This is Y Magazine 2016

OVER 50 DESTINATION S INS IDE Including Herriot Country Yorkshire Dales North York Moors Yorkshire Wolds Peak District

Pampered pups

Yorkshire is the PERFECT PLACE TO PAMPER YOUR pooch

FIND OUT what MOTIVATES ENGLAND’S STAR MAN

ON TOP OF THE WORLD

HOW the OTHER HALF LIVE

MEET THE RESIDENTS OF YORKSHIRE’S STATELY HOMES

SOME FAMOUS FACES who made IT BIG IN 2015

FESTIVALs AT 50

HARROGATE FESTIVALS have become A uk CULTURAL POWERHOUSE

THE GOLD COAST

CASTING A SPELL

A BIGGER SPLASH

Take a tour of the twisting streets and hidden alleyways of Smugglers’ Town.

Find out why Yorkshire’s rivers, streams and coastline are a fisherman’s dream.

Discover whales, dolphins and other hidden secrets of the Yorkshire Coast.

Mee t the Wr iters On the cover

Sheffield’s Joe Root had an amazing 2015, establishing himself as one of the best batsmen in world cricket.

Read Joe Root: Man of Steel on page 70.

Front cover image: Joe Root taken on location near Headingley Stadium in Leeds, home of Yorkshire County Cricket Club.

Photograph: © Tom Shaw Photography www.tomshawphotography.com Published by: Welcome to Yorkshire Dry Sand Foundry Foundry Square Holbeck Leeds LS11 5DL

Sarah Freeman

Dominic Bliss

Joe Shute

Through the Keyhole (page 58)

A Bigger Splash (page 78)

The Gold Coast (page 38)

Sarah was born and brought up in Leeds.

She pursued a long-held ambition to be a journalist and is currently Features Editor of the Yorkshire Post and editor of YP magazine.

Dominic is a journalist and editor writing on travel, sport and men’s interest.

He has searched out polar bears in the Arctic, climbed peaks in the Dolomites and boxed with Amir Khan.

Sarah’s Yorkshire tip: For a different view of York, walk the city walls then stop off at The House of Trembling Madness, one of the best pubs in the county.

Dominic’s Yorkshire tip: If you want to pass as a real Yorkshireman, learn the words to On Ilkla Moor Baht ‘at in dialect.

It’s Yorkshire’s unofficial anthem.

An award winning features writer for the Daily Telegraph and author of their expert travel guide to Yorkshire. Joe has a close affinity to the county, in particular the Dales and Moors.

James Ellis

Dave Lee

Jeremy Taylor

Pampered Pups (page 24)

Eastern Promise (page 92)

A journalist who specialises in the travel industry.

Former Travel Editor and Deputy Features Editor of Metro and writes for most national newspapers.

Dave is a writer and award winning filmmaker who has worked all over the world and writes on food and drink for the Yorkshire Post.

His perfect day out is a walk through the Wolds followed by a pint and a pie. Sounds like a sensible bloke.

Table Topping Tykes and Joe Root: Man of Steel (page 66 & 70)

Joe’s Yorkshire tip: Visit Staithes, the jewel in the crown of the Yorkshire coast with fascinating fishing heritage and a burgeoning arts scene.

© Welcome to Yorkshire 2016 Designed and produced by: Will Hodgson at Welcome to Yorkshire Printed by: Acorn, Normanton, West Yorkshire www.acornweb.co.uk Whilst every care has been taken to ensure the accuracy of the information contained in this publication, Welcome to Yorkshire can accept no responsibility for any errors or omissions.

Information throughout this magazine is compiled from details supplied by organisations or establishments concerned. No recommendation by Welcome to Yorkshire is implied by the inclusion of any information and Welcome to Yorkshire accepts no responsibility in the matter. Prices, dates, hours of opening etc. were correct at the time of going to press. Readers are reminded that these details are subject to change and they are advised to check when finalising any arrangements. Please note, the destination guides have been placed by our partners and the content approved by them. It is not intended to be a comprehensive guide to all destinations and does not necessarily represent the views of Welcome to Yorkshire.

The paper in this magazine originates from timber that is sourced from sustainable forests, managed to strict environmental, social and economic standards.

The manufacturing mill has both FSC & PEFC certification and also ISO9001 and ISO14001 accreditation.

Once you have finished with this magazine, please pass it on to someone else who may be interested to read it or recycle it.

Need to get in touch?

Editor Jo Francisco jfrancisco@yorkshire.com Production Jenny Higgins jhiggins@yorkshire.com

James’s Yorkshire tip: Head out on the Dalesway, the 84 mile footpath from Ilkley. Leaving Ilkley, it’s an especially gorgeous walk through the Yorkshire Dales National Park and by the River Wharfe.

Dave’s Yorkshire tip: Take a walk from Whitby to Beck Hole for a corned beef sarnie and a pint of Beck Watter at the Birch Hall Inn.

Jeremy is a features writer for the Sunday Times Magazine, FT Weekend Magazine and various other national titles.

He has a passion for classic cars, sailing and running.

Although he now lives ‘down south’, Jeremy’s grandparents were originally from Yorkshire.

Jeremy’s Yorkshire tip: Head to Bettys for a Fat Rascal, it’s been part of Yorkshire’s culinary heritage since at least the early 1800s.

Become a member of Welcome to Yorkshire Laura Kirk lkirk@yorkshire.com Advertise with us marketing@yorkshire.com

@welcome2yorks welcometoyorkshire

Images on next page: York Minster. The Grand Hotel York.

The Yorkshire Wolds © VHEY. Explore the coast in Whitby.

The Yorkshire Dales. The Deep in Hull. Clifford’s Tower in York.

Top Withens in Brontë Country. Family fun at the Hepworth Wakefield. Sutton Bank. Keighley & Worth Valley Railway.

Titanic Spa near Huddersfield. Surfing in Yorkshire. Go Ape! in Dalby Forest. Bolton Abbey. Colourful beach huts in Scarborough. Fountains Abbey & Studley Royal © National Trust images. Wensleydale Creamery. Yorkshire Sculpture Park.

Yorkshire Forced Rhubarb. Puffin © Peter Hewitt. Staithes.

Brimham Rocks © National Trust images. Sheffield Botanical Gardens. Afternoon tea at Bettys Café Tea Rooms.

Yorkshire Coast © National Trust Images / Joe Cornish.

Leeds Town Hall at night. Kevin Sinfield playing for Leeds Rhinos. National Railway Museum. Cycling in Dalby Forest.

Sir Gary Verity © James Hardisty / Johnston Press.

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Paul Procter

Peter Cossins

Nick Ahad

Casting a Spell (page 46)

Tour de Yorkshire (page 14)

Fishing and the countryside have been part of everyday life for Paul Procter since boyhood. An angling journalist with an appetite for the outdoors Paul has spent the last 17 years travelling to far flung places armed with a fly rod, backpack and camera.

Peter Cossins has been a cycling journalist and writer since 1993. Peter has covered 16 editions of the Tour de France as well as most of the other major cycling events and is the contributing editor to Procycling magazine.

Harrogate Festivals at 50 and Six Vintage Indie Cinemas (page 112 & 98)

Paul’s Yorkshire tip: Reach for rod and reel when dark clouds loom on the horizon - often the best fishing occurs as rain falls.

Peter’s Yorkshire tip: Try my favourite ride up Littondale then up onto the dramatic runs between Fountains Fell and Pen y Ghent to Stainforth.

Absolute perfection.

Nick was the Yorkshire Post Arts Editor for ten years.

He continues to write for the paper as their Theatre Correspondent. He also presents for BBC Radio Leeds and has worked as a scriptwriter for the popular Yorkshire soap Emmerdale.

Nick’s Yorkshire tip: Go to Slung Low’s Holbeck Underground Ballroom a theatre in a series of old railway arches five minutes from Leeds Train Station.

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YORKSHIRE HAS IT ALL From fishing expeditions to dog holidays, snorkel safaris to smuggling adventures, we are sure you’ll enjoy reading about some of Yorkshire’s hidden secrets. We take a look through the keyhole into some of Yorkshire’s most prestigious stately homes and castles where families still live today. We look back at a big sporting year and join World, European and Paralympic Champion Hannah Cockroft MBE for a day out.

We look forward to the Tour de Yorkshire 2016 which will include a new women’s stage. Men and women will complete the same route on day two starting in Otley - home of the women’s road race World Champion Lizzie Armitstead.

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But it’s not all about sporting successes. Yorkshire continues to have more Michelin starred restaurants than anywhere outside London and the county has inspired an incredible new musical, The Girls, penned by pop hero Gary Barlow and top playwright Tim Firth.

Visitors are sure to enjoy another spectacular Yorkshire Festival as well as special anniversary celebrations for the Brontës, Harrogate International Festival, Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown and more.

Get ready for another exciting year.

Sir Gary Verity, Chief Executive Welcome to Yorkshire

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CONTENTS 9 Yorkshire Highlights The latest Yorkshire news.

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14 TOUR DE YORKSHIRE The most significant new event in the British cycling calendar is back in 2016 with three more incredible stages.

18 FAMILY FAVOURITES Underwater worlds at The Deep and high rides at Flamingo Land.

20 Experience Wakefield 24 PAMPERED PUPS Yorkshire is the perfect place for pampering your pooch.

33 The National Trust Many historic houses and gardens, mills and monuments for great days out and visits.

34 Hull & East Yorkshire

38 24

37 FAMILY FAVOURITES It’s all elemental at Magna and meerkat madness in Doncaster.

38 THE GOLD COAST Take a tour of Robin Hood’s Bay and find out why it was once known as Smugglers’ Town.

44 The Yorkshire Dales and towns of Herriot Country 46 CASTING A SPELL Yorkshire’s rivers, streams and coastline offer thrills and spills in tranquil surroundings.

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84 Harrogate & surrounding market towns 86 SCREEN DREAM The dramas, series and films that have cast the spotlight on Yorkshire.

90 Welcome to York 92 EASTERN PROMISE Beautiful Beverley is a unique town that is a favourite amongst visitors.

98 six vintage indie cinemas Small, cosy, smart and experimental indie cinemas across the county.

102 North York Moors 104 ACCESS ALL AREAS Join Hannah Cockroft MBE on a rare day out to look at accessibility as well as relaxation before Rio 2016.

111 WeLCOME TO CALDERDALE 112 HARROGATE FESTIVAL AT 50 Discover why Harrogate International Festivals are a cultural powerhouse.

119 FAMILY FAVOURITES Cultural discoveries and action-packed adventures.

54 FAMILY FAVOURITES Strange goings on and tropical treats for everyone.

120 WELCOME TO Leeds

58 Through the keyhole Find out what it’s really like to run a stately home.

65 WELCOME TO SELBY 66 TABLE TOPPING TYKES We join the Yorkshire County Cricket Club squad in training.

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78 A BIGGER SPLASH Shipwrecks, caves, whales, dolphins and forests of kelp on the Yorkshire Coast.

53 The Yorkshire Coast

56 SOuth Yorkshire

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76 WEST YORKSHIRE

70 JOE ROOT: MAN OF STEEL The Yorkshire and England cricketer started 2016 as the world’s top-ranking Test batsman.

72 ON TOP OF THE WORLD Yorkshire’s outstanding sports men and women have shone bright on the global stage and we’ve also met some new stars from the county.

122 BEST OF THE BEST Our White Rose Awards winners provide the perfect inspiration for your next visit or trip away.

124 YORKSHIRE FESTIVAL 2016 Join in the celebrations as Yorkshire Festival returns to transform the county from 16 June to 3 July.

128 BIKE LIBRARIES Yorkshire Bank Bike Libraries have created thousands of opportunities for children to ride a bike.

130 WELCOME TO SHEFFIELD 132 Getting Here All the information you need to plan your next trip to Yorkshire.

134 Yorkshire Business News

66 yorkshire.com

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yorkshire highlights

FA MILY FUN

MAKING A SPLASH

Alpamare Scarborough will be a waterpark unlike any other in the UK. Opening this summer, the multi-million pound water experience will bring a combination of exhilaration and relaxation to the Yorkshire coast. The exciting new complex will include four state-of-the-art, long water rides which run into a gigantic wave pool, a children’s water playground as well as two relaxing heated outdoor pools that can be enjoyed all-year round. The spa will feature steam bath treatments and an outdoor infinity pool overlooking the sea at North Bay. NEW

ACTING UP

This year is set to see one of the most extraordinary buildings in Britain reopen following a £19 million restoration.

Piece Hall in Halifax is a unique, Grade I listed building that dates from 1779 and was originally built to support the trading of “pieces” of cloth. It is one of Europe’s great public squares and will host a variety of special events throughout the year.

York Theatre Royal: After a £4.1 million redevelopment project, the historic York Theatre Royal is re-opening in spring 2016. This beautiful theatre was built in 1744 on, and among, the site of the medieval St. Leonard’s Hospital. Famous names including Princess Beatrice are supporting the new theatre by buying a seat in their name. There’s still time to purchase yours and be part of this historic theatre.

H E R I TAG E

Bigger and better

© Iain Denby

A major restoration project has taken place at Rievaulx Abbey near Helmsley in the North York Moors National Park. A brand new museum, tearoom, shop and an expanded visitor centre is due to open at the English Heritage site by May. yorkshire.com

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yorkshire highlights

Essential events

AWARDS

BEST ROAD, TOWN CENTRE & MARKET TOWN York’s Bishopthorpe Road is officially the best high street in the country. The road will now be held up as a national example for other high streets across the UK. ‘Bishy Road’ beat off competition from hundreds of others to take the title in the Great British High Street Awards, winning not only its ‘local centre’ category but also the overall prize for the best high street in the UK. Three out of the seven winning categories were from Yorkshire after Rotherham took the crown for Best Town Centre and Helmsley won Best Market Town.

Yorkshire Festival 2016 Join in the celebrations as Yorkshire Festival returns from 16 June to 3 July, transforming the county with 18 days of world-class experiences.

York Mystery Plays For only the second time in their near 700-year history, the plays will return to York Minster in May 2016 for a breathtaking production of the city’s most famous stories.

Bishopthorpe Road

Flying Scotsman Season The Flying Scotsman will return to the National Railway Museum.

From February to July, a season of events and activities will celebrate its return.

All Saint’s Minster, Rotherham

Diving on the Don Sheffield has been announced as the host of The British Diving Championships 2016, which will see the nation’s best divers battle it out to compete at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio.

World Triathlon Leeds The inaugural Columbia Threadneedle World Triathlon Leeds will see local heroes Alistair and Jonny Brownlee compete in their last event on home soil before the Rio 2016 Olympics.

Helmsley Market Square

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Happy Harrogate This is the third year running that Harrogate has been named as Britain’s happiest place

by Rightmove. The residents of Harrogate enjoy fine Georgian architecture, some of the UK’s most beautiful scenery and a great quality of life based on safety, neighbourliness and amenities.

CITY LIFE

STATION CREATION The new £17.3 million Leeds Station Southern Entrance (LSSE) opened fully in January after work started in December 2013.

The new station entrance is designed to provide a gateway to Leeds’ South Bank, which stretches from Holbeck urban village to Leeds Dock.

SPORT

RHINOS & JETS Leeds Rhinos will partner Yorkshire Jets Vitality Netball Superleague team in 2016 to promote women’s sport and netball across Yorkshire.

The Jets will work with the Rhinos and the Leeds Rhinos Foundation to develop creative, unique events and projects for the good of the community.

CITY LIFE

Supersize 5-star York’s Grand Hotel & Spa, the county’s only 5-star hotel is set to double in size. The hotel will extend into an adjacent building, effectively doubling its number of guest rooms. As part of the ambitious plans, existing guest rooms and conference spaces will be given a makeover, an exciting new restaurant will be built and the Spa, housed in the building’s former vaults, will be enhanced.

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Gisborough Hall is undergoing a revamp after unveiling new rooms and suites. The 19th century four star hotel has refurbished 39 of its bedrooms, its ballroom, drawing room and inner hall. The rolling programme of refurbishment continues into 2016.

SPORT

Tee time Rossington Hall could play host to world golf stars after plans to create a new golf complex were approved by the council. The European Tour has also given its backing to the new golf destination at Rossington Hall near Doncaster. Plans include the development of a tournament quality 18-hole course and separate nine-hole course at the 500-acre site.

Other developments will include a clubhouse, leisure facilities and 500 luxury homes.

O UTDOORS

FAIRYTALE FUTURE A well-known family theme park is on track for opening adjacent to Rother Valley Country Park.

Gulliver’s Family Theme Parks, which currently runs parks at Matlock Bath, Warrington and Milton Keynes, has bought the former Pithouse West opencast colliery site. The family resort is aimed at two to 13 year olds offering rides, attractions, soft play and indoor fun, centred on themed areas around a main fairytale castle. Future plans will include a woodland adventure centre, an education and ecology centre, a 100-bedroom hotel and 300 woodland lodges.

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yorkshire highlights

FA M I LY F U N

BRIDLINGTON EAST RIDING LEISURE

Overlooking the beach, this brand new £25 million leisure centre is due to open this summer, including two exciting water slides which time swimmers’ descents, a learner pool with a movable floor as well as a climbing wall, health suite and squash courts.

SHOP P IN G

Shopping destination Victoria Gate – the major £165 million retail development in Leeds - is due to open this year, consisting of three buildings: a flagship John Lewis store, a two-street covered arcade with more than 30 retailers and restaurants and an 800-space multi-storey car park.

Victoria Gate is an exciting addition to the vibrant shopping scene in Leeds.

Spa news

SPORT

Ocean row

YORKSHIRE IS ADDING TO ITS AMAZING VARIETY OF SPAS AND RELAXING RETREATS.

T

he Coniston Hotel & Country Estate has a brand new spa which opened at the end of last year. The spa overlooks The Coniston Estate and its 24 acre lake and includes a 15 metre indoor swimming pool, thermal suite, gym, dance studio, eight spa treatment rooms, relaxation area and a stunning outdoor spa pool and terrace. The spa dining area “Nourish” offers a special menu created in consultation with celebrity author and dietician Elizabeth Peyton-Jones.

The Waterton Park Hotel, Wakefield, has completed a new cutting edge spa which features a new dining area, reception and five treatment rooms as well as a full range of Espa treatments.

Swinton Park is due to launch a Country Club and Spa this year. Set to be the only one of its kind in the area, the £5.5 million project will create 25 new full-time jobs and will include an

indoor swimming pool as well as full spa and fitness facilities.

A second restaurant, bar and coffee shop will also cater for day visitors. The Country Club is set within 20,000 acres of countryside on the Swinton Estate where guests can enjoy walking, fishing, cycling, riding, shooting and falconry, along with cookery school courses and day spa experiences.

Harrogate Spa at Rudding Park - the Best UK Hotel outside London (TripAdvisor Traveller’s Choice Awards 2015) - is undergoing a £6m expansion and will re-open this October.

The current facilities include four treatment rooms, a hammam, beauty area, steam room and experience showers.

Yorkshire Rows are aiming to be the oldest female crew to row across an ocean.

Helen Butters, 45, Janette Benaddi, 51, Niki Doeg, 44, and Frances Davies, 47 began 2016 by racing 3,000 miles across the Atlantic from the Canary Islands to Antigua, in the Caribbean, as part of the Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge.

The team aims to raise more than £100,000 for Yorkshire Air Ambulance (YAA) and Maggie’s.

NEW HOTELS FOR 2016

If you want a relaxing place to retreat to after a day exploring our fabulous cities, you’ll enjoy superb service and beautiful en-suite rooms at the latest hotels in Yorkshire.

Dakota, Leeds

Staycity, York

Ibis Styles, Leeds

A brand new ten storey, 90-bedroom boutique hotel that is at the epicentre of a regeneration project of the Greek Street area and is due to open this year.

The six storey building next to York Barbican and overlooking the city’s Bar Walls, features 197 serviced apartments with fully equipped kitchens and dining rooms/lounges as well as two retail units.

The new 134 room hotel will open at the site of the former Merrion hotel on Wade Lane. Marco’s New York Italian, a 90-cover restaurant, will open on the hotel’s ground floor.

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Top left to right: Ben Hermans of BMC Racing Team wins Stage 3. Taking on the dramatic Côte de Cow & Calf above Ilkley. IKON Mazda’s Louise Mahe takes first place in the Tour de Yorkshire women’s race. Left: Fans of Sir Brad along the route. Refreshments on the move. Centre: A group heads towards Buckstone Edge during Stage 3.

Bottom left: Côte de Rosedale Abbey on Stage 1.

Left to right: The winners medal. Billy Lazenby who was given Thomas Voeckler’s shirt. The North Yorkshire Moors Railway on Stage One. Images by SWpix.com

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Left to right: Sir Bradley Wiggins gets ready for the start of the Tour de Yorkshire 2015 in Bridlington. A proud Lars Petter Nordhaug on the podium in Scarborough. Christopher Latham of Great Britain Cycling Team on the cobbles in Haworth. Images by SWpix.com

TOUR DE YORKSHIRE Peter Cossins finds out why the Tour de Yorkshire is the most significant new event in the British cycling calendar.

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wiss billionaire Andy Rihs isn’t someone you would usually expect to meet wandering around Morrison’s supermarket car park in Selby on a Saturday morning.

The owner of the BMC Racing team, the most lavishly supported outfit in professional cycling, Rihs had come to the North Yorkshire town with one particular goal in mind.

“He wanted to find out whether 2014’s Grand Départ in Yorkshire was a flash in the pan,” said BMC team manager Jim Ochowicz.

“Quite simply, he wanted to see whether people would turn out in the same numbers and assess what the prospects are for sales of BMC bikes in the UK.” As Rihs and his lieutenant picked a path through the throng milling about in the sun before the start of the second stage of the inaugural Tour de Yorkshire, they confessed they were extremely impressed.

They were far from the only ones. Although the field for the new race contained few of the superstars who had drawn hundreds of thousands of spectators to Yorkshire’s roadsides for the Tour de France’s Grand Départ in 2014, it still triggered the kind of euphoria even seasoned professionals had rarely witnessed on the Continent. Team Sky’s CJ Sutton was one of many who admitted, “I’ve never seen crowds like that before.” For Frenchman Thomas Voeckler, one of the superstars who had experienced the astounding turnout for the Tour de France, it was confirmation that something quite extraordinary is happening to cycling in Great Britain.

yorkshire.com

Voeckler’s principal reason for returning to Yorkshire, though, was not the size of the crowds, but the quality of the racing. “I raced here in 2014 and I knew that the roads suit me well,” said the French veteran. “The terrain is always undulating, the roads are testing, and that makes for unpredictable racing, which offers some options to opportunist riders like me.”

Voeckler’s assessment of the first edition of the Tour de Yorkshire was spot on. The first stage from Bridlington to Scarborough via the North York Moors National Park had been widely predicted to end in a bunch sprint. However, the rollercoaster route split the field to pieces, saw local hero and race favourite Ben Swift of Team Sky crash out on a swooping descent and left just five riders in contention, Voeckler among them. But it was Swift’s teammate Lars-Petter Nordhaug who prevailed. The same blistering fashion was also reflected in the women’s race held in York on day two, won by Louise Mahé who held off a field of almost one hundred riders. Later that day Voeckler harried the Norwegian race leader into York before the final duels through the Pennines into Roundhay Park in Leeds on the final stage, when Nordhaug was crowned the Tour de Yorkshire’s first champion.

There was little doubt that this new race in the portfolio of Tour de France organisers ASO had been an outstanding success, an impression that was quickly backed up by the clamour among towns and cities across Yorkshire to host the race in 2016.

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Clockwise from top left: Crowds watch Jake Kelly of Team Great Britain in York City Centre. The peloton makes its way past Whitby Abbey. Face in the crowd the peloton speeds through Addingham as Prime Minister David Cameron watches on.

Lars Petter Nordhaug crosses the finish line in first place to win Stage 1 in Scarborough.

“THE TERRAIN IS ALWAYS UNDULATING, THE ROADS ARE TESTING AND THAT MAKES FOR UNPREDICTABLE RACING.”

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The following towns will be the starts and finishes for the 2016 race: Beverley, Doncaster, Middlesbrough, Otley, Scarborough and Settle.

The men’s race will be held between Friday 29 April and Sunday 1 May, with a women’s stage on Saturday 30 April. Sir Gary Verity said

“From the first moments of the inaugural Tour de Yorkshire, everyone who was there knew it was something special. The Tour de Yorkshire is an event in the cycling calendar that riders want to race in and we look forward to welcoming some of the world’s best riders back to Yorkshire.”

This year’s Tour de Yorkshire stages Stage One Beverley to Settle

Stage Two Otley to Doncaster

Stage One will set off from Saturday Market in Beverley. The riders will parade around the town then through North Bar before heading north west to Beverley Racecourse; Holme on the Wolds, Market Weighton (which also saw the race pass through in May 2015), and on westwards to a sprint point at Bubwith. From there, the peloton will race through North Duffield, past Riccall, into Cawood - scene of Dick Turpin’s famous escape from York - and on to Tadcaster, famous for its breweries. After that, we will visit Boston Spa, Wetherby, North Deighton and Knaresborough. From there we will travel to Ripley, and on to Pateley Bridge where the first King of the Mountain (KOM) will be won at Greenhow Hill. After that, it’s on to Grassington, through Threshfield, Cracoe, Gargrave and Long Preston before the riders cross the finish line in Settle for the first time, before a sprint at Giggleswick.

They will then complete a 12km loop back to the A65 and round to Settle town centre for an expected bunch finish.

The route begins in Otley, home town of current women’s road World Champion Lizzie Armitstead.

The riders will face an early KOM challenge at Harewood Bank, before heading south east towards a second KOM at East Rigton, it’s onto Thorner, there’s a sprint point at Scholes and Barwick in Elmet.

Riders then go past Lotherton Hall, into Sherburn in Elmet, down to South Milford and Monk Fryston, then Hillam before swinging south to Birkin and Beal. The route then heads through Kellingley and on to Knottingley, Pontefract (home of liquorice) and Wentbridge, before North and South Elmsall, and on to hidden gem Hooton Pagnell. There is a sprint point at Warmsworth before a lap of 11th century Conisbrough Castle which is a KOM. The peloton will then head towards Tickhill and Bawtry before racing past Doncaster Sheffield Airport, Doncaster Racecourse and onto a sprint finish on South Parade.

Distance: 185km

yorkshire.com

Distance: 135.5km

Clockwise from top left: The riders make their way out of Bridlington at the start of Stage 1 and into the beautiful Yorkshire Wolds.

Yorkshire cycling legend Brian Robinson started the race in Selby. Paralympic legend Dame Sarah Storey at the start of the Tour de Yorkshire women’s race in York. Images by SWpix.com

Stage Three Middlesbrough to Scarborough This stage will certainly appeal to the climbers. With an elevation of 2,593 meters and six King of the Mountain (KOM) classifications, the route starts in Middlesbrough, birth place of Captain James Cook, and take the riders through much of the stunning North York Moors National Park. Riders then travel south through Great Ayton and Stokesley, before reaching Northallerton, the county capital of North Yorkshire. There’s then a sprint point at Thirsk before riders head to the market square. It’s then onto the infamous Sutton Bank and a KOM award. Riders head to Helmsley, then to Kirkbymoorside before heading north for another KOM at Blakey Ridge. There will be a KOM at Grosmont before a return to Whitby. The riders will find a sprint point at Whitby Abbey and then battle over a KOM at Robin Hood’s Bay, before another KOM at Harwood Dale. There’s a final KOM at Oliver’s Mount and a finish in Scarborough’s North Bay.

Need to know You can keep fully up to date with Tour de Yorkshire news and events by going to letouryorkshire.com.

Follow the routes, plan where to stay and what to see during the race, find out how to take part in this years sportive and see some amazing images of the 2015 race.

