This is Y December 2020 Digital Edition
DECEMBERDA NWALKERTALKS SHEFFIELD LIFE,REMARKABLE PEOPLEAND GOLF … OF COURSEYou’ve GottaHave FaithPaloma’s InfiniteThings andpost-pandemictour plansPeace, Loveand Kim-JoyBrilliant bakingideas and lovingliving in YorkshireOn SafariSpotting Seals andseabirds on the sandat SpurnAll Creatures Greatand SmallLove and laughterin the Dales dramaChristmas specialyorkshire.com 1
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DECEMBER
DA N
WALKER
TALKS SHEFFIELD LIFE,
REMARKABLE PEOPLE
AND GOLF … OF COURSE
You’ve Gotta
Have Faith
Paloma’s Infinite
Things and
post-pandemic
tour plans
Peace, Love
and Kim-Joy
Brilliant baking
ideas and loving
living in Yorkshire
On Safari
Spotting Seals and
seabirds on the sand
at Spurn
All Creatures Great
and Small
Love and laughter
in the Dales drama
Christmas special
yorkshire.com 1
2
yorkshire.com
WELCOME
Now that we’ve exited the second national
lockdown and we’re all getting to grips with
Government guidelines and the tier system,
which will be regularly reviewed … it’s time
to deck the halls and attend any amazing
attractions that have opened their gates
and organised festive functions … probably
outdoors and definitely socially distanced.
The Business As Unusual and Winter
Wonderland pages inspire with ideas
for the season and there’s lots to look
forward to. Do check online though for
the very latest information on all that’s
happening across the region, as things
are changing all the time.
Welcome to Yorkshire’s #Walkshire campaign
is coming soon and will promote the county
as the ‘walking capital of the world’ with its
three national parks, breathtaking coastal
routes and city strolls full of heritage,
culture, food, drink and so much more.
As part of Welcome to Yorkshire’s tourism
recovery plan, working with the county’s
business and tourism representatives, to
reopen, recover and rebuild, we have lots
of exciting new initiatives, including My
Y personal membership which includes a
tree planted in Yorkshire for every member
and is an ideal gift. Remember a tree is for
life, not just for Christmas! Fantastic for the
environment and wildlife, as well as personal
health and well-being too.
‘Tis the season to be jolly supportive of
local businesses and you can purchase a
vast variety of perfect pressies and gorgeous
gifts from Yorkshire independent retailers
online at the Yorkshire Marketplace
yorkshire.com/yorkshire-marketplace
and Welcome to Yorkshire goodies at
shopyorkshire.com Yule be spoilt for
Yorkshire choice this Christmas!
JAMES MASON
Chief Executive,
Welcome to Yorkshire
Image: Bempton Cliffs © Thom Holmes
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4 yorkshire.com
WELCOME TO
DECEMBER
28
CONTENTS
6 BUSINESS AS UNUSUAL
Inspirational ideas and
dates for your diary.
10 DAN’S THE MAN
Interview with top talker
Dan Walker.
14 WINTER WONDERLAND
Inspiration for December
days out and beyond.
18 LET’S GET QUIZZICAL
Test your Yorkshire knowledge.
20 KIM-JOY
Catching up with the Great
British Bake Off’s brilliant baker.
24 SIMPLY THE BEST
Historic hotels to
boutique breaks
28 CLIMB EVERY MOUNTAIN
Aiming high for a peak
performance.
32 ALL CREATURES GREAT
AND SMALL
RiVETing romance, Christmas
cheer and festive fog in the
Dales drama.
36 ANNE OTHER BRONTË
Celebrating the literary legacy
of the youngest Brontë.
Yorkshire is definitely delightful during December, the delicious delicacies served,
winter wonderlands to wander within and exciting entertainment … although
you’ll most likely be outdoors this Yuletide. This time last year our 2020 vision was
perhaps a little different to what the year went on to deliver. There’s no doubt that
it has been the trickiest of times for all, but even though the pandemic has put the
seasonal stopper on some things … there’s still lots to enjoy and to look forward to.
Sheffield’s Dan Walker talks Remarkable People (his new book) and why he chose
to settle in Yorkshire (must be the remarkable people), Paloma Faith chats Infinite
Things (her new album) and plans to come to the county in 2021 on tour. Leeds’
Great British Bake Off finalist Kim-Joy shares fabulous festive bake ideas and
moving nearer to the moors.
It may sound global but it’s all happening in Yorkshire … there’s international
golf Tee Time, adventurous expeditions in Climb Every Mountain and a Spurn
safari … so goody.
Please be mindful that the content created for this edition of This Is Y is intended
to be inspirational and as things are changing all the time due to Government
guidelines, it’s always best to check yorkshire.com and individual attraction,
venue and location websites to confirm what’s definitely going on before pulling
on your winter togs and heading out.
We want Christmas cheer … not Christmas tears … as a result of the tiers.
Enjoy This is Y (and all things Yorkshire).
CAROLYN NICOLL
Editor,
This is Y magazine
40 PALOMA FAITH
New music and Yorkshire
tour dates.
46 ESCAPE THE EVERYDAY
AJ Odudu visits the county.
50 DO YOU WANT TO
KNOW A SECRET
Cast and crew on the release
of The Secret Garden film.
54 SAFARI SO GOODY
Wildlife watching at
Spurn point.
58 SENSE-SATIONAL
Blind, inspirational globetrotter
Amar Latif and his love of
Yorkshire adventure.
66 GOLF HIT
Talking top tournaments
and tee time on the county’s
courses.
68 PLAN YOUR JOURNEY
ON THE COVER
Dan Walker
GET IN TOUCH
Editor Carolyn Nicoll
cnicoll@yorkshire.com
WANT TO KNOW MORE?
If you want to find out more
about something in our features
click on this symbol.
WELCOMETOYORKSHIRE
@WELCOME2YORKS
#THISISY
yorkshire.com 5
YORKSHIRE HIGHLIGHTS
BUSINESS AS
UNUSUAL
As 2020 (a year like no other) draws to a close, it’s been a
tricky time but also a period of inspirational creativity for many
businesses. There’s lots to celebrate, many exciting experiences
to get involved with and so much to look forward to…
Image: Ru Paul’s Drag Race: Werq the World
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SEASIDE
SENSATIONS
Roll out the red carpet as some of
the world’s hottest acts are lined up
to perform at Scarborough Open Air
Theatre in 2021. You could be dancing
on the ceiling (if there was one) as
Lionel Richie returns (12th June),
UB40 (19th June), Ru Paul’s Drag
Race: Werq the World (20th June),
Snow Patrol (3rd July), Duran Duran
(7th July), Keane (9th July), Olly
Murs (10th July), Lewis Capaldi (25th
July), Westlife (17th August) and Nile
Rodgers & CHIC (20th August).
It’s going to be a sensational season
of song and sequins.
PHOTO OP
In the late ‘80s and ‘90s the city of
Sheffield reached a pivotal moment
in its history, as it began a journey of
regeneration. The first steps of the
transformation captured by a group of
gifted photographers whose work reflected
both the hope and hard realities of the
time can be seen in a new exhibition at
Weston Park Museum The Sheffield Project:
Photographs of a Changing City until
3rd May 2021.
TOUR DE
YORKSHIRE ART
A pandemic prompted the
postponement of the much-loved
annual Tour de Yorkshire cycling
event, which was scheduled to take
place from 30th April to 3rd May.
This year’s official Tour de Yorkshire
artist, Claire Baxter, has created six
impressive images, inspired by the
diversity, grandeur and splendour of
Yorkshire and to capture the spirit
and excitement of the race from
the perspectives of the riders, the
spectators - young and old. Painted
locations include the Dales, moors,
coast, townscapes and landscapes
drawn from North, South, East and
West Yorkshire in Claire’s quirky
and colourful, distinctive style.
WHISTLE
STOP OPERA
Cinderella, the much-loved fairy
tale, will amaze audiences, BUT not
quite as you know it… Opera North’s
Cinderella spends her days scrubbing
the floors, dreaming of a better life.
The prince looks out of the palace
windows, dreaming of the perfect
companion. Until fate intervenes, the
two meet and the rest is history. This
festive season a magical whistle stop
tour with indoor performances in
front of socially distanced audiences,
will be visiting various venues. From
16th Jan to 14th Feb 2021.
SAY CHEESE!
With over 100 years of history dating
back to 1912, family run Cryer &
Stott Cheesemongers have revived
the famous Coverdale cheese to
its original recipe. Launched at
Welcome to Yorkshire’s Ian Woosnam
Senior Classic Golf Tournament
in September at Ilkley Golf Club,
the cheese received rave reviews
from some famous faces including
footballer Robbie Fowler & cricketer
Ryan Sidebottom. Coverdale cheese
is being made in small batches of
twenty every 2 weeks & already has a
waiting list. Cryer & Stott are proud to
be investing in collaborations to keep
hand skills alive in Yorkshire.
DARK SKIES
Make a date for your diary as Dark
Skies Festival in the North York
Moors and Yorkshire Dales returns in
February. Nocturnal action themed
around Nature at Night with a
fascinating insight into precious
wildlife when the sun goes down,
revealing the importance of dark
skies and how being free from light
pollution plays a crucial role to many
species’ existence. It’ll be a packed
programme of sparkle and celestial
fun. 12th to 28th February 2021.
NEW LIGHT PRIZE
Established in 2010, Scarborough
Art Gallery’s New Light celebrates
and promotes both well-known and
emerging artists by offering some
of the region’s best awards and
opportunities in the biennial new
Light Prize Exhibition. Fast becoming
one of the UK’s largest and most
talked about of its kind, it showcases
125 artworks from 105 artists across
a range of media. On until
17th January 2021.
Top left to right: Lionel Richie,
Claire Baxter and Tour de Yorkshire paintings and
Coverdale Truffle Brie
yorkshire.com 7
Left: Cooper King Distllery
AMAZ-GIN AWARD
A self-built distillery powered by 100%
green energy, York’s Cooper King
create outstanding sustainable spirits
underpinned by ‘craftmanship, honesty and
adventure’. Independent from the ground
up, Cooper King’s distillery tours have
been awarded a TripAdvisor Travellers
Choice Award, placing them in the top 10%
of experiences worldwide.
Above: The Hepworth © Marc Atkins 2017.
The Hepworth 100 Years of Contemporary Art
© Danny Lawson/PA Wire
Below: The Escapologist.
CONTEMPORARY
CREATIONS
Dating back to the 1920s, Wakefield’s
art collection was established to nurture
a public understanding of arts’ relation
to modern life, a collecting principle still
followed by The Hepworth Wakefield
today. Enabling new stories to be told
and showing how narratives and ideas
can cast fresh light on historical works,
check out Vision & Reality: 100 Years of
Contemporary Art in Wakefield. On until
25th April 2021.
THE GREAT ESCAPE
The Escapologist’s outdoor escape games
are town wide and incorporate the best of
what Selby has to offer. Using augmented
reality, players can experience a mix of
heritage, scenery and points of interest
found around the historic location. Can you
find all the crystals playing Magic Portal or
stop Spider Tech on Operation Mindfall?
The games are suitable for 2-6 players,
fantastic for families and last
around 90 minutes.
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IT’S MAGIC!
Harry Potter fans can indulge their love of
Hogwarts with a stay at North Shires. The
Dorm inspired holiday accommodation with
single wooden four-poster beds, an opulent
bathroom and lounge area that mirrors the
Gryffindor common room with a look-alike
castle tower bedroom is perfect for Potter
fanatics. The opening of The Dorm comes
just 18 months after the creation of the
Groundkeeper’s Cottage, based on Hagrid’s
Hut. Seven miles inland from the fishing
village of Staithes, there’s also a Hobbit-hole
inspired cottage, Potts Corner with its turf
roof, round doors and stained glass windows;
Storybook Cottage; gypsy caravans and
shepherd’s huts.
A NEW BE-GIN-NING
Whitby Distillery, producers of Whitby Gin
have received approval for a £1.5 million
plan to renovate two derelict barns on the
south-west corner of the Whitby Abbey
grounds. Transforming the buildings into a
new distillery, will include renewable energy
sources to house a new hand-beaten still, a
tasting kitchen and event space soaked in
history. Green roofs will be planted with wild
flowers to nurture the natural plants and
wildlife.
MARKET TOWN
Inspirational ideas for Christmas lunch
creations or the perfect pressie, Barnsley
Market is home to over 90 stalls fronted
by charismatic traders selling a range of
products meeting the market’s core values
of quality, value and tradition. Pop to Market
Kitchen, a food court full of flavours from
around the world and alongside traditional
cafes, you’ll find Turkish, Balkan, Indian, Thai,
rotisserie duck, pizza, coffee, wacky desserts
and a bar stocking cocktails, gins, craft beer
and much more to tickle your taste buds.
HITTING A HIGH NOTE
The Tan Hill Inn will be bringing some
INCREDIBLE acts to the highest pub
in Britain for the Highest Gig in Britain.
Throughout July 2021 a variety of amazing
acts will appear including Big Country
who will be kicking off a Month of Music,
plus there’s the fantastic From The Jam,
Lindisfarne, Kim Wilde and Ferocious Dog
with support from Holy Moly & The Crackers,
plus the Newcranes.
This page clockwise: North Shires
Harry Potter themed rooms and
the Tan Hill Inn
yorkshire.com 9
INTERVIEW
DAN’S
THE MAN
From striding across a golf course to strolling in the park
with the dog … he’s a top walker. Carolyn Nicoll caught up
with Sheffield resident Dan Walker to chat all things Yorkshire, life in
lockdown, post-pandemic plans and some truly remarkable people.
I love living in Sheffield and
the fact that it feels both big
and small at the same time. It
has the friendliness of a village
with the clout of a big city. My
first Yorkshire holiday with my
family was when I was 4 years old
and I vaguely recollect visiting
Sheffield’s Abbeydale Industrial
Hamlet. In the mid-1990s I
returned to Sheffield as a student
and from the first minute I arrived
I absolutely loved it, making some
wonderful lifelong friends too. My
wife - who is actually from the
city - and I have lived in Liverpool,
Manchester and London but we
both always wanted to get back
to Sheffield. I’ve never not been
proud of being a Yorkshireman.
There is so much to do in
Yorkshire. History, culture, sport
and the great outdoors are
everywhere you look. Friends
regularly travel up from London
to stay with us and we have come
nowhere near to exhausting
the places we can go. It’s great
visiting new venues, attractions
and locations, there really is so
much to discover. Plus there are
so many fantastic golf courses
In Yorkshire that could keep you
going for years.
We enjoy taking the kids all
over the county and stayed on
a campsite near Scarborough
last year and had a great time at
Flamborough. My wife’s family
always have an annual trip to
Whitby for fish & chips and
we used to have friends who
lived in Reeth so New Year
there was always fun. One of
my best mates lives in Thirsk
and we’ve had lovely trips to
places like Fountain’s Abbey and
Castle Howard, and a day in the
Yorkshire Dales is never wasted.
