logo
Ambleside's Wray Castle restoration under way

Ambleside's Wray Castle restoration under way

BBC Newsa day ago
Work is under way to restore a Gothic Victorian castle with links to Beatrix Potter.Wray Castle in Ambleside, Cumbria, was built in the 1840s and has been closed for conservation work to renovate the building and make it more resilient for the future.The castle is due to reopen in 2027 in the hope of becoming a gallery and exhibition space housing the National Trust's Beatrix Potter watercolour collection in honour of the children's author holidaying there in 1882.Laura Lee, general manager for the South Lakes National Trust, claimed the restoration was a "once-in-a-generation" opportunity.
Donated to the National Trust in 1929, it has been a visitor attraction since 2011 following periods of being used as a youth hostel, a base for the Freshwater Biological Association and a training college for Merchant Navy radio officers.Part of the castle's 64 acres (25.8 hectares) of grounds on the west shore of Windermere remain open to the public.
The conservation work includes roof repairs, rewiring, fire protection upgrades and improvements to security and environmental systems.The restoration of the estate's Glasshouse is under way and the Footman's Lodge has already been renovated."This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to give Wray Castle the care and attention it deserves," Ms Lee said."While the castle building is closed, the wider estate remains open."
Follow BBC Cumbria on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

'Simply magical' holiday destination named as 'UK's best summer escape'
'Simply magical' holiday destination named as 'UK's best summer escape'

Daily Mirror

time3 hours ago

  • Daily Mirror

'Simply magical' holiday destination named as 'UK's best summer escape'

The Lake District has been named the UK's best destination for a summer escape, but it matters when you visit. That said, one travel expert has shared her insight into when exactly to visit and how to prepare. It's no secret the Lake District boasts stunning landscapes, warm weather, and a wide range of outdoor activities. But Plates Express spoke to travel expert Katie Willis, founder of UK-based travel agency, to get an expert's intel. 'Summer is definitely peak season, so [the Lake District] is busier – especially during the school holidays, " says Katie. 'But the trade-off is well worth it. You get the full Lake District experience, from swimming in the lakes to ice cream in Ambleside.' Important to note considering a new heatwave forecast with maps reveals the exact date a 39C heat plume will scorch the UK. July and August are the Lake District's warmest months, with average temperatures ranging from 17°C to 22°C. The summer months also have the longest daylight hours, which is important if you're planning long days of hiking and boat excursions. 'The Lake District is simply magical in the summer. The scenery is alive with colour, the lakes are calm and clear, and the longer days give visitors more time to explore,' according to Katie. 'It's the perfect mix of nature, charm and adventure, all just a drive away for most people in the UK.' 'This mad holiday activity combines near-death experiences with cheese and wine' UK's most remote and underrated train station that rivals Hogwarts Express line Popular summer activities include hiking scenic trails like Friars Crag or the Old Man of Coniston or boating on Derwentwater or Ullswater. The villages of Grasmere, Hawkshead, and Keswick are also worth exploring. If you are keen to avoid the densest tourist crowds, Katie suggests planning your trip for the end of May or early September instead. The weather during these periods is still very pleasant and some hotels and B&Bs also offer lower rates during these off-peak weeks. No matter when you set off for the Lake District, you should prepare your vehicle for the long drive. Even navigating the country roads themselves can be tricky for those without experience driving on the narrow roads with sharp bends. 'Always check your car thoroughly the day before your trip, not on the morning you leave,' says a spokesperson from Plates Express. 'This gives you time to sort any issues. They continue: 'Check your lights, fluid levels, tyres, and number plates – and plan your route in advance. Mobile signal can be weak in parts of the Lake District, so download your maps if needed.' Prior to hitting the road you should double-check the tread and inflation of your tires–as they can wear down quicker during warm weather and on country roads like those of the Lake District. Be sure to top up your coolant, check your oil and - though it's tempting for long drives - do not overload your boot. That said, you should have plenty of water on hand for long summer drives.