Distance: 198km

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YORKSHIRE FAMILY FAVOURITES

OCEAN VIEW

THRILLS & SPILLS

There are new discoveries to be made at The Deep for Catherine and Paul Edwards along with their three year old son Noah.

The Lambert family love the thrills and spills to be had at Flamingo Land Resort.

There’s plenty to keep you entertained at Flamingo Land Resort.

W

e love to delve into the depths of the underwater world at The Deep, Hull.

Paul’s lived here all his life, but I’m originally from West Yorkshire and I moved to Hull with my family when I was nine. Because we grew up in Hull, we both know all the fun and engaging places we can take Noah to and there is no doubt in my mind what our favourite attraction is – it has to be The Deep.

There’s so much to see there, and it’s wonderful to watch Noah getting more and more out of it as he develops and grows, discovering something new each time we visit. At the moment he adores the penguins and likes to see them first when we arrive. The Deep is home to over 3,500 marine animals including sharks, rays and turtles and has interactive presentations so as he gets older he can learn more and more about the ocean and all the creatures that live there!

As Noah develops I’m sure he’ll enjoy the touch pool sessions, where children are encouraged to handle some of the smaller species native to the UK including

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ICATHERINE, NOAH ANDI IPAUL EDWARDS FROM HULL

starfish, velvet swimmer crabs and sea urchins.

There’s a lovely cafe with great views over the Humber where we can go for a bite to eat to break up the day, and there’s also a picnic area outside for sunny days. The Deep is also baby friendly, with a baby feeding station and food warming facilities.

It’s fun for us to visit during the school holidays when there are lots of different activities taking place such as bubble trails, face painting and art and craft activities.

It’s great to have peace of mind that we can always have a great day out without having to rely on the great British weather.

Plus we have the ‘Day Plus Pass’ which means we only have to pay once and we can go for the rest of the year for free!

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e live in Leeds with our two year old daughter Bea and at the end of a busy week we love nothing more than exploring the great outdoors of Yorkshire.

Flamingo Land Resort has been one of our favourite days out this year with plenty to keep Bea entertained.

Where else could you expect to find rollercoasters and rhinos in the same place?

On arrival we hopped on the train to the zoo where we encountered monkeys, tigers, hippos and many more amazing animals. The black rhino exhibit with its viewing platform is definitely worth a visit! Next we ventured to The Coach House Country Pub for some classic pub grub before visiting Muddy Duck Farm for a tractor ride amongst the animals. By this point Bea was feeling brave enough to try some rides and she could not get enough of the Jungle Carousel. There is really so much to see and do at Flamingo Land Resort that it felt like we had packed three days of fun into one.

ISAMANTHA, BEA AND JOHN LAMBERTI IFROM LEEDS

Another favourite of ours is Studfold Adventure Trail.

The trail takes you through the beautiful countryside of North Yorkshire with lots to see and do along the way, from the bird hide, the flower meadow maze, den building and a play area for the little ones. The views along the trail were stunning and the ‘swap box’ is such a lovely touch for children to swap one of their own toys for another ‘treasure’.

One place we keep revisiting is the woodlands of St Ives Estate, Bingley.

Nothing is better than a walk in the fresh air through the woods followed by playtime at the adventure playground, which has plenty to explore for children of all ages. The tearooms are also a must for a well-deserved cup of tea and a sandwich after all that walking. Whatever the weather, Yorkshire has so many great places to visit.

The Deep in Hull.

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WELCOME TO WAKEFIELD

A city inspired Wakefield is an historic city of surprising experiences.

Take in heritage sights, green space and hidden gems.

The Hepworth Wakefield houses a rare collection of works by Wakefield born sculptor Barbara Hepworth. Now celebrating its fifth year, the ten light filled gallery spaces are home to a year round programme of regularly changing exhibitions. With special events, creative workshops, and children’s activities, there is something for the whole family. A must visit is Yorkshire Sculpture Park, one of the world’s leading open air galleries. Visitors can explore world class contemporary sculpture set among 500 acres of beautiful countryside.

With wild walks, artist led workshops, exciting exhibitions and seasonal fun trails – you’ll see something different every visit.

If you’re still not inspired enough, pay a visit to Unity Works, a former Victorian music hall which has been lovingly restored and brought back to its former glory as a leading creative venue hosting live music, drama, pop up shops and unique events. For a traditional experience, take a step back in time at Theatre Royal Wakefield, a beautiful Grade II listed building designed by Victorian theatre designer Frank Matcham. Since opening in 1894 the opulent yet intimate theatre has entertained audiences with a wide ranging programme of music, dance, comedy and drama.

Hit the slopes Xscape Yorkshire offers a range of exciting activities all under one roof. Ski on a real snow slope, book expert tuition at the indoor skate park, scale the climbing wall or bounce your way around Gravity, a wall to wall trampoline park for adults and children! If you want a more sedate day out, you could always visit the multiplex cinema and one of the many restaurants on site.

Historic explorers Descend 140 metres underground at the National Coal Mining Museum for England to learn about the hidden world of mining.

Interactive tours bring to life the turbulent history of the hard working miners. Above ground explore the exhibitions, get creative in fun family workshops, visit the retired pit ponies, and discover wildlife along the nature trail. Pay a visit to the historic market town of Pontefract for a slice of history at Pontefract Castle. A great place to have a family picnic, for children to run free and explore, play giant chess or just sit and soak up the history.

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Look out for a new Visitor Centre and Cafe opening in autumn 2016 alongside an exciting programme of events.

Nostell Priory is an impressive National Trust property with parkland, gardens and lakes set over 300 acres of beautiful countryside.

Guided tours allow visitors to discover the treasures within the house. Explore the park and gardens, or follow the lakeside paths.

Younger visitors can climb, swing and get active on the adventure playground, or have a go at geocaching to find hidden treasure.

The great outdoors Try your hand at sailing or windsurfing at Pugneys Watersports Centre and Country Park, pull on your walking boots and hit the Trans Pennine Trail or explore the lakeside paths and woodland trails in Newmillerdam. Cycling enthusiasts will find plenty of action along designated routes, whether you’re a dedicated mountain biker or prefer to freewheel along the open road. Nature lovers can look out for the elusive kingfisher at RSPB Fairburn Ings or spot a variety of birdlife at Anglers Country Park.

Anglers is also home to the new Room on the Broom Trail, based on the popular children’s story by Julia Donaldson. Little visitors can follow clues around the lake to find the Witch, and some of the friends she picks up along the way!

© Jonty Wilde

Amazing arts

Exciting events Wakefield Festival of Food, Drink and Rhubarb (19 – 21 February 2016) celebrates the heritage of Yorkshire Forced Rhubarb.

This quirky festival includes three days of free cookery demonstrations, food market, street entertainment, children’s activities and heritage walks. You can also take tours of the rhubarb forcing sheds in nearby Carlton Village, where the rhubarb is harvested by candlelight.

For a fun filled festival, visit Pontefract Liquorice Festival (10 July 2016), to celebrate the town’s historic link with the traditional sweet treat.

Enjoy a variety of liquorice inspired food and drink, browse colourful market stalls, enjoy craft activities, and let the kids loose on fairground rides. Street entertainers add the icing on the cake to a fun day out for all the family.

With special themed events throughout the year, cheer on your favourite horse as it races to the finish at Pontefract Racecourse. From flat cap and whippets on Father’s Day to the glamour of Ladies’ Day, Pontefract Races offers a fun day out for all the family.

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Clockwise from top left: Sophie Ryder, Sitting, 2007 courtesy of the artist and Yorkshire Sculpture Park. The Hepworth Wakefield.

Newmillerdam. National Coal Mining Museum for England.

Nostell Priory. Cycling near Haw Park Wood. Extravagant outfits at the Pontefract Liquorice Festival.

FIND OUT MORE Š National Trust Images / John Millar

For more inspirational ideas of things to see and do in the Wakefield area visit www.experiencewakefield.co.uk Follow us @expwakefield Sign up to our enewsletter www.experiencewakefield.co.uk/enewsuk

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With one of the only luxury dog spas in the UK, Yorkshire is the place to holiday with your pooch. Pet salon owner Verity Hardcastle took her Crufts winning poodle Alice, Alice’s mum Lilly and husband Andrew for a weekend away to the coast.

Interview by James Ellis.

PamperedPups

Raithwaite Hall will make a fuss of your pedigree chum. Man’s best friend can enjoy perfect coastal walks, a dog concierge and bespoke treatments.

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The ‘dog concierge’ happily picks them up for a run on the beach.

Experience From the atmospheric abbey towering over winding cobbled streets to the windswept beach and working harbour, Whitby is not your traditional coastal town. Be sure to sample Yorkshire’s best fish and chips, discover ancient vampire legends and sit under the whale bone arch, watching the brightly coloured fishing vessels passing by.

Clockwise from top left: Alice gets the full wash and blow dry treatment.

Room service for the pampered pooch. Taking a trip on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway.

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As the owner of a relatively new and busy grooming salon in Harrogate, I have to work 24/7, taking calls from clients, making sure their pooches are pampered and ensuring there are enough staff to cater to their needs, as well as managing time tables, keeping accounts and helping out with the grooming too.

So when my new husband, Andrew, suggested we take a well-deserved weekend off and head to the north-east coast to check out one of the only hotels in the UK with a posh dog spa, I snapped up the offer.

Harrogate is pretty much smack bang in the middle of the country, so we don’t get to the coast that often, but like most people from Yorkshire I have memories of visiting places such as Scarborough, Filey and Whitby over long, sunny school holidays as a kid. The idea of checking them out as an adult really appealed: long walks on the beach, lots of fresh air, and a nice room to enjoy at night were just what was needed as a mini-moon, before taking our honeymoon later in the year.

Even better the hotel, Raithwaite Hall just outside Whitby, also has dog-friendly rooms and cottages - meaning our miniature poodles, 4-year-old Lilly and her daughter Alice, two, were also welcome. And so the four of us packed overnight bags – relaxed clothes for us, spangly collars and leads for the girls – and jumped in the car to head over the North York Moors to the hotel in Sandsend.

The drive over the moors is gorgeous in itself, and the perfect prep for the weekend.

As the urban edges of Harrogate are left behind, we’re soon driving down narrow country lanes, through tiny villages with stone houses, past chequerboard farm fields edged by dry-stone walls, and over moor tops.

As we reach the last peak, the lay of the land starts to fall sharply as the Dinosaur Coast and the North Sea, glinting in the late summer-sun appears, calling us ever closer.

Soon we’re heading up Raithwaite Hall’s long drive and through part of the 100-acre estate that includes two hotels, holiday cottages and century-old gardens.

Check-in is seamless and we’re soon being shown to our home for the weekend: the twobedroom Gardeners Cottage. It’s a compact but pretty affair, made of Yorkshire stone and with one brick over the door inscribed 1850 – presumably the year it was built.

Inside, it’s packed with mod cons including a contemporary kitchen, huge flat-screens, squidgy sofas and a small garden patio with wrought-iron furnishings. Andrew and I are keen to unpack and relax but Alice and Lilly are raring to go. Ordinarily, the girls would win out but Raithwaite is so dog-friendly, we put in a call to the ‘dog concierge’, who happily picks them up and takes them for a run on the beach, while we take advantage of the Nespresso machine to rustle up a couple of coffees and sit out in the late-morning sun.

Just over an hour later and the girls are back with us, panting away as they come up the path. It’s clear Lilly has been splashing around in the waves and given it’s my weekend off, the last thing I want to do is start running a doggy bath, so we head to the palatial dog spa in the grounds of Raithwaite’s second hotel The Keep.

It’s well equipped with holding pens for dogs who are waiting to be seen, dog baths, drying tables and a small boutique – not unlike my own salon Shampooches back in Harrogate.

Aside from regular grooming, there’s a whole host of doggy treatments on offer from aromatherapy spa treatments to Dead Sea mud baths, a well as a doggy hotel that can house larger dogs that you might want to take away with you but are too large to keep in a regular hotel room.

Alice is a Crufts winner and can be quite particular about who grooms her – usually me

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We’ve adored it and the girls have – but Lilly, desperately in need of a bath after being on the beach meets in-house groomer Zoe Partridge.

Zoe tells me she’s been grooming for more than four years and you can immediately tell that she has a real affinity with the dogs.

Grooming can be a lengthy affair – especially the post-bath drying – and given Zoe and Lilly are getting on like a house on fire, we leave them to it and head to the terrace for a glass of Prosecco. There’s a musician playing laid-back live tunes – it’s a perfect Sunday afternoon ‘do-nothing’ moment.

Later, with Lilly back in the fold and back at the cottage, the girls lounge on the sofa while we ready ourselves for dinner. Before we head for our table booking, we find both dogs dozing, so we take advantage of a solo romantic meal in the Brace Restaurant.

We eat in the conservatory, which has a relaxed, informal atmosphere. I start with squid with chargrilled aubergines and then lamb, while Andrew has ham hock with poached egg, followed by beef on the bone.

The next morning affords us the chance of a rare lie-in, followed by breakfast and a

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Don’t miss Fetch the dog and take in the burst of purple on the North York Moors. Hop on a train at any station along the North Yorkshire Moors Railway (remember to get a dog ticket), explore and maybe grab a fine cream scone. Take in the sounds and smells of a wonderful railway.

Clockwise from top left: The girls are given a walk along the beach by the Dog Concierge. Raithwaite Hall’s beautiful gardens.

Gardeners Cottage. Time for Verity and Andrew to relax with a Prosecco.

walk around the impressive gardens that have seemingly hundreds of types of roses, before we check out and load up the car.

While our time at Raithwaite is sadly at an end, we’ve a whole afternoon to explore before heading home. Whitby train station beckons where we jump on the iconic North Yorkshire Moors Railway that runs as far as Pickering.

Trains on the 26-mile journey can either be pulled by steam engines or vintage diesel locomotives and we embark on one of the latter, chugging slowly through tiny villages, pretty stations and back over those sprawling moors.

Dogs are, of course, allowed (as long as you’re not in a dining carriage) and Lilly and Alice love sticking their heads out of the window as we pass through the platforms.

We ride as far as Goathland – the setting for Aidensfield in the TV show Heartbeat – before returning to Whitby to pick up the car for the journey home.

On the way, we reflect on the perfect family weekend getaway. We’ve adored every minute, but just as importantly, the girls have loved being pampered and preened too – it seems it really can be a dog’s life after all!

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loved being pampered and preened.

Karen Whitehead who shows, breeds and judges dogs at championship show level, gives her top tips on where to stay, eat and play around her home in the Yorkshire Dales.

Her pet dog Ice is the top winning Weimaraner in the country for the fourth year running at Crufts.

“The best place for me to take Ice is definitely the Coniston Hotel. It’s amazing.

Whether you want a cup of tea and a bowl of chips or you want somewhere to stay with your dog for the night, I would definitely recommend it. They make you feel so welcome. Ice had his own bed, a toy, a bowl and a chew.

You can go out of the French doors and straight into the gardens to take them to the toilet or for a walk. It’s

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the perfect rural escape set in 1400 acres of beautiful Yorkshire Dales countryside for Ice to run around in.

They really welcome dogs and they personalise your

experience. Dogs are allowed in the restaurant, they can lie in front of the fire or you can walk them around the lake.

It’s a lovely place. There’s also Catgill Campsite at Bolton Abbey which welcomes dogs

free of charge and has lots of beautiful walks around it.” Karen who runs her own dog grooming business Country K9s in Yeadon, also recommends walks around Fewston and Thruscross Reservoir and The Strid in Bolton Abbey. “The Yorkshire Dales is exceptionally dog friendly. You have to respect other animals and you wouldn’t just let your dog off the lead if there are sheep around but overall they do welcome you and it’s a beautiful place to be.”

Every year millions of dogs enjoy the Yorkshire Dales National Park with owner in tow. There’s great exploring to be done and many dogfriendly establishments.

For more information go to www.yorkshire.com/ yorkshiredales

In the area Catgill Campsite is within a mile of Bolton Abbey and the River Wharfe. From Bolton Abbey the Dalesway footpath winds its way along the river passing through picturesque towns and villages such as Ilkley, Burnsall and Grassington. Only a few miles away lies the busy market town of Skipton, Gateway to the Dales.

© Ricki Riley

Doggy Dales

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9 great coastal dog walks

© martinwilsonimages.com

© Chris Maguire Photography

Yorkshire has the best beaches in the land and we think it’s only fair that our canine friends get to enjoy them too. For dog owners, there is no better feeling than watching them bound, hop and leap in the sea on a dog friendly beach.

They can run to their heart’s content over our sweeping, sandy bays.

Flamborough Head

Sandsend to Whitby

Distance: up to 2 miles Open to dogs and their walkers all year round, Runswick Bay is idyllic and picturesque with cliffs at Kettleness Point that jut out into the sea. Shaped like a crocodile’s head, locals say it opens its mouth at night to gobble up stray sailors! Runswick Bay is a picture postcard seaside village with a beautiful beach.

Distance: 3 miles This is an easy and beautiful coastal walk, with stunning scenery, a lighthouse and the chance to give your dog a good run. The short circular walk takes you on a mini-tour of one of the most spectacular areas of chalk cliffs in Britain.

You will see the old and current Flamborough lighthouses on this exhilarating walk.

Distance: 4 miles This is a great long beach for you and your dog to run around on and you can stop for a cuppa at various cafes along the way. The whole beach is open for dogs from October 1 to April 30, bear in mind that parts of the beach are closed to dogs from May 1 to September 30. Watch out for the tides.

Flamborough Head to North Landing

Bridlington Beach South

Filey and the Centenary Way

Distance: 4 miles This exhilarating walk takes you and your dog to the peaceful cove beach at North Landing which is set cosily within the chalk cliffs of Flamborough Head. On approaching North Landing, dogs can be let off the lead in the open space away from the cliff edge. It is also a great place for swimming and relaxing on the stunning beach.

Distance: 2 miles This vast flat beach is great for a run around as well as the chance for a swim too. Dogs are welcome throughout the winter but there are restrictions in place from May 1 to September 30. Also visit Bridlington North Beach which has the same restrictions as South Beach from May to September.

Distance: 5 miles This interesting route runs along green lanes and through fields along the Centenary Way. Great if you and your dog need more than a run on the beach. Filey is a charming seaside town with a huge beach boasting soft golden sand.

The main beach resort is closed to dogs from May 1 to September 30.

Robin Hood’s Bay beach

Danes Dyke Beach and Sewerby

Fraisthorpe Beach

Distance 6.5 miles With its wide easy to follow path, the walk offers a good steady climb opening up magnificent views of the North Sea, the coast and Ravenscar.

The return along the cliff tops eventually drops into historic Robin Hood’s Bay with its attractions, pubs and cafes. Dogs are allowed on this beach all year round too.

Distance: 2 miles Open to dogs all year round, this unspoilt beach offers beautiful views of the Yorkshire Coast.

There’s a scenic walk which continues up a little climb through the trees and stays on flat easy to follow paths. The chalk cliffs around Danes Dyke are some of the most important cliffs in Europe for nesting seabirds.

Distance: up to 10 miles A favourite with dog walkers, the tide stretches out giving miles of sand to walk either north to Bridlington (three miles) or south to Hornsea (ten miles). Make sure you check the tides here as the sea comes up to the cliffs – walkers can continue along the cliff tops if the tide is in but take care as cliffs are subject to erosion.

© Les Gibbon

© Richard Wood

Runswick Bay

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Top barks Come to Yorkshire and find hospitality for your hound around every corner.

Here are just a few suggestions...

Stay Devonshire Arms, Bolton Abbey On arrival, your pampered pooch will be presented with a bed, water bowl and a selection of tasty treats.

The hotel offers dog sitting services whilst you enjoy dinner.

Eat The Lamp Post Café, Hebden Bridge The café “where wet dogs and muddy wellies are wholeheartedly welcome” goes out of their way to cater for dogs; with their own homemade treats, water and a bed to rest on. There’s also a pet products boutique alongside the café. www.thelamppostcafe.co.uk The Yard, Ilkley and Malton A traditional pub with a laid-back atmosphere. Dogs are very welcome both inside and in the outside seating area in one of Malton’s only south facing gardens. www.theyardmalton.co.uk

Top: Visit Filmore & Union with your pooch and enjoy something delicious.

Bottom: The Yard in Malton and Ilkley is a firm favourite with dog lovers.

The Copper Horse Cottages, Scarborough Offering two pet-friendly cottages each one complete with ‘doggy essentials’ to make sure they feel right at home whilst on holiday.

Top: A happy dog at Rockcliffe Hall.

Bottom: Lavishly decorated dogthemed rooms at the Devonshire Arms near Bolton Abbey.

Rockcliffe Hall, North Yorkshire Your dog will be supplied with a comfortable bed and treated to a special ‘doggy gift’. Take a walk along a dedicated dog-walkers route through the 365 acre estate.

Grosvenor Cottage, Hornsea Dogs and small pets are welcome, beds, bowls, towels and treats are provided and there are high hedges and fences securing the garden.

Filmore & Union The Yorkshire born company offers simple and healthy food to eat in and takeaway. Dogs are welcome in all stores and there’s even a ‘Top Dog’ award in their weekly newsletter! www.filmoreandunion.com The Whippet Inn, York This adults-only pub specialises in Yorkshire beef and has an eclectic mix of Real Yorkshire ales and 30 bespoke gins. As the name suggests, the pub has a lot of love for dogs. www.thewhippetinn.co.uk

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advertorial

Enjoy exploring Yorkshire 2016 marks the thirtieth anniversary of Fountains Abbey & Studley Royal Water Garden being designated a World Heritage Site. The exquisite Water Garden is a magical landscape. Explore the breath-taking ruins of the Cistercian abbey too.

A three hundredth birthday is in store for Beningbrough Hall, Gallery & Gardens. A new exhibition charting the changing fortunes of a grand country house is illustrated with pictures on loan from the National Portrait Gallery. The grounds include ever-changing herbaceous borders and a working walled garden.

Nostell is a Palladian treasure house of paintings and statues, as well as one of the finest collections of Chippendale furniture you can see. Scattered Stories, Forgotten Spaces allows you to take a sneak peek behind the scenes and find out more about this truly stately home. There is also a renowned rose garden and picturesque lakeside walks.

Top to bottom: Fountains Abbey & Studley Royal Water Garden, North Yorkshire. Nostell Priory, West Yorkshire.

The view over Robin Hood’s Bay, North Yorkshire. Janet’s Foss, part of the Malham Tarn Estate, North Yorkshire.

There’s also East Riddlesden Hall in West Yorkshire, Goddards and Treasurer’s House in York, and Nunnington Hall in North Yorkshire to discover.

There are so many walking, hiking and cycling opportunities with the National Trust. Try the Way of the Roses route which crosses the Yorkshire Dales and goes past Brimham Rocks and Fountains Abbey. If you prefer two feet to two wheels, you’re spoilt choice from a stroll at Rievaulx Terrace to hiking at Malham Tarn or Hardcastle Crags.

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Fountains Abbey & Studley Royal © Chris Lacey. Nostell Priory © John Millar.

Robin Hood’s Bay © Joe Cornish. Janet’s Foss © Solent News and Photography Agency.

Explore some of the best bits of Yorkshire’s coast, moors and dales as well as some gorgeous gardens, beautiful houses and picturesque ruins.

Find new discoveries www.nationaltrust.org.uk/yorkshire Stay a little longer in a holiday cottage www.nationaltrustholidays.org.uk www.facebook.com/NTYorkshire @NTYorkshire 33

Culture, coast and countryside Re-energise your soul with a cultural city break to Hull, meander through the historic market town of Beverley or the rolling hills of the Wolds, before heading to the seaside town of Bridlington and the glorious East Coast.

Culture and cuisine Over the last few years Hull has seen a renaissance, offering the perfect mix of museums, shopping and nightlife. As the excitement simmers towards Hull’s year in the spotlight as the 2017 UK City of Culture, it is an ideal time to visit this vibrant spot.

If you enjoy exploring on two wheels, try the Hull Cycle Hub. Ideally located next to the train and bus stations, it provides 160 spaces for riders to park their bikes and offers 12 cycles to hire. The facility includes the UK’s first dedicated charging point for up to six electric cycles at a time, as well as a small workshop for cyclists to carry out running repairs to their bikes.

Explore on foot and uncover hidden gems by following one of the many free city trails, or stroll through the medieval hub of the High Street in Old Town, which is straddled by historic buildings and olde-world pubs. See history brought back to life at the Streetlife Museum in the museum quarter, where you can walk down a 1940s high street, board a tram and trot along for a carriage ride - a fantastic day out for all the family.

As you emerge from cobbled streets the skies open up to reveal Hull’s latest attraction, the Scale Lane Footbridge. This stateof-the-art swinging footbridge fills the air with the sounds of ship bells chiming. Swing across the River Hull and at its mouth you will find the The Deep, one of the world’s most spectacular aquariums with over 3,500 fish including Europe’s only pair of green sawfish, and a variety of stunning sharks and rays, as well as one of the deepest viewing tunnels in Europe.

Heading past the nearby marina, stop by at Oresome Gallery to peruse their array of stunning bespoke jewellery, and recharge at The Minerva pub, an iconic riverside alehouse steeped in maritime history.

Hull has a wealth of fine dining options, from Tapasya’s luxury Indian cuisine, to 1884 Dock Street Kitchen, a classy and contemporary restaurant offering relaxed fine dining.

Its companion restaurant, 1884 Wine & Tapas, provides discerning diners with fantastic food and drink.

Clockwise from left: Rockpooling near Bridlington. The Deep in Hull. Fun on the beach in Bridlington. RSPB Bempton Cliffs.

The Old Town in Hull. The Yorkshire Wolds.

The Streetlife Museum in Hull.

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For somewhere to lay your head, those on a budget will love Hull Trinity Hostel, offering a welcoming and modern environment in the heart of the city. If you’d rather get away from the hustle and bustle, recharge your batteries at the Mercure Hull Grange Hotel,

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WELCOME TO HULL & EAST YORKSHIRE

a 19th century manor house nestled in 12 acres of landscaped gardens, just five miles outside of the city.

Rural retreats The peaceful and tranquil Yorkshire Wolds could have been made for walking and cycling breaks.

Follow the Yorkshire Wolds Way and travel through picturesque villages and lively market towns, all set amidst the dramatic skylines and colourful landscapes that inspired internationally acclaimed artist David Hockney. Rest your head after a hard day’s exploring at Boxtree House, a boutique B&B for grown-ups offering sumptuous and comfortable accommodation.

Bridlington has everything you’d expect from a traditional seaside town - award winning sandy beaches, promenades and a 900 year old historic harbour. Take in a show at The Spa Bridlington, and roll your own rock at the John Bull World of Rock. Head into the Old Town where olde worlde pubs and antique shops rub shoulders with art galleries and tearooms. With its cliff top location, Sewerby Hall & Gardens is a must for views over the bay alongside its stunning gardens and family zoo. Nature lovers will love RSPB Bempton Cliffs, where puffins, gannets and kittiwakes soar overhead, or head for a day of discovery at the rock pools, caves and archways at Thornwick Bay and North Landing.

Pay a visit to the peaceful seaside town of Hornsea which boasts Yorkshire’s largest freshwater lake, home to over 250 species of birds and plenty of opportunities for sailing and fishing. Nearby, the cosy coastal haven of Withernsea offers a relaxed seaside atmosphere. Visit Withernsea Lighthouse which towers above the town at 127 feet high, also home to a museum and RNLI lifeboat exhibition.

Discover more The zoo at Sewerby Hall is the place to keep the children amused. Housing a fascinating collection of animals and birds, highlights include four ring-tailed lemurs and the must-see Humboldt penguins.

