APPETITE wonders in the UK & Ireland
THESE cold-water reservoirs set among woodlands are an antidote to city living.
Everything about swimming at the Heath feels utterly magical – it’s as though you have been taken back in time to a London of old where people are more friendly, phones are banned and the conditions are rustic.
Hampstead has three swimming ponds – the Kenwood Ladies’ Pond; nearby, the Men’s Pond; and, on the west side of the heath, the Mixed Swimming Pond – each quite different from the others.
GAME-changing Quantum of the Seas will make her Alaska debut in summer 2021.
Royal Caribbean’s first “smart-ship” will join Ovation, Radiance and Serenade of the Seas, sailing from Seattle, Vancouver and Seward. It will be the line’s biggest Alaska season and passengers will visit destinations such as Endicott Arm Fjord, Sitka Sound and the capital Juneau.
On-board experiences include Roboscreens which fuse performance art and technology, plus skydiving, surfing and the North Star glass observation capsule, which rises 300ft above sea level.
There are even cocktails served by robots at the Bionic Bar
THESE 15 idyllic cascades, most of them accessible to the public, lace woody ravines around the Welsh village of Ystradfellte.
Some of the falls – Sgwd Uchaf Clun-Gwyn, Sgwd Isaf ClunGwyn, Sgwd y Pannwr and Sgwd yr Eira – are incorporated into the Four Waterfalls Walk, a marked five-mile circular route.
The final fall, Sgwd yr Eira, plummets in picture-perfect satin sheets. You can clamber behind the cascades to reach the opposite riverbank.
LOOKING out over the panoramic parkland of the Usk Valley, the views from Celtic Manor are unrivalled in south Wales.
Even though the setting is rural, the journey to the hotel is surprisingly simple. It’s just a 30-minute taxi from Newport railway station, with connections to
Cardiff in less than
15 minutes.
The Signature Suites on the sixth floor are for adults only – perfect for a childfree weekend.
Nice touches include a bottle of wine and Welsh cakes as a welcome.
Suites have a comfortable king-sized bed, small lounge, TV and balcony.
You’ll find Elemis products in the marble bathroom, as well as white robes and slippers.
Buffet breakfast is served at the sixth-floor restaurant until 10.30am, with the “full Welsh” as well as cereals and continental choices.
For dinner we enjoyed delicious steaks, tasty local produce and a great selection of wines at the aptly named Steak On Six restaurant.
The resort does transfers to its sister hotels, too, so dining at nearby Newbridge on Usk is a must. The lamb rump and crème brulée at the 200year-old inn are heavenly.
The resort has hosted the Ryder Cup, so it’s perfect for golf fanatics.
Go for a swim, or unwind in the sauna, Jacuzzi and steam room before having a massage at Forum Spa. There’s a gym, and don’t forget the lovely countryside.
Hotels are currently closed due to coronavirus.