Of course, living in Sheffield, the
Peak District National Park is
on our doorstep and as a family
we regularly spend many hours
walking and taking the kids on
fantastic trails, marvelling at
the magnificent landscape and
breathtaking views, plus there
are lots of outdoor pursuits to
get involved with in a spectacular
setting. Damflask Reservoir is a
particular favourite for a walk and
a pub lunch.
I think the coronavirus crisis
has affected us all and I’m very
thankful that I’ve still been
able to work throughout the
pandemic. I presented Football
Focus from our spare bedroom
for 10 weeks during lockdown.
The situation had a much bigger
impact on our kids though. They
are so happy to be back at school
now. The virus also proved to me
that my A in GCSE maths must
have been a fluke because I was
a mess when it came to algebra
during homeschooling. (laughs)
I was really looking forward to
the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo
but of course, that has been put
off until next year because of
COVID-19. There was an incredibly
exciting show planned for me to
present which would have been
so much fun. I was also meant to
be filming a documentary looking
at South Africa - 10 years on from
the World Cup.
Aside from listening to fake
crowd noise, the hardest part has
been seeing friends and family
struggling with the situation
and to not be able to see or
hug people. I think we have all
really missed church as a family
too. It has reminded me of how
important that is. It was also
tough to cancel my charity golf
day. We have raised thousands of
pounds for the Sheffield Children’s
Hospital over the last few years
and we had to cancel that event
which was scheduled to take
place in September at Hallamshire
Golf Club, but hopefully it’ll return
in 2021.
There have been positive times
during the last few months
though and in lockdown,
including spending time with
family, which has been amazing.
I have also been able to write a
book - which I don’t think I would
have been able to do otherwise.
My new book, Remarkable
People, is out now. I was asked
to write an autobiography but I
was far more interested in writing
about other people. I felt it was
important to shine a light on
some of those who have had a big
impact on me over the years. All
of them have been through a lot
but still manage to make a huge
positive impression on the people
around them. I hope people enjoy
reading it. There is a chapter all
about Tony Foulds (Welcome
10
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“I WAS ASKED
TO WRITE AN
AUTOBIOGRAPHY
BUT I WAS FAR
MORE INTERESTED
IN WRITING ABOUT
OTHER PEOPLE”
yorkshire.com 11
INTERVIEW
to Yorkshire’s Pride of Yorkshire award winner in 2019)
and the flypast. It takes you through our first meeting in
Endcliffe Park, Sheffield and how it all came about in the
space of just a few short weeks. I still get asked about the
flypast all the time, wherever I go, and I think it’s still lovely
that so many people came to watch it live in Sheffield and
millions saw it on TV.
A typical day for me is getting up at 3.11am to go to
work at BBC Breakfast. I do some filming on different
programmes, go to the gym or for a run and walk Winnie,
our cockapoo. I occasionally hit a few golf balls. Take the
kids to an after-school club. Read, watch the news and
prepare for BBC Breakfast. Eat cake and go to bed.
The BBC Breakfast team are so fantastic to work with and
to be a part of. They work incredibly hard to make the
programme as good as it can be every day - seven days a
week. It’s been great to cover some of the uplifting stories
in amongst all the gloom this year. The not so best bits
remain the time on the alarm clock when it goes off in the
morning. I don’t think I’ll ever get used to that.
My favourite things to do are playing football with my
kids. The two youngest have just got into it this year
and really enjoy having a kick about. I am a bit of a
golf obsessive and would like to get down to a scratch
handicap. I love being on the golf course without my
phone. It’s a great place to relax.
Playing golf in the (Welcome to Yorkshire in
partnership with SGH Sporting Events) Ian Woosnam
Senior Golf Classic at Ilkley Golf Club was brilliant. It
was the first time I had played at Ilkley and it really is a
wonderful course. The welcome was so warm and I was
only a couple over before I walloped one into the River
Wharfe. I would love to go back and play it again.
When life is back to normal I’m looking forward to
hearing the roar of the crowd at a football match.
We can’t wait to have people around again and are
looking forward to going on holiday, plus enjoying time
out for birthday meals with friends. Professionally, I’m
looking forward to not talking about coronavirus every
morning and I’m thinking about writing another book.
Remarkable People by Dan Walker is published by
Headline priced £20.00
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IT WAS THE
FIRST TIME I
HAD PLAYED
AT ILKLEY
AND IT
REALLY IS A
WONDERFUL
COURSE
yorkshire.com 13
WINTER
WONDERLAND
It’s been a challenging year, but there’s lots to
look forward to as 2020 comes to a close and
what better way to get out and about, than
walking in a winter wonderland and exploring
some fabulous festive events
Image:
Castle Howard, York.
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INSPIRATION
LIGHTWATER VALLEY
Be enchanted by the fantastic family-friendly
Alice in Winterland giant lanterns display as the
sun sets over Lightwater Valley. Embark on a magical
journey to meet the Mad Hatter, the Queen of Hearts,
and of course, Alice herself as she embarks on an
amazing adventure.
Dazzling giant illuminated sculptures will illustrate favourite
stories from Alice in Wonderland and Alice Through the
Looking Glass. Discover a giant chess board, watch the
Mad Hatter prepare for his crazy tea party, marvel at the
four-metre tall Alice lantern and come face to face with
the infamous Queen of Hearts herself. The luminous trail
travels through a glowing garden with massive mushrooms,
illuminated tulips and fabulous flamingos. Families can
enjoy some traditional fairground fun including a spin on
the carousel and take to the night sky on the Skyrider.
HAREWOOD HOUSE
Beautifully lit and festively decorated, explore Harewood’s
gardens and grounds during the festive season. Visit the
beautiful Bird Garden, purchase pressies in the Courtyard
Shop and Harewood’s new Christmas Shop on the Terrace.
CASTLE HOWARD
Enjoy a winter walk in the gardens and grounds. Marvel
at the 30 foot outdoor Christmas tree and sparkling
tree-lined drive. Let off steam with the little ones at the
Adventure Playground. Indulge in some festive late night
shopping and eating in the Courtyard. Pick the perfect
tree from the Garden Centre and perhaps a wonderful
wreath, a gorgeous gift or even some special dog pressies.
Plus there’s wood fired pizza, hot dogs, hot chocolate,
mulled wine and marshmallow toasting and fabulous
Father Christmas events too.
Harewood Christmas 2019 © Tom Arber.
FOUNTAINS ABBEY
AND STUDLEY ROYAL
WATER GARDEN
See three different kinds of wonderful wild deer being fed
near St Mary’s Church through the colder season and each
weekend in December as the afternoon light starts to fade,
make your way to Fountains Abbey and wander through
the ruins aglow with bright and colourful lights.
Images clockwise from top left:
Lightwater Valley, Harewood House,
Castle Howard and Lightwater Valley.
yorkshire.com 15
Images this page:
Lightopia at Yorkshire Wildlife Park.
YORKSHIRE WILDLIFE PARK
Explore a magical and immersive festival of light this
winter at Yorkshire Wildlife Park. The biggest lantern
display in Yorkshire will feature over 2,400 metres
of illuminated trails filled with awe-inspiring giant
lanterns themed as animals, mystical creatures, Jurassic
dinosaurs and much more in this shimmering spectacle.
A kaleidoscope of colour, magical sculptures and
tunnels of light await in the 150 acre park on over 1 1/2
miles of lit pathways, plus delicious festive food and
drink to enjoy.
YORK CASTLE MUSEUM
Come in from the cold and into a magical snowcovered
world where Christmas is alive at York Castle
Museum. Snow has fallen on the famous Victorian
street transforming it into a glistening stage where
large-scale projections dance across the walls,
bringing to life famous characters from the Nutcracker.
Oversized Christmas decorations sparkle above,
Nutcrackers, ballerinas and toy soldiers adorn the
street and festive music plays, immersing all in a new
and truly unique Christmas experience.
HARLOW CARR GLOW 2020
See the garden all aglow as enchanting festive
illuminations light up Harrogate’s Harlow Carr this
winter. Wander through the enchanting trail, marvel
at the magnificent trees and shrubs and see some
of the garden’s iconic features, including the Queen
Mother’s Lake, Winter Walk and Kitchen Garden,
shine with festive colour. Treat yourself to a delicious
mince pie and hot chocolate from Bettys and discover
delightful Christmas shopping opportunities, plus the
chance to purchase Christmas trees and wreaths.
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CARLTON TOWERS
Step into Christmas at Carlton Towers – there’s Santa
Sunday Lunch, Festive Afternoon or High Tea, and
Christmas Luncheon with Miss Marina Mae, best
known for her wartime tribute show and glamorous
and authentic costumes, plus wonderful wreath
making and the chance to experience this stunning
venue all dressed for Christmas, with the fires lit and
dazzling decorations to inspire and admire.
STOCKELD PARK
What was once a simple Christmas tree shop, from
this small acorn grew what is now Stockeld Park’s
most famous adventure season. Fabulous family
fun for all and exciting events invite you into the
Enchanted Forest as it comes alive after dusk with
wonderful winter illuminations at the home of
Christmas magic.
Image and below:
Stockeld Park Ice skating and lake.
Image and above:
Carlton Towers Wreath Making and
Christmas with Santa
Clockwise top right:
Carlton Towers, Santa sunday lunch and
Wreath making. Stockeld Park lake © 2018
Richard Walker/ ImageNorth and Ice skating
yorkshire.com 17
YORKSHIRE QUIZ
LET’S GET
QUIZZICAL
Time to test your Yorkshire knowledge with the last 20 in 2020. Find out how much you
know about the county that reaches dizzy heights … on the longest rollercoaster in Europe
(The Ultimate, Lightwater Valley), boasts the highest pub in Great Britain (The Tan Hill Inn,
Richmond) and offers the UK’s tallest man-made climbing wall (ROKT, Brighouse).
2 8
1 The market town of
Malton is said to have
inspired Charles Dickens
when writing A Christmas
Carol. What is the main
character Scrooge’s first
name?
2 Dame Jessica Ennis-
Hill won gold in the
heptathlon at the London
2012 Olympics. In which
Yorkshire city was she
born?
3 The 199 steps in Whitby
lead to the Abbey and
which church?
5 Located in Bardsey, Leeds
and claims to be ‘Britain’s
oldest pub’, dating back over
1000 years to a time when
Vikings were conquering
parts of the country and
before England had its first
King. What is its name?
6 York’s famous city walls
surround 263 acres. But
how long, to the nearest
kilometre, are they?
7 A railway opened in
1875 with a reported 325
bridges, 27 viaducts, and
14 tunnels? Which was it?
10 A Christmas crooner
dreamt of a White
Christmas and enjoyed
shooting at Dallowgill Moor
in North Yorkshire?
What’s his name?
11 Aysgarth is famous for
its fabulous falls.
But it’s also the home to
England’s largest what?
12 Dating back to 1090
this best preserved, fullyroofed
medieval castle
stands at the top of which
Yorkshire town’s high
street? Where is it?
10
4 In 1967 Leeds scientist
Brian Boffey accidentally
created a circular, sugar
coated chewy sweet
whilst trying to produce
a powdered jelly. What is
this sweet called?
8 Which Yorkshire village is
the location for Darrowby
in the 2020 TV series
All Creatures Great
and Small?
9 Harrogate actor Jim
Carter plays Mr Carson.
In which much-loved TV
series and film?
13 It’s said that the
first Christmas holiday
celebrated in Britain was
in 521AD. In which
Yorkshire city?
14 Eureka!, was the UK’s
first national children’s
museum. Where is it?
18
Images this page:
2: © Will Roberts
8: © Gary Butterfield
10: © Illiya Vjestica
yorkshire.com
ANSWERS:
1. EBENEZER 2. SHEFFIELD 3. ST MARY’S 4. JELLY TOTS 5. THE BINGLEY
ARMS 6.3 7. SETTLE-CARLISLE 8. GRASSINGTON 9. DOWNTON ABBEY
10. BING CROSBY 11. CHURCHYARD 12. SKIPTON 13. YORK 14. HALIFAX
15.BRADFORD 16. CHRISTMAS TREES 17. FILM 18. CASTLEFORD 19.
FLAMBOROUGH HEAD 20. THE DEEP
13
20
16
15 This Yorkshire city was crowned Britain’s
Curry Capital six times in a row from 2011 -
2016. Where is it?
16 Yorkshire’s spectacular Stockeld Park is
set in 240 acres and grows over 500,000
of what? It will spruce up your home in
December.
17 In 2009 the city of Bradford trumped Los
Angeles, Cannes and Venice. To become
UNESCO’s first city of what?
19
18 England’s largest indoor real snow resort
can be experienced at Snozone, Xscape. In
which West Yorkshire town is it located?
19 The biggest underwater chalk reef in
Europe extends for up to 6km out to sea. At
which Yorkshire coastal location?
20 A Hull attraction, opened in 2002, where
you can find over 3,500 fish including green
sawfish, sharks, rays, turtles and a colony of
Gentoo penguins. Name its location.
Answers at the top of this page (no cheating!)
Images this page:
13: © Jason King
19: © Luke Thornton
16: © pexels-freestocksorg-839462
20: © 43 Clicks Nnorth
yorkshire.com 19
WHAT’S ON THE MENU?
PEACE,
LOVE AND
KIM-JOY AT
CHRISTMAS
‘Tis the season to be
jolly… AND to talk life in
Leeds, Ilkley inspiration
and choux snowmen with
former Great British Bake
Off finalist Kim-Joy…
My early childhood in Belgium is
a bit of a distant memory, but I do
remember sometimes eating biscuits
for breakfast which I really don’t
think I should have done. When it
comes to baking, it was something
that neither of my parents did, but
it was something I wanted to do. As
a child I hated mincemeat but I did
make mince pies, it was a tradition
which Dad encouraged me to get
involved with. I enjoyed the process
of making the pastry and putting the
mincemeat in. When I was still quite
young (5 years old) my family moved
to London and there was a pandan
cake that Mum got from China Town
and I loved it and was determined to
bake my own. So I spent hours with
my Malaysian recipe book and made
pandan cake over and over again.
I first came to Leeds to study for
a masters in psychology and met
my husband Nabil, who has lived
in Yorkshire all his life. Not like me
who’s moved around, from Belgium
to London, then to Bristol University.
I immediately loved Yorkshire and
settled in straight away. It’s such a
contrast to London, which stressed
me out with its busyness. One of
my favourite places is Bettys Café
Tearooms and that’s where Nabil and
I went on out first date … Bettys in
Harrogate. It was my birthday and was
one of those just friends sort of dates.
That’s where it all started and Bettys
holds such lovely memories.
Leeds is a special city and has a
fantastic food scene. It’s ALL about
the food for me. Nadil and I enjoy
going out to eat … when not restricted
by the pandemic. Tharavadu is a
fabulous restaurant serving the most
amazing South Indian food, Sukhothai
is another favourite and its authentic
Thai dishes are delicious, plus Leeds
Kirkgate Market is huge, there’s a
wonderful variety of food for sale and
it’s somewhere we often go for lunch.
