Up Helly Aa: Europe's biggest fire festival returns to Shetland
The streets of Lerwick will once again fill up with fire and smoke later as Shetland gears up for the return of its world famous Up Helly Aa fire festival.Up Helly Aa - Europe's biggest fire festival - is traditionally held on the last Tuesday of January and celebrates Shetland's Norse heritage.Thousands of visitors travel to the UK's most northerly islands to watch the evening torchlit procession through Lerwick, which reaches its climax when the replica of a Viking long ship is set on fire. Women and girls made history last year when they joined the main "squad" at the head of the procession for the first time in more than 140 years.
More than 40 groups, locally known as "squads", march through the streets of Lerwick before throwing their torches at an ornamented wooden galley. The celebrations then move to the many community halls, where they continue until as late as 07:00 the next day.At the head of the procession is the "Jarl Squad" led by its chief, the Guizer Jarl. Its members, who become Vikings for the day, wear custom-made suits, axes and shields. For Calum Grains, who had to wait for 17 years to take up his position as the 2025 Guizer Jarl, the last Tuesday in January is always a special day. "Up Helly Aa is such a great community event - it marks the end of that winter period and we are starting to look forward to the new year again," he said."It's one of these huge things that make Shetland unique."
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Wales Online
an hour ago
- Wales Online
Unsung chocolate box town is like if Disney did Ye Olde England and is just 1 hour from Wales
Unsung chocolate box town is like if Disney did Ye Olde England and is just 1 hour from Wales This ancient market town is like stepping into the pages of a story book and there's so much to see around it Located at the confluence of the River Lugg and its tributary, the River Kenwater, Leominster is at the heart of the Black and White Villages Trail. (Image: Portia Jones ) I love a historic market town with proper pubs, striking architecture and boutique shops. While we are blessed with plenty of pretty towns in Wales, several just across the border are worthy of a visit. One of my favourite finds is the town of Leominster in Herefordshire, around an hour from Wales. Located at the confluence of the River Lugg and its tributary, the River Kenwater, Leominster is at the heart of the Black and White Villages Trail. This unsung trail winds through 42 miles of lush, green Herefordshire countryside, taking you to medieval villages with history woven into every crooked timber and stone path. With its black-and-white timber-framed buildings, Leominster is the ideal starting point for the trail and is worth sticking around for. Here's how to make the most of a trip to this underrated market town in The Marches. Wander the historic streets I love the historic architecture (Image: Portia Jones ) Leominster is ancient, with a timeline dating back to the 7th century. The area was inhabited by a Christian community established by a monk, St. Ædfrið, around 660 AD and during the 8th and 9th centuries, Vikings frequently raided the area. Article continues below History is all around you in this town, and it's also where you'll find the last ducking stool used in England in the Priory Church of St. Peter & St. Paul. These 17th-century stools were formerly used to punish disorderly women by plunging them into water on a stool of repentance. Thankfully, for ungovernable women like me, this has been discontinued for a long time. Phew! Various Tudor, Stuart and Georgian-era buildings can also be spotted along Church Street, Broad Street and Drapers Lane. Keen to learn more? Leominster Heritage Guides offers guided walking tours twice a week, revealing the fascinating stories behind this historic market town. Join them every Saturday at 11:00am and every Wednesday at 2:00pm for a 90-minute tour led by knowledgeable local guides. Each walk explores different aspects of Leominster's past, from Roman roots to medieval trade and historic buildings. The meeting point is outside the Leominster Information Centre, Corn Square. Tickets are currently £5 per adult and must be purchased in advance at the Information Centre. From superstar gigs to cosy pubs, find out What's On in Wales by signing up to our newsletter here Visit Grange Court Grange Court was originally a market hall where traders would gather to sell their goods under its oak-beamed roof (Image: Portia Jones ) For a history fix, swing by the Grade 2* Listed Grange Court, built in 1633 by John Abel, a master carpenter who left behind some of the finest examples of a half-timbered style. Grange Court was originally a market hall where traders would gather to sell their goods under its oak-beamed roof, and was moved to its present location in 1859. "It's a very special building", says heritage walks leader Pete Blench. Speaking on this episode of the Travel Goals Podcast, Blench adds, "There's not another building in the country like this. There are many market halls, although many others have been destroyed, lost, and burned. This one amazingly survived because it's all timber-framed. It's famous because of the number of extraordinary