As part of our Green Traveller's Guide to the North York Moors, Paul Bloomfield picks out a selection of historic buildings, museums, art and culture in this wonderful National Park in the north of England. There’s something in the air here. Or maybe in the water – and definitely in the soil, and even deep underground. It’s inspired monks to build majestic abbeys amid the solitude of the moors, and drawn miners to tap seams of ironstone in the Cleveland rock. It’s nurtured the artistic sensibilities of painters and photographers, carvers and craftspeople. And it’s sparked the urge to explore that took perhaps the area’s most famous son, Captain James Cook, to the far-flung reaches of the globe. The legacy of these people, ancient and contemporary, is a network of attractions around the region that adds absorbing human interest to the compelling natural beauty of the moors and coast. From the ruins of those stately monastic estates to galleries and workshops, and from evocative museums to hands-on activities for children on farms and shores, we’ve identified a host of destinations showcasing the diverse aspects that make the North York Moors such a unique area to visit. Google map: shows the location and details of all the places to stay, local food and drink, nearby visitor attractions and activities in our Green Travel Guide to North York Moors: Green = Places to stay Blue = Local food & drink Yellow = Attractions Purple = Activities Places of interest in North York Moors Gisborough Priory Founded in 1119 by the Bruce family that were to become Kings of Scotland, the stunning skeleton of this Augustinian priory still stands on the edge of the National Park. It was one of the wealthiest monastic foundations in the country. The last to be buried here was Robery de Brus, whose grandson would rule Scotland in the early part of the 14th century. english-heritage.org.uk/visit/whats-on/ Byland Abbey It may seem hard to credit now, but in its heyday Byland was a blueprint for the ideal monastic architecture – indeed, the spectacular rose window at York Minster was inspired by the west front of Byland’s mighty abbey church. Founded by Savigniac monks in the 12th century, the abbey was sacked by Robert the Bruce and devastated by the Black Death two centuries later, then surrendered to Henry VIII and allowed to crumble. But though the soaring gothic architecture is decayed, you don’t need much imagination to get a sense of the awe-inspiring grandeur of the abbey in its pomp – the floors, intricately patterned with glazed tiles, rival Roman mosaics for beauty. english-heritage.org.uk/daysout/properties/byland-abbey/ Helmsley Castle This 900 year old castle is one of the region’s finest and most important; from its inception as impressive, strategic fortress; through its role as Tudor mansion; stronghold during the Civil War; and more. With sections dating from the different ages of its history, there is much to discover. english-heritage.org.uk/daysout/properties/helmsley-castle/ Rievaulx Abbey Like Byland, Rievaulx was founded in the 12th century, and progressively rebuilt, expanded and developed over the following two centuries; unlike Byland, when Henry VIII’s suppression of the monasteries emptied these precincts of religious orders, Rievaulx found other purposes – functioning first as an ironworks, then incorporated into the ornamental landscaped grounds of Duncombe Park, augmented with classical temples and the like. Today it’s an impossibly romantic spot, the walls of its abbey church still defiantly upright amid the wooded hillsides. Best accessed from Helmsley on a delightful walk, it’s a place to wander and wonder at the lives of monks nine centuries ago. english-heritage.org.uk/daysout/properties/rievaulx-abbey/ Pickering Castle Harking back to the days when Pickering wasn’t just a pretty market town but a thriving strategic centre of 13th Century northern England, this impressive castle boasts well preserved outer walls offering wonderful views across the Moors. Learn about its history, including roles as a royal hunting lodge, holiday home for mediaeval kings, and stud farm. english-heritage.org.uk/daysout/properties/pickering-castle/ Wheeldale Roman Road Stretching across the high moors for around a mile, Wheeldale’s well preserved Roman Road is a testament to ancient engineering and construction techniques and provides a fantastic opportunity to combine archaeological discovery with wonderful walking and scenery. english-heritage.org.uk/daysout/properties/wheeldale-roman-road/ Mount Grace Priory The most important and best preserved of England’s ten mediaeval Carthusian houses, Mount Grace Priory sits in elegant defiance of its ruin below the rolling slopes of the North York Moors. Discover the life of devout isolation led by Monks in the days of the priory’s youth, and soak up a rare ambience of tranquillity as light and shade play through the archways, framing the surrounding hills and woodland. english-heritage.org.uk/daysout/properties/mount-grace-priory/ Staithes Festival of Arts and Heritage The impossibly picturesque fishing village of Staithes celebrates its impressive artistic heritage (including its role as home of the Northern Impressionism movement) with this festival in September. With a range of different arts represented across various events, galleries, pop-up galleries, and pop-up cafés, there are talks, walks, workshops and more, all surrounded by the fresh salt air. staithesfestival.com Staithes Gallery & Art School Not only is Staithes beautiful, it also has an impressive artistic heritage: the little fishing village’s most prominent showcase for both local, and locally-inspired, contemporary art is its gallery, with a changing range of exhibitions. The Art School is the perfect place to hone your artistic talents in a beautiful, relaxed setting, with experienced tutors – classes often take place in the fresh sea air. staithesgallery.co.uk The Mouseman Visitor Centre One of the finest craftsmen of the early 20th century, Robert Thompson used traditional tools to carve his inimitable style of oak furniture in a workshop in Kilburn, at the far south-west edge of the moors. Inspired by classic English pieces of the 17th century, his work was in keeping with the Arts and Crafts movement, but with a character very much of its own – typified by the trademark mouse he carved into every piece, lending him his nickname: the ‘Mouseman’. The visitor centre at his workshop features fascinating period rooms recreating that era, as well as an enticing café and shop selling smaller pieces and gifts. robertthompsons.co.uk Pulpitations Papermaking artist Niki Hampson welcomes you to her lovely studio in the heart of the North York Moors’ lush Dalby Forest. Here you can have a glimpse into the life of a papermaker, see the work of her and other artists in the gallery, watch demonstrations of the craft, and even take workshops to learn how to make your own paper art creations. pulpitations.co.uk Jenny Pepper Feltmaker Jenny’s extraordinary, organic felt designs seem to grow and evolve rather than being made – not least because many incorporate found materials such as seeds and old lace, becoming sculptural works of art. Join one of her inspiring workshops or courses to learn how to make bags, hats, flowers or scarfs, or to use feltmaking techniques to develop your own ideas. Day workshops are usually held in Hutton Buscel Village Hall near Scarborough, at the south-eastern edge of the national park, while weekend courses sometimes run at Cober Hill (see Places to Stay). jennypepper.com Hands On At the multi-faceted, and thoroughly lovely, Beadlam Grange Farm, you can have the chance to – as the name suggests – get hands on and creative! From ceramics, to wool, to painting, and much more: get involved and discover a craft you never thought to try, or hone long-ignored skills in a relaxed, friendly, and fun environment. handsontraditionalcrafts.co.uk WareHouseArt Based in an open studio at the old stationmaster’s house on the platform at Levisham Station, Christopher Ware is the artist in residence of the North Yorkshire Moors Railway. But though he’s renowned for his watercolours of these fabulous trains, each capturing a whiff of the timeless charm of steam locos in a style that tips a nod to Turner’s soft-focus, large-scale scenes, he does sometimes go off the rails and paints landscapes from the moors and coast. You can pop in and see Christopher at work in his studio (Thursdays to Sundays), and groups of six to ten people can book an illustrated talk. warehouseart.com Wheeldale Woolcrafts Rediscover the traditional arts of woolcraft on a series of workshops run by specialists in the art, Wheeldale Woolcrafts. In the lovely North York Moors countryside, true sheep country, learn how to felt, how to spin, and how to dye. You could learn to make a rug or all manner of pretty – and practical – felt objects, and see some of the impressive offerings of the professionals. wheeldalewoolcrafts.co.uk North Yorkshire Moors Railway What more evocative way is there to see some of Britain’s finest scenery but by steam train? Harking back to a golden age of railway travel, these vintage locomotives have been lovingly looked after and retain original features such as wood panelling, all intact. Hop aboard, admire the scenery, dine in the Pullman, and allow the Moors railway to wind dramatically up from Pickering to the lovely seaside town of Whitby. nymr.co.uk Betton Farm Betton Farm has mini pigs. This unique family attraction is owned and run by Basics Plus, a social enterprise providing training and work opportunities for young people with learning difficulties – which means a wealth of activities and things to see for youngsters and their oldies. At the basic level, there’s an campsite and extensive play area, plus the chance to see the working farm’s horses, sheep and chickens (did I mention the mini pigs?). The café and farm shop dish up fresh-baked bread, cakes and snacks; there’s a ceramics centre where you can paint your own pottery, and a woodturning workshop where you can watch or learn about the craft; and the Honey Bee Centre has displays on the buzzing insects. And don’t forget the mini pigs… Campsite pitch from £17/£12 with/without electrical hook-up. bettonfarm.org.uk Beck Isle Museum From the outside, this Grade-II-listed building is just another Regency-era townhouse, albeit a rather grand one set in attractive gardens (ideal for a picnic). But delve into the Tardis-like museum and you’ll discover no fewer than 27 themed rooms and courtyards providing a whirlwind tour of home and working life in Victorian Pickering and Ryedale. Play shove ha’penny in the Victorian pub, or indulge in some extreme retro shopping therapy – dip into the cobbler’s, the tailor’s, the hardware store and the chemist’s, with its 116-drawer hand-made drug run. Elsewhere, a selection of pictures by Yorkshire photography pioneer Sydney Smith, spanning over half a century, is on display, along with vintage farming equipment and an antique printing press. beckislemuseum.org.uk Helmsley Walled Garden & Vinehouse Café Founded in 1759, on land originally part of the Helmsley Estate, the Walled Garden has a long history and its contemporary appearance is the result of generations of hard work, love, and care. One of the finest gardens in the region, this beautiful floral display seeps with the gentility of old England, and is a fragrant, relaxing spot to while away a sunny day. Fruit and vegetables are also grown in the garden, and you can sample them as ingredients in the award-winning, vegetarian, Vinehouse Café. helmsleywalledgarden.org.uk Rievaulx Terrace Relive the 18th Century grandeur of Rievaulx Terrace on a stroll through its magnificent woodlands and across its wide landscaped open spaces giving dramatic views over the Abbey below and beyond across the vales and moors of Yorkshire. Enjoy the neoclassical temples and their frescoes and relish the decadence of a bygone age, with the scent of wildflowers blowing on a fresh breeze. nationaltrust.org.uk/rievaulx-terrace Ryedale Folk Museum The rich and long history of Ryedale is very much alive and thriving at this five-acre, open air museum in the picturesque village of Hutton-le-Hole. From the Iron Age to the 1950s, discover how ways of life changed and developed over time – including set-piece historic buildings restored to their former glory, and demonstrations of local crafts in their traditional way. There’s also an art gallery celebrating the best local arts and crafts, and a programme of events and workshops throughout the year. ryedalefolkmuseum.co.uk Shandy Hall Grade I-listed Shandy Hall is a museum dedicated to the life and writings of Laurence Sterne, housed in a wonderful building dating back to the 15th Century and still containing preserved historic interiors. The house’s two acres of beautiful, well-maintained gardens, which are also open to the public, are home to an amazing array of moths. An incredible 234 varieties have been recorded so far – there is even a blog devoted to them. laurencesternetrust.org.uk Wolds Way Lavender Just south of the North York Moors you can discover a world of lavender at Wolds Way. With a shop, gardens, tearoom, aromatherapy, and more – this is a one-stop for everything lavender-related. There is even a distillery on-site to make their own one hundred percent pure lavender oil, and a narrow gauge railway can take you through twelve fragrant acres of plants and wildlife. woldswaylavender.co.uk Scampston Walled Garden Scampston Hall is one of Yorkshire’s finest stately homes, a masterpiece of regency architecture with stunning grounds to explore: including a wonderful walled garden. Retaining some of its traditional features and sections, what makes Scampston stand out is its unique contemporary design, created by renowned Dutch plantsman, Piet Oudolf. scampston.co.uk Cleveland Ironstone Mining Museum For nearly a century, men extracted ironstone from the rock at the Loftus Mine in Skinningrove – the town where, in 1848, the first mine opened in Cleveland, becoming the birthplace of an industry that transformed the social and physical landscape of the region. A tour of this museum includes a subterranean excursion into the North Drift, as well as a chance to hear firsthand the story of Fred, and his life as a 12-year-old ‘trappy’ lad. Up above, there’s a wealth of mining artefacts, photos and other memorabilia, bringing to life the reality of working in an ironstone mine. ironstonemuseum.co.uk For information on nearby characterful places to stay, local food and drink, and outdoor activities, see our Green Traveller's Guide to the North York Moors.

As part of our Green Traveller's Guide to the North York Moors, Paul Bloomfield picks out a selection of pubs, restaurants, tea rooms and local markets in this wonderful National Park in the north of England. What matters in the North York Moors is not so much where you eat as where what you eat came from. Whether you’re tackling gourmet cuisine in a gastropub or international bistro, tucking into a pork pie in a village local or licking the last crumbs of moggie cake off your saucer, chances are the ingredients were the products of the hills, fields and seas around you. Whitby, of course, is the source of seafood and fish, along with little brother Staithes, just up the coast. Rare-breed cattle, sheep and pigs graze the hillfarm meadows, providing succulent meat, and there’s ample game among the heather on the moors. All of the eateries listed in this guide, from pubs in slumbering hamlets and vintage tearooms to chic restaurants and country inns, take pride in their produce, many growing their own vegetables and salads in gardens and allotments – and the result is a distinctive array of flavours unique to the region. Google map: shows the location and details of all the places to stay, local food and drink, nearby visitor attractions and activities in our Green Travel Guide to North York Moors: Green = Places to stay Blue = Local food & drink Yellow = Attractions Purple = Activities Places to eat in North York Moors Beadlam Grange Farm Shop Beadlam Grange offers the finest fresh country produce to eat in its tearoom or buy from its lovely shop, on a traditional, family-run working farm. The Old Granary has been converted into a tearoom, which seeps with old country character, and a wood chip boiler provides its heating and hot water. In the shop, you can buy home-reared, top quality meats; these are complemented by a huge range of other local produce, from fine Yorkshire blue cheese to Brymor ice cream, plus home-prepared quiches, pies, and salads. beadlamgrange.co.uk Hunters of Helmsley A truly bespoke shopping experience awaits you at Hunters grade II listed premises in the heart of lovely Helmsley: this family-run business sources over 70% of its produce from Yorkshire, and endeavours to provide the best range of top quality food (and drink) to its clientele. Hams, beef and pork are cooked on the premises, and deliciously creamy Brymor ice cream is available, as well as local cider and even Yorkshire fruit wine: the perfect opportunity to try out something new. huntersofhelmsley.com Stonehouse Bakery Ian and Fiona Clacherty have been running the lovely Stonehouse Bakery in the heart of the North York Moors for twenty years. Now with three outlets, Stonehouse remains a small craft bakery that hand produce all their own products using natural ingredients. Offering a range of breads, pies, and cakes, which range from old favourites to more inventive offerings, there’s something here to appeal to everyone. There's also a tea shop next door. stonehousebakery.co.uk Arches Cookery School Proud to be different from other cookery schools, the Arches are based on a family-run working farm, and use the vegetables and herb grown by owner Sarah Muir’s mother, as part of a commitment to using local producers and the best of North Yorkshire cuisine. Sarah, who was previously a personal chef for some of the world’s top music acts, teaches courses herself, which range from pastry to seafood and vintage tea parties and much more besides. archescookeryschool.co.uk Cedarbarn Farm Shop and Cafe The owners of Cedarbarn, Mandy and Karl, proudly declare that they are “passionate about growing, cooking, and eating fabulous food” and you can discover their passion at their farm shop and cafe. With everything from their own home-reared meats to freshly landed fish from the Yorkshire coast, you can sample all the finest locally sourced produce sit down and try some in the cosy cafe, or peruse the shop and take something away to cook it yourself. cedarbarnfarmshop.co.uk Hares Leap Farm Shop and Café If you’re looking for a place to stop off for a snack or a meal on your trip up the dramatic Yorkshire coast, look no further. In a beautiful location, within easy reach of Whitby and Scarborough, Hares Leap is a fantastic place to pick up the finest homemade foods. The deli serves all kinds of locally sourced, made on premises delights, and you can sample everything from a freshly made pie to a full roast in the lovely café. haresleapfarm.co.uk Kala King Patisserie & Chocolates Part of the larger Beadlam Grange family, Kala King takes a traditional approach to creating exquisite, top of the range pastries, cakes, and chocolates from the finest ingredients. Focusing more on commissions, catering out, and supplying to local shops, you can nonetheless sample her delights and even take part in chocolate and pastry making workshops periodically at Beadlam Grange. kalakingpatisserie.co.uk Real Meals Home made, locally produced, and at reasonable prices: what more could you look for when buying your food? Real Meals stocks a huge range of produce, including delicious North Country cheeses; frozen meals, terrines, pies and pates, all made on site; free range eggs and local meat and dairy. The mouth watering list continues and they even provide a range of recipes to help you make the most of what you buy! realmeals.co.uk Wykeham Village Market The area’s only weekly market, every Friday morning fills the Downe Arms car park with fresh, delicious, local produce. Especially good for fresh or frozen game (depending on the season), you can feast on everything from luxury handmade cookies, to local cheese and dairy; and why not indulge in organic aromatherapy products or locally grown plants while you’re at it? dawnay.co.uk CottonHouse Coffee meets cakes meets cards meets crafts, cushions and candles. Rising from the ruins of a disused old stable yard, CottonHouse offers a small but perfectly formed menu of bagels, sandwiches, dips and soup, plus that all-important array of homemade cakes, in a light-filled, vintage-style cafe with outdoor seating for sunny days. The giftshop showcases the work of talented local and national artists and craftspeople, from sculptors and dress-makers to photographers and lamp-designers, and there’s a tempting haberdashery section to fuel your own creative endeavours. cottonhousehelmsley.co.uk Farmhouse Fodder Tea Garden All routes lead to Rosedale - at least, that’s how it seems when you read the instructions for accessing this ‘proper Yorkshire tea garden’, with directions for ramblers approaching from no fewer than four starting points. Walking is the raison d’etre for Maggie’s enterprise on this remote hillfarm, fuelling hikers en route from and to all corners of the moors. Flop on the grass or let yourself be enveloped by the hug of the sweeping stone windbreak-bench, and drink in the blistering view as well as the tea, coffee or elderflower cordial while pondering which of the homemade sandwiches, scones or cakes to munch (try Yorkshire tea bread, funeral biscuits or even ‘Moggies’, a local speciality baked with thick black treacle). teagardenrosedalenyorksmoors.co.uk Hawnby Stores and Tearoom It’s a local shop, for local people and a treasure trove for the rest of us. For a dozen years this charming tearoom and village stores has provided the community with local produce fruit, veg, meats and other treats as well as cream teas and delicious homemade cakes. And if the store echoes Open All Hours in its vintage feel, the range of local goodies couldn’t be more different alongside the newspapers and sweets nestle homemade jams, ales from Yorkshire breweries and all manner of necessities that you didn’t know you needed. hawnbytearoom.co.uk Ryeburn of Helmsley Few places can boast that their ice cream has twice been voted best in the country, but Ryeburn isn’t most places. With delectable hand-made chocolates and creamy, dairy ice cream, this lovely cafe and small producer in the centre of Helmsley is the perfect place to treat yourself. Be sure to try the Toffee and Fudge or Cookies and Cream flavour ice creams, they won gold in the National Ice Cream awards! ryeburn.com Lavenders Tea Room and Delicatessen In an historic 14th century building, Lavenders offers some of Yorkshire’s finest and freshest produce, whether you want to buy a hamper to take away, or maybe just a piece of local cheese. Alternatively, make yourself comfortable in the tearoom and enjoy delicious home made cakes with a cup of tea or coffee. lavenders.uk.com Old School Coffee Shop After a sensitive, yearlong renovation of Grosmont’s beautiful former primary school, the Old School coffee shop opened in April 2012, to the delight of gourmands near and far. With delicious home-baked cakes and snacks to complement fine coffee and other drinks, this is an atmospheric spot with thorough attention to detail that also extends to their customer service ethic. grosmontcoffeeshop.co.uk Falling Foss Tea Garden “Magical” is an adjective that’s bandied around rather too readily, but in the case of this enchanting tea garden, it’s entirely apt. Built as a gamekeeper’s cottage in the late 18th century, Midge Hall was abandoned in the 1960s and suffered half a century of decay. Then, in 2008, Steph and Jack Newman lovingly restored it and reopened the site as a tea garden. And what a garden: it sits alongside the Coast to Coast Path, above Falling Foss Waterfall and in the verdant wilderness of Sneaton Forest. Cakes are moist, scones cream-laden, bacon and sausage baps (courtesy of local butchers in Ruswarp near Whitby) succulent. fallingfossteagarden.co.uk Geall Gallery & Art Cafe Chris Geall made a name for himself creating large-scale oil paintings of the North York Moors, Whitby and the region’s dramatic coastline. He still to be found with his palette knife in the studio at the back of his gallery café, if you can tear yourself away from the fresh design-your-own sandwiches, homemade cakes, quiches, scones, pies and other delectables. Handy for both Grosmont Station on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway and the last stop (eastbound) on the Coast to Coast Path, the gallery also has three tastefully refurbished bedrooms for lucky guests can enjoy a custom-cooked dinner prepared with that day’s catch or other local produce, rustled up in the open kitchen by chef Jay. chrisgeall.com Suggitt’s Café and Shop Opened in 1925 as an ice cream store, Suggitt’s has become a local institution. Retaining a retro vibe that will take you back to your childhood - or beyond – a range of sweets and other confections now complement the celebrated ice cream, which you can enjoy outside, in a lovely brook-side setting. Be warned: on a sunny summer’s day, the queues can become very long! facebook.com/Suggitts The Star Inn Step back in time when you cross the threshold of this ancient inn just outside Helmsley skewed angles and ageing beams let you know that this is somewhere special, and that preserving its heritage is just part of the wider attitude. Chef and director, Andrew Pern, is a luminary of modern Yorkshire cuisine, focusing on the region’s plentiful not to mention delicious - local fish and game. thestaratharome.co.uk The Moors Inn Nestled in a tiny village in the south of the Moors, this traditional stone inn ticks a lot of boxes flickering fire in a black iron range, dark wood beams, ales to savour, and generous helpings of freshly prepared nosh. Meat there’s plenty of it comes from local gamekeepers, farmers and butchers, and the vegetables or salad on your plate might well have been dug up from the landlord’s allotment that morning. As well as pub standards such as fish and chips and steak and ale pie, the kitchen gets adventurous with the specials when the right ingredients arrive Moroccan lamb tagine, pheasant casserole, baked trout. Seven simple, comfortable rooms provide B&B accommodation, above the pub or in a converted barn. moorsinn.co.uk The New Inn & Cropton Brewery Not only does Cropton’s New Inn offer up a mouth-watering selection of fine local produce, it also boast its own brewery, enjoy a tasty range of home brewed beers on tap and bottled in the pub, or you can even book a brewery tour. Despite remaining a small, family-run affair, the New Inn also boasts a separate restaurant offering a relaxed dining experience apart from the hubbub of the bustling pub, which offers live music every day. newinncropton.co.uk The Hare Inn The Hare Inn is ideally situated in the centre of some of the North York Moors finest walking country so whether you want to fuel yourself with a hearty lunch, or take a relaxing drink in traditional country surroundings, look no further. The Inn, whose origins date back to the 12th Century, was renovated with love and care in 2012 and now serves up a fantastic range of local produce, including some of the country’s finest game, when in season. thehare-inn.com Royal Oak Inn A long, low stone pub in a small village at the southern edge of the national park, there’s more than meets the eye here. This Grade-II-listed 17th-century inn is decked out in a fairly typical style, for these parts at least, with the beams and log fires you’d expect. But food is the focus: the extensive menu is groaning with delights of a sophistication you’d expect at a city bistro rather than a country pub, and mostly magicked from local ingredients. Naturally there’s game and fish aplenty, bolstered by a bountiful range of vegetarian options. Eight fresh, comfortable en-suite rooms and find local ales complete the picture. theroyaloakgillamoor.co.uk Blacksmiths Arms That a pretty but compact hamlet like Lastingham (population well under 100) can support a pub feeding nearly 60 in two dining rooms speaks volumes about the quality of food, elevating classics such as scampi and Yorkshire hotpot to new levels. It’s all about the ingredients: both produce and suppliers are proudly local - fabulous, creamy Bradleys ice cream travels less than 7 miles to reach here. The bar is snugness itself, warmed in winter by a roaring fire in the old black range, with frankly alarming ranks of pewter tankards dangling from the beams above drinkers’ heads. Three guest rooms, two with four-posters, offer refuge for those who’ve overindulged in the fine Yorkshire ales downstairs (tipples from Copper Dragon, a Skipton brewery, are particular favourites) blacksmithslastingham.co.uk The Carpenters Arms Close to the soaring heights of the North York Moors, this traditional inn, which won Yorkshire’s Favourite Pub for 2013, pays special care to the provenance of all the delicious food which it serves up daily. It also has rooms, and is within easy reach of historic York but it’s the wonderful local beers, and freshly made meals that can be enjoyed on the lovely outdoor terrace (weather permitting) that are the real draw. thecarpentersarmsfelixkirk.com Birch Hall Inn They don’t make ‘em like this anymore. This tiny pub, overlooking the ford over the Eller Beck, has barely changed in the best part of a century, and it’s all the better for it. The ‘Big Barâ’, warming in winter by an open fire, is small enough but the ‘Little Barâ’ must be one of the tiniest in the country, record attendance stands at 30 people and two (small) dogs. What it lacks in size, it makes up for in character: the two bars, sandwiching a pocket-sized, old-fashioned sweet shop, dish up traditional flatcake butties, locally made pork pies and the legendary Beck Hole Beer Cake. And, of course, pints. Ales change regularly, but a constant is the organic Beckwatter bitter, brewed for the inn by the North Yorkshire Brewing Co. beckhole.info The Board Inn The Board Inn’s setting is impossibly idyllic: this traditional country pub dates back to 1742 and sits by a little bridge over the river Esk in the heart of the North York Moors. You won’t just be impressed by the exterior, however – carefully preserving its historical ambience, the Board Inn offers real ales and ciders, as well as over 60 malt whiskies, and a wonderful riverside terrace from which to spot wildlife and watch the salmon and trout spawn in summer. Additionally, a fine selection of meats from the pub’s own herds complement a range of other local farm produce, game, and Whitby catch for the ultimate gastronomic pub meal. theboardinn.com The Fox & Rabbit Inn Proudly overlooking the North York Moors from the edge of Dalby Forest, this wonderful 18th Century country pub is the perfect placed for a relaxing drink with a view, or a hearty evening meal. The Fox and Rabbit source as much as possible of their produce locally, taking advantage of the bounty that each season brings, to create a high quality modern take on traditional pub grub. foxandrabbit.co.uk White Horse Farm Inn Surrounded by heather-cloaked moors, with views over Rosedale Abbey, The White Horse Farm ‘s location is immediately appealing, but it isn’t just the views that won it Yorkshire’s Favourite Pub of 2012. This restored 16th Century country inn exudes old world character and charm, serving an extensive menu of local (and locally sourced) fare, accompanied by fine whiskies and wines, and hand-pulled beer. Choose between the cosy atmosphere of the bar area or the stylish restaurant to enjoy your food and drink. whitehorserosedale.co.uk The Black Swan at Oldstea These days we’ve got used to the idea that pubs can, and often do, serve up some wonderful gourmet delights, but the Black Swan is the only one in the North of England that can claim both a Michelin Star and three AA Rosettes. If you like the old world ambience of a traditional pub, but have a seriously sophisticated palette, it’s the perfect place for you. Not only is attention paid to the finest detail in creating an innovative menu using the finest local ingredients, but attention has been paid to the environment in which you eat, too: understated elegance without sacrificing the charm of a North Country Inn. With everything from scallops to halibut, wood pigeon to duck hot pot, there’s something to tickle everyone’s fancy. blackswanoldstead.co.uk The Anvil Inn For most of the Anvil’s three centuries of existence, it was a working forge: and despite its recent incarnation as pub and restaurant, the relics of its past have been meticulously preserved and take pride of place in the building. This cosy, low-ceilinged inn sources local food, including fine Whitby fish, and if you aren’t tempted to eat, then enjoy a pint of local beer at the bar, and maybe you’ll come to change your mind. theanvilinnsawdon.co.uk The Inn at Hawnby The Inn at Hawnby isn’t afraid to sell itself: “stunning views; seasonal menus; beautiful bedrooms; local ales by a cosy fire,” it proclaims, and so it should. In the midst of the high moors, this is a great stop for locally produced, seasonally changing food: meals made the traditional, sustainable way. Meals made well - they hold both a rosette and a Taste of Yorkshire award. innathawnby.co.uk White Swan Inn You can come to the White Swan for a drink, or even stay the night, but the real draw of this inn at the heart of pretty Pickering is the food. Taking simple, traditional pub fare but doing it the way it should be done is the White Swan’s philosophy: they’re not trying to be real, they actually are sourcing the best local and national food wherever possible, and paying attention to everything from the supply chain to the final details. white-swan.co.uk Fox & Hounds Country Inn It’s a brave landlord that revamps a 17th-century coaching inn in this neck of the woods, the moor’s southern fringes, but the Fox & Hounds successfully pulls off an update that brings the best of gastropub style and culinary innovation but stays faithful to three-odd centuries of heritage. The bar sticks to a more traditional feel, with calming green walls, dark-wood settles, hops festooning the ceiling and (of course) that essential open fire; the restaurant complements a stone fireplace with vibrant colours and sparky, generous cooking. Ten en-suite doubles keep things simple, with classic bedsteads and bright hues. thefoxandhoundsinn.co.uk The Fox and Hounds Restaurant Breathtakingly located on the dramatic coastline between Sandsend and Runswick Bay, the Fox and Hounds made a big splash when it opened a few years back, and has since garnered a reputation as one of the region’s real culinary hotspots. The food is locally sourced and organic, served up in a romantic setting with stunning views, and with a focus on local specialities such as scallops, crap and turbot, as well as local meats and more. foxandhoundsgoldsborough.co.uk Green’s of Whitby Restaurant & Bistro More than ever before, we’ve come to value traceability of food and it’s rarely as specific as it is at Green's, where expertly cooked fish and seafood has been the hallmark for a dozen years. Whether you settle into an intimate booth in the restaurant or the more relaxed bistro, not only can you be assured that the special on your plate brill, halibut or sea trout, perhaps is fresh from Whitby or Staithes, you’ll also know which boat and which skipper landed it. The seafood tasting menu (4/5/6 courses £30/£37/£44) showcase the best of the Yorkshire coast’s bounty. greensofwhitby.com Lord Stones Country Park The cafe, restaurant, shop and campsite on this 160-acre park have been revamped by a family on the adjoining estate, who have injected new life and energy into the site. It's as green as can be, with a biomass boiler providing all heating and hot water. Locally sourced food is big business: the fabulous shop is packed with great local produce, selling grouse, beef and lamb from the estate. Glampers will love the camping pods which come with their own cosy woodburner, and it's right on three main walking routes: the Coast to Coast, the Cleveland Way National Trail and the Lyke Wake Walk. lordstones.com The Cleveland Tontine With a bistro, conservatory, bar, restaurant and even a ‘snug’ (a private dining room, to you and I), the Tontine’s range of eating options certainly takes some beating. Choose your ambience, then choose your food a range of lunch and evening menus are available, as well as afternoon tea, and you can even just pop in for a drink or coffee. theclevelandtontine.co.uk For information on local food and drink, nearby visitor attractions and activities, see our Green Traveller's Guide to the North York Moors

