English

THE sun was beating down on the harbour walls where parents and their children were perched, gawping down into the water.

One youngster was giggling with delight at her bucket, which was filled with scuttling crustaceans from her succesful attempts at crabbing.

Holidays in the UK don’t get much better than this.

And with Britain basking in weather as hot as the Med over the past few months, there’s been even less of a need to fork out on flights abroad.

I was in Wells-next-the-Sea, a quaint Norfolk town home to trendy boutiques, quayside pubs and a pretty beach backed by rows of colourful beach huts.

As a large family of five, we’d decided to ditch the pricey hotel in favour of Pinewoods Holiday Park, which occupies a gorgeous perch, set a short way back from the ocean.

WAIL OF A TIME

I drove Irish Route 66 with deserted golden beaches and pirate-like islands

TEMPTED?

Tiny ‘Bali of Europe’ town with stunning beaches, €3 cocktails and £20 flights

It was the first time in a while that a place had exceeded my expectations.

When we arrived at our six-person lodge, I heard a swift declaration of “I could live here!”

The spacious Saltmarsh Lodge — there was ample room for our group, plus the dog — embraced its position near the coast with its wooden panelling and white slatted ceilings, and its three cosy bedrooms were spotlessly clean.

The master bedroom came with a kingsize bed, spacious en-suite and chic dressing area while the other two had twin beds and a separate bathroom.

My favourite part was the open-plan dining, kitchen and living area, where light poured in from the glass doors, large windows and skylight.

We spent most of our evenings in here, settled on the squishy sofas and armchairs playing cards and board games in front of the coal-effect fire.

Afternoons were spent on the wraparound deck, which was delightfully cool thanks to the trees that offered shade from the sun.

The fact it was all enclosed was a big selling point as it meant our furry friend could pad about freely with little chance of escape.

And as we sat on the decking with a tipple, we couldn’t believe how quiet and peaceful the setting was.

Apart from the obvious visual giveaway, you’d never have guessed that there were more than 100 pitches surrounding us.

Around the corner from our lodge was an on-site playground, an allotment (reserved for holiday home owners) and a shop for all the essentials. We’d stocked up on everything we needed for tasty breakfasts, such as pastries, eggs and condiments.

When in Norfolk, you have to buy the locally made Krusty Loaf bread, which is baked fresh every day and raved about in the area.

The white loaf, with lashings of butter and scrambled egg, went down a treat.

After an indulgent first breakfast, we took a mid-morning stroll to the beach where the dunes are backed by brightly decorated beach huts and, beyond that, a pine forest.

With the sea reachable in just ten minutes, it meant that the dog could be frolicking in the water in no time.

You could easily spend a whole day here, with a pit stop at the Wells Beach Cafe, which serves up cracking bacon butties and frothy coffee.

It also has a pizza corner and an ice cream bar, as well as soft and hard drinks, including Prosecco.

But if you’re not much of a beach lover, the main town centre on the other side of the holiday lodge is well worth a potter around.

The port town has a history dating back more than 400 years and is still renowned for its fresh seafood.

I was drawn more to its trendy shops than the fish, though — Glitter & Mud does some excellent trinkets, from homeware to clothing.

Make sure to pop into The Golden Fleece for a pint, too, which we enjoyed on its small patio while seagulls squawked overhead.

Before we knew it, three nights had rolled by and we had to wave goodbye to our cosy lodge.

But we couldn’t leave until we had ticked off one British seaside staple: fish and chips.

A lengthy queue forms outside Plattens every evening — and for good reason.

Its batter is wonderfully crispy and its curry sauce packs a punch.

Like I said earlier, holidays in the UK don’t get much better than this.

A girl is taken to hospital in critical condition in what PM Burnham calls a ‘terrible family tragedy’.

Three members of a Palestinian British family have drowned after entering the sea off England’s Sussex coast, the Palestinian embassy in London says.

The embassy announced their deaths on Wednesday, a day after the family went for a swim near Shoreham Fort in Shoreham-by-Sea, West Sussex.

The father, Hossam al-Khawas, was a Palestinian refugee from the Rashidieh Camp in southern Lebanon near Tyre, the Press Association news agency reported.

Police, paramedics, coastguard crews and a lifeboat were deployed at the scene where four people were pulled from the water.

Al-Khawas, a woman and a teenage girl were pronounced dead. A younger girl was taken to hospital in a critical condition.

“The Embassy is closely monitoring the incident and is making the necessary contacts with the relevant British authorities to ascertain its circumstances and to check on the condition of the injured girl,” the Palestinian mission in the United Kingdom said in a statement.

UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham on Wednesday warned of the dangers of open water swimming after the incident, which he described as “a terrible family tragedy”, the BBC reported.

He said he sends his “best wishes and love” to the family and friends of those who died as well as the girl who remains in critical condition.

Drownings have surged across Europe as people seek relief from the heatwave on the continent with incidents reported in France, Germany and the UK. Experts warned that open-water swimming can carry hidden risks, including cold water shock, strong currents and sudden changes in depth.

SKIP the big rides and rollercoasters for one of the best family days out. The location? One of the UK’s best farm shop villages.

The complex in Cheshire is inside a 250-year-old barn conversion with a farm shop, play area, plenty of shops and even an on-site B&B.

Found in Middlewich, Hopley House is open seven days a week and is popular with families thanks to all it has to offer.

At the centre of Hopley House is its farm shop where visitors can pick up local produce from bread to pastries, meat, fruit and vegetables to cakes.

When it comes to drinks, there are wines, beers and spirits from local breweries and Il Gusto spirits which can be bottled and personalised on-site.

Outside are a selection of plants from shrubs to flowers

HOL YES

Cheap holiday destinations with 86p beers, £15 flights & £129pp package breaks

CHEAP CHIC

Cheap UK stays from £9.50pp – with FREE bottomless wine & £11pp coastal cottages

The café is open seven days a week serving up cooked breakfasts, lunch, afternoon tea and kids meals.

There’s also a selection of homemade cakes and alcohol-like beers and boozy hot chocolates.

To entertain the kids, visitors can get competitive on the mini golf course found on-site which costs £5pp.

And children can burn some energy at the play area which has swings, a slide, rock wall and climbing frame.

If that isn’t enough, it even has its own shopping village.

One of the shops is AVM Furniture which sells a selection of antique, vintage and modern furniture as well as garden ornaments.

JO’S Accessories is a ladies’ boutique, there’s also The Crystal Boutique, SKULLS n’ MOR, E a pet shop and a reptile rescue sanctuary.

Families have raved about it, with one saying: “Absolutely perfect place for a large family to stay.”

Another added: “Me, my partner and my two children visited Hopley House last month….. to say we were impressed is an understatement!”

A third simply called it a “hidden gem”.

It also holds events throughout the year – at the moment it has a mini fairground is back with tea cups and a mini big wheel.

Visitors can also stay at Hopley House in one of its rooms which are found inside a converted barn.

Some of the rooms have original barn features, each with en suite or a private bathroom.

Guests can enjoy a cooked breakfast from the café or head to the farm shop for a homemade pizza.

Anyone staying overnight can also make use of a kitchen area which has a fridge and microwave.

Rooms start from £68 based on two people sharing or £42 for single occupancy.

One overnight guest said in a review: “Lovely stay at Hopley guest house, huge big room and the comfiest bed ever! The owner made us feel very welcome.

“My only regret is we didn’t book for longer.”

If you fancy another trip to the farm shop, check out the ‘Harrods of the North‘ that’s loved by Molly-Mae – with forest lodges and hot tubs.

AN abandoned UK village will open to the public for a limited time at the end of the month.

The town, which has been frozen in time since World War II, remains cut off from the world for most of the year.

For just 12 days out of the year, history fans and nature lovers travel to the village of Imber in Wiltshire, which has not been occupied since 1943.

During the second World War, the town’s 150 residents were given 47 days to evacuate their homes so the village could be turned into a military training area for American troops preparing for D-Day.

While they were promised they would be able to return after the war, the village is still occupied by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) to this day.

