Dales life Summer 2011

www.daleslife.com | £1.95

Summer Issue 2011

DalesLife A TASTE OF YORKSHIRE

DREAM WEAVER EXTRAORDINARY WILLOW SCULPTURES

STRAWBERRIES DO A RUNNER EASY PLANT PROPAGATION

THINK PINK ROSÉ WINES FOR SUMMER

Easy Entertaining SIMPLE RECIPES FROM JO PRATT

COUNTY KITCHENS (Leyburn) Ltd Exquisite new range of handmade kitchens now in stock.

PLEASE ASK FOR OUR COMPLIMENTARY BROCHURE, TELEPHONE: 01969 624274 Showroom: Belle Vue Offices, Market Place, Leyburn, North Yorkshire, DL8 5AW Visit our website: www.yorkshire-kitchens.co.uk Open: Monday to Friday 9am-5.30pm and Saturday 10am-1pm

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e Editor’s Letter it’s high summer, and i’m sure most of you will be out and about, enjoying the splendid dales scenery. with the sun shining and everyone in holiday mood, it’s easy to take our beautiful countryside for granted. But that would be a big mistake.

Because now, more than ever, farmers and rural businesses desperately need our help. if they don’t survive these challenging times, much of the character and individuality of our villages and market towns – and the unique landscape they’re set in – could vanish forever. there’s only one solution. and that’s for everyone who cares about the dales to make sure they put their money directly into the rural economy. in other words, we should be seeking out local products, whether it be food, drink or crafts. and we should be shopping at local independent retailers for everything from groceries to fine wines and the latest fashions. let’s turn our backs on the greedy supermarkets who squeeze the very last drop of blood out of struggling suppliers, and ignore those soulless out-of-town malls that have already driven so many colourful local shops out of business. and if you think you’re saving money by shopping with the big multiple retailers, think again. try out local meats, cheeses, beers or breads, for example, and you’ll find that they’re fresher and tastier than their mass-market equivalents in the supermarkets. in terms of value for money, local wins hands down. the same goes for service, too. Here in the dales, the customer really does still come first. You’ll get friendly help and advice, and you won’t end up walking away with something that turns out to be a costly mistake. so don’t ask if you can afford to shop locally, ask if you can afford not to.

Summer 2011

Editor: Sue Gillman Deputy Editor: Brian Pike Production: Claudia Blake Advertising: Sue Gillman Art Editor: United by Design Fashion Editor: Chloe Smith Proofreader: Elaine Pollard Proprietor: Sue Gillman T: 01904 629295 M: 07970 739119 E: sue@daleslife.com Dales Life Holgate Villas, Suite N, 22 Holgate Road, York, North Yorkshire YO24 4AB

Contributors: Adam Appleyard Anna Melville-James Brian Pike Chloe Smith Chris Baines Christine Austin Claudia Blake Ian Henry Jo Pratt Laurie Campbell Mike Kipling Samantha Rough Tom Mackie

Here at Dales Life we’re passionate about everything that makes the dales special. we’ve always done our best to support local retailers and entrepreneurs whose hard work keeps our region prosperous. and we’re sure you’ll want to do the same. so this summer, don’t just enjoy the dales – enjoy shopping locally too.

sue Gillman Editor

to advertise in Dales Life contact sue on 01904 629295 or 07970 739119

V i s i t u s at w w w. d a l e s l i f e . c o m 3

New for Summer - Gorgeous paints and wallpapers from The Little Greene Paint Company, creative floor coverings and rugs by Crucial Trading, hand made lighting by the Limehouse Light Company, fine pewter hardware by Finesse Design.

Bespoke doors Cast iron radiators Period fireplaces Oak flooring Handmade kitchens

View our on-line brochure at www.periodhousestore.co.uk Unit 3-7, Simpson Building, Borough Road, Gallowfields Trading Estate, Richmond, North Yorkshire DL10 4SX Tel: 01748 821500 4

Contents

Summer 2011

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46 16 54 On the cover 16 Willow Talk Brian Pike meets Yorkshire artist Emma Stothard.

24 Dig It Why buy soft fruit plants when you can get them for free says Adam Appleyard.

46 Easy Entertaining Delicious food for all occasions by Jo Pratt.

54 Think Pink RosĂŠ wines are perfect for summer drinking says Christine Austin.

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Contents

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Features 9 Emporium Inspiring ideas for your home and garden.

13 Inside Story The latest news on interiors, compiled by Chloe Smith.

22 Reader Offers This month’s special offers.

32 Pond Life Ponds have been vanishing from our countryside at an alarming rate says Chris Baines.

38 The Magic of Marrakech Marrakech makes an ideal city destination says Anna Melville-James.

60 The Discerning Diner Claudia Blake visits Vennells in Masham.

66 Chef ’s Table Dining with Dales chef Aaron Craig.

72 In Season Gooseberries are ripe and ready right now says Chloe Smith.

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76 A Sense of Style Julie Dow of The Forge Interiors gives us a glimpse of her stylish home.

82 Out and About For a day out combining town and country, Leyburn is hard to beat.

86 The Big Cheese The Wensleydale Creamery visitor centre is bigger than ever.

90 Dales Diary A guide to local events.

102 Raw Deal Sue Gillman visits The Complete Retreat in Spain.

109 Beauty Spot Sue Gillman tries a fish spa pedicure at Bedale Beauty.

112 Bookmark Brian Pike takes a critical look at what’s hot off the press.

129 To Dine For Great places to eat in the Dales.

32 To advertise in Dales Life contact Sue on 01904 629295 or 07970 739119 All rights reserved. Permission for reproduction must be sought from the publisher. Freelance contributions welcomed. The views and opinions expressed in Dales Life are not necessarily those of the publishers or their employees.

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BEAR COT TAGE INTERIORS Period & Contemporary Country Design Bespoke design service ranging from a single cushion cover to a complete home design package

Curtains & Blinds, Fabric, Furniture, Lamps Mirrors, Bespoke Joinery.

The Cattle Market, Market Place, Hawes, DL8 3RD Tel 01969 666077

www.bearcottageinteriors.co.uk

Reinvented Recycled and Revived we are a web based company who are passionate about our environment. our ethos is to oer bespoke and individual pieces that have been recycled and revamped.

Antique upholstered pieces Bespoke service Hand ďŹ nished furniture Home accessories www.peppercornhouse.com email: enquiries@peppercornhouse.com tel: 01325 401778 mob: 07961967070

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EMPORIUM

Inspiring ideas for your home 1. Fully Furnished

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This elegant Lloyd Loom furniture set is perfect for the conservatory or kitchen. Each piece is individually handmade, and can be supplied in any colour you choose.

Chair £420 from Serendipity, Leyburn, 01969 622112.

2. Making a Buzz Turn cooking into a special occasion with this cheery and colourful ‘Busy Bee’ apron by Sophie Allport. It’s 100% cotton, and machine washable. £13 from Serendipity, Leyburn, 01969 622112.

3. Sleeping Beauty Crisp and cool, this white linen bedding set from the Lucy collection would make a welcome addition to any bedroom.

Pillowcases from £11.99, Oswaldtwistle Mills, Skipton, www.oswaldtwistlemills.com, 01756 796701.

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4. Berried Treasure Serve your afternoon tea in summery style with this jaunty fine bone china ‘Strawberries and Cream’ jug from the Sophie Allport collection. £13.50 from Serendipity, Leyburn, 01969 622112.

5. Light Relief These award-winning luxury scented candles from Neom, made from a blend of the finest organic vegetable wax and pure essential oils, will leave you relaxed and revitalised.

From £13, The Forge, Bedale, www.forgeinteriors.co.uk, 01677 427383.

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At home with Serendipity For seriously stylish interiors

Serendipity Serendipity Interiors, Norfolk House, Market Place, Leyburn, North Yorkshire, DL8 5AQ. Tel: 01969 622112 Fax: 01969 625513

Specialising in handmade furniture for your home and children.

Soft furnishings made by us to your personal requirements, full interiors service • Furniture and accessories made by us for that bespoke service • Lovingly restored preloved shabby chic furniture • Hand finished wooden letters, personalised gifts and storage boxes • Traditional wooden toys & Charlie bears

Stockists of Susie Watson, Clarke & Clarke, Little Shrimp, Padraigs and Albetta Newsteads, High Street, Leyburn, DL8 5AQ t: 01969 624953 m: 07795 633459

www.millie-moo.co.uk 10

EMPORIUM

Inspiring ideas for your home and garden

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1. High Flyers With its cool, ethereal colours, this Vanessa Arbuthnott ‘Up In The Air’ fabric is both modern and sophisticated. See the whole range at Bear Cottage Interiors, Hawes, www.bearcottageinteriors.co.uk, 01969 666077.

2. Pot Luck This very handsome Willow Pattern ginger jar was made especially for Twinings Ltd by Masons. £35 from Peppercorn House. www.peppercornhouse.com, 01325 401778.

3. Soft Spot What child – or adult – could resist this loveable doggy from the Cordy Roy Jellycat collection? Find it, along with lots of other charming soft toys, in Serendipity, Leyburn, 01969 622112.

4. Little Chef A delightful PVC and cotton apron and hat set for kids who like to help in the kitchen. From the ‘Farmyard’ range

by Ulster Weavers, available from Askrigg Village Kitchen, www.askriggvillagekitchen.co.uk, 01969 650076.

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5. Material World This charming print from the ‘Borocay’ collection is part of Sanderson’s exciting range of sumptuous fabrics. Available from Milners of Leyburn, www.milnersofleyburn.co.uk, 01969 622208.

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...beautiful sofas, 30% cheaper than the high street...

10% 10%FFFF SALE

Online, by phone, or visit our Yorkshire showroom at The Clock Tower, Oakwood Park, Bishop Thornton, Harrogate, HG3 3JN.

Telephone 01423 774020

www.sofasandstuff.com

Our beautiful new shop is now open in Bedale.

We stock a gorgeous range of designer yarns, from cashmere, silks, baby alpacas, Mulberry silk, mohair to British sheep breeds.

Exciting range of patterns, needles and accesssories.

New Jersey, for everyone who loves to knit. new jersey, 38 Market Place, Bedale, DL8 1EQ. 01677 427746 www.newjerseywools.co.uk

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e

InsideStory

compiled by chloe smith

ALL’S WOOL New Jersey is a charming new wool shop in Bedale Market Place, the lifetime dream of passionate knitting enthusiast Jane Bates. Light, spacious and airy it’s a fun and friendly place

to browse a wealth of quality yarns, including alpacas, cashmeres, merinos and silks from top makers like Rowan, Debbie Bliss, Louisa Harding, Artesano, Opal and Patons. You’ll also find a comprehensive range of knitting accessories – including comfortable and easy-to-use bamboo and beech needles – along with buttons, traditional Czech beads and, of course, knitting patterns. Jane also stocks an expanding selection of haberdashery and craft kits from local makers, so if you’re interested in patchwork, tapestry or cross-stitch you’ll find something to suit. Jane plans to hold knitting classes in the shop soon, and there’s a New Jersey website in the offing too.

New Jersey, 38 Market Place, Bedale, 01677 427746.

Textile Message If you’re looking for quality household textiles at reasonable prices, Oswaldtwistle Mills of Skipton is the place to head. As the former curator of a textile museum in Lancashire, proprietor Joan Evans has an expert understanding of the history and manufacture of household textiles, and she has amassed a vast selection of traditional products – many hard to find elsewhere – in her jam-packed two-floor showroom. There’s every kind of bedding, from plain pillowcases to luxurious cotton percale sheets and colourful duvet covers. As for kitchenware and tableware, you’ll find everything from tea cosies and oven gloves to napkins, table cloths and placemats. And then there are curtains, towels, handkerchiefs, antimacassars... the list seems endless. Visit the showroom for a warm

welcome and good old-fashioned service, or try the new Oswaldtwistle Mills website for shop-from-home convenience.

Oswaldtwistle Mills, 15-17 Coach Street, Skipton, www.oswaldtwistlemills.com, 01756 796701.

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SERENDIPITOUS STYLE Serendipity in Leyburn has always been a treasure trove for anyone in search of inspirational ideas for interiors – just one look at their beautifully dressed windows and you know you’ve come to the right place. Recently they have expanded their bedding section, and they now sell a selection of charming beds – if you want to sleep in grand style, check out their marvellous cream-coloured French bed and matching armoire. As for bed linen, Serendipity have a terrific range, including gorgeous pale sateens in turquoises and pinks, along with some very attractive vintage-style gingham duvet covers and throws – perfect for a crisp, fresh, summery look. While you’re in the mood for looking at fabrics, Serendipity have a splendid array of curtaining too, including some exquisite lace panels from Denmark. It’s also the place to browse top-quality Duresta

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sofas and an excellent selection of Lloyd Loom furniture, ranging from compact bistro chairs to a truly magnificent limed oak dining table.

Serendipity Interiors, Norfolk House, Market Place, Leyburn, 01969 625632 / 622112

Inspiration for your home

Your local department store for style and personal service Carpets Rugs Curtains Blinds Lighting Bedding

6 Market Place, Leyburn DL8 5BJ t 01969 622208 e sales@milnersofleyburn.co.uk w www.milnersofleyburn.co.uk

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Willow Talk

Brian Pike meets Yorkshire artist Emma Stothard and her extraordinary sculptures.

Showcase

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ake a stroll around the formal gardens at Newby Hall, near Ripon, any time from now until September and you’ll soon run into some startling sights – including a duo of giant dancing lobsters, a jet-black stallion with a surprisingly long mane, and a boisterous assembly of dozens of hares.

All these – and many other intriguing artworks currently on show in the grounds of the elegant stately home – are the creations of Whitby-based sculptor Emma Stothard. Cleverly woven from willow stems, they are the product of a keen eye for natural forms combined with a restless imagination and a generous dash of humour and fantasy.

Emma grew up in the farmlands of Holderness in East Yorkshire, and has always been fascinated by the natural world. After completing her degree in

Fine Art she headed off to live in the Somerset Levels for six months to learn traditional willow weaving and basket-making techniques, excited by the prospect of using organic materials to sculpt animal forms.

When she took early examples of her work – life-size geese, hens and other small animals – to Harrogate Flower Show they received an enthusiastic response. Soon she had resolved to give up teaching art in favour of becoming a full-time sculptor, and she also started working on larger and larger pieces. Commissions started pouring in, and nowadays you can see examples of Emma’s work as far afield as the Tiffany Museum and Water Gardens in Matsue, Japan.

So how does she go about producing one of her striking and beautiful sculptures – the huge Limousin bull at Newby, for example? “I begin by welding a very simple steel framework to give the piece strength 17

Showcase

and solidity,” Emma explains. “My lengths of willow – or ‘withies’ as they are usually known – need to be soaked in troughs of water for a week or two to make them supple enough to work with. When they are ready I use them to start building up the sculpture, keeping it fluid and flexible.

If the withies decide they want to go a certain way, I let them.”

