incredible

The village is a popular destination for those looking to explore the countryside, and it is rich in history and culture with a number of impressive landmarks to see

Nestled beside the River Calder lies a delightful village brimming with heritage and encircled by stunning countryside – offering an ideal retreat whatever the time of year.

Whalley boasts a fascinating past and continues to flourish with independent retailers, gardens and eateries for those wanting a weekend staycation in the tranquil rural landscape. Numerous historical landmarks dot the village and its surroundings, serving as reminders of the area’s rich legacy and attracting tourists eager to discover more about these remarkable treasures. Contributing to this historical tapestry is the striking viaduct which towers over the village and rises majestically amid the lush landscape. Originally finished in 1850 to carry railway tracks across the River Calder, it became an iconic feature for both the local rail network and the valley.

One tourist hailed it as a “wonderful feat of 19th-century engineering”. They posted on TripAdvisor: “Approximately 7 million red bricks were used in the construction of the 48 arches over the River Calder. It’s good to see the arches from close up, but a better view is found just a few hundred yards away looking back across the river.”

Alongside this, one of the village’s most popular and magnificent sights is the splendid Whalley Abbey, standing majestically as a former 14th-century Cistercian monastery. Throughout Henry VIII’s reign and the dissolution of the monasteries, the abbey was largely destroyed, with a country house subsequently erected on the site.

The ruins are a protected historical landmark and serve as a testament to the magnificent architecture that once dominated the village. It was formerly the wealthiest monastery in the area, and today the grounds are meticulously maintained with stunning garden displays surrounding the original remains. One delighted visitor described their experience, saying: “A beautiful location, and it’s so easy to see why it is used as a retreat. The grounds are calm, tranquil and relaxing but are easy to miss, particularly when travelling from Preston. Nevertheless, well worth a visit.”

Another added: “Steeped in history, these ruins are set within beautiful gardens. Signposts give away enough information about the lives of people who used the area many years ago. It’s the perfect spot to walk around and is very peaceful and ideal for those wanting a quiet walk/sit down.”

Beyond its fascinating history, Whalley offers a vibrant culture through its range of independent restaurants, cafes and boutiques. It’s an excellent destination for shopping, whether you’re after walking gear, boots, handcrafted footwear or unique pieces from local jewellers.

When it comes to dining, the village offers both classic and innovative cuisine, including the highest-rated restaurant on Trip Advisor, Eight At Gazegill. Featured in the Michelin Guide, the establishment has earned a strong reputation for its locally sourced produce, nestled within an organic farm setting.

One diner raved about their visit, saying: “This is an absolutely outstanding restaurant. Fabulous adventurous food. I had venison, and it was absolutely delicious. Great service and a sensible price. Wonderful.” Another customer added: “Cannot recommend this place highly enough, from first entering until leaving, we were dealt with by such warm and special staff. The food is beyond excellent, the tasting menu we had was just flavour overload, the dishes were minimal, but I always say, “Good food always fills you up, this is no exception. Every dish was absolutely stunning.”

Countryfile’s veteran star John Craven made a big announcement during Sunday evening’s episode of the popular BBC show

Countryfile viewers were stunned as presenter John Craven delivered thrilling news during this evening’s broadcast.

On Sunday’s episode (January 11) of the BBC programme, John revealed that the latest Countryfile calendar was available for purchase and had already generated over £1million for Children in Need, much to the presenter’s delight.

The prestigious Countryfile calendar competition has become a cornerstone of British photography competitions throughout the last three decades.

Last year, Ursula Armstrong’s stunning photograph entitled ‘Seal of Approval’ secured first place and featured on the cover of the 2025 Countryfile calendar.

The cherished BBC show then sought 12 fresh and remarkable photographs for the 2026 edition, all captured by viewers from around the country, reports the Express.

Images featured everything from wildlife and insects to flora and scenery, as long as they were shot within the UK. Winners secured their place in the magnificent new calendar, available for £11.99 including postage.

Sunday’s programme was marking a new beginning to the year in Northumberland, when John promoted the latest calendar and revealed its achievements to date.

