opens

“Our main goal is to empower robots’ brains.”

China has launched its first robot school, where a number of humanoid robots are trained before transitioning into the workforce.

At least eight people, including students and teachers, were killed and 15 others injured after a student opened fire inside a school in Thailand. Police said the gunman later died by suicide.

THE FAMILY behind one of the UK’s most-loved piers has opened a luxury holiday park.

The team behind Clacton Pier – which is Europe’s largest pleasure pier – has launched a new holiday park on the Essex coast with luxury lakeside lodges.

Called The Tideaway, the holiday park is set across seven acres, which includes woodland and a lake.

According to its website: “The Tideaway is a new approach to holiday home ownership and coastal getaways from the family behind the award-winning transformation of Clacton Pier.”

There are a variety of different lodges available to book at the park, all sleeping up to six people.

For example, you could stay at The Victory Lakewood lodge, which has an open-plan layout inside, sits by the lake and also has a hot tub on the decking.

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The lodges aren’t cheap though, costing around £651 for two nights – working out at £54.25 per person per night, if six people are sharing.

As for things to do nearby, you can of course head to Clacton Pier, which is a historic Victorian pier with arcades, a soft play,tenpin bowling alley and funfair rides.

After exploring the pier, take a stroll along Clacton seafront and beach.

For a fun family day out, Hasty’s Adventure Farm is also near the holiday park, with a huge outdoor play area, go karts and a number of farm animals.

And then there’s also St Osyth Priory, just a few minutes from the holiday park.

This country estate is over 1,400 years old and is home to gatehouses and historic gardens.

In 2022, Joshua Cain and his partner, André Reyes, stepped into the foyer of the home on Monrovia’s South Ivy Avenue and gaped in wonder. The red and white Victorian farmhouse had belonged to their friend, the late Steve Baker, who served as the city’s longtime historian and had packed the property with thousands of antique relics over his lifetime.

André Reyes, Jeff Godbold and Joshua Cain transformed Steve Bakers home into an inn with modern comforts.

(Myung J. Chun/Los Angeles Times)

Cain rattled off a few of the treasures: “Nineteenth-century etched glass dishes stacked up to the ceiling in the dining room, dozens of antique plumbing fixtures in the backyard, and five pump organs, of which we saved two.” And then there were oil lamps. Hundreds and hundreds of oil lamps.

Baker was known to regale locals with the history of their own homes and the founding Monrovians who lived there before them. One day in 2021, the couple had left the front door of their restored 1887 Monrovia home open and Baker wandered in uninvited. Reyes found him standing in his living room, wearing his signature top hat.

“Excuse me, who are you and how can I help you?” Reyes recalled asking.

Inn guests can ride one of the Viribus bikes lined up near the Blair House porch.

(Myung J. Chun/Los Angeles Times)

Baker introduced himself and said he appreciated the thoughtful period-appropriate restoration, the work of Cain and Reyes, who are preservationists. He asked them where they procured the redwood to renovate their shingle roof and the trio spent the rest of the morning excitedly discussing restoration techniques and comparing notes.

Over the next year, Cain, Reyes and Baker grew closer as fellow members of the Monrovia Historic Preservation Group, bonding over their desire to preserve the town’s historic character, especially its Victorian homes.

When Baker died abruptly in 2022, the couple set out to honor his dream of transforming his home into a restored inn with modern comforts (read: air conditioning and electricity). With Cain’s business partner Jeff Godbold, they purchased Baker’s 1887 home (originally bought by Baker’s great-grandfather Bradford Arthur in 1888) along with the estate’s more ornate Eastlake Queen Anne Victorian-style Blair House next door, built the same year by architect Luther Reed Blair. After three years of renovation, the Arthur Blair Historic Inn opened to guests this summer. Set across three homes and with 11 guest rooms, it’s a rare place where both locals and out-of-towners can escape the demands of the city and play board games in a room filled with Victorian books or borrow one of the cheery robin’s egg-blue Viribus bikes and ride to the coffee shops, bakeries or parks around town.

The Blair House parlor.

(Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times)

One thing to note: There are no TVs on the premises.

“You won’t be staying in a gray and white corporate hotel doomscrolling or watching television,” Cain said.

Staying at the Arthur Blair is meant to feel like entering a time warp. “You can imagine stepping off the train in 1880s Monrovia and going and staying in this exact inn in the prettiest little town in the Old West,” Cain said.

Restoring the home was no easy task for Cain, Reyes and Godbold, who worked with along with design assistant Jorge Ochoa. While Baker had meticulously preserved the vintage collectibles in his family’s historic home, he often struggled to afford structural repairs. Time had punctured the roof with 20 holes and whenever it rained, Baker would run around placing buckets under them and emptying them when they were full, like a game of Whac-A-Mole.

The rooms feature many vintage collectibles that Steve Baker had meticulously preserved. (Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times)

But Cain, an interior decorator for 25 years, wasn’t daunted by the chaos that came with such an extensive project. “I’m a glass half full person and I like to take risks,” he said. “I said to myself, ‘I’ve done much more with much less.’”

The team revived original furnishings and interior and exterior walls, while constructing a new ADA-compliant Victorian carpenter gothic cottage with stylish board and batten siding, modeled after a 19th-century Sears kit house. They often used salvage materials from Cain and Baker’s collection.

For the buildings to join the National Register of Historic Places — a goal for the team — intact elements like the Arthur House’s original timber frame, Italianate cast-iron mantelpiece and redwood millwork fitted by hand over a century ago needed to be polished up. And some features that had previously been eliminated needed to be returned to the home, including original roofing, porches and even light switches.

Each of the 11 guest rooms features unique, textures and personalities. One of two rooms at the Saxony Cottage has a spiral staircase that leads to an upstairs bedroom. (Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times)

It would’ve been easier to create fresh builds or buy new decor and furnishings, Cain admits, but then it wouldn’t feel like the right setting to him. “We restore for a sense of time and place,” he said.