Willow is a terrific material to work with. You can layer it and make it denser or looser to create tonal qualities. It’s also easy to rework a section if needs be. On the downside, willow sculpture can be a very physically demanding job, especially when you have to deal with cold, wet withies in wintry weather.”

“Once the overall form of a piece has been established I use steel wire to tighten and refine particular sections, giving detail and definition by adding sharp edges – this is useful for modelling faces, creating ears, hooves 18

and so on. I then treat the finished sculpture with several coats of linseed oil. is feeds the wood and helps ward off the elements. I recommend buyers to continue treating the work with linseed oil once a year to keep it in tip-top condition.”

“People often ask me how long it takes to produce a piece of willow sculpture. ere’s always a lot of preparatory work, of course, such as making drawings and maquettes – plus, of course, discussing ideas with the client, if the piece is a commission. A relatively small sculpture, a Labrador dog, for example, will probably take about a fortnight. With a larger piece, like a horse, the whole process will most likely last somewhere between a month and six weeks.”

“I’m very pleased with the way the Newby Hall exhibition has turned out. e gardens at Newby are a marvellous environment to exhibit

Showcase

in, and I have really enjoyed the challenge of creating work that responds to and complements all the different spaces. I think the proud black stallion, for instance, fits really well into Newby’s beautiful Lime Walk. To give another example, there was a certain knobbly tree, full of character, that as soon as I saw it I thought would be the perfect place to put a family of pheasants – and, underneath, looking up longingly, a hungry fox. Coming up with new ideas is, for me, one of the most exciting and enjoyable parts of the process.”

“And as for the future... Well, I am currently exploring ways of working 20

with bronze. I already make miniature sculptures in silver wire, but I am looking for a way of translating my work into metal on a larger scale, without losing the organic feel of the willow sculptures.

It’s a very exciting prospect.”

You can find out more about Emma and her sculptures on her website, www.willowsculpture.org. For further details about Newby Hall and gardens, including opening times and ticket prices, visit www.newbyhallandgardens.com.

Reader Offers WIN THIS BEAUTIFUL WIRE SCULPTURE

BY YORKSHIRE ARTIST EMMA STOTHARD We are delighted to offer our readers the chance to win this gorgeous wire sculpture A Gaggle of Geese, kindly donated by Emma Stothard.

Emma’s striking sculptures are currently on display at Newby Hall, and you can find out more about Emma’s work on page 16.

For your chance to win this prize simply log on to www.daleslife.com.

£500 IN CASH TO BE WON WITH DALES LIFE

SUMMER SPECIAL OFFER

Dales Life is offering one lucky reader the chance to win this fabulous prize.

Treat your loved one to a night at The George at Wath. This special offer of dinner bed & breakfast is available for £99 per couple, £109 for a superior room or suites are available for £119.

Based in the heart of the Dales, we have been bringing our readers lively, beautifully illustrated and informative features on lifestyle and DREAM WEAVER local issues for almost 18 years.

STRAWBERRIES www.daleslife.com | £1.95

Summer Issue 2011

DalesLife A TASTE OF YORKSHIRE

EXTRAORDINARY WILLOW SCULPTURES

DO A RUNNER

To celebrate the launch of our new Easy Entertaining website, we SIMPLE RECIPES FROM JO PRATT are giving one lucky reader the chance to win £500.

EASY PLANT PROPAGATION

THINK PINK

ROSÉ WINES FOR SUMMER

To enter the competition and to see a variety of special offers, simply log on to www.daleslife.com.

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AT THE GEORGE, WATH

Offer includes 3-course early-bird menu or £15.00 discount (per person) from the à la carte menu (Monday – Friday).

Please call 01765 641324 to book quoting ‘Dales Life Summer Offer’.

LUXURY HAIR TREATMENTS ON OFFER FROM SAKS

10% OFF ALL LINGERIE AND SWIMWEAR AT VICTORIA’S

We have 50 fabulous prizes of a cut, finish and luxury hair treatment for just £20.

Victoria’s is a small, individual, boutique style lingerie shop based in Leyburn.

Saks is renowned for having the best-trained hairdressers and beauty therapists in the business, so you can be sure you are in good hands.

Here you will find a great selection of bras, briefs, basques and hosiery, including all top brand names. Plus a colourful and head-turning range of swimwear.

To take advantage of this stunning offer log on to www.daleslife.com for more details.

Victoria’s Lingerie 11 High Street, Leyburn, DL8 5AH t: 01969 622102 www.victoriaslingerie.co.uk.

10% OFF YOUR FIRST ORDER

WIN FREE TICKETS TO THE HARROGATE ANTIQUE FAIR

AT YORKSHIRE VINTNERS, RIPON Yorkshire Vintners have many years’ experience in the wine trade and offer an exciting range of carefully selected wines.

The warehouse is open to the public; please come along to see us, we are only 5 minutes from the A1.

To qualify for your 10% discount simply mention 'Summer Dales Life Special Offer'.

We have 10 pairs of tickets to giveaway worth £15 per pair!

The Harrogate Antique Fair is firmly established as a major event in the antique world. Once again specialist dealers will be exhibiting a fabulous array of antiques and fine art.

For your chance to win log on to www.daleslife.com for more details.

Yorkshire Vintners, Unit15 Sycamore Business Park, Dishforth Road, Copt Hewick, Ripon, HG4 5DF t: 01765 601701 e: info@yorkshirevintners.co.uk www.yorkshirevintners.co.uk.

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Dig it!

Why buy soft-fruit plants when you can get them for free? It’s all surprisingly easy, says Adam Appleyard.

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here are several good reasons for buying plants from garden centres, one of the foremost being the chance to try out exciting new varieties that are difficult or impossible to raise from seed. But it never ceases to amaze me how much money people are prepared to spend buying plants that they or their neighbours already have growing happily in their gardens.

It wasn’t always this way.

A generation or two ago every self-respecting gardener knew how to save seed, take cuttings and divide plants – if you wanted your garden or allotment to flourish, there was no alternative. Nowadays, in the age of off-the-shelf convenience, these techniques are widely regarded as too difficult to be worth the trouble.

Nothing could be further from the truth, as I will demonstrate by explaining how to propagate soft-fruit plants. If your strawberry plants are looking tired and need replacing, set some runners growing. If you want to plant gooseberry bushes, take a cutting from a friend’s garden. DIY propagation is easy, cheap and fun.

Strawberries do a runner After three or four years of cropping, your strawberry plants will be getting past it. Raising a new, healthier generation to replace them is simplicity itself, and July is the ideal time to start. Strawberry plants are prolific at sending out runners –

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long side-shoots with clumps of leaves along their length. Normally, at this time of year you should cut back these straggly outgrowths to encourage the parent plants to consolidate.

This year, though, instead of giving all your strawberries a short back and sides, allow a few of the best plants to send out runners freely. Sink plant pots filled with seed compost into the soil around the parent plant, level with the ground, positioning them so that each pot is beneath a clump of leaves on a runner. Your aim is to encourage these clumps to take root in the pots and form independent plants.

To keep each infant strawberry plant in place, use criss-crossed lengths of twig to anchor it on the surface of the compost in the pot. All you need do now is keep the soil moist and wait a week or two for roots to form, then cut the runner and dig up the pots.

Hey presto, instant strawberry plants!

If you know anyone who grows yellow strawberries (good varieties include ‘Yellow Wonder’), see if you can beg a few rooted runners from them. Yellow strawberries are especially sweet, and are less prone to theft by the birds. Alternatively, grow your own from seed next spring.

Gooseberries: Cut and layer Come September, start thinking about propagating gooseberries. One easy way is to ‘layer’ them, layering being a standard technique of hedgers in days past. To do this, peg a long stem to the ground, cover the pegged

section lightly with earth and wait for it to take root. Next year you’ll need to dig the new plant up and move it elsewhere – it will be far too close to the parent plant otherwise.

A more convenient technique is to take cuttings, because this way you can set your new plants growing in their chosen position right away.

There’s a lot of mystique about taking cuttings, but it’s actually very straightforward, and gooseberry cuttings are especially forgiving.

Simply select a few healthy new stems and cut the top 25cm of each from the parent plant using a sharp knife or secateurs. Remove all bar the top few buds and push each cutting 2 or 3cm deep into the ground in the desired spot – preferably after feeding the soil with a bit of nice, rich compost or some bonemeal. Firm the soil down, water well and make sure your cuttings don’t dry out early on. They’ll lose their leaves in autumn, of course, but next year they should start growing vigorously.

Some people dunk the cut stems in rooting powder before planting them, but I don’t usually bother. Just plant one or two extra lengths in case of failures.

If you can, try to diversify your gooseberry bushes by introducing different varieties from friends’ and neighbours’

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patches. Not only will they taste different, but they may extend your gooseberry season by cropping at slightly different times.

Blackcurrants and redcurrants: More of the same Blackcurrants and redcurrants belong to the same plant family (Ribes) as gooseberries, and you can layer them or take cuttings in just the same way.

Layering can be started in September, but cuttings are probably best left until mid or late October. While you’ve got the secateurs out, prune your currants back really hard.

They will fruit far more prolifically than plants that have been allowed to sprawl.

A sucker for raspberries Raspberries pretty much propagate themselves by sending up suckers – 28

infant plants – close to the parent stem. But if you want the best results you’ll need to take control of the process rather than letting everything run wild. For one thing your raspberry patch may well become too dense if you let all the suckers grow where they will.

Late summer or early autumn, once the raspberries have come and gone, is a good time to thin out new growth if there’s too much of it. While you’re at it, use a sharp spade to separate suckers from the parent plant and reposition them as necessary or plant up a new raspberry bed elsewhere. Enrich the soil in their new location, as per gooseberries, and keep them well watered until they are properly established.

As regards positioning, you’ll need to think ahead. New raspberry plants don’t generally fruit until their second year – so start meditating about where you might like your canes to be in two years’ time.

SHOOT WITH STYLE AND PERFORMANCE THIS SEASON

Enjoy Country & Field Sports Enjoy Royals of Leyburn, the Home of Country Clothing Large stockists of Crew Clothing & Joules.

We also specialise in Tweeds

10% Discount

on two or more items of Crew Clothing or Joules During September/October

Country living has never been this good!!

Royals of Leyburn, 14 Market Place, Leyburn Tel: 01969 624034 www.royalsofleyburn.co.uk â?Ś info@royalsofleyburn.co.uk 29

The Dales hard landscape specialists.

High quality workmanship by an experienced and friendly team From patios and driveways to rockeries, stone walling and ornamental ponds.

Mini digger and excavation work Experts in the creation of high quality durable and aesthetic projects For free friendly advice call Frank Johnston B.Sc.

Tel: 01969 640457 Mobile: 07803 735000 E-mail: frank@stonescapes.com www.stonescapes.com

Superb gardens & landscapes from Neil Wilmore Est 1988 HDN Hort.

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01969 624555

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Sophisticated Style

The very best in natural, luxurious rattan furniture‌

For further inform ation,please callKath or Colin Blanchard on 01748 811773 or 07764 279815 w w w .canefurniturenorthyorkshire.co.uk Show room s atLeem ing Barare now open Saturday 10am till2pm , othertim es by appointm ent

Sanderson & Co Interior decorating suppliers A wide range of wallpapers, traditional and modern, including: Crowson Shand Kidd Linda Barker Graham & Brown Over 100 wallpaper books in stock with next day delivery Paints by Crown and Dulux Farrow & Ball also available Paint colours mixed while you wait High Street, Leyburn Tel: 01969 623143 31

Pond Life Ponds have been vanishing om our countryside at an alarming rate. Now we can do something to reverse the decline, says Professor Chris Baines.

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Sixty years ago I helped my father dig our first garden pond, and I have had a pond in every garden since.

The one outside my present office window has just had its liner renewed after twenty years, and it continues to be a daily source of delight. Ponds are a window on the local wildlife, and they reflect every change in the weather and the seasons.

Ponds used to be a common feature of the farming countryside, but in that same sixty years half have disappeared completely. What’s more, the charity Pond Conservation reckons that four out of five of those that survive are now damaged by pollution.

The reason ponds are vanishing is simple: they are no longer essential to farming.

They used to provide livestock with drinking water in the days before plastic water pipes and topped-up troughs.

Cultivation was a thirsty business for working horses, and even in the age of the steam plough ponds were vital for topping up the tank. Many of them also provided mineral-rich clay as a cheap source of local soil improvement.

As agricultural modernisation made ponds redundant, many of them were neglected, silted up and eventually disappeared.

Those that remain tend to sit in low-lying hollows. They were designed to collect rainwater run-off, and this inevitably leads to a concentration of chemical fertilisers and pesticides, which in turn damages the pond life.

Fortunately there are moves afoot to reverse this sorry story of loss and damage.

The initial target of the Million Ponds Project is to create 5,000 new ponds by the end of 2012, with the long-term ambition of seeing a million healthy

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ponds in England and Wales within the following fifty years.

In some cases a couple of days with a digger will restore a degraded pond site. In other places a few sand bags filled with concrete or a railway sleeper lodged across a flowing stream or ditch will be enough to capture the water and create a pool.

In many cases, though, new ponds will need to be constructed — and this is where the lessons from our gardens can be helpful.

Making Dad’s garden pond sixty years ago was a bit of a nightmare.

The only available means of waterproofing the hole in the lawn was to line it with concrete, and I can still remember the race against time as he wheelbarrowed the readymix from the drive to the pond. Now life is so much simpler. Flexible pond liners mean the pond is waterproof instantly — and, barring accidents, will stay that way for at least twenty years.

As our ponds have disappeared we have lost many of our most attractive wildflowers, and a new pond is an excellent opportunity to bring them back. The damp soil around the margin is the habitat of choice for some of the prettiest. Marsh marigold heralds the return of spring with its deep yellow flowers, and this is quickly followed by the pale blue of water forget-me-not, the deeper blue of bugle and brooklime, the purple of water mint, the finely feathered shocking pink flowers of ragged robin and the subtle pastel pink of lady’s smock. In bigger ponds the tall stems of yellow flag iris, purple

34

loosestrife and greater spearwort take the floral display well into midsummer, but these are plants that can quickly overwhelm a small pond, so treat them with caution.

Many of these water’s edge plants are very good for wildlife. Lady’s smock, for example, attracts orange tip butterflies to my inner city garden every spring; its flowers provide nectar, and female orange tips lay their eggs on the leaves. However the real key to success with pond wildlife lies below the surface.

A thin layer of mud on the bottom of the pond makes an enormous difference to the range of wildlife that can live there. Many pond creatures need it for camouflage or winter hibernation, and it also provides the rooting medium for oxygenating water plants. These are the magic ingredient that will keep the water clear and make the pond a healthy habitat for all manner of aquatic life. The filamentous submerged leaves are what produces the life-giving oxygen, but one or two of these essential plants also flower above the surface. Among my favourites are water crowfoot and water violet.

Pond plants with floating leaves are also very useful, since they shade the water in summer. This helps to reduce the growth of green algae, and the leaves also provide ideal egg-laying sites for pond snails.

