Innholdsfortegnelse for February/March 2026 i Discover Britain

Railway travel has come a long way over the past 200 years, evolving from a steam-powered train taking passengers along the Stockton and Darlington Railway in 1825 to escorted railway journeys met by boat. This was the journey that awaited my wife and I as we joined a group of 25 travel companions in London Paddington’s first-class lounge one autumn morning, in preparation for a nine-day tour with Great Rail Journeys to the Isles of Scilly. One of those travel companions was Jane Nelson, who confided in me that she’d always fancied the idea of first-class train travel: “I am very happy I booked,” she said. “It’s an iconic journey by rail to Penzance, where I went to boarding school, aged eight.” Like Jane, as we left the bustle of…

I am a morris dancer for the Icknield Way Morris side, based in Wantage. I was inspired to get involved by my two sons, who both morris danced with the club and the National Youth Folklore Troop of England (NYFTE). I always picked them up and thought I would give it a go. I found learning to dance very challenging at first. There are lots of orchestrated steps and intricate movements. It’s quite physical and keeps me young, fit, and healthy. Now, 15 years on, I still really enjoy this folk dance and the breadth and talent of the people. I find myself among gifted singers and musicians playing accordions, melodeons, traditional pipes, and percussion instruments, besides accomplished dancers of all ages. Our morris side started 66 years ago, when…

TRAVEL Ticket to ride If seeing more of Britain is one of your new year’s resolutions, then check out the calendar of day trips on offer from Steam Dreams Rail Co. in 2026. Taking in many of the UK’s most beloved destinations, these steam train journeys are a great way of combining city escapes and visits to charming coastal towns and villages with comfortable onboard travel. Guests can choose from a luxurious fine-dining experience offered in the Pullman Dining carriages or opt for the refined comfort of First Class without catering. Journeys set off from lots of stations in England’s southeast with destinations including Bath, Cambridge and Kingswear in Devon. Juliet Soley at Steam Dreams Rail Co. said: “Each journey has been thoughtfully curated to offer passengers an itinerary that…

Visit an English wine vineyard As many as 11 different grape varieties are grown across the 2.5-acre site of this boutique vineyard, including Reichensteiner and Madeleine Angevine, which are both used in the vineyard’s signature St Martin’s Reserve wine. There are no official tours but visitors are welcome to take a self-guided tour along the vine trail when it’s open (usually Wednesday to Friday from spring to late summer) to learn a little about viticulture before popping into the winery for a tasting. Even if you’re not a fan of wine, a visit here is worth it if only to see the beautiful wildflower-speckled site that overlooks Par Beach. There are even some charming shepherd huts in a private meadow for guests looking to make a night of it, all…

Birmingham is a city of ever-changing faces. From ancient forest and farmland sprouted the UK’s second city, a central hub of the Industrial Revolution that was called “the first manufacturing town in the world” by economist Arthur Young in 1791. Its innovative and industrial spirit, together with its dedication to craft, fuelled the development and change that created the modern country we see today. At the heart of Birmingham’s modern creative industry is the kilometre-square Jewellery Quarter, which has been the centre of the UK’s jewellery trade since the 18th century. At its peak in the early 20th century, it employed around 70,000 people. Today it still produces 40 per cent of all the UK’s jewellery, the highest concentration of manufacturing in Europe. It’s this deep heritage of craftsmanship that…

Crossword no 250 Solutions in next issue Across Down Teatime QUIZ Test your knowledge of Britain – answers below! 1. Which UK city has a Jewellery Quarter? Leeds Glasgow Birmingham 2. How many isles make up the Isles of Scilly? 200 150 100 3. What type of mythical creature appears on the Wyvern of Wessex flag? Dragon Unicorn Sea monster 4. Into which port did William of Orange sail? Portsmouth Weymouth Brixham 5. At which Scottish castle hotel will you find a newly opened restaurant called The Azalea? Aldourie Castle Glenapp Castle Inverlochy Castle 6. Which UK police force issued the first speeding ticket in 1895? Birmingham Manchester Hampshire 7. The Tudor Heart necklace was a gift from which king to his queen? Henry VII to Elizabeth of York Henry…

Correction from a local lass I enjoyed Rosemary Goring’s feature on the places in which the unfortunate Mary, Queen of Scots was held prisoner (A Queen in Exile, Issue 249) but I must point out one error. Bolton Castle is not in Bedale as stated in the caption under the photograph, but rather it dominates a surrounding area a good 16 miles away in Wensleydale. Rosemary was right to describe medieval Bolton Castle as magnificent. From there, it is only a few minutes’ drive to Aysgarth Falls, in the Yorkshire Dales National Park, which are at their most dramatic after heavy rain. Combining visits to the two makes for an excellent day out. Maggie Cobbett, by email Travel assistance wanted I am interested in locating any articles you have published…

Though visitors to the Isles of Scilly may be struck by the vibrant flowers they see growing throughout the islands, few may realise how integral they are to the islands’ fortunes, with flower farming the second largest industry on the isles after tourism. The first bloom of flower farming on the isles was in the late 19th century, when a Mr William Trevellick of Rocky Hill Farm on St Mary’s had the entrepreneurial idea of sending a hatbox of the isle’s beautiful flowers to London’s Covent Garden. On realising how much he could earn from the flowers, Trevellick could supposedly be later seen regularly searching the isles for precious bulbs, which he hid in his coat. However, the development of flower farming here is largely attributed to one Thomas Algernon…

As I raise the bow and train my right eye on the bull’s eye, it’s hard to believe that 24 hours ago I was navigating rush hour at Glasgow Central station. Yet, here I am, standing on a manicured lawn, amid rolling green gardens and acres of soaring pine forests, as though I were to the manor born. Overlooking the Firth of Clyde on the outskirts of the town of Ballantrae, Glenapp Castle may be less than two hours from that buzzing metropolis, but all memories of the urban bustle melted away as soon as our feet hit the gravel in front of the castle itself. The handsome sandstone building is a stunning example of Scottish baronial architecture – adorned with all of the fairytale turrets, bartizans, tourelles and ivy…

Inspired by the independent comedy film released in 2000, Saving Grace (also filmed in Cornwall), in which Martin Clunes played the part of Dr Bamford, Doc Martin has been warming the hearts of audiences all over the world since 2004, averaging a whopping eight million viewers for each of its 10 series. The story is about the trials and tribulations of Martin Ellingham, a brilliant, but somewhat socially challenged doctor who develops an extreme case of haemophobia and is forced to move from London to the twee fictional town of Portwenn. There, the curmudgeonly surgeon, finds himself surrounded by eccentrics and struggles to navigate his new life as the grumpy GP in a small seaside town. Comic tension ensues as he clumsily clashes with the fiercely independent locals and their…