013 01904 641241 middlethorpe.com 2) Hilton York Located inside the city walls and opposite Cliffords Tower, this York hotel is within walking distance of some of the towns most popular tourist attractions 01904-648111 hilton.com 3) Grays Court Nestled in between York Minster and the City Walls, we are a one-off - a country house in the city just waiting to be discovered. 01904 612613 grayscourtyork.com 4) York Marriott Within walking distance of York city centre and its many attractions. The Yorkshire Dales and the North Yorkshire Moors are within a 1 hour drive. 01904 701000 marriott.co.uk/hotels 5) Cedar Court Grand Hotel & Spa Yorkshires only five star hotel, and overlooking the historic city walls of one of the UKs most picturesque cities, The Grand is the very best in traditional English style and service. 01904 380038 cedarcourtgrand.co.uk

At the heart of the city lies the immense, aweinspiring minster, one of the most beautiful Gothic cathedrals in the world.

One of the many high streets in York known as The Shambles

Bettys Afternoon Tea

Few visitors to York fail to visit Bettys. Founded in 1919, Bettys mouth watering cakes, refreshing teas and friendly smiles have made it world famous. The Belmont Room, which was inspired by the interior decoration of the luxury liner Queen Mary, is available for group bookings and private functions. Perfect afternoon tea is served in beautiful surroundings every Saturday and Sunday from 12.30pm - afternoon tea just as it should be! As our caf pianist plays, you will be invited to choose from a selection of rare and speciality teas, whilst being delighted by a gleaming silver cake stand laden with sandwiches, freshly baked miniature scones and exquisite handmade cakes.

1) Visit one of the historical sites dotted around the city The city of York is littered with hostorical sites. Pay for a National Trust membership card to save money on entry tickets.

A weekend in York...
2) Take a ride on the cities ferrice wheel for a different point of view. This famous landmark is not just popular with kids! Take a romantic ride and soak in the sights of York.

Yorkshire DALES
Traditional Dales architecture is distinctive and, through the local building materials used, it links directly to the areas geology. This strong identity generates a firm sense of place and history. They are still largely unspoilt and retain a very traditional and intimate atmosphere as well as a sense of continuity and stability. Many are still bordered by small, ancient, often unimproved fields accessed by narrow lanes and tracks between meandering stone walls, giving the villages an historic, timeless setting. The Settle-Carlisle Railway is unique and displays impressive engineering and conserved Midland Railway architecture.It offers a very special way of enjoying the dramatic landscape along its route. The National Park is characterised by numerous small and at tractive and compact villages and hamlets most of which have been there for over a thousand years. The National Park has managed to retain its network of mean dering valley roads, bordered by drystone walls or hedgerows and flower-rich verges. These have a particular charm and add to the strong sense of place. Higher up unfenced roads cross open moorland and offer dramatic panoramas across the open landscape and the valleys below. The way of life and culture of communities was, in the past, shaped by the areas physical environment and remoteness, nurturing self-dependency and closely knit communities. Whilst the areas traditional dialects and culture are now hard to find, community spirit and self-belief survive. More info at: www.lonelyplanet. com/england/yorkshire

We love

3) Take in the night life and see the illuminated Minster York nightlife isnt just tailored to students t its also a great chance to choose from a huge selection of restaurants and interesting bars. Take a walk afterwards to see the striking Minster lit up.

4) Visit Jorvik viking centre to learn the history of York An important chance to learn about the history of this interesting city and the Vikings that named it Jorvik - now known as York! The relaxing monorail ride means no fighting to get through crowds of children and a chance to take the weight off your feet.

B&B
1) Crown House @ No 20, Scarborough. 01723 375401 crownhousescarborough. co.uk. Doubles from 90 2) Gallon House, Knaresborough. 01423 862102 gallon-house.co.uk Doubles from 120 3) The Bivouac Bunk Barn, Masham. 01765 535020, thebivouac.co.uk Dorm beds from 18pp 4) The Mount House, Terrington. 01653 648206, howardianhillsbandb. co.uk. Doubles from 80 5) The Dutch House, Crayke. 01347 889431, dutchhouseyorkshire.com. Doubles from 70 6) Black Horse Inn, Kirkby Fleetham. 01609 749010 blackhorsekirkbyfleetham. com. Doubles from 80 7) The White Swan, Pickering. 01751 472288, white-swan.co.uk. Doubles from 112

5) Climb the steps to the top of the city castle The long, steep climb up the hill might seem daunting at first but the views alone are worth it. Go during lunch time for a quiet visit and make sure you bring your camera! The views stretch right across York city centre to the dales in the distance. Visit the gift shop to grab a souvenir and then head back down the steps and into town for a bite to eat.