My life revolves around food. Can
you tell how important food is to me?
(laughs)
Being part of the Great British Bake
Off (2018) completely changed my
life and was an incredible experience.
You go on as a contestant, but you
have no idea how you’re going to
perform and don’t know how far
you’ll get. So I was very, very happy
to get to the final and it’s meant that
I’ve since been able to write two
cookery books, Baking with Kim-Joy
and now Christmas with Kim-Joy,
and start my own YouTube channel,
which is incredible. Before the show,
baking was just a hobby and now I
can do it and make a career from it
which is wonderful. It’s increased my
confidence and I know a lot of people
probably say that but it’s true.
There are so many great things about
living in Yorkshire. Leeds is an ideal
base from which to explore and enjoy
the whole county. Favourite places to
visit are Bettys (of course), walking
and making the most of having nice
places and trails to explore right on
the doorstep, Mother Shipton’s Cave
in Knaresborough - I love how bonkers
it is (in a nice way), Bolton Abbey is
stunning and is surrounded by great
walks too, plus I love that place where
Harry Potter was filmed … Malham
Cove in the Dales. Gorgeous! Our
current home in Leeds has fantastic
countryside views out the back, as we
live next door to a farm with cows,
chickens and horses, so we get to
see them without having to look after
them. I appreciate my home comforts
and feel content just being at home.
It helps that house prices in Yorkshire
are much cheaper than in London too.
Nabil and I are planning to move to
Ilkley in the coming weeks, as we are
currently in the process of buying a
property. For the same price down
south we’d have had to settle for a
much tinier place, but in Yorkshire
there’s so much more on offer for
the money. One of the good things
to come out of lockdown has been
the reduction in stamp duty. We’ve
viewed some great houses in lovely
locations, across different parts of
Yorkshire and have found what we’re
20
yorkshire.com
CHRISTMAS WITH KIM-JOY
(Quadrille, £15) Photography: Ellis Parrinder
yorkshire.com 21
after in idyllic Ilkley. I like the fact
that there’s a great train service into
Leeds too, for when we fancy a city
fix. The house is a 1960s property that
we have plans to renovate, knocking
down walls and installing a new
kitchen. We purposely wanted a home
that we could adapt on the inside
to make it ‘our own’. I now spend
my time thinking of interior design
and constantly looking at pictures of
kitchens. Fingers crossed everything
will go to plan. Ilkley really is a
fabulous spot, especially for getting
out on the moors … AND it has a
Bettys.
We are living in such unprecedented
and tricky times at the moment, with
the coronavirus crisis, but luckily
my daily life has not seen such
massive changes. I’ve pretty much
worked from home since Bake Off
and continue to do so. Initially when
lockdown happened for the first
time I was like ‘yeah I’m going
to do all these things’,
but then after a few
weeks I was like ‘oh
it’s getting a bit
much now’. I felt
like I needed
to see people,
and that’s from
me, someone
who’s quite
introverted
and who is fine
with my own
company. Luckily
I have two cats, Inki
and Mochi, who are just
over a year old now. They are
very entertaining and a lot of fun, but
sometimes a bit of a distraction when
I’m trying to work as they are
so adorable.
Today is not a typical day for me. I’m
a complete night owl, so this morning
interview made me have to set an
alarm. I’m not used to mornings, but
regularly work into the evening. My
time is spent doing lots of baking
and also making loads of pizzas,
that’s what I did at the weekend and
Nabil and I have spent the last 3 days
feasting on scrummy pizza. I’m also
keeping busy trying to do as much
book promotion as possible online,
as travel is so restricted.
Christmas with Kim-Joy is a book
full of seasonal baking recipes,
colour and cute stuff. It was actually
my publisher’s idea and I wasn’t
going to say no … I love Christmas
…how can you not? It’s packed full
of ideas AND animals, from edible
Arctic foxes to polar penguin bao
buns and marshmallow seals, plus
melted snowman cake pops and white
chocolate igloos. You can also design
your own magical gingerbread village.
Great to make for Christmas presents.
Before Bake Off I experimented
a lot in the kitchen when baking
and decorating, but the way the
challenges on the show were set up
encouraged me to be even more
adventurous. Creating creatures sort
of naturally became my thing. Autumn
and winter are the best, being cosy at
home, with the hot oven which works
so well at this time of year, rather
than baking in summer when it’s hot
outside. I find it peaceful, when the
weather turns and love food so much,
and Christmas is all about lots of
different lovely things to eat.
It’s hard to choose a favourite
recipe from the book, as I love them
all for different reasons and I feel
that I could give a different answer
every time. It may be down to the
photographs but I particularly like
the snowmen made out of choux
pastry. They all have their own little
personalities and look like they’re
running along. Christmas with Kim-Joy
is aimed at everybody, there are vegan
recipes, ones with booze in, gluten
free ideas, stuff for kids, with step-bystep
images which make them easy to
decorate if that’s what you want to do,
but it’s just as easy to completely skip
the decorating and just bake. From
basic to advanced, it’s all achievable.
Yorkshire Pudding is my favourite
Yorkshire dish. It is from Yorkshire
isn’t it? I guess it would be weird if it
wasn’t (laughs). Only recently have I
started to make them and I’ve really
got into it. I make giant Yorkshire
puddings, as big as possible, so that
they hit the top of the oven. I stack
them up in the freezer and then get
them out on a chilly day to fill them
with veggie dishes and delicious
dumplings. Now is the perfect time of
year for them. Autumnal days, getting
wrapped up and eating comforting
dishes … the weather makes the food
taste even better.
A perfect Yorkshire day out would
start at … where else … but one of the
county’s Bettys Café Tearooms for
Breakfast or brunch. Then a walk on
the beautiful moor at Haworth. Even in
the rain this historic village is stunning
and quintessentially olde worlde,
there’s the Bronte Parsonage Museum,
impressive independent shops and
lots of tempting tearooms to pop in
and out of for that all important tea,
scones and cake. I’m obsessed with
cake! Then another walk at beautiful
Bolton Abbey, followed by even more
food... It’s good to look forward to
your next meal. (laughs)
22
yorkshire.com
IRISH CREAM
SNOWMEN CHOUX
Christmas isn’t complete without
choux pastry filled with the most
delicious Irish cream filling…
plus adorable snowmen too.
MAKES: 18–24
CHOUX PASTRY
85g [ 0∕3 cup plus 2 tsp]
unsalted butter
225ml [1 cup] water
pinch of salt
50g [6 Tbsp] plain [all-purpose] flour
50g [5 3/4 Tbsp] strong white flour
(to make gluten free, swap both plain
and strong white flour for 100g [3/4
cup] glutenfree flour plus 1/4 tsp
xanthan gum
2–3 medium eggs
IRISH CREAM
LIQUEUR FILLING
480ml [2 cups plus 2 Tbsp]
double [heavy] cream
4 Tbsp icing
[confectioners’] sugar
1 Tbsp Irish cream liqueur
VANILLA ICING
200g [1 1/2 cups minus 1 Tbsp] icing
[confectioners’] sugar
40–50ml [2 2∕3 –3 1/2 Tbsp] water
1/2 tsp vanilla bean paste
Matchstick cookies or similar sprinkles
1/2 quantity Royal Icing
orange and black food dyes
(or more sprinkles)
Fondant, fruit, nuts, candy canes, etc.
for additional decoration (optional)
ROYAL ICING RECIPE
40g [1 1/2 oz] egg white
(substitute with aquafaba
for a vegan version)
225g [12∕3 cups] icing
[confectioners’] sugar
Plus extra egg white
(or aquafaba) and icing
[confectioners’] sugar to adjust
and get the right consistency
1 Preheat the oven to 200°C [400°F/
Gas mark 6].
2 To make the choux pastry, chop the
butter and add it to a small saucepan
with the water and salt. Heat until the
butter has melted and the mixture
is starting to bubble. Meanwhile,
combine both flours (or gluten-free
flour plus xanthan gum) in a separate
bowl. When the butter mixture is
bubbling, remove it from the heat
and add the flours all in one go. Stir
with a wooden spoon until it forms
a smooth ball that pulls away from
the sides very easily – this is called a
panada.
3 Transfer the panada to a
stand mixer fitted with a paddle
attachment (or use a handheld
electric whisk) and leave to cool for
5–10 minutes.
4 Add 2 eggs, one at a time, to the
panada, mixing on slow speed after
each addition until combined. Whisk
a third egg in a separate bowl and
gradually add 1 tbsp at a time, mixing
well after each addition. You may
not need to add the third egg, or
you may need to add a little or all of
it. It’s important to add it gradually
to avoid having a batter that is too
runny. You are looking for a glossy
consistency, which leaves a ‘v’ when a
spoon is lifted out of the dough.
5 Transfer to a piping [pastry] bag
and cut a medium tip. Line 2 baking
sheets with baking paper or a silicone
mat, then pipe 20 x 3-cm [1 1/4-in]
circles onto one of the baking sheets.
6 Bake in the oven for 10 minutes,
then turn the oven down to 180°C
[350°F/Gas mark 4] and bake for a
further 20 minutes. Don’t open the
oven until at least 25 minutes have
passed, to avoid the choux pastry
deflating.
7 Meanwhile, pipe a second batch
onto the other baking sheet. This
time you will need 20 x 2.5-cm
[1-in] circles (there will be some
leftover choux so you can pipe
extra if you like).
8 When the first batch of choux
have finished baking, immediately
turn them over and use a knife
to pierce the base. This is so that
the air inside has somewhere
to escape, and also gives you a
place to pipe in the filling. Bake
the second batch of choux for 10
minutes at 200°C [400°F/Gas
mark 6], then a further 10 minutes
at 180°C [350°F/Gas mark 4].
9 Meanwhile, make the Irish cream
filling. Add all the ingredients to a
clean, grease-free bowl and whip
on medium-high speed until stiff
enough to pipe and hold its shape.
Don’t overwhip. Transfer the
whipped cream to a piping bag
and cut a small tip.
10 Pipe the cream into the cooled
choux buns through the hole
created earlier, making sure each
one is filled completely.
11 To make the icing [frosting],
whisk all the ingredients together
in a bowl, then spoon the icing
over the top of each choux bun.
Stack the smaller choux bun on
top of the larger one.
12 Decorate with matchstick
cookie arms and sprinkles for
buttons. These will stick if you
add them before the icing sets
but use a little extra if needed.
Add the facial features with royal
icing dyed black and orange, or
use sprinkles. You can also use
nuts, fondant or fruits to create
accessories for their heads.
TIP FOR THE ICING: Use a stand mixer (or handheld electric whisk)
fitted with a balloon whisk attachment to combine the egg white/aquafaba
and icing sugar until you get a smooth consistency. Then add tiny amounts of
extra egg white (or aquafaba) and/or icing sugar to get the right consistency.
Add food dye to colour as desired! That’s it!
yorkshire.com 23
INSPIRATION
SIMPLY
THE BEST
Hospitality has taken a hit during the pandemonium of the
pandemic, so let’s shout out to some of Yorkshire’s finest
and be inspired … then checkout if you can check-in.
This page: Holdsworth House.
24
yorkshire.com
Clockwise from this image:
Holdsworth House and
Wentbridge House
During lockdown Welcome to Yorkshire’s online WTY
World Cup of Yorkshire continued to entertain and inform
by inviting votes to celebrate the county’s outstanding
offerings in its popular polls. Starting with Iconic Buildings
(The Piece Hall), followed by Yorkshire’s favourite Natural
Landmarks (Malham Cove), then restaurants (Shibden Mill
Inn) and of course Family Fun (Baa-rnsley’s Cannon Hall
Farm moo-ved to the top slot) and now it’s time to holler
about … wait for it … picked by you … it’s the WTY World
Cup of Yorkshire … HOTELS.
HOLDSWORTH HOUSE
Built in 1633 this Grade II* listed Jacobean mansion in
historic Halifax was a worthy finalist in the WTY World
Cup of Yorkshire Hotels. No stranger to some of the
globe’s greatest and most prestigious guests, The Beatles
visited on 9th October 1964 celebrating John Lennon’s
24th birthday. All hotel staff were sworn to secrecy so
the gardens would not be trampled by thousands of
screaming fans. The Fab Four arrived following a concert
at the Gaumont Theatre in Bradford. John Lennon and
Ringo Starr slept in the room that is now an office; Paul
McCartney and George Harrison stayed in the Ayrton
Room - now a private dining area. The band took room
service, dining on turtle soup and steak tartare. Other
famous faces to check-in include Hollywood film star
Jayne Mansfield, the brilliant ballet dancer Rudolf Nureyev
and American rock band R.E.M, amongst many others.
The fabulous property has also been a location for filming
with scenes from multi-award-winning writer/director Sally
Wainwright’s Last Tango in Halifax shot there. Another
heritage house, Shibden Hall is located just a short drive
away and was the home of Anne Lister, heroine of another
Sally Wainwright hit TV series Gentleman Jack.
Now a much-loved, four-star hotel, restaurant and
wedding venue, Holdsworth House sits in beautiful,
secluded gardens and is a haven of peace, offering quality
and excellent service in a stunning setting.
WENTBRIDGE HOUSE
Second World War base, used as the local headquarters
of the British Army, Wentbridge House is now a stunning
country house hotel. Dating back to 1700 and set within
20 acres it sensationally scooped the top slot after
being voted the overall winner in the WTY World Cup of
Yorkshire Hotels.
The multi-award-winning hotel, restaurant and wonderful
wedding venue nestled amid gorgeous gardens and
glorious grounds in the beautiful Went Valley, is steeped
in history and provides a relaxing and peaceful setting,
within easy reach of the vibrant cities of Wakefield, Leeds,
York and Doncaster. Wentbridge House has 41 individually
designed and decorated bedrooms, a 2 AA Rosette fine
dining restaurant, stylish and contemporary Brasserie and
elegant function rooms for up to 130 guests.
yorkshire.com 25
INSPIRATION
SPECTACULAR SEMI-FINALISTS
SWINTON ESTATE
There’s so much to do at this awe-inspiring 20,000
acre estate in North Yorkshire. Enjoy the stunning spa,
world-class restaurants and cookery school for all
those culinary creatives. Stay in the historic hotel or
take time out in the tree lodges and Yorkshire yurts.
Relax in breathtaking surroundings or get busy with
a wide range of active pursuits on offer in the great
outdoors, from shooting to walking, horse riding to
mountain biking and from falconry to fishing, it’s a
perfect place to do lots or do nothing. The estate
comprises an extensive network of approximately 63
miles of public footpaths and brilliant bridle paths to
explore.
This is image: Swinton Estate
Below: Feversham Arms & Verbena Spa
Please check all websites for more information and
opening dates/times/current procedures
and post-pandemic regulations.