My own preference is for our native fringed water lily, which grows up from the depths of the pond each spring to sprinkle the surface with small bronze leaves and simple golden yellow flowers. In gardens it

35

is tempting to opt for more exotic pond plants, and of course there is a place for large-flowered water-lilies, purple-flowered Japanese irises and pink candelabra primulas. However there are serious concerns about some of the pond plants sold in garden centres. A few species have escaped in recent years and are now clogging up our natural wetland habitats and damaging native wildlife. It is best to avoid water fern, parrot’s feather, floating pennywort and one or two others. They may look pretty, but they have a nasty habit of turning into eco-thugs. My own personal nightmare is lesser duckweed, which arrived on the feet of a couple of visiting mallards and now keeps me busy with a net all summer. Even replacing the pond liner hasn’t shaken it off.

Most pond life is more than welcome, though. Early spring sees the return of frogs and newts. Birds gather mud for their nests.

There are damselflies and dragonflies throughout the summer. Pond skaters and whirligig beetles decorate the surface during the day, and after dark my pond is a popular watering hole for the local foxes and hedgehogs. Bats fly round the garden at dusk, snapping up the insects that rise from the surface. Even in the depths of winter the pond provides my local birds with somewhere to clean their insulating feathers, thereby helping them survive the coldest nights.

A pond is a wonderful way to bring any landscape to life, and even the smallest one makes a real difference. During our lifetimes we have watched ponds steadily disappearing. But let’s do our best to reverse the trend restore a million healthy ponds to England and Wales within the next half century.

For comprehensive advice about ponds — and to sign up to the Million Ponds Project — visit www.pondsconservation.org.uk.

Photographs © Laurie Campbell

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Visit our showrooms at: Lifetime Home Improvements Plews Way, Leeming Bar Ind. Estate Northallerton, North Yorkshire DL7 9UL T: 01677 424381 W: www.lifetimeltd.com 37

î “e Magic of Marrakech Marrakech makes an ideal city destination, says Anna Melville-James.

38

Why Marrakech?

M

orocco’s largest and liveliest city is a feast for the senses, a bubbling mix of the traditional and the trendy.

With reliable summer sun, vibrant souks, historic charm and possibly the greatest density of chic boutique lodgings in the world, it’s perfect for a long stay or a quick weekend recharge – a completely different world just 3½ hours’ flying time away.

Where do you stay?

Trendy or traditional, it’s easy to find a place to suit your style and budget. e charming Dar Sbihi (www.riaddarsbihi.com) and elegant Riad Chergui (www.riadchergui.com) are inexpensive bolt-holes offering new-wave Moroccan style and hospitality. Or you could upgrade to the five-star La Sultana (www.lasultanamarrakech.com) for a real treat. Full of Moroccan opulence, this grand hotel – made up of five separate riads (courtyard houses) – perfectly fulfils those fine-living fantasies. It’s awash with drapes, lanterns and arches, and boasts an outdoor solar-heated pool, a hammam

(Turkish bath) with open-air massage rooms, and terraces fragrant with bougainvillea and orange trees.

What's your favourite restaurant?

A Moroccan restaurant that doesn't shackle you to an eye- and buttonpopping set menu is something of a rarity in the city, but the female-run Al Fassia (www.alfassia.com) offers a civilised saunter through Morocco’s most famous dishes. Recline on plump cushion-laden banquettes for feasts of pigeon bstilla (a kind of pie) and mechoui (roast leg of lamb). For A-list glamour, dress up and follow the Marrakech hip set to Le Crystal (crystal.pachamarrakech.com) in the trendy Pacha complex. Huge glass doors open onto a sleek poolside setting. e fusion menu is chic, and the peoplewatching is great fun.

Where do I go for the best view of the city?

Marrakech is full of terraces, many of which offer birds-eye panoramas of the 39

city and the snow-powdered mountains beyond. A favourite hidden retreat is the small Photography Museum (www.ecomuseeberbere.com). Along with an exhibition of Moroccan photographs dating back to the 1860s it has a splendid – and relatively empty – roof café offering strong coffee and great views of the medina, the 11th-century walled old town.

Where else do you like to hang out? e Jardin Majorelle (www.jardinmajorelle.com), a walled garden created as a private retreat by French artist Jacques Majorelle in the 1920s. Designer Yves Saint Laurent restored it in the 1980s, putting his touch on this luscious Eden of palms, ferns, bamboos and cacti. e garden is dotted with shady pockets and fountains, making it a great place to escape the midday sun.

Alternatively, duck into the Museum of Islamic Art that adjoins the gardens. e museum houses the private collections of 40

Yves Saint Laurent and his financial patron Pierre Bergé, and is a great place to idle away an afternoon among a treasure trove of objets d’art, from Moroccan textiles and Syrian copperwork to ancient Persian astrological instruments.

And what about shopping?

Marrakech’s souks, most of which are north of Djemaa el-Fna, the city’s main square, are a must. Shopping here is an overwhelming sensory experience, from the smell of leather to the clanging Blacksmiths’ Souk, where welders bash metal into ornate lanterns. Top places to spend a few dirham include the Dyers’ Souk, hung with skeins of brightly coloured wool, the Spice Souk and the Souk des Babouches, which sells pointytoed leather sandals. Haggling is an art form in all the souks – feign indifference and even outrage while you and the seller thrash out a price you can both live with.

If haggling isn’t your thing, head to Twizra (Rue Bab Agnaou) for furniture, butter-soft leather goods and ceramics,

with no pressure selling and oodles of free mint tea. Or pick up striking pieces of traditional and contemporary jewellery in silver, precious and semi-precious stones at El Abidi Nasser Eddine (9 Souk Semmarine) or Tafilalet Creation (5 Souk Semmarine), where the owner, Omar, will create pieces to your own design if you don’t see anything you like. Prices are surprisingly affordable.

What's the city’s best-kept secret?

A good scrub down at a local hammam. ese steamy baths are the foundation stones of Moroccan well-being, but local ones can be a bit too basic for visitors so it’s best to pay a little more for additional comforts. Les Bains de Marrakech www.lesbainsdemarrakech.com) is the swishest option in the medina. Two private, lantern-lit, mixed hammams offer traditional body scrubs with pungent, black pine-tar soap and clay poultices while you steam away gently like a pudding in the warm, damp air.

It will leave you feeling squeaky clean and deeply relaxed.

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And if you just had one day?

A great start to your day would be breakfast at the Grande Café de la Post (www.grandcafedelaposte.com), a former 1920s sorting office and French colonial hotel. It’s a Casablanca-style vision of potted palms, rattan chairs and ceiling fans. Order coffee, fresh orange juice and a lightly spiced egg, bacon and potato fry-up. en explore the medina, a twosquare-mile labyrinth of twisting alleys and minarets where you can easily lose yourself. Hunt out the Saadian Tombs (Rue de la Kasbah), Bahia Palace (Rue Riad Zitoun el Jedid) and the Koutoubiya Mosque (Place Djemaa el-Fna) – all are within the medina’s fortified walls. At its centre, Djemaa el-Fna square bustles with snake charmers, singers, storytellers and food stalls. Finish the day on the open-air terrace at Kozybar (Place des Ferblantiers), with a drink and a view of the sunset spilling pink light over the city’s rooftops. is is one of the few places within the medina that has an alcohol licence, so you can enjoy a killer martini accompanied by the sounds of a jazz pianist floating up from the downstairs cigar bar.

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43

robert.sturdy@speartravels.net www.speartravels.net/leyburn

Wensleydale Galleries Art & Framing Studio

Wensleydale Galleries are renowned throughout the Dales for picture framing. Our mouldings are of the finest quality and we can offer over 500 frame samples in our gallery.

Visit our Gallery in Leyburn and let us transform and enhance your artwork.

Units 1 & 2, Herriot Court, Leyburn Business Park, Harmby Road, Leyburn, DL8 5QA Telephone 01969 623488 www.wensleydalegalleries.co.uk

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Lodges from £99,995

Stunning brand new Pathfinder and Homeseeker Show Lodges available to view.

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Discover our secret, it’s possibly right on your doorstep or just a short journey away. Uncover what lifestyle means to you – safety, security, friendliness or just good old-fashioned peace & quiet. Then you’ll start to unlock the secret that could be yours, here at Westholme Estate.

To arrange a viewing or for more information call Lodge Sales on 01969 663 268 or Lodge holidays on 0844 858 4800.

Westholme Estate, Aysgarth, Leyburn, North Yorkshire, DL8 3SP. info@westholme-estate.co.uk. www.westholme-estate.co.uk

in the mood for

entertaining delicious food for all occasions

PAN-FRIED MACKEREL WITH PEA SHOOTS AND SUMMER POTATO SALAD This is a lovely light starter that will work just as well with watercress instead of the pea shoots and is equally delicious with pan-fried or smoked salmon and trout instead of the mackerel. Prepare the salad ahead, leaving you just the fish to fry at the last minute.

• SERVES 6

• 30-40 MINUTES

400g waxy new potatoes, such as Charlotte

Boil the potatoes in salted water until they are tender. Drain, leave to cool and then cut into quarter wedges.

100g fine green beans

In a separate saucepan, blanch the green beans and asparagus for just a couple of minutes and then refresh in iced water to stop them cooking further. If you are using frozen peas, they just need to be defrosted. If you’re using fresh ones, then these can be boiled in salted water until tender. They should take about 5 to 8 minutes. Also refresh in cold water.

250g asparagus tips 100g peas, fresh or frozen 2 small shallots, finely chopped 2½ tablespoons hot horseradish sauce 125g crème fraiche a small bunch of mint, chopped a squeeze of lemon juice sea salt and freshly ground black pepper 1 tablespoon olive oil 6 small mackerel fillets 50g pea shoots

Mix together the shallots, horseradish, crème fraiche, chopped mint and lemon juice and season with salt and pepper. Carefully mix in the potatoes, green beans, asparagus and peas.

To cook the mackerel, heat a large frying pan and add the oil. Season the mackerel fillets on both sides with a little salt and pepper. Place in the pan and cook, skin side down, for 2 to 3 minutes until the skin is crisp and golden (press on the fillets lightly if they start to curl upwards to get a crisp effect all over). Turn each fillet over and cook for a further minute. If your pan isn’t big enough to do all the fillets, just keep the cooked ones warm on a plate.

Serve the mackerel, skin side up, next to a nice bundle of pea shoots topped with a spoonful of the potato salad, and finally scatter over some more pea shoots.

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ARTICHOKE AND TRUFFLE CRUSTED RACK OF LAMB WITH CREAMY WHITE BEANS To make your main course as stress-free as possible, coat the lamb in the artichoke and truffle crust in advance, keep in the fridge and return to room temperature just before roasting. Also delicious with baby courgettes sautéd in olive oil with lemon juice and zest.

• SERVES 6

• 45 MINUTES

50g ciabatta bread

Preheat the oven to 220ºC/fan 200ºC/gas 8.

1 tablespoon chopped oregano leaves

Place the bread and oregano leaves in a food processor and blitz to crumbs. Add the truffles and the walnut pieces and pulse to a coarse crumb consistency. Stir in the Parmesan and 3 tablespoons of olive oil and season.

30g black summer truffles, either fresh or preserved in a jar 75g walnut pieces 50g Parmesan cheese, finely grated olive oil sea salt and freshly ground black pepper 3 racks of lamb (6–8 bones per rack), French trimmed 3 tablespoons artichoke paste (see PS…) for the beans 2 tablespoons olive oil 3 shallots, finely chopped 2 x 400g tins of cannellini beans, drained 150ml white wine 200ml chicken stock sea salt and freshly ground black pepper

Season the lamb all over with salt and pepper. Heat a trickle of olive oil in a roasting tray or large ovenproof frying pan over a medium heat. Add the lamb, fat-side down, and fry for 5 to 8 minutes until the fat is melting and becoming golden.

Increase the heat and brown all over to seal the meat.

Remove the lamb and place on a board.

Spread the artichoke paste over the fat side of the racks of lamb and then press the crust on top.

Return the lamb, crust-side up, to the roasting tray or frying pan. Roast in the oven for 20 minutes for a pinkish finish (longer if you prefer your lamb well done).

Meanwhile, in a wide saucepan, heat the oil and sauté the shallots until softened but not coloured. Add the beans, wine and stock. Bring to a simmer and cook gently for about 10 minutes. Season and lightly mash, breaking down some of the beans. Stir in the crème fraîche and heat through.

Remove the lamb from the oven and leave to rest for about 5 minutes. Carve the rested lamb by slicing each rack in half, giving three to four bones per portion.

PS…If you can’t find ready-made artichoke paste, blend a jar of marinated artichoke antipasti with a little of the oil to a paste, or purée some tinned ones with olive oil.

150ml low-fat crème fraiche 49

MUSCAT AND VANILLA POACHED PEACHES WITH CLOTTED CREAM This deliciously fresh and simple dessert is perfect for entertaining because the peaches are best made the day before serving and kept in the fridge overnight.

• SERVES 6

• 20 MINUTES, PLUS OVERNIGHT CHILLING

400ml muscat dessert wine 250g caster sugar 1 vanilla pod, split 1 large orange, zested with a potato peeler 6 ripe peaches 200g clotted cream 6 mint sprigs to garnish 18 raspberries

Pour the muscat into a saucepan just big enough to fit in the peaches. Add the sugar, vanilla pod and strips of orange zest. Place over a medium heat and gently bring to a simmer until the sugar has dissolved. Add the peaches and return to a gentle simmer.

Poach for about 8 to 10 minutes until the peaches feel tender when pierced with a sharp knife. If they’re not totally immersed in the liquid, carefully turn halfway through.

Remove the peaches from the pan, and as soon as they are cool enough to handle, remove the skin. It should peel away really easily. Return the peaches to the poaching liquid and chill for at least 2 hours, but overnight would be preferable.

An hour or so before you plan to serve the peaches, pour half of the poaching liquid into a small saucepan and bring to the boil. Reduce in quantity by about half or until it is looking syrupy. Remove from the heat, cool and then chill.

Serve the peaches on plates, next to a scroll of clotted cream (created by scooping the cream with a warm dessert spoon), a sprig of mint and 3 raspberries each.

Finish by spooning over some of the syrup and serve straight away.

In the Mood for Entertaining is published by Penguin and is available from all good booksellers, priced £20.

51

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DalesLife A TAsTe of Yorkshire

If you like chocolate you’ll love The Little Chocolate Shop in Leyburn Come and see delicious chocolates being hand made in the heart of the Yorkshire Dales Our shop and visitors centre are open from 9.00 till 5.00 Mon to Fri and 10.00 till 4.00 Sat Free admission

Tel: 01969 625288 www.thelittlechocolateshop.co.uk 52

To book space in the Autu mn issue contact Sue Gillman Telephone: 01904 629295 Mobile: 07970 739119 email: sue@daleslife.demon.co.uk www.daleslife.com

Welcome to

ASKRIGG VILLAGE KITCHEN Deli and Bakery

Good, honest fresh food, prepared in our village kitchen for you to enjoy at home.

