Holidays

We checked in to the family-friendly medieval-themed hotel at Warwick Castle, where families can enjoy live jousting and banquet dinners. Here’s what we thought…

It’s not every Saturday that you’re greeted by a 14-foot knight in shining armour sitting atop a giant horse – but that’s exactly the memorable welcome we received when we checked in to Warwick Castle’s medieval-themed hotel.

The Warwick Castle Hotel, which opened its doors in July 2024, is nestled within the 64-acre grounds of the historic 11th-century castle. With 60 rooms available to book, it’s the perfect overnight getaway for families and history buffs seeking a royal experience, and a great getaway during the summer holidays.

What can you do at Warwick Castle?

Our day began at the castle’s Zog area, a playground filled with friendly dragons that kept my little ones entertained while I savoured a quick coffee from the refreshments huts.

Next, we ventured into the Horrible Histories Maze; we may have gotten lost for longer than anticipated but the kids had a blast collecting stamps scattered throughout the maze for their passports, reports OK!.

READ MORE: ‘Hidden’ water park with beach, carvery and huge play area is perfect summer day out

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For those with a strong stomach, the castle’s dungeon and gaol let you experience the smells and sounds of the torture chambers of days gone by. Meanwhile, the Princess Tower provides an opportunity for the young ones to dress up in their finest gowns.

We then made our way to the main arena to witness an exhilarating War of the Roses live event featuring jousting knights on horses. The performance was superb, and we all rooted for the Earl of Warwick.

We also made a beeline for The Falconer’s Quest show, the UK’s largest birds of prey attraction, where we watched birds from around the globe soar above us.

The castle itself is impressively preserved, and we certainly clocked up our step count as we ascended the stairs to the ramparts and towers, peeking through the stone slits where arrows once whizzed by and gazing down at the spots where waste was hurled onto unsuspecting attackers. The climb rewarded us with breathtaking views of the surrounding countryside.

We also explored the Great Hall and State Rooms, grand spaces filled with 17th and 18th-century opulence and collections of weapons and armour. The castle offers complimentary history tours, which I would have happily joined if my children hadn’t been so keen on getting ice creams (which, admittedly, were a welcome treat after a day packed with walking, climbing and jousting).

Warwick Castle Hotel

As the day drew to a close we made our way back to the hotel, conveniently located just a short stroll from the castle. The hotel’s exterior blends seamlessly with its surroundings, resembling a medieval hall.

Upon entering the reception, we were greeted by talking portraits whose eyes followed us around the room and which gave us a brief history of the castle and its grounds.

The hotel rooms pay homage to the Wars of the Roses, featuring rose motifs, chambers adorned with richly coloured fabrics, wooden beams, and shields adorning the walls. Designed with families in mind, the rooms offer bunk beds, a pull-out bed for an additional child, and a cot. The bathrooms are equipped with both a bath and a shower, along with some delightful herbal toiletries.

For evening meals, the Knight’s Village Restaurant offers a ‘medieval banquet’ buffet in a large hall, akin to a Sunday carvery. However, we opted for the snack bar in the glamping area where the evening entertainment was held, featuring archery lessons and a knight-themed bedtime story.

In between munching on burgers the kids were busy making friends with other sword-wielding children, while we relaxed with a drink amongst other slightly tired parents, content knowing we would end our night in a cosy bed fit for any aspiring knight or princess.

The next morning, breakfast (included for all guests) was a lively event in the hall, serving up a full English or pancakes along with fruit, cereals and pastries. It’s advisable to book well ahead to secure a good time slot.

As we bid farewell to the Earl of Warwick atop his prancing horse and waved goodbye to the talking portraits, we unanimously agreed that our visit to Warwick Castle was a day – and knight – to remember.

How much does it cost to stay at Warwick Castle Hotel?

Rooms at Warwick Castle Hotel start from £159 for a family of four on a B&B basis, or from £199 for a family of four, which includes B&B and a one-day ticket.

For other ideas for family days out this summer, Virgin Experience Days is running a major summer sale, and this offer lets you get a family trip to Legoland Windsor Resort with a huge £48 saving.

Red Letter Days is also currently offering Thorpe Park Resort Entry Tickets for Two, which you can get for £70.

The Isles of Scilly are just 28 miles off the coast of Cornwall and have some of the warmest weather in the UK. There are five main islands and hundreds of beaches to explore

If you’re yearning for a Caribbean-style getaway with pristine seas, white sandy beaches and tropical weather, you might not have to travel as far as you think. You don’t need to splash out on long-haul flights to soak up the Caribbean vibes; there’s an archipelago just off the English coast that offers all this and more.

The Isles of Scilly, situated a mere 28 miles from the Cornish coast, boast some of the UK’s most temperate climates.

With five main islands and countless beaches to discover, visitors can indulge in a plethora of water sports including kayaking, diving, sailing, swimming and windsurfing.

On dry land, there’s no shortage of awe-inspiring sights to behold, from ancient ruins and stunning gardens to an intriguing maze.

St Mary’s, the largest island in the group, covers just over six square miles and is home to approximately 1,800 inhabitants.

This particular island holds a special place in the hearts of the Royal Family.

The Prince and Princess of Wales have been known to whisk their children away here for their summer holidays, reports the Express.

They’ve also been spotted on Tresco, the second largest island, which houses the renowned Tresco Abby Gardens.

This breathtaking location is home to 20,000 species of sub-tropical plants and flowers, creating a tranquil paradise perfect for a day of exploration.

Tresco is a designated area of outstanding natural beauty, and to maintain its unspoilt charm, it is completely car-free; electric buggies or bicycles are the preferred modes of transport around the island.

Alternatively, public transport is available, or, if you prefer, you could simply stroll around and enjoy the best the island has to offer.

If you’re keen to explore this heavenly spot, Discover Ferries suggests journeying to Tresco via St Mary’s by sea from Penzance between March and November with Isle of Scilly Travel.

The charming village is officially one of the most colourful places in the world – making it the perfect spot for your next holiday.

A delightful coastal town in Scotland has been scientifically ranked as one of the most vibrant places on the planet, making it an ideal destination for your next getaway. Tobermory, tucked away on Scotland’s west coast, has outshone renowned European competitors to secure a place in the top 25 most colourful locations worldwide – a testament to the quality of British holidays.

Ranked at number 11, this seaside hamlet on the Isle of Mull is awash with vivid reds, oranges, radiant yellows and sharp blues, courtesy of its lively waterfront residences.

The brightly coloured houses lining the harbour were designed to help fishermen identify their homes and local businesses from the harbour or while at sea, particularly in foggy or cloudy conditions.

These buildings are a signature sight along the harbourfront and even served as the backdrop for the television series Balamory.

In addition to its stunning homes, one of Tobermory’s main draws is its wildlife.

Boat tours around the bay provide visitors with picturesque cruises.

The more daring tourists can join Sea Life Mull for a chance to spot minke whales, basking sharks, and bottlenose dolphins in their natural habitat, reports the Express.

There’s also plenty to keep you occupied back on dry land.

One of the most popular attractions is the two-hour walking trail that leads tourists from the village to Rubha nan Gall Lighthouse.

The path meanders along the coastline, offering breathtaking views over the ocean.

If you’re more inclined towards a laid-back experience, the renowned Tobermory Distillery might be just your cup of tea, offering some of the finest whisky on offer.

This iconic Scottish distillery, founded in 1798, is conveniently nestled in the town centre.

Guests can delve into the fascinating 200 year old history of whisky production and naturally, savour some of the top-notch spirits.

The stunning Yorkshire town of Whitby has been named the UK’s most popular staycation destination – and it’s easy to see why

Staycations are all the rage these days, with a surge in Brits choosing to holiday at home rather than venturing overseas. A recent survey has revealed that a whopping 63% of Britons are planning a UK-based break this year, and by 2025, the average holidaymaker is expected to enjoy three domestic getaways, each spanning roughly six days.

Sykes Holiday Cottages has put together a list of the top ten staycation spots, crowning the picturesque Yorkshire town of Whitby as the number one choice. The charm of this northern gem has tourists raving, with one visitor recently describing Whitby as “absolutely magical” on TripAdvisor.

It’s no wonder Whitby has emerged as Sykes’s most booked destination for the fast-approaching school summer holidays.

Whitby boasts an array of attractions suitable for the whole family, including the Whitby Museum, brimming with fascinating collections from fossils to maritime memorabilia, and the awe-inspiring historic abbey that sparked Bram Stoker’s imagination for his novel Dracula.

