Issue 63

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COVER FEATURE ALSO IN THIS ISSUE: Editor’s Choice – Christmas Top 10 – Winter Escapes Changing lives through therapeutic foster parenting See page 3 for the full feature

Changing lives through therapeutic foster parenting

Phoenix fostering is a local, independent agency with a great record of results – they are keen to hear from people interested in finding out more about becoming a foster parent. Phoenix foster parents provide safe, therapeutic care for children and young people who have been taken into care, helping them to recover and become secure, confident adults with bright futures.

Established in 2007, Phoenix Fostering has always been committed to a therapeutic parenting approach to placements. Its positive results are borne out by an all-round ‘Good’ rating from its 2022 OFSTED report.

Foster carers, respite carers and staff all receive initial and ongoing training together with high levels of support and help them understand what the young people may be going through and why their behaviour may be challenging at times and how to achieve consistent, positive change and recovery.

Each young person has their own dedicated family support worker who visits every week and both they and their foster families have access to a support team of supervising social workers, administrators, managers, a psychologist and a behaviour specialist. Case loads are much lighter than is generally the case with local authority fostering services and there are regular therapeutic reviews.

Phoenix HR Manager Emily Crosby says: “If anyone has an interest in fostering, even if they have fostered before and given it up, we would encourage them to pick up the phone and talk to us as a first step. There is no pressure at all. It is all about the children and young people and what is best for them.”

Applicants need to be aged 21 or over and in good health. There is no upper age limit. Foster homes need to have a spare room, the main foster carer must be able to drive and live within a 50-mile radius of the HR6 area.

Phoenix Fostering, Queens Meadow, Wigmore, Herefordshire, HR6 9UZ; T 01568 771961 info@phoenixfostering.co.uk www.phoenixfostering.co.uk

EDITOR

Jodie Collinson sales@countylifestyleandleisure.com 01455 698686

ACCOUNTS

Laura Smith accounts@countylifestyleandleisure.com 07450 83941

JOURNALIST Shirley Elsby shirley.elsby@ntlworld.com 01455 446360

SALES Sally Hassel sally@countylifestyleandleisure.com 01455 698570

DESIGN design@countylifestyleandleisure.com

Suite 10, The Lawns Business Centre The Lawns, Hinckley, Leicestershire, LE10 1DY www.countylifestyleandleisure.com Company Number: 10125538 VAT Number: 239853468

CONTENTS

Editor’s Choice 6 Home Improvements 14 Unique Retreats Sussex Escapes 18 Yorkshire Escapes 20 Cumbrian Escapes 24

Top 5 Unique Retreats – Wales 30 Escape to the Peak District 34 Discover the Isles of Scilly 38 Hidden Gem 41 Family, Health & Wellbeing 42 Holistic Holidays 44 Care & Retirement Living 48

UNIQUE RETREATS

See Page 18 for the full
feature

Planning for Retirement with SN Financial Services

Meet Stuart Neale and Jack Jones, our pensions specialists.

Planning for retirement can cause quite the headache and it is becoming more and more likely that people these days cannot rely on the State Pension for anything above the absolute basics. Whether you have just enrolled in your first workplace pension at the start of your career or you are towards the end of your career where you want to start exploring your retirement, the team at SN Financial Services can help you along every step of your journey, whichever stage you are at.

If you are at the start of your career or looking to bolster your retirement savings, as independent financial advisers, SN Financial Services can advise how to go about maximising your pensions. We can help with this by ensuring:

• you understand and manage investment risk

• we advise a suitable range of diverse investments

• you understand tax relief and how to be tax-efficient with your pensions

• we help establish your goals and give advice on how to best achieve said goals.

For those of you who have accumulated several pensions throughout your career, we can help review and potentially consolidate your pensions. More importantly, we can establish whether you’re on track to achieve your goals and acquire sufficient income in retirement.

Then we come to those who are reaching retirement (what we like to refer to as the ‘30-year holiday!’). It’s vital you have a robust strategy on how you’ll fund your required income. It is at this point where we would dissect your pension, ensure that it’s suitably diversified and then –what our clients find most beneficial –get rid of the jargon!

It is often the case that people invest in a pension and save for retirement over 40 years with very little thought to how they will begin taking an income.

Options include ‘flexi-access income drawdown’ annuities, or perhaps using rental income to supplement State Pensions. No matter what the scenario, the specialist advisers at SN Financial Services can help model and forecast your income and compare against your expenditure. This can help identify any ‘gaps’ in your retirement planning and enable you to understand where you’re positioned in achieving your goals, ensuring that you have the retirement you want and need – and deserve!

In addition to helping at all these specific points in time, we provide ongoing, regular reviews of your investments, suggesting refinements along the way to ensure that you remain on track to achieve your most important investment goals.

SN Financial Services Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority - FCA number 231014. The value of your investments can go down as well as up. Past performance is no guarantee of future performance.

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The best window shopping anywhere

Whatever your plans for your windows, The Track House is the place to get them fulfilled! This amazing showroom offers an unbeatable range of top quality curtains, blinds, poles, tracks and accessories from leading suppliers. Adding the benefits of expert advice and friendly personal service, it ensures the process is a joy for customers, from start to finish.

For curtains and Roman blinds, The Track House offers a stunning array of fabrics in some 400 sample books, available to browse either in the showroom or in the comfort of their own home. The fabrics are then expertly made to measure and either hand stitched or machine-made, complete with their customer’s choice of headings, for distinctive style.

Unusually, the company also offers a wide range of approx. 400 plus pre

loved curtains through its upstairs showroom, the Curtain Emporium. With many designer brands, in good condition and at least lined, many interlined too, all hung for easy viewing, this is a true ”Emporium” of delights!

The Track House team offer upholstery for chairs, loose covers, cushions, bench seats, headboards and other soft furnishings in matching or complementary fabrics to complete the look.

They offer a comprehensive range of tracks and poles, which can be motorised for effortless control through timers or phone apps, and expertly fitted. There is even a unique patented door rod, the Cosidor, to keep heat in the home.

Blinds also come in many styles including Roman, roller, vertical, pleated or venetian, and can also be

remote controlled.

The Track House was acquired by Kevin and Jane Wain in 2018. They have a highly knowledgeable staff of a manager, interior designer, professional seamstress’s and fitters. Blinds and motorised fittings come guaranteed for a year and aftercare is provided in case of hitches. Preloved curtains can be bought online and these can be altered, as can customers’ own curtains.

Jane says: “Our customers always come first. We do get a lot of word of mouth recommendations, which is proof of doing a good job!”

The Track House, 24 Blackwell Business Park, Blackwell, Shipston-on-Stour CV36 4PE T 01608 682001

E info@trackhouse.co.uk www.trackhouse.co.uk and www.curtain-emporium.com

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Beamish and beyond, your carriage awaits!

Luxury and character go together at Beamish Glamping, County Durham, where vintage railway carriages have been converted to luxurious self-catering accommodation complete with private hot tubs and woodland views. The site is just a stroll away from Beamish’s famous Living Museum of the North, and guests benefit from a 15% discount on admission prices.

The three carriages at Beamish Glamping all come with king sized beds, kitchens, en-suite showers and toilets and outdoor decking areas with those all-important hot tubs. The carriages have been painstakingly restored by owner Peter Johnson and a joiner friend, the latest of them significantly

larger. This has two double bedrooms with king sized beds, a sofabed for younger children and a gazebo over the hot tub.

Beamish Museum is one of the premier tourist attractions of northern England, an open air gem of living history depicting life through the 1900s. The museum –open all year - has undergone an £18 million upgrade in the past five years, including £11 million from the Heritage Lottery Fund. As well as maintaining the original exhibits including a 1900s town scene, pit village, working drift mine and railway, the expansion has added many features including a 1950s town with a farm, cinema, shops, café and chippie.

Beamish Glamping is also ideally placed for adventurers wanting to follow the C2C cycle route just a short distance away, running 137 scenic miles from Tyneside to Cumbria. The Durham Dales and North Pennines beckon to walkers and the long, sandy beaches of the Northumberland coast to families. City attractions are also to hand. Peter says: “The nearest is Gateshead but we are only about 20 minutes away from Sunderland, Newcastle and Durham. The popular seaside town of Whitley Bay is about 30 minutes away.”

T Peter 07708 720701 or Julie 07515 699110, E beamishglamping@gmail.com www.beamishglamping.co.uk

Scottish getaways are dreamy, delightful and even magical at Sweet Donside Cabins and Sweetheart Cottage, set in a remote and beautiful corner of Cairngorms National Park. Reserved only for adults and their canine friends, the stone cottage and hand-built boutique cabins all come with their own private hot tubs and create a fairy-tale atmosphere. They are ideal for love, romance and the creation of some very special memories.

Many guests have been known to get engaged while staying at this nine acre site, close to the rushing River Don and the famous Poldullie Bridge which was used in filming the 2018 film Mary Queen of Scots. Some have held their minimoons there and one couple has already used the venue for a small but perfect wedding, with the ceremony performed on the bridge itself. The area is teeming with great things to see, do and experience, with Aberdeen, Aviemore and Inverness all within driving distance and the royal hot spots of Balmoral, Braemar and Ballater even closer. Guests frequently delve into local history through landmarks including

impressive castles, while others head for the hills, the ski slopes of The Lecht or perhaps the Glenlivet whisky distillery.

But with the river, woodland, wildlife and spectacularly starry skies around them, many guests simply relax on site, enjoying the beguiling accommodation, which all comes centrally heated and snug for even the coldest periods. They find everything they need, from ensuite bathrooms, quality bedding and barbecues to smart TV with Netflix.

The cottage has features including a superking-sized bed and a separate love shack with a spacious hot tub, sofa and music system. The cabins are themed as the Wee Love Nest, Wee Bear Den, Wee Beehive and Wee Fae Hideaway, all with king-sized beds and many quirky touches to enchant their occupiers in the very sweetest ways.

T 07810 100061

E info@sweetdonsidecabins.com www.sweetdonsidecabins.com Facebook @ Scotsbank Instagram @ sweet_donside_holidaylets

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For
The Sycamore The Willow The Silver Birch

Fun and adventures are all part of the package at Woodchests Glamping, where glamorous safari tents come with secret cabins and built-in dens, while the grounds include walks through nature, a fairy trail and a well-stocked fishing lake.

The farm-based site near Pebmarsh, on the North Essex/ Suffolk border, is great for all ages and within easy reach of attractions such as Stour Valley Adventure Centre, the East Anglian Railway Museum and Colchester Zoo, ranked among the best in the world. The site is less than an hour

from either London or the coast and only around 90 minutes’ drive from the fantastic seaside city of Southend-on-Sea.