From the deli - we bake our own bread daily from farmhouse white, malted seed to fresh croissants.

Bistro style meals to take home - Fresh meals cooked daily, comforting casseroles, lasagne, and authentic curries.

Homemade puddings, homemade pies, sausage rolls and sandwiches to take away. Or call in for coffee and cake or a light lunch.

Visit our new shop ‘NEXT DOOR’ We have greeting cards, postcards, an unusual range of gifts, old fashioned sweets and chocolates, Traditional Yorkshire Dales Ice Cream and Gifts from the Yorkshire Dales. Pop in for a browse.

Market Place, Askrigg • Please contact Jo 01969 650076 www.askriggvillagekitchen.co.uk Open daily 7.30 am - 5pm Sunday 9am - 12pm

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54

On the Grapevine Rosé wines are perfect for summer drinking.

Christine Austin selects some of the best.

There’s a special magic

about a glass of delicate pink rosé wine glinting in the summer sunshine.

Rosé’s light, fruity flavours and refreshing style make it an ideal wine to serve with canapés or a light alfresco meal. So why not capitalise on the good weather and plan a summer lunch party or two – with rosé as the star attraction on the drinks list?

One of my favourite rosés comes from a place where eating outdoors is a way of life from March to October.

Stretching along the coastline of Southern France, the rugged hills of Provence are cooled by sea breezes, and making rosé wine is a centuriesold tradition. The grapes grown in the region are a mixed bag of varieties including Carignan, Cinsault, Grenache, Syrah and Cabernet – along with a local variety, Tibouren, which is included in the blend to add aroma and texture. Each property selects the best varieties for its particular microclimate, making allowances for the drying mistral wind that can blow through the hills for days on end.

At Chateau des Chaberts they make the elegant, floral-scented, fresh-tasting Cuvée Bacchus (£9.99 for the 2010 vintage, Great Northern Wine, Ripon,

01765 606767) from Grenache and Cinsault. These give the wine the raspberry fruit and gentle, rounded texture that make it perfect for matching with summer salads.

Famous Rhône winemaker Jean-Luc Colombo also has an estate in Provence, where he makes the pale salmon-pink Les Pins Couches 2010 (£8.99, Campbells of Leyburn, 01969 622169). It exudes the fragrance of a summer garden, with rose-petal aromas and a light, white-pepper note like just-picked freesias. The palate is fresh-tasting, with cherries, raspberry and a light touch of herbs – a refined and refreshing wine to serve with poached salmon and grilled chicken.

Further north, from a region better known for its white wines, Sancerre rosé is always a quality choice when selecting wines for a stylish summer lunch. Made from Pinot Noir grapes, fermented for just a short period on their skins, the rosés of Sancerre show balance and finesse, as well as a surprising amount of flavour considering their very pale colour.

Yorkshire Vintners (01765 601701) stock the excellent Sancerre Rosé from Domaine Chotard 2009, a family vineyard situated on limestone slopes.

55

With soft, fresh, red-berry fruit and a delicious crispness, this is a wine to accompany charcuterie and soft cheese, but which could carry through to a bowl of strawberries with ease.

In the heart of the Mediterranean, the island of Sicily has been making wine for thousands of years, but only recently has the quality improved enough for their products to make a mark on the world stage. One of the star performers is Planeta, a newly created family company which has combined local indigenous grapes and modern winemaking methods to create a range of top-quality wines.

The Rosato 2010 (£9.99, Great Northern Wines) is deep pink in colour, with positive pomegranate and strawberry fruit, and enough flavour to stand up to a whole range of summer foods including cold roast beef or even a lightly spiced kebab.

Heading east across the Mediterranean, Lebanon is another wine-growing area with history embedded in its soil. In the Bekaa Valley, family-owned Château Musar has been making wine throughout the region’s troubles.

Now, with a new generation in charge, they have turned their attention to making a rosé. Light spice and ripe red fruits abound in Musar Jeune Rosé 2010 (£8.99, Lewis & Cooper, Northallerton, 01609 772880), and it is bold enough to accompany hearty fare like roasted meats and spiced crab cakes.

Even deeper in flavour, and quite capable of standing up to barbecues, is a wine from – appropriately enough –Australia. The Shiraz and Grenache blend from Grant Burge, GBII Rosé 2009 (£7.49, Nidderdale Fine Wines, 01423 711703), comes from the rolling Barossa Hills, where the heat of the day is tempered by cool breezes at night, capturing fresh flavours from the fruit. Team this with foil-wrapped, herb-infused fish from the barbecue, or even lamb chops, griddled and served pink.

New Zealand may be better known for its Sauvignon Blanc, but when a tiny amount of Syrah is added to the blend it turns into a rosé with the distinct, crisp freshness of Sauvignon and a delicate touch of red fruit, making it one of the best rosé wines for summer drinking. Available from Yorkshire Vintners, Crossroads Sauvignon Blanc Rosé 2010 (£10.20) crosses from aperitif to food-friendly wine and back again, making it the perfect all-day rosé.

56

Independent suppliers, importers and distributors of hand crafted wines and spirits.

Here at Yorkshire Vintners we have many years experience in the wine trade and offer an exciting array of carefully selected wines and spirits. We go to great lengths to source new cleverly crafted wines that give our customers that something special.

10% off

your first order We offer free delivery in Yorkshire for orders of 12 bottles or more.

Tasting cases to fit all budgets.

Wine

tasting events Please call us on 01765 601701 Or email

info@yorkshirevintners.co.uk Our office and warehouse is open to the public Monday – friday from 9am – 5.30pm.

Please come along to see our large selection of wines and spirits. free tastings on offer!

We are only 5 minutes off the A1 and 5 minutes out of Ripon

Yorkshire Vintners, Unit15 Sycamore Business Park, Dishforth Road, Copt Hewick, Ripon, HG4 5DF Telephone 01765 601701 Email: info@yorkshirevintners.co.uk Terms and Conditions apply. Delivery charges may apply 57

57

Contemporary dining in the Yorkshire Dales

Stone House Hotel

The country House Hotel overlooking magnificent wensleydale Open daily for: Freshly Brewed Morning Coffee Light Lunches Home Baked Afternoon Teas Delicious Table D’Hôte Dinner Menu Ginger Tree – Health & Beauty T: (01969) 667571 W: www.stonehousehotel.co.uk Sedbusk. Near Hawes. Wensleydale. North Yorks. DL8 3PT

Our Head Chef Andy Brooks uses only locally sourced ingredients for our range of menus. Our stunning restaurant set deep in the rolling countryside offers you the perfect place to relax and enjoy some of the finest food in the Yorkshire Dales.

Open 7 days a week, lunch time and evening. We can offer private dining for parties and have facilities for corporate events and meetings.

Please visit our website to see our latest events and menus.

Traditional Yorkshire Sunday Roast 12 noon ~ 3pm.

2 courses for £12 3 courses for £15

Come and try our new menu offering a range of exciting summer dishes

Booking recommended For bookings and enquiries please telephone (01969) 663268 Hendersons Bar and Restaurant, Westholme Estate, Aysgarth, North Yorkshire DL8 3SP www.westholme-estate.co.uk 58

T: 01765 641324 W: THEGEORGEATWATH.CO.UK

THE WHITE BEAR COUNTRY INN MASHAM • NORTH YORKSHIRE

The White Bear is a five star inn situated in the pretty market town of Masham in the foothills of the Yorkshire Dales.

Relax in our beautiful rooms and dine on fine local Yorkshire produce. Or join some of the locals in the bar for a drink.

Experience a real taste of the Dales.

01765 689 319 thewhitebearhotel.co.uk

P U B • R E S TA U R A N T • R O O M S

A traditional ambience, excellent food and an extensive wine list, make The Queen's Head a perfect placeto relax and unwind.

Mid week lunchtime specials from £5.25 Early bird dinner menu from 6.00 to 7.30pm (excludes Saturday) 2 courses £12.95, 3 courses £16.95

For the very best in fresh local food, breathtaking views and great service.

The Queens Head Finghall North Yorkshire 01677 450259 enquiries@queensfinghall.co.uk www.queensfinghall.co.uk

59

60

eDiscerning DINER Claudia Blake visits Vennell's in Masham

You can find Vennell’s just off Masham’s spacious Market Place, behind a smart, maroon-painted frontage whose large display window suggests that a century ago it was a shop. So far, so chic.

Inside, though, the decor is surprisingly muted, with walls and carpets in sullen hues of beige, and a central light fitting that would be more at home in a 1970s tearoom than a 21st-century fine-dining establishment. The walls are currently hung with landscape paintings, presumably by some local artist, which to my eye appear to be executed with little enthusiasm and less talent.

But there’s a lovely warm welcome and, downstairs, a pleasant subterranean nook (with a slightly better grade of artwork) where you can sup a pre-dinner drink as you squint at the menu.

Not much scrutiny required, mind you, because it’s a brief one: just four choices in each category. But that’s always a good sign, I think. There’s a decent wine list, too, with a variety of reasonably priced options available, several by the glass.

Back upstairs, at our small, neat table, we tucked into crisp homebaked rolls and a complimentary

offering: a tomato consommé laced with truffle oil. Served in a coffee cup, it was the rich golden colour of summer evening sunlight, and exquisite in its fruity intensity.

The arrival of our starters was the cue for a round of appreciative gasps.

Presented with a confidence and flair entirely at odds with the so-so decor of the dining room, these were little short of awesome. Mine was mackerel – thrillingly fresh – with gooseberries. It was a clever interpretation of a classic combination, with the gooseberry manifesting in three different forms: poached whole fruit, a fruity foam and a gloriously piquant rectangle of cool, green jelly. Salty, emeraldgreen samphire and crispy capers chipped in with additional tastes and textures.

Equally impressive was Piers’ venison and foie gras carpaccio – impossibly thin roundels of lightly seared, pepper-crusted venison with a hub of melting foie gras in their centres.

Topped with lightly marinated julienne vegetables, Parmesan shavings and a shake of truffle oil, this was pretty much the perfect starter: fresh, light and a judicious balance of intoxicating flavours.

With the bar set this high, Chef Jon Vennell was going to have to pull out

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all the stops to equal this performance with the mains. Well, those stops were indeed pulled out. My confit of pork belly was dreamily unctuous underneath its deafeningly crunchy crackling. It was served on pak choi, and accompanied by a poached pear and tiny fried mushrooms. Oh, and crisp florets of cauliflower and a creamy cauliflower purée. As regards these two interpretations of cauliflower, I like Chef’s thinking: serve the same ingredient in multiple forms and you increase the range of textures without overcomplicating the flavours.

It’s a trick he pulled off several times during the meal.

He did it in Piers’ main course too, in which duck breast was partnered with whole chick peas and also a chick pea pâté. The gamey, meltingly soft duck got a further boost into the culinary stratosphere from a rich port sauce and some fragrant fennel.

Readers will know that I seldom manage to reach the end of a meal without discovering some shortcoming, however minor, to complain about. In this case, however, cunning Chef Vennell got the better of me, because our desserts were as faultless as the rest of the meal had been.

Mine was an exuberant concoction of summer fruits in vibrant cider jelly, mouthwatering vanilla ice cream, meringue, praline wafers and space dust. Yes, I know everybody’s using space dust these days, but in this context it really did work.

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Piers’ lemon trio was equally rewarding, albeit slightly less frivolous.

Creamy-sharp lemon posset, a lemon mousse with the luscious crunch of toasted pine nuts and a hunk of good old-fashioned lemon sponge all added up to the perfect conclusion for a summer evening’s meal.

So let’s delve into the economics of it.

Discounting drinks, minerals, coffees and so on, the food itself – three splendid courses for two people – added up to a few pennies under £56, that’s to say £28 per head.

Now let me be straight. This one is a no-brainer. Three courses of quite exceptional food – cleverly conceived, flawlessly executed and stylishly presented – plus friendly, efficient service to boot. If anyone knows where in the North East you can better this, do please tell me. Because at this price, people, you are pretty much robbing poor Jon and Laura Vennell.

I gather that earlier this year Vennell’s won a Michelin ‘Bib Gourmand’, a commendation awarded for providing great food at reasonable prices. And rightly so. The place is unlikely to win any interior design awards, but with food this good I don’t intend to fuss about the surroundings; let’s leave that to the city poseurs. Wherever Mr and Mrs Vennell choose to serve their gorgeous grub – even if it’s in their garden shed – I’ll be there. And so should you be.

For further information about Vennell’s visit www.vennellsrestaurant.co.uk or call 01765 689000.

Enjoy Roux Scholar Jonathan Harrison’s unique cuisine in the traditional surroundings of the Sandpiper Inn Modern British food using only the finest local ingredients, beautifully prepared and presented.

Fine wines, real ales and friendly service Accommodation available

Market Place, Leyburn, North Yorkshire Tel 01969 622206 www.sandpiperinn.co.uk

Unique and atmospheric 16th Century family-run country dining pub. Fabulous food at affordable prices.

Recommended by all major good food guides. 10 minutes from Ripon, Harrogate and Knaresborough.

Open for lunch Wednesday – Saturday 12.00 noon – 2.00 p.m.

Sunday lunch 12.00 – 4.00 p.m.

Dinner Wednesday – Saturday 5.30 – 9.30 p.m.

Hand-pulled real ale. Extensive wine list. A La Carte, Bar meals. Fixed price menu available lunch-time and early evening.

Occasional Opera evenings with dinner.

Jazz pianist most Sundays.

The Malt Shovel, Brearton HG3 3BX Tel. 01423 862929 email: bleikers@themaltshovelbrearton.co.uk or book through our website www.themaltshovelbrearton.co.uk

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Morning coffee, afternoon teas and food served all day.

The White Swan Hotel and Restaurant.

Middleham, North Yorkshire DL8 4PE www.whiteswanhotel.co.uk

01969 622093

THE BLUE LION

GROUSE WEEK WEDNESDAY 25TH AUGUST – SATURDAY 28TH AUGUST

7 Silver Street, Masham, North Yorks, HG4 4DX Tel: 01765 689000 www.vennellsrestaurant.co.uk 64

EAST WITTON

Te l : 0 1 9 6 9 6 2 4 2 7 3

Foodie Events at Swinton Park

Cookery School Day Courses

Glorious Grouse Dinner

Saturday 6th August The Kitchen Garden £95 per person Sunday 7th August Dinner Parties (Intermediate) £150 per person Sunday 28th August Dinner Parties (Advanced) £160 per person

Thursday 18th August Celebrate the start of the season, with three course dinner and wine hosted by Bon Coeur Fine Wines £65 per person (including wine)

Hunter Gatherer Days in the Parkland

Deerhouse Barbecue Dinners Friday 15th July, Friday 26th August & Friday 9th September Two course alfresco dinner, with Pimms on arrival. £35 per person

Sunday 21st & Saturday 27th August Hunting with Birds of Prey and ferrets and foraging for wild edible food. £95 per person (including lunch at the Deerhouse) Swinton Park, Masham, Ripon HG4 4JH 01765 680900 www.swintonpark.com

Visit our stylish Cafe & Bistro in Leyburn and enjoy a taste of Yorkshire's finest produce.

