From the mountains to the Med: a self-guided walk in Provence, France
B ehind Cassis beach, the castle-topped cliffs glint red-gold in the late afternoon sun. Couples stroll on the sand, kids play on the carousel, pastel-coloured buildings reflect in the still waters of the old harbour. In the main square, lined by plane trees, a group of elderly men concentrate on a game of petanque. It's a charming slice of Provençal life, a world away from the Cote D'Azur's more glitzy hotspots. In summer, tourists flock to the narrow streets and pretty coast, but off season the buzz is gentler, with weekenders feasting on bouillabaisse along the water's edge.
I grab a seat at a bar overlooking the Med and check out my walking route for the next day. Cassis is in the heart of the Calanques national park – an extraordinary place of steep fjord-like limestone inlets, deep green pines and turquoise sea – perfect for exploring on foot. It's a fitting finale to a solo self-guided hiking trip with Macs Adventure, which has taken me from the Sainte-Baume mountains down to the Riviera over six days. While my hiking legs have been put to the test with up to six hours of walking each day, I've not had to worry about logistics. The routes are plotted on the app and my luggage is transferred ahead, leaving me to simply enjoy the scenery.
Solo travel is on the rise, according to the Association of British Travel Agents and tour operators (17% of Macs Adventure trips were booked by single travellers last year – most of them women). Offering the freedom to go at my own pace without having to interact with a group, but with help on hand if needed, this trip promised a winning mix of adventure and comfort; an ideal way to explore less-trodden Provence alone. The seafront at Cassis with Cap Canaille looming behind. Photograph: Davide Guidolin/Alamy
My adventure begins with a night in the village of Pont-de-l'Étoile, 30 minutes east of Marseille by taxi, before I set out on my first hike: 10 miles (16km) to Plan-d'Aups-Sainte-Baume. Tarmac soon gives way to stony paths as I leave urban streets behind and climb towards the ridge above Vallon St-Clair through a landscape of craggy limestone valleys, softened by shrubs such as cistus and broom and pockets of pine and oak woodland. Close to the ancient chapel of St-Clair, a mountain biker whizzes past but then silence descends again and there's just me and sweeping views all the way back to Marseille.
My smugness morphs into contained panic when my phone battery dies and I realise I've left my paper map and power bank behind
In summer, there is an acute risk of wildfires in this part of France, and water cisterns dot the route (it's advisable to do this hike in spring or autumn). I climb what looks like a giant wooden chair (a lookout tower perhaps?) to picnic under the bluest skies, then continue upwards along narrow tracks towards Col de Bertagne. There's no one around. I'm nailing it as a solo hiker, I think.
But my smugness morphs into contained panic when my phone battery dies and I realise I've left my paper map and power bank behind. There is no one around. I take a punt and scramble down the hillside, battling through dense forest until I find a path which eventually leads to a road. More through luck than judgement, I find myself in Plan-d'Aups and the welcome sight of the Hôtel Lou Pèbre d'Aï – my home for the next two nights – just two hours later than planned. I'm delighted to find my room has a bath and sleep deeply that night. Read More Tickets for the hugely popular Santa Steam Express go on sale
'Walkers love it here,' the receptionist tells me as I prepare to head off the next day, 'the mountains are sacred – you'll see.' Indeed, the Massif Sainte-Baume draws pilgrims to its hidden chapels and holy sites. Today's circular walk is nine miles; I climb steep paths through woods to a ridge which I follow for a couple of hours, with 360-degree views across countryside and coast. The route takes me past shrines, hermit caves and the Sanctuary of Mary Magdalene (she's said to have lived a life of penance here for many years) before a shady forested descent. Sanctuary of Mary Magdalene, on the Massif Sainte-Baume. Photograph: Herve Lenain/Alamy
That night I dine on endives with walnuts and goat's cheese and monkfish in a Provençal sauce – the hotel is known for its cuisine prepared by chef Jérôme. On a table nearby, an elderly man gets out an A4-size image of a gilded saintly figure and props it up next to him while he eats, like a friend joining him for dinner. I think it's Mary Magdalene. skip past newsletter promotion
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On a stretch of coast known more for the glamour of Saint-Tropez, Cannes and Nice, it's refreshing to discover La Ciotat
The delightful town of Gémenos is 20 minutes by road from Plan-d'Aups, but the route I follow the next day takes five hours – and is perhaps my favourite walk yet. It feels wild and remote, with paths zigzagging next to deep gorges. I pass the ruins of a Cistercian abbey and follow a river into pretty parkland. From here it's two short bus rides down to Cassis, and flashes of ocean appear between the trees. Three nights at the Hotel Royal Cottage and a new landscape await.
