‘The chateau is screensaver materials’: readers’ favorite lengthy weekend journeys | Brief breaks

Profitable tip: sax and town, Dinant, Belgium

Dinant is outlined by cliffs, hills and the mighty Meuse River. You might take a lazy funicular journey to the fortress, gawp on the beautiful citadel or take a look at the kitsch saxophone paraphernalia at Maison de Monsieur Sax – the city was the childhood dwelling of Adolphe Sax. And also you most likely will. However Dinant can be a city for journey with loads of mountaineering and several other ziplines. You possibly can take an electrical boat out on the Meuse itself, or higher nonetheless, kayak the Lesse tributary, passing underneath weeping willows and over rapids. The chateau above at Walzin is screensaver materials. Choose one of many many riverside eating places to place these energy again on with a neighborhood Leffe beer and fries (with mayo).
Antony

Isle of Mull, Hebrides

The Isle of Mull is a type of locations that may be packed to the rafters if its climate was extra dependable. I’m glad it isn’t, as a result of it’s partly the tranquillity that makes the place what it’s. There are seashores that wouldn’t look misplaced on a tropical island and a way of place and deep tradition you can solely get with someplace distant. We stayed in one of many motels in vibrant Tobermory, the island’s “capital”, from the place we’ve loved mussels on the Mishnish restaurant and strolling out over the white sands of Calgary seashore throughout the island to the west. The ferry to Mull leaves from Oban.
Rachel Murray

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Metropolis break, Lincoln

Lincoln is a superb small historic metropolis for a protracted weekend. We stayed proper within the centre in a two-bedroom fashionable home fronting on to the long-lasting Steep Hill. What a location! We didn’t use the automotive all weekend as a result of there are many websites walkable from the home, together with Lincoln Cathedral (don’t miss the rooftop tour) and historical Lincoln Fortress, which homes an authentic Magna Carta. The outdated metropolis wall stroll presents fabulous views over town. A thriving excessive avenue leads right down to a marina, pool and canal.
Elizabeth Turvey

Canals and chips, Bruges

Bruges is beautiful for a brief go to, and solely an hour and a half from Calais, however tranquil Damme, just a few miles to the north-east, is the higher place to remain. This historic Flanders village has a star-shaped defensive moat and a flailing windmill set in fields, that are lower by way of with canals. Rent a motorcycle and you may get to Bruges in 30 minutes alongside the canal to see world-renowned works by Memling, Bosch and Brueghel on the Groeningemuseum. Have mussels, chips and a beer and benefit from the environment with vacationers from everywhere in the world! The following day depart the crowds and cycle seven miles the opposite manner up the Damse Vaart to Sluis within the Netherlands for a herring out there … maintain the tail, search for on the sky and simply eat it like a local.
Martin Charlesworth

Hills and islands, Northumberland

I arrived in Alnmouth by practice from London Kings Cross in underneath 4 hours. My city-escaping pals collected me and detoured previous castles, shoreline and countryside till we reached their new dwelling close to the small market city of Alnwick. With flasks packed, we scaled 714-metre Hedgehope Hill, one of many Cheviots, gaining spectacular views over the close by Scottish border. The following morning, a windswept coastal stroll took us previous the attractive sands of Beadnell Bay. An exhilarating swim was loved earlier than toasties and beer at The Ship pub in Low Newton whereas watching mild waves. The boat journey to the Farne islands (from £23) was other-worldly; puffins, seals and gulls swirling round dramatic cliffs. Joyous!
Paula

Artwork within the South Downs

In case you crave the peace of the countryside but additionally wish to immerse your self in nice artwork, head for the South Downs. The Bloomsbury Group and, later, the surrealists discovered inspiration there, and their legacy lives on of their nation retreats. Spend Saturday marvelling on the dwelling and studio of painters Vanessa Bell and Duncan Grant, Charleston Farmhouse. Then you can pop into Berwick Church to admire its newly restored Bloomsbury murals. Save Sunday for a tour of Farleys Home, the place Lee Miller and Roland Penrose entertained Picasso. Spherical off your weekend with a ramble on the Downs and a drink at Virginia Woolf’s native, the Ram.
Ilene

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Cross Channel raid, north-east France

Solely a 25-minute drive from Calais, Cap Blanc-Nez is nice for a weekend or a stopover in your manner additional south. With a sandy seashore and fabulous native eating places together with Le Cap in Escalles, recognized for its contemporary seafood platters, there’s lots to do. We stayed on the pleasant Resort l’Escale (from €110 B&B), which has a effective restaurant. In case your curiosity is the primary and second world struggle websites, Cap Blanc-Nez is a good base for exploration. To the south, previous Boulogne, is the seaside city of Le Touquet, with its historic villas and reminiscences of PG Wodehouse, Noël Coward and HG Wells.
Jacky Fereday

A day on the Swiss riviera, Lausanne

We took the morning CGN Belle-Epoque ferry from Lausanne-Ouchy to fairytale Chillon Fortress (CHF29), admiring implausible views throughout Lac Leman to the Alps en route. From right here you we walked alongside the lake to Montreux, the place lovely flowers adorn the lakefront. A brief practice experience took us to Vevey, then we hopped on a bus to the Vevey-Mont Pelerin funicular, admiring the Unesco-listed terraced vineyards on the way in which up. On the prime we had a drink on the terrace of Mont-Pèlerin Chalet, with panoramic views of the mountains and the huge lake. We took the practice again to Lausanne, had dinner and loved a night swim within the lake with the locals.
Nathalie Marten

Tales and ruins, Brecon Beacons

Dinefwr, within the city of Llandeilo, on the Afon Tywi (River Towy), is 324 hectares (800 acres) of parkland boasting citadel ruins, a splendid manor home, a Nationwide Belief cafe, herds of deer and the white fairy cattle which populate Wales’s myths and legends. The park, on the western fringe of the Brecon Beacons, can be dwelling to a marvellous storytelling pageant, Past the Border (7-9 July). In 2021 I stayed on the attractive Lookout (sleeps two, three nights from £350), simply exterior the city, overlooking one of many Tywi’s burbling tributaries. I cherished it a lot I’ve booked The Lookout once more for this yr’s pageant.
Fiona Collins