Rediscover Britain

Its british tourism week.

2011-03-14T06:39:00.000-07:00

Be Part of It…..
12th – 20th March 2011 During British Tourism Week 2011, businesses and organisations all over the UK will be involved in activities aimed at promoting the importance and diversity of our domestic tourism industry.

The key aims of British Tourism Week are:

To raise the profile and importance of tourism with politicians, the media, those who work in the industry and those considering a career in the industry;
To increase awareness with consumers of the product itself, its diversity, accessibility and sustainability;
To promote training and professionalism in tourism; and
To support the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games

There is also plans for ‘Party on the Pier’, a national celebration of Britain’s piers and their heritage were also announced at the briefing by Gyles Brandreth, Patron of the National Piers Society. Party on the Pier will kick off the fifth annual British Tourism Week on Saturday 12th March 2011 with simultaneous parties hosted on seaside piers, harbours and jetties around the coast and on inland rivers, canals and lakes.

Also to celebrate British Tourism Week, the National Trust has created five new downloadable coastal walks for the British public to enjoy. Each route offers clear directions, a map of the area and interesting facts to discover along the way which can be downloaded from www.nationaltrust.org.uk/britishtourismweek.

content by www.britishtourismweek.com

castlerigg stone circle

2011-02-25T06:31:00.000-08:00

Castlerigg is an impressive prehistoric Stone Circle in Cumbria. It is the most visited stone circle in Cumbria to date and only topped by Avebury Stone Circle. Thousands of tourist trek to the site to photograph, draw and wonder why and when and by whom it was built.

The stone circle is on the level top of a low hill with views across to Skiddaw, Blencathra and Lonscale Fell.

There are 38 stones in a circle approximately 30 metres in diameter. Within the ring is a rectangle of a further 10 standing stones. The tallest stone is 2.3 metres high. It was probably built around 3000 BC - the beginning of the later Neolithic Period - and is one of the earliest stone circles in Britain. It is important in terms of megalithic astronomy and geometry, as the construction contains significant astronomical alignments.

Although its origins are unknown it is believed that it was used for ceremonial or religious purposes.

Avebury Stone Circle Taster Tours

2011-01-23T09:41:00.000-08:00

Avebury Stone Circle is probably one England's best kept secrets; because it is somewhat sadly over shadowed by it's more famous younger brother Stonehendge.

The Avebury ring is the oldest stone ring that is known to be in existence anywhere in the world and is even older than Stonehenge.
Unlike Stonehenge your are still able to walk amungst the megalithic stone circle. This make this world heritage site a really special place to visit.

Some interpretation's of the site

"Avebury is seen as a spiritual centre by many who profess beliefs such as Paganism, Wicca, and Druidry; for some it is regarded more highly than Stonehenge. The pagan festivals all attract visitors, and the summer solstice especially draws increasingly large crowds. Avebury is said to stand on the St Michael ley line, an alignment that is said to run across England from Cornwall to East Anglia."

English Heritage holds guardianship of Avebury stone circle, which is managed by the National Trust. Discover more about this extraordinary monument with our taster tours of the Stone Circle. Tours take place on most days at 12.00 and 2.00pm.

In the 1930s, the pretty village of Avebury, partially encompassed by the stone circle of this World Heritage site, was witness to the excavations of archaeologist Alexander Keiller. In re-erecting many of the stones, Keiller uncovered the true wonder of one of the most important megalithic monuments in Europe.

The fascinating finds from his excavations are on display in the 17th-century threshing barn and stables galleries of the Alexander Keiller Museum, where interactive displays and activities for children bring the landscape to life.

So instead of practicing the 'Day of Rest' rule this Sunday, try out a bit of Paganism and head down to Avebury and try a taster tour of the circle for £2.

Find out more

"Robin hood, robin hood, riding through the glen." Find the spirit of robin in sherwood forest

2010-11-14T11:38:00.000-08:00

Robin hood is probably the most enduring literary hero still prevalant today. The values of Robin Hood will always ring true for many people, to this day. With blockbuster films enforcing the message to a whole new generation, you can still visit his old stomping ground at Sherwood forest, Nottinghamshire.

Its not often you can visit a place that has woven itself into a legend told all over the world. I imagine many people across the atlantic think it is just a place of fiction. I love telling my american friends that its real and then see the look of confusion, so how excited was I to be going there? I wasted many a day playing robin hood as a child but lived too far away to be able to visit.