THE DALES ARE largely unspoilt and retain a very traditional and intimate atmosphere

Its hard not to fall in love with cornwall

Location, location, location

Take a trip around Cornwall and youll discover a hugely diverse landscape. In the far west where the sea turns turquoise in the sun, the sand is white and the natural light is sometimes blindingly bright, the land is adorned with a legacy of Bronze age stand ing stones, huge granite burial chambers, Celtic crosses and holy wells. In the old industrial heartland, the landscape, recently awarded World Heritage Site status, is dot ted with the fascinating remnants of a triumphant mining daily catch of fresh seafood and tall ships, luggers and ketches unfurl their sails in the Cornish breeze. The natural environment, recognised nationally across the twelve sections of the Cornwall Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty is accessed by the spectacular South West Coast Path providing walkers with miles of gentle strolls and challenging hikes. To the north, a sweep of enormous golden sand bays stretches along the coastline often pummelled by giant Atlantic rollers. Long famed for its perfect surfing conditions, the coastline here is a hub for all kinds of extreme sports from coasteering to zapcat racing and scuba diving to rock climbing. And in the wonderful south of the highest average of 7.6 hours of sunshine per day in July according to the Met Office. However in the last few years the effects of climate change have impacted the weather, especially during the summer season. Due to the Gulf Stream, the weather in Cornwall is also subject to sea mists and rain, sometimes in the form of mizzle and conditions can change quickly.

top 5 luxury
cornish hotels
1) Hell Bay, Bryher, Isles of Scilly. For: Lovers of wild seas, birdwatchers and metropolitan escapees seeking a stylish hideaway. 01720 422947 www.hellbay.co.uk

where the sea turns turqouise, the sand is white and the natural light is sometimes blindingly bright...

As the UKs only area of sub-tropical climate, especially at the extreme south-west of Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly,

2) The Nare hotel, Cornwall. For: Multi-generation families paid for by granny and grandpa, well-heeled singles and retired couples who see it as a home from home. Most guests come back every year. We 01872 501111 love www.narehotel.co.uk 3) The Scarlet hotel, Cornwall. For: Honeymooners and couples of all ages who want to chill out in a child-free zone. 01637 861800 www.scarlethotel.co.uk 4) Tresanton, St Mawes, Cornwall. For: All sorts: London media types; families on bucket and spade holidays; guests attending winter courses, such as music, bridge and wild food weekends. 01326 270055 www.tresanton.com 5) Blue Hayes hotel, St Ives, Cornwall. For: Young professionals, semi-retired couples and friends celebrating big birthdays. 01736 797129 www.bluehays.co.uk

past illustrating Cornwalls enormous contribution to the Industrial Revolution with engine houses, museums and miles of recreational trails. Around the coastline Cornwalls maritime legacy is never far away where local fishermen land their

Cornwall, fed by rivers from the high moorlands, leafy estuaries, fishing villages, beaches, harbours and beautiful gardens that flourish in Cornwalls mild climate. Cornwall is one of the sunniest areas in the UK, with over 1541 hours of sunshine per year, with

palm trees are a common sight and along the South coast there are several outstanding botanical gardens. For more information about the best location for your holiday and the Cornish climate visit: visitcornwall.com

1) Watch the sunset or rise from the coast Nothing is quite as impressive as starting the day or ending it by looking out to sea and watching the sun with the people you love

2) Visit a National Trust site The National Trust cover vast areas of Cornwall and many of their sites are free or may only require you to pay for parking. www.nationaltrust.org.uk

14
8) Rent a boat There are many places across Cornwall that will let you rent boats or where you can take part in organised boat excursions. www.marinediscovery.co.uk to see where you can go shark and dolphin spotting.

DAYS in cornwall

14) Visit St Ives Kick off your shoes and stroll along the white sand at Portminster Beach where, out in the bay, youll see the dreamy view of Godrevy Lighthouse inspiration for Virginia Woolf s famous novel To the Lighthouse. Relax and grab a coffee at the multi award winning Porthminster Caf. Behind the 14th century Sloop Inn on the Wharf and the Harbour beach there is a maze of narrow cobbled streets and fishermans cottages. This is the heart of old St Ives, known to the locals as Downlong. Spend an hour or so delving into the life and times of bygone St Ives at the local museum. The large space is packed with memorabilia and artefacts that reflect St Ivess long and varied history including fishing, boatbuilding, art and agriculture.

3) Visit one of the bustling towns or cities and support local shops. There are so many places to shop and eat across Cornwall, from small villages with hidden alleyways and large bustling cities.

4) Go to the Eden Project Located in Northern Cornwall the Eden Project is interesting for children and adults alike. You can easily spend a whole day here. Stop for lunch and stop in the gift shop before heading home.