On a stretch of coast known more for the glamour of Saint-Tropez, Cannes and Nice, it's refreshing to discover La Ciotat – an unpretentious former shipbuilding town a 15-minute taxi ride east of Cassis. I wander suburban streets then climb to the top of the Soubeyran cliffs – the highest sea cliffs in France at Cap Canaille. Lingering morning mist clears to reveal the spectacular indented coastline as I follow the winding Route des Crêtes back. The path above Port-Pin. Photograph: Hemis/Alamy
My last day is saved for the Calanques to the west of Cassis. The wind is up and rain is threatened but I head out past the sprawling villas on the outskirts of town and soon reach the Calanque de Port-Miou, boats bobbing on agitated water. In high summer, visitor numbers to the park are restricted to protect the delicate environment. Today I'm almost alone as I scramble up and down, descending to the white beach of Port-Pin, climbing above Calanque d'en-Vau, then descending again through a rocky ravine to the water. Its beauty feels even more raw under the darkening sky and distant roll of thunder.
The heavens open as I begin the return journey and I arrive back in Cassis completely drenched. Heavy rain turns roads into rivers, flowing down towards the sea. I take refuge at Le Bonaparte, a family-run bistro in one of the backstreets. Dressed head-to-toe in black, complete with beret, owner Jean Marie tells me he's run the place for 37 years – 'and people still come back for more!' I'm not surprised, I tell him, when I taste the moules gratinées and deliciously fresh sea bass – accompanied by a glass of the local white wine de Cassis. It's an authentic taste of Provence – and, I feel, an appropriate way to toast an epic solo adventure through a special and varied part of France.
The trip was provided by Macs Adventure . Seven-day self-guided Provence Mountains to the Mediterranean itinerary from £1,125 pp, including hotel accommodation, breakfast, two dinners, transfers, luggage transfers, route notes , GPS navigation and 24/7 support
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National Geographic
6 days ago
- National Geographic
On Japan's Ryukyu Islands, ancient tradition meets tropical paradise
As the legend goes, Japan's Ryukyu Islands were created by the goddess Amamikyo, who is believed to have descended from the heavens and into the sea, just off the southern coast of what is now known as the main island of Okinawa. The Ryukyu Islands, located in the East China Sea, flourished for some 450-years as the semi-independent Ryukyu Kingdom. The islands served as a center of trade between Japan, China, and Southeast Asia until being officially designated a Japanese territory and renamed Okinawa Prefecture in 1879. While the islands have become better known for their beautiful beaches and balmy subtropical weather, the soul and spirit of the former Ryukyu Kingdom can still be found in everything from the islanders intrinsic and spiritual connection to nature to its unique cultural and culinary identity. Scuba diving and snorkeling are two of the most popular activities in Okinawa. Photograph by Karen Kasmauski, Nat Geo Image Collection What to do in the Ryukyu Islands The Ryukyu Islands are believed to be the birthplace of karate—a martial art that fuses the martial arts of China and Japan. Join a karate sensei at an Okinawan dojo or at the Okinawa Karate Kaikan. Spend some time to exploring the Shikinaen Royal Gardens, which was once the private residence of the Ryukyuan royal family and a beautiful place to spend a leisurely morning or afternoon. Sacred spaces, known as utakis, are tucked within the forests and nestled beneath banyan trees and sugar palms peppered across the archipelago, and while many of the island's utakis are not open to tourists, Sefa Utaki is an easy walk along stone path through the forest and is considered the most spiritual places to visit in the Ryukyu Islands. Shuri Kinjo-cho stone road is a historical cobblestone pathway that winds its way through residential neighborhoods and onto Shuri Castle. The castle is under renovation, but it's still worthwhile to explore the grounds. Ceramics and Ryukyu glass are two traditional crafts that you can find all across the islands. In downtown Naha, Tsuboya pottery district is a great place to shop, or head to Yachimun no Sato, an entire village dedicated to pottery. Naha's Tsuboya pottery district was the birthplace of Tsuboya-yaki, a style of Okinawan pottery. Photograph by Robert Gilhooly, Alamy Awamori (Okinawan sake) is considered to be Japan's oldest and first distilled beverage. Photograph