Once every few months, the public is invited to visit the town for free, with roads opening through Imber until 6pm during the August Bank Holiday weekend.

RIDE ON

Abandoned theme park to be turned into ‘Center Parcs-on-Sea’ reveals new update

ON THE UP

Abandoned medieval fortress to reopen as huge new £18million tourist attraction

Public access has been granted to the village as well as the Grade I-listed St Giles Church, which will be open from 11am to 4pm daily.

The original surviving building is free to visit during open days with any donations going towards the Churches Conservation Trust (CCT) for maintenance and restoration.

Along with an old pub, the church is one of the few remaining original structures in the village.

Most of the larger stone buildings were damaged during military training, and were subsequently demolished.

Meanwhile, houses in the village are either hollowed-out shells or have been converted into windowless buildings to simulate urban environments for military training.

Those who once lived in the village have the right to be buried on the church grounds, with undisturbed wildlife now the only living residents.

Imber also holds open days during the Christmas and New Year period as well as at Easter, with all visitors required to adhere to the public rights of way and designated areas, and comply with signposting.

Mark English wins gold in the 800m to earn Ireland’s first men’s gold at a European Athletics Championships, capitalising after Great Britain’s Max Burgin was forced to withdraw from the final through injury.

READ MORE: English makes history with European 800m gold

Available to UK users only..

A small boat has crossed the English Channel carrying 230 people, the largest-ever recorded number to make the journey in a single vessel.

The boat arrived in the UK on Saturday, when a total of 258 migrants on four boats made the crossing.

The 230 people on one boat breaks the previous record from July when 165 people made the crossing on a single vessel.

A Home Office spokesperson said this latest incident demonstrated the “reckless and dangerous tactics employed by criminal gangs… who continue to put lives at risk by cramming ever greater numbers of people onto unseaworthy vessels”.

Follow BBC Kent on Facebook, external, on X, external, and on Instagram, external. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@bbc.co.uk, external or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250.

THERE are a few villages in the UK that give an insight into old England, let alone destinations from across the pond.

There’s a city in North Carolina that has a hint of British about it as they speak “Elizabethan English”.

Ocracoke is a village on Ocracoke Island, part of North Carolina’s coastal Outer Banks region.

It’s a 16-mile long barrier island – which is a long long sand ridge parallel to the mainland coast, separated by a shallow body of water like a bay or lagoon.

The island, considered the ‘Pearl of the Outer Banks’ is home to around 800 people of whom who have their own unique way of speaking.

One visitor described the locals’ accent as being “Elizabethan English”.

ISLE GO

Why Maldives holidays are cheaper than EVER – with crazy bargains from £1,437pp

HOLS AT HOME

UK beaches we rate BETTER than abroad – with stays from £12pp a night

Brian Carlton told the BBC: “People here just have their own way of speaking: it’s like someone took Elizabethan English, sprinkled in some Irish tones and 1700s Scottish accents, then mixed it all up with pirate slang.”

He even made a remark about being called a “dingbatter”.

The dialect is called ‘Hoi Toider’, which is a rare mix of English, Irish, and Scottish accents mixed with early maritime slang.

It’s almost only spoken on the Outer Banks islands in North Carolina.

Residents all live in the central Ocracoke Village which is also where visitors will find shops, restaurants and bars – but none that you would have seen before.

It has strict regulations about preserving its small town charm, so only independent, regional brands are allowed.

Every shop, hotel, and restaurant on the island is locally owned and operated.

Standing high in the town is its 75ft tall lighthouse which is the oldest operating light station in North Carolina.

Being an island, there are lots of beaches along a 16-mile stretch – one called Ocracoke Village Beach is one is just beyond the main town.

On Tripadvisor, one visitor called it the “Best Beach on the Outer Banks”

Another said: “Beautiful beaches on Ocracoke and always special. When you look around you on the beaches, you see and feel peace.”

Along the shore, a second beach is South Point which is a popular fishing spot and where visitors are likely to find a a Scotch Bonnet which is the rare state shell of North Carolina.

The island has rich history too as it was once a popular hideout spot for notorious pirate, Blackbeard.

The shallow waters around the island provided ideal cover and Ocracoke Inlet allowed him to trap merchant ships.

Ocracoke Island was actually the site of Blackbeard’s final battle in the 1700s.

The best way to get to the island now is also by ship, but luckily, it’s much safer.

The most frequent is the Hatteras Ferry which takes around two hours and it’s completely free.

Others involve getting a ferry from Cedar Island of the Swan Quarter.

For those wanting to fly, the airport is so small there aren’t any commercial flights.

Instead travellers will have to charter a flight, or arrive in their own plane.

Growing up, filmmaker Fernando Eimbcke didn’t get to watch the scene in “The Breakfast Club” where the teenage characters smoke marijuana. That moment was removed from the VHS copy of the 1980s classic he’d rented because of strict censorship in Mexico at the time.

Drug use or not, that John Hughes movie, as well “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off,” impacted him profoundly. “Those were movies that spoke to young people, and in Mexico there wasn’t much cinema aimed at teens,” Eimbcke tells me in Spanish on a video call from Mexico City.

From his indie trench, Eimbcke, 55, has tried to fill that void in Mexican cinema — starting with his 2004 acclaimed debut “Temporada de patos” (Duck Season), about two teen boys spending a day without adult supervision. Since then, in films like “Lake Tahoe” (2008) or “Club Sandwich” (2013), the woes of adolescence have dominated his purview.

With “Olmo,” in theaters Friday, Eimbcke has adapted his career-long interest on the youth’s preoccupations to a story on this side of the Mexico-U.S. border for the first time.

Set and filmed on location in Las Cruces, N.M., his bilingual coming-of-age dramedy follows the titular Olmo (played by Aivan Uttapa), a charismatic Mexican American 14-year-old boy in the 1970s, whose bedridden immigrant father requires around-the-clock care.

The tightly written and humorously bittersweet narrative (co-penned by Eimbcke and Vanesa Garnica) unfolds over the course of a fateful Saturday. Nina Sandoval (Melanie Frometa), Olmo’s crush, invites him and his boot-wearing best friend Miguel (Diego Olmedo) to a party, with the condition that they bring a stereo. But Olmo has also been tasked with looking after dad Nestor (Gustavo Sánchez Parra), while his mother works.

Olmo must decide between fulfilling his duty or pursuing his age-appropriate impulse for fun.

Fernando Eimbcke’s new coming-of-age dramedy “Olmo” follows a charismatic Chicano teen in 1970s New Mexico.

(Andrew Bohn / Olma 2023 LLC)

It was during the six years that Eimbcke lived in Germany that Plan B, the American production company behind titles like “Moonlight,” reached out with an idea for him to write a screenplay about a Mexican American character. That project didn’t come to fruition, but Eimbcke took advantage of their initial interest to create his own story.

Eimbcke had long been interested in stories of migration, and in the dynamics that occur within “bicultural” families. His experience living abroad heightened this curiosity.

“I’m surprised to see the fear that governments and society have regarding migration today. It’s one of the best things that can happen to a culture,” Eimbcke says. “Everyone is talking about Christopher Nolan’s ‘The Odyssey,’ and the story of Odysseus is a story of migration.”

Among the key inspirations that shaped how Eimbcke and Garnica (who have been friends since they were 14 years old) conceived “Olmo” were Dominican American author Junot Díaz’s work, as well as Kevin Bubriski’s photography book “The New Mexicans: 1981-83.”

“He photographed Mexican Americans in the 1980s in New Mexico, and that gave us many ideas,” he says. “He has some incredible, truly beautiful photos of Mexican Americans.”

While scouting locations in New Mexico, the production interacted with local Latino families. In those households, Eimbcke witnessed immigrant parents speaking Spanish to their children who replied to them in English. Similar exchanges happen in “Olmo.”

“If communication is already difficult within a family when everyone speaks the same language, the idea of a family speaking two languages struck me as absolutely fascinating. Rather than an obstacle, I saw it as an opportunity to explore their relationship,” he explains. “Language isn’t always that important. When Olmo and Néstor argue over the stereo, you never really know if they actually understand each other through words or not.”