The team hit a speed bump with the Blair House’s front porch spindles, which had been removed. They located an original spindle and replicated it, including the complex crane cutouts. “I could’ve just gone online to Home Depot, cut their spindles in half and thrown them up on the porch,” Cain said. “But instead, I took the original ones to my carpenter and we had to pull the porch apart to reinstall them, and then we painted them eight different colors.”

The Arthur House and the Blair House are a study in contrasts: a simple two-story farmhouse with plain wood siding and a sturdy brick chimney, plopped right next to a flashy showpiece featuring a roofline with projecting gables. In the front gardens, yellow and red roses bloom to match the houses’ exteriors; in the back, a sunny 4-foot cocktail pool with a natural limestone border awaits guests. Each of the 11 guest rooms is different — the classic heritage king, for instance, melds lush silk vermilion drapes with dark wood paneled ceilings and striped blue wallpaper, much of which Baker saved from the 1980s, and which Reyes and Ochoa painstakingly applied.

A writing desk in the Blair House’s Luther Reed Suite.

(Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times)

The inn will soon open a restaurant, Viola’s Bar and Bistro (named after Baker’s grandmother), serving French cuisine with Southern tinges on the vintage servingware Baker collected. The Arthur House parlor is already open to the public for drinks and dining, and features a pump organ that guests can play.

The two parlors in the Blair House, reserved for inn guests only, are a Victorian dream, each adorned with 1880s Eastlake restored mahogany parlor sets, including settees, rockers, bustle benches and side chairs, reupholstered with colorful period appropriate fabric and trim. A highlight is a circa 1874 Haine Brothers solid rosewood square grand piano.

Now that Cain and Reyes have built it, they wonder who will come. Cain has a hunch the clientele will be as special as the place itself. “Monrovia is not a tourist haven, so guests to our inn will be destination-oriented,” Cain says. “People who come here will want the experience of letting Monrovia unfold around them as they’re experiencing the inn.”

The pool at the Arthur Blair Historic Inn.

(Myung J. Chun/Los Angeles Times)

In the future, Cain and Reyes, who also co-own Visalia’s JD Hyde Historic Inn, hope to create a nationwide alliance for high-quality inns offering historic charm, so that guests can find more of the same unique properties that connect visitors to time and place.

“It’s very deliberate to call this a restoration and not a renovation,” Reyes said. “We are preserving and restoring the past for future generations to see what happened in 1887 in Monrovia — and how and why.”

ENGLAND’s longest zip wire has finally opened to visitors after more than 15 years in development.

The new attraction boasts sweeping views of an iconic national park.

Honister Slate Mine, in Cumbria, has revealed a brand new zip wire attraction, said to be England’s longest.

Visitors will now be led more than 2,000 feet up to the summit, before soaring 1,200 metres across from Honister Crag to the valley below.

Set amid sweeping views of the Lake District and reaching speeds of up to 65 mph, the record-breaking ride follows the old Lancaster aerial flight that once carried Honister slate.

For more than a century, the area housed a historic slate mine, built on the foundations of more than 450million year old Westmorland Green slate.

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The site briefly closed in 1989 before being reopened in 1997 by Mark Weir, who aimed to develop the area as not only England’s last working slate mine, but also an adventure site.

Weir’s sons, Prentice and Piers Wilkinson Weir, who now run the business, told the Cumbria Crack: “As we celebrate 30 years since our dad bought Honister, we’re proud to continue building on his vision while looking firmly to the future.

“This zip wire represents our commitment to investing in Honister, creating unforgettable experiences for our visitors, supporting the local economy and ensuring this incredible place continues to thrive for generations to come.”

Taking more than 15 years to develop, the zip wire will also continue to transport slate from the mountain as it was originally intended to do.

Tickets start from £110 for the 60-second experience, although only a limited number of riders will be able to go this year.

Other attractions at Honister include The Infinity Bridge, a 190m high-wire bridge strung between two mountains, and Via Ferrata, a 2,000ft semi-vertical ascent.

At the start of his fifth fall camp at USC, Lincoln Riley found himself enamored with all that felt new around him. Namely the state-of-the-art, $200-million facility towering over one end of the Trojans’ practice field, with all the luxuries any football coach could ask for.

“This building is magical,” Riley said. “It’s hard to explain how different, how fantastic it is.”

On the field, in front of that gleaming facility, the Trojans also were breaking in something entirely new on Saturday: their receiving corps.

USC opened training camp this week without the services of its top returning wideout, Tanook Hines, after the sophomore underwent an offseason surgical procedure that has yet to revealed. Riley said the injury affecting Hines, who missed the spring, isn’t “overly serious” and that he’s expected back for the start of the season. But his absence leaves the Trojans with a totally new and unproven group to catch passes; many of them are getting their first experience of college football, and of quarterback Jayden Maiava.

“A lot of new bodies. Fortunately he had spring and all summer with all these guys to start developing that chemistry and that confidence,” Riley said of Maiava. “But that’s going to be something we have to work at every single day.”

Among those new players is a host of top receiver recruits expected to contribute right away. Partly, out of necessity.

Freshmen wideouts Trent Mosley and Kayden Dixon-Wyatt already made a strong impression and should immediately step into roles on offense. Tron Baker is another who presumably could carve out a place. And joining them this week at practice, after just enrolling this summer, is a freshman wideout who some believe will be the best of the bunch, top-60 recruit Boobie Feaster.

It may take Feaster time to get up to speed. Hines stepped into a similar position last season, having just arrived on campus for the summer. He proceeded to start eight games anyway.

But Hines was 19 years old by the start of his freshman season. Feaster just turned 17 in late May — and presumably would be one of the youngest players ever to suit up for USC.

Receiver isn’t the only position at which the Trojans are trending young. USC should get key contributions out of freshmen at tight end (five-star Mark Bowman), on the defensive line (five-star Luke Wafle), in the secondary and, at some point, on the offensive line.

That sort of impact should be expected after bringing in a 35-player class that ranked No. 1 in the nation. It also helps, Riley said, that so much of that class has been enrolled for seven months.