The atmosphere is relaxed and informal, with delicious breakfasts and lunch available all day.

We also offer an early bird menu available Friday and Saturday evening from 6.30 to 7.15 pm 2 courses - £12.95

3 courses - £15.95

A takeaway and outside catering service is available.

Penleys Cafe & Bistro, Market Place, Leyburn, North Yorkshire Telephone 01969 623909 www.penleysofleyburn.co.uk 65

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o motivated is Aaron to pick up new ideas and refine his skills that he has regularly forgone his holidays to gain additional experience with some of the UK’s top chefs. Three years ago his enthusiasm and track record even won him a hotly contested work placement at one of the world’s most famous restaurants: Heston Blumenthal’s The Fat Duck.

Originally from Ireland, Aaron has made North Yorkshire his home, and he worked in several of the North East’s fine-dining establishments before coming to Yorebridge House – recently voted ‘The Most Romantic Hotel in the UK’.

Aaron’s cooking style is Modern British, with French and North African influences, and it gives centre stage to fresh, seasonal British foodstuffs. “I’m very keen on promoting local producers – we have some truly excellent ones here in North Yorkshire. I don’t like to put too many different things on the plate, though. I prefer to keep things uncomplicated, and let those splendid local flavours do the talking.”

For further information about Yorebridge House call 01969 652060 or visit www.yorebridgehouse.co.uk.

Yorkshire Vintners are at www.yorkshirevintners.co.uk.

Chef’s Table

Aaron Craig, Yorebridge House, Bainbridge Aaron Craig, the new Head Chef at Yorebridge House in Bainbridge, has been passionate about cooking since an early age.

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Duo Of British Pork With Pearl Barley Risotto And Crab Apple Jelly

Serves 6

For the Slow-Cooked Pork Belly • 1kg belly of pork, skin removed and fat trimmed evenly • 30ml honey • 40ml soy sauce • 40ml Port • 2 whole cinnamon sticks • 2 bay leaves • 1 clove of garlic, lightly crushed • 1 tsp coriander seeds

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Heat the oven to 180oC. Stir all the ingredients except the belly pork together to make the marinade. Rub the underside of the pork with the marinade, place into a deep oven tray and cover with stock.

Cook the pork belly in the preheated oven for 6 hours, then chill and refrigerate. Once the pork is cold and set, cut into portions.

Yorkshire Vintners recommends is A wine with good acidity h the oug thr cut needed here to the d an k por ly bel fat of the ey sweetness of the hon Riesling dressing, so a German an As ll. we would work would be alternative our choice from Sancerre Rouge 2008 Loire the in Domaine Chotard plus 0 3.5 £1 at Valley, priced as n ow kn ll we as t VAT. No , it sion the popular white ver to it fru d has the acidity an tly. match this dish perfec For the Crab Apple Jelly • 1kg crab apples, cleaned and halved • juice of one lemon • 700g caster sugar For the Pearl Barley Risotto • 2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil • 1 medium onion, finely chopped • 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped • leaves from 3 large sprigs fresh thyme • 350g pearl barley • 1.5 litres vegetable stock, hot • 3 tbsp chopped fresh sage

To serve • 2 pork fillet, trimmed and ready to cook • Pork Belly, Crab Apple Jelly and Pearl Barley Risotto, as above • knob of butter • drizzle of rapeseed oil

Put the apples in a large saucepan and cover with cold water. Use a small plate to weigh the apples down and prevent them floating. Bring to the boil, reduce the heat and simmer for 30 minutes. Turn the heat off and let the apples cool.

Put the apples into a jelly bag or large sieve lined with muslin and let it hang overnight to ensure that all the goodness passes into the liquid.

The following day, measure the liquid. Use 10 parts of apple liquid to seven parts of caster sugar.

Place the sugar, liquid and lemon juice in a large saucepan and bring to the boil. Remove the impurities and turn to a gentle simmer. Do not boil too fast as it will make the jelly cloudy. Cook for 40–45 minutes.

Test the jelly by pouring a tablespoon onto a plate that has been chilled in the fridge. If the jelly doesn’t run, it is ready. Let the jelly cool slightly before you pour it into warm sterilised glass jars.

Allow to set completely before serving.

Heat the oil in a medium pan over a medium-low heat. Add the onion, garlic and thyme leaves and cook gently, stirring occasionally, for 6–8 minutes, until softened. Add the pearl barley and cook for 1 minute.

Add a quarter of the stock to the pan and simmer, stirring occasionally, until all the stock has been absorbed. Add another quarter of the stock and continue in this way until all the stock is absorbed. It should take about 40 minutes for the barley to be tender but still al dente. Add the fresh sage just before serving.

Heat the butter in a nonstick frying pan. Turn the pork fillet in the pan until cooked. Caramelise the pork belly in the oven until golden and heated all the way through.

Serve the pork fillet on the risotto, with the crab apple jelly on the side and the belly pork on top of that. Drizzle with rapeseed oil and port sauce.

Serve immediately.

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Iced Peanut Parfait With Dark Chocolate Sorbet

Serves 4-6 For the Iced Peanut Parfait • 10 egg yolks • 200g sugar • 100ml water • 500ml double cream • 180g crunchy peanut butter

Combine the sugar and water and boil to 118oC (the ‘soft ball’ stage), using a sugar thermometer.

Whisk the cream until it reaches soft peaks. Heat the peanut butter to make it pliable.

Pour the sugar syrup in a slow steady stream onto the egg yolks whilst whisking on a high speed.

Continue to whisk on medium until cool.

Fold all three mixes together and decant into moulds.

Freeze for a minimum of 6 hours before using.

For the Chocolate Sorbet • 165g caster sugar • 75g unsweetened cocoa powder • 450ml water • 150g dark chocolate (70% cocoa solids)

intners YorkshiremVends recom Red

wine is Nuy vourite dessert a Our current fa mes from South Africa in in co st It la l. ill de w ca It us .

M d it is fortified ubt it 75cl bottle, an over six months, but I do . r le tt fo bo e e ish th your fridg that long to fin d is will take you t wine is served chilled, an its er on ss c de ifi d rr re te is so Th al ocolate — but great with ch manage a dessert! n’t ca u yo own if 70

Put the sugar and cocoa in a saucepan with 300ml of the water. Over a gentle heat, stir until the sugar has dissolved, then increase the heat and bring to a boil. Remove from the heat and stir in the chocolate until dissolved. Stir in the remaining 150ml water.

Fill the sink with 2cm–3cm of cold water and plunge the base of the pan into it. Allow the liquid to cool, whisking occasionally, for about 20 minutes, until it has returned to room temperature.

Chill in the fridge for 2 hours; if it solidifies, loosen it in a blender.

Churn in an ice-cream maker. After churning, scrape into a container, cover and put in the freezer for 2 hours to solidify. Serve soon afterwards. It's quite dense, so if frozen solid will need 20–25 minutes in the fridge to reach a scoopable texture.

Serve with the Parfait and a sesame seed tuile or similar.

DEANSBURY KITCHENS LTD Makers of Bespoke Kitchens & Bedrooms

We w i l l d e s i g n , c r e a t e & i n s t a l l y o u r p e r f e c t k i t c h e n o r b e d r o o m .

Combining modern working kitchens with traditional design and craftmanship.

Unit 1A, Standard Court, Standard Way Industrial Estate, Northallerton, North Yorkshire DL6 2XA Tel: 01609 775383 W: www.deansburykitchens.co.uk E: info@deansburykitchens.co.uk

InSeason Gooseberries are ripe and ready right now – and they’re more versatile than you might think.

Some foods need a little work to get the best out of them, and gooseberries fall into this category.

Their appeal isn’t instantly apparent, as anybody who has eaten one of these tart and rather hairy berries straight from the punnet will testify. But take the time to discover their culinary possibilities and you will reap many rewards.

Don’t be fooled into thinking that gooseberries are only good for puddings.

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Nature has left us some helpful hints on how to use their hidden depths of flavour in other ways. They ripen more or less as the first mackerel arrive off our coasts, and a simple gooseberry sauce brings out flavours in both of these ingredients that you probably didn’t know were there.

You can find plenty more gooseberry recipes on the Riverford website, www.riverford.co.uk/homefarm

Gooseberry, Pear and Elderflower Crumble

By Jane Baxter, Riverford Field Kitchen

Serves 4 Ingredients 300g gooseberries, topped + tailed 4 pears, cut into bite-sized pieces 175g caster sugar 3 tbsp elderflower cordial 125g unsalted butter 165g plain flour 150g rolled oats 25g soft light brown sugar

Preheat the oven to 180˚C. Put the gooseberries and pears in a baking or gratin dish (20–25cm in size) and evenly sprinkle in the caster sugar and add the elderflower cordial.

To make the topping, use your fingertips to lightly rub the butter and flour together in a large bowl, until the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs. Add the oats and sugar and mix gently to combine. Alternatively, if you are short of time, blitz all the topping ingredients in a food processor until they just start to come together. Spread the crumble topping over the fruit. Bake in the oven for about 45 mins, until the topping is golden.

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The largest cast iron radiator company in the UK

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A Sense of Style Julie Dow of The Forge Home Interiors shares a glimpse of her own super-stylish house.

favourite style?

Actually I love all sorts of different styles.

In every house I’ve lived in – and we’ve moved half a dozen times – I’ve created a different look.

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Julie Dow’s passion for re-imagining interiors is unmistakable, and infectious.

Her current home is an eclectic mix of old and new – traditional with a dramatic modern twist. But in her capacity as co-owner of The Forge Home Interiors in Bedale she’s equally happy with any kind of style from country to cutting edge. She has worked her design magic on all sorts of properties; one day it might be a secluded Dales cottage, the next a five-star city hotel.

At The Forge, Julie and her team offer everything from friendly advice on Farrow & Ball paints and wall-coverings to a

complete transformation of your living space. “The Forge may seem like a small shop, but behind the scenes there’s a substantial organisation with twenty years’ experience behind it,” says Julie. “We can manage every aspect of a project: architectural work, joinery, plumbing, electrics... the whole package. Whether it’s refurbishing your kitchen or putting a whole new facade on your house, we’re happy to take care of it.”

Julie’s own stunning domestic interior gives a flavour of what The Forge can offer, and her kitchen is a good place to start. “When we moved in it was a fairly ordinary kitchen, with the sink under the window. But this arrangement didn’t take advantage of the view – from here you can look right down the length of the garden – so we replaced the window with large glass folding doors to add some ‘wow’ factor. Now the kitchen relates much more intimately to the garden, and in fact you 77

can walk straight out onto the large expanse of deck. It’s ideal in summer.”

In line with the traditional-meets-modern feel of the whole house, the section of deck nearest the kitchen is furnished with a handsome black chair-and-sofa set, accented with coloured cushions. “Yes, it’s great isn’t it?” says Julie. “It looks like traditional rattan furniture, but actually it’s woven from a synthetic resin. It can stay outside all year round, and if it needs cleaning you can simply jet-wash it.”

As for the kitchen itself, it’s a tour de force of understated elegance. “These days there’s a move towards kitchens that are luxurious rather than simply utilitarian,” says Julie. “The floating shelves in walnut and the honed granite surfaces give it a sense of drama, and so does the lighting – both the island and the floating shelves are bottom-lit. To give the room a clean, uncluttered look we’ve used concealed fitted cupboards behind walnut panels; they open at the touch of a hand, with no need for handles. With plenty of clear space around it, we’ve showcased a classic Charles Eames chair, upholstered in turquoise – a colour that creates a link through to the dining room next door.”

“The openings through to the dining room are framed in walnut, and the room itself has a luscious walnut floor that combines with the feature wall, painted in Farrow & Ball ‘Hague Blue’, to give a modern but timeless feel to the room. To continue the traditional-meets-contemporary theme, the classic button dining chairs have been upholstered in a slate-blue ‘Lamba’ Osborne & Little fabric. There’s plenty of light because, once again, we have double French doors facing out onto the garden. I always like to give a lift to a colour scheme by adding a few carefully chosen accents, hence the yellow vase, which links back to the yellow cushions on the garden furniture outside.”

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“The lounge has a Georgian feel, with large shuttered windows and high ceilings. These beautiful features sit comfortably alongside sleek, contemporary additions to give the room a fresh and sophisticated look. The sofa is three metres long, adding a sense of drama to the space – it’s one of our bespoke pieces, of course.”

“The walls, painted in Farrow & Ball ‘All White’ and ‘Hague Blue’ – a shade echoed by the silver silk curtains – create a cool elegance, and the bespoke drawers carry on the theme of natural walnut from the kitchen and dining room. I wanted the whole of the ground floor to work together, so that there’s a sense of flow from one room to the next.”

“The object in the living room that attracts most comments from visitors is the Arco floor lamp, a reproduction of a classic 1960s design. From its weighty marble base it arches three metres into 80

the centre of the room, a bold and exciting piece of design that works perfectly in the context of this narrow but high-ceilinged room.”

Julie’s transformation of her home was clearly a fairly large-scale project, but even if you have a much more modest venture in mind – a new look for one particular room, for example – she and her team will be delighted to help. “I’m always happy to give free Farrow & Ball colour consultations, and to talk ideas over with customers,” she says. “I’d like to dispel the illusion that interior designers are only for people with pots of money. Good design should be available to everyone and every budget.”

For more information about The Forge Home Interiors visit www.forgeinteriors.co.uk or call 01677 427383.

The beauty of glass is not always clear

Glass for kitchens, bathrooms and mirrors any size and colour Visit our showroom where we have a stunning range of bathroom suites on display

Est. 1988. Bathrooms from most major manufacturers Bathrooms Direct, The Industrial Estate, Leeming Bar, North Yorkshire DL7 9UL T 01677 425788/424035 • F 01677 425581 E sales@bathrooms-direct.net • W www.bathrooms-direct.net 81

Out and About For a day out combining town and country, Leyburn is hard to beat.

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aunter just a few hundred metres west of Leyburn’s bustling Market Square to e Shawl, and you’ll be rewarded with a breathtaking view of the patchwork meadows and so green hills of midWensleydale. It’s a vivid reminder of just how intimately this historic market town relates to the countryside that surrounds it. If you want to get to grips with Wensleydale, Leyburn is the place to start.

To add a little extra magic to your day trip, you can arrive in Leyburn in old-time style on the Wensleydale Railway. e railway, closed during the 1960s, has been restored between Leeming Bar and Redmire, and there are steam-hauled trains on selected services. Choose your dates and times carefully and you can continue your exploration of the Dale by connecting with the Wensleydale Vintage Bus, which runs all the way up to Garsdale, beyond Hawes. at said, you’ll need to set aside a whole day or more if you want to fully explore Leyburn and its neighbouring attractions. Not only is Leyburn a pleasant and relaxing place for a stroll, but the charming stone townhouses surrounding the

Market Square are home to dozens of the kind of specialist independent retailers that have, unfortunately, disappeared from so many of our towns and cities. ere’s a colourful outdoor market – and regular cattle auctions – on Fridays, too. Not surprisingly, given Leyburn’s popularity, there are plenty of opportunities to relax over a coffee, have a spot of lunch or sit down to something more substantial in the evening.