The complex intricacies of language manifested on Eimbcke’s first bilingual set.

During a scene where Olmo and Miguel finally fix the stereo and begin dancing, Eimbcke wanted a more rambunctious reaction. He started yelling, “More caos. More caos.” The assistant director looked puzzled, thinking the director was asking for “cows.” Eimbcke meant “chaos,” but pronounced it Spanish, which sounds like the farm animal in English.

“It was very difficult for me, because my English is far from perfect, it’s actually quite imperfect,” Eimbcke says sincerely.

For Uttapa, 17, these interactions seemed authentic; he is a second-generation Mexican American whose grandmother came to the U.S. from Mexico, while his mother was born here.

“My grandma speaks fluent Spanish, and she talks to me, my brothers, and my sister in Spanish, and we answer in English,” says Uttapa on Zoom. “That dynamic and that detail in the movie really did make it real to me.”

Fernando Eimbcke’s new coming-of-age dramedy “Olmo” follows a charismatic Chicano teen in 1970s New Mexico.

(Andrew Bohn / Olma 2023 LLC )

Based in Las Vegas, the fresh-faced Uttapa started acting at 12. He shared his interest in performing with his parents, who enrolled him with acting coach Frank Parillo. “I remember telling my mom, ‘I just want to entertain. I just want to be relatable and make an impact on people.’ If you can impact one person, then it pretty much is worth it,” he says.

Eimbcke cast him solely based on his self-tape after a long search for the right actor to become Olmo, primarily in Los Angeles and New York.

Since shooting “Olmo” when he was 14, Uttapa has appeared in the latest season of the hit medical drama “The Pitt,” playing Grady Barnhill, who has an asthma attack, in two episodes. Still, playing Olmo remains the highlight of his short but burgeoning career.

“I’ve gotten some auditions here and there about Mexican American or Latino characters, but if I’m being honest, none of them really clicked to me as much as it did with Olmo. I really felt a connection with the character,” Uttapa notes.

That Eimbcke set “Olmo” in the ’70s — based on his memories of watching “Saturday Night Fever” as a child and being enamored by disco music — helped Uttapa connect with the character. At several points in their adventure, Olmo and Miguel break out their best dance moves.

His mother, Uttapa says, thinks of him as an “old soul,” given his eclectic taste in music, from Elvis Presley and Del Shannon to AC/DC and Led Zeppelin.

“I was already familiar with cumbia, because my mom would always teach me,” Uttapa says. “The disco dancing wasn’t really that hard for me because I grew up loving ’70s music, so I’d always dance in my room to it. And being able to show it on screen was really special.”

Eimbcke says he has no secret technique to obtain wonderful performances from his teen stars; the only strategy that works is to lean into fun. “Teenagers are very willing to play. They are willing to take risks,” the director adds. “And I always love combining two schools of acting: the professional and the nonprofessional.” The actors who play Olmo’s parents, Gustavo Sánchez Parra and Andrea Suárez Paz, are seasoned Mexican thespians.

And while Eimbcke may very well be the Mexican John Hughes, there are certainly uniquely Mexican, and perhaps unexpected, references that were foundational for him as an artist.

“I also grew up watching a lot of telenovelas. They were really formative for me, specifically, the telenovelas on the local Channel 2,” Eimbcke confesses. “I remember there was one I followed religiously called ‘Quinceañera,’ starring Thalia. I loved it.”

Rescue boats from both France and the UK took part in the operation to evacuate passengers from the stricken vessel.

More than 150 migrants travelling to the United Kingdom in a boat across the English Channel have been rescued after the vessel caught fire.

A major rescue operation was launched on Tuesday morning near the French port of Boulogne-sur-Mer, with both French and British authorities working to evacuate those on board, some of whom had jumped into the sea.

The local French maritime prefecture said five of the 157 people on board had requested rescue overnight and were evacuated. It said the remaining passengers refused assistance and the boat continued its journey towards the UK, until the engine caught fire and all those on board were rescued.

Since Andy Burnham became UK prime minister two weeks ago, more than 2,000 people have crossed the English Channel in small boats.

Immigration is an extremely divisive and hotly contested issue in the UK, prompting Burnham to pledge that he will be “relentless” in stopping people from reaching the country in small boats.

A person generally must be in the UK to lodge an asylum application, as current rules do not allow people to make asylum claims from overseas. Amnesty International has argued that this makes it “impossible” for people abroad to seek asylum in the UK.

The 1951 United Nations Refugee Convention, to which the UK is a signatory, establishes protections for people fleeing persecution and recognises that those seeking safety may have to use irregular routes.

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage commented on the incident in the English Channel in a post on X.

“We must put a stop to this. Our plan will save lives,” he said.

Farage’s party has pledged to abolish what is known as indefinite leave to remain (ILR) if it wins the next election, due to take place in 2029. ILR allows people to live and work in the UK without a time limit. Reform has also said it would rescind existing ILR grants.

DEVON is the only county with two coastlines – and it certainly has the impressive beaches to show for it.

Growing up in South Devon, I’ve spent more than my fair share of time enjoying its spectacular seaside – in particular along the English Riviera.

The Riviera spans 22 miles of pretty coastline along the South West Coast Path.

It has been hugely popular among holidaymakers ever since the Victorian era, thanks to its micro-climate.

The unusually warm weather means it is home to plenty of tropical plants and palm trees, giving it a Mediterranean feel.

In my 20 years living in the area, I’ve experienced all 25 stunning beaches across the three towns that feature on the Riviera – Torquay, Paignton and Brixham.

Each spot is different, with some being better for families while others are better for confident explorers.

As a local who has been to all of them, here’s my verdict on each…

25. Saltern Cove

Saltern Cove is a rocky, shingle beach that is my least favourite of all 25.

It’s rough underfoot, so I’d recommend taking beach shoes if you go in the water, and it’s best reached by kayak or paddle board.

The cove is a Special Site of Scientific Interest and as a result, is also a local nature reserve.

Near Goodrington Beach, you can head to the cove via Goodrington Sands or the South West Coast Path, and dogs are allowed all year-round.

24. Churston Cove

North of Brixham, Churston Cove is a quiet, shingle beach surrounded by dramatic cliffs.

This cove is popular among locals because it’s less well-known among tourists.

The water is particularly clear and calm compared to many of the other beaches.

I would say only venture to this spot if you are a keen hiker as the path is steep and uneven, but it does make for a scenic walk.

23. Watcombe Beach

If you want to see a beach with dramatic scenery, head to Watcombe Beach.

This secluded, quiet cove is surrounded by dramatic red cliffs scattered with towering trees.

The beach itself is a mixture of sand, shingle, and pebbles.

To get to the beach, your best bet is to park in the car park off Moor Lane and you will need to walk down a 500-metre, steep path.

22. Maidencombe Beach

For another dog-friendly spot, head to Maidencombe Beach in Torquay.

The beach is another place that features the county’s famous red sandstone cliffs, but is also a great spot to go rock pooling.

To get to the beach, you will need to head down a steep path and quite a few steps – so that is worth bearing in mind.

There is also a family-run cafe at the beach, where you can rent a paddleboard or kayak.

21. Oyster Cove

For another quiet spot, visit Oyster Cove in Paignton.

Popular with locals, to get to the beach you will have to head down a number of steps from the South West Coast Path above.

When the tide is low, loads of rockpools emerge to explore.

Your four-legged friend is allowed all year-round too.

20. Shoalstone Beach

Shoalstone Beach is another shingle beach that’s a 15-minute walk from Brixham’s main harbour.

The sea is quite rough here, but that’s no problem because Shoalstone seawater swimming pool is right next to the beach – the 53-metre tidal pool recently reopened following repairs.

There is a promenade to walk along and dogs are allowed year-round.

The Berry Head Hotel is a short walk away and perfect for a weekend stay, with rooms from £176.

19. Livermead Sands

Along the seafront from Torre Abbey Sands, heading towards Preston and Paignton, you willl find Livermead Sands.