Images © Visit Hull & East Yorkshire

The picturesque market town of Beverley strikes a perfect harmony between past and present. New for 2016 is Flemingate, a brand new £120 million retail and leisure development. Unwind at The Crown & Anchor, a beautiful historic public house set on the riverbank among idyllic gardens, serving delicious home cooked food. If you like a flutter, head to Beverley Races, or for a relaxed day of sightseeing visit the Minster and take a guided tour for incredible views over the town.

Coastal delights

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YORKSHIRE FAMILY FAVOURITES

IN their faNTASY element LAND Single dad Ross Horsman has recently seen a completely new side to Yorkshire and its attractions with his twins.

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er y cov Dis familat e s r mo ourite .com fav shire k y yor /famil Magna Science Adventure Centre in Rotherham.

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ur son Luke, fifteen, and grandson Ezell, four, love making new discoveries at the Magna Science Adventure Centre, in Rotherham. Luke and Ezell both really enjoy Magna because there’s something to entertain everyone. Magna has lots of interactive fun across the four elements of air, water, earth and fire and there’s information about the steel works which Luke is more interested in. For youngsters like Ezell, it’s the water elements that excite him. There’s also a fantastic adventure playground there which they both love to explore!

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IEZELL, HELEN, MICHAEL ANDI ILUKE ROGERSIFROM SHEFFIELD

We like to eat there as well because we don’t get a great deal of time to go out (running the guesthouse) so we really make a day of it.

Cannon Hall Farm is a favourite with us too – and with our guests.

Both the boys have been separately and have enjoyed birthday parties there. They absolutely love the ferret racing! Even if it’s raining, once they’ve got their wellies and rain coats on, it doesn’t matter as they’re in feeding the animals having fun!

run Showoff Media graphic design agency in Leeds, and I’m a single dad to my two year old twins, Tabitha and Ezekiel. Being a working single parent and finding exciting ways to entertain and engage with your children can be tough. The kids are at an age where they crave stimulation and I want to ensure they soak it up and see and learn everything they possibly can from our immediate surroundings.

One of our favourites is Eureka, in Halifax. We take the train from our local station which drops us right at the front door. I’m so comfortable taking them on my own as it’s a really safe, clean environment that is designed for children of all ages. We keep going back as the activities never get boring, and each time, the children are engaged in a different way as they evolve and grow. We make a day of it and take advantage of the fantastic restaurant too.

Buy the annual pass for free entry every time you go!

ITABITHA, ROSS ANDI IEZEKIEL HORSMAN FROM LEEDS

© www.bellasmith.co.uk

When Helen and Michael Rogers are not busy looking after their guests at Barnfield House in Sheffield they’re entertaining their son and grandson.

Yorkshire Wildlife Park in Doncaster was also a big hit. Imagine seeing your first polar bear, the sheer size of your first giraffe, and the joy of wallabies roaming free and feeding from the palm of your hand. The twins were just in awe and their energy and excitement is as much of an experience for me as a parent as it is for them.

As a family we are also big fans of Stockeld Park, Wetherby, which is like a magical world for little ones full of surprises and fun!

They love exploring the enchanted forest and giant maze, and playing on the adventure playground. The activities at Stockeld change season by season, so there’s always lots of new things to see and do whatever time of year you visit.

Top: Activities never get boring at Eureka! in Halifax.

Bottom: Try cross country skiing any time of the year at Stockeld Park.

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The pretty seaside community of Robin Hood’s Bay was once the heart of smuggling operations. Joe Shute takes a tour of the twisting streets and hidden alleyways that gave Smugglers’ Town its fearsome reputation.

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The year is 1779 and the centre of the small fishing port of Robin Hood’s Bay teems with activity. Vast ships are moored out in the bay while on land, wooden carts pulled by horses haul the cargo up the narrow cobbled streets to be logged by the port authorities. But at the same time, another altogether more clandestine activity is taking place away from the prying eyes of officialdom. Through secret tunnels and hidden alleys, vast quantities of gin, brandy, tea, tobacco and French lace are being spirited away from the ships to be sold on the black market.

In some of the half dozen Hood’s Bay because it is or so pubs clustered around when the activity was at the harbour, basement its most rife. Britain was rooms are piled high with embroiled in the American smuggled goods; while War of Independence at the bar grizzled sailors - indeed on September roar and chink tankards 23rd of that year Yorkshire Around 900 through the pipe smoke. inhabitants witnessed the people lived The tumbledown houses Battle of Flamborough Head in Bay Town at the height boast trapdoors and hidden for themselves when an of smuggling cupboards to enable American continental navy operations bootleg items to be more squadron clashed with Navy easily transported. vessels escorting a convoy So many of the 900 or so residents of merchant ships. But the country was of Baytown – as Robin Hood’s Bay was also fighting numerous other battles known back then - are involved in the across the Empire. smuggling operations that apparently As always in times of war, the it is possible to pass a bale of silk from government hiked up taxes to fund the bottom to the top of the village its military ventures. Many civilians, without it ever seeing daylight. however, had little inclination to pay and 1799 is the year Paul Johnston likes up and down the country smuggling to start his smuggling tour of Robin began to thrive. In 1779 alone, some

900

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Previous page: Robin Hood’s Bay © Mike Kipling. Clockwise from left: A plaque commorating Reverend John Wesley. Typical fisherman’s cottages in Robin Hood’s Bay. Getting into character.

A secret stone hide. Traditional fisherman’s boat. A cottage that was the notorious Fisherman’s Arms.

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17 million litres of Dutch gin (Genever) was produced for the black market in England.

Yorkshire’s East Coast was, in those days, a bleak and isolated location; a world away from the hotchpotch of pretty seaside towns it resembles today. The rocky coves and caves that pockmarked the shoreline made it a natural homeland for smugglers – no more so than the tight-knit community of Robin Hood’s Bay. “To an extent it was an entire village operation,” says Johnston. “There were several core families involved who you didn’t mess around with.”

The 55-year-old, who with his partner Maggie runs Fern Dene - a bed and breakfast in a former sea mariner’s home - is a wealth of information on such matters. As well as leading the occasional smuggling tour, Johnston also produces the Baytown range of spirits and beers, brewed at nearby Cropton Brewery. The drinks are inspired by individual stories of Yorkshire’s dark smuggling past which Johnston delights in re-telling as he and his business partner George Colson - lead us through the labyrinthine cobbled streets and alleyways that made Robin Hood’s Bay the epicentre of the trade.

As with Jamaica Inn, Daphne Du Maurier’s famous tale of Cornish smuggling, in Yorkshire much of the illicit activity focused around the pubs. The now-closed Mariner’s Tavern, Johnston points out, “was the heart of smuggling in the village” and a place where the sole Customs Officer who was posted to Robin Hood’s Bay feared to tread.

So too, the Fisherman’s Arms, also now closed. On an autumn evening in October 1779, Revenue officers backed by the local militia raided the pub and seized 200 casks of gin and brandy, 150 sacks of tea and a small armoury of blunderbusses and cartridges. Local legend has it that the Customs men tasked with guarding the seized spirits overnight sampled rather too much for themselves and fell asleep - allowing the smuggling gang to return and retake the bulk of their contraband.

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Left to right: Wooden carts pulled by horses hauled cargo up narrow streets. A reminder of the village’s rich heritage.

The Bay Hotel overlooking the water. Robin Hood’s Bay in the early 1900s.

Goods were whisked up from ships to caves, houses or coastal farms and then moved inland Other clashes, of course, did not end so neatly. At the Saltersgate Inn, a meeting point for gangs on the moorland road to Pickering, Johnston says, “the pub had a fire that was supposed to never go out as beneath it was the body of a Customs officer after he had been killed by a smuggling gang.”

The money at stake meant those involved in the trade were desperate to protect their interests at all costs. “People earned 25p a week and that was the duty on a barrel of brandy,” Johnston says. “If you were involved in the smuggling trade you could make £1 in a single night.”

On shore, the enterprise was highly organised and the potential riches on offer meant all classes of society were involved. Goods were whisked up from ships to caves, houses or coastal farms and then moved inland following packhorse trails before being dispersed across the country, even as far as London.

At Thorpe Hall, a 17th century Elizabethan manor house in the nearby village of Fylingthorpe,

Don’t miss The Farsyde family of Thorpe Hall were involved in shipping and smuggling in the local area. There is still an enclosed secret stone hide in the rear garden thought to have been a stash to hide contraband.

It is said that it was used to store a barrel of brandy for the local constable’s cooperation.

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the Fawside family who lived there were well known for their involvement in shipping and smuggling. Johnston points out an oddly carved crook of banister on one of its twisting staircases which indicated a secret compartment below.

Out in the gardens, near to a large fish pond, a smuggling pit still exists that was used to receive a regular cask of brandy in order to ensure the co-operation of the local police.

According to Michael Knaggs, a volunteer at the Scarborough Maritime Heritage Centre which contains a treasure-trove of old documents detailing the extent of the smuggling operations that existed on the East Coast, at its height some 30 – 40 per cent of those that lived here were involved. “We think of smuggling now as an almost quaint activity but it was pretty brutal back then,” he says.

In the 18th century, two prominent kingpins ruled the North Sea: George “Stoney” Fagg and David “Smoker” Browning. Fagg’s ship, the Kent, was eventually captured off Filey in 1777 with 200 tonnes of contraband onboard. Both Fagg and Browning had ransoms placed on their heads and the penalties for smuggling were severe. Those caught were either flogged, jailed, or deported.

The smugglers often fought to the death to evade capture and many on both sides lost their lives.

In 1817, a sea battle between the Revenue cutter Ranger and a heavily-armed smuggling lugger raged from Robin Hood’s Bay all the way to Yarmouth. In total, two smugglers and three Revenue man were killed and seven others wounded. The smugglers eventually abandoned ship leaving behind a cargo of contraband worth £10,000. “The Revenue,” says Johnston, “always gets its revenge.”

As the 19th century progressed, the authorities managed to gain an upper hand on the smugglers and many of those who had made vast profits in Robin Hood’s Bay began to invest the money in more legitimate enterprises. But even nowadays, the smugglers still come.

One Robin Hood’s Bay resident, Jim Foster, is a retired Customs officer stationed in Teesside who used to work all along the East Coast. Standing outside The Bay Hotel, which overlooks the water, Foster recalls various hauls that the authorities managed to thwart in the area and says even in the modern era the geography of the coastline continues to make it an ideal location for smuggling.

“I certainly pity the one customs man who used to work in Robin Hood’s Bay,” he says, “it wouldn’t have been an easy job.”

As Foster speaks he casts a wary eye out over the North Sea – all is flat and seemingly calm but who knows what secrets are still being whisked to shore.

Joe Shute stayed at The Fern Suite in Fylingthorpe.

Call 01947 880513 or go to www.thefernsuite.com He ate at The Victoria Hotel, Robin Hood’s Bay. Call 01947 880205 or go to www.victoriarhb.com You can book Smuggler Tours with Paul Johnston throughout the year. Call 01947 880513 or go to www.baytownrhb.com

The Victoria Hotel in Robin Hood’s Bay has a panoramic sea view restaurant boasting the best views in Robin Hoods Bay. Enjoy a candle-lit dinner whilst sampling superb cuisine, using local suppliers so quality is guaranteed.

SMUGGLER STATS

40% £1 At its height 30 - 40% of those that lived in the village were involved in smuggling.

People earned 25p a week. If you were involved in the smuggling trade you could make £1 in a single night.

£10k 200

The value of the cargo left behind after a sea battle between smugglers and Revenue men in 1817. Two smugglers and three Revenue men were killed.

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Experience

When George Fagg’s ship, the Kent, was captured off Filey in 1777 it had 200 tonnes of contraband onboard.

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WELCOME TO YORKSHIRE DALES AND HERRIOT COUNTRY

Dramatic dales

The Yorkshire Dales and Herriot Country covers some of the UK’s most stunning countryside. With endless sweeping hills and quaint market towns to explore, there is plenty on offer.

Why not discover this unspoilt landscape on wheels? Hire a bike from Dales Bike Centre in Reeth and cycle the dramatic hill sections that formed part of the 2014 Tour de France route.

When all that cycling makes you hungry, head to the beautiful market town of Hawes, home to the famous Wensleydale Creamery. For pudding, take a drive down to Masham and pick up a treat from the Brymor Ice Cream Parlour and Café.

Celebrating the vet turned writer James Alfred Wight, whose work inspired the hugely popular television series All Creatures Great and Small, explore The World of James Herriot Museum in Thirsk, a wonderfully traditional Yorkshire market town.

In fact, the area is brimming with charming market towns such as Skipton, Northallerton, Settle and Bedale, each waiting to be discovered.

Pay a visit to Swaledale and wrap up warm with Swaledale Woollens. Stop off at nearby pub The Punch Bowl at Low Row for homemade food and a warm welcome. A must for serious shoppers is Tennants Auctioneers in Leyburn, where you can enjoy the thrill of a live sale. Head across to Easingwold for a selection of fantastic tea rooms and gift shops. For delicious dining, you can’t beat The Durham Ox at Crayke for hearty food made from local produce.

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Another special market town is Grassington, full of quirky shops on cobbled streets.

Surrounded by beautiful open countryside, it’s the perfect base for outdoor explorers. Pay a visit to the Yorkshire Dales National Park Centre on the edge of town for advice on trails and activities. The nearby show caves of Stump Cross Caverns offer exciting underground adventure, whilst the well-known beauty spot of Malham Cove is also a must.

Entertain the kids with an adventure at The Forbidden Corner, a unique labyrinth of tunnels, chambers and follies created within a four acre garden. Stop off for lunch onsite at The Saddle Rooms, a unique restaurant converted from racehorse stables.

Clockwise from top left: Gunnerside in Swaledale. The Durham Ox at Crayke. Malham Cove. Ribblehead viaduct cutting through the landscape around the famous Three Peaks.

After a long day of discovering the Dales countryside, choose from a vast array of accommodation to suit all needs and budgets.

Head to Herriots of Hawes, or The Traddock at Austwick for some rest and relaxation in picturesque surroundings. For something a little more rustic, get back to nature and pitch a tent at Usha Gap Campsite, Swaledale.

With majestic rolling hills and picturesque market towns and villages, it’s easy to see why this area carries the nickname, ‘Gods Own Country’.

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OUTDOORS

Casting a spell Those wishing for a close encounter with nature will find Yorkshire’s rivers, streams and coastline offer thrills and spills in tranquil surroundings. Fly fishing expert and specialist angling writer Paul Procter explains why Yorkshire is a fisherman’s dream. ew places exist across the British Isles that are as awe inspiring as the Yorkshire Dales.

Chiselled out by Ice Age glaciers the Dales’ rugged, yet intriguing skyline continues to attract visitors from every corner of the world. First time fishers often spend an age simply gawping at picture postcard scenery. As for those who return year on year, their pulse quickens on capturing a glimpse of that classic limestone backdrop once more.

Difficult to tame, vast swathes of the Dales remain untempered by man. Managed using traditional farming practices, in many respects this has helped preserve such cherished countryside. Indeed an iconic image here must surely be herds of sheep grazing on rolling hillsides amidst a maze of drystone walls.

Naturally then - sightseers, walkers, photographers, wildlife enthusiasts and holidaymakers are drawn to the county like bees to honey. After all, who could tire of such a stunning landscape?

With a labyrinth of rivers and streams crisscrossing the Dales, sooner rather than later your route is bound to cross tumbling water. Whether you’re a “dyed in the wool” sort of fishermen, or someone harbouring childhood memories of tadpoles scooped up in a pond net, the urge to stop for a quick glance is overwhelming. Peering into the inky depths and wondering what lurks beneath, many will be tempted to try their luck.

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If escapism takes your fancy, Yorkshire’s more desolate slopes provide a true sense of solitude.

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Starting out

Anyone starting out could do a lot worse than paying Kilnsey Park Estate trout fishery a visit.

Situated right in the heart of Wharfedale, a complex of intimate lakes gives budding anglers the perfect surroundings in which to learn.

Rainbow trout are the principal catch here, which thankfully are often quite obliging.

Sympathetic to first timers the estate not only provide essential tackle and advice, they’ll happily arrange an approved fishing instructor to make sure common pitfalls are avoided.

Cook your catch

For many the thrill of being connected to a fighting fish is satisfying enough. However, nothing beats sampling the delights of your efforts in terms of freshly prepared trout.

Recently, owners Jamie and Amy Roberts have enlisted the talents of Steph Moon - highly respected consultant chef at Rudding Park - who has been persuaded to run a seasonal workshop titled “Lake to Plate” at Kilnsey Park.

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These exciting courses involve an introduction to trout fishing under the watchful gaze of fishing instructors. Successful anglers then return indoors with their quarry to learn the finer points of preparing trout for the table.

A wonderful communicator and brimming in kitchen skills, whatever your culinary abilities Steph will have you knocking up food fit for a king in no time. A modest chef, naturally she argued that fresh produce is the secret. That said, Steph has a reputation for producing dish after dish of delicious tasting fayre with consummate ease.

Further afield

Once you’ve earned a stripe by learning to tempt, play, land and carefully handle your catch then many look to spread their wings to neighbouring stillwaters, lakes or reservoirs.

Places like Leighton Reservoir, Scar House, Gouthwaite, or Fewston and Swinsty all nestle in North Yorkshire’s windswept moors that are waiting to be explored. Understandably, their vastness might seem daunting at first sight,

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yet we’d all do well to remember fish find much of their food only a stone’s throw from the margins, well within casting range!

Head for the hills

While fisheries like Kilnsey Park should be applauded for bringing angling and the outdoors to the masses, if escapism takes your fancy, Yorkshire’s more desolate slopes provide a true sense of solitude. Seeping out of limestone fissures, tiny fingers of water tumbling over mossy boulders are home to native brown trout that are as wild as neighbouring surroundings and it’s here those with adventure coursing through their veins can wander until their hearts are content.

As aquatic bugs are thin on the ground, trout tend to look upwards for lunch when any unsuspecting flies that drop in, like daddy long legs for example, will eagerly be snapped up.

This is fishing at its rawest when any bushy looking dry fly flicked into a likely frothing pool is bound to summon a response. Of course, don’t run away with any idea of glass case

Clockwise from top left: Paul casts off in the River Wharfe. Amazing scenery at Kilnsey Park in the heart of the Yorkshire Dales.

Great days out Kilnsey Park is a family visitor attraction in the heart of the beautiful Yorkshire Dales.

It couldn’t be more simple to fish there.

All you need to do is turn up and the helpful staff will provide you with all the tackle, bait and instruction needed, so you can get fishing straight away.

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Be it the golden sandy beaches or rocky outcrops, miles of Yorkshire’s coastline offer unsurpassed angling opportunities.

Need to know The Rivers Nidd, Ure and Wharfe are great fly fishing rivers.

All are fast flowing, oxygen rich, rainfed and unpolluted. They all have brown trout in varying numbers and sizes, and some have grayling too.

specimens as life is hard in these frigid waters, so trout rarely grow larger than half a pound or so. These fish might be modest in size, however one thing’s for sure, with ruby red spots decorating their flanks and bristling fins there’s a real sense of achievement when you fool one. In many respects as such trout remain our legacy, they are better off being turned loose.

This of course ensures sufficient breeding stock for future generations, so our children’s children can enjoy that indescribable feeling of hooking a fish in isolated surroundings.

It’s not all about trout

Opposite: Paul is joined in his fisherman’s dream

by Steph Moon who runs a seasonal workshop titled “Lake to Plate” at Kilnsey Park.

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As infant streams converge, rivers are formed.

Much broader and deeper these support not only a greater number of invertebrates, but more diverse fish populations too. With their huge dorsal fin and sleek, silvery flanks, grayling are held in high regard amongst both coarse and game fishermen. More importantly, susceptible to pollution they’re considered a litmus paper, informing us that water quality remains good where they occur. It’s pleasing to report grayling are frequently found throughout the region with the rivers Aire, Nidd, Swale, Ure and Wharfe still considered strongholds for this sensitive gamefish.

Talking of gamefish, word has it that Atlantic salmon have been making a bit of a comeback throughout Yorkshire recently.

In particular, the River Ure seems to be on everyone’s lips as it is on the cusp of being labelled one of the finest salmon fishing rivers in England. A concerted ecological and environmental effort by The Ure Salmon Trust on the river in North Yorkshire is paying off. Salmon of 20lbs are being caught more regularly with fish of 30lbs recorded recently.

The river is now attracting anglers from as far away as Scandinavia and the USA who have their sights set on landing large specimen fish.

The Ure Salmon Trust was launched seven

years ago to revitalise the population and thanks to them, the river and its anglers are reaping the benefits.

Call of the sea

Be it the golden sandy beaches or rocky outcrops, miles of Yorkshire’s coastline offer unsurpassed angling opportunities and will captivate those who are drawn to the tangy aroma of salt air. Nothing compares with setting up camp on a lonely beach and fishing the tide in. Here, time simply slips by as you wait for that telltale “tap-tap” of an interested fish. Here, you’re at one with nature as aside from crashing waves, the only sounds are likely to be a distant cry from a curlew or oystercatcher. Flounders, plaice and the odd turbot will keep you entertained though sea bass or mackerel are in the offing too. Head to more rocky ground, where deep water supports a verdant kelp forest and you can expect to do battle with cod, pollack with the occasional wrasse thrown in. Be warned though, these fish have power to spare, easily robbing you of terminal tackle if you give them an inch.

Well known in fishing circles is the “North Country” style of fooling trout that principally involves three sparely dressed wet flies (spiders) presented to trout on a short line.

Such talk sounds gobbledygook to newcomers, yet in practice a single fly or bait for that matter dabbled in a frothing pool or along a lake edge will often have the fish queueing up. Whatever your preference then, catering for a total beginner to the seasoned rod, Yorkshire has it in abundance!

Paul Proctor was a guest of Kilnsey Park Estate near Skipton in North Yorkshire. Call 01756 752 150 or go to www.kilnseypark.co.uk Find your own angling guide with Go Fly Fishing UK in Yorkshire. Call 01756 748378 or go to www.goflyfishinguk.com

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WELCOME TO the yorkshire coast

Eclectic coastline

With golden sandy beaches, dramatic cliffs and picturesque fishing villages, the Yorkshire Coast has plenty to shout about.

The Yorkshire coastline spans more than 100 miles of stunning terrain from the picture-postcard fishing village of Staithes down to Spurn Point and its striking black and white lighthouse. You’ll find pit stops all the way down the coast, from traditional resorts like Scarborough and Whitby, to quaint villages like Runswick Bay, Sandsend and Robin Hood’s Bay. There’s plenty going on to keep the family entertained. Head to Filey with its magnificent five mile stretch of sandy beach, perfect for long walks, flying a kite, building sandcastles and having a paddle. For older children, the coast provides fantastic surfing opportunities at the likes of Cayton Bay and Scarborough’s North and South Bays.

Top to bottom: Fishing in Whitby. Climb up to Scarborough Castle to experience glorious views of the coastline. Robin Hood’s Bay. The famous groynes and lighthouse at Spurn Point. Whitby Abbey - the inspiration for Dracula.

For those seeking culture on the coast, there are plenty of inspiring museums and galleries. The Captain Cook Memorial Museum in Whitby houses a superb collection of exhibits about Yorkshire’s most famous son and Scarborough Art Gallery showcases a range of exhibitions throughout the year.

There are also stunning landmarks like Whitby Abbey, which was inspiration for Bram Stoker’s Dracula, and Scarborough Castle which offers gorgeous panoramic views.

If it’s live performances you’re looking for then Scarborough’s Stephen Joseph Theatre never fails to disappoint and Scarborough Open Air Theatre, Europe’s largest open air theatre, regularly hosts some of the biggest names in music.

Head to Scarborough Spa for a wide range of top notch events from ballet to comedy, and pay a visit to Whitby Pavilion for film screenings, music festivals and more.

Experience edge of your seat motorcycling at Scarborough’s Oliver’s Mount, England’s only natural ‘road’ race track.

Or why not try the thrills and spills of the new multimillion pound waterpark Alpamare, due to open in summer 2016 and boasting some of Europe’s biggest slides.

Finally, after all that excitement, you’ll be looking for somewhere to eat. Fish and chips is a must in this area and The Magpie Café, Greens and Quayside keep Whitby well stocked in this department. Why not try Jeremy’s in Scarborough for a sophisticated yet relaxed dining experience or the Endeavour Kitchen in Staithes which serves up great locally sourced seafood.

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Top and bottom © Richard Wood

The coast has an eclectic mix of events. Not to be missed is Scarborough Fair, a new and exciting festival of arts and music. For sports fans there’s Whitby Regatta and Scarborough Cricket Festival, for music fans there’s Coastival, Musicport and Whitby Folk Festival and then there’s the magnificent Whitby Goth Weekend which twice a year brings thousands of alternative styles to the home of Dracula. If horror’s your thing, the annual Bram Stoker International Film Festival in Whitby is perfectly petrifying!

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YORKSHIRE FAMILY FAVOURITES

GREAT GIGGLES

ANIMAL MAGIC

The Scott-Priestley family from East Appleton go on exciting adventures to The Forbidden Corner.

The Hirst family love to get close to the animals at the Tropical Butterfly House, Sheffield.

W

e are always looking for new adventures and places to visit with our kids - Zara (5) and Thomas (2).

It can be difficult to find somewhere that excites all four of us so when we do find a place that hits the spot, we want to shout about it.

For us this was The Forbidden Corner near Leyburn, North Yorkshire.

It’s a magical place full of surprises at every bend.

We live in East Appleton so it wasn’t too far to travel with the children for a truly magical day. Not only was the drive there stunning but the place itself exceeded each and every one of our expectations. From the moment we stepped into this enchanted place, magic happened! The big dragon burp at the beginning set the tone well, with the children (and us!) falling about in fits of giggles. The children’s faces literally lit up every step of the way.

er covmily s i D e fa s at morourite .com fav shire k y yor /famil

The Tree Man at The Forbidden Corner.

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Tropical Butterfly House is a real hoot.

ITHOMAS, TRINA, ZARA AND PHIL ISCOTT-PRIESTLY FROM EAST APPLETON

There were challenges for us grown-ups too – assisting in finding the colosseum proved more challenging than expected, but it was great fun. There were so many highlights of the day but definite hits were the water dancing stepping stones, hunting for brass rubbings and the maze.

We managed to sample some delicious cake at the café, which looked perfect for lunch too (we took a picnic). We rounded the day off with two orange juices, a white wine and a well earned pint of Black Sheep in the Saddle Room pub and restaurant just next door. Overall, a perfect day and one that we could do all over again next week.

This day is truly what family memories are made of.

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rom friendly lemurs to peckish parrots, there’s lots to discover and new animal friends to be made.

We are regular visitors along with our children Freya (6), and Arthur (2).

We love the Tropical Butterfly House in Sheffield, it’s one of our favourite places. There’s so much to see and do. Freya and Arthur love all the animal shows and educational talks with the parrots, meerkats, porcupines, otters, lemurs, birds of prey, skunks and reptiles. They especially like being able to touch the reptiles in the exotic show, and the lemur walkthrough is amazing. We all loved having the lemurs jump on us, they’re so gentle and their paws are lovely and soft.

The Butterfly House is great as well, the butterflies seem to love Freya and land on her, and you can even feed the parrots nectar and fruit. It’s lovely to see that the animals are clearly well cared for.

Freya and Arthur love

IANDY, ARTHUR, AMY AND IFREYA HIRSTIFROM SHEFFIELD

spending time in the craft centre and the outdoor play areas are a great place to tire the kids out! There are lots of benches which are great for us parents to have a rest and to watch the children from. The splash zone is fantastic in the summer - we bring the kid’s swimming costumes and they can build sandcastles there too!

The café has a good range of hot and cold food, with a great selection for children. We sometimes treat ourselves to the afternoon tea, and sit on one of the comfy sofas in the conservatory after visiting the animals. The birthday parties are great here and all of the children always rave about them for a long time afterwards; we’ll be booking one for Freya soon!