by Chris Willson, Alamy Of course scuba diving and snorkeling are two of the most popular pastimes in Okinawa. For hikers and adventure lovers, Yambaru National Park is not to be missed. Located on the northern end of Okinawa, this national park is designated as a UNESCO Natural World Heritage Site, and offers lush mangrove forests, and an incredible variety of rare, endemic flora and fauna that can't be found anywhere else in the world. (Unlock the secrets of the Blue Zones—how to master the art of living longer) The best time to visit Okinawa Spring: Late March, April, and May brings warm days and breezy nights, making this one of the best times of year to visit. Late spring is ideal for both aquatic activities and on-land adventures; visitors will find an abundance of activities from dragon boat races in May to jungle river-trekking. Summer: June through August are the hottest and busiest months to visit the islands. June is the rainiest month of the year, and is also the start of typhoon season, which stretches into September, so be prepared for inclement weather. Fall: With the humidity at bay and typhoon season a thing of the past, October and November are an ideal time to visit. Every October in Naha, the annual Tug-of-War Festival features two competing teams dressed in traditional Ryukyuan attire. Also in October, the Paantu Festival on Miyako-jima is a spiritual cleaning event; a supernatural spirit smears mud onto willing participants in an effort to bless them and bring them good luck in the year ahead. Winter: The low season falls between December and February when the temperatures drop and the northernly winds blow their way across the islands. December through February can be chilly, especially at night. Yanbaru National Park, on the northern end of Okinawa, is a UNESCO Natural World Heritage Site. Photograph by Katsumi Tanaka, The Yomiuri Shimbun/AP Photo Lay of the land There are 160 islands across the Okinawan Prefuncture, 49 of which are inhabited. The Ryukyu Islands are divided into three major island groups: Okinawa Islands, the Miyako Islands, and the Yaeyama Islands. Okinawa Islands: The largest island in the archipelago is Okinawa Island, also known as Okinawa Honto. The prefectural capital, Naha, is located on Okinawa's main island. Smaller islands surrounding Okinawa include the Kerama Islands, which are beloved for their pristine white sand beaches, crystal clear water, and abundance of marine life. This island is also home to Yanbaru National Park. Miyako Islands: The main island of Miyako is covered in sugarcane fields, and the islands here are surrounded by some of Okinawa's most expansive coral reefs. The consistency of the sand is akin to powder, and the water is such a distinct shade, it even has its own name: Miyako blue. These islands are particularly attractive for water sports like diving, snorkeling, and glass-bottom kayaking. Yaeyama Islands: Practically hugging the Tropic of Cancer, the Yaeyama Islands are geographically closer to Taiwan than mainland Japan. The southernmost inhabited islands in the Okinawa archipelago are the Ishigaki, Taketomi, Hateruma, and Iriomote islands. Where to stay Rosewood Miyakojima: Surrounded by sugarcane fields, Rosewood Miyakojima opened on Miyako Island in March 2025. This boutique hotel has taken great care to incorporate the local traditions and Ryukyuan culture into everything from the bar program and the architecture to the healing rituals at its Asaya Spa. Halekulani Okinawa: A sprawling resort along one of Okinawa's best beaches, Halekulani Okinawa offers a wide range of excellent on-site eateries, bars, and a spa. Guests can participate in a variety of activities, from snorkeling and scuba diving to trips to Yambaru National Park that are guided by local naturalists. Treeful Treehouse: On the northern reaches of Nago on the main island of Okinawa, Treeful Treehouse is a small and sustainable treehouse resort. This nature-centric stay offers a waterfall sauna and forest bathing river trekking experiences with one of the hotel guides. Traditional Okinawan cuisine, like agu pork and homemade Okinawan purple yam bread, are served by a bonfire and often accompanied by the hotel's resident goat, Donna. (10 of the best new hotels in Japan, from traditional ryokans to tropical treehouses) Hoshinoya Okinawa: Japanese luxury hotel chain Hoshinoya Okinawa is a seaside Ryukyu-style retreat that offers 100 oceanfront villas spread out among lush landscapes. Ryukyu Karate classes, sanshin guitar by the beach, and meditation sessions are offered daily in the beachfront activity studio. Soki