Those who recognise the view of Godrevy Lighthouse from our front cover won’t be surprised to hear our focus this edition is North Cornwall. We love to get the first scoop on exciting UK travel news here at British Travel Journal, so the launch of Una St Ives made it to the top of our travel agenda, as did one of our all-time favourite hotels, The Headland, Newquay – with the launch of their luxurious £10 million Aqua Club swimming and spa sanctuary.
While in Cornwall's beautiful Carbis Bay we had the pleasure of meeting renowned British chef Adam Handling at his latest restaurant, Ugly Butterfly and chatted to him about cooking and his passion for zero-waste. Whether you want to go glamping, have a house to yourself or discover the latest hotels this summer, we tell you where to look in our Travel News and suggest ten incredible summer staycation ideas in our Unique Luxury Breaks. From new gardening, cycling and surf-school experiences to food, drink and vineyard tours we are spoilt for choice this year!
5 A SUMMER FESTIVAL WITH
5 A SUMMER FESTIVAL WITH STYLISH WHEELS As camper vans combine freedom with little luxuries, they make a savvy choice for a music festival. In fact, some say the campervan field is where the real fun happens when the stage lights dim. Highlights for the forthcoming festival season include Bigfoot, in Buckinghamshire, where the artisan drinks and food are as important as the music, or Wilderness in Oxfordshire, where revellers relax in a lakeside spa in between acts. Alternatively, a weekend at Latitude – known for its strong spoken word programme – can be combined with a few days exploring sand dunes along the Suffolk coast. The smart vans from new, Dorset-based company OTBT, for example, are stylishly put together, containing tiled kitchens with leather cupboard handles and oiled wood surfaces, as well as a cleverly hidden away boot area, solar panels and a hammock swing. yescapa.co.uk Three nights from £468 in OTBT’s Maya van 6 THE WONDERS OF LOCH NESS Those whose knowledge of Loch Ness is limited to the legend of a waterborne monster might be surprised to learn that this Scottish beauty has many more secrets. From castles and battlefields to standing stones and tumbling waterfalls, the best way to explore this enigmatic body of water is by going on a day tour of the lake with an expert. It is not all walking either, with picturesque drives included, as well as a boat cruise across the deep, mysterious water. Ness Walk is a five-star hotel located in Inverness, not far from the loch. Its ‘Wonders of Loch Ness’ break includes a picnic lunch and visits to Culloden Battlefield, Clava Cairns, Urquhart Castle and Divach Falls, which is where J M Barrie wrote Peter Pan. Round off the day in fine style with a dram or two of local whisky back at the hotel, which sits on the banks of the River Ness and was once a 19th-century house. nesswalk.com Three nights from £735 per person 64 BritishTravelJournal.com
7 SCOTTISH FOOD AND DRINK TRAIL From whisky to lobster, it’s possible to sample some of the best of Scotland’s culinary treasures on a luxury tour that uses a private chauffeur. Guests of both the Edinburgh hotel Prestonfield and The Witchery by the Castle – an oak-panelled restaurant with suites – can be driven to destinations within two hours of the city as part of a new Taste of Scotland trail. Locations visited include Dunbar Harbour, to see the seafood catch arrive and learn about sustainable fishing from Belhaven Lobster; East Lothian for a distillery tasting and a foraged-food-pairing workshop with Buck & Birch; Old Leckie farm for a quad-bike or tractor tour and Scotland’s oldest working distillery, The Glenturret. Here guests can expect a tour and lunch at Michelin-starred The Glenturret Lalique Restaurant. Dinner back at the accommodation will feature plenty of the day’s produce. sleigh.co.uk Two nights from £1,720 per person 8 A JUBILEE VIEWING OF THE CROWN JEWELS What could be better during Her Majesty The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations than a private tour to marvel at the Crown Jewels, travelling in a chauffeur-driven Daimler car that once belonged to the Queen Mother? This very exclusive luxury break has been masterminded by London’s Hotel Café Royal to provide an unforgettable experience for guests who check into the two-bedroom Royal Suite. On arrival at the Tower of London, a tour is conducted by a Beefeater, before a private viewing of the Crown Jewels and Royal Collection takes place. Those who visit during the weekend of 4 or 5 June will not only get to enjoy being inside a Royal Palace during the jubilee celebrations but will also receive a Champagne reception on arrival and the chance to extend the visit by booking dinner afterwards in a private dining room at the Tower. hotelcaferoyal.com One night from £6,147 per person BritishTravelJournal.com 65