As part of our Green Traveller's Guide to the North York Moors, Paul Bloomfield picks out a selection of walks and cycle routes as well as wildlife and adventure activities in this glorious National Park in the north of England. With the diverse and numerous calorific specialities of the region – fish and chips, flatcakes, cream teas, moggie cakes, seafood, beer cakes, cakes and more cakes – clamouring for your attention, getting active isn’t just an enticing opportunity, it’s a necessity. Fortunately, the heather-clad moors, dramatic coastline and verdant hills are laced with trails begging to be explored on foot, bike or horseback. The rivers are slick with fish, offering varied challengers to anglers, and there’s kayaking and sailing to be enjoyed inland and offshore, too. For those with a head for heights, gliding and microlighting can offer a different perspective on the moors. Crags inspire rock-climbers, and the open moorland, rivers and ancient woods harbour merlins, dippers, and red grouse. There’s a dizzying range of walking trails to tackle, from gentle day strolls to multi-day epics. We’ve rounded up the best rambles to help you discover the beauty of the moors. Google map: shows the location and details of all the places to stay, local food and drink, nearby visitor attractions and activities in our Green Travel Guide to North York Moors: Green = Places to stay Blue = Local food & drink Yellow = Attractions Purple = Activities Activities in North York Moors Walking in the UK - North Yorkshire Villages Follow wooded riverside paths, green lanes and moorland tracks to reach some of Yorkshire's prettiest villages nestling almost unnoticed in secluded corners. From Pickering, take the historic steam train north and walk back over the moors. inntravel.co.uk/walking-holidays/uk Big Bear Bikes This popular and friendly bike shop in the centre of Pickering provides a number of bike services, from bike servicing workshops to bike skills sessions. They also run bike hire and have a range of bikes available, from mountain to road bikes. bigbearbikes.co.uk Trailways This cycle hire place is located alongside the Cinder Track, the Whitby to Scarborough old coastal railway, a great family-friendly route which which meanders through quaint villages and past remote beaches. Trailways has over 100 bikes for bike for all ages, mountain bikes to tag-alongs to tamdems. It also has bikes for sale. trailways.info Dalby Bike Barn A top of the range cycle shop providing all you could need to get out and explore the surrounding Dalby Forest and wider North York Moors by bike, Pace Cycles offers servicing, accessories, and of course high quality bicycles. All this, in lovely countryside surroundings – you’ll be itching to get in the saddle, and if you need a place to crash after a hard day’s cycling, they offer self-catering accommodation, too. pacecycles.com Blue Giraffe Bicycles Ltd Whether you need to get your bike looked at, or learn how to do it yourself, the friendly mechanics at Blue Giraffe are there to help – with workshop classes starting from £35 per person. They also offer hire, bike parts and accessories, and everything else you could need for a holistic cycle experience! They also organise regular sportives that venture out into the Moors. bluegiraffebicycles.co.uk Gone Mountain Biking Gone Mountain Biking will help you to do just that – go mountain biking! In the charming town of Pickering, they’re easily accessible and right next to the dappled shade of lush Dalby Forest and the windswept open moorlands. Offering holidays and accommodation as well as guiding and instruction, Gone Mountain Biking covers all your needs for a cycling break: take a guided tour around some of the best trails in the region, or simply hone your skills on a short training session. gonemountainbiking.com Real Staithes Discover the life and soul of this historic fishing village on a day at sea catching mackerel, or learning how to create your own paint palette from natural ingredients, or maybe a longer arts or crafts course… Discover the fossils, food and ancient traditions of this Yorkshire Coast gem, with knowledgeable locals keen to share their passion with their savoir-faire. realstaithes.com Hawk & Owl Trust at Fylingdales Moor Rugged Fylingdales Moor is a 6,800-acre Conservation Area close to Whitby, with wonderful coastal views. The site is now managed by the Hawk and Owl Trust to help preserve and nurture its wildlife, through the use of environmentally sustainable traditional moorland management techniques. A range of self-guided walks and trails will take you across the moor, perhaps giving the opportunity to see some of its rare wildlife. hawkandowltrust.org Carlton Lodge Activity Centre, Thirsk, North Yorkshire North Yorkshire Youth, (NYY) based at Carlton Lodge Activity Centre near Thirsk, North Yorkshire has programmes for schools, scout groups, youth clubs, corporate packages and at weekends and school holidays for families. The programme includes Activity Days and Adventure Skills in the May half term and during the Summer school holidays. The activities are designed to boost self-confidence and team working skills by focusing on communication, planning and creative thinking. Prices from: £150 per week. At weekends a two-day/one night option is available from £99. carltonlodge.org.uk Yorkshire Gliding Club Based at dramatic Sutton Bank, how better to take in the glorious panoramas of moor and vale than by gliding? With a fleet of modern gliders and a full-time staff of professional instructors, you can choose to take a course, or sample a trial lesson – they even offer special tuition (and reductions) for young people. Conditions are perfect for soaring way above the North York Moors at heights of up to 33,000 feet! ygc.co.uk Scaling Dam Sailing Club Behind Scaling Dam is a beautiful, peaceful reservoir in the midst of the North York Moors – the perfect place to spend time sailing. If you don’t yet know how to sail, the Scaling Dam Sailing Club runs training courses in sailing, windsurfing and dinghy training, including for children and disabled people. scalingdam.org Flow Surf School It’s not just the cliffs of the North Yorkshire coast that are dramatic – there are some pretty impressive waves out there, too. Whilst the pretty seaside town of Saltburn may not seem the obvious choice for surfers, it’s actually a fantastic spot to learn the sport: Flow Surf School’s BSA qualified coaches (they’re also lifeguards) offer lessons for beginners and intermediate learners, with all equipment provided. flowsurfcoaching.com Bilsdale Riding Centre In a remote moorland location, Bilsdale Riding Centre offers the opportunity to discover the wonderful North York Moors landscapes at a gentle pace. Criss-crossing the terrain by bridlepath or green lane, there is a wide choice of horses and ponies to suit people of different size, age, taste and ability. Whatever your level, help and guidance is at hand – so you can take it easy for the first time, or enjoy the freedom and exhilaration of a ride across the open moors in the fresh air. bilsdaleridingcentre.co.uk Saltburn Surf School Proudly boasting to be the only surf school approved by Surfing Great Britain on the East Coast, Saltburn Surf School takes full advantage of the great waves (and lovely beaches) of the area as a safe playground to learn or improve your surfing. The centre offers surf hire, as well as a surf club, and professional coaching for surfers of different levels. saltburnsurf.co.uk For information on local food and drink, nearby visitor attractions and activities, see our Green Traveller's Guide to the North York Moors

As part of our Green Traveller's Guide to the Lake District, Jackie King picks out a selection of characterful hotels, B&Bs, campsites and cottages in this glorious National Park in the northwest of England. Regardless of what you've come to the Lake District to do and see, a big part of the holiday is finding the right place to stay, whether it's a luxurious 5-star hotel, a secluded eco cottage or an innovative riverside yurt camp. We've brought together the following places to stay to offer you as much choice as possible. If you're looking for luxury there's lavish Country Houses and hotels, while those looking to explore the great outdoors should browse our collection of cosy B&Bs and self-catering cottages. Or, for the ultimate outdoor experience, why not take a look at the range of wonderful campsites. Many of these businesses have been certified by the strict auditors of the Green Tourism Business Scheme, so you can be assured that your stay will have a lighter touch on the environment and help support the Lake's local economy. Google map: shows the location and details of all the places to stay, local food and drink, nearby visitor attractions and activities in our Green Travel Guide to The Lake District: Green = Places to stay Blue = Local food & drink Yellow = Attractions Purple = Activities Places to stay in The Lake District Moss Grove Organic, Lake District A smart, funky hotel in the heart of the Lake District with excellent food and strong environmental ethos. All 11 rooms have spa baths, under floor heating, flat screen Tvs, Bose sytems, free internet access, and large comfortable beds. Impressive. www.mossgrove.com Lancrigg Vegetarian Hotel, Cumbria In the heart of the Lake District mountains, Lancrigg is a gorgeous, romantic retreat to unwind and restore body and soul. It has a friendly and relaxed atmosphere and has over 30 years of experience serving excellent vegetarian food. lancrigg.co.uk The Langdale Hotel & Spa, Lake District, UK The Langdale Hotel & Spa, set in 35 acres of woodland and waterways with the Lake District's stunning scenery on its doorstep, has a choice of 4-star luxury, fine cuisine and a choice of top of the range accommodation. langdale.co.uk Cedar Manor Hotel & Restaurant, Lake District, UK Set within mature walled gardens under the shadow of the ancient cedar tree, the building boasts ten rooms that have been commended for their interior design. cedarmanor.co.uk Low Wood Bay Hotel, Lake District, UK With lawns running right down to the water's edge, Low Wood even has its own leisure club, which boasts a pool, spa sauna, solarium, gym and beauty salon. englishlakes.co.uk/low-wood-bay Storrs Hall, Lake District, UK This Grade II-listed Georgian Mansion is not only a luxury accommodation, but a visitor attraction in its own right. Seemingly surrounded on all sides by glorious Lake District countryside, the hotel offers unrivalled views out over Lake Windermere. storrshall.com Waterhead Hotel, Lake District, UK Combining 'traditional Lakeland elegance' with a wonderful natural setting, this is equally well suited to romantic weekends and fun-filled activity weeks. englishlakes.co.uk/waterhead Willowford Farm B&B, Cumbria, England An organic farm on one of the longest unbroken stretches of Hadrian's Wall still remaining, including 2 turrets and a Roman Bridge. Local and organic produce, including the hosts' own, and all the heating is provided by a log-burning boiler. https://willowford.co.uk/ Blenheim Lodge, Lake District, England Nestled against woodland in a quiet elevated spot, this 4* B&B boasts fab Lake Windermere views and offers a peaceful retreat for a restful getaway. Ideally located by The Dalesway Walk, away from traffic & crowds, and only a 5 min walk to the lake. https://www.blenheim-lodge.com/ Elterwater Hostel, Langdale Valley, Lake District A 38 bed hostel in the heart of the Lake District, Langdale Valley is the perfect base for cycling, walking and climbing. A cost effective option for groups or families and perfect for individuals looking for self-catering or home cooking in comfort. elterwaterhostel.co.uk The Derby Arms, Witherslack, Cumbria A traditional Cumbrian Inn at 'the gateway' to the English Lake District offering six comfortable, individually designed double bedrooms, all with en-suite facilities. Serving delicious award winning food, local ales and an extensive wine list. thederbyarms.co.uk Howe Keld B&B, Lake District, UK Following a recent extension and refurbishment project, Howe Keld has quickly garnered a reputation for offering modern, award-winning bed and breakfast accommodation only a short hop from Keswick and Lake Derwentwater. howekeld.co.uk Elder Grove, Lake District, UK The building was first built during the 1800s and still retains many original features, while each of the ten rooms has been warmly decorated and exudes a cosy home-away-from-home type charm. eldergrove.co.uk Yew Tree Farm, Lake District, UK Originally built in 1693, this historic B&B in Coniston is one of the most photographed buildings in the North - due in no small part to the fact that the cottage was owned by Beatrix Potter in the 1930s and is still home to many of her furnishings. http://www.yewtree-farm.com/ Elterwater Hostel, Langdale Valley, Lake District A 38 bed hostel in the heart of the Lake District, Langdale Valley is the perfect base for cycling, walking and climbing. A cost effective option for groups or families and perfect for individuals looking for self-catering or home cooking in comfort. elterwaterhostel.co.uk Thorney How, Grasmere Independent Hostel An independent, family run backpacking hostel and walker’s cafe/bar in Grasmere, in the heart of the stunning Lake District. Situated in 2¼ acres of stunning natural grounds, has over 350 years of heritage. Electric bike hire available. thorneyhow.co.uk Low Parkamoor, Cumbria, UK Low Parkamoor is an idyllic off-grid farmhouse in the Lake District, the perfect retreat from modern living and a fabulous eco experience. It offers stunning views over Coniston Water and the Old Man mountain in a remarkable and rare location. dodgsonwood.co.uk Southwaite Green, Lake District, England Four 5* award winning eco cottages in a beautiful spot in the Western Lake District next to Paddle Beck. Surrounded by 10 acres of landscaped grounds including a grass court for short tennis and badminton, woodlands, a pond and organic fruit. southwaitegreen.co.uk Ben Fold, Hawkshead, Lake District, England Ben Fold is a grade II listed, recently redeveloped, cosy country cottage set in its own enclosed garden near Tarn Hows with lovely views across the Esthwaite Valley. Self-catering and a perfect base for walkers or nature lovers. lakelandhideaways.co.uk Brackenrigg Holiday Cottages, Lake District, UK At the very heart of the Lake District National Park, just a couple of miles from Keswick, is the peaceful Naddle Valley. brackenrigg.com Burnside Park, Lake District National Park, England Central to Bowness and stunning Lake Windermere, stay in a gorgeous self-catering cottage or apartment and enjoy lots of activities in the area accessible without a car including use of the local spa and leisure facilities. burnsidepark.co.uk YHA Hawkshead, Cumbria, England This family-friendly grade II listed Regency style building, in a glorious setting overlooking tranquil Esthwaite Water, is an ideal base for cheap family breaks, school trips and activity breaks. Great for walking and cycling. yha.org.uk/hostel/yha-hawkshead Wrostler's Barn, Cumbria, UK Beautiful, off-grid camping barn in ancient woodland, very close to Coniston Water. A fantastic eco-holiday retreat, remote and secluded but just a one minute walk through the SSSI (Site of Special Scientific Interest) woods to the lakeside. dodgsonwood.co.uk Long Valley Yurts The Lake District, Cumbria A fabulous collection of yurts and bell tents nestled in the heart of the Lake District National Park on the quiet western shores of England's largest lake, Windermere. luxury-yurt-holidays.co.uk Fisherground Campsite, Lake District, UK A wonderful campsite overlooking Fellside cottage in Eskdale. One of the biggest draws of this particular campsite is the pond, which is a fantastic place for children to play while still under the watchful eye of parents. fishergroundcampsite.co.uk Syke Farm Camping Ground, Lake District, UK As basic as the facilities might be, this is the ideal location in which to appreciate the true beauty of the Lake District, with plenty of space for kids to run and play, and for parents to relax. sykefarmcampsite.com Gill Head Farm, Lake District, UK Come to Gill Head Farm and, on top of plenty of space for tents and caravans, you'll also find B&B accommodation and six timber camping pods. gillheadfarm.co.uk For information on local food and drink, nearby visitor attractions and activities, see our Green Traveller's Guide to the Lake District