5) Spend the day at the beach Cornwall is famous for its white, sandy beaches and this along with the weather being better here than anywhere else in the UK you would be forgiven for thinking you are sitting by the Med. Take a picnic and some beach games and have a great day out with the family. Try Padstow and Bude for beautiful beaches and Newquay for its on-thebeach surf schools and restaurants.

There are only four Tate galleries in the world and one of them is Tate St Ives. Opened in 1993 in recognition of the international importance of art in Cornwall and St. Ives in particular, the impressive gallery holds hundreds of works produced by the St. Ives School from the late 1800s through to the 21st century.

We love

We love 6) Visit a historical building Cornwall is popular with history buffs due to the abundance of historical buildings ranging from tiny cottages, sprawling gardens and spectacular castles. 7) Try a Cornish cream tea You wont have to travel far to find a small cafe, restaurant or pub selling homemade cream teas. These are what Cornwall is famous for. Dont miss out! 9) Visit famous Port Isaac Located in Northern Cornwall, Port Isaac was made famous by the television show Doc Martin and many others. Visit the film locations then buy some local fish or fudge and have a drink in one of the seafront pubs. 10) Pack the car for a road trip Head south towards Lands End and pitch up on a cliff for a picnic lunch with a view or take this list with you and see how many things you can cross off in one day. Alternatively hire a camper van for the weekend! 11) Take in the nightlife Newquay is well known for its nightlife, start with seafront drinks in the sun and move onto one of the many bars. Try Padstow for a string of restaurants run by the famous Rick Stein and pubs with local bands. 12) Visit St Michaels Mount Park up near the beach and walk over at low tide. As you approach the magnificent mount you will see what all the fuss is about. Have a walk up to the castle and then grab a drink on your way back down. 13) Go for a hike Walks around Cornwall are fairly easy, especially along the coast as its quite flat but the views are still spectacular. You may be noticing a theme here, but the abundance of pubs means youll find plenty of places to stop for a drink!

More available at: www.thesundaytimes.co.uk/sto/Magazine

Spotlight on: GRANGE, BORROWDALE

It is hard to believe that this valley, now part of the National Park, was once a hive of industrial activity with iron smelting, charcoal burning, and mining for copper and graphite. Scattered hamlets reflect the Nordic influence in their names, while stone walls and vernacular buildings chronicle centuries of farming. Today farming struggles to make a living and visitors play an important role in sustaining the local community. Borrowdale splits into 3 valleys, Watendlath, Stonethwaite and Seathwaite, each with its own distinctive character. The National

Visitors play an important role in sustaining the local community

walking and dining hotels
The Furness Fells. From Newby Bridge take the Finsthwaite road on the west side of Windermere and walk from High Dam car park. Views across to Coniston Old Man 7 miles. Stay at: Lakeside Hotel, Newby Bridge. 015395 30001 Staveley - just off the A591 between Windermere and Kendal - takes in a lovely stretch of the Dales Way. Theres some beautiful river scenery along the Kent and plenty of opportunity for spotting wildlife - 8miles Stay at: Eagle and Child, Staveley - 01539 821320 The Brown Horse, Winster 015394 43443 Bowness. Leave the car at the Lake Cruises car park on the corner of Rectory Road - allow four hours and wave goodbye to the day trippers as you walk up Brant Fell and School Knott for majestic views - 5 miles. Stay at: Linthwaite House Hotel 015394 88600 The Cranleigh, Bowness 01539 44329 Kendal 10 bridge tour. Starting at Abbot Hall Art Gallery - well worth a visit - follow the River Kent to the outskirts of town and then back walking up steps to the ruined castle, once the ancestral home of the Parr family, for lovely views - 5 miles Stay at: the Castle Green Hotel Buttermere & Scale Force, a spectacular sight in spate and only accessible on foot. Do some red squirrel spotting in this beautiful valley which was painted by Turner and take in the little used Crummock Water. Some nice spots for a picnic - 9 miles. Stay at: the Fish Inn just five minutes walk from Buttermere at the foot of Honister Pass. 017687 70253; Wood House b&b owned by the National Trust 017687 70208.

TOP 5 CUMBRIAN

Looking down onto Rosthwaite from the Castle Crag footpath Trusts estate also includes the Western half of Derwentwater and half the western shore with the fells behind, the eastern shore up to the watershed with Thirlmere, and the land around Seatoller up to Honister pass, with Seathwaite and Stonethwaite. Honister slate mine is worth a visit by car where you can go on mine tours and then have a delicious snack at the on-site cafe! The Flock In Tearoom at Yew Tree Farm in Rosthwaite offers several items containing locally farmed Borrowdale Herdwick lamb herdie-burgers and sausage rolls. There are also two tea rooms in the small hamlet of Grange which sell cakes, cream teas and small dishes to fill you up after a long day of walking. If youre a lover of the great outdoors, the Lake District is one corner of England where youll want to linger. This sweeping panorama of slate-capped fells, craggy hilltops, misty mountain tarns and glittering lakes has been pulling in the crowds ever since the Romantics pitched up in the early 19th century, and it remains one of the countrys most popular beauty spots.

