10 of the best places to stay on the Scottish coast

From coaching inns to modern bothies and eco campsites, all these places take in fabulous sea views and majestic landscapesAs cosy as they sound, Sea View Snugs hunker into the hillside in this bucolic corner of south-west Scotland. The 18 individually designed cabins – think smart beige boxes – are on a 1,000-acre estate in Gatehouse of Fleet. Most...

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Grape escapes: 10 amazing UK vineyard hotels and lodges

Lush scenery, wine tasting, great food and no drive home ... where to stay among the grapevinesOne of the largest producers in the UK, the vineyard at Denbies was first planted in 1986 and is still run by the same family, who have developed the estate to encompass a hotel, two restaurants and a farm and gift shop. Tours, both inside the winery and out...

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Stay calm and look fabulous: Holiday hassle and how to avoid it

Driving, packing, parenting while driving … yes, summer holidays are here to torment us. Handily, so are Guardian writers on how to negotiate themMy holiday road rage is directed inward – at my own failures and miscalculations – although I accept it will not feel like that if you are sitting next to me. Sometimes these episodes are all I remember of...

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Why Tebay is ‘the motorway service station from heaven’

For 50 years, the Cumbrian services on the M6 – now featured in a TV documentary – has been a lifeline for local producers and farmersAlmost every day octogenarian John Dunning walks across his farmland to his triumph, Tebay Services, and wanders around aisles piled high with local produce.Currently featuring in a four-part Channel 4 documentary, A...

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20 of the best (and dog-friendly) alternatives to motorway services

Ditch the the drab chains and head for these lovely gardens, farm shops, pubs and cafe, where your dog is welcome too. Chosen by Sawday’sA1, Junction Catterick; 10 minutes from the main road Continue reading...

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House of horror: Bath opens the world’s first museum dedicated to Mary Shelley

This week the city finally embraced its gothic past – in honour of one of its most famous residents. And with it, a host of dark secrets“Yes there’s plenty of scope for bodies around here,” Stephen Clews, the Roman Baths & Pump Room manager chuckles. We’re surveying the Abbey Churchyard square that fronts Bath’s Pump Room and entranceway to the...

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10 of the UK’s best seaside festivals and summer beach parties

Live music and comedy, firepit feasts, surf competitions and vintage theme parks are bringing our seafronts back to lifeAt Boardmasters, days can be spent watching the country’s top pro surfers do their thing in the UK’s biggest surf competition, the Boardmasters Open, and noodling around the art installations, workshops, skate and BMX comps of the...

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‘Headphones make food taste better!’: 10 readers’ tips for a better holiday

From wearing an ‘airport shirt’ to travelling solo, our tipsters share their secrets for easier, stress-free breaksNoise-cancelling headphones are my most cherished luggage. On busy trains, planes and ferries they block out the thrum of engines, the cries of babies and the sounds leaking from other people’s headsets. They allow me to be entertained...

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10 of Folkestone’s best new bars and restaurants

Visitors to the town’s fifth art triennial will enjoy a vibrant mix of places to eat and drink, from street-food to a beach cafeRocksalt was one of the key restaurants that helped shape Folkestone’s current food scene when it opened in 2011, transforming the harbour into a dining destination. Its success has spawned several sister venues in town, including...

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Snowdonia on a budget: a five-star hostel in the heart of the national park

In the third of our series, an upgraded former YHA hostel is the perfect base for cycling, swimming and scrambling in Sir Edmund Hillary’s footsteps• South Downs | Yorkshire Dales“You get one of the best views of Snowdonia from Capel Curig,” Christian told me as he welcomed me to The Rocks.Of course, this is something you might expect to hear from the...

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