gateway

ONE town in Wiltshire has been named one of the best places to live in the UK – and it was once very popular with royalty.

Malmesbury in Wiltshire sits just outside of the Cotswolds border with a pretty high street, stone cottages and it is home to what is considered England‘s oldest hotel.

The Times named Malmesbury one of the best places to live in the UK, and the best in the Southwest.

It said: “If the high street is a good indicator of the health of a town, then historic Malmesbury should be feeling decidedly chipper.“

Malmesbury is on the very edge of the Cotswolds, sometimes even known as the ‘southern gateway’ to the region.

It’s also nicknamed Queen of Hilltop Towns because it sits around 302 feet above sea level.

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It has 300 listed buildings with pretty stone cottages, like you find in the neighbouring Cotswolds, and lots sit alongside the River Avon.

The town is one of the oldest boroughs in England – it was given the status in around the year 880 AD by Alfred the Great.

Malmesbury was also a favourite location of the very first King of England, Athelstan.

When he ruled, he even made himself King of all England and named Malmesbury the nation’s very first capital in around 925 AD.

King Athelstan chose to be buried within the grounds of the historic Malmesbury Abbey which still stands today.

Now, Malmesbury is a classic English market town, but with the charm of the Cotswolds.

It has lots of independent shops on the high street, along with farmers’ markets.

The Flying Monk Café & Taproom is popular for everything from craft beer to a hearty breakfast.

In August, Malmesbury holds its own carnival and festival where there are lots of pop up stalls as well as parades and music.

Near the river is The Old Bell Hotel which is rumoured to be England’s oldest hotel.

The Grade I-listed spot has been welcoming guests since 1220, where it used to be lodgings for monks.

Now, it has 34 rooms that cater to everyone from single travellers to families, and a few suites too

One reported who spent a night at The Old Bell Hotel called it the “perfect spot for some post-party pampering this summer.”

They added: “Our room was a delight, dominated by a vast, comfy bed covered in a rainbow of soft throws and cushions, while a menagerie of monkeys and peacocks danced across the wallpaper.

“The helpful team at The Old Bell can arrange a guided tour of the King’s gardens in nearby Highgrove House, a visit to Westonbirt Arboretum or paddleboarding at Cotswold Water Park.

“However, it’s just as nice to potter around Malmesbury.”

If you want to explore out of the town, a 22-minute drive away from Malmesbury is Cotswold Country Park and the UK’s biggest inland beach.

Along with swimming, there’s an AquaVenture inflatable course and boat hire.

On land there is more to do with mini golf, playgrounds and lake walks.

It opens for the new season on March 27, 2026.

The town is also close to Castle Combe Race Circuit, Lake 32 Outdoor Centre and Brinkworth Golf Course.

For more on the Cotswolds, here’s how to visit on a budget and how to find the lesser-visited villages.

And Deputy Travel Editor Kara Godfrey reveals her favourite Cotswold town with old-school sweet shop and riverside games.

A FERRY route connecting the UK to Scandinavia could return after almost 20 years.

Brits could get a direct link to the ‘Gateway to the Fjords’ without setting foot on a plane.

There are talks of restarting a ferry route that could link Newcastle to Bergen in Norway for the first time in 18 years.

Historically, this route existed for over 140 years, and is being looked into being brought back by Newcastle City Council.

DFDS Seaways was the last company to operate the service – but this ended 18 years ago on September 1, 2008.

The crossing was usually overnight and the sailing lasted up to 22 hours – depending whether or not it stopped at Stavanger.

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In 2022 Bergen Cruise Line revealed that it was hoping to re-introduce a ferry service between Newcastle, Stavanger and Bergen starting this year.

The Newcastle City Council leader Karen Kilgour said in January of this year that she would “love to see the return of the ferry.”

The service was first introduced in 1890, just two weeks before World War Two.

It continued on and off for over 140 years which resulted in a special relationship forming between the two cities with Bergen even providing Newcastle with a Christmas tree each year.

This tradition continued right up until 2022 – the giving of a Christmas tree stopped, but the cities’ mayors now swap baubles each festive season.

Talks about bringing back the ferry route are still in the works.

Despite a journey across the seas not being available, Jet2 has direct flights from Newcastle to Bergen, taking just one hour and 25 minutes.

One-way flights in April with Jet2 start from £69.

Sun writer Emily-Jane Heap visited the Norwegian city to explore its natural wonders and pretty harbour.

She said: “If you take a stroll around the cobbled streets you will find an array of quirky gift shops, cafes and bars, as well as the vibrant Bryggen Nightclub.

“And the one-day Norway In A Nutshell tour is a must (£192pp, see fjordtours.com), showcasing the best of this country’s breathtaking nature.

“The carefully curated experience begins early, taking you straight from the city centre through more than 60 miles of wild mountain terrain on the Bergen Railway.”

When it comes to eating, Emily says to head to the Skyskraperen restaurant at the top of Mount Ulriken.