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DESTINATION

Extraordinary landscape With stunning scenery, a wealth of history and wonderful wildlife, there’s something for all ages to discover in South Yorkshire.

Tempting trails An area full of astonishing natural beauty, there is no better way to explore the landscape of South Yorkshire than on the network of footpaths and cycle trails available. Whether on horseback, cycle or foot, the popular Trans Pennine Trail is mapped and signed all the way and is surprisingly level considering the dramatic scenery on offer.

Arts and heritage South Yorkshire is also home to an impressive selection of diverse art galleries and museums.

Barnsley boasts The Cooper Gallery, which offers a regular programme of contemporary touring exhibitions and exciting events, as well as The Civic, a multi-purpose arts centre showcasing the best in UK theatre, dance, comedy, music, cabaret and film.

Just south of Barnsley you’ll find Worsbrough Mill, a 17th Century working water mill set in 240 acres of tranquil country park, using traditional milling methods to produce a range of organic flour. It’s an amazing place to visit,

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have fun and see history come to life. A short drive away is the newly redeveloped historic village of Elsecar. Visit Elsecar Heritage Centre where restored historical buildings now house an antique centre, individual craft workshops, and exhibitions of Elsecar’s past.

The 12th century Conisbrough Castle in Doncaster inspired Sir Walter Scott’s classic novel ‘Ivanhoe’. Built of magnesian limestone, it’s the only one of its kind in England and is considered to be one of the finest examples of mediaeval architecture in Europe.

Science and splashes For a fun and educational day out, visit Magna Science Adventure Centre near Rotherham for over one hundred hands-on exhibits to explore.

Packed with interactive displays as well as a large outdoor water play area, the chance to operate a real JCB and even watch a tornado made of fire, you’re guaranteed a fun filled day out! Make a splash at Calypso Cove Waterpark near Barnsley. Discover fantastic flumes, sensational slides and wonderful waves a great day out for all the family.

Clockwise from top left: Roche Abbey near Rotherham. Brodsworth Hall and Gardens near Doncaster. Magna Science Adventure Centre. A Tree Nymph butterfly at the Tropical Butterfly House. Meet Victor the polar bear at Yorkshire Wildlife Park.

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WELCOME TO the SOUTH YORKSHIRE

TION

Country gardens

Animal instinct

Step back in time and enjoy wonderful scenery and breath-taking architecture at a number of historic houses and gardens. Cannon Hall near Barnsley is an impressive Georgian country house and museum, set in 70 acres of historic parkland and landscaped gardens. Discover a surprising collection of fine and decorative art while experiencing the sights and sounds of the past. Just minutes away is Wentworth Castle Gardens, once the home of Thomas Wentworth. The estate’s Grade I landscape and gardens are nationally recognised, boasting splendid collections of rhododendrons, camellias and magnolias.

Nature lovers won’t want to miss RSPB Old Moor in Barnsley. This beautiful nature reserve is teeming with wildlife, offering a fantastic family day out amongst 250 acres of beautiful walks, with a great playground area to keep the children entertained.

Built in the 1860s, the Victorian country house of Brodsworth Hall near Doncaster is perfect for a weekend wander. Enjoy the stunning gardens and beautifully restored interiors before stopping for tea in the tea room and letting the kids loose in the play area. Set in a valley beautifully landscaped by ‘Capability’ Brown in the 18th Century, discover the ruins of Roche Abbey in Rotherham.

If you’re green fingered, a trip to Doncaster’s Walker’s Nurseries is a must. This celebrated family business offers inventive displays of plants and free friendly floral advice.

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Get up close and personal with the only polar bears in England at Yorkshire Wildlife Park in Doncaster, also home to a number of other endangered animals including tigers and leopards. Sitting in the rolling Pennine foothills, head to Cannon Hall Farm, home to hundreds of animals including lambs, piglets, goats and ponies. If the weather takes a turn for the worse, the kids can enjoy the brand new Hungry Llama play area while you stop by the farm shop to pick up some delicious local products.

Discover an incredible array of free-flying exotic butterflies and birds at the Tropical Butterfly House, Sheffield. With a packed timetable of ‘Animal Encounters’ and shows, it’s a fantastic place to meet incredible species from all over the globe.

Don’t miss Come and see world famous polar bears.

Project Polar at Yorkshire Wildlife Park is one of the world’s largest reserves for these great white bears. The first bear at the park, Victor, is one of the biggest polar bears in Europe at 500 kilogrammes.

When he stands up on his back legs he is over three metres tall. Victor has now been joined by Pixel and Nissan.

A must for horse lovers is the world famous St Leger Festival at Doncaster Racecourse, one of the most prestigious race weeks in the British horse racing calendar.

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HERITAGE

Forget an army of maids and butlers on call and lavish Downton style dinner parties, Sarah Freeman finds out what it’s really like to run a stately home.

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Newby Hall When we meet, Richard and Lucinda Compton have just finished compiling their annual list of jobs to do around the house. It’s something couples do up and down the country, but given their home is Newby Hall, near Ripon, the list is not only long, but completing it is going to be expensive. Very expensive.

“Top of this year’s list is to fix the crumbling masonry,” says Richard, who is also president of the Historic Houses Association. “There tends to be 300 plus jobs on there every year, which range from giving a window or door frame a quick lick of paint to major structural work. Whenever I walk round the property I always carry a pencil and bit of paper to note down work that needs doing. I never fail to spot something.” Even changing a lightbulb at Newby can cost a fortune, but the Comptons are not alone. According to the HHA, the country’s 1,500 privately owned estates, castles and gardens currently have a repairs backlog totalling some £390m.

“Maintaining a property like this is a bit like painting the Forth Road Bridge,” adds Richard.

“The work is never done. We are lucky in that

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we can call on a fantastic team of craftsmen, but they are getting older and there doesn’t seem to be anyone waiting in the wings to replace them. Lord only knows what will happen in ten or twenty years time when we need some 18th century plasterwork repairing.”

When Richard inherited the estate in 1997 following the death of his father Robin, he and Lucinda were living in London with their three young children. Orlando, Ludo and Sasha were then aged between seven and thirteen and while the couple always knew that one day they would have to head north to begin another chapter of their lives at Richard’s childhood home, it didn’t make the upheaval any easier.

“We had a great life in London, great careers and we had to give all that up,” says Lucinda, who is trained in furniture restoration and conservation while Richard worked in magazine publishing. “It was also hard for the children. They might have had the bonus of an ice cream kiosk in their front garden, but Newby was a world away from everything they knew.

“Thankfully they are incredibly resilient and they did adapt to our new life and so did

Discover more The Newby Hall Miniature Railway is a delightful ride which runs along the River Ure with fantastic views of the gardens.

The railway has carried over a million passengers since it started running.

Left to right: The stunning Newby Hall & Gardens.

Richard and Lucinda Compton relax in the house kitchen. The Statue Room.

The grounds from above.

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we. The fact is this is our home, but it’s also a business and we have to share it with our visitors. It is a bit like living above the shop.”

But what a shop. Built in the 1690s by Christopher Wren, the property was later remodelled by both John Carr and Robert Adam.

However, while the public gets to see the impressive wall hangings from Paris’ famous Gobelins factory in the Tapestry Room and the library where 12,000 books, some of which date back to the early 17th century, have been lovingly restored by volunteers, the family’s private quarters are perhaps surprisingly modest.

Richard likens it to living in a three-bed semi and given the amount of work that needs doing in the rest of the house, there is rarely the time or the money to redecorate. The family kitchen is packed with cookbooks and curiosities picked up from Bermondsey market and with the Aga on there’s an inviting warmth about the place.

Lucinda admits that during the height of summer the blinds in the kitchen remain down to give the family a little privacy. However, while the Comptons relish the quiet winter period when the property is closed to visitors, they also know that without the paying public there would be no Newby Hall.

It was something Richard’s father was also acutely aware of. It was he who redesigned the public entrance to the property and he who restored the estate’s impressive gardens.

Richard and Lucinda have continued his work, converting a derelict stable block into offices, opening up the hall for weddings and, in a further bid to help the estate’s finances, all the electricity used by the house comes from a hydroelectric scheme powered by the nearby River Ure. Visitor numbers are now at around 130,000 a year, and after a phenomenally successful dolls house exhibition last year, the Comptons are hoping to repeat the success by hosting Gyles Brandreth’s teddy bear collection.

“With each generation the home becomes less private and more hard work,” says Richard.

“There is always the temptation to do a few more weddings and to stage a few more events to bring in extra revenue, but it’s all about

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balance. Hosting something like a fireworks night can seem like a good idea but if there’s a downpour that’s it, you’ve lost your money and there’s no way of clawing it back.

“Running a place like this could be completely overwhelming, but you quickly learn that each generation can only do so much.”

While he may be pragmatic about what can be achieved, Richard would like to realise some of his more ambitious plans.

“What do you think about cutting a corridor through the forest?” he says looking down Newby’s perfectly manicured gardens and pointing to a spot some way in the distance.

Clearly we’d have to check those trees are not carefully disguising some concrete monstrosity, but I think it would be just fantastic.” With more pressing jobs on the to do list, relandscaping Newby might have to wait another day.

However, the Comptons know they do have to keep one eye on the future.

“The children are all now in their 20s,” says Richard. “They have all left home and while they love coming back here for Christmas and holidays, not one of them is showing any signs of settling down or wanting to take over Newby.

Newby wasn’t designed as a tourist attraction, it was designed as a house to be lived in and that’s what gives it its special atmosphere.

“It’s a big responsibility, but there will come a day when Newby needs them.”

What’s the best thing about living and working in an historic property? The drama and interiors of the castle and the landscape and setting.

Also, the fact that no two days are the same.

Ripley Castle

What’s the best thing about living and working in an historic property?

You need a fire every night of the year.

Ripley Castle is a Grade I listed 14th century country house in North Yorkshire. It is now the home of Sir Thomas and Lady Emma Ingilby.

How would you describe your property in just three words? Full of history (or happy family home). To be honest three words are just not enough!

All historic houses have a claim to fame, what’s yours? Ripley Castle has been lived in for more than 700 years by one family and the history of the Ingilbys at Ripley reflects the history of England.

And the worst? Changing lightbulbs! And the endless repairs.

What are you looking forward to most in 2016? Making special memories with our day visitors and welcoming more than 70 brides and grooms for their special day.

What should visitors not miss? The ghosts!

We have a few. You have been warned.

Carlton Towers Carlton Towers, between Selby and Snaith in North Yorkshire, is a Victorian Gothic style property. Since 1991, it has been lived in, and run by Lord Gerald Fitzalan-Howard and his family.

How would you describe your property in just three words? Simple. A family home.

All historic houses have a claim to fame, what’s yours? We have a priests’ hiding hole in the Nursery Wing which was used by Catholic priests during the Reformation and visitors can now view it through glass panels set in the floor. Another claim to fame is being able to see all three Yorkshire power stations Drax, Ferrybridge and Eggborough - from the Clock Tower.

And the worst?

You need a fire every night of the year.

What are you looking forward to most in 2016? That would have to be planting a vineyard in the Walled Garden.

What should visitors not miss? A cooking course at Cooks, The Carlton School of Food.

It is one of the very few cookery schools in a stately home and guests can also stay overnight in one of our 16 bedrooms.

Left to right: Sir Thomas and Lady Ingilby in Ripley Castle.

The beautiful interiors at Ripley Castle. Carlton Towers - built in a Victorian gothic style.

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HOME SWEET HOME Discover a few more Yorkshire stately homes and castles that are still home to families today.

Harewood House near Leeds

Castle HowardI

Skipton CastleI

Built more than 300 years ago for Charles Howard, the 3rd Earl of Carlisle, it still remains the family home today.

Once home to the famous Clifford Lords for 600 years, it is now a home for the present owners the Fattorini family and is over 900 years old.

Harewood HouseI Originally commissioned

by Edwin Lascelles in 1759. Today, Harewood is the seat of the Earl and Countess of Harewood and remains in the Lascelles family.

Clockwise from top left: Lord and Lady Gerald Fitzalan-Howard of Carlton Towers. Rick and Alexandra Hayward at their home in Renishaw Hall. The magical Renishaw Hall.

Renishaw Hall Renishaw Hall near Sheffield has been in the Sitwell family for more than 400 years with Alexandra Sitwell the latest generation to take responsibility for the estate.

How would you describe your property in just three words? Magical, eclectic and eccentric.

All historic houses have a claim to fame, what’s yours? It would have to be the gardens and its literary connections. My great grandfather Sir George Sitwell laid out the formal garden between 1886 and 1936 and much of what visitors still see today is his lasting legacy.

The Sitwells were also a family of writers and they were also patrons of many early 20th century artists, including Rex Whistler and John Piper.

What’s the best thing about living and working in an historic property? Being surrounded by beautiful objects.

Each room houses a wonderful array of items belonging to various generations of Sitwells, as each of us leave our mark on the interiors of Renishaw Hall.

Goldsborough HallI Built near Knaresborough over 400 years ago for the eminent judge Sir Richard Hutton. The hall was the former residence of HRH Princess Mary in the 1920s.

Scampston HallI

The Bolton EstateI

Owned and occupied by the same family since the 17th century. Most recently it is the home of Christopher and Miranda Legard, the 11th generation of the family to live there.

When Bolton Castle was partially destroyed after the civil war in 1645-47, the Paulet family (now known as the Orde-Powlett family) built Bolton Hall stately home, which was completed in 1675 and is where Lord and Lady Bolton still live today.

Thorp PerrowI A transformation of a castellated Manor House undertaken by the Milbank family in about 1800, Thorp Perrow passed through several families before being bought in 1927 by William Ropner.

The Ropner family has been here ever since.

Burton Agnes HallI Built between 1598 and 1610 by Sir Henry Griffith, it has stayed in his family for more than four centuries. This impressive stately home is now in the care of Simon CunliffeLister and his wife.

Scampston Hall

And the worst? The upkeep, maintenance and expense.

What are you looking forward to most in 2016?

The continuing development of the superb gardens here and the opening of the new café at Renishaw Hall which we hope will become a destination in its own right to visitors from around the region.

What should visitors not miss?

The gardens, the paintings and our eclectic collection of furniture and works of art.

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WELCOME TO SELBY

Stunning Selby Located in the picturesque Yorkshire countryside, discover Selby, one of Yorkshire’s hidden gems. Visit on Mondays, when the town comes to life with market stalls selling everything from bananas to bedding.

Foodie’s delight A must visit is Spuds & Berries, a family run farm shop offering home grown and local produce. Get out in the fields during ‘Pick Your Own’ season for raspberries, gooseberries, blackberries and of course strawberries.

There’s also an on-site restaurant, Mr Vincent’s, if you’d rather let someone else do the hard work for you!

Just fifteen minutes south of Selby you’ll find Carlton Towers, a stunning Gothic estate set within 1750 acres of land. The Downton Abbey style kitchen is home to Cooks - the Carlton School of Food, offering courses from basic preparation to chocolate and wine masterclasses.

Foodies will love Selby Food Festival which takes place in August each year, with cookery demonstrations and street performances. Another event not to miss is Selby Littlefest, an arts festival run in association with York Theatre Royal, where shops, squares and churches are illuminated across the town each spring.

Top to bottom: The famous Cawood Castle near Selby.

The magnificent Selby Abbey. Cooks - the Carlton School of Food at Carlton Towers.

Cycling heaven.

Discover nature on Skipwith Common.

Heritage and gardens At over 900 years old, the historic Selby Abbey is a must visit, also hosting an eclectic range of events. The Abbey is part of an American Heritage Trail due to its famous Washington window, with striking red stars and stripes.

The heritage trail continues into nearby Tadcaster, a beautiful market town with architecture dating back to the 12th century. A half-timbered building known as The Ark, which dates back to the 1600s, is said to be where the Pilgrim Fathers planned their voyage to America. Green fingered folk shouldn’t miss Stillingfleet Lodge Garden, a quintessentially English garden, managed to be as wildlife friendly as possible.

Get active Selby sits on the Trans Pennine Trail, acting as a fantastic base for intrepid cyclists and walkers, while the Selby Horseshoe Walk is a manageable nine mile route. Nature lovers will feel right at home at Escrick Park Estate. Stay in one of their holiday cottages and enjoy fishing on the lake, as well as safe and secluded horse riding tracks, trails and jumps. For those who enjoy life on two wheels, the Three Swans Cycle Sportive is a popular charity bike ride that takes place each September. New to the area for 2016 is Selby Leisure Village, offering everything from an indoor skate and BMX park, aerial trekking courses, an adventure climbing facility and an indoor ski simulator.

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This page: Yorkshire skipper Andrew Gale holds the Championship Trophy aloft at Headingley. Opposite: The Yorkshire squad are put through their paces in preparation for the new season.

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SPORT

Table topping Tykes Yorkshire County Cricket Club is campaigning to win a third consecutive championship in 2016. We join the squad in training.

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hich club is the most successful cricket team in England? Yorkshire, of course! The club’s history includes 32 county championships and is littered with legendary players. Batsmen such as Sir Len Hutton and Sir Geoff Boycott, and bowlers like Sir Fred Trueman and Ray Illingworth all helped cement the great tradition of cricket for the men wearing the White Rose.

The current team have now joined that elite list of legendary players after clinching the county championship in 2014 and 2015.

The club is determined to make it a hat-trick of titles in 2016.

Training for the current season started back in November, with four days of gruelling exercises every week. Under the watchful eye of strength and conditioning coach, Blaine Clancy, the team spends hours in the gym getting match fit.

“Keeping the squad healthy is my job. With one-day games and T20 matches now firmly on the cricket calendar, we’ve had to adjust the way we prepare for every type of game,” said Clancy. “The level of athleticism is higher than it has ever been.

Everybody has to be stronger, faster and fitter to play in the different forms of the modern game.”

Focusing on fitness has helped cut down on injuries in the team – especially for the fast bowlers who can suffer with hamstring, spinal and torso problems.

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The Yorkshire players are able to receive professional advice on nutrition too, with a backroom staff of physios and coaches available to ease out the aches and pains of a packed season. Clancy, 28, from Northern Ireland, has been with the club for four years.

“To be honest, I wasn’t a cricket fan when I first came to Yorkshire. Now I’m totally addicted.

Even on my day off I like to watch a match on the television!”

It’s a far cry from past years, when players put their feet up over the winter season and put on a few extra pounds in weight too!

Yorkshire seam bowler Ryan Sidebottom, 38, explained how times have changed.

“Ten years ago players would have laughed at the idea of pre-season training. It was a time to relax and take it easy. Now all that’s changed. Cricket is a professional game and you have to be fit to stand a chance of lasting the whole season.

“We lift a lot of weights in the gym and Blaine has developed exercise regimes to suit both bowlers and batsmen. These days the team extends to all our support staff too.

Without them we wouldn’t have been so successful.”

The Yorkshire squad includes a number of current England players, like Joe Root, Adam Lyth and Jonny Bairstow. Most are away all winter playing for their country, but Sidebottom says that gives younger players a better chance in the county team.

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Experience The historic Headingley Cricket Ground, which is home to the Yorkshire County Cricket Club offers a fantastic opportunity for fans to experience an exclusive behind the scenes tour. The tour begins with a visit to the Yorkshire CCC museum. The finale of the tour ends with a walk down the player’s steps onto the pitch.

Images: The Yorkshire squad practise yoga to prepare their body and mind. Each player also completes a personal fitness plan for the gym.

“Yorkshire has developed real strength in depth – it has to be that way if you want to be the best. Cricket is hugely popular in Yorkshire and there’s talent bubbling up from all over the place.”

As well as weights and body exercises, the Yorkshire players have one special weapon in their training regime – a yoga teacher.

Fast bowler, Jack Brooks, explained: “It might seem a bit odd but the team get a great deal from practicing yoga. It’s a lot more physical than people think – plus it prepares your mind and body for longer-term fitness.”

The 31-year-old England Lions player is originally from Oxfordshire but says he’s almost treated like a genuine Yorkshireman after two seasons with the team. “Yorkshire is a brilliant place to live and the lads have taken me in like one of their own.

“It probably helps that my hero is Darren Gough – a brilliant Yorkshire captain and the player I’ve always admired the most.”

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COVER STORY

Joe Root: Man of Steel Cricketer Joe Root started 2016 as the world’s top-ranking Test batsman. The Yorkshireman talks about his new house, playing for England and a love of his home county.

Did you know Yorkshire’s Joe Root was named in the ICC Test Team of the Year 2015. Root was one of three Englishmen named alongside captain Alastair Cook and Stuart Broad. Yorkshire’s New Zealand international Kane Williamson was also named in the team.

This page top to bottom: Joe Root leads the Yorkshire side out to collect the Championship trophy in 2014. Joe with his New Balance kit. Turning his arm over against Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge. Opposite page: Joe doing his media duties.

In the field and batting for England. Celebrating with Gary Ballance. Images by SWpix.com

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I first picked up a cricket bat when I was a baby. It was just a toy one but I was playing by the time I was 18-months-old. Mum still has a photograph of me practising. Dad would throw a ball at me in the back garden, or on the driveway of the family home in Dore, a village in South Yorkshire, near Sheffield.

Later, I remember my younger brother Billy and I travelling to watch Dad play for Sheffield Collegiate on the weekends. We would be waiting impatiently on the driveway for Dad to come out – that’s how keen we were! It’s amazing that both of us grew up and went on to play for Yorkshire County Cricket Club.

Despite our enthusiasm, we weren’t always welcome in the team dressing room. I would hound Dad’s team-mates to bowl at me behind the pavilion while they waited to bat. Once Billy hid in a player’s cricket bag and then jumped out – he gave the man a real shock!

My Dad, Matt, was the biggest influence on my career but we also enjoy a great tradition of cricket in Yorkshire. You can see village teams playing every weekend and the standard is high.

Perhaps the player who inspired me most is a fellow Yorkshireman – Michael Vaughan.

I was glued to the television screen when he led England to a famous Ashes win against Australia in 2005. We both played for Sheffield Collegiate and he’s a great friend too.

I went to school at King Ecgbert Secondary in Dore but left after my GCSEs to concentrate on cricket. My dream was always to play for England and I practised long and hard to further my career. I made my first team debut for Yorkshire when I was still 19.

People sometimes ask what I would have done if I hadn’t made it in cricket. I studied fine art at school and always fancied being an artist. I carry my sketch book with me when I’m away on tour with England. I find it very relaxing to draw but I’m no expert.

The same could be said of my guitar playing! I started off on a ukulele because it was small and easy to carry around in my luggage.

I’ve progressed to a proper guitar now and I’m doing my best to learn different songs.

I still find it hard to sleep the night before I play for England. I have to pinch myself sometimes to realise what I have achieved.

Sometimes I watch a detective series on the

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PROFILE Joseph Edward Root Age: 25 Born: 30 December 1990 Height: 6ft Lives: Dore, South Yorkshire Teams: Yorkshire and England Style: Right-handed batsman, Right-arm off break Test debut: Versus India at Nagpur, 2012 Recent awards: Man of the Series, versus Australia in the 2015 Ashes

hotel television, or call friends. The temptation is to reach for the guitar but I think that annoys the players in the room next door!

Even though I’m now 25 and a regular with England, I can’t wait to get home and see my friends and family in Yorkshire. In fact, I’ve just bought my first house. It’s close to my parents place in Dore and I love it. I sleep best in my own bed and it’s a real treat to have a lie in.

I’m very proud to be from Yorkshire. There’s a great sense of belonging here.

It’s a beautiful place to live.

I’m still furnishing the place but the first items I bought were a big television and a sofa.

Everything else just fits in around that! I didn’t find it difficult leaving my family home because I was away playing with England and Yorkshire much of the time anyway.

Training with my Yorkshire team-mates in Leeds is just as must fun as when I first started six years ago. We have a nutritionist too but if I’m honest, I don’t really stick to a diet. I like a bacon sandwich for breakfast, or cereal with chocolate chips on top!

And we’re spoilt rotten with lunch at Yorkshire. It’s usually pasta, or my favourite, roast beef and Yorkshire pudding. But if I’m not training, I go to the nearest takeaway restaurant.

I actually enjoy cooking for myself too but Carrie, my girlfriend, is much better than me.

I’m very proud to be from Yorkshire. It’s not just because I come from a long line of players, like Geoff Boycott, Ray Illingworth, Len Hutton and Michael Vaughan. There’s a great sense of belonging here. It’s a beautiful place to live and I always look forward to coming back.

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NEWS

On top of the world

Š SWpix.com

2015 was a momentous year for Yorkshire.

Our outstanding sports men and women shone bright on the global stage and we met some new stars of stage and screen. In no particular order, here’s our amazing eight.

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Leeds Rhinos Treble-winning Challenge Cup Champions 2015

Leeds Rhinos made history in 2015 by securing the club’s first ever treble in 120 years having retained the Challenge Cup at Wembley with victory over Hull KR before a last second try at Huddersfield Giants secured top spot in the league. The treble was completed at Old Trafford on an emotional evening as Leeds said goodbye to legends Kevin Sinfield, Jamie Peacock and Kylie Leuluai with a hard fought 22-20 win over Wigan in the Grand Final.

“ I took a chance and after much flour, sweat and tears I came out triumphant.

Yorkshire will always hold a special place in my heart.”

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Nadiya Hussain BBC Great British Bake Off Champion 2015

Nadiya Hussain won The Great British Bake Off 2015 which attracted a record audience of more than 13 million viewers, making it the most-watched TV show of the year. The mum-of-three lived in Leeds for ten years before moving south at the end of last year.

2015 was a year of change for me. It was year I took a chance and after much flour, sweat and tears I came out triumphant. Not just as the winner, but triumphant as Nadiya. The real me that spent a long time hiding finally has no barriers or walls. I am free to run. How has Yorkshire influenced my success? Well Yorkshire has given me a Loiner husband born and bred. Friendly, kind and warm. Since the win all I have received is well wishes and kindness from a place that was once home, but will always hold a special place in my heart.

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Man of Steel Zak Hardaker said: It has been an honour to be involved in this team and this piece of history just tops it all off. We targeted the treble, we put a lot of hard work into this year and there is nothing about luck involved – it is hard work. Now we have achieved it all I can look back with so much pride.

It has been incredible to be involved with this team and this culture we have built up. It is a legacy of Leeds now, it’s tremendous.

Jessica Ennis-Hill 2015 World Champion and Sportswoman of the Year

World champion Jessica Ennis-Hill CBE, from Sheffield, won the Sunday Times and Sky Sports Sportswoman of the Year award.

The 29-year-old, who also won in 2012, claimed her second World Championship heptathlon title in August, only 13 months after giving birth to her son Reggie. Jessica may travel the world but Sheffield is where she belongs.

I love Sheffield. It’s my home.

I have been fortunate to visit some incredible places around the world, but nothing compares to home. I have a great training set up here with brilliant facilities allowing me to do all the training I need to be ready for major championships. I love the fact that we have the Peak District right on our door step.

My dog Myla loves going for long walks and there’s lots of exploring Reggie can do.

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Calendar Girls The new musical inspired by the calendar

The members of Rylstone and District Women’s Institute who stripped off to raise money for charity, first prompted the 2003 film Calendar Girls. In 2015 they inspired one of the world’s biggest popstars Gary Barlow to pen the musical The Girls with top playwright Tim Firth.

Calendar Girl Tricia Stewart said: When I had this idea as a joke nearly 20 years ago, I had no idea that we would end up having a movie made about us, a stage show and now a musical as well as raising over £4million for Leukaemia Research.

I knew we would cause a stir: middle aged women in the nude, but I had no idea how big it would become. I think being northern women has been a huge part of it. We had no idea of the effects – how it would change the image of the WI, alter the perception of the older woman – we did it in memory of John, I thought it was very funny. We didn’t ask anybody’s advice, we just decided we were going to do it!