The family-run glampsite offers a choice of three, six-person safari tents, each fully furnished with amenities including a master bedroom, second bedroom with bunk beds, afore-mentioned cabin bedroom behind closed doors with either extra storage or a den space below; an open plan living space, shower room with odourless ecotoilet and a kitchen/dining area. Outside is a generous decking

area from which to enjoy the adjoining mature woodland and countryside and cooking al fresco, using the wood-fired grill and pizza oven supplied.

Guests can also rent an additional unfurnished two-person bell tent, giving their children, or perhaps themselves, their own space.

Nearby Pebmarsh village has a pub which provides food, drink and general bonhomie. Other places to spend quality time include the boutique shops, galleries and eateries of Lavenham, one of Britain’s best

preserved medieval towns, and historic Colchester, Britain’s first capital and one of the eight new British cities declared for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee in May.

Site spokesman Hugh Crayston says: “Woodchests is ideal for families but we can also book the whole site for group holidays. People are very complimentary about our facilities. About 30% of our business comes from repeat bookings.”

T 07952 023630

E bookings@woodchests.co.uk www.woodchests.co.uk

Exhilarating valley views are among the treats to be relished at Rose Cottage, pet-friendly self-catering accommodation for four near the pleasant market town of Wooler. Guests can relax at any time of year in this charming stone cottage on the edge of Northumberland National Park, whether simply enjoying the cosy surroundings, getting active outdoors or exploring the fabulous sandy beaches, towns and numerous attractions within visiting distance.

Rose Cottage sits in a hamlet just a stone’s throw from the dramatic

Cheviot Hills and is certified walker, cyclist, pet and family friendly by Visit England. The large garden and the ‘sun room,’ set out for dining, offer vast and splendid views over the Glendale Valley. Night time viewing is equally stunning.

Owner Christine says: “We’re in a designated Dark Sky Park so the stars here are amazing!”

The property also has a comfy country-style living room, a master bedroom with a king-sized bed, a second twin bedroom and modern kitchen and bathroom, the latter with a walk-in shower. Secure

storage is available for bikes. Wooler provides a choice of quality retail therapy and a range of hospitable bars and restaurants where visitors can feast on local specialities such as Craster Kippers and Lindisfarne Oysters. The area is renowned for its numerous castles and forts, including Bamburgh Castle, royal bastion of the ancient kingdom of Northumbria, now displaying impressive collections of art, ceramics and artefacts.

Coastal favourites with visitors include Berwick upon Tweed –

England’s most northerly town – with its ancient alleyways and courtyards. Many head to the island of Lindisfarne, famed for both its National Nature Reserve and the monastery which spread Christianity around the world. Few would miss seeing Hadrian’s Wall, the great Roman edifice spanning the country sea to sea. Others venture north into the Scottish Borders, perhaps to Jedburgh or Selkirk.

T 01372 464284

E info@rosecottagewooler.co.uk www.rosecottagewooler.co.uk

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Iona is famed for its wild beauty, white sand beaches and the ‘Cradle of Christianity,’ being a long-time place of pilgrimage and royal burial place since St Columba arrived in the 6th century. Machair House is a self-catering family home with a garden and sea and mountain views, perfectly placed for exploring the island’s unspoiled charms, including Columba’s fully restored monastery, eagles, spectacular landscapes and, in the main town, traditional shops, crafts and local hospitality, perhaps even a ceilidh.

Midlanders used to traffic and urban sprawl will feel liberated the moment they arrive. The resident population of this 1.5 by 3 mile community is around 170. There are no cars save for taxis from the ferry port and the landscape is unsullied by anything that would rate as ‘built-up.’

The island is farmed by traditional crofting methods, administered by the National Trust for Scotland to ensure that the way of life of both people and animals is preserved. Machair House is one with that

tradition. With three bedrooms sleeping up to seven people, it is set on a 33 acre croft supporting cows and sheep. It is warm, welcoming, fully equipped and freshly decorated, within walking distance of the Abbey and a pristine beach. There are frequent boat trips to Staffa – famous for puffins – and other islands. Guests are free to bring their well-behaved pets to share the tranquillity.

Owner Jamie Dods says: “Machair House has been in my family for over 300 years. My grandparents

were the last people to live in the house permanently, until last year. I spent lots of happy time there with them while I was growing up. It is a very special place.”

Facilities include smart TV, wi-fi and many pleasing touches including board games, books and DVDs. Jamie takes bookings for a week or longer.

T 07896 954081

E dodsjamie818@googlemail.com Find us on Facebook, Airbnb and Booking.com search Machair House Iona.

If keeping children happy is a priority for your holiday, Cornwall’s Coombe Mill Family Farm Holidays are for you. Set on a 30-acre farm estate between beautiful Bodmin Moor and the north Cornish coast, the site was originally a 16th century water mill. Now, run by former teachers Anya and Emma, it provides exquisite self-catering holiday accommodation in a magical setting with woodland, meadows, lakes and a picturesque portion of the River Camel, all offering exciting activities for everyone from the youngest

explorer to the biggest adult kid.

Accommodation is in luxurious Scandinavian lodges which sleep four to eight people, all wheelchair accessible with downstairs bathrooms and inclusive for all. Four have purpose-made playrooms, and the site is particularly favoured by families and for parties of mixed generations. Guests frequently book several lodges together for special celebration breaks and group holidays.

Outdoor play includes a trampoline, zipline, den building zone, fairy

garden and nature trail, plus safe river swimming, badminton and crazy golf. There is an indoor play area for the under fives, a games room for older children and a purpose-built barbeque area. One highlight is the daily tractor tour of the animals, a safe and supervised chance for children to feed and get close to resident chickens, ducks, micropigs, alpacas, goats, deer and ponies. While one parent may join them on the run, another might well enjoy personal space in the on-site gym, or perhaps cycling the Camel Trail which begins

five minutes from Coombe Mill. Private fishing is also available. Off-site, nearby Cornish highlights include the mystical town of Tintagel – supposed birthplace of King Arthur - the foodie paradise of Padstow and Doc Martin’s harbour village of Port Isaac.

The North coast is less than 10 miles away and the South coast about 15 miles.

T 01208 850344 E mail@coombemill.com www.coombemill.com

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South Cornwall is special in so many ways, from its beautifully rugged coastline to outstanding gardens such as the Eden Project and Lost Gardens of Heligan and, everywhere, exquisite seafood. The self-catering properties of Harbour to Horizon are superbly appointed and positioned to enable guests to gain peak pleasure from its numerous charms.

Two of the properties are in the pretty fishing village of Mevagissey, known for its double harbour. The third is a few miles away in Charlestown, famous for its Georgian port and square rigger

ships, frequently featured in TV and film dramas, notably Poldark.

Whilst all three have outstanding harbour locations and close proximity to local restaurants and amenities, superb coastal views are also on offer. Each property combines boutique character with luxurious home comforts, upmarket appliances and smart technology including streaming services and unlimited broadband.

Marine Point is a contemporary apartment perched on cliffs overlooking Mevagissey, right on the South West Coast Path and ideal for watching fishing boats

come and go. It sleeps five in an en-suite master bedroom with a super-king-sized bed, a second bedroom with zip & link beds and a third, single room.

Seafarers is a charming Victorian former coastguard’s cottage, also overlooking Mevagissey harbour, sleeping four people and with the bonus of a suntrap dining terrace. Both this and Marine Point are ideally placed for exploring Mevagissey’s medieval streets, cafes, shops and galleries.

Tall Ships, Charlestown, is an elegant Georgian-style property for six, only a few moments’ walk

from the harbour - a UNESCO World Heritage Site – and also the fascinating Shipwreck & Heritage Museum, with some 8,000 exhibits related to Cornwall’s amazing maritime past.

Owner Neal Rankin says: “Although the properties are completely different to each other they all offer the same exacting quality. The more traditional ones have been totally redesigned with painstaking attention to detail.”

T 07770 834268

E ahoy@harbour2horizon.co.uk www.harbour2horizon.co.uk

Glampers discover the adventurous spirit of wild west pioneers as they shake off the urban world at Loose Reins, a stud ranch in the stunning Blackmore Vale of North Dorset. Chilling out close to nature in timber cabins or luxurious canvas lodges with their own hot tubs, guests young and old cherish the freedom and space of the great outdoors alongside modern comforts in this multi-awardwinning, dog and family-friendly holiday accommodation.

The cosy timber cabins give an authentic sense of being homesteaders in the American

Wild West with their faux furs and fleeces, wood panelling and vintage décor, together with a porch from which to watch out for roaming deer, owls and other surprises. They have one king sized bed and seating that has the option to be a single bed, cot space or a bunk bed set up.

The canvas lodges are spaciously designed for up to six people and have wooden floors and room dividers. They have comfy sofas and armchairs and a large outdoor decking space.

All the Loose Reins accommodation

has well-stocked kitchens, woodburning stoves with fuel included, en-suite bathrooms with quality showers and flushing toilets, plus generous welcome packs and quality towels and bedding.

Loose Reins is in a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty within a county teeming with exciting attractions and adventurous activities. The spot is less than an hour’s drive from the Jurassic Coast, famous for fossil hunting, great beaches and amazing wildlife.

But there is plenty to do on-site,

whether building dens, spying out the wildlife, climbing trees on woodland walks, pond dipping and campfire cooking round the fire bowl. Games are provided, there is lots of safe outdoor space for children and dogs to run around in and friendly host Yasmin even runs the highly popular Buckaroos Children’s Club with activities involving the Dartmoor ewes, chickens, pygmy goats and ponies.

T 01258 446246

E admin@loosereins.co.uk www.loosereins.co.uk Facebook, Twitter, Instagram @ Loose Reins.

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Explore beautiful Britain from any of eight family-friendly properties hand-picked for their quality and picturesque locations by Taylor Holiday Lets. Accommodating four to 13 people, they are all pet friendly and combine country charm with luxurious modern comfort and convenience, making them fabulous home bases for guests to explore choice tourist spots around North Wales, Derbyshire Peak District and the Antrim coast of Northern Ireland.

Taylor Holiday Lets is a wellestablished holiday business run by a couple and their two sons,

who have travelled extensively around the UK. They let properties based on what they themselves love, continuously upgrade and pay meticulous attention to detail.

The family started by letting their own first holiday home, Ferryman’s Wharf on the River Conwy in Taly-Cafn, which is on the edge of Snowdonia National Park and within easy reach of great beaches. Like the other properties, it comes with numerous pleasing touches such as quality mattresses, superior bed linen and towels, smart TVs with Sky Q packages, quality appliances, landscaped gardens,

pet beds and welcome packs for both humans and their dogs. Six properties are in Derbyshire, handy for the Peak District National Park with its famous walking trails and caves and near Derwent Mills UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Bridge view and Riverside Cottage overlook the River Derwent at Darley Bridge and can be rented together, interlinked, for up to 10 people. Thornleigh is a sixbedroomed Victorian property in central Matlock, with facilities including a hot tub, sauna and games room. The other cottages accommodate four each, in

Matlock, Bradwell and Grindleford. Exclusive fishing is available at Darley Bridge.

