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EDINBURGH'S THE FAVOURITE
Edinburgh has been voted Britain's favourite UK city. In a recent poll of readers of the Guardian and Observer newspapers, Scotland's capital beat a whole host of others for the fourth year running.
    With its classical architecture and now even better arts and entertainment facilities plus plentiful no-frills flights to its airport, the city can't lose. Other Northern and Scottish cities swept the board in the poll, with Glasgow, Newcastle upon Tyne and Belfast grabbing the runnerup spots.
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SOUTH WEST GATEWAY
No-frills airline Flybe is launching a new low fares base at Exeter Airport. From 28th March 2004 there will be daily scheduled flights from Exeter to Belfast City, Edinburgh and Glasgow, as well as three cities in Spain. The new services complement existing routes to Dublin, Jersey and Guernsey. Flybe is now the largest operator at both Southampton and Birmingham airports with 12 and 10 routes, respectively. It is looking to create similar growth in the west country, bringing a boost to inbound tourism and encouraging more businesses to move to Devon and Cornwall and enjoy a better quality of life.
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OR Search for a Villa in Spain with VillaSeek

NEW BOOK TOWN FOR WALES
Blaenavon in south Wales could be the next Hay-on-Wye. At least, that's the aim of Richard Booth, the man who created the original when he launched Hay's first secondhand bookshop back in 1961. Since then, the concept of book towns has become very popular, with fifty spread all over the world.
    Now he's bringing book town status to Blaenavon, which is just 20 miles south of Hay, over the Black Mountains. The town is already a World Heritage Site, thanks to its major role in the industrial revolution, when a massive ironworks was a large-scale employer. When that closed, Blaenavon hit hard times, but in June this year, ten new bookshops opened simultaneously. It's hoped that more will follow, and that the success of Hay-on-Wye will be repeated here.
www.blaenavontic.com
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ICE CREAM AND BEER
It sounds like a joke, but Northumberland-based Doddington Dairies is deadly serious about its latest beer-flavoured ice cream. The ingredients include double cream, sugar, egg yolks... and a syrup made with Newcastle Brown Ale.
    Described as having, "a delicate flavour and distinct character," the Newkie Brown ice cream will only be available from outlets in the north east. Anyone expecting to get tipsy on a tub-full will be disappointed – it's alcoholfree.
www.doddingtondairy.co.uk
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ARTICLES

A gem of a city

Think of Cheshire and you might picture lush green pastures and footballers’ bling. Yet it’s the county’s Roman-walled capital city, packed with history and atmosphere, that’s the real sparkler, says Alexandra Pratt

Scotland for softies

Beaches, rockpools, swimming, cycling... Paul Kirkwood found there’s no end to the delights of the bit of Scotland that’s easiest to reach from most of England

All roads lead to... Harrogate

The elegant spa town of Harrogate is an unbeatable base for an active short break. Gillian Thornton enjoyed a girlie weekend of chic shops, spectacular countryside and the ultimate in self-catering apartments

Moor magic

The Exmoor coast between Minehead and Combe Martin has some of the best scenic views in the West Country. Gillian Thornton enjoyed the North Devon countryside and its four-legged residents

The walking cure

It looked as if Charlie the dog needed a break. So, naturally, Eve Kerswill and her husband took him on a cottage holiday

Devon delights

A thatched cottage with a history, country walks, market shopping and fish and chips by the sea... they all made a perfect weekend for Katherine Rake

Top tips for group getaways

Harry Marsland of Brackenrigg Holiday Cottages in the Lake District says organising – and enjoying – a celebration break with friends and family is simple. All you need is a little planning…

Our Snowdon adventure

Climbing to the top of Mount Snowdon,the highest mountain in England and Wales, was too much of a challenge for Solange Hando, her daughter and ten-year-old grandson to ignore – so up they went

Wonderful Wolds

Peter Henshaw spends a weekend sampling the many delights of Lincolnshire

Walk the Wight Way

With its wonderful countryside and 500 miles of footpaths, the Isle of Wight is ideal for a walking holiday. Harry Glass pulled on his hiking boots…

Beauty on the border

Carlingford Lough is a stunning natural boundary between Northern Ireland and the Republic. Jeremy Taylor pays a visit

A right song and dance

Nowhere is the Irish music scene more vibrant than the west coast bars of County Clare. Jeremy Taylor pays a visit to soak up the craic

Beyond the scone zone

Peter Henshaw goes for a walk in the Cotswolds and finds a gastronomic gem, fierce winds and the ancient sport of shin kicking!

Riverside rambles, moorland magic

You’ll find walking trails, wide open spaces, waterfalls, picture-perfect villages, historic towns and fantastic food in Wensleydale and Wharfedale. Gillian Thornton did

Peak party people

Want to go with a large group of friends for a long weekend of walking, cycling and partying? Sarah Merry found just the place in Derbyshire’s Peak District

A one-horse town it ain’t

To find out everything you wanted to know about breeding and racing horses but were afraid to ask, go to Newmarket. Gillian Thornton did

Pleasing the punters

Cambridge makes a great day out if you’re staying in Norfolk or Suffolk. Former student Tom Kerswill takes you on an insider’s tour of arguably Britain’s most famous university city

10 reasons to visit Norfolk

Looking forward to a break in Norfolk? Linda Pyke recommends ten attractions for all ages to enjoy – from Bishy-barney-bees to antique teapots and going ape in Thetford Forest

A Tamar tonic

On the steep slopes where miners and market gardeners once trod lies a hidden gem created from an old mine. Sounds unlikely? John Kerswill thought so too, until he stayed there and was enchanted by the sights and sounds of the Tamar Valley

Ardnamurchan Peninsula - Take a Walk on the Wild Side

Scotland's Ardnamurchan peninsula – not Cornwall's Land's End – is as far west as the roads in mainland Britain will take you. Angela Dewar enjoyed total seclusion in this unspoilt wilderness

10 Reasons to visit Edinburgh

A dramatic castle and a royal palace, an award-winning environmental attraction and a world-class literary heritage – if you're renting a cottage in the Scottish lowlands, make sure you visit Edinburgh, says Gillian Thornton

Essex pearls

Resorts like Southend-on-Sea have helped to give Essex a kiss-me-quick image, but away from the kitsch Alison Thomas finds a county full of wildlife, fantastic food and history

Northern Ireland: Causeway Capers

If you haven't ever thought about booking a holiday cottage in Co Antrim, Northern Ireland, Harry Glass has ten good reasons why you should

More...

• Perfect Purbeck
• Islands on the Edge
• Lincoln’s In

Previous articles ...

GREAT HALLS
Grand halls and soaring battlements are part of Symmetry & Light, a new motoring trail of 'Smythson Country' in the East Midlands.
    Over three generations of architects, the Smythsons designed a whole series of stately homes around Nottingham and Chesterfield. The magnificent Hardwick Hall was one and so was Bolsover Castle, which stands high on a promontory in the image of a classic fairy tale castle. Bolsover Leisure and Tourism offer a free leaflet detailing the Symmetry & Light tour.
www.bolsover.gov.uk
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SEE THE BATTLE
Britain's latest battlefield tour is now open near Shrewsbury. Six hundred years ago, Henry IV and Prince Hal fought 'Harry Hotspur' on land north of the town. It was one of the bloodiest encounters ever on English soil. There are footpaths around the site, interpretation panels and a new car park.
www.battleofshrewsbury.org
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