Across the valley from Leyburn, just two miles away, is historic Middleham, a gem of a town with two notable claims to fame: its racing industry and its connections with Richard the ird.

Middleham has been famous for racehorse training for more than two centuries, and there are currently fieen racing stables in and around the town. e springy, peaty turf makes neighbouring High and Low Moors ideal for exercising horses, and on most mornings you can see them being put through their paces on the gallops, with the distinctive shape of Penhill providing a beautiful scenic backdrop.

Just as Penhill dominates the local landscape, so the monumental bulk of Middleham Castle dominates the town itself. e castle dates from the 12th century, and was home to Richard the

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Leyburn fact file ird before he took the throne. It fell into disrepair in the 17th century, but is now in the care of English Heritage. e roofs and floors may be long gone, but the soaring walls, sturdy turrets and massive Norman keep offer plenty to explore.

From Middleham it’s just a short hop southeast to another must-see romantic ruin, that of Jervaulx Abbey, home of an important community of Cistercian monks until the Dissolution of the Monasteries in the 16th century.

Quite apart from the interest of the ecclesiastical buildings themselves, the place has a genuinely special atmosphere, largely because – unlike so many other historic buildings – nature has been given free rein to colonise it, and luscious swathes of colourful wild flowers decorate its ancient walls. For something a little more modern, but guaranteed to engage your imagination, head southwest from Leyburn to e Forbidden Corner. Words can hardly do justice to this truly unique oddity, which bills itself – without too much exaggeration – as ‘e Strangest Place in the World’. Originally built as a private folly, it’s a baffling labyrinth, both above and below ground, that’s chock-full of surprises, booby traps and visual jokes. e kids will love it.

And if that’s not enough, Leyburn also makes an ideal base from which to explore attractions as diverse as Bolton Castle, Aysgarth Falls and Constable Burton Hall and Gardens – not to mention the network of scenic bridleways and footpaths that wind up and down the dale. With school holidays looming, and such a diversity of things to do there, Leyburn is likely to be more popular than ever this summer.

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Tourist Information Centre 4 Central Chambers, Market Square, 01969 623069.

On the Net Leyburn – www.wensleydale.net.

Leyburn / Middleham – www.middlehamonline.com.

Market Day Friday.

Riding the Rails Full details of train services – including steam-hauled services – on the Wensleydale Railway can be found at www.wensleydalerailway.com.

A Bite to Eat You’re spoiled for choice, with plenty of places in and around the Market Place. Penley’s Coffee Shop and Bistro is a good all-day choice, or head upstairs to the tea room at Serendipity for a tasty lunch. For fine dining, e Sandpiper Inn is rightly popular.

Take Home a Treat Campbell’s of Leyburn (www.campbellsofleyburn.co.uk) have been supplying top-quality groceries for more than a century. eir deli counter sells mouthwatering local produce, and their well-stocked wine department is one of the finest in the North.

Don’t Miss Middleham Castle – www.english-heritage.org.uk.

Jervaulx Abbey – www.jervaulxabbey.com. e Forbidden Corner – www.theforbiddencorner.co.uk.

And if you’re staying longer...

Bolton Castle – www.boltoncastle.co.uk.

Constable Burton Hall and Gardens – www.constableburton.com.

The Big Cheese The Wensleydale Crea mery’s visitor centre is now bigger and better than ever.

The Wensleydale Creamery at Hawes is the proud upholder of a tradition of cheesemaking in Wensleydale that dates back the best part of a thousand years. And the Creamery’s new-look visitor centre – which offers a fascinating insight into that tradition – is increasingly popular with visitors from far and wide.

Substantially expanded over the course of the last year, the centre is already experiencing a 20% increase in footfall over last year’s figures. And no wonder. With three times more space and substantially improved facilities, it makes a very attractive destination for a family day out in the Dales.

At the core of the visitor centre is the viewing gallery, where you can watch Wensleydale cheese being handcrafted using methods that remain essentially unchanged since Cistercian monks first perfected the recipe in the twelfth century. The viewing gallery has been given a whole new look, one of the most striking aspects of which is an innovative grass-effect ‘Quickturf’ carpet. Surprisingly natural in appearance, it combines with new on-the-wall graphics to reflect the local landscape and conjure up the atmosphere of the flower and herb-rich limestone meadows that give Wensleydale milk – and hence Wensleydale cheese – its unique character.

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After learning more about Wensleydale’s history in the Creamery’s museum you can go on to sample its delicious cheeses in the spacious, attractive new cheese shop. This is a great opportunity to try out recent additions to the company’s range, including the luscious Jervaulx blue – a mellow, creamy blue cheese

that’s mild enough to appeal to those who might shy away from some of the more aggressive blues. You can also buy varieties of Wensleydale cheese that can’t readily be found

predecessor, this is a light, bright, airy, modern space dominated by huge glass windows that look out over the rolling landscape of Upper Wensleydale. Enjoying equally spectacular views, but with a slightly more traditional atmosphere, is Calvert’s restaurant – named after Kit Calvert, the local farmer whose heroic efforts saved the Wensleydale Creamery from closure in the 1930s. Here you can sit down to a more substantial lunch from a list of dishes, several of which incorporate the Creamery’s cheeses. Popular choices include The Ultimate Yorkshire Wensleydale Ploughman’s, Yorkshire Rarebit made with Wensleydale cheese and Black Sheep Ale, and Wensleydale and Ginger Cheesecake.

The restaurant operates a good-value carvery on Sundays, and now stays open on Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings – a tempting prospect for locals and holidaymakers alike.

outside the area, such as the piquant Wensleydale and Ginger. Alongside the cheeses you’ll find a range of other locally made products, including real ales, chutneys and artisan-made oils.

Huge changes are also evident in the Creamery’s new coffee shop. In complete contrast to its modestly proportioned

The improvements at the Wensleydale Creamery have been getting a very definite thumbs-up from visitors who remember it from before the changes. So if you haven’t paid a visit for a while, why not go and check it out yourself?

For further information about The Wensleydale Creamery, including opening times and directions, visit www.wensleydale.co.uk.

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Kiplin Hall

Jacobean House Country Seat of Founder of Maryland, U.S.A.

Hall and Gardens open

Gardens and Pleasure Grounds

Sunday, Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday

(undergoing restoration) Open 10am-6pm.

Including lakeside and woodland walks.

Hall Open 2pm-5pm.

Now furnished as a charming Victorian home packed with family memorabilia. New exhibition One Woman’s Fight.

Chris Mouncey Selling exhibition Paintings and Prints of Venice

Tea Room Open 10am-5pm.

Delicious homemade cakes, scones and light lunches, served with a smile.

Kiplin Hall nr. Scorton, Richmond, DL10 6AT (off the B6271)

Full list of events and more details phone 01748 818178 www.kiplinhall.co.uk

BEDALE HALL

We are licensed for weddings and civil ceremonies and we are able to cater for up to 120 guests. A wedding at Bedale Hall can be tailored to meet your requirements and budget.

Bedale Hall is the perfect venue for any celebration.

Wedding receptions, anniversaries, birthdays and charity balls, all have that extra something special, when celebrated in the hall.

Our facilities also provide the ideal venue for business seminars and conferences. Whether you require a meeting room for two people or a venue for a conference, we have a variety of choice at Bedale Hall. Refreshments can be ordered.

Bedale Hall, Northend, Bedale, North Yorkshire, DL8 1AA Please call Hall manager Sally Reed Tel: 01677 423797 Email: sally@bedalehall.org.uk Visit our new website at www.bedalehall.org.uk 88

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NEWBY HALL & GARDENS Now - 11th September Matombo Zimbabwean Sculpture Experience An exciting opportunity to 'have a go' at stone sculpting. Pieces of all sizes for sale.

Now - 25th September "Lobster Quadrille" A solo exhibition of willow animal sculptures by Whitby based artist Emma Stothard.

Newby Hall & Gardens Ripon, noRth YoRkshiRe hG4 5Ae

2nd & 3rd August Open Air Shakespeare Tickets Adult £17.50, Child/OAP £12.50, (£15/£10 Season Ticket Holders) Globe Touring presents 'Hamlet- Prince of Denmark'. Performance starts at 7pm. Gates open at 6pm.

16th - 18th September Darlington Dog Show 9am - 5.30pm Join over 10,000 dogs at this three day Championship Dog Show.

www.newbyhall.com

Open: 1st April - 25th Sept 2011 Tuesdays to Sundays, plus bank holidays. Open seven days in July and August.

Gardens open: 11am - 5.30pm.

House open for tours only: 12noon - 4pm.

Booking: 01423 322583 opt 3 Information Hotline: 0845 4504068 89

dales

diary Compiled by Samantha Rough

There will also be a unique selection of furniture from Anthemion, renowned for the quality of its classic English period furniture.

Roger de Ville Antiques will be showing their collection of 18th- and 19th-century British pottery and Garth Vincent will be presenting his collection of antique arms and armour dating from the English civil war right up to World War II.

Gala Evening Friday 30th September, 6.30pm – 9.00pm

International Centre

A glittering evening in celebration of the finer things in life, set against a backdrop of splendid antiques. The event marks the official opening of the fair by actress Genevieve Barr.

Nominated for a number of best-actress awards, Genevieve is from Harrogate and starred in last year’s critically acclaimed BBC drama series The Silence. The evening is hosted jointly by Acorn and The Harrogate Antique Fair, and proceeds of the Gala will go towards the work of Acorn.

Telephone 01823 323363 www.harrogateantiquefair.com

Another exciting charity event is planned for Monday evening; please ring for details.

Events

The Harrogate Antique and Fine Art Fair Harrogate

Friday 30th September – Tuesday 4th October Admission: £7.50 including catalogue Ample parking facilities and excellent food provide a wonderful base for a day exploring the fantastic range of antiques, furniture, porcelain, silver and paintings on offer at the fair.

Showing fine art will be MacConnal-Mason, Books Illustrated and Walker Galleries.

Fine jewellery will be represented by Howards of Stratford, St James Antiques of Manchester and Licht & Morrison of Mayfair.

Pair of Japanese bronze Samurai, one unsheathing his katana, the other holding a torch, signed in a rectangular reserve, Gyoko. Meiji period. 41cm high. From Laura Bordignon.

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Fountains Abbey & Studley Royal Near Ripon Telephone 01765 608888 www.fountainsabbey.org.uk

Newby Hall Near Ripon Telephone 0845 450 4068 www.newbyhallandgardens.com

Matombo Zimbabwean Sculpture Experience Sunday 19th June – Sunday 11th September An exciting opportunity to ‘have a go’ at stone sculpting at one of Europe’s largest exhibitions of Zimbabwean sculpture. Many pieces for sale.

Open-air Shakespeare – Hamlet Tuesday 2nd – Wednesday 3rd August, 7pm. Gates open at 6pm Adult £17.50, Child £12.50 Globe Touring presents Hamlet – Prince of Denmark.

Fountains Abbey

Open-air Theatre – Pinocchio Wednesday 27th July, 6.30pm Gates open at 5.30pm Adult £12, Child £10, booking essential Bring a picnic for an evening of outdoor theatre and fun with Heartbreak Productions as they perform this family classic in the atmospheric ruins of the abbey.

North East Carriage Driving Association Saturday 20th – Sunday 21st August Two-day horse-and-carriage driving trial in the park at Newby Hall.

Darlington Dog Show Friday 16th – Sunday 18th September, 9am – 5.30pm Join us at the annual three-day championship dog show. Visitors will be able to see every possible breed of pedigree dog.

Get Medieval Saturday 30th July – Monday 1st August, 11am – 5pm Join the costumed re-enactors around their encampment. Watch and take part in activities and demonstrations based on 15th-century life.

Open-air Theatre – Sense & Sensibility Saturday 13th August, 7pm. Gates open 6pm Adult £15, Child £12, booking essential Chapterhouse bring to life this Jane Austen classic in the romantic abbey ruins.

Get Georgian!

Sunday 28th August, 11am – 4pm, normal admission charge Step back in time and enjoy live Regency music and dance in the Georgian Water Garden.

Newby Hall

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Events continued

Swinton Park Near Masham Telephone 01765 680900 www.swintonpark.com

The Glorious Grouse Thursday 18th August, drinks served from 7pm. £65 per person (including wine) Join us to celebrate the beginning of the game season, with grouse sourced from the moorland on the Swinton estate. The evening will start with pre-dinner champagne, and dinner is served with fine wine carefully selected to complement each dish.

Children’s Activity Day Saturday 20th August. Child £5 (adults free) Entertainment, face-painting, pony rides, falconry displays and treasure hunts in the parkland. Please bring your own picnic; refreshments and snacks are available at the Deer House.

Kiplin Hall Near Richmond Telephone 01748 818178 www.kiplinhall.co.uk

The Path to Paradise with North Country Theatre Sunday 14th August, 2pm – 5pm Included in admission Walk the grass labyrinth and listen to Shakespearian love sonnets and the poetry of Donne, Marvell and Johnson.

Pomp and Puddings Promenade Concert Saturday 20th August, 7pm (picnics from 6pm). £12 entry Enjoy music from the Proms, performed by Reeth Band. Bring a picnic and wave your flag!

There will be scrumptious puddings on sale.

Venice Season Sundays to Wednesdays until Wednesday 28th September, 2pm – 5pm

Hunter-gatherer Day Sunday 21st & Saturday 27th August £95 per person Spend a day in the parkland learning how to hunt with birds of prey and ferrets, forage edible wild ingredients and build a fire, then enjoy a delicious meal served in the Deer House. The day promises to appeal to anyone with an interest in countryside skills who enjoys getting back to nature.

Deer House Barbecues Friday 26th August & Friday 9th September £35 per person (including Pimm’s on arrival) For those who are looking for something really different, this alfresco event is perfect for the intrepid diner. Sensational food is served to you by our chef at your table, tasting all the better for being outdoors.

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Venice Season has been introduced to complement the return of Kiplin’s masterpiece, St. Mark’s Square by Luca Carlevarijs, from exhibitions in London and Washington, D.C. Weardale artist Chris Mouncey is holding a selling exhibition of paintings and prints of Venice and other subjects.

Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust Malham

Dales Countryside Museum

Telephone 01524 251004 www.ydmt.org

Telephone 01969 666210 www.yorkshiredales.org.uk/dcm.htm

Walk for the Dales

Birds of the Yorkshire Dales

Saturday 10th September. Entry fee, booking essential Take part in the Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust 2011 sponsored walk to help raise money for the trust. Join YDMT staff and other supporters to enjoy the beautiful scenery and landscape of Swaledale as we explore the area around Muker. We’ll be walking through the hay meadows and along the River Swale.