Additional highlights include the Whitby Marine Discovery Centre, the Captain Cook Memorial Museum, and the enchanting Falling Foss Tea Garden and Waterfall, reports the Express.

Not to mention, Whitby is dotted with beautiful sandy stretches such as Whitby Beach, Sandsend Beach, and Saltwick Bay Beach.

These beaches are a haven for dogs, offering either full access or dedicated dog-friendly zones even during the height of summer, ensuring your pooch can also bask in the charm of this picturesque town.

James Shaw, managing director of Sykes Holiday Cottages, commented: “It’s no surprise to see Whitby leading the way for school summer holidays this year.

“It’s mix of natural beauty, rich history and family-friendly activities continues to draw visitors, both with and without children, from across the country.

“We’re seeing more families prioritise stress-free getaways that cater to all ages – whether that means scenic coastlines, charming local towns or easy access to the great outdoors.

“The destinations featured in the top 10 strike the right balance between convenience and character, making them ideal for switching off, reconnecting, and creating lasting memories together.”

Following closely behind Whitby is Windermere in the Lake District, securing second place, while Weymouth on the Dorset coast clinched third. Both locations are renowned for their outdoor pursuits, vibrant town centres, and an array of walking paths.

Top 10 most popular locations for the school summer holidays

1. Whitby, North Yorkshire
2. Windermere, Cumbria
3. Weymouth, Dorset
4. Ambleside, Cumbria
5. Lyme Regis, Dorset
6. Keswick, Cumbria
7. Scarborough, North Yorkshire
8. Dartmouth, Devon
9. Salcombe, Devon
10. Carbis Bay, Cornwall

The exact date to get “super cheap” EasyJet flights for next summer has been announced, according to Martin Lewis’ Money Saving Expert, who shared the news to excited travellers on Facebook

Most Brits love heading on a holiday abroad when the summer months come. However, with the ongoing cost of living crisis, many people find they don’t have as much spare cash to spend on breaks away as they used to.

If that’s you, then listen up, as the exact date to get “super cheap” EasyJet flights for next summer has been announced, according to Martin Lewis‘ Money Saving Expert. The MSE Facebook account shared the news in a post with its 412,000 followers recently, and the post quickly went viral as many travel lovers planned to bag their cheap flights.

Sharing the news, MSE wrote: “Heads up! Super cheap EasyJet flights for summer 2026 are landing on Tuesday July 22.

“If previous releases are anything to go by, being online bright and early is the key to bagging a bargain.”

According to the MSE website, Easyjet releases its flights in batches every quarter of the year – and if you discover what day they’re going to be launched and you book them them quickly, you can get a far cheaper price.

It adds: “EasyJet follows a dynamic demand pricing model – in other words, when there’s lots of demand for seats, you pay more; when there’s less demand, you pay less. Usually it can be tricky to predict, and prices are fluid.

“There’s one point when demand is almost always low… the very second seats are released. This happens in several tranches throughout the year. In the past, these seats have shot up in price within two or three hours of being made available, so being online bright and early is the key to bagging a bargain.”

just because the flights have just gone on sale, it doesn’t necessarily mean you’re getting the best deal. As MoneySavingExpert.com founder

Martin Lewis himself does warn that just because the flights have only just gone on sale, it doesn’t necessarily mean you’re always getting the best deal. He says: “This has been a very successful technique for many people, and indeed if you want certainty of a cheap price it’s worth doing. Do benchmark what a good price on that route is beforehand, just so you can check if it’s worth it.

“Though of course, if a particular flight is very substantially under-booked later on, you could get seats even cheaper then – that’s just far more difficult to predict.”

What time will the flights be released?

Easyjet hasn’t announced when the flights will go on sale. It says that customers looking to book early and get great fares for next summer should keep an eye on the Easyjet website from early in the morning.”

According to MSE, the tickets “tend to go on sale as early as 5am or 6am, but sometimes it hasn’t released seats until 8am, and it could depend on the location.”

In the 1990s, chicken Caesar wraps dominated lunchtime menus. Aside from the comforting hit of nostalgia for a simpler time, I don’t remember them fondly. Often soggy, laden with too much dressing and scant, dry chicken, it was the kind of unfortunate premade meal you’d eat alone at an airport cafe.

So you can imagine my surprise to see the Y2K-era sandwich having a sudden renaissance at popular restaurants around Los Angeles. But this time, it’s back with some much-needed upgrades: Reputed L.A. chefs and sandwich shops are finally doing the dish justice by using high-quality ingredients and adding their own signature touches — from organic fried chicken to chunks of falafel instead of croutons.

While Angelenos’ love affair with the Caesar salad has been ongoing since Italian chef Caesar Cardini debuted it in Tijuana in the 1920s, the inventor of the chicken Caesar wrap is a bit more mysterious. California Chicken Cafe opened in 1991 on Melrose Avenue and added a chicken Caesar wrap to its menu soon after in 1993. In 1997, fast food chain Wendy’s added its take to the menu (they’ve since been discontinued), giving the wrap nationwide exposure.

At Ggiata, an East Coast-style deli with five locations across L.A., the chicken Caesar wrap is inspired by the ones that co-founders and childhood friends Noah Holton-Raphael, Max Bahramipour and Jack Biebel grew up eating in New Jersey sandwich shops.

“Every neighborhood sandwich shop had a Caesar wrap on the menu — and if they didn’t then, they definitely do now,” said Holton-Raphael.

Since Ggiata launched its viral version in March 2024, the trend has picked up serious steam, inspiring iconic restaurants like Mini Kabob and Casa Vega to add the wrap to their menus.

No longer an afterthought, L.A.’s chicken Caesar wraps are made to order with ingredients like herb-blackened chicken, grain-free tortillas and house-made dressing that borrows inspiration from the salad’s Mexican origins. Here are 12 excellent chicken Caesar wraps (including one made with a baguette) to try around L.A. right now.

Growing up in the suburbs of Chicago, Marlee Matlin always looked forward to Sundays.

It was her father’s only day off, so her family made a weekly tradition of meeting up with close friends for breakfast at a local deli. Afterward, she and her family of five would do a season-friendly activity — apple picking in the fall or a Chicago Cubs game during the summer, perhaps — before wrapping up with a finale event they called “takeout Sundays.”

In Sunday Funday, L.A. people give us a play-by-play of their ideal Sunday around town. Find ideas and inspiration on where to go, what to eat and how to enjoy life on the weekends.

“Sundays were always my favorite day because I knew that we’d all be together,” says Matlin, who became the first deaf actor to win an Oscar in 1987 at the tender age of 21. During our Zoom call, she communicated via an interpreter.

Throughout her career, the “Coda” star has been vocal about her battles with addiction and sexual abuse, but fans are getting an even more intimate look into her life via her latest project, “Marlee Matlin: Not Alone Anymore,” which is showing in select theaters nationwide and will be available on demand on August 22. When she was approached to do a documentary, Matlin says it was a no-brainer for her to have her longtime friend and fellow deaf actor, Shoshannah Stern, direct it.

“What better way to have two deaf women who have similar shared life experiences to tell my story?” Matlin says. In the 1980s, she convinced lawmakers to add closed captioning to television programming.

The veteran actor and activist has been a self proclaimed “California girl” for nearly 40 years, but says that she will always be a “Chicago girl at heart.” (The skyline of the neighborhood she grew up in, Morton Grove, is proudly tattooed on her forearm.) These days, she’s enjoying empty-nester life with her husband Kevin Grandalski. Her ideal Sunday in L.A. involves visiting the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, getting her steps in at the Rose Bowl, having a slice of pizza in Eagle Rock and spending quality time with her 14-month-old granddaughter.

This interview has been lightly edited for length and clarity.

6 a.m.: Take care of my pets

If I had the choice, I would probably wake up at 8 a.m., but because I have a cat, it’s 6 a.m. I also have a dog who needs to be taken out on a walk. Like a fool, he barks at every other dog that we encounter, and I have apologize to each dog owner.

Then I have to have to have breakfast. I’m a breakfast person. I don’t skip it. I love my oatmeal with a little bit of brown sugar and blueberries. If I’m in the mood, I’ll make some turkey bacon and make sure it’s extra crispy, and I drink my Red Bull sugar free. I know I’m going to get a lot of flack because I drink a Red Bull in the morning, but that’s what I drink. I like my drink, and it’s as simple as that. I don’t drink coffee. I wish I did, but I don’t like the taste.