“Having as many midyears made a massive difference; I mean, there’s no question about it,” Riley said. “You can feel some of the confidence level.

“And so the less that we can have new as we go on, the more these guys settle in off the field, the better they play.”

That’s the primary goal over the next four weeks of fall camp. One that Riley already has spent plenty of time focused on, while breaking in the Bloom Football Performance Center

“These first few days in here have honestly been a little bit of a dream,” Riley said. “It’s honestly been hard to get players to go home. I haven’t left this place in five days. I haven’t left the compound.”

OLYMPIC hero Adam Ramsay-Peaty wants to reconcile with his estranged family following their bitter bust-up.

Adam, 31, who is married to telly chef Gordon Ramsay’s daughter Holly, 26, said: “For me, as a Christian, there has to be forgiveness.”

He added, however, that he needs to feel his family have “improved as people” before they can make up.

The fall-out started in 2024 after a row over engagement party invites.

Adam’s mum Caroline, his brothers and aunt were then barred from his and Holly’s December wedding.

The tearful star blamed the feud in part for his poor performance in the pool at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, which end today.

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Triple Olympic champion Adam got two individual bronzes and a silver in the mixed 4x100m medley relay.

He told The Guardian: “It’s hard because I know how hard I’ve worked.

“I know the s**t I’ve been through, which is no fault of my own. It does take a toll.”

Holly, expecting her first child with Adam, who has a son from a previous relationship, said online: “It’s not been an easy journey . . . we will keep going, through the good and the bad together.”

Adam vowed to get back to his best for the 2028 LA Olympics and to shake off his Commonwealth Games experience “very quickly”.

Meanwhile, Caroline, 60, from Uttoxeter, Staffs, said she will “always support” her son “from afar”.

THERE’S a leisure centre in the UK that has so many attractions, it feels more like a waterpark – and its just had a multi-million upgrade.

The Leisure Pool at Guildford Spectrum Leisure Complex has reopened after a major £10million refurb.

Over the past few months, upgrades and maintenance works have been carried out at the pool.

And there are a number of new features too including a splash pad for little ones, with different interactive features.

The Super Slide and The Surf – multi-lane slides – have both had a makeover as well.

The pool also operates a wave machine, with one visitor commenting that it “actually feels like you are in the sea”.

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Many visitors have also noted how the pool feels more like a waterpark, with “amazing” slides.

Another feature introduced this year is an inflatable obstacle course.

The course features balance sections as well as slides, and you can race people on it too.

Each session on the course lasts an hour and costs £9.45 per person.

Tickets to the Leisure Pool then cost £13.13 per adult and £10.50 per child.

Alternatively, you could get a family of four ticket for £40.

The project forms part of a wider £10million project to upgrade the entire leisure complex.

Other new features include interactive mini golf, which is already open, and replacing the soft play area, with a more modern soft play and cafe bar experience.

STRICTLY star Saffron Barker has broken down in tears as she opened up on her sad split from her model ex for the first time.

The 26-year-old called it quits with Josh Miln last week as they unfollowed each other on Instagram.

Saffron and Josh were together for two years and lived in Dubai after she packed up her life in Brighton to be with him.

But now, the YouTuber has spoken out for the first time since the split was revealed.

Speaking in a video shared on the streaming platform, she said: “As you guys know, I came to New York. I came here nearly six weeks ago now, I came here for an acting school.

“When I first came to New York, Josh and I were still together. However, since being here, our relationship has ended.”

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She continued: “Obviously we were together for nearly two years but we also pretty much lived with each other for two years.

“And anyone that has lived with a partner will know when you live with someone it feels like you’ve been with them a lifetime.”

Saffron got teary-eyed as she confessed she was “hurting” and told fans she wouldn’t be detailing what went on between the pair.

“It’s very fresh it’s very new. I’ve cried way too much already. I really don’t want to cry again,” admitted Saffron.

“If this relationship and all my relationships have taught me anything it’s probably just that I need to really focus on self love and focus on myself and do things that are going to make me happy.”

The social media star then wiped the falling tears from her eyes as she thanked her near 2.5 million YouTube followers for their support.

She sobbed as she said she felt “really loved” amid their shock split.

Saffron ended the clip on a positive note as she plastered on a smile and admitted it was “just one of those things.”

The formerly loved-up couple featured on each other’s socials nearly everyday.

They did everything together as they embraced their new adventure over 3,000 miles away from her family and friends.

Saffron is now living the single life in New York and looks happier than ever as she picked up acting again after putting her dream on hold.

Josh has so far stayed silent amid their break up.

July 24 (UPI) — New British Prime Minister Andy Burnham held his first meeting at No. 10 North, his project to have official space in his hometown of Manchester, England, instead of keeping everything official in London.

Burnham, who was once mayor of Greater Manchester, said the new office will get “growth in every corner of the country,” the BBC reported.

The idea is to shift power from Whitehall and Westminster — the center of the British government — to other parts of the country. Manchester is about two hours by train from London.

Burnham told staff that the shift north showed he was rewiring the state.

“No 10 North is going to take that up to the next level. It’s not just a new office — through this place, power is going to flow, energy is going to flow, new ideas are going to come through,” Burnham said.

Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch called it a “gimmick”, and said it “does not make decision-making any better, it’s just creating another branch of the civil service in a different place.”

“It’s sending a message to everybody here who has come in to No 10 North in its early days that you’ve got the full support of government from the very top — prime minister, chancellor, first secretary of state — that’s a very powerful message that we’re sending today, that the political commitment is there,” Burnham said.

No. 10 North is at Heron House in Manchester temporarily while a new Civil Service Campus just outside of the city is being developed.

Burnham has faced some opposition to the project over costs, but he dismissed it as criticism from London.

Dai Davies, a former head of royal protection, has named Burnham’s Manchester base “Number 10A.”

“Number 10A will have to be strengthened,” he said. “And, of course, there’ll have to be a 24-hour-7 protection. So it’s going to cost us taxpayers millions in terms of technical security, surveillance, cameras,” The Guardian reported.

