town

Setenil de las Bodegas is a stunning Andalusian town where whitewashed homes are built into cliffs – offering history, charm, and unforgettable Spanish scenery

Spain has long been a favourite holiday destination for British travellers, with sun-drenched beaches, vibrant cities, and rich culture drawing millions of visitors each year. Yet, for all the allure of hotspots like Barcelona, the Costa del Sol, and the Balearic Islands, many tourists tend to flock to the same familiar places, often overlooking the country’s lesser-known treasures.

One of the most enchanting – and often missed – regions is Andalusia, a diverse and culturally rich area in southern Spain. While iconic cities such as Seville, Granada, and Malaga attract much of the attention, Andalusia hides within its vast and varied landscape a collection of charming, off-the-beaten-track towns that offer something truly extraordinary.

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Setenil de las Bodegas is one such hidden gem. Nestled in the province of Cádiz, roughly equidistant between Seville and Malaga, this small but unforgettable town has been voted one of the most beautiful in all of Spain. And for good reason – Setenil’s claim to fame is its jaw-dropping integration with nature: it is literally built into the side of a cliff.

Locally known as “abrigos bajo las rocas”, or “shelters beneath the rocks”, Setenil’s whitewashed homes are carved directly into massive rock overhangs, creating surreal, shaded streets where stone ceilings loom above you like giant natural canopies. Some streets even feel as though the sky has been replaced with solid rock – a surreal and awe-inspiring sight that leaves visitors speechless.

This unusual construction isn’t just for show – it’s also functional. The rock naturally insulates the houses, keeping them warm in winter and cool in summer. It’s an ingenious example of architecture working in harmony with the landscape, and it’s one of the most photogenic towns in the region.

Despite its global appeal, Setenil is still home to a modest population of around 3,000 people, giving it an authentic, laid-back feel. But don’t be fooled by its quiet charm – this place has a deep and fascinating history.

The name Setenil de las Bodegas has historical roots that go back centuries. “Setenil” is believed to come from the Latin phrase “Septem Nihil”, meaning “seven times nothing.” It refers to the town’s legendary resistance during the Reconquista, the Christian reconquest of Spain from Muslim rule. According to legend, it took the Christians seven attempts and fifteen days to capture Setenil’s fortress, the Nazari castle, perched above the town.

The second part of the name, “de las Bodegas”, translates to “of the wineries,” a nod to the town’s once-thriving wine industry. While vineyards are less prominent today, the area remains renowned for its local almonds, olives, and olive oil, thanks to the rolling fields of olive trees and fertile surrounding land.

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Although Setenil feels worlds away from the tourist trail, it’s relatively easy to reach. The nearest major airport is Malaga, which offers extensive international connections. From there, the drive takes about 1.5 hours. Alternatively, the smaller Jerez Airport is closer but mostly serves domestic flights. If you’re planning to visit nearby Ronda, another famous white town perched dramatically on a cliff, Setenil is just 30 minutes away by car.

Hiring a car is highly recommended—not just for convenience, but because the drive itself is part of the experience. The route from Olvera to Setenil is particularly stunning, winding through sunflower fields, rolling hills, and endless groves of olive trees. The scenic countryside alone makes the trip worthwhile.

While Setenil can be explored in a day, many travellers choose to stay overnight in one of the charming guesthouses or cave-style homes available on platforms like Airbnb. Dining under the rock-covered streets – especially in one of the local tapas bars or cafés – is an experience you won’t find anywhere else in the world.

In an age where travel is often about seeking the extraordinary, Setenil de las Bodegas offers exactly that. It’s a place where history, nature, and human ingenuity blend seamlessly into a setting so unique, it feels almost otherworldly.

So if you’re planning your next trip to Spain and looking to go beyond the usual suspects, skip the crowds and take a detour to Setenil – one of Andalusia’s best-kept secrets, and truly one of Spain’s most spectacular small towns.

Three years ago, an armed young man entered Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, and killed 19 students and two teachers. Hundreds of law enforcement officials reportedly stood around the school campus for more than an hour without approaching the shooter.

In the midst of the inaction, one mom — Angeli Rose Gomez — pleaded with officers to take action or let her go in to get her two children and nephew. She was apprehended and handcuffed, but ultimately talked her way out of arrest before she sprinted inside the school to grab the kids.

Videos on social media captured the moments that Gomez brought her sons and nephew out of the school. The Texas field worker and mother of two was quickly dubbed a hero in national and local publications for her courage.

The new documentary film “Uvalde Mom” follows Gomez after becoming nationally recognized — while examining the forces at play in the Uvalde community which allowed for the shooting to take place, as well as the aftermath of such a tragedy.

“All I wanted that day was my kids to come out of the school alive, and that’s what I got,” Gomez says in one pivotal moment in the film. “I don’t want to be called a hero. I don’t want to be looked at as the hero because the only job that I did that day was being a mom.”

The feature’s director Anayansi Prado was “moved” and “horrified” by what had happened and felt motivated to make a film about the event after seeing members of the affected families on TV.

“I saw that there were Latinos, they were Mexican American, that it was a border town, that it was an agricultural farming town, and that really resonated with me and with communities I’ve done film work with before,” Prado told The Times.

Prado began reaching out to people in Uvalde shortly after the shooting, but didn’t hear back from anyone for over two months due to the inundation of media requests everyone in the city was receiving. The only person to reply to her was Gomez.

Ahead of the film’s screening Saturday at the Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival, Prado spoke with The Times about the process and the challenges of making her documentary.

This interview has been edited and shortened for clarity.

Was the idea always for this project to be a feature-length film? Or were there talks of making it a short or a series?

I’ve always thought about it as a feature because I really wanted to dive in and understand Uvalde as a character. I wanted to understand the history of the criminal justice system, the educational system. I knew I wanted to make something that was going to be of a longer form rather than just a piece that was about Angeli or something. And a few people told me this would make a great short, but as I uncovered more about Uvalde, I was like, “No, Uvalde itself has its own history, just like a person.”

When it came to choosing Angeli, was she the first and only person who responded to your outreach?

I think the people in town were oversaturated with media coverage, and Angeli was the one that got back to me. What was really interesting is that I learned on that first trip [to Uvalde] about her backstory and I learned about how the criminal justice system had failed her. I saw a parallel there of how the system failed the community the day of the shooting and how it was failing this woman also individually. I wanted to play with those two stories, the macro and the personal. Once I learned who she was, beyond the mom who ran into the school, I was like, “I have to tell this woman’s story.”

How did you go about balancing her personal stuff and the failures that happened on a larger scale?

So much of the way the film is structured is reflective of my own experience as a filmmaker. It was a sort of surreal world, these two worlds were going on: what was happening to Angeli and then what was going on outside with the lack of accountability and the cover-up. So that informed the way that I wanted to structure the film.