He announced: “If you haven’t picked one of these up yet, well, they are on sale until January 31st. And I’m delighted to announce that so far the 2026 Countryfile Calender has raised for BBC Children in Need an incredible £1,776, 082.”

John continued: “So from all of us, to everyone who has bought one of our calendars and helped us raise that amount, a very, very big thank you.”

Despite the fantastic news that the calendar has generated such a substantial sum for charity, some Countryfile viewers found it amusing that it was being advertised during the second week of January.

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Taking to X, one viewer posted: “Omg late calendar plug #Countryfile”, whilst a second responded with laughing face emojis.

A third enquired: “Do we get the calendars cheaper as it’s almost the end of January ? #countryfile,” whilst another commented: “Probably not, everyone would do that, it’s what I do though, get my favourite calendar half price Boxing Day.”

The invitation for submissions to the new calendar was revealed in June 2025 during a Countryfile episode, with presenter Anita Rani observing: “The weird and wonderful landscape of Spurn Point would certainly make for an evocative photograph that could be entered into our photographic competition.”

John added: “Our country is blessed with an incredible array of beautiful settings and opportunities to capture on camera its wonderful wildlife.”

He went on enthusiastically: “So now, with summer upon us and the splendour of nature in full swing, it’s my great pleasure to launch our photographic competition. The theme this year is wild encounters.”

Countryfile airs Sundays at 6pm on BBC One and iPlayer.

VICKY Pattison looked absolutely sensational in a new string of throwback pictures and videos from her time in Cyprus. 

The Strictly Come Dancing star was flown over to the exotic island as the host of Channel 4 series Honesty Box – where struggling couples competed for a cash prize as they were grilled on their romance by a military-standard lie detector.

But while the cameras were off, Vicky seized the moment to soak up some sun by the hotel pool, showing clips of her stripping down to a tiny black bikini for some summer sun. 

Sharing the new pictures on Instagram, Vicky shared: “Come and film the Honesty Box with me…

“Had this in my drafts for AGESSSSS… and thought it needed to be shared! Last year Honesty Box hit screens and I wanted to give you a little BTS of what a day in the life looked like out there!” 

“Me and my team had such a ball! And the show was AMAZING!!!” she wrote. 

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“Loads of singles, all looking for love in a villa with one MAJOR twist… THE HONESTY BOX! Which uses military grade, lie detector technology to make sure our cheeky little truetopians are being as honesty as possible!!! ?? 

“That’ll put the cat amongst the pigeons! ? All with me and the gorgeous [Lucinda Light] making sure these cheeky little minxes behave ?” 

Unfortunately for Vicky, the potential for any other trips over to Cyprus for the show have been cancelled following the axe of the series after just one batch of episodes.

The decision was made in November as Channel 4 chose to focus on other dating shows that also grabbed public attention at the time. 

A Channel 4 spokeswoman said: “Honesty Box was a brilliant format from a great team but there were many great new reality hits this year.

“We have had tough decisions on what is returning. Virgin Island really landed with our audience and will return next year.”

The show was part of a new string of shows by Channel 4 which became smash hits – most notably Virgin Island, which aired around the same time and caused a bigger buzz as cameras followed a dozen virgins on a journey to pop their cherries.

Honesty Box is available to watch in full now on Channel 4. 

It’s also the perfect base for tackling the Cheviot Hills walking trails in Northumberland National Park

Hidden away in Northumberland lies a treasured town, providing the perfect stopping point for those tackling this beloved UK walking route.

Wooler is positioned right on the edge of Northumberland’s stunning National Park, consequently welcoming numerous visitors seeking essential rest between their outdoor pursuits. This market town boasts various traditional shops, pubs and cafés providing ideal sanctuary for walkers, whilst still maintaining that immersive countryside atmosphere. The structures forming this charming town originate from the 1700s and 1800s, lending it that warm, distinctly English character. These include historic establishments such as The Black Bull Inn, The Anchor Inn and The Angel Inn, all earning excellent customer feedback.

