Homegrown Delights

Contents T hecountry’s largestNationalParkoffers someof themost iconic landscapes thatdefineour island identity. Itwas the inspiration for thegreatpoetryofWordsworth, the background for someofourfinestartworksand thebackyard for theendearinganticsofBeatrixPotter’sanimalcreations. Theultimatedraw to the region isperfectlydescribed in the title - itsmagnificent, sinuous lakes aroundwhich lie timelessvillagesofwhitewashedcottages.Stray from thewater’sedgeand the countryside liftsupwards tocraggy fellsoffwhich the rainsplummet through tumblingwaterfalls to feed theverdantvalleys. It’sheady stuff indeed,and sonot surprisinglyattractsflocksof visitors.Evenwhen it’sdamp,and it frequently is, the scenerymerelyacquiresadewey layerof misty romanticism. Itscompact size (around30by40miles), togetherwith itseasyaccess (20 minutes from theM6),makes itoneof thebestplaces inBritain toenjoy thegreatoutdoors whether tickingoff the fells (includingEngland’shighest), strollinga lakeshoreor taking to the water. It isalsohome tomany,finecountryhotels,withwhichwehope to temptyou todigyour walking shoesoutof thecupboardandheadup fora breezewithnature. PooleyBridge Glenridding Windermere Hawkshead Ambleside Coniston Ravenglass Keswick Grasmere The Lake District 4 The Lake District H ead to theSouthwest todiscoveraCelticwonderland. Borderedon three sidesby sea, thecombinedcoastlines ofDevonandCornwall stretch formore than530miles, encompassingeveryexampleofcoastal sceneryalong theway:plungingcliffs,huge sandybays, secluded coves,craggyheadlandsandpostcard-prettyfishingvillagesaplenty. From its long legacyoffishingand seafaring to its illustriousminingheritage, thewhole region is crammedwith fascinating remindersof thepast.Whether it's the silhouetteofacrumblingcastle ona lonelyhilltop,or the spectreofmoodymine-stacks spiking thehorizon, the region'shistory playsoutwhereveryou look.Youcouldwhileawayyourdaysexploringancienthill-fortsor mysterious stonecircles,marvelat theambitionof the region'sgreatgardensandcountry houses,orfindyourselfventuring insideadecommissioned tinmine,anunderground telegraph stationorevenaworking lighthouse. St Ives Penzance Helston Falmouth Newquay Plymouth Exeter Padstow Ilfracombe Bideford Barnstaple Bude Hartland Oakhampton Tiverton Tavistock Dartmoor NationalPark Lundy Island EastDevonArea ofoutstanding NaturalBeauty Roseland Heritage Coast Exmoor NationalPark Torquay Brixham Budleigh Salterton Tintagel Bodmin FoweyLooe Salcombe Truro StAustell Devon & Cornwall 8 Devon & Cornwall H oney-coloured limestonecottages inpicturesque villagesand statelycountryestateswithCapability Brownfinishing touchesfill in thegapsbetween the rollinghillsandbabblingbrooksof thequintessential greenEngland that is theCotswolds.No ‘dark satanic mills’cloud thehorizon,but ratherwithin thisareaofoutstanding naturalbeautybeat theheartsofcontented fugitives from the ‘big smoke’ofLondon,BirminghamandBristol, revelling in idlehours nursinga ‘jar’or two inaquaintcountrypuband spending somequality timewithawell-earnedbreak in someof theveryfinestcountryhouse hotels tobe foundanywhere in this ‘greenandpleasant land’. Malmesbury Charlbury CastleCombe Burford Gloucester Bristol Bath Chippenham Broadway Stroud Mickleton CotswoldAreaofoutstanding NaturalBeauty Cirencester Tewkesbury Lechlade-on-Thames UpperSlaughter Nailsworth Wooton-under-Edge Tetbury ChippingNorton Bourton-on-the-Water ChippingCampden Moreton-in-Marsh Stow-on-the-Wold The Cotswolds The Cotswolds S tepback in timeanddiscover thecharmandnatural beautyofTheNewForest in thewestofHampshire. Unbelieveably, itonly becameanationalpark in2005and wasoncea royalhuntingground forWilliam the Conqueror.Coveringanareaof566km 2 theareaconsists vast tractsofunspoiltwoodland,heathlandand rivervalleyswhere deer,poniesandcattlecontinue to roam free in itsancientheaths andwoodland.Clear riversand shadygrovesprovide tranquillityand acar-freehaven forwalking,cyclingandhorse riding. TheNewForest isalsoawashwithhistoricmanorsandhunting lodges thathavebeen turned into luxuriouscountryhousehotels,aswellasawealthof traditionalpubsand inns thatareperfect forapintafteradayofhikingandbiking.Mostof theaccommodation in theNewForestclustersaround thecentralvillagesofBrockenhurstandLyndhurst,but therearealso someattractiveoptionsnearer thecoastaroundLymington,and in theeast of thenationalparkalong theBeaulieuRiver.Roaddistancesare short, so it’seasy to explorenomatterwhereyoudecide to stay,assumingyouhaveacar,although it’salsovery easy toexplorebybike,as thereare fewhillsanda supernetworkofcyclepaths. Addedattractions like theNationalMotorMuseumatBeaulieu, the18thCenturyvillageof Buckler'sHard,BreamoreHouseandMuseumnearFordingbridgeandExburyGardens nearbybroaden theappeal forall the family. Ifyouprefercoast tocountryside,whynot head for thecliff topsatBarton-on-Sea, takea ferry fromHurstCastleatMilford-on-Sea to Keyhavenharbourorwatch theboatscome intoLymingtonQuay. Lyndhurst Southampton Brockenhurst NewMilton Beaulieu Buckler’sHard Lymington Burley The New Forest The New Forest 4 8 12 16 A series of focus articles on regions of The British Isles and Ireland with recommendations for a selection of 4 and 5-star hotels and resorts in each region covered. Click on page image to fast-track to specific article. T heChannel Islandsare the sunny southernoutpostsof the British Isles,abeautifularchipelago, shoulderedby Normandy,eachwith theirownuniquecharacter.Enjoy the hustleandbustleof theircapitals, Jersey’sStHelierand Guernsey’sStPeterPort,orhead to the smaller islandsof Alderney,SarkandHerm,whichoozeoldworldcharm. Awalker’sparadise, the islandsoffermilesof stunningcoastline routes toexploreaswellas ruralhamlets.Feel the sandbetweenyour toesand the fresh seabreeze inyourhairon theaward-winningbeaches,where rockpools teemwithmarine lifeandgloriousgolden sandsarewashedby the tideseachday. Agastronomic feastalsoawaitsusing the localproduceof landand sea,with exceptional restaurants serving the freshest seafood,caughtand servedupwithinhours, andworld-classvegetables like JerseyRoyals andGuernsey tomatoes. Share the senseof freedomearnedby islands that sufferedfive longyearsofoccupation in WorldWar II. It’sallpartofacompelling cocktail thatmakes these islands suchan enticingdestinationion -and thebestbit about it - theyare justa short30-minutehop from theUK.Sowhatareyouwaiting for? The Channel Islands The Channel Islands 20