oak carvings on the exterior walls. They're quite grotesque figures. There's a king with a beard, breasts, mermaids, and strange emblems; they are superb." Today, it's a community space where you can wander in, explore the intricate carvings on the building's exterior, and have coffee and cake in the friendly cafe. Visit boutique shops Like most decent market towns, Leominster has several independent shops selling a variety of goods, from clothing and jewellery to wine and spirits. There are several antique and secondhand stores to browse, where you'll find antiques, vintage items and pre-loved treasures. Minster House Leominster Antiques Centre features 17 rooms filled with antiques from every period, as well as extensive gardens showcasing furniture and other architectural pieces. The Secondhand warehouse has 12,500 sq ft of retail space filled with large vintage and pre-loved furniture items such as dressers, cupboards, and dining tables. Leominster has plenty of cafes and shops (Image: Portia Jones ) Enjoy the gardens Leominster offers various blooming gardens to explore, including the Secret Garden, Stockton Bury Gardens, Aulden Farm, and others open through the National Garden Scheme. The Secret Garden is worth a visit. This walled garden is located at the rear of the Town Council Offices. It's a large grassed area with access to the Leominster Information Centre and Etnam Street Car Park. Watch for community events here, including Leominster Food Fayre, Teddy Bears Picnic and Tea Party events. Explore the Black and White Villages Trail The Pembridge to Eardisland loop is a favourite among cyclists (Image: Portia Jones ) The Black and White Villages Trail can be explored in several ways. Driving is one of the easiest options, allowing you to take in the villages at your own pace. The roads through Herefordshire are quiet and scenic, with each village just a short drive from the next. You can easily spend a whole day exploring two or three towns, enjoying a leisurely lunch or visiting a local museum. Cycling is a fantastic option for a scenic ride along the trail. The route is flat, and the roads are free from heavy traffic, making it an ideal day out for cyclists. If you want a multi-day ride, companies like Wheely Wonderful Cycling offer cycling packages that include bike rentals, route maps, and luggage transport. The Pembridge to Eardisland loop is a favourite among cyclists. It offers lovely countryside views and plenty of opportunities to stop for refreshments. History enthusiasts will love exploring ancient churches, market halls, and manor houses, many of which have stood since the medieval period (Image: Portia Jones ) At just over 9 miles, it's ideal for visitors who want to explore some of the Black & White Villages Trail in a day rather than biking the entire route over two or three days. Pembridge, the starting point, is a quintessentially English village that once enjoyed the patronage of the powerful Mortimer family and the prosperity that went along with it. Its picture-perfect timber-frame buildings line the main Street and are often framed by beautiful spring blossoms or blooming window boxes, giving it that quaint village feel. Companies like Wheely Wonderful Cycling offer cycling packages (Image: Portia Jones ) Honestly, it's almost like you've stepped into a TV show, and this couldn't possibly be where people lived. It's too perfect. If Disney did ye olde England land. I almost expected a town crier to wander out of the 700-year-old pub. You can also pick up provisions from the 500-year-old 'ye olde steps village shop' for your biking adventure. They have many Herefordshire projects, including cheese, biscuits and local gin. From Pembridge, the route passes through country lanes, rural farmland, and orchards as you cycle from village to village on a mostly flat route without much traffic. Along the way, expect the usual countryside features like tractors, horses, local pubs, and a selection of fascinating sights like St Mary Magdalene's church, featuring the work of Herefordshire School of Romanesque sculpture, and you can also see the oldest AA box in the country. Where to eat and drink in Leominster There are loads of places in Herefordshire where you can get great food (Image: Portia Jones ) Leominster has several proper pubs, lovely cafes, and restaurants where you can grab lunch or dinner. The Press Room is a historic, independent bar featuring antique copper and brass utensil decor. They serve real ales, craft beer, Italian coffee, fine tea, stews, and filled rolls. For a proper pub lunch, the dog-friendly White Lion in Leominster, run by Nina and Laz, serves homemade food, real ales, lagers, ciders, and wine. Drapers Lane Delicatessen offers unique sharing boards paired with a glass of wine or local cider. Sit outside with a coffee and watch the world go by. Further afield, The Cider Barn in Pembridge is one of the best places to sample Herefordshire's bountiful produce and changing seasons. A 450-year-old, Grade II-listed barn at Dunkertons Cider Mill, it has an inviting ambience and knowledgeable staff. It's a contemporary dining space in a converted barn that features creative, seasonal menus with locally sourced produce. Most evenings, the restaurant is busy with diners who order local ciders and browse the seasonal à la Carte Menu. Typical dishes include Herefordshire beef Denver with pulled brisket and potato terrine, Smoked vegetable consommé, and Chicken and herb ballotine. Ye Olde Salutation Inn in the village of Weobley is another brilliant spot for classic dishes featuring hearty Herefordshire produce. Step inside this old English Inn to find a warming fire, proper pies, and local ales, including tap beers from Leominster microbrewery The Swan Brewery. Article continues below