In terms of the personal, it was a journey to gain Angeli’s trust. At some point at the beginning, she wasn’t sure she wanted to participate in the film, and so I told her, “You don’t owe me anything. I’m a stranger, but all I ask is that you give me a chance to earn your trust.” And she was like, “OK.” From there on, she opened up and, pretty quickly, we became close and she trusted me. I was very cognizant [of] her legal past and even the way she’s perceived by some folks. I also didn’t want Angeli to come off as a victim and people to feel sorry for her, but I still wanted to tell her story in a way where you get mad at the system for failing her.

What kind of struggles did you have trying to get in communication with some of the officials of the city?

We used a lot of news [archives] to represent that part of the story. The [authorities] weren’t giving any interviews, they were just holding press conferences. So access was limited, but also the majority of the time that we were filming, we were very low-key about the production — because Angeli was on probation and there was retaliation for her speaking to the media. We tried to keep it under wraps that we were filming, so not a lot of people knew about it [besides] her family. Obviously other folks in town [were] part of the film, like her friend Tina and family members. Outside of that, it was too risky to let other people in town know what was going on.

Ultimately I wanted to make [“Uvalde Mome”] a personal portrait. I was just very selective on the people that we absolutely needed to interview. I’m happy with Tina, who’s an activist in town, and Arnie, a survivor of the shooting and a school teacher, [plus] Angeli’s legal team. I felt like those were people we needed to tell a fuller story. But we just couldn’t be out in the open making a film about her and let people know.

What kind of reception have you gotten from people of Uvalde that have seen the film?

We had our premiere at South by Southwest, which was great. A lot of folks came from Uvalde and spoke about how, almost three years later, a lot of this stuff is still going on. Every time Gov. Greg Abbott came on-screen, people would scream, “Loser!” It was really moving to have those screenings.

As was expected from the folks who are not fans of Angeli, there was some backlash. It’s the same narrative you see in the film of, “She’s a criminal, don’t believe her.” It’s a town that is an open wound. I just try to have compassion for people. Ultimately, Angeli’s story is the story of one person in Uvalde of many that need to continue to be told. And I hope that other filmmakers, journalists and other storytellers continue to tell the story there, especially with the lack of closure and accountability. I’m happy that the film is putting Uvalde back into the headlines in some way; that way we don’t forget about it.

Had you ever spent an extended amount of time in Texas before?

I had been to Texas, but I hadn’t done a project in Texas. Because I’m an outsider, it was very important for me to hire a 100% local Texas crew for this film. My crew was entirely Texas-based, from our PAs to our sound to our DPs. I also wanted to have a majority Texas-born Mexican American crew so that they could guide me. We began production in September of 2022 and the atmosphere was very tense.

This is a story that is deeply rooted in the Latino community and the tension about the law enforcement in Uvalde. What was it like dealing with that tension and how did you personally feel that when you went into the town?

When I got to Uvalde, I saw that the majority of the Latino community had been there for several generations. You would think a town with that kind of Mexican American history, and them being the majority, that they’d be pretty cemented and represented, right? It was really eye-opening to see [how] these folks are still considered second-class citizens. A lot of them are being repressed. And then you have folks that get in positions of power, but they’re whitewashed in line with the white conservative agenda. So even those that are able to get into positions of power don’t lean towards the community. They turn their back on it.

I heard from folks that the history of neglect was what led to the response that day at Robb Elementary. And they’re like, “Yeah, that’s what happens on that side of town. You call the cops, they don’t come. Our schools are run-down.” You really see the disparity. This was a Mexican American community that had been there for a long time. It’s fascinating how the conservative white community, even if they’re the smaller part of the population, they can still hold the power.

Nestled between two rugged cliffs in Yorkshire above the North Sea – a nice stroll in Staithes feels like you’ve stumbled upon some idealised version of coastal living

A delightful UK fishing village has recently been dubbed one of Europe’s ‘hidden gems’. In a fresh compilation by European Best Destinations, Staithes in North Yorkshire was featured alongside Pico Island in the Azores, the vibrant villages of Villajoyosa in Spain and the floating houses of Lake Bokod in Hungary as one of the continent’s 18 most unique and underappreciated attractions.

If you’ve ever had the pleasure of visiting, as I did recently, you’ll certainly comprehend why. Tucked between two craggy cliffs overlooking the North Sea, a leisurely wander in Staithes feels like you’ve chanced upon an idyllic depiction of coastal life.

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I was even fortunate enough to experience a bit of picture-perfect sunshine during my brief yet memorable visit, writes the Mirror’s Benedict Tetzlaff-Deas.

Staithes is the very town that birthed world explorer Captain Cook, but it now boasts a range of artistic shops, inviting pubs and top-notch restaurants. One fantastic way to reach this destination is to trek a few miles along the dramatic North Yorkshire coastline from Saltburn.

From this vantage point, you can gaze down at the quaint fishing cottages nestled below, before descending into the village to explore its offerings.

Immediately, you’ll observe a strong focus on arts and crafts in the area – a nod to its history as home to the Staithes Group, a collective of 19th-century painters attracted by the town’s fishing traditions and maritime lifestyle. While modern life has evolved, the artistic vibe remains intact.

In the local Staithes Gallery, I found myself captivated by contemporary artworks inspired by coastal living. The town is also peppered with quaint gift shops and subtle public art installations.

Despite its compact size, Staithes is far less crowded than neighbouring Whitby and even quieter than Robin Hood’s Bay, another charming fishing village just along the coast.

This allowed me to leisurely stroll down to the harbourside where the Cod and Lobster pub provides an opportunity for a swift pint overlooking the beach and, reportedly, some excellent seafood.

One of the town’s charms is how it’s bisected by the Staithes Beck river, offering a picturesque walk along the beach before ascending the steps and rounding the corner, all while remaining waterside with the cliffs in full view.

There’s also a climb back into the cliffs on the north side of the river, affording stunning views of the town, beach and sea.

I lodged a brief car journey away in Whitby, but if you’re considering an overnight stay, there’s an abundance of bed and breakfasts available, some situated right next to the beach. I’d definitely recommend spending the night if possible.

We have numerous charming seaside locations in Britain that perhaps we don’t appreciate enough – Staithes might just be the most delightful of them all – so it’s heartening to see that recognition is now coming from beyond our shores.

The town, which has been dubbed the Pearl of Dorset, is a popular holiday destination throughout the year – but some locals say it has become too busy and expensive

Lyme Regis, often described as the ‘Pearl of Dorset‘, is grappling with the issue of overtourism, leaving a sour taste for some local residents at peak holiday times. While Spanish coastal towns are facing heated protests over the mass influx of sun-seeking Brits, discontent is simmering in this picturesque UK town.

As a prime spot with stunning views over the Jurassic Coast, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Lyme Regis attracts throngs of visitors to its quaint streets lined with thriving independent shops and tasty little cafes and eateries. Yet, despite the obvious charms and a clear love for the town, locals can’t help but feel the pressure from the surge of visitors.

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Union Jacks flutter above Broad Street’s decline, screen-printing the sky with vibrant bursts of colour as people enjoyed their time outside the local haunts. But beneath this idyllic surface, there’s a brewing frustration among residents.