FEVERSHAM ARMS &
VERBENA SPA
Inspired by the lovely locations in the recently
released film The Secret Garden starring Dame Julie
Walters and Colin Firth? Well, the picturesque North
Yorkshire town of Helmsley is surrounded by those
fabulous film settings. Stay at the Feversham Arms &
Verbena Spa, a Mediterranean oasis, tucked away in
quintessential English countryside surroundings in a
picture postcard place. The 33 bedrooms, including
20 stunning suites are tastefully designed with many
boasting balconies and terraces around the heated
outdoor pool. Enjoy delicious dining, with exquisite
cuisine featuring the best ingredients in the region
and be pampered in the stylish spa. With woodburning
fires to keep you cosy inside and a chic
terrace with twinkling lights to illuminate the night sky
outside, it’s an amazing autumnal seasonal stay.
26
yorkshire.com
We have it
COVERED!
Promoting Yorkshire business news:
In print, online, on our app and now mailed to 500 key Yorkshire businesses.
Available free across the region and available by direct subscription, call for details.
For your personal copy email pr@topicuk.co.uk or call 07711 539047
yorkshire.com 27
28
yorkshire.com
INTERVIEW
CLIMB
EVERY
MOUNTAIN
Richmond-based writer and
photographer Peter Watson has
hiked to the top of all 41 mountains
in the Yorkshire Dales National
Park. Originally focused on climbing
the Seven Summits – the highest
mountain on every continent.
IThe Yorkshire resident adapted his plans when the
COVID-19 pandemic hit. With international travel on
hold, he transferred his attention to completing the
magnificent micro-mountains of the Yorkshire Dales
National Park instead.
In 2018, the keen outdoorsman moved to the
Yorkshire market town of Richmond on the edge
of the Yorkshire Dales National Park after growing
tired of living in London. Peter initially used the odd
weekend here and there to tick off a couple of peaks
at a time, squeezed in between a hectic schedule of
international travel for his job as a travel writer and
photographer. When the pandemic arrived, severely
impacting his ability to work and travel, he accelerated
his hiking program in the Yorkshire Dales.
In the UK, 2,000ft is widely accepted as the
benchmark height for when a hill is promoted to the
lofty ranks of a mountain. Until recently, the Yorkshire
Dales were home to 40 such landforms. However, in
2016, Calf Top was re-categorised as a mountain after
Ordnance Survey recalculated its height to 2000.02ft
(609.606m), slightly above the threshold.
Left: Peter Climbing in Pakistan.
A former teacher turned writer, photographer and
founder of outdoor travel blog Atlas & Boots, in 2014
Peter Watson (36), quit his teaching and spent a year
travelling around the South Pacific and South America.
En route he launched Atlas & Boots with his partner,
author Kia Abdullah. A keen trekker and climber Peter
has visited over 80 countries.
yorkshire.com 29
When I first moved to the Dales I attended an evening
at the Richmond Walking & Book Festival where a local
hiking guide gave a presentation about the highest
mountains in the area. I thought, “what better way to
get to know my new neighbourhood than climbing all its
mountains?”. Next, I created a personalised Google Map
of all the mountains so I could plan the order in which to
climb them.
This image: Great Shunner Fell
Below: Richmond
I kicked things off by hiking Great Shunner Fell located in
the Northern Dales, between Wensleydale and Swaledale.
At 716m (2,340ft), it is the third highest peak in the
national park. Despite its height, it has a reasonably gentle
ascent along a well-trodden trail with little opportunity for
error. A great place to start.
I finished with the park’s – and England’s – newest
mountain, Calf Top. I thought about leaving Whernside
– which at 736m (2,415ft) is the park’s highest peak –
until last. But early in the challenge, I found myself in
the Western Dales and just couldn’t resist ticking it off.
Calf Top seemed like an appropriate place to wrap the
challenge up.
Over two years ago I climbed my first Yorkshire Dales
National Park mountain. I didn’t set out with a time frame
in mind, I just wanted an excuse to go hiking regularly.
Travelling a lot for work often means I am out of the
country for long periods of time. However, when the
pandemic hit I couldn’t travel so it proved the perfect
opportunity to complete this challenge. Over the last few
months, I started bagging peaks much more quickly, trying
to get into the Dales as often as I could and cross off a few
peaks at a time. The most I managed to climb in one day
was seven when I spent a long day hiking in the Howgill
Fells near Sedbergh.
30
yorkshire.com
TELEVISION
Image: Eskholme Pike near Calf Top
It’s difficult to choose a favourite peak, but I really
enjoyed Ingleborough as I went up there in February
during some unusually warm weather for that time of
year. A proper little mountain, Ingleborough has some fun
scrambles, a wonderful summit plateau and some of the
best views in the Dales. I combined the peak with Simon’s
Fell, a nearby summit which few others seem to make the
extra effort to visit. I’d recommend taking on any of the
peaks in the Howgills, a much quieter corner of the Dales,
with some fine scenery including deep ravines, craggy cliffs
and dramatic waterfalls.
Even though it’s the lowest, Calf Top also has some of the
best views in the whole Yorkshire Dales National Park. You
can see all the way out to the sea on England’s west coast.
Next I’ll be working my way through that challenge to
climb the Seven Summits, the highest mountain on every
continent. So far, I’ve climbed four: Kilimanjaro in Africa,
Elbrus in Europe, Kosciuszko in Oceania and most recently
Aconcagua in South America.
Closer to home, there are 180 mountains over 2,000ft in
England. I’ve climbed around 60 of them so perhaps I’ll
get started on the rest. With around 95% of them in the
north of England, most are within relatively easy reach.
For me climbing all 41 of the Yorkshire Dales National
Park’s mountains was a great way of exploring the
outdoors during lockdown and getting to know my
local area. Engaging with nature and getting into being
outside has proven mental and physical health benefits,
Alfiya Stephenson (podcast episode 4)
particularly important under Voices lockdown. from Herriot Country
I would urge anyone who is finding life difficult in these
times to pick their own micro-adventure or create a
micro-challenge to complete. It could be ‘10 local trails’
or ‘20 hills over 500m’, it doesn’t really matter what it is
or how long it takes. With normal life so restricted at the
moment, it’s more important than ever to get outside,
get into nature and disconnect.
My plans are currently on hold due to the pandemic so I’m
not sure when I’ll get the chance to have a crack at the
next one. I still have Denali in North America, Vinson in
Antarctica and Everest in Asia. I also aim to summit Puncak
Jaya in Indonesia to complete the two separate versions of
the Seven Summits lists, the first of which restricts Oceania
to Australia while the second includes the islands of the
Indian and Pacific oceans.
Image: Peter on the summit of Aconcagua,
the highest mountain in the Americas
Image: Peter on the summit of Elbrus,
Europe’s highest mountain
yorkshire.com 31
‘TIS THE SEASON TO WATCH
ALL CREATURES
GREAT AND SMALL
2020 may not have been the
best year but let’s not forget its
outstanding highlights. Channel 5’s
spectacular series All Creatures Great
and Small being one of them. A top
TV adaptation of heart-warming
stories, breathtaking views, animal
antics, Dales drama and farmyard fun
based on vet Alf Wight’s (aka James
Herriot) brilliant books and starring a
stellar cast.
The final scene of the series was emotional to
say the least … with characters James Herriot
(Nicholas Ralph), Siegfried Farnon (Samuel
West), Tristan Farnon (Callum Woodhouse) and Mrs
Hall (Anna Madeley), quietly crossing the village
square following Helen Alderson’s (Rachel Shenton)
news of her imminent marriage to Hugh Hulton
(Matthew Lewis) … if you haven’t watched it …
you must … but what’s next?
Carolyn Nicoll caught up with two of the lead actors
to find out more …
Image: © Playground Television (UK) Ltd. / Matt Squire
This Image and above: © Playground Television (UK) Ltd. / Ed Miller
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This page: Nicholas Ralph as James Herriot.
This Image: © Playground Television (UK) Ltd. / Photographer: Matt Squire This Image: © Playground Television (UK) Ltd. / Ed Miller
HOW DOES IT FEEL TO BE PART OF
SUCH A MASSIVE TV HIT SERIES?
NICHOLAS RALPH:Incredible. After the first
episode and subsequently every episode that followed, I
just couldn’t get my head around the response of viewers,
particularly on social media, with the general public being
so enthusiastic about All Creatures Great and Small.
Everyone has been so lovely. It’s an absolute honour to be
in a programme that has been so well received across the
board. We had a lot of faith in the show with the right cast
and crew, in the right place, creating this, but you never
know how things will turn out. So such a positive reaction
has been fabulous and I’m still buzzing.
RACHEL SHENTON: All Creatures Great and
Small appeals across all generations and is something
the whole family can enjoy together. We’ve had so
much fantastic feedback, from the press to viewers
sending in pictures of their dogs watching, plus children
and grandparents snuggling up together enjoying the
storylines. It seems that pretty much everyone has been
enjoying it.
NICHOLAS, ALL CREATURES
GREAT AND SMALL WAS YOUR
FIRST TV ROLE …
AND it’s been amazing. As I was going through the
audition process and I realised it was all becoming a
reality, I found myself glued to my script pieces in every
waking moment. I loved the writing, the characters and
really felt like I had an instant personal connection with
veterinary surgeon James Herriot. I wanted the part so
much and thankfully I got it. The whole experience has
been brilliant, including being directed by Brian Percival
(who also directed Downton Abbey). Becoming part of
such an impressive cast and working with a top crew, I
was constantly pinching myself as I couldn’t quite believe
what I was doing. Even before drama school, I spent so
much time watching my favourite actors on TV and being
absorbed in behind the scenes footage, that to then be a
part of filming a television drama and being on an actual
set was an absolute dream. Landing on day one, which
was the technical day and everything’s getting prepared
for filming, with the trailers and catering vans arriving …
perhaps not the most glamorous of days … BUT I couldn’t
stop looking around in awe and saying ‘this is so cool’ and
that’s how I felt throughout the whole shoot.
This Image: © Playground Television (UK) Ltd.
yorkshire.com 33
TELEVISION
Image: © Playground Television (UK) Ltd. / Matt Squire
Above: James Herriot (Nicholas Ralph) and Helen Anderson (Rachel Shenton)
ARE YOU PREPARED FOR HOW
BIG THE SERIES IS GOING TO
BE INTERNATIONALLY WHEN IT
LAUNCHES IN THE USA IN 2021?
RS: Hopefully they’ll love All Creatures Great and
Small, just as much as we all do. Americans generally
like things that are quintessentially English. I think
they’ll enjoy watching a Dales drama about farm life in
stunning Yorkshire countryside and they’ll all certainly
want to visit this incredible county. How could they
not? Filming in such a beautiful setting was a treat
and when I watch it back I think ‘wow, it really is
breathtaking from every angle’. What we have now
is the advantage of telling these classic tales through
modern technology, with high-tech cameras and
drones to capture outstanding aerial footage and the
vast beauty of the Dales. Everyone will want to come
to ‘Darrowby’ (aka Grassington).
DID YOU MANAGE TO GET A
SERIES ’WRAP PARTY’ IN BEFORE
LOCKDOWN?
NR: We did, on the day before we shot the last
scene of the series, as it was the only time the filming
schedule would allow. We all went to a pub in Skipton.
Sam (Samuel West) who plays Siegfried organised
a quiz, he loves doing them and was an excellent
compere for the evening. It was lots of fun.
SO, THE LAST SCENE OF THE
SERIES … WHICH WAS ALSO THE
LAST SCENE YOU FILMED … WITH
THE CHARACTERS JAMES HERRIOT,
MRS HALL, SIEGFRIED AND
TRISTAN FARNON ALL LEAVING
THE DROVER’S ARMS (AKA THE
DEVONSHIRE IN GRASSINGTON) …
WAS EMOTIONAL TO WATCH … HOW
WAS IT TO FILM?
NR: It was a complete sledgehammer blow for James
to find out that Helen (who he is incredibly fond of) was
engaged to Hugh and that they are about to be married.
Believe me it was a very emotional scene for all of us … not
much acting required.
AND THAT SCENE LEADS ON TO THE
MUCH-ANTICIPATED ALL CREATURES
GREAT AND SMALL CHRISTMAS
SPECIAL …
RS: Emotions are certainly running high, not just for
James … but for Helen too as it’s Christmas Eve AND
the eve of her marriage to long-term partner Hugh.
As suggested in the series, Helen and Hugh have been
together for years, but it’s not really a huge romance,
they’ve just known each other since they were kids and
have grown up together. It seemed inevitable that one day
marriage would happen. It’s fair to say that Helen is feeling
very overwhelmed. Of course she has this pull towards
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AND THERE ARE PLANS FOR
AN ALL CREATURES GREAT
AND SMALL SERIES TWO?
James, which she feels she hasn’t really had
chance to explore and all of a sudden it’s the eve
of her wedding day. Things get quite dramatic,
with a veterinary emergency and a lot of fog
involved.
NR: There was so much mist, created by a ‘fog
machine’, in a derelict Dales location that filming
actually became quite difficult as nothing could
be seen. (laughs)
DOES THE CHRISTMAS SPECIAL
HAVE AN UPLIFTING ENDING
OR IS IT A CLIFFHANGER?
NR & RS: (laughter) You’ll have to watch and
see! What we can say is that it’s an emotional
rollercoaster, jam-packed with serious drama,
yet lighter moments and lots of laughs. It’s very
Christmassy.
HAVE YOU KEPT IN TOUCH
WITH THE OTHER CAST
MEMBERS?
NR: It’s just been confirmed that this will be happening
and we’re all incredibly pleased about the news. Everyone
was saying the right things in the right places about a
second series. As a cast we wanted to do more, Channel
5 loved it, plus PBS (in America) and now we’ve had that
official green light. Wouldn’t it be great to film in spring
and summer for the next series (in contrast to autumn
and winter for the first), which would mean less shivering
and more lambs. Yorkshire is beautiful whatever time of
year, but it would be fantastic to experience the Dales on
warmer days (laughs).
RS: Imagine that amazing autumn/winter landscape, as
a completely different but equally impressive palette of
spring/summer colours. It would be a real privilege for all
of us to experience the county and all it has to offer during
longer, light-filled filming days.
The All Creatures Great and Small Christmas special is on
Channel 5 – 9pm Tuesday 22nd December and repeated
on Boxing Day evening.
RS: We have an All Creatures Great and Small
’family’ WhatsApp group and keep in contact
that way, because of all the COVID-19 restrictions
we’ve unfortunately not been able to meet up in
person.
NR: There’s a really special friendship bond
that we all have. As actors we were all so excited
about the series. When you spend 50 to 60 hours
working every week as a group and you still
want to hang out with them in the evening or at
the weekend when filming has ended, then that
says something and is a great marker of how we
enjoyed each other’s company.
Image: ViacomCBS / Photographer: Todd Antony
This Image and above:
© Playground Television (UK) Ltd. / Ed Miller
Images above: James Herriot (Nicholas Ralph)
and a scene from the Christmas Special.
