Forest Side’s award-winning restaurant upholds the Lake District’s foodie reputation. Head chef Paul Leonard’s ‘fine Cumbrian cuisine’ focuses on local, seasonal and sustainable produce to create dishes inspired by the surrounding landscape. The vast majority of ingredients are sourced from within 10 miles of Forest Side, often foraged or grown within its own kitchen gardens. The six-course lunch, or eight-course dinner menus take you on a culinary journey through the ‘Lake District Larder’, and even the plates the food is served on have been crafted by local ceramicists.
Dorset
It’s no surprise that the dramatic coastline and patchwork colours of Dorset have inspired artists for centuries. Flanked by the Jurassic Coast — England’s only natural Unesco World Heritage Site — Dorset is popular with foodies and outdoorsy types, drawn to the region’s traditional restaurants, breathtaking scenery and natural wonders, which include ancient coves, dramatic cliff tops and the iconic stone arch known as Durdle Door. With nearly 100 miles of coastline, Dorset’s beaches offer something for everyone, from rugged shingle to golden sands — with popular spots including Hive Beach, Lyme Regis, Man O’ War Beach and Chesil Beach (the setting of Ian McEwan’s bestselling book and film).
Forest Side’s award-winning restaurant upholds the Lake District’s foodie reputation. Head chef Paul Leonard’s ‘fine Cumbrian cuisine’ focuses on local, seasonal and sustainable produce to create dishes inspired by the surrounding landscape. The vast majority of ingredients are sourced from within 10 miles of Forest Side, often foraged or grown within its own kitchen gardens. The six-course lunch, or eight-course dinner menus take you on a culinary journey through the ‘Lake District Larder’, and even the plates the food is served on have been crafted by local ceramicists.
Dorset
It’s no surprise that the dramatic coastline and patchwork colours of Dorset have inspired artists for centuries. Flanked by the Jurassic Coast — England’s only natural Unesco World Heritage Site — Dorset is popular with foodies and outdoorsy types, drawn to the region’s traditional restaurants, breathtaking scenery and natural wonders, which include ancient coves, dramatic cliff tops and the iconic stone arch known as Durdle Door. With nearly 100 miles of coastline, Dorset’s beaches offer something for everyone, from rugged shingle to golden sands — with popular spots including Hive Beach, Lyme Regis, Man O’ War Beach and Chesil Beach (the setting of Ian McEwan’s bestselling book and film).
Known as ‘the pearl of Dorset’, Lyme Regis is a quaint harbour town that attracts plenty of visitors and fossil hunters hoping to find ancient buried treasures in the footsteps of renowned paleontologist Mary Anning, who was born here in 1799. In July 2020, Mark Hix open The Oyster & Fish House in Lyme Regis in a picturesque spot overlooking the sea, with a menu that champions sustainably caught British fish and seafood. Other seafood meccas include the award-winning Crab House Cafe, set just behind Chesil Beach, and the family-run Hive Beach Cafe, set in Burton Bradstock. This picturesque town is home to the Seaside Boarding House, a restaurant and boutique hotel set up by the team behind London’s Groucho Club, which offers fine dining (including traditional afternoon tea) and superb wine and cocktails in effortlessly chic surroundings.
Devon
With its vast coastlines, rugged moors and patchwork countryside, Devon is a nature lover’s paradise. Devon’s spectacular and varied coastline covers some 450 miles, with the golden sands and clifftops of the north and the picture-postcard harbour towns of the ‘English Riviera’ in the south. For active types, there’s surfing at scenic spots such as Croyde Bay and the popular Torquay, and plenty of rural hikes and camping. But there’s also the bustling cities of Exeter and Plymouth to explore.
Known as ‘the pearl of Dorset’, Lyme Regis is a quaint harbour town that attracts plenty of visitors and fossil hunters hoping to find ancient buried treasures in the footsteps of renowned paleontologist Mary Anning, who was born here in 1799. In July 2020, Mark Hix open The Oyster & Fish House in Lyme Regis in a picturesque spot overlooking the sea, with a menu that champions sustainably caught British fish and seafood. Other seafood meccas include the award-winning Crab House Cafe, set just behind Chesil Beach, and the family-run Hive Beach Cafe, set in Burton Bradstock. This picturesque town is home to the Seaside Boarding House, a restaurant and boutique hotel set up by the team behind London’s Groucho Club, which offers fine dining (including traditional afternoon tea) and superb wine and cocktails in effortlessly chic surroundings.
