THE King Harry Ferry will be of service from this Saturday for its five year dry docking and extended maintenance. The scheduled maintenance was supposed to have started on February 26 but, because of dry dock availability was moved to February 20. It will not be back in service again March 4. During this period, there will be no service between Feock-Philleigh and drivers will need to use the road route through Truro, Tresillian and Tregony instead. Every 5 years, the ferry needs to dry docked to examine the hull and replace vital parts of machinery to maintain it for future years. This will be the ferries third dry dock cycle since she started service back in 2006.
Spring – and hope – is in the air
Credit: Hever Castle
Spring – and hope – is in the air. Bluebells, daffodils and tulips are pushing up through the soil, and dormant trees are budding and bursting into life. And perhaps (whisper it) we may be able to enjoy the new beginning with friends and family this spring: outdoors and at a distance, perhaps, but closer than we’ve been in months.
If you are planning a spring reunion, look to these glorious parks and gardens in the grounds of Britain’s loveliest palaces, estates and castles. Crucially, the essentials are covered too: each location offers toilets and outdoor cafes or takeaway food.
Best luxury holidays in the UK
With beauty spots including the Peak District and the Lake District, historic market towns and sleek cities bursting with culture, the UK is the perfect place for a staycation. Add the luxury factor with a private, rural retreat, a plush log cabin complete with a bubbling hot tub or a stay in one of Briitain s swankiest stately homes.
1. Lime Wood, Hampshire
Fabulous food from Italophile Angela Hartnett and Luke Holder, a Bamford spa with garden views and sumptuous contemporary décor make this country-house hotel one of the most pampering places from which to explore Hampshire. Matt Roberts fitness retreats, Amelia Freer wellness workshops and cooking classes mean there’s always plenty to do, too – unless you want to sit by the fire in a spacious wooden forest cabin, or take in the sun in a lounger on the spa’s rooftop terrace.
The best holiday cottages to book for a last-minute New Year’s Eve escape
From romantic cabins in the woods to beach houses and even a boat in Devon, where to start 2021 in style
11 December 2020 • 2:40pm
Ring in the New Year at a swish beach house in Cornwall
Credit: Unique Homestays
Like almost everything else, New Year’s Eve is going to look a little different this year. Toasting at midnight in restaurants is off the table due to the hospitality curfew, and big bashes in party houses are a distant dream. However, for those who have become too acquainted with their own homes, starting 2021 with a staycation celebration is an enticing alternative. It will be quieter, just travelling with your partner, household or support bubble, and there may be slightly less champagne popping than usual, but marking the New Year can still feel special.