It sits below a hotel by the same name and is a small red sand beach that completely disappears at high tide.

If you are staying at the hotel, there is direct access to the beach.

In the summer, make sure to catch the Red Arrows who fly over the beach.

18. Hollicombe Beach

Hollicombe Beach sits between the towns of Paignton and Torquay and is backed by red sandstone cliffs.

The quiet, sheltered beach features the famous red Devon sand and it’s quite long and thin, so you have to time your visit right to get the most of the space.

Wait until the tide washes out and suddenly a ton of rock pools will emerge, making it the best spot to go hunting for sea creatures.

Accessed by a steep, narrow slope, it’s good for older kids as it’s shallow water extends quite far out.

17. Man Sands

If you want to go to a secluded spot, head to Man Sands when on a hike from Sharkham Point.

The beach isn’t the most accessible, but the view is worth it when you get there.

And when the tide heads out, you will be able to explore a number of coves and rockpools.

It is a great spot for wildlife lovers as well, as behind the beach is a green area where birds live, and it is managed by the National Trust.

16. Beacon Cove

Growing up, I used to visit this beach a lot, tied in with a trip to the now- abandoned Living Coasts.

The beach sits between two cliffs and features a mix of pebbles and shingle.

The water is always very clear.

This spot even has the stamp of approval from a local celeb – Agatha Christie – who used to bathe here when it was a Ladies’ Bathing Cove.

15. Corbyn Beach

If Torre Abbey Sands is too busy for you, head to Corbyn Head Beach.

It is only a few minutes’ walk away from Torre Abbey Sands, but is much quieter and less busy.

Corbyn Head sits at the end of the beach, which is even believed to have inspired Baldy’s Head in Agatha Christie’s novel, Postern of Fate.

There’s a slipway from the road to the beach, making it super accessible, and you can grab a light bite from the cafe there too.

14. Fairy Cove

Located just behind Paignton Harbour, this quiet red-sand and pebble cove is a great spot for a peaceful escape.

The beach isn’t huge, but thanks to being tucked behind the harbour, you will only find locals there.

The sea here always tends to be a bit calmer as well, and has a nice gradual entry without getting deep quickly.

Not too far from the high street, it is the ideal spot to escape the hustle and bustle.

13. Meadfoot Beach

A short drive from Torquay town harbour, you’ll reach Meadfoot Beach, which boasts a mix of shingle and pebble.

This beach has very clean water, but is known for being a little rockier underfoot when paddling.

It is also quieter, and thanks to a small car park and parking along the road, it is the perfect place to head wild swimming or kayaking, as crowds don’t get in the way.

There are also some seasonal beach huts and a cafe.

Make sure to look out for Thatcher Rock as well, and if you have binoculars you will be able to spot local birdlife on the towering sea rock.

If you want to extend your stay in this slightly quieter area of the English Riviera, you can book into The Osbourne Hotel, which looks right out to sea and costs from only £68 per night.

12. Anstey’s Cove

Anstey’s Cove was once used as a smugglers’ hideout thanks to being so secluded.

And today that secluded nature remains, with a shingle beach that is dog-friendly year-round.

The beach itself is surrounded by towering cliffs and woodland, making it a nice sheltered spot, hidden from the main tourist beaches.

It is a great stop when hiking along the South West Coast Path and to see dramatic rock formations.

11. Oddicombe Beach

Tucked under towering cliffs near Babbacombe, just outside of Torquay, you’ll find Oddicombe Beach.

The beach is another great family spot and you can have the added fun of getting there via the Babbacombe Cliff Railway.

At the beach, there are beach huts to rent, as well as a shop and cafe.

It is worth noting parking is a distance away, so I would say this is not a suitable beach for families with pushchairs.

10. Breakwater Beach

Another one of my fave spots is Breakwater Beach in Brixham.

Known as one of the cleanest beaches on the English Riviera, you will always spot brave wild swimmers and scuba divers in training.

The seabed here is actually home to a rare seagrass as well as seahorses.

If you walk along the beach and breakwater, you almost certainly will spot some of the town’s resident seals.

I am yet to visit and not see them, and I have been well over 20 times.

The Grade II historic site spot also holds a lot of history, as it was used as an embarkation point for the D-Day landings, where 30,000 troops with ammunition were loaded onto vessels.

9. Fishcombe Cove

On the edge of Brixham, you will find Fishcombe Cove, which is a dog-friendly beach with a mix of sand and shingle.

It sits right on the South West Coast Path, so is a good point to stop and enjoy the views of the bay.

It is also popular with wild swimmers and paddleboarders.

It used to be an important site for the lime kiln industry, with workers burning limestone to make lime for building.

8. Paignton Sands

When people think of traditional seaside towns, the image they see is pretty much Paignton Sands.

The long-stretching red sand beach features shallow water ideal for kids, a pier with arcades, crazy golf, a cinema, and spots to grab a bite to eat.

There always tends to be sand here, so it is ideal for a long day in the sun.

And thanks to being a short walk away from Paignton high street and train station, there’s a whole host of other things to do, including a huge playpark – making it the best spot on the coast for entertainment.

7. Preston Sands

If you want to avoid the hustle and bustle of Paignton Sands, head to Preston Sands instead.

The beach actually connects up with Paignton Sands, but is much quieter.

Backed by a green, it is a great spot for an early evening walk with an ice cream in hand or an afternoon picnic.

In fact, the green was used during World War I to house seaplanes that used to operate day trips around Torbay.

6. Torre Abbey Sands

Not too far from Torquay town centre, Torre Abbey Sands sits next to a road where you’ll find a lot of parking.

The long, red sandy beach is ideal for families as it’s sheltered and close to a number of facilities including toilets, an ice cream shop, a chippy and even a Lounges restaurant.

At low tide, the beach is huge as well, meaning there is plenty of space for families.

If lucky, you might catch ‘The Sandyman’ – artist Geoffrey Ward – who creates large patterns on the beach using a rake.

5. Broadsands Beach

While you can park at the south end of the beach, I would recommend walking to the beach from Broadsands.

There, you will pass under a towering viaduct designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel.

Then it takes about five minutes along a lane to reach the beach, which has golden soft sand and isn’t as busy as other spots on the coast.

At either end of the beach, you’ll find rock pools, and then in the middle of the beach is a lifeguard, where you can also hire kayaks and paddleboards, and a cafe.

4. St Mary’s Bay

If you are looking for a spot that really transports you elsewhere, then head to St Mary’s Bay.

Here you will find soft sand, surrounded by cliffs covered in forest, making you feel as if you were somewhere more tropical.

The water itself is usually calm and clear as well.

You can head to the beach along the South West Coast Path too.

3. Babbacombe Beach

Next door to Oddicombe Beach, connected by a wooden coastal walkway, you will find Babbacombe Beach.

The beach is mostly pebbles, but is also sheltered, often making it a preferred spot for snorkelling and diving.

You might be able to see grey seals floating in the water too.

The serene spot even has its very own ‘inn on the beach’, with a pub.

Called the Cary Arms, the hotel sits right above the water and features a spa with an indoor pool that looks out to sea.

Rooms cost from £232 per night.

2. Goodrington Sands

No other beach in the UK can say it sits right by the UK’s largest outdoor waterpark.

But that isn’t all Goodrington Sands boasts.

With a Premier Inn right by the beach to extend your stay, there are plenty of things to do.

The beach is split into two – north and south beach.

With steam trains running along the north beach, this tends to be the more family-friendly spot.

It is also where you will find watersports activities, ice cream shops, chippies, and the waterpark.

The south end tends to be the dog-friendly walkers’ spot, backed by a huge green where you will also find a small lake with pedalos, karts and crazy golf.

For a bite to eat, head to Brewers Fayre Inn On The Quay.

1. Elberry Cove

Elberry Cove is just a short walk from Broadsands Beach and is my top pick.

A stunning pebble beach with clear waters that look like the Med and are always so inviting.

Every time I have visited, that moment where the beach comes into view makes me feel warm and fuzzy, and as if I have been picked up and dumped on some remote Greek island.