As part of our Green Traveller's Guide to the Lake District, Jackie King picks out a selection of natural spaces, historic houses and gardens in this glorious National Park in the northwest of England. Magnificent historic houses, ancient castles, idyllic gardens and some of the most awe-inspiring natural spaces in the UK - the Lake District really does offer something for everyone. As you might expect from England's biggest National Park, the scope for adventure here is huge, and we're not just talking about natural spaces. Of course, with the likes of Scafell Pike and Lake Windermere on your doorstep, no one would blame you for spending hours just wandering the wilds - but there's so much more to see, from award-winning Muncaster Castle to the childhood homes of William Wordsworth and Beatrix Potter. We also highly recommend spending some time soaking up the region's culture, whether that's in the form of the latest exhibition at Abbott Hall art gallery, or a quirky comedy night at the Brewery Arts Centre. Google map: shows the location and details of all the places to stay, local food and drink, nearby visitor attractions and activities in our Green Travel Guide to The Lake District: Green = Places to stay Blue = Local food & drink Yellow = Attractions Purple = Activities Places of interest in The Lake District Hutton-in-the-Forest An ancient and historic Cumbrian house which was at least 250 years old when it was bought by current owner Lord Inglewood's family in 1605. As well as exploring its particularly striking exterior, be sure to take a tour of the inside of the house, where you'll be able to wander from the Medieval Stone Hall to the high Victorian Drawing Room. The house is equally well known for its elaborate gardens that date back to around the 17th Century. For a picturesque walk head over to the terraces and topiary, while those looking for something more rugged try wandering the woodland walk. hutton-in-the-forest.co.uk Holker Hall & Gardens The impressive Holker Hall dates back to the beginning of the 16th Century, with sections of the house having to be rebuilt after a destructive fire in 1871. The house boasts impressive interiors, while the garden boasts a unique collection of trees and shrubs, and is an ideal location for a peaceful afternoon stroll. Over one third of the Estate has some form of environmental designation, whether that be a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) or a National Nature Reserve. The owners are also keen to protect natural habitats and conserve local wildlife such as the native red squirrel. The Estate is also home to a 200-year old deer park. holker.co.uk Mirehouse Historic House & Gardens This family-run historic house can be found right in the heart of the north Lake District just three miles from Keswick. Having been build in 1666, the ground floor of the house was only opened to the public in 1981, where visitors can now come to explore an interesting collection of furniture and portraits. You'll also find a fantastic collection of manuscripts, some that were written by literary heavyweights such as Wordsworth and Tennyson. There's plenty on offer for children, with an adventure playground, owl hunt and history quiz to keep them occupied. There's also plenty of exploration to be done around the house's natural gardens, where the Poetry Walk and walled Bee Garden are favourites. mirehouse.co.uk Levens Hall & Gardens An impressive Elizabethan mansion built around a 13th Century pele tower. Levens Hall is home of the Bagot family, and offers a host of Jacobean furniture, fine paintings and early English patchwork. Perhaps most impressive are the award-winning gardens, which were laid out in 1694. The topiary, beech hedges and seasonal beds combine to create a stunning visual display, particularly around the topiary garden's huge abstract shapes, pyramids and columns. Spend a few hours exploring and you'll no doubt need to visit the house kitchens, where you can pick up anything from homemade sandwiches the a pint of Levens' own Moroccan Ale. levenshall.co.uk Dalemain Historic House & Gardens You'll find Dalemain just outside Ullswater along the northern fringes of the Lake District. Venture past the Georgian facade and into the house itself, and Tudor and Medieval influences become much apparent. There has been a settlement on the site since Saxon times, with the Old Hall added in the 14th Century and the two projecting wings being built during the 16th Century. The interiors boast fine furniture, family portraits, ceramics and the Westmorland and Cumberland Yeomanry Museum. You can also explore a blacksmith's museum in the 16th Century barn or explore the surrounding estate (which includes a Deer Park). dalemain.com Holehird Gardens Holehird consists of 17 acres of hillside gardens and visitors have the freedom to wonder around countless specimen trees and shrubs, extensive rock and heather gardens, a walled garden, alpine houses and herbaceous borders. The walled garden was originally a kitchen garden for the mansion and then spent a brief period as a tree nursery before being acquired by the Lakeland Horticultural Society in the 1980s. With unique colours and displays throughout the year - as well as three National Collections and several educational courses - this is a great year round attraction for the whole family. holehirdgardens.org.uk Scafell Pike At 3,209ft, the might Scafell Pike is the highest mountain in England, one of a horseshoe of high fells that surrounds the head of Eskdale. Views from the mountain's summit have inspired the likes of Wordsworth, Coleridge and Baines, with thousands making the ascent each year either as a one-off adventure, or as part of the annual Three Peaks Challenge. As breathtaking as the view might be from the very top, you could equally gaze up at the majesty of the mountain itself, and out across nearby Wastwater Lake. nationaltrust.org.uk/holidays/wasdale-campsite-lake-district Lake Windermere At just over ten miles long and 220 feet deep, Windermere is the largest natural lake in England and is fed by numerous rivers. There are numerous activity providers in the surrounding towns that offer a range of water-based activities, from sailing and kayaking to windsurfing, plus there's plenty of scope for picturesque cycling and walking along the water's edge. lakedistrict.gov.uk/visiting/places-to-go/explore-windermere-and-ambleside Fell Foot Park Found at the very Southern tip of Lake Windermere, Fell Foot Park is an ideal location for a bit of family relaxation. There are plenty of sweeping lawns for picnics and gentle strolls, while easy lake access means plenty of swimming, paddling, boating and even canoeing - rowing boats and kayaks are available to hire, with an adventure playground for little ones. If you work up an appetite you can visit the boathouse cafe for some tea and homemade cake, while gazing out over Windermere. nationaltrust.org.uk/fell-foot Tarn Hows One of the most visited spots in the National Park, the attraction of Tarn Hows is its sheer natural beauty, surrounded as it is by thick woodland and views out over the likes of the Helvellyn range and the Langdale Pikes. In 1929, when the Tarns and its setting came up for sale, Beatrix Potter made the top bid - she went on to sell half of the land to the National Trust and entrusted them with the other half in her will. There's a short path that tracks around the tarn which is suitable for familes and follows a mostly flat trail. nationaltrust.org.uk/tarn-hows-and-coniston Acorn Bank Garden and Watermill Perhaps best known for the wealth of herbs and traditional fruit gardens that grow within its walls, Acorn Bank is a great palce to come and while away the afternoon, perhaps exploring the fascinating industrial past or simply tucking in to fresh food at the tearooms. One of the very best things to do is to wander along Crowdundle Beck towards the partially restored watermill, trying to spot local wildlfie in the woods along the way. There's also plenty of scope for relaxation in the walled gardens while the kids count the crested newts in the garden pond. nationaltrust.org.uk/acorn-bank Lakeside & Haverthwaite Railway Starting at Haverthwaite railway station, the railway runs for around three and a half miles, alongside the banks of the scenic River Leven and calls at Nweby Bridge Halt and Lakeside Station. The train stops here so you can continue your journey by steamer service to the likes of Ambleside and Bowness. While you're waiting at Haverthwaite station you can always have a bite to eat in the restaurant while the kis enjoy the Woodland Play Area. If you and your friends fancy becoming a steam train driver for the day, you can take part in an 'Experience Day' that can involve driving, firing, guard and signalman duties. lakesiderailway.co.uk Brewery Arts Centre If you're looking for a little relief from all that walking and cycling, you could do much worse than to pay a visit to the Brewery Arts Centre, a cultural hub in Kendal that combines a cinema, theatre, live music and festival events with a fantastic bar and restaurant. There's also the Warehouse coffee lounge that doubles up as a digital cinema. So whether you're after a little comedy or your own miniature music festival there should be something to tickle your fancy. breweryarts.co.uk Brockhole Visitor Centre For a true taste of the Lakes look no further than Brockhole Visitor Centre, owned by the Lake District National Park Authority, it has scenic views and gardens that stretch right down to the shores of Windermere. This is a fantastic place for children, with an indoor place space and adventure playground, not to mention the new Predator Park wildlife experience, where you'll encounter all manner of British creatures. Also highly recommended are the centre's extensive gardens, particularly the 30-acre Thomas Mawson designed Arts and Crafts garden, boasting rows of colorful terraces and stunning views out over the Langdale Pikes. brockhole.co.uk Abbott Hall Art Gallery The building was originally built in 1759 and, by the 1950s, was one of only two Grade-I listed buildings in Kendal but had almost become derelict. Saved by a local charitable trust, Abbott Hall opened as an art gallery in 1962 and has since developed an extremely popular and varied exhibition programme, with current exhibitions including drawings and water colours from Victorian critic John Ruskin, the Great Books of Lady Anne Clifford and a celebration of the gallery reaching its 50th year where top examples will be chosen from the gallery's permanent collections. abbothall.org.uk Muncaster Castle You'd be silly not to fit a trip to award-winning Muncaster Castle into your Lake District holiday. Not only will you get to explore the castle itself (which is supposedly haunted), you'll also be free to wander 70 acres of gardens and to explore the World Owl Centre, housing over 200 birds. The gardens date back to the 18th Century and are now home to one of Europe's largest collections of rhododendrons, while the owners are working in partnership with several other gardens to conserve endangered plants and trees. Widely recognised as the world's leading owl conservation organisation, the World Owl Trust is based within the walls of the castle and is home to over 40 species of the magnificent birds. muncaster.co.uk Kendal Castle It may be a little less impressive now than it would have been at the end of the late 12th Century, but Kendal Castle is still well worth a visit. The location means you'll have a great vantage point out over Kendal itself, while Kendal museum offers a fascinating exhibition that tell's the story of the castle's history. You'll also find various medieval objects, reconstructions of the castle and hands-on displays. The castle's surroundings make a great picnic destination on sunny days, with wooded walks along the lower slopes of Castle Hill. visitcumbria.com/sl/kendal-castle Wray Castle Originally built in the 1840s for just two people to live in, the castle sits on Windermere's western side and has remained unoccupied for the last eight years. Head inside and you'll be able to wander the grand living spaces and winding servant's passages. While the rooms may be free of furniture, photographs taken by Beatrix Potter's father help you imagine what life here would have been like during the 19th century. There's also plenty to keep children occupied - from building cardboard castles and dressing up to following trails through the garden. nationaltrust.org.uk/wray-castle Blackwell Arts & Crafts House Blackwell Arts & Crafts House is widely regarded to be one of England's most significant buildings from the 20th Century. Designed by M H Ballie Scott between 1897 and 1900, the house is an excellent example of architecture from the turn of the century. And it isn't simply a piece of art itself - venture indoors and you'll find a selection of exhibitions that have, in the past, included the likes of pottery, contemporary glass sculpture and Japanese crafts. Be sure to visit the tea room if you get peckish - the owners put as much emphasis on quality handmade food as they do on top notch arts exhibits. blackwell.org.uk Brantwood Historic House Brantwood is the former home of John Ruskin, the leading English art critic of the Victorian era. Ruskin no doubt acquired the house because of its stunning location, set in a 250-acre wood estate with spectacular views. Right at the heart of the estate are eight unique gardens, most of which continue with the radical experiments in land management and horticulture begun by Ruskin himself. Particularly interesting is Zig-Zaggy, which is based upon designs first sketched by the critic over 130 years ago. Another great option is Professor's Garden, which was Ruskin's favourite and which was dedicated to plants that were good for both body and soul. brantwood.org.uk Hill Top Come and visit Beatrix Potter's 17th century farmhouse, which has been wonderfully maintained and looks as if the famous author had just popped out for a walk. Inside, every room offers some link or image to one of Potter's famous tales, while the garden offers up an exciting trail for children, as well as a traditional country garden that changes with the seasons. You'll also be able to gaze out over some of the views that inspired the stories, and wander along one of the marked walking trails from the property. nationaltrust.org.uk/hill-top The World of Beatrix Potter The only Beatrix Potter themed attraction in Europe, where kids can come and visit the likes of Peter Rabbit, Jemima Puddleduck and many other beloved characters. Attractions include all 23 Tales of Beatrix Potter, each one brought to life in an indoor recreation of the Lakeland countryside, complete with all the sights, sounds and even smells. Head over to the Miss Potter Room for an explanation of the life of Beatrix Potter complete with unique Visual Walks display, film presentation and exciting exhibits. If you feel peckish head for the Tailor of Gloucester tearoom. hop-skip-jump.com Dove Cottage & the Wordsworth Museum Dove Cottage in Grasmere was the home of William Wordsworth between 1799 and 1808. It is here that Wordsworth wrote much of his poetry, and where his sister Dorothy added to her now famous collection of journals. The cottage itself was built in the early 17th century and boasts a picturesque garden and orchard, once tended to by William and Dorothy. The Wordsworth Trust was founded in 1981, with an award-winning museum housing collections of manuscripts, books and paintings relating to British Romanticism. Visit the Dove Cottage tearoom and pick up snacks made from high-quality local produce. wordsworth.org.uk Wordsworth House Take a step back in time and explore poetry giant William Wordsworth's childhood home. This traditional Georgian townhouse was birthplace of both Wordsworth and his sister Dorothy, and is presented as a bustling family home with butlers on hand to offer up information and a fascinating working Georgian kitchen complete with servants that are happy to tell visitors the story of the house and garden. There are also daily ten-minute walks, poetry readings and children's trails, plus a full programme of family activities during the summer holidays. nationaltrust.org.uk/wordsworth-house-and-garden For information on characterful places to stay, local food and drink, and nearby outdoor activities, see our Green Traveller's Guide to the Lake District

As part of our Green Traveller's Guide to the Lake District, Jackie King picks out a selection of restaurants, inns, cafés and local produce in this glorious National Park in the northwest of England. The Lake District National Park's rolling hillsides and wide open fields offer plenty of scope for the region's local producers to thrive. Menus throughout the National Park are packed with a rich variety of local field-to-fork specialities: from Cured Cartmel Venison Carpaccio, to Cumbrian Fellbred Rump Steak, to the countless homemade products on offer at the region's artisan bakeries and cake shops. Whether you're looking to head straight to the source at one of the Lake District's famers' markets and farm shops, or tasting the gastronomic delights of the region's top restaurants, you can be assured that while feasting on the local fare, you'll be helping to keep money firmly rooted in local communities. Google map: shows the location and details of all the places to stay, local food and drink, nearby visitor attractions and activities in our Green Travel Guide to The Lake District: Green = Places to stay Blue = Local food & drink Yellow = Attractions Purple = Activities Places to eat in The Lake District Lindeth Howe Country House The restaurant at Lindeth Howe has build its reputation on providing only the freshest locally-sourced produce. Head chef Marc Guibert is currently succeeding in meeting the highest of standards, with the restaurant having been awarded 2 AA Rosettes as well as recently having won the 'Lancashire & Lake District Life Magazine's Lake District Restaurant of the Year' award. With a fantastic a la Carte menu offering up the likes of Cured Cartmel Venison Carpaccio and Cumbrian Fillet, it quickly becomes clear just why Lindeth Howe is one of the National Park's top restaurants. lindeth-howe.co.uk The Restaurant at Borrowdale Dining out is one of the great pleasures while on holiday, which is why Borrowdale Hotel has gone all out to offer one of the region's top dining experiences. The four course locally-sourced dinner is a particular treat, offering up the likes of Traditional Roast Lakeland Beef and a selection of Cumbrian Cheeses to give you a sample of the true quality of luxury produce. If you're up for something a little more relaxed you can rest by the fire in the comfortable lounges, or choose to dine from the comfort of the conservatory. With traditional locally-sourced roasts served from a silver trolley and a comprehensive wine cellar, this really is one of the fancier eateries to find local produce. lakedistricthotels.net/borrowdalehotel/eat-and-drink The Cottage in the Wood The philosophy underlying this quality restaurant near Keswick is to use the best possible produce "and to combine these ingredients to create intriguing and original food." Head chef Ryan Blackburn strongly believes in the quality of Cumbrian ingredients, with food sourced from the likes of Lakes Speciality Foods and Donnan Quayside Fisheries in Whitehaven. The kitchen team have also embraced food foraged from the forests, and you'll likely find wild mushrooms, damsons, blackberries, bilberries, garlic and even nettles peppering the menu. thecottageinthewood.co.uk/restaurant Quince and Medlar Specialising in vegetarian dining, this cosy restaurant in Cockermouth revels in its own wood panelled, candlelit atmosphere. The restaurant has featured in the likes of the Which Good Food Guide, the AA Food Guide and Vegetarian Briatin, as well as having won the national vegetarian Society of the Year and Vegetarian Living Restaurant of the Year awards. Take a quick peek at the evening menu and you'll discover smoked cumberland cheese and mushroom roulade and a spinach cream cheese and Wensleydale gateau, and how about a date and fig sponge pudding for dessert? quinceandmedlar.co.uk Honister Yew Tree You'll find the Yew Tree cafe/bar at the same location as the Slate Mine, which is a fantastic attraction in it's own right and is the last working slate mine in England, offering guided tours deep underground and live displays. Nestled at the foot of Honister Pass, the Yew Tree restaurant offers up good quality, homemade local food in what was once a traditional miner's cottage. If the weather gets really nice, you can enjoy a pint of ale while gazing out over the babbling brook. honister.com Zeffirelli's This award-winning pizzeria is one of the Lake District's top eateries, as well as being a cafe, jazz bar and cinema! When it comes to food their philosophy is simple - take the finest local and organic ingredients, throw in a handful of Mediterranean influences and create unpretentious, delicious food. If you want to feel really good about dining here, order the 'Rainforest Pizza' and 25p will be donated to a small botanical sanctuary in Kerala, India. Also, if you fancy doubling up with a two-course meal and a cinema ticket, it'll cost you £17.95. zeffirellis.com/food-drink/zeffirellis Brown Horse Inn The Brown Horse Inn may have the cosy ambience of a rustic country inn, but the food on offer here wouldn't be out of place at a top restaurant. Drop inn for dinner and you'll be spoilt for choice, with the likes of the '21 day mature rib eye steak', the 'Lakeland barnsley chop' and 'venison and redcurrant sausages' to choose from. You'll also be pleased to know that all of the meat and most of the veg found on the menu is reared and grown on the Brown Horse Estate, with everything else sourced as locally as possible. In addition to that, you'll also be able to sample a whole range of hand pulled, home brewed and traditional ales, not to mention an extensive collection of wines. thebrownhorseinn.co.uk Watermill Inn A hugely popular traditional Lakeland pub in the quiet village of Ings, just outside Windermere. A regular feature of the region's 'Pub of the Year' competitions, Watermill Inn prides itself on offering a range of traditional real ales, served from real hand pumps. With a guaranteed 16 real ales at any one time (plus numerous guest ales), this really is the place to visit if you're looking to sample the best produce Cumbrian brewers can offer. And if that wasn't enough, the Inn also boasts a comprehensive menu full of traditional pub food to be enjoyed in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere. lakelandpub.co.uk Wainwright's Inn If you're looking for a traditional country pub with award-winning real ales, log fires and menu filled with hearty dishes, you should look no further than Wainwright's Inn in Ambleside. Expect to find all the usual pub favourites, from traditional Cumberland sausage and mash to braised lamb shank and Wainwright's fish and chips (with batter made from Jenny's local beer). If you're not quite feeling up to a full meal you can try a light snack, maybe a filled roll baked fresh that morning from an artisan bakery in Staverley. With a range of award-winning ales and a thumbs up from both CAMRA and the Good Beer Guide, you don't necessarily even need to eat at all! langdale.co.uk/wainwrights-inn The Masons Arms The Masons is a traditional bustling inn, where staff manoeuvre their way through the busy dining room with dishes full of Lakeland damson and pork sausages, local game, roast belly pork and Cartmel lamb shank - many of which are locally sourced. When you combine this with a fantastic selection of wines and fine beers it doesn't take long to understand just why the Mason's Arms is so popular. Spend the summer months eating al fresco on the terraces, and revel inn the wonderful atmosphere indoors when the sun goes in. https://masonsarmsstrawberrybank.co.uk/ The Kirkstile Inn The kitchen team have worked hard here to develop a reputation for unpretentious, home cooked meals that place strong emphasis on Cumbrian and Lake District suppliers, from the local cheeseboard and Waberthwaite dry cured ham to the Gilcrux trout and Lorton-reared rare breed pork. There's also a wonderfully relaxed environment and, while the specials board may change daily, you're more than likely to find the true favourites such as the Lakeland fillet steak and the Penrith chicken, plus you should certainly look out for the Cumberland Rum Nicky and bread and butter pudding! kirkstile.com Wilf's Cafe This cosy little cafe in Staverley offers up good local food in a quiet riverside setting with decking that overlooks the River Kent. Visit around lunch and you'll find sandwiched made using local granary bread (even gluten free if needed), delicious Wilf's Rarebits and homemade cakes, while certain evenings play host to 'Speciality Nights', where it'll cost you £20.40 for 3 courses for a themed meal showcasing the very best that the cafe has to offer. The cafe also held a series of talks during February and March this year on subjects including long distance cycling and walking wilfs-cafe.co.uk Blackwell tearoom Spend a little while at the Blackwell Arts and Crafts House tearoom and you'll soon discover that a great deal of emphasis is placed on quality and handmade produce. Visitors are able to select from a menu of freshly prepared meals and home bakes, including gourmet open sandwiches and Blackwell chocolate brownies. On wamer days, you'll even be able to enjoy your meal from out on the terrace that overlooks the Coniston Fells and Lake Windermere. blackwell.org.uk Low Sizergh Barn farm shop & tearoom Within the farm's 17th century barn you'll find an interesting three-floor retail space, complete with a spacious farm shop selling all manner of local and speciality foods, as well as a good range of homemade Low Sizergh ready meals, deli salads and confectionary. There's also an extended cheese counter where you can pick up a number of local samples. Alternatively, you could head on over to the tearoom and tuck into freshly baked scones, good Cumberland sausage and homemade cakes - even the tea and coffee are bought based on their provenance! lowsizerghbarn.co.uk Courtyard Cafe Specialising in local and seasonal food, the Courtyard Cafe offers truly warm and welcoming atmosphere within the grounds of Holker Hall and Gardens estate. The head chef offers a hugely veried selection of daily specials, while the in-house baker whisks up a mouth-watering array of cakes, biscuits and desserts. Groups of ten or more can also take advantage of fine dining in the newly refurbished Burlington Room. holker.co.uk Brysons of Keswick Renowned for the top quality of its fresh bakery products, Bryson's of Keswick is a one-stop-shop of all things delicious in the Lake District. With fresh goods baked daily, the company creates one of the widest ranges of breads, cakes morning goods and cream cakes that you're like to find for miles around. We'd highly recommend that you try both the speciality Lakeland Plum Bread and the Finest Fruit Cake, not to mention the Florentines and Borrowdale Tea Bread. brysonsofkeswick.co.uk Grasmere Gingerbread Owned and run by the Wilson family, this cosy cottage in Grasmere has been churning out delicious gingerbread since 1854. It is the delicious aroma of this freshly baked treat that keeps customers coming back to this relatively tiny shop, although once inside you'll soon discover tell tale signs that the building was once a school - the coat pegs are still in place, as is the cupboard used to house the school slates. As well as Sarah Nelson's Original Celebrated Grasmere Gingerbread, you're likely to find traditional rum butter, home made fudges and Penrith toffee. grasmeregingerbread.co.uk Hawkshead Relish Condiments don't tend to come more highly acclaimed than those on offer at Hawkshead Relish. This small, family-run business is run by Mark and Maric, who started serving relishes in their village centre café and soon decided to shut up shop to focus on production full time. In 2005 they received the 'Speciality Producer of the Year' award from the True Taste Awards and have continued winning awards ever since. Visit the shop and you'll not only find the full range of relishes, chutneys, pickles and reserves, but also cakes, biscuits, cheese and beer. hawksheadrelish.com Kendal Farmers' Market Pay a visit to the 'gateway to the Lakes' during the last Friday of the month and you'll soon find yourself surrounded by the sweet-scented stalls of Kendal's ever popular farmers' market. This is one of the top place in the region to get your hands on authentic local produce, directly from the producer. From local breads and cheeses to locally-reared meats, the producers you'll encounter are all passionate about one thing - spreading the word about just how good homegrown local Lake District produce can be. visitcumbria.com/sl/kendal-fmarket More? Artisan Bakery Having spent some 20 years in some of the Lake District's finest Country Houses, local chef Patrick Moore decided to pack up and open More? Artisan Bakery as a means of combatting the mass-produced industrial foods so readily available. A few years down the line and Patrick's award-winning bakery is using the finest quality, natural ingredients and traditional techniques to create a range of delicious breads and patisseries to sell both in store and online. So whether you're a foodie, a bit of a bread expert or if you simply love the smell of fresh bread, we highly recommend a visit! moreartisan.co.uk Hawkshead Brewery While it may no longer live in Hawkshead, the brewery is still one of the top places in the Park to pick up locally-brewed ales. A relatively new arrival is the Beer Hall, which has been given a Cask Marque award for serving the 'perfect pint'. Within the Hall you'll find two bars, the Beer Kitchen and shop. From the Hall you can actually see into the brew house itself and watch the likes of the Lakeland Gold and Damson & Vanilla Stout being brewed. We also highly recommend you try the speciality Beer Tapas, an ever-changing menu of dishes (including potted Flookburgh shrimp and Brodie's prime sausages) that are the perfect accompaniment to a pint of home-brewed ale. hawksheadbrewery.co.uk For information on characterful places to stay, nearby visitor attractions and activities, see our Green Traveller's Guide to the Lake District