“Depending on where it is, it may have to have underground detection systems, it probably will have to have a safe room, and Manchester police will have to bear the burden of protection, in the uniform sense, 24-7, I suspect. So the real cost is many millions of pounds,” he said.

Burnham has pledged several progressive reforms, such as capping the cost of public transportation, cutting taxes on home electricity bills and easing the cost of living.

Opening the new Manchester center, Burnham described it as the best day of his life.

“I cannot tell you what a proud moment this is. I think this might be the best day of my life. I’m not joking either. I know you think I am, but I’m not,” Burnham said. “Things are just completely coming full circle here for me, and to be here with you all in the heart of Manchester this Friday morning, at the end of a fairly big week, is just everything to me.”

IF YOU are looking for your next holiday, then you can head to a brand new waterpark in Europe.

Coral Bay, La Leyenda Perdida has opened at PortAventura World’s waterpark in Spain.

The entire land is inspired by an ancient sunken pirate land, that has risen from the ocean floor.

Overall, the new land spans 5,000sqm and has several different attractions for visitors to explore.

There’s Cyclone, for example, which is the world’s second water coaster and the first in Europe.

And then there’s The Crab – a multi-slide tower, with five different slides suitable for all ages.

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The little ones aren’t left out either, with Splash Port – an interactive water play zone.

However, the ultimate star of the show is Pirate Bay, which is the world’s first multi-adventure pool.

In the pool you can expect different obstacles to tackle, as well as a swimming area.

The land also has a new dining area called El Bucanero, along with rest zones.

Day tickets to the Caribe Aquatic Park cost from €35 (£29.93) per adult and €31 (£26.51) per child.

If you stay at one of PortAventura World’s hotels, you will get discounted entry to the waterpark.

For example you could stay at Hotel Roulette as a family of four for two nights in September, for £272.24, which works out at £34.03 per person per night.

While you’re there, you should head to the main theme park too.

One mum who recently visited said: “In under an hour we had been left rattled racing each other on wooden coaster Stampida, cooled off in the Grand Canyon Rapids and been blown away by multi-dimensional dark ride Uncharted and eight-loop coaster Dragon Khan.

“Luckily the park is not just bold, it’s also beautiful, with lush landscaping across the six themed lands of Mexico, Polynesia, China, Far West, Mediterranea and SesamoAventura, where we could recover from the adrenaline rush and soaring temperatures.”

It also has Ferrari Land, which has the tallest and fastest rollercoaster in Europe.

After an 18-month closure prompted by the Palisades fire and subsequent damaging floods, Temescal Gateway Park reopened Friday, restoring access to beloved trails in the Santa Monica Mountains.

Hikers can walk along Temescal Creek, crossing a few charming wooden bridges, or take one of the steep ridge line trails to gape at the ocean as they gasp for air. But the popular Temescal Canyon Trail, which takes hikers to Temescal Falls, remains closed.

In this edition of The Wild, our weekly outdoors newsletter, I will quickly outline what you need to know about returning to Temescal Canyon. My visit Friday was actually my first, but given the serenity I found in this coastal alcove, I will absolutely return. (Note: As of this morning, Google Maps still showed the park was closed; that is inaccurate.)

The Michael J. B. Allen memorial bench sits on a nice overlook in Temescal Canyon.

(Jaclyn Cosgrove / Los Angeles Times)

Temescal Gateway Park is a 141-acre expanse in Pacific Palisades that features a babbling brook, oak and sycamore canyons and trails that zigzag up the mountains, providing views of the Pacific Ocean and its coastline. It is owned by the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy but managed by the Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority.

From the park, you can hike into Topanga and Will Rogers state parks, although some state park trails remain closed. Those include:

People who frequented Temescal Canyon before the Palisades fire will notice the inevitable changes that come after a fire. Trail crews removed several fire-damaged trees, including multiple mature oaks, as dead trees can and do fall unexpectedly, according to the Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority. The agency plans to continue reforestation projects in the park as money becomes available.

You can easily enter the park through its entrance off Sunset Boulevard. Upon entry, you’ll need to pay the $12 day-use fee at one of the machines stationed around the parking lot if you’re parking on the property. (And it’s not something to roll the dice on — I saw at least one couple get ticketed.)

A burned wayfinding sign on the Temescal Ridge Trail, which was left from the Palisades fire.

(Jaclyn Cosgrove / Los Angeles Times)

I parked under a large coast live oak and headed northwest onto the Temescal Ridge Trail, which is exposed and has minimal shade but offers multiple options for day hikes, including:

• A quick out-and-back up Temescal Ridge Trail to one of the route’s popular lookout points.
• A 3.1-mile lollipop loop, taking Temescal Ridge Trail about 1.4 miles north to Bienveneda Trail, which loops you back around to the Temescal Ridge Trail at 2.3 miles into your journey.
• Or even farther up, as Temescal Ridge Trail leads to other longer trails in the Santa Monica Mountains.

A hiker heads up Tesmescal Ridge Trail in the Santa Monica Mountains.

(Jaclyn Cosgrove / Los Angeles Times)

I huffed up the trail and was pleased with how quickly I could see the ocean. Several burned trees and shrubs remain, but they’re surrounded by an abundance of plant life coming back, including cliff aster and laurel sumac.

Along the route, I was pleasantly surprised by the exuberance of my fellow hikers. Multiple people stopped me — a fun experience for a reporter — to just share how wonderful they felt being back in the park. “Isn’t this great?” one hiker shouted to me as she headed up the ridge line. A couple from Minnesota told me they’d flown in the day before and were eager to get back to Temescal Canyon, their favorite spot to hike in L.A.

A burned tree with native plants growing up and around it.

(Jaclyn Cosgrove / Los Angeles Times)

My next stop was along the Sunset Trail, a 0.4-mile trail that runs along Temescal Creek. While I marveled at the gnarled and twisted old oak trees along the trail, I met a 14-year-old Parson Russell terrier named Finnegan. She seemed just as happy to be back as the people I encountered, especially on this shady trail next to running water.

