Love Travelling Blog

Travel diaries providing inspiration for planning the perfect trip

North East

  • The National Coal Mining Museum for England

    The National Coal Mining Museum: Complete Travel Guide

    When researching my family history I discovered that I had numerous ancestors who had spent their working lives as coal miners so I thought it would be interesting to visit the National Coal Mining Museum for England and learn what it was like to work down a coal mine.  The museum opened in 1988 and…

  • New Inn, Clapham, Yorkshire Dales

    The New Inn, Clapham, North Yorkshire Review

    Hotel Review Location The New Inn is located in the village of Clapham, six miles north west of Settle in the Yorkshire Dales National Park.  As a conservation village, many features of modern life do not exist.  In Clapham you will not find any street lamps, overhead wires or modern architecture.  The New Inn began…

  • Devonshire Arms, Bolton Abbey

    The Devonshire Arms Hotel & Spa, Bolton Abbey Review

    Hotel Review After a hectic festive period, my friend and I decided to unwind with a short break at the Devonshire Arms Hotel & Spa.  This luxurious, country house hotel has been a landmark of the village of Bolton Abbey since the early 17th century.  The former coaching inn came into the ownership of the…

  • Christmas at Lotherton Hall

    Lotherton Hall Christmas Experience: Magical Festivities for the Whole Family

    The weather may have been dull and dreary but what better way to get into the spirit of Christmas than to attend a festive event.  When an invitation dropped into my inbox to preview the Lotherton Hall Christmas Experience, I was excited to find out more. The Lotherton Estate is situated in the north of…

  • Leeds light night

    Leeds Light Night: What to See, Do and Expect at the City’s Biggest Light Festival

    One of the cultural highlights of the year in West Yorkshire is Leeds Light Night when, on two evenings in October, the city is transformed by spectacular light projections, interactive artworks and live music performances.  This was the first time that I had an opportunity to attend the event, which has now become one of…

  • Hereford Cattle at Great Yorkshire Show

    The 160th Great Yorkshire Show

    The Great Yorkshire Show is one of England’s premier agricultural events and takes place over three days in July each year celebrating the best of food, farming and rural life.  I hadn’t had an opportunity to visit for several years so I was excited to be heading back to spend the day there.  The showground…

  • Halifax town centre

    Halifax in One Day: Discover The Piece Hall and Yorkshire’s Heritage

    It was a long time since I last visited Halifax and hearing about the re-opening of its Piece Hall, I decided to take a look.  The town is located in the South Pennines of West Yorkshire, four miles from the M62 motorway.  It’s easily accessible by train, my preferred mode of transport, and lies on…

  • Thorp Perrow Arboretum House

    Visiting Thorp Perrow Arboretum in the Yorkshire Dales

    I’ve always enjoyed woodland walks and when it was suggested that we visit an arboretum I was eager to explore Thorp Perrow Arboretum, which boasts one of the largest collections of trees and shrubs in the north of England.  These include the national collection of Ash, Lime, Laburnum, Walnut and Cotinus.  The Arboretum is located…

  • Knaresborough Viaduct over the River Nidd

    Visiting Knaresborough & Mother Shipton’s Cave

    Although we are frequent visitors to the spa town of Harrogate it’s awhile since we visited the attractive North Yorkshire market town of Knaresborough yet it’s only 4 miles from there. We had come to visit Mother Shipton’s Cave, England’s oldest paying visitor attraction which has been open to the public since 1630.  Admission is…

  • Canal boat at Bingley Five Rise Locks

    Exploring Bingley Five Rise Locks in West Yorkshire

    We decided to visit Bingley to view the famous Five Rise Lock staircase on the Leeds Liverpool canal, which is the steepest in Britain.  Bingley is located in West Yorkshire and can be accessed by train as Bingley is on the Airedale Line with regular services from Leeds and Bradford.  The Locks are approximately half…

  • The National Science & Media Museum, Bradford

    Guide to visiting the National Science & Media Museum, Bradford

    After enjoying our visit to MediaCityUK in Salford we decided it was time to take a look around the National Science and Media Museum based in Bradford, West Yorkshire.  The museum is devoted to Film, Photography and Television and the science of light and sound, which is part of the National Science group. The museum is…

  • New Inn, Clapham, Yorkshire Dales

    A Short Break in Clapham, North Yorkshire: A Complete Guide

    We decided to spend a couple of days in Clapham, located just off the A65 in the Yorkshire Dales National Park.  After the previous day’s sunshine we were disappointed to be setting off in heavy rain but were hopeful that the weather would improve as we neared our destination. Our first stop was to the…