The forest was once a royal hunting grounds thought to have been established by william the conqueror. Unfortunately the great silver oaks are now thin on the ground, but manage to offer a glimpse of the era of Robin Hood's days of battling the rich on behalf of the poor. The Sherwood Forest Trust now manage the forest and play host to a number of events through out the year. I am looking forward to the Sherwood Heath Walk & Talk which is yet to be announced.

Win a copy of 'The Rough Guide to Walks in London and Southeast England' from Enjoy England

2010-11-14T03:29:00.000-08:00

Everyone like a freebie; Win a copy of 'The Rough Guide to Walks in London and Southeast England'. Enjoy England has teamed up with Rough Guides to offer 10 copies of their 'The Rough Guide to Walks in London and Southeast England'.
Prize draw entries must be received by 10 December 2010 so get over there quick.

Enter the competition now

Glastonbury Abbey, the final resting place for Camelot's King Arthur & Queen Guinevere

2010-11-09T14:59:00.000-08:00

Glastonbury has more more to offer than play host to an annual music festival; its also home to the ruins of Glastonbury Abbey. Reputed to be the final resting place for the 'fictitious' Camelot's King Arthur and Queen Guinevere, this ruined abbey was firmly placed on my to do list down in Somerset.

During my recent travels around somerset I was looking forward to visiting Glastonbury Abbey, mainly because of it associations with King Arthur. I'm not sure what I expected, however, as I got closer in the car all the childhood memories of movies and cartoons that drew me to the myth in the first place came flooding back.

I have to say, the stature of the ruined Abbey did not disappoint. To me it was straight out of a movie set reminiscent of the lord rings. The fact that there is so much open space around the Abbey adds to the surreal nature of the religious setting.

I looked for the supposed resting place of King Arthur after roaming around the ruins. This can be done fairly quickly, but if you are like me, you can spend several hours just standing around and imagining what it used to be like. I was a bit underwhelmed by the simple wooded plaque by the grave. I was expecting more cinematic grandeur, at least a statue!

For those of of you that don't care for myths and legends, the grounds also have a lot to offer. There is ample space for the average family to tuck away from the crowds and enjoy a picnick. I was hoping to be there when the Snowdrops were in full flower during winter, but as I am no expert on flowering times i probably got it wrong or just didn't find them. I did not bother with the guided tour but I spotted a few people dressed in period costume. I am sure you would get your moneys worth, but I am a "Tight Northerner" and prefers to keep my money where my hand is.

Shaftesbury Village, Dorset's 'little Italy' hill top crown jewel

2010-11-07T06:55:00.000-08:00

Shaftebury Village is picture perfect and sits proudly on a 700 ft hill top overlooking Dorset's Blackmoor vale. To many it is the typical english village, but to me it is reminiscent of an Italian Hill top town. Its very much like Sienna in Italy were I spent many a student days wandering up the narrow steep back streets flagged by terraced houses. I think I will always remember shaftebury as my 'little Italy' and look forward to every visit.

Shaftebury is a traditional market town famous for it pebbled steep hill called 'Gold Hill' which was used in the Hovis tv advert. The town was first granted the charter by the king to hold a market in 1260 and since then its has grown to 2 markets. I found that the village or now town has managed to still retain its integretiy as its propularity expanded, much to the delight of the english tourist board.

If you tear yourself away from the nick-nacks of the market and stroll up the cobbles of Gold hill you will be rewarded by the view down. At the top of Gold Hill is Shaftesbury's Town Museum. A wooden fire engine dating to 1744 is on display, although I am not sure if it was ever used; a contradiction if ever I saw one.

If you venture off the main street up gold hill you will discover the steep, narrow, back streets lined by terraced houses that I liken to an Italian Hill top town. Its worth a wander around to explore the area as not many people bother.

So next time you tuck into a Hovis sandwich or sip Chianti on your apartment balcony remember Shaftebury's diverse elegance and plan your next weekend day trip.

November - Bonfire Night : Enjoy England

2010-11-05T05:14:00.000-07:00

find a bonfire near you

Support the Rediscover Britain campaign

2010-11-04T14:23:00.000-07:00

We want to bring attention Britain's diverse and rich landscapes, hidden treasures and landmarks. We think the british people need to rediscover what britain has to offer.