Images on right: Mrs Hall (Anna Madeley), Siegfried Farnon
(Samuel West), James Herriot (Nicholas Ralph), Helen
Alderson (played by Rachel Shenton) and Tristan Farnon
(Callum Woodhouse). Siegfried Farnon, James Herriott,
Tristan Farnon and Mrs Hall
Image: © Playground Television (UK) Ltd. / Matt Squire
yorkshire.com 35
This page: The Black
Bull at the top of
Haworth Main Street.
Anne Brontë portrait
by Branwell Brontë.
Opposite: The Brontë
Parsonage Museum.
Iam sitting in the Brontë Parsonage Museum
archives with a small painting of Anne Brontë
aged 16, drawn by her sister Charlotte. Anne is
wearing a string of simple glowing amber beads,
which had belonged to their mother; who had died
when Anne was not even a year old. Thanks to
the museum’s Lauren Livesey, I also have the real
beads in front of me. She has dug out a selection of
objects connected to “my favourite Brontë sister”.
I am still trying to process the impact of this
young motherless woman with her brown curls
and her few cherished possessions, on my life and on
the long campaign for women’s rights. I didn’t visit
the Parsonage or the landscape that Anne Brontë
roamed till long after she’d captured my imagination.
Her two novels are the works of a whistle-blower
confronting the truth of Victorian womanhood.
Agnes Grey recounts in documentary detail the grim
reality of her own experience as a poor governess to
wild children in a dysfunctional family.
Anne’s masterpiece The Tenant of Wildfell Hall is
a revolutionary novel recounting the degradations of
a woman trying to escape with her young son from a
marriage to a violent alcoholic. “Things that formerly
shocked and disgusted me, now seem only natural,”
her heroine Helen writes in her diary mourning her
entrapment. It may have drawn some of its detail
from observing the wretched decline of her brother
Branwell, but the novel was campaign literature for
all women. It challenged the right of men to own
their wives entirely. Anne’s writing astounded me.
It seemed to speak across the centuries.
For decades her reputation was damaged
and overshadowed by Charlotte’s negative
assessment of her work and character. But in the
20th century, Anne with her clear eyed passion for
justice and equality was reclaimed by feminists and
scholars. She seemed to be a modern woman in not
modern times.
Winning a place at Oxford in 1986, I chose to
study the new Women’s Studies option as part of
my English Literature degree. Alongside reading
the exciting new African American prose emerging
from the likes of Alice Walker and Toni Morrison,
I wrote my undergraduate thesis on Property and
Possession: The Politics of Marriage in The Tenant
of Wildfell Hall, looking at connections with the
eventual 1870 Married Women’s Property Act that
finally granted women some rights – 22 years later.
After graduating I finally visited Haworth for the
first time with my sister, herself then a schoolteacher
in York. And most recently I’ve brought my own
daughter to this breathtaking landscape on the
spectacular moors for her to experience the ancient
wild beauty that inspired the sisters.
In Haworth Parsonage (became the Brontë
Parsonage Museum in 1928) I am mesmerised by
the tiny dim parlour where the girls walked round
the dining table sharing their stories of their
elaborately imagined early fantasy worlds. In the
archive I smile seeing Anne’s drawing of one of the
strong Amazonian women of her imaginary island
creation Gondal; standing tall and confident on the
rocky seashore, looking out to the horizon and a
world of adventure.
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ART & CULTURE
A desired destination for international literary lovers, the
West Yorkshire village of Haworth was home to one of the
world’s most lauded writing families. On the 200th anniversary
of sister Anne’s birth, Samira Ahmed visits a corner of the
county that sparked much creativity and shares her thoughts
on the inspirational and youngest Brontë.
yorkshire.com 37
THERE IS A REAL JOY
IN KNOWING ANNE’S
REPUTATION HAS NEVER
BEEN GREATER.
Clockwise from top left: Top Withens. Inside the Brontë Parsonage
Museum where Anne Brontë lived and worked. A blue plaque marks
the site of Anne Brontë’s death at the Grand Hotel, Scarborough.
Below: Anne practises the signature for her pen name of Acton Bell,
both of her novels were first published under this name.
I look at the sketch portrait of William Weightman, the
handsome young curate, who looks rather like the actor
Toby Stephens, about whom Anne clearly had strong
feelings. Did he know? His death from typhoid inspired in the
natural poet Anne some of her most grief-stricken verse.
What moves me most about visiting Haworth, is the
dramatic view from almost every room. In the Brontë home,
so many overlook the church graveyard. In winter it is full of
crows and the trees are towering and bare, but in summer
the garden is in colourful bloom and the neighbouring
moorland alive with a different wildness and magnificent
open skies.
When I first visited Scarborough in my early twenties,
it was summer. After the long drive through the heather
covered moors, looking down from the cliff top by the blue
plaque to her name where Wood’s Lodgings once stood,
I saw Anne’s love of this spa town, the romantic view from
the cliffs, the castle ruins, the excitement of the social scene,
and the gorgeous curve of the sandy bay. And it is that
sunny optimism that haunts me most about Anne. She loved
life. She fought her illness. When she returned here it was in
hope of a sea cure, yet it became her final resting place.
Back in the Parsonage archive Lauren hands me the
black edged “cross” letter Anne wrote to her friend Ellen
Nussey on mourning paper (it was just months after Branwell
and Emily’s deaths), and just weeks before she herself was
to die at just 29. The exquisite penmanship intersects as she
turned the paper 90 degrees to maximise the number of
lines, to save paper and postage.
“I have no horror of death,” she wrote. “If I thought
it inevitable I think I could quietly resign myself to the
prospect ... But I wish it would please God to spare me not
only for Papa’s and Charlotte’s sakes but because I long to
do some good in the world before I leave it. I have many
schemes in my head for future practise, humble and limited
indeed, but still I should not like them all to come to nothing,
and myself to have lived to so little purpose.”
It is a letter Lauren, warns me, that usually provokes tears.
She is right. But there is a real joy in knowing Anne Bronte’s
reputation has never been greater and continues to grow as
more and more readers discover her work and ideas. I like to
imagine her as that proud Amazonian, on the distant shore of
Gondal looking out at us, and seeing us waving back.
38
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ART & CULTURE
THE BRONTË TRAIL
O
ne of the most
photographed and
impressive streets in the
country, the famous Haworth cobbles
are world-renowned. Lined with a
selection of shops, cosy tearooms,
intimate inns and places to stay,
steeped in history it’s surrounded
by stunning countryside and vast
picturesque moorland.
CHECK IN TO
WEAVERS GUESTHOUSE
Built circa 1840 at the time the Brontë
family lived just across the way at
the Parsonage, Weavers Guesthouse
offers stylish bed and breakfast
accommodation and is a perfect base
for enjoying the village of Haworth
and exploring its beautiful countryside.
weaversguesthouse.co.uk
GO TO THE
BRONTË PARSONAGE
MUSEUM
In the bicentenary year of youngest
sister Anne’s birth, explore the
Brontë Parsonage Museum, home of
the internationally famous literary
family. This picturesque, historical
setting was where the famous
siblings Charlotte (Jane Eyre, Villette,
Shirley), Emily (Wuthering Heights)
and Anne (Agnes Grey, The Tenant of
Wildfell Hall) wrote groundbreaking
novels. The house contains a wealth
of Brontë belongings, from clothes
and rooms furnished as they were
at the time the family resided there,
to pieces of writing including a ‘little
book’ written by Charlotte Brontë
when she was 14, which the Brontë
Society recently acquired at auction
with the help of a high-profile public
fundraising campaign. bronte.org.uk
HAVE A PINT IN
THE FLEECE
Perfectly positioned on the famous
Haworth cobbles midway between
the Brontë Parsonage Museum and
the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway
is The Fleece. Serving delicious
dishes and a wide range of drinks,
including locally brewed prizewinning
Timothy Taylor’s Yorkshire
beers and ales (apparently a favourite
tipple of Madonna), cosy rooms are
available too if you want to spend a
night or more in this beautiful village.
fleeceinnhaworth.co.uk
TAKE A RIDE ON
THE KEIGHLEY & WORTH
VALLEY RAILWAY
Post Brontës, the historic 5 mile
line opened in 1867 and runs from
Keighley to Oxenhope, with an
annual schedule of exciting events
aboard its classic locomotives. You
may recognise many of the route’s
locations in a wide range of film and
TV productions. From Peaky Blinders
and even Pink Floyd’s The Wall to
Swallows and Amazons, the heritage
train line has appeared on screen
regularly over the years. 2020 is the
50th anniversary of its starring role in
The Railway Children. Tickets are now
on sale for the Elf Express to Kringle
Town Station, a brand new Christmas
adventure, but hurry as tickets are
selling fast. kwvr.co.uk
WALK ON
THE BRONTË WAY
The Brontë Way is a 69km (43 mile)
long-distance footpath. The route
winds its way past many places
of interest to Brontë enthusiasts,
including the Brontë Birthplace
in Thornton. Scenic highlights are
Penistone Hill country park, perched
on the moors high above Haworth, the
trail to the Brontë Waterfall and over
the Brontë Bridge up to Top Withens.
Top left and right: Keighley & Worth
Valley Railway. Left: The Brontë
waterfall near Haworth. The Waterfalls
and Top Withens walk explores the
Pennine moors made famous by the
Brontë sisters. You’ll reach the Brontë
Waterfalls first, which were famously
described by Charlotte Brontë as
a ‘perfect torrent racing over the
rocks, white and beautiful’.
yorkshire.com 39
YOU’VE
GOTTA HAVE
FAITH
With a fifth studio album, Infinite
Things, out and a UK headline
tour planned for 2021, taking in
some spectacular Yorkshire venues,
Neill Barston caught up with the
super stylish and pitch-perfect
Paloma pre-tour.
From gaining number one album
success, through to battling
her way to becoming a mother,
Paloma Faith’s remarkable career
continues in setting her sights on
a return to the charts with her
ambitious new album.
Amid a global pandemic, this year
has been one to forget for many, but
as Paloma Faith reveals, she feels
notably blessed by news of her second
child’s imminent arrival. After a hugely
testing trial of repeated rounds of IVF
treatment, the Brit Award winning
singer announced the latest addition
to her family happily coincides with
her latest musical baby in the form of
her fifth studio album.
Since her last release, The Architect,
achieved coveted number one status,
Paloma has featured as a coach on ITV’s
The Voice Kids, seen herself nominated
for a clutch of industry accolades, as
well as exploring new territory as an
actor in the Batman prequel spin-off,
Pennyworth. So, as the coronavirus crisis
grimly took hold around the world, the
enforced downtime offered her a rare
chance to take stock after an intense
period of work.
As she admits, inhabiting her line of
work can often make you ‘whimsical
in going with the flow,’ yet reveals
that having a toddler to take care of
has, by necessity, required greater
time management. “It’s made me
go for the jugular more,” she notes
in having to be far more focused.
Consequently, being ever creatively
restless, material soon flowed while
at home completing her latest album,
led by its lyrically powerful lead
single, Better Than This, a reflection
on the fractured state of the world
and hopes for the next generation.
It stands proudly paving the way for
what is a bold, uncompromising record
brimming full of confidence and selfassurance,
taking on everything from
her trademark soulful pop, through to
sweeping orchestral ballads that stem
from an artist who is at the top of her
creative game.
“We live in a very volatile world that
now seems as if we only get one
chance, so I have been lucky that I’ve
been able to put releases out there
and put myself on the map,” she says
of her latest recording.
However, it’s been a far from
straightforward journey for the half-
Spanish East-London born singer,
who holds a degree in contemporary
dance, and an MA in theatre directing
that saw her initially consider other
artistic directions. But after early stints
in cabaret, bar tending and modelling,
she gravitated to singing, and has
been doing things her own way ever
since. There have been pressures along
the route, including offering a ‘showbiz
age’ several years younger than her
actual years for fear of not being given
a recording contract, yet she remains
very much true to herself.
Despite such moments, her debut
album provided plenty of vindication
in reaching the top 10 in 2009, setting
the tone for a career to date packed
with notable milestones. There have
been plenty of highlights beyond the
icing on the cake of multi-platinum
sales, including her friendship with the
late Amy Winehouse, to whom she
has been widely compared, who she
penned a tribute to on her last album.
To her credit, she has stood firm on
other key issues, notably on one of
her biggest hits to date, Only Love
Can Hurt Like this, which featured a
video with an interracial love scene.
When US executives asked her to
reshoot it on the grounds it ‘wouldn’t
sell’, she refused, and never spoke to
them again, even if it might cost her a
stateside breakthrough. She says she’d
rather have success very much on her
own terms. As she concedes, her latest
recordings, which were self-produced
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MUSIC
yorkshire.com 41
MUSIC
in her basement, allowed her the chance to push herself
artistically more than ever before.
“Well, I think being at home meant I was completely
uninhibited with wild abandon, in a way that I am not
when sound engineers are looking at me. “Also, I wasn’t
afraid to make mistakes, and sometimes those mistakes
land in places that are wonderful, and I wouldn’t make
them if someone else was there. So, I feel like there’s more
intimacy in this record, and that there’s more truth in the
way that I am singing,” she explains thoughtfully, noting
that the album is very much focused on motherhood and
the pressures, hopes and expectations that it brings.
While the 39 year-old singer has been frank about the
challenges she endured to bring her daughter into the
world, a clearly understandable desire to shield her child
from media intrusion has been misinterpreted in some
quarters as being a conscious decision to raise her as
‘gender neutral’. While it’s led to an at times uncomfortable
relationship with the media, her engaging and refreshingly
honest manner remains greatly endearing to her fans.
“It is so great being a mum and I feel very lucky, as the
lockdown meant that we’ve spent a lot of time together as
a family, which has been a positive. Usually, it had just been
one or the other of us looking after our daughter, who has
now started really learning about family,” says Paloma of
her now three-year old.
As she adds, the record’s title track, Infinite Things, is
about her youngster, and was inspired from previously
reading Argentine writer and poet Jorge Luis Borge’s short
story, The Aleph, in which its central character experiences
the full spectrum of human emotion, from pain to joy,
within a single moment.
“With the title track, it’s about seeing things through my
daughter’s eyes and is about becoming a parent, and how
that it is all about continuing humanity. You experience the
worst heartache with it. “The album is also a commentary
on society as well in respect of issues raised by living in
the pandemic, and also knowing people who have
lost loved ones.
“It’s also about enduring love, as we’re most used to
hearing about the initial parts of a relationship on that first
spark, so it’s an area that that’s under-represented. I think
there’s a big cultural hole there that I’m aiming to address,”
notes Paloma, who isn’t afraid to tackle some difficult
subject areas that many would shun. This is most notable
on one of the early tracks on the album, Monster, which is a
reflection on the darker side of the music business.
There’s certainly a bittersweet edge to one of the album’s
standout tracks, the spinetingling ballad If Loving You
Were Easy, which would not seem out of place on a James
Bond soundtrack – “I was born to do Bond” she asserts,
yet is also acutely aware that the more she mentions it, the
less likely it will happen. But in spite of whatever occurs, it
seems there’s a strong level of support out there for her.