The remaining property is Portree, sleeping eight on the stunning coast of County Antrim frequented by seals, dolphins and numerous seabirds and also with its own hot tub.

Family spokesman James Taylor says: “Our properties are quite luxurious and we get lots of repeat business. We make sure things are professionally run.”

T 07803 535459

E enquiries@taylorholidaylets.co.uk www.taylorholidaylets.co.uk

Mountview offers a range of quality self-catering accommodation on the shores of beautiful Lochinver, all with their own luxurious hot tubs and magnificent views across the unspoiled Highland landscape for which Scotland is famed. It’s a great spot to simply chill out at any time of year, enjoying superb sandy beaches, walking, cyclng, fishing and spotting wildlife such as the very local otters, sea eagles, golden eagles and grey seals. It’s also on the North Coast 500 tourist route (NC500), a picturesque

route to numerous castles, coastal villages, pristine beaches, whisky distilleries and many other treats. The Drumbeg Loop near Lochinver is a particularly picturesque section, also known as the ‘Wee Mad Road.’

Mountview has two log cabins on the water’s edge, a croft house with the optional use of an infrared sauna and a well-insulated, cosy pod, all with views across Loch Inver to the Assynt mountains of Canisp and Suilven. With a 4 Star rating from Visit Scotland and

a Certificate of Excellence from TripAdvisor, they are all available for two people only and are extremely comfortable and well equipped. The hot tubs on the balconies overlook those splendid views as well as exceptionally starry night skies.

Lochinver village is within 20 minutes’ walk of the holiday properties. Host Susan MacLeod says: “We have a great choice of places to eat and enjoy locally produced food specialities and we have a superb local butcher’s and

other places to meet guests’ needs for food to prepare themselves, fuel, banking and other services.”

Lochinver is also home to Highland Stoneware, an internationally known pottery specialising in items which are individually hand painted and signed, so no two are the same.

The village can also supply fishing permits, booklets of local walks and sea cruises. Cyclists love riding the Assynt Achiltibuie circular trail.

T 01571 844648 or 07775 273558

E stay@mountview-lochinver.co.uk www.mountview-lochinver.co.uk

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Visitors can enjoy the numerous natural and manmade charms of the Isle of Man all year round thanks to state-of-the-art accommodation at Glen Helen Glamping. After a busy day exploring, they return to cosy pods with underfloor heating, en-suite showers and toilets, kitchenettes and in most cases private hot tubs. From these they can light up a firepit and truly relax, relishing the woodland setting and starscapes of an official Dark Sky site.

Glen Helen Glamping is the only glampsite currently within one of

the island’s National Glens and surrounded by wonderful trees including 350 year old Canadian redwood sequoias, beech, spruce and sycamore. Venturing in along the banks of Rivers Neb and Blaber, walkers come upon the impressively beautiful Rhenass Waterfall. Along the way – and back at base – they may well encounter buzzards, storks and cranes. On the Manx coast, they will almost certainly encounter large numbers of seabirds such as guillemots, oyster catchers, even puffins, as well as being able to spot seals.

The privately owned site is on the scenic central west side of the island. The seaside town of Peel is about 15 minutes’ drive away with attractions including a harbour, marina and rose-coloured architecture of its ancient castle and other buildings. The capital, Douglas, is about 25 minutes away, as is Port Erin.

Attractions nearby include the famous four-tiered Tynwald Hill, where Vikings first established what is now the oldest continuous parliament in the world. There is no shortage of great beaches, too,

for rock-pooling, beachcombing, walking and, of course, watersports.

The pods each sleep six adults in one king-sized bed, a king-sized sofa bed and a dropdown double sofa bed. They have everything needed – including bed linen and internet – and have their own outdoor areas. There is a café/ restaurant on site, open in the daytime.

T 07624 450332

E admin@glenhelenglamping.com www.glenhelenglamping.com Facebook @ Glen Helen Glamping

Visitors can enjoy the best of Ireland north and south from Newell’s Cross Cottages, set in the stunning loveliness of the Mourne Mountains and Carlingford Lough on the scenic east coast. Sited near outstanding attractions such as Royal County Down Golf Club and the breathtaking countryside of Silent Valley Mountain Park, the two luxuriously comfortable 4 Star holiday homes can together cater for up to 23 people, making them perfect bases for activity groups, extended families, walkers, tourists, even film crews.

The cottages are both selfcontained, modern, spacious and child friendly, with shared outdoor space including exciting play equipment, barbecues and a hot tub. They are decorated to bright modern standards, with open plan living and kitchen spaces, smart TVs, broadband and log burners for winter cosiness. The larger of the two properties, Mabel’s Cottage, has five bedrooms – two of them on the ground floor – a sun room and a fully equipped nursery. Olive’s Cottage has five bedrooms, three of them double en-suite.

Both have majestic views of the mountains and lough and are just a short drive from the small town of Kilkeel, a pretty fishing port which has its own golf club along and the Nautilus Centre, which has a maritime museum, seafood cookery school and other attractions.

The whole area is bursting with interesting things to enjoy, from leisurely walks with Cranfield Alpacas to bouldering, sea kayaking and climbing with East Coast Adventures. Both Belfast and Dublin are within easy driving distance, as

is the Carlingford ferry and many of the filming locations from the hit TV series Game of Thrones.

Cottage owners Joanne and Frank Mewler provide welcome packs of excellent local cakes and bakes. Living nearby, they are always on hand to help out if needed.

Joanne says: “It’s only a mile up to the mountains. You can walk there up the lane. It really is idyllic.”

T 07912 646095

E info@newellscc.co.uk www.newellscc.co.uk

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Whether you’re seeking romance, grown-up downtime or full-on family fun, Dittisham Hideaway has the perfect dog-friendly self-catering accommodation in beautiful south Devon countryside. Just a few miles from the sublime beaches of the ‘English Riviera’ and within walking distance of the River Dart, it’s set in a wooded valley and has a stunning range of high quality treehouses, shepherds’ lodges and a fully-restored 1950s American Airstream trailer, all luxuriously fitted out as the backdrop to an idyllic, peaceful getaway.

On-site facilities include a circular

woodland walk, boules and a games room with ping-pong and table football, while each hideaway has its own wood-fired hot tub and barbecue space.

Near at hand are Dartmouth Hotel with a spa, restaurant and championship golf course, a business renting out boats, kayaks and paddleboards, an adventure park, fishing trips and horse riding. A short drive can take you to mountain biking heaven in the Haldon Forest or exploring Dartmoor, perhaps including a visit to the former family home of crime writer Agatha Christie.

The accommodation is all carefully designed, thoughtfully furnished and expertly equipped to give a high end, stylish experience in tune with the surroundings.

The four cedar-clad treehouses are geared to couples or young families and sleep up to five, with underfloor heating, two en-suite shower rooms apiece.

The Airstream is an iconic Sovereign of the Road for two, polished and gleaming as the epitome of stylish caravanning heritage, complete with retro-fittings but also up-tothe-minute technology from air conditioning to smart TV.

The shepherds’ lodges have been handcrafted to high and spacious specifications for two people to enjoy blissful togetherness, right down to the double hammock on the terrace. One of the five shepherds’ lodges has a separate mini-hut for young children.

Dittisham Hideaway welcome packages provide West Country treats for both human and canine holidaymakers.

T 01803 925034

E reservations@dittishamhideaway.co.uk www.dittishamhideaway.co.uk Facebook, Instagram and TripAdvisor @ Dittisham Hideaway

Penty Myghal is your Cornish homefrom-home in the harbour town of Porthleven, within a few steps of the popular South West Coast Path and the busy working harbour with local arts and crafts and impressive foodie credentials. Providing accommodation for four people plus dogs in a converted sail loft, it is convenient for all the seaside treats and amenities and a cosy, comfortable spot from which to enjoy Britain’s most southerly port at any time of year.

Penty Myghal is your Cornish home-from-home in the harbour town of Porthleven, within a few steps of the popular South West Coast Path and the busy working harbour with local arts and crafts and impressive foodie credentials. Providing accommodation for four people plus dogs in a converted sail loft, it is convenient for all the seaside treats and amenities and a cosy, comfortable spot from which to enjoy Britain’s most southerly port at any time of year.

The cottage has been extended and refurbished to provide quality

cottage has been extended and refurbished to provide quality

accommodation all year round. It two bedrooms, one with a kingsized bed and en-suite bathroom, other able to be configured as a superking or twin room with adjoining bathroom. It also has modern, well-equipped kitchen, plan living area and patio garden with parking.

comes complete with modern technology including a smart TV Netflix, Bluetooth speaker and superfast WiFi, plus many extras such as books, maps & waking guides, games and beach equipment from buckets

accommodation all year round. It has two bedrooms, one with a kingsized bed and en-suite bathroom, the other able to be configured as either a superking or twin room with an adjoining bathroom. It also has a modern, well-equipped kitchen, open plan living area and patio garden with parking. It comes complete with modern technology including a smart TV with Netflix, Bluetooth speaker and superfast WiFi, plus many extras such as books, maps & walking guides, games and beach equipment from buckets and spades

and spades to picnic chairs and bodyboards.

Deep windowsills, exposed beams and a wood burning stove add character to the contemporary comfort and Penty Myghal, while quietly tucked away remains within a few minutes’ stroll of everything Porthleven has to offer to both adult guests and families. These include a lively entertainments scene, watersports, wildlife havens and specialist shops and markets. While this attractive property has plenty to enjoy as a home base, it is also convenient for exploring the

to picnic chairs and bodyboards. Deep windowsills, exposed beams and a wood burning stove add character to the contemporary comfort and Penty Myghal, while quietly tucked away, remains within a few minutes’ stroll of everything Porthleven has to offer to both adult guests and families. These include a lively entertainments scene, watersports, wildlife havens and specialist shops and markets. While this attractive property has plenty to enjoy as a home base, it is also convenient for exploring the wider charms of Cornwall, including

the year-round interest of its industrial heritage from mining and china clay and its rich history of both shipwrecks and maritime rescues. Attractions within easy reach include Flambards Theme Park at nearby Helston, surfing & golf at Praa Sands, the white beaches and turquoise seas of Lizard Point, the rich smuggling history of Prussia Cove and the frequently photographed St Michael’s Mount.

wider charms of Cornwall, including the year-round interest of its industrial heritage from mining and china clay and its rich history of both shipwrecks and maritime rescues. Attractions within easy reach include Flambards Theme Park at nearby Helston, surfing & golf at Praa Sands, the white beaches and turquoise seas of Lizard Point, the rich smuggling history of Prussia Cove and the frequently photographed St Michael’s Mount.