As part of our Green Traveller's Guide to the Lake District, Nicola Forsyth explores England's largest National Park - home to England's five tallest mountains, including the famous Scafell Pike, as well as its largest and deepest lakes - Lake Windemere and Lake Wastwater. Where to stay Regardless of what you’re looking for, you won’t be short of options here - from luxury country houses and hotels to yurts and secluded eco cottages. The pretty market towns of Kendal, Keswick and Ambleside offer the perfect bases for exploring the stunning surroundings. To give you a head start, here are a few options to consider - many of them have been certified by the strict auditors of the Green Tourism Business Scheme, so you can be assured that your stay will have a lighter touch on the environment and help support the Lake's local economy. For any vegetarian, dog owning explorers (like me) who often struggle to find somewhere accommodating, look no further. Lancrigg in Grasmere (which also caters for meat eaters and vegans) is a traditional 12 bedroom country house that has been popular with writers, painters and explorers since it first opened in the 1800s. Also in Grasmere, Moss Grove Organic is a luxury boutique hotel that (following a major refurb in 2006) marries modern sustainable practices with original Victorian character. The food and toiletries - as well as the paint used to coat the bedroom walls - are organic. Every room comes with a spa bath. Backpackers looking for something a little more cheap and cheerful in Grasmere may prefer Thorney How. The independent, family run hostel and walker’s cafe/bar offers rooms in a 400 year old farmhouse and bunkhouse within its 2¼ acres of land. It is located within easy reach of a number of popular walks - but electric bikes are also available for hire if you want to give your feet a rest. For a very off-grid eco experience, consider Low Parkamoor Cottage - a Grade II listed 16th Century farmhouse nestled 200 metres above the shores of Lake Coniston. It has no mains services and only a traditional compost toilet, while cooking and hot water are provided by the restored Georgian wood-burning range. It is part of the accommodation on offer from the owners of Dodgson Wood farm. The luxury end of eco-friendly can be found in every detail of the four 5* cottages at Southwaite Green perched on the Paddle Beck boundary of the National Park, nine miles from Keswick. Sitting on 10 acres of organically maintained woodland and meadowland, the cottages are solar-powered and use green design and technologies. Glamping enthusiasts will be in their element at Long Valley Yurts. Their collection of yurts and bell tents, complete with Moroccan-themed furnishings and solar powered fairy lights, can be found in no less than four sites in the Lakes - Windermere, Coniston, Keswick and Ullswater. For a more “at one with nature” experience (read: basic amenities) Syke Farm Camping Ground in the hamlet of Buttermere is ideal. Whilst the relatively recent addition of a few yurts, larger shower cubicles, hot water and heating nods towards a more “glamping” style experience it retains its nostalgic “good old-fashioned campsite” feel. The site is perfectly located for exploring the Lakes with plenty of space for families to play and relax. For Beatrix Potter fans, there can only be one option - Yew Tree Farm in Coniston. Built in 1693 and owned by Potter in the 1930s it still houses a number of her possessions and featured in the film Miss Potter. Where to eat The area's many farms and local producers make it a haven for field-to-fork specialities as well as artisan bakeries. One of the best ways to tuck into the culinary delights on offer is at Kendal Farmers' Market if your visit happens to coincide with the last Friday of the month. Stock up on locally produced breads, cheeses and locally-reared meats. There are plenty of fine dining options, including award-winning The Cottage in the Wood, whose menu is made of locally sourced produce fresh from the fells and West coast harbour or foraged from the surrounding wilderness. Creations that have helped Head chef Ben Wilkinson gain a Michelin Star crowning. Another fine dining option, and also another of Miss Potter’s former abodes, the restaurant at Lindeth Howe Hotel boasts 2 AA Rosettes and serves up what it terms “British classics with a cumbrian twist” in either a “civilised” or cosy and comfortable setting. Fellow veggies have not been left out in the fine dining stakes either - Quince and Medlar in Cockermouth offers a completely homemade menu of vegetarian and vegan courses - to be washed down with one of the organic, vegan or veggie wines on offer. The restaurant has attracted a number of accolades, including recognition by 'The Good Food Guide' for the last 30 years. Lovers of traditional and hearty pub fayre won’t struggle for choices either. The Watermill Inn which is a ‘pub first’ kind of place, dishes up an extensive menu of traditional pub grub. The dog friendly pub in Ings (just outside of Windermere) brews its own ales and offers an amusing range with dog themed names. You’re guaranteed to find around 16 ales available at any one time - so drink too many and you may want to take advantage of the onsite B&B - just be careful you don’t feel too “ruff” in the morning… (terrible, I know). Wainwright's Inn in Ambleside is another good choice for traditional pub fayre with a view. Endorsed by CAMRA and the Good Beer Guide, ale lovers and those looking for a more liquid lunch won’t be disappointed. If walls could talk this Inn would have a lot to say having had many former guises including a farmhouse, gunpowder factory managers house, petrol station and hotel. For a little entertainment with your food, head to Zeffirelli's, an award-winning pizzeria that doubles up (or even triples) up as a jazz bar and cinema. The ingredients are local and organic - and if you order the 'Rainforest Pizza' 25p will be donated to a small botanical sanctuary in Kerala, India. What more convincing do you need? For more casual dining take a visit to Blackwell tearoom, where the real attraction is as much the Grade I listed building it resides in. Built in 1901 as a holiday house for a Manchester brewer, Blackwell Arts and Crafts House is a masterpiece of artistic design. The food is locally sourced with all dietary requirements catered for. Dine on the terrace and you’ll be treated to views of Coniston Fells and Lake Windermere. For afternoon tea, a whole host of locally sourced and speciality food - as well as all the goodies you’d expect to find in a farm shop - head to Low Sizergh Barn farm shop & tearoom, housed in a three-floor 17th century barn. Come hungry - there’s an extended cheese counter. After long days walking or hiking, why not reward yourself with a visit to one of the Lake District’s well stocked bakeries. Prepare to be spoilt for choice at Brysons of Keswick, where the range now extends to breads, cakes, fresh creams, award-winning pies, pasties, cakes, biscuits, ice Cream, jams and chutneys. Local specialities made to age old secret recipes include Lakeland plum bread, Borrowdale tea bread, Westmoreland fruit cake and Cumbrian fruit cake. Gingerbread lovers won’t want to leave without a stop off at family run Grasmere Gingerbread. The former school (with original coat pegs still intact) has been baking gingerbread since 1854. It also sells award-winning rum butter, Cartmel Village Store Sticky Toffee Sauce and Kendal Mint Cake. Where to visit The list of things to do in the Lakes is almost as large as the National Park itself. Aside from the many joyful days you can while away at the Park’s big hitters, such as Scafell Pike or Lake Windermere, you can also retrace the steps of famous poets and writers or visit some of the many historic stately homes and castles. History buffs, horticulturalists and ghost hunters alike will enjoy a trip to 13th Century, Muncaster Castle. The estate, which includes 70 acres of gardens, includes the World Owl Centre, one of Europe's largest collections of rhododendrons and a number of alleged ghouls that play tricks on those who dare to brave The Tapestry Room. Overnight vigils are hosted a few times a year for budding ghostbusters and hardy souls. Muncaster is thought to be the only historic home that still appoints an official Fool at the annual Festival of Fools. Standing 3,209ft (978 metres) tall, Scafell Pike is the highest mountain in England and the English part of the UK’s popular “Three Peaks” challenge. It is also the UK’s highest war memorial, gifted to the National Trust in memory of those who died in WW1. There are three main routes to the top, which will enable you to summit and back within half a day or so. When you’re done climbing the Park’s largest mountain, why not try your luck with its largest lake? Lake Windermere stretches for more than 10 miles and reaches depths of 220 feet. You can wander its shoreline or sail, kayak or windsurf across it. Fell Foot Park at the Southern tip of the lake, offers all of these activities plus an adventure playground for little ones. Refuel at the boathouse cafe. Once you’ve tired yourself out, consider seeking refuge in the form of cinema, theatre, live music, creative learning or comedy at Brewery Arts Centre. The cultural hub in Kendal also has a bar and restaurant. Literature lovers can lose themselves in The World of Beatrix Potter, which brings to life the author's famous tales, their well known characters and the Chelsea Flower Show gold winning Peter Rabbit Garden. You can also visit Potter’s 17th century farmhouse, Hill Top, in which every room offers a connection to one of her books. Another of the Park’s most popular attractions to be entwined with Potter is Tarn Hows. The natural beauty spot, which offers a scenic circular walk just shy of two miles, was bought by Potter in 1929. She went on to sell half to the National Trust before leaving the remaining half to them in her will. Fans of the famous romantic poet William Wordsworth and his poet and author sister Dorothy can step back in time to see the world as they would have as children at Wordsworth House, the traditional Georgian townhouse they were born in. To learn more about their lives, visit 17th Century Dove Cottage where they both lived and penned most of their famous works. The adjacent Wordsworth Museum displays manuscripts, books and paintings relating to British Romanticism. Things to do The Lake District is a year-round destination, promising mountains to climb, lakes to marvel at, open hillsides to traverse, food festivals to whet your appetite, trails to cycle and culture and history to absorb. One of Britain's best natural playgrounds, the Park is well maintained so you’ll easily stumble upon footpaths for both gentle strolls and demanding hikes (probably best not to confuse the two though). It makes for the perfect getaway for friends, families and lovers alike. For a heady mix of work and reward, there's Jennings Adventure Ale Trails. Follow the self-guided routes to enjoy the best scenery, cosy accommodation, good food and real ale. Listed routes include 1-4 day walks around the likes of Cockermouth, Borrowdale and Grasmere. Nestled between the lakes of Windermere and Coniston, Grizedale Visitor Centre is a one stop shop for adventure seekers, featuring a sculpture trail, 10 walking routes, 9 cycling trails, Go Ape treetop hopping, horse riding and a segway experience. Water babies can take a lake cruise across Coniston Water with Coniston Launch. Or for something a little different, take a ride across it on a rebuilt Victorian Steam Yacht Gondola. If you’re Ullswater way, consider Ullswater Steamers - one of the largest heritage vessel fleets in the world. Environmentally accredited, they offer a number of connections, with a chance of seeing red deer, red squirrels, waterfalls and Wandsworth’s famous daffodils along the way. To be as accessible and accommodating to all, the Park has 48 routes suitable for visitors with limited mobility, the visually impaired and those with young children. Miles Without Stiles are the routes with wide gates allowing for easy access for those with wheelchairs and pushchairs. ==== See also our Car-free guide to the Lake District For more ideas of green holidays in the Forest of Bowland, see our: Green Traveller's Guide to the Lake District

As part of our Green Traveller's Guide to the Lake District, Jackie King picks out a selection of walking, cycling and family adventures in this glorious National Park in the northwest of England. There's a fantastic range activities in England's biggest National Park, whether you're a novice cyclist or an experienced walker looking for a new challenge. From the giddy heights of Scafell Pike to the tranquil waters of Lake Windermere, the Lake District is one of Britain's best natural playgrounds and you'll never run out of new places to explore, be it on foot, by bike or by boat. As well as listing some of the top walking and cycling routes, we've also selected a handful of activities tailored towards families. You'll also find a collection of activities for the eco-conscious, from helping manage woodland in Derwentwater to helping enhance the wildlife potential of the Rydal Hall estate in Windermere. Google map: shows the location and details of all the places to stay, local food and drink, nearby visitor attractions and activities in our Green Travel Guide to The Lake District: Green = Places to stay Blue = Local food & drink Yellow = Attractions Purple = Activities Activities in The Lake District Jennings Adventure Ale Trails How do you fancy combining wonderful scenery and cosy accommodation with good food and real ale? With Jennings Adventure Ales trails you can do just that - there are four 1 day walks and an extra six routes of 2, 3 and 4 days around the likes of Cockermouth, Borrowdale and Grasmere. Check each individual route on the Go Lakes website and find out how to plan out your walk to encompass some of the region's best restaurants and real ale providers. With a range of short and longer walks available, you can decide just how much exercise you want to do before sitting down to a nice cold drink. visitlakedistrict.com Miles Without Stiles The National Park boasts 41 routes suitable for those with limited ability and those with young children. As the name suggests, these routes are free from stiles and have wide gates allowing for easy access for those with wheelchairs and pushchairs. Many of the routes are also within easy access of refreshments and toilets, while others offer a slightly more remote trail for those looking for a little escape. You'll be able to choose between 'routes for all', 'routes for many' and 'routes for some', categories that gradually increase in gradient and difficulty. lakedistrict.gov.uk/visiting/things-to-do/walking/mileswithoutstiles Grizedale Visitor Centre Grizedale Forest Park can be found right at the heart of the Lake District between the lakes of Windermere and Coniston, and activities on offer range from sedate walking (there are eight marked trails in total) to GoApe adventures in the treetops. The visitor centre hidden within offers a wealth of information on what to do here, as well as a welcome place to stop and recharge your batteries. Cyclists are able to rent bikes from the visitor centre, and there's an exhilarating North Face single track mountain bike trail as well as many other forest roads to explore. forestryengland.uk/grizedale Coniston Launch This company offers a selection of lake cruises and group charters on the scenic Coniston Water. Coniston Launch offer the chance to either hop aboard one of the regular services covering two different circular routes, or take part in one of the special cruises. The regular trips allow you to stay on and relax the entire time, or combine a trip with a short walk and catch a later boat back. Alternatively, you could always take part in one of the 'Swallows and Amazons' or 'Campbells on Coniston' special cruises and combine the pleasure of the trip with a little local history. You could even take a boat to Brantwood and visit the former home of John Ruskin. conistonlaunch.co.uk/index.htm Ullswater Steamers An award-winning and environmentally accredited attraction that has been operating lake cruises on the beautiful Ullswater for over 150 years. Regardless of whether you're looking to use the boats as a form of transport or simply to relax and take in the wonderful scenery, there is something to appeal to every member of the family. There's also plenty fo scope to combine a trip on one of the boats with some of the Lake District's most famous walks, and you can even take trips to areas teeming with wildlife. Having been certified Gold by the Green Tourism Business Scheme, the team are doing a great deal to make sure their business doesn't impact on the environment. https://www.ullswater-steamers.co.uk/ Steam Yacht Gondola Originally launched in 1859, the gondola has been completely rebuilt by the National Trust and offers the chance for visitors to travel around in style, taking in Coniston's beautiful scenery from the comfort of a luxuriously upholstered saloon. Cruises depart from Coniston pier and call at both Brantwood and Monk Coniston. Half lake cruises take place once a day and full lake themed cruises are available on Saturdays, Sundays, Mondays and Thursdays. Some top options include walking through Monk Coniston towards Tarn Hows, or stopping at Brantwood and visiting the home of John Ruskin. nationaltrust.org.uk/steam-yacht-gondola Lakeside & Haverthwaite Railway Starting at Haverthwaite railway station, the railway runs for around three and a half miles, alongside the banks of the scenic River Leven and calls at Nweby Bridge Halt and Lakeside Station. The train stops here so you can continue your journey by steamer service to the likes of Ambleside and Bowness. While you're waiting at Haverthwaite station you can always have a bite to eat in the restaurant while the kis enjoy the Woodland Play Area. If you and your friends fancy becoming a steam train driver for the day, you can take part in an 'Experience Day' that can involve driving, firing, guard and signalman duties. lakesiderailway.co.uk For information on characterful places to stay, local food and drink, and nearby visitor attractions, see our Green Traveller's Guide to the Lake District

As part of our Green Traveller's Guide to the Yorkshire Dales, Paul Bloomfield picks out a selection of hotels, B&Bs, self-catering and campsites in this famous national park in the north of England. From vast rolling moors to dramatic valleys and quaint villages, the landscape of the National Park changes at every turn – and there’s a huge and varied choice of green accommodation to match. Where you stay is an important part of any visit, so we’ve come up with a wide range of places to suit all needs. Maybe you want to stay on a working farm with fantastic conservation projects out in Wharfedale, or perhaps five-star luxury on the Bolton Abbey estate is more your style? With everything from traditional inns to homely B&Bs run by people with a passion, you’re bound to find something you’ll love. Self-catering barns, cottages and campsites are included too for those who like that extra independence. All of these places have been chosen because of the efforts they are making to reduce their impact on the environment, and by staying at one of these places, you, too, will be doing your bit. Google map: shows the location and details of all the places to stay, local food and drink, nearby visitor attractions and activities in our Green Travel Guide to the Yorkshire Dales: Green = Places to stay Blue = Local food & drink Yellow = Attractions Purple = Activities Places to stay in the Yorkshire Dales The Traddock, Yorkshire Dales, England A country house hotel surrounded by the breathtaking scenery of the Yorkshire Dales National Park. Offering warm welcoming hospitality in a relaxed, homely country house with superb facilites and luxury double rooms. thetraddock.co.uk Low Mill Guesthouse in the Yorkshire Dales, UK Low Mill, Grade II listed watermill with working waterwheel and beautiful riverside garden, provides 3 luxury en suite guest bedrooms. Situated in Wensleydale in the heart of the Yorkshire Dales National Park. Bed, breakfast and evening meal offered. lowmillguesthouse.co.uk Corner of Eden, Kirkby Stephen, Cumbria A 4 bedroomed luxury country house nestled in the Eden Valley between the Yorkshire Dales & the Lake District. Wander freely through miles of fells, savour the home-made cakes and bread from the Butler's Pantry and have a tipple at the honesty bar. acornerofeden.co.uk Howlugill Barn, County Durham, England A 17th-century farmhouse with a contemporary touch in the Durham Dales & the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Luxurious, affordable accommodation: great for walkers, travellers, bird spotters and anyone who loves the great outdoors. howlugillbarn.co.uk Cottage in the Dales, Yorkshire, England 18th century self catering holiday cottages in the heart of the Yorkshire Dales National Park, perfect for a relaxing retreat. Explore the country lanes and unique serenity of Wensleydale. cottageinthedales.co.uk Natural Retreats Yorkshire Dales, England Secluded self-catering eco cabins close to the Yorkshire Dales National Park and a short wonderful stroll to the coast to coast path. naturalretreats.com Warren House Farm, Yorkshire, England Surrounded by fields of horses and sheep, these three self-catering cottages, sleeping four or five, date from the 18th century. Exposed stonework and beams meet frills and easy-clean lino. Each has a lovely enclosed garden, patio and extensive views warrenhousefarm.com Nethergill Farm, Yorkshire Dales, England Stay in two spacious haylofts Hay Mew and Byre (both sleep 4), with en-suite bathrooms for self-catering holidays at Nethergill eco-Farm. Enjoy the complete peace and tranquillity of this 400 acre hill farm with art studio in the Yorkshire Dales nethergill.co.uk Angel Barn, Kirkby Stephen, Cumbria, England An eco chic holiday home that's full of indulgence whilst being as sustainable as possible. A cosy and peaceful hidden gem in the Eden Valley with wild and beautiful countryside, nestled between the Lake District and Yorkshire Dales. acornerofeden.co.uk Sunset Cottages, Yorkshire, England The views from the six self-catering cottages on a 175-acre farm outside the village of Gilling East, will make a city-dweller weep: rolling wooded hills of pasture and, in the foreground, colourful herbaceous borders of the farmhouse gardens. sunsetcottages.co.uk Nunnington Cottages, Yorkshire, England Egyptian cotton sheets, down duvets, brass beds, oak floorboards, wood-burning stoves, squidgy sofas and details fit for interiors’ photo-shoots, make these two 18th century cottages a cut above the rest. nunningtoncottages.co.uk YHA Malham, Yorkshire, England YHA Malham is a great base from which to explore Pennine Way: families, single travellers, groups and school trips will all love this comfortable hostel in the heart of a beautiful dales village, surrounded by classic Yorkshire limestone scenery. yha.org.uk Dalesbridge Centre, Yorkshire Dales, England Situated in the beautiful Forest of Bowland, and with a campsite, B&B and self-catering house, the Dalesbridge Centre offers accommodation to suit the needs of all comers, whether groups or individuals. dalesbridge.co.uk The Hideaway at Baxby Manor, Yorkshire, England If you appreciate the quiet life and would rather listen to the dawn chorus from your tent than stay in a caravan hooked up to electricity and play crazy golf, this small, off-the-beaten track campsite is for you. thehideawayatbaxbymanor.co.uk For information on local food and drink, nearby visitor attractions and activities, see our Green Traveller's Guide to The Yorkshire Dales

As part of our Green Traveller's Guide to The Yorkshire Dales, Paul Bloomfield picks out a selection of historic sites, parks, shops and natural attractions in this popular National Park in the north of England. It is, of course, the beauty of the natural landscape that draws many visitors to the Dales. Tumbling waterfalls, unusual rock formations like Malham Cove’s Limestone Pavement and cave networks are part of the attraction. Children will love visiting open farms where they can meet the animals and learn about farmyard life. Kilnsey Park offers nature trails, while the Forbidden Corner is an enchanting secret garden of tunnels and grottoes. With its rich and varied past, there’s no shortage of historic sites too, from imposing castles and abbey ruins to 19th century mills, now restored to full working order. Several excellent museums sucha the Dales Countryside Museum in Hawes tell the story of the people and the landscape. The area’s full of skilled craftsmen too – watch the ‘bodger’ at work in Strid woods (or join one of his courses), or visit specialist shops for locally-produced goods, from White Rose Candles in Wensley to Sophie’s Wild Woollens in Dent. Google map: shows the location and details of all the places to stay, local food and drink, nearby visitor attractions and activities in our Green Travel Guide to the Yorkshire Dales: Green = Places to stay Blue = Local food & drink Yellow = Attractions Purple = Activities Places of interest in the Yorkshire Dales Bolton Abbey On the banks of the River Wharfe, the Bolton Abbey estate covers almost 30,000 acres, with 80 miles of footpaths along the river and through woods and moorland. The ruins of the 12th century Priory are a key attraction, and atmospheric at all times of the year. Strid wood – where the river becomes suddenly narrow – can be explored with the Bolton Abbey I Spy cards – a great way to get children interacting with the natural world. boltonabbey.com Bolton Castle One of the best-preserved medieval castles in the country, there’s lots to do here with archery demonstrations, falconry displays, wild boar feeding and traditional games brining the castle to life for visitors of all ages. Wander through the dungeons, old kitchens and Mary Queen of Scots’ bedroom and refuel in the tea room with hog roast sandwiches or pre-order a picnic for eating in the grounds if the weather’s good. boltoncastle.co.uk Dales Countryside Museum For an insight into the people and landscape of the Dales, past and present, this museum is top-notch. Housed in a converted railway station there are plenty of interactive exhibits to keep children interested and everything from home life to religion, farming and tourism is covered. Managed by the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority the museum is free for children. yorkshiredales.org.uk Farfield Mill Housed in a restored Victorian woollen mill on the border between Cumbria and Yorkshire, Farfield is an arts and heritage centre and leading venue for textile arts. You can see working looms, check out the changing exhibitions, events and workshops, and buy work by local artists and craftspeople in the retail galleries (the gorgeous rugs are hard to resist). farfieldmill.org Gayle Mill Step back in time at this 19th-century sawmill which is full working order after a comprehensive restoration project. Join a special guided demonstration tour to see water-powered Victorian machinery in action (it dates from 1879), and get a glimpse into what life was like for workers at the mill. Book in advance. gaylemill.org.uk The Folly Close to the centre of Settle, The Folly was built by wealthy lawyer Richard Preston in 1679. Grade I listed, it’s a striking piece of architecture and was recently restored by the North Craven Building Preservation Trust. The Folly house the Museum of North Craven Life with exhibits on local history. Part of the building is available as a holiday let too. thefolly.org.uk Swaledale Museum Housed in the 19th century Medthodist Day School in the centre of Reeth the Swaledale Museum is a lovely museum run by volunteers. Any questions you could possibly have about the area are answered here in interactive style – from the geological make up of the region, to its development as a lead mining centre to the local crafts and lifestyle. swaledalemuseum.org Grassington Folk Museum This small but perfectly formed museum housed in a cottage on the village square dating from the 1720s takes visitors through the history of Grassington. You might be surprised to learn that the village played a key role in the Industrial Revolution, with local textile mills flourishing and bringing wealth to the area. grassingtonfolkmuseum.org.uk The Forbidden Corner Its claim to be ‘the strangest place in the world’ might be a bit exaggerated, but The Forbidden Corner in Middleham is definitely an unusual attraction. Originally a private folly, the bewitching garden is home to a labyrinth of tunnels, grottoes and works of art. There’s no map – just pick up a checklist and tick off what you see as you wander. theforbiddencorner.co.uk Hazel Brow Farm Experience the magic of a traditional family-run farm in beautiful Swaledale at Hazel Brow. Children will love meeting the animals on a guided tour – you can feed the hens, gather eggs, meet the pigs… Visit in April and you may even see a lamb being born. There’s a play area for children too and nature trail along the riverbank. Open from April to September. hazelbrow.co.uk Kilnsey Park Follow the Kilnsey Trail through the park to discover wildlife roaming freely – look out for ducks, geese and hen – and discover red squirrel enclosures, water meadows, a butterfly garden and working trout farm. Kids can hunt for clues and hidden objects, adults can turn their hand to fly fishing, and there’s a great farm shop stuffed with local goods and restaurant selling homemade fare. kilnseypark.co.uk Parcevall Hall Gardens Garden lovers shouldn’t miss Parcevall Hall at the heart of Wharfedale. Discover 24 acres of formal and woodland gardens laid out by Sir William Milner in the 1920s. Plants from around the world feature here – from Western China to the Himalayas – and the gardens continue to evolve. parcevallhallgardens.co.uk Hesketh Farm Park Hesketh Farm Park, a working beef and sheep farm on the Bolton Abbey estate, is a great place to while away a wet afternoon. There's plenty to keep little ones entertained, from feeding the animals and playing hide and seek in the straw bale maze, to racing around on pedal tractors. There are outdoor paddocks with lovely picnic spots, and tractor and trailer tours of the farm for sunnier weather. heskethfarmpark.co.uk White Rose Candles Based in the old watermill in the village of Wensley, White Rose Candles is a small family business which makes candles from bees wax and paraffin wax using traditional dipping and casting methods. Visit the workshop to see the art in practise and browse the range of varied colours, shapes and scents before you buy. yorkshirenet.co.uk/craftgde/whiterosecandles/ Sophie’s Wild Woollens Yorkshire and Cumbria have a long tradition of knitting – in the 18th century hand-knitted socks and gloves from here were exported all over the world. Sophie’s Wild Woollens continues the tradition with designer knitwear made and hand-finished in Dent. Only fine yarns are used for the distinctive designs – perfect for cosing up in the colder weather. sophieswildwoollens.co.uk Hawes Ropemakers Ever wondered how rope is made? No? Well maybe you should because traditional ropemaking is actually a rather interesting, and little-known, art. See how thin strands of yarn are turned into sturdy ropes of all kinds in the lovely market town of Hawes. ropemakers.co.uk Ingleton Pottery The oldest established working pottery in the Yorkshire Dales, this is a small family-run business which makes beautiful stoneware pottery by hand. See potters at work in the showroom (out of season ring first to check times) and shop for gorgeous hand-fired, hand-thrown and hand-decorated items from garden pots to tableware. ingletonpottery.co.uk Wensleydale Longwool Sheepshop There’s been a revival of the art of knitting in recent years – but here in Wensleydale the tradition never waned. The Wensleydale Sheepshop, outside Leyburn in the heart of the Dales, has everything for knitters of all levels – as well as finished garments for those who prefer to have them ready-made – with the softest Wensleydale wool available in a spectrum of colours. wensleydalelongwool.co.uk Andrea Hunter In the lovely village of Hardraw, Andrea Hunter’s felt studio and gallery showcases her amazing felt creations. Using layers of material instead of paint she captures the beauty of Dales in all seasons and its wildlife. Workshops in felt picture making are also held at the studio should you want to try your hand. focusonfelt.co.uk Ingleton Waterfalls Trail This 4.5 mile-long circular trail winds through ancient woodland and across the Dales, taking in several spectacular waterfalls along the way. After Pecca Bridge you’ll discover the five Pecca Falls, dropping some 30 metres into the river below. Thronton Force is perhaps the most impressive waterfall on the trail, plunging over a limestone cliff. ingletonwaterfallstrail.co.uk White Scar Caves Discovered in 1923 by amateur geologist Christopher Long, White Scar offers the longest cave tour in Britain. From waterfalls to rocks shaped like ‘witch’s fingers’ or the ‘devil’s tongue’ the subterranean landscape is varied and beautiful and includes Battlefield, one of the largest know cave chambers in the country. whitescarcave.co.uk Hardraw Force Hardraw Force is England's longest single drop waterfall at 100m. Visitors can climb up the worn stone steps and watch the cascade from the top. hardrawforce.com Stump Cross Caverns A complex limestone cave system, which runs for almost 6km, Stump Cross offers a magical world of stalactites and stalagmites to explore. First discovered in 1860 by miners looking for lead seams, the caves were opened to tourists in the 1920s. Watch a film about the caverns’ history and geology and then explore the show caves – deeper caverns are only accessible to experienced cavers. In the visitor’s centre you can see the remains of wolverines – a giant member of the weasel family that were discovered here. stumpcrosscaverns.co.uk For information on local food and drink, nearby visitor attractions and activities, see our Green Traveller's Guide to The Yorkshire Dales

