Latest news with #Cotswolds
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Yahoo
5 of the best farm shops in Cumbria to visit
Farm shops seem to be the 'in-thing' thanks to Mr Clarkson and his hit farming reality TV show Clarkson's Farm. Fans have flocked to the Cotswolds to sample his 'farm-to-fork' British produce at Diddly Squat, however, local farms grow produce just as good, or maybe better, closer to home. To help you find these local farm shops, or avoid the long drive to 'Jezza's', we have picked out the best rated farm shops in Cumbria. Tebay services is known nationwide (Image: Newsquest) Your standard motorway stop? Spare me. Tebay is the Michelin-starred drama queen of service stations — ducks waddling past your window, artisan sausage rolls in hand, folks singing hymns to the Herdwick lamb. Working with over 70 local producers, it's like a farmer's market crashed the M6. Home to a masterful whole‑animal butchery counter, crafting everything from Cumberland sausages to native-breed Herdwick mutton and wild game — all sourced from their own Chapel Farm and nearby producers. Grab an in-house fry-up — or just gawp at the butchers counter. Take Frank Skinner's word, he dubbed it 'the motorway service station from heaven'. A charming look for a must visit! (Image: Archive)A 17th-century barn that's basically the posh cousin you never knew existed. Packed with Kendal cheeses, chutneys, cakes, and an irresistible two‑mile faerie trail. Kids can watch cows milked live, while mum and dad sip tea, thinking 'wow, this is better than that TV show shop'. It isn't just the produce that Sizergh can brag about, awards that have been given to the shop include the Times top‑10 UK farm shops, the Speciality & Fine Food Fair Awards and the Guardian fave. Visitors must try the raw milk straight from the vending machine — because who doesn't want milk on tap? A meat lovers dream (Image: Archive)This century-old charmer near Kendal is stuffed to bursting with master-butcher meats, Luxury Lakes ice cream, artisan gins, and a range of products so admirable, there's something for everyone. In operation since 2001 on land farmed by the Hodgson family for a century. Run by Victoria and daughter Anna with traditional butchery and links to surrounding farms, the shop is a must visit. Be sure to bring meat lovers, the shop stocks local salt‑marsh lamb, beef, pork, and expertly crafted meat packs (family, BBQ, slim‑pack) are top‑shelf, with a loyalty card rewarding every £15 spent. A delight for Carlisle-bound wanderers—this gem combines a tea room, bakery, gift shop, kitchenware, and ice cream so good you'll forget the fells are outside Opened in 1996 to showcase in‑house dairy ice cream (winner of multiple national Ice Cream Alliance awards); the owners expanded with a tearoom (1998), bakery (2001); and now you can find a full tea-room with three-course specials and Sunday lunches. Savvy snackers and shoppers can browse biscuits, sweets, preserves, chutneys, gifts, or use the car park to pop in quickly — open 10–5 summer, 10–4:30 winter Lesser known, but a seriously good hidden gem, this down-to-earth shop is where the real culinary lords of Cumbria hang, offering succulent meats and warming baked goods without the motorway fanfare. Sample some treats in the shop, where you'll receive a warm welcome, then take your pick from the shop counter. Helpful staff are on hand to assist you in making the perfect selection. This shop is great for stocking up on local provisions if you're brave enough to plan a self-catering holiday in the Lake District.
The Sun
5 hours ago
- Business
- The Sun
One of the UK's oldest holiday parks reveals £6million upgrade plans with new glamping pods and sky terrace
A HOLIDAY park group in the UK has revealed some of the exciting new additions coming to the resorts as part of a multi-million revamp. Allens Caravans - which is one of the oldest family-run residential and holiday park groups in the UK - has already begun upgrades at it's sites. 3 3 For example, in Worcestershire, the Abbots Salford park has new lodge accommodation and refreshed the onsite facilities. The main clubhouse has also had a mini refurbishment, with the introduction of a new food and drinks offering, the creation of a new Owners' Lounge for holiday homeowners, an improved fishing lake, a new children's outdoor play area and new pool tables. The park also has a new entertainment programme. Over at the Bredon View site, in the Cotswolds - which has a golf course and a back-to-nature vibe - there will be new activities such as croquet and bike hire. Coastal spots such as Sunbeach and Aber Bay in Wales, both have new glamping pods with boutique-style living and sleeping spaces for up to six people as well as hot tubs. At Sunbeach, the clubhouse has also undergone refurbishment and there is a new adventure golf course. At Aber Bay, there will soon be a new sky terrace, food truck on the beach and a camping fielding in time for August breaks. Both parks will also have an improved entertainment programme for the summer holidays. Over in Northamptonshire, at the Overstone Lakes Holiday Park, there will be a new holiday home development made up of 21 luxury homes. The park will also see an improved clubhouse and an outdoor container bar and stag e with live performances and visiting entertainment acts. Award-winning holiday park in St Ives Prices for the new properties start at £260,000 for the two-bedroom Willerby Forest. Overstone Lakes will also gain a new enclosed dog walking area and improvements to the swimming pool area, changing room and pool bar. Allens Caravans CEO James Allen said: "Our parks offer a mixture of coast, countryside and lake-side locations, and a wide range of facilities and activities – so there is something for everyone. "We have made it a priority that all of the new developments, however sizeable, blend harmoniously with the surrounding countryside, staying true to the natural charm of the parks. "We've always been committed to creating a welcoming and comfortable environment for our residents, and this latest investment is a reflection of that commitment." A three bedroom, pet-friendly caravan at Sunbeach Holiday Park costs from £199 for seven nights through Hoseasons. Alternatively, you could book into a Nautical Pod for seven nights, with up to six guests and have a private hot tub for £405. Over at Aber Bay, you could stay for seven nights for as little as £265. In addition, Hoseasons is currently offering up to £350 off summer breaks booked before July 2, for stays between June 17 and September 20, 2025. There is also an affordable UK holiday park that mums say is like Center Parcs without the price tag. Plus, the award-winning UK holiday park that you probably don't know about – with huge outdoor pool and nearby world-famous beach. 3