T 07407 711925

T 07407 711925

E mel@pentymyghal.co.uk www.pentymyghal.co.uk

E mel@pentymyghal.co.uk www.pentymyghal.co.uk

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countylifestyleandleisure.com 14 All forms of damp proofing undertaken Solid wall insulation External wall coatings Condensation Control T: 0333 577 3306 E: help@dampfree.net Finance options available on request www.dampfree.net 20 Year Guarantee on all damp proofing as standard Before After 10% discount to all NHS Staff
15 countylifestyleandleisure.com Garolla garage doors are expertly made to measure in our own UK factories, they’re strong and solidly built. The electric Garolla door rolls up vertically, taking up only 8 inches inside your garage, maximising valuable space. Give us a call today and we’ll come and measure up completely FREE of charge. CALL US TODAY ON: 0800 135 7268 MOBILE: 07537 149 128 WHAT’S INCLUDED WITH EVERY DOOR: • EXPERT MEASURING & FITTING • 2 REMOTE CONTROLS • ACOUSTIC & THERMAL INSULATION • FREE DISPOSAL OF YOUR OLD DOOR • AVAILABLE IN 21 COLOURS From £895* for a fully fitted electric garage door. WAS £1,354 INCLUDING VAT. *O er valid for openings up to 2.4m wide & including 2 remote controls, 55mm white slats, internal manual override. Why choose us? www.tgiblinds.co.uk At Thomas Gilbey Interiors we supply and fit virtually every type of blind imaginable, in every fabric or colour you’re ever likely to want... all at superb value-for-money prices, plus a range of mouthwatering special offers are often available. Call or email us any time to make an appointment, and we’ll bring our mobile Blind and Curtain Studio right to your home or business - any day, evening or weekend. See the latest styles with no obligation. Advice is free, measuring is free, and expert fitting is free too! 01789 490889 Email: sales@tgiblinds.co.uk Visit our website ࠍ Genuinely low directfrom-the-manufacturer prices across our entire range! ࠍ Unbeatable range of styles, fabrics and colours. ࠍ Choose at home, for the perfect colour match for your carpets, furnishings and decor... all in your own lighting! ࠍ Our 5 Star Service includes free
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Reddistores self storage is a purpose built, heated self storage facility. Ideally setup for Commercial and Domestic storage. We serve customers throughout Redditch, Alvechurch, Birmingham, Bromsgrove, and the surrounding areas. Whether you’re moving, carrying out alterations or renovations, or just clearing valuable space, we have the storage space for you. Call us on 01527 62308 to assist with your secure storage solutions, please quote CLL21 when enquiring www.reddistores.com Email: info@reddistores.co.uk Weights Farm, Weights Lane, Redditch, Worcestershire, B97 6RG NEED SECURE, HEATED INDOOR OR OUTDOOR STORAGE? WHY NOT TRY REDDISTORES?
■ Decorative Aggregates ■ Building Sands & Gravels ■ Timber Landscaping Supplies ■ Paving ■ Fencing ■ Fast friendly local service ■ Bulk bags delivered ■ Collections in bags or bulk ■ Loose tipped deliveries up to 19t ■ Full lorry loads direct to site Based on our farm in the heart of Worcestershire we pride ourselves on being able to offer a fast, friendly and flexible local service from our yard out to Worcestershire, Gloucestershire, Warwickshire and the West Midlands. Call 01905 381195 or email info@cjcaggregates.co.uk visit our website www.cjcaggregates.co.uk CJC (Worcester) Ltd, Cowsden Bank Farm, Naunton Road, Upton Snodsbury, Worcestershire, WR7 4NU

Unique Retreats SUSSEX ESCAPES

Sussex can boast some of England’s most popular seaside resorts and visitor attractions, not to mention the inspirational South Downs National Park, an unspoiled natural range of chalk hills stretching from Winchester, Hampshire to a grand finale in the Seven Sisters glistening white cliffs at Beachy Head, Eastbourne.

FINDON, WEST SUSSEX

You can be wowed by the ornate grandeur of Brighton Pavilion, walk in the footsteps of the Norman invaders victorious at the Battle of Hastings or visit Winniethe-Pooh’s favourite haunts. Maybe you’ll treat the kids to a day out at family-friendly venues such as Fishers Adventure

Farm Park with 40 rides and attractions, Drusilla’s Park exotic

animals, beach-fronting Harbour Park or Paradise Park with lifesized moving model dinosaurs.

Sussex has a range of notable public gardens – some part of National Trust properties –including the Wakehurst wild botanic gardens managed by the Kew Gardens team and including an Elizabethan mansion and nature reserve.

The Downs Stables Holiday Lets are two self catering holiday lets and two Glamping Pods situated in the heart of a historic National Hunt Racing Yard in Findon, West Sussex. Each holiday let accommodates a maximum of two people. The Downs Stables is a fully working National Hunt Racing Yard with approximately 30 horses in training, situated right on the South Downs

National Park with direct access to miles and miles of Sussex Countryside. We are 5 miles from the sea, 20 miles from Brighton and Goodwood and walking distance to four pubs, two restaurants , a cafe and post office/village shop. If you like horses and the countryside you are sure to love it here. The perfect spot for walkers, cyclists and those looking for a relaxing holiday.

Each holiday let has a separate bedroom, bathroom with a bath and shower and a separate fitted kitchen and living area. A Smart TV and large patio area with outdoor seating.

Each Glamping Pod has a double bed and table and chairs as well as outdoor seating area and BBQ. Then access to a full sized kitchen , bathroom and toilet just across the pathway.

To find out more or to book call or visit: www.thedownsstablesholidays.co.uk

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01903872226

BATTLE, EAST SUSSEX

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YORKSHIRE ESCAPES

Whitby is enduringly popular as a holiday destination in North Yorkshire, famed among other things for its quaint harbour and boat trips, cobbled streets and links to the seafaring hero Captain Cook, whose adventures are celebrated in premises where he learned his seamanship skills.

The Whitby townscape is

dominated by the clifftop ruins of Whitby Abbey, the Gothic monastery which inspired Bram Stoker’s tale, Dracula and now boasts a modern museum and visitor centre. Whitby now entices a modern day Goth following to enjoy its numerous charms alongside many other tourists of all ages, attracted by everything from fresh seafood and shipwrecks to

jet jewellery and fossils.

Around 50 miles away, between the North York Moors and Yorkshire Dales, is the market town of Thirsk, aka ‘Darrowby’ in the hit TV series All Creatures Great and Small. There, a museum shows the life of the TV vet Alf White, who chronicled his tales under the pen name James Herriot.

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Underhill Holiday Homes are ideally situated with stunning views, and walks on the doorstep across the Esk valley near Whitby To find out more, or to book Find us on Facebook @Underhillcottage Call 07717 493214 or Email tinahodgson@hotmail.co.uk
WHITBY

THIRSK

Old Oak Cottages are situated in a delightful rural location, just outside the pretty village of Little Thirkleby, on the edge of the North Yorkshire Moors, boasting spectacular views across unspoilt countryside towards the White Horse of Kilburn.

This wonderful cluster of 8 luxury holiday cottages have been beautifully converted from Barns, Stables and an old Potato Store and retain many original features.

Each cottage offers the highest standards of comfort and design, and we ensure our standards of maintenance and housekeeping are of the highest level and it is also good to know that a significant proportion of our guests is based upon repeat custom and recommendation. Our number one priority is customer satisfaction. We have many, many outstanding guest reviews including Trip Advisor, Certificate of Excellence.

To find out more or to book call or visit: www.oldoakcottages.com +44 (0)1845 501258

There is exclusive use for our cottage guests of our superb indoor heated pool, spa bath and sauna together with an all weather tennis court. This haven of relaxation is surrounded by 400 acres of well kept farm land, walks and duck pond. Children can enjoy the Climbing Frame, Swings, Slide, Football Net, Play Fort, Trampoline and See-Saw in the large fenced play/picnic field.

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YORKSHIRE ESCAPES

York is an amazing city which melds past and present in a busy, bustling atmosphere of happy activity, not least in sampling the numerous excellent places to eat, drink and relax.

‘Must see’ choices for many include shopping in the cobbled medieval street of The Shambles with its overhanging upper floors. Lately it has been nicknamed Harry Potter

YORK

Street, seemingly the inspiration for Diagon Alley, the young wizard’s source of magical supplies.

Others popular attractions include the famous York Minster, a ride around the Jorvik Viking Centre with its authentic smells of 10th century life.

From the Midlands, many visitors will approach via the Yorkshire

Wolds, perhaps making their way to the North York Moors home of a famous heritage railway line operating between Whitby and the pleasant market town of Pickering. Others find their fun in the Yorkshire Dales, especially Richmond with its famous castle and attractive blend of historical landmarks, cafes, independent shops and art galleries.

A Break Away From The Norm

The Little Hide ‘Adult Only’ Glamping Site, is the perfect place to spend a few nights, nestled in the Yorkshire countryside, but only minutes from the heart of the City of York.

Our camping pods are unique – they were designed by us, and are simply perfect for a short break! Each pod is furnished, including a zip & link bed, with a cloud like deep mattress, a sofa and a heater! See, it’s like camping but with a bit of luxury!

Why stay at The Little Hide?

Well for a start its ‘grown-up camping’ (Otherwise known as ‘Glamping’ which is an amalgamation of Glamorous and Camping!) – there’s no packing up wet tents, no creepy crawlies in your shoes and no airbeds going flat in the middle of the night! It’s camping, but with a real bed, a

seasonal duvet and a sofa! Yet it’s cheaper than the average York B&B and you have more freedom – it’s almost self-catering with a smaller space and a community of other Podders! It is still camping, in the sense that you have shared shower blocks etc, but it’s warm and comfy and possible to do all year round!

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YORKSHIRE WOLDS

Acorn Glade is an awardwinning romantic retreat for couples and individuals looking for that outdoor break away from it all, in beautiful Yorkshire.

It currently has two log cabins and a yurt and a brand new roundhouse yurt, all off grid with king-size beds and log burners. All the accommodation types have lakeside views and are set within 3.5 acres with woodland, wild flower meadow and private fishery.

You will only be 10 miles from the historic city of York.

After a day exploring, you can return feeling worlds away in this haven of pared back blissful basics. The emphasis is on you experiencing the comfortable off-grid, eco living gently immersed in nature with a beautiful view to wake up to and breath in the fresh air whilst listening to the birdsong.