One TripAdvisor reviewer declared the Black Bull as “the place to stay” in Wooler, whilst another said: “A great place to stay, a friendly locals’ pub. Excellent food and drink, and the rooms are clean. All the staff are very friendly. Lots to see in the area.” Part of its appeal stems from the region’s commitment to preserving its heritage and traditions, demonstrated through their yearly Glendale Show, an occasion that has occurred for the past 130 years.

Featuring fairground attractions, live entertainment, regional cuisine and numerous activities, the community genuinely unites to create an enjoyable, welcoming day out for families. What makes the town so handy is its brilliant position, nestled right next to the dramatic Cheviot Hills, which draws walkers and cyclists from far and wide.

The route features babbling brooks and deep gorges that provide breathtaking panoramas of Northumberland, including massive cascading waterfalls. The Cheviot rises majestically as the loftiest peak across the entire Northumberland National Park, reaching 815 metres, and presents quite a demanding climb.

On clear days, it’s believed you can gaze out towards vistas stretching as far as the Lake District, with some even claiming Edinburgh comes into view. One walker shared their experience, writing “Wooler provides wonderful views of, and open access to, the Cheviot Hills. Overlapping the border between England and Scotland, you are provided with mile upon mile of open moorland together with the general ability to roam across the countryside. Truly, the Cheviots are made for walking, and boy, we did.”

Another said it was “perhaps England’s loveliest place”. They added: “There are plenty of beautiful places in our country, but the Cheviots have something special. On a walk up the hills or along the valleys, you can find yourselves alone for much of the day to enjoy the fabulous, peaceful scenery. It’s a place to lose yourself and take in the sweetest of air.”

Adding to its appeal for your adventures, Wooler is connected to the links of Morpeth and Coldstream along the Scottish Borders via the A697. It can take a mere 25 minutes to travel from the town over to Scotland.

IT’s an abby new year for Jennifer Aniston as she shows off her toned torso in gym gear.

The Friends star, 56, demonstrated equipment for fitness brand Pvolve — which included a few yoga moves.

Jen said finding motivation to work out was hard but persevering gave her a buzz.

She explained: “That feeling is what brings me back.”

Last year she told People: “No pain, no gain. That’s not true at all.

“You can actually have gain with no pain.”

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For years, the blonde beauty swore by the idea that pushing her body to the extreme was the only way to stay fit, as she confessed: “I always had the message in my brain.”

She advised: “You gotta do 45 minutes of cardio, then floor work and then weights.” 

Through her ongoing partnership with Pvolve, a low-impact fitness program, Jennifer has completely transformed the way she thinks about exercise.

She shared: “You can actually enjoy your workout, not break your body, and have an incredible transformation.

“In all the workouts I’ve tried over the years, this one has transformed my body more than any of the others.”

HELEN Flanagan is looking as hot as ever in her latest snaps, shortly after reigniting her feud with ex Scott Sinclair.

The gorgeous actress, 35, took to Instagram on Sunday to wow onlookers in a figure-hugging corset and tights.

The metallic corset featured subtle leopard print detailing and dainty spaghetti straps falling down over Helen’s shoulder.

And it’s safe to say every inch of the ensemble hugged her assets to perfection.

Helen finished the look off with a pair of black kitten heels, a glowy brush of highlighter on her cheekbones and a black mini skirt.

Crouching down on the floor while eyeing up the camera, Helen radiated confidence and don’t-care energy.

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Fans of the star were stunned by her beauty and took to the post’s comments section to leave her compliments.

“Gorgeous,” said one user, who has built an Instagram fan page dedicated specifically to Helen.

“Always a stunner,” said a second.

A third added: “Sexy Helen!”

The breathtaking pics come just after Helen locked horns with ex Scott, 36, over the festive period.

She let rip into him in an online rant over his parenting decisions, where Scott reportedly failed to show up to their son’s nativity because he was at a Formula One party instead.

The exes share three children together – Matilda, 10, Delilah, 7, and Charlie, 4.

“You really are a piece of s***,” Helen raged, as she shared Scott’s Instagram post from the event.

“How dare you not turn up to Charlie’s nativity.”