Local Chris Irving, 72, whose home lies just a stone’s throw from the town centre, reflected on his weekly visits: “It’s a lovely place but there should be some more ordinary shops – butchers, greengrocers and things like that. I feel sorry for the locals a bit really.”

Without skipping a beat, when asked whether overtourism is taking a toll on Lyme Regis, Chris said: “Yeah there’s too many people. We pick our days. We don’t come in on bank holidays, as a rule, and some weekends we avoid it as it’s too crowded.”

During the peak season, Lyme Regis sees its population soar from 4,000 to an estimated 20,000, with day-trippers flocking in on bank holidays and weekends, leading to severe traffic jams and parking woes, reports the Express.

The closest railway station is Axminster, situated about six miles away, after Lyme Regis lost its own station on November 29, 1965, following the Beeching Report which led to the axing of many miles of railway deemed unprofitable.

Chris refers to car parking as a “delicate issue” while Matthew Blueberry, who runs the Blueberry shop on Broad Street, laments that parking turns into a “nightmare” when summer crowds descend upon the town.

“It’s a small town and people like the independent shops,” he says. “It can get too busy in the summer. The parking is a nightmare – it’s too expensive.”

Lyme Regis boasts a combination of town council-run and privately owned car parks, with hourly rates ranging from £1.50 to £1.90, alongside options for longer stays.

Yet, according to Matthew, these car parks simply can’t cope with the tourist influx during the high season. The 25 year old points out: “Most people drive in but they can’t find parking. They then go ‘oh I’m going to go somewhere else’. We then lose potential business.

“The main car park is expensive and getting a spot on the road only lasts around 45 minutes to an hour. People also caravan or camp down here, which brings a lot of people in. But overall the town needs to do a lot more to help us out.”

John Smith, who manages Primary Colours in the town centre, says the summer holidays are “chokka” in Lyme Regis. He also agrees parking is a big issue in the town and said local bus services could be more efficient.

The 60 year old says: “There are buses but, like everything else, they’re not as good as they could be. Most people just drive in.

“It would be lovely if people came without their cars as parking is a big issue in town. There is a park and ride though which operates in the summer. But in the summer holidays the town is just chokka. It can get too busy at times.”

Lyme Regis Town Council says it has invested in public transport and parking facilities in a bid to relieve the stress of overtourism. According to its website, this includes bus services, a park and ride service and the creation of electric vehicle charging points.

Residents and visitors of the charming coastal town of Lyme Regis are voicing their sentiments about living in and visiting what’s often described as a quaint, old-fashioned British seaside resort.

Mr Smith, a local, described his home with fondness: “It’s a quaint, old-fashioned and traditional British seaside resort,” he noted.

“It’s also a great place to visit out of season for the grandparents and older people. We’re so lucky to live here.”

Margaret Quinlan, a frequent visitor from Bedfordshire, expressed her feelings about the bustling nature of Lyme Regis: “It’s a lovely place but it does get very busy. It’s not that busy today luckily so we can just walk around. We try and come down when it’s a bit quieter.”

She went on to add concerns about accessibility: “As we’re getting older, it’s not easy to access now. Luckily our flat is the other end of the town so we don’t have to use the main car park which always gets full.”

When discussing the transport links, she mentioned: “Yeah being able to get a train would make it easier.” Reflecting on past visits she said: “We’ve been coming for 20 years and have never been able to get a train in.

“If there was a train station we’d definitely consider getting one. We’re thinking about getting the bus up the hill which would save us a big walk.”

Chris Ford, who runs The Old Forge Fossil Shop on Broad Street, touched on the economic benefits of the town’s popularity: “I’m not going to complain about how busy it gets. It makes the town a great place all year round. It’s a very friendly place to visit for families,” he asserted.

Chris, a local resident, has expressed his scepticism about the feasibility of adding a train station to attract more visitors to the town. He said: “People don’t use the trains to come this far down. We’re three hours from London and people can’t get across the country or even from Bath. So a lot of people are driving or come to caravan parks.”

He further added: “I’m sure (a train station) would bring more people down but it’s getting the trains down into the valley from Axminster.

“I know there’s a track but there’s a big viaduct they’ve got to get across. And, it hasn’t been well maintained over the years.”

Lyme Regis Town Council has acknowledged the town’s heavy reliance on tourism. They stated that “it must strike a reasonable balance between responsible tourism and protecting the environment”.

The council also highlighted the various sustainable travel options available to and around the town. They said: “There are many ways to travel sustainably to and around the town, helping to limit the impact on our local environment.

“Lyme Regis is accessible by rail, coach, road, air and sea and we would encourage, where possible, use of public transport to help reduce carbon emissions, air pollution and congestion on roads.”

They further added: “Lyme Regis is a small town and most places are easy to get to on foot or by bike. Many of the streets in the town are narrow and were not originally built for modern vehicles so congestion is an issue and parking can be a challenge.

“A park and ride operates on the outskirts of the town during the peak season and is an ideal way to take the hassle out of your visit, while also reducing the amount of vehicles and congestion in the town centre.

“The 71 town bus is a convenient way to get around town, stopping off in residential areas, in the town centre and near the medical centre.

“Operated by Damory, the service runs from just after 9am until just after 2pm, Mondays to Fridays, except bank holidays.”

Pyramiden, a town in the Arctic Circle that has stood empty of humans since 1998, is a living museum to Soviet life. Visit today and you will find cups left on the table, skiing equipment abandoned in the hallway and newspaper cuttings on the wall

An eerie ghost town has been left exactly as it was when crews abandoned it 27 years ago.

The Mary Celeste ship has been etched into the memories of school children for decades. The American merchant brigantine was discovered adrift and deserted in the Atlantic Ocean off the Azores on December 4, 1872, with food still on plates as if the crew was about to sit down to dinner. The mystery surrounding the abandoned ship has captivated people for over 150 years, leading to numerous theories about the fate of its crew.

Far less well known is the story of Pyramiden, a town in the Arctic Circle that has stood empty of humans since 1998. Visit today and you will find cups left on the table, skiing equipment abandoned in the hallway and newspaper cuttings on the wall.

“Walking Pyramiden today gives you a glimpes into the Soviet-style nostalgia, outdoor as well as indoor. Best of all, its not an artificial scenery aimed for some kind of movie-production. This is real. The smell of papirosa, likely the strongest cigarette ever made, stains on the indoor walls. Hammer and Sickle ornaments and the Soviet star are used as decoration around the town,” the Barent Observer writes of Pyramiden.

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“In a remote room inside the Palace of Culture are a few empty bottles of the cheap domestic Rossiya- and Priviet vodka. A book with the transcripts from the 27th Congress of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union lays on a desk. That was the first congress presided over by Mikhail Gorbachev as General Secretary of the Central Committee.”

There are few signs of life beyond the occasional hardy seabird, an Arctic fox or a polar bear looking for its next meal.

Unlike the Mary Celeste, there is no mystery around why the occupants of Pyramiden left in such a hurry. The Russian state-owned mining company Trust Arktikugol closed down Pyramiden’s mining operations in April 1998, following 53 years of continuous activity.

