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North East

  • The Milner Hotel, York

    Hotel Review The Milner Hotel started life in 1853 during the early days of the the British railway era under the ownership of the North Eastern Railway Company. This grand old station hotel was sold off from the railways in 1982 and after varied ownership its latest rebrand as The Milner took place in October…

  • Hewn Yorkshire, Luxury Glamping

    Hewn Yorkshire, Luxury Glamping

    Accommodation Review Hewn Yorkshire is an adults only escape from hectic daily life. Sheltered from the wind in a historic quarry are 12 luxurious cabins offering wood fired wellness and authentic Finnish sauna bathing. It sounded just my sort of place so off I went to experience it for myself. Location: Hewn Yorkshire sits at…

  • Weetwood Hall Estate Leeds

    Weetwood Hall Estate, Leeds

    Hotel Review Location: Weetwood Hall Estate is a luxurious four star country house hotel set within nine acres of parkland on the outskirts of Leeds, West Yorkshire. The estate has been built around a 17th century Jacobean Manor House and is steeped in history, with parts of the property dating back as far as 1540.…

  • Review: The Old Police Station at Montgomery House, Leeds

    Hotel Review The Old Police Station at Montgomery House has just opened its doors in the vibrant suburb of Headingley, a ten minute drive from Leeds city centre. The former police station had been abandoned for almost twenty years and was in a poor state of repair until Alex Ball, his partner and a couple…

  • Autumn at RHS Harlow Carr Garden

    Autumn at RHS Harlow Carr Garden

    The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Harlow Carr Garden is one of five public gardens run by the RHS and is located one and a half miles from the centre of Harrogate, North Yorkshire. Getting there: We arrived by car, with ample free parking available.  For visitors using public transport there are regular trains to Harrogate from both…

  • Hotel du Vin, Harrogate

    Review: Dinner at Hotel du Vin, Harrogate

    We were recently invited to experience the Hotel du Vin’s taster menu with wine pairings at its stylish hotel in Harrogate, North Yorkshire. The hotel is located on an elegant Regency terrace in the centre of the spa town and overlooks the Stray which is one of Harrogate’s best known landmarks. The Stray covers 200…

  • Sunny Bank Mills Museum, Leeds

    Sunny Bank Mills Museum, Leeds

    Sunny Bank Mills is a former woollen mill that has found new life as a cultural and commercial destination near Leeds, West Yorkshire. Established in 1829, the mills have been regenerated by the sixth generation of the family owners to create a wonderful blend of work, leisure and culture. Last year marked 10 years of…

  • Great Yorkshire Show Jumping

    Great Yorkshire Show 2024

    One of the highlight’s of my summer calendar is to spend time at the Great Yorkshire Show in Harrogate, North Yorkshire. The four day event celebrates agricultural excellence and attracts a sell out audience who snap up all the tickets during the weeks prior to the show’s opening. The showground covers a whopping 250 acre…

  • Falcon Manor, Settle

    Falcon Manor, Settle, North Yorkshire

    Hotel Review Falcon Manor is a beautiful country house hotel dating from 1841 that was constructed for Reverend Swale with money provided by his two grandmothers to befit his status in the local community. Originally known as Ingfield Hall after the field in which it was built, this grand Tudor mansion has changed ownership several times.…

  • Jet2 Plane

    A food tour of Jet2 destinations

    On a recent sunny Saturday afternoon I was invited on a walking tour of Leeds by Jet2holidays to sample delicious food through some of the fantastic Jet2 destinations you can fly to from Leeds Bradford Airport. The meeting point was outside the Queens Hotel as being close to the city’s railway station was an ideal…

  • Five Rise Locks, Bingley

    The Five Rise Locks celebrates its 250th anniversary

    The locks at Bingley in West Yorkshire are considered one of the greatest feats of canal engineering of their day and are Grade I listed, in the same category as York Minster and Buckingham Palace. They sit on the Leeds to Liverpool canal, once one of England’s most important transport routes.  The Bingley Five Rise…

  • The Seaburn Inn, Tyne and Wear

    The Seaburn Inn, Seaburn, Tyne and Wear

    Hotel Review Location: The Seaburn Inn is situated in the seaside resort of Seaburn, close to Sunderland in the north east of England.  For motorists, the area is accessible by taking the A1231 junction from the A1 and for those guests arriving by train Seaburn Station is served by Tyne and Wear Metro. Arrival and check-in:…