After I’ve gotten breakfast out of the way, I have to make my bed. I can’t even leave the house with an unmade bed. I have to make the bed immediately, and my husband knows that very well.

10 a.m.: Go shopping for new threads

I might go to Rose Bowl either for the flea market, which is open once a month, or for a walk. Before I had foot surgery, I would always go and walk around the Rose Bowl at least twice for a total of six miles. I love power walking.

Afterward, I would go to a couple of boutiques that I like. I’m a big supporter of small local businesses, so I would stop by Tuck in Pasadena and Everson Clare in La Cañada Flintridge. They are both female-owned, and they care about their customers a great deal. Both of them are very good friends of mine. They both work so hard to get their stores opened. I watched them from their inception to where they are today. They have different clothing styles that seem to fit me well. Then there are some stores that I’ll go to in Studio City. You can find me at Sephora, Nordstrom or HomeGoods.

2 p.m.: Pick a favorite L.A. activity

If we’re in the mood to be active, we’ll go to Descanso Gardens or to a Dodgers game. We recently went to Shot of Art, and it’s so fun. It’s similar to paintball. You create art on a canvas as it spins. I just got reelected as the governor of the Academy Museum, so I’ll make sure to go there. Being governor and a member of the Academy, they have been nothing but so supportive of my community and many other underrepresented communities as well. Everyone who has a love for film or history [and] how films are made should go to the museum. Even if you [do] not, you’ll be surprised.

4 p.m.: Quality time with my granddaughter

Then I’ll come back home to spend time with my granddaughter, who is 14 months old. We’ll have playtime at the house. She’s always exploring. She loves the cat. She runs after her, and I’m always the one having to run after the baby. So there’s the three of us running around: cat, baby, then me. I’ll take her to the park, which is down the street. Just being with her is the most important thing. We are just in awe of watching her grow, exploring the world and watching what she learns. That’s the perfect Sunday for me.

6 p.m.: Enjoy an early dinner

I love to cook on Sundays and have an early dinner. I have a whole raft of cookbooks and recipes that I’ve printed out. I’ll just take that big stack and search through it. I’m not somebody who does a whole lot of research. I just pick one and then go for it. I love to barbecue, and I love to bake desserts. I have a sweet tooth. I set up a candy bar — like a bar for candy — in my house. It’s dangerous to have a candy bar. Wait until my granddaughter grows old enough to realize what the candy bar is actually about.

But if I don’t feel like cooking, we might go to Casa Bianca. It’s a pizza shop in Eagle Rock. The pizzas, the mozarella sticks and the salads are fantastic. The chicken piccata is great, and the people who own it are just wonderful people and so welcoming.

8 p.m.: Backgammon before bed

I’ll spend time with my husband after dinner, and we’ll clean up. Then I’d check my phone to see what’s coming up for the week. Depending on what’s going on, I’ll get in touch with the kids and play backgammon on my phone — just spend time winding the day down. And I’ll take an evening walk. Before I close shop, I have to take the dog out once more. I go to bed early. I’m usually in bed by 9:30 p.m.

ONE popular London swim spot is getting a huge makeover with new facilities and green spaces.

The West Reservoir Centre in Stoke Newington that’s been open to swimmers for 20 years is getting an upgrade.

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Found in north London the West Reservoir Centre sees thousands descend on the reservoir for open-water swimming, sailing and kayaking courses.

While the reservoir is about to undergo a transformation, the actual water isn’t – because it’s a reservoir.

Instead, the surrounding area will become much more accessible and greener, too.

The goal is to create “a more welcoming destination for both local residents and visitors.”

Designs reveal a new cafe, reception area, grass edge and two accessible entrances.

Other additions include modern changing rooms and cycle parking spaces to encourage biking to the reservoir.

There will be new accessible bridges built over the north and south parts of New River.

Plus, a new walkway on the east side of the reservoir will be created.

The website states that the centre will remain open throughout the project “for the thousands of people who visit the site each week for open water swimming and water sports.”

The work is expected to be completed by summer 2026 at a cost of close to £3.5 million.

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It’s all being funded by the Greater London Authority as an effort to improve community spaces and create a better space for the people of Stoke Newington.

Caroline Woodley, Hackney mayor, said that the changes are “about so much more than bricks and mortar”.

She continued to describe the centre as “one of Hackney’s hidden gems, a place where communities connect with nature, get active and enjoy some of the borough’s most stunning open-water views.”

The reservoir has a number of swim courses ranging from a 100m warm up lap to a 300m loop.

As it’s an outdoor course, they are dependent on weather conditions and water temperature.

At West Reservoir Centre, the cost for a single open water swim is £10 for non-members and £7.70 for Pay As You Go members.

Another popular lido is Brockwell which the AA revealed to be the best in the country.

The south-west London lido features a 1930s art deco, Grade II listed building, a large 50m pool and even it’s own cafe.

Anyone not keen on swimming can visit the sauna, and there are plenty of spots to sunbathe too.

Plus, I’ve found the little-known lidos in the UK to visit ahead of 33C weather – there are no queues and some are even free.

All the lidos in the UK mapped – with water slides, cocktail bars and some are even free to enter.

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NASA’s X-59 quiet supersonic research aircraft has officially begun taxi tests, marking the first time this one-of-a-kind experimental aircraft has moved under its own power

NASA is testing a new aircraft that could pave the way for a new era of supersonic air travel by addressing an issue at the heart of Concorde’s commercial failure.

The dream of a ‘son of Concorde‘ capable of whisking passengers from New York to London in under four hours is edging closer to reality.

NASA’s X-59 quiet supersonic research aircraft has officially begun taxi tests, a significant milestone as this unique experimental plane moves under its own power for the first time.

On 10 July, NASA test pilot Nils Larson, alongside the X-59 team comprising NASA and Lockheed Martin staff, carried out the craft’s inaugural low-speed taxi test at the U.S. Air Force Plant 42 in Palmdale, California.

This taxiing phase signals the final ground test sequence before the X-59’s maiden flight. In the upcoming weeks, the aircraft will incrementally boost its speed, culminating in a high-speed taxi test that will bring it tantalisingly close to lift-off.

READ MORE: ‘Concorde’s final flight was 20 years ago – the supersonic jet was always doomed’

During these initial low-speed trials, engineering and flight teams observed the X-59’s performance on the tarmac, ensuring essential systems like steering and braking are operating correctly. These evaluations are crucial for confirming the aircraft’s stability and control under various scenarios, instilling confidence in pilots and engineers that all systems are functioning optimally.

At the heart of NASA’s Quesst mission, the X-59 aims to revolutionise quiet supersonic travel by transforming the traditionally loud sonic boom into a more subdued “thump.”

This is considered key to the commercial success of any supersonic air travel. Crashing through the sound barrier causes a huge bang that has big consequences for those on the ground. During a 1965 test of the original Concorde over Oklahoma city by the US Air Force, hundreds of reports of smashed windows were made.

The potential to cause this kind of disruption meant that Concorde could only fly certain routes at supersonic, meaning no high-speed flights over land. This crushed the business case for the aircraft in the US as cities such as Los Angeles and New York could not be linked up effectively.

Guy Gratton, associate professor of aviation and the environment at Cranfield University, told the Mirror how NASA’s new ‘quiet’ tech is causing is a huge amount of excitement in the industry.

“From what I’ve been able to read, it does work. As a supersonic aircraft flies, every leading part of the aircraft creates a shockwave, and that shockwave creates a sonic boom. The NASA tech has shaped the aircraft so as the shockwaves move away from the plane in flight, they interact with each other and cancel each other out,” he explained.

The X-59 is expected to reach speeds of Mach 1.5, or roughly 990 mph (1,590 km/h), which could potentially cut the London to New York flight time down to approximately 3 hours and 44 minutes – a significant reduction from the usual 7-8 hour journey.

In 2023, NASA explored the feasibility of supersonic passenger air travel on aircraft capable of reaching speeds between Mach 2 and Mach 4 (1,535-3,045 mph). Information collected from the X-59 will be shared with U.S. and international regulators to help establish new, data-driven noise standards for supersonic commercial flights over land.