Workers have installed three wooden bridges that cross over the creek, giving this short jaunt a whimsical feel. It ends near the road, and I turned back north, taking the sidewalk past picnic tables and rock shelters in a sycamore grove.

The Sunset Trail along Temescal Creek.

(Jaclyn Cosgrove / Los Angeles Times)

I would have loved to visit the Temescal Canyon Trail to see Temescal Falls, but as I mentioned, that trail remains closed.

Isabela Noriega, a project manager at the Mountains Recreation and Conservation Agency, said the agency will work with California State Parks officials to begin restoring the route, as only a portion of the trail is within the boundaries of Temescal Gateway Park and the rest is on state land.

“You’ll remember the fires happened Jan. 7, and then we got storms in February,” Noriega said. “So there was a lot of erosion [and] dirt debris that washed out the trails. [It’s] two disasters piling up on top of each other that we’re working to deal with.”

Instead, the third trail option you’ll have is the Rivas Canyon Trail, a fun jaunt up the hillside that features several sets of wooden stairs. You can access the trail at either of its trailheads (see map).

I started at its southern trailhead, which is behind a few buildings and near some machinery and felled trees. From there, I walked north along a wide path shaded by oak trees before taking the first set of stairs up.

One of multiple sets of stairs along the Rivas Canyon Trail.

(Jaclyn Cosgrove / Los Angeles Times)

You’ll continue up the stairs, the views of the ocean growing better as you gain elevation. I was able to spot four sailboats as I hiked.

Although the trail is well maintained, there was a short stretch that was thick enough with cliff asters to make me grateful I wore pants. There were also a few spots where I paused to lightly stomp because low-lying branches of native shrubs covered the trail. These shady sites are great nap spots for rattlesnakes, which are common to the area.

Burned trees surrounded by native plants growing back after the Palisades fire scorched the hillside.

(Jaclyn Cosgrove / Los Angeles Times)

About half a mile in, you’ll reach the Michael J. B. Allen memorial bench, built in honor of a UCLA professor and avid hiker. This is a nice spot to take a break and have a snack.

Right after this first bench, the trail is speckled with rocks that reminded me of dinosaur eggs or little bits of the moon. These moments always make me wish I’d paid far more attention in geology class, as I can generally only provide such riveting commentary as “Look at that pretty rock” or “Hey, is that a geode?” (It’s never a geode.)

Stairs lead to the overlook point where there’s a memorial bridge for local trail legends Rob and Mary Ann Webster.

(Jaclyn Cosgrove / Los Angeles Times)

I continued east to the second memorial bench, built in honor of Ron and Mary Ann Webster, two beloved advocates of the Santa Monica Mountains. It’s often said that, if you’ve hiked in the Santa Monicas, you’ve likely stepped foot on a trail Ron designed.

The view from Rivas Canyon Trail in Temescal Canyon.

(Jaclyn Cosgrove / Los Angeles Times)

I decided to end my day on the Websters’ bench. The self-care app I use had recommended I spend 15 minutes outside that day reading, and this felt like a fine spot to finish a fascinating piece about how to properly measure a mountain.

I paused, though, first to take in the view.

All around me, there were reminders of both the fire and its aftermath — burned-out trees and plants. But past the hillsides dotted with native plants returning in force, I saw the wooden frames of several houses being rebuilt. It was a reminder that this park’s reopening is another signal that nature, ourselves included, will continue onward.

3 things to do

A stargazer calibrates a telescope to look at the Orion Nebula during a star party hosted by the Los Angeles Astronomical Society in L.A.

(Carlin Stiehl / For The Times)

1. Savor s’mores and the stars in Chinatown
Los Angeles State Historic Park, a 32-acre expanse of public land in Chinatown, will host a “Park After Dark” event with the L.A. Astronomical Society from 7 to 9 p.m. Friday. Telescopes will be set up, and park workers will help guests make s’mores around a community campfire at the park’s roundhouse bridge. Learn more at the park’s Instagram page.

2. Doddle along the dunes in Santa Monica
The Santa Monica Helping Hub and the Coastal Alliance will co-host a dune walk from 9 to 11 a.m. Sunday in Santa Monica. Conservation biologist Ashley Oelsen, the alliance’s founder, will lead guests through the dunes and share why the stretch of beach is ecologically significant, serving as important habitat for threatened shorebirds and native coastal plants. Register at eventbrite.com.

3. Bend under the Buck Moon in L.A.
We Explore Earth, a local outdoors nonprofit, will host a full-moon hiking experience from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday in Elysian Park. Attendees will start meeting at 5:45 p.m. before heading on the hike at 6:25 p.m. After taking the Elysian Park west trail, participants can continue the evening with yoga, live music and stargazing with telescopes. Free, but donations of $5 to $10 are appreciated. Register at eventbrite.com.

The must-read

Crowds hike their way up the Mist Trail, one of the more popular trails in Yosemite National Park.

(William Hale Irwin/For The Times)

I am seemingly always planning my next adventure, including frequently pondering how soon I can return to Yosemite National Park. I last went in August and swam in the Merced River, hiked to Taft Point, saw Tunnel View at sunset and even went skydiving. But this past summer, that itch has felt more like a siren’s call as, like many outdoors lovers, I’ve been saddened by reports of serious overcrowding at one of America’s crown jewels. Over the past few weeks, I spoke to park-goers who’ve been to Yosemite this season, and I asked them: “Is it possible to still have fun there?” The answer, as I wrote in this story, was essentially, “Yes, but only if you plan accordingly.” Thankfully, they shared some tips on how to do that.

Happy adventuring,

P.S.

