Travel

Winning tip: Breathtaking hills (in every sense), Lake District The Kentmere Horseshoe sits just inside the Lake District national park and it is not for the faint-hearted – the hills are steep but the vistas are more than worth it. Away from the tourist traps, it can give you an enormous sense of serenity. Fell ponies can wander by and on some days you might not see a soul. The route includes numerous summits and the views into the valleys are hard to beat. The Kentmere Valley houses a reservoir, slate mines and the ruins of ancient iron age settlements, so there’s always something of interest to see. A great adventure.Christina Loveridge … [Read more...] about 10 of the best places to run in the UK: readers’ tips

But thanks to the glitzy world of reality TV, no travel ban can stop Aussies from experiencing every drama-filled moment the UK has to offer - and within seconds of pressing play, you’ll feel like like you’re sipping a cocktail with the stars themselves. … [Read more...] about There might be a travel ban but you can still get your UK fix right now! Here’s how you can stream the best British reality TV with the new seasons of TOWIE and Made in Chelsea

Bryn’s zeal took me to the River Great Ouse at Olney, a fantastic swim spot he was keen to show off. There’s every variation of green: newly mown, the lime zing of twisting willow leaves, the boiled blue-green of stiff reeds and the dull felt of the deeper water. Where the river makes a small swoop, the council have added wide steps for an easy entry point, contradicting the nearby sign that says Swimming Not Recommended. Bryn explained how that sign read No Swimming for a while, but local people complained, as swimming here has tradition. As if to prove the point, as we got out, a gang of teenage boys launched themselves in with the abandonment of young people who have just finished an exam. … [Read more...] about A river-swimmer’s paradise in the heart of England

As we reached the car, something obvious occurred to me. Wordsworth’s “immortal talking trout”. They were me and Suzanna, and all the people who came before us, and all the ones who’ll come after, not dumbstruck by this place but inspired by it, full of words. Suzanna has nothing troutish about her, but for myself? Immortal talking trout? I’ve been called far worse.• Suzanna Cruickshank can be contacted on Facebook and through suzannaswims.co.uk. Further descriptions of her swims in the Lake District can be found at wildswim.com. Golakes.co.uk provided the trip, with hotel accommodation at Allerdale Court Hotel, travel with Virgin Trains and bus transfers with Stagecoach. … [Read more...] about Different strokes: a wild mountain swim in the Lake District

McClarkin added: “As an industry we recognise the need to continue to support the government and local communities to manage the risk of rising infection rates. Pubs have been adapting to the ‘new normal’ over the past few months and will continue to do so, but pubs were struggling to break even before today and these latest restrictions may push some to breaking point.” … [Read more...] about Curfews will ruin sector ‘already on its knees’, pubs warn Boris Johnson