Taking in Crackpot Hall on the way, the route continues to the picturesque Kisdon Force.

Hawes

Thursday 25th August, 2pm – 3pm. Free Ian Court, Species Officer for the Yorkshire Dales National Park, will give an illustrated talk about the rich birdlife to be found in the area.

Victorian Kitchen – Preserves Saturday 10th September, 1pm – 4pm Come along and join friends of the museum, dressed in period costume, who will demonstrate various aspects of everyday life in the Victorian kitchen.

Quilting Dayschool Sunday 18th September, 11am – 4pm £10 plus materials Learn the skills of this traditional craft demonstrated by experienced quilter Kate Trusson.

The History of Knitting in the Dales Sunday 2nd October, 1pm – 4pm. Free Kate Trusson will explain the techniques used by Dales knitters in the past.

Vennell’s Grouse Week

Masham Sheep Fair

Telephone 01765 689000 www.vennellsrestaurant.co.uk

Telephone 01765 688417 www.mashamsheepfair.com

Wednesday 24th – Saturday 27th August

Saturday 24th – Sunday 25th September from 10am

Celebrate the beginning of the grouse season – come and enjoy a 3-course meal for a fantastic £37.50.

Last year saw us break the record for the number of grouse cooked in one week; we aim to beat the record this year!

This year marks the 26th Masham Sheep Fair.

Events will include with a sheep show, sheep racing, craft market, wool competition, sheepdog demonstrations and much, much more.

Masham boasts one of the largest and finest market squares in England, famous for its sheep sales where in the past as many as 70,000 sheep were sold each year. The popular Masham Sheep Fair commemorates these times, filling the town with sheepy fun and entertainment.

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Events continued

The Wensleydale Agricultural Show Leyburn Telephone 01677 424642 www.wensleydaleshow.org.uk Saturday 27th August. 10am – 5.30pm Adult £8, child £4 The show has an extensive range of competitive livestock events and ring displays.

There will be a vintage procession with around 60 vehicles, and over 100 trade stands offering a wide range of produce. The show has some of the best handicraft, homecraft and horticultural classes in North Yorkshire!

Durham Shopping Extravaganza Northern Echo Darlington Arena Telephone 07802347449 Wednesday 12th – Thursday 13th October 10am – 6pm The Durham Shopping Extravaganza returns to The Northern Echo Darlington Arena where you can enjoy a day of shopping inspiration and surprises. You will find a wealth of goods, many of which are exclusive to this event and won't be available at any other fair in the North East.

The arena will be filled with over 100 vibrant stalls selling gifts, fashion, art, children's toys, home and interior ideas and so much more.

As always, there is an area dedicated to food and drink, showcasing the best produce from the north of England.

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The Great North Art Show Ripon Cathedral Telephone 01765 601474 Saturday 3rd September – Saturday 24th September, 10am – 4pm daily Admission free The Great North Art Show is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year with a stunning exhibition where you can see works by exciting new artists displayed against the backdrop of one of the UK’s most magnificent cathedrals.

This year three individual charities will be collaborating and sharing the proceeds from the Exhibition – the Cystic Fibrosis Trust, the Ripon Cathedral Development Campaign, and The Great North Art Show charitable trust.

Black Sheep Brewery Boots & Beer Walking Festival Throughout the Dales Telephone 01765 689227 Friday 9th – Sunday 11th September Tickets £27.50 (includes goody bag) For tickets contact Ashleigh Robson on ashleigh.robson@blacksheep.co.uk or download a booking form at www.blacksheepbrewery.com/bootsnbeer The 10th festival brings a fantastic programme of exciting anniversary features, including specialist clothing and exclusive evening entertainment, along with our usual programme of fantastic walks – and of course our awardwinning ales!

The

Harrogate Antique Fair in association with THE BRITISH ANTIQUE DEALERS’ ASSOCIATION

30th September 4th October 2011 Harrogate International Centre Hall M - next to the Royal Hall Open: Friday 30th September 2pm-9pm Saturday 1st October & Sunday 2nd October 11am-6pm Monday 3rd October 11am-8pm Tuesday 4th October 11am-5pm in association with

Raising money for

Supporting people with dementia and research into Scleroderma

Admission: £7.50 including catalogue Enquiries to 01823 323363

25th MASHAM

S H E E P FA I R 24th & 25th September 2011 During the weekend from 10.00 am SHEEP SHOW • SHEEPDOG DEMONSTRATIONS • SHEEP RACING SPINNING & WEAVING DEMONSTRATIONS OLD TIME CHILDREN'S FAIR • CRAFT MARKET AND FLEECE STALLS MORRIS DANCERS • HANDBELL RINGERS • TOURS AROUND T&R THEAKSTON AND BLACK SHEEP BREWERIES • HARVEST FLOWER FESTIVAL • BISHOP BLAIZE PROCESSION & BANDS • HANDSPUN WOOL COMPETITION Further details and entry forms are available from MRS SUSAN CUNLIFFE-LISTER, High House, Swinton, Ripon HG4 4JH Tel: 01765 688417 or susan@burtonagnes.com or at Broadley's Insurance Office, Market Place, Masham

ALL PROCEEDS GO TO YORKSHIRE CHARITIES

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For ÂŁ15 the Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust will plant a native broadleaf tree in a new natural wood in the Yorkshire Dales. A unique gift that will keep growing for years to come.

And one that will make a lasting difference to our countryside.

A unique labyrinth of tunnels, chambers, follies and surprises created in a four-acre walled garden in the heart of the Yorkshire Dales.

Opening times for 2011 Open everyday from 1st April - 31st October then Sundays until Christmas Monday - Saturday 12 noon until 6pm Sundays and bank holidays 10am - 6pm Holiday accommodation now available.

Please telephone 01969 640638 for further details. www.theforbiddencorner.co.uk

Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust work to support the environment, people and economy in the Yorkshire Dales Charity No. 1061687

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Admission is by pre-booked tickets only To reserve your ticket please telephone 01969 640638 / 01969 640687 We look forward to seeing you

Family Events

in The Parkland at Swinton Park Children's Activity Day

Family Falconry & Nature Days

Saturday 20th August 11am - 4pm An activity day including Treasure Trail, Bouncy Castle, Face Painting, Pony Rides and Falconry Displays.

Tuesday 26th July & Tuesday 2nd August 10am - 3pm A day out for nature lovers with Birds of Prey, pet corner, nature trail, trip to the Bird Hide and to see the fallow deer.

£5 per child (adults free). Please bring your own picnic, refreshments and snacks available for sale at the Deerhouse.

£3 per child/£5 per adult (please bring your own picnic which will be delivered to the picnic site beside the lake)

The Parkland, Swinton Park, Masham, Ripon HG4 4JH 01765 680900 www.swintonpark.com

The Wensleydale Agricultural Show Saturday 27th August 2011, 10am www.wensleydaleshow.org.uk for details call: 01969 623750 Car Parking: Free, Entrance: Adults £8, Children £4, Under 5s Free.

Family Ticket £20 (2 adults and up to 3 children) Attractions: Moto Stunts International, Cattle, Sheep, Poultry, Pony, Heavy Horses and Carriage Driving Classes, Handicrafts, Horticulture, Homecrafts, Leyburn Band, Hounds, Quoits, Dry Stone Walling. Children’s Attractions.

Over 100 Trade Stands.

The Showfield, Leyburn

DURHAM SHOPPING EXTRAVAGANZA Registered Charity No: 1061921

Now in its 23rd year

Wednesday 12th October 2011 10am - 6pm

Thursday 13th October 2011 10am - 4pm

NORTHERN ECHO DARLINGTON ARENA DL2 1DL Entrance £4 • Lots Of Free Parking All Proceeds to charities in and around Durham including:

Corner House Youth Project, Stockton. MS Therapy Centre, Teesside. St. Teresa’s Hospice, Darlington.

Sherwoods

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In association with Yorkshire Life magazine

Newby Hall & Gardens Friday 2nd – Sunday 4th September 2011 Yorkshire Life and the Yorkshire LifeStyle show team are delighted to invite you to join us in September for the launch of Yorkshire’s most enjoyable lifestyle shopping event, where we will be proud to show off Yorkshire’s finest and most unique retailers in, home interiors, gardens, fashion, gifts, art, food and drink, set within the beautiful award-winning gardens of Newby Hall, Ripon, North Yorkshire.

SHOW DATES AND TIMES Friday 2nd – Sunday 4th September 2011 10.00 am – 5.00 pm (4 pm Sunday)

Visitors will enjoy soaking up the colours and scents of the famous gardens whilst browsing the magnificent array of stands intermingled between the flower beds and trees. Ladies need not worry about abandoning the family, with free access to the adventure playground, sculpture exhibition, roving musicians, and the fine array of strawberries and cream, pimms, cream teas and quintessentially English fayre provided by Yorkshire Party Company, there will be something for all the family, even husbands won’t be dragging their feet on this occasion!

ENquIRIES email: enquiries@yorkshirelifestyleshow.co.uk Exhibitor enquiries: 01423 563563 General enquiries: 0845 4504068

THE ExHIBITORS Over 40 unique, handpicked retailers.

For a full list of exhibitors please visit the Show website www.yorkshirelifestyleshow.co.uk

TICKET PRICES Advance tickets £6.50. On the door £8.50 Free parking

We look forward to welcoming you to the Yorkshire LifeStyle retail garden for a day of enchantment and inspiration!

Book your Special Advanced tickets now:

www.yorkshirelifestyleshow.co.uk 101

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raw Deal

Healthy living means sticking to a strict schedule at The Complete Retreat. Sue Gillman reports.

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A

retreat? Sounds very easygoing and relaxing, doesn’t it? Despite its cosy name, though, e Complete Retreat is actually a rigorous week-long detox regime. Tired and out of condition thanks to a busy work schedule, I booked myself in. I knew my system needed a radical shake-up, and I knew it would be tough. But just how tough? I was about to find out.

Arriving at the location for e Complete Retreat – the gorgeous Villa Rozalejo, set in a 150-acre private estate in the spectacular Andalucian hills – my spirits soared. e villa consisted of two light, airy and elegantly furnished buildings, each with its own private pool, and it enjoyed truly breathtaking mountain views. Its enormous terraces were thick with Bougainvillea and fragrant with the intoxicating scent of figs and pine trees.

Definitely the kind of place I could put my feet up and chill out, I thought.

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But Lisa Jeans, the London-based naturopath and kinesiologist who runs e Complete Retreat, had other ideas. She may not stomp around in combats yelling at her recruits to fall in, but Lisa runs the show with a rod of iron. It quickly dawned on me that this wasn’t a retreat at all. It was a boot camp in disguise.

Lisa’s regime is based on vegan raw food cuisine plus exercise. A lot of exercise. I can’t say I was looking forward to working up a sweat, but I consoled myself with the thought that Lisa must be doing something right. for one thing she has worked with numerous A-list clients, including Renée Zellweger. for another, the majority of her other guests – a sparky group of professionals from across the globe – seemed to have been on her retreats before, or to have come on recommendation. e first shock came early on the Monday morning. I wasn’t expecting a full English breakfast, but this was Spartan fare indeed:

cucumber and celery juice plus a protein shake, followed by a shot of wheatgrass with a slice of orange to take away the taste.

With no breakfast to speak of, everybody was hungrily counting the minutes to lunch, which was to be the main meal of the day.

Lunches, however, weren’t exactly a blow-out either. Typically they would be a vegetable soup followed by a salad. And with each day’s meals consisting of various permutations of vegetable juices, salads and soups – plus that awful wheatgrass – I found it hard to muster much energy for the extensive programme of physical activities. ese were mostly very enjoyable, mind you.

Yoga classes, with a view of the mountains through an enormous french window, were great fun, and class-leader Wendy was an exceptional teacher. ere were also Body Conditioning classes and Zumba classes – exuberant, invigorating heart-pumping workouts. We could also book ourselves a

range of treatments, including cranial osteopathy, hot stone therapy and reflexology.

I had mixed feelings about the lengthy evening hikes, though. Not being particularly athletic, I was assigned to the ‘B’ group, but even we softies were expected to toil up some extremely steep slopes. I often found myself out of breath and struggling to keep up, and one or two of the other girls seemed a little shaky too. On the positive side, there were moments of pure joy. e scenery was truly jaw-dropping, and the hills – with their brilliant wild flowers and abundant fig, olive, almond and carob trees – were positively teeming with wildlife.

Despite these heavenly surroundings, by Wednesday I was feeling the strain. Seated in front of a plate overflowing with shredded ginger, carrot, courgette and avocado, I found I just couldn’t face eating it. It wasn’t just me who was struggling, and there were a number of complaints about the food. It 105

turned out that Lisa had been let down by her chef at the last minute and had had to draft in a replacement. To her credit, she took the situation firmly in hand, and after this there was a very definite improvement in the meals. e fourth day, ursday, saw a change of mood for everyone. Caffeine withdrawal, with its attendant headaches, along with the nausea that accompanies a detox regime, were no longer part of the picture. We were all looking perkier, with clearer skin and brighter eyes.

By this time I must admit that I was getting fed up with sticking to the same schedule every day. I prefer variety in my week, although when I spoke to some of the other participants I was surprised to find that they were quite happy to stick to the routine and do as they were told. I suppose routine can be comforting. however, because of work commitments, I had to leave early on friday morning, without completing the course. e others continued until Saturday evening, returning home on Sunday.

Despite cutting my stay short, I could see definite benefits from my time at e Complete Retreat. I lost 5lbs, and I gather 106

that another guest lost 9lbs. But it’s not just about the weight loss. Since coming home I have been juicing on a regular basis. And I have stopped drinking wine – although I still can’t get by without a coffee a day.

Although it hasn’t radically changed my life, I am definitely calmer, fitter and healthier than I have been for a long while. e Complete Retreat may not have been exactly what I had imagined – and it certainly seemed rather hard going at the time – but in retrospect it has clearly done me good.

So would I go back? Yes, I would. Lisa holds retreats in a variety of different locations, not just in Spain, and I hope to take my daughter to one of the sessions she is running in Cornwall later this year. At least now I know what to expect.

for more information about e Complete Retreat visit www.thecompleteretreat.com or call 0044 7941 214750.

Restaurant and Bar Nestled in the heart of the beautiful Yorkshire Dales, Yorebridge House is the perfect place to enjoy a range of local produce whether it’s for an evening meal, Sunday lunch or even Afternoon Tea. As well as being a 5 star hotel, voted as the Most Romantic Hotel in the UK by Trip Advisor, Yorebridge House is home to a nationally-acclaimed restaurant that has 2 AA Rosettes and an AA Best Breakfast Award.

Our restaurant, housed in a former headmaster’s house dating back to the 1840s, provides the rare combination of fine dining and an informal atmosphere with views across the Dales. You can choose to enjoy a decadent meal in an intimate candlelit setting or relax in our bar and, when the weather allows, unwind in our stunning gardens. The emphasis, however, is always on the finest local produce and modern British cuisine.