A bald eagle believed to be Jackie, one half of the celebrity raptor couple in Big Bear, was taken to a wildlife rehabilitation center in Ojai after being rescued this past weekend. Times staff writer Lila Seidman reported that a team with the San Dimas Raptor Rescue arrived around 1:30 a.m. Saturday in Big Bear Lake and found a weak and tired eagle on the lake’s shoreline. The eagle was then transported to the Ojai Raptor Center, where the reason for her deterioration remains unknown. “Queen Jackie is in the best of care! And will be able to return soon!” one YouTube user wrote Tuesday evening in the livestream’s chat. “Sending all our love & prayers to her and the kiddos and her amazing hubby super Shadow holding it down!”

For more insider tips on Southern California’s beaches, trails and parks, check out past editions of The Wild. And to view this newsletter in your browser, click here.

Damien Molony now plays Jim Bergerac, a role held for many years by John Nettles

Bergerac star Damien Molony has opened up about John Nettles‘ reaction after he replaced him in the series.

John starred as detective sergeant as Jim Bergerac in the original run of the British crime drama, which aired from 1981 to 1991. The much-loved series has now been rebooted, with Damien as DCI James ‘Jim’ Bergerac.

Asked if John had given the show his blessing, Damien told Radio Times they they had spoken about it and that he was “thrilled” with what the original Bergerac had to say.

He said: “We met and he said, ‘I’ve watched the first episode and I think it’s fantastic. It’s very different to what we did, it’s much darker – I loved it.’

“He didn’t need to say that, and I was thrilled that he did.”

The Bergerac reboot started in 2025, airing on U&Drama. It follows the police detective as he solves solves crimes in Jersey, while also dealing with issues in his own past.

Viewers have been enthusiastic about the new take on the series, with one posting on IMDB.com: “I have fond memories of the original with the gorgeous John Nettles, so there is always a bit of anxiety regarding a remake.

“However, this Bergerac, with the mesmerising Damien Molony is a different deal altogether. The general feel is much darker and less of a glossy travelogue for Jersey.. Have just binged this and can’t wait for the next season!”

Someone else said: “Like the reboot. Love the cast. Good plots and clever twists. The setting of the show is also an added bonus. I really like the actor playing the lead role, he is very likeable as this character.”

“I loved it,” one viewer posted on review site Rotten Tomatoes, although another added: “An entertaining reboot although not as good as the original.”

One reviewer commented: “Bergerac is not Superman, he is flawed and sometimes makes dumb decisions, and he wields the double-edged sword of obsessiveness, which leads to breakthroughs but can just as backfire.

“But he is very watchable, and Molony is able to persuasively carry Bergerac’s darkness and dynamism.”

Bergerac aired on on U&Drama.

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.

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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.

THE longest outdoor tubing slide in the UK has finally opened at an adventure park – and it’s just in time for the summer holidays.

Families can now enjoy the new attraction, which offers visitors the chance to slide down 315ft on a doughnut-shaped inflatable.

Located at Roarr! park in Norfolk, Fossil Falls is even bigger than the 288ft-long Forest Tubing experience, which opened at Heaton Park’s Zip World in May.

The £300,000 ride was officially opened on Saturday by Matty Campbell, better known as Bionic from Gladiators.

He said: “It was amazing to see so many people turn out for the opening of Fossil Falls and the atmosphere has been incredible.

“I’m delighted to have been here to officially open it and see so many families enjoy it.”

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Ben Francis, park director at Roarr!, said: “What a way to open Fossil Falls.

“We’ve had thousands of visitors joining us over the weekend and it’s been fantastic to see families enjoying the ride for the very first time.”

Fossil Falls attraction joins other popular features at the 85-acre park.

This includes Dippy’s Splash Zone and Predator High Ropes.

Other attractions at Roarr!, which is billed as the UK’s largest dinosaur theme park, include the Swing-O-Saurus and the Raptor Contraptor.

All attractions are included in the price of entry.

The Great British Sewing Bee returned with 11 amateur sewers hoping to be crowned winner.

A contestant on The Great British Sewing Bee has opened up about her health condition.

The popular BBC competition has returned for its 12th season, with Esme Young and Patrick Grant reprising their roles as judges, whilst comedian Sophie Willan replaced Sara Pascoe as presenter.

As the new season aired its second week, the 11 remaining amateur sewers took part in three challenges.

First, they faced the Pattern Challenge, constructing a top with adaptive elements, then they faced a Transformation Challenge, where they had to convince the judges that their least favourite colours, brown and purple, could be transformed into attractive garments.

Finally, in the Made-to-Measure, the sewers had to use one colour to create an eye-catching outfit.

During the first task in the show, two contestants opened up about their passion to promote adaptive clothing.

Oxfordshire engineering PhD student Beth shared: “The adaptive side of it is really great because it’s quite a personal thing for me.

“My dad broke his neck in a motorbike accident. Very luckily, he’s still with us but he can’t feel with his hands.

“I’ve used really big buttons with quite large button holes so he can do them himself.”

Beth, 24, also shared how she creates clothes for her own needs, explaining: “I have scoliosis which is the curvature of the spine, and so being able to make dresses or tops that celebrate my back from all the lifting I do is quite an empowering thing.

“Without sewing that wouldn’t be possible for me.”

Not long later, another Sewing Bee star shared their health condition, after suffering from pain.

Contestant Rebecca, 27, revealed she made garments adjusted for her own needs.

She said: “Almost everything I make for myself is adaptive. I have chronic stomach pain, so for me, adaptive fashion is making sure there is nothing tight around my stomach.”

The chartered actuary from London was crowned winner of the first challenge, and celebrated: “I’m so thrilled to have specifically won the adaptive fashion challenge as an invisibly-disabled person.”

The Great British Sewing Bee airs Tuesdays at 8pm on BBC One and iPlayer.

HOLLY Willoughby has admitted she knows “what real fear is” after a terrifying kidnap plot as she opens up on experiencing a “really difficult time”.

The presenter, 45, is gearing up to relaunch her career with her brand new show on YouTube.

But the last few years of her life haven’t exactly been plain sailing after she was the victim of a horrific kidnap, rape and murder plot back in 2023.

