Indholdsfortegnelse for Autumn/Winter 2020 i British Travel Journal

Meet the Makers ISLE OF ARRAN GIN There’s a growing artisanal movement on Scotland’s Isle of Arran, and now it has its first craft gin. From a cosy lounge by the crackling fire at Cladach Beach House, we meet the locals behind the brand Words | Karyn Noble A small island off the southwest coast of Scotland, Arran is accessed via the daily car ferry from the mainland; the occasionally-snow-capped Goat Fell, its highest mountain, looming dramatically into view. It’s a trip that takes just under an hour from Ardrossan, wild weather pending, but the island’s peaceful charm is immediate. Popular with hikers and cyclists for its stunning landscapes, Arran is also home to some impressive food and drink producers, with whisky, cheese and ice cream being strong drawcards. But…

EDITOR'S HIGHLIGHTS YOU MIGHT ALSO ENJOY Visiting the Fowey Aquarium: Pop into the charmingly old fashioned Fowey Aquarium on the Town Quay where you can literally get in touch with local sea creatures in the petting pool. A great nostalgic fishy fix. Taking a ferry trip to Polruan: Take the passenger ferry across the harbour to Polruan and explore the narrow lanes that climb steeply through the village, or out towards the medieval blockhouse. Hiring an open cockpit canoe: Take to the water yourself on an escorted river trip in an open cockpit canoe, perfect for observing the abundant river wildlife and a real adventure even if you’re a total novice. Taking a countryside hike: There are many fantastic coastal and woodland walks around the area including The Hall Walk…

10 OF THE BEST DOG FRIENDLY HOLIDAYS Words | Emma O'Reilly 1 FOR BEACH LOVING DOGS If your pet loves nothing better than tiring themselves out with runs and ball games on the sand, the Bijou Apartment in trendy Rock, Cornwall, should be on your holiday wishlist. As the name suggests this is a cute little crash pad for two with stonking sea views and the beach just steps away across the coastal road. The huge windows and decked balcony afford sweeping vistas across the Camel Estuary. Rock is a great place to hang out year round, with sophisticated eateries both here and in nearby Padstow from the likes of Nathan Outlaw and Rick Stein. beachretreats.co.uk 2 FOR DOWN WITH IT DOGS Hipster hounds should get themselves and their humans…

BRITISH TRAVEL JOURNAL CROSSWORD 07 The first correct crossword received will be rewarded with a free gift from The Travelling Reader. Simply send your completed crossword (or the answers) with your choice of The Original, The London, or Simply British Tastes box, (thetravellingreader.com) and your postal address, by post to British Travel Journal, Mitchell House, Brook Avenue, Warsash, Southampton, Hampshire, SO31 9HP, or email the answers to crossword@britishtraveljournal.com ACROSS 8 Tree whose product is used in making soap (3,4) 9 Symbol of Christmas (4,3) 10 Card game or brandy (8) 11 Wifely word (6) 12 Grand National site (7) 13 Point at the western end of the Jurassic Coast (7) 14 Invasion vessels of 1944 (1,1,2) 17 Loch with the Falls of Lora at its mouth (5) 19 Fake (4)…

WHAT'S NEW TRAVEL NEWS Destinations | Renovations | Launches | Celebrations LARGEST UK EXHIBITION OF OUTDOOR SCULPTURES Influential works of British sculptor Anish Kapoor will exhibit in the grounds and historic interiors of Houghton Hall in Norfolk. The exhibition features 24 mirror and stone sculptures as well as drawings, challenging the classical architecture of the house and the idyllic beauty of the grounds, whilst being in continuous dialogue and engagement with Houghton’s history. Anish Kapoor is one of the most influential sculptors working today, known for creating ambitious public sculptures adventurous in both form and engineering across vastly different scales and materials. Exhibition runs until 1 Nov 2020, tickets for adults £16, students £10. houghtonhall.com…

WILD WALES To the west of England lies a Celtic principality that has been attracting English tourists for centuries. Words | Adrian Mourby THERE IS AN OLD SAYING that if the steep hills and deep valleys of Wild Wales were smoothed out, England’s western neighbour would actually be the bigger country. Wales used to be considered a dangerous place full of mountains and precipices, deluged with rain and populated by superstitious druids who spoke a strange language. Then in the eighteenth century, the English found it was no longer safe to travel to revolutionary Europe in search of inspiring landscapes. So Wales became popular with poets and artists, clutching their notebooks and phrasebooks. Once the railways arrived in the nineteenth century, Wales became a place for affordable holidays, with the…

BRITAIN’S BEST PANORAMAS From West Country tors, Scottish mountain summits to elevated city views, feel on top of the world with our selection of Britain’s most awesome panoramas. Words | Max Wooldridge ZIP WORLD WALES AND LIVERPOOL See Liverpool like never before when the UK’s first urban zipwire opens in summer 2021. This fun new 400m aerial wire will run from the top of St John's Beacon over St George's Place, St John's Gardens and William Brown Street before touchdown on the roof of Liverpool Central Library. If you can’t wait until next summer to fly, Zip World already operates at three sites in North Wales - including Penrhyn Slate Quarry (as pictured) - the fastest zip line in the world and the longest in Europe! zipworld.co.uk GLASTONBURY TOR SOMERSET…