And if you fancy a glass of wine or a beer, Yorebridge House offers over 100 wines, champagnes and ports from around the world featuring old favourites and the more unusual - all at reasonable prices. We stock a range of locally-brewed ales including one brewed especially for us by the Yorkshire Dales Brewing Company a mile down the road at Askgrigg.

web: www.yorebridgehouse.co.uk email: enquiries@yorebridgehouse.com Yorebridge House • Bainbridge • Leyburn • Wensleydale • North Yorkshire • DL8 3EE - Tel: 01969 652 060

FAUVE FREYA CALVIN KLEIN LEJABY CURVY KATE ELLE MACPHERSON FANTASIE TRIUMPH

An exquisite collection of lingerie, swimwear & nightwear now available

Buy online from www.victoriaslingerie.co.uk Free postage and packing 11 High Street, Leyburn Tel: 01969 622102

Head over Heels MARCO TOZZI®

Summer sale now on Stunning new Moda in Pelle summer collections now in stock

LADIES

SHOES

•

HANDBAGS

•

COSTUME

JEWELLERY

2 Railway Street, Leyburn North Yorkshire DL8 5AY Tel: 01969 625234 Open 10am-5pm Monday to Saturday 108

Beauty Spot sue Gillman tries a Garra Rufa fish spa Pedicure at Bedale Beauty There are a lot of weird and wonderful beauty treatments out there, but having a shoal of tiny fish nibbling your feet has to be one of the strangest. So it was with a mixture of curiosity and trepidation that I headed off to Bedale Beauty to try out a Garra Rufa Fish Spa Pedicure.

The idea of getting fish to chew away the areas of dead skin on your feet isn’t a new one – apparently these fish have been used to exfoliate and soften the skin in Turkish spas for some years – but the treatment only arrived in the UK in 2010. Not for the squeamish, perhaps, but certainly a novel alternative to the pumice stone.

The reception area at Bedale Beauty is reassuringly light, bright and modern – and, I was surprised to find, the very spot in which I was to be taking my pedicure. Rather than being hidden away in a treatment room, the fish spa pedicure is there for all to see: a glass cube which, thanks to its dimensions and purple top, I had initially assumed was a modernistic coffee table.

Before starting the treatment, though, there was a detailed questionnaire to go through. There are strict hygiene rules in place for the welfare of all parties concerned – not least, the fish – and only feet that are free of cuts and abrasions are allowed to go in the tank. Once they had proved worthy of dunking, my feet were scrupulously washed, and it was time to begin. In they went – one at a time and very gently, taking care not to startle the tiny inhabitants of the tank.

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FACT FILE On the menu A very comprehensive range of beauty treatments, including Decléor, Guinot, Priori and Vitage facials, Decléor body massage and tanning treatments, Omnilux light therapy, Nouveau lash extensions and Jessica manicures.

What I tried The Garra Rufa Fish Spa Pedicure.

Cost £15 for fifteen minutes or £20 for half an hour.

Verdict 8/10 Contact Bedale Beauty, 19 North End, Bedale, DL8 1AF tel. 01677 426 557 www.bedalebeauty.co.uk

The Garra Rufas certainly seemed very relaxed and settled.

There were about 30 of the little fish, which I gather are a species of carp. They were a rather undistinguished greyish colour – certainly not the kind of thing you would choose to brighten up your aquarium. The largest were about 8cm long, but there were a number of juniors too.

They weren’t at all shy, and without hesitation they started swarming around my feet. The sensation wasn’t a bit like being nibbled at – more of a pleasantly tingly feeling, like having your feet in a bubbling foot spa. It was so pleasant, in fact, that I opted to go for a half-hour session rather than stopping at the 15 minute mark.

Some people might have reservations about sitting in a reception area with their feet in a fish tank, but it didn’t take me long to get used to it. In fact it was quite sociable; other clients were intrigued, and quickly fell into conversation.

I was able to reassure them that the experience was far more enjoyable than the idea might look.

Once I had finished my half-hour session, it was time for me to inspect my feet – and for the tank to go through a special four-minute long filtering and cleaning cycle in readiness for the next client.

My feet certainly felt a good deal softer and smoother, and a fair amount of the dead skin had indeed been removed. Not all of it, mind you – that would have been a miracle. The process is a gentle one, and for maximum benefits a course

of sessions is advised. But to be honest, gentle is good as far as I’m concerned. I’ve experienced a pretty painful foot scrub in a Turkish hamman, and I certainly wouldn’t want to go through that again. The fish were a doddle by comparison.

Would I go back for another session? Well yes, quite possibly.

The Garra Rufa Fish Spa Pedicure isn’t for everyone, though.

It’s something that will probably always divide opinion, and I know that some of my friends would refuse to try it, no matter much I was to praise it. But if you’re tempted, then do give it a go. I can’t vouch for the benefits of a whole course of treatments, but the first session was both enjoyable and effective.

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Bookmark BRIAN PIKE SIzES UP SOME NEw TITlES

INCOgNITO: “…an exhilarating THE SECRET lIvES Of THE BRAIN

by David Eagleman Canongate, hardback, £20

whistle-stop tour of cutting-edge neuroscience.”

Fancy relaxing on the beach with a good mystery this summer? You could grab a whodunnit from the bestseller list, of course, but here’s something far more gripping: the mystery of who you really are. The author takes as his starting point the fact that much of what our brains do takes place without our conscious control. (If you don’t believe it, try explaining exactly how you retrieve a name from your memory, solve a crossword clue or stay balanced on a bicycle – these things just ‘happen’ without us being able to explain how we pull off the trick.) This observation is the start of an exhilarating whistle-stop tour of cutting-edge neuroscience. And if neuroscience sounds like a daunting topic, rest assured that this is as snappily written as any thriller. From the blind mountain climber who can ‘see’ with his tongue to the ‘Mel Gibson’ question of whether you can have one personality when you’re sober and a completely different one when you’re drunk, this is a book that explores some truly fascinating – and vitally important – issues of personal identity.

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SMAll ADvENTURES IN COOKINg

by James Ramsden Quadrille, paperback, £14.99

Cookbooks tend to fall into one of two camps. Some cookery writers focus on high-end dining, apparently expecting readers to spend most of their waking hours in the kitchen and most of their personal disposable income on exotic ingredients. Then on the other hand there are recipe books that offer a quick fix, with meals that are speedy and economical but, as a result, just that bit dull. James Ramsden’s amiable little book, however, aims to mine the middle ground, with recipes that are straightforward to cook but more fun to eat than the average workaday meal. It’s a commendable goal – and one which, by and large, he achieves. Occasionally he follows Delia into ‘let’s open a tin’ territory, but mostly he meets his brief by using cheaper cuts of meat (Pork Belly with Cider and Lentils; Lamb’s Liver with Celeriac and Apple Mash) or simply combining ingredients in ways you might not have thought of (Pea Pilaf with Spiced Crispy Shallots and Almonds; Chocolate and Fennel Brownies). Novice cooks looking to raise their game a little should find it very helpful.

THE ORIgIN Of OUR SPECIES

by Chris Stringer Allen lane, hardback, £20

There aren’t many people in the world better qualified to tell the story of human prehistory than Professor Chris Stringer, and a splendid job he makes of it too.

In the last few years, fresh archaeological finds and new scientific techniques – not least DNA analysis – have transformed our understanding of the ancient past. One of the author’s particular areas of expertise is the mystery of why the Neanderthals, a ‘rival’ species of human, died out around 25,000 years ago, leaving ourselves as the sole survivors. Certainly not because the Neanderthals had smaller brains; in fact they had bigger ones. And like us, it seems, they used language, manipulated fire and made tools. They even wore jewellery and used cosmetics – although, unlike our own early ancestors, they seem to have fallen short of inventing shoes. The Neanderthal question is just one of several shadowy areas of our past onto which this exciting and authoritative book sheds light. To round it all off, Professor Stringer discusses whether we are still evolving and, if so, into what. A very good question.

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HOw TO BE AN ExPlORER Of THE wORlD

by Keri Smith Particular Books, paperback, £12.99

If you have a restless teenager with time on their hands hanging round the house in the summer holidays, this could be just the right book to give them. It’s a series of suggestions for activities designed to stimulate your imagination and unleash your creativity by encouraging you to pay attention to things you would normally ignore – everything from cracks in the pavement and stains on the wall to the products in your local supermarket that you don’t normally buy. It’s apparently intended as much for adults as for teens, although many of us oldies might feel a bit self-conscious about being caught building junk sculptures, making paint from crushed berries or trying to walk as slowly as possible.

Join forces with your kids, though, and you can get involved in the fun without embarrassing yourself. The book itself is put together in a refreshingly jumbly, handwriting-plus-collage kind of way, and its underlying message – that we can all benefit from taking time out to find the magic in everyday things – is, surely, an important one.

fEATHERS

by Thor Hanson Basic Books, hardback, £18.99

Some of the best books focus on a very narrow subject area, but you might wonder how an entire book dedicated to feathers could possibly sustain the reader’s interest. Not an easy trick, perhaps, but American biologist Thor Hanson has managed it. Starting with the discovery of Archaeopteryx, the earliest fossil bird, he explores why and how feathers evolved, and the range of purposes, sometimes contradictory, that birds use them for: to keep hot, for example, but also to keep cool; to repel water, but also, sometimes, to absorb it.

He also looks at the various ways we humans have exploited feathers, from Pacific feather money to quill pens. And then there’s the colourful topic of feather-driven fashion, from the amazing bird-of-paradise-feather headdresses of New Guinea tribesmen to the Western mania for ostrich feathers in the early years of the last century – the latter gives Hanson the opportunity to tell the strange tale of the secretive Trans-Siberian Ostrich Expedition. This cheerfully written, easy-to-read book will make you look at your feather duster in a whole new light.

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PREMIERE CARE (NE) LTD Awarded a 3 star rating = excellent by the Care Quality Commission in 2009

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TO DINe FOr Great places to eat and stay in the beautiful Yorkshire Dales.

The George at Wath

Swinton Park Hotel

Located at the centre of the charming village of Wath, just over three miles from the city of Ripon, you will find The George at Wath, a traditional country inn serving a mouth-watering menu using locally sourced, fresh, seasonal produce. We also offer an excellent choice of fine wines, many by the glass and a selection of local cask ales. Luxury en suite accommodation, private dining, beer garden and function room available.

The George at Wath, Main Street, Wath.

HG4 5EN tel: 01765 641324 www.thegeorgeatwath.co.uk

An elegant, 30 bedroom luxury castle hotel. With four Red Stars (Inspectorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Choice) and three Rosettes awarded by the AA for excellent facilities, this is one of the most highly rated hotels in Yorkshire. Award-winning cuisine is served in the sumptuously furnished dining room, using seasonal produce sourced from the hotelâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s four acre walled garden and surrounding estate.

Swinton Park Hotel, Masham, Ripon. tel: 01765 680900 www.swintonpark.com 129

Vennell’s restaurant

The Queen’s Head

Now in its fifth year, Jon Vennell's cooking continues to impress with many major accolades and awards under his belt. Jon's wife, Laura, is front of house and has a relaxed, friendly approach which is probably why customers keep coming back to sample the seasonally changing menu. Even Claudia Blake gave a flawless review. Vennell's holds many events throughout the year. See the website for further details.

Vennell’s Restaurant, 7 Silver Street, Masham. tel: 01765 689000 www.vennellsrestaurant.co.uk

The Queen's Head is a charming, characteristic country inn dating from the 1700s, set in picturesque surroundings in the attractive village of Finghall. near Leyburn. It offers comfortable modern accommodation and a traditional, cosy bar. Manager and head chef Ian Vipond has devised a fresh, new menu for the restaurant, based around tasty local and seasonal produce. Traditional bar snacks are also available. With original oak beams and a dining room that looks out over the woods said to have inspired ’The Wind in the Willows’ the Queen’s Head combines a real sense of history with great food and a genuinely warm welcome.

The Queen's Head, Finghall (between Leyburn and Bedale). tel: 01677 450259 www.queensfinghall.co.uk.

The White Bear The White Bear is situated in its own courtyard in the beautiful market town of Masham. A team of talented chefs use locally-sourced ingredients to create delicious, seasonal dishes. Enjoy your meal in the charming dining room or the traditional bar; open fires create a cosy atmosphere throughout. An extensive wine list complements the menu. Awarded the ‘Cask Marque’ for the quality of its cask ales, the hotel often features in the Good Beer Guide.

Accommodation is available in fourteen individually designed rooms all en suite.

The White Bear, Wellgarth, Masham. tel: 01765 689319 www.thewhitebearhotel.co.uk

Hendersons Bar & restaurant Set in the idyllic riverside surroundings of Westholme Estate in Bishopdale near Aysgarth, (which is currently being turned into a luxury holiday resort as part of an ongoing £8m redevelopment programme), Hendersons is a bright, stylish, relaxed bar and bistro-style restaurant with a contemporary feel. Using local and home grown produce, talented head chef Andy Brooks creates modern British cuisine, drawing on his wealth of experience from restaurants throughout London and the Midlands.

Hendersons Bar & Restaurant, Westholme Estate, Aysgarth. tel: 01969 663268

The Sandpiper Inn Enjoy Jonathan Harrison’s unique cuisine in the traditional surroundings of the Sandpiper Inn, Leyburn. Modern British food prepared using only the finest ingredients. Fine wines, real ales and friendly service. Accommodation is available.

The Sandpiper Inn, Market Place, Leyburn. tel: 01969 622206 www.sandpiperinn.co.uk 130

The Black Sheep Brewery The Black Sheep Brewery Visitor Centre - situated in Masham, the gateway to Wensleydale - is the ideal place for a great day or evening out. You can take a tour of the Brewery, have a meal in the Bistro, and taste their award-winning beers at the ‘Baa…r’. You can also buy lots of goodies from the well-stocked Sheepy Shop. It offers a ‘ewe-nique’ venue for corporate entertaining, product launches, parties and weddings. Many events take place throughout the year. Check the website for details.

The Black Sheep Brewery, Wellgarth, Masham. tel: 01765 680101 www.blacksheepbrewery.com

Stonehouse Hotel Enjoying stunning views across Upper Wensleydale, and ideally placed as a base for hill-walkers, Stone House Hotel is an elegant, country residence dating from 1908. It is set in an acre of fine gardens just a short drive from the bustling market town of Hawes.

With its cosy bar, library-cum-billiard room and panelled Oak Room, Stone House makes a great place to relax.

There’s a comfortable restaurant where you can enjoy delicious, locally sourced traditional food from breakfast through to dinner, and choose from an extensive list of fine wines. There are three spacious and romantic four-poster suites, and five ground floor conservatory bedrooms that open directly onto the lawns, popular with dog owners and guests who aren’t keen on stairs.

Stone House Hotel, near Hawes, Wensleydale. tel: 01969 667571, www.stonehousehotel.co.uk

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