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Last updated December 2008 Cottage’s star rating The rolling and craggy landscapes of Derbyshire, as well as its glorious country houses, have made the county a popular choice as a location for film and TV productions. The latest to feature its charms is The Duchess, starring Keira Knightley and Ralph Fiennes, based on the true story of the spirited and beautiful Lady Georgiana Spencer who married the Duke of Devonshire and became a duchess, a day before her 17th birthday, in 1774. While most of the cast were put up in hotels in the county, Keira Knightley chose to stay in a holiday cottage – at Hurdlow Grange in Longnor – with her boyfriend Rupert Friend, no doubt preferring the informality, freedom and privacy of self-catering. One of Hurdlow Grange’s owners, Paul White, told us, “She was a pleasure to look after.” If you’ve seen the film and are keen to explore some of its locations, a free Movie Map, published by local councils, will help you plan your trip. One important location is Derbyshire’s most famous country house, Chatsworth, which has a treat in store for fans with an exhibition of costumes from the film, pictures from the set and display boards about Georgiana. For a copy of the map, call A glass act Some of the most sought-after holiday cottages are not so much cottages as ultra modern places with large windows making the most of lovely views. Tidal Waters, recently added to the portfolio of West Country cottage company Helpful Holidays, is one such property. Located in the sailing centre of Noss Mayo in south Devon, the ultra-stylish house is cleverly planned with river-facing balconies to make the most of stunning views over the Yealm estuary. Inside, the accommodation is spread over three levels with two bright open-plan living and dining areas on the ground and first floors plus a smart kitchen and eight bedrooms/six bathrooms. There is also a telephone and wireless broadband for guests who need to keep in touch. Equally stylish is Duckpond Cottage (above), at Higher Ashton, on Dartmoor. It’s a three-storey house linked with a two-storey converted barn overlooking a pond. A heated outdoor pool with Mediterranean-style terrace, hot tub and sauna are proof that cottages and luxury go together well. Helpful Holidays has almost 600 properties on its books. Prices range from £134 to £8,111 – something for everyone! For details call Scotland’s super soaraway seaplane Seaplanes have always had a romantic and glamorous image. Whether the reality lives up to the dream is another matter, but there’s no doubt they make getting around a lot easier and quicker in areas where water is abundant but airfields thin on the ground. The one commercial seaplane service that operates in Britain is certainly popular – so much so that it is planning an expansion of its destinations from next June. Loch Lomond Seaplanes currently operates flights between Glasgow city centre, Oban, Tobermory, the Isle of Mull and Loch Lomond and is hoping to add Arran, Rothesay and possibly other destinations. The company has carried more than 12,000 passengers between Scotland’s capital city and the highland and islands since the service was launched four years ago. “The success so far has given us the necessary confidence to look at expanding operations,” said managing director David West. Scott Taylor, of Glasgow City Marketing Bureau (GCMB) said “Since the launch of its Glasgow Terminal, Loch Lomond Seaplanes has proved itself to be hugely popular – and viable.” Barn owls are back Barn owl numbers in Suffolk have soared to their highest for years after a long period of decline. In 1991, numbers of breeding pairs were at an all-time low of 125 but this year numbers are expected to have exceeded 200. Some credit for this must go to Suffolk’s Community Barn Owl Project. Its head, Steve Piotrowski, has spent a lot of time talking to farmers about the importance of rough grassland – the terrain the owls need for hunting voles, mice and shrews – and helping them find suitable owl box locations. The Project also advises on field margins, watercourses, hedgerows, woodland edges and roadside verges and how they can be managed to benefit owls. Members have monitored 780 barn owl boxes and lots more boxes are on order. When properly sited they relieve competition for limited numbers of natural nest sites, said Mr Piotrowski – “The barn owls take readily to them.” You can help the Suffolk Community Barn Owl Project by adopting a box. The Project will send you details of its location and a newsletter about occupation and breeding success. Cath’s little extras “Arrived on a cold, windy night to be met with a beautiful warm, cosy cottage with soft music playing and wine and strawberries laid out for us. This place is a haven.” Praise indeed – and it’s comments like these in her visitors’ book that inspire Cath O’Leary to keep on adding extra touches at her five star holiday cottage in west Yorkshire, from the hot tub on the deck overlooking the moors of Brontë country, to fluffy towels and robes, quality toiletries, fresh flowers and lots more. Free extras, unusual attention to detail and a reputation for always being on hand if needed, explain why the cottage, Higher Scholes, near Keighley, has been a finalist three times in the Yorkshire Tourist Board’s White Rose awards, which have just taken place.  “It’s been a great honour to be a finalist again,” Cath told us. “To win would be out of this world – maybe one day we will!” Cath and her husband, who have an 18 year old son and nine year old daughter, built the cottage from a disused farm building on their land. It took them six months. The “fun bit” for Cath was working on the décor and furnishings, as she loves this aspect of running the cottage, so much that she is forever updating and refreshing the look. “We never let things even begin to get worn. Everything is replaced quickly, so that it is always clean and new. “And what I also really like is that the people who come here are always so nice. Often they’ll arrive a bit tired and peaky, but they soon unwind and really enjoy themselves,” she said. book review The title of this new book is a bit misleading as many of the places featured are in no way hidden: we’ve all heard of York, Wensleydale, Howarth and the other famous Yorkshire spots. That quibble aside, it’s a useful book. When you’re visiting an area, it’s good to have a wide range of things to see and do collected together in one paperback – the various leaflets you get from tourist boards can be