The end of the settlement neared as coal prices dwindled, difficulties with coal extraction from the mountain became more apparent, and 141 people tragically lost their lives in 1996 at Operafjellet. Miners and their families perished in the plane crash that had been ferrying them from Pyramiden to Barentsburg. Such was the scale of the tragedy and the impact it had on the town of 1,000 that its continued operation proved impossible.

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The town was first founded by Sweden in 1910 but was sold to the USSR 17 years later. From 1955 to 1998, up to nine million tonnes of coal were thought to have been pumped out of Pyramiden. Svalbard belongs to Norway under the Svalbard treaty, which allows citizens from all its member countries to become residents. The treaty reads: “All citizens and all companies of every nation under the treaty are allowed to become residents and to have access to Svalbard including the right to fish, hunt or undertake any kind of maritime, industrial, mining or trade activity.”

In its pomp, it boasted a theatre, studios for creative arts, and a library. The schools, 24-hour canteen, and sports complex are all gone. All that remains is a statue of former Soviet leader Vladimir Lenin, the northernmost monument to him in the world.

Today, the main thing occupying the ghost town now are the terrifying polar bears. However, six people operate as rifle-carrying warders in the summer. Despite the nearest settlement being some 31 miles away, dark tourism has been gently ticking along since 2013, but you can only access Pyramiden by boat or snowmobile for nine months of the year. One visitor to the town in 2018 wrote in Haaretz : “There are thousands of angry polar bears all around us.”

A stunning Spanish town that 1,000 residents once called home was completely abandoned and left to rot more than five decades ago – all because of a flood that never even happened

A tiny but beautiful town looking out onto emerald waters used to home 1,000 residents has been slowly rotting away for more than five decades.

Boasting rows of colourful houses, a 15th century castle, and wrap-around fortress walls that still stand strong, Granadilla looks like something straight out of a travel brochure. But, if you take a closer look, you’ll realise it’s missing one important feature: people.

Founded in the 9th Century, the town (which is located in Spain’s western Extremadura community) was a strategic region for trade and travel. However, in the 1950s dictator Francisco Franco unveiled his ambitious plans to boost the country’s economy by constructing a series of huge dams – the largest of which was the Gabriel y Galán reservoir, which surrounded Granadilla.

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Over the following decade, the politician forcibly demanded every single resident move out of the town, many of which chose to settle in nearby villages – hopeful that they could one day return. The eviction was blamed on rising water levels, which threatened to flood the peninsula.

However, some 55 years later and the town has never flooded, not even once. Still, residents haven’t been permitted to re-enter – leaving the whole region a complete ghost town. “They kicked us out, claiming that the dam would flood the town, which was impossible because the town is higher than the dam,” Eugenio Jiménez, president of the Association Sons of Granadilla told the BBC back in 2022.

“But those were times of dictatorship, and we had no rights. But what truly frustrates me is that during democratic times, I’ve been struggling for the recovery of Granadilla with the former children’s association, and no government has listened to us.”

Instead of allowing residents to go back to their homes, Granadilla has turned into a tourist attraction – and was officially declared as a Historic-Artistic site in 1980. Funds generated from holidaymakers have gone into preserving the town and its hilltop castle. According to reports, twice a year – on the Day of the Assumption of Mary in August, and All Saints’ Day in November – the former residents of Granadilla and their descendants come together in the ancient village.

“Enter through the narrow Puerta de Villa, overlooked by the sturdy 15th-century castle, which you can climb for brilliant panoramas,” hailed experts over at Lonely Planet. “From the Puerta de Villa, the cobblestone Calle Mayor climbs up to the delightfully rustic Plaza Mayor, surrounded by vibrant buildings. On the right stands the beautiful Casa de las Conchas, its peach-coloured exterior studded with white ceramic shells.

“Some buildings function as craft workshops or exhibition centres in summer. Don’t miss a stroll along the top of the 1km-long Almohad walls, with evocative views of the village, lake, eucalyptuses and pinewoods.”

Granadilla remains somewhat out of the UK tourist limelight as it is situated pretty far from most Spanish airports. For example, it is over three hours from Madrid, and almost four hours from Seville. Salamanca is technically the nearest airport – but no UK airports fly here directly.

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PAINTSVILLE, Ky. — Janet Lynn Stumbo leaned on her cane and surveyed the two dozen or so voters who had convened in a small Appalachian town to meet with the chair of the Kentucky Democratic Party.

A former Kentucky Supreme Court justice, the 70-year-old Stumbo said the event was “the biggest Democratic gathering I have ever seen in Johnson County,” an enclave where Republican Donald Trump got 85% of the presidential vote in November.

Paintsville, the county seat, was the latest stop on the state party’s “Rural Listening Tour,” a periodic effort to visit overwhelmingly white, culturally conservative towns of the kind where Democrats once competed and Republicans now dominate nationally.

Democrats’ path back to power may start in places like Paintsville, one small meeting at a time, because it may be difficult for the party to regain control of Congress or the White House without faring better among rural and small-town voters across the country.

The party recently lost U.S. senators from states with significant rural populations: Montana, Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia. Also, Democratic-led states are losing population to Sun Belt states led by Republicans, with some projections suggesting changes after the 2030 census could cost Democrats 12 electoral college votes.

“The gut check is we’d stopped having these conversations” in white rural America, said Colmon Elridge, the Kentucky Democratic chair. “Folks didn’t give up on the Democratic Party. We stopped doing the things that we knew we needed to do.”

It’s not that Democrats must carry most white rural precincts to win more elections. It’s more a matter of consistently chipping away at Republican margins in the way Trump narrowed Democrats’ usual advantages among Black and Latino men in 2024, and not unlike what Kentucky’s Democratic governor, Andy Beshear, did in two statewide victories.

Nationally, Trump won 60% of small-town and rural voters when he lost reelection in 2020 — and 63% in his 2024 victory, according to AP VoteCast data. That’s a far cry from a generation ago, when Democrat Bill Clinton won pluralities in Johnson County on his way to capturing Kentucky’s electoral votes in the 1992 and 1996 White House races.

“We have to be intentional about how we build something sustainable,” Elridge said. “It’s not like we haven’t won here before.”

Combating the ‘caricature’ of Democrats

For two hours in downtown Paintsville, Elridge listened as Stumbo and others took umbrage at conservatives’ policy agenda, expressed frustration over President Trump’s standing in eastern Kentucky and said they were determined to sell their neighbors an alternative. Many brought their personal experiences to bear.

The event was part town hall, part catharsis, part pep talk. In some ways, the complaints in Paintsville mirrored how Democrats nationally are angry, often for very different reasons.

Sandra Music, a retired teacher who called herself “a new Democrat,” converted because of Trump. She bemoaned conservatives’ success in advancing private school tuition voucher programs and said they were threatening a public education system “meant to ensure we educate everybody.”