Devon
With its vast coastlines, rugged moors and patchwork countryside, Devon is a nature lover’s paradise. Devon’s spectacular and varied coastline covers some 450 miles, with the golden sands and clifftops of the north and the picture-postcard harbour towns of the ‘English Riviera’ in the south. For active types, there’s surfing at scenic spots such as Croyde Bay and the popular Torquay, and plenty of rural hikes and camping. But there’s also the bustling cities of Exeter and Plymouth to explore.
Devonshire produce, particularly fresh clotted cream, ice cream and cheese, is world-renowned, and the county is home to four Michelin-starred restaurants. So, if you’ve been missing five-star hospitality and dining out over the past year (haven’t we all), a break in Devon may be just what the doctor ordered. Lympstone Manor, a Grade-II listed country house in the scenic Exe Estuary, should be on every foodie’s bucket list as the brainchild of celebrated chef Michael Cains. The hotel’s dining room picked up a Michelin star within just six months of opening in 2017, and even features its own vineyard and excellent wine cellar. Equally, The Pig at Combe is a popular outpost from the bovine boutique hotel group, with a back-to-nature ethos that centres around the local saying that ‘if you stick your finger in the ground it will grow.’ And for secluded luxury, check into the Gara Rock Hotel located near beautiful Salcombe, which offers world-class amenities and spectacular clifftop views across rolling countryside and deserted beaches.
The Cotswolds
The Cotswolds is the largest Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in England and Wales and renowned for its chocolate box beauty. Here, charming Cotswold stone buildings steeped in history punctuating lush greenery (and rambling roses if you time it right). Holiday makers are spoilt for choice when it comes to quintessentially English market towns and villages to explore, such as Bath and Cheltenham, which buzz with cobbled lanes filled with independent shops, country pubs and farmers markets laden with fresh produce, while Tetbury brims with antiques.
Devonshire produce, particularly fresh clotted cream, ice cream and cheese, is world-renowned, and the county is home to four Michelin-starred restaurants. So, if you’ve been missing five-star hospitality and dining out over the past year (haven’t we all), a break in Devon may be just what the doctor ordered. Lympstone Manor, a Grade-II listed country house in the scenic Exe Estuary, should be on every foodie’s bucket list as the brainchild of celebrated chef Michael Cains. The hotel’s dining room picked up a Michelin star within just six months of opening in 2017, and even features its own vineyard and excellent wine cellar. Equally, The Pig at Combe is a popular outpost from the bovine boutique hotel group, with a back-to-nature ethos that centres around the local saying that ‘if you stick your finger in the ground it will grow.’ And for secluded luxury, check into the Gara Rock Hotel located near beautiful Salcombe, which offers world-class amenities and spectacular clifftop views across rolling countryside and deserted beaches.
The Cotswolds
The Cotswolds is the largest Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in England and Wales and renowned for its chocolate box beauty. Here, charming Cotswold stone buildings steeped in history punctuating lush greenery (and rambling roses if you time it right). Holiday makers are spoilt for choice when it comes to quintessentially English market towns and villages to explore, such as Bath and Cheltenham, which buzz with cobbled lanes filled with independent shops, country pubs and farmers markets laden with fresh produce, while Tetbury brims with antiques.
The gentle rolling hills and hedgerow-lined country lanes make the Cotswolds a perfect base for walking, cycling and general fresh air. Head to Lower Mill Estates, a lakeside nature reserve with private residences that boasts nine lakes and two rivers. Kayak, windsurf or practise your serve before a visit to the award-winning spa. When days call for adventures indoors, there are castles, stately homes and some of the finest historic buildings and churches to discover. For a taste of traditional country luxury, book a stay at The Lost Orangery, a two-bedroom rental cottage between Bath and Castle Combe, which sits nestled within estate grounds designed by the same team behind the world-renowned gardens at royal residence and Cotswold neighbour, Highgrove House.