As she explains, she and her other half Leyman Lahcine, a
French artist, have endured a lot in recent years, including
handling a total of six rounds of fertility treatment. While
they may have challenges ahead, including Paloma
revealing she’s prone to postnatal depression, they’ve
demonstrated a strong degree of resilience.
“I’d pretty much resigned myself to giving up with this
latest treatment, and I thought that this just wasn’t going
to happen. It felt like it was the last chance saloon and I
was thinking to myself, where am I going with this?
“With IVF, I think it’s sad that men don’t really talk about it
in public, and it’s one of those things where society always
assumes that it is a female issue. It’s something that can be
hard on relationships,” she admits, keen to put across the
fact that they’ve split their childcare as evenly as possible.
42
yorkshire.com
COAST
As if that wasn’t enough to contend with,
she’s greatly enjoyed the opportunity to
explore acting roles – notably in the Batman
series, Pennyworth, which she describes as an
‘amazing experience’ that she would love the
chance to repeat.
Clearly, planning for the future is a little hard
contending with a pandemic, but the muchtravelled
singer is anticipating heading out
on the road again for another UK tour next
autumn. It’s a prospect she is eagerly awaiting,
with performing remaining her grand passion,
especially with the added bonus of designing
her own sets.
Somehow, beyond being a recording artist,
mum and actress, she’s still found time to
devote to other personal interests, including
being an ambassador for Oxfam and
Greenpeace, which are of great significance
to her.
“Being an ambassador is fantastic, as I feel like
when you’re in my industry, it’s easy to lose
sight of the reality about the world. The truth
is, there are a lot more pressing things going
on out there than singing a pop song, so if I
can use my platform for the greater good then
I absolutely should and intend to. “I also find it
something I get a lot of enjoyment out of and
not for superficial reasons that I’ve pursued
this career,” she remarks, looking forward
amid an uncertain world with a true sense
of optimism.
Paloma Faith – Yorkshire 2021 dates
scheduled for:
28th Sept - Sheffield City Hall
3rd Oct - Harrogate Convention Centre
7th Oct – Bonus Arena, Hull
yorkshire.com 43
44
yorkshire.com
yorkshire.com 45
Escape the
Everyday
VisitEngland’s cross-country campaign to showcase
England’s loveliest locations saw TV presenter AJ Odudu
visiting our great county and highlighting ways to Escape
the Everyday in Yorkshire.
irthplace of Yorkshire
puddings, Marks
& Spencer and
the Brontë sisters,
God’s Own County is a gift
that just keeps on giving. From
vast stretches of unspoiled
countryside, to historic cities and
storybook seaside towns, escape
to a beautiful slice of England’s
biggest county with AJ Odudu
as she visits the Yorkshire Dales
and discover more things to do
further afield.
AJ’s top tips on how to escape
the everyday in Yorkshire
• Go for a Sunday roast at a
traditional local pub, you’ll
get to try some proper
Yorkshire puds
• Explore the Yorkshire coast –
there are some beautiful bays
and seaside towns that are
well worth a visit
• Remember to bring your
walking boots/comfortable
shoes – there’s so much
glorious untouched landscape
to discover on foot
in Yorkshire
AJ’s Yorkshire highlight
“We have such amazing
National Parks here in the UK
and the Yorkshire Dales is just
awe-inspiring – the perfect
place to just get outdoors and
breathe. There are so many ways
to explore – biking, walking or
just exploring all the villages like
Malham and their cosy pubs.
Autumn/Winter is such a great
time to visit, the waterfalls are in
full swing and you can always
find a pocket of the Dales just
for yourself.”
1. Discover natural
hidden gems
Gordale Scar
Deep in the woods near Malham
Village is a small yet magical
waterfall named Janet’s Foss.
It’s said that the cave behind
the tumbling water is the home
of Jennet the Queen of Fairies.
The woodland walks that lead
to the waterfall are fairy-talelike
in themselves, and are great
if you’ve got the dog with you.
Make sure you keep an eye out
for the tree stumps studded
with hundreds of lucky pennies
– visitors can add one to the
stumps if they want to make
a wish to Jennet. What would
yours be?
We have such amazing
National Parks here in the
UK and the Yorkshire Dales
is just awe-inspiring
2. Sip on a pint in
a proper country pub
Malham
Yorkshire, like the rest of
England, is chock-a-block with
pubs, and some of the best are
found in the countryside. Take
the Lister Arms, for example,
surrounded by the spellbinding
scenery of the Yorkshire Dales.
Welcoming thirsty travellers for
hundreds of years, this 17thcentury
coaching inn is still one
of Yorkshire’s favourite locals
and is famous for its Yorkshire
comfort food and a wide
selection of ales. Nestle down in
one of the armchairs and with a
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INSPIRATION
pint in hand and admire the historical
features, from the mounting block
where riders would climb onto their
horses, to the low beams and original
fireplaces. If all that cosiness gets the
better of you, then you’ll be glad to
know you can stay the night in one of
the pub’s characterful bedrooms.
3. Get lost in
never-ending views
Malham Cove
With miles of untouched countryside,
it’s no surprise there are plenty of
breathtaking viewpoints in Yorkshire.
One of the most distinctive is Malham
Cove, a large limestone formation
originally created from glacier water
in the last ice age – the top of the
cove is pattered with deeply eroded
limestone pavement, making it one of
the more unique beauty spots in the
Yorkshire Dales (and perhaps one of
the reasons it featured in Harry Potter
and the Deathly Hallows Part 1). Make
your way up here for glorious views
over the village of Malham and the
surrounding Yorkshire Dales National
Park.
One of the most distinctive
is Malham Cove, a large
limestone formation originally
created from glacier water
yorkshire.com 47
I KNOW YORKSHIRE
BETTER THAN
ANY VOGUE EDITOR
EVER HAS!
Image: Rievaulx Abbey
4. Uncover bygone eras
Helmsley
From ancient battlefields to industrial
feats, Yorkshire has a wealth of
history to explore. In a tranquil valley
close to the town of Helmsley you’ll
find Rievaulx Abbey, once one of
England’s most powerful Cistercian
monasteries. The impressive ruins
are some of the most complete
in Britain, and the extensive
museum provides a glimpse into its
development and the monks who
once called it home. Packed with
unique archaeological finds, a visit
here shines a light on North York
Moors’ turbulent religious past.
5. Visit storybook
seaside towns
Scarborough
As well as national parks and
medieval cities, Yorkshire is
famous for its scenic seaside
towns. Scarborough, for example,
was Britain’s first-ever seaside
resort, and has seen tourists flock
here for almost 400 years. It was
originally popular for its soothing
spa waters, but today you’ll find
much more going on. As well as ice
cream parlours and amusements,
this coastal town has two awardwinning
beaches, a medieval castle
and, of course, a warm Yorkshire
welcome. It’s also aptly nicknamed
the Dinosaur Coast, thanks to the
fossils you can find scattered along
the beaches.
MUST SEE
If peace and
tranquillity is what
you seek from a
family day out in
Yorkshire, then
Rievaulx Abbey is
the perfect choice.
Set in a remote
valley in the
North York Moors
National Park,
Rievaulx is one of
the most complete,
and atmospheric,
of England’s
abbey ruins. It’s no
wonder it’s one of
the most popular
visitor attractions
in the North.
6. Treat yourself to a room
with a view
Malton
Escape to peace, quiet, and luxury
at The Private Hill. Set within a
farm, this countryside retreat is
home to a collection of geodesic
domes. Each has cosy twin or
super-king beds, a minibar, woodburning
stove and transparent
windows with views that stretch
over 60 miles (don’t worry, there
are curtains for when you want
a bit of privacy). You’ll also get
to enjoy breakfast, afternoon
tea and three-course dinners in
the romantic Jane’s Dome, meet
inquisitive alpacas and explore the
local surroundings as you please.
It’s like having a little piece of
North Yorkshire to yourself for a
few days – pure bliss!
7. Make lots of family
memories
Hull
Child-friendly attractions are
definitely not in short supply
in Yorkshire. Home to 5,000
underwater animals, The
Deep is one of the world’s most
spectacular aquariums. Built inside
a futuristic building overlooking
the Humber Estuary (you may
have seen it on a Royal Mail
stamp!), the aquarium houses all
sorts of sea creatures from jellyfish
to seahorses. Visit the Lagoon of
Light, with its array of colourful
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fish and coral, get a glimpse into the
underwater world of nurse and touch
sub-zero walls in the Kingdom of Ice,
home to penguins.
8. Indulge in
culinary creations
Oldstead
Gourmet grub is plentiful in Yorkshire,
meaning you never have to look far for
something good to eat. The Michelinstarred
Black Swan at Oldstead, for
example, is a top-notch fine-dining
restaurant in a tiny village on the edge of
the North York Moors. It’s been owned and
run by the Banks family since its inception
and its head chef, Tommy Banks, also has a
sister restaurant, Roots, in York. The tasting
menu changes based on what’s available
in the garden or can be foraged. Expect
plates like scallops with squash and bacon,
and damson brandy treacle tart, all washed
down with a plum sangria.
9. Dive head first into adventure
Yorkshire Dales
Get your adrenaline pumping with
a gorging and canyoning activity
in the Yorkshire Dales. Lost Earth
Adventures host two high-octane packages
in the western Dales by Beezley Falls,
and in the eastern Dales close to
Nidderdale. You and your group will have
the chance to get hands-on exploring
ancient gorges carved out over millions of
years, jumping off boulders, scrambling up
waterfalls, sliding down rock chutes and
taking on ziplines on this epic adventure
activity, all in the beautiful surroundings
of a national park.
Images top to bottom:
The Private Hill, The Black
Swan Oldstead, The Deep
and Lost Earth Adventures.
Please note: There are varying restrictions
in place across England to help reduce
the spread of coronavirus. Please be sure
to check the Know before you go page as
well as individual attractions’ websites
before travelling.
yorkshire.com 49
GARDENS ON FILM
DO YOU WANT TO
KNOW A SECRET?
Set to be a screen
sensation, The Secret
Garden, based on
the classic children’s
novel, is a muchloved
Yorkshire story.
With a stellar lineup
of acting royalty,
including multiaward-winning
actors
Colin Firth and Dame
Julie Walters, Carolyn
Nicoll caught up with
cast and crew.
L
et’s set the scene, The
Secret Garden is the story
of Mary Lennox (Dixie
Egerickx), a 10-year-old girl,
born in India to wealthy British
parents and then sent to England
when her mother and father
sadly pass away. Life changes
forever at her uncle’s home,
Misselthwaite Manor on a remote
Yorkshire country estate, as Mary,
together with her cousin Colin
(Edan Hayhurst), uncover family
secrets and discover a magical
secret garden.
No one can deny the
breathtaking beauty of North
Yorkshire’s sprawling moorland,
historic properties and its
heritage railway, so pick your
popcorn (sweet, salted or both?),
sit back and enjoy scenes caught
on camera across this stunning
part of the county. Look out for
Duncombe Park, Helmsley Walled
Garden, the North York Moors
National Park, UNESCO World
Heritage site Fountains Abbey
and Studley Royal Water Garden,
as well as the North Yorkshire
Moors Railway, already a
frequent favourite for film crews,
as seen in Harry Potter, Dad’s
Army and the recent Downton
Abbey, amongst others.
But what can audiences look
forward to?
PART OF THE PLOT
“The hero of the film is the natural beauty of the landscape.”
MARC MUNDEN, DIRECTOR
I love filming in Yorkshire and
have filmed two television
pieces there before: National
Treasure with Julie Walters and
Robbie Coltrane (Harrogate,
Leeds, Scarborough) and Utopia
(Leeds, Harrogate, Halifax). The
locations are incredibly adaptable.
I’ve always loved the North York
Moors and that is an essential
part of the landscape of the
film as Mary Lennox is shipped
from her homeland of India to
live with her uncle in England.
This poor orphaned girl finds
herself surrounded by a vast
alien country and she asks the
housekeeper Mrs Medlock (Dame
Julie Walters) “Is that the sea?”
as she travels over the moor with
its heavy mist and strange muted
colours, perfectly conjuring up
that sense of awe she feels -
frightening and beautiful. The
hero of the film is the landscape
in all its incredible diversity and
uncanny natural beauty.
“We filmed during a summer of perpetual sunshine.”
ROSIE ALISON, PRODUCER
We were determined that
Yorkshire must feature in the film,
the book is set there and there is
a sense in which a ‘Yorkshire of
the imagination’ permeates our
culture, in a clear line from the
Brontës to The Secret Garden,
there are many links between
Jane Eyre and ’The Secret
Garden. We filmed in the county
during an amazing summer of
perpetual sunshine.
It was inspiring to meet the
people who run the wonderful
hidden jewel of Helmsley Walled
Garden. It provides therapeutic
solace for those who work there,
that sense of the restorative and
rejuvenating powers of nature,
exemplified in the story The
Secret Garden. Fountains Abbey
was another location where we
created a ‘ruined temple’ section
of our secret garden. I grew up in
Yorkshire and love it dearly. The
stunning landscapes of North
Yorkshire still have a great hold
When we saw the garden’s
hot borders we knew we had
to have them in the film. Mary
and Dickon (Amir Wilson) run
through the garden as all the
flowers around them shoot up
and bloom. We were blessed
with great weather for the
sequence. What you see in the
film is digitally enhanced but it
was inspired by our first sighting
of Helmsley Walled Garden.
Dixie Egerickx is a legend in
the making. She is remarkable,
intelligent and serious about
acting, but also a lot of fun. All
the children were very dedicated
and into the work so it made
it easy, contributing to a great
atmosphere. Colin Firth is a warm
and incisive collaborator, a brave
actor full of ideas and unafraid to
play tortured and grieving, the
character of Archibald Craven the
widower in the film. Julie Walters
is funny and brilliant, the best
actor of her generation.
over me and I return for walking
holidays on the North York
Moors, where we filmed on the
North Yorkshire Moors Railway
for Mary’s journey to Yorkshire,
then on the Roman Road near
Goathland for her car journey
to the house and on her first
morning at ‘Misselthwaite’, as she
goes out to explore, she sees over
the great park plain, evocative of
a remote Yorkshire setting.
Making a film with children can
really enhance the spirit of the
shoot. Their excitement at filming
was palpable and this lifted
everyone’s mood. Dixie Egerickx
is a remarkable girl, wise beyond
her years and her piercing
intelligence shines through in her
performance. She completely
captured Mary’s complexity, the
complicated journey and goes
from prickly loner to openhearted
friend of Colin and
Dickon. When she smiles, she
lights up the screen.
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Top to bottom: Dixie Egerickx
as Mary in the new film.
The beautifully manicured
Helmsley Walled Garden.
yorkshire.com 51
GARDENS
Top: Rosie Alison and Colin Firth.
Right: Dixie with Amir Wilson during filming.
