MY STYLE Events manager Max Freer Inside the Egyptologist's ...

www.thenorthernecho.co.ukJanuary 200721connectionsLAPPING IT UP: the recent Beatrix Potter movie has made the Lakes an international magnetWalking in awinterwonderlandWITH its snow-capped mountains, cut-glasslakes, frosted dry-stone walls, and top hotelsandrestaurants,the Lake District–usuallyflooded with tourists in the summer –is the perfect place to relax by alog fire and unwind.Alternatively,you could get togged up and brave thegreatoutdoors.Here,wesuggest some thingsyoucoulddo in the Lake Districtthiswinter.WALKHEADfor Lake Grasmere orRydalinthe centralLakeDistrict, abeautiful, sparsely-populated valley ringedwith fells and home to cosy cafes, independent shopsand easy walks around the Lake shore. Check out theLion and Lamb rock formation watching overWordsworth’svillage from the summitof nearbyHelmCrag. Alternatively,orderahotteaand feed the swansfrom the banksof the Lake atthe mysticalCelticFaeryTeaRooms.www.grasmere.comLUNCHTUCKED away off the beaten track onthe mountainroadbetween Ambleside and UllswaterisatraditionalLake District pub in avillage no bigger than astreet,called Troutbeck. Sandwiched between the Hundredsand the famous HighStreetmountain walk,the MortalMan commands agreat view across the atmosphericvalley and has been serving sustenance to all thosewho’vecalled atits doorsince1689.www.themortalman.comHOTELCUMBRIAand The Lake Districthavehundredsof tophotels, self catering cottages and contemporary B&Bsto choose from, complete with cosy fires, luxuriousroomsand views todie for.Therearefewbetterplacestowatchthe darknights descend thanfrom the picturelounge atthe SharrowBayHotel,whichhasahuge windowwhichframesLakeUllswaterin anever-changingportrait.Alternatively,headforArmathwaiteHall nearKeswick for 400-acres of deer park and woodland, fourposter beds and six-star views of the Lake District atBassenthwaitewww.sharrowbay.co.ukorwww.armathwaite-hall.comHOT AIR BALLOONSEEthe majestic, muscularlandscape likeneverbeforefrom the perspective ofthe ospreys which have madetheirnest high in the forests aboveBassenthwaiteLake.Marvel at the soaring mountains, the intricate patchworkofdry-stonewallsand glittering lakesbelow.MartinCasson, of the Bowness-based hot air balloon companyHigh Adventure will even serve up aglass ofchampagne on your gentle returntoearth.www.high-adventure.co.ukGET ACTIVEMUD,sweat,gears and beers.That’swhatLake Districtweekendsareall about forsome.Withhundredsof challengingcourses,downhilldaredevilsand winding countrylanes, whatever your bike and however wellequipped youare,there’splenty tochoosefrom. Try thenewten-mile single trackaround Grizedale Forest nearWindermere, which takes you along leaf-encrustedlanes and pine-pungent pathways. Alternatively,headfor Whinlatter Forest near Keswick for aaone-stopshopexperienceofcourses,acafe and visitor centre.www.forestry.gov.uk/forestryONE FOR THE KIDSWHETHER the kidsaretwoor20,they’ll all find somethingtoenjoyon atrip toone of the country’sforemostconservation zoos.GetcloseuptoSumatrantigers,hippos,giraffes and baboons at the South Lakes Wild AnimalParkatDalton-in-Furness.www.wildanimalpark.co.ukINDOOR ATTRACTIONIT’S wet, it’s cold, it’s winter.You want food, drink,warmthand entertainmentand youdo notwanttoventuretoofarforall four.Headforthe Rheged Centre,justoff the M6atPenrith(junction 40)withits double-deckersized movie screens showing perfect Sunday afternoonepicslikeShackleton,Vikings,the SerengetiandEverest.Therearealsoregularexhibitions,achildren’sindoorplayarea, toyshops,agallery,astylishfood barcalled Tasteand amoderncafe serving everything fromciabattastopizzas.Beforeyouleave,call in atthe foodhall to bag some smoked meats, British cheeses andgreatwine forwhen yougethome.www.rheged.com■ For more information go to www.golakes.co.uk.To book accommodation call 0845-450-1199.Being