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Lizzie Armitstead Reigning World, Commonwealth and National road race champion

Cyclist Lizzie Armitstead started her 2015 season with victory in Qatar, before winning several one day races and UCI World Cup events. Last summer she took a convincing win in the British National Road Race Championships, her third title, which also took her to the top of the World rankings, before winning the final round of the World Cup which secured her the overall title. In September 2015 she was crowned women’s road world champion after a breathtaking sprint finish at the UCI World Championships.

I feel very privileged to be part of cycling at the moment – having experienced an Olympics on home soil and then the Tour de France passing through my home town of Otley. Yorkshire has produced some incredible cyclists and that’s no coincidence, its beautiful cycling country. Challenging, safe and dramatic. I owe a lot to the volunteers and local sporting clubs who have helped me along my way. Plus the training here is relentless, up and down all day, there are very few options for a ‘recovery’ day. You can get fit here very quickly!

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6

Nile Wilson World Gymnastic Championships silver medallist in 2015.

Nile Wilson, from Leeds, helped Britain to an historic Gymnastics World Championships team silver at Glasgow in 2015. Considered one of Britain’s best sporting gems, 19-yearold Nile is a double gold-winning Commonwealth medalist.

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I started gymnastics when I was four years old.

It’s every gymnast’s dream to compete in the World Championships. I was sat as a young boy watching the Olympics on television and thinking I want to be there. Years down the line I am really proud to represent my country.

My home club – Leeds Gymnastics Club – is a massive part of my life and the support I have from my family and friends, I would never have got this far without them. Yorkshire and where I am from is a massive part of my journey.

Nicola Adams Olympic, Commonwealth and European Champion boxer

Baku was my big moment in 2015. You train all year round but the last ten weeks (before competing) are where you really put the work in. Everyone seems to have a lot of support from people in Yorkshire.

I really feel like everyone is behind you.

I have found that all the way along. Sometimes I do think I can’t believe (how far I’ve come) but it comes down to all the hard work.

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© Kyte Photography

Olympic boxing champion Nicola Adams MBE, from Leeds, won flyweight gold at the European Games in Baku. She is the first woman to win an Olympic boxing title and is the reigning Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games and European Games champion.

Sir Gary Verity Tour de France Grand Départ leader and Welcome to Yorkshire CEO

Sir Gary Verity - widely known as the man who brought the Tour de France to Yorkshire, was awarded a knighthood in the Queen’s birthday honours. He is behind the Tour de Yorkshire which will bring some of the biggest names in cycling to the county this year and in 2017.

Inset image © James Hardisty / Johnston Press

I’m passionate about Yorkshire. This is where I grew up, where I live and where I work.

There is no better job in the world than to be Chief Executive of Welcome to Yorkshire where I can help to promote the place I love best. My late father inspired me most and when I received the letter from the Cabinet Office about my knighthood, I did wonder what my dad would have made of it. He was a great dad, a master joiner but also a great sportsman. He used to take me to the rugby league, the cricket, Leeds United; opening me up to the incredible sporting calibre we have in the county as well as the stunning places we have to visit.

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Inspiring diversity Top to bottom: The Cow and Calf rocks overlooking Ilkley. Cruising on the canals. 1853 Gallery in Salts Mill. Brontë Parsonage Museum in Haworth. Keighley & Worth Valley Railway. Cartwright Hall in Lister Park, Bradford.

An artistic and cultural hub, West Yorkshire is home to first class museums and galleries documenting the heritage that is engrained into the very fibre of this diverse area.

Sculpture and culture Some of the best painters, musicians and sculptors hail from or have been influenced by West Yorkshire’s towns and cities.

In Wakefield you’ll find Yorkshire Sculpture Park, one of the world’s leading open air galleries that inspires and delight visitors of all ages set among 500 acres of stunning grounds.

If that isn’t enough, a visit to The Hepworth Wakefield is a must. Home to the work of local girl Barbara Hepworth, it is one of the UK’s largest purpose built art galleries.

Further west, the calibre of heritage continues. Visit Huddersfield Art Gallery and explore the town through a series of heritage trails. The first UNESCO City of Film, Bradford, is home to the stunning Alhambra Theatre hosting a vast array of productions, from ballet to comedy.

Nearby, Bradford Cathedral is a hidden jewel waiting to be discovered. Set in tranquil gardens, the building is alive with a sense of history and has a varied programme of events.

Cartwright Hall, situated in the middle of Lister Park, offers exciting exhibitions of mainly 19th and 20th century British Art. Also well worth a visit is Kala Sangam, an arts organisation which aims to increase understanding of the cultural traditions of South Asia. Local and international artists deliver performances and much more.

Down the road is Saltaire. Founded in 1853 by Sir Titus Salt, the area is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Salts Mill forms the heart of this pretty village, and also houses one of the largest collections of David Hockney’s work at 1853 Gallery. Pay a visit to the VM Lounge Bar & Bistro in nearby Shipley - dine alfresco in the contemporary landscaped gardens as you soak up the atmosphere.

Heading south is Holmfirth, famous as being the place where the world’s longest running TV comedy, Last of the Summer Wine, was filmed. The Ashley Jackson Gallery in the town centre provides a vibrant viewing platform to view the watercolour collection of postcards and prints.

Wide open spaces and wonderful waterways Despite being home to thriving cities like Leeds, you are never far from glorious countryside in West Yorkshire. For those who love life on two wheels, the steep contours of Holme Moss are a must, known in the cycling community as one of the most iconic climbs in the country. Or why not attempt Cragg Vale, England’s longest continual incline.

Not for the faint hearted! For explorers who prefer a leisurely pace and panoramic views, take in the outstanding

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WELCOME TO WEST YORKSHIRE

Clockwise from left: Salts Mill in Saltaire.

The beautiful landscape surrounding Huddersfield.

The award winning Hepworth Wakefield.

natural beauty of the Cow and Calf rocks, standing proudly on the moor overlooking the spa town of Ilkley.

Experience Push the boat out and enjoy a holiday on the water with the magnificent five star all-inclusive hotel boat, Lady Teal. Discover the high vantage point of the Star Deck for pre-dinner drinks, and enjoy being served an eight course meal for skippers evening.

Luxury by the locks!

Waterways still play a pivotal part in the history of West Yorkshire, housing two of the “seven wonders of Britain’s Waterways”. Standedge Tunnel is the highest, deepest and longest canal tunnel in the area, standing over the Huddersfield Narrow Canal, and Bingley Five Rise Locks is the steepest flight of locks in the UK. Stroll along miles of tranquil towpaths, visiting towns and villages along the way, or cruise along at the helm of your very own narrowboat.

Family fun Families love the iconic National Media Museum in Bradford. This free museum is devoted to film, photography, TV, radio, gaming and the web and has Yorkshire’s first IMAX cinema.

A trip to the cobbled streets of Haworth will enable you to explore Brontë Country, and the Brontë Parsonage Museum, home of the world’s most famous literary family.

Throughout 2016 there will be a number of celebrations taking place to commemorate 200 years since Charlotte Brontë’s birth.

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For green fingered parents, the new Tong Garden Centre with its Grass Hoppers outdoor adventure playground is sure to tire out the little ones, while you plot your next horticultural creation!

One of the best ways to explore is to hop on board a vintage steam engine. Keighley & Worth Valley Railway runs like a ribbon though Brontë Country, where you can expect to take in some of the most breathtaking and famous landscapes in the world. Kirklees Light Railway also hold regular special events and galas that can be enjoyed by young and old.

Fantastic fodder All this fun is sure to make any visitor hungry, so it is a good job that the Michelin starred Box Tree Restaurant in Ilkley is on hand to serve up a fine feast. Ale lovers can’t miss a trip to The Fleece Inn at Barkisland, winner of Yorkshire’s Favourite Pub 2015. It’s worth a visit if only for the views from the terrace across the valley. Food and drink is rejoiced widely across West Yorkshire with events such as Wakefield Food Drink and Rhubarb Festival, Huddersfield Food and Drink Festival, Holmfirth Food and Drink Festival and the World Curry Festival in Bradford.

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OUTDOORS

Shipwrecks, caves, whales, dolphins and forests of kelp… the Yorkshire Coast hides secrets few of us ever hear about.

A wetsuited Dominic Bliss is let in on some of them. omewhere off the Yorkshire Coast, near Flamborough Head, there’s a very famous shipwreck lying at the bottom of the sea.

So famous, in fact, that the American thriller writer Clive Cussler has spent the last few decades scouring the ocean floor for it – just like a character from one of his novels.

The US Navy got involved, too, procuring one of their nuclear-powered submarines to help in the search.

The elusive ship in question is the Bonhomme Richard, captained by American War of Independence hero John Paul Jones. It sank off Flamborough Head in 1779 after a bitter battle against the British navy… and its whereabouts have been a mystery ever since.

Not that I’m likely to find it. I’ve been invited on a snorkel safari off Flamborough Head by Kat Sanders, fisheries and wildlife officer for the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust.

But I’ll be far too close to shore to spot any shipwrecks.

What I should spot, however, are scorpionfish, cuckoo wrasse, sea urchins, forests of enormous kelp; even grey seals, from a distance, and dolphins if I’m extremely lucky.

Although today of all days, a summer storm has churned up the seabed obscuring fauna and flora.

Fully kitted out in wetsuit, fins, goggles and snorkel, I submerge into the cold water and wiggle through the swaying tentacles of kelp. This is what it must feel like to be a seal. Minus the snorkel, of course.

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Kat, her colleague and I swim around the corner of the bay until we reach Smugglers’ Cave. (Yes, really, that’s what it’s called.) Dragging ourselves out of the surf we clamber deep inside the cave, slipping and sliding over the rock that has been smoothed by millennia of waves. It’s dark at the back of the cave but there’s daylight poking through a tiny gap high up.

Through the gap, I’m told, is a massive bird breeding and nesting colony belonging to Flamborough headland.

We can’t go any further as it’s illegal to disturb the birds while nesting. But budding ornithologists can always take a trip around Flamborough Cliffs Nature Reserve and, with the help of binoculars, spot the kittiwakes, gannets, razorbills, guillemots and puffins which return to the coast to raise their young between June and August. Beyond them, out to sea, you might spot dolphins, whales, even basking sharks on a good day. And lurking somewhere beneath them is the Bonhomme Richard.

This section of the Yorkshire coastline is dotted with shipwrecks, many of which have been visited by divers.

Later I speak to Carl Racey, a veteran member of Scarborough Sub-Aqua Club, who spends much of his spare time exploring these wrecks, and has documented around 1,200 in all. There are merchant ships, warships, iron steamers, fishing vessels, even a German U-boat – and some of them have given up amazing hauls of treasure and ship’s brass that now adorn Carl’s clubhouse in Scarborough.

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Later that day we join Helen Ranson, a volunteer at Yorkshire Wildlife Trust’s Living Seas Centre. She takes us down to South Landing beach to try our hand at rock-pooling.

It immediately brings back childhood memories of hours spent leaving no stone unturned in search of elusive aquatic beasties. Helen obviously knows where to look since, within seconds, she has found a huge shore crab which she holds up in the air, its claws bristling. It turns out it had been in the throes of merging with a second crab so we quickly reunite the couple and let them continue what they were doing. I fear the moment may have been lost, however.

Our next seaside task is litter picking. Ingeniously, the Living Seas Centre has managed to persuade kids that picking up rubbish from the beach can be a fun leisure activity. While I join in, Helen regales me with tales of the most unusual items she has found along the coastline including the fossilised tusk of a mammoth. How

that got there one can only imagine.

It ended up in a local museum.

Enthusing local children is all part of the Living Seas Centre’s raison d’etre. “We’re trying to raise awareness of marine life and conservation, and to get people passionate for what lives under the sea,” Kat explains later. “It’s not only the next generation we work with. My work specifically is to engage with everyone who uses Yorkshire’s shoreline. Anglers, hikers, paragliders, jet-skiers and, of course, fishermen.”

Bridlington, the main town on Flamborough Head, is an important UK seafood port, with a large fleet of registered fishing vessels, so Kat

invests a lot of time into understanding the needs of the fishermen to help solve some of the issues they face. Her efforts are paying off. Her new fishing for litter project works with fishermen to recover litter from the sea, preventing it from causing damage to their valuable fishing gear and harming wildlife. “Marine litter can damage marine habitats so it’s vital we remove it wherever possible.

“We also help a family of fishermen here at Flamborough to run wildlife watching boat trips,” Kat adds. “They are as passionate about ensuring that wildlife is protected from the litter as we are so it’s a win-win situation.”

Dominic Bliss was a guest of Yorkshire Wildlife Trust which launched guided snorkel safaris around Flamborough in 2015. Call 01262 422103 or email livingseas@ywt.org.uk Dominic stayed at Field House Farm which runs luxury self-catering cottages call 01262 674932; website: www.fieldhousefarmcottages.co.uk

Previous page: A wetsuited Dominic Bliss on his snorkel safari with the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust. Above left to right: The sea lapping around the bright white chalk boulders that line the higher areas of the shore. Flamborough lighthouse. Flamborough Head. Traditional fishing boats. A beautiful show of delicate pink thrift in the chalk grassland along the cliff edge. Below: About to discover the forests of kelp. Opposite clockwise from top: High Stacks at sunrise. The Old Lighthouse tower built in chalk from 1650-1699. The incredible caves dotting the Yorkshire Coast near Flamborough Head.

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FLAMBOROUGH CLIFFS

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From the car park at North Landing, turn right along the coastal footpath and climb the steps toward Cooness Nook. Look for delicate pink sea thrift and the blooms of chalk-loving plants, such as yellow bird’s-foot trefoil, as well as displays of purple pink northern marsh orchids. Listen for serenading skylarks singing high above the neighbouring farmland, which also supports breeding meadow pipits and corn buntings. On a quiet day, you may spot a weasel darting across the grassy path.

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Puffin

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Seabird paradise

The distinctive cries of ‘kitti-wake’ fill the air while you peer towards the jagged chalk cliffs, where nesting kittiwakes, guillemots, razorbills and herring gulls are in constant motion as they feed their young. Scan the cliffs for the unmistakable coloured bills of puffins.

Look out for small numbers of shags and cormorants towards the cliff bases.

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Sea watching

Out to sea, you will see gannets flying back to their breeding colony at RSPB Bempton Cliffs. On a calm day, you may spot the distinctive triangular fin of a harbour porpoise or even a grey seal. During spells of onshore winds during late summer and autumn, terns, skuas and shearwaters are blown closer to land offering good views.

Gannet

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Rockpool exploration

Getting there

Retrace your steps and drop down to the sandy bay at North Landing.

At low tide, sea caves and rockpools are revealed, which are perfect for exploring. Look out for the stout bodies of puffins barrelling low across the sea’s surface. You can take a boat trip from North Landing for a seal’s eye view of the cliffs.

From Bridlington, follow the signs to Flamborough/B1255. Once you pass the church, you’ll reach a junction: to visit Flamborough Cliffs Nature Reserve, follow the signs for North Landing public car park; to go to the Living Seas Centre, follow the signs for South Landing public car park. There is a bus stop in Flamborough village, which is a mile’s walk from either site.

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Take a boat trip for a ‘seal’s-eye view’

Cliff view

Return to the car park and head west down the steps and along the footpath onto the cliff tops. Look for the delicate flowers of sea thrift, which line the cliff edge. Listen out for migrants from late summer as you pass through Holmes Gut including whinchats, which will be on their journey back to Africa for winter.

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Sea thrift

Make a day of it Just a 10 minute drive away or on the very pleasant eight-mile circular walk around the headland, you’ll find the Trust’s Living Seas Centre at South Landing. Packed with information about our fascinating marine life, this centre acts as the base for the Trust’s Living Seas events. South Landing shoreline has excellent rockpools, whilst the woodland attracts migrant birds each autumn and is well worth investigating.

For more information go to www.ywt.org.uk/Living-Seas-Centre

© Visit Hull & East Yorkshire

or www.yorkshire.com/outdoors

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Peaceful spot

Follow the steps down to Thornwick Bay, often a quieter alternative to North Landing.

At low tide, the expansive rocky shore is revealed, complete with a network of rockpools and sea caves waiting to be discovered. Retrace your steps towards North Landing.

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HARROGATE & SURROUNDING MARKET TOWNS

Relaxed indulgence The historic spa town of Harrogate offers an air of relaxed indulgence, with stunning architecture and tree-lined avenues. It’s a perfect base to explore the surrounding countryside and market towns.

One of Harrogate’s unique venues is the Turkish Baths. Walls of vibrant glazed brickwork and arabesque ceilings create a contemporary spa experience among historic surroundings.

Moving to the modern day, 2016 is an exciting time for Harrogate’s spa offering as two of the area’s finest luxury hotels, Rudding Park and Swinton Park reveal brand new facilities.

Tee-off time Golf lovers will not be disappointed with the number of beautifully manicured and well maintained courses on offer.

New for 2016 is the Harrogate District Golf Pass, with three, four and five day passes to play on the area’s stunning courses, where rolling fairways give way to sweeping views.

Indulge Harrogate is a shopper’s paradise, awash with independent and boutique shops. Visit the Montpellier Quarter for an exclusive shopping experience set amongst floral hanging baskets and cobbled streets. After all that shopping you’ll need to recharge your batteries. Refuel at the famous Bettys Tearooms, established in 1919. With over 130 restaurants including the Michelin starred Yorke Arms and the award winning Van Zeller, you’re spoilt for choice when it comes to dining out in and around Harrogate.

Great outdoors Harrogate offers horticultural heaven, with over 40 gardens including Valley Gardens and RHS Garden Harlow Carr. Take in 900 years of history at the World Heritage Site of Fountains Abbey & Studley Royal, as you explore the 12th century abbey and medieval deer park. The market town of Knaresborough offers a wonderful day out, with riverside walks, boat hire, pitch and putt and more, whilst the cathedral city of Ripon is the heritage capital of the district with a history dating back to 672 AD. Take a trip to unspoilt Masham, famous for its family-run breweries, steam engines and annual sheep fair. Try the tranquil town of Pateley Bridge, nestled in nearby Nidderdale. This designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty is the perfect base for cyclists and walkers alike.

Top to bottom: RHS Garden Harlow Carr in full bloom.

The Yorke Arms in Ramsgill near Pateley Bridge. Stunning views towards Fountains Abbey & Studley Royal © National Trust images.

The unique Turkish Baths in Harrogate.

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Events Harrogate International Festivals celebrates its 50th anniversary this year (see page 112) and with regulars such as the Great Yorkshire Show, International Gilbert & Sullivan Festival, Knaresborough Bed Race and the Harrogate Flower Shows you won’t be short of entertainment. Why not visit the area at Christmas time – with numerous markets, beautiful lights on the Stray, illuminations at Coldstones Cut and Fountains Abbey and Ripon’s stunning News Year’s Eve Torchlight Procession, Harrogate makes for a truly wonderful festive escape.

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ARTISTIC

SCREEN DREAM 86

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The county’s landscape is a screenwriter’s dream.

Hannah Bryan looks at the recent dramas, series and films that have cast the spotlight on Yorkshire.

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ith her perfectly preened hair, manicured nails and glamorous red lips, Catherine Zeta-Jones may look more at home on the red carpet than the windswept streets of Bridlington. You’d also be forgiven for doing a double-take after spotting Drew Barrymore standing atop the iconic Cow and Calf Rocks on Ilkley Moor, or gawping as Rupert Everett strolls down the streets of Hull.

But celeb spotting is no rare thing in Yorkshire.

The county’s landscape is fast becoming a magnet for movie-makers, lured by the eclectic mix of rolling countryside, spectacular coastlines, impressive stately homes and contemporary cities.

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Recent months have seen a wealth of Hollywood superstars take to Yorkshire, with the big-screen adaptation of the classic British comedy, Dad’s Army, bringing the likes of Catherine Zeta-Jones, Bill Nighy, Michael Gambon, Toby Jones and Blake Harrison to the county.

For seven weeks, the cast and crew of the big-budget production shone the spotlight on East Yorkshire, transforming Bridlington’s Old Town into the fictional Walmington-on-Sea, while the imposing white cliffs of North Landing, at the nearby Flamborough Head, formed the backdrop for Walmington beach. Scarborough, Beverley, Loftus, Pickering, Leeds and Helmsley also play a starring role in the film.

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“We had a wonderful experience shooting Dad’s Army in Yorkshire. Its stunning locations give the film an epic scale and the people were beyond helpful,” says the film’s Bafta winning producer, Damian Jones, whose credits include The Iron Lady and The History Boys.

Not content with providing the setting for fictional towns, Yorkshire has even doubled up for other parts of the world – including Switzerland, for The Hunter’s Prayer. The $25m blockbuster was shot almost exclusively in Yorkshire, with actors Sam Worthington, Martin Compston and Odeya Rush filming scenes across a mix of urban and rural locations, including Leeds, Helmsley and Scarborough, as well as the pretty streets of Harrogate, which doubled up for Switzerland.

Richard Knight, Head of Production at the county’s regional screen agency, Screen Yorkshire, says: “I did some early scouting in Yorkshire, and I was slightly worried that the crew wouldn’t quite get everything they needed. But I was completely bowled over by what they were able to do. Yorkshire just doubled up for other places and they went away loving the place. If they go back to the USA praising Yorkshire, that is the best currency you can get.”

Urban locations in Hull have stood in for East London and Amsterdam in ID2 – the sequel to the cult 1990s football hooligan drama, ID – while Calderdale, in West Yorkshire, takes centre stage in the big-screen adaptation of the Arthur Ransom classic, Swallows and Amazons, and Ilkley Moor features in the Hollywood blockbuster Miss You Already, featuring Drew Barrymore and Toni Collette.

Meanwhile, Hollywood stars Elle Fanning, Nicole Kidman and Alex Sharp descend on

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Sheffield for the sci-fi romance, How to Talk to Girls at Parties, while West Yorkshire also plays a starring role in the horror-thriller, The Limehouse Golem, featuring Olivia Cooke and Douglas Booth.

For the British comedy-drama, A Royal Night Out, starring Sarah Gadon, Bel Powley, Rupert Everett and Emily Watson, the centre of Hull was transformed into 1940s London, with Hull City Hall masquerading as the Ritz Hotel, and Alfred Gelder Street for London’s Piccadilly.

“Hull City Council were amazing – they were so film friendly and gave us fantastic access to city centre locations. Without Hull I do not think that film would have been made, as they couldn’t find the right location without closing the centre of London for filming,” says Sally Joynson, chief executive of Screen Yorkshire. “We are going through the renaissance of the region’s screen industry. Yorkshire is the biggest county in the UK and it needs a really strong voice for its screen industries. In Yorkshire you can do pretty much whatever you want within a 30 to 40 mile radius. Really there is everything here but the desert and the Norwegian Fjords - because of that it is very cost effective.”

Since 2012, Screen Yorkshire has been responsible for bringing around 30 new productions to the county for both the big and small screen, while the recent transformation of a former RAF base in Church Fenton, between Leeds and York, into a 440-acre studio has also helped to cement Yorkshire’s position at the forefront of the burgeoning British film industry.

The venue’s first production, Victoria, is set to hit our screens this year after a mammoth seven-month shoot. Billed by some as the new Downton Abbey, the ambitious eight-part ITV drama series stars Doctor Who’s Jenna Coleman and follows the early life of Queen

Did you know Other Hull locations that can be seen in the film A Royal Night Out include the exterior of the former Trinity House School in Princes Dock Street. Filming also took place at The George pub, in Land of Green Ginger, where the landlady, Fiona George, got the chance to play the landlady on screen.

Previous pages: The Cow and Calf Rocks on Ilkley Moor has recently been used for the filming of Miss You Already. The remake of Dad’s Army filmed in Bridlington.

A Royal Night Out.

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THE BEST LOCATIONS Victoria, from her ascension to the throne at the tender age of 18, through to her courtship and marriage to Prince Albert.

Recent years have also seen an increasing number of television producers recognising the diverse locations and experienced crew Yorkshire has to offer - Kay Mellor’s BBC drama, The Syndicate, was filmed at various locations around the county, as was Sally Wainwright’s gritty crime series, Happy Valley, starring Sarah Lancashire.

And 2016 will be no different, with Yorkshire featuring in upcoming television dramas like ITV’s Dark Angel, starring Downton Abbey star, Joanne Froggatt, and Jericho, a big-budget, eightpart series following a community of pioneers, settlers and outcasts who battle to build the iconic viaduct at Ribblehead, near Hawes, in the Yorkshire Dales. Meanwhile, the extraordinary story of West Yorkshire’s Brontë sisters will also be brought to life in Sally Wainwright’s To Walk Invisible: The Brontë Sisters, later this year, while the new series of Kay Mellor’s BBC One drama, In The Club, shines the light on Leeds.

Skeldale Veterinary Centre, in Thirsk, also finds itself in the spotlight once again as the second series of Channel 5’s The Yorkshire Vet airs in April. The documentary, which attracted around 1.5 million viewers, followed the lives of Yorkshire vets Julian Norton and Peter Wright as they tend to all creatures great and small.

“Over the last ten years, there has been so much stuff to come out of Yorkshire,” says Screen Yorkshire’s Richard Knight.

“We need to make hay while the sun shines - that just takes investment and the will to do it. And the will is definitely out there, both with our partner agencies and with the fantastic people of Yorkshire.”

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Clockwise from top left: Sarah Lancashire in Happy Valley. ITV’s Dark Angel starring Joanne Froggatt.

Top Withens in Brontë Country is a popular choice for filmmakers. Catherine Zeta-Jones in Dad’s Army.

Jericho is set at Ribblehead Viaduct. Drew Barrymore and Toni Collette in the Cow & Calf pub during Miss You Already.

Experience Visit the home of Charlotte Brontë in Haworth during her bicentenary year as 2016 marks the launch of Brontë200 which will celebrate the bicentenaries of the Brontë siblings. The Brontë Parsonage Museum houses the world’s largest collection of artefacts and documents associated with the Brontë family and their work.

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The greatest day If you’re looking for the greatest day out in history, you’ve come to the right place. In York, you’ll find heritage round every corner a Gothic minster, the cobbled streets and chocolate galore.

Heritage and history are at the very heart of a trip to York. Wander round the cobblestoned pavements and within minutes you are likely to bump into a building or landmark of bygone significance. Perhaps the most awe-inspiring is the Gothic behemoth of York Minster, the largest in northern Europe. Inside you’ll find a stainedglass masterpiece, interactive underground chambers and a place of worship of such grandeur that your jaw will almost hit the floor.

There are three outstanding museums to explore: York Castle Museum and Yorkshire Museum, both of which are filled with artefacts and historical gems, plus the National Railway Museum, which offers a fascinating insight into how transport by rail transformed not only York, but the whole country. This museum is home to over 300 years of history and over a million wonderful objects. Best of all – it’s completely free to enter.

Perhaps you’ve got more of a sweet tooth though, and if this is the case then you should most certainly make a beeline for York’s Chocolate Story, which takes visitors on a whistle-stop tour through the history of chocolate in the city and explores the lives of the biggest York-based names in

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confectionery, including Joseph Rowntree of Rowntree’s and Joseph Terry, of Terry’s.

Keeping on the chocolate theme, if you fancy learning more about the chocolate-making trade, then York Cocoa House hosts classes in the art of crafting the perfect confectionery.

If that doesn’t make you feel hungry, then maybe a trip to one of the world’s most famous tearooms, Bettys, will. Here you can devour a Fat Rascal or relax over Afternoon Tea. The city is not short of fine dining either, with the aesthetically pleasing Star Inn the City serving up tremendous local fayre or The Blue Bicycle which continues to be a beacon of light for fans of fine food. If you fancy something a little more relaxed then The Whippet Inn has fast earned a reputation for seriously tasty steaks.