A lovely walk up to Castle Crag from Grange Village via Derwent River

The Lake District, Cumbria offers a huge variety of watersports, from canoeing and sailing to diving and ghyll scrambling, your choice of water based activities is limitless The Lake District is one of the finest places in the UK to launch a boat and it has it all;

in the water and trying wild swimming or diving. If youre looking for more of an adrenalin rush take on the mountain streams and have a go at ghyll scrambling! You may be asking what ghyll scrambling is? Splashing and scrambling up rocky mountain streams! Climbing cascades and sometimes waterfalls, traversing pools and enjoying some stunning scenery in inaccessible places that few ever get to see. Gorges and ghylls can be great fun; however they are also changeable, delicate and hazardous environments. For this reason we always recommend going with an activity provider. If youre looking for something more leisurely there are plenty of places to rent a boat from in the lake district - either by yourself, with a group or for a taste of the highlife you can go on a dinner cruise with champagne included! Visit: golakes.co.uk/adventure-capital/on-water.aspx for more information and a list of watersport centres and boat rental locations.

So, what shall we do?

1) Beatrix Potters 17th-century farmhouse. Enter into a time capsule of the famous childrens authors life at Hill Top, the 17th century farmhouse that has been kept just as it was when she lived there. If you have children, dont miss the lovely kids garden trail. stunning views over the Lakeland scenery at Bowness. 5) Brockhole: the Lake District Visitor Centre. With plenty to get stuck into, Brockhole is an ideal destination for a fun family day out. Explore the gardens and the adventure playground; play mini golf; or embark on lakebased activities such as kayaking, rowing or walking on water inside a giant inflatable ball. 6) Windermere Lake Cruises Enjoy a relaxing cruise on a Windermere Steamer for views of dramatic mountain scenery, sheltered bays, and lush, wooded islands. Create a whole day out by combining a trip on the lake with a stop off at one of the lakeside attractions, such as the Lakeland Motor Museum or the award-winning Lakes Aquarium or a romantic sunset cruise. 7) Ravenglass & Eskdale Steam Railway. The Lakelands oldest, longest and most scenic railway takes visitors on a seven-mile journey from Ravenglass, the only coastal village in the Lake District National Park, o Boot Station at Dalegarth, the ideal base for walkers, nestled at the foot of the Scafell Range. 2) Dove Cottage, The Wordsworth Museum & Wordsworths grave (Grasmere) Enjoy the 20-minute guided tour then wander at your leisure; visit the museum for one of the greatest collections of items relating to British Romanticism; then polish off your visit with some cake in the Dove Cottage tea rooms. 3) Muncaster Castle-Ravenglass An historic castle that is said to be haunted, Muncaster is set in 70 acres of landscaped gardens and is also home to the World Owl Centre and the MeadowVole Maze. Visit with the family during the day, or join We a night-time Ghost Sit love for a spookier experience. 4) Blackwell: the arts and crafts house. Blackwell is home to period rooms that are carefully furnished with the blend of Arts and Crafts furniture and early country-made pieces. Visitors can explore the entire property and enjoy 8.The Lakes Aquarium. On the shores of Lake Windermere, the Lakes Aquarium lets visitors explore all sorts of underwater worlds, from Morecambe Bay to more exotic continents, as well as coming face-to-face with amphibians and reptiles in the Tropical Rainforest, and embarking on a recreated journey beneath Lake Windermere. 9.Honister Slate Mine & The Via Ferrata. At Englands last working slate mine, visitors can follow the ancient miners cliffedge Via Ferrata footpath high on Fleetwith Pike for a safe but thrilling outdoor family activity -- while those seeking a seriously adrenalin-fuelled experience can try the more daring Via Ferrata Xtreme. 10.South Lakes Wild Animal Park. Hand-feed giraffes and penguins at this unique open wildlife conservation zoo; join the keepers for big cat feeding; and enjoy a ride on the miniature train. The zoo packs in animals from all over the world, and offers plenty to do throughout the day, alongside an on-site restaurant, picnic areas and gift shop. More ideas at: golakes.co.uk

lakes, rivers, and coast so there is something for everyone whether youre looking for some challenging white water paddling or just want to enjoy the peace and tranquillity. Want to get more involved in Cumbrias world famous land scape? Explore the hidden side of the lakes and tarns by getting

WATER WATER EVERYWHERE

The lake district is home to over sixteen lakes and numerous tarns, plus a stretch of coastline - perfect for water sports & natural swimming