Snowdonia
Home to Wales’s highest peak, this beautiful mountainous region in North Wales is famous for its stunning landscape and summit. The star attraction is, of course, hiking 3,560ft to the top of Mount Snowdon. The Llanberis Path is the longest route at nine miles, but offers the most gradual climb for novice hikers; allow six to eight hours to ascend and descend. If hiking isn’t really your thing then you don’t have to miss out on the spectacular views from the top, just hop aboard the Snowdon Mountain Railway and enjoy the ride as it winds up into the clouds.
Other attractions include the windswept golden beaches of the Llyn Peninsula – the town of Abersoch is renowned for its balmy microclimate and many of the Cheshire set decamp here during the summer months – Conwy Castle, a Unesco World Heritage Site, and some of the UK’s finest golf courses including Royal St David’s, Aberdovey and Nefyn.
The gentle rolling hills and hedgerow-lined country lanes make the Cotswolds a perfect base for walking, cycling and general fresh air. Head to Lower Mill Estates, a lakeside nature reserve with private residences that boasts nine lakes and two rivers. Kayak, windsurf or practise your serve before a visit to the award-winning spa. When days call for adventures indoors, there are castles, stately homes and some of the finest historic buildings and churches to discover. For a taste of traditional country luxury, book a stay at The Lost Orangery, a two-bedroom rental cottage between Bath and Castle Combe, which sits nestled within estate grounds designed by the same team behind the world-renowned gardens at royal residence and Cotswold neighbour, Highgrove House.
Snowdonia
Home to Wales’s highest peak, this beautiful mountainous region in North Wales is famous for its stunning landscape and summit. The star attraction is, of course, hiking 3,560ft to the top of Mount Snowdon. The Llanberis Path is the longest route at nine miles, but offers the most gradual climb for novice hikers; allow six to eight hours to ascend and descend. If hiking isn’t really your thing then you don’t have to miss out on the spectacular views from the top, just hop aboard the Snowdon Mountain Railway and enjoy the ride as it winds up into the clouds.
Other attractions include the windswept golden beaches of the Llyn Peninsula – the town of Abersoch is renowned for its balmy microclimate and many of the Cheshire set decamp here during the summer months – Conwy Castle, a Unesco World Heritage Site, and some of the UK’s finest golf courses including Royal St David’s, Aberdovey and Nefyn.
Reward yourself for a day of exertion by retreating to the luxury surrounds of five-star country house hotel Palé Hall. This Victorian mansion, situated within a country estate on the western edge of the national park, strikes a perfect balance of comfort and grandeur. Intricately decorated interiors, beautifully kept grounds and dramatic mountain vistas complement this magnificent Victorian manor, while Pelé Hall’s Henry Robertson Dining Room, presided over by head chef Gareth Stevenson, recently received a coveted Michelin Green Star award for its combined gastronomy and sustainability initiatives.
Norfolk
The East Anglian county’s vast endless skies, handsome flint houses, unspoilt beaches, and wonderful wildlife has long made it a covetable holiday destination. Recently, Norfolk’s burgeoning gastronomic scene, collection of fashionable hotels and chic villages have made it a popular retreat for Londoners longing for bucolic calm alongside contemporary comforts.
Burnham Market is known for its connections to Norfolk’s most famous son, Lord Nelson, as well as an enticing selection of boutiques and restaurants. Try the delicious fare and elegant rooms of Hoste and pop into Burnham Market Stores to pick up some tempting local produce. Nearby Holkham boasts possibly the finest beach in the UK: miles of unspoilt white sand next to rolling dunes that are home to an incredible variety of wildlife.
Reward yourself for a day of exertion by retreating to the luxury surrounds of five-star country house hotel Palé Hall. This Victorian mansion, situated within a country estate on the western edge of the national park, strikes a perfect balance of comfort and grandeur. Intricately decorated interiors, beautifully kept grounds and dramatic mountain vistas complement this magnificent Victorian manor, while Pelé Hall’s Henry Robertson Dining Room, presided over by head chef Gareth Stevenson, recently received a coveted Michelin Green Star award for its combined gastronomy and sustainability initiatives.
Norfolk
The East Anglian county’s vast endless skies, handsome flint houses, unspoilt beaches, and wonderful wildlife has long made it a covetable holiday destination. Recently, Norfolk’s burgeoning gastronomic scene, collection of fashionable hotels and chic villages have made it a popular retreat for Londoners longing for bucolic calm alongside contemporary comforts.