soba noodles is an Okinawan specialty. Photograph by Kyoko Uchida, Alamy What to eat in Okinawa From soba stalls to shikuwasa (a lime-like citrus), Okinawa boasts a wide range of regional dishes, roadside farmers markets, and restaurants bursting with local produce and dishes. Get your bearings at Makishi Public Market in Naha, where you'll find everything from fresh seafood to local delicacies like smoked irabu (snake) and a delicious drinkable peanut-based tofu called jimaji. Within walking distance is Naha Kokusai Dori shopping street, a great place to experience 'senbero,' which is the Japanese equivalent of snacking and bar-hopping. For traditional Ryukyuan cuisine, Touyadokoro Fuan offers authentic dishes like bitter melon (goya champuru) stir-fry and peanut tofu, served on locally made pottery. Sui Dunchi is a traditional Okinawan restaurant and great place to try Agu pork shabu shabu and Okinawan soba. Surrounded by waterfalls, Ufuya is set in a traditional villa and serves authentic hot pot and soba. All across the islands, roadside markets are great places to try locally grown produce and Okinawan delicacies like deep-fried donuts (sata andagi), and shop for local souvenirs, too. It's worth it to also try awamori, known as the "spirit of Okinawa." It dates back to the 15th century, and today there are about 48 distilleries you can visit across the islands. (Why the traditional Okinawa diet is the recipe for a long life) Know before you go Unlike mainland Japan, you'll find the tourism infrastructure in Okinawa is still developing, and outside a few select hotels, you might not find English spoken widely. It's best to make reservations for hotels, restaurants, and tours in advance of your visit. While tipping is not expected on the islands, come prepared with plenty of Japanese yen, as some places do not accept credit cards. Getting around If you're traveling from the U.S. or the U.K., you will fly into Haneda Airport or Narita International Airport, before continuing on to the islands. It's a three-hour flight to Naha, Okinawa, from mainland Japan. While buses and taxis are available on the main island of Okinawa, it's highly advisable to rent a car, or make arrangements for transfer directly through your hotel in advance. Michelle Gross is a Beaufort, South Carolina-based travel journalist and photographer covering the cross-section of sustainable and ethical travel. Passionate about telling stories about interesting people and places around the world, follow her adventures on Instagram or check out her newsletter on Substack.
Business Mayor
25-05-2025
- Business Mayor
20 of the UK's best gardens to visit
In the dash for Cumbria's lakes and fells, the area's other green attractions can get missed. On Knipe Scar, at the edge of the Lake District national park, Lowther's acres sprawl around the shell of a ruined 19th-century castle. Wildflower meadows, bee-friendly tree hives and rambling woodland contrast with a parterre, sculptured hornbeams and a Sleeping Beauty-inspired rose garden designed by Dan Pearson. Bikes and ebikes can be rented for pootling around the estate's trails or perhaps a five-mile cycle to Ullswater. There is a Lost Castle adventure playground and a cafe. Before leaving, visit the west terrace for views across the Lowther valley to distant fells. Open daily, adults £15, children £10, Rousham House, Oxfordshire Photograph: Britain Gardens and Flowers/Alamy While filming his BBC British Gardens series, Monty Don described Rousham as 'one of my favourite gardens of all and one of the truly great gardens of the world'. Rousham is the handiwork of William Kent (1685-1748), whose imaginative use of follies, mysterious 'ta-da' avenues and one of the earliest ha-has blur the line between fantasy and reality. A master of the unbroken view, Kent manipulated the landscape to create a harmonious flow between the garden, the surrounding countryside and Rousham's castellated pile. The estate's 10 hectares (25 acres) include kitchen gardens, a rill, classical statuary, cascades and a seven-arched colonnade overlooking the River Cherwell. The house is still owned by the family who employed Kent to reshape the garden centuries ago. No cafe or children under 15, but picnics are encouraged. House tours on request. Open daily , £ 10 , Parcevall Hall, North Yorkshire Photograph: Alex Knight Laid out in 1927, Parcevall Hall Gardens' 10 hectares surround a Grade II-listed Arts and Crafts-style house set in the Yorkshire Dales national park. The topography and aspect enhance the experience, offering visitors views over the drystone wall-draped