The Review Geek
3 hours ago
- The Review Geek
How to Train Your Dragon (2025) Movie Review
The perfect adaptation Live-action films of animations have never been a sure-fire success; in fact, it's easier to remember more bad adaptations than good ones. Unfortunately, things haven't changed much nowadays, as the general reaction to Disney's remakes will show you. But How to Train Your Dragon comes as a beacon of hope. Fans will be glad to know it's the best adaptation of any animated film until now. How to Train Your Dragon is a beautiful coming-of-age story following Hiccup as he tries to find his place in his village and connect with his father, Stoick, the village chief. Unlike the other Vikings, he's meek, skinny, and only seems to bring trouble wherever he goes. That is, until the day that'll change his whole life: when he catches a Night Fury, the scariest beast of all. The only problem is that no one believes him, and he actually wrecks the place while doing that. The live-action is an almost perfect adaptation, bringing the incredible scenery, John Powell's breathtaking soundtrack, and charismatic characters to life. You can feel the amount of respect the entire team has for the original in every corner. Even the dialogues are close to a one-to-one recreation. Many people wish they could watch their favourite movies for the first time again. The fans got exactly that here. As with the animation, Hiccup's friendship with Toothless, the Night Fury, is the highlight of the film. Every time they meet and get closer, you can feel in your bones how much they care for one another. When Hiccup finally earns the dragon's trust and pats its head — the movie's most iconic scene — it's hard not to shed some tears. Both of them are each other's first real friends, and it shows. They can only be their true and best selves together until they grow and show the whole village who they are. Hiccup's relationship with his father is another key aspect of the film. How could he, the chief's son, not be the best and baddest Viking there? But instead of building legends like his father, he was overlooked by everyone. That's why his friendship with Toothless is even more beautiful; killing him would solve all his problems, but he saw something else in the creature. So, the dragon did the same and was the first to see something unique in the boy. Stoick isn't a bad person, and he tries to connect with his son. But it's as if the bond they need for that connection is missing. Even if it's hard in the beginning, Toothless is also the one who makes that happen. Although it follows those story beats perfectly, the remake has a few changes. And, happily, all of them add something new to the plot. Snotlout receives more screen time, focusing on his damaged relationship with his father. Much like Hiccup, he can't fill his shoes and only disappoints the man. That gives a new layer to the character and even makes him more likable. But the best addition is Astrid's rant to Hiccup. In the animation, she's great, but also the stereotypical tough girl who ends up helping the boy. Here, we learn a bit more about her life and her ambitions. And also why the boy annoys her so much. When he answers, we see how his emotions start to sway her, even if a little. Instead of a sudden change of heart, her help here feels more believable and emotional. Of course, the scene would be as great as it is if it weren't for Nico Parker's amazing skills. She delivers her lines and feelings flawlessly. Not every member of the cast gets a similar chance to shine, but they are still near perfect. All of them seem like they were born to play their characters, mainly Parker, Mason Thames (Hiccup), and Gerard Butler (Stoick). The CGI also doesn't disappoint, as the dragons look amazing. They're all just like you imagine them when watching the cartoon; it's fantastical. If there's one small disadvantage, it's that Toothless sometimes feels less expressive than in the original. Still, it's hardly a problem, and he's the most beautiful of all the creatures. Although it's the best live-action remake we have, it's still a pity it doesn't try to do more. As it's nearly the same as the first one, it can feel like it doesn't justify its existence. Seeing how much the production team loves the original and how successful their small changes are, it would have been great to see them being riskier. Their additions could still be respectful and make the movie feel even fresher. But, if How to Train Your Dragon's sin is living up to the original, maybe that's a small price to pay. Read More: How To Train Your Dragon (2025) Ending Explained
The Review Geek
3 hours ago
- The Review Geek
How to Train Your Dragon (2025) Ending Explained – Do Hiccup and Toothless beat Red Death?