Daily Mail
7 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Holly Valance, 42, SPLITS from billionaire property tycoon husband Nick Candy, 52, after years of living separate lives
Holly Valance has split from billionaire property tycoon husband Nick Candy after 13 years of marriage and a long time living separate lives MailOnline can reveal. The ex Neighbours actress, 42, who has reinvented herself as a conservative firebrand, is said to have been left lonely while the Reform Party treasurer, 52, tends to his business ventures around the world. A source told MailOnline: 'They have been living separate lives for a long time, he's travelling a lot and it's been a lonely life for Holly. 'Nick has businesses in Dubai and London, The Reform Party.' The couple are parents to daughters Luka, 11, and Nova, seven, and tied the knot back in September 2012 in Beverly Hills. A spokesman for the couple said: 'This is a private matter and we will not be making any further comment.' The estranged couple were last pictured together in March, with Holly dressed in £10K of designer clothing as they enjoyed a swanky lunch together in London. They wed in 2012 a lavish £3million ceremony with guests including Elton John, Simon Cowell as well as Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie. Together they have enjoyed a lavish lifestyle and previously lived in a two-storey Hyde Park penthouse worth £175million, making it Britain's most expensive flat. Nick and Holly have since downsized to a £10million countryside mansion in the Cotswolds, which they have been renovating. In 2020, Nick gifted Holly with a £26million superyacht, despite the mother-of-two famously suffering from sea sickness. The businessman who previously poured millions into Conservative coffers, became Farage's party treasurer earlier this year. Both he and his former singer and actress wife have made little secret of their support for Farage. As far ago as 2022 they joined him and then incoming US president Donald Trump for dinner at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida. A source told MailOnline: 'They have been living separate lives for a long time, he's travelling a lot and it's been a lonely life for Holly' As far ago as 2022 the former couple joined Farage and then incoming US president Donald Trump for dinner at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florid Holly also hosted fundraisers for Reform and they were in the audience when Farage returned as Party leader last year. The former soap star has spent the last decade focusing on her personal life and political interests. She launched her acting career in 1999 after winning the role of Felicity Scully in Neighbours, which she played until 2002. The Melbourne-born actress later moved to America and starred in several popular US movies and TV shows, including Taken, Entourage and Prison Break. She semi-retired from the industry in 2015, although she made a brief cameo on Neighbours in 2022. She raised eyebrows last year after slamming Greta Thunberg as a 'demonic little gremlin' and claiming Australia has become 'too woke' in a TV interview. Holly criticised climate activist Thunberg to podcast host Christopher Hope. 'I don't understand why you have this, like, demonic little gremlin high priestess of climatism as the goddess in classrooms, Greta [Thunberg],' she said. 'All the kids are all coming home with depression and anxiety. She Valance also told LBC radio she had donated around £100,000 to Reform. She and Candy were both seen at the Reform conference at Birmingham's National Exhibition Centre. There have previously been signs of a political split in their household, with the billionaire businessman a former Tory donor who backed Labour at the general election, before jumping ship join his wife and Reform.
BBC News
7 hours ago
- General
- BBC News
Gloucestershire in Pictures: Lavender fields and river blessing
The longest day of the year has come and gone, but summer still has plenty to offer in week saw an unusual spiritual blessing, and recognition for people working to change lives through sport and lavender fields are blooming and a group of volunteers marched through the night to clear litter off the Cotswold Way. Blessing: This week held the Blessing of the River Avon in a call for renewed environmental responsibility and action on water pollution. The blessing of the river near Tewkesbury Abbey is both spiritual and symbolic and happens after a full outdoor procession through the town. Recognition: Two of Cheltenham Town Community Trust's long-standing team members have been marking 10 years of dedicated service. Chantelle Goldsworthy, Head of Education and Ryan Godwin, Community Coach and Premier League Primary Stars Lead, are both celebrating 10 years of working in sport and education in the county. Help needed: Cotswold Dogs and Cats Home have launched an appeal for donations for little Reef, who was born with a severely deformed front leg and now has a large umbilical hernia that needs surgery. Purple haze: Cotswold Lavender is now open for viewing until 6 August. The fields opened earlier than usual this year as the lavender grew so fast. Strike a pose: We couldn't resist including this picture that came in to our weather watcher inbox this week. This dog looks to be enjoying the sunshine in St Briavels. Litter champions: Thousands of items of rubbish have been collected following an all-night litter pick along the Cotswold Way. Volunteers collected nearly 2,000 pieces of rubbish during the 14-hour, 26-mile walk on the night of the summer solstice. Embracing nature: Students at National Star College near Cheltenham teamed up with ecologists to find and identify the species found on their 80-acre site. The students found that hedgehogs, rabbits, deer and foxes call the college's grounds home, as well as a huge variety of insects, including many butterflies.
Daily Mail
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Cotswolds power list revealed by society snitches: The ultimate knives-out guide
Beyonce and Jay Z house-hunting in the Cotswolds proves what locals have long known: it's no longer just a weekend spot for hedge funders and heritage breeds – it's where the world's most powerful people are coming to put down roots. The Cotswolds has undergone a radical transformation. The lanes are still winding, the walls still honey-stoned – but behind the gates these days are A-list stars, media moguls and Hollywood exports planting vines and rewilding their tennis courts.