At the far end of the beach is a small bathhouse ruin that dates back to the 18th century.

It used to let Lord Churston, who built it, swim directly into the sea and even had an early version of the hot tub, which used to be heated by fire.

The cove is even believed to have connections to Agatha Christie, who grew up in the area and used it as a setting in her novel The ABC Murders.

It is also a great spot for watching nearby jet skis bounce over the sea.

Alone and engulfed in the darkness of a Madrid cinema, Javier Bardem watched Martin Scorsese’s 1991 psychological thriller “Cape Fear” after learning he’d be starring in an episodic reimagining of the crime saga for Apple TV — the series finale is now streaming.

He arranged the private screening to symbolically request Robert De Niro’s blessing to play the dangerously charismatic Max Cady, an ex-con parched for revenge against those who had a hand in his imprisonment. De Niro received an Oscar nomination for that role.

“It was my way of honoring the work he did back then and, at the same time, to detach myself from that performance and ask his permission to create my own take,” Bardem tells me in Spanish while sitting at a restaurant inside a Beverly Hills hotel.

His informal getup, a T-shirt and shorts, contrasts with the elegant environment primed for business lunches and ostentatious dinners. He exudes an easy-going air. A quintessential cool dad casually sipping on an iced Diet Coke as he shares anecdotes about his passion for acting.

Bardem, 57, agreed to play Cady because the version of the character that the show’s creator, Nick Antosca, envisioned was not only decidedly distinct from those embodied by De Niro and Robert Mitchum, the latter of whom starred in a 1962 film adaptation, but also tailored to him as a Spanish man.

Had it been a standard remake, Bardem would have passed. Still, like the films, the show also “drinks from the fountain” of John D. MacDonald’s 1957 novel “The Executioners.” What remains intact across all versions of Cady is a devilish sense of humor and a lack of self-importance. In any of his iterations, he has nothing to lose. That makes him lethal.

In “Cape Fear,” Bardem’s Max Cady is distinct from the versions of the character played by Robert De Niro and Robert Mitchum in earlier films.

(Apple)

The cerebral Cady that Bardem inhabits spent nearly two decades in prison convicted for his wife’s murder. When the discovery of new evidence results in Cady’s freedom, his new mission is to torment Anna (Amy Adams) and Tom Bowden (Patrick Wilson), the attorney and prosecutor on his case, who are now married and have two teenaged children.

Cady turns their lives into a trap of paranoia and, indeed, fear, while procuring plausible deniability to avoid consequences. It’s a malicious and relentless barrage of the mind.

“He’s a 2026 Max Cady. It’s a different way of approaching violation of privacy, and the intrusion of the characters’ psyches. The digital world has made everything very different now,” he explains. “We are hyper-aware of what is said and written about us. We are inundated with so much information that, at times, we can’t tell what is true and what is false.”

While in the 1991 film the audience is aware that De Niro’s Cady committed sexual crimes making him “an absolutely despicable character,” Bardem says this new version portrays a complex person who’s suffered at the hands of the American justice system.

“Here we understand that he was imprisoned for something he didn’t do. He may have done other things, but he says, ‘You turned me into this monster.’ It’s true. From that point on, a vengeful and destructive mindset developed,” Bardem says of his Cady.

The final episode shows the public unmasking of Cady, just before he learns he is responsible for his own son’s death. Bardem describes him as a “dying beast” who has lost control of the narrative that he so meticulously orchestrated to rebuild his image.

The character was written to account for the actor’s Spanish accent. This Cady grew up in Spain until he moved to North Carolina at 13 and learned English on the streets. Bardem worked with renowned dialect coach Tim Monich to infuse his speech with a hint of a Southern drawl, aware that his character didn’t have to sound like a native speaker.

“I’m not bilingual,” Bardem says. The statement is somewhat shocking, considering he’s worked in the U.S. for decades in numerous English-language productions.

“Acting in English is easier for me because the dialogue is set,” he says. “But when the time comes to improvise, I find it difficult. That still doesn’t come naturally to me in English.”

The Spanish actor says acting in English is easier for him but that improvising is more challenging.

(Erik Carter / For The Times)

There’s a freedom to working in English since words have less emotional significance, the Oscar-winner believes. “I can be more daring in English. I can say the words or verbalize the thoughts with much less inhibition, because I am not as emotionally attached,” he explains. “But when you speak in your mother tongue, your body tenses up a bit because you think, ‘I understand the full emotional spectrum of what I’m talking about.’ ”

At this stage in his lauded career, Bardem is interested only in roles that explore “contradictions with an underlying humanity.” He’s played one-dimensional parts in the past, but the cost of being away from his loved ones is too high.

The job has to measure up to the trade-off of precious time he’s surrendering.

The “Cape Fear” production structured the schedule for Bardem to work for two weeks followed by five or six days off, allowing him to travel back to his family, which includes his famous and just as in-demand wife, Penélope Cruz, and their two teenaged children, Leo, 15, and Luna, 13.

“Cape Fear” filmed in Atlanta and Savannah, Ga. That’s a long trip back to Spain but manageable and certainly worthwhile, he says. “One of the few things I ask for contractually is time with family, and that has always been respected; Penélope and I have always managed our projects in such a way that one of us is always present for our kids.”

Thanks to his award-winning turn as an unnerving killer in “No Country for Old Man” and the dapper cyberterrorist in “Skyfall,” audiences might associate Bardem with sinister characters (his Cady joins the ranks). And they are satisfying to portray, he says.

“It’s true that characters with that kind of darkness are very attractive to play,” he says. “The villain is always more compelling than the hero. The hero is perfectly upright. A good villain has many cracks, which is what makes him more human.”

Bardem on playing sinister characters like Max Cady: “The villain is always more compelling than the hero. The hero is perfectly upright. A good villain has many cracks, which is what makes him more human.”

(Apple)

In recent years, however, Bardem made a deliberate effort to work on projects that his children could watch, particularly when they were younger, namely the fantasy musical “Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile” and the live-action remake of “The Little Mermaid,” in which he played King Triton.

“I needed my children to see what I do,” he says. “They knew I’d leave home for two weeks and then come back, and I’d tell them about it and show them photos, but they hadn’t been able to watch any of my movies yet because they were geared more toward adults.”

Cruz and Bardem have always encouraged their children’s creative pursuits. It wouldn’t surprise them if they eventually pursue a life in the arts. “I don’t see them becoming scientists or lawyers, which makes sense. I don’t know if they will become ‘nepo babies’ or not, but we are conscious that children always feed on what their parents do,” Bardem says.

Every time either Bardem or Cruz gets an offer for a new role, the couple discuss it and then bring their kids into the conversation. It’s important, Bardem believes, that Leo and Luna know how fulfilling acting is for both of their parents.

“They know we feel immense gratitude for being able to make a living from our passion. And they understand that the way we try to live up to that gift is by doing our absolute best and giving it the full attention it deserves,” he says.

When they were younger, the kids weren’t interested in seeing their parents on screen, but that’s changed. “They have seen ‘The Invite’ three times. They love it. And they’ve watched ‘Volver’ and ‘Bandidas,’” he says. “They’ve watched me in ‘F1,’ and Leo is watching ‘Cape Fear.’ ”

In June, Bardem became part of Hollywood history when his hands and footprints were added to the entrance of TCL Chinese Theatre. The ceremony included directors Michael Mann and Denis Villeneuve and producer Jerry Bruckheimer.

“I missed my mother so much at that moment because there are so many footprints of classic actors and actresses there. I imagine my mother seeing my hands and feet next to Gary Cooper, who was one of the loves of her life,” he says.

In June, Bardem’s hands and footprints were added to the entrance of TCL Chinese Theatre: “I missed my mother so much at that moment because there are so many footprints of classic actors and actresses there.”

(Erik Carter / For The Times)

It felt surreal, Bardem says, to have Mann present at the event. They worked together on “Collateral” over two decades ago. “I was crazy about ‘Miami Vice’ in the ’80s,” Bardem says. The suit he wore in the photo shoot for this piece, he adds, reminded him of that emblematic series and film.