Book direct, quote COUNTY23 www.acornglade.co.uk 01759 319151

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DAISY ROUNDHOUSE YURT BRAND NEW Our Luxury Lodges are just 1.5 miles from Richmond cobbled market square in North Yorkshire. The lodges offer luxury Self Catering Accommodation in Yorkshire with 16 lodges with Hot Tubs. They are aimed at Luxury Breaks for Families & Couples with or without pets. Ideal for Romantic Short Breaks, Anniversaries, Birthdays & Honeymoons set in a tranquil setting in the Yorkshire Dales.  01748822406  info@flowerydell-lodges.com www.flowerydell-lodges.co.uk
RICHMOND

CUMBRIAN ESCAPES

Attractive to artists, writers and tourists alike, Cumbria is the county with the Lake District at its heart, now not only a National Park but also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Holding England’s highest mountain – Scafell Pike

CARTMEL

– it is among the country’s most beautiful areas and beloved by walkers and boaters alike.

The pretty town of Ambleside has become almost a headquarters for the walking community,

sitting at the head of the largest natural lake, Windermere, giving them a bustling welcome with its independent shops and eateries. Nearby at Rydal is the luxurious self-catering of Riverside Terrace, sitting near the home which was

ROMANTIC RETREATS IN BEAUTIFUL COUNTRYSIDE NEAR CARTMEL

Crumble Cottages are the perfect romantic retreat for couples, tucked away in a quiet corner of Cumbria, a stone’s throw from the Lake District National Park.

Each luxury self-catering cottage has been lovingly restored and both are

crammed with period features including thick stone walls, exposed oak beams and a cosy wood burner. In addition, there’s free wifi, ample car parking and extensive gardens – Upper Crumble even has its own secluded hot tub.

They are the ideal base for cycling or hiking around the nearby Lake District fells or watching the local wildlife. You can also enjoy Cartmel’s superb gastropubs or treat yourself to dinner at the world-famous, Michelin starred, L’Enclume restaurant just a mile away in the village.

www.crumblecottages.co.uk Telephone: 015395 34405 Email: sarah@crumblecottages.co.uk

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EDEN VALLEY

shared by Romantic poet William Wordsworth and his sister, Dorothy, herself an author, poet and diarist, and is now open to the public.

Among many joys to be discovered is the medieval village of Cartmel. Lures include fine dining, a race course, a priory and segway tours.

KIRKBY STEPHEN

A wild camping & glamping experience surrounded by nature and the great outdoors.

All of our pitches offer a waterside camping experience with the tranquil sound of the Croglin beck running past. It is the perfect environment to relax and unwind.

Large spacious pitches, each with their own picnic bench and fire pit mean that you have everything you need to enjoy your stay.

We also provide glamping experiences with ‘Bella’ our cosy bell tent, and ‘Big Bertha’ an Airstream stylishly renovated to create a unique space with all the comforts of home.

Stay in our luxury self-catering accommodation with wood fired hot tub and enjoy the experience of life on a Cumbrian hill farm.

Stay Lambing Live cottage is nestled in the hills of The stunning Eden Valley, just minutes from the edge of the UK’s largest national park –The Lake District and within the Yorkshire Dales National Park renowned for its natural beauty with unspoilt landscapes of sweeping moorland, tumbling waterfalls, rich and

colourful hay meadows and an abundance of wildlife – Nature at it’s very best.

The cottage has 3 bedrooms all with their own unique designs and en- suite bathrooms, up the solid oak staircase leads you to an large, light and airy living space so guests can take in the views from every window. The cottage is finished

to a very high standard and the Marston family ensure your stay is like no other.

The Marston’s have been farming this land for generations and are very happy to share their way of life with guests ( Only if they want to!) Time spent on the farm is all about making memories that last a lifetime.

To find out more, or to book: www.staylambinglive.co.uk

Email: rachel@staylambinglive.co.uk Tel: 07398233221 / 01768371229

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Luxury Ambleside Self Catering in

the beautiful Lake District

With a feeling of being in deep country but comfortably really close to Ambleside; brimming with its little shops, cafes and restaurants and to historic Grasmere and bustling Bowness on Windermere, this holiday home will tick your boxes!! Get away for a well deserved long weekend or stretch to a blissful week or two; a warm welcome awaits you.

Travel over a hump-backed bridge and down a riverside country lane, to discover the gorgeous unique eco getaway known as Riverside Terrace. In a picture postcard

setting at the foot of Loughrigg Fell in Rydal just outside of Ambleside, this unusual five-star gem offers contemporary luxury and floor to ceiling glazing, log burners, underfloor heating, gorgeous bathrooms, big comfy beds and lovely furnishings.

Built on the Stepping Stones Estate once owned by the renowned Lakeland poet William Wordsworth’s son; if this place doesn’t inspire you to put pen to paper you’re sure to want to capture it in photos. Explore the World Heritage Lakeland

countryside straight from your door; whether its walking, climbing, cycling, boating, riding, visiting historic houses, or simply taking in the fabulous views.

Later then watch the sun go down over the river with your glass of wine from your very own interior designed look out, or take a short stroll to the local pub with its home cooked food and open fire. If you fancy something special, upmarket restaurants are just a short taxi ride away or a 20 minute walk into Ambleside.

To find out more, or to book your stay www.steppingstonesriversideterrace.co.uk E stay@steppingstonesriversideterrace.co.uk 07738130260

countylifestyleandleisure.com 26 Please mention the County Lifestyle and Leisure magazine when responding
CUMBRIAN ESCAPES

Recent reviews

04/11/2022 – “Really enjoyed our stay in such a wonderful location. The accommodation is one of the best we have stayed in. A very special place!” Debbie and Andrew

21/12/2022 – “Luxurious, serene and stunningly beautiful! Everything you could want and a view you could never tire of. We’ll be back again. Love this place! You never feel that you have missed a moment here. There are lovely walks in every direction and if the weather is bad you can enjoy it all from your living room.

Thank you, Mick and Sarah, for everything you do to make us welcome.” Jim and Diana, North Carolina, USA (Jim and Diana have now booked for November 2023)

WINTER 2023 SALE

11/11/2022 – “4th stay and very lovely too. Shall be back again sometime. Just love this place.” R and S Armstrong

02/12/2022 – “We come to the lakes at this time every year and have stayed in some beautiful accommodation. We’ve got to say that this place has topped the charts for us. Beautiful accommodation, fabulous location.

Thank you so much, we will definitely be back and will recommend to family and friends.” Keith and Angela

(Keith and Angela have already returned in early January only 4 weeks later and have already booked again for December later this year)

January to March Winter Sale on now for all Riverside Terrace and Steppingstones properties. 7 nights at our gold award 5-star properties from £799, weekend and mid-week breaks from £500.

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CUMBRIAN ESCAPES

TV programmes which feature beautiful walks frequently meander through the richly beautiful scenery of Cumbria’s Eden Valley. If it seems familiar, thank celebrities who have taken the trek, such as Tony Robinson for Coast to Coast,

Julia Bradbury for Best Walks with a View and Joanna Lumley in Home Sweet Home – Travels in My Own Land.

Walkers love this route with the Pennines to the east and fells to

the west, even finding caves and sculptures along the way, but so too do railway enthusiasts. The Eden Valley Railway Trust runs a scenic 2.2 service from Warcop Station.

The valley gives access to several

HAWKHOW ESTATE OFF-GRID LAKESIDE LUXURY

Nestled in the grounds overlooking Ullswater and surrounded by stunning scenery, Hawkhow Estate is an idyllic rural escape and an ideal base for exploring the wonders of the Lake District. Both the main house and the recently refurbished cottage

provide luxurious holiday accommodation that can be rented either separately or together.

Hawkhow was built in the 1920s in the Arts and Crafts style of the time and still retains many of its original features. Hawkhow provides ample living and sleeping accommodation for ten guests

and with its uninterrupted views over the Lake, it is the perfect place to unwind and escape from the stresses of modern life.

Hawkhow Cottage was originally designed to house the large battery required for storing electricity generated by a pioneering hydroelectric scheme as well as providing

accommodation for staff serving in the main house. The cottage now compromises four bedrooms (sleeping seven comfortably or eight cosily!), two bathrooms and a traditional Aga-warmed kitchen, and the glass and oak-frame extension provides a large living room with log burning stove and a galleried dining area.

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magazine when responding
PENRITH
Please mention the County Lifestyle and Leisure

traditional villages, but one gem is Penrith, a market town at the very heart of Cumbria. Nearby attractions there include boat trips on the Ullswater Steamers and a house spanning six historic periods, Hutton-in-theForest. The town itself has attractive shops, markets and eateries and runs a busy calendar of special events and festivals.

EDEN VALLEY

A beautiful 6 person treehouse looking over Blencathra complete with hot tub, woodburner, underfloor heating and of course a ping pong table.

Whether for yourself, your friends or your family, it is the ideal place to kick back, relax and embrace all that is wonderful about the Eden Valley.

The location for Silva was chosen for its sense of seclusion, its stunning view towards Blencathra and to enable complete immersion in nature. The latter being carefully nurtured and encouraged through the creation of wildflower meadows, ponds and the planting of trees and hedges: all allowing biodiversity to thrive, and hares, roe deer, kestrels, barn owls, bats and an abundance of songbirds to flourish.

www.intothewoodscumbria.co.uk 07900 213352

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www.edenheightsglamping.co.uk | 07764 992700
Luxury Glamping in the Eden
Cumbria EdenHeights GLAMPING ✓ DOG FRIENDLY ✓ HOT TUBS
Eden Heights Glamping is a haven of tranquility, set amongst spectacular scenery, with views of the Pennines and Lake District fells. Relax and unwind in natural surroundings.
Valley,
APPLEBY IN WESTMORLAND

TOP 5 UNIQUE STAYS WALES

Pembrokeshire has to be one of the best places in the UK for people who love the coast and everything that goes with it, from healthy relaxation to active fun through watersports, beach games and exhilarating walks. The county is

PEMBROKESHIRE

surrounded by the sea on three sides and boasts Britain’s only coastal National Park, with a wonderful 186 mile path around it.

Nowhere in the county is more than 14 miles from the water and there are some stunning seaside resorts

such as Amroth, Saundersfoot and Tenby in the south. Towards the north is the Heritage Coast of St Davids Peninsula, with St Davids itself being Britain’s smallest city and its cathedral the resting place of Wales’s patron saint.

Surround yourself with nature and gaze at the starry night sky in our luxury shepherds huts and Geo-domes.

Set against the rolling countryside in a wildflower meadow, immerse yourself in your surroundings and

truly be at one with nature while enjoying the luxury’s of life. A peaceful and tranquil adults only site in the heart of Pembrokeshire. Each glamping unit offers plenty of private space with their own outside seating area.