Hushinish Beach on the Isle of Harris in the Outer Hebrides can only be reached by car – but it’s well worth the journey to the ‘Caribbean of the North’

Standing on the pristine white sands of Hushinish Beach, you’d be excused for believing you’ve got a row of palm trees stretching behind you on a sweltering Caribbean shoreline.

This breathtaking beach in the Outer Hebrides sits on the western edge of the Isle of Harris.

The gorgeous soft sands and crystal-clear turquoise waters create a perfect swimming destination all year round, though visitors are cautioned that the water can be absolutely freezing. The beach is reachable by car via a 30-minute journey along a fairly winding route.

Sawdays holidays notes that the pristine waters mean if you “squint a little and you could be in the Caribbean”.

It described this Isle of Harris stretch as among Scotland’s “truly spectacular” coastal gems, reports the Express.

A campervan site sits adjacent to the beach, meaning some larger motors use the access road, reports Scotland Less Explored. Free parking is also available right at the beach.

Complimentary loos and heated water showers are provided at the beach for those braving a visit during chillier months or finding themselves in urgent need after an extended journey.

Inside the Huisinis Gateway building, which operates from 7am to 7.30pm daily, visitors can discover details about native wildlife. It’s also perfect for enjoying a packed lunch on dreary days, as the glass panels offer a glimpse of the stunning shoreline.

Taking a dip at the beach is entirely feasible. Unlike many charming little bays on the island that are exposed to the open sea, resulting in large waves and powerful currents, this bay is shielded by a headland, allowing for easy swimming.

If you’re after a stunning view of the beach, make a stop just before reaching the car park on the B887. From here, you can capture a breathtaking panoramic shot of the beach and the adjacent peninsula.

Simply park your vehicle and stroll back a few hundred metres in the direction you came from to snap a memento that will surely incite envy among your friends and family.

Should the gorgeous views start to lose their charm, there’s a bit of history to delve into nearby. The Bunavoneader Whaling Station, established in the early 1900s by a Norwegian firm, was intermittently operational for nearly six decades.

Today, one of the original three red brick chimneys still stands, along with colossal concrete platforms where ships once docked with their gargantuan catches.

Additionally, the North Harris Eagle Observatory is within cycling distance from the beach, or less than half an hour’s walk.

The observatory is a modest wooden building equipped with large glass windows, providing a quiet spot to observe wildlife – keep your eyes peeled for the majestic golden eagle.

Wake up in beautiful surroundings this summer with a visit to one of these stunning camping sites

With the summer holidays looming, parents may be looking for a fun trip to fill some of the 6 weeks with the kids and camping is a great option. Caravan insurance experts at Quotezone.co.uk named seven sites across the country to pitch up in front of stunning landscapes.

Greg Wilson, CEO and price comparison specialist at Quotezone.co.uk, said: “Many families and couples will be looking to pitch up their tents and caravans this summer in some of the most stunning sites in the country in a bid for a stress-free breather. The UK countryside has so much to offer visitors – with spectacular landscapes, attractive beaches, colourful meadows and calming woodlands.

“Camping in some of the most peaceful spots will give holidaymakers the chance to relax, save money, sleep under the stars and avoid airport delays and security hassles that can come with holidaying abroad.”

Advice from camping websites states that the better the view, the more wind you’re likely to encounter – so investing in a sturdy tent will be beneficial, reports the Express.

Here are some of Britain’s most picturesque camping spots:.

Devon

Devon’s countryside is a haven of tranquillity, boasting sprawling meadows, soothing natural springs and lush woodlands. It’s an idyllic spot for those yearning to sleep under the stars, with breathtaking views and sunsets that will make you feel truly at one with nature.

Woodovis Park is Devon’s 5 Star Holiday Park near the ancient Stannary Market town of Tavistock and nestled on the edge of Devon’s Tamar Valley: an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and a designated World Heritage Site.

You can snuggle down in your own tent or opt for a luxurious glamping pod. More info at www.woodovis.com

Norfolk

For those seeking a beachside camping experience, Norfolk is the place to be. Here, you can indulge in seal spotting or enjoy a leisurely walk along the sandy shores.

Nestled within the iconic Norfolk Broads are numerous picturesque sites, offering families the chance to explore walking routes and waterways during their getaway.

Beeston Regis Holiday Park is a peaceful clifftop holiday park on the North Norfolk coastline, aptly nicknamed ‘The King of the Clifftop View’.

The park is dog-friendly, and you’re welcome to fire up your BBQ. Amenities include a top-quality shower block with reliable hot water, washing-up sinks, a launderette service and Elsan point.

See more here: www.beestonregis.co.uk

Lake District

Home to some of the UK’s most stunning lakes and mountains, the Lake District is a prime location for camping enthusiasts. This idyllic spot offers the perfect setting for relaxation amidst breathtaking landscapes or for embarking on long walks to soak in the picturesque scenery.

Castlerigg Farm, Keswick is a lovely, family-friendly site, with far reaching views across Derwentwater and the northern Lake District fells. There is a shop on site, and a takeaway van visits daily through the high summer season.

More info: castleriggfarm.com

Yorkshire

For those seeking a laid-back camping experience, Yorkshire is the place to be. With vistas of charming villages and miles of rugged coastline, it’s an idyllic setting.

The beautiful local beaches and delightful coastal towns make for a splendid camping holiday in this corner of the world.

William’s Den in Yorkshire is a 12 acre family-friendly site next to the award winning children’s attraction William’s Den. The campsite offers ‘Pitch Up & Play’ options which are fantastic value for money giving you and the kids all-day access to William’s Den Adventure Play during your stay.

The site now has 5 cosy bell tents to stay in, if you fancy glamping.

See more at www.williamsden.co.uk/stay-camp

Argyll and Bute, Scotland

In Argyll and Bute, Scotland, campers are met with some of the most awe-inspiring views in the country. Campsites here offer panoramas of lush greenery, stunning beauty and breathtaking lochs.

Take in those wonderful lochs and mountain views from your very own glamping pod with heater, kettle, microwave, fridge and private decking at Loch Awe. You’ll want to head to this secluded spot if wild fishing, mountain hikes and lochside campfires are on your bucket list.

More info at Pitchup.

Somerset

A camping trip in Somerset provides holidaymakers with a tranquil escape in the countryside. Ancient woodlands and vibrant meadows provide campers with a spectacular backdrop for their rural retreat.

Mendip Basecamp is an award winning off-grid family adventure campsite in the Mendip Hills, North Somerset. Surrounded by ancient woodland, the spacious campsite is perfect for families, small groups and adventurers and offers flushing toilets, hot showers, a pop up shop, a licensed cafe-bar, usb charging, washing up areas, ice-pack freezers, recycling and drinking water.

There’ll not be a single bored moment thanks to the Mendip Activity Centre, the onsite outdoor activity centre with over 20 activities to experience, from Live Music to Rock Climbing, Skiing to Archery and Storytelling to Nature Walks.

See more here: mendipbasecamp.com

Worcestershire

Camping in Worcestershire offers visitors unique landscapes and extensive trails to explore. The stunning, picture-perfect views are perfect for families and couples who enjoy hiking and reconnecting with nature.

Hopley’s in Bewdley is a well-established family-friendly campsite, with a mix of glamping, tents and caravans. They offer an on-site eatery, café, camping shop and farm shop as well as live music and festival events.

