The family who left America to live in their ancestral Italian cave
The Avellino family emigrated from a poverty-stricken Italian island in the early 20th century. But now they're back -- and living in their ancestral cave home.
2023-10-17 00:22
Business Outlook in Canada Drops to Lowest Since Covid Shock
Canadian business sentiment fell to its weakest level since the Covid recession of 2020, but inflation expectations of
2023-10-16 23:47
Germany to Beef Up Checkpoints in Crackdown on People Smuggling
Germany said it’s stepping up efforts to thwart people smuggling by empowering police to establish mobile and fixed
2023-10-16 22:48
Liz Weston: Someday your boss could help you save for emergencies
Companies have long helped their workers save for retirement through 401(k)s and other workplace plans
2023-10-16 21:46
Seagulls close Venice airport
A 200-strong flock of seagulls around the lagoon-side runway at Venice Marco Polo Airport caused flights to be canceled for two hours on Friday. Flights were diverted to other airports in northern Italy, while a falconer was called to disperse the birds.
2023-10-16 20:25
Thailand To Allow Russians To Stay Up to 90 Days Without Visas
Thailand will allow Russian citizens to visit for longer periods in a bid to boost tourism during peak
2023-10-16 19:47
Kim Kardashian: I love TikTok beauty content
Kim Kardashian likes to copy beauty trends and hair hacks she's seen on TikTok.
2023-10-16 19:26
The UK and Ireland’s best country house hotels for 2023
If travel is about getting away from it all, then a flit to the countryside to escape the grind of modern life definitely fits the bill. Outside of the urban hubs, Britain and Ireland are blessed with country houses that have been transformed into elegant rural hideaways in which to spend the night. As the Good Hotel Guide award winners for 2024 are announced, The Independent can reveal the picks for the best 10 country house hotels in the UK and Ireland. Whether you're after Michelin-starred dinners in Devon or a hearty Cumbrian breakfast to start the day, whether exploring ancient woodlands or lounging beside a pool appeals, there's no shortage of options across this green and pleasant land. To find out more, visit the Good Hotel Guide website. But for now, here are some exceptional hotels that are sure to inspire an escape to the country. Viewfield House Portree, Isle of Skye, Scotland A house-party atmosphere prevails at this 19th-century mansion in 20 acres of woodland garden, home to the Macdonald family for 200 years. Victorian interiors are filled with antiques and paintings, and you won’t find a TV in your bedroom – though it might have dual-aspect windows, a pedestal desk and original fireplace. In a dining room hung with ancestral portraits, guests sit down to a full Scottish breakfast, kippers or a vegetarian option, while at night there is home-made soup, cheese and charcuterie, devilled smoked salmon and vegetarian platters. Mallory Court Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, England Built in 1916 in the romantic Elizabethan vernacular and set within formal gardens and pleasure grounds, Mallory Court welcomes families and their dogs. Described as “sumptuous and relaxing”, bedrooms in the main house blend traditional and contemporary style. Elsewhere, you’ll find places to relax over afternoon tea after a game of croquet or tennis, and in the spa or pool. Dinner in the panelled dining room is formal and fine. Gidleigh Park Chagford, Devon, England A single-track lane leads to this 1920s Tudor-style house, amid 107 acres of gardens and woodland on the banks of the North Teign. It’s home to a Michelin-starred restaurant, tennis court, croquet lawn and putting course. It is family friendly, with picnic hampers available to order and Dartmoor almost on the doorstep. Accommodation ranges from contemporary “classics” to spacious “master” rooms, up to the vast Spa Suite (where guests will find panoramic views of the valley). Chef Paul Eden’s “nouvelle but exquisite” dishes might include steamed turbot, mixed squash, pumpkin seeds, caviar and seaweed. Langar Hall Langar, Nottinghamshire, England This Georgian house in the Vale of Belvoir has been welcoming guests since the late Imogen Skirving was inspired by a dream to open her doors, greeting strangers as friends. Granddaughter Lila Arora now presides over a delightful, faintly eccentric operation. Bedrooms have intense charm; Cartland was a favourite of the late Dame Barbara, and Bohemia, featuring a four-poster bed, has poetry on the walls. Public rooms are filled with antiques and curios. Chef Gary Booth cooks locally sourced dishes, such as assiette of Langar lamb and warm salad of garden beetroot. langarhall.com Enniscoe House Castlehill, County Mayo, Ireland In wooded grounds on Lough Conn, against the backdrop of solitary Mount Nephin, this ancestral home is the very epitome of a Georgian country house in Ireland. Guests are hosted by Susan Kellett and her son, DJ, in a warm, inviting ambience. Bedrooms are spacious, and there is a comfy drawing room with open fire and much-faded Adam wallpaper. Guests meet over drinks before excellent, pared-back suppers cooked by Susan with produce from the organic walled garden. After breakfast, explore the 19th-century pleasure grounds, fish in the Lough, or follow nature trails through ancient woodland. Ty Mawr Brechfa, Carmarthenshire, Wales On the edge of Brechfa Forest in the Cothi valley, this 17th-century country house wins plaudits as “a lovely comfortable hotel”, with individually styled bedrooms, locally sourced food, and great walks from the door. Lastingham Grange Lastingham, Yorkshire, England There is a home-from-home ethos at this former farmhouse on the edge of Spaunton Moor, owned by the Wood family for 70 years, where comforts include tea with scones, a dinner menu that changes each night, and breakfasts of kippers and Yorkshire ham. Warwick Hall Carlisle, Cumbria, England Fishing is popular on the River Eden, which loops around the estate at this dog-friendly mansion, where the day begins with a hearty Cumbrian breakfast, tea is served by the drawing room fire, and guests convene for dinner in the dual-aspect dining room. The Priory Wareham, Dorset, England Four acres of English cottage gardens on the banks of the River Frome surround this former monastery, home to smart and stylish bedrooms and a glass-walled dining room, where chef Stephan Guinebault’s menus draw inspiration from his grandmother’s cooking on her Loire Valley farm. The Old Rectory Martinhoe, Devon, England In a remote hamlet in rolling countryside between Exmoor and the sea, Huw and Sam Rees-Prosser have created the kind of hotel where friends would love to gather, hosting guests for drinks and canapés before they dine from an imaginative nightly menu. oldrectoryhotel.co.uk Read reviews of the best UK hotels Read More Best UK hotels 2022 Best luxury hotels in Scotland for 2022 Family-friendly hotels in the UK for style, location and value Best Isle of Wight hotels 2023 Best hotels in Devon 2023 Best hotels in Europe 2023
2023-10-16 17:51
What Crackdown? 14% of Netflix Users Still Sign on With Shared Passwords
The account-sharing crackdown that Netflix announced almost a year ago and started implementing in the
2023-10-15 02:25
End of Corporate America’s Profit Recession Comes With Concerns
Investors are growing more confident that a year-long slump in profits for Corporate America is about to end.
2023-10-14 22:49
Flying to Singapore? These Executive Tips Make It a Better Trip
(Bloomberg Markets) -- If you work in finance, there’s a good chance Singapore is on the short list of places
2023-10-14 10:20
Trauma Over Hostages Shapes Israel's Unflinching Gaza Response
Family and friends were ringing Avshalon Haran’s mobile phone for hours on Oct. 7 before a stranger abruptly
2023-10-14 02:21