As part of our Green Traveller's Guide to The Yorkshire Dales, Paul Bloomfield picks out a selection of restaurants, pubs, cafés and local produce in this popular National Park in the north of England. Yorkshire is blessed with a no-nonsense approach to food – keep it local and make it hearty. After a day out exploring the Dales, there’s nothing better than a warming meal and there are plenty of sumptuous choices around – whether it’s a fine dining restaurant or cosy pub that suits your mood. From locally-reared beef to fresh trout from the lakes, creative chefs draw on ingredients close at hand for mouth-watering cuisine. For those with a sweet tooth, traditional Yorkshire teas will be hard to resist at many of the local tearooms and cafés. Stock up on homegrown produce and indulge in homemade icecream at the many farm shops – and make a point of sampling some local ale, the Copper Dragon brewery in Skipton serves a mean pint. Google map: shows the location and details of all the places to stay, local food and drink, nearby visitor attractions and activities in our Green Travel Guide to the Yorkshire Dales: Green = Places to stay Blue = Local food & drink Yellow = Attractions Purple = Activities Places to eat in the Yorkshire Dales Kilnsey Restaurant and Café A great place to stop for hearty home cooking from Yorkshire in the lovely Kilnsey Park (follow the wildlife spotting trail then come to refuel). Tuck into the likes of Giant Yorkshire puddings filled with local beef, stop for afternoon tea and cakes, or if you’re up early a full English is even on the menu. There’s a good children’s menu too. kilnseypark.co.uk Stone Close Tea room This cosy, wood-beamed, flagstone floored tea room in Dent is well-known for its indulgent cream teas and mouthwatering choice of home-baked cakes. Wholesome main dishes and sandwiches are on the menu too. There’s a B&B here with three atmospheric olde worlde rooms should the all that cake get the better of you. dentdale.com The Café at Dales Bike Centre Prepared with love using fruit and veg from local Reeth market and meat from a Wensleydale butcher, this little gem of a café is a cyclist-friendly place to relax with lovely views to boot. The bacon sandwich is a favourite and choosing which cake to eat will be the hardest decision of your day (the chocolate brownies are hard to beat). dalesbikecentre.co.uk Town End Farm Shop and Tea Room On the edge of Airton, the tea room here offers a host of homemade delights, from hearty soups and casseroles to farmhouse platter sand fruit-crammed smoothies. There’s a children’s menu and tempting array of cakes too, of course. Pop into the shop, which sells farm fresh produce, from grass-fed Bolton Abbey beef to artisan preserves. townendfarmshop.co.uk Berry’s Farm Shop Set around an 18th century courtyard on Swinithwaite Farm in Wensleydale, the farm shop here sells home-grown meat and game and a tasty range of top-quality North Yorkshire produce. There’s a café on-site too serving up homemade breakfast, lunch and tea – plus there are trails to follow to view the farm’s animals which kids will love (llamas being among the more unusual creatures to spot). wensleydale-experience.com Country Harvest The food hall here is crammed full of local deli delights – think award winning cheeses, meats and freshly baked cakes. There’s also a shop selling gifts (impress loved ones with hand-crafted jewellery or organic toiletries). Shop then flop in the coffee shop which is worth a visit in its own right for the range of traditional meal and yummy puddings on the menu. country-harvest.co.uk Kilnsey Estate Farm Shop Stop in to pick up goodies for a picnic, delicious ingredients if your’e DIY-ing, or even a top-quality ready meal (the speciality fish pie has won awards). There’s a wide choice of fresh produce from the estate – from smoked rainbow trout to game – and some great gifts and treats to take home with you too. kilnseypark.co.uk Little Chocolate Shop It’s a tough job – but someone’s got to do it! Watch skilled local craftswomen at work making chocolate in the Little Chocolate Shop’s factory in Leyburn. From chocolate figures to chocolate shoes or good old-fashioned chocolate bars only the finest ingredients are used – and you can taste it in the resulting sweet treats. inspiredchocolate.co.uk Raydale Preserves Husband and wife team Lesley and Derek Kettlewell make all their products by hand in their converted farm – they even pick their own strawberries! From fig and honey chutney to ginger and nettle jelly or more traditional orange marmalade and lemon curd, there’s lots of choice. Go along and watch the production process – the hardest part will be deciding what to buy. raydalepreserves.co.uk Town End Farm Shop Any fan of buying local is in for a treat at Town End Farm Shop outside Airton. There’s everything from smoked products and cheeses to fresh grass-fed Bolton Abbey beef and artisan preserves. The tea room next door offers an enticing menu of homemade fare of the same standard too. townendfarmshop.co.uk Wensleydale Creamery Cheese lovers will think they’ve died and gone to heaven here at the home of Real Yorkshire Wensleydale Cheese. Discover the history of the creamery at the visitor centre and see master cheese-makers at work. The Wensleydale Cheese Shop is choc-full of tempting cheese varieties – and there are plenty of tastings to help you choose your favourite. wensleydale.co.uk A Good Idea On Red Lion Farm on the sprawling Bolton Abbey Estate, this little shop is the place to come for local fruit, veg and meats, as well as delicious preserves and a range of homemade cakes. You can even sit outside and have a cup of tea if the weather’s nice. boltonabbey.com Copper Dragon Brewery Started in 2002 with the aim of reviving traditional local brewery, Copper Dragon produces high quality ales, using soft water from the Embsay Reservoir. Join a brewery tour to learn how it’s all done and sample the results in the bar and bistro. copperdragon.uk.com Devonshire Arms Hotel & Spa With a Michelin star and 4 AA rosettes, the Burlington Restaurant is perhaps the finest in Yorkshire. There’s immaculate attention to detail, from the designer silverware and classical architectural drawings (some over 250 years old). Chef Steve Smith uses Estate meat and game and much produce from the kitchen gardens and the wine list has won awards too. devonshirehotels.co.uk The Angel Inn restaurant One of Yorkshire’s longest running gastro pubs, the food at this popular pub in Hetton has won countless awards for its pioneering approach to pub food. Creative menus use all local produce in both the Restaurant and more informal Bar Brasserie. Delights like Angel’s Little Moneybay – seafood baked in crispy pastry – and rare breed suckling pig with black pudding wontons are served by friendly staff. angelhetton.co.uk The Brasserie at The Courtyard Part of The Courtyard, an old farmstead turned innovative retail space, The Brasserie’s focus is on using local suppliers for its hearty British and European dishes. Offering all day dining, brunch is a favourite and you groups can have Sunday lunch roasted to order if you book in advance. brasserieinthecourtyard.co.uk For information on local food and drink, nearby visitor attractions and activities, see our Green Traveller's Guide to The Yorkshire Dales

As part of our Green Traveller's Guide to the Yorkshire Dales, Paul Bloomfield picks out a selection of walks, cycle rides, horse-riding and steam trains in this popular National Park in the north of England. Being out and about in the natural landscape is what most visits to the Yorkshire Dales are really about. From the limestone scenery of the south with its crags and pavements, to the deep valleys of the north and the round hills of The Howgills to the west, it’s captivating in any season. There’s a huge variety of flora and fauna. Each month brings a different view – from carpets of bluebells and lily of the valley in woodlands in May to the wildflowers in places such as Muker Meadows in Swaledale in June, the purple heather on the moors in September or the vivid colours of Strid Wood or Grass Wood in autumn. Wildlife lovers will have plenty to keep them happy – keep an eye out for red squirrels at Snaizeholme and there’s no end of birdlife, from Peregrine falcons to lapwings, curlew and black grouse. Explore the landscape on foot, by bike or on horseback, perhaps venture below ground on a caving trip or even jump on a steam train and watch the world go by. Google map: shows the location and details of all the places to stay, local food and drink, nearby visitor attractions and activities in our Green Travel Guide to the Yorkshire Dales: Green = Places to stay Blue = Local food & drink Yellow = Attractions Purple = Activities Activities in the Yorkshire Dales Walking in the UK - A Yorkshire Gastronomic Celebration Discover Yorkshire's iconic landscapes on a leisurely walk across the Howardian Hills, visiting artisan food producers and historic sites along the way, while staying in fine hotels serving delicious Yorkshire cuisine. inntravel.co.uk Yorkshire Three Peaks Taking in three of the highest summits, Pen-y-Ghent, Whernside and Ingleborough, it’s a famous walk that many attempt in one day – it’s 24.5 miles and ascends to 5,000ft, though spending a on each is very rewarding. yorkshiredales.org.uk Dales Bike Centre Dales Bike Centre has the largest selection of mountain and road bikes in the area (from £17 a day for a hybrid bike). It also offers guided tours, whether it be for a day, a weekend or longer, and various skills courses. dalesbikecentre.co.uk Off the rails in Settle Offers bike hire (from £20 for a day) if you want to set off on your own to explore, and self-guided or guided tours. 3peakscycles.com Arklemoor Riding Centre A friendly family-run centre in the quiet dale of Arkengathdale in the north of the National, there’s riding for all ages and levels of experience, from one hour treks to several day holidays staying in B&Bs en route. arklemoor.co.uk Kilnsey Park If you want to soak up your gorgeous surrounds in a relaxing way, a spot of fishing might suit. Kilnsey Park Fly Fishery offers two spring-fed lakes stocked with all kinds of trout. kilnseypark.co.uk Rock Steady Adventure From rock climbing and caving to coasteering and canoeing, Rock Steady Adventure offers a whole host of activities for you to try in the Yorkshire Dales National Park. Level for all-comers. rocksteadyadventure.co.uk Yorkshire Dales Guides Having lived in the area for 35 years and with over 45 years' experience of outdoor activities, Dave Gallivan takes groups and individuals on caving, abseiling, climbing and walking expeditions in the National Park, as well as running team building and youth group events. yorkshiredalesguides.co.uk Harrogate Climbing Centre This climbing centre offers lessons in climbing and bouldering (climbing without ropes over a crash mat) in the centre in Harrogate, but also run outdoor climbing courses on the edge of the National Park. harrogateclimbingcentre.com Active Edge Share the view with the birds in an afternoon of paragliding over the National Park. Whether you're a novice or have taken to the skies before, this is has to be one of the most exhilarating ways to experience the Yorkshire Dales. activeedge.co.uk Embsay and Bolton Abbey Steam Railway Travel back in time with a steam train ride, running through picturesque countryside. Trains run from Embsay station, built in 1888, to the new Bolton Abbey every Sunday and daily in high season. Look out for special days when historic Stately Trains run on the track. embsayboltonabbeyrailway.org.uk Wensleydale Railway An authentic heritage railway with 22 miles of preserved tracks on the line which formerly ran from Northallerton to Garsdale. Services run from Leeming Bar to Redmire, a trip which takes 50 minutes. Besides heritage diesel railcars and trains hauled by diesel locomotives, steam-hauled trains run on certain days too. wensleydale-railway.co.uk Settle-Carlisle Railway The 72-mile journey from Settle to Carlisle cuts through the Yorkshire Dales, and crosses the spectacular 24-arched Ribblehead Viaduct before plunging into a tunnel at Blea Moor, emerging at Dentdale and leaving the Dales at Garsdale on its way to Carlisle. settle-carlisle.co.uk For information on local food and drink, nearby visitor attractions and activities, see our Green Traveller's Guide to The Yorkshire Dales

As part of our Green Traveller's Guide to the Howardian Hills, Paul Bloomfield picks out a selection of B&Bs, hotels, self-catering and camping in this wonderful Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in the north of England, between the Yorkshire Wolds, the North York Moors National Park and the Vale of York. From a converted train station, where steam trains still occasionally chug past to Britain’s most northerly commercial vineyard, you can choose to stay in some unique and characterful accommodation to suit a range of budgets and styles. There are quiet campsites around lakes and woodland and others with crazy golf and entertainment, self-catering cottages that are basic but homely and others that feature in the pages of interiors’ magazines, and B&Bs on working farms where you can muck-in with the animals. There are also others in pampered surrounds of drapes and swags; hotels where you’ll bump into the local party crowd or bell tents and wooden eco-pods where a sing-song round a campfire is the night’s entertainment. Google map: shows the location and details of all the places to stay, local food and drink, nearby visitor attractions and activities in our Green Traveller's Guide to the Howardian Hills: Green = Places to stay Blue = Local food & drink Yellow = Attractions Purple = Activities Places to stay in the Howardian Hills Carr House Farm, North Yorkshire, England If you love dogs but don’t have one, Anna and Jack will lend you a friendly hound to take walkies. As well as running this BBC Countryfile-recommended award-winning B&B in a 16th century farmhouse, the owners breed and train Labradors. carrhousefarm.co.uk Newburgh Guest House, Yorkshire, England Behind a topiary hedge, next to a man-made lake and with manicured gardens, this long Georgian stone house has an air of sophisticated orderliness. There are book-lined walls, antiques and a real fire in a red dining room. newburghhouse.com Dutch House, North Yorkshire, England A dynamic Dutch couple run Dutch House, which combines wildlife garden, courtyard café, child-friendly art workshop and shop with a one-bedroom B&B in its own separate traditional farm cottage. The bedroom is spacious and light, with quirky touches. dutchhouseyorkshire.com Shallowdale House, Yorkshire, England With exquisite gardens, sublime views, light-filled rooms where everything’s just-so and sumptuous breakfasts, owners Phillip Gill and Anton van der Horst have won many plaudits for their three-bedroom B&B in Ampleforth. shallowdalehouse.co.uk The Fairfax Arms, Yorkshire, England With its oak bar and wooden beams, open fire and streamside garden, this is an inn replete with traditional village charm but that doesn’t mean it’s lacking in fun. Expect homemade biscuits, filter coffee and Taylor’s of Harrogate tea in all rooms. thefairfaxarms.co.uk Worsley Arms Hotel, Yorkshire England You may have to nip across the road to get to breakfast, but this characterful Georgian hotel, with 11 bedrooms in its main building and nine more in a row of restored cottages across the village green, is one of the prettiest hotels near York. worsleyarms.co.uk The Dovecote Barns, York, England A five-star holiday cottage near York with six en-suite bedrooms (king size beds), individually designed bathrooms and a private garden, perfect for dining al fresco. Short breaks and group dining for 12 guests are available year round. dovecotebarnsyork.co.uk Nunnington Cottages, Yorkshire, England Egyptian cotton sheets, down duvets, brass beds, oak floorboards, wood-burning stoves, squidgy sofas and details fit for interiors’ photo-shoots, make these two 18th century cottages a cut above the rest. nunningtoncottages.co.uk Sunset Cottages, Yorkshire, England The views from the six self-catering cottages on a 175-acre farm outside the village of Gilling East, will make a city-dweller weep: rolling wooded hills of pasture and, in the foreground, colourful herbaceous borders of the farmhouse gardens. sunsetcottages.co.uk Warren House Farm, Yorkshire, England Surrounded by fields of horses and sheep, these three self-catering cottages, sleeping four or five, date from the 18th century. Exposed stonework and beams meet frills and easy-clean lino. Each has a lovely enclosed garden, patio and extensive views. warrenhousefarm.com The Hideaway at Baxby Manor, Yorkshire, England If you appreciate the quiet life and would rather listen to the dawn chorus from your tent than stay in a caravan hooked up to electricity and play crazy golf, this small, off-the-beaten track campsite is for you. thehideawayatbaxbymanor.co.uk For information on local food and drink, nearby visitor attractions and activities, see our Green Traveller's Guide to the Howardian Hills

As part of our Green Traveller's Guide to The Howardian Hills, Paul Bloomfield picks out a selection of museums, history and family fun in this Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in the north of England, between the Yorkshire Wolds, the North York Moors National Park and the Vale of York. The country houses and medieval priories of the Howardian Hills barely need any introduction. Who hasn’t heard of Castle Howard, or seen it in Brideshead Revisited? As well as impressive stately homes, abbeys and picturesque ruins there are countless art galleries and ateliers where craftspeople work producing goods from willow baskets to tables and chairs. Drop by (make an appointment first in some cases) and admire their skills and perhaps commission some work. There are other rural businesses with a difference that welcome visitors: a lavender farm, an alpaca farm. For music lovers, the Ryedale Music Festival every July is renowned. Google map: shows the location and details of all the places to stay, local food and drink, nearby visitor attractions and activities in our Green Traveller's Guide to the Howardian Hills: Green = Places to stay Blue = Local food & drink Yellow = Attractions Purple = Activities Places of interest in the Howardian Hills Bils and Rye This new art gallery in Nunnington, near the National Trust property of Nunnington Hall, displays three-dimensional artwork, from ceramic and glassware to stone sculpture; paper to pewter. You can buy an original for as little as a fiver and as much as several thousand. Up and coming artists are featured alongside established names. Owners Kate and Nick Bentley will talk you through the art with a cuppa – or something stronger – and can arrange for pieces to be delivered nationwide. The couple live in the village with their young family and dog. Closed Mondays. contemporarysculpture.gallery Dutch House Workshop & Gallery A dynamic Dutch couple run Dutch House, which combines wildlife garden, courtyard café, child-friendly art workshop and shop with a one-bedroom B&B in its own separate traditional farm cottage. Courses and workshops, run by local artists, include pottery, willow weaving, paper making and stone carving, or you can hire the whole space for your own creative class or party. Regularly-changing exhibitions and events run throughout the year, and there are lots of nature trails and a wildlife garden for children to enjoy, too. dutchhouseyorkshire.com Squirrel Woodcarvers In the village of Husthwaite, Wilf Hutchinson has been crafting handmade furniture from seasoned English oak since the 1950s. Now joined by his son Trevor, the duo adorns their handmade tables, chairs and dressers with a hand-carved squirrel trademark. Visitors can watch the furniture being made, using very few machines and an adze on top surfaces. Seeing such craftsmanship may inspire you to discuss ideas for your own commission: a souvenir that becomes a family heirloom. Squirrel Woodcarvers is just one of ten cabinet-makers on the Thirsk Furniture Trail. Other trademarks include a little carved wren and a unicorn. thirskfurnituretrail.co.uk Bentley and Clive Antique restoration on holiday? No, it’s not a spa for seniors, but a workshop where you can take your antique furniture to be lovingly restored. So, if you’re travelling to the Howardian Hills with your Welsh dresser and it’s worse for wear, Rachel and Steve aka Bentley and Clive, run an antique restoration, cabinet making and upholstery business in Nunnington. Of course, it’s unlikely you are taking any furniture on holiday, but even still, it may be worth calling in for inspiration. You may end up commissioning, say, a small handcrafted chair to take home. masonandclive.co.uk Terrington Arts The residents of the Ryedale area of the Howardian Hills, are an artistic bunch. They have poetry and painting groups, textiles and theatre clubs. These disparate activities are overseen by the voluntary organisation, Terrington Arts. Events – plays, lectures, poetry readings, film screenings, cabaret – are open to all. Membership entitles you to reduced ticket prices and helps support a worthwhile community arts initiative. Most activities take place in Terrington Village Hall. You can find out what’s happening and buy tickets at Terrington village stores. terringtonarts.org Castle Howard Famous worldwide as the setting for the TV series, Brideshead Revisited, this splendid stately home and 1,000 acres of landscaped grounds is a must-see. When, in 1699, the 3rd earl of Carlisle commissioned John Vanbrugh to build his family home, he had never built anything in his life; he was a playwright. Vanbrugh’s exuberant baroque creation deviated from plans so that it is bizarrely asymmetrical. In the 1940s, one wing was destroyed by fire. Granada TV’s adaption of Evelyn Waugh’s novel funded restoration work that continues. Inside hang countless works of art collected over centuries, many from Italy. With shops and cafes too, you may never want to leave. Environmental initiatives include a ground-source heat pump. castlehoward.co.uk Nunnington Hall This fine Yorkshire manor house, with Tudor origins, nestles on the quiet banks of the River Rye, where you may spot otters if lucky. This National Trust property is open to the public most days. There’s a walled organic garden and, inside, period rooms revealing stories of the house’s occupants. Floorboards in some rooms have been replaced with glass to show the many objects that have slipped between the cracks over centuries: pins, scraps of fabric, playing cards, a comb. There’s a collection of miniature rooms (like sections of a doll’s house), exhibitions and a tearoom with garden. nationaltrust.org.uk/nunnington-hall Ampleforth Abbey Tucked away in a serenely beautiful valley, a mile outside the village of Ampleforth, this 19th century abbey, its church and catholic school is a tranquil and inspiring place to visit whatever your religion. Wander among the grounds, visit the church on an organised tour, find out more about the history in the visitors’ centre or just call in to the fantastic café, where apples from the abbey's orchards feature heavily on the menu – stop by for afternoon tea with delicious apple cake or a lunchtime ploughman’s with a glass of cider. ampleforth.org.uk Hovingham Hall Built in the 1700s by Thomas Worsley, this Palladian style country house was the childhood home of Katharine Worsley, the Duchess of Kent. Open to the public in June each year, the house is brimming with architectural treasures, frescos, artworks and sporting history. In front of the house the – reportedly – oldest continuously in-use cricket pitch still hosts matches. As well as architecture, horses were “an obsession” of Thomas Worsley, hence the entrance to the house from the village is through the riding school. Conservation lies at the heart of the estate. The gardens of yew hedges, lawns, roses and neatly planted borders, a glasshouse and dovecote are a delight. hovingham.co.uk Howsham Mill In the village of Howsham, on a small island in the River Derwent, this Georgian watermill, an early example of Gothic revival style, has been lovingly restored and is, once again harnessing the river’s energy. These days its wheel is producing electricity rather than grinding millstones. As well as renewable energy, Howsham watermill is a centre for wildlife studies and traditional crafts and hosts courses such as bird-box making, basket weaving and stone carving. A fantastic example of all-round conservation, it is presently only open to participants booked on courses, so check the website to see what’s happening. howshammill.org.uk Kirkham Priory The riverside ruins of this Grade I listed Augustinian Priory in the peaceful Derwent valley are just a short distance from Malton. The 13th century Gothic remains make for a picturesque picnic setting, overlooking the river (with the sound of steam trains from across the valley in summer.) As well as admiring the monastic washbasins and newly uncovered medieval tiles, see if you can spot the sculptures of St George and the dragon in the remains of the gatehouse. english-heritage.org.uk/visit/whats-on/ Newburgh Priory Henry VIII sold this Augustinian priory to an ancestor of the current owner for £1,062. This splendid home near Coxwold is now cared for by the present baronet and his wife, Sir George and Lady Wombwell, who open it to the public from April until June. The grounds, with their woodland walks, water garden, walled garden and topiary yews, can be visited separately. After a wander, it’s time for tea and homemade cake in the tearoom in the former priory kitchen. newburghpriory.co.uk Ryedale Miniature Railway Train travel isn’t what it used to be. The chuff of a steam engine, hot sparks flying. Sometimes people rode on the roof. In Gilling East, you can relive those days. It’s just that the train in question is a 5” gauge model and the track is only 400 yards long. Straddle the cute carriages, listen for the whistle and you’re off, chuffing through the countryside, past sidings and signals. Passenger days are on Sundays during summer. Some Sundays there are no rides, just model steam engines pulling scale cargo wagons and men in caps and overalls taking it all very seriously. rsme.org.uk For information on local food and drink, nearby visitor attractions and activities, see our Green Traveller's Guide to the Howardian Hills