  • Black Swan Hotel, Helmsley

    Review: The Black Swan Hotel, Helmsley

    Overview:    The Black Swan Hotel is a characterful inn dating back to the 15th century with an Elizabethan building on one end, a Tudor one on the other and a Georgian House sandwiched in between. Location:  The hotel is located in the centre of the attractive town of Helmsley within the North York Moors…

  • The Harrogate Inn Hotel

    Review: The Harrogate Inn

    Hotel Review Harrogate is a spa town in North Yorkshire noted for its beautiful parks, gardens, elegant buildings, Turkish baths, high class shops and tearooms.  I recently had the pleasure of visiting the town and staying at the beautiful Harrogate Inn. Overview:  The Harrogate Inn is a historic, centrally located hotel formerly known as the…

  • Tempest Arms, Elsack, Skipton

    Review: The Tempest Arms, Elslack, Skipton

    Hotel Review The Tempest Arms is a newly refurbished 17th century country inn nestled in beautiful countryside on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales boasting a restaurant, 21 bedrooms and suites. Location: The inn is located in the small village of Elslack within a 15 minute drive of the picturesque market town of Skipton, North…

  • Gardens in Harrogate

    Harrogate – Travel Guide

    Harrogate: Harrogate is a spa town in North Yorkshire noted for its beautiful parks and gardens, elegant buildings, Turkish baths, high class shops and tearooms. During the Victorian era the town became very popular as a spa town thanks to the curative properties of its high sulphur content mineral springs.  Harrogate attracted the great and…

  • Parcevall hall gardens, Appletreewick

    Stump Cross Caverns and Parcevall Hall Gardens

    The morning began with overcast skies but as we’d planned to tour some caves it didn’t matter too much.  After a tasty breakfast of smashed avocado and poached eggs on sourdough and my usual two cups of coffee, I was raring to go. Leaving our base at the Tempest Arms in Elslack it was just…

  • Embsay Railway Station

    A ride on the Embsay Steam Railway, North Yorkshire

    After enjoying a delicious breakfast at the Tempest Arms in Elslack we set off for a ride on the Embsay Steam Railway.  Embsay is a picturesque village located just a five minute drive from Skipton with the station lying on the edge of the village and having its own free car park. The heritage railway…

  • Skipton Castle

    Exploring Skipton, North Yorkshire

    Skipton is often referred to as the ‘Gateway to the Dales’ due to its close proximity to the Yorkshire Dales National Park.  With its historic castle, bustling market and picturesque canal basin, the town is a lovely place to visit and we were excited to be spending a short break exploring the area. We arrived…

  • Falcon Manner, Settle

    Falcon Manor, Settle, North Yorkshire

    Hotel Review Falcon Manor is a beautiful country house hotel dating from 1841 that was constructed for Reverend Swale with money provided by his two grandmothers to befit his status in the local community. Originally known as Ingfield Hall after the field in which it was built, this grand Tudor mansion has changed ownership several times.…

  • The Fleece, Addingham

    The Fleece, Addingham, West Yorkshire

    Restaurant Review  The Fleece pub and restaurant is located in the village of Addingham which lies between Ilkley and Silsden in West Yorkshire. The pub stands in a handsome Yorkshire stone building and even in winter its large outdoor terrace looked inviting with its covered canopy illuminated with fairy lights.  On entering the door there’s…

  • The Feversham Arms, Hemsley

    The Feversham Arms, Helmsley, North Yorkshire

    Location: The Feversham Arms Hotel is one of the north of England’s most luxurious country house hotels and is a perfect place to come and unwind.  The hotel is located on the edge of the attractive town of Helmsley within the North York Moors National Park and being just off the A170,  it is a short…

  • The Wensleydale Hotel, Middleham, North Yorkshire

    Review: The Wensleydale Hotel, Middleham, North Yorkshire

    Hotel Review Location: The Wensleydale Hotel is located in the delightful small town of Middleham nestled on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales National Park. It’s just two miles from the bustling market town of Leyburn and 10 miles from Richmond.  For those travelling from London or the south, Middleham can be reached by taking…

  • Yorkshire Dales National Park Sign

    Exploring Hawes, Wensleydale

    Our stay at the Wensleydale Hotel had been lovely and before checking out we enjoyed another of their delicious breakfasts to set us up for the day.  We then packed up the car and headed off to explore more of this beautiful part of Yorkshire. Our first stop was at Aysgarth Falls just a 25 minute…

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