contours of Wharfedale to distant limestone crags. Admire plants from around the world, visit the chapel garden, follow a woodland trail, the camellia walk or a cliff trail – or simply listen to the birds and bleating sheep. There are views from the cafe's terrace to the outcrop Simon's Seat, part of the adjoining Bolton Abbey estate. Open April-Oct, adults £10, seniors £9, under-12s free , Plas Cadnant, Anglesey Photograph: Val Corbett On Ynys Môn (Anglesey) with views to Eryri national park (Snowdonia), Plas Cadnant feels like a portal to another world. As 70 years' worth of undergrowth was peeled away, the present owner discovered enchanting spaces, including a walled garden that dips in a graceful catenary curve and a woodland garden containing the remains of a 19th-century folly. Steps lead down to an enchanting 'valley garden' where four waterfalls splosh into the River Cadnant. Some of the outbuildings and a gardener's cottage have been converted into holiday accommodation, and guests have full access to the gardens and parkland. Open April-Oct, adults £11.50, concs £2.50-£10.50, . T he Coach House, from £720 for three nights for up to seven people Cambo Country House, Fife Photograph: Jim Monk/Alamy This Georgian walled garden has the national snowdrop collection. Woodland walks lead to the sea, and from February to mid-March there are showstopping carpets of yellow aconites, snowdrops (and possibly snowflakes). In April, blossom and the scent of wild garlic fill the air, followed by the rich collection of alliums. In June, it is the turn of Cambo's historic roses. There are imaginative spaces for children to explore (think secret doors and fairies) and golden beaches. The Stables Cafe serves vegetarian and vegan food. If you'd like to stay longer, there are cabins to rent, including a bothy with views towards the Fife coast. Open daily, adults £7.95, under-16s free , . The Bothy, sleeps four, from £550 for two nights in June Dilston Physic Garden, Northumberland Photograph: David Taylor Photography/Alamy Set in rolling countryside close to the Devil's Water river, Dilston is a garden that whispers 'slow down'. Over three decades, a hectare of agricultural land has been transformed into a flourishing wildlife garden filled with more than 700 flowers, herbs, vegetables and trees planted with biodiversity and natural healing in mind. A rewilding and wetland area has encouraged native flora, such as the Northumbrian bloody cranesbill, to thrive. Visit the 'spirit henge', breathe in the fragrant camomile lawn, wander the labyrinth and buy products made with ingredients from the garden in the shop (proceeds to the registered charity). Dilston is on the Corbridge Heritage Trail, and a scenic 20-minute walk along the Tyne from Corbridge station. Open Wed-Sun, April-Oct , Fri-Sun, Nov-March, adults £8, concs £4, Leonardslee Lakes, West Sussex Photograph: Stephen Tattersall/Alamy This tranquil, Grade I-listed garden is home to redwoods, giant oaks and the renowned Loderi rhododendron hybrids. Paths meander around lakes and through sculpture-studded parkland, lawns and forests, and visitors can join daffodil, bluebell and acer walks. In the autumn, the garden is ablaze with oranges, golds and delicate pinks, while winter brings spectacular illuminations. Children will love the wallaby enclosure (introduced in 1889), doll's house museum and the new play park. You can stay overnight at Leonardslee House, where the Michelin-starred restaurant showcases garden-foraged ingredients. Open daily, adults £15.50, children £8.50 , Doubles at Leonardslee House from £240 B&B Ventnor Botanic Garden, Isle of Wight Photograph: Katherine Da Silva/Alamy Ventnor Botanic Gardens' 9 hectares luxuriate in an enviable microclimate at Ventnor Undercliff. Gardeners here use the Ventnor Method, which allows plants to grow where they sow. A vast collection of rare and subtropical species includes the national collection of half-hardy and hardy puya, the giant viper's bugloss and a renowned collection of red-hot pokers. Follow the Champion Tree Trail and head off the beaten track to find secluded seating areas and clifftop meadows with sea views. Hops grow on the clifftop to the south of the garden. Partnering with a local brewer, VBC produces a Botanic Ale, a Botanic Pale Ale and a Botanic Lager. Book an overnight stay to enjoy free access to the garden and evening walks along the coastal path; take your pick from two Victorian cottages and three cabins dotted around the grounds. Open daily, adults £11.50, children £7, Doubles at the dog-friendly Cabin from £80 (min two nights) East Ruston