THE YORKSHIRE DALES
IN A CUPRA ATECA
GETTING THERE
The first thing I notice about the CUPRA Ateca is the crowd of construction workers gathered around to admire the SUV’S glossy white shell and honeycomb grilles. The second is the network of 360-degree cameras and proximity sensors, which make reversing a doddle. In sport mode, the CUPRA Ateca is quick and responsive. On the hilly, winding roads through the Yorkshire Dales, the gears help give a good burst of power.
WHERE TO STAY
On arrival at Grantley Hall, a velvet-clad waiter hands me home-made lemonade with a sprig of rosemary. My suite has plush sofas, a grand fireplace and a landscape painting that rises to reveal a TV. The marble bathroom is the size of my flat! There’s a free-standing bath, cavernous shower and walk-in wardrobe. Beyond sash windows are lush grounds and bridges over the River Skell. Heaven in God’s Own Country. Rooms start from £345 a night, including breakfast. Visit grantleyhall.co.uk
MUST-VISIT
Gazing across the Dales, I feel like I’ve fallen into the painted landscape on a box of Yorkshire Tea. Rising early, I head to a complimentary yoga session, where I’m guided through a simple, relaxing routine. A trip to Ripon reveals an impressive cathedral filled with art and an underground crypt. Back at the hotel, I book a potli massage at the Three Graces Spa, where salts and herb bundles dipped in oil are pressed rhythmically along my walk-weary body.
FOOD AND DRINK
Grantley Hall’s Shaun Rankin restaurant offered grouse breast with celeriac and blackcurrant, before cocktails at Eightyeight. The Corner House Cafe in Grassington delivered arguably the world’s best chip butty. In Ripon, I hid from the rain behind Tudor windows at The Wakeman’s House Cafe, with a scone and a Yorkshire brew.