  • Ingleborough Cave, Clapham

    Guide to visiting Ingleborough Cave, Clapham, North Yorkshire

    Our four poster bed was so comfortable at the New Inn that I could have slept in longer if it wasn’t for the lovely view of Clapham Beck from the bedroom window along with a glimpse of early morning sunshine. Breakfast was served in the hotel’s bistro where we found a varied selection of fruit,…

  • The Devonshire Arms Hotel & Spa, Bolton Abbey

    Bolton Abbey, Wharfedale – a winter break

    The Yorkshire Dales offers some beautiful scenery and walking trails so we packed our walking boots and set off bright and early one late January morning for an overnight visit.  We decided to stay in Bolton Abbey nestled in the heart of Wharfedale.  It’s a picturesque village located between Skipton and Harrogate in North Yorkshire.…

  • Devonshire Arms, Bolton Abbey

    Bolton Abbey Estate Guide: What to See, Walks & Parking

    It was such a peaceful start to the day, being able to wake gently and admire the countryside views as we pulled back the curtains. Breakfast was served in the conservatory which was bathed in sunlight as we took our seats.  We helped ourselves to some cheese, fruit and yogurt and then chose hot dishes…

  • Entrance to the Marks in Time Exhibition, Marks and Spencers

    Marks & Spencer Company Archive on the Leeds Heritage Trail

    Michael Marks, a Russian born Polish refugee, opened his first penny bazaar in a covered arcade in Leeds in 1884.  His slogan was ‘Don’t ask the price, it’s a penny’ and after successful trading, went into partnership ten years later with Tom Spencer, creating the beginnings of the company we know today. To celebrate the…

  • Shipley Glen Tramway

    The Shipley Glen Cable Tramway: Visitor Guide & History

    One weekend we decided to travel to Saltaire to take a ride on the oldest functioning funicular railway in the United Kingdom.  Getting there by public transport was relatively easy, Saltaire having a railway station on the Airedale line with links to Leeds, Bradford and Skipton. Leaving the station by a short flight of stone…

  • Christmas Baubles at Harewood House

    Harewood House at Christmas

    As we’d recently had the pleasure of viewing the exquisite toys and dolls on display at the Ilkley Toy Museum we couldn’t resist the temptation of seeing them once again whilst they were on loan to Harewood House. Harewood is a stately home in North Yorkshire, located mid way between Harrogate and Leeds and it’s…

  • Illuminated trees at RHS Harlow Carr Glow event

    RHS Harlow Carr Glow Winter Illuminations

    What better way to lift our spirits on a dark, damp evening than with a visit to the RHS Garden Harlow Carr to view their Glow Illuminations. It’s the first year that lights have been installed in the gardens, and as we have visited Harlow Carr on numerous occasions in daylight we were eager to…

  • Entrance to Ilkley Toy Museum with police bear

    The Ilkley Toy Museum 

    Tucked away on a side street yet only a few minutes walk from Ilkley railway station stands the Ilkley Toy Museum.  This hidden gem has been located in a former Sunday School building in the attractive small West Yorkshire town of Ilkley for the past 16 years. The museum contains one of the finest private collections…

  • Ripley Castle

    Visiting Ripley Castle and Village: Travel Guide for a Perfect Day Out

    My friend suggested a drive out into the Yorkshire countryside and a visit to Ripley Castle.  Ripley is situated 3 miles north of Harrogate.  It is also the preferred starting point of a 53 mile circular walking trail known as ‘The Nidderdale Way’ which passes through some delightful Yorkshire beauty spots including Brimham Rocks.  We…

  • Sheffield Town Hall Fountain

    How to spend a day in Sheffield

    It’s been at least 15 years since I last visited Sheffield so it was time to return to see how the city centre has changed.  We travelled by train arriving into Sheffield station late morning.  The concourse seemed bright and airy leading out onto Sheaf Square, a pedestrianised plaza featuring a cascading water wall and…

  • Flowers at RHS Harlow Carr Garden

    RHS Harlow Carr Garden in Harrogate – What to See and Do

    The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Harlow Carr Garden is one of four public gardens run by the RHS and is located one and a half miles from the centre of Harrogate, North Yorkshire.  We arrived by car, with ample free parking available.  On a previous visit we walked from the town centre which is a lovely…

  • Goddards House and Garden, York

    Goddards York – the home of chocolate

    Located by the side of York racecourse stands a home with a chocolate heritage.  The house is the former home of Noel Goddard Terry, the grandson of Sir Joseph Terry the founder of the famous chocolate factory Terry’s of York.  How many of you have had the pleasure of tapping open a Terry’s Chocolate Orange,…

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