As part of our Green Traveller's Guide to The Howardian Hills, Paul Bloomfield picks out a selection of pubs, tea rooms and farmers' markets for local food and drink in this Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in the north of England, between the Yorkshire Wolds, the North York Moors National Park and the Vale of York. Mention Yorkshire and one food comes to mind immediately, the famous Yorkshire pudding but it’s the local 21-day aged Aberdeen Angus beef that goes with it that will impress the most. The Howardian Hills is also famed for its lamb, some of which ends up in the dishes of Michelin starred chefs. Then there are regional cheeses, hedgerows bursting with fruits and flowers that are picked for cordials, jams and chutneys, home-grown organic produce and home-made breads, all sold at a farmers’ market voted the best in Yorkshire. Wash it all down with cider, beer or apple liqueur brewed by the monks of Ampleforth abbey and you’ll soon agree that you can feast rather exceptionally on produce sourced within the Howardian Hills served in charming village pubs. Google map: shows the location and details of all the places to stay, local food and drink, nearby visitor attractions and activities in our Green Traveller's Guide to the Howardian Hills: Green = Places to stay Blue = Local food & drink Yellow = Attractions Purple = Activities Places to eat in the Howardian Hills The Durham Ox The ox after which this gastro pub is named, grew enormous and was immortalised in a 19th century print, hanging in the bar. The reputation of this 300-year old oak-panelled pub in Crayke is growing to equally immense proportions. In ‘top ten’ lists of national newspapers, the quality food has an emphasis on local, interesting ingredients. Sunday lunches are particularly famed. Try roast Yorkshire beef with Yorkshire pudding. For afters? The cheeseboard has smoked Yorkshire Blue and Rhuby Crumble, a Wensleydale with Yorkshire rhubarb and vanilla. Try with a vintage port. Handcrafted, intriguing, delicious, superb. That about sums it up. thedurhamox.com The White Swan Slow roast belly pork on mashed potato with Ampleforth Abbey cider sauce and sliced apples is just one of the main course choices you may find on the dinner menu at this cosy country pub in the village of Ampleforth. The cider is made in the abbey a stone’s throw away. There’s a choice of dining areas – from formal (bookings required) to fireside and informal. At lunchtime there are Yorkshire ham and piccalilli sandwiches, homemade soup of the day or Swan burgers…no, don’t worry, they’re not. thewhiteswan-ampleforth.co.uk The White Horse Inn There’s a warm welcome from Pete and Nikki at their 18th century inn, with its open fires, candles and flagstone floors. Even dogs get a treat from the bar. In the village of Ampleforth, visit on Tuesday lunchtime and you could meet older villagers enjoying the seniors lunch, a bargain at £4 for a main if you’re over 60. Food, from local ingredients and cooked to order, features favourites such as chilli con carne and fish ‘n’ chips. There are traditional hand-pulled beers and local guest ales; a beer garden and board games for children. Closed Mondays. whitehorseinnampleforth.co.uk The Queen's Head Less a pub, more a Chinese restaurant, The Queen’s Head is famed for Cantonese cuisine. The menu’s as long as the wall of China. Beware the infamous numtung, a very spicy Malaysian style sauce that “will leave those brave enough with a numb tongue!” Vegetarians will love the selection of non-meat dishes. Try tofu kung po or sizzling Cantonese mixed vegetables and broccoli with ginger. It’s not only some dishes that are bright green. Space heating is from a ground-source heat pump, there are low energy light bulbs throughout and water is heated by rooftop solar panels. Numtung! queensheadamotherby.co.uk The Crown and Cushion This gorgeous 18th century pub is located in the heart of Welburn, with period features aplenty: log fires, oak panelling on the walls, brass pans over the fireplace. There's an elegant dining room for special occasions and a super terrace for sunny afternoons. The team believes firmly in sourcing the freshest, local and most sustainable produce; the menu features dishes such as rack of Dales lamb or pub classics such as fish and chips and Yorkshire steak ciabatta. thecrownandcushionwelburn.com Nunnington Hall This fine Yorkshire manor house, with Tudor origins, nestles on the quiet banks of the River Rye, where you may spot otters if lucky. This National Trust property is open to the public most days. There’s a walled organic garden and, inside, period rooms revealing stories of the house’s occupants. Floorboards in some rooms have been replaced with glass to show the many objects that have slipped between the cracks over centuries: pins, scraps of fabric, playing cards, a comb. There’s a collection of miniature rooms (like sections of a doll’s house), exhibitions and a tearoom with garden. nationaltrust.org.uk/nunnington-hall Ampleforth Abbey Tucked away in a serenely beautiful valley, a mile outside the village of Ampleforth, this 19th century abbey, its church and catholic school is a tranquil and inspiring place to visit whatever your religion. Wander among the grounds, visit the church on an organised tour, find out more about the history in the visitors’ centre or just call in to the fantastic café, where apples from the abbey's orchards feature heavily on the menu – stop by for afternoon tea with delicious apple cake or a lunchtime ploughman’s with a glass of cider. ampleforth.org.uk Hovingham Village Market Hovingham has had a market since 1279 but over a century ago it ground to a halt. Now the market has been reinstated and is winning awards. In 2012 it was voted best Yorkshire Farmers’ market by Yorkshire Life. On the first Saturday of every month from 10.30am, there are some 30 stalls selling local produce as well as arts and crafts. It’s a perfect place to stock up on meats, cheeses, breads and all your self-catering needs, or just pick up supplies for a picnic or a souvenir to take home. There's a community café run by local community groups. The market is run by volunteers on a not for profit basis. hovingham-market.org.uk Ampleforth Abbey Shop Ampleforth abbey, home to an order of Benedictine monks, is worth a visit in itself, but with a shop selling ‘monastic produce’ that would tempt Adam, it’s irresistible. Ampleforth Amber Liqueur is an award-winning tipple made from cider brandy mixed with apple juice, aged in oak barrels. Beer has been made to a similar recipe for hundreds of years and Father Rainer’s dry cider, from their own orchard apples, is strong and, with its final fermentation in the bottle, “quite lively!” You could place a (Benedictine) order to be delivered to your self-catering cottage. abbeyshop.ampleforth.org.uk Castle Howard Farm Shop Central to the farm shop at Castle Howard is the butchers’ counter, selling meat sourced within a 30-mile radius, much of it from tenant farmers on the estate, such as Aberdeen Angus beef hung for 21 days and Howardian Hills lamb. There are regional cheeses, artisan breads, scones and other bakery items from Castle Howard’s own kitchens and fruit and vegetables, some from the stately home’s own garden. castlehoward.co.uk Farmhouse Direct Seaves Farm in Brandsby has a farm shop specialising in its rare breed meats. A Brandsby pie, such as a rare breed pork pie topped with onion marmalade and Lancashire cheese, would be a perfect picnic treat to pack for a long hike. The shop, selling Highland beef, pork, lamb, wild venison and game, is open four days a week or you could place an online order – such as an Old Spot taster box - and have it delivered to your holiday home so that you can enjoy the best of local produce from the moment you arrive. lovepastree.co.uk Sloe Motion As traditional warming winter tipples go, it’s hard to beat sloe gin, made from London Dry steeped in mouth-puckering sloes and sugar. It’s not just gin that gets the sloe treatment from this multi award-winning family business in the Howardian Hills. Vodka, whisky and brandy also, unusually, succumb. Once they’ve suffused the alcohol with their rosy colour and (Yorkshire) hedgerow flavour, the tipsy fruit is turned into chocolates and chutneys. Brilliant. Look out for their products, including a new herbal, fruity number said to be great in summer cocktails, in over 300 shops nationwide or order some online. sloemotiondistillery.com For information on local food and drink, nearby visitor attractions and activities, see our Green Traveller's Guide to the Howardian Hills

As part of our Green Traveller's Guide to the Kent Downs, Paul Bloomfield picks out a selection of B&Bs, self-catering, pubs and camping in this glorious Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in southeast England. Stay on a farm; enjoy the comforts of a Kentish country inn; bed down – inexpensively - in a bunkhouse; rent a rural retreat for a few days; or simply pitch a tent in a glorious campsite. There are wonderful accommodation options to suit all requirements – and wallets. You can even bring a horse to several B&Bs here. We have selected places with distinctive character, from a self-catering oast house and ancient timber-frame cottages to refurbished pubs and a B&B at a working forge. Many have a terrific commitment to minimising their impact on the environment and take great pleasure in nurturing wildlife on their doorstep. Many are part of the Our Land initiative in which businesses describe how they sustain their environment, support their local communities, and offer a great deal of insight about the region they keenly protect - the remarkable landscape of the Kent Downs. Google map: shows the location and details of all the places to stay, local food and drink, nearby visitor attractions and activities in our Green Travel Guide to Kent Downs: Green = Places to stay Blue = Local food & drink Yellow = Attractions Purple = Activities Places to stay in Kent Downs Brenley Farm, Kent Downs, England Producing hops, fruit (apples, pears, there’s even a small vineyard) and cereal crops, Brenley Farm near Faversham exudes an air of plenty. Where possible, owner Maggie Berry serves the farm’s produce at her epicurean breakfasts. brenley-farm.co.uk Twitham Court Farm, Kent, England Twitham Court Farmhouse is a luxurious boutique B&B nestled in three acres of lovely Kent countryside. It is modern yet traditional with light, large beautiful bedrooms and organic bedding and towels. It serves tasty organic breakfasts. twitham.com Elmsted Court Farmhouse, Kent Downs, England A working, family-run sheep and arable farm, Elmsted Court is set in pretty, rolling downland within easy reach of Ashford and near ancient Spong Wood which is managed by Kent Wildlife Trust - badgers, hare and deer can sometimes be seen. bandbcanterbury.co.uk The Woolpack Inn, Chilham, Kent Downs, England A beautiful 600 year old coaching inn nestled at the bottom of the hill beneath Chilham castle. With its vast oak beams and inglenook fireplaces this guest inn offers all the charm of yesteryear. woolpackinnchilham.co.uk Beechborough B&B, Kent Downs, England This stylish cottage B&B is hidden in Bishopsbourne village, which lies in a very rural location in the lovely Elham Valley yet also offers swift access to the centre of Canterbury. It’s ideal walking and cycling country here. beechborough.com Thurnham Keep, Kent Downs, England This is quite some B&B: a wisteria-clad Edwardian country mansion with beautifully kept gardens, terraces, heated swimming pool, conservatory and three gracious guest rooms stocked with homemade shortbread and fruit from the garden. thurnhamkeep.co.uk Sandhurst Farm Forge, Kent Downs, England Stay on a working forge. Charles Dickinson was a professional blacksmith for more than 40 years and now uses his traditional skills to create ornamental items, from village signs to candlesticks. His beautifully devised works are much inspired. sandhurstfarmforge.co.uk Palace Farm Hostel & Campsite, Kent Downs, England A family-run B&B, hostel and (quiet) campsite with tipis & yurts in a small quiet village in the heart of the Kent Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Fantastic for relaxing, wildlife watching, cycling and walking in the beautiful surroundings. palacefarm.com Welsummer Camping, Kent Downs, England Set in lovely landscape near Lenham, this small and generously devised campsite aims to highlight the natural wealth of the area. Owners Laura and Med Benaggoune have been restoring hedgerows and planting fruit trees. welsummercamping.com Green Cottages, Kent Downs, England Two 1860's restored homes, Old Post Cottage and Candy Cottage; cosy, self-catering and situated in the heart of the Kent village of Rodmersham Green, opposite the village pond, green and open countryside. The village pub and cafe are opposite. green-cottages.com Bore Place, Kent Downs, England Embrace nature staying in an historic manor house or 2 converted farm buildings, set in organic gardens & farmland in the beautiful Kent countryside within easy reach of central London. 3 unique self-catering properties, sleeping from 4 - 23 boreplace.org Great Field Farm, Kent Downs, England Ideally located for exploring some of Kent's prettiest villages, historic buildings, places of interest, traditional seaside towns and beaches. An excellent farmstay base for walkers and cyclists, being near the North Downs Way great-field-farm.co.uk Little Shuttlesfield Farm, Kent Downs, England A high quality, self-catering cottage with a pool on a rural farm above the Elham Valley in the East Kent Downs. Dogs (and other pets), families, walkers, cyclists, horses and disabled guests are all welcome! shuttlesfieldbarn.co.uk King's Head, Wye, Kent Downs, England The King's Head, Wye, is a traditional pub with four rooms. Dog friendly and perfect for a romantic stay, this Kent dining pub of the year finalist, offers everything you could possibly want for a weekend away in the Kent countryside. kingsheadwye.com For information on local food and drink, nearby visitor attractions and activities, see our Green Traveller's Guide to Kent Downs AONB

As part of our Green Traveller's Guide to the Kent Downs, Paul Bloomfield picks out a selection of castles, gardens, heritage and nature reserves in this glorious Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in south east England. There are historic castles peppered across the region, halcyon gardens, too, as well as gorgeous parks and manor houses. The Kent Downs is packed with cultural pleasures and spectacular fresh-air delights; our pick of top attractions also includes some of the most striking nature reserves in the area. This selection has been made to appeal across age ranges – and weather variations too. On a sunny day take the kids to explore the little-known wonders of the Western Heights fortifications above Dover; if it’s raining you could divert to Crabble Corn Mill nearby – a tremendous community project. Over in the west, enjoy the marvel that is Charles Darwin’s Down House, with many of his experiments recreated in the garden, or head to Kent Wildlife Trust’s Tyland Barn near Maidstone, with its absorbing interactive wildlife displays. And take in outstanding, semi-secret gardens such as Great Comp and Beech Court. Google map: shows the location and details of all the places to stay, local food and drink, nearby visitor attractions and activities in our Green Travel Guide to Kent Downs: Green = Places to stay Blue = Local food & drink Yellow = Attractions Purple = Activities Places to visit in Kent Downs Crabble Corn Mill What a triumph of a community project. Crabble Corn Mill beside the River Dour in Dover is a Georgian water mill that in the 1980s was saved from dereliction by a group of enthusiasts. It is still run by volunteers today. The mill was constructed in 1812 to produce flour to feed the troops defending the Kentish coast against attack by Napoleon. It is now very much a working museum - with a wheel turning and grain being ground. Six floors of exhibits give an absorbing insight into Georgian and Victorian milling. Alongside is a tea room at which you can buy Crabble Corn flour. ccmt.org.uk Belmont House and Gardens You might feel you’ve wandered into a Gainsborough painting here. A few miles from Faversham, Belmont is an idyllic Georgian estate: a 1769 neoclassical house designed by Samuel Wyatt (complete with an orangerie) sits in beautifully devised 14-acre gardens (complete with a pets’ graveyard) and beyond stretch about 3,000 acres of rolling parkland. In the early 1800s the estate belonged to General George Harris, famous for his military success in India, particularly his terrific victory over Tipu Sultan in Mysore. He and his descendants filled the house with remarkable collections from their travels – on display are watercolours of the West Indies, Indian silverware and one of the finest ranges of clocks in the country. belmont-house.org Down House When Charles Darwin moved from London to this house in north-west Kent in 1842, the great naturalist described the solid 18th-century building as ‘ugly’. Yet it became a much-loved haven where he spent the rest of his life. It was here that his seven surviving children were raised and here that he worked on his theories, finally publishing On the Origin of Species in November 1859. To coincide with the 200th anniversary of Darwin’s birth in 2009, the property was cleverly refurbished and innovative, multi-media displays introduced. There’s much to see in the house itself but the real glory is the garden which Darwin used as a natural laboratory, whether watching his bees, observing earthworms, or cultivating gooseberries. english-heritage.org.uk/downhouse Chartwell This gracious, mainly 1920s country mansion near Westerham was the much-loved home of Sir Winston Churchill. It has been preserved to look very much as it was in the great man’s day and features much of Churchill’s original furniture and many of his books – there’s even a ginger cat here, Jock VI, named in memory of Churchill’s pet – for when the Churchill family gave the house to the National Trust in 1966 it was on condition that a ginger cat always lives here. Wander the grounds to visit the kitchen garden and see the studio, lined with Churchill’s own paintings. nationaltrust.org.uk/chartwell Quebec House This elegant 17th-century redbrick house in Westerham was the childhood home of General James Wolfe, the commander who effectively won Canada for the British in 1759 when he defeated Louis-Joseph de Montcalm in the Battle of Quebec. The house has been devised very much as a living museum of the 18th century: you’re encouraged to handle many of the objects on display and even lie down on a replica Georgian bed. You also learn about the dramatic life of Wolfe – and how he and his enemy Montcalm both died from wounds inflicted during the famous battle. nationaltrust.org.uk/quebec-house Old Soar Manor The most satisfying way to reach Old Soar Manor is on foot (there’s even a picturesque seven-mile circular walk you can take here from Ightham Mote). This 13th-century knight’s house is set on the edge of the North Downs, a couple of miles from the village of Borough Green. Not quite a ruin, it is carefully maintained as a beautiful shell of a building which is free to enter. Constructed in Kentish ragstone, it has three rooms to explore. english-heritage.org.uk Knole Set in a magnificent deer park near Sevenoaks, the huge seat of the Sackville West family developed from a 15th-century bishop’s palace and is sometimes known as the calendar house because it reputedly has 365 rooms, 52 staircases and seven courtyards. The family still lives in part of the property, while the National Trust opens show rooms to the public. These are hung with paintings by Reynolds and van Dyck among others and contain 17th-century tapestries and a breathtaking collection of royal Stuart furniture and silver. nationaltrust.org.uk/knole Ightham Mote This fabulous medieval moated manor house near Sevenoaks was given to the National Trust in 1985. It is said to be the most extensive conservation project ever taken on by the trust, which spent about £10m painstakingly setting it to rights – work was finally completed in 2006. There’s a great deal to see and explore, from a wonderful Great Hall to ornate painted ceilings and even a listed dog kennel in the atmospheric courtyard. The grounds, with terraced walk, orchards and ornamental lake, are a delight. nationaltrust.org.uk/ightham-mote Owletts This fascinating house in Cobham has recently been restored to show the life and achievements of Sir Herbert Baker. An architect of enormous renown at the turn of the 19th/20th century, Baker was a major force in British Imperial architecture, most notably in South Africa and in India: his major works include the Union Buildings in Pretoria and the Secretariat Building in New Delhi. In Kent he designed Port Lympe Mansion - in Cape Dutch style. He was born at Owletts in 1862 and, remarkably , this was his base until the mid 1930s. It is still full of his possessions – and inhabited by his descendants who recently moved back to act as custodians of his heritage. nationaltrust.org.uk/owletts Tyland Barn Wildlife Park How entirely appropriate for an organisation committed to protecting the environment: when Kent Wildlife Trust wanted to create new headquarters it opted to restore and convert a historic Georgian barn. Set in Sandling, north of Maidstone, the centre houses interactive exhibits on wildlife and conservation in the area while the land around it has been nurtured to create Kentish habitats in miniature: so there’s a wildflower meadow, a big pond, chalk bank, hedgerow and more. Look out, in particular, for common frog, bee orchids and wasp spiders here. kentwildlifetrust.org.uk Sladden Wood Nature Reserve There are seven hectares of woodland at this reserve near Alkham, presenting a wonderful mix of hazel, ash, hornbeam, maple and more, with bluebell, yellow archangel, wood anemone and green hellebore coating the floor in colour in spring. That this is all thriving is a triumph of regeneration: Sladden Wood became known locally as ‘Horizontal Wood’ after it was largely felled in 1978. Today it is peaceful and burgeoning, ideal for walks and taking in great views across the Alkham Valley. kentwildlifetrust.org.uk Ranscombe Farm Nature Reserve On the slopes of the North Downs near Rochester, this 560-acre site is both a working farm and a nature reserve run by Plantlife. From arable land to chalk grassland and woods it has a wide mix of habitats – and supports rare plant species including meadow clary (which is officially near threatened) and rough mallow. Come for bluebells and early purple orchids in spring; lady orchids in early summer, while in later summer the arable areas are awash with poppies (of which there are four species). plantlife.org.uk Lydden Temple Ewell Reserve This 90-hectare reserve stretches across terrific chalk downland and marginal woodland; it’s a very rural area for all that it lies on the fringes of Dover. The views here are spectacular – but you may also want to examine the ground closely, for the grassland supports orchids (about 15 varieties), milk wort, celandine, and abundant wild herbs. Butterflies thrive here; reptiles too – they’ve recently reintroduced the wart biter cricket very successfully. It’s rich in birdlife as well: skylarks, buzzards, green woodpeckers and more. kentwildlifetrust.org.uk Kent Wildlife Trust The Kent Wildlife Trust looks after 3,000 hectares of nature reserve land, promoting conservation and wildlife protection and generating awareness of Kent's natural heritage through events, campaigns and courses held throughout the region. Their packed events programme includes things such as beaver evenings and butterfly craft events - great ways to get children involved in nature, whilst their Living Landscape and Living Seas projects aim to reconnect local residents with their natural surroundings. Their work in managing nature reserves has seen some great results, notably the return of the Adonis blue butterfly. kentwildlifetrust.org.uk Doddington Place Gardens The approach to Doddington Place is through parkland dotted with sheep and featuring fabulous oaks and horsechestnuts; it’s a magnificent prelude to a magical horticultural act. Enter the 10-acre gardens and you’re in a dreamy world of green artistry. Set around a Victorian-era redbrick mansion (not open to the public) are extensive avenues fringed by terrific (and terrifically clipped) yew hedges; a woodland garden (particularly spectacular in May and June when the rhododendrons are blooming); an Edwardian rock garden; and a sunken formal garden with great displays of herbaceous plants. Open from May until the end of September. doddingtonplacegardens.co.uk Brogdale National Fruit Collection This is a halcyon place for visitors quite as much as being a serious scientific centre at which fruit is studied. The public is welcome to wander along marked paths to see the many and varied trees here of which there are some 2,300 varieties of apple, 550 of pear, 320 of cherry and more – spring, awash with blossom, and autumn being the most beautiful times. There’s a picnic area, there’s a miniature train that runs on Sundays, there are guided tours to take with experts. A complex of shops includes a nursery from which to buy fruit trees, a store stocked with apple juice and more, a café and a butcher. brogdalecollections.org Great Comp Garden Close to Sevenoaks and Wrotham Heath, this exceptional garden offers a picturesque combination of romantic ruins, sweeping lawns and phenomenal displays of magnolia, azalea and salvia. The adjoining 17th-century farmhouse (not open to the public) is the home of Roderick and Joy Cameron who laid out much of the surrounding seven acres in the 60s, largely creating an Italianate look. For about the last 20 years the garden has been run by plant curator William Dyson who maintains great bursts of colour here from April through to at least October. Dyson also offers a nursery, which is especially rich in salvia. Don’t miss, too, the tearoom in the old dairy. greatcompgarden.co.uk Beech Court Gardens Shady paths are lined by azaleas, hydrangeas, viburnums and magnolia at these charming, informal gardens laid out in the late 40s around a medieval farmhouse (not open to the public). There’s an impressive variety of trees in the nine-acre grounds, including acers, Kalopanax and the tallest Eucryphia in Kent. It’s a bucolic place with rare-breed chickens wandering around, two pygmy goats (Fed and Wilma) at the entrance, and a tea room in an old oast house. beechcourtgardens.co.uk Lullingstone Castle and World Garden Tom Hart Dyke is a plant hunter and gardener extraordinaire. His family has owned Lullingstone Castle, near Sevenoaks, since it was built in 1497 and in its grounds he has created The World of Garden Plants which includes the national collection of eucalypts. The project is the result of a nine-month ordeal when Hart Dyke was kidnapped and held prisoner in Colombia; his plans for the garden back home kept him motivated to survive. Along with the grounds, the castle’s state rooms (visited by Queen Ann among others) are open to the public on Fridays and at weekends. lullingstonecastle.co.uk Dover Castle Presiding over Dover, this amazing landmark was a military key to England, hence its stalwart looks and enormous size. It offers a dizzying wealth of intriguing history and sights – so set aside a day or at least several hours here. Explore the medieval Great Tower built by Henry II in the 12th century and walk down medieval tunnels; see the remains of a Roman lighthouse; and probably most interesting of all, visit the wartime operations – the secret tunnels of WWII. Don’t miss, too, the underground hospital built in 1941. english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/dover-castle Leeds Castle Complete with moat, towers and crenellations, Leeds Castle looks as if it might have stepped off the pages of a fairy tale. Just a few miles outside Maidstone, it’s not only fabulously picturesque, it’s been a significant setting of powerplay, too. Dating back to the reign of William the Conqueror, it has been a royal residence of Edward I and his queen, Eleanor of Castile; a palace of Henry VIII and his first wife Catherine of Aragon; and home to the aristocratic Culpeper family in the 1600s. It’s well worth spending a full day here to explore not only the building but the grounds, the maze and underground grotto, the knights’ playgrounds – there’s even a dog collar museum. leeds-castle.com Western Heights These imposing fortifications hover over the western side of Dover, but despite their size they aren’t much on the mainstream sightseeing radar. So you’re almost certain to be free of crowds here, and can enjoy unhindered a stroll around the moat and the walls. The Western Heights were built as a bastion to protect Dover, and England, during the Napoleonic Wars. Today it is open as something of a country park and quite apart from exploring the immediate site you can follow footpaths into the Western Heights Nature Reserve beyond. Please note, the Fort is accessible on Open Days and tours can be booked on specific dates throughout the summer and autumn months. english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/western-heights-dover For information on local food and drink, nearby visitor attractions and activities, see our Green Traveller's Guide to Kent Downs AONB

