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Scottish Sun
10-07-2025
- Scottish Sun
I cycled across the UK and people always make the same mistake when visiting the Cotswolds – here's where to go instead
Plus, where to find a legendary pub in Wales that only sells one kind of beer ON YER BIKE I cycled across the UK and people always make the same mistake when visiting the Cotswolds – here's where to go instead Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) WHEN exploring a new part of the country, it's easy to get swept up with the trends and head to the most well-known parts - but you'll definitely hit crowds. Steve Silk, author of Go West, travelled from London to Fishguard on his bike and reveals the remote and less touristy spots that people should be seeking out instead, especially in the ever-popular Cotswolds. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 7 Steve cycled from central London to Wales covering 300 miles in 8 days Credit: Steve Silk 7 Along the way Steve found a Cotswold village with barely any tourists Credit: Alamy Steve told Sun Travel: "The Cotswolds is lovely, but what people get wrong there is they go to the same few locations, like Bourton-on-the-Water or Bibury; everyone goes there. "Those places are chock-a-block full of coaches and ice cream vans, they're the kind of tourist stops that I'm not really into. "I was on my bike and discovered dozens of gorgeous Cotswold villages that won't get any attention from most of the tourists - I got them all to myself." Steve believes half the joy of cycling, rather than being in a car, is that you accidentally stumble upon places you wouldn't necessarily see when going straight from A to B. One almost deserted village that Steve found was in the Windrush Valley. He added: "It was a little village called Windrush, and I had it all to myself. "The landscape was amazing, it had all that wonderful limestone that you get all over the place in the Cotswolds. "Cyclists have a superpower - we're the only ones that know about this place. I always don't want to tell you about it, because I'd like to keep it that way." "But too many people go to the same places, we should be a little more adventurous in where we go and spread the net a little wider." Steve's adventure took him across 300 miles of the UK, so there are a few other places he accidentally found - including an incredibly remote pub. Views of Bibury, Cotswold 7 The journey 300 mile journey ended in the Welsh town of Fishguard Credit: Alamy 7 The Dyffryn Arms is a gem amongst locals but unknown with tourists Credit: Alamy Steve, who travelled for four days alone, and four with friends, said: "We found a lovely pub in the middle of absolutely nowhere in Pembrokeshire where they only sold one kind of beer and only took cash. "The beer came from a keg out the back, and the decor looked like it hadn't changed in 100 years." The pub in question is the Dyffryn Arms which is a gem amongst locals. But tourists rarely stumble upon it because of its tucked away location in a valley around six miles outside of Fishguard. Steve told us: "It's a wonderful example of Wales keeping its secrets well-hidden, you'd struggle to find it if you didn't know it was there." And it seems those who manage to find agree with Steve, as they've dubbed it a "rare find". Steve added that the pub was often referred to as Bessie's because of the legendary landlady that had worked there since the 1950s. Another spot in Wales that Steve suggested for anyone seeking tough hills or hiking with a view that can't be beaten, is the area around LLandovery - a town that has snug pubs and coffee workshops. Llandovery sits next to the River Tywi and it's close to the Brecon Beacons National Park. For fans of history, it's also near Y Pigwn, a famous Roman site where there are still cobblestones on the roads from thousands of years ago. More impressively, Steve said: "You can see across to the Black Mountains, and the Tywi Valley" which is one of the reasons why Steve wants to encourage Brits to explore more of the UK. He said: "Britain's got so much to offer. Especially as I get increasingly fed up with arriving at an airport at three hours early and then waiting for a flight, and being on the flight - it's a full day, isn't it? "If you set off on the bike, just think what you can do in those eight hours. "It's a whole extra day at each end that you've got. Britain is one of those countries where OK even if you're living in the city, you could be in the countryside in three quarters of an hour. "And if you've got there under your own steam, you appreciate the beauty of Gloucester and Oxford so much more." 7 Steve was accompanied by his mates for four of the days Credit: Steve Silk 7 Steve documented his journey in his new book called Go West Credit: Steve Silk Steve completed his journey in Fishguard, which is known for its beauty, and being one of the best UK seaside towns to move to in 2025. Steve told us: "It's important when you're finishing a 300 mile journey that you feel as if the destination's worth it, right? "You want it to have a sense of closure, and it was lovely to see the sea in Fishguard's Lower Town. "We went to was a very cosy little pub, The Royal Oak, where we had a couple of drinks and raised a glass to a job well done." Steve travelled from central London to the Welsh coast in eight days through beautiful villages and tackling some very steep hills. Read more about his journey in Go West, out July 10, 2025.