Below: Marc directs Dixie. The natural beauty
of Helmsley Walled Garden.
“It was my mum’s favourite childhood book.”
DIXIE EGERICKX, ACTRESS
© Colin Dilcock
Mary is probably the ultimate anti-heroine of
children’s literature, it feels a great privilege to
portray her in this new adaptation and a big
responsibility too, as Mary is a loved character
from many people’s childhoods, making the task
of playing her quite daunting! I was aware of The
Secret Garden from a young age, as it was my mum’s
favourite childhood book and she introduced me to
it when I was very small. It is one of the first books
I read on my own and even though written in 1911,
I think the themes of loss, grief and rejuvenation
mean just as much to people today as always.
I had never visited Yorkshire before, but the
countryside is beautiful and the people are lovely
and friendly. It felt special that we were filming where
so much of the original book was set. I stayed in
the lovely market town of Helmsley, when the Tour
de Yorkshire was racing through and I was able to
stand at the edge of the road and cheer on all the
cyclists. There was a real party atmosphere and it
was so exciting.
When filming, the paparazzi showed up in the middle
of the Yorkshire countryside, but I don’t think they got
much because they stood out a mile with their long
lenses in the middle of nowhere so everyone just hid.
Colin and Julie were really fun. It is a real privilege to
have worked so closely with them and I learned so
much. They are kind, funny and supportive people,
as well as being incredible actors.
The Secret Garden a Sky Original, is in cinemas
and on Sky Cinema from 23rd October
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IN THE AREA
HIDDEN GEMS
SECRET
STAY
If you were asked to imagine the perfect
English market town, then it’d probably
look a lot like Helmsley! There’s the
bustling market square, the dramatic
castle ruins, the charming tea rooms,
the inviting inns; all surrounded by mile
after mile of the beautiful North York
Moors. Enjoy a break in the picturesque
market town and visit the, not so secret,
walled garden.
LET US PREY
From raptors to owls, plus 300
stunning acres of woodland
and parkland to stroll around,
the National Centre for
Birds of Prey is situated in
the magnificent Duncombe
Park estate (Misselthwaite
Manor in The Secret Garden
film). Nestled in the North
York Moors National Park,
see spectacular flying
demonstrations from the
largest collection of birds of
prey in the north of England.
ncbp.co.uk
© Kevin Gibson
SEE Step inside and discover
Helmsley Walled Garden, built
in 1759. Explore the five acre
grounds, its double herbaceous
hot border running the length
of the garden, as seen in The
Secret Garden film. Experience
the tranquillity of the Garden of
Contemplation, the beauty of
the Clematis Garden showcasing
over 100 different clematis
varieties, the vegetable patch
and edible flowers in the Kitchen
Garden. It’s good enough to eat!
helmsleywalledgarden.org.uk
TAKE TEA
Charming, traditional and
fabulously quintessential,
the Black Swan Tearoom,
overlooking the town square in
Helmsley, serves a delectable
English Afternoon Tea which
changes seasonally, making
best use of the fresh, local
produce. Choose from over
20 types of tea, alongside
a great selection of coffees.
You can stay over too in the
centuries old coaching inn,
turned beautiful boutique hotel.
blackswan-helmsley.co.uk
CAPTIVATING
CASTLE
Soaring above this tranquil
town are the dramatic ruins
of Helmsley Castle. With a 100
foot high tower and substantial
medieval, Tudor and Victorian
remains, it’s a history lover’s
delight. There’s a fantastic
visitors centre and plenty of
regular activities throughout
school holidays - perfect if you
want to learn more about the
dramatic history of this region.
english-heritage.org.uk
yorkshire.com 53
OUTDOORS
SAFARI…
SO GOODY
As the great outdoors beckon and exploring Yorkshire’s
vast, breathtaking, awe-inspiring countryside appeals…
now more than ever, Alice Bailey sets the scene for
a wonderful wildlife adventure not to be missed.
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Going on Safari might conjure up
images of heading across one
of Africa’s iconic Great Plains,
but there’s a different kind of Safari on
offer much closer to home.
A trip to Spurn National Nature Reserve
at Yorkshire’s very own equivalent
to Land’s End will make you feel like
you’re on the edge of the world, and
while there might not be any big cats to
spot there is plenty of other wonderful
wildlife and beautiful vistas to enjoy.
A truly unique place, Spurn Point is
a stunning stretch of sand extending
three and half miles into the Humber
Estuary. With a rich maritime and
military history, it has evolved over
the last 50 years into a renowned and
internationally important wildlife haven.
It’s now managed by the Yorkshire
Wildlife Trust, the only charity entirely
dedicated to conserving, protecting and
restoring wildlife and wild places
in Yorkshire.
The nature reserve used to be
accessible by public road but in 2013,
that road was swept away by the worst
North Sea tidal surge in 60 years,
leaving the reserve cut off and creating
the UK’s newest ‘tidal island’. But the
beauty of the area was simply too good
not to share so the Yorkshire Wildlife
Trust looked into the purchase of an allterrain,
vehicle suitable for the off road
seven-mile round trip to the “far East.”
Enter the Unimog a specially adapted
ex-military 4x4 truck – and the “Spurn
Safari” was born. The tours take visitors
on a unique journey off road and on
the beach aboard this special vehicle,
while one of the knowledgeable guides
explains all about the peninsula’s rich
wildlife and its fascinating past.
Now one of the UK’s top migration
watch points, spring and autumn
prove to be an irresistible draw for
birdwatchers, but bracing walks and
panoramic sea views are guaranteed
all year round. This time of year, as
we head into winter, there will be the
chance to spot goldcrest, thrushes,
starlings, pipits, finches, buntings, long
and short-eared owls, skylarks, shore
larks, sparrow hawks and kestrels,
merlin, buzzards, and the chance to
yorkshire.com 55
Image: Grey seal - Credit Neil Aldridge
see waxwing, great grey and red-backed
shrikes is also possible, along with snipe and
woodcock, egrets and harbour seals – to
name but a few.
Safari goers in the Unimog have the best of
both worlds: they are out in the open but
safely seated. The vehicle can provide shelter
on wet and windy days by lowering seethrough
curtains and also acts as a mobile
‘hide’, allowing privileged views of wild deer
and birdlife. Its heightened vantage point is
also excellent for photography.
Image: Yorkshire Wildlife Trust tour
(3 A Mason)
SPURN IS A TRULY UNIQUE
PLACE: A LONG STRETCH
OF SAND EXTENDING THREE
AND HALF MILES INTO THE
HUMBER ESTUARY.
The Safaris have been a catalyst for further
development in the area. The three-hour trip
also includes a visit to the top of northern
England’s tallest lighthouse which was
renovated in 2016. There are incredible 360
degree views stretching for miles and miles
on a clear day for those who are able to
climb to the very top. The growing popularity
of the area also led to the development of
the Spurn Discovery Centre which opened
in 2018, where visitors can enjoy a Yorkshire
cuppa and a delicious slice of cake. 13 people
are now employed at Spurn, along with 25
active trainees and volunteers.
The “Military Safari” experience features a
chance to explore the recently excavated
wartime tunnels and bunkers, and is
accompanied by a specialist historian for
a more in-depth view of the area’s historic
significance, regaling the group with stories
of dramatic sea rescues and wartime bravery.
This trip has been a favourite of war veterans
and their relatives who were stationed at
Spurn, and the families who once lived on
the peninsula have joined a Safari to see this
special place once again.
Since launching in 2014, over 8500 people
have been on a ‘Spurn Safari’. As well as
being a great way to see ‘the Point’, the
Safari also allows those who might not
otherwise get the opportunity to enjoy
the area, including those with limited
mobility, and inter-generational visitors
to experience its beauty.
The landscape at Spurn point really is
unique and the ‘Spurn Safari’ provides an
unrivalled way to be immersed in such a
wildlife rich and historic place, with minimal
environmental impact.
Image: Spurn 569 Paul Lyons
And after your visit you may well want to
return to do it all again, whether it’s
dramatic seas, moody skies or amazing
sunsets across the Humber … no two days
are the same at Spurn.
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OUTDOORS
Top two images: Thorny Beck Alpacas and Bike and Boot.
Images on right: Uppergate Farm and Potteric Carr Nature Reserve.
ANIMAL
ANTICS
For more outdoor adventures
across the county …
THORNY BECK ALPACAS
Lead your very own alpaca companion on
a trekking experience through delightful
undulating farmland, forestry and pastures
with stunning views of the North Yorkshire
coast and the North York Moors. There’s a
chance to get involved in feeding time and
plenty of photo opportunities to capture the
most memorable moments.
UPPERGATE FARM
Stay in the holiday cottages, superb
converted barn, listed farmhouse apartment
or luxury yurts on this gorgeous working
farm in Hepworth and get involved with the
daily animal activities. Guests can enjoy the
superb, spacious, heated indoor swimming
pool, sauna and steam rooms. There’s
extensive woodland and farm walks to enjoy.
BIKE AND BOOT
Check into the dog welcoming Bike and
Boot in Scarborough, for a quality break with
your best, four-legged, furry friend. There
are so many brilliant walks to be enjoyed
with your canine companion. Try one of the
three trails of different difficulty at Raincliffe
Woods
The rugged walk at Broxa Forest has
plenty of wildlife to spot down by the River
Derwent and if you’re lucky a chance to
catch a glimpse of the Northern Lights.
Beautiful and bracing Cayton Bay is perfect
for a wild walk on the beach. Keep an eye
out for fossils while your dog’s out letting off
some steam.
POTTERIC CARR NATURE
RESERVE
With large reedbeds seemingly stretching
for miles, the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust’s
Potteric Carr is famed for its wetland birds
including bitterns. On a network of paths
visitors can explore this wildlife utopia and
lose themselves in the wooded areas. With
excellent facilities including a tearoom,
toilets and thirteen viewing hides, guided
walks and wild workshop, this exceptional
nature reserve offers something for
everyone.
yorkshire.com 57
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EXPERIENCE
SENSE-
SATIONAL
When it comes to embracing
new experiences, there’s very little
off-limits for the Yorkshire-based
adventure seeker Amar Latif and
even more astounding is, that at
the age of 18, Amar lost his sight.
PICTURES DAN PRINCE
Left: The excitement and
anticipation of driving off-road.
Above: Amar at The Coniston
Hotel and Spa.
As a youngster in Glasgow, I was diagnosed
with retinitis pigmentosa, a genetic
disorder of the eyes that causes loss of
vision. At school I would crash into things,
I’d hit the hurdles or miss the rugby ball
in sport. I struggled in lessons and my desk had to
be moved to the front of the classroom. In my late
teens, as the doctors had predicted, I lost 95 per cent
of my sight. Waking up and not being able to see the
Madonna poster at the end of my bed or the faces of
my parents and siblings, I realised that the day had
come. I was blind!
Losing my sight seemed like it was the end of my
world. A downward spiral of feeling depressed ensued
as I was surrounded by friends enjoying their teenage
years, learning to drive and gaining independence.
After several months it dawned on me that I had to
switch my mindset and look at things in a positive
way. I graduated with a mathematics, statistics and
finance degree, spending my third year studying in
Canada and sparking my love of travel. Everyone
around me was completely shocked at what I’d
achieved. Many had said that a blind person couldn’t
study to be an accountant, but I went on to be Head
of Commercial Finance for British Telecom. Not bad
for a bloke who can’t see!
Blindness gave me my love for adventure and travel.
Lack of sight has heightened my curiosity. Some travel
companies rejected me when they realised I was a blind
person travelling independently, so I set up Traveleyes,
my own company taking groups of sighted and blind
people on holiday, offering trips to over 70 destinations
across the world.
The BBC were looking for people with disabilities
to take part in Beyond Boundaries, a TV documentary
throwing together strangers with different physical
challenges and sending them on a big adventure.
yorkshire.com 59
BEING HANDED A
DOUBLE-BARRELLED
SHOTGUN FOR THE FIRST
TIME EVER WAS SURREAL.
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EXPERIENCE
EVEN SOMEONE WHO
IS BLIND CAN SEE
AND FEEL YORKSHIRE’S
BREATHTAKING BEAUTY.
I got onboard, trekking 220 miles
across Nicaragua from the Atlantic to the
Pacific coast was a gruelling experience.
Scaling a 5000 foot volcano (stepping
two centimetres to the left or to the
right would result in a 2000 foot drop),
tramping through dense tropical jungle
in temperatures of 40°C, was certainly
a challenge, with crocodiles and snakes
deciding amongst themselves whether
they should eat you now or later. Pushing
another traveller who was in a wheelchair
and sleeping in hammocks was exhausting.
Each morning I thought I can’t do it, I
worried that physically I wasn’t capable of
tackling the arduous journey ahead. I then
realised it had to be power of the mind
that would get me through and it then
turned into the most wonderful experience.
Work initially brought me to this
great county I now call home. I love the
breathtaking beauty and even someone
who is blind can see and feel it.
I’ve walked the Yorkshire Three
Peaks (Pen-y-ghent, Ingleborough and
Whernside), 26 amazing miles in 10 hours.
I can’t physically see it but I can feel the
wind on my face and I have incredible
images of rolling green hills in different
shades. Sometimes I think I have a better
picture than a sighted person. It’s like
reading a book that’s then turned into a
film. The picture conjured up in the mind
is often far more vivid than when you
actually see the cinema interpretation.
Returning from another far-flung
destination, I recently headed to The
Coniston Hotel Country Estate and Spa
in the Dales to embrace quiet relaxation,
delicious cuisine and to have a lot of fun.
Being handed a double-barrelled
shotgun for the first time ever was surreal.
As a blind person it’s crucial to listen to
instructions. A helpful instructor explained
the importance of taking the correct
stance. If you pull the trigger and you’re
not in the right position, flying back and
toppling over is highly likely. The gun
was loaded, I carefully rested it on my
shoulder and I was about to fire. Luckily
my positioning was bang on and although
I was scared, I also had an overwhelming
feeling of exhilaration.
For my second go I relaxed into it
more, but the jolt is powerful every time
and the intense smell of gunpowder made
me think of how life must have been in
the past, hunting and gathering to survive.
It may seem like a reckless activity, a
blind man clay target shooting but with a
sighted professional instructor to verbally
guide and ensure I was aiming in the right
direction, all went to plan.
I didn’t know what an archery bow
looked like or how it felt. It reminded me
of a violin bow and I was convinced I was
going to play music. Surprisingly, the skill
of firing an arrow requires a lot of strength
and I was relieved that my time at the gym
had prepared me well. The bow has to be
pulled back gently. My sighted instructor
gave me accurate guidance, encouraged
me to relax and the sound of the arrow
whooshing through the air at top speed
and hitting the target with such force is
something I will never forget.
Opposite: Amar gets to grips
with a shotgun and collects his
arrows. Above: Professional
instructors guide Amar through
the experience. Below: Amar
stayed on the beautiful 1,400
acre Dales estate.
yorkshire.com 61
EXPERIENCE
THE SPA WAS
A FULL-ON SENSORY
EXPERIENCE.
