On Yorkshire - Travel_Layout 1 07/12/2010 10:50 Page 3
THe QUaYS, GReaTeR maNcHeSTeR Set on the stunning waterfront of Greater Manchester, The Quays offers a range of venues and attractions to suit all types of people. Whether you’re looking for a family outing or a couple’s get-away, you’ll find plenty of choice.On a single trip to The Quays you can experience the awardwinning Imperial War Museum North, visit The Lowry art gallery, take a boat ride along Manchester’s historic ship canal or explore the city’s Lowry Outlet Mall with an on-site cinema, five plaza restaurants and great shopping. My favourite discoveries included the Whistles and Flannels outlets selling luxe clothing and designer labels with impressive price cuts – worth the trip alone! For our dinner we visited ‘Lime’, one of many eateries based at The Quays before taking in a play at The Lowry. ‘Lime’ has an inviting atmosphere and funky retro décor and the wine and food menus both offer good variety – it’s a good pre-theatre choice. Our accommodation was about a 20 minute walk from The Quays. The Old Trafford Lodge at Lancashire County Cricket Club is a standard setting, but does boast impressive views of the cricket green.The Manchester Quays is a truly enjoyable experience that caters to all tastes – ideal for a fun day or evening out for those after a bit of variety, culture and leisure in stunning surroundings.
ROTHBURY, NORTHUmBeRlaNd Northumberland should be a quick nip up the A1 through County Durham but, first things first, plan your journey to avoid Newcastle in the rush hour! Pretty Rothbury, in the Coquetdale Valley, is well worth the trip, however. We stayed at Katrina’s Guest House – a far cry, perhaps, from the boutique city hotels we usually use, but this little B&B was one of the cleanest and friendliest places both I and my partner had ever stayed. Breakfast was excellent and all the food we ate was locally produced - something I’m particularly fond of - and with homemade bread too! The owners were the most welcoming pair and gave us great advice on places to visit during our stay. Rothbury village itself is timelessly beautiful, with little tearooms, pubs and shops nestled along the tree-lined high street. If you visit in good weather, take a walk down to the river and walk along the gorgeous river bank. It’s a gentle pace of
THE QUAYS Old Trafford Lodge is £64 standard room and £69 executive room for January weekend or mid-week. December is slightly cheaper at the weekend £54 or £59 but £64 and £69 mid-week. More info: www.thequays.org.uk Bethanie Lunn
life in Rothbury – and an ideal getaway from the hectic city rat race. Thye village is actually a great base for wider exploration of Northumberland as it is only a half hour drive from the coast and, if you are feeling very adventurous, you can reach Edinburgh in 2 hours. During our stay we visited the Holy Island of Lindisfarne, which has a wealth of history and plenty of legend to indulge in – although make sure you understand the tides or you might have a longer stay on the island than you planned! The real joy of the trip, however, was a beautiful scenic coast route that takes in Alnwick, a magnificent medieval castle – and location for Harry Potter! The real life Hogwarts, no less! Indeed, there are many stunning castles along the coast route, along with dozens of remote yet beautiful sandy beaches. Northumberland is a breathtaking place – packed with natural beauty – and its rugged coast line and rolling hills make it a place I will definitely revisit – with lovely Rothbury again as my base.
Katerina's Guest House, Rothbury.
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Double rooms start from £64 per night including breakfast for two people. www.katerinasguesthouse.co.uk / 01669 620 691. Award-winning Restaurant Italia Plus at The Coquetvale Hotel. Open every night from 5pm - 9.30pm. www.coquetvale.co.uk / 01669 622900. Nicola Severn