Bardem’s latest collaboration with Villeneuve, “Dune: Part Three” hits theaters in December. He recalls the joy of shooting the film’s opening sequence, a battle where the cast was covered in mud. It reminded him of childhood play. “Denis would laugh and say to me, ‘But why are you laughing?’ And I’d say, ‘This is what I used to do in the schoolyard, but now it’s for real. Now I look to my right, and I have 50 guys under my command,’ ” he says.

“I was lucky enough to shoot some scenes with Timothée [Chalamet]. I saw him playing a Paul who is very different from the Paul in the second film,” Bardem continues. “Years have passed, and Paul is now wielding power and is a victim of that power.”

Outspoken about the ongoing plight of Palestinians, Bardem wishes more people could apply the lessons they mine from fiction they consume to the world in turmoil.

“We root for the rebels in ‘Star Wars’ and want them to defeat Darth Vader, or we side with the Fremen in ‘Dune.’ We always take sides in fiction. Yet, when we witness oppression, abuse and the violation of the most fundamental rights by an oppressor in real life, we seem to struggle to stand with the oppressed,” Bardem explains. “That cannot be.”

Even while attending matches at the recent World Cup, where Spain won the title, the actor advocated for an end to the carnage. A viral video shows him engaging with a Palestinian man at a match. “Existence is resistance,” Bardem tells him. On social media he’s shared images of Lamine Yamal, one of his national team’s stars, waving the Palestinian flag.

“The impunity Israel enjoys regarding these crimes, both legally and in terms of international support, creates a profound sense of powerlessness,” he says.

Bardem admits he’s been asked, whether directly or indirectly, to tone down his vocal support. But he doesn’t fear backlash. On the contrary, he’s never felt more support from everyday people who share his mindset.

“If I’m so privileged to have a good life where I work doing what I love and can provide my family with stability and security, how could I not use that privilege to denounce those things that I think are wrong?”

The Trump administration wants to make sure that the Mexican train crews who haul freight over the border can understand key safety information in English and that the common practice of using foreign crews to cross into America doesn’t threaten U.S. jobs.

Two major rail unions praised the proposed rule announced Friday that would also strengthen the standards for certifying that crews can safely operate a train.

The government had concerns after inspecting two Texas rail yards near the border last fall on the two railroads directly affected by these restrictions on Mexican crews — Union Pacific and Canadian Pacific Kansas City, or CPKC. Union Pacific didn’t immediately respond but CPKC and the Assn. of American Railroads trade group declined to comment while they study the rule.

The Federal Railroad Administration sent letters to both CPKC and Union Pacific in December after inspections found that train crews often had trouble understanding English during focused inspections. The government urged those railroads to reexamine their practices and make sure that Mexican crews can speak English and don’t operate a train more than 10 miles inside the United States.

Last fall, federal inspectors found numerous problems in Union Pacific’s Eagle Pass rail yard and CPKC’s facility in Laredo where train crews were having a hard time understanding English-language operating bulletins and U.S. regulations. Information about hazardous materials and emergency responses are required to be in English.

Both Union Pacific and CPKC have pledged to make sure they were following the existing rules, including that the Mexican crews do not travel more than 10 miles into the United States. But now the federal government wants to strengthen the rules “because railroad crews must be able to communicate fully and accurately when crossing into the United States, most notably with dispatchers and emergency responders during a crisis, as a safety-critical function.”

This rail safety effort aligns closely with the Transportation Department’s efforts to ensure that truck drivers can understand English, so they can read road signs and warnings and communicate with first responders after an accident or during an inspection. The government has tried to withhold millions of dollars in highway funding from New York and California because it isn’t satisfied with the steps those states have taken to make sure the commercial driver’s licenses they issue are valid.

Mark Wallace, the national president of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen union, has been raising concerns about this practice of using Mexican train crews for several years because of safety, security and job concerns.

The union has said that the handoffs used to happen right at the border, but now Union Pacific and CPKC routinely ask Mexican crews to bring trains several miles over the border to one of their rail yards where the crew switches can be done more safely. But the firm 10-mile restriction in this rule will prevent the railroads from expanding this practice to rail yards farther into the United States. The union said Union Pacific was considering this type of expansion in New Mexico.

Wallace said the language barrier would pose a hazard in the event of issues such as a derailment.

But the railroads have said that this practice of using Mexican train crews to bring the trains into rail yards in America was developed in 2018 with the approval of the first Trump administration to address smuggling concerns. When trains are stopped at the border, smugglers often try to conceal drugs or other contraband aboard them and immigrants might jump aboard to get into the United States.

It is also routine for Canadian crews to bring trains a few miles over the northern border with the United States before handing off to American crews.

The SMART-TD union that represents conductors and other rail workers also said the provisions of the rule that will prohibit train crews from using a system that’s similar to cruise control when they take their certification tests will help ensure they can operate a train safely.

“Railroad certifications should represent proven ability, not simply possession of a certificate,” said Jared Cassity, who is SMART-TD’s top safety expert. “When lives are on the line, the FRA must know that an engineer can safely operate a train, not just supervise a computer doing it.”

Funk writes for the Associated Press.

A MULTI-MILLION pound attraction is set to open in the UK – taking over an abandoned ski resort.

Around a mile from the city centre, Sheffield Ski Village closed over a decade ago and has been left abandoned since.

Now, under new plans the ski village will be transformed into a £20million attraction with a luge ride, a family playground and future plans for a zip line and surfing experience.

Located at Parkwood Springs, the first phase would include building a gravity-fed downhill karting attraction, also known as a luge.

This phase would also include a playground, a spot to grab a drink or bite to eat and an indoor attraction called ‘Beat the Storm’ – though details about what this is are yet to be revealed.

Later phases would then focus on opening a zipline and a surfing experience, as well as potentially reopening the dry slopes.

Read more on travel inspo

CHEAP BREAKS

UK’s best 100 cheap stays – our pick of the top hotels, holiday parks and pubs

GO ON

All the little-known websites for cheap or FREE tickets to gigs, theatre & festivals

Skyline Enterprises – the New Zealand-based adventure tourism company behind the attraction – state on a website dedicated to the project that it would be “one of the city’s most exciting new leisure destinations”.

It adds: “Whether you want to ride down the hillside, explore the trails, grab a bite to eat, or simply see your city from a brand-new angle, Skyline Sheffield will have something for everyone.”

The ski village opened back in 1998 and used to be a training base for British Winter Olympians.

However, it has been closed since 2012 after a fire destroyed most of the village.

And over the years there have been plans to transform it into an outdoor activity centre.

However, this never materialised and the current plans to open it as an attraction have been discussed over the past decade.

A planning application is expected to be submitted later this year.

Geoff McDonald, CEO of Skyline Enterprises, said: “We know that Parkwood Springs has been a challenging site to bring forward over the years, but with strong support from Sheffield City Council and an experienced project team on board, the pieces are now in place to deliver something truly special for the city.”

Councillor Fran Belbin, Leader of Sheffield City Council, said: “Our plans to transform Parkwood Springs into a vibrant and thriving area of the city are continuing to move forward, and Skyline’s plans for the old Ski Village site remain a focal point of the work we are doing.

“The site has had many false starts over the years, but I am now delighted to see the latest proposed details for their facility.”

A NEW ferry linking a quirky English seaside town with France is setting sail in just a few weeks.

The crossing will take around eight hours with each sailing limited to 12 passengers.

SailLink has teamed up with award-winning sailor Michel Desjoyeaux, who will personally skipper each journey from Shoreham to Fécamp, Normandy.

Mr Desjoyeaux, the only sailor in history to have won the Vendée Globe, a round-the-world sailing race, twice, built the wind-powered catamran from parts of other race boats that had already sailed round the world.

He hopes to prove that regular, wind–powered crossings can become a practical alternative to traditional cross-Channel ferries.

The pilot project will run from September 8-13 .

MAKE IT RAIN

Incredible moment planes scoop water from busy lake to fight French wildfires

FERRY SCARY

Shocking moment huge waves repeatedly slam packed ferry against pier

Billed as a fishing port and religious pilgrimage site, Fécamp is renowned for its striking chalk cliffs and Benedictine liqueur.