Burnham Market is known for its connections to Norfolk’s most famous son, Lord Nelson, as well as an enticing selection of boutiques and restaurants. Try the delicious fare and elegant rooms of Hoste and pop into Burnham Market Stores to pick up some tempting local produce. Nearby Holkham boasts possibly the finest beach in the UK: miles of unspoilt white sand next to rolling dunes that are home to an incredible variety of wildlife.
Next door, striking stately home Holkham Hall is worth visiting, and The Victoria Inn is one of the finest places to stay in the county. In east Norfolk, the Broads offers endless winding walking trails along peaceful waterways and quaint English seaside charm in nearby Great Yarmouth. Stay at singularly wonderful Fritton Lake, an ambitious rewilding project and sustainable private holiday club that combines superb local food and drink and exciting activities with boutique accommodation.
Margate and Kent Coast
Thanks to the recent regeneration of Margate and the picture-postcard appeal of nearby Whitstablem this stretch of the Kent coast has found its place firmly on the map.
The arrival of the Turner Contemporary in 2011, followed by the highly anticipated reopening of the retro Dreamland theme park just four years later, gave Margate a much-needed boost in popularity and economy. Ever since, Londoners have flocked to this seaside town for day trips and long weekends — some even choosing to put down roots here permanently, enticed by its artsy community and affordable period properties.
Next door, striking stately home Holkham Hall is worth visiting, and The Victoria Inn is one of the finest places to stay in the county. In east Norfolk, the Broads offers endless winding walking trails along peaceful waterways and quaint English seaside charm in nearby Great Yarmouth. Stay at singularly wonderful Fritton Lake, an ambitious rewilding project and sustainable private holiday club that combines superb local food and drink and exciting activities with boutique accommodation.
Margate and Kent Coast
Thanks to the recent regeneration of Margate and the picture-postcard appeal of nearby Whitstablem this stretch of the Kent coast has found its place firmly on the map.
The arrival of the Turner Contemporary in 2011, followed by the highly anticipated reopening of the retro Dreamland theme park just four years later, gave Margate a much-needed boost in popularity and economy. Ever since, Londoners have flocked to this seaside town for day trips and long weekends — some even choosing to put down roots here permanently, enticed by its artsy community and affordable period properties.
Just a 10-minute walk or a two-minute drive from the high street, Grassfield Hall Hotel is a stylish and sophisticated place to stay – a decadent Grade-II listed country house and grounds with eight individually designed en-suite bedrooms, close to stunning walks along the River Nidd, from which Nidderdale takes its name. Following the river for a mile and a half from Grassfield Hall — a pleasant 30 minute stroll taking in views of lush hillsides veined with dry stone walls and sweeping vistas down the valley — peckish walkers will be delighted to come across The Sportsman’s Arms, a welcoming lounge and restaurant that has been run by the same family for over 30 years. Nestled on the edge of idyllic village, Wath, the Sportsman’s prides itself on serving local ales from Timothy Taylors and the Black Sheep brewery at Masham, as well as the wide range of game on its menu – much of it shot within a mile of the restaurant. You might even catch a glimpse of Daniel Craig, who has been known to frequent the bar.
Just a 10-minute walk or a two-minute drive from the high street, Grassfield Hall Hotel is a stylish and sophisticated place to stay – a decadent Grade-II listed country house and grounds with eight individually designed en-suite bedrooms, close to stunning walks along the River Nidd, from which Nidderdale takes its name. Following the river for a mile and a half from Grassfield Hall — a pleasant 30 minute stroll taking in views of lush hillsides veined with dry stone walls and sweeping vistas down the valley — peckish walkers will be delighted to come across The Sportsman’s Arms, a welcoming lounge and restaurant that has been run by the same family for over 30 years. Nestled on the edge of idyllic village, Wath, the Sportsman’s prides itself on serving local ales from Timothy Taylors and the Black Sheep brewery at Masham, as well as the wide range of game on its menu – much of it shot within a mile of the restaurant. You might even catch a glimpse of Daniel Craig, who has been known to frequent the bar.
The journal — stories from
around the world
around the world
Explore Journal
The journal — stories from
around the world
around the world