How to Train Your Dragon Plot Summary Hiccup is a Viking and the son of the village chief, Stoick, but he isn't nearly as strong or capable as his peers. His island, Berk, doesn't have the usual pests, like spiders or snakes, but dragons. Which just makes his weaknesses even worse. But to prove his worth, he attempts to capture the deadliest dragon ever seen, the Night Fury. However, when he does it, no one believes him, and he allows other dragons to take their stock. Hiccup gets another chance to finally be accepted by the village when he finds the dragon in the woods, hurt and defenseless. Instead, he lets the creature free, realizing the creature is as scared as he is. From that moment on, he lives a double life. Although he participates in dragon-killing training and wants to make his father proud, he is becoming friends with Toothless, the Night Fury. That's the start of their unlikely friendship and the boy's self-discovery journey. What is the dragon's nest? After Hiccup and Toothless become closer, the boy learns how to ride the dragon. One day, he takes Astrid, another teenager from the village, for a flight to convince her not to snitch on him. Suddenly, Toothless takes them to a faraway island full of dragons. However, their most surprising discovery isn't finding their nest there. It's seeing their 'queen bee,' Red Death. She's a gigantic and ruthless dragon that commands the others to bring her food. When a dragon only brings her half of a fish, she eats the creature alive in one bite. They hurriedly get away from there and return to Berk. Still, Hiccup doesn't want to reveal their discovery to anyone, as it could endanger Toothless. However, later, as the boy is in danger, Toothless comes to his rescue in front of the whole village. With their secret out, the boy mistakenly tells his father about the nest. Do Hiccup and Toothless beat Red Death? Although Stoick and the villagers give it their all to destroy the dragon's nest, they are like ants to Red Death. Their only hope is Hiccup and Toothless, who have a plan to weaken and kill the creature. The Night Fury is many times faster than her, which allows them to shoot the beast's wings and create several holes in them. Then, when Red Death tries to attack them, Toothless shoots her mouth, turning all the gas she would use to breathe fire into his own ammo. The gigantic dragon falls to their island, incapable of fighting any longer. However, she accidentally hits Toothless with her tail before falling. Because of that, he and the boy get separated and fall, as well. Toothless desperately flies in the boy's direction and protects him from the fire. Still, he only catches the kid after he loses one of his legs. At the end of the movie, Toothless awaits the boy in his house and helps him move with his new steel leg. To Hiccup's surprise, now his father and all the villagers accept the dragons close to them. Thanks to him and Toothless, Berk is completely different and has one less threat to worry about. What's next for the How to Train Your Dragon Franchise? Fans of the animated trilogy know the story doesn't end there. And, for their happiness, the director has already made the sequel to the live-action film official. So, what's Berk's next threat? In How to Train Your Dragon 2, we follow Hiccup, Astrid, and their friends as they are a few years older. The protagonist and Toothless are way better flyers now and are mapping out all nearby islands to find more dragons. In doing that, they end up finding another crew of Vikings who also ride the creatures. However, they enslave them instead of living in harmony like the citizens of Berk. Worst of all, now that they know Hiccup has a Night Fury, they won't stop until they get their hands on the dragon. But Hiccup also meets a strange ally: a woman who lives alone on a beautiful island filled with dragons and in complete harmony with them. Together, they fight to stop this new threat. However, his ties to her are much deeper than he initially thought. Read More: How To Train Your Dragon (2025) Movie Review