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Scenic views & big skies

Our campsite is a field-based site, with views stretching out over the surrounding countryside. We are 5 minutes away from the M4, 30 minutes from Gower, Mumbles and Carmarthenshire, and an hour from Pembrokeshire and the

Brecon Beacons. Making our site ideally situated to plan days out.

We have 10 camping pitches and 3 bell tents available and new for 2023 we have a safari tent with disabled acces, which have wonderful views of the whole camping field and surrounding

countryside. Catching the sun’s rays throughout the day and well into the evening, a stone throw away from the games area, great for those with families.

These pitches are very spacious to give you the room to relax & enjoy the scenery.

Each pitch has its own fire pit and shelter with a picnic bench, also a fridge/freezer and phone charging points next to the toilet block for your own use. We use our own water source and the tents use solar for the electric.

PEMBROKESHIRE COAST NATIONAL PARK

A UNIQUE GLAMPING EXPERIENCE

We are perfectly located for couples, small groups and families looking for a base to explore all the specialities that Pembrokeshire has to offer. Whether you’re looking a family holiday, a water sports adventure or a base for walking the beautiful Pembrokeshire coast, we aim to cater for everyone with our unique glamping experience. Along with a beautifully decorated bell tent, all of our pitches have an en suite toilet and shower block.

IN A SEASIDE, VILLAGE LOCATION

Rolling hills and rural coutryside right next to a beautiful beach and only a stones throw from the Jubilee SSSI at Dale Bay. Our glampsite is just a few metres from the beach. Close enough for you to carry your kayak or SUPs from your tent to the beach and only a short walk back to your own private hot showers...bliss!

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TOP 5 UNIQUE STAYS WALES

Our top spots in Wales include accommodation in the beautiful Cardigan Bay coast of Ceredigion near the university town of Aberystwyth, frequented by dolphins, porpoises and seals as well as a rich variety of other wildlife. During winter months, thousands of starlings fly in

CARMARTHENSHIRE

from every direction to perform their graceful and dramatic murmurations before roosting beneath the pier.

The unspoiled central region of Powys around Knighton is known for its revival or red kites and gives easy access to the Welsh

Marches, Offa’s Dyke long distance route and Shropshire Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The coastal Carmarthenshire town of Kidwelly is full of fascinating history as well as featuring beautiful Pembray Country Park, a favourite with cyclists.

Kidwelly Farm Cottages have a selfcatering barn conversion Y Felin, sleeping ten, glamping in Red Kite and Merlin luxury safari tents, our own designed and handcrafted Shepherd’s hut the Big Cwtch, and traditional farmhouse bed and breakfast with two bedrooms.

Based on a working farm, Penlan Isaf, we overlook the ancient town of Kidwelly with its magnificent medieval castle and church. There are breath-taking views of the sea and countryside with footpaths around the farm including one directly down to the town and castle.

To

We are ideally situated to explore Carmarthenshire’s many attractions. You will be spoilt for choice for castles and beaches in the area and the market towns of Carmarthen and Llandeilo are well worth a visit.

The beaches of Tenby, Saudersfoot and the Gower Peninsular are about an hour away and Pembrokeshire and the Brecon Beacon National Park are within easy distance.

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01554 890 266 KidwellyFarmCottages@live.co.uk
www.kidwellyfarmcottages.co.uk
find out more, or to book your stay:

ABERYSTWYTH

CampSiriol

Set in the stunning and varied UNESCO Dyfi biosphere and Wales’s drier coastal area, offering awe inspiring views across to the neighbouring mountains. Campsiriol is small, eco-friendly and family-run, offering romantic luxury breaks in a spacious, underfloor heated Mongolian yurt with a wood-fired Swedish hot tub, family self-catering in a cosy, secluded static caravan and a small number of large camping pitches in one of Wales’ most peaceful and beautiful regions. It’s just 5 mins from the blue waters of Cardigan Bay. Beaches, mountains, forests, rivers, lakes and waterfalls abound, with culture, history and great food and drink threaded through characterful towns and villages in between.

For more information on any of the above, see: www.linktr.ee/campsiriol

KNIGHTON

When you’re glamping in Mid-Wales at Wigwam® Holidays Knighton you’ll soon discover the incredible sights and attractions all around this wonderful area. No matter who you’re glamping with, you’ll find plenty to keep you busy. Whether you’re interested in outdoor pursuits, historical outings or simply enjoying the view and relaxing into a calm pace of life.

33 countylifestyleandleisure.com CHECK US OUT AT wigwamholidays.com/knighton 01547 528705 knighton@wigwamholidays.com ࠍ 2 ensuite glamping cabins, well fitted out with everything you need. ࠍ Sleep 2 adults (and 2 children on sofa bed), all bedding provided. ࠍ Rural mid-Wales, on a working hill farm. ࠍ Electric hot tubs. ࠍ One cabin dog friendly, one pet free.

Escape to PEAK DISTRICT

Walkers, climbers and wildlife watchers all love the rocky terrain of the Peak District and our advertisers provide the ideal accommodation from which to enjoy it all and relish having a relaxing base to return to after a hard day’s adventuring.

For people living in a world of concrete, those craggy hills and big skies can seem a world away from concrete and traffic and give us an exhilarating time reconnecting with nature.

When it’s very cold outside, it

might be a temperate treat to venture below ground. The Peak District holds some of the most spectacular show caves in the country, among them Peak, Speedwell Poole’s, Blue John and Treak Cliff Caverns. Each has its own special attractions.

magazine
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Our Glampsite of 3 Mongolian yurts comes complete with private hot tubs, Finnish BBQ hut, cooking cabin, outside BBQ and picnic area and children’s play area. Each yurt sleeps up to 6 guests and are ideal for couples, families and groups. Speak to us about exclusive use of the site for your celebrations or get together.

If you like the idea of a relaxing countryside retreat with hot tub but prefer your bricks and mortar then why not give our small, romantic holiday cottage accommodation ‘The Loft’ a try? Sleeping two The Loft is a selfcontained annex to the main farm building. With super comfy super-king sized bed, private bathroom and kitchen, spa hot tub and Smart TV it is the perfect place to escape to for some well-deserved R&R.

Uppermoor Farm amazing Peak District Accommodation with 10 bathrooms

Large luxury holiday Farmhouse, and its adjoining Annexe for groups in the heart of the Peak District. Idyllic, peaceful location and a perfect venue to host celebrations, special occasions, and family get-togethers. Sleeping 20-24 guests with the option of 9 or 11 bedrooms. Stay in a traditional Farmhouse with a warm ‘home away from home’ ambience; with oak beams and double sided log burner, including an Aga and three large all open plan reception areas to enjoy socialising at its best.

The Dining area can seat comfortably up to 24 adults around two elegant antique dining tables. Beautiful large, luxury self-catering accommodation, located in the White Peak part of the Derbyshire, Peak District and situated near to the pretty, Domesday village of Parwich. Occupying a prime location and set amongst 70 acres of rolling green fields, with far reaching views and approached from its own long private drive. Our heart of England central location makes us the ideal meeting place, secluded and peaceful yet easily accessible by car and within easy reach of favourite Peak District attractions, including the Tissington Trail and Chatsworth House.

To find out more, or to book your stay visit www.uppermoorfarmcottages.co.uk Call 01335 390781 or 07970 774620 Email jan@uppermoorfarmcottages.co.uk

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Escape to PEAK DISTRICT

The Peak District may be famous for providing outdoor activities for the fit and fearless – especially within the National Park - but it also has a wealth of wonderful towns and villages to commend it, along with the welcoming city of Derby, together provide a great range of attractions.

It’s thoroughly pleasant to visit places Ashbourne, with its numerous listed buildings, or soak up the charms of Bakewell on the pretty River Wye and shop for tasteful souvenirs, or perhaps authentic Bakewell Tart. Buxton, known for its natural spa water,

has the distinction of being England’s highest market town, while Matlock and Matlock Bath have popular family attractions such as the Heights of Abraham and Derwent Valley Mills UNESCO World Heritage Site.

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Beavers Croft

Beavers Croft is located in the outstanding landscape of the Upper Derwent Valley in Derbyshire’s Peak District National Park, adjacent to the breathtaking Howden Dam.

Furnished to the highest standards, it has all year round appeal for families, cyclists, walkers and those seeking a break from the hustle and bustle. It boasts a beautiful, open plan lounge with log burner, a fully equipped kitchen, TV with freesat, DVD player, bluetooth speakers, satellite internet, outdoor dining, BBQ, secure storage for bikes, board games.

An open plan kitchen and dining area leads to a double height sitting room, with two bedrooms, both with twin beds, and a bathroom with walk in shower on the ground floor. Upstairs is the gallery with a trundle bed which pulls out to sleep two on twin beds, a further bathroom with bath and shower and a double bedroom with double bed, sleeping 8 in total. Kitchen boasts large preparation

island, hob, double oven, fridge/ freezer, microwave, toaster and kettle.

All cooking utensils, pans and crockery are provided. Washing machine, drying rack, tumble dryer, steam iron and ironing board. Included - bedlinen, towels, dining table cloths, serviettes, tea towels and end-of-hire cleaning. Essentials for your stay (tea, coffee, milk, washing up liquid, toilet roll, washing powder etc.) also provided. Welcome tray. Parking for multiple cars. Private entrance with gate. Outdoor fire pit, pizza oven and gas BBQ.

The location is frequently sought after by hiking, walking and biking groups and is a great location for family celebrations, wellness and business retreats.

To find out more, or to book call 07368 308681, email abdoulayediaw1@me.com, or find us on Facebook @ BeaversCrofholidaylet

Discover THE ISLES OF SCILLY

With white sands, azure seas and an abundance of wildlife, the Scilly Isles are among the most idyllic locations in the British Isles. The archipelago is made up some 150 islands sitting like gems off the coast of Cornwall, five of them inhabited and all accessible to waterborne explorers young and old, whether sailing, kayaking, swimming or perhaps snorkelling. There really is no shortage of stunning coastal walks!

Bryher Campsite offers a wonderful base, with regular boat trips including one to the famous Tresco Abbey Garden with an awesome display of some 20,000 plants from around the tropics. Also worth visiting is the vineyard on St Martin’s, where tours and tastings are on offer as well as gorgeous glamping.

The largest island is St Mary’s, where passengers arrive from both

Our vineyard is situated on St Martin’s in the beautiful Isles of Scilly. Our location 28 miles off the coast of Cornwall makes us one of the most south-westerly in the whole of the UK and our coastal location is unique - being just 100m from the dunes of Par Beach.

Our hand-built, self-catering Shepherd Huts are situated right here on the vineyard, in their own private meadow. Only a stone’s throw from the beach, and fully-equipped with kitchen and shower room, it’s the perfect spot for an island escape on St Martin’s. Each hut has its own separate outdoor space with a picnic bench, BBQ and sun loungers along with an outdoor wardrobe for storing wetsuits and outdoor gear.