Music criticized Republicans for making a “caricature” of Democrats. “They want to pull out keywords: ‘abortion,’ ‘transgender,’ ‘boys in girls’ sports’” and distract from the rest of the Republican agenda, she said.

Stumbo, the former justice, lamented what she called the rightward lurch of the state and federal courts. “We are going to suffer irreparable damage,” she said, “if we don’t stop these conservative idiots.”

Michael Halfhill, who works in healthcare information technology, was incredulous that the billionaire president has taken hold of voters in Appalachia, historically one of the country’s poorest regions.

“It’s not left versus right. It’s rich versus poor,” he said, shaking his head at working-class white voters — Johnson County is 97.5% white — “voting against themselves.”

Ned Pillersdorf, who is married to Stumbo, went after Republicans for their proposed federal tax and spending plans, especially potential cuts to Medicaid. He said Paintsville still has a rural hospital, which is among the largest employers in the region, in no small part because Kentucky is among the GOP-leaning states where a Democratic governor expanded Medicaid under the 2010 Affordable Care Act.

Elridge, the first Black chair of a major party in Kentucky, mentioned Trump’s attacks on diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives and related civil rights laws and regulations.

“This is where Trump and MAGA excel — if somebody who looks like me is your enemy, then you don’t care if the guy in the White House is peeing on your leg and telling you it’s rain,” he said, referring to Trump’s “Make American Great Again” movement.

Republican response

By definition, a “listening tour” is not meant to produce concrete action. Elridge and Nicholas Hazelett, the Johnson County Democratic chair who is a college student and a Paintsville City Council member, acknowledged that the small crowd was Democrat-friendly. Despite a few recent converts, no one was there waiting to be convinced.

Across the street, antiques shop owner Michelle Hackworth said she did not even know Democrats were holding a meeting. Calling herself a “hard-core Republican,” she smiled when asked if she would consider attending.

“They wouldn’t convince me of anything,” she said.

Bill Mike Runyon, a self-described conservative Republican who is Paintsville’s mayor and loves Trump, went immediately to social and cultural commentary when asked in an interview to explain Johnson County politics.

Democrats, he said, “have to get away from the far-left radical — look at the transgender message.” Further, Runyon said, “everything got kind of racial. It’s not like that here in Paintsville and in Johnson County, but I can see it as a country. … It’s making people more racist against one another.”

Asked specifically who he was talking about, he alluded to progressive U.S. Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a Latina from New York City, and Jasmine Crockett, a Black woman from Texas.

“It’s the ones you always see on TV,” the mayor said.

Governor’s bipartisan appeal

Beshear seems to be the one Democrat who commands wide respect in and around Paintsville.

Democrats hailed the 47-year-old governor for supporting abortion and LGBTQ+ rights while still attracting support beyond the Democratic strongholds of Louisville, Lexington and Frankfort. Beshear did not win Johnson County but got 37% of the vote in his 2023 reelection. He carried several nearby counties.

Many Republicans, including the mayor, complimented Beshear for his handling of floods and other disasters in the region.

“He’s been here,” Runyon said. “I absolutely can get to him if I need him.”

In 2024, Beshear landed on the list of potential vice presidential running mates for Democratic nominee Kamala Harris. He also remains Senate Democrats’ top pick for a 2026 campaign for the seat coming open with Republican Sen. Mitch McConnell’s retirement.

Beshear, whose father once lost to McConnell after having won two governor’s races, has said he will not run for Senate. But he has stepped up his cable TV interviews and launched his own podcast, fueling speculation that his next campaign will be for the 2028 presidential nomination.

“Andy is not like those national Democrats,” Runyon said. Harking back to the 1990s, he added, “Bill Clinton wasn’t like these Democrats today.”

Hackworth, the shop owner, noted that she voted against the younger Beshear twice. But over the course of an extended interview, she, too, commended the governor’s disaster management. She also questioned some moves by Trump, including the idea of getting Washington completely out of the disaster aid business.

She blamed Trump’s predecessor, former President Biden, for a “tough time at my store,” but acknowledged that federal aid had helped many businesses and households stay afloat through the COVID-19 pandemic emergency.

Hackworth said she was not familiar with details of Medicaid expansion, but she identified the nearby hospital as among the area’s largest employers. The others, she said, are the public school system and Walmart, which a day earlier had announced it was increasing prices because of Trump’s tariffs.

While supporting Trump’s “America first” agenda, Hackworth said widespread tariffs would upset many consumers. “You can walk through my store and see where the new stuff is made,” she said. “I try to buy American, but so much of it is China, China, China.”

Asked again whether any of that should give Democrats an opening in places like Paintsville, she said, “Well, there’s always an opening if you show up.”

Barrow writes for the Associated Press.

Bold plans to transform a derelict theme park into an impressive £65 million holiday park – with more than 270 lodges and two hotels – remain in the air, despite being submitted to the council in 2022

The future of a rotting theme park once revered by Brits remains in the air – despite multi-million upgrade plans being submitted to the council three years ago.

Back in its glory days, Cleethorpe’s Pleasure Island epitomised the very best of the UK coast – attracting thousands of holidaymakers nationwide. Boasting almost 30 adrenaline-pumping rides, including the Hyperblaster, Obliterator, Pendulus, and Terror Rack – the attraction put Cleethorpes, a tiny seaside town on the estuary of the Humber in North East Lincolnshire, on the map. But, as cheap holiday packages to sunny destinations like Spain started gaining popularity – Pleasure Island’s visitor numbers drastically slumped.

In 2016, the theme park closed its doors for good. But, instead of being re-purposed or attempting to re-open, the attraction was simply left to decay. Now, creepy images show how much of the park has been neglected for so long much of it has been reclaimed by nature. Pictures released last year also reveal piles of rubbish that remains inside some of the park’s buildings.

READ MORE: UK’s ‘worst’ seaside town abandoned by Butlin’s with no sign it ever existed

The arched entrance to Pleasure Island still reads ‘WELCOME’ – but ugly metal fencing has blocked tourists from the site for almost a decade. It sparks one big question shrouded in mystery: what is happening to this place?

Back in 2022, a consortium of developers including Lidl submitted ambitious plans to transform the abandoned park into a huge holiday resort consisting of more than 270 lodges, two hotels, a drive-through coffee-shop and cycle-hire building. Expected to cost around £65 million, the proposal also includes restaurants, cafes, a leisure unit, two retail units, and the use of the existing lake for fishing activities.

According to reports at the time, all existing Pleasure Island buildings and structures would be knocked down, marking a fresh start for the space. An impact assessment estimates the regeneration could create around £17 million per year of additional visitor expenditure once it’s operational.

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However, the bold plans have been in a back-and-forth following a series of concerns. The Environment Agency first objected to plans based on worries about the risk of flooding. However, after agreeing to close the lodges between November and March – when flooding risk is at its highest – the EA was ‘satisfied’ with the amendments.

It later objecting to amendments to the plans, which include building a new bridge over the Buck Beck. “We will require continuous access along both banks of the watercourse and as a minimum, the bridge should not reduce the cross-sectional area of the channel,” the body said. “Further details are required to determine whether these requirements have been met.”