More info: www.hopleyscamping.co.uk

Winning tip: meadow birdsong by the beach in Pembrokeshire

For 28 years we have been going to West Hook Farm in Marloes, Pembrokeshire, to camp. The farm has some lovely showers and toilets, and nothing else apart from beautiful fields full of meadow grass. The swifts and swallows dart along the top of the grass to eat bugs at dawn and dusk. All day long you can hear beautiful birdsong from birds such as skylarks. The fields run alongside the beautiful coastal path, which has a hedgerow full of wildflowers and birds. This is the most beautiful place on Earth (when it isn’t raining). The numerous beaches are full of soft white sands. Our children have grown up playing free in the fields on their yearly holiday – no computers, just outdoor fun.
Em

Hiking a Highlands mountain

For a true taste of the Scottish Highlands, head to Ballater and hike the 1,155-metre (3,789 ft) peak of Lochnagar in the Grampians. The trail winds through pine forests and open moorland, the air crisp and alive. Be ready for the weather to change like pages in a book: sunshine, sudden rain, a flurry of snow on the summit, then blue skies again. On the way down, slip into the river, its water sharp as ice. Pack layers, bring snacks and take your time. It’s a walk that stays with you long after you leave the mountain behind.
Eva

Walking the Cotswold Way – inspired by Laurie Lee

After a family reading of Laurie Lee’s As I Walked Out One Midsummer Morning, my husband and I decided our two teens were ready to try a walking holiday in the Cotswolds. We set out with backpacks and a tent on the Cotswold Way, starting just outside lively Chipping Campden and ending in Bath. Mobiles were limited to an hour a day in the evening and we did 10 miles a day – covering the walk in 10 days. We felt we were a part of a community of walkers as fellow hikers greeted us in passing, sharing drinks and tips with us along the way. We also learned about the Japanese idea of shinrin-yoku – feeling free in nature under the canopy of trees, sky and stars – from a family from Tokyo. We returned fitter, more together and happier than when we set out.
Ann

Forests and folklore in the Carpathians

Following a brilliant solo back-to-nature trip to the Carpathian mountains in Romania two years ago, I talked my two teenage boys into a family repeat earlier this summer – dangling the carrot of a trip to Count Dracula’s castle. In fact I only needed some minor encouragement from the vampire; the area itself was my ally. The forests, flanked by brooding mountains, were exciting to hike through anyway (with the help of a local guide), with the presence of brown bears, wolves and lynx adding to the thrills as we marched along. We came across medieval towns and villages that are rich in traditional folklore. One highlight was sampling local cheese and singing songs with villagers in the Bârza valley. The boys were rewarded with a ride on a horse-drawn cart to the next village, near Dracula’s alleged abode – Bran Castle. Don’t miss the stiff climb up to Postăvarul peak (1,799 metres) for great views over the area.
Joe

Where Austria’s hills are alive

Salzkammergut is the Austrian lake district. Lush meadows, forests and blue-green lakes make for endless days of swimming, biking and lying in the sun. No wonder that The Sound of Music was filmed here. Wolfgangsee has well-marked bike trails and opportunities to swim, alongside cafes serving delicious kaiserschmarrn (fluffy pancakes) and schnitzel. The nearby Fuschlsee has an incredible water park right by the lake: swimming pools, slides and plenty of quiet water in which to swim. It’s excellent entertainment for the entire family. We stayed in the newly renovated Feichtingerbauer, which offers complimentary access to the Fuschlseebad.
Neha

Paddleboarding in County Derry

By the end of the summer in 2021 we were at the end of our tether due to lockdowns and the lack of socialising opportunities. The kids had never been so quiet. My good friend Bob insisted we join his family at Swanns Bridge in County Derry for a paddleboard trip. Swanns Bridge is only a few minutes’ drive from the Atlantic beaches of Benone, but it makes use of the River Roe, rather than the ocean. After 20 minutes of trying to stay upright, something happened. For the first time in over a year we were distracted by something positive and by the beauty of the Roe. The only sound was water (mostly me falling in) and laughter. We’ve gone back since to be distracted for different reasons. It still works.
Kieran

Trigbagging in the Peak District

Try trigbagging with the kids. Be it a weekend in the Peak District or Monday to Friday in the Lake District, it doesn’t have to cost a lot. You can pitch a tent in a campsite or get cheap accommodation in a youth hostel. My kids love scrambling up the hills, paddling in the streams that flow down them, spotting the ground-nesting birds, and tucking into the snacks that come with hiking. It teaches them so much about nature and personal safety, as well as about how quickly the weather can change in such places.
Rebecca

Searching for buried treasure on Ynys Môn (Anglesey)

Our best back-to-nature day out? A spontaneous treasure hunt through the dunes of Newborough beach on Ynys Môn (Anglesey). There’s no admission fee needed – just a hand-drawn pirate map, a flask of lemonade and plenty of imagination. The kids darted between marram grass and shoreline, hunting for shells and “buried treasure” (a biscuit tin full of sweets we’d hidden earlier). With views of Llanddwyn Island and a picnic under the pines, it was low-stress, big-memory magic. Just bring snacks, suncream and a good sense of adventure!
Robert Serebriakoff

Car-free and carefree on the Isle of Arran

We had a lovely summer holiday staying on a farm on the Isle of Arran. It’s the perfect car-free holiday for families, with a very easy train ride from Glasgow to the harbour [at the mainland ferry port of Ardrossan]. We stayed on the organic farm, picking our own fruit and veg then cooking it on our camping stove on the beach. The accommodation is right on the beach and on our first morning we stepped out and saw an enormous pod of dolphins. Our days were spent walking up and down the beach playing in rock pools. Absolute heaven! The owner of the farm, who used to work in a Michelin-starred restaurant, cooks fresh lobster and seafood most nights. You can watch him and his daughter going out on their kayak to make their daily catch.
Gemma

Rockpooling in East Sussex

One of our favourite trips out in nature is to the beach at Seven Sisters, East Sussex. The walk to get there is lovely – it’s flat and a good size for our boys to ride their bikes along. It’s beautiful, with the cliffs and rivers winding along, and there’s even a little empty building to look inside, which is very exciting for small children. When at the beach, there is so much to do, including wading across the part where the river joins the sea with a pretty decent current; rock pooling in crystal-clear waters; and, on a good day, there’s the sludgy sand to get filthy in! Bonus fun is had by watching walkers wade across the river to get to the cliffs, teetering on the painful rocks, as they don’t want to get their walking shoes wet; or by finding crabs in the rock pools; and seeing little islands made as the tide goes in and out. It’s extra fun if you win the competition to find the most interesting stone or find some treasured sea glass. Chalk is fun too, but common enough not to count as an entry into the competition.
Lauren

From green-capped mountains to creamy golden beaches and dense forests, this two-hour train journey has been crowned one of the country’s best – and it’s pretty easy to see why

Watch rolling countryside and golden sandy beaches from the comfort of your own seat on this picturesque train journey. Let’s face it, the UK’s railways don’t exactly have the best reputation. Plagued with constant delays, cancellations, and crowded carriages – hopping on a train for leisure seems like an oxymoron.

However, if you look hard enough, you’ll find a slew of beautiful trains that seem worlds away from your bleak morning commute. Take the Machynlleth to Pwllheli route in Wales, for example, which was recently named one of the best train journeys in the country by Conde Nast Traveller.

READ MORE: UK’s most unique 417-mile train ride passes stunning scenery but has major catch

The 31-mile track, which lasts for around two hours and 12 minutes, idles through breathtaking mountains, stunning beaches, and dense forests, and can cost less than £20 for a return.

“Just inside the southernmost rim of Snowdonia National Park, this route is blessed by nature from the moment the train departs,” the publication hailed. “Passengers gaze onto scenes of tall grass smattered with waist-high wildflowers and puffy clouds over peaks fringed with forest… Not long after Dovey Junction station, the ride follows the bends of the River Dyfi until it opens wide onto the Cardigan Bay coast, shaped by fingers of creamy sand and dunes melting into the water.”

The train has 25 stops, including the ‘most isolated station in Wales’, Dovey Junction, and the acclaimed seaside town of Barmouth – just make sure you get a window seat to make the most of the journey. Most of the track hugs the country’s stunning coastline, allowing for plenty of beach vistas and sea views. However, there are no first class carriages, so it might be worth bringing your own train picnic.

Machynlleth to Pwllheli – the full route

• Machynlleth
• Dovey Junction
• Penhelig
• Aberdovey
• Tywyn
• Tonfanau
• Llwyngwril
• Fairbourne
• Morfa Mawddach
• Barmouth
• Llanaber
• Talybont
• Dyffryn Ardudwy
• Llanbedr
• Pensarn (Gwynedd)
• Llandanwg
• Harlech
• Tygwyn
• Talsarnau
• Llandecwyn
• Penrhyndeudraeth
• Minffordd
• Porthmadog
• Criccieth
• Penychain
• Abererch
• Pwllheli

Machynlleth is located 217 miles from Central London, meaning you’ll have to drive around four hours and 47 minutes to get there. You can catch an indirect train from London Euston, which includes a stop over at Birmingham but only takes three hours and 52 minutes. Single adult fares start from £37.20.

After arriving in Machynlleth, you can hop straight onto the train to Pwllheli or spend the night in the market town. Here, you’ll find an array of museums, the Michelin-starred restaurant Ynyshir, and – if you time it right – Machynlleth Comedy Festival.

You can grab return fares to Pwllheli and back for as little as £21.09. If you have a railcard, this can cut down the price to an even more impressive £13.99 – which works out at less than £7 each way!