You can be paddling in the sea on the stunning white sands of Par Beach within 3 minutes of leaving the front door – I think we can confidently claim to be the only vineyard stay in the UK to offer such a luxury!

Tours & Tastings – Take a walk around our self-guided Vine Trail. There are nine stops which take you from the lower slopes up to the top of the vineyard and introduce a range of topics from the viticulture to the wine making and the history of agriculture here on St Martin’s.

airports and ferries and which holds the Scillonian ‘capital,’ Hugh Town, with gorgeous beaches, shops, pubs, restaurants, art galleries … and the Charlotte House selfcatering holiday home. Hugh Town also offers a fascinating Garrison Wall walk to view defences first built to ward off the Spanish Armada in Elizabethan times and later a Royalist stronghold in the English Civil War, with the eight-pointed Star Castle, now a hotel, at its heart.

countylifestyleandleisure.com 38 Please mention the County Lifestyle and Leisure magazine when responding
To find out more, or to book: www.stmartinsvineyard.co.uk 07936710262

Bryher Campsite is the perfect base for exploring the Isles of Scilly with stunning ocean views, spacious fields, and a friendly, relaxed atmosphere.

Enjoy the freedom of bringing your own tent for traditional camping or the total relaxation of a fullyequipped rental Bell Tent. Nestled between two hills, the site is moments from a white sand beach on the tiny island of Bryher - the smallest inhabited island in the Scillonian archipelago, 28 miles off the Cornish coast.

To find out more, or to book: www.bryhercampsite.co.uk

St Mary’s, St Martin’s and St Agnes, the rest of the Isles of Scilly are within easy reach. Getting to Bryher is simple too - we’re just a ferry or flight away from Cornwallthough we feel a world apart.

Britain’s Top 20 Coastal Campsites: #1 Bryher Campsite enjoys lovely salty views of Hangman’s Island and Tresco. Bryher can feel like an other-worldly paradise, with glorious sandy beaches and quiet coves for swimming. - The Telegraph

Charlotte House is a newly renovated stylish period house property. We are pleased to offer a luxury selfcatering home, comprising of a fully detached house with the additional of Pinnacle Apartment for up to 6 people in 3 bedrooms, or guests may opt to rent the main house as a 2 bedroom home for up to 4 people.

Pinnacle Apartment has it’s own external doors to the gardens and is connected internally by two suite doors which may be locked for privacy.

The House is located in the centre of Hugh Town.

&

Complimentary toiletries

• Garden furniture & barbecue

bed linen & towels

www.charlottehouseios.co.uk

39 countylifestyleandleisure.com
Tel: +44 0844 804 3382 Email: office@charlottehouseios.co.uk Complimentary logs for wood burner
Dishwasher DVDs, board games & books provided
Electricity
heating included
Fully equipped kitchen
Luxury
TV &
Radio Washing
& tumble dryer Welcome pack
• Microwave
DVD player
machine
PROPERTY FACILITIES
Choose your own pitch, with panoramic views of the Atlantic to the west, or Tresco Channel with its bobbing fishing boats and civil war-era Cromwell’s Castle to the east. With regular boats to Tresco,

Manor Arms, the gateway to Duddon Valley

This award winning, family run 17th century Free House, The Manor Arms is open daily from 12 noon, closing at 11.30pm (12 midnight on Friday and Saturday). Furness CAMRA’s pub of the year 2019. In the bar we have a pool table and a pool team in addition to a selection of other activities including dominoes, cards, chess and books to keep the children happy.

We look forward to welcoming you to enjoy The Manor Arms and this uniquely attractive area and remind you that, for the weary tourist not wanting to return home just yet, there are comfortable en-suite rooms accompanied the following morning by another splendid experience in the form of a Manor Arms breakfast served in the comfort of your room.

• A mini beer festival, daily!

• Up to 8 real ales available

• 150 guest ales annually

• En-suite rooms available

• CAMRA B&B start rating

• Pool table and games

• Car parking nearby

• A long established, family owned free house

The Square Broughton-in-Furness Cumbria LA20 6HY www.manorarmsthesquare.co.uk

Great glamping with private hot tub in northern idyll

Stunning views, luxurious accommodation and fabulous Jacuzzi hot tubs are just some of the attractions that have wowed the first guests of Derecroft Glamping near Lanchester, County Durham. With an idyllic hillside location on a small family farm 10 miles from the chic city of Durham – where the castle, cathedral and River Wear form a UNESCO World Heritage Site – the site launched just this year offers a cosy base for both chilling out and exploring. It is only 30 minutes’ drive from outstanding attractions such as Hadrian’s Wall, and the famous Beamish Living Museum of the North.

Derecroft’s glamping pods have been designed and handcrafted to exceptional standards by the site owners, Lee and Jane Spraggon with Jane’s adult son, Ben, a professional horse riding events competitor.

Available for adults and families

with children aged seven upwards, they each sleep four in a double bed and double sofabed. They are snugly insulated and centrally heated for use all year round and have stylish living areas, fully equipped kitchens and en-suite shower rooms.

Outdoors, each has its own patio, pergola, dining furniture, barbecue and pizza ovens, plus a wood burning stove and a fabulous, private hot tub. Generous welcome packs are included.

The views are extensive and beautiful and an extensive wildlife pond brings daily interest. As well as overlooking grazing sheep, guests may well see Ben busy training horses that are bred on site.

Derecroft Glamping, Lanchester, County Durham DH8 7TG T 07548 151360

E derecroftglamping@gmail.com www.derecroftglamping.co.uk

41 countylifestyleandleisure.com 31 countylifestyleandleisure.com Please mention the County Lifestyle and Leisure magazine when responding to adverts
COUNTY LIFESTYLE AND LEISURE MAGAZINE Hidden Gem

Self discovery, personal development. Live the life you dream of. Find your true happiness, authentic self. Gain confidence, overcome stress and anxiety. Change career, start living an awesome life. Email louiseclaridgecoaching@gmail.com Call 07784397035

Life Coach & Holistic Healer www.justlou.co.uk

Based in Studley, Bridge to Beauty offers clients the opportunity to glow with beauty from the inside. Offering treatments such as Indian head massage, G5 and hot stone treatments, our ambition is to bring inner as well as outer confidence and mental wellbeing to our clients. Growing up in a world of Instagram perfection, I realised how important it is to find beauty from within and not just from superficial, filtered photographs. Young people put so much pressure on themselves to be perfect and lose perspective of real beauty. Beauty comes from confidence and a healthy mental attitude. Going one step further, we offer a session where you can simply book in to have a chat and a coffee. www.bridgetobeauty.co.uk Tel 07870 481 333 Email Bridge.To.Beauty2022@gmail.com Facebook @Bridge to beauty

The Salon Studley, 39 Alcester Road, Studley, Warwickshire B80 7NJ

Located in the heart of Worcester directly opposite Greyfriars House National Trust, we are proud to be Worcesters only independent bookshop selling new books of all genres, including, Fiction, Non-Fiction, Children’s and books of local interest.

Why not pop in when you are next in Worcester or visit our website at www.boredandbookless.co.uk

reading!

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OUR RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FAMILY, HEALTH & WELLBEING
Happy
01905954440 enquiries@boredandbookless.co.uk Bored & Bookless

Riverside at Aymestrey -

of “National Pub & Bar Awards - Best Pub in The West Midlands” is situated deep in the heart of Herefordshire countryside. On the southern edge of the Mortimer Forest. Authentic and atmospheric, the 16th century black and white building is surrounded by the natural beauty of the protected River Lugg valley and is run by Chef Patron Andy Link and George Parkes

ethos is to create a pub & restaurant that sustainably works with nature and our region, from our extensive kitchen gardens, smallholding and our work with local communities and the environment.

Annabel Pope trained at The Heatherly School of Art and at Oxford Brookes University. Her work attracts interest internationally and she has had solo exhibitions at Patrick Mavros, Cricket Fine Art, Rowntree Tryon, and Osborne Studio gallery, amongst others. She is a well- established leading wildlife artist who has been commissioned by a variety of UK wildlife charities (Tusk Christmas card artist 2017-2022), local Kenyan wildlife lodges (Lewa, Borana, Offbeat Mara) and other leading brands including the BBC and Ralph Lauren. Annabel also contributes her work to charities and exhibits with travel companies to promote holidays worldwide. Her charities include Countryside Foundation for Education, the Countryside Alliance, Zambian Conservation and Lewa Wildlife Conservancy.

art@annabelpope.com / www.annabelpope.com

Tweedies

patricia@tweedies.biz

Mobile: 07917 264237 (text or voicemail me) Established 2005

It’s almost Christmas again and Tweedies has started the big Closing Down Sale which could last for the next year or until the stock of Tweeds, yarns and cotton fabrics have been used up. In the meantime bears and mice are getting very restless in their plastic boxes, a little despondent they will ever find those forever homes they have been dreaming about for months.

Everything will be sold now at half price and this

www.tweedies.biz

will continue throughout the closing down period. Medium size bears (Huggies) at £20 each ; Teddies and Paperweight Mice at £10 each ; Hedgehogs and owls at £5 each and snowmen at £7 each . If you are local and don’t wish to add postage to the price of your bear or mouse, you can always pick up from my house by prior arrangement, provided you have prepaid via PayPal (see website “Ordering” for details).

My bears and paperweight mice come with a rich pedigree; four times award winning , original, quirky and colourful. You won’t find anything quite like them on the High Street, so check out our website for bears and mice for Valentine’s Day , Mothers Day and Easter too. Always best to order early. Also limited availability on owls, hedgehogs and snowmen but do ask even if your chosen item is listed “sold” as it can always be

made up for you provided the appropriate tweed is still available.

As my workshop shelves continue to rattle with the sound of excited but worried little creatures, we would like to wish all our customers, past, present and future, a happy Christmas and may 2023 be a more prosperous year for all of us. We look forward to hearing from you.

Will you love and cherish a Tweedie forever?

43 countylifestyleandleisure.com
TAWNY OWL, LIMITED PRINT EDITION
The
We
Call
440 The Riverside of Aymestrey, Herefordshire, HR6 9ST www.riversideaymestrey.co.uk enquiries@riversideaymestrey.co.uk � The Riverside Inn � @TheRivKitchen
Why not give an original painting or a limited edition print for a birthday, anniversary or special occasion?
winner
Our
pride ourselves with our passion for what we do and look forward to offering you a warm welcome to The Riverside.
01568 708
Alicia Ava Elizabeth Ellie Jennie Louisa Menna

HOLISTIC HOLIDAYS

Wisdom teachers the world over have long advocated a holistic approach to health and wellbeing, treating the whole person rather than attempting to treat particular symptoms or specific conditions. Holistic approaches are concerned with the totality of a person, mind body and spirit, realising that each affects the others.