One of the best things about a city that has the hustle and bustle of York, is that there is always something going on. So whether that is a show or performance at York Theatre Royal, the Grand Opera House or York Barbican you’re bound to find something that’s up your street. York Art Gallery – home to CoCA, the brand new Centre of Ceramic Art – showcases spectacular works throughout the year and has recently undergone a revamp too.

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WELCOME TO YORK

Clockwise from top left: Family fun at the National Railway Museum.

The awe-inspiring York Minster.

Authentic experiences at JORVIK. Delicious Bettys treats. Clifford’s Tower. The Shambles - the oldest shopping street in the world.

York also has a busy events and festivals calendar. Perhaps the highlight of the 2016 diary is the return of the Mystery Plays at York Minster. Don’t miss the spectacular transformation of the awe-inspiring nave in May and June and be wowed by what promises to be an amazing theatrical performance.

You can also plan your stay in York for the end of the year too, with the newly extended St Nicholas Christmas Festival.

Other highlights worth exploring in York include York Racecourse, where the Welcome to Yorkshire Ebor Festival in August is an annual must-see whilst York Maze and the Web Adventure Park both provide the opportunity to tire the little nippers out. There’s also York’s ghoulishly good ghost trails and walks.

Finally, you might just decide to step back and take in the beauty of this magnificent city. What better way to do this than from Clifford’s Tower, the last remaining part of York Castle, and the City Walls, a two mile stretch of Roman walls providing unrivalled views. For a different view, why not take a trip down the river with the fabulous YorkBoat.

If you want a completely authentic experience of olden times, then York has two places in particular that are worth exploring. JORVIK Viking Centre takes you back to the VikingAge, with the remains of 1,000 year old houses, objects from excavations and a state of the art time capsule that’ll transport you back to a place with old-Norse speaking citizens and the sights and smells of York’s past. Alternatively, try the terrifying York Dungeon, filled with live actors that bring the city’s grisly past to life. Don’t forget to purchase your York Pass saving you time and money and featuring many of York’s best attractions.

Perfectly placed close to the historic city of York, Ryedale enjoys some of the most spectacular and diverse scenery in England. The mixed greens of fields and woodland in the Howardian Hills, a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, add further variation. Ryedale is home to spectacular castles and abbeys such as Castle Howard, English Heritage sites, museums, beautiful gardens and the outstanding North York Moors National Park.

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BEVERLEY

Eastern Promise

Welcome to beautiful Beverley. Cobbled streets, a majestic minster, quaint boutiques and bustling market, the thrill of the races, the calm of a traditional pub. Dave Lee found all of this and more in a unique town that is a favourite amongst visitors.

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herever you find yourself in God’s Own County you are never far away from a story. Surprisingly, perhaps, for such a taciturn tribe of people, Yorkshire is a taleteller’s paradise. But these are not the stories you find proclaimed on blue plaques or splashed around on glossy tourist brochures. In this part of the world, self-effacement is practised to almost Olympian levels. This means the stories in Yorkshire are tucked away in the forgotten corners of public buildings and the fading memories of old men in pubs. Rumours, legends, shaggy dogs and ghosts are all alive and well and firmly ingrained in the local cultures of Yorkshire. And nowhere in our fine county will you find a greater wealth of charming and beguiling stories than in the market towns.

Allow me to nail my colours firmly to the mast; I am a massive fan of Yorkshire market towns. Despite the cosmopolitan air that permeates every Olde Worlde High Street in the Ridings these days, there is still a pleasing whiff of All Creatures Great And Small amongst the smoke houses and sushi bars. The newer boutiques and galleries may be powered by the brightest of our young and independent minds, but there is a lingering charm and character in these towns redolent of centuries past.

And nowhere is this more evident than Beverley.

Beverley is founded on myths and legend. St John of Beverley, the founder of the first monastery and a performer of miracles who established the town as a pilgrim destination right up until the Reformation founded it. Such was his influence, King Henry V attributed his victory at Agincourt to the divine intervention of St John.

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Don’t miss St. Mary’s Church is blessed with many architectural wonders and oddities. For a real taste of medieval Beverley, take the colourful town trail, or browse the bustling streets of Toll Gavel, Ladygate and Hengate on market day. Then, soak up the atmosphere in one of Beverley’s many historic pubs.

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Other, more recent figures have cited Beverley as a fount of inspiration. In the church of St Mary, tucked above the doorway, there is a carving of a rabbit holding a bag. As a child, Lewis Carroll would visit his grandparents in East Yorkshire. Local wisdom has it that the childhood memory of the “messenger rabbit” inspired the character of the tardy White Rabbit in “Through The Looking Glass” for it is the very same design – or as near as damn it - adopted by John Tenniel for his original illustrations in the book.

I asked Christina Lewis, the organiser of the Beverley Literature Festival, how much truth there was in this story. Did one of the world’s most famous literary characters really start life in East Yorkshire? “Who can say for sure?” she laughs. “What I do know for certain is that every visiting author we have in Beverley leaves us inspired. And they always want to come back.”

Beverley Literature Festival is now in its thirteenth year, and has hosted heavyweight

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Images © Visit Hull & East Yorkshire

names such as Will Self, Sarah Waters, Jonathan Coe and Brian Blessed. Renowned for diversity and offering the very best in contemporary writing and debate, the festival takes place in several locations across the market town, including the new East Riding Theatre (which also doubled as the village hall in the new Dad’s Army film) and the iconic Beverley Minster. Along with Food and Folk, it’s quickly established itself as one of the most notable UK festival dates on the culture lover’s calendar.

Take a stroll around the town on a golden autumn Saturday, and it’s not hard to see why Beverley demands repeated visits. In 2007 it was voted the best place to live in the UK in an “Affordable Affluence” survey carried out by the Royal Bank Of Scotland. Affordable affluence is about right. The traditional market in the square is a foodie’s dream, with world coffee, spices and artisan cheese jostling for attention alongside the more traditional meat and veg coming fresh and direct from the

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local farms. And, true to the spirit of Yorkshire, it’s all at down to earth prices. Bring a big shopping bag, because you’ll need one. As well as the generous array of comestibles, handmade jewellery and local crafts are also well represented, so you can walk away from the tightly packed stalls with a feast fit for Jay Rayner and an utterly original piece of artistry.

Soap cake, anyone? Japanese wine bottle cover? I pause by the cheese stall to speak to Phil, a local trader of some years standing.

What keeps him in Beverley?

“I’ve lived and worked here all my life”, he tells me, “and every week I meet people from all over the world.”

If the clatter of cosmopolitan life gets too much, rest and repose is only a short walk away.

Wander through the 15th Century North Bar Within – where King Charles rested up after he was famously refused entry to Hull - and onto the Westwood, a sprawling stretch of public greenery roamed by cattle and fringed by a

Previous page: Beverley Minster.

Clockwise from top left: The beck, terrace houses, barges, and the Minster on a bright sunny day.

The remaining medieval town wall gate at Beverley North Bar Within.

The market in Beverley.

Café culture in the centre of Beverley. Walking through Westwood.

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FAMOUS MARKETS Kirkgate Market, West Yorkshire The largest covered market in Europe. The markets in Leeds opened in 1822 as an open-air market. In 1894, it was the first location of Marks & Spencer which opened as a penny bazaar.

Bradford Markets, West Yorkshire An excellent place to shop and with a wide selection of products. Includes Keighley Market Hall, Shipley Market and Bingley Market.

Pudsey, West Yorkshire A Victorian market town, this is the most traditional of the local markets serving the local community for generations.

York Shambles, North Yorkshire Shambles Market is a historic and vibrant market situated in the heart of the City of York.

Sheffield, South Yorkshire One of the UK’s best indoor markets The Moor Market is home to over 90 independent traders. Don’t miss The Moor Open Market and King Street.

Todmorden, West Yorkshire There has been a market in Todmorden for over 200 years and the two markets, indoor and open air, are a key part of local life.

Halifax, West Yorkshire With its exquisite Victorian architecture dating back to the early 1890s, shoppers can soak in years of history and benefit from a shopping experience you can’t find anywhere else.

Barnsley, South Yorkshire This fantastic market is over 700 years old with indoor and outdoor areas and over 300 stalls.

Doncaster, South Yorkshire The biggest traditional market in the North with some 400 shops, stalls and stands, Doncaster Market has been the heart of the town for hundreds of years.

Skipton, North Yorkshire Dating back to medieval times this market is unique. Voted Best Market and Day Out In Yorkshire

by Yorkshire Post Readers.

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Clockwise from top left: The famous Kirkgate Market in Leeds. Shopping in some of Beverley’s boutique stores. Friendly faces at Barnsley market.

Floral displays at Skipton market. Market Cross in Beverley.

Experience Kirkgate market hall is an architectural delight.

A revamp of the listed building in 1991 took it back to the glory days of the 19th century.

The market oozes with atmosphere and the imposing and glamorous main Edwardian space is a sight to behold – boasting ornamental wrought iron casings and grand stone archways.

medieval forest on one side and a racetrack on the other. Within ten minutes you are pocketed in silence, away from the bustle of the shops and market vendors. Pause awhile beneath the Black Tower and pretend you’re in a fairy tale. (Everyone will tell you it’s merely an abandoned mill, but to my kids and me it’s been everything from a prison for a princess to a vampire’s castle).

If your tastes veer towards the ghoulish, head for the local hostelries and scare yourself silly with good old-fashioned ghost story.

Over a foaming pint in Nellie’s, a labyrinthine 500 year-old pub of open fires and gaslight, an old timer called George regales me with the legend of Sir Josceline Percy, who drives a black carriage pulled through nocturnal streets by four headless horses. For those with more modern tastes, the town plays host to Chequers, Yorkshire’s first micro-pub.

There are jewels such as Beverley dotted all over Yorkshire, small market towns that snuggle up to the cities and enjoy all the modern conveniences but none of the uniform blandness that blights so many of our large post-industrial urban centres. And they all have their own individual quirks and characteristics.

Dig a little deeper beneath the more obvious tourist spots, behind the castles and the mills, and talk to the people who are breathing new life into the old narratives.

From the rich literary tradition of Ted Hughes’ Hebden Bridge to the Aladdin’s Den antique shops that are studded around Yarm; from the traditional farming strongholds of Bedale and Helmsley to the stylish culinary delights of Malton, there are stories in each and every market town of Yorkshire. The real joy lies in their discovery.

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A week of markets Monday Pickering, Thirsk, Scarborough, York, Hull, Skipton, Rotherham, Yeadon, Selby, Halifax, Todmorden Tuesday Scarborough, Halifax, Sowerby Bridge, Todmorden, Whitby, York, Otley, Bedale, Hawes, Doncaster, Hull, Settle Wednesday Kirkbymoorside, Hebden Bridge, Northallerton, Scarborough, Hull, York, Skipton, Masham, Knaresborough, Beverley, Bridlington, Halifax, Todmorden Thursday Guisborough, Halifax, Holmfirth, Sowerby Bridge, Todmorden, Scarborough, York, Hebden Bridge, Richmond (indoor), Ripon, Driffield, Hull

Don’t miss Flemingate Beverley brings shopping and fun close to East Yorkshire’s historic heart. Big name brands, cafés, restaurants and a six-screen cinema now sit just a hop, skip and shop from beautiful Beverley Minster.

Friday Easingwold, Filey, Helmsley, Scarborough, Stokesley, Sowerby Bridge, Todmorden, York, Skipton, Yeadon, Leyburn, Reeth, Doncaster, Rotherham, Otley, Hull, Elland, Halifax Saturday Guisborough, Malton, Northallerton, Scarborough, Thirsk, Whitby, Skipton, York, Bridlington, Halifax, Ripon, Sowerby Bridge, Todmorden, Driffield, Masham, Richmond, Hull, Thirsk, Beverley, Doncaster, Rotherham, Otley Sunday York, Hull, Bridlington, Catterick, Todmorden

Yorkshire’s Farmers’ Markets From Grassington to South Cave via Harrogate and Holmfirth the wide variety of stalls on offer at Yorkshire’s farmers’ markets is well worth a look. Pick up anything from bread to preserves, fresh eggs to cupcakes and plants to handmade chocolates.

Go to yorkshire.com/markets to find out when and where to go.

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ARTISTIC

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Stephen Joseph Theatre, Scarborough Original cinema dating from 1921

A cultural icon in Yorkshire widely known for its world premieres of almost all of Alan Ayckbourn’s 75 plus plays, it shows a yearround programme of drama, music, comedy, dance, poetry and more. With many original art deco features, the theatre boasts two auditoria including The McCarthy, a 165-seat endstage which doubles as a cinema.

Like your cinemas small, cosy, smart and experimental? Nick Ahad explores some of Yorkshire’s coolest indie cinemas.

Here is my love letter to cinema. Well, a love letter, and an apology. I have a confession to make. I am the previous owner of a card that allowed me unlimited viewings at an unnamed cinema chain of multiplexes. Gorging on movies, four in a Sunday, used to be a favourite pastime. Like eating fast food, the experience was one that never left me satisfied.

I have realised the error of my ways. Movies, lovingly crafted, painfully borne creatures (I know, I’ve written and directed a few), deserve not to be piled high like cheap confectionary. They deserve to be seen in proper cinemas, places with red seats, deep carpets and people who care about the product they are selling.

I love cinema and by owning one of those cards, I was cheating on true cinema. Fortunately, in Yorkshire, we are blessed with such places. Theatres of dreams where the imaginations of creatives come to life on screens in front of our eyes are in abundance in this county.

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Places like The Palace Cinema in Malton. Only the hardest of hearts could fail to fall in love with a cinema that has ‘family owned’ as its major selling point. The cinema website, in its Frequently Asked Questions section, responds to the question: “Why do you never answer the phone?” The answer? “If there is a show going on we give our best attentions to the customers in the foyer and to getting the shows in at the time. So we don’t answer the phone for the half an hour before the start of films.” Good luck finding a multiplex with the wit to provide such an idiosyncratic response.

I spend a lot of time in Scarborough watching live performances at the town’s genuinely beautiful Stephen Joseph Theatre. There’s nothing quite like live performance. That said, the theatre retains some of the magic of live performance when the McCarthy auditorium is transformed into a cinema. Like the Malton cinema, this is a carefully selected programme - a film has to earn its place at the Stephen Joseph Theatre.

Just down the road from Scarborough at the Whitby Pavilion Cinema, you’ll find it hard not to be seduced by the stunning location. The views from the clifftop venue are stunning. Where else could you be taken to another world, step out of a cinema and find yourself looking out to sea. It really couldn’t be more perfect.

The late lamented Odeon cinema in Bradford (yes, it will be lovely to have a music venue in the city, but anyone who ever visited the cinema in the eighties and early nineties will remember it as a picturehouse most fondly) was an epic experience. I appreciate that over time the memory plays tricks of scale, but seriously, the Odeon auditorium was enormous. Proving that bigger doesn’t necessarily mean better, the newest addition to Yorkshire’s independent cinemas is Ilkley’s small but perfectly formed Ilkley Cinema in the former Il Travatore nightclub. Seating 56, the next smallest is the 68-seater Cinema dei Piccoli in Rome. We really can do different scales in Yorkshire.

However, if the larger end of the scale is what you’re after, the brilliant Moonlight Cinemas, outdoor drive in movies have begun to pop up around the region.

Starting out in Scarborough, who knows which corners of Yorkshire the venture will have conquered by the time you read this.

While we’re around the seaside, we should briefly pop to The Spotlight Theatre in Bridlington. As should you. Like many little theatres, it is home to amateur and professional performances and Benedict Cumberbatch in Hamlet. Yes – thanks to National Theatre Live, you can see West End stars on the big screen (it is the closest you can get to being there – from Brid). And don’t forget Filey Evron Centre which overlooks the stunning Filey Bay. Yorkshire also has one of the oldest cinemas in the country. Opening on 7 November 1914, The Hyde Park Picture House is Leeds’ premier art house cinema.

A small advert announced the opening of the new picture house in the local paper, proudly proclaimed itself to be “The Cosiest in Leeds”. There’s also the Hebden Bridge Picture House which holds Thursday’s ‘Elevenses’ offering coffee, tea and flapjack to enjoy with your film.

When it comes to cinema you should never have to subject yourself to the ‘pile it high, sell it cheap’ ethos ever again. Not in Yorkshire at any rate.

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The Palace Cinema, Malton Family owned and run independent cinema with Art Deco character.

The cinema opened in 1934 following an Art Deco style refurbishment of the former Corn Exchange. The Corn Exchange was built in the 19th century and has a classical frontage onto Yorkersgate. One of the three screens is believed to be the smallest commercial screen in the country.

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Whitby Pavilion Cinema Built in the 1870s in West Cliff with an atmospheric Victorian interior.

Whitby Pavilion Complex, including the Pavilion Cinema nestling into the West Cliff has wonderful views over the North Sea. The Victorian Theatre and the refurbished Northern Lights Suite provide a venue perfect for watching the latest blockbusters.

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Ilkley Cinema A boutique, independent cinema in the gateway to the Yorkshire Dales.

Boasting Europe’s smallest Ultra 4k digital single screen cinema and dedicated to providing a totally unique experience to the local area. The building was originally built in 1890 as a Co-operative and the upper floors were used as a nightclub for more than two decades.

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Hebden Bridge Picture House

A quirky little civically owned cinema.

A cosy treat for the arty-minded folks of Hebden Bridge. Originally opened in 1921, this quirky little cinema became the main place of entertainment for the weavers, mill-workers, and other residents of Hebden Bridge and the upper Calder Valley. It has been in use as a cinema ever since. Successive councils have reinvigorated it as a true hub for the community.

Ilkley Cinema

Hebden Bridge Picture House

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Hyde Park Picture House One of the oldest cinemas in the country complete with a resident cat.

As a Grade II listed building, the Hyde Park Picture House in Leeds still boasts many original features. Gas lights illuminate its audi­torium, which is dominated by an ornate balcony and each screening has an interval for refreshments. The cinema operates as a main venue during the Leeds International Film Festival.

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WELCOME TO the NORTH YORK MOORS

Epic adventures Family fun activities, outdoor adventures, heritage in abundance and delicious destinations - the North York Moors National Park has it all, just 20 miles north of York.

There is no better way to experience the North York Moors than heading out for a walk, with anything from a one mile stroll for little legs to tackling 109 miles of the Cleveland Way National Trail. Free downloadable route guides on the National Park website take you to tumbling waterfalls, timeless stone villages, sandstone crags, idyllic dales and heather-clad moorland.

Families and fossil hunters should head to the picturesque coastal villages of Robin Hood’s Bay and Staithes. These ancient fishing villages are full of character and intrigue, with an adventure around every corner.

Epic rides The Moors are great for cycling too, whether you’re a family cyclist or a world-class mountain biker, there are many miles of country roads, bridleways, forest tracks and disused railway lines to explore. The cycling centre at Dalby Forest is one of the best places in the UK for mountain-biking, and there are easy-going day-rides in the neighbouring Howardian Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Or head out on the Moor to Sea Cycle Network, which offers 150 miles of cycling in a stunning series of loops that connect Scarborough, Whitby, Dalby Forest, Pickering and Great Ayton.

The Moors National Park Centre outside Danby offers visitors adventure play areas, riverside trails, a café and a beautiful contemporary art

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gallery. There’s also a new natural play area at Sutton Bank National Park Centre, where you can soak up ‘England’s finest view’ or head out on two wheels from Sutton Bank Bikes along spectacular trails that offer a mix of family cycling and more adventurous off-road thrills.

Journey of discovery More great journeys await you by rail, on both the Esk Valley Railway and the North Yorkshire Moors Railway - linking moorland villages and the gorgeous Esk Valley to the sea at Whitby.

The latter was used as Hogsmeade in the first Harry Potter film and is the most popular heritage railway line in the world.

Watch the seasons unfold in the magnificent gardens and grounds of Castle Howard, one of England’s finest stately homes; explore ancient woodlands and forests where red deer, badgers, owls, woodpeckers and nightjars dwell; stroll amongst the atmospheric ruins of Rievaulx Abbey, Helmsley Castle, Byland Abbey and Mount Grace Priory.

Clockwise from top left: Sutton Bank. North Yorkshire Moors Railway.

Cycling in Dalby © Joolz Diamond. Gruesome history and atmospheric ruins at Helmsley Castle.

Bustling market towns and picturesque villages are dotted throughout the moors. The weekly markets in Helmsley, Kirkbymoorside, Pickering, Stokesley and Northallerton are always worth catching, while Malton is fast becoming ‘Yorkshire’s food capital’ with its monthly food markets, artisan brewery and annual Food Lovers’ Festival.

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ACCESSIBILITY

ACCESS ALL AREAS

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What would a perfect day out in Yorkshire be to World, European and Paralympic Champion Hannah Cockroft MBE? We joined the world record holder on a rare day out to look at accessibility as well as relaxation before Rio 2016.

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spa, some good food and most definitely a trip to Yorkshire Wildlife Park would be my ideal way to relax away from the tracks.

Even better would be for me to enjoy those with my mum.

We don’t get much time to spend together these days. Life is pretty busy and a lot of this year will be spent preparing for Rio 2016 in August. I’ll start the year with a month in Australia, then it’s onto Lanzarote and then Italy for the IPC Athletics European Championships in June.

Training can be 30 minutes to three hour sessions, once or twice a day, followed by appointments with doctors, physios and nutritionists in between.

When I’m not competing or training, I’m doing appearances or speeches or conferences for sponsors as well as school visits so I don’t get much time to rest.

At weekends I try and take time out but I never get the chance to spend time just me and mum relaxing. I do have to consider how accessible places are, and for me Wentbridge House Hotel has something quite unique.

Both of their disabled bedrooms have two toilets; one for disabled guests and the other for an able bodied carer. Sometimes able bodied people can be put off by having to use a disabled bathroom so having both options in the bedroom is a brilliant idea.

You can see why the hotel has won awards for its customer service (it has won Outstanding Customer Service awards for two years running in the White Rose Awards) as the staff are absolutely lovely. They had really thought ahead of our visit to try and overcome any potential issues. For example they gave mum a

Clockwise from top left: Hannah celebrates winning the 100m at Olympic Park in London. Arriving at Wentbridge House with her mum, Rachel.

Land of the Tiger. A playful primate at the wildlife park. Hannah makes use of the great facilities to wash down her wheels. Wentbridge House a luxury, four star country house hotel. Hannah makes herself at home.

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Discover more Wentbridge House has always had a passion for fine food and wines.

Located in the beautiful West Yorkshire countryside, escape the city and enjoy 2 AA Rosette dining in the elegant surroundings of the Fleur de Lys for fine dining and contemporary cuisine.

Clockwise from top left: Playing with a blackand-white ruffed lemur.

Beautiful giraffes show an interest in Hannah’s visit. Getting up close and personal at Wallaby Walkabout. Expert advice and guidance. Relaxing back at the hotel.

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spare key to my room in case I couldn’t reach the lock for the bedroom door from my wheelchair. A nice touch.

The food was amazing and we went to have a hot drink by the fire in the bar afterwards and nearly fell asleep. We couldn’t even eat the cakes they had served and the staff were so thoughtful they gave us fresh ones boxed up to take away.

Access around the hotel is easy, there’s a disabled parking space right next to the entrance, there’s plenty of space to manoeuvre and although the disabled bedrooms are accessed via a ramp into the new part of the building, it is easy to negotiate. You get ramps and slopes wherever you go, this is never a problem for me.

The hotel is a great base for the journey down the A1 to the Yorkshire Wildlife Park – somewhere I’ve always wanted to visit but never had the chance. I absolutely loved it. Feeding the giraffes, the lemurs and the wallabies was such an amazing experience.

The park is very easy to navigate and the views of the animals that are enclosed are as good as those for able bodied people. There are

no obstructions at eye height like bars or gates as sometimes I have to get mum to take a photo of what she can see to show me.

At the wildlife park there is none of that, it is very accessible. And to see the polar bears, I could have watched them for hours they are so mesmerising.

It is also incredible to see all these animals that you can get so close to, they are all happy and have so much space around them. All this – just 40 minutes from home. There was no need for me to go all the way to Australia to feed the wallabies, I could have done it right here!

Areas also have wheelchair washes to get rid of the mud from wheels which is a nice touch. It’s such a simple but brilliant idea as you are always carrying wipes and gloves to stop your hands getting dirty. It was also great to hear that they will be investing in the pathways around the park which shows how accessibility is at the forefront of their mind.

As a really nice contrast to the wildlife park, the Titanic Spa near Huddersfield was a perfect wind down (the spa was last year named Best UK Day Spa among five awards won in the national Spa Traveller Awards).

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“ Feeding the giraffes, the lemurs and the wallabies was such an amazing experience.�

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Wide corridors and doorways, height adjusting treatment beds and parking right outside the ramp to the main entrance of the building made for an easy end to the day. With all of the spa facilities on one level, including access to the swimming pool with the use of a hoist, there was no area of isolation for a wheelchair user. With the option of a separate disabled changing facility or the use of a larger, adapted shower cubicle in the main changing area, the choices allowed me to be comfortable in the environment and to choose whether to stay close with my group or get ready in a different space.

We were treated to a back and shoulder massage, amazing after a day of pushing around the wildlife park! The therapists were skilled and conscious to work around my disability, discussing what I wanted doing beforehand and what they needed to be mindful of avoiding in case of discomfort or pain. But it was such a relaxing and wonderful experience, that I would quite happily have laid there for the rest of the night, whilst soft panpipe music filled the air and sent me into a daze of peacefulness.

After a few hours at the spa it was time to head home to Halifax where I will shortly be getting back into training. My coach keeps

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Experience Titanic Spa is the UK’s first Eco-Spa. This intimate spa has gone beyond the organic philosophy, They combine a passion for beauty and wellness with a desire to protect the world we live in.

Clockwise from bottom left: A well deserved treatment for our champion. Titanic Spa near Huddersfield. Hannah and her mum enjoy a cocktail. Getting close to the giraffes. Crowds of admirers enjoy the polar bears on a bright sunny day at Yorkshire Wildlife Park. Ring-tailed lemurs in a huddle.

telling me to try and find a long flat road but getting up steep hills is what keeps me strong and I say to her, have you ever been to Yorkshire? There are no long flat roads!

When I go out, I always have to have a cyclist with me as my chair is so close to the floor I can’t be seen by drivers. Everyone at home knows me and if I’m back, they know I will be out on a Sunday and will give me a beep and a wave.

I love Yorkshire. It’s such a friendly place to be. Here people catch your eye and say hello.

You don’t get that anywhere else. Everyone will help you – not in a degrading way – but if they see you struggling they will see if you need a hand. I always love coming home.

Usually I will go shopping when I get some free time, shopping centres are best for wheelchair access and I like going to gigs at the first direct arena in Leeds. They are really good there for accessibility. I’ve been to see McFly, Paloma Faith, Bryan Adams and Fleetwood Mac. My music taste could be described as eclectic!

I also try and go to the cinema and I absolutely love Hebden Bridge Picture House.

There’s loads of room and you can watch a film with hot chocolate in a mug. It is an old building but it’s still accessible.

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HAPPY TO HELP Hannah Cockroft is an ambassador for Eureka! The National Children’s Museum which is an award winner for its facilities for disabled children and their families.

The Halifax attraction won Gold at the VisitEngland Awards for Excellence 2015 in the Access for All Category, as national recognition for its work to ease challenges faced by disabled families when enjoying a day out. Here are just a few of the services they offer:

Extra Pair of HandsI A free service allowing disabled families to book the support of a trained, dedicated member of the team.

Free clubsI Weekend and holiday clubs for disabled children and their whole family.

Disability awareness trainingI All staff receive disability awareness training, and front of house staff also complete autism training.