Scott, 36, had posted snaps from his weekend in the United Arab Emirates where he watched Lando Norris secure his maiden Drivers’ Championship title.

“What a weekend-Abu Dhabi F1,” Scott wrote.

He added: “Happy Days, blurry nights..”

Meanwhile Helen posted a snap of her cuddling their son, writing: “Loved Charlie’s nativity. My star, my heartbeat.”

Helen and Scott split up in 2022 after spending 13 years together.

The former flames, who were engaged, have hinted at struggling to co-parent, with Helen telling The Sun: “He lives like Somerset and I live in Lancashire. So we live so far away from each other, which is really difficult when you’ve got three young children.

“I hate calling it co-parenting because I don’t really feel like a co-parent to be honest with you anyway.”

RHIAN Sugden has a message of hope for people thinking of getting a breast reduction.

The former Page Three girl, 39, went braless after forking out more than £10,000 for a reduction and breast lift to show her fans how her boobs had changed.

She reshared a video she first posted on Instagram to send a message of encouragement for anyone who was thinking of undergoing breast augmentation.

Rhian donned a chic black jumpsuit with a plunging neckline, almost down to the waist, so that much of her breasts were on display.

The video started with Rhian showing what her boobs looked like in that outfit both from the front and posing sideways to the camera.

Then she shared the results of her breast reduction and lift as she looked at the camera with a big smile on her face. Her breasts sat higher on her chest and were rounded.

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“In June I said goodbye to 500g from EACH boob. That’s basically a bag of sugar per cheb… no wonder my back was crying for help,” she captioned the post.

Rhian continued to say the surgery was “one of the best decisions” in her life, which has helped reduce back pain and she was even able to take up running.

“I can wear clothes without limiting my style because of bra styles. My boobs are still big, just way more manageable and actually feel like they belong to my body now,” Rhian wrote.

“The pain + recovery? Nowhere near as bad as I’d built it up in my head.”

She added: “The confidence glow-up though? I feel it was the mummy makeover I needed.”

Rhian then told her fans that if they were considering a similar surgery but were afraid, that “this is your sign that it’s okay to choose comfort, confidence and feeling like yourself again over super heavy shoulder boulders that are uncomfortable.”

Her fans rushed to the comment section to shower her with praise.

“You being happier, healthier, just shines on you. You’re entering your radiant era lady,” wrote one fan.

Another added: “Look fabulous @rhiansuggers Glad it was a success and its all healed x Happy 2026.”

And a third wrote: “Beautiful with amazing figure.”

She went under the knife in 2025 for a breast uplift and reduction, after giving birth to her son George saw her breast size jump from a DD/E to an F cup.

The model also revealed her nipples had been sitting 11cm lower than they should have been after giving birth because “gravity took its toll.”

The model is married to actor Oliver Mellor, and they welcomed son George in December 2023 after a gruelling IVF journey.

MOLLY-MAE Hague and Tommy Fury have jetted to an exclusive resort for the super rich – splashing £6,000 a night to relax in the Maldives over the festive break.

The luxury trip includes a stay at the One & Only Reethi Rah resort, where villas lead straight into the Indian Ocean.

Previous A-list guests include Chelsea FC owner Roman Abramovich, Hollywood stars Tom Cruise and Russell Crowe, The Beckhams and former TopShop owner Phillip Green.

Molly-Mae and Tommy booked into a Grand Water Villa that costs £6,000 a night over the New Year period.

They opted to forgo a private pool, likely to keep a close eye on their two-year-old daughter Bambi.

The resort is nestled on North Male Atoll with villas having access into the beautiful Indian Ocean.

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The resport was previously voted the best in the world 2007 by Conde Nast Traveller Magazine.

Tommy showed fans the jaw-dropping views from their sitting room, opening the doors onto a private veranda.

Molly-Mae also revealed their new digs on her Story, showing Tommy and Bambi in the sea.

She penned: “Can we stay forever.”

It is her seventh trip this year after a booming 2025 for the Maebe fashion founder.

The star was called out over the summer for moaning about “not having enough fun”.