The sailing itself retraces the historic voyage of Charles II, who reached Fécamp from Shoreham in 1651.

Ticket prices start from £220 for a one-way trip, with return journeys starting from £440.

Tom Willis, chief executive at Shoreham Port, said: “We are delighted to see Shoreham Port working with SailLink and the Port of Fécamp to offer this unique cross-Channel crossing experience.

“As global warming challenges the way we travel, wind propulsion offers a compelling alternative.”

Tickets for the pilot project go on sale on August 1.

DEVON has lots of beautiful seaside towns, but when it comes to finding one that is more peaceful than most, it can feel tricky.

Sidmouth in East Devon is home to one of the most beautiful beaches in the UK and, surprisingly, has no arcades or rides.

And soon the spot will be getting a £21million glow-up.

The multi-million pound project will focus on protecting Sidmouth’s seafront.

There will be new offshore breakwaters, a 120 metre beach groyne, flood gates and a number of repairs to existing sea walls.

Ultimately, the upgrades will help to not only protect the seafront, but homes and businesses in the area too.

Read more on travel inspo

CHEAP BREAKS

UK’s best 100 cheap stays – our pick of the top hotels, holiday parks and pubs

SO FLY

Our fave beach hols under 5 hours from UK with Caribbean dupes & £2 bottles of wine

When visiting the Victorian seaside town, make sure to head to the Blue Flag-awarded beach, which is known for being one of the cleanest beaches in the UK.

Have a look at the cliffs as well, which form part of England‘s only natural UNESCO World Heritage Site.

As for the town, instead of amusement arcades, loud sports bars and dodgy street food vendors, you’ll find galleries, antiques shops, independent boutiques and tearooms.

Travel reporter Cyann Fielding has previously visited the town and said: “Growing up, I always associated Sidmouth with ‘that place that had donkeys’.

“This is due to Sidmouth being home to the free-to-visit Donkey Sanctuary that has over 100 donkeys that they have improved the lives of.

“Away from the sanctuary, I also visited the beach on occasions growing up.

“Sidmouth is pretty, but I often think people also forget how impressive it is with the dramatic cliffs dating back 200million years.

“They are part of the Jurassic Coast – which is made of vibrant reed sandstone cliffs from the Triassic period.

“They are a wonder to see and within the area, there are many places to go and things to do where families can learn more about the Jurassic Coast.”

A HISTORIC UK train station has partially reopened after a massive fire forced its closure last week.

Paignton Station in Devon sits in the heart of the town centre and acts as a gateway to one of the three towns on the English Rivera – a popular summer family holiday spot.

Last week, a fire broke out at the station causing “significant damage”.

Three boys aged 13, 15 and 16 were arrested on suspicion of arson.

Despite the damages, Great Western Railway and Network Rail have confirmed that services returned to the station from 8am.

Services to resume include between Paignton and Newton Abbot.

Read more on travel inspo

GO ON

All the little-known websites for cheap or FREE tickets to gigs, theatre & festivals

SO FLY

Our fave beach hols under 5 hours from UK with Caribbean dupes & £2 bottles of wine

However, due to a damaged platform the station cannot currently host nine carriage trains, which provide direct services between the town and London Paddington.

If you are due to travel to London, you’ll need to head to Newton Abbot or Exeter St Davids instead, for the time being.

There are also currently temporary entrances and exits at the station, as well as temporary ticketing facilities.

And the car park remains closed.

According to the BBC, Daniel Parkes from Network Rail said that they are working to restore “services as swiftly and as safely as possible”.

He added that “work to fully rebuild parts of the station will continue for some time”.

DUST down your red frock for the Most Wuthering Heights Day Ever annual celebrations today.

The global flashmob sees Kate Bush fans recreate the video from the 1978 hit, in which the scarlet-clad singer pranced across idyllic countryside.

The biggest celebrations include one in Haworth, West Yorks, close to the historic Bronte parsonage at Penistone Hill, and at the Harbour Arm promenade in Folkestone.

Kate wrote her song, aged 18, after watching a TV adaptation of the Emily Bronte novel – and earlier this year, Wuthering Heights’ latest movie incarnation saw Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi cast as sweethearts Cathy and Heathcliff.

Yorkshire’s breathtaking moors were stars, too, and on my visit I found them to be every bit as barren and mysterious as in the film – undulating fells, carpets of heather and bubbling streams as far as the eye could see.

With only the odd pheasant for company, I’d rarely been anywhere so remote.

HOLI-PAY

Will I get a refund if my Spain or France holiday is cancelled due to wildfires?

OO ARR!

The massive new pirate-themed waterpark open in Spain & you can stay for £34 each

Despite the changeable weather – one minute I’d be battered by gusts that pierced like kitchen knives, the next smothered in mist then bathed in sunshine – I instantly fell head over heels in love with the moors.

Emily Bronte and her sisters Charlotte and Anne grew to adore these wilds, right on their doorstep.

I hiked to ruined farmstead called Top Withens, said to have inspired Wuthering Heights the fictional home of Cathy.

A further trek then took me to the Bronte Waterfall, Bronte Bridge, and Bronte Chair rock (in the shape of a seat), which were all places close to the sisters’ hearts.

Back in Haworth, the limestone cottages and cobbled main street lined with gift shops, cafes and pubs had an old-fashioned charm.

At the sisters’ old home, now the Bronte Parsonage Museum, I saw the simple wooden table where they used to write.

My base was the splendid Holdsworth House Hotel on the edge of Halifax.

Now Grade II-listed, it oozed character, with oak beams and roaring fires.

Reminders of its historic stature abounded, from a stone Cross of Malta – an emblem of ancient religious military order The Knights Hospitaller – to cupboards once used for 18th-century wigs.

Scenes from TV dramas Happy Valley and Last Tango In Halifax were filmed here, while Jacob Elordi, Margot Robbie, Ewan McGregor and James Norton have all stayed.

When I visited, turtle and duckling were no longer on the menu. Instead, I could tuck into steak tartare, venison sausages and Cheddar and leek-filled pasta in a sweetcorn chowder.

And the hotel’s newly opened spa was the perfect place to relax, with fabulous treatments on offer.

I ended my adventure – It full of nostalgia, just like the best Bronte novels – with a dreamy steam-train ride on the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway.

IF you love both quaint English pubs and period films, then a stay at the Pilsley Inn is a must.

Here is everything you need to know about a stay at the pub in Derbyshire.

Where is the Pilsley Inn?

In a sleepy Peak District village, this charming country pub and hotel is on the Duke of Devonshire’s Chatsworth Estate with its stunning house and 1,000 acres of woods and parkland just a five-minute drive away.

What is the hotel like?

Known as The Devonshire Arms until a year ago, the hotel has been renamed with the addition of five new barn conversion rooms, designed by Lady Burlington.

Staff were warm, friendly and helpful, offering us a selection of nearby walks to make the most of the stunning Derbyshire countryside.

Dogs are welcome in the pub and to stay in the farmhouse and family rooms and there is free on-site parking.

Read more on hotel reviews

SUPER SM-ART

Artist Residence, Bristol hotel review

INN AND OUT

The Holiday Inn, Cambridge hotel review

What are the rooms like?

There are 18 individually designed bedrooms either in the main inn or the converted adjoining barn and farmhouse.

We stayed in one of the farmhouse rooms.

Most of these rustic yet stylish spaces feature high four-poster beds, rich fabrics and plush bathrooms and come with a flatscreen TV, fridge and hot drink facilities and wifi, plus Chatsworth biscuits and toiletries.

Ground floor rooms also have an outside area to sit and soak up the countryside views.

The Chatsworth Experience package, from £124pp, includes overnight stay, dinner and breakfast along with tickets to Chatsworth House.

See chatsworthescapes.co.uk/pilsleyinn.

What is there to eat and drink?

Definitely eat here – the cosy restaurant, with tables around the bar area, serves classic British fare with food locally sourced from the Chatsworth Estate.