pampered at HarveyNichols and spending thenight at agreat hotel –what could be abettercombination for agirly tripto Leeds? Women’s EditorSARAH FOSTER and hersister take abreakTHE sun was out, the skywas blue, and we wereheading for the shops –could there be greater joythan this? My sister Emma, ashopaholic, and Iwere bound forLeeds. As it was years since sheand Ihad been away,and eventhen we’d been with mum anddad, Ithought anight at an hotelwas overdue. And knowingEmma’s love for clothes (as well ashandbags, coats and shoes) Ifigured Leeds would meet ourneeds.We’d booked anight at theWoodlands Hotel, outside thesprawling city centre inquietGildersome. It took just 15minutes toreach the thrivingcentral hub and what welost fromthe commute we gained fromcountryside and peace.Our stunning bolthole, withstone facade and well-keptgrounds, is one of three top-notchhotels owned by The TomahawkGroup. Comprising 17 tastefulrooms, each one unique, itwelcomed its first guests twoyears ago. Prior tothat –whichprobably explains its old-worldfeel –itwas the residence ofaman who owned alocal textilemill. Wechecked inquickly –theshops were calling –and soon ataxi was transporting us theirway.At Harvey Nichols Ihad mymake-up done while Emmawatched. My hour appointment,with aconsultant from TrishMcEvoy,had been arranged by thehotel. Though not amassivemake-up fan (my normal look isjust mascara and lip balm) Ididenjoy the consultation. Whatreally helped was that it workedwith what Iknew –and Ikept mynatural-looking face. The onlydownside came from havingsuper-sensitive skin, whichdespite assurances tothecontrary, reacted badly totheproducts.Wewent from here to meet twofriendly personal shoppers. Theirservices are free and can be usedby anyone, yet wefelt privilegedas weentered their domain –aseparate wing of Harvey Nichols.Perhaps the highlight of our stay,we got todon designer gowns –from jewel-encrusted AliceTemperley toAlexander McQueen–while sipping complimentarywine. It made our day,and whilewe didn’t buy athing, we lovedjust seeing how they looked. Atleast if one of us becomes rich, wenow know where we’ll go to shop.Afurther treat, which the hotelhad also planned, was comingback the following day forEmma’s make-up consultation.This was with Pout, ayoung andfunky product line, and she wasthrilled to have false eyelashesapplied. The make-up artist gluedWOODLANDS HOTEL: oldbuilding with amodern twiston lashes one by one, so thatinstead ofone thick line, she hadjust some at the far corner of eacheye. She loved the fresh and dewylook achieved by nudes and subtlepinks and wished the make-upcould be purchased nearer home.Of course there’s more toshopping in Leeds than HarveyNichols, and we made sure we didthe rounds of other stores. Thegiant Primark (where would webe without it?) provided bargainfashion buys and there wereplenty more around. Worn outand clutching several bags, wemade our way back to the hotel,where we had time to really takein its luxury.Wehad adjoining double roomsand both were sumptuous andsmart. My spacious suite –thelargest room in which I’ve stayed–was labelled ‘Sarsenet’; like allthe rest, aname from Woodlands’textile past. Iloved the huge fourposter bed, the brown silkcurtains and the views, but mostof all Iloved the bath –agiantairbath, to be precise. It was aroom Icould have lived in for amonth.Wedined like queens in thehotel’s contemporary restaurant –Ichose fish pie while Emmaplumped for the roast beef –andthen enjoyed ahearty breakfastthe next day.Weleft withbatteries re-charged –and onemore day tohit the shops.■ Shopping break packages atWoodlands Hotel, including afullYorkshire breakfast, chauffeurdriventransport to and fromHarvey Nichols, make-upconsultation, personal shoppingand afternoon tea atthe hotel,begin at £89 per person. For moredetails on this and otherpackages, visitwww.woodlandsleeds.co.uk orcall0113-2381488.