bothersome and easy to lose. What this book does well is to pack into its first 202 pages lots of nuggets of useful information stripped bare of waffle. And because the writing is fairly succinct, there’s room for descriptions of villages and towns you perhaps wouldn’t normally go to, these informative paragraphs being knitted into sections describing more conventional attractions like abbeys, Tudor towers and packhorse bridges. If you read this book at home while considering a holiday in Yorkshire, you will very much look forward to going there. The essences of the landscapes, from the Dales, to the Wolds, to the Moors and to the ‘Heritage Coastline’, are well captured. Even descriptions of churches are made interesting. Take this extract about the 15th century murals in the church at Pickering: ‘During the glum days of Puritanism, these lively paintings were denounced as idolatrous and plastered over. They stayed forgotten for some 200 years but were rediscovered when the church was being restored in 1851. Unfortunately, the vicar at that time shared the Puritans’ sentiments… and had them smothered over again under whitewash.’ Since their second restoration, people have been able to see ‘how cheerful, colourful and entertaining many churches were before the unforgivable vandalism of the Puritan years.’ There are inevitable omissions. The paragraphs about Heptonstall are informative – the Cragg Vale Coiners produced counterfeit coins and committed murder to escape capture. Their leader is buried in the churchyard. But they don’t mention that one of the greatest American poets of the 20th century – Sylvia Plath – is buried there (she was married to local boy, the later poet laureate Ted Hughes). The book’s final 162 pages contain paid-for advertisements for inns, cafés, restaurants, attractions etc. There’s also a rather skimpy index and a list of Tourist Information Centres. |
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ARTICLES A gem of a cityThink 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 softiesBeaches, 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... HarrogateThe 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 magicThe 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 cureIt looked as if Charlie the dog needed a break. So, naturally, Eve Kerswill and her husband took him on a cottage holiday Devon delightsA 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 getawaysHarry 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 adventureClimbing 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 WoldsPeter Henshaw spends a weekend sampling the many delights of Lincolnshire Walk the Wight WayWith 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 borderCarlingford Lough is a stunning natural boundary between Northern Ireland and the Republic. Jeremy Taylor pays a visit A right song and danceNowhere 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 zonePeter 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 magicYou’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 peopleWant 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’tTo 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 puntersCambridge 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 NorfolkLooking 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 tonicOn 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 SideScotland'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 EdinburghA 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 pearlsResorts 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 CapersIf 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...Previous articles ... 
Winter is the best time for walking (discuss!). It’s more comfortable when it's cooler (with layered clothing you should be neither too warm nor too cold), and winter landscapes are inspiring. The National Trust owns vast amounts of land in the UK and urges us to get out and explore it now that winter’s here, suggesting some fabulous walks for holiday cottagers. Here are a few. For details, go to the Trust’s website or call the individual numbers listed after each walk. Allen Banks in Northumberland – The River Allen has carved out a wooded gorge in this area of ancient woodland which contains 181 species of fungi and is frequented by roe deer and otters. A gentle 2.5 mile walk.
Blakeney Point to Stiffkey, Norfolk – During the winter, hundreds of thousands of birds flock to the salt marshes and fields here to feed. Birds of prey skim the marshes, too. Seals bask off Blakeney Point. A four mile walk. Box Hill, Surrey – The Trust says this is a “green jewel in an urban landscape”. It’s an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), of chalk downland and woodland with terrific views across the South Downs. Follow the footpaths or roam free. Collect a leaflet at Box Hill or call Clent Hills, West Midlands – With great views to the Black Mountains, over quiet copses and ancient beech woods, this walk starts with a one mile path to the summit from where you can take woodland or heathland paths back. Dodman Point, Cornwall – On this three mile walk over the highest headland on the South Cornish coast you’ll pass through a landscape shaped by 4,000 years of human occupation. Iron age earthworks, bronze age barrows and mediaeval strip fields await as well as terrific views of the Lizard peninsula. Harting Down, Sussex – This walk is over ancient chalk downland with magnificent views over the Weald to the North Downs from a path through ancient yew woodland. Hayfield to Kinder Scout, Derbyshire – In 1932, a group of 500 people walked this eight mile route – illegally – to campaign for rights of access to the countryside. The Mass Trespass led to the opening up of parts of the British countryside to walkers. You, too, can trek through this dramatic landscape.
Old Harry Rocks, Dorset – This 3.5 mile path takes you through ancient woodland to rugged Old Harry Rocks on the World Heritage Jurassic Coast. Then it heads inland over meadows, and back to the sea at Studland beach. Tarn Hows, Cumbria – A five mile walk from Coniston Water up to Tarn Hows. Some of the most famous Lakeland fells stretch before you, including Wetherlam, the Old Man of Coniston, Langdale Pike and Helvellyn. Whitford Burrows, Gower Peninsula – Whitford Burrows lie at the more northerly end of the Gower Peninsula in South Wales. The four mile walk takes you along dunes, past mediaeval marshes, through pine forests and back along the beach.
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