The figures given in Green Traveller's train journey planners for carbon emissions for trains and planes are provided using information provided by EcoPassenger, a cooperation between the International Union of Railways (UIC), its European members, Ifeu (the German Institute for Environment and Energy) and IVEmbH (routing system and software). The UIC has 201 members, including rail operators, infrastructure managers, railway service providers and public transport companies. Please note, the emissions are provided on greentraveller.co.uk are intended as a general guide to emissions given for the point to point journey from London to the destination. Working out the exact emissions is a complicated process! The emissions data for trains do differ between countries depending on the types of vehicles used (such as railcars, locomotives and other train configurations), the type of energy carriers and conversion used as well as differences from the method and national mix of electricity sources. We have input this information from EcoPassenger using its online search tool, but emissions do vary depending on the exact route, so we strongly advise that should you want to find a more accurate figure for any particular route then you key in the appropriate details in EcoPassenger's online search tool on its website. Only those emissions are considered which are directly caused by the operation of vehicles and the energy consumption of the generation of final energy (fuels and electricity). Not included are: the production and maintenance of vehicles the construction and maintenance of transport infrastructure additional resource consumption, such as administration buildings, stations, airports, etc. The figures given on greentraveller.co.uk are for carbon emissions only. For flights, they do include "CO2-emissions with climate factor" in the settings. This 'RFI' Factor takes into account the additional climate effects of other GHG emissions, especially for emissions in high altitudes (nitrogen oxides, ozone, water, soot, sulphur). However, EcoPassenger does provide more details information for each trip by train and plane (and also car) on the following other environmental impact metrics: the particulate matter (human toxicity, greenhouse effects) the nitrogen oxides (acidification, human toxicity, summer smog) the non methane hydrocarbons (summer smog / human toxicity) However, the methodology report states that land use, noise and depletion of the ozone layer were not taken into consideration and for electricity driven rail transport the risks of nuclear power generation from radiation and waste disposal are also not considered. Rail journeys EcoPassenger's website says "The specific energy consumption values for EcoPassenger are derived from the Railenergy database for the year 2005 /UIC 2007/ and, for France and Germany, from country specific calculators Ecocomparateur /ADEME 2006/ and UmweltMobilCheck/IFEU 2006/. These values will be updated every year from UIC energy/CO2 database. A specific value per passenger-km for different train service type has been used for eight countries: Belgium, Switzerland, Germany, Spain, Finland, France, United Kingdom, Italy and Sweden. For all other countries, a passenger kilometre weighted average value for each service type was used, based on the eight countries values. These values include the average country and service type specific load factors and are used as standard for the emission calculation in EcoPassenger." Length of a route EcoPassenger states that "The length of the train routes is determined by the polygon defined by all in-between stops of a train. The length of the train route between two connected stations is calculated by the line of sight distance which is extended by 20%-30% depending on cases." Flights A flight is divided in the following flight phases: Taxi (rolling traffic); Take-off and climb; Cruise; Dive and landing. EcoPassenger's website says "The definitions for the flight phases are taken from /DLR 2000/. The length of each phase depends on the total distance, because for shorter distances the altitude of the cruise is lower. /DLR 2000/ defines flight phases fort the distance classes 250 km, 500km, 750 km, 1000 km und over 1000 km. In addition, EcoPassenger says that its system "has no access to flight timetable data for an online routing. But the possible flight relations (including 1-stop flights) are determined based on real flight data. A flight relation between two airports was added to the system, if there is at least one flight per week available. The system considers all direct flight connections and 1-stop flight connections, if the total flight distance does not exceed the line of sight distance between start and destination by 100%." See what we mean when we say it's complicated?! There's a whole lot more information about the calculations on the EcoPassenger site. Our advice is that if you're looking for exact emissions, particularly where routes differ (e.g via Lille or Paris), please use the EcoPassenger search tool on its website www.ecopassenger.org.

Given the climate emergency the world is now facing, a rapidly increasing number of accommodation owners are going to great lengths to reduce the impact of their business on the environment, maximise the conservation of local biodiversity and play a contributing role in safeguarding the culture and livelihoods of their local communities. Unfortunately there are lots of unscrupulous businesses that are jumping on the 'eco' bandwagon and it can be difficult to tell the green from the greenwash. Here are a few pointers to steer you in the direction of those hotels where the owners are going the extra mile to you sleep green. The website As a first port of call, check the hotel’s website to see if they address these questions; there may be a formal document set out as a ‘green policy’ – the best hotels include this information embedded throughout all their messaging, not just tucked away in one section. For instance, in the ‘Rooms’ section, they’ll mention their recycling facilities; in the food section, they show you where and how to buy local, seasonal food; and on the ‘How to find us’ page, they will show how to travel there by public transport and won’t just assume you’ll fly or drive. Some may have a Green Guest charter that provides information on how you can be a greener visitor while staying at their property. They may also include logos of eco label certification schemes that have inspected their green credentials (see Eco labels and certification schemes). Bear in mind it often costs businesses quite a lot of time and money to go through the certification process, so many genuinely green places, especially small hotels, may not have the funds or the inclination to do this, so don’t judge a business purely on whether or not they have an eco label. The building Does the building fit into the local landscape? Is the siting and design of the building unobtrusive and sympathetic to the colours and aesthetics around it? Have they cleared trees, redirected water sources, or eliminated any other biodiverse habitat in order to build it? Keep an eye out for its Energy Performance Certificate, which shows: a) the overall energy efficiency of the building and b) the overall environmental impact of the building in terms of CO2 emissions. They are rated A–G, with the higher rating (A) the most efficient for energy and the least environmental impact. The design Has the hotel been designed in an environmentally sensitive fashion? Hoteliers are increasingly using the concept of biophilia to make their buildings’ architecture and design be more in tune with nature, using natural lighting and ventilation, natural materials, including wood and stone, and natural landscaping in the form of living roofs and wildlife friendly outdoor spaces. You may also see examples of Slow Design aesthetics, which draws on the approach of the Slow Food Movement, slowing resource consumption and extending the value and life of products. The rooms Are they furnished with eco interiors? Do they use second-hand and/or upcycled furniture? Is the bedding and linen organic cotton? Is there natural air-conditioning? If they do have air conditioning, do they provide clear instructions on how to reduce your draw on energy and encourage you to turn it off when you leave the room? The use of chemicals Have they reduced or eliminated the use of less volatile compounds (VOCs) throughout the building? Have they used natural, mineral, breathable paints and oils; do they use chemical-free alternatives to phosphates; do they use natural control methods for their garden instead of herbicides and pesticides? Do they use a chlorine-free agent for cleaning the swimming pool or have a natural swimming pool? Ecolabelled products with third party certifications, such as the EU Ecolabel, Nature Plus, NF, The Nordic Swan Ecolabel, and the Blue Angel can help determine if the cleaning chemical is eco-friendly. The sources of energy Do they utilize solar gain and/or alternatives to fossil fuels for their heating and electricity supplies? Do they have ground-source heat pumps/geothermal, biomass boilers or solar thermal panels for heating, and/or photo-voltaic panels or wind turbines for generating electricity? If not, is their electricity supply from a utility provider that sources its electricity from renewable sources? Do they have wood burners using wood from sustainable sources or from their own land? The use of energy How do they reduce their draw on energy? How well insulated is the building? Are their appliances, such as fridges and kettles, A-rated or better? Do they set targets for how much less energy they use over time? Do they use low-energy lightbulbs, have motion sensors for lighting in corridors and/or toilet/shower blocks and encourage you to turn off standby button. The amount of waste produced How do they minimize the amount of waste they send to landfill? Do they encourage you to follow the three Rs: ‘reduce, reuse, recycle’? Do they encourage you to bring refillable water bottles/coffee cups and reusable bags for shopping? Do they provide recycling bins for guests, and if so, are they separated into: plastic; paper and magazines; card; aluminium; and glass? Are they free of single-use plastic, such as straws and cups? Do they have bulk dispensers instead of miniatures for toiletries, bathroom soaps and shampoo? Do they provide organic toiletries, use green suppliers, such as Who Gives a Crap, and support zero waste campaigns such as Guardians of Grub? Do they provide separate bins for food compost, such as vegetables peelings? The conservation of water How do they reduce their consumption of water? Do they meter and monitor their water supply? Do they have low-flow water savers in cisterns, flow restrictors in showerheads and taps? How do they reduce the amount of washing (do they encourage you to reuse towels and sheets to save laundry)? Do they harvest rainwater for use in toilets and/or the garden? Do they recycle their grey water (water used in sinks, dishwashers, showers and bath), which can be cleaned and plumbed back into toilets, washing machines and outside taps? Water conservation is particularly important in hotter Mediterranean countries where large-scale tourism development has been a major contribution to the degradation and destruction of water ecosystems with river courses being fragmented, groundwater levels sinking and wetlands drying out. The use of local food How much of the food they provide and/or serve is sourced locally? Do they provide local and/or seasonal and/or organic food? This both supports the local economy and reduces food miles. Do they offer vegan and/or vegetarian food? It’s worth checking what they mean by ‘local’ ... do they give figures in metres or miles or counties? It’s often a good indication as to how genuine their local procurement is if they give the actual names of the local businesses (and their geographical location) that they source their products from. Do they provide information on the timings and location of nearby farmers’ markets, as well information on local farm shops, village stores, pubs and cafés, particularly those specializing in local, homegrown or freshly caught produce. The use of low carbon travel Do they actively encourage guests to arrive on foot, by bike and by public transport? Do they provide information for guests on how to arrive by bike and/or public transport and provide transfers from the nearest railway station/bus stop? Even better, do they offer a discount for guests arriving on foot, by bike or by public transport? Do they provide high-speed chargers for electric cars (check that the electricity is from a renewable energy source) and information on local charging networks? Do they provide standard and/or electric bikes for you to use? Are they are responsible employer? How many of the owners/employees are local? Are the owners local and if so, do they own or have shares or some sort of ownership in the business, or are they merely managing the business (and providing profits) for someone far away? Do they employ people from the local community, and do they train them? Do they provide information about their social and cultural impacts? The conservation of wildlife Do they actively encourage the conservation of biodiversity? Are their gardens wildlife-friendly, attracting bees, butterflies and other indicator species (without using insecticides or artificial fertilizers)? Do they plant native flora? Do they weed by hand, rather than using weedkillers? Do they reduce light pollution at night? Do they contribute financially or otherwise to local wildlife charities or community groups? Feedback Even though a hotel may not look like it is doing much for the environment, it may be doing some of the important large-scale changes behind the scenes. However, if you feel a hotel’s green claims are dubious; for instance, the absence of any recycling facilities whatsoever or the blatant over-use of energy and water, it is worth pointing out what you have seen in the feedback form, on social media or on review sites following your stay. These kinds of observations are an important signal to the hotel that visitors are increasingly interested in their commitment to low carbon living, biodiversity and the use of local resources. And finally... The little things Sometimes it’s the little touches that can help signal the owner’s heartfelt commitment to the environment and local community, such as providing jugs of water and home-grown wildflowers on the table; the upcycling of things like flowerpots in the garden; a logbook for documenting wildlife. Penhein glampsite in Monmouthshire, asks guests to leave behind any full tins of food that they don’t want to take home, so that they can donate them to a local food bank. == This is an edited extract from The Green Traveller, published by Pavilion (£18.99).

The Green Traveller Digest Welcome to my latest round up of news about green travel. This newsletter is written by me, Richard Hammond, the founder of Green Traveller. If you'd like to receive the newsletter by email, please subscribe here. Could 2023 be the year that flight-free travel to Europe goes mainstream? There's certainly been a huge increase in the supply of enticing new overland journeys to meet the potential rise in demand, despite the current rail strikes in the UK. For instance, there are new sleeper services between Paris and Vienna, Prague and Zurich, Stuttgart and the coastal town of Rijeka in Croatia. The launch of a new overnight sleeper service from Brussels to Berlin on 25th May will mean it will be possible to depart by Eurostar from London in the afternoon, change to the sleeper train within the same station in Brussels Midi and arrive in Berlin early the following morning. There's a handy summary of these and other routes here: Rail Revival: The best new European train journeys to take in 2023 Green Travel News England's Year of the Coast, 2023 This year will see the creation of the new England Coast Path along with a year-long programme of events occurring around the whole of England’s coastline, from major festivals to local food markets, arts trails and water sports. Samantha Richardson, National Coastal Tourism Academy Director which delivers England’s Coast, says: "As an island nation, this is an opportunity to celebrate the benefits of blue health and introduce a new generation to the nature and heritage on our coast. We’ll be championing beach clean-ups, charity swims and of course, the amazing new England Coast Path which will open new coastal stretches to the public for the first time – there’s a lot to celebrate!" For details of events throughout the year, see englandscoast.com Tallinn European Green Capital 2023 The Estonian capital, Tallinn, has begun its year at the European Green Capital for 2023. According to the European Green Capital Jury, Tallinn "has shown a systemic approach in their transition towards sustainability with interlinked strategic goals for 2035, linked to the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Furthermore, the city is the only one of the finalist cities that has signed the Green City Accord". The city has been providing free public transport to its citizens since 2013, and by 2035 the city intends to have free carbon-neutral public transport, aiming to achieve full climate neutrality by 2050. It also has more than 2,100 hectares of protected areas. The main themes of the year of the European Green Capital are biodiversity, climate, green technologies and sustainable city governance. More info at greentallinn.eu. See also Green Traveller's Guide to Estonia >> Exodus launches citizen science holidays Adventure tour operator Exodus Travels is launching a collection of Citizen Science holidays to support the 'eBioAtlas', a joint initiative of IUCN and NatureMetrics, which aims to monitor biodiversity in different areas around the world. Guests will take environmental DNA (eDNA) samples from freshwater sources to trace species present in different ecosystems, as well as their migration habits. Guests can take part in the collection of data on several of Exodus's trips, including to the Zambezi, Costa Rica, Vietnam and Portugal. Below is a video about the EBioAtlas project, filmed in the Peruvian Amazon Rainforest, that explains more about how samples are taken and how visitors will be involved on the Citizen Science Departure trips. New luxury green hotel in London The 1 Hotels group is opening its first UK hotel in Mayfair this Spring. The nine-story 1 Hotel Mayfair will have 181 rooms (including 52 suites), a wellness spa, and interiors "designed with sustainable elements and practices throughout" using natural materials from the British Isles including reclaimed wood from West Sussex, Yorkshire stone and Welsh slate. The farm-to-table restaurant (with garden terrace) by star chef Tom Sellers "will be grounded in a deep respect for seasonal, organic, and locally sourced ingredients". Sustainability 'important' for British travellers A new survey of British travellers' attitudes to sustainable travel has found that many consider sustainability is important when selecting a holiday. The survey, commissioned by the Spanish Tourism Office (UK), found that 86% of British respondents value sustainability as either ‘important’ or ‘very important’ when selecting a holiday destination. This figure rises to 94% amongst 18–24-year-olds and drops to 75% amongst those aged 65 and above. Outside of the UK, 66% of respondents said it’s easy to have a sustainable holiday in Spain, followed by France (65%), Germany (59%) and Italy (57%). Despite this, over half of Spain visitors were not aware of any sustainability measures the country has taken. Manuel Butler, director of the Spanish Tourist Office (UK) said: Whilst we are pleased that 66% of respondents think it’s easy to have a sustainable holiday in Spain, we need to work harder to communicate our initiatives.” How to Create the Sustainable Travel Products Customers Want A new report by the World Economic Forum provides information for travel and tourism companies on how to develop products that enable more sustainable travel choices. The report considers "the latest research on sustainable traveller behaviour and the sustainable travel products landscape and composition", provides examples and case studies of current sustainable products, highlights "the roadblocks limiting the adoption of such products, and provides guidance and a call to action for companies and the industry as a whole on how best to develop sustainable travel products". The report, a partnership with Accenture, was produced with the input of industry participants and experts. New Sustainable Tourism Destination Management Course Cornell University’s SC Johnson College of Business has launched an 8-week online course on Sustainable Tourism Destination Management, which aims to train global hospitality and tourism professionals in using sustainable practices across all areas of the tourism industry. It was developed as a follow-up to the 2019 report Destinations at Risk: The Invisible Burden of Tourism, which highlights a gap in fostering the talent, capacity, and leadership needed to manage the greener, more resilient and equitable destinations of the future. How to be a more responsible and sustainable travel agent Debbie Ward writes in trade magazine Travel Trade Gazette about how travel agents can become more responsible and sustainable, "and, just as importantly, measure their progress". 10 of the best charity holiday stays in the UK Rhiannon Batten writes in The Guardian about ten "brilliantly located cottages, apartments, bothies and hotels" where stays contribute to worthy causes. Places featured include Codley Gate Cottage – a three-bedroom Northumbrian farm cottage near Hadrian's Wall, where bookings help support the Vindolanda Charitable Trust, which runs Roman Vindolanda (the excavated remains of nine successive Roman forts plus an interpretative museum), and Foxes Hotel, Minehead – a smart Victorian hotel on the South West Coast Path that's the UK’s only fully operating training hotel for young people with learning disabilities; guest stays directly support the students’ learning. In case you missed it... 'Historic deal struck' at Cop15 to halt biodiversity loss by 2030 Patrick Greenfield and Phoebe Weston write in The Guardian that "Governments appear to have signed a once-in-a-decade deal to halt the destruction of Earth’s ecosystems", though they say that the agreement "seems to have been forced through by the Chinese president, ignoring the objections of some African states". My Tip of the Week One of the questions I get asked most often is how to travel to Greece without flying. There are several ways to do it, but I recently took the train to Bari in eastern Italy from where you can catch the ferry across the Adriatic Sea to Greece (to the Greek port of Igoumenitsa for onward travel to Thessaloniki, or further south to another Greek Port – Patras – for travel to Athens) so I have written a description of the journey using this route, including some tips for where to eat and how to transfer from Bari railway station to the port, see: How to travel overland to Greece by train and ferry from London. This week Good news for: Sustainable Art The Sainsbury Centre is the first UK museum to appoint a Curator of Art and Climate Change. Filipino curator, John Kenneth Paranada, who has been appointed in a historic new role as the centre works towards a relaunch in 2023 to tie in with its 50th anniversary, said: “Adapting to climate change is urgent as extreme weather events across the planet turn the distant threat of global warming into our tangible present. Museums and the wider cultural sector share a duty to promote, commission and socialise radical cultural mediations and actions on how we can address the most challenging and complex problem of our age. Art has always been a rallying force to drive social change, it has the power to move, persuade and inspire action." Follow on Instagram #ArtAndClimateChange Bad news for: UK Wildlife Steven Morris reports in The Guardian that the National's Trust's annual audit reveals a dire year for animals – from toads and bats to birds and butterflies – in the face of a "litany of weather extremes" in 2022. News from Green Traveller Video on Summer in Sussex If you're starting to plan your summer travels, I've produced a short video highlighting the joys of visiting Sussex in summer. 'Celebrate in Sussex' is currently showing on the home page of experiencewestsussex.com.

The Green Traveller Digest Welcome to my latest round up of news about green travel. This newsletter is written by me, Richard Hammond, the founder of Green Traveller. If you'd like to receive the newsletter by email, please subscribe here. It feels like the impact of transport on climate change is at last being addressed by mainstream media. In the guide to Four things you can do about your carbon footprint, by Daniel Kraemer & Joe Whitwell on the BBC website, it says "flying is one of the most carbon-intensive things we can do as individuals" and "Domestic flights have the largest emissions per person per kilometre". While the recent jet engine tests by Rolls-Royce and easyJet is a "breakthrough for hydrogen fuel in air travel", reports Helen Cahill in The Times, this is "with a view to delivering a range of aircraft in the mid-2030s", beyond the decade that counts. A recently released report by The Travel Foundation concludes that current tourism sustainability efforts that rely solely on carbon offsetting, technological efficiencies and biofuels are ‘woefully inadequate’ to hit decarbonising targets. It's been great to see that the tourist boards of two of the major outbound destinations from the UK have launched sustainable travel platforms recently. The Greek National Tourism Organisation has launched Sustainable Greece to educate British travel agents, tour operators and consumers about sustainable holidays in Greece, including a trip to a local homestay in Crete and a slow train trip from London to Corfu and Sivota. The Spanish Tourist Office has launched a Sustainability Hub, which aims to "inform media, partners, trade and consumers about Spain’s sustainability initiatives under one banner", including highlighting some of the lesser-known areas of the country. Green Travel News New Snowshoe trail in Switzerland Gantrischli is a new snowshoe trail in the Fribourg Pre-Alps. It starts at Sangernboden (reachable by bus) near the town of Schwarzsee and passes through the picturesque Muschern valley with views of the Märe mountain peak and the slopes of the Ettenberg. It's a circular route and trekkers can stop off at about the half way mark for a cheese fondue at the Gantrischli alpine hut (an alp dairy in summer). Moonlit treks are available. The Rise of the Conscious Traveller Outdoor camping specialist Pitchup.com says that data from its website has revealed that "travellers are making more conscious choices for their future getaways, highlighting an aspiration to be better travellers". It found a 288% increase on filtered searches for sites that offer “pick up from public transport” compared to 2019 (pre-pandemic), searches for electric vehicle charging points were up by 48% compared to last year, and searches for cycle hire as an included amenity on site have increased by 154% compared to 2019 and up 173% compared to last year, which the company says shows "that two wheels is one of the most popular ways to explore a destination with virtually no environmental damage". New Greenways in Spain Greenways, known as Vías Verdes in Spanish, are old disused railway lines that have been recovered and reconditioned for use by walkers and cyclists, connecting cities to the local countryside. There are over 117 routes with over 2,900 kilometres of Vía Verde all over Spain and five new routes have been opened in Ciudad Real, Gipuzkoa in the Basque Country, La Coruña, Murcia and Tarragona. An accessible guide provides detailed information and maps that show routes suitable for those with reduced mobility. Booking.com develops its sustainable travel programme Booking.com has developed its travel sustainable programme to provide customers with more “transparent and credible” information to make an informed choice for their accommodation, reports Josie Klein in Travel Weekly. A year since it launched the programme, the online agency has introduced three levels (1–3) for accommodation to signify the extent to which they have implemented “impactful sustainability practices”. It has also added a new search filter for fully electric and hybrid rental cars to make it easier for travellers to find more sustainable ground transport options. Study reveals Britain's greenest cities A new study reveals Britain’s greenest cities, such as Exeter and Bristol, which "can benefit from spurt in ‘urban eco-tourism’", report Ameilia Hill and Nazia Parveen in The Guardian. Researchers analysed 68 city centres with populations of at least 100,000, ranking them on tree cover, vegetation, parks and sports fields. Good news for... Train travellers in Germany Transport Ministers from 16 Germany states have launched a €49 per month ticket for trains, buses and trams from January next year, reports Rosie Frost in EuroNews.travel. Over the summer, a €9 monthly ticket was introduced; the new ‘Deutschlandticket’ or German Ticket, raises that to €49 or around €1.60 per day. Bad news for... The Great Barrier Reef, Australia Graham Readfearn reports in The Guardian that ocean temperatures over parts of the Great Barrier Reef have reached record levels this month, sparking fears of a second summer in a row of mass coral bleaching. My Tip of the Week See how far you can travel by train in five hours departing from any city in Europe on the handy interactive map at chronotrains.com. The calculations assume interchanges are 20 minutes and transit between stations is a little greater than walking speed. For more info, see the threads on Twitter by the software developer @benjamintd ========== News from Green Traveller Beginner's Guide to Sustainable Travel I've written a Beginner's Guide to Sustainable Travel in National Geographic Traveller. "Sustainable, green, responsible — planet-friendly ways to explore the world are more popular than ever but how do you start to make better decisions when you travel? The first step is to understand what sustainable travel is and why it’s important..." In the article, I've given this brief definition of sustainable travel: Sustainable travel is about travelling in a way that’s sensitive to the climate and nature emergencies while ensuring that the wellbeing of the places we visit gain long-term benefit from us travelling there. It’s a balancing act between maximising the positives of travel while reducing or eliminating the negatives. And finally... Date for your diary: This Sunday, 4th December, is Wildlife Conservation Day. Follow the news and events at #WorldWildlifeConservationDay