Other concerns were raised in 2023, when Natural England asked for more information about the development due to ‘potential significant effects’ on the Humber Estuary. However, since September last year – there have been no new news reports on the Pleasure Island’s future. On its website, North East Lincolnshire Council states the proposal is ‘pending consideration’ – but it has been like this since September 2024.

The latest update to the council’s planning documents is a Consultee Comment from Natural England, dated March 18. This is in response to concerns around recreational disturbance – which shows the future of Pleasure Island remains unknown.

Should the holiday park get the green light? Have your say in the comments section below

Southwold’s pristine beach makes it a hit for both families and those looking to dip their toes in the sea. Pier beach is flanked by a promenade that stretches all the way to the harbour

Like many coastal regions of the UK, the counties of Norfolk and Suffolk offer a plethora of seaside delights perfect for day trips and longer holidays. Southwold presents the picture-perfect British seaside outing for people of all ages and the Camping and Caravanning Club has even rated it as one of Britain’s top seaside towns.

Southwold’s safe, pristine beach makes it a hit for both families and those looking to dip their toes in the sea, earning it Blue Flag status and a Seaside Award in 2024. The town boasts two lovely beaches; Pier beach brims with striking beach huts while Denes beach – more secluded and favoured by windsurfers and canoeists – backs onto dunes and marshland.

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For added fun, Southwold Pier hosts quintessential seaside amusements, including an arcade bursting with vintage games and Tim Hunkin’s “eccentric” Under the Pier Show.

Hungry visitors can savour fare at various spots on the pier, be it the fish and chip shop, indulging in lunch or dinner at the Boardwalk restaurant with ocean views, or the Clockhouse for breakfast and homemade cakes, reports Cambridgeshire Live.

Pier beach is flanked by a promenade that stretches all the way to the harbour area, with the town centre just a short stroll away for those keen on a spot of shopping.

Southwold’s high street is brimming with independent shops and boutiques waiting to be discovered, including Pearls by the Sea, a family-run clothing shop that also offers gifts and accessories, and Squires of Southwold, a sweet shop and tea room boasting over 150 different types of sweets.

Little Gems, a popular greengrocers, is worth popping into if you’re after some fresh fruit for your trip or local products to take back home.

The shop was nominated in the regional Muddy Stilettos Awards for best farm shop in Cambridgeshire and Suffolk.

If you fancy a break from the beach, why not visit Southwold Museum? Housed in a quaint cottage, the museum offers interactive exhibitions and displays featuring fossil remains and information about Southwold’s transformation from a fishing community to a seaside resort.

Southwold is less than two hours’ drive from Cambridge via the A14. There’s a car park near the pier that charges £4 for a 10-hour stay, but there are other free parking spaces dotted around the town.

It’s hard to believe this rundown seaside town, that was recently ranked one of the worst in the UK, used to be the proud owner of a huge Billy Butlin’s resort

A once-thriving seaside town that has plummeted in the league tables used to home a huge Billy Butlin’s resort – not that you’d ever be able to tell.

Famed for its award-winning pier, golden sand beaches, and quintessential fun fair rides – Clacton-On-Sea used to be a glorious seaside resort that attracted droves of Brits from across the nation. But, earlier this year, Clacton, in Essex, came joint fourth-last with Skegness in Which?’s ranking of the UK’s best seaside towns.

It scored a measly 48 per cent – a shocking contrast to Bamburgh, who topped the tables with an impressive 86 per cent destination score. Following a survey of almost 5,000 travellers, the town was given three stars for its beaches and parking availability, but only two stars for its seafront/ pier and in the ‘peace and quiet’ category. When it comes to scenery, Clacton only took home one star.

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But back in its hey-day, before the Benidorm-boom saw Brits betray the UK coast for cheap package holidays to Spain, Clacton looked completely different. In 1936, Billy Butlin bought the West Clacton Estate, which already contained a miniature golf course and boating lake, and transformed it into the Red Coat resort we all know and love.

The resort closed due to the outbreak of war, where it was temporarily taken over by the Army. But in 1946, it reopened as a holiday camp – and went on to acquire nearby land to expand. “By the late 1950s, Butlin’s had become a national institution and to some extent, Clacton was able to bask in its reflected glory,” explained Clacton History. “The combination of Butlin’s and Clacton had become firmly established and for both their futures as family holiday venues seemed unshakeable.”

Like other Butlin’s sites, guests couldn’t get enough of the vast facilities on offer, such as cosy cabins, a huge outdoor pool, funfair rides, a ballroom dancing hall, bowling green, shops, a miniature railway, and stellar entertainment. It is said stars including the Beverley Sisters, Michael Holliday, and Jack Douglas all appeared on the camp in their younger days.

But, unable to compete with competitive flight prices to sunny Spain, and tarnished by unruly teens using the resort as a place to get drunk, Butlin’s sadly closed its doors in 1983 – the same year the Filey resort was also abandoned. According to Butlin’s Memories, the site was purchased for around £2 million by Amusement Enterprises Ltd – whounveiled ambitious plans to turn the complex into a ‘Disneyland’ style theme park.

With a new name, Atlas Park, the site re-opened in 1984 but remained largely unchanged from the Butlin’s era. The venture only lasted four months before running into financial difficulty, and the land was sold again. By 1987, everything had been demolished.

The area now serves local residents as a housing development, which is ideally located near the sea. It seems worlds away from the glory days of Butlin’s – which is still missed by swathes of locals.

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However, things are looking up for the town after they revealed plans to regenerate Clacton and the nearby Jaywick Sands in a huge £20 million upgrade. Tendring District Council’s (TDC) Cabinet has backed a whole host of schemes aimed at regenerating the town as part of a new Community Regeneration Partnership with the Ministry of Housing, Communities, and Local Government.

This includes £3 million being pumped into Clacton Leiure Centre to become a new Active Wellbeing Centre, as well as £2 million for the NHS towards building a new urgent treatment centre at Clacton Hospital. £500,000 has also been set aside for a new seafront art and community micro venue, while £500,000 will be invested to improve tired shopfronts.

Councillor Ivan Henderson, Deputy Leader of TDC and Cabinet Member for Economic Growth, Regeneration and Tourism, said: “This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to deliver transformative interventions across our district. These projects will significantly improve the quality of life, access to opportunities and health and wellbeing of our residents.”

Should Butlin’s return to Clacton-on-Sea? Let us know in the comments section below

This southern Italian village was completely abandoned after landslides and earthquakes forced residents to leave, but the crumbling town is increasingly intriguing to travellers

As ghost towns go, this one leans more stunning than spooky. Its dramatic setting on a hill in southern Italy gives this abandoned medieval town a distinct appeal for travellers, though it became too dangerous for former residents to remain.

Craco is surely one of the most picturesque ghost towns in Europe, if not in the world. It sits on a clifftop between the valleys of the Agri and Salandrella-Cavone rivers. Before its ruin, the village had a prosperous past supposedly linked to the Templars. Craco was abandoned somewhat recently after an unfortunate series of natural disasters forced residents to pick up and move on.