Top: The Coniston Spa.
Top right: Amar relaxes in the
outdoor infinity pool. Above:
The sensational Land Rover
off-road experience.
The spa was certainly a full-on sensory
experience with the intense scent of the
beautiful oils and potions. Relaxing in
a luxurious room with dimmed lights,
the only challenge was to stay awake!
Archery is very onerous and firing guns is
a strenuous sport. A good back and head
massage is ideal to feel rejuvenated. Just
when I thought it couldn’t get any better,
I then took a dip into an outdoor infinity
Jacuzzi, overlooking The Coniston lake
against a backdrop of rolling Yorkshire
Dales hills. Bubbling water and the sun on
my face was magical and the perfect way
to unwind.
Taste is important to me. I think
sighted people get distracted if someone
puts lovely leaves on a plate, if it looks
good you automatically think it will taste
good. When you’re blind you can feel and
taste and it has to be right, as you have
no preconceived idea what it looks like. I
had delicious fishcakes with haddock and
prawn inside, then the trout on a bed of
potatoes was incredibly satisfying. Dessert
was ginger rhubarb and custard, a mixture
of sensations and tastes, blended together
perfectly. Custard is just THE most
underrated treat ever!
Being driven off-road is something else
when you have no idea what lies ahead.
Riding along in a Land Rover tilted 32°
to one side plays with your mind. I was
convinced it was going to go over, but
what a sensational experience. Accelerating
up steep steps then plummeting with an
enormous splash into a lagoon, I could
feel the spray of the water. The
description of each twist and turn from
the experienced driver, added to the
excitement and anticipation.
Getting the chance to actually drive a
John Deere Gator was incredible. An offroad
buggy (often used by farmers) and
being guided by the brilliant expert James
was so much fun. We had a great rapport
and got a descriptive guiding system going
‘9 o’clock...10 o’clock, right back to 12’.
This was all done in a private field and is
similar to a business team building activity
offered to companies who have awaydays
at the hotel. Sighted staff take part in a
blindfolded driving experience.
Whatever your disability, if you feel
hesitant to get involved in any adventurous
activity or trying something new, I know
that as soon as I started saying yes and
getting involved (after an initial panic), my
life changed for the better. Push yourself
out of your comfort zone and your world
will become bigger and more enjoyable.
It doesn’t have to be a massive daredevil
activity, it may just be something a little
different that gives you a buzz.
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ACCESS
ALL AREAS
SENSE CHECK
ACCESS ALL
AREAS
Check in and check out
some of Yorkshire’s many
venues and locations with
top disability and accessibility
options. A wide range of
facilities are open to visitors
with visual, hearing, mobility
requirements and other
additional needs.
SEE Between March and
October around half a million
seabirds gather on the towering
chalk cliffs at RSPB Bempton
Cliffs (left). Three viewpoints
are fully accessible and there
are wheelchair bays with higher
handrails that don’t restrict the
amazing view. A free wheelchair,
mobility scooter and all-terrain
mobility scooter are available to
book in advance and assistance
dogs are welcome. rspb.org.uk
VISIT With access, hearing and
visual aids available, experience
a journey back in time at the
JORVIK Viking Centre (top) and
witness life as it would have been
in 10th century York. The awardwinning
attraction is located on
the actual site of an astounding
archaeological discovery.
jorvikvikingcentre.co.uk
DO Enter one of the world’s
most spectacular aquariums,
get amongst thousands of sea
creatures and learn more about
marine conservation at The Deep
in Hull (above). There’s a range
of services and equipment for
visitors with access or additional
needs. thedeep.co.uk
All information included in
This Is Y is for inspiration and
all specific locations must be
checked online before visiting
due to ongoing changes as a
result of COVID-19.
EXPLORE
Cottage in the Dales has the
award-winning The Dairy, a
luxurious and relaxing 5* holiday
let, with accessibility support
for guests with mobility, hearing
and visual requirements. In the
heart of the stunning Yorkshire
Dales National Park, it’s an
ideal location for exploring
the amazing countryside or
for simply relaxing in style.
cottageinthedales.co.uk
TOURS
Enjoy luxury driver-guided
excursions to some of
Yorkshire’s many picturesque
locations. YorTours can
provide a fabulous experience,
accommodating specific
accessibility requirements
and designing trips to cater
for individual needs. With a
unique triple sunroof providing
all round visibility, you will be
able to enjoy the splendour
of Yorkshire in true style and
comfort. yortours.co.uk
CURTAIN CALL
Offering audio-described,
captioned, relaxed, BSL
(British Sign Language) plus
other specialist productions,
are Leeds Playhouse, Sheffield
Theatres, Hull Truck Theatre
and many more performance
venues throughout Yorkshire.
Sheffield Theatres and Leeds
Playhouse are also part of the
Ramps on the Moon group,
who are committed to equal
employment and artistic
opportunities for disabled
performers and creative teams.
leedsplayhouse.org.uk
sheffieldtheatres.co.uk
hulltruck.co.uk
yorkshire.com 63
INSPIRATION
GOLF
HIT
Now more than ever, enjoying the outdoors
and focusing on health and well-being has never
been more important. As keen competitors and sport
spectators seek socially distant events during such
unprecedented times, and people across the globe
look for inspiration to keep fit and get outdoors,
Mike Smith chips in and putts Yorkshire’s range of
golf greens on the map.
Image: Ian Woonsam.
64
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INSPIRATION
Image: Winner, Liam Bond.
The COVID-19 pandemic has caused the most
significant disruption to the international sporting
calendar since World War II, but it did not deter
the world’s top golfers travelling to Yorkshire to compete
in the inaugural Ian Woosnam Senior Invitational.
Organised by Leeds based SGH Sporting Events and
supported by Welcome to Yorkshire, it was the first
professional tournament of such stature in the county
since Fulford put on the Murphy’s Cup in 1991. Sponsored
by Aberdeen Standard Capital, the high-profile event at
Ilkley Golf Club was the initial step towards testing the
viability of staging a bid to host the Solheim Cup, golf’s
biennial match contested by the women’s teams of Europe
and the United States, possibly as early as 2027.
The Solheim Cup is quickly becoming one of the biggest
sporting events in the world and Yorkshire would be a
perfect fit with a storied history of hosting major team
events in golf. Moortown in Leeds was the first British host
of a Ryder Cup in 1929 while Ganton held it in 1949 and
Lindrick in the south of the county eight years later.
Back in September, at the inaugural Ian Woosnam Senior
Invitational, former European Tour player Liam Bond took
the trophy back to South Wales with him following a
round of 65, triumphing by a shot from five-time European
Senior Tour winner Phil Golding, and by two from Gary
Wolstenholme, who won the first of his British Amateur
titles at Ganton in 1991.
Bond said he liked his chances after shooting three under
par in the pro-am which was his first sighting of the
course: “Ilkley really suits my eye as you have to drive the
ball well and that is one of my strengths.
I didn’t miss a green until the last hole and that was due
to me putting the ball in the right place from the tee.
I’m delighted to have won this event which has been
organised brilliantly, and to receive the trophy from
Woosie was special.”
yorkshire.com 65
INSPIRATION
Home favourite Mark James, an honorary life member
of Ilkley Golf club finished in a tie for 6th on level par,
while tournament host and fellow ex-Ryder
Cup captain Ian Woosnam carded a three
over par round of 72.
It was a fond return to the Broad Acres for Woosnam
who said: “It really all started for me here in
Yorkshire when I finished second to Greg Norman
in the B&H (Benson & Hedges International Open
Golf Tournament) at Fulford in 1982. I had eight
consecutive birdies in a 62 and nearly beat him at
the prize presentation, Greg said, ‘watch out for this
guy he can really play’, and that gave me a big boost
in confidence. I went out and won my first European
Tour event the following week and never looked
back.”
This is the first time I have been to Ilkley and it is truly
a great course. Yorkshire is a fantastic place to play
golf and I look forward to returning next year.”
The two day COVID-19 safe and socially distanced
event, saw dozens of Pro-Am teams tee off in
stunning sunshine, including footballing stars Ryan
Giggs, former Leeds players Robbie Fowler, Tony
Dorigo and Lee Sharpe and ex-manager Simon
Grayson, alongside cricketer Ryan Sidebottom, former
Hull KR and Rhinos player Danny Maguire and BBC TV
presenter Dan Walker.
Participants then enjoyed a socially distanced
Q&A where 1991 Masters champion Ian Woosnam
was joined by Catriona Matthew, who captained
Team Europe to victory at the 2019 Solheim Cup
in Gleneagles, Scotland, and will again serve as the
European captain for the 2021 Solheim Cup, and
former US Senior Major winner Greg James.
Welcome to Yorkshire’s Chief Executive James Mason
said: “Wow, what a great two days with the backdrop
of some stunning Yorkshire scenery.
The success of the event has given us just a taster of the
kind of things we might see here in Yorkshire in the future
and a hint of the boost this could be for tourism. There
are so many amazing golf courses in the county with
spectacular countryside and coastal backdrops and we
want to make sure everyone knows about them.”
James continued: “We know how Golf tourism has
benefitted Scotland by almost £290 million a year and
while they have 500 plus courses, we have more than 180
here in Yorkshire, many of which are world-class so there is
huge potential.
“Golfers tend to also spend as they visit places for a
few days, so restaurants, hotels etc all benefit. As we all
adapt to life with COVID-19 this event has proved there’s
still plenty of fun to be had in the beautiful outdoors of
Yorkshire whilst staying safe.”
Next July leading men and women amateurs will compete
in the English Men’s and Women’s Amateur championships
on the neighbouring Leeds courses at Moortown and
Headingley. This will complete a fabulous fortnight of golf
in Yorkshire after Alwoodley was confirmed as the venue
for the European Ladies’ Amateur Championship between
21st and 24th July.
England Golf’s Director of Championships, James
Crampton said: “Moortown and Headingley are two terrific
venues and I’m sure the standard of golf on show in 2021
will match the quality of the surroundings.”
“The European Ladies’ Amateur Championship is one of
the most prestigious events on the amateur golf calendar
and we are delighted to be the host nation and playing at
Alwoodley,” added Crampton.
“Both the set-up and the reception that is guaranteed at
Alwoodley – a fantastic venue as demonstrated when they
successfully staged the 2019 Brabazon Trophy – will, I’m
sure, do the event justice.”
“Hopefully, conditions at that time will allow the golfing
public to witness some of the world’s best amateur golfers
playing for three prestigious titles, over three top-class
golf courses in the space of just two weeks.”
For more tee time inspiration
66
yorkshire.com
Image: Winner, Liam Bond.
yorkshire.com 67
TO THE M6
FOR BIRMINGHAM
AND CUMBRIA
TO LONDON
BY RAIL
TO LONDON
BY RAIL
PLAN YOUR
JOURNEY
Wherever you’re coming from, getting to Yorkshire
by rail, road, sea or air couldn’t be easier – and the
journey takes you through some of our most
stunning scenery on the way.
68
yorkshire.com
GETTING HERE
YORKSHIRE BY RAIL
You can get to Yorkshire by high-speed
train from London or Edinburgh in less than
two hours. The Midlands is even nearer
to Yorkshire’s cities, and TransPennine
services offer direct links from the North
West and North East.
For timetables and reservations contact:
London North Eastern Railway
(www.lner.co.uk)
Grand Central (www.grandcentralrail.com)
National Rail Enquiries
(tel 08457 484950 www.nationalrail.co.uk)
East Midlands Trains
(www.eastmidlandstrains.co.uk)
Hull Trains (www.hulltrains.co.uk)
Northern Rail (www.northernrail.org)
Supertram Sheffield (www.supertram.com)
Transpennine Express
(www.tpexpress.co.uk)
Metro (www.wymetro.com)
And you can explore Yorkshire’s hills,
moors and valleys on some of Britain’s best
loved and most spectacular leisure trains,
with lovingly preserved vintage rolling
stock and historic steam locomotives.
These include the North Yorkshire Moors
Railway, Embsay & Bolton Abbey Steam
Railway, Keighley & Worth Valley Railway,
Middleton Railway, Wensleydale Railway,
Fellsman (for the Settle-Carlisle Railway)
and Kirklees Light Railway. To discover
more about these super train trips go to
www.yorkshire.com.
YORKSHIRE BY ROAD
Britain’s biggest and fastest highways cross
Yorkshire from north to south and east to
west, making getting here with your own
car or by coach very simple indeed.
The A1 and M1 connect from the north
and south, while the M6 and M62 link
Yorkshire with the Midlands and the North
West and the M18/M180 gives easy access
to the coast and countryside of northern
Lincolnshire.
For details of the quickest (or the most
scenic) driving routes see the AA or RAC
websites www.theaa.com and www.rac.co.uk.
Coach and bus companies with services
to (and within) Yorkshire include:
Arriva (www.arrivabus.co.uk/yorkshire)
Transdev Blazefield
(www.transdevplc.co.uk)
East Yorkshire Motor Services
(www.eyms.co.uk)
First (www.firstgroup.com)
Coastliner (www.yorkbus.co.uk)
Dalesbus (www.dalesbus.org)
Moorsbus (www.moorsbus.org)
Brontë Bus (www.keighleybus.co.uk)
Connexions Buses
(www.connexionsbuses.com)
Find further information on regional and
local bus and train services from Traveline
Yorkshire (www.yorkshiretravel.net).
YORKSHIRE BY
AIR AND SEA
The Yorkshire county is served by a
number of airports, providing daily
flights to and from many destinations.
With excellent transport links, Yorkshire
is also easily accessible from many other
airports throughout the UK, through
high speed train links and an extensive
motorway network.
Doncaster Sheffield Airport
(tel 0871 2202210 www.flydsa.co.uk)
Leeds Bradford Yorkshire’s Airport
(tel 0871 2882288
www.leedsbradfordairport.co.uk)
Humberside Airport (tel 0844 8877747
www.humbersideairport.com)
Manchester Airport (tel 08712 710711
www.manchesterairport.co.uk)
Don’t forget P&O Ferries operate
direct overnight links into Yorkshire from
Rotterdam, Holland and Zeebrugge,
Belgium. For more information go to
www.poferries.com.
INFORMATION
CENTRES
Tourist Information Centres can offer
plenty of great ideas so you can make
the most of your visit. For all the
Tourist Information Centres in Yorkshire;
www.yorkshire.com/tic.
Find a wide choice of guide books and
maps with lots of dedicated walking
and cycling routes at Tourist Information
Centres across the county, or more
ideas from Welcome to Yorkshire at
www.yorkshire.com/outdoors.
yorkshire.com 69
Go to yorkshire.com to plan your
next visit, then travel when you can.
70
Images top to bottom: Cow and Calf Rocks, Ilkley. The Yorkshire Wolds. Peak District National Park.
North York Moors National Park © Paul D Hunter/NYMNPA.
yorkshire.com