Free admissionI Carers receive free admission, and visitors with sensory conditions can borrow ear defenders and access a private sensory room.

The Eureka! StoryI A downloadable guide which introduces visitors to the multi-sensory experience of visiting which can be daunting for children with sensory conditions such as autism.

BlueAssistI The museum is also the first in the north of England to adopt the BlueAssist system for people with communication difficulties.

I’ve not got much time left to be enjoying these things as I’ve got such a busy year ahead. It’s going to be tough. We fly to the Paralympics three weeks before the games begin in August. I had a short break in training last year when I had just got back from America, I had travelled loads and all I wanted to do was have a break close to home. So my boyfriend and I went to Scarborough. We visited Whitby and went into a pie and mash restaurant called Humble Pie. My boyfriend said you would never get this anywhere else and that sums home up to me. It’s unique, it’s eccentric but that’s why I love Yorkshire!

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WELCOME TO CALDERDALE

Modestly magnificent Nestled in the South Pennines, and easily accessible from Leeds and Manchester, pay a visit to Calderdale for a jam-packed day out, or two!

With history and heritage, family fun attractions and stunning countryside, there’s too much to do in a day. Surrounded by dramatic countryside and packed with culture, Calderdale’s distinct market towns make it a must visit destination in Yorkshire.

Culture and creativity The area’s industrial heritage serves as a dramatic backdrop for the many burgeoning creative industries to be found in Calderdale. Experience a varied music and arts scene – well worth a visit is the Hebden Bridge Trades Club, shortlisted for the best small music venue by NME, or experience live music amidst the 900 year old marvel that is Halifax Minster. As well as providing the setting for highly acclaimed series ‘Last Tango in Halifax’ and gritty police drama ‘Happy Valley’, Calderdale offers festivals all year round: Brighouse 1940s Weekend and Hebden Bridge Arts Festival draw visitors from far and wide, whilst the Victoria Theatre and numerous other art venues play host to the annual Halifax Comedy Festival.

Top to bottom: Dramatic countryside cycling through the South Pennines.

Fun for all the family at Eureka! The magnificent manor of Shibden Estate. Brighouse 1940s Weekend. A stone built moorland packhorse bridge near the beautiful town of Hebden Bridge.

History and heritage Once dubbed “the town of a hundred trades” Halifax celebrates the reopening of the Piece Hall in summer 2016. A unique, Grade I Listed building dating from 1779, it was originally built to support the trading of “pieces” of cloth. After its grand reopening it will be home to shops, businesses and a heritage centre, hosting a variety of special events throughout the year.

Action and adrenaline Adrenaline junkies can try caving, abseiling and bouldering at ROKT climbing gym in Brighouse, home to the largest climbing wall in Yorkshire. Over in Halifax Another World Adventure Centre offers mountain boarding and archery and you can try canoeing and kayaking at CI Adventure. Challenge yourself with superb road cycling and varied mountain biking.

Steep valleys make for challenging climbs and descents, including the tough Côte de Hebden Bridge or Cragg Vale the longest continuous incline in England. If you can beat them your prize is an incredible view - not quite a yellow jersey, but definitely worth the effort. Whether you like your cycling steep and rocky, or flat and easy along comfortable canal trails, Calderdale has it all! Go to cyclecalderdale.co.uk for routes.

Why not try…

Once home to Anne Lister, visitors can take a tour around Shibden Hall, a magnificent manor set in 37 hectares of Shibden Valley. For ultimate luxury, book afternoon tea at Holdsworth House, a beautiful Jacobean mansion. There is fun for all the family at Eureka! National Children’s Museum, where the emphasis is hands-on learning through play.

Find out more at visitcalderdale.com

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FESTIVALS

The Harrogate International Festivals are a cultural powerhouse not just for the North, but for the UK. Nick Ahad reports.

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hink you’re busy? You’ve got nothing on Sharon Canavar.

The Chief Executive of Harrogate International Festivals attends 300 events every year. In case you suspect a misprint, that number really is three hundred. “I see every event we programme. I have to, it’s my job,” says Canavar, nonplussed. She doesn’t quite appear to grasp that it is quite some achievement to attend almost enough events to see one-a-day for a whole year.

The great news for you is that I asked Canavar for her one recommendation from that mammoth number - and she obliged. I’ll share her single recommendation with you before the end of this article.

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Experience History, science and art come alive in the Children’s Festival featuring the UK’s finest entertainers and authors. Ignite your child’s big imagination with a series of captivating shows with the UK’s most sought after authors, museum experiences and attractions.

First, some context. In 2016 the Harrogate International Festivals (HIF), celebrates 50 years since its inauguration. In 1966, Clive Wilson, the festival’s first director was in charge of the Harrogate Festival of Arts and Sciences.

The soprano Elisabeth Schwarzkopf and the Moscow Radio Symphony Orchestra were two of the guests, and the Yorkshire Post literary luncheon featured a lecture by Bernard Lovell titled The New World of the Ultra Large. It’s fair to say it started with a culturally heavy bang.

The notion was to provide somewhere in between the two cultural powerhouses of London and Edinburgh where audiences could enjoy high culture. The Scottish city had a festival since 1947 and London had, well, all the advantages a capital city enjoys.

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The opportunities to see concerts performed by the quality of singers such as Schwarzkopf in an affluent market town like Harrogate were literally - and most would agree, surprisingly - few and far between.

Cut to fifty years on from that inaugural event. The festival does not stand still. Today, the festival continues apace and the woman in charge is a Darwinist. “To put it simply, the festival won’t always be what it was or even what it is,” says the chief exec.

“So many of the decisions I have to make are around funding. Everything we programme has to effectively wash its own face - at the same time we can’t always programme purely based on the commercial potential of an event.

It’s a balancing act.”

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Images left to right: Famous faces at the festival have included Gabby Young, J.K. Rowling, BB King, Gregory Porter and Lesley Garrett.

The stress of pulling together such an eclectic - and it really is wildly eclectic - festival, is clearly a game of two halves. The joy must come from seeing a programme you believe in come together, but the accompanying agony, one assumes, must be the constant question of how to please the audience, respect the legacy and move the festival into the future.

Canavar says: “We do have to bring in a new audience, but we want to obviously remain committed to the audience we already have.

They are both incredibly important aims.”

Canavar joined the festival team in 2003, becoming the chief executive in 2009. Since taking charge of the festival, the event has undergone something of a transformation at the hand of Canavar.

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© Howard Denner / Retna UK

“ The radar is pretty good - if we book someone early in their career, it’s because we know they are good.”

A collection of wildly eclectic festivals Not to interrupt the flow of the story of the festival, but there needs to be some clarification here. I keep writing festival. Much in the same way that London is really a series of small towns and villages, the Harrogate International Festivals is actually a collection of festivals, one of which is the Harrogate Festival. Clear?

Okay, so, the Harrogate International Festivals includes: Harrogate Festival (music), Crime Writing Festival (self-explanatory), Literature Festival (ditto), History Festival (history), Sunday Series (classical chamber music), Children’s Festival (small humans), Spiegeltent (bear with), Salon North (we’ll come to that). Like I say, a series of villages under the umbrella of Harrogate International Festivals. So, the Spiegeltent.

Canavar says: “In some ways you’re fighting against 40, 45 years of tradition. We want to build the audience, we can’t just sell tickets

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to the same events to the same people, so we look at things that will bring in new people, like Spiegeltent.” Spiegeltent is a magic, mirrored tent which hosted contemporary music, cabaret, a dancefloor and a bar. The future of Spiegeltent hangs in the balance, relying as it does on funding. If you want it, you have to support the festival.

“We have to raise 98 percent of our own funding, only two percent of the funding for the festival comes from the local authority.

The festivals cost £850,000 a year to run.”

She’s not a woman to be deterred and certainly not defeated. Yes, the festival has a staff of eight, but really this is a festival built on Yorkshire grit.

It is also built on some truly amazing names. Dame Judi Dench, Alan Bennett, JK Rowling, Yo-Yo Ma, Amy Winehouse, Nigel Kennedy and Lesley Garrett. Prince Charles

Discover more The festivals’ ReachOut programme creates and delivers musicmaking and literature opportunities for disadvantaged young people and adults across the region. The aim is that the communities they work with will reap the benefits of learning, enjoying and valuing the arts.

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Celebrations of literature, classical music and caberet.

Harrogate International Festivals is something really special. is the Patron. The real power is that not what all of these names meant when they came to Harrogate, but what they mean today.

Canavar says: “Nigel Kennedy and Amy Winehouse, to name two, came to the festival really quite early in their careers.

“What that really demonstrates is that audiences can and do trust us. The radar is pretty good - if we book someone early in their career, it’s because we know they are good.”

So there are the names (did I mention Daniel Barenboim, Rowan Atkinson, Richard Curtis, Melvyn Bragg, Stan Barstow, Stephen Fry, Hugh Laurie, Emma Thompson with Beyond the Footlights Revue, Julian Lloyd Webber, Youssou N’Dour, Martina Cole, PD James and Nicola Benedetti). There is the determination to continue to improve and bring the very best to Harrogate. And there will continue to be, hopefully, eclectic programming, which reminds me: Salon North.

Salon North is a perfect example of the future path of the festival. Salon North is a revolutionary movement for the heart and mind. The event consists of a night of the most stimulating ideas in art, science and psychology designed to change your life for the better.

Who could not love that alongside celebrations of literature, classical music and cabaret. Harrogate International Festivals is something really special.

Finally, to the promise I made you at the start of this article. Busy woman though she is, I was able to pin her down to a single recommendation. So, Sharon Canavar, the woman who sees 300 events under the umbrella of Harrogate International Festivals, what single thing would she recommend?

“Harrogate International Festivals.”

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Opposite clockwise from left: Gary Crosby’s Groundation. Soweto Kinch. Paloma Faith.

Bellowhead. Amy Winehouse. This page top to bottom: The beautiful interior of the Royal Hall in Harrogate. Part of the ReachOut programme.

Originally opened as The Grand Opera House in 1900, Harrogate Theatre is a key venue during the festivals. David Suchet speaks at the festival.

Don’t miss Salon North consists of an evening of three speakers, each given 30 minutes to engage the audience with their subject based around art, science and psychology. Sound interesting? Expect the remarkable.

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2016: A year of anniversaries Capability Brown 2016 sees the 300th anniversary of the birth of Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown, a designer who changed the national landscape and created a style which has shaped people’s picture of the quintessential English countryside. In Yorkshire Capability Brown is associated with around 22 sites - more than any other region outside of London. There are six major Brown landscapes in the county - Burton Constable, Harewood, Roche Abbey, Scampston, Sledmere and Temple Newsam. Each of these houses will mark the tercentenary and each will be featured in the first ever project about Brown’s work in the county. As part of the celebrations,

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Experience Harewood House near Leeds presents Nature, Design and Capability Brown from 25 March to 31 October 2016.

This display will explore the evolution of the landscape, investigating the genius behind England’s greatest gardener and the characteristics of a Brownian parkland.

there will be the exhibition Noble Prospects: Capability Brown & the Yorkshire Landscape by Yorkshire Gardens Trust and Mercer Art Gallery in Harrogate which will run from 25 June to 11 September 2016. Also showing at the Mercer Art Gallery will be False Perspectives new work by artist Kate Whiteford inspired by Brown’s landscapes. Harewood House will celebrate Brown in Art and Landscape.

Brontë200 Visit the home of Charlotte Brontë during her bicentenary year as 2016 marks the launch of Brontë200 which will celebrate the bicentenaries of the Brontë siblings: Charlotte

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in 2016, Branwell in 2017, Emily in 2018 and Anne in 2020. Organised by the Brontë Society, there are also plans to commemorate Patrick Brontë in 2019, 200 years after he was invited to take up the Parson’s role in Haworth.

Part of the celebrations will see a ‘Celebrating Charlotte’ exhibition open at the National Portrait Gallery in London before moving to Morgan Library, New York. There will also be the broadcast of Sally Wainwright’s BBC biopic ‘To Walk Invisible’. The Brontë Parsonage Museum in Haworth was the home of the Brontë family from 1820 to 1861 and was gifted to the Brontë Society in 1928. The museum, in Haworth, houses the world’s largest collection of artefacts and documents associated with the Brontë family and their work.

Royal Armouries is 20 In spring 1996 the Royal Armouries opened its doors to a purpose-built museum in the heart of Leeds. Twenty years later the free-entry museum has welcomed millions of visitors to its world-class national collection of arms and armour. Today over 8,500 items are on display in five exciting galleries covering early medieval to the present day, from Europe, Asia and the Americas. The museum also offers something different every day for all visitors through live performances, tours, handling sessions, combat demonstrations and storytelling.

St Leger Festival The world’s oldest regulated horse race – the Doncaster Cup – will celebrate its 250th anniversary at Doncaster’s 2016 St Leger Festival. First run in 1766, the Doncaster Cup is ten years older than the more famous St Leger which is the oldest classic horse race in the world also run at Doncaster Racecourse.

Steeped in history, the race is believed to be one of the longest-running sporting events in the world. Over 65,000 people enjoyed last year’s Ladbrokes St Leger Festival and expectations are high for the 2016 festival which takes place from 7 - 10 September 2016.

The 250th birthday of the Doncaster Cup is on Friday, 9 September 2016.

Happy birthday Alf! It’s 100 years since the birth of Thirsk vet Alf Wight, best known as author James Herriot.

The country vet inspired the much beloved TV adaptation All Creatures Great and Small which is set to be remade by HBO. The World of James Herriot in Thirsk takes visitors on a journey of his life including the original home of the veterinary practice at 23 Kirkgate which is lovingly restored to its 1940s glory.

There’s also an Alf Wight statue, wartime

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bunker, farriers workshop, memorabilia and instruments on display as well as a chance to go behind the scenes on the BBC adaptation of All Creatures Great and Small.

Acting up The 400th anniversary of the death of William Shakespeare will be marked at the York Early Music Festival: 8 - 16 July. The 2016 festival takes the anniversary of Shakespeare’s death as its starting point, with music from the Elizabethan Theatre and pieces inspired by the Shakespearean themes of magic, mystery and the supernatural. Guest artists include: The City Musick directed by William Lyons, the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment and lutenist Elizabeth Kenny, who will perform in many of the city’s exquisite historical buildings.

Clockwise from top left: St. Leger Festival in Doncaster. The Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment perform at York Early Music Festival. The landscape around Harewood House was created by Capability Brown.

The Hall of Steel at the Royal Armouries in Leeds.

Brontë Parsonage Museum in Haworth.

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YORKSHIRE FAMILY FAVOURITES

ARTS ATTACK The arts are at the heart of The Hamlet family from Leeds, but date nights are also important.

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‘ve always loved the theatre and performing arts, and luckily Taevien seems to share this passion with me. We can already see he enjoys creative arts with his singing, dancing, reading and character impressions. Developing and capturing our son’s imagination is something we really encourage, and we love to visit Yorkshire’s many theatres together as a family at any given opportunity!

West Yorkshire Playhouse is one of our favourites because they host so many amazing productions throughout the year, which we can attend as a family or as a well-deserved date night for mummy and daddy.

They host such an eclectic mix of shows, from local community performances to musicals, comedy, and some of the best professional productions.

Most importantly it’s a very family friendly and warm environment for young children.

INATASHA, TAEVIEN ANDI IJARVIS HAMLET FROM LEEDS

It felt extra special this year watching the show We’re going on a Bear Hunt at the Playhouse because it’s one of Taevien’s favourite stories which we read together at home, as well as taking part in our very own bear hunts outdoors!

It’s our main theatre as it’s so close to home, but we also enjoy visiting other venues to watch family friendly shows.

When we tell Taevien we’re going to the theatre he gets very excited and can’t wait to go. We’re looking forward to our next visit as a family, and creating amazing memories together.

We’re going on a Bear Hunt at the West Yorkshire Playhouse.

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Swings and roundabouts at Lightwater Valley.

ACTION PACKED Lee and John Huggett take nine-year-old action man Spencer to Lightwater Valley, near Ripon and Xscape near Castleford.

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e’ve had some brilliant days out at Lightwater Valley, near Ripon. All three of us love the rides there and it’s also great for all different ages so we’ve taken Spencer and sometimes his mates quite a few times now. We’ve also taken a gang there for Spencer’s birthday – it’s the perfect place! Spencer loves the Angry Birds Adventure Park and John loves having a go on the gigantic touch screens where he can play the Angry Birds game while I watch Spencer climb through the pig tunnels, and slide down the tube slides. We are quite a competitive family and love nothing more than a round of Jurassic Adventure Golf, especially when I win.

There’s more than 40 attractions to discover so you never get bored of things to do and if you’re daring, you can take a ride on the longest rollercoaster in Europe – The Ultimate.

We are also fans of Xscape

IJOHN, SPENCER AND LEE HUGGETTI IFROM LEEDS

in Castleford which is perfect for a rainy day.

There is so much for all the family to get involved in, with climbing walls, an aerial assault course, 4D and 6D motion rides, Volcano Falls mini golf, LaserZone and Spencer can bounce to his heart’s content in Gravity which is a massive trampoline park. It’s a great way to tire him out. We also go to the cinema there and have dinner in one of the restaurants beforehand. I’d definitely recommend it!

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WELCOME TO LEEDS

Clockwise from top left: The majestic Harewood House near Leeds. The Everyman Cinema. Meerkats at the refurbished Tropical World.

Beats & brews

With a wealth of culture, family attractions and a shopper’s paradise on offer, Leeds has everything you need for that perfect city break.

There’s plenty to entertain the kids at the recently refurbished Tropical World. Come and meet a family of friendly meerkats and unearth the tropical habitats of butterflies, snakes, spiders and lemurs. Take in the impressive collection of arms and armour spanning 3,000 years at the Royal Armouries and watch an action packed combat demonstration in the outdoor Tiltyard arena.

Scenic surroundings Enjoy some stunning outdoor scenery around Leeds. Explore the picturesque views of the parkland at Harewood House, landscaped by Capability Brown. Get up close to the resident Humboldt penguins or just stroll the grounds and take in this magnificent historic house.

The majestic ruins of Kirkstall Abbey are the perfect setting for a leisurely stroll along the banks of the River Aire, while the grand Tudor-Jacobean estate of Temple Newsam is set within 1,500 acres of stunning gardens and even has its own rare breed farm.

Shop til you drop Embrace the story of Marks and Spencer at the Marks in Time Exhibition and visit the place

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where it all began inside Kirkgate Market, one of the largest indoor markets in Europe. For some more indulgent shopping, take a stroll down to the Victoria Quarter and marvel at the ornate décor while spoiling yourself with the top designer brands of Mulberry and Louis Vuitton.

Don’t forget to stop by Harvey Nichols and take a trip to The Fourth Floor Café for the ultimate city centre dining experience. With over 120 brands all under one roof, there is something for everyone in Trinity Leeds. If all that shopping makes you hungry, take some time to refuel at Trinity Kitchen’s ever changing street food vans, or put your feet up and take in a film at the stylish Everyman Cinema. Work is currently underway on the Victoria Gate development.

Due for completion in autumn 2016 it will bring a whole host of designer labels, along with a John Lewis flagship store to the city centre.

Tasty treats

Don’t miss There is nothing more lovely than a relaxed afternoon tucking into an indulgent Afternoon Tea after a little shopping at Harvey Nichols Leeds.

End the afternoon on a sweet note and devour a selection of marvellous mini cakes and pastries.

Why not add a glass of Harvey Nichols Brut Champagne and clink your glass to celebrate an afternoon very well spent indeed.

Leeds has plenty to offer food lovers and is brimming with a fantastic selection of independent eateries, guaranteed to satisfy any foodie. Wash down vibrant Indian street food at Bundobust with a selection of the world’s finest craft beer. Churning out thousands of litres of

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Clockwise from top left: Northern Ballet.

Indian street food at Bundobust. Top tunes at the first direct arena. A luxurious afternoon tea at The Fourth Floor Café in Harvey Nichols.

3,000 years of history at the Royal Armouries.

craft ale a year, step into Northern Monk Brew Refectory to sample some of their wares and enjoy a bite to eat from their kitchen residents, The Grub & Grog Shop. For something more exotic, get a taste of Thailand at Chaophraya then round off the evening with cocktails at one of the many watering holes that line Call Lane.

If music is your thing, you can’t do better than the legendary Brudenell Social Club. This community run venue has an open music policy, making it the perfect venue to discover something new. You may even get lucky and stumble upon a secret gig from Franz Ferdinand or the Kaiser Chiefs. Since opening in 2013, the first direct arena has played host to some of the biggest names in music. With room for an audience of 13,500, it’s Leeds’ largest venue and will be putting on some unmissable shows in 2016. For something a little different, pay a visit to Leeds College of Music and choose from a series of events from international stars to musical masterclasses – with students at the heart of the programme.

Cultural capital Wildly regarded as a cultural hub of the north, you are guaranteed a good show at any one of Leeds’ excellent theatres. Choose from the West Yorkshire Playhouse, City Varieties, or Leeds Grand Theatre, home to Opera North and enjoy everything from comedy to ballet. Leeds is also home to the fantastic Northern Ballet. Whatever your needs, Leeds has a vast array of accommodation options. Sleep in style at trendy boutique hotel, Malmaison, experience a touch of pure luxury at Quebecs or marvel at the Art Deco grandeur of The Queens. For something a little more tranquil, take a short trip outside the city and pamper yourself at the Chevin Country Park Hotel & Spa. Summer 2016 will see Leeds host the ITU Triathlon Series.

Crowds are sure to turn out in force to support Olympic medallists and brothers Alistair and Jonathan Brownlee as they compete to win in their home city; an unmissable event for sport lovers.

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AWARDS

BEST OF THE BEST

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s the outdoor hot tubs bubble away and steam drifts off into the cool evening air, the glow of Yorebridge House against the backdrop of the breathtaking Yorkshire Dales is mesmerising.

Made up of a former school house and school master’s house which date back to the 16th century, the boutique hotel sits peacefully on the bank of the River Bain – the shortest in England.

No wonder it’s been named the most romantic hotel in Britain. It has also given the tiny village of Bainbridge a rather special place in the heart of the White Rose Awards as both Yorebridge House and the nearby Low Mill Guesthouse have won five awards between them in just three years. Quite

Rose Awards in three years, has not only given the team a sense of pride but it has also put Bainbridge on the map.

“We feel rewarded by the sense of having created happy customers, who have enjoyed all that Yorebridge House and the Yorkshire Dales has to offer.

We would love for Bainbridge to be known as a fantastic destination within Wensleydale; one that offers quality hospitality, where people can enjoy staying with us, experiencing luxury accommodation and dining within this dramatic and outstanding corner of the Yorkshire Dales National Park.”

A little further down the road is Low Mill Guesthouse which comes complete with a giant water wheel and was built in the 1780s. Originally used to grind corn,

© www.jonnydraper.co.uk

The 2015 White Rose Awards went down in history after Gary Barlow made a surprise appearance. It was a momentous occasion for the best of the best in Yorkshire tourism. We take a look at two winners who are catapulting a tiny village in Wensleydale onto the map.

“We would love for Bainbridge to be known as a fantastic destination within Wensleydale.” a feat considering that owners of both establishments were new to the hotel trade when they took over.

David and Charlotte Reilly bought Yorebridge House from the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority and converted it into a hotel which opened in 2008.

David had been a manager at Bang and Olufsen and Charlotte was an interior designer. The couple believe their secret to success is their love for the hotel and also their “hands-on approach”.

“We are driven by our passion for Yorebridge House,” said David. “We continually strive to improve our product and we do this through speaking to, and most importantly listening to, our guests on a daily basis. We are committed to researching new products and services within interiors, food and beverage, technology and service; developing these areas throughout the hotel and restaurant, whilst adding our own Yorkshire twist!” Winning three White

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the mill endured two fires, became a dairy and was later used as a workshop and dolls house museum. It fell into disrepair before catching the eye of Jane and Neil McNair who were on holiday in the Yorkshire Dales from their home in London. Fast forward five years and the luxury Low Mill Guesthouse has picked up White Rose Awards for Bed & Breakfast and Guest Accommodation of the Year in both 2013 and 2015.

Neil said: “When we arrived five years ago we were unsure what to expect. We had no experience in the hospitality trade and knew we had a massive refurbishment project to undertake before we could welcome guests to Low Mill. We were so surprised at being awarded 5 gold stars on our first Visit England that Jane cried!! We were hoping for 4 stars. So to have won so many prestigious awards in three years is just amazing and we are extremely pleased and proud.

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“We believe a major part of our success comes from having an historic and unusual building situated in a beautiful part of the world. We are passionate about using local suppliers so reflecting the wonderful variety of produce Yorkshire has to offer.

“The fact that Bainbridge has won five White Rose Awards in the last three years can only be good for the village and has certainly raised its profile. It will, hopefully bring more people to this wonderful part of the country to the benefit of the area and other local businesses.”

And no doubt it will.

Far Left: Weddings at Yorebridge House.

Left: Delicious afternoon tea at the Cleveland Tontine. Above: Lottie Shaw’s Bakery.

Right: The beautiful landscape around The Coniston Hotel.

THE WINNERS 2015 Small Visitor Attraction Burton Agnes Hall and Gardens, Driffield Large Visitor Attraction The Forbidden Corner, Leyburn Taste of Yorkshire Award Lottie Shaw’s Bakery, Elland Self-Catering, Cruisers and Serviced Apartments Award Dovecote Barns, York Yorkshire Pub Shibden Mill Inn, Halifax Yorkshire Restaurant The Hare Restaurant, Scawton Tourism Event The Best Race in the World, The Juddmonte International, York Above: Shibden Mill Inn. Below: Thirsk. Below left: Humble Bee Farm. Bottom left: The Black Swan in Helmsley.

Caravan Holiday Park & Holiday Village Award Humble Bee Farm, Scarborough Bed & Breakfast and Guest Accommodation Low Mill Guest House, Bainbridge Large Hotel The Black Swan Hotel, Helmsley

Above: Low Mill Guest House. Left: Burton Agnes Hall and Gardens.

Small Hotel or Townhouse Yorebridge House, Bainbridge Business Tourism Award The Coniston Hotel & Country Estate, Skipton Restaurant with Rooms The Cleveland Tontine, Northallerton Visitor Information Award Thirsk Tourist Information, Thirsk Yorkshire Arts & Culture Award Hull Truck Theatre, Hull Outstanding Customer Service Wentbridge House Hotel, Pontefract

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Be part of it!

Join in the celebrations as Yorkshire Festival returns from 16 June to 3 July, to transform the county with 18 days of world-class experiences. We take a look at the UK’s newest and most ambitious international festival.

Above: French and Catalan performers Les Commandos Percu & Deabru Beltzak perform Danbor Talka - Le Choc des Tambours. Yorkshire Festival 2014 images right: Sheffield Festival of Colour, Space & Light.

Yet to be titled (Large Walking Figure) 2014 by Thomas Houseago. Ghost Peloton. Fields of Vision.

Yorkshire Festival 2014 images left to right: Hypervelocity. Bike Show.

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n ambition to break world records with the biggest dance event in history sets the scene for the scale of events set to fire up the county in this year’s Yorkshire Festival.

The world’s largest disco ball will be suspended from a crane in Leeds while more than 20,000 people will dance to the same track at the same time across Yorkshire for the Big Disco Project.

Festival organisers want to set a world record which will see the public vote for the winning track chosen from a top ten pitched by clubs and promoters across the county.

In Sheffield, French and Catalan performers Les Commandos Percu & Deabru Beltzak will bring an explosion of fireworks, percussion and energy.

‘Le Choc de Tambours’ will parade through the crowds before fire musicians climb onto the stage and fireworks blaze through the sky.