Almost all of the town’s less than 2,000 inhabitants were moved to a settlement in a nearby valley after a landslide in 1963 – the last in a series of landslides that began at the end of the 19th century. Some contend that the landslides leading up to the 1963 disaster were caused by faulty pipework and excavations in the decades prior.

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Even the few inhabitants who chose to remain after the landslides were forced to leave when the village was devastated in 1972 by a flood. And when earthquakes hit the town in 1980, the remaining stragglers moved on, leaving it totally abandoned.

Since then, Craco has remained relatively untouched and fuelled many mysterious legends. The town’s fame became international when it was used as a location for the 2008 James Bond film James Bond, Quantum of Solace, and it continues to attract curious travellers.

Craco has served as a filming location for many notable works, in fact. It was also chosen as the location for Mel Gibson’s “The Passion of the Christ” and Francesco Rosi’s “Cristo si è fermato a Eboli”.

Today, Craco is a collection of ruins though they highlight the rich ancient history of the area. Travellers will come upon ancient churches, such as the Mother Church of San Nicola and the Madonna della Stella church, and noble palaces, from palazzo Carbone to palazzo Grossi.

The village has increasingly grown into disrepair as weekends sprout within the churches and balconies and weather-damaged properties continue to rust and disintegrate. That said, Craco has been included on a list of sites that are priorities of the World Monuments Fund.

The town can only now be visited as part of guided tours, due to the instability of the buildings. Visitors are required to wear hard hats for their safety.

Italy is home to quite a few abandoned towns, though Craco is arguably the most beautiful. Fossa is another Italian village that was left abandoned after natural disasters cause significant damage.

When Matt Nadin travelled to Italy to explore the village of Fossa in the L’Aquila region of the country, he found many items had been left behind by families, including a mummified cat. Fossa had been inhabited for around 900 years until an earthquake struck in 2009.

The quake caused severe damage to the village’s buildings and left 308 people dead. Today the empty streets and abandoned buildings give the village the feeling of a ghost town.

Another abandoned town that is gaining attention for the morbidly curious is Varosha. The once-thriving resort town was left abandoned after the Turkish army invaded the northern region of Cyprus on July 20, 1974.

While the town remained closed to visitors for many years, in October 2020, a decision was made by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and the then prime minister of Northern Cyprus, Ersin Tatar, to reopen the area to tourists. More than 1.8 million tourists have visited the ghost town in the last four years – according to statistics released in 2024.

Brits looking for staycation inspiration make want to check out a beautiful UK seaside town where you can see puffins, seals and even whales if you’re lucky

A picturesque UK seaside town is worth having on your radar if you love wildlife, as it can be a great place to spot the likes of puffins, otters, seals and even whales and dolphins.

North Berwick in Scotland, just half an hour away from Edinburgh, has long been a firm-favourite with birdwatchers thanks to its renowned Seabird Centre. Visitors can take a series of boat trips between April and the end of September to surrounding islands as well as birdwatching hotspots, and keep an eye out for the likes of gannets, gulls, terns and more.

Meanwhile, puffins remain a big draw for tourists in the area. The best time to spot them is between March and August, with the Isle of May playing home to one of the largest puffin colonies in the UK (you can also find puffins on other Scottish islands such as Fidra, Craigleith, St Kilda, Orkney and Shetland). Meanwhile, Bass Rock is home to the world’s largest Northern gannet colony, and makes for a very impressive sight.

Plenty of visitors have taken to Tripadvisor to praise the Seabird Centre’s boat trips, and noted that they spotted everything from puffins to dolphins and even the occasional whale during their holidays. In fact, it’s also worth keeping your eyes peeled for the impressive basking sharks that have been known to make an appearance too!

“We did the Bass Rock and Craigleith catamaran trip and saw lots of gannets, puffins, kittiwakes, eider ducks, seals and many more,” one visitor wrote earlier this year. “Our guide was excellent, can highly recommend this 1h 15min trip, it didn’t feel rushed and the boat rotated so we all got a chance to see everything.”

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Another added: “Even on a cold rainy miserable day the scenery is beautiful the whole sea front just looks completely different than when the sun is shining.”

North Berwick also plays host to a series of fun events throughout the year, whether you want to watch locals take on impressive feats during the Highland Games, watch entertaining shows at the Fringe by the Sea festival, or want to go all-in on a bird-themed getaway during the town’s annual Puffin Fest.

Still, it’s not just the wildlife that makes North Berwick such a tempting destination to visit. The charming town is home to heaps of pretty tea rooms, classic fish and chip shops, ice cream parlours and coffee spots, as well as plenty of shops and hotels. The harbour is also well worth a visit especially at sunset for those Instagram-worthy views.

On the sunnier days, you can also take in gorgeous coastal setting from the town’s picturesque beaches including Gullane Bents, Seacliff beach, North Berwick Milsey Bay and North Berwick West Beach to name a few. Meanwhile, there are also historic castles and ruins to discover, with plenty of scenic walks and hikes in the area if you want to get those 10,000 steps in.

You can find out more about North Berwick and its wildlife on visitscotland.com.

The UK is full of gorgeous beach towns but there’s one picturesque spot that often slips under the radar, despite having a gorgeous sandy beach and plenty of coastal walks

Summer is fast approaching and as the weather heats up, it’s no surprise that Brits are starting to eye up staycations along the UK’s amazing coast.

Of course there are some spots that never fail to draw in the crowds such as Cornwall and Devon, but there’s one quiet fishing village that travel insiders have dubbed the “UK’s forgotten beach town”. Despite boasting a breathtaking mile-long sandy beach, within an area of outstanding natural beauty, Aberdaron on the Llyn Peninsula often slips under the radar.

In fact, travel experts at Ski Vertigo have named it the UK’s most underrated destination, describing it as a “Welsh gem” that is “often skipped in favour of more popular seaside towns”. One of their insiders explained: “Aberdaron has golden sands, a peaceful village charm, and incredible coastal paths – without the price tag of Cornwall.”

READ MORE: Charming UK seaside village is ‘must visit’ for 2025 – and may look familiar to TV fans

That ‘peaceful village charm’ includes cosy cafes, restaurants and a sailing club, as well as a handful of hotels with everything you could want for a calming seaside getaway. There are plenty of local attractions too such as Plas yn Rhiw, a National Trust property with some pretty enviable views across Cardigan Bay. Meanwhile a trip to St Hywyn’s Church offers up some nice vistas of the village and seaside.

For the outdoorsy tourists, the various sea caves and rock pools are sure to be of interest, but you’ll want to leave time on your itinerary for a trip to Bardsey Island. This breathtaking spot can be reached by boat and is both a National Nature Reserve and a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). It’s open to visitors from March through to October, while its waters have been known to host the likes of dolphins and whales.