Did you know:-

"Its free to explore the vast majority of Britain's places of outstanding natural beauty

We aim to provide information on all the great british landmarks, landscapes and hidden treasure through our own rediscover blog. We have ideas to visit Museums to Country parks and Castles to Mountains. So get those boots on and start to rediscover britain.

Show your support

Gorge at Cheddar Village and climb your way into prehistoric britain

2010-11-03T15:19:00.000-07:00

As a lover of cheese I quite naively didn't realise there was such as a place called cheddar village. I thought the cheese just got the name from some old English place that no longer exists in modern Britain today.

What's more surprising about cheddar village is it's probably more best known globally for its Gorge and caves. The Cheddar gorge is Britain's largest along with the largest inland limestone cliffs. Also here is a massive cave known as Gough's cave which plays host to Britain's biggest underground river. That's a lot of 'BIGGEST' in Britain, move over America with you Grand Canyon.

I think its fair to say the Cheddar is a unique place of outstanding natural beauty. Within the series of the spectacular underground caves Britain's oldest complete skeleton was discovered in 1903. This has made the site a place of global scientific interest. One of the more gruesome finds is that of human bones with marks on them that would indicate they where smashed apart for the extraction of marrow. The same marks are found on animal bone's which has lead to speculation from some that cannibalism was being practised here.

After discovering all this, I wanted out! I am not good with caves at the best of times so I was thrilled to get out into the open. I headed for the steps that take you up to the top of cheddar gorge, I think I counted 273 steps but the cheddar fact police will tell you its 274 and that it's known as Jacob's ladder. Its a fair old hike up but your generously rewarded by the view of Somerset.

So today I went to Gorge on cheddar and rediscovered the natural beauty of a place I thought was long gone, left to exist amongst the distant memories of a lost generation.

Alnwick Castle and the Creature from the Tomb

2010-10-30T12:52:00.000-07:00

Alnwick Castle is the second largest inhabited castle in England, and has been the home of the Percys, Earls and Dukes of Northumberland since 1309, making this year the 700 year anniversary. The castle has been most recently used for the filming of harry potter. However there is a more chilling tale to be told about the Vampire that once frequented this castle.

The earliest mention of Alnwick Castle in the history books appears soon after 1096 when Yves de Vescy became baron of Alnwick and erected the earliest parts of the Castle. A one time lord of the estate who is said to have lived underneath it would emerge at night to attack the local villagers. Stories of the vampire creature soon took hold and an outbreak of plague was also attributed to the unholy creature, and this resulted in the villagers digging the monster up from its shallow grave and burning it.

Further evidence of the vampires was collected by William of Newburgh, who, in the twelfth century, collected a variety of accounts of vampires in England. One incident that occurred in his lifetime concerned a man who served the Lord of Alnwick Castle. The man, who was himself known for his wicked ways, was further plagued by an unfaithful wife. Having hidden on the roof above his bed to see her actions for himself, he fell to the ground and died the next day.

Following his burial, the man was seen wandering through the town. People became afraid of encountering him and locked themselves in their houses after dark each day. During this time an epidemic of an unnamed disease broke out and a number of people died. The sickness was blamed on the "vampire." Finally, on Palm Sunday, the local priest assembled a group of the more devout residents and some of the leading citizens who proceeded to the cemetery. They uncovered the body, which appeared gorged with blood that gushed forth when it was struck with a spade. Having decided that the body had fed off the blood of its many victims, it was dragged out of town and burned. Soon thereafter, the epidemic ended, and the town returned to normal.

Could recent sighting of a tall hunched man in the castle grounds at night be the return of the vampire on this special aniversary of 700 years.

Count Dracula rises again after laying dormant under Whitby for centuries

2010-10-29T12:00:00.000-07:00

Count Dracula is possibly the most famous of the un-dead creatures of the night. The very name instills fear and dread at the heart of many an English mans soul. Bram Stokers Vampire creation came to England from the deepest darkest depths of eastern Europe on the search for fresh blood in 1847-1912.

Legend dictates that he sailed across the sea on the ship 'The Demeter' which shipwrecked just of the coast. Dracula runs up the famous 199 steps to the graveyard in St Mary's church in the shape of a black dog. An examination of the ship's log shows that the crew members had been gradually disappearing since she left Varna in Russia.