5 of the best UK waterfront spots to visit this summer
5 of the best UK waterfront spots to visit this summer

Times

time7 hours ago

  • Times

5 of the best UK waterfront spots to visit this summer

Summer evenings by the canal underpass anyone? Yes, from Leeds to Leith the country's towpaths, wharfs and riversides have become a breeding ground for cult cafés and buzzy bars. Read on for our five top waterfront spots. On Edinburgh's northern edge sits the historic port of Leith, a once industrial heartland turned culinary mecca, with the highest concentration of Michelin stars in Scotland. The jewel in this gastronomic crown is Heron, with its smart dining room and farm-to-table philosophy (think hand-dived Orkney scallops and Speyside lamb). It even made history back in 2023, when its chef patron, Sam Yorke, then 25, became the youngest chef in Scotland to earn a Michelin star. The Kitchin is another standout (also starred) with its surprise tasting menus — an upscale take on lucky-dip dining. The grandaddy of them all is Martin Wishart — which opened in 1999, winning its own Michelin star two years later — recognised for putting Leith on the foodie map. Newest to the scene is Barry Fish with a menu of just six main courses. Still scratching your head? The lemon sole with sauce vermouth comes highly recommended. If there's one place where you're guaranteed to find the off-duty fashion pack on a sunny Sunday, it's the Towpath. This seemingly unassuming café has a crowd of feverish devotees (famous fans include Keira Knightley and Alexa Chung), all flocking to nibble away on its small plates, served up on mismatched crockery. Towpath sits beside the Regent's Canal in east London, and is joined by a host of other stylish outposts, such as Route Haggerston, a café popular with freelance graphic designers, and Arepa & Co, which serves up Venezuelan brunch plates including toston avo (avocado mash on a plantain crostini). Take a left and you're at Kingsland Basin, home to the Hackney mums' favourite Toconoco, a Japanese café with a kids-first MO, including a designated play space. But if people watching is your top priority, grab an oat flat white to go from the local bottle shop and vegan café Helma, and park up on a bench. Set among the railway arches leading into Leeds station, Granary Wharf offers buzzy late-licence pubs, bars and restaurants that will take you from an afternoon tipple to dancing into the wee hours, plus panoramic views of the Leeds and Liverpool Canal. Locals kick things off with a bite at Livin'Italy, where Nonna's meatballs and fresh crab meat pici are popular. If the sun's out, Water Lane Boathouse is the place to be. Just move quickly — it may be one of the city's largest beer gardens but canal-view benches are a hot commodity. NoNo Wine Bar is a new addition to the fold, with more than 50 wines sold by the glass. Ale more your speed? Then try Salt, where the locally brewed stuff is on tap until 1am. Afterwards, head to the Canal Club for a boogie. And if you wake up with a sore head, the best morning-after destination is the cult café Bake, which has divine laminated pastries. Built in the 1810s on the Sheffield Canal, these former coal yards are now attracting the city's young arty crowd. Yorkshire Artspace is housed in the brutalist Persistence Works and art deco Exchange Place (top), providing studio spaces for more than 160 local artists including ceramicists, sculptors and jewellers — much of their work is on display at the city's Millennium Gallery. Residents to note include the leather worker Jonathan Hyde of Hyde Wares and the artist Ashley Holmes, who last year was a recipient of a Serpentine fellowship. During the day find these new-gen makers at the canal-front bar and pizzeria True Loves; then in the evenings at Plot 22, a nearby music venue and studio space hosting underground gigs. Once a month the entire waterfront is transformed into a bustling street food market and makers fair where you can, ahem, eat your art out. If it's views you're after, nowhere does it like Llangollen, a picture-postcard-perfect outpost tucked away in Denbighshire, Wales. On the banks of the River Dee, this small town is perfect for outdoor types who fancy a spot of walking, cycling, rafting or canoeing the Pontcysyllte aqueduct, a Unesco world heritage site. Chill out afterwards in the pretty Corn Mill with glorious views over the Dee's white waters, or head to the sun-drenched RiverBanc café, which has a brunch menu of dreams, including a slow-cooked beef brisket wrap. Fancy staying the night? Stick with the great outdoors and book Hydra ( an Instagram-worthy off-grid two-person hut five minutes' drive out of town with nothing but the Welsh hills and a couple of board games for company.