Old Vicarage, Norfolk Photograph: Ellen Rooney/Alamy Armed with a 19th-century Ordnance Survey map and a black-and-white photo, the owners of the Old Vicarage picked up their shovels and set about restoring the acres around their house on the north Norfolk coast. The result, 40 years on, is a practical and creative triumph featuring beautiful gardens, an enfilade of lawns and an 'apple walk'. Some of the traditional – and windproof – wildlife habitat lost to modern farming methods is now restored. The Arizona-inspired Desert Wash garden is planted with drought-tolerant plants such as South American bromeliads, agaves and aloe. The cornfield has self-seeding poppies, corn marigolds and corn camomile, and there are shelterbelts of Monterey pine, Italian alders, holm oak and eucalyptus. A meditative space contains 16 Indian bean trees. Open Wed-Sun and bank holidays, March-Oct, adults £14.50, children £2, The Japanese Garden at Cowden, Clackmannanshire Photograph: Iain Masterton/Alamy From swept gravel and teahouses, to stone lanterns and zigzag bridges, every aspect of a Japanese garden holds meaning. At Cowden you can unpick the symbolism or simply enjoy the garden in its purest sense – as a tranquil space where everything is in its place. Cowden was inspired by the travels of a wealthy adventurer, Ella Christie, who commissioned Japanese horticulturist Taki Handa to design a garden in the boggy grounds of her home, Cowden Castle. A 10-year restoration, completed in 2023, was overseen by Chelsea flower show gold and best in show winner Prof Masao Fukuhara. The gardens undulate through woodland and over gentle hills dotted with cherry blossom, maples and acers. On the Christie Walk, you might spot Indian rhubarb, the heart-shaped leaves of the katsura tree and the petals of the Himalayan blue poppy fluttering in the breeze. Workshops include cyanotype printing and kintsugi (the art of repairing pottery). Open daily except Tue, adults £9.85, seniors £8.75, children £5.75 , Vann, Surrey Photograph: Vicki Flynn You may have seen this 16th-century, English Heritage-listed house and its garden 'rooms' on screen in Disney's Christopher Robin, ITV's Agatha Christie's Poirot or the BBC's 2017 adaptation of EM Forster's Howards End. A Gertrude Jekyll-designed water garden is a highlight of the 2 hectares. Crossed by bridges and stone paths, the water garden contains 1,500 plants nurtured at Jekyll's Munstead Wood nursery. Traditional rose varieties bloom in the Old Garden, and an orchard leads to a yew walk where pears fruit on a crinkle crankle wall and ferns sprout from Bargate stone – the medieval quarries that provided it can still be seen in the surrounding hills. Open April to the first week in July , £10 (cash only), . On National Garden Scheme days, tickets must be booked in advance skip past newsletter promotion Sign up to Inside Saturday The only way to get a look behind the scenes of the Saturday magazine. Sign up to get the inside story from our top writers as well as all the must-read articles and columns, delivered to your inbox every weekend. Privacy Notice: Newsletters may contain info about charities, online ads, and content funded by outside parties. For more information see our Privacy Policy. We use Google reCaptcha to protect our website and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. after newsletter promotion Stockton Bury, Herefordshire Photograph: Alex Ramsay/Alamy Stockton Bury is part of a working farm that once belonged to Leominster Priory. Gardens sprawl around medieval buildings including a pigeon house, hop kiln and tithe barn (now a cafe). There is also a glasshouse, water garden and cider orchard. May brings drifts of the rare, goblet-shape Sprenger's tulip, and the delicate tea rose blooms from early summer into autumn. Garden-grown damsons, plums, apples and raspberries make their way on to the cafe's menu, and the 'secret garden' rewards explorers with views to the Black Mountains across the Welsh border. Gardener Tamsin Westhorpe runs bespoke tours, and there are botanical painting workshops during the summer. Open Wed-Sun, April-Sept, adults £9, children £5, Logan Botanic Garden, Dumfries and Galloway Photograph: SW1/Alamy At Logan, on Scotland's south-western tip, Gulf Stream currents nurture exotics from five continents. Giant palms, eucalyptus and luxuriant tree ferns tower over Brazilian gunneras and other non-natives, such as angel's fishing rods, which dangle their bell-like heads over the pond. Sit here with your phone switched off and watch damselflies skit (Logan has subscribed to the Silent Space scheme). The