Whitby is a beautiful fishing town that has become home to the legend of count Dracula. After Bram Stoker stayed here on holiday at The Duke of York, a riverside inn, he was inspired to write the novel. Whitby is home to the spectacular ruins of Whitby Abbey, perched on the edge of the cliffs it becomes bathed in orange light when the sun goes down. St Mary's church is not far away and the 199 steps at the exit to the graveyard leads down to the harbour. These steps are the very same that Dracula ran up when he came to town.

This Halloween will see 1000's of Gothic teenagers and adults alike, looking for a glimpse of there idol, descend upon the now quite seaside town. Dracula himself could well pay a visit un-be-known to the casual observer, as there are so many actors giving the part a go. So if you want to run the risk of being the next bride of dracula then may I suggest you head over to Whitby.

UK's 'biggest stag' Exmoor Emperor is shot dead, but will he live on?

2010-10-26T04:08:00.000-07:00

photographer Richard Austin

Its a sad day in england after a great giant red stag, nicked name the 'Exmoor Emperor' was found shot dead.

Unfortunately red stags are not a protected species in the UK and the kill was performed legally by a licensed hunter. I would argue that it may be legal but in its definitely not moral. The only thing sadder than the trophy murder is that the stag probably never got the chance to mate and pass on his genes.

I think we should be pushing for; at the very least, protection during the mating season. The red deer stags which are the biggest indigenous land animal left in the UK need to be allowed to rut in peace. Our countryside is special and the red deer is part of that. So please tell your friends that dear hunting is wrong and remember the great 'Exmoor Emperor' one last time.

Paranormal activity outbreak all over britain

2010-10-24T14:07:00.000-07:00

With halloween not far away what will you be planning to do? Halloween is more popular in America but we have taken the celebrations to our hearts. Kids like nothing better than going around trick a treating but if you are up for more than just a scary child vampire at your front door then Pendle hill might just have the fright your after.

Ghost hunting and spookyness

There are lots of places that attracts ghosts and have general spooky legends linked to them. A popular site for Halloween is pendle Hill where the famous Pendle Hill Witches lived and eventually came to their end. The trials of the Pendle witches in 1612 are among the most famous witch trials in English history, and some of the best recorded of the 17th century

The Pendle Witches, as they became known, were believed to have been responsible for the murder by witchcraft of seventeen people in and around the Forest of Pendle.

Paranormal Activity

The latest activity happened in 2009 when a new documentary on Pendle Hill and the Pendle Witches was brought to a dramatic stop after three of the production crew were struck down with a violent illness. The incident happened during the filming of a séance.

"Dare you make the fable journey from the foot of the hill to the top. At night where the 'Meeting at Malkin Tower' took place and lead to the witches being arrested is where many people have claimed to have experienced sitings or visions."

So if risking the curse of an avenging witch hell bent on reeking dispair to all those that lay site of her is up your street, trek over to pendle.

Read more about the pendle witches

Bear Grylls likes it outdoors, but the rest of like a bit of us comfort at the weekend

2010-10-21T13:33:00.000-07:00

Its now that time of year again when the nights are drawing in and the weather is getting notably chillier. The daylight hours become far more precious; so what do you do to make the most of it during your free time?

If your like me then it usually takes quite a while to get going in the mornings after an over indulgent friday night. Say hello to the cat if he has not started to pester me already and of course feed him. Then I put on the kettle and start to contemplate what I can do with my day instead of wasting it away on the sofa, going from the the kitchen to sofa all day. Does this sound familiar.

So where do you start, I normally think about what's near by and then how much is it going to cost. The car normally gets revved into action pointed to the motorway; only to end up back in the house after an hour stuck in traffic.

Don't just end up shopping in your local retail park, you can do better!

Here's where I can help:-|)

Well for a start this blog is full of places and ideas for you to visit. Just browse the categories or locations and see if anything grabs you. The likely hood now, however is it will be raining; so strolling through a ruined castle might not be that appealing unless you are Bear Grylls. An obvious option to stay out of the elements would be to take in some culture through the means of a museum. Don't groan, they have come along way from the stuffy, silent, sterile corridors from your school days. If you are willing to give one a chance I recommend you give Manchester's Museum of Science and Industry a go.

The MOSI

Located on the historic site of the world’s oldest surviving passenger railway station, housed in five listed buildings, MOSI’s amazing galleries and outstanding collections tell the story of Manchester’s scientific and industrial past, present and future.