Security guard Gavin Plumb was charged in October of that year for soliciting murder and inciting kidnap and rape and was sentenced to life in prison with a minimum term of 16 years.

Speaking about the difficult time of her life, she told Grazia in a new interview: “Everybody knows what happened and it was difficult. It was a really difficult time.

“It did set me back and made me realise, ‘Right, well of course you haven’t got everything figured out. Of course life is going to keep throwing challenges at you.”’

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“When something like that happens, suddenly everything else gets put into perspective and you know what?

“I don’t fear what people think because I know what real fear feels like.”

Last month, The Sun on Sunday reported that Gavin was caught with a sinister stash of pictures of her in his prison cell.

The disturbing haul was found by prison officers hidden under a mattress.

A source said: “Plumb is still obsessed with Holly. The pictures were taken from magazines.

“He should not have been allowed access to images of her.”

Despite everything she’s been through, Holly is focusing on the next chapter of her life as she moves on with her career relaunch.

Her new YouTube show ‘Holly Willoughby Together’ is set to launch on July 28.

Speaking at her launch event earlier today, she said: “The YouTube idea obviously I’ve been away for a little while and my kids, watching my kids how they use stuff now, you know they watch stuff on YouTube they watch stuff on Netflix that’s how they do things.

“I was like right how am I watching stuff now and I was walking the dog and I’d be listening to Spotify or a podcast and I’d come in and I’d start cooking lunch and then I’d be like oh watch that now.”

“You suddenly realise that the way you see and view things and watch things is very very different.

“I don’t feel like it’s just me, I feel like everybody’s doing the same sort of thing,” added Holly.

The mum-of-three explained she feels as though mainstream TV isn’t the only place that can breed success.

She said: “You see what Gary Lineker has just done with the World Cup, you know collaborating with Netflix and with music, people will go on Radio 2 but then they’ll also go on a podcast.”

Holly added: “I think being a little bit braver and not just going for the obvious options, is the thing that really got me and then I thought ‘yes.’

“I thought ‘that’s it, that’s what I want to do.’”

Holly stepped down from This Morning in October 2023 and despite appearing briefly on Dancing On Ice the following year, she has largely taken a break from the spotlight.

Her glitzy lifestyle YouTube series, which starts on July 28, has a similar format to ITV‘s This Morning.

She will drop two episodes every week, and they will include sections on cookery, lifestyle, fashion, beauty and real life stories, as well as celebrity guests.

The telly legend has already confirmed appearances from actor Stanley Tucci, Spice Girl star Emma Bunton, All Saints singer Nicole Appleton, and comedians Joanne McNally and Katherine Ryan.

TikTok star Trewley-Precious has opened up about her private life in her new Channel 4 show Secret Lives of Gypsy Wives

Secret Lives of Gypsy Wives star Trewley-Precious Temple couldn’t contain her emotions.

The social media sensation made an appearance on our TV screens tonight (Monday, July 20) as she let cameras into her family life in the brand new Channel 4 series.

The reality show follows the 26-year-old influncer as she pursues her ambition of becoming a social media sensation while juggling the demands of her traditional traveller family.

Not long into the show, things took an emotional turn as Trewley opened up about her devastating loss. Trewley’s late father, Sidney “Siddy Boy” Temple passed away in November 2022.

He was a traditional, prideful Romany Traveller and Trewley credits him with giving her a proud and rich cultural heritage.

While setting up for her mum Tina’s birthday celebration, Trewley was visibly moved as she revealed: “I like to get her stuff from my dad. My dad passed away three years ago in November.

“Ever since then I always get mum a present from him, whether that is mothers day or valentines day – I’ll get her something from him.”

She added: “He was ill so he couldn’t move so he was like ‘go out and get your mum something from dad will yeah.”

Speaking to the camera, Trewley broke down in tears as she said: “My dad died three years ago of cancer and it was the worst thing. I can’t even talk, I feel like I’m in a different world.”

Wiping away her tears, she continued: “It was absolutely horrible and I was really young, I was only 22 when it happened.”

Tina was emotional as she explained: “That’s been the hard thing, I’ve not even had time to grieve because there has been so many people who are more important than me that I had to keep together because they were absolutely devastated.”

She continued: “I feel like everyone had turned into balloons and they’re all trying to float away and I’m trying to grab the strings and hold onto them and pull them back so I pulled them in and put my arms around them so they wouldn’t go anywhere.”

Speaking to one of her sisters, Trewley said: “Dad was the biggest loss that the whole family has had”. As everyone gathered to celebrate Tina’s birthday, Trewey gave her the gift she bought from her dad. Before Trewley’s mum could even open the present, she broke down in tears.

The family was overcome with emotion as Trewley’s brother Jamie John read the sweet message written on the ribbon, it read: “To my Tinny happy birthday me old girl. Thank you for looking after our babies. I love you in this life and the next.” Attempting to lift the mood, Trewley’s brother joked: “You’ve ruined the whole day, Trewley.”

You can catch up on The Secret Lives of Gypsy Wives on Channel 4

A SPRAWLING new bounce house dubbed the “world’s biggest” has opened in a major UK city – and it’s just in time for the school holidays.

This is the first time the attraction has made an appearance in the country.

The world’s biggest bounce house, Mega Bounce, debuted in Brentwood Village, Essex, on July 18, and is set to remain open until August 31.

The sprawling new site spans more than 270,000 sq ft and features obstacle zones, giant characters, dedicated bounce areas and inflatable slides – all in one location.

This marks the touring attraction’s first appearance in the UK, having initially launched in Dubai more than 10 years ago.

Guests can enjoy unlimited access to Mega Bounce during 60-minute slots, with an all ages session running from 11am to 7pm everyday, complete with party music, DJs and festival-style food.

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For those wanting a more relaxing experience, a quiet session will also be offered between 10am to 11am, featuring a lower-capacity environment without music or announcements.

Lastly, for adults wanting to escape the kids, Mega Bounce will also host 18+ slots from 7pm to 9pm, with a bar offering a full range alcoholic drinks.