conservatory, which houses South African tree heathers and a pelargonium collection, was the first public glasshouse in the UK to be heated entirely by green energy sources. Look out for guided walks and have a peep down a microscope in the Discovery Centre. There's a cafe on site. Open March-Oct, adults £9 , concs £7.80, under-16s free, Felley Priory, Nottinghamshire Photograph: Lee Beel/Alamy A visit to Felley Priory could be one of the best motorway breaks you make. Set in rolling countryside a mile from the M1, this all-season garden delights with fiery autumn colours, flower-draped pergolas, traditional roses and 60 varieties of snowdrops. Spring brings woodland bluebells and a daffodil soup of yellows, apricots, oranges and whites, as rare daff varieties light up the orchard. Take advantage of the plant nursery and tearoom, which has gluten-free menu options. The 12th-century house is private. Open Tue-Fri, plus the first and third Sun of each month from March-Sept, adults £8.50, seniors £7.50, under-16s free, Rivington Terraced Gardens, Lancashire Photograph: Martin Birchall/Alamy Donated to the public by the soap magnate Lord Leverhulme in 1902, Rivington sits within Lever Park on the edge of the West Pennine Moors. Leverhulme went all out by commissioning an unusual seven-arched bridge based on one he had seen in Nigeria, a sitting room at the top of a four-storey pigeon tower, five summer houses set on lawns and a replica of Liverpool Castle. In all, there are 11 Grade-II listed structures to explore (suffragette Edith Rigby burned down Lever's original house) along with rock gardens and grottoes, a wide variety of fungi, a Japanese garden and an Italian lake, where Leverhulme took daily dips. Open daily, free entry, Trelissick, Cornwall Photograph: travelbild/Alamy With its small beach, ancient Cornish orchard and pontoon on the River Fal, the National Trust's Trelissick isn't your average garden. Paths wind through Brobdingnagian sub-tropical gardens, and dawn-till-dusk woodland walks bring snapshots of the river. Spring delivers magnolias, camellias, rhododendrons and fountains of wisteria; later in the year, it's the turn of ginger lilies, dahlias and bananas. The King Harry Ferry departs from Trelissick to St Mawes and Falmouth, and there is a lovely walk around Restronguet Creek to the thatched-roofed Pandora Inn (allow three hours for the walk) for a creekside afternoon tea. The orchard's restored screw-turn apple press will be in action over Apple Weekend in October. Stay the night in Trelissick Tower, or the restored Trelissick Engine House, and enjoy access to the garden. Open daily, adults £17, children £8.50 , Two nights at the Trelissick Engine House, sleeps three, from £ 439 Easton Walled Gardens, Lincolnshire Photograph: Matthew Taylor/Alamy Former US president Franklin D Roosevelt visited Easton with his wife, Eleanor, in 1905, as part of their honeymoon, and described the gardens, now 464 years old, as 'A dream of Nirvana … almost too good to be true'. Gardener Ursula Cholmeley began a large-scale restoration in 2001. Now the gardens brim with snowdrops, flower-filled meadows and David Austin roses. In season, 50 varieties of sweet pea flourish. Look out for 'purple pimpernel', 'clotted cream', 'watermelon' and 'Albutt Blue'. There is a pub on the estate, with real fires and a suntrap garden, and guests staying at Easton's lodge or loft apartments have free access to the gardens. There are EV charge points, too. Open Wed-Sun and bank holiday Mon, 12 Feb -21 Dec , adults £ 12 (half price Nov and Dec), children £5, Loft apartments from £160 a night Hillsborough Castle, County Down Photograph: Christopher Hill Photographic/ The restored 18th-century walled garden at Hillsborough is a gem. Walking around the beds you will see heritage varieties such as golden beetroot mixed with modern ones such as par-cel (which looks like parsley but tastes like celery). Visit the cafe for garden-to-plate 'walled garden scallion potato bread' and an afternoon tea featuring a 'garden beetroot brownie' and 'walled garden raspberry posset with thyme shortbread'. The rest of the garden is full of interest. The lake is fed by a stream which meanders through the gardens, and a pinetum contains a stand of giant sequoias planted in the 1870s. In the grotto, a statue of the Irish warrior poet Ossian and an accompanying bench and stones tell his story and explain the castle's links to the romantic movement and the Gaelic revival. Open daily, gardens £10.30, children £5.20, castle and garden adults £ 20.80, children £10.40 , The Manor House, Upton Grey, Hampshire