"Currently Manchester Science Festival 2010 is on and runs from 23rd - 31st October. The country's most popular science festival returns for its most exciting year yet! Expect a vibrant and packed programme of events for families, schools, young people and adults across Greater Manchester once again. There'll be sweet music, hilarious stand-up, heated debate, craft workshops, hands-on activities, stories, science busking and lots more!"

So thats a start and to stop you getting bored I will be posting more suggestions later so keep reading.:-)

Appeal to save Brueghel for the nation

2010-10-21T07:54:00.000-07:00

The National trust has joined forces with the Art Fund to launch a £2.7 million fundraising campaign to save an iconic Old Master painting for the nation.

The Procession to Calvary’ by Pieter Brueghel the Younger is the star attraction at Nostell Priory in Yorkshire, owned by the Trust since 1954, where it has hung for over 200 years.Now, however, the painting, which is still owned by Lord St Oswald, has been put up for sale, with the risk that Nostell’s greatest work will no longer be accessible to the public.

I would like to support the cause and urge every one to help where they can.

Support it now

Nostell Priory and Parkland is a fantastic house built on the site of a medieval priory.

Britain and Ireland Photos National Geographic

2010-10-20T14:45:00.000-07:00

Britain and Ireland Photos -- National Geographic

Wallington an 18th-century landscape park has ponds, gardens and woods to explore

2010-10-19T16:21:00.000-07:00

Wallington in Northumberland Dates back to 1688, Wallington was home to many generations of the Blackett and Trevelyan families, who all left their mark. The result is an impressive, yet friendly, house with a magnificent interior and fine collections.

The remarkable Pre-Raphaelite central hall was decorated to look like an Italian courtyard and features a series of paintings of Northumbrian history by William Bell Scott. The formality of the house is offset by the tranquil beauty of the surrounding landscape with lawns, lakes, parkland and woodland. The beautiful walled garden, with its varied plant collection and charming conservatory, is an enchanting must-see. Also look out for red squirrels at the wildlife hide.

Catch a glimpse of the rare red squirrels at Formby if your lucky.

2010-10-19T15:51:00.000-07:00

If you have a place in your special nutty heart for squirrels then you must get over to Formbys pine woodlands and look out for the endangered red squirrel. Whilst you there you may as well enjoy the stunning coastline with large areas of beaches and sand dunes.

The woods here are one of seventeen red squirrel reserves in northern England; the reds are attracted by the large numbers of conifers, as they feed on the ripe pine cones.
Unfortunately the red squirrel is now an endangered special with threats coming from a variety of angles. The main threats to the survival of the reds are the increasing number of grey squirrels, disease (squirrel poxvirus) and road traffic. Greys can feed more efficiently in broadleaved woodlands and can survive at densities of up to 8 per hectare.

Its not all doom and gloom, there are lots of areas where the red squirrels are protected, in fact the current red squirrel conservation strategy now focuses on protecting red squirrel populations in large plantation conifer forests. These include Kyloe, Uswayford, Kidland, Harwood, Raylees, Kielder, Dipton/Dukeshouse, Healey/Kellas, Slaley/Dukesfield, Greystoke, Whinfell, Whinlatter, Thirlmere, Garsdale/Mallerstang, Widdale, Sefton.

I don't reccomend you go out search for the red squirrel as they need to be left alone to flourish. The squirrels at Formby however have become used to human contact so you might just catch a fleeting glimpse of the little beauties.

Read more about Formby and the red squirrels.

Its definitely not grim up north

2010-10-19T04:29:00.000-07:00

Its a popular saying from the south of England "Its grim up north", but just how has the North West of England managed to expel the gloomy image and become one of the top tourist destinations.

Well to start with the North West has an immensely diverse appeal, containing the splendor of Cumbria and the Lake District, through the romance of Lancashire and the cosmopolitan metropolis of Liverpool and Manchester to the ancient town of Chester. The North West is bordered by sea to the west, full of great beaches like southport and seaside resorts like Morecombe. Rugged Pennine Mountains to the East and lets not forget the fells of the Lake District to the north. The North West also borders two countries, Scotland and Wales so in all its uniquely equipped to thrill, surprise and seduce any visitor.