The Irish Sun
10-07-2025
- The Irish Sun
I cycled across the UK and people always make the same mistake when visiting the Cotswolds – here's where to go instead
WHEN exploring a new part of the country, it's easy to get swept up with the trends and head to the most well-known parts - but you'll definitely hit crowds. Steve Silk, author of Go West, travelled from London to 7 Steve cycled from central London to Wales covering 300 miles in 8 days Credit: Steve Silk 7 Along the way Steve found a Cotswold village with barely any tourists Credit: Alamy Steve told Sun Travel: "The Cotswolds is lovely, but what people get wrong there is they go to the same few locations, like "Those places are chock-a-block full of coaches and ice cream vans, they're the kind of tourist stops that I'm not really into. "I was on my bike and discovered dozens of gorgeous Cotswold villages that won't get any attention from most of the tourists - I got them all to myself." Steve believes half the joy of cycling, rather than being in a car, is that you accidentally stumble upon places you wouldn't necessarily see when going straight from A to B. One almost deserted village that Steve found was in the Windrush Valley. He added: "It was a little village called "The landscape was amazing, it had all that wonderful limestone that you get all over the place in the "Cyclists have a superpower - we're the only ones that know about this place. I always don't want to tell you about it, because I'd like to keep it that way." Most read in News Travel "But too many people go to the same places, we should be a little more adventurous in where we go and spread the net a little wider." Steve's adventure took him across 300 miles of the UK, so there are a few other places he accidentally found - including an incredibly remote pub. Views of Bibury, Cotswold 7 The journey 300 mile journey ended in the Welsh town of Fishguard Credit: Alamy 7 The Dyffryn Arms is a gem amongst locals but unknown with tourists Credit: Alamy Steve, who travelled for four days alone, and four with friends, said: "We found a lovely pub in the middle of absolutely nowhere in Pembrokeshire where they only sold one kind of beer and only took cash. "The beer came from a keg out the back, and the decor looked like it hadn't changed in 100 years." The pub in question is the Dyffryn Arms which is a gem amongst locals. But tourists rarely stumble upon it because of its tucked away location in a valley around six miles outside of Fishguard. Steve told us: "It's a wonderful example of Wales keeping its secrets well-hidden, you'd struggle to find it if you didn't know it was there." And it seems those who manage to find agree with Steve, as they've dubbed it a "rare find". Steve added that the pub was often referred to as Bessie's because of the legendary landlady that had worked there since the 1950s. Another spot in Wales that Steve suggested for anyone seeking tough hills or hiking with a view that can't be beaten, is the area around LLandovery - a town that has Llandovery sits next to the River Tywi and it's close to the Brecon Beacons National Park. For fans of history, it's also near Y Pigwn, a famous Roman site where there are still cobblestones on the roads from thousands of years ago. More impressively, Steve said: "You can see across to the He said: "Britain's got so much to offer. Especially as I get increasingly fed up with arriving at an airport at three hours early and then waiting for a flight, and being on the flight - it's a full day, isn't it? "If you set off on the bike, just think what you can do in those eight hours. "It's a whole extra day at each end that you've got. Britain is one of those countries where OK even if you're living in the city, you could be in the countryside in three quarters of an hour. "And if you've got there under your own steam , you appreciate the beauty of 7 Steve was accompanied by his mates for four of the days Credit: Steve Silk 7 Steve documented his journey in his new book called Go West Credit: Steve Silk Steve completed his journey in Fishguard, which is known for its beauty, and being Steve told us: "It's important when you're finishing a 300 mile journey that you feel as if the destination's worth it, right? "You want it to have a sense of closure, and it was lovely to see the sea in "We went to was a very cosy little pub, The Royal Oak, where we had a couple of drinks and raised a glass to a job well done." Read more on the Irish Sun Steve travelled from central London to the Welsh coast in eight days through beautiful villages and tackling some very steep hills. Read more about his journey in 7 Read more about Steve's journey from London to the Welsh Coast in Go West Credit: Steve Silk
