CENTRE STAGE a sound Beyond the reaction border
From eating out to family fun, we’ve found some hidden gems that aren’t far from your doorstep
WHILE we are spoilt here in Wales for brilliant places to visit – from family attractions to awardwinning restaurants – there are many great things to do if we travel just a little over the border – and many of them remain undiscovered gems to most of us.
So whether you live in north, south or mid Wales and fancy something a little different, we’ve picked our favourite places to go if you head into England.
Happy exploring!
1. The Lido, Bristol
This secluded oasis is hidden within the residential Georgian streets of the upmarket Clifton in Bristol.
Open to the elements all year round, it is the perfect place to escape to if you want to relax.
There’s a 24m outdoor swimming pool which is heated throughout the year. along with a sauna, steam room and hot tub.
You can also treat yourself to a wide range of massages at the spa, including a facial, bamboo massage and a hot stone massage.
When it comes to refreshments, you can choose from the restaurant, which offers an a la carte and set menu, or the poolside tapas bar.
Be warned: Once you check in, you won’t want to leave. Where: Oakfield Place, Clifton, Bristol BS8 2BJ. Details: www.lidobristol.com
2. Le Champignon Sauvage, Cheltenham
If you love visiting fine dining restaurants then this must be on your wish list – the double Michelin-starred French bistro which everyone’s talking about.
Run by David Everitt-Matthias and his wife Helen, this intimate but unpretentious restaurant has bold pieces of modern art on the walls, tables with comfy chairs and amazing food.
The menu changes seasonally with great care taken to source the finest local ingredients. Where: Suffolk Road, Cheltenham, GL50 2AQ. Details: www.lechampignon sauvage.co.uk
3. Ludlow’s ancient streets and restaurants
This beautiful market town is just over the border and lies 23 miles north of Hereford and 28 miles south of Shrewsbury and is perfect for a day out – especially if you’re a foodie.
Perched on a cliff above the River Teme, it has a reputation for its excellent restaurants and cafes and has an abundance of quality food producers in the area.
It’s also a great place for history buffs – the oldest part is the medieval walled town, which was founded in the late 11th century, and there are almost 500 listed buildings, including medieval and Tudor-style half-timbered properties. Details: www.ludlow.org.uk
4. Kayak right down the border
What better way to enjoy the stunning scenery that runs along the border between Wales and England than from the water.
You can kayak along the River Wye, which is the fifth longest river in Britain and has its source in Plynlimon in the Cambrian Mountains in mid Wales and runs to the Severn Estuary.
Among the places it runs through are Ross-on-Wye, Hereford, Hay-on-Wye, Monmouth, Chepstow, Symonds Yat, Tintern, Builth Wells and Rhayader.
You can enjoy guided river trips or just explore with your family and friends. Details: www.wyecanoes.com
5. The Saracens Head (and Yat Rock)
While passing through Symonds Yat on your River Wye tour, you might want to stop off at The Saracens Head Inn.
The inn has stood for centuries in a spectacular position on the east bank of the River Wye, where the river flows into a steep wooded gorge, on the edge of the Forest of Dean in Symonds Yat East – so the views are spectacular.
And you can order some delicious home-cooked meals and enjoy a selection of real ales.
You could also go to nearby Yat Rock, which is a park area with trails leading to a high viewpoint with a stunning vista of the area. Where: The Saracens Head Inn, Symonds Yat East, Ross-on-Wye. Herefordshire HR9 6JL. Details: www.saracensheadinn. co.uk
6. Ice Cream Farm, Tattenhall
A farm? For ice cream? Yes, this brilliant attraction, near Chester, celebrates our favourite sweet treat and it’s free to get in, although there are some attractions you have to pay for.
As well as the ice cream parlour, you can visit Daisy’s Garden, a magical place overflowing with hidden delights for climbing, crawling and balancing; Honeycomb Canyon, which is Europe’s largest indoor sand and water play area; Strawberry Falls, an adventure golf course for all the family; and The Loft, a den for teenage visitors. Where: The Ice Cream Farm, Newton Lane, Tattenhall, Chester, Cheshire CH3 9NE. Details: www.theicecreamfarm. co.uk
7. Port Sunlight, Wirral
Founded by “Soap King” William Hesketh Lever in 1888, the village was built to house Lever’s Sunlight Soap factory workers, but