The North west is a place of extraordinary beauty, ranging from the soft, sandy coastline of cumbia to the rolling plains of cheshire, from the tranquil lakes of lancashire to the hubbub of blackpool and her famous illuminations. Have I gone on enough?

So next time you are thinking of a day out why not give the north west a visit.

Ashridge Forest, Autumnal scenes straight out of the story books.

2010-10-18T12:46:00.000-07:00

The ancient Ashridge Forest glows with colour this time of year. The vibrant oranges and yellow of autumn shine through; a final burst before the snow covering of winter.

The magical forest surrounds Ashridge House, a Gothic mansion built by James Wyatt in 1808. The estate extends for six square miles and to the north leads Ivinghoe Beacon.

Don't miss

Super panoramas from Ivinghoe Beacon and the Duke of Bridgewater Monument
Great network of footpaths and bridleways to explore, including easy access trails
Rich variety of wildlife to spot, like red kite and fallow deer
Ancient woodlands with carpets of spring bluebells and fine autumnal displays
Historical remains from Iron Age to Victorian era.

Nuclear Power plants; a necessary evil or should we look to preserve our landscapes?

2010-10-18T12:11:00.000-07:00

The government has today identified eight sites in England and Wales that are suitable for future nuclear power stations. The possible locations are: Bradwell-on-Sea, Essex; Hartlepool; Heysham, Lancashire; Hinkley Point, Somerset; Oldbury, Gloucestershire; Sellafield, Cumbria; Sizewell, Suffolk and Wylfa on the Isle of Anglesey.

Its a difficult situation to be in for the government at the minute; being left to clean up the mess. Todays announcement puts Nuclear power plants firmly back on the British Landscapes but just how neccessary are they? Energy Secretary Chris Huhne states nuclear had a key role to play, he hoped half of all new capacity by 2025 would come from renewables. But he also ruled out plans for a tidal energy scheme on the Severn estuary. Funding a Severn barrage with public money would be "very costly", he said, and as finding private investment would be challenging, other options should be pursued.

I have a purely selfish stance and would like britain to focus the renewable energy stratagy back on offshore wind farms, tidal and wave power; the invissible ones which will protect our special landscapes that are so diverse and in parts fragile. You could are that our coastal views are just as important however offshore wind farms will be so far in the distance it will be no different to see ships on the horizon. Tidal and wave energy farms will also be concealed under water so, therefore in my opinion the best option.

Get spooked at a haunted castle - after dark they comes out!

2010-10-17T15:35:00.000-07:00

Legend has Lowther Castle is haunted by Sir James Lowther. He was very unhappy with a prearranged marriage, and fell in love with a farmer's daughter. When she suddenly grew ill and died, Sir James refused to believe she was dead and left her on the bed. She was finally moved and placed in a coffin with a glass lid, which he set in a cupboard where he could look at her. She was finally buried, and Sir James died unloved and unmourned.

At his funeral his coffin began to sway as it was lowered into the ground. His spectral coach and ungroomed horses can be seen being driven through the parklands of the castle.

After the death of the fifth Earl of Lonsdale, the Castle was abandonded, the interior was dismantled and only the walls left standing as a memorial to past glories.

Within the estate (NY 527243) is 'The Lowther Oak', a fine gnarled old tree. According to ancient folklore, the Lowther Oak is responsible for the good fortune of the Lonsdales. Bad luck will be bestowed on the family if the branch of the oak touches the ground. The branch is propped up to prevent this!

Read more about the castle and see you there if you dare.

I thats not your cup of tea then what about Featherstone Castle, Northumberland.

The castle is associated with a ghostly bridal party. Baron Featherstonehaugh had arranged for his daughter to marry a relative of his choice, even though the daughter was in love with someone else. The wedding party left for the "traditional hunt" after the wedding, leaving the baron behind to make arrangements for the banquet. When the party failed to return by midnight, the baron began to fear the worst. Sitting alone at the table, he heard horses crossing the drawbridge. The door opened and the party entered. But, they made no sound and passed through furniture.

The wedding party had been ambushed and killed. On the anniversary of the wedding, the party can still be seen heading towards the castle.

Read more

Apple day at Beningbrough Hall & Gardens

2010-10-17T13:43:00.000-07:00

The national trust are celebrating the Apple all over the Britain. One such event is at Beningbrough Hall and Gardens North Yorkshire Apple Celebrations, 16 - 30 October 11am - 5pm.

