13 minute read
Holidays
HOT SPOTS
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CHESTER WALLS
An escape that’s a work of art
Beautiful art-themed bedrooms
DID YOU KNOW? Berriew is also home to the Andrew Logan Museum of Sculpture
The Lion Art Hotel is an award-winning art hotel and restaurant in the charming rural village of Berriew, near Welshpool. An elegant yet relaxed establishment, it offers fine dining using locally sourced ingredients, a wellappointed bar and lounge, and overnight stays in comfortable art-themed hotel rooms.
The Lion Hotel’s restored Jacobean exterior conceals a visually lavish, welcoming environment, where mirrored artworks by sculptor Andrew Logan and vibrant colour schemes complement the rustic 17th century architecture with a modern, metropolitan flourish. The fusion of historic charm and contemporary art continues in the seven themed en suite hotel rooms, each decorated with Logan’s artworks. Complimentary toiletries come from Myddfai Trading Co, a Welsh social enterprise that helps people
“An elegant in the local community and gives a portion of its profits to rural regeneration. yet relaxed The restaurant’s new head chef, William Britten, establishment for fi ne dining” has introduced an exciting new menu that has receiving fabulous feedback. You can choose between the Red Room, with private dining for up to 16 guests, or the Blue Restaurant, which can seat 40 people. There’s also the attractive enclosed courtyard, which is perfect for outside dining and drinks. The hotel manager, Lee Kendal, says: “We have been overwhelmed with our customers’ support since reopening our outdoor and indoor areas. Please try to reserve your tables for weekends as far in advance as possible to avoid disappointment.” For details visit www.lionhotel-berriew.co.uk.
Follow in the footsteps of Roman soldier patrols, medieval archers and elegant Georgian promenaders and enjoy a unique perspective of Chester with panoramic views on both sides as you explore the most complete circuit of city walls in the UK. See the water tower that is no longer next to the water, the remains of the Roman amphitheatre, the tower where Charles I stood to watch the Battle of Rowton Moor, the famous, much-photographed clock on the Eastgate and the castle originally dating built from Norman times, and try your luck on the Wishing Steps. Guided tours depart from the Town Hall visitor centre and last approximately 90 minutes. However, if you’d prefer to enjoy the ancient scenery alone, the walls are available for public use at any time throughout the year. Fine dining at the Lion thanks to head chef William Britten
Cottages, caravans and calm
If the perfect holiday for you involves sitting back and relaxing, perhaps by a tranquil lake, the Bryn Bowlio Caravan Park is for you. The three-star country caravan park is set in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in the Clwydian Hills and adjacent to Loggerheads Country Park, with Offa’s Dyke, hill forts and Arthur’s Stone all within easy reach.
Bryn Bowlio also has two holiday cottages to rent, fully equipped with everything to make your holiday a comfortable one. There are 10 spaces
for touring caravans, with toilets, showers and a laundry room with a washing machine and dryer on the site. Free WiFi is available throughout and the site “The perfect offers easy access to the historic market towns of getaway in a Mold, Wrexham, Llangollen, hidden gem of a site” Denbigh and Ruthin as well as magnificent Snowdonia. Activities available nearby include cycling, mountain biking, hang gliding and canoeing. It’s the perfect getaway in a hidden gem of a site. www.brynbowliocaravanpark.co.uk
Bryn Bowlio is a hidden gem
Farm with nesse
If you’re looking for luxury while also being tempted by a remote, camping-style getaway, why not try the ultimate glamping experience at Purslow Hall Farm? This idyllic spot is home to Shropshire Luxury Glamping, a collection of three individually designed and furnished pods to provide guests with a unique environment in which to enjoy glamping among the beautiful Shropshire Hills. It’s the perfect destination for families, with an abundance of lovely country walks from the doorstep. The Ludlow Pod is designed and furnished in a modern industrial style, decorated in a denim blue with copper pieces throughout, a sharp matt charcoal kitchen and a washed oak-effect worktop and flooring. The Wenlock Pod is decorated in a warm cashmere grey with soft pastel shades throughout. Furnished in a contemporary country style, it offers a cosy hideaway with everything you need for a relaxing escape. With timeless Orla Kiely fabrics and Scandinavian-inspired furniture, the Stretton Pod also delivers an impressive level of luxury. If that’s not enough, all three pods have a hot tub, overlooking the fabulous south Shropshire countryside. HOT SPOTS
Just bring along your clothes and food – everything else is provided for you. Visit www.shropshireluxuryglamping.co.uk for more information.