Photograph: Alamy The Arts and Crafts Manor House at Upton Grey is striking in its own right, but laid around it is a garden with a rare boast: it is believed to be the most complete and authentic existing example of a Gertrude Jekyll-designed garden. When owners John and Rosamund Wallinger purchased the 2‑hectare site in 1984, it was nearly derelict, but after they discovered the eminent garden designer's original plans for the garden, they embarked upon a remarkable journey of faithful restoration. Situated east of Basingstoke, Upton Grey features wild, kitchen and rose gardens, the nuttery, and a yew-hedged formal garden filled with the hallmarks of Jekyll planting design: lofty hollyhocks and azure delphiniums, billowing phlox, poppies and campanulas. Open Mon-Fri, May-July, entry £7, Iford Manor, Wiltshire Photograph: Peter/Alamy One of Britain's premier romantic gardens, Iford Manor meets formality with enrapturing naturalism: euphorbia and catmint soften the stone terraces, roses clamber up the columns; a 200-year-old wisteria romps in unbridled profusion. Located on the edge of the Cotswolds, beside the River Frome in Wiltshire, Iford was the home in the early 20th century of influential architect and garden designer Harold Peto, who augmented its Georgian roots with Italianate flare and finesse. There are intimate cloisters and grand steps, a tranquil Japanese garden, and masterfully positioned statues and architectural fragments, while more modern additions include an award-winning restaurant and bakery. For the last half-century, Iford has been under the stewardship of the Cartwright-Hignett family who, with current head gardener Steve Lannin, are continuing the garden's expressive legacy. Book in advance to ensure entry. Open Wed-Sun, 2 April-Sept , adults £10, children £9, under-10 s not permitted , Additional reporting by Matt Collins
Business Mayor
21-05-2025
- Business Mayor
Budget airline launches first UK flights to one of the world's busiest cities
LOW-COST carrier IndiGo has launched its first flight from the UK and it isn't from London. The Indian airline has confirmed that the new route will operate from Manchester, flying to Mumbai three times a week. 3 IndiGo is launching its first UK flight this summer Credit: Alamy Launching from July 1, tickets are already on sale. It will be the first flight route for IndiGo from the UK, having previously revealed plans to launch from Europe. IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers said: 'The new route will provide seamless connection to a vast majority of 90+ Indian destinations on IndiGo's domestic network benefiting customers travelling from Manchester to Mumbai. 'This service by IndiGo will thereby further enhance connectivity between India and the UK, fostering stronger economic, educational, and cultural ties. 'Beyond supporting the growing Indian diaspora in the region, these direct flights are expected to boost two-way tourism, ease travel for students, professionals and leisure travellers , and unlock new avenues for bilateral trade and collaboration between the two countries.' Currently, Brits can fly from the UK to Mumbai with both British Airways and Virgin Atlantic, as well as flag carrier Air India . The cheapest route is from London Heathrow with Air India, costing £457 return and taking just under nine hours. The new IndiGo flights are a similar price, being £447 return when they launch in July. Passengers will be served hot meals in both economy and the IndiGo Stretch cabin, made for business travellers . Another route from Amsterdam to Mumbai will also later be launched by IndiGo. 3 The Taj Mahal Palace is one of the main attractions Credit: Alamy Mumbai is one of the busiest cities in the world, with around 19million people living there. This makes it one of the world's 53 megacities, which are ones with more than 10million inhabitants (which also includes London). Mumbai is also the home of Bollywood movies, with around 200 produced a year. One of the main attractions in the city is the beautiful Taj Mahal Palace, not to be confused with the Taj Mahal attraction in Agra. And earlier this year, Mumbai made Time Out's top 20 food destinations in the world. Restaurants such as Masque have featured on the World's 50 Best Restaurants list while Papa's is on TIME's World's Greatest Places for 2025. It even snuck into 49th place on Time Out's World's Best Cities 2025. In the mean time, Air India is increasing its routes from the UK to Ahmedabad, Ahmedabad and Delhi. And here is what Rylan Clark and Rob Rinder got up to in India for their BBC series last year,
