The May Day Padstow  ‘Obby ‘Oss (Hobby Horse) procession is the oldest of its kind in the country, possibly dating back thousands of years. Its actual origins are uncertain, but it has the hallmarks of an ancient fertility rite, marking the coming of summer. There are two Padstow ‘Osses, one red...

Where do you recommend I visit? Where can I get away from it all? What’s your favourite place in the UK? What’s the quirkiest place you’ve ever been to? These are just some of the questions I get asked on a regular basis and my answer changes each time, depending on...

“And the winner of the ‘Visit England Large Visitor Attraction 2011′ is … Chatsworth House.” This must have been sweet music to all the hard-working staff at this majestic, yet so welcoming house and estate in the heart of Derbyshire.  Home to the Cavendish family, Dukes & Duchesses of Devonshire for centuries,...

“I wandered lonely as a shroud …”. I know, not right, but I’d just told a friend we were filming along the ancient Coffin Road from Grasmere to Rydal and he came out with it… In olden times, the Coffin Route was used by locals carrying the dead from Rydal...

“How many reindeer do you have?” asked the unsuspecting Dutch guy in our group.  Mika looked up towards the smoke-filled top of the Kuta and, after much deliberation, said, “All on this side of the forest, and all on the other …” We looked at him in dismay before Matti, our...

Liverpool Slavery Tour “Use your eyes, look up and all around you – there are traces of the city’s history all around you.”  These were the words of our guide on the Liverpool Slavery History Tour, a fascinating snapshot of a bygone era that some might rather forget … There are so very many things...

Winter in the Lake District … spectacular vistas hidden from view in the summer, come into sharp focus during the winter months.  Snow-capped fells are sharply delineated and the skeletal shapes of trees are silhouetted against clear blue skies.  Of course there are days of damp greyness too – but even the...