I took the TGV train to Nice and bus to Cagnes-sur-Mere to visit Orion Tree Houses - hidden in a peaceful spot by a wonderful natural swimming pool - a perfect arboreal B&B eco-escape on the Cote d'Azur. In a nutshell: A collection of wonderfully crafted treehouses and beautiful natural swimming pool close to Saint-Paul de Vence along from Nice on the Côte d'Azur. Rooms: 4 beautiful treehouses, ranging in size from '2 adults only' to '2 adults + 3 kids'. Groups up to 12 adults and families up to 14 persons Price: Self-catering from €200/night Spring and Autumn (min 2 nights); €795 for 3 nights in the Summer Meals: Breakfast included; several excellent restaurants close by Open: April to October Facilities: Cots available & babies stay for free; Sauna, Yoga & Massage available. Good for Green: Vegetarian, organic breakfast; Outdoor Natural Swimming Pool; Biodiverse garden; Reachable by public transport. === Our Review of Orion Treehouses: The Setting: The 4 treehouses are clustered around the natural swimming pool on a gentle hill opposite the medieval walls of St Paul de Vence. The Rooms: The treehouses are actually stand-alone, solid structures, made of red cedar and built between the trees rather than attached to their trunks. You climb up to them via an outer wooden staircase rather than swinging over on a vine with a monkey on your back, yodelling. The rooms are furnished with the kind of trappings you'd expect in this part of the world - huge double beds and large fluffy pillows, and a wooden-barrel shower. Bagheera, was the first treehouse constructed, it has a sunny terrace surrounding it and is slightly more minimalistic in style than the others. Shere Khan is great for couples, with more extravagant decor and a teak bathtub. King Louie has a four-poster bed and is close to the pool and the sauna – it’s also great for families thanks to its connection via a bridge with the smaller Mowgli where you will find two bunk beds - it's perfect for the kids if they prefer to be slightly separate and live their own adventure (a little) independently (NB. Orion is very family friendly). Colonel Hathi is a two-story treehouse and offers the best view vantage point; it is tucked away between the trees and is the furthest away from the centre, but if you’re one for heights this is the eerie one for you. The Food: Breakfast includes fresh watermelon smoothies, fruit salads, a special granola recipe (Aina can tell you all about it), yogurts, croissants, and coffee; served on the terrace overlooking the lovely natural swimming pool. The treehouses also have access to the shared kitchen with its large refrigerator and microwave oven. If you can stir yourself away from the tranquility, a short walk up the hill behind Orion is La Brouette, a wonderfully intimate, Danish-owned restaurant, overlooking the medieval, fortified village of Saint-Paul de Vence (see top tip below). Plus there are also lots of lovely locally owned restaurants in nearby St Paul de Vence, including Le Tilleul and La Colombe d'Or as well as Pause Nature in La Colle sur Loup, and Dame Nature - an organic restaurant in Saint-Laurent du Var harbour. - reservations advised, especially in summer. Activities: The treehouses are really the main attraction - and they are very comfortable so you can easily relax up in the boughs listening to the sounds of birdsong and the leaves rustling in the breeze. Back on terra firma, you can chill out on a sun lounger by a swimming pond that is designed to integrate into the garden, surrounded by pebbles, plants and dragonflies it gives the impression "of a mountain lake". It is cleaned not with chemicals but through a sophisticated natural system of gravel and aquatic plant filtration: compared with your average chlorinated pool, it feels like you're swimming in Evian. There is also a Barrel Sauna for you to enjoy. Beautifully designed and eco-friendly, cut from deliciously scented red cedar wood and heated by a low-consumption electric stove, enabling a "Turkish Bath" effect at a lower temperature. The roundness improves an even distribution of the heat, and provides optimum insulation. You can book yourself massage sessions and yoga lessons. Orion is a quirky, comfortable place to stay: you could spend your entire time just hanging about in the trees and lounging by the swimming pool, but if you can actually stir yourself from the tranquility, a short walk up the hill, is Saint-Paul de Vence - once home to many renaissance painters and there are plenty of local museums (one specifically for Chagal). You could easily spend a whole day just mooching around the village. And of course, you have the Cote d'Azur on your doorstep...there’s the Cannes Film Festival in May or Jazz a Juan festival in July and outdoor concerts in the summer. Eco-friendly Initiatives: Orion is set up to be in harmony with the trees not causing them any anguish or hampering them in any way. The whole set-up is pitched as very soft green tourism, getting back to nature, and while the tree houses are really unusual and amazing, they are really well fitted out inside. You may be up a tree but you don’t leave any of the home comforts you would expect to indulge in on the ground. Here are some of the eco initiatives at Orion: Breakfast is 100% vegetarian (vegan option is also available) Swimming pool is chemical free Orion Hub is a low emission house with green roof Cleaning and laundry is done using natural cleaning products and detergents Reusable shopping bags guests can borrow during their stay Fruit and veg composted and returned to the garden Getting to Orion the low carbon way: It's possible to reach Orion Treehouses by public transport from the UK. See our guide to How to take the train from London to Nice. Once you've arrive in Nice, you can either take take bus 400 direct to Saint-Paul de Vence in 1 hour (from where it's a 20-minute walk to Orion), or take the train to Cagnes-sur-Mer from where you can get a taxi to Orion - you can pre-book a transfer from the railway station with local taxi company Taxi Patrice +33 (0)685 57 13 10 / misarelli@gmail.com Top Tip: As well as the lovely village of Saint-Paul de Vence, the most outstanding thing is the wonderful restaurant behind Orion, called La Brouette. The proprietor - Michel - smokes delicious trout in an oven in front of you as you sit on a terrace over looking Saint-Paul de Vence with the sun setting. It's a pretty simple affair (reflected in the very reasonable prices and simple wines) and it is really for the courageous as it is quite a hike uphill through the woods behind the treehouses - make sure you wear good shoes, and charge your mobile (or bring a light) so you can find your way back down. Alternatively, there are some wonderful restaurants in St Paul de Vence. Verdict: "You get the best of both worlds," said Diane Van Den Berge, Orion's owner (now retired, her daughter Aina now runs the show admirably); guests come to fulfill their childhood dreams of living in a treehouse "like Tarzan and Jane", yet while there's "a feeling of isolation, there's also a degree of comfort in nature".
 And if you go with children, they will be in Den Heaven. Check Availability and Book a Holiday at Orion Treehouses >> Or call Aina on: +33 675 45 18 64. Mention 'Green Traveller' to Aina when you book and receive some home made Bees Wrap during your stay!

The Green Traveller Digest Welcome to my latest round up of news about green travel. This newsletter is written by me, Richard Hammond, the founder of Green Traveller. If you'd like to receive the newsletter by email, please subscribe here. There's recently been a flurry of new startups in green travel. Following hot on the heels of Byway which bravely (during lockdown!) has led the way with its dynamic trip building platform for overland holidays (users can book both transport + accommodation), is online booking Ecosytravel and no-fly trip-planning service Train X Europe. Deregulation in European railways has also led to several new long distance rail services, including new overnight sleeper services: preparations are underway to launch a new Brussels-Amsterdam-Berlin-Prague service at European Sleeper, and Midnight Trains has an ambitious plan to create a network of more than 10 destinations from Paris. The Man in Seat61 remains the go-to place for information on booking rail (and ferry) tickets; Europe by Rail by Nicky Gardner and Susanne Kries is the authoritative book on the subject, and Simon Harper's Show me the journey includes a handy beginner's guide to rail travel based on over 300 train journeys. This week I took part in an online panel organised by National Geographic Traveller Europe: by rail, road and sea with National Geographic Traveller's Executive Editor Glen Mutel, Helen Coffey, travel editor of The Independent and author of Zero Altitude: How I Learned to Fly Less and Travel More, and Rebecca Lowe, author of The Slow Road to Tehran, a book about her year-long cycle ride through the Middle East. There were over 500 registrations and over 200 attendees join the event live. Green travel is happening! ======================= Green Travel News New app for low carbon travel in Scotland Electrek Explorer has launched an app Recharge in Nature for low-carbon travellers to the South of Scotland and Outer Hebrides. The app links to local businesses that provide facilities and experiences for low carbon travel, from providing EV charging, E-bike and EV-friendly accommodation, to safe bike storage, E-bike charging and providers of nature based tourism. 'World’s first car-powered hotel' Lynn Rusk writes in London World about a luxury cabin on a countryside farm in Essex that is powered by electric cars. Curated by writer and broadcaster Grace Dent, Hotel Hyundai will be completely powered by a fleet of Hyundai IONIQ 5. Launch of Eco Escapes in Lancashire The Forest of Bowland and Arnside and Silverdale Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty have joined forces to promote sustainable tourism in rural Lancashire. Eco Escapes provides car-free sustainable travel plans linking main stations and visitor attractions and highlighting visitor destinations that support sustainable tourism. The initiative encourages visitors to take the train and discover Lancashire’s unique limestone coastline at Silverdale on the edge of Morecambe Bay, explore the remote uplands of the Forest of Bowland on foot or by bike or e-bike in an action - packed long weekend that explores some of the undiscovered rural oases that characterise the northern reaches of the Red Rose County. Below is a short film produced by two local filmmakers about Eco Escapes: South African Animal Sanctuary scoops top award for sustainable tourism The Panthera Africa Big Cat Sanctuary in South Africa was awarded the Countryside and Biodiversity Award at the annual Skål Sustainable Tourism Awards announced at the Opening Ceremony of its World Congress in Kvarner, Croatia. Other winners included Colombia's Secretary of Tourism of Santiago de Cali (Community and Government Projects), Mankind Digital, Australia (Educational Programmes and Media), and CGH Earth (Rural Accommodation). Iberian Highlands becomes Rewilding Europe’s tenth landscape The Iberian Highlands – part of the Southern Iberian Chain, a 500km-long maintain range in central eastern Spain – has become the tenth landscape to join Rewilding Europe, adding a further 850,000 hectares of land "to help upscale rewilding efforts across Europe". Good news for... Langton Matravers Ordnance Survey has discovered that the three 'norths' will combine for the first time in history this week – True north, Magnetic north and Grid north will combine at a single point - starting at the village of Langton Matravers, just west of Swanage. Bad news for... Europe's Climate Warming Helena Horton reports in The Guardian that, according to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), Europe's climate is warming at twice the rate of the global average. Scientists are warning that the trend of faster warming over the last 30 years is likely to cause exceptional heat, wildfires and floods. My Tip of the Week Looking to improve your swim technique? Cornwall's beautiful Watergate Bay hosts a weekend Swim Clinic for those looking to perfect their stroke. There are two theory sessions (enjoyed over a lovely breakfast smoothie), a Swim Yoga session, an optional beach and cliff walk, a SwimTalk and a body surf session. The course includes being filmed underwater so your stroke can be assessed by the experienced instructor Salim Ahmed of SwimLab. ========== News from Green Traveller What kind of green traveller are you? I've been working with Visit Estonia on a series of short videos profiling three different types of 'Responsible Adventurers': Nature Nomads, Flavour Seekers, and Culture Scouts that are featured in our Green Traveller's Guide to Estonia. The videos show the opportunities all year round so there are some shots of summer activities but also lots of clips of things to do in autumn and winter, and even the 'fifth' season in Estonia when the the melting snow inundates the floodplain meadows. Here is the first in the series of three videos: And finally... @greentraveller Over the past few months, I've been re-organising all of Green Traveller's social media channels including establishing @greentraveller as the new handle that YouTube has rolled out, so you can now find all our social channels under the @greentraveller handle: Twitter Instagram Facebook Pinterest YouTube Have a great, green weekend wherever your travels take you!

Catherine Mack has a true cultural immersion in the Gaelic way of life high up in the peat boglands overlooking Spiddal’s coastline, 22 km from Galway. In a nutshell: A family-run hillside homestead in a restored 17th Century village. Rooms: several cottages for 2 guests (1 room) Price: From £600 for 4 nights minimum Meals: Self catering Open: Year round Good to know: It’s only 5km from Spiddal, so if you don’t have too much luggage, it's great to walk up to Cnoc Suain as it will give you a wonderful introduction to the beauty of this increasingly rare, blanket bogland. Good for green: Walkers Welcome; There's geothermal, underfloor heating; owners have focused on rewilding the landscape, reestablishing a native woodland of alder, ash, rowan and holly. Creating awareness of bogland ecology and the environmental importance of peatland during climate change are at the heart of Cnoc Suain's raison d’etre. === Catherine's Review of Cnoc Suain: The setting Cnoc Suain is located high up in the peat boglands overlooking Spiddal’s coastline, 22km from Galway, in the heart of Connemara and Ireland’s Gaeltacht area. Aptly named Cnoc Suain, meaning ‘the restful hill’, this family homestead which has been sensitively and most lovingly transformed into a cocoon of Irish culture, creativity and wellbeing, overlooks its own Cnoch a Loch, or lake, as well as 80 hectares of wild bogland. In short, Cnoc Suain is in its own league of uniqueness, charm and beauty. The rooms You could never sum up Cnoc Suain as a collection of rooms because it’s more like a tiny village really. The founders, Dearbhaill Standún and Charlie Troy, dedicated years restoring lichen-covered stone walls and cottages, fallen into ruin, into a hamlet of small homes for guests who were lucky enough to find themselves on their restful hill. With a team of heritage experts and Irish cultural aficionados they rebuilt and thatched four dry-stone wall cottages, installed geothermal underfloor heating, and furnished them in a traditional, simple, and comfortable way. Two of these cottages are available for self-catering guests who are seeking seclusion in the most peaceful of environments. You can always avail of a private guided walk around Cnoc Suain with one of the expert family members. The food If you are taking part in a residential course, you will never go hungry. With locally sourced ingredients, and there is no shortage of local fare to delight those of every dietary disposition, you will feast on the likes of local salmon, home-grown salads, hearty soups and the omnipresent homemade Irish soda bread. For the best places to eat along this coastline, part of the now branded Wild Atlantic Way, don’t travel without this book: The Wild Atlantic Way, Where to eat and stay, by Ireland’s best food writers and devotees of local deliciousness, Sally and John Mckenna. The activities Dearbhaill and Charlie created Cnoc Suain because they wanted visitors to stop and absorb Connemara culture, instead of just glimpsing it through a coach window. Dearbhaill is a celebrated traditional musican and Charlie a natural scientist, and so together they had a lot to bring to the table of cultural treats. Sign up for a residential course in anything from wellbeing to watercolour painting, ecology to photography, with plenty of Irish language and traditional music thrown in. Cnoc Suain has been such a success story that Dearbhaill and Charlie’s daughters, who grew up watching the transformation of this magical spot on the hill take place around them, have now joined the business and are growing the range of activities on offer with a new generation of experiential travellers in mind. At Cnoc Suain, the giant fireplace is always glowing, toes tapping and (if that’s your ‘poison’) whisky flowing. With a team that is switched on to sustainability in the way that they are, they will be for a long time to come. The Green Cnoc Suain ticks so many boxes in terms of green and responsible tourism it is hard to know where to start. As well as renovating ruined cottages using traditional methods and then installing geothermal, underfloor heating, they have focused on rewilding the landscape, reestablishing a native woodland of alder, ash, rowan and holly. Creating awareness of bogland ecology and the environmental importance of peatland during climate change are at the heart of Cnoc Suain's raison d’etre. The owners source food locally, employ local staff and encourage people to travel using public transport, or at least in one coach, when they are organising retreats and workshop weekends. The input of a multi-generational family into a remote Irish area is, perhaps, one of the most striking aspects of Cnoc Suain. They strive to protect local cultural heritage in this equally magnificent area of natural heritage for generations to come. Want to know the best local artists, walking guides, pubs, musicians, cycling trails, artisan cheese makers, wild swimming spot….you name it. They know it. Top Tip Spend the day at the stunning Brigit’s Garden in nearby Roscahill. There are four gardens created and landscaped to represent the four seasons according to Celtic mythology and tradition of festivals: Samhain, Imbolc, Bealtaine and Lughnasa. This is a place of serenity, spirituality and beauty, where each sculpture, shrub and shrine has been carefully created and installed to represent different aspects of ancient wisdom. Their superb café mirrors the general spiritual ethos of stillness, with a slow (and fine) food policy. The Verdict I love everything about Cnoc Suain. Sustaining local culture is a vital part of developing a green tourism business. What makes this place unique is that it is not preserving Irish language, music, cookery and crafts in order to enshrine them. This fantastic family is keeping them alive and contemporising them, while also epitomising fine Irish hospitality. Cnoc Suain is no theme park. There is nothing tacky or commercial here. It is a place of living culture, oozing with pride and determination to protect and share some of the joys of its natural and cultural heritage. They are also all brilliant storytellers, deeply connected to the biodiverse beauty of their landscape and all round fonts of knowledge. All delivered with heartfelt passion and ever smiling Irish eyes. I didn’t want to leave. Getting there Take a train to Galway, and then take a taxi or bus to Spiddal where you can get a taxi to Cnoc Suain. Best thing is to walk up to Cnoc Suain, however, if you don’t have too much luggage. It’s only 5km from Spiddal and it will give you a good introduction to the beauty of this increasingly rare, blanket bogland. Book a Holiday at Cnoc Suain: Visit cnocsuain.com or email: info@cnocsuain.com

The Green Traveller Digest Welcome to my latest round up of news about green travel. This newsletter is written by me, Richard Hammond, the founder of Green Traveller. Please do forward this newsletter to anyone you think might be interested in receiving it or ask them to subscribe via the link below: Sustainable Tourism Hub for Greece launched A new online hub for sustainable tourism in Greece has been launched, showcasing stories from across the country that demonstrate "how Greece is looking to embrace the challengers of the future through a sustainable transformation of its tourism sector". Managed by the Greece National Tourism Organisation, the new platform, sustainablegreece.co.uk, categorises initiatives into five themes: Sustainable Best Practices, Future Green Projects, Sustainable Initiatives, Sustainable Experiences and Sustainable Holidays. Projects profiled at the launch in London include a slow travel holiday run by Sunvil that includes taking the train from London all the way to Greece's Adriatic Coast; 'Pick the Alien' campaign led by marine conservation organisation iSea, which encourages local seafood markets, restaurants and shops to sell and consume invasive fish; and 'Waves for Change' - a villa alliance in Corfu led by the Ionian Environment Foundation where villas can be awarded up to five 'waves' for making changes that will minimise their environmental impact, from plastic reduction, composting, and waste separation to water conservation and renewable energy. Travel industry told ‘tackle climate disaster before it’s too late’ James Thornton, chief executive of Intrepid Travel, has called on the travel industry to prove its commitment to sustainability with “rapid decarbonisation” to avoid a climate disaster. Speaking at the Abta travel convention in Morocco, he said that urgent change was required, reports Nazia Parveen in The Guardian Consensio Chalets reveals guest carbon footprint in 'Net Zero Plan' Ski holiday company, Consensio Chalets, has published the average carbon footprint of its guests (PDF) as part of a Net Zero sustainability plan. Working with Ecollective, it calculated that on average guests produce 171kg CO2e per guest, per night. Based on this, it has set a target of reducing emissions by 7% each year, with the objective of reaching Net Zero by 2035. Days Out By Rail campaign launched The Community Rail Network has launched a campaign to "showcase ideas for greener days out and the best UK attractions and hidden gems to visit by train". Launched yesterday (Monday 17th October), the #DaysOutByRail campaign in collaboration with its Scenic Rail Britain website, will run until 6th November, to coordinate with most of the school half-term holidays across England, Scotland and Wales. It will also incorporate Halloween activities and events, as well as other key themes, such as railway-themed free family days out and days out with grandparents. The UK's oldest public outdoor swimming pool re-opens Cleveland Pools in Bath has re-opened almost 40 years since it was closed. Built in 1815 (in Jane Austen's lifetime), the site first opened as a river-fed pool and was used throughout the Victorian era. The halcyon days of the lido were in the 1970s, but competition from the indoor Bath Sports and Leisure Centre led to the closure of Cleveland Pools in 1984. Thanks to the efforts of three local people, Ann Dunlop, Janice Dreisbach and Roger Houghton, the Cleveland Pools Trust (CPT) was formed in 2004 to rescue the pools from disrepair. The site has now been given a makeover thanks to a grant from the National Heritage Lottery (with support from the local council, Historic England and local people) and the work of lots of dedicated volunteers, ably led by Project Director Anna Baker. I went along to the re-opening and have produced a Photo Tour of Cleveland Pools. Rhiannon Batten also wrote an article in The Guardian that captures the spirit of the re-opening: Today is a magic moment: Bath's 207-year-old lido reopens after four decades of neglect The changing rooms and pool at the re-opened Cleveland Pools. Photos: Richard Hammond Bradt publishes new book on slow travel for families Book publishers Bradt has published a new guide book Slow Travel Family Breaks: Perfect Escapes in Britain’s Special Places. The book pulls together months of adventuring around the UK by seasoned travel writers Jane Anderson and Holly Tuppen, discovering the best small-scale, sustainable, and local experiences for families. Decathlon changes name to 'Nolhtaced' in three Belgian cities Decathlon shops in Evere, Namur and Ghent are to change their name to "Nohltaced" ('Decathlon' written backwards), reports The Brussels Times. The idea is to encourage 'reverse shopping', whereby customers can take old or unused sporting goods to Decathlon so that they can be repaired and resold in the store under warranty. Rewilding Europe Travel launched A new travel company has launched to promote holidays in rewilding areas in Europe. Rewilding Europe Travel is the partner of Rewilding Europe, which works in nine rewilding landscapes across Europe. Holidays include Walking the Coa and Upper Douro Valleys, bison and wildlife tracking in the Southern Carpathians, and birdwatching in the wild Rhodopes - a hotspot for biodiversity. Good news for... Natural History Filmakers: BBC Studios Natural History Unit has announced a £1m global talent development initiative to develop and support aspiring natural history filmmakers in the UK and around the world. In places where the NHU is filming, the initiative "will fund opportunities for locally based production talent to access in-country training, offer field experience working with NHU teams on location, and invest in local talent to attend UK-based training courses". Bad news for... Animals: The earth’s wildlife populations have plunged by an average of 69% in just under 50 years, according to a leading scientific assessment, as humans continue to clear forests, consume beyond the limits of the planet and pollute on an industrial scale, reports The Guardian. My Tip of the Week Looking for a mountain refuge to stay this autumn? The website outdooractive.com lists thousands of mountain huts and refuges across Europe, from simple shelters to serviced cabins. Another good source of information is mountainhuts.info, which features over 670 mountains huts in central Europe, and gives hut reviews based on the experience of hikers who have stayed there. In case you missed it Holiday company Hotelplan encourages staff to choose low carbon travel Hotelplan UK has launched a new staff Sustainable Travel policy, which covers work and leisure travel for all employees, reports Samantha Mayling in Travel Weekly. The new policy comes hot on the heels of recent research that showed two-thirds of people (67%) would consider more sustainable travel options if they had additional days to do so. The parent of Explore Worldwide, Inntravel, Inghams, Esprit and Santa’s Lapland, Hotelplan is offering paid travel time whenever a member of staff chooses to travel using low carbon travel options, such as by train, public transport or under their own steam (walk, cycle etc) rather than by air or driving a petrol or diesel vehicle. Travelling shorter distances for leisure (between 150-450 miles each way), staff are able to claim an additional half-day travel time when using rail or coach - even if on a weekend break which doesn’t coincide with their normal working hours. For longer distances of over 450 miles, staff can claim an additional full day. Lower carbon travel options include public transport (bus, coach, rail journeys accessible by members of the public), cycling/scooters, walking and electric vehicles. Green Travel Guides to 'West Macedonia and Thessaloniki' and 'East Macedonia and Thrace' Green Traveller has launched new green travel guides to two areas in Northern Greece. We filmed travel writer Sarah Baxter as she toured these two fascinating regions this summer. Below are the videos and the guides can be read here: West Macedonia and Thessaloniki East Macedonia and Thrace And finally... I've been thrilled with the media coverage of my book The Green Traveller, from The Big Issue to the FT. Here's a selection of some of the coverage articles since it was launched: Train to tent: 10 brilliant UK campsites you can reach on public transport The Guardian The expert guide to travelling more sustainably in 2022 National Geographic Traveller Aquatic bliss: 10 of Europe’s best holiday sites with natural pools The Guardian Wild and sustainable trips prove Scotland’s global draw The Sunday Times An insider guide to a green weekend in London The Financial Times