*Prices based on Trainline listings at the time of writing.

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A travel influencer, who visited 17 European cities last year, has named and shamed three that they wouldn’t have chosen to visit – and it’s fair to say people were divided

Choosing the ideal holiday spot can be a real head-scratcher. Yet, Sooyeon, a globetrotting influencer hailing from San Francisco, US, might just have the insights you need to whittle down your choices. Hitting 17 different cities across Europe last year, she confessed on her TikTok @soos.foods that there were three cities that didn’t quite live up to expectations.

“These are three cities I probably would’ve skipped,” she shared. “Doesn’t mean these are bad destinations, I just didn’t enjoy them as much as other cities.” She was quick to point out Madrid as her first let-down. In 2023, after enjoying a brief stint in Barcelona, she spent two-and-a-half days in Spain’s capital but favoured the seaside charm of Barcelona over Madrid.

READ MORE: ‘Beautiful seaside town looks exactly like Mykonos but drinks are just 50p’

She recounted: “The main reason is because I went to both Madrid and Barcelona on the same trip, and I feel like Madrid didn’t have as many interesting things to do for me at least, other than the palace and museums.” Sooyeon confessed that if she were to go to Spain again, she would skip Madrid and spend more time in Barcelona, instead.

Her next disappointment was with Catania, a storied port city on Sicily’s eastern seaboard. Sooyeon envisioned a lovely Italian getaway but the outcome left her less than thrilled. Courting controversy, she remarked: “…The city just felt a little run down and not the safest. People were also not afraid to stare at you – I’m sure they weren’t trying to be rude or mean, but it felt a little uncomfortable as a female traveller.”

Sooyeon’s take on Berlin stood out from her previous critiques of Catania and Madrid, reports the Express. She felt a sense of safety and was far from bored, commending the city for its ‘welcoming’ vibe and ‘cool cafes, shops and roads’. Yet, she felt something was amiss.

READ MORE: ‘I lived in pretty Spanish town for years and Brits still don’t know it exists’

“Don’t get me wrong, I would love to live in Berlin,” Sooyeon admitted. “But, as a tourist, I feel like the main attractions are history museums which I personally am not the biggest on, especially because at this point on my trip I was getting severe museum fatigue.”

She explained: “The food scene was also pretty international, so I didn’t find as many options for authentic local food, which is something I try to eat everywhere I go. Again, this is just my experience – what doesn’t work for me, could work for you.”

Sooyeon’s candid reviews sparked a flurry of responses on TikTok, with users divided over her views on these popular destinations. One user defended Madrid: “I will not accept any Madrid slander! I’ve been like four times and it’s an incredible city.”

Another urged travellers not to overlook Catania: “Everyone here pls don’t skip Catania,” while a different comment questioned her impression of Berlin: “Berlin is clean??? What girl???”

Having high expectations when you’re visiting the best hotel in England isn’t a bad thing, but Danielle Kate Wroe was holding her breath to see whether Mallory Court could live up to them…

Danielle is a Social News Reporter for the social newsdesk, serving titles including The Mirror. She previously worked as a Lifestyle Writer for The Mirror. She has a special interest in books, feminism, stories from the LGBTQ+ community, and fashion. She’s also worked for Reach PLC’s InYourArea team as a Senior Community Content Curator.

The expectations are high when arriving at a hotel that has been named the best in England.

Earlier this year, the Mallory Court Country House Hotel and Spa was crowned the best large hotel by a panel of VisitEngland judges, who fell in love with the Warwickshire manor.

The experts heaped praise on Mallory Court, describing it as providing ‘a serene base ‘set within 10 acres of landscaped gardens, crammed full of all the modern amenities and luxury trimmings you could possibly want.

What’s more, the hotel was recently described as being an absolute bargain, with one reviewer noting that the price of a room for the night is half that of a similar country house. So, a lot to live up to.

Do you have a travel story you think we should cover? Let us know! Email [email protected]

We wandered around the gardens, and General Manager Josefine Blomqvist told us that Mallory Court is working to become more sustainable by growing its own produce—and the bees that buzz around the garden are part of that effort.

After getting ready for dinner, we headed to the lovely garden area and drank a glass of champagne as we enjoyed the stunning views. It felt like I’d stepped straight into an episode of Bridgerton, pretending that I was the lady of the manor. Once we’d enjoyed some olives and salted beans with our drink, we were taken through into the dining area.

My partner and I opted for the tasting menu curated by MasterChef winner Stu Deeley. I hadn’t indulged in a tasting menu for quite some time, so this was an exciting fine-dining experience. Plus, the sommelier went to great lengths to find the perfect bottle of wine for us to share as we dined. We opted for a Chinon Blanc Les Bondonnières Couly-Dutheil 2023, and it complemented each course perfectly. It was crisp but not too sweet—I’d definitely buy a bottle to enjoy at home.

We started with canapés and an amuse-bouche, one of which was the most melt-in-the-mouth goat cheese I have ever tasted. This was followed by a malted loaf from Silvertree Bakery with estate dairy cultured butter, burrata with pea and mint gazpacho and artichoke, a crispy Burford Brown egg, barbecued leek and warm tartare sauce, Cornish monkfish, borlotti bean cassoulet, baby courgette, brown shrimps, Espelette and nduja sauce, and finally the Oxfordshire hogget with potato terrine, French beans, and salsa verde.

The meal delivered flavour sensations like I’ve never experienced before, especially the warm tartare sauce. It was unusual, but divine. The final part of the meal was, of course, dessert. The chocolate fondant tart was incredibly luxurious, with the mint ice cream providing a somewhat nostalgic taste. It reminded me of being a child and smelling mint in my mum’s garden—so it was not only delicious but also evoked lovely memories.

We finished off with some warm madeleines, a welcome way to round off the meal perfectly. We dined for three and a half hours, laughing and joking with our lovely waitress all night long, and left very satisfied.

Upon returning to the room, we were thrilled to see it had been turned down for the evening: the curtains were drawn, the fan turned back on, and we’d been left a gorgeous little jar of honey from the Mallory Bees. This was a lovely touch, given to guests for special occasions. I can confirm—it’s one of the nicest honeys I’ve ever tasted.

We got ready for bed, and I had a perfect night’s sleep. I didn’t even stir once, which, in the heat we were experiencing, was a surprise. The bed wasn’t too soft nor too firm—a real Goldilocks bed, if you will.

The morning after, I made full use of the garden and went outside to read before getting ready for the day, while my partner made use of the spa facilities. He used the indoor and outdoor pools, and I went to have a nosy—they were immaculately clean and lovely. We headed to breakfast, where I enjoyed eggs royale and my partner had a full English. We also had orange juice and coffee. Again, the staff were lovely and welcoming and truly couldn’t do enough for us. Afterwards, we wandered past our private garden and into the hotel grounds, exploring the nooks and crannies. It’s like a magical fairy world.

I can truly appreciate why this hotel won Large Hotel of the Year at the VisitEngland Awards for Excellence 2025. My only query is: why on earth isn’t this hotel five-star? Because it more than deserves to be. It’s undeniably the nicest place I’ve stayed in this country—and I’ve been to some seriously fancy hotels. But Mallory Court is magical.

Book it

A classic room costs between £240 and £340 per night. Visit Mallory’s website to book.

A Cotswold plane scrappage company has been the unlikely resting place of Saddam Hussein’s stolen private jet – which is now being used in TV shows and movies, in part due to its excellent 80s interior

If you’re on the hunt for Saddam Hussein’s private jet, you might not think to look in the Cotswolds.

Yet, it’s in this picturesque part of England where you’ll find the former Iraqi dictator’s personal aircraft. Air Salvage International, a plane scrappage firm based at Cotswold Airport, has been the custodian of the VIP-equipped Boeing 727 for nearly a decade.

While most of the company’s planes are dismantled and sold off, sometimes fetching up to £10 million per jet, managing director Mark Gregory can’t bring himself to part with this particular flying machine.It’s not just its connection to Saddam (whose Iraqi Airways nicked Kuwait Airways’ entire fleet during the 1990 invasion) that makes it special, but also its retro ’80s interior.

Originally owned by the Kuwaiti Royal family, the 189-seat jet was gutted of its standard uncomfortable airplane seats and decked out with an array of kitschy furniture that could fill a retirement home. Think plush velour seats with extendable footrests, state-of-the-art JVC TVs embedded into mahogany walls, and glass vases brimming with plastic roses, all sitting next to unopened bottles of champagne.