The advertisers featured here provide the ideal conditions for

people to take a break from all the stressful conditions which undermine their inner contentment, to wind down and enjoy life as nature intended in beautiful surroundings and simultaneously find inspiration.

Retreat weekends with Old Lam Farmhouse, South Wales, include yoga, pilates, aromatherapy and complementary therapies as diverse as sound baths and

Equilibrium Silent Retreats in Kent

To rebalance yourself in these nonstop 24hr demanding times, why not join a mini silent retreat at a stunning lake house location in Kent?

Denise and Anita formed Equilibrium in 2022, bringing together their combined experience and enthusiasm for yoga and mindfulness to create these monthly events.

The aim is to allow people to be able to switch off and relax, giving them time to focus on restoring their energies.

These retreats generally include: meditation, mindful walking, yoga, journaling, colouring and silent reflection. Refreshments are available throughout.

Each month we invite different practitioners to join us, including Giles Mountain or Gail Duff for an immersive sound-bath and Sam Webster for Djembe drumming. We are also in conversations to work with many more great practitioners to make these retreats beautifully bespoke each time

The retreats are usually 4 hours long but we do run some longer sessions.

The feedback we have had from these sessions has been truly incredible and we are so happy that people are really benefitting from the retreats.

time to slow down from the business of life, amazing, beautiful, welcoming, needs to be longer!”

Come and join us! You can find out more about the retreats and how to book your place on our Facebook page.

https://www.facebook.com/equilibriumsilentretreats

drumming, delivered by expert practitioners and your personal wellness coach.

Lighthouse Barn is 5 Star Gold group self-catering accommodation in the Derbyshire Peak District –wonderful walking country – and Equilibrium Silent Retreats give guests space to reconnect with their inner selves through yoga, mindfulness, meditation and a variety of other techniques.

“Relaxing,
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Denise & Anita
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Lighthouse Barn is a beautiful large luxury self-catering property sleeping 16-20 guests in 6 or 8 bedrooms, all en-suite.

A huge open plan entertainment/ living area occupies one end of the building, with the residential bedrooms occupying the other. With a ‘nautical theme’ throughout, soft furnishings are in blues, aqua and sand colours, and there are stunning pictures of lighthouses and coastal scenes everywhere. This ‘state of the art’ Lighthouse barn for self-catering holiday lets, has stunning south facing views, and there are breath-

taking walks right on your doorstep.

In the centre is a large dining area to comfortably seat everyone around a gorgeous large oak table. The lower area boasts a huge feature arched window with ample comfortable ‘Orangery style’ seating, two widescreen TVs and a feature log burning stove. There is an internal sound system with 8 speakers on the ground floor which also has a very efficient underfloor

heating system to keep everywhere warm and toasty, and upstairs has radiators and all ensuite bathrooms have large heated towel rails.

The Peak District is the perfect place for your weekend get-away, reunion, hen celebration, yoga retreat, or corporate event. The Lighthouse Barn is a stunning property in an unspoilt and very private location, with its own long drive and huge secure tarmac car parking area.

To find out more, or to book your stay visit www.uppermoorfarmcottages.co.uk Call 01335 390781 or 07970 774620 Email jan@uppermoorfarmcottages.co.uk

Ancient remedies with modern twists for vibrant lifestyles

Satisfy the Hunger is an amazing health and wellness service to help customers optimise their personal health and wellbeing. Based on established principles of ancient Ayurvedic medicine from India, but adapted for modern use, it provides bespoke treatments for individual customers, using entirely natural treatments and ingredients.

Owner and expert practitioner Colette Bardell draws up holistic health plans to meet each person’s particular needs and help them enjoy the greatest possible energy, vitality and resilience as they age. These may be used to treat existing conditions such as pain, stress, fatigue, hormone imbalances and gastric problems, or to prevent such problems from occurring. Colette says: “Making a wellness plan is a sound investment for navigating the coming decades.”

Treatments begin with assessing the client’s current state of health and

drawing up a personalised wellness plan, which may include tailored diets, lifestyle changes, movement, detoxes and therapeutic massages with herbs and warm aromatic oils. These may stimulate the cardiovascular, nervous and musculo-skeletal systems, which in turn benefits the whole person in body, mind and spirit.

Working in the most tranquil of treatment clinics, Satisfy the Hunger is all about the Ayurvedic approach of maintaining or restoring balance throughout the body so that disturbances are neutralised and the wellness energy ‘chi’ flows unimpeded. Colette specialises in mentoring women during her six week Regeno-Pause and Vitality wellness programmes.

To find out more, visit www.satisfythehunger.com

45 countylifestyleandleisure.com

HOLISTIC HOLIDAYS

Yoga is widely recognised as one of the best all-round forms of exercise for holistic health, exercising the body, relaxing the mind and helping a person connect with the spiritual dimension, however they perceive it.

Yogastarr Retreat majors on top

class yoga teaching in a retreat environment which opens the mind to experience a deeper sense of well-being at idyllic venues in rural Mid-Wales near Machynlleth, Barnstaple in North Devon and even the beautiful Greek island of Zakynthos. Retreats come with

Why a YogaStarr Retreat and What to expect?

A yoga retreat takes you on a journey of self-discovery. There is more time to explore asana. There is more time to explore pranayama. There is more time to explore the deeper foundations of yoga. Retreats offer you the chance to reset away from the demands of a busy or stressful life. Each retreat venue has been carefully chosen because of the commitment and welcoming energy of the hosts, the stunning scenery and calming atmosphere. Delicious brunches and dinners are served with love around communal tables where laughter and conversation are plentiful. There is a private chef to cater for your nourishment and all rooms are spacious and en-suite.

On yogastarr retreats you can expect a schedule which perfectly balances plenty of yoga with meditation, guided relaxation and breathing techniques. In addition, there is the opportunity to explore the location, relax and recalibrate and restore your vital energy. Students have been returning year after year to Ali’s retreats as they value the honesty, integrity and consideration of her yoga knowledge and teaching.

What do the guests say: Ali is the magic ingredient. If I could bottle the yogastarr retreat feeling and have a drink every day, life would be perfect!

Helen May, repeat guest 2019, 2022 and looking forward to returning again in 2023.

the most delicious of vegan and vegetarian meals and simply glorious surroundings, with plenty of time for sociable relaxation.

Angel Yoga is run by an experienced international yoga teacher whose courses in

Ali from Yogastarr has been practicing yoga since 1990 and teaching since 2004. She is a fully qualified British Wheel of Yoga teacher and Senior Yoga teacher and mentor with Yoga Alliance Professionals. Her yoga teachings invoke a sense of self awareness and curiosity both physically and mentally encouraging you to take your yoga practice off the mat. Ali believes yoga is entwined in all aspects of life, and she brings this belief alive by sprinkling poetry, storytelling, and aspects of nature into her yoga classes and retreats.

You can find details of retreats in the UK and Greece by visiting Yogastarr’s website & social media www.yogastarr.co.uk/useful-links www.facebook.com/yogastarr www.instagram.com/yoga_starr_wales/

countylifestyleandleisure.com 46
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Ashtead, Surrey include children’s yoga, post-natal yoga and adults’ Yin yoga, the latter bringing relief from the fast-paced ‘Yang’ of the modern multitasking world. Retreats are also held in Andalusia, Spain, including a seven day one in March, with guest teachers assisting in providing a deeply restorative experience.

Breathe, relax & be still Bring Balance into your life....

Relax, Restore & Awaken to your true potential and join one of our self care retreats. Escape from the stresses of everyday life and bring back peace and natural wisdom, with the guidance of an experienced yoga Teacher.

To find out more about available retreats and workshops, contact Claire: www.angelyogasurrey.co.uk +44 07305 688 607 claire@angelyogasurrey.co.uk

Find

47 countylifestyleandleisure.com
A GREAT PLACE FOR A SOLO TRAVELLER. A LITTLE BIT OF PARADISE
Explore your creative potential and meet like-minded people in stunning locations...
out more at www.skyros.com

We are a family run establishment and the care we provide is very much based on the ethos that we look after people as if they are part of our own family. Offering individualised care, we aim

to maintain independence whilst providing support.

The home itself is a period residence set in two acres of lawns and gardens close to the centre of the small village of Hanley

Swan in the heart of the Worcestershire countryside. We are well supported by our local surgery, district nurses, foot care, physiotherapists and a visiting hairdresser. Our CQC rating is GOOD.

What we offer

• Period property

• Village setting

• Two acres of lawns

• Specialist baths

• Disabled access vehicle available for families to use

• Short stays can be prebooked

• Three lifts

countylifestyleandleisure.com 48
www.albionlodge.co.uk | T: 01684 310626 | E: info@albionlodge.co.uk | Hanley Swan, Worcs. WR8 0DN Albion Lodge Retirement Home Rooms available OUR RECOMMENDATIONS FOR CARE & RETIREMENT LIVING Please mention the County Lifestyle and Leisure magazine when responding
ALL INCLUSIVE FEES Passing by? Pop in for a cuppa and meet our friendly teams Luxury Care Homes in The Midlands Residential and dementia care hello@idealcarehomes.co.uk idealcarehomes.co.uk Feel part of a friendly new community ... With exceptional standards of 24 hour residential and dementia care and all inclusive fees, Ideal Carehomes makes a real difference to the lives of our residents, assisting them to remain independent and ensuring they enjoy an active lifestyle with likeminded people. Expect more ... 9 Purpose built homes with spacious, en-suite bedrooms and plenty of social areas 9 All inclusive fees for complete peace of mind 9 Full and varied daily programme of activities 9 Nutritious food, daily laundry and housekeeping Foley Grange Kidderminster, DY11 7DT 01562 543 366 Woodland View Droitwich, WR9 7GP 01905 917 358
MONTHLY50%OFF FEEFOR5YEARS* Sales suite open Monday-Saturday, 10am-4pm Call 01905 347121 or visit mountbattenhall.co.uk Mount Battenhall, Worcester WR5 2JD * Valid on reservations until 31st March 2023 on new properties. All properties are leasehold and are subject to monthly fees. An event fee applies on any disposal. Not applicable to rented properties. ENTERPRISE RETIREMENT LIVING MOUNT BATTENHALL • Excellent social amenities including restaurant, bar, salon and gym • Acres of maintained landscaped gardens • Welcoming sales suite now open • On-site or home visits available • 24-hour on-site staff Mount Battenhall offers independent, relaxed retirement living just minutes from the centre of Worcester. A selection of modern new build and unique converted properties are now available to buy or rent. Prices from £275,000 Join a Growing Community in an Exceptional Setting

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