Aberdeen
How about a city with two medieval colleges and castles, two picturesque rivers and miles of sandy beach?
On a sunny day, Aberdeen’s granite buildings sparkle as the light glints off specks of mica in the stone. Walk or cycle beside the city’s long sands from the old fishing village of Footdee to the basking seals at Donmouth nature reserve. There are several places to hire bikes and 150 miles of Aberdeenshire coastline.
Aberdeen Art Gallery reopened after refurbishment in 2019. Photograph: Iain Masterton/Alamy
Of the county’s 263 castles, ruined Dunnottar on its craggy peninsula in the North Sea is one of the most dramatic (adult £8, child £4). The best way to get there is to walk a couple of miles along the cliffs from the market town of Stonehaven, 20 minutes by train from Aberdeen. You can walk back to Stonehaven through Dunnottar Woods, past an old shell house and aristocratic bathing place. Afterwards, dodge the gulls as you eat award-winning fish and chips
Dave Hancock Responding to the latest lockdown announcement Dave Hancock, who runs Deacons, Caboose and Tinga in Salisbury, says the news is “positive”, but they are remaining cautious. He said: “It still all depends on what Rishi Sunak says in the budget next week. We still need long term support, and for the help we’ve been given so far to continue for at least another year. Most hospitality businesses will have stacks of debt to HMRC, suppliers, landlords, etc. The rates relief and support payments we’ve had up to this point for Tinga have been nowhere near enough to even cover rent, utility bills and national insurance payments, let alone enough to keep us going, so there has to be pressure on the government.”
Stonehenge Campsite owner William Grant. DC6392P8. Picture by Tom Gregory. A CAMPSITE owner has criticised the road map out of lockdown, saying it doesn t make sense and describing it as absolutely ridiculous . William Grant, owner of Stonehenge Campsite and Glamping near Berwick St James, has been told the site can reopen in April, but they are not allowed to reopen the facility blocks. Step 2 of the easing of government restrictions, which is from no earlier than April 12, will see the opening of non-essential retail, public buildings, indoor leisure facilities, most outdoor attractions and settings including outdoor hospitality venues, zoos, theme parks, and drive-in cinemas.