Do you have an idea for an interesting place we can cover? Email [email protected]

READ MORE: Inside the eerie UK ‘plane graveyard’ where jumbo jets from around the world are ditched

Before the Iraqi forces swooped in and commandeered the Kuwaiti fleet, Emir Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and other wealthy royals used the opulent plane for their global travels. Where there is now a patch of carpet overrun by mould, the Emir once sat on a specially built throne, using radio equipment to issue orders to his staff from 30,000 feet above.

Following the Western invasion of Iraq and Saddam’s execution, the private jet changed ownership multiple times until it was sold to Air Salvage International by Jersey-based Strong Aviation on 29 June 2016. Now at 45 years old, the aircraft’s value is virtually nil and its flying days are over – despite Mark maintaining it in full working order and taking it for a spin on the runway every ten days.

These days, it sees most action as a film set for TV programmes and films, including McDonald and Dodds, Casualty, The Lazarus Project, Hijack with Idris Elba, Star Wars, Mission: Impossible, and Doctor Who. Next time you watch a dramatic plane crash or runway scene on screen, keep an eye out for some suspiciously Gloucestershire-like countryside in the background. Or even Mark’s arms.

When he’s not making money from old planes or drumming away in his office by the runway, the ponytailed scrap tycoon can be partially seen on the big screen, “piloting” the Boeing 727 in its latest cinematic adventure.

Air Salvage International first began 30 years ago. Armed with redundancy money in the early ’90s, Mark bought his first plane and spent six months breaking it down into sellable bits. More than 1,400 aircraft later, the business is thriving and employs dozens of people to cope with the growing demand from the ever-expanding aviation industry.

And there are big bucks at stake. The equivalent of a commercial jet’s MOT costs around £1 million, which is why many plane owners decide to send their ageing aircraft to Mark instead. Sometimes as much as £12 million can be salvaged from them, either in reusable parts or recyclable materials.

By now, many Disney fans have had a chance to see the officially released images by the company as well as close-up pictures taken by park guests. There have been quibbles, to say the least, with many a fan showing snapshots of the animatronic side by side with pictures of a much younger Disney. It’s important to note that the figure captures Disney in 1963. Disney died in 1966 at 65.

The show has me thinking a bit on how the animatronic medium can be used best. Disney introduced its audio-animatronics in 1963 with the Enchanted Tiki Room, but elevated the form in 1965 with the “Great Moments With Mr. Lincoln” production. We have no filmed footage of Abraham Lincoln, meaning he exists to us largely in our mind. “Walt Disney — A Magical Life” contains a 15-minute documentary-like film, “One Man’s Dream,” which is narrated by Disney and Walt Disney Co. Chief Executive Bob Iger, allowing us an instant comparison.

From my vantage point — again, about three-fourths of the way into the theater — the animatronic was a more-than-respectable approximation of Disney. It’s not perfect, perhaps — the face is a little bulky, the cheeks just a bit off — but that’s because I still think the medium is best suited for more fantastical characters and creations, shows and figures that let us use our imagination rather than aim to capture life. Audio, however, is taken direct from Disney’s speeches, with an emphasis on creative inspiration, and while it has been cleaned up, there’s no mistaking that it’s Disney’s voice.

Ultimately, Walt Disney Imagineering, the creative team responsible for theme park creations, deserves to be commended for this risk, as it has me eager to see how audio-animatronics will continue to evolve and elevate our immersive experiences. At its core, this is a robot, and no robot will directly capture human life, at least not yet, but this is as close as Walt Disney Co. has come.

The Walt Disney animatronic figure has been in the works for about seven years, according to Walt Disney Imagineering.

(Richard Harbaugh / Disneyland Resort / Image Group LA)

On Friday, I visited an old friend I hadn’t seen in months: the Mt. Baden Powell trail near Wrightwood. I was nervous about what I’d find, given the trail’s proximity to a recent wildfire.

The Bridge fire started near the Bridge to Nowhere trailhead in Angeles National Forest in early September. It charged northward, burning 56,030 acres and destroying 81 structures, including homes in Wrightwood and Mt. Baldy. It also incinerated campgrounds and scorched dozens of miles of trails.

Given the region’s fire-related closures, I hadn’t been back in 9½ months. I drove toward Wrightwood wondering how devastated the landscape would be. Would the trail be well maintained? Would this place where I’ve spent so many hours bounding up the mountainside still be as beautiful as I remembered?

The San Gabriel Mountains as seen from the Mt. Baden Powell trail.

(Jaclyn Cosgrove / Los Angeles Times)

After my eight-mile trek to the summit of Mt. Baden Powell and back, I am relieved to report that it was an awesome day on the mountain — with some caveats.

The Mt. Baden Powell hike is one of several trails that reopened in late June after Angeles National Forest officials, for reasons that remain unclear, terminated the Bridge fire order.

Just over two weeks after the closure order was canceled, the California Department of Transportation announced that the section of State Route 2 (Angeles Crest Highway) from Big Pines Highway to the gate near Vincent Gulch in Angeles National Forest had reopened to the public.

From the Mt. Baden Powell trail, hikers can see a portion of the Bridge fire burn scar.

(Jaclyn Cosgrove / Los Angeles Times)

This meant hikers could actually park near the trailhead rather than parking five miles away and hoofing it down the highway to reach the Baden Powell starting point. (Note: The section of Angeles Crest Highway between Vincent Gulch and Islip Saddle remains closed but could reopen this fall.)

As I drove west out of Wrightwood on Angeles Crest Highway, it was impossible to miss the burned landscape. I stopped at the Inspiration Point vista lookout and the destroyed Grassy Hollow Visitor Center, where blackened trees jut out of the ground like dark skeletal remains.

But pulling into the Vincent Gap parking lot, I was relieved to see green conifers thriving on the mountainsides. I chatted in the parking lot with another hiker who said she’s been coming to Wrightwood since the early 1970s when her grandparents had a home there. She was eager to return after the closure order was lifted but, like me, was nervous to see the fire’s effects.

It was hard to see so many burned and dead trees killed by fire and by drought, she said. She was surprised by how the area around Vincent Gap still looked healthy.

Several burned trees remain in the Bridge fire burn scar near Bear and Vincent gulches around Wrightwood.

(Jaclyn Cosgrove / Los Angeles Times)

As I started the trail, infamous for its 40(ish) switchbacks, I spotted California sister butterflies as well as chipmunks performing parkour exercises across the trail, trying to remain unseen and looking extremely cute in the process. I listened to the tweets of dark-eyed juncos and the teensy blue-gray gnatcatcher.

About two-thirds of a mile in, I started to take in the views, looking northeast where the fire’s burn scar is easy to track by simply observing the large swaths of brown and dead trees. A begrudgingly optimistic person, I smiled when I saw green cedars and pines still alive among their dying brethren.

I was relieved to see the small wooden bench, just under a mile in, still perched on the mountainside. I yelled at a particular boulder just before Lamel Spring: “I remember you!” Although so much had changed around the trail, so much remained the same.

Chipmunks are easy to spot on the Mt. Baden Powell hike through the San Gabriel Mountains.

(Jaclyn Cosgrove / Los Angeles Times)

At Lamel Spring, I refilled my water bottle and felt grateful at the burst of colors around me — bright orange lichen and wildflowers including small pink roses, scarlet monkey flowers and the rare lemon lily. A mountain chickadee buzzed past my head before landing on a branch nearby, where it kept watching me as I savored the cool spring water. It’s easy to forget that some of these animals are as curious, if not more, of us than we are of them. They people watch too.

I continued my hike and smiled when I saw the large old log on the trail that someone long ago carved “half way” into. It is, indeed, the halfway point.

The higher I climbed, the cooler and quieter it got, outside of the ravens squawking to each other from across the mountain. After some light grumbling, as I was ready for lunch, I arrived at the Wally Waldron Tree, a limber pine that might be the oldest living thing in the San Gabriel Mountains. Believed to be 1,500 years old, this tree is thankfully yet another thing that remains unchanged on this trail.

The Wally Waldron Tree remains alive and well, perched on a ledge parallel to the Mt. Baden Powell trail. The tree might be the oldest living thing in the San Gabriel Mountains.