If you like apples, cake and cider then there is something for you. Displays of apples, apple information on our many varieties, see our new orchard labyrinth, enjoy apple lunches, apple pressing and art workshops. Normal admission charges apply but there are no additional event charges.

Booking is not required for this event. For more information visit

Beningbrough Hall and Gardens has more to offer than just apple picking. This grand 1716 Georgian mansion, with impressive baroque interior, is set in a park and gardens. There are more than 100 18th-century portraits and seven interpretation galleries in partnership with the National Portrait Gallery. There is also a fully equipped Victorian laundry, with wet and dry rooms, and a delightful working garden, which supplies the Walled Garden Restaurant. There are many family activities to enjoy and a wilderness play area.

Here's a quick recipe to make use of all those apples

Ingredients
675 g cooking apples
finely grated zest and juice of 1/2 lemons
1 tsp ground cinnamon
100 g caster sugar, plus extra for sprinkling
lightly beaten eggs
25 g butter
675 g ready-made shortcrust pastry

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 180°C/gas 4.

2. Quarter, core and peel the apples, then slice them thickly into a bowl. Sprinkle with the lemon zest and juice. and the cinnamon. Stir in the sugar and mix well.

3. Brush the rim of a deep pie dish with beaten egg. Tip the apple mixture into the dish and dot with the butter.

4. Roll out pastry on a floured board and place on top of apple mixture, trimming about 1cm beyond the edge of the pie dish.

5. Crimp the edges of the pastry with your finger and thumb, pressing on to edge of pie dish.

6. Cut three small holes in the top of the pastry to let out the steam.

7. Use the pastry trimmings to make decorations, such as leaves, sealing them in place with a little water.

8. Brush the pastry with egg wash, then dredge with caster sugar and then bake for 35-40 minutes until the fruit is tender and the top is golden brown. Serve with custard. flour, for dustintg

Great Northern Cheese festival, The Lake District

2010-10-17T12:50:00.000-07:00

A very cheesy event in the north west of england, The Rheged Centre will be talking place on Saturday and Sunday 16th & 17th October. So if you stuck for something to do get and smell the cheese.

This two-day event on Saturday and Sunday 16th & 17th October will offer visitors the chance to meet with, and sample cheese from small and large producers not just locally but from all over the UK, as well as have the opportunity to learn more about cheese through cookery demonstrations and cheese lectures from local and celebrity chefs including Michelin and 5AA Rosette award winning Jean-Christophe Novelli and Annette Gibbons OBE in our theatres.

Find out more

Rediscover Britain

Its british tourism week.

castlerigg stone circle

Other related post

Avebury Stone Circle Taster Tours

Some interpretation's of the site

Other related post

"Robin hood, robin hood, riding through the glen." Find the spirit of robin in sherwood forest

Other related post

Win a copy of 'The Rough Guide to Walks in London and Southeast England' from Enjoy England

Glastonbury Abbey, the final resting place for Camelot's King Arthur & Queen Guinevere

Other related post

Shaftesbury Village, Dorset's 'little Italy' hill top crown jewel

Other related post

November - Bonfire Night : Enjoy England

Support the Rediscover Britain campaign

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Gorge at Cheddar Village and climb your way into prehistoric britain

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Alnwick Castle and the Creature from the Tomb

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Count Dracula rises again after laying dormant under Whitby for centuries

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UK's 'biggest stag' Exmoor Emperor is shot dead, but will he live on?

Paranormal activity outbreak all over britain

Ghost hunting and spookyness

Paranormal Activity

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Bear Grylls likes it outdoors, but the rest of like a bit of us comfort at the weekend

Don't just end up shopping in your local retail park, you can do better!

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Appeal to save Brueghel for the nation

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Britain and Ireland Photos National Geographic

Wallington an 18th-century landscape park has ponds, gardens and woods to explore

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Catch a glimpse of the rare red squirrels at Formby if your lucky.

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Its definitely not grim up north

Ashridge Forest, Autumnal scenes straight out of the story books.

Nuclear Power plants; a necessary evil or should we look to preserve our landscapes?

Get spooked at a haunted castle - after dark they comes out!

Apple day at Beningbrough Hall & Gardens

Here's a quick recipe to make use of all those apples

Method

Great Northern Cheese festival, The Lake District