But Molly-Mae flew to St Moritz in January, Budapest in April, Dubai in May, Disneyland Paris via private jet in May, Turkey in August, and St Tropez again via private jet in August.

The star also enjoyed a motorhome holiday to the Isle of Man in July.

However, many of her trips are for work – and she often shares a glimpse of the action, including photo shoots in lavish locations like St Moritz earlier this year.

The social media mogul has seen the cash come flowing in after launching her brand, Maebe.

New accounts for her firm MMH International Ltd have laid bare just how much money she is making.

The millionaire Love Island star made around £300,000 in profit for the 12 months to the end of March this year.

Currently, cash deposits in the firm stand at £231,155, having risen from £65,071 last year.

The firm’s documents also go on to reveal that Molly currently has around £700,000 worth of stock.

At present, Molly currently sells a variety of items on Maebe, with some items such as jackets costing £150, as well as jeans and dresses which range up to £90.

A feasibility study has concluded that a railway tunnel beneath the Strait of Gibraltar is technically viable, with Spain now commissioning blueprints for the ambitious project

A colossal underwater tunnel linking Europe and Africa could finally be on the cards after the project received a major boost.

The ambitious project, which would see the tunnel burrow beneath the Strait of Gibraltar, has been reignited by Spain after being mooted by various governments for decades. Now scientists have declared that such an engineering feat is possible.

In October, a study commissioned by the Spanish Government and carried out by German tunnel experts Herrenknecht concluded that drilling a railway tunnel below the Strait would be technically achievable with current technology. Since then, Spanish consultancy firm Ineco has been tasked with drawing up a blueprint for the project by the end of next year, with hopes that Government approval could be granted as early as 2027.

The concept of creating a man-made link between Europe and Africa first surfaced in the 1970s, popping up intermittently in election campaigns and Government agendas since then, but no tangible steps have been taken until now. Previous proposals included the establishment of a joint Spain-Morocco committee in 1979 to assess the feasibility of the plan.

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The proposed tunnel, to be drilled beneath the nine-mile stretch of water separating southern Spain from Morocco, would take inspiration from the Eurotunnel, which opened in 1994 and links Britain to northern France under the English Channel.

The Herrenknecht report, formally commissioned by the Spanish Society for Studies on Fixed Communication across the Strait of Gibraltar (Secegsa), under the Ministry of Transport, has assessed the feasibility of constructing the railway tunnel in its most complex sections, especially under the Camarinal Threshold – an area with extremely difficult geological conditions.

The most recent cost estimate for the project is €8.5 billion (£7.4 billion), according to Voz Populi.

The project, featuring two separate railway tunnels each carrying trains in one direction, is set to connect Punta Paloma in Cadiz with Morocco’s Cape Malabata, near Tangier. The tunnel would span roughly 26 miles, with nearly 17 miles of the route submerged underwater, reports the Express.

It’s also projected to reach a depth of 1,540 feet – significantly deeper than the Channel Tunnel, which only dips to 246 feet below sea level. Upon completion, the journey is estimated to take about 30 minutes by train, with the capacity to carry both passengers on high-speed AVE trains and freight.

The project faces significant technical challenges, particularly due to its location at the boundary between the Eurasian and African tectonic plates along the Azores-Gibraltar fault line, Morocco World News reports.

If given the green light, fieldwork is anticipated to commence in 2030, with the main construction phase scheduled for between 2035 and 2040. However, these dates could be subject to change.

While initial plans aimed to complete the tunnel by 2030, coinciding with the FIFA World Cup co-hosted by Spain, Portugal, and Morocco, experts have since stated that this timeline is unrealistic, given the project’s complexity and its current preliminary stage of studies.

The current proposed route, from Punta Paloma to Cape Malabata, comes after decades of discarded proposals, including an early concept for a suspension bridge. This type of connection was eventually ruled out due to the Strait’s depth, seismic activity and extreme wind conditions.

The project is being jointly managed by SECEGSA and its Moroccan counterpart, SNED (National Society for Strait Studies). Both organizations are working to establish a reliable rail connection for passengers and freight between Europe and North Africa.