(Jaclyn Cosgrove / Los Angeles Times)

I was the only human on the summit, and I took the opportunity to, for the first time, lie down and enjoy my surroundings. (I did set a timer because I have this nightmare of accidentally falling asleep on the trail!)

Mt. Baden Powell is one of my favorite hikes, in part, because it’s a suffer fest. I have almost given up several times on this hike because it is a challenging slog up the mountain. Outside the trickling spring, there isn’t any water, and it can get hot as you charge up its more exposed switchbacks. But I keep coming back because every single time I reach the top, I am awestruck by the panoramic views of the San Gabriel Mountains, the Antelope Valley and more. It is important to be reminded of the specks of stardust we are sometimes.

Several burned trees near Inspiration Point near Wrightwood.

(Jaclyn Cosgrove / Los Angeles Times)

This was the first time I’ve hiked Mt. Baden Powell and not seen a single cut-through on the trail, a bad habit of hikers who ignore the switchbacks and charge straight down. The trail was easy to follow and in pristine condition. A forest service worker told me that several volunteers are to thank for that. (Thank you!)

After the hike, I headed west down Big Pines Highway to see how the rest of the region fared in the Bridge fire. The first three-quarters of a mile of the highway are in the burn scar, but as I drove farther west, it became harder to discern where the burn scar was. There was so much green and life around me.

The hike to Mt. Baden Powell was thankfully spared in the Bridge fire and has hundreds of lush green shade trees.

(Jaclyn Cosgrove / Los Angeles Times)

Multiple campgrounds were damaged or destroyed in the fire and remain closed, including Blue Ridge, Guffy and Lupine. But several are open and offer beautiful escapes in the outdoors.

Those sites, which are managed by Mountain High, include:

• Appletree: Eight first come, first served walk-in campsites, including three that are ADA accessible; piped water available; vault toilets.
• Peavine: Eight first come, first served walk-in tent sites; no potable water; vault toilets.
• Lake: Eight sites, including six requiring reservations, next to Jackson Lake; drinking water available; vault toilets.
• Mountain Oak: Seventeen sites near Jackson Lake featuring flush toilets and water faucets.
• Table Mountain: A large campground featuring more than 100 of both first come, first served and reservation-only sites; drinking water available; vault toilets.

The last place on my list was Jackson Lake, where you can rent kayaks and paddle boats from Mountain High every Thursday through Monday.

Jackson Lake is a popular place near Wrightwood where families enjoy fishing, picnicking and staying at the nearby campground.

(Jaclyn Cosgrove / Los Angeles Times)

Families were picnicking and fishing, including some teenagers standing in the water in waders.

One child, hearing the croak of a local amphibian, shouted to his grandfather about how he was going to catch a frog and have frog legs for dinner that night. Nearby, another youngster had just caught a rainbow trout. She held the fish in her hands, showing an older kid her score.

May they, too, get to visit this area for many years to come.

3 things to do

A cluster of mushrooms in Canyon View Park in Aliso Viejo.

(Jason Armond / Los Angeles Times)

1. Forage for information in Los Feliz 🍄
In collaboration with Friends of Griffith Park, Foraging & Mushroom Hunting Women of SoCal will host a beginner-friendly talk at 6:30 p.m. tonight at the Los Feliz Branch Library (1874 Hillhurst Ave.) on how to find mushrooms in the summer. Bat Vardeh, the foraging group’s founder, will explain how fungi is always growing in the region. Learn more at the group’s Instagram page.

2. Have a fin-tastic time in Long Beach
Cal State Long Beach’s Shark Lab will host its free family-friendly Sharks @ the Beach event from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at the CSU Long Beach Hall of Science. Guests can take lab tours, talk with scientists and observe live marine animals. No registration is required. Learn more at the lab’s Instagram page.

3. Help trees recover from wildfire near Malibu
The Resource Conservation District of the Santa Monica Mountains needs volunteers from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday to tend to more than 400 oak trees at Trippet Ranch in Topanga State Park. This is the first tree care event in the park since the Palisades fire. Participants will water trees, yank weeds and apply mulch as well as possibly plant new acorns to replace trees that did not thrive. Volunteers will also collect data for a reforestation project, which started in 2018. Participants should bring sun protection and water and wear clothes they don’t mind getting dirty and durable shoes. Register at eventbrite.com.

The must-read

Deepwater bubblegum coral, a host for California king crab, observed during a 2020 exploration of the Santa Lucia Bank off the central coast of California.

(Associated Press)

Despite continued challenges from the federal government, California is moving close to its goal of conserving 30% of lands and coastal waters by 2030. Times staff writer Lila Seidman reports that almost five years after the state launched its 30×30 initiative, California has conserved 26.1% of its lands and 21.9% of its coastal waters — or roughly 41,000 square miles and 1,150 square miles respectively. It’s great news — though it comes with an asterisk. “Federal attacks on public lands and environmental protections … could impact our progress,” California’s Natural Resources Secretary Wade Crowfoot said, “and we could actually see — if these federal attacks are successful — our acreage moving backwards.”

The Times will keep following these stories in The Wild and in stories from our climate team.

Happy adventuring,

P.S.

The REI store in Burbank will host its first community day from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday. Guests can snag free milkweed for monarchs from Arroyo Foothills Conservancy, which will teach visitors how to raise the milkweed to support pollinators. Shift Our Ways Collective will hand out pumpkin starters and teach folks how to take care of the seasonal plant. Also, other local groups, including Friends of Griffith Park, CicLAvia, We Explore Earth and Northeast Trees will host additional programming, including screening short films.

For more insider tips on Southern California’s beaches, trails and parks, check out past editions of The Wild. And to view this newsletter in your browser, click here.

The nation’s favourite coastal locations have been named – with St Ives, Robin Hood’s Bay and Padstow among the most popular places to head to for a scenic holiday break

St Ives, Robin Hood’s Bay and Padstow are among the UK’s most cherished spots, boasting awe-inspiring vistas. A survey of 2,000 adults revealed that other beloved coastal locations include the South Downs’ expansive 100-mile stretch of picturesque views and Weymouth’s Georgian seafront.

The top 30 list also featured Pembrokeshire’s limestone cliff haven Lydstep, Devon’s yachting hotspot Salcombe and Berwick, a charming seaside town in the North East. The study, conducted by Haven, discovered that when holidaying in the UK, eight out of 10 people consider accommodation with a sea view important, with 35 percent said it was essential when going away.

Simon Palethorpe, CEO at Haven, commented: “You don’t need to go far from home to get picture postcard views and scenery.

“Our parks are on some of Britain’s most stunning beaches and coastlines making them a great base for exploring the local area and enjoying the seaside.

“There’s nothing better than starting and ending your day with a sunrise and sunset view over the sea – even more so when it’s on home soil. Brits are still so surprised by the breathtaking coastline we have in the UK.”

The research also found eight in ten people consider a coastal location important when holidaying in the UK, with holidaymakers willing to travel an average of 159 miles from home for a seaside break.

Furthermore, 85 percent would be prepared to pay extra for such a view, with the maximum amount spent to secure a coastal view in the UK exceeding £550 for two people.

The willingness to pay a premium for a sea view was primarily driven by the sense of relaxation and escapism it provides, with results showing being by the coast is beneficial for both mental and physical health.

Data from the OnePoll.com also revealed that over two thirds believe that coastal views in the UK can easily compete with those found overseas.

Top 30 UK coastal views, according to Brits:

1. St Ives, Cornwall
2. Robin Hood’s Bay, North Yorkshire
3. Padstow, Cornwall
4. Portree, Isle of Skye
5. Tenby, Pembrokeshire
6. Poole, Dorset
7. Ilfracombe, North Devon
8. Portmeirion, Gwynedd
9. Shanklin, Isle of Wight
10. South Downs
11. Salcombe, Devon
12. Weymouth, Dorset
13. Brighton, East Sussex
14. Llandudno, Conwy
15. Bournemouth, Dorset
16. Hayle, Cornwall
17. Filey, North Yorkshire
18. Porthmadog, Gwynedd
19. Southwold, Suffolk
20. Lydstep, Pembrokeshire
21. Stromness, Orkney
22. Berwick, North East
23. Great Yarmouth beach
24. Lochinver, Sutherland
25. Tynemouth, Tyne & Wear
26. Hastings, East Sussex
27. Whitstable, Kent
28. Plockton, Ross and Cromarty
29. Aberystwyth, Ceredigion
30. Pwhelli, Gwynedd