Take the perfect mini-break
Combining the rugged scenery of Cornwall
with the lush greenery normally found in
the Home Counties, Dorset is pretty hard
to beat. Head to
Summer Lodge
,
in the picturesque village
of Evershot, our pick for a spring weekender. Redesigned by
local author Thomas Hardy, it’s the right mix of luxury and
comfort – like staying in the stately pad of a rich uncle. Now,
where’s our G&T?
summerlodgehotel.co.uk
Try a top tipple
The French might not be quivering
in their boots just yet, but British
wine is gaining ground. Sparkling
numbers have pipped Champagne
in taste tests and
some great whites
are emerging. David
Harvey, expert and
author of
Grape
Britain
,
recommends
the
Camel Valley
Bacchus Dry
2011
,
which he
describes as
“
bouncing like
a puppy, with
aromas of cut
grass and a
palate of
elderflower and
lime”. Pair with
Welsh spider
crab for a
winning
homegrown
combination.
Go gigging
in Glasgee
Drizzle and
the DIY spirit
have given
Glasgow’s music
scene
a unique vibe. “The
weather is a factor,” reckons
Dep Downie, of record
shop-cum-venue Monorail
(
monorailmusic.com
). “
Plus, Glasgow is small enough for
everyone to know each other.” Crossovers between clubs,
galleries and record labels are common, while post-industrial
spaces, like The Arches (
thearches.co.uk
)
and Trongate 103
(
trongate103.com
),
house a variety of arts. Outside the centre,
“
the Glad Café [
thegladcafe.co.uk
]
and The Platform [
platform-
online.co.uk
]
are vital live venues,” says Downie.
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43
Go fishing
Some do it for sport,
some for food, but
most see it as a way to
commune with nature.
You’re never far from
water – fresh or sea
–
on these scepter’d
isles, so it’s an ideal
pastime. But what to
catch and where?
DOLLAGHAN
These elusive brown trout,
fished for in the dark, are
native to Lough Neagh in
Northern Ireland.
ATLANTIC COD
Head to Dungeness Beach
in Kent, where you can
also hook bass, dab,
flounder and sole.
CARP
Drayton Reservoir in
Daventry is always good
for this muscular fish.
There’s plenty to go round.
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Curl up with a read
Known as the
“
second-hand
British Library”,
Barter Books
in
Alnwick is the
perfect spot for a
browse and a
fireside lunch.
barterbooks.co.uk
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