The Sun
10-07-2025
- The Sun
I cycled across the UK and people always make the same mistake when visiting the Cotswolds – here's where to go instead
WHEN exploring a new part of the country, it's easy to get swept up with the trends and head to the most well-known parts - but you'll definitely hit crowds. Steve Silk, author of Go West, travelled from London to Fishguard on his bike and reveals the remote and less touristy spots that people should be seeking out instead, especially in the ever-popular Cotswolds. 7 7 Steve told Sun Travel: "The Cotswolds is lovely, but what people get wrong there is they go to the same few locations, like Bourton-on-the-Water or Bibury; everyone goes there. "Those places are chock-a-block full of coaches and ice cream vans, they're the kind of tourist stops that I'm not really into. "I was on my bike and discovered dozens of gorgeous Cotswold villages that won't get any attention from most of the tourists - I got them all to myself." Steve believes half the joy of cycling, rather than being in a car, is that you accidentally stumble upon places you wouldn't necessarily see when going straight from A to B. One almost deserted village that Steve found was in the Windrush Valley. He added: "It was a little village called Windrush, and I had it all to myself. "The landscape was amazing, it had all that wonderful limestone that you get all over the place in the Cotswolds. "Cyclists have a superpower - we're the only ones that know about this place. I always don't want to tell you about it, because I'd like to keep it that way." "But too many people go to the same places, we should be a little more adventurous in where we go and spread the net a little wider." Steve's adventure took him across 300 miles of the UK, so there are a few other places he accidentally found - including an incredibly remote pub. Views of Bibury, Cotswold 7 7 Steve, who travelled for four days alone, and four with friends, said: "We found a lovely pub in the middle of absolutely nowhere in Pembrokeshire where they only sold one kind of beer and only took cash. "The beer came from a keg out the back, and the decor looked like it hadn't changed in 100 years." The pub in question is the Dyffryn Arms which is a gem amongst locals. But tourists rarely stumble upon it because of its tucked away location in a valley around six miles outside of Fishguard. Steve told us: "It's a wonderful example of Wales keeping its secrets well-hidden, you'd struggle to find it if you didn't know it was there." And it seems those who manage to find agree with Steve, as they've dubbed it a "rare find". Steve added that the pub was often referred to as Bessie's because of the legendary landlady that had worked there since the 1950s. Another spot in Wales that Steve suggested for anyone seeking tough hills or hiking with a view that can't be beaten, is the area around LLandovery - a town that has snug pubs and coffee workshops. Llandovery sits next to the River Tywi and it's close to the Brecon Beacons National Park. For fans of history, it's also near Y Pigwn, a famous Roman site where there are still cobblestones on the roads from thousands of years ago. More impressively, Steve said: "You can see across to the Black Mountains, and the Tywi Valley" which is one of the reasons why Steve wants to encourage Brits to explore more of the UK. He said: "Britain's got so much to offer. Especially as I get increasingly fed up with arriving at an airport at three hours early and then waiting for a flight, and being on the flight - it's a full day, isn't it? "If you set off on the bike, just think what you can do in those eight hours. "It's a whole extra day at each end that you've got. Britain is one of those countries where OK even if you're living in the city, you could be in the countryside in three quarters of an hour. "And if you've got there under your own steam, you appreciate the beauty of Gloucester and Oxford so much more." 7 7 Steve completed his journey in Fishguard, which is known for its beauty, and being one of the best UK seaside towns to move to in 2025. Steve told us: "It's important when you're finishing a 300 mile journey that you feel as if the destination's worth it, right? "You want it to have a sense of closure, and it was lovely to see the sea in Fishguard's Lower Town. "We went to was a very cosy little pub, The Royal Oak, where we had a couple of drinks and raised a glass to a job well done." Steve travelled from central London to the Welsh coast in eight days through beautiful villages and tackling some very steep hills. Read more about his journey in Go West, out July 10, 2025.