Back in Aberdaron, one spot that never fails to attract both locals and tourists is Porthor Beach, which is known for its ‘whistling sands’. The noise comes from the sound that the sand makes as you walk over the granules, a rare phenomenon especially in the UK and Europe.

While it’s not a tourist hotspot, the beach does have plenty of facilities for those who want to make a day of it. There is a cafe serving up delicious snacks and coffees, perfect for replenishing your energy after a walk in the surrounding area, but be wary that some visitors have said the walk down to the beach from the car park can be quite steep, so bring some sturdy footwear. If you want to bring your dog along, take note that there are restrictions between April to September when it comes to letting them run free along the sands.

Although you can swim at this beach, visitors are warned to beware of strong currents and large breaking waves in the area, and to take care especially during strong winds. The beach is nestled amidst some cliffs too which makes for an Instagram-worthy backdrop, but tourists are warned not to climb or dig into the cliffs, and to keep children under supervision at all times.

Center Parcs has released the first glimpse of what its latest UK resort – predicted to cost at least £350 million – will look like, after submitting a formal planning application

Brits have been given the first-ever glimpse of what could soon become the UK’s newest Center Parcs. The holiday brand, which came to Britain back in 1987, submitted a formal planning application to open a huge resort near the tiny rural town of Hawick, Scotland.

Center Parcs has its heart set on building around 700 lodges and tourist facilities – such as its iconic Subtropical Swimming Paradise, and Aqua Sana Spa – conveniently located just off the A7. This area, which is south of Selkirk, boasts diverse wildlife including ospreys, golden eagles, red squirrels, and deer – and is near a slew of historic houses, castles, and abbeys.

The mega project, predicted to cost between £350 million and £400 million, will create around 1,200 jobs and become the seventh UK Center Parcs location. This week, the travel giant held a two-day community consultation (from May 20-21) in Hawick to discuss details with locals.

READ MORE: UK seaside town abandoned by Butlin’s where rows of houses and fields now sit

According to the BBC, concern has been raised over the loss of usable farmland. Some residents are also worried tourists will visit the Center Parcs complex and then leave the area – which won’t support local businesses.

However, the company, which is accepting comments on the proposed site until Friday, June 6, says most of its guests who stay for the weekend end up ‘exploring’ the local area too. It also released a fly-through video and 3D model to show locals exactly what the holiday village would look like.

The computer-generated images reveal the epic site will feature the classic Center Parcs central hub which homes its Subtropical Swimming Paradise, a huge lake where guests can hire boats, as well as restaurants and a spa – all set amongst lush woodlands. “The flythrough video and 3D model really help bring the plans to life and add to the real sense of anticipation that has been evident at recent consultation events,” the company’s chief executive, Colin McKinlay, said.

The Center Parcs boss added that the company is working hard to ensure its proposals reflect feedback it has received from the community. “It’s one thing to describe what we’re hoping to build, but seeing it laid out visually captures the ambition of what we’re planning,” he explained.

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Scotland’s first-ever Center Parcs aims to open its doors by 2029. In the meantime, Brits can holiday in any of the six sites currently operating in the UK. These are Sherwood Forest, Nottinghamshire; Woburn Forest, Bedfordshire; Elveden Forest, Suffolk; Whinfell Forest, Cumbria, or Longleat Forest, Wiltshire.

Guests can choose to stay for three, four, or seven nights – with all breaks starting on either a Friday or Monday. Prices will vary depending on what type of accommodation you choose, as well as if you’re visiting during peak breaks. Half-term visits start from £749*.

*Prices based on Center Parcs’ website at the time of writing.

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Scarborough, a charming seaside town located in North Yorkshire, has been named one of the top destinations in the UK to visit and is known for its stunning coastline and rich history

With summer on the horizon, holidaymakers are busy planning their getaways, and for those favouring a staycation, there’s no need to look further than a delightful beach escape right on your doorstep. Scarborough, a charming coastal gem in North Yorkshire, is famed for its breathtaking shoreline that offers spectacular views of the North Sea.

The area is a haven for nature lovers, boasting proximity to the North York Moors National Park, dramatic cliffs, shimmering sandy beaches, and the majestic Scarborough Castle perched high above the sea. The town has been lauded as one of the top UK destinations to visit by Time Out magazine in 2023, and CN Traveller hailed it as the “most beautiful seaside resort in England” for its historical charm.

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They remarked: “The dramatic castle occupies the headland which separates the two main bays steep cliffs stretching away in both directions. The old town ascends the slope to the castle in a maze of crooked streets, with buildings dating back to Tudor times.”

Scarborough’s allure is heightened by the promise of a fresh adventure with each visit.

A perfect start to any trip could be the colourful Scarborough Fair Collection, home to Europe’s most extensive collection of classic fairground rides and historic vehicles.

This museum provides a unique historical lens, complete with bumper cars, penny arcades, a merry-go-round and the opportunity to enjoy afternoon tea whilst watching a stage show.

Another must-visit is the Scarborough Rotunda Museum, a Jurassic geology museum that delves into 65 million years of history, showcasing thousands of fossils, dinosaur footprints and even a Speeton Plesiosaur skeleton.

Entry is free for under 18s, and adults can explore the Rotunda Museum for just £5, which also includes admission to the Scarborough Art Gallery.

But no seaside getaway would be complete without a trip to the beach, and Scarborough boasts two stunning beaches: North and South Bay.

South Bay Beach is ideal for a family day out, having been a hit during the Victorian era, it still offers similar attractions like donkey rides and a lively promenade brimming with activities.

North Bay Beach, on the other hand, is much quieter and the perfect spot for relaxation or a leisurely stroll with a camera in hand. With numerous rock pools and charming vintage beach huts set against a backdrop of stunning hills and cliffs, there’s plenty to explore.

The two beaches are divided by the remnants of the grand Scarborough Castle, a 12th-century fortress that has withstood Viking invasions and served as a significant royalist stronghold during the Civil War.

After a day of sightseeing, it’s essential to visit the Scarborough Castle Great Tea Room, which offers stunning views of both beaches and an array of homemade cakes, jams, and other comforting treats.

No matter your itinerary, Scarborough is the perfect spot for a peaceful beach getaway, offering magnificent views, a rich history, and a host of entertaining attractions at one of England’s most beautiful seaside resorts.

COPS are desperately searching for a man and his two children – last seen speeding through a major seaside town.

Authorities are concerned over the welfare of the passengers and have sent out a police helicopter to help them in their search.

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Grange-over-Sands is perched on the edge of Morecambe Bay and offers a delightful step back in time for day-trippers. The Victorian and Edwardian influences are still evident

Grange-over-Sands, a quaint town perched on the edge of Morecambe Bay, offers a delightful journey back in time for day-trippers. Despite not having its own beach, the town exudes a unique coastal charm with a stretch of sand separated by marshland and the unmistakable salty sea air.

The 19th-century arrival of the rail line transformed Grange-over-Sands into a fashionable destination. Today, the Victorian and Edwardian influences are still evident, with a lengthy seafront promenade, a charming train station, a neat row of cafes and shops, and ornamental gardens. Away from the