Every pod has a hot tub The pods are stylishly furnished
“The perfect destination for families, with DID YOU KNOW? The National Slate an abundance Museum has the of walks” largest working waterwheel in mainland Britain
Fine food and restful rooms
The Bryntirion Inn is the ideal place to stay when visiting the picturesque Dee Valley region of north Wales, a wonderful base for visits to the coast and the glories of Snowdonia – it is just four miles from Lake Bala.
Dating back to 1695, “The Bryn” serves real ales (many of them local), provides an impressive list of wines and has a food menu designed to tantalise the taste buds of everyone – including vegetarians and children! It’s open all day for dining and welcoming to all, including well-behaved dogs.
The en suite guest rooms are well appointed and there is a welcoming family room with plasma TV, pool table, dartboard, books and games. Even the
car park is attractive at The Bryn, as it’s surrounded by gardens and a wood. There is also a heated outdoor smoking area, and highlights include monthly quiz nights and an open mic night on the third Friday of every month. Whether you’re stopping in for a drink or a meal, or thinking of lingering longer in one of The Bryn’s guest rooms, you’ll find a warm Welsh welcome. The team combines enthusiasm, experience and expertise to provide “A friendly the visitors with a friendly atmosphere, superb food atmosphere, and traditional cask ales. superb food and The Bryn’s enthusiastic pursuance of fair trade and green issues also make cask ales” it highly sustainable, so there is no need for any environmental concerns . Couple this with a roaring fire (when weather-appropriate) and a great selection of fairtrade teas and coffees, and you can be sure you will feel at home at The Bryn. For more information visit www.bryntirioninn.co.uk.
NATIONAL SLATE MUSEUM
Dinorwig Quarry closed in 1969. Today, rather than fashioning wagons and forging rails, the workshops tell a very special story: the history of the Welsh slate industry. The National Slate Museum is sited in the Victorian workshops built in the shadow of Elidir mountain, site of the vast Dinorwig quarry. Here you can travel into the past of an industry and a way of life that has chiselled itself into the very being of this country. The workshops and buildings are designed to appear as though quarrymen and engineers have just put down their tools and gone home for the evening, while an array of talks and demonstrations give you a real insight into quarry life. You’ll hear the gripping story of slate, encompassing such great events as industrial unrest, as well as the small details of everyday life.
Reset, recover and relax
HOT SPOTS
SHREWSBURY PRISON
DID YOU KNOW? Rhaeadr Retreat’s treatments include Indian head massage and Hopi ear candling
Take advantage of pampering treatments at Rhaeadr Retreat
After the last year, you deserve the ultimate rest and restore break. On a Rhaeadr Retreat all-inclusive break you’ll stay in luxury accommodation in the beautiful mountains of mid Wales with a host of activities such as daily yoga, wild swimming, guided mountain walking, creative therapies surrounded by waterfalls, tai chi, and pampering treatments. In the evenings you can relax in the outdoor hot tub or join in the chat in front of a warming log burner, before enjoying a delicious freshly cooked local meal. Jennifer Vaughan, a professional reflexologist and massage therapist, works on site and has made it her mission to help others unload that baggage of life and rediscover their true inner peace, which in turn improves their mental and physical wellbeing. Jennifer’s treatments are specifically tailored to the needs of each individual to make sure they receive the approach that works best for them. To extend this teaching further, Rhaeadr Retreat now offers four-night luxury residential retreats throughout the year, where you can step off the treadmill of life and be guided towards rediscovering your true self.
In this oasis of peace and calm, you’ll feel your tension melt away as you reset and refocus on your own self-care and
“Unload the baggage of life and rediscover true inner peace” wellbeing. Rhaeadr’s expert practitioners will empower you with a virtual toolkit to continue your wellness journey for the rest of your life, not just for the break.