The Irish Sun
02-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
TV chef leaves fans gutted as ITV star pulls out of public appearance just days before hitting the stage
A TV chef has left fans gutted as he pulled out of a public appearance, just days before hitting the stage. news , as he issued a statement against a black background. 3 A TV chef has left fans gutted as he pulled out of a public appearance, just days before hitting the stage Credit: Instagram 3 James issued a statement to his legion of fans Credit: Instagram The 53-year-old penned to his 761,000 Instagram followers: 'I'm so sorry but unfortunately, due to circumstances outside of my control, I will no longer be appearing at the Yorkshire Dales Food & Drink Festival.' He continued: 'Please contact the organisers if you have any questions.' The comments section were flooded with messages of disappointment, from fans hopeful to see James at the event - but his comments have now been switched off. The event takes place between July 18 and 20 at Aireville Park in Skipton, and TV favourite James was due to be one of the main draws of the festival. Read More on James Martin The popular event didn't take place last year, after first launching in 2016, and so eager fans are looking forward to attending, with music performances from the likes of The Feeling and Go West. Jon Arrowsmith, managing director of The Yorkshire Dales Food & Drink Festival, has since shared a statement with the Yorkshire Post, upon the news that James will not attend. He said: 'We're absolutely gutted that James has decided not to join us this year, we know how popular he is and understandably his fans will be disappointed by his decision. 'Running festivals is not for the faint-hearted and it certainly has its ups and downs. We've worked hard to rebuild the festival after it collapsed and we knew it would come with its challenges – maybe not as many as we're facing – but we're working through them. Most read in News TV 'Please bear with us as we finalise our line-up and hire a replacement chef. But let me reassure everyone, we remain as committed as ever in our promise to deliver a festival Yorkshire will be proud of and one everyone will enjoy.' 'It's difficult' says James Martin as he reveals secret off-camera health battle Before his popular ITV series, James presented Saturday Kitchen, Home Comforts, James Martin's Great British Adventure, Islands to Highlands and James Martin's French Adventure. He has also published over 20 best-selling cook books . James has been through a tough time of late as he faced brutal He was first diagnosed with cancer six years ago - but kept it secret from fans. James underwent surgery but it returned on "several occasions". In November 2023, James revealed he was taking a break from work after he was diagnosed with facial cancer in 2018. At the time, he explained: "I was then diagnosed with cancer on my face, and I had to have surgery, which I couldn't do until two days before Christmas when we had finished filming. 'Since then, it has returned on several occasions, and I have to have regular treatments.' 3 The comments section were flooded with messages of disappointment, from fans hopeful to see James at the event Credit: Rex
The Sun
02-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
TV chef leaves fans gutted as ITV star pulls out of public appearance just days before hitting the stage
A TV chef has left fans gutted as he pulled out of a public appearance, just days before hitting the stage. James Martin took to social media to share the news, as he issued a statement against a black background. 3 The 53-year-old penned to his 761,000 Instagram followers: 'I'm so sorry but unfortunately, due to circumstances outside of my control, I will no longer be appearing at the Yorkshire Dales Food & Drink Festival.' He continued: 'Please contact the organisers if you have any questions.' The comments section were flooded with messages of disappointment, from fans hopeful to see James at the event - but his comments have now been switched off. The event takes place between July 18 and 20 at Aireville Park in Skipton, and TV favourite James was due to be one of the main draws of the festival. The popular event didn't take place last year, after first launching in 2016, and so eager fans are looking forward to attending, with music performances from the likes of The Feeling and Go West. Jon Arrowsmith, managing director of The Yorkshire Dales Food & Drink Festival, has since shared a statement with the Yorkshire Post, upon the news that James will not attend. He said: 'We're absolutely gutted that James has decided not to join us this year, we know how popular he is and understandably his fans will be disappointed by his decision. 'Running festivals is not for the faint-hearted and it certainly has its ups and downs. We've worked hard to rebuild the festival after it collapsed and we knew it would come with its challenges – maybe not as many as we're facing – but we're working through them. 'Please bear with us as we finalise our line-up and hire a replacement chef. But let me reassure everyone, we remain as committed as ever in our promise to deliver a festival Yorkshire will be proud of and one everyone will enjoy.' 'It's difficult' says James Martin as he reveals secret off-camera health battle James has been a popular face on television screens for a long time, due to his culinary prowess. Before his popular ITV series, James presented Saturday Kitchen, Home Comforts, James Martin's Great British Adventure, Islands to Highlands and James Martin's French Adventure. He has also published over 20 best-selling cook books. James has been through a tough time of late as he faced brutal health battles. He was first diagnosed with cancer six years ago - but kept it secret from fans. James underwent surgery but it returned on "several occasions". In November 2023, James revealed he was taking a break from work after he was diagnosed with facial cancer in 2018. At the time, he explained: "I was then diagnosed with cancer on my face, and I had to have surgery, which I couldn't do until two days before Christmas when we had finished filming. 'Since then, it has returned on several occasions, and I have to have regular treatments.'