Josef O’Sullivan, centre director at Braintree Village, said: “We are thrilled to unveil a first look at the Mega Bounce making its UK debut, right here at Braintree Village.

“Feedback from last night’s media preview was overwhelmingly positive, with guests describing Mega Bounce as a standout attraction that brings something genuinely fresh and unmissable to Essex this summer.”

General admission tickets are priced at £18 each, although a booking fee is payable per ticket.

Children must also be at least one meter tall to join in on the fun, and aged five years or above.

PETE Wicks has opened up on his “magical” holiday with Olivia Attwood after they were pictured in a passionate snog on the beach.

Pete, 37, spoke candidly about his romance as he chatted to his pal Sam Thompson, 33, on their Staying Relevant podcast.

During a podcast clip shared to TikTok, Sam said to Pete: “You were on your holidays?”

“Yes, I hadn’t seen Liv for two and a half weeks, so I went to see Liv,” replied Pete.

“Don’t make this a thing,” said Pete as Sam jokingly feigned shock.

Pete continued: “So I went to see Liv, it was wonderful to see her, been two and a half weeks.”

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A smitten Pete added: “We had a fabulous time. I have really hurt my back because I was backflipping off boats.

“We went for lovely dinners, we went to clubs, we drank a lot, it was magical is probably the best way to describe it.”

Sam was delighted and explained that it was a lovely moment to hear about him and Liv.

He added: “I’m a huge fan of Liv’s”

Pete joked: “Not as big a fan as I am,” as Sam cheered his reponse.

Pete and Olivia were recently spotted all loved-up on a date night as they shared a steamy snog.

This came days after Olivia and Pete made things Instagram official after jetting off to Ibiza together.

The pair – who host a KISS FM radio show together – began dating back in February, following Olivia’s split from husband Bradley Dack.

A MUCH-LOVED family attraction park has opened two new themed-hotels.

Gulliver’s World in Warrington, near Manchester, has a pirate-themed hotel and then a second hotel that is fairytale-themed.

The Enchanted Castle Hotel and the Pirate Ship Hotel will feature 32 rooms in total.

Inside the Pirate Ship Hotel, the rooms will sleep four people each and include an en suite.

On the other hand, the Enchanted Castle Hotel will have fairytale-themed rooms, suitable for up to five people each.

Gulliver’s World hopes to eventually open hotels at all four of its resorts.

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Craig Clews, resort director at Gulliver’s World, said: “We are so excited to be launching our new accommodation as we know our guests will be wowed by what is on offer at the Enchanted Castle and Pirate Ship Hotels.

“The popularity of our short break stays continues to increase year-by-year, so this investment in our park helps to meet that demand and also provide families with even more options for cost-effective, family breaks here in the UK.”

The Warrington resort is already home to a number of different accommodations including tipis, safari lodges, Swizzels sweets-themed rooms and Nerf- themed rooms too.

Then inside the park, visitors can enjoy over 25 rides and attractions, including rollercoasters and play areas.

And tickets cost as little as £15.25 per person when you book online.

One recent visitor said that it was a “great day out for a young family”.

Another added: “This place is amazing for the younger thrill seeker. Loads for the kids to do and without having to queue as well.”

July 15 (UPI) — Spain and Gibraltar celebrated just after midnight Wednesday as border checkpoints and walls came down between the two nations after a treaty was signed in Brussels.

At midnight, the police stepped down from their border posts to open the territory, and thousands rushed across the border in both directions, celebrating the new crossing and Spain’s World Cup win against France in the semifinals, The Telegraph reported.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez visited the Spanish border town of La Línea de la Concepción on Wednesday to see the removal of the last section of a border fence. He said an “open wound” was finally closed, The Guardian reported.

“The Gibraltar fence — the last wall in continental Europe — has fallen so that we can take a step towards a new era of coexistence and shared prosperity,” Sánchez said. “This is a deal that has the wellbeing of the 300,000 Andalucíans in the Campo de Gibraltar at its heart and which opens a new phase in the relationship between Spain and the U.K.”

Gibraltar, a British overseas territory, has been British sovereign land since the Treaty of Utrecht in 1713. When Britain left the European Union in January 2020, travel between Spain and Gibraltar was made more complicated.

While Gibraltar has about 40,000 residents, about 15,000 Spaniards cross into it daily for work, causing long daily lines at the checkpoint where they were fingerprinted and had their passports scanned.

Now, British citizens flying or sailing into Gibraltar will have to be fingerprinted and have their passports checked as Spain takes over EU entrance controls, which is causing some consternation among conservative Brits.

Though Spain still wants full control of Gibraltar, this compromise allows for more cooperation between the two.

Gibraltarian Chief Minister Fabian Picardo said the treaty is a new beginning.

“The frontier that has so often divided and constrained our region will now become a place of cooperation and shared opportunity,” he said. “The daily lives of thousands of people will be made easier, our economy will be given greater certainty and Gibraltar’s future will rest on firm legal foundations.

“We have reached this moment without surrendering who we are, without compromising our British sovereignty and without weakening the constitutional protections that define Gibraltar,” Picardo added.

Not everyone was celebrating.

Iain Duncan Smith, former British conservative leader, expressed disappointment.

“This arrangement will in future years be used as a model for weak negotiation. It will be a significant step in the stripping out of hundreds of years of British sovereignty,” Smith said.

Nigel Farage, leader of the right-wing Reform UK, told The Telegraph, “This is a dreadful surrender and the opening of the border means that Gibraltar will never be the same.”

Picardo said the treaty was “among the most significant days in Gibraltar’s modern history.”

“After years of uncertainty, endurance and determined negotiation, we have secured an international treaty that protects Gibraltar, safeguards our sovereignty and opens the way to a more secure and prosperous future,” he said.

“The frontier that has so often divided and constrained our region will now become a place of cooperation and shared opportunity. The daily lives of thousands of people will be made easier, our economy will be given greater certainty and Gibraltar’s future will rest on firm legal foundations.”