And in Bradford, there will be a UKexclusive performance from the Nile Project featuring incredible musicians from countries along the Nile.

Epic, intimate, life-changing and emotionally charged are words Artistic Director Matt Burman uses to describe this exciting 18-day event.

“We want Yorkshire Festival to be talked of in the same breath as those in Manchester and Edinburgh. I believe Yorkshire deserves something spectacular, a creative explosion of energy, something Yorkshire men and women can be really proud of, something totally unforgettable. With big, loud, beautiful, celebratory outdoor performances, and the very best theatre, music, dance and visual arts, all I can say is expect the unexpected. I hope you’ll be moved, delighted, entertained and changed in some way by everything you see...”

And there are strong foundations to build on. When the first Yorkshire Festival swept the county two years ago, communities came together like never before. A grand piano was cycled up the longest continuous ascent in England, a haunting Ghost Peloton swirled through the Dales to The Tetley in Leeds, giant land art pieces were carved out into the South Pennine landscape, a real working French farm popped up overnight in the centre of Huddersfield and the Tour of Infinite Possibility got people singing in over 100 workshops and shows.

It was energetic, it was exciting and it got the nation talking – winning Cultural Event of the Year at the UK Event Awards. Not just that, the festival generated close to £10 million for

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The festival team are talking with artists and companies across the county, country and world to bring the very best to Yorkshire.

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the county’s economy, attracting over 800,000 people to more than 2,000 events, with around 18,000 participants getting involved.

The festival captured the hearts of the public and was so successful organisers knew they couldn’t stop there. And here it is. For 18 days, landscapes will be transformed, the skies will be ablaze of colour and live music will fill the streets when hundreds of performances are unleashed across Yorkshire. The festival team are talking to artists and companies across the county, country and world to bring the very best to Yorkshire.

For now they’re keeping tight lipped about what the public can expect until the full programme comes out in April, but the ambition and scale of the acts coming to your corner of the county are guaranteed to be explosive.

A flavour of the festival will be sprinkled throughout the Tour de Yorkshire weekend of 29 April – 1 May before the main event from June 16 to July 3.

“Our catchphrase is “Be part of it” and we really mean it!” says Matt. “We are building on those solid foundations laid by the first ever Yorkshire Festival and will be taking it to new heights, regionally, nationally and internationally. We want to make memories for communities that will leave a lasting legacy for years to come. Participation is at the heart of our ethos and through our Community Commissions Programme we will offer lots of opportunities for residents and visitors alike to get stuck in and take part - in the real world and on the web.”

David Lascelles, Earl of Harewood, Chair of the Yorkshire Festival said: “A big and ambitious festival like this needs everyone to work together to make it a success: artists, performers, audiences and of course the funders who make it all possible. We’re really grateful to Arts Council England and to all the Local Authorities who have supported us for 2016 - the start of what we all hope will be a long and exciting journey for the Yorkshire Festival.”

Welcome to Yorkshire Chief Executive, Sir Gary Verity, added: “If Yorkshire Festival 2014 put the county on the cultural map, the 2016 edition will certainly further our reputation for staging world-class events. The programme is big and it’s bold – we would urge the public to support Yorkshire Festival 2016 and help make it a national treasure.”

The biennial Yorkshire Festival was created by Welcome to Yorkshire and has been awarded £1million for the 2016 event from the Government through Arts Council England as part of the Northern Powerhouse initiative.

The inaugural Yorkshire Festival fired up the county ahead of Yorkshire’s Grand Départ in 2014 and was the first ever cultural festival to precede the Tour de France in its 111 year history. The full Yorkshire Festival programme will be unveiled in April. Keep an eye on www.yorkshirefestival.co.uk for updates and the latest information.

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Š Jonty Wilde

Opposite top to bottom: Hypervelocity from Yorkshire Festival 2014. French and Catalan performers Les Commandos Percu & Deabru Beltzak perform Danbor Talka - Le Choc des Tambours. Cold Bath Road Mystery and Cart Before Horse from Yorkshire Festival 2014. This page: A selection of projects from the Yorkshire Festival 2014.

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advertorial

DISCOVER YOUR WORLD ON A BIKE

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As the 2012 Olympic Games have discovered, creating a real, lasting legacy from major sporting events can be difficult. But not here in Yorkshire, where barely a year after the Yorkshire Grand Départ, and hot on the heels of the Tour de Yorkshire, the Yorkshire Bank Bike Libraries have created thousands of opportunities for children to ride a bike.

ach of the libraries is slightly different but has the same aim: offering free access to a bike.

Thanks to financial grants from Yorkshire Bank, and operational and communications support from Welcome to Yorkshire, some are expanding existing projects, and some are setting up from scratch.

One library has a fleet of disability cycles they take to schools for children with special needs; one organises balance bike sessions for primary schools; another has bikes and staff to teach children to ride for the first time.

Helen Page, Customer Proposition Director at Yorkshire Bank explains: “It’s a very simple idea; we ask the public to donate bikes that are not being used and lend them, for free, to children who haven’t got access to one. This is the first scheme of its kind in the country and in the first six months over 1,000 children have had the chance to ride a bike - the feedback so far has been excellent.”

John Marshall, who runs the R-evolution Library across the Goole and Market Weighton area, and

donates 25 bikes on long term loans each time he visits primary schools, said: “The funding from Yorkshire Bank has allowed us to expand what we do and give many more bikes out to local children. You only need to look as far as their smiles to see how important the project is. We’re also training up mechanics giving them valuable skills and experience so from start to finish, each bike is helping several people, and we’re lending out hundreds of bikes.”

There are two ways This is Y readers can get involved with the Yorkshire Bank Bike Libraries. If you know a child who hasn’t got a bike, please find your local library and get in touch to arrange a loan, go on a family ride or take a skills session, they’re all there for you! And if there are bikes languishing at the back of your garage or shed, please consider giving it to a Library. You can even bring a small one and take away a bigger one that fits, it’s very simple and who knows, a child who has been lent a Yorkshire Bank Bike Library bike might win the Tour de Yorkshire one day.

For more information about the libraries go to www.bikelibraries.co.uk

But what are the libraries, how do they work and how can readers get involved?

Clockwise from top left: Give cycling a go in Yorkshire. Team Sky’s David Lopez takes on children from Fearnville Bike Library in Leeds.

Lizzie Armitstead supports Yorkshire Bank Bike Libraries.

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Clockwise from top: Tramlines Festival 2015 at Sheffield Cathedral. Crucible Theatre. The award winning Milestone pub. Halifax Hall is a beautiful period boutique hotel. Sheffield Winter Gardens.

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WELCOME TO SHEFFIELD

Bursting with brilliance

Explore a city full of vibrancy with a wealth of culture and something to discover around every corner. Sheffield has it all and it’s waiting to be discovered.

Standing on a man-made island over 900 years old in one of the city’s oldest industrial districts, discover the inventions that made Sheffield great at the Kelham Island Museum and see how steelmaking forged the city you see today. Follow this with a stroll around the Kelham Quarter and pick up something to eat at one of the many contemporary cafés and bars breathing new life into once industrial buildings. Come back in the evening and enjoy earthy flavours and a warm and inviting atmosphere at award winning gastro pub, The Milestone.

Sheffield Cathedral is the oldest building in the city still in daily use. Visit the on-site Heritage Interpretation Centre and learn about the history of the Cathedral and the city, right back to the early 12th century. Take a guided tour or enjoy one of the regular heritage talks.

Festival fun Sheffield has a jam packed calendar full of festival fun. Each July, the city is taken over by the sound of Tramlines, a weekend of live music showcasing up and coming artists along with the more familiar names of bands such as Basement Jaxx, De La Soul and The Cribs. For serious music lovers, Tramlines is fast becoming one of the best music festivals in the UK, 2015 sold out weeks in advance, expect big things for 2016.

The Sheffield Food Festival gets bigger every year, firmly rooting South Yorkshire as a vibrant culinary destination. Spread across the city in the Peace Gardens, Winter Garden and Millennium Square, it showcases the best food and drink the region has to offer.

Creative hub Held in Sheffield Botanical Gardens, the annual Art in the Gardens event is quite possibly the largest outdoor art exhibition in the North of England. Starting in 2004, it now pulls in a huge array of artists, craft makers and art lovers from across the UK and offers the perfect opportunity to buy work direct from the artist whilst also enjoying the stunning surroundings that the Botanical Gardens have to offer. Enjoy art all year round at the Millennium Gallery. Their touring exhibitions have included everything from international haute couture to impressive sonic installations.

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Housed permanently, the Metalwork Collection and the Ruskin Collection are certainly worth seeing. Also worth a visit is Open Up Sheffield, an annual event that gives you free entry to a fascinating variety of studios and workspaces.

Meet artists in their natural habitats and watch as they demonstrate their skills and techniques.

One of the largest independent cinemas in Europe, The Showroom Cinema is housed in a converted 1930s art deco car showroom.

Screening everything from the latest subtitled indie drama to live performances of the Bolshoi, they even serve their own homemade ice cream in the intervals. The perfect place to sit back, relax and let the titles roll.

If sport is your thing, you’ve certainly come to the right place. The city that invented football, (Sheffield FC is recognised by FIFA as the world’s oldest football club), regularly hosts an impressive array of sporting events including everything from greyhound racing at Owlerton Greyhound Stadium to the World Snooker Championships, hosted each year at The Crucible Theatre.

Independent city Looking for something quirky? Sheffield is a shopper’s paradise. Full of independent, trendy boutiques, it’s the perfect place to pick up something extra special and one of a kind.

Head to the Antiques Quarter and discover an eclectic mix of independent traders. Pick up everything from afternoon tea (Jameson’s Café and Tearoom serve a very generous slice of cake), to locally brewed beers and artisan coffee as well as classic records and clothes from the best collection of vintage shops in the city. Along Ecclesall Road, you’ll find plenty of places to stop and watch the world go by with street cafés and al fresco dining, authentic cuisine from all continents, designer boutiques and street markets full of crafts and artisan food.

After a day discovering such a vibrant city, choose somewhere special to spend the evening. For sleeping in the city centre, you can’t go wrong with the stunning Leopold Hotel. A former school turned glorious boutique hotel, its brimming with character.

For indulgence and pure luxury, try Halifax Hall, a former steel baron’s swanky mansion.

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SEAMER

FILEY

HORTON-IN-RIBBLESDALE INGLETON SETTLE

GRASSINGTON

RIPON

A59

SKIPTON

A64

A65

KNARESBOROUGH

YORK

WETHERBY

A658

SALTAIRE

A64

LEEDS

BRADFORD

BRIDLINGTON

A614 HORNSEA

BEVERLEY

A19 SELBY

A164

A63

HEBDEN BRIDGE

HULL

A63

HUMBER BRIDGE

HALIFAX TODMORDEN

MIRFIELD HUDDERSFIELD HOLMFIRTH

PONTEFRACT

WAKEFIELD

A15 SCUNTHORPE

A1

BARNSLEY

FLAMBOROUGH HEAD

A166

A1079

OTLEY

KEIGHLEY HAWORTH

MALTON DRIFFIELD

HARROGATE

ILKLEY

A629

A165

A19

PATELEY BRIDGE

MALHAM

N

ROBIN HOOD’S BAY

OSMOTHERLEY

NORTHALLERTON

HAWES

WHITBY

A171

DANBY

A684

DENT

STAITHES

GUISBOROUGH

YARM

A66

BOWES

SEDBERGH

SALTBURN

MIDDLESBROUGH

WITHERNSEA

A180 GRIMSBY CLEETHORPES

DONCASTER

BRIGG

A18

PEAK ROTHERHAM DISTRICT A57

SHEFFIELD

KEY

GETTING HERE Wherever you’re coming from, getting to Yorkshire by rail, road, sea or air couldn’t be easier – and the journey takes you through some of our most stunning scenery on the way.

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Motorways A Roads Rail Routes Airports Heritage Coasts Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty National Parks Ferryport

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Yorkshire by Rail You can get to Yorkshire by high-speed train from London or Edinburgh in less than two hours. The Midlands is even nearer to Yorkshire’s cities, and TransPennine services offer direct links from the North West and North East.

For timetables and reservations contact: Virgin Trains East Coast (www.virgintrainseastcoast.com) Grand Central (www.grandcentralrail.com) National Rail Enquiries (tel 08457 484950 www.nationalrail.co.uk) East Midlands Trains (www.eastmidlandstrains.co.uk) Hull Trains (www.hulltrains.co.uk) Northern Rail (www.northernrail.org) Supertram Sheffield (www.supertram.com) Transpennine Express (www.tpexpress.co.uk) And you can explore Yorkshire’s hills, moors and valleys on some of Britain’s best loved and most spectacular leisure trains, with lovingly preserved vintage rolling stock and historic steam locomotives. These include the North Yorkshire Moors Railway, Embsay & Bolton Abbey Steam Railway, Keighley & Worth Valley Railway, Middleton Railway, Wensleydale Railway, Fellsman (for the SettleCarlisle Railway) and Kirklees Light Railway.

Discover more about these super train trips at www.yorkshire.com/railways.

Yorkshire by Road Britain’s biggest and fastest highways cross Yorkshire from north to south and east to west, making getting here with your own car or by coach very simple indeed.

The A1 and M1 connect from the north and south, while the M6 and M62 link Yorkshire with the Midlands and the North West and the M18/M180 gives easy access to the coast and countryside of northern Lincolnshire.

For details of the quickest (or the most scenic) driving routes see the AA or RAC websites www.theaa.com and www.rac.co.uk.

Coach companies with services to (and within) Yorkshire include: Arriva (www.arrivabus.co.uk/yorkshire) Dalesbus (www.dalesbus.org) East Yorkshire Motor Services (www.eyms.co.uk) First (www.firstgroup.com) Moorsbus (www.northyorkmoors.org.uk/moorsbus) Transdev Blazefield (www.transdevplc.co.uk) Find further information on regional and local bus and train services from Traveline Yorkshire (www.yorkshiretravel.net).

You can also hire a vehicle from Arrow Self Drive at amazing rates. With branches in Harrogate, Huddersfield, Leeds, Barnsley, Wakefield and Hull, it has never been easier to find the perfect hire vehicle to explore Yorkshire (www.arrowselfdrive.com).

Yorkshire by bike and on foot There are walks, hikes and cycle trails all over Yorkshire. For walkers, enjoy easy strolls in towns and cities, nature walks in superb wildlife reserves, long rambles along cross-country canal towpaths, and energetic treks across the open moors and along the

magnificent coast. For cyclists, the choice is equally wide, from challenging trail rides to easy-going, traffic-free routes along canals, cliffs and riversides.

Find a wide choice of guide books and maps with lots of dedicated walking and cycling routes at Tourist Information Centres across the county, or more ideas from Welcome to Yorkshire at www.yorkshire.com/outdoors.

Yorkshire by Air and Sea The Yorkshire county is served by a number of airports, providing daily flights to and from many destinations. With excellent transport links, Yorkshire is also easily accessible from many other airports throughout the UK, through high speed train links and an extensive motorway network.

Leeds Bradford International Airport (tel 0871 2882288 www.leedsbradfordairport.co.uk) Doncaster Sheffield Airport (tel 0871 2202210 www.robinhoodairport.com) Humberside Airport (tel 0844 8877747 www.humbersideairport.com) Manchester Airport (tel 08712 710711 www.manchesterairport.co.uk) Don’t forget P&O Ferries operate direct overnight links into Yorkshire from Rotterdam, Holland and Zeebrugge, Belgium. For more information visit www.poferries.com.

Information Centres Tourist Information Centres can offer plenty of great ideas so you can make the most of your visit. For all the Tourist Information Centres in Yorkshire; www.yorkshire.com/tic.

With thanks to our corporate partners:

Hull & Scarborough

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YORKSHIRE BUSINESS NEWS ROUTE MASTE R S DO N CASTER & SHEF F I EL D New routes will be jetting out of Doncaster Sheffield Airport this year after Flybe, Thomson and First Choice increased capacity. Eight new Flybe routes began operating at the end of March. Thomson and First Choice have also increased capacity at the airport which will offer once-a-week flights to Heraklion, Crete and Larnaca, Cyprus from May. These two new routes for Thomson from South Yorkshire take the amount of destinations provided by the holiday company from Doncaster Sheffield Airport to 20. www.robinhoodairport.com

of £1.1bn in 2015 and increased its workforce by another 100 people, creating a 2,300-strong team. The company has continued its focus on community projects, sponsoring Bradford City AFC and Bradford & Bingley Rugby Club as well as supporting local sports clubs and raising funds for its nominated charity of 2015, Alzheimer’s Society.

It was also a proud to partner the inaugural Tour de Yorkshire. www.jct600.co.uk

R E VAM P FO R C IT Y H OTE L

BLU E S KY TH INK ING L E E DS & S H E F F I E L D Sky Betting & Gaming will invest £11 million into creating 200 jobs and opening a new customer hub in Leeds. 100 jobs will be based in Leeds and 100 at their recently opened Sheffield Technology Hub, bringing their total number of employees across three Yorkshire sites to 900. www.skybet.com

YOR K

AG RI C ULT U R A L ACCOMMODATION H ARROGATE A multi million pound aparthotel is planned for the Great Yorkshire Showground in Harrogate.

Landowners, the Yorkshire Agricultural Society, are working with national hoteliers Roomzzz Aparthotel on plans for a 103-bedroom hotel, next to Wetherby Road. Established in 2006, the company originates in Yorkshire and combines spacious and fully equipped apartments with the same offering as a modern hotel, including a 24-hour concierge. www.yas.co.uk

A multi-million pound investment project at The Royal York Hotel has seen the city centre hotel re-launch as a 4 star deluxe. The project included a refurbishment of all 159 bedrooms, a new restaurant seating 129 guests and a new bar. The hotel’s conferencing and events space were set to be revamped this Spring.

The re-development has created 90 new jobs in the hotel. www.hotelroyalyork.co.uk

BIG NAM ES IN BE VERLEY BEVERLEY Wykeland Group has launched Flemingate in Beverley, East Yorkshire.

Flemingate offers a new, innovative retail and leisure destination.

Complete with big name brands, cafés and restaurants it also includes a six-screen cinema, a Premier Inn hotel and 500 space car park. www.wykeland.co.uk

WO R LD - CLASS C U LTU RE HU L L

IN V E STI N G IN YO RKS H I R E BR ADFORD With its heritage of almost 70 years in Yorkshire, family business JCT600 reported record turnover

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The University of Hull is set to get a new world-class theatre and cinema space, along with recording studios and TV editing suite as it gets ready for Hull’s reign as UK City of Culture in 2017. As a principal partner for the showcase year, the University of Hull is helping create an unmissable, 365day arts programme and students will have opportunities to volunteer. www.hull.ac.uk

LOVE LO GISTICS WA K E F I E L D The Caddick Group is on site with a £100m Distribution Scheme in Yorkshire after developing the prime distribution/logistics scheme

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YORKSHIRE BUSINESS NEWS Crosspoint33, off Junction 33 of the M62 near Wakefield. Phase one of the development will be home to the new UK processing and distribution centre for TK Maxx, providing more than 1.2m sq ft of accommodation. The building is scheduled to complete in January 2017 and will provide up to 1,800 local jobs. The project is being delivered by Caddick Developments Ltd, with sister company Caddick Construction undertaking all building works. www.caddick.co.uk

the UK Private Business Awards 2015 in London. Judges praised her inspiring story of developing the ground-breaking park, which opened in 2009 on the site of a run-down farm. It had 66,000 visitors in its first year and last year saw ten times that amount after welcoming 660,000 visitors through its doors. www.yorkshirewildlifepark.com

IN TH E TO P 40 SHEFFIELD In March 2015 BHP merged with Cleckheaton based Clough & Company which, in a landmark deal, created a regional practice with six offices, 300 people and revenues approaching £18 million, placing BHP firmly within the UK’s top 40 largest accounting firms. Since then the firm has developed new service lines, including BHP Prosper which will be launched this year. www.bhp.co.uk

F IX FO R FIVE L AUNC H E D G OL D STA N DA R D R AC I N G YORK York Racecourse, home of the Welcome to Yorkshire Ebor Festival, is one of just 12 racecourses in Britain to be named best for owners after being awarded Gold Standard status for 2015. There are 60 racecourses in Britain and York features alongside other well-known names such as Ascot and Newmarket. These awards offered wider testimony to the Knavesmire team as they were also recognised as top of the class in the categories of Best Grounds’ Team and Best Food & Drink; meaning they collected the Overall Showcase Champions Award. www.yorkracecourse.co.uk

L eeds Total Gas & Power has a new line up of gas and electricity products.

SmartFix: choose a fixed gas or electricity contract for between one and four years. Fix For Five: the price is fixed and guaranteed for five years. Or Eco-Energy: just for electricity and comes from 100% renewable sources with a certificate to prove it, contributing to CSR initiatives. www.totalgp.com

M ONE Y M ATTE RS L EEDS

G O WI L D FO R C HE RY L DON CASTER Yorkshire Wildlife Park Director Cheryl Williams was named UK Private Businesswoman of the Year in 2015 – the same year the attraction saw a record-breaking number of visitors. Cheryl picked up the prestigious national title at

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PwC has launched My Financepartner, an accounting service that helps SMEs get professional support and financial insight. The service offers a qualified and commercially focused accountant, a secure cloud-based accounts solution and a telephone and web support centre. PwC has also joined forces with Leeds City Region LEP, to support Finpoint, a funding platform providing a new way for SMEs to access finance. www.pwc.co.uk/north

P RO U D TO BE GRE EN L E E DS Weetwood Hall Conference Centre and Hotel in Leeds has been reaccredited with the Gold Tourism Business Award by Green Tourism, the largest sustainable certification programme in the world. www.weetwood.co.uk

LUXU RY LO CATIO N B R E TTO N H A L L Work is due to start in 2016 on a multi-million pound, luxury hotel, conference centre and business campus at Bretton Hall, in Yorkshire Sculpture Park. Developer Rushbond Group is expected to start work this summer. The development will complement the Yorkshire Sculpture Park, which along with The Hepworth Wakefield and the Henry Moore Institute in Leeds, is part of the Yorkshire Sculpture Triangle. www.rushbond.co.uk

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YORKSHIRE BUSINESS NEWS being a beautiful backdrop for drinks receptions, wedding photography and outdoor space to complement the events facility. www.tennantsgardenrooms.com

B R I D G I NG THE GAP

the old and the new

ROTHERHA M AESSEAL®, a specialist in the design and manufacture of mechanical seals and support systems, has introduced a new component seal range that incorporates its build to order philosophy. Many of the products include new features designed to improve product reliability, with new plug-in models that bridge the gap between cartridge and component seals. Customers will benefit from faster order processing and a significant reduction in lead times. www.aesseal.co.uk

S H E F F I E L D U N I TE D

building bradford BR A D F O R D Arnold Laver has supplied materials and services to the new £260m Westfield development in the heart of Bradford. A range of timber and timber-based products have gone into all aspects of the Broadfield shopping centre. These products have helped to construct and fit-out what is the largest development of its type in the UK this year. Reader Offer: visit www.laveronline.co.uk and quote WTY10 to receive 10% off products such as: timber, doors, flooring, decking and kitchens.

DEL I V E R I N G QUA L I TY

building on history

hessle William Jackson Food Group has brought its organic box delivery service to Yorkshire with the opening of a brand new regional depot for its Abel & Cole brand. Abel & Cole provide organic fruit and veg boxes, complete recipe boxes as well as everyday items such as bread and dairy. www.abelandcole.co.uk

B E AUTI F U L B AC KDR O P L EY BURN After opening the new extension to Tennants Auctioneers last year, The Garden Rooms at Tennants is set to launch a new ‘Sensory Garden’.

This will provide a tranquil area for people with disabilities and/ or impairments to enjoy as well as

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The world’s oldest professional football stadium, Bramall Lane, will continue to upgrade its business and entertainment facilities throughout this year.

These developments will further improve the adjoining 4 star Copthorne Hotel and increase the leisure and events space at Bramall Lane, expanding the capacity for conferences and exhibitions.

2016 will also see Bramall Lane play host to various other events including boxing and squash and poker tournaments. www.sheffieldconference.com

M A K ING A WISH BR A D F O R D Yorkshire Water aims to raise £1m over the next five years as part of its ‘Big Wish for Ethiopia’ project to help deliver clean water and toilets for the poorest communities in Ethiopia.

With 67 million people living without sanitation and 33,000 children under the age of five dying from diarrhoea every year, Ethiopia’s water supply and sanitation is amongst the lowest in the world. To help tackle this, in addition to raising money for WaterAid, three water experts from the company visited Ethiopia in 2015 to provide essential skills training to Bishoftu Water Company. www.yorkshirewater.com/bigwish

SHEFFIELD The team behind Fox Valley, north Sheffield’s new £50 million town centre development, are preparing to launch the new retail and leisure destination this spring.

The town centre scheme has been developed on a 28 acre former steelworks site and brings a host of new retailers to the area as well as office space and a housing development. The development has been designed to reflect the rich industrial heritage of the area where Samuel Fox first patented the paragon frame umbrella in 1852. www.foxvalleysheffield.co.uk

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YORKSHIRE BUSINESS NEWS LUXU RY IN LEEDS L EEDS

D I G I TA L DAC R E S ILKLEY Dacre, Son & Hartley continues to invest in its digital marketing following the introduction of a range of innovative online tools last year.

The company’s website showcases more than 2,000 residential and commercial properties that are available for sale and rent. As a result, the website is now visited by an average of 54,000 home buyers every month and more than 92% of people who use Dacre, Son & Hartley’s services would recommend the estate agent to their friends. www.dacres.co.uk

CE N TR A L B RA N C H LEEDS Yorkshire Bank has opened a new flagship business and retail site near the Victoria Quarter at 94 Briggate in Leeds. Split over two storeys, the new building provides a one stop shop for retail, business, private banking and corporate customers and provides complimentary refreshments and Wi-Fi. Business customers and their advisors are also able to book a meeting room when visiting the city centre. www.ybonline.co.uk

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Luxury brand Burberry is to open a new manufacturing and weaving centre in Leeds. Work on the site, at Temple Works in Holbeck, begins in 2016. It is expected to open by 2019 and will produce its most iconic product, the heritage trench coat.

The new facility will replace the two existing manufacturing and weaving centres in Castleford and Cross Hills, in West Yorkshire. The 770 staff from the two sites are expected to relocate to the new facility which will create another 200 jobs. www.burberryplc.com

F IRST C L ASS FLE ET L EEDS Arrow Self Drive is expanding in 2016, opening new and larger premises on Gelderd Road in Leeds.

The new Leeds depot will specialise in fleet supply and management, delivering light commercial vehicles to a range of business customers.

The family run business, with over 2,000 vehicles on fleet and eight depots, aims to continue in its quest to become the best vehicle rental business in Yorkshire by providing its customers with the highest levels of service possible. www.arrowselfdrive.com

CO O L CO NVERS IO N YO R K St Leonard’s Place in the heart of York is being restored to provide 29 luxury apartments and five palatial townhouses alongside six new mews homes. The Grade II listed crescent, built in the 1830s, is surrounded by some of York’s finest buildings including the Theatre Royal and York Art Gallery, as well as stunning parks. The development is by award winning property company Rushbond. www.stleonardsplace.co.uk

FAST FOR TH E FU TU RE YO R K TalkTalk is launching its new Ultra Fibre Optic Broadband in Yorkshire.

Trials have been conducted in York with hundreds of residents and small businesses enjoying speeds of up to 940Mbps for the same price as standard broadband. The Ultra Fibre Optic network will provide speeds of up to 100 times faster than standard broadband and futureproof York’s broadband network to keep up with demand and growing data consumption. Ultra Fibre Optic Broadband from TalkTalk is available in parts of York. www.ultrafibreoptic.talktalk.co.uk

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