Groups will be a maximum of 15 people. Railway station transfers included if needed. Visit www.rhaeadrretreat.com.
Shrewsbury Prison was built in 1793 and for 220 years was home to thousands of criminals. Now it’s been opened to the public by Jailhouse Tours, which runs daily guided tours of the site, evening ghost tours, escape events, prison experience events and history days – a fun and education experience for groups from Scouts and Guide groups to home educators and sports clubs. Put yourself to the test and see if you have what it takes to break out of a real prison in the world’s largest escape game, Prison Break! Shrewsbury Prison’s private tours are led by ex-prison officers and allow you to explore a 200-year-old prison with an access-allareas tour exposing life on the inside. This is truly one of the UK’s best and most fascinating visitor attractions.
www.shrewsburyprison.com
Trees and tranquillity
Relax in a haven of luxury and tranquillity on the outskirts of Chester city centre. Set in beautifully landscaped grounds and surrounded by peaceful countryside, Fir Trees Caravan and Lodge Park offers a haven of rural calm just two miles from historic Chester, where you will find an abundance of amenities and facilities.
Fir Trees Park is a five-star prestige caravan park in north Wales nestled in the countryside close to the River Dee. Every static caravan holiday home throughout the park is beautifully appointed, with spacious and beautifully laid-out plots providing an ideal escape for your caravan holidays in Wales. Fir Trees Caravan and Lodge Park offers an 11-month holiday season, opening on 1st March and closing on 31st January. This means holiday home owners can take advantage of weekend, week-long or monthlong stays time and time again.
Despite its secluded and tranquil location, Fir Trees Caravan and Lodge Park is just 1.5 miles away from the heart of the magical and historical city centre of Chester, providing you with an abundance of amenities and attractions at your fingertips.
For anyone looking for a caravan holiday or lodge holiday that allows you to discover everything the city of Chester has to offer while also being perfectly placed for exploring the wonderful countryside of north Wales, Fir Trees Caravan and Lodge Park is the ideal location. For more visit www.firtreescaravanpark.com.
Perfect for a peaceful break Delightful surroundings
DID YOU KNOW? When you turn o the A548 into Fir Trees Park, you cross the border into Wales
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Life is getting back to normal, so why do I still feel in limbo?
Wellbeing expert Lisa Whelan addresses the anxiety many of us are feeling as lockdown ends
First, give yourself a break. It’s OK if you feel lost time to breathe consciously. When we consciously breathe or in limbo, and it will pass. You have been through a very challenging year, and there will naturally be a level of rebalancing and adjustment.
Imagine being at sea in a storm. You use every ounce of strength and resilience to ride the waves and stay alive. When the storm calms, you naturally “When the storm calms, you feel exhausted naturally and depleted. feel It takes time to adjust, and it is exhausted” essential that you give yourself this time. So much of our focus is on the old life. We expect things to go back to the same, but they are not the same, you are not the same, and that’s OK.
Stop. Step back. Rebalance.
You may wish to change some areas of your life and feel frustrated that you can’t change things quickly enough. Relax, rest and allow your mind and emotions to gain clarity. Take and bring intention to our breath, things begin to change; the more you practise, the more significant the change. Use the summer holidays as a time to reset and realign. Be patient with yourself and others. Slow down, look at your hopes and recognise what you genuinely want. Sometimes just changing the way you look at something and permitting yourself to adjust is all you need. If you implement these tools, come September you will be raring to go. Instead of limbo, there will be life and love for what you want to do and the future. Mind Flight is about balance, clarity and focus. If you would like to, please email me at goodmorning@mindflight.online and I will happily provide you with a short beginner meditation to help you accelerate your renewal over the summer.
Anne Carr Lisa Whelan has dedicated the past 20 years to creating a first-class wellbeing resource that is simple and fun. The results are Mighty Minds, a six-week animated positive resource designed specifically for children, and the Calm Your Mind, Control Your Life Mind Flight course for adults. Go to www.mindflight.online for more.