Sat near a roaring fire, we enjoyed carrot and coconut soup, duck breast with sweet potato croquettes and cherry sauce and Derbyshire beef and ale pie, all of which was delicious and well presented.

For breakfast, which is served in the restaurant, there are a range of continental or cooked options.

What else is there?

Stunning Chatsworth House, famously used as a location for the 2005 Pride And Prejudice movie, is close by and well worth a visit.

From May to October, The Pilsley Inn offers a Chatsworth Experience package that includes a tour of the house, which was a big highlight of our visit as well as the garden, parkland and farmyard with free parking.

Is it family friendly?

Find designated Family Rooms on the ground floor with bunk beds for 2 children and a children’s menu that even fussy kids will love – definitely ticks the boxes for a family friendly stay.

Is there access for guests with disabilities?

There are Farmhouse Rooms located on the ground floor and the Hilltop room has a walk-in shower making it easily accessible.

The Chatsworth Escapes team are also happy to talk through any specific needs. 

A NEW 34-mile coastal path linking two pretty English villages has opened today.

It will give hikers access to previously unwalkable routes and forms part of a huge coastal path project.

A major new 34-mile section of the King Charles III England Coast Path has officially opened today, Thursday July 23.

Running between Foxfield and Greenodd, the opening of the path is the latest milestone in completing the 200-mile coastal stretch from Gretna to Silverdale, on the Lancashire border.

The new opening now brings the grand total of walkable Coast Path in the North West to around 208 miles.

Those looking to walk the path will be treated to charming coastal communities, nature reserves and historic industrial landscapes.

COAST TO COAST

Fascinating UK hol spot with 2 coasts, secret seaside pools & hidden beaches

IN DEMAND

‘Old school’ seaside town with cheap hotels set to be popular this summer

When fully complete, the King Charles III England Coast Path will become a 2,700-mile stretch around the entire English coast.

The National Trail route is set to be the longest managed coastal walking route in the world.

From today, walkers can now explore the new section of path located on the eastern edge of the Furness Peninsula.

The new section of path is a key milestone in the delivery of the 70-mile stretch of coastal route from Silecroft to Silverdale.

Winding through a number of coastal communities, visitors will pass by Kirkby-in-Furness, Askam-in-Furness, Barrow-in-Furness, Bardsea and Ulverston, before crossing the Leven Estuary.

The route also offers views of Morecambe Bay and passes the end of the Ulverston Canal.

Walkers can also spot a number of distinctive slag banks, sand dunes and an abundance of wildlife along the path.

The delivery of the new path will move visitors away from previously unavoidable shores, leading to a greater discovery of the area’s coastal landscape.

Natural England deputy director for Cumbria, Claire Argent, said: “The Furness Peninsula is one of those places that genuinely takes your breath away, whether you’re watching the light change across Morecambe Bay, listening for curlews over the estuary, or discovering the layers of history tucked into these coastal communities.

“This new stretch of the King Charles III England Coast Path gives people the chance to experience all of that on foot, safely, sustainably and responsibly, whilst learning about and caring for our wonderful landscapes and nature.

“We’re proud to see this route taking shape and look forward to completing the full 200-mile Cumbrian stretch.”

The path is located on a mix of existing public rights of way, permissive access routes and new access.

Councillor Adrian Waite said the project was a “huge job” which required “securing contracts and permissions, specifying work, getting quotes, managing the contractors and liaising with landowners”.

The cabinet member for Environmental Services and Transport at Westmorland and Furness Council said the teams had put in “more than 300 signs and waymark posts, 10 sets of steps, 23 bridges, around 60 gates” and five kilometres of fencing and surfacing.

Anyone looking to grab their hiking boots and try out the coastal path is reminded to follow the Countryside and Coastal codes when walking the route.

Travellers are also warned to exercise caution around Morecambe Bay, as fast-moving tides and quicksands in the area could be dangerous when venturing onto sands and saltmarshes without an experienced guide.

A CLOSED theme park set to become a new housing development will reopen for one last hurrah.

Camelot Theme Park in Chorley was once a beloved theme park for families but closed back in September 2012.

Now, a huge event has been announced for the abandoned park before it disappears for good.

Scare City – who are responsible for some of the best scare events in the UK – are planning to open its “largest, darkest and most psychologically brutal evolution to date” at the park.

As part of the experience, visitors will be able to see areas never seen by the public before, including a never-used entrance.

The event will be spread across nine different zones, of which many of the themes are yet to be announced.

Read more on travel inspo

SO FLY

Our fave beach hols under 5 hours from UK with Caribbean dupes & £2 bottles of wine

ALL IN

I found the best value all inclusive London hotel… just £55pp with free food & booze

One zone confirmed is CarniValley, which will feature outcasts and a carnival-like atmosphere, albeit more creepy.

However, Scare City has confirmed that it will be the “most intense event yet”.

Adding on its website that: “What was once a kingdom of rides and laughter has become a sprawling nightmare of darkness, fear, and chaos.”

There will be towering outdoor sets, different pathways to the scare zones, live actors – and they will all be in the decaying former attractions of Camelot.

Scare City has been running at Camelot for the past five years, but this will be the last year before the abandoned theme park is turned into a large housing estate.

The event will run from September 26 to November 7.

FAMILIES were left disappointed as the main attraction at a seaside town was forced to close significantly sooner than expected.

A lengthy farewell message was issued to the community, thanking locals for their support.

Eastbourne beach has said goodbye to the popular Sky Club Wheel following the announcement it was closing for good.

The attraction was only opened to the public in April 2025 and following the announcement of its closure, it was intended to be operational until September 6.

However, the ride’s final day has already passed, July 20, almost seven weeks earlier than intended.

Eastbourne Council has previously confirmed the attraction was closing due to “commercial considerations.”

RACE YOU

Real-life Mario Kart attraction that lets you race your friends to open in UK city

IN DEMAND

‘Old school’ seaside town with cheap hotels set to be popular this summer

A spokesperson for Sky Club Wheel said: “It is with a heavy heart that we announce that Sky Club Eastbourne has now closed permanently.

“We’d like to sincerely apologise to everyone that was hoping to visit us again before the end of the season. Unfortunately, we had to close earlier than expected.

“To everyone who has visited us over the years – thank you. Whether you rode with family, friends, or simply came to enjoy the incredible views, you’ve helped create so many special memories, and we’re honoured to have been a part of them.

“The support we’ve received from local residents, visitors, businesses and our amazing team has meant more than words can say.

“We are incredibly grateful for every ticket purchased, every recommendation and every smile shared with us.

“Although this chapter has come to an end, the memories we’ve made in Eastbourne will stay with us forever.

“From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for all your support over the years. We wish the wonderful town of Eastbourne all the very best for the future.”

With traditional number nines seemingly becoming a dying breed, clubs are turning to other positions to provide the goal threat.

That makes the midfielder, particularly one with a bit of creativity who can unlock defences, a sought-after player.

England seem to have produced a number of players who fit that bill within a similar time period – although Tottenham have spent £185m on midfield duo Sandro Tonali of Italy and Portugal’s Matheus Fernandes this summer.

With the Premier League’s home grown rule in force – requiring a minimum of eight places in a club’s 25-strong squad are set aside for players produced in England or Wales – it is also expected that clubs pay a premium price for players who have come through Football Association academies.

And with Anderson and Rogers securing their moves, could Scott and Wharton be next?

Bournemouth have already rejected a £64m bid from Chelsea for midfielder Scott as they strive to hold on to the 22-year-old, who enjoyed an impressive season on the south coast, particularly from January onwards.

Scott was selected in his first England squad last November and was then called into Thomas Tuchel’s extended pre-World Cup training camp in Florida but is yet make an appearance at senior international level.

Crystal Palace midfielder Wharton has also long been a coveted player, with Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester City all previously registering interest.

Both aged just 22, the pair highlight the plethora of English talent and potential currently available in that position.

While they may not be the best in the world right now, they are part of a group of players in their early 20s who are nearing their prime and will therefore only move clubs for peak prices.