Here you can try ‘traditional Nordic food surrounded by nature’ – like grilled trout or a duo of beef.

There’s plenty of places to stop for a drink too – grab a pint of locally brewed lager from Ægir at the Flåmsbrygga Hotel.

For more, here are the beautiful destinations you can get to from the UK without flying including the ‘British Fjords’ & Caribbean-like islands.

And here’s another ferry route that could become a reality this year connecting Scotland to Europe.

It’s the perfect place if you like a combination of adventures and chilling out, taking in the gorgeous scenery.

A historic market town in the UK is definitely worth a visit this spring, as there’s so much to see and do there. It’s ideal for adventure seekers, and those who just want to walk around, eat good food and chill out.

Tregaron is one of Wales’s oldest market towns. It’s home to independent retailers, coffee shops, and the elegant Y Talbot, a grade II-listed hotel, pub, and restaurant, positioned right in the town square’s centre.

From here, you can embark on an exhilarating road trip along a former drover’s track that showcases hairpin turns through wild terrain.

The Abergwesyn Pass is a 20-mile single-track route stretching from Llanwrtyd Wells to Tregaron. Along this isolated road, you’ll encounter a notorious stretch called “The Devil’s Staircase”, reports Wales Online.

This appropriately named portion of the Abergwesyn Pass features hairpin curves and sharp climbs that aren’t suited to anxious motorists.

For adventurous drivers, you’ll love tackling one of Wales’ most isolated countryside regions, encountering sheep, gnarled trees and rocky formations along the way. It’s extremely steep, reaching a maximum gradient of 20.1%, and cuts through thick woodland towards miles of expansive, barren valleys, providing a descent that will push your brakes to their absolute limits.

Drive carefully and enjoy the scenery as you meander through the wilderness of the Cambrian Mountains, where you could potentially encounter nobody throughout your entire journey. You can also tackle this route by bicycle if your legs are ready for the test.

As well as the Abergwesyn Pass, Soar y Mynydd, Wales’ most isolated chapel, is worth the detour. This modest, whitewashed church was constructed in 1822 to minister to an extremely dispersed community of farmers.

Wandering through this tranquil location, you could easily assume the chapel has been deserted for years. Actually, visiting preachers travel from across Wales to hold services in Welsh.

It’s a serene spot for a picnic, as there’s often nobody else there.

Llyn Brianne Reservoir also deserves a stop to witness an enormous dam. You might be surprised to learn that this striking stone-built dam is Britain’s tallest, rising 91 metres (300 ft) above the River Tywi.

Containing an incredible 64 million cubic metres of water at almost 300 metres (990 ft) above sea level is a remarkable engineering achievement. Building work began in October 1968, with the dam constructed from crushed rock, larger stone, and clay sourced from the surrounding area.

After dark, it becomes a stargazing hotspot in the Cambrian Mountains, making it an excellent location for astrophotography.

Further south, beyond Llyn Brianne reservoir, lies the amazing RSPB Gwenffrwd-Dinas reserve. The reserve encompasses vital habitats of oak woodland, wet alder woodland, and scrubland, all defined by heavy rainfall and swift-flowing rivers.

These conditions are ideal for woodland birds, whilst also offering the perfect environment for significant lichens and bryophytes. Whether you begin or finish the route at Tregaron, you should make time to discover this small Welsh-speaking town. Here, you’ll discover a livestock market, the Tregaron Red Kite Centre and Museum, and locally sourced food and cask ales in a beautifully converted 16th-century Welsh inn.

Y Talbot is an independently owned hotel and Michelin Guide-listed restaurant with 2 AA Rosettes. This charming boutique hotel radiates a ‘cosy country inn’ atmosphere with its slate floors and inglenooks.

The location is said to be the final resting place of a circus elephant which perished in 1848 and lies beneath what is currently Y Talbot’s beer garden.

The establishment, run by head chef Dafydd, who trained under Marco Pierre White, showcases regional ingredients, including lamb, beef, and cheeses sourced from the Teifi Valley, fish from Milford Haven, and shellfish from Cardigan Bay.

Close by, you’ll also discover a neglected Welsh abbey where princes lie buried. Strata Florida Abbey near Tregaron is a remarkable location in Wales where history, royalty, and spirituality meet.

Established in 1201 by white-robed Cistercian monks, this hallowed ground was formerly among medieval Wales’s most vital religious and cultural hubs.

It also serves as the burial site of numerous Welsh princes, including the renowned Llywelyn the Great, who famously convened a council here to guarantee his son Dafydd’s position as the legitimate successor to the Welsh throne.

The Abbey was established as a major institution serving the indigenous population of Wales and Western Christianity through its affiliation with the pan-European Cistercian Order of Monasteries.

The carved west doorway into the Abbey remains standing in isolation and provides an eternal vista down the nave towards where the high altar formerly stood.

You can still see some of the decorated tiles that would have adorned the church floors, along with elaborate carvings throughout the site.