STUART & GEORGE’S FOOD TIPS ON ARRAN The local lads favour independent places that are in keeping with their rustic, pared-back, community-spirited ethos. Mara Fish Bar & Deli: “Offers an authentic taste of the windswept, salty Arran coastline. It’s not a fishmongers or a fish-and-chip shop, it’s proper cheffy fish. Local catches always come with a twist; think of it as a premium takeaway served up right by the beach.” mara-arran.co.uk The French Fox: “The best of traditional French cooking sold from a cute old Peugeot van, which they drive around the island.” facebook.com/thefrenchfoxfood The Sandwich Station: “It’s a hut in the middle of nowhere which is so cosy you think ‘I shouldn’t be getting a sandwich this good from this hut in this place’.” thesandwichstation.weebly.com Isle of Arran Cheese…

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EDITOR'S HIGHLIGHTS ALFRESCO DINING Enjoy traditional English dishes freshly prepared with a modern twist. Order from the 3 course à la carte menu or selection of lighter bites and home cooked classics. The food is delicious and can be delivered to your door, to be enjoyed on your terrace, or to your own private dining Pod in the garden. COASTAL FOOTPATHS The Beachcroft Beach Huts are situated on a seven mile coastal footpath, and with a plethora of doggy friendly trails including the stunning South Down Way and local heritage trails on your doorstep you are spoilt for choice. ENJOYING THE WATER West Wittering is the place to go for watersports, including paddleboarding and windsurfing hire - its about a half an hour drive. Or if you prefer to stay…

VIEWPOINT Captivating images from our favourite photographers to take you there in an instant. This issue we feature Andrew Ray, a full time professional landscape photographer, specialising in the UK Words | Emma O'Reilly OTTER ISLAND “THIS PHOTO WAS TAKEN AT OTTER ISLAND IN ABBOTS BAY NEAR THE SOUTHERN END OF DERWENTWATER IN THE LAKE DISTRICT NATIONAL PARK. I TOOK THIS ON A MORNING IN LATE OCTOBER WHEN THE SURFACE OF THE LAKE WAS STILL ENOUGH FOR REFLECTIONS TO BE CAPTURED.” ST MICHAEL'S MOUNT “THE CAUSEWAY TO ST MICHAEL'S MOUNT IN CORNWALL PARTIALLY COVERED BY THE INCOMINGTIDE. THE PICTURE WAS TAKEN SHORTLY BEFORE SUNSET USING A ONE-SECOND SHUTTER SPEED TO BLUR THE MOVEMENT IN A BREAKING WAVE.” BLACK ROCK COTTAGE “BLACK ROCK COTTAGE ON RANNOCH MOOR IN THE SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS…

THE BEST UK RAIL TRAILS Walk or cycle along a former railway line Words | Adrienne Wyper TAKING TO A former railway line trail makes for an easy-to-follow route that’s easy on the legs, whether you’re walking or cycling. That’s because you can rely on ‘rail trails’ to be reasonably level (as trains struggle with steep gradients) with no stiles to negotiate, which makes it possible to walk the dog or push a pram. They’re well marked, and dotted alongside are cycle-hire centres, pubs, cafés, picnic areas and artworks. You’ll see traces of the stations they used to serve along the way – like platforms, signal-boxes and ancient rolling stock – as you go along, over and through embankments, cuttings, viaducts, bridges and tunnels. There are over 100 ‘rail trails’ in…

INTERVIEW WITH LUKE MATTHEWS Five-star Chewton Glen has stood the test of time with aplomb, here its Executive Head Chef reveals the secret to its timeless elegance and tremendous new offerings Words | Chantal Borciani Chewton Glen NOW MORE THAN ever travellers are looking for a safe haven where they can spend time with their nearest and dearest in reassuring comfort. Chewton Glen is just this type of sanctuary – one of the first iconic British countryside hotels, the five-star Hampshire residence is only a few minutes’ walk from the sea and features an award-winning restaurant, world-class spa, nine-hole golf course, croquet lawn, tennis courts, walled gardens, orchard, a cookery school, and 72 individually designed bedrooms and suites including 14 tree-house suites nestled in the canopy of the woodland grounds.…

48 HOURS IN FOWEY With its open spaces and beautiful beaches, it comes as no surprise that Cornwall tops the table as one of the most sought-after destinations to visit post lockdown. Jessica Way finds sanctuary on the lesser-known Polperro Heritage Coast, avoiding the crowds and embracing the Cornish Riviera lifestyle Words | Jessica Way WHERE WE STAYED FOWEY HALL HOTEL Perched up high on the hillside we stand together for a moment, bags down by our sides, in awe of the sweeping views, beautiful sounds from the harbour, the glistening blue river and the small fishing village of Polruan on the opposite bank. We’d arrived at our luxury home-from-home getaway for the weekend, the majestic Fowey Hall Hotel, South Cornwall The original inspiration for Toad Hall in The Wind…

THE BIRCH If you’re yearning for a UK mini-break with a difference then you’ll be hard pushed to find a better escape than The Birch - the UK’s most trendy new hotel to open this year. Unleash your creativity, feel at peace and be prepared to be impressed. Words | Jessica Way IT IS EASY TO INTRODUCE The Birch as you would for any luxury new hotel launch, it’s a 140-bedroom converted Georgian Mansion, set in Theobalds 55-acre Estate, Hertfordshire, just 30 minutes from London’s Liverpool Street Station. However, this is where the comparison ends, as The Birch is not like any other hotel, it’s a totally new concept - I expect you’re either going to love it or hate it. Even the name, Birch (handle.silk.comet), takes on an innovative…