Four-star migrant hotel hides Hilton signs after asylum seekers arrive in apparent bid to hide use from protesters
Four-star migrant hotel hides Hilton signs after asylum seekers arrive in apparent bid to hide use from protesters

The Sun

time9 hours ago

  • The Sun

Four-star migrant hotel hides Hilton signs after asylum seekers arrive in apparent bid to hide use from protesters

A FOUR-star hotel given over to asylum seekers has taken down its Hilton signs — in an apparent bid to hide it from anti-migrant protesters. It was converted for all-male arrivals in November despite concerns from locals that it is near several schools. 10 10 10 Now bosses at The DoubleTree by Hilton in Cranford, West London — a few miles from Heathrow — have removed all trace of its old identity, covering up the fact it ever hosted tourists and business travellers. Pictures show a large beige tarpaulin spread over a logo across the top of the building. Others have gone or been covered up from the entrance and car park area. Rooms at nearby DoubleTree hotels still open to the public cost between £91 and £260 a night. And snaps from the Cranford hotel last August show off its comfy rooms along with a gym and restaurant, though it is unclear if either of those are available to asylum seekers. Its website simply tells guests trying to book that no rooms are available 'for those dates'. Handing the hotel to migrants without warning has been criticised by a host of locals, including many of Asian heritage. Umme Khanzada, who runs a local environment group, told The Sun on Sunday: 'The hotel has totally changed the community. 'We are not against people coming to the UK or immigration, but the way this hotel has been opened is wrong.' The mum, 49, added: 'My daughter tells me they stare at her. I don't feel safe walking through the streets. I went out to the park and one of the migrants told me, 'This is our park. It's not your park anymore'. 'I think they have covered the signs up to protect DoubleTree and Hilton's reputation.' Emails between residents and Hounslow Council show locals being told: 'This decision was made by the Home Office without prior consultation with the local authority, stakeholders, or residents. 'We understand the frustration and uncertainty this has caused.' Last night ex-Tory minister Sir Alec Shelbrooke fumed: 'What the Government are doing quite frankly represents their utter failure on immigration. And the management of Hilton are taking the King's shilling from the Government, but they're not willing to let the public know that.' The DoubleTree is leased by the Home Office through Clearsprings Ready Homes. Its boss Graham King, dubbed the 'Asylum King', has a reported net worth of £750million. 10 Hilton were approached for comment. In London, a coach full of asylum seekers arrived at a controversial four-star Canary Wharf migrant hotel in the middle of the night. The Britannia International Hotel was closed to paying customers and converted into taxpayer-funded 'surge' accommodation for illegal arrivals last month. When open to the public, a standard room cost up to £425 — though it will cost the Home Office £81 a night. Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp told The Sun: 'This is one of the most luxurious hotels people can only dream of staying in, right in the heart of London's financial centre. This is an insult to law-abiding citizens.' The Government said: 'Since taking office, we have removed 35,000 people with no right to be here — up 28 per cent on the previous year. From 400 asylum hotels open in summer 2023, costing almost £9million a day, there are now less than 210. We want them all closed by the end of this Parliament.' ROOMS at the DoubleTree in Cranford come with massive double beds and TVs, the hotel's snaps show. Some also have lounge chairs and tables where residents can sit and work, as well as grand dressing tables and mirrors. 10 10 ARRESTS AT DEMO CLASHES 10 10 PROTESTERS clashed with police yesterday in demonstrations across the UK outside hotels housing asylum seekers. Nine arrests were made after pro and anti-migrant groups scuffled at the Thistle City Barbican in Islington, North London. Similar scenes played out at the New Bridge Hotel in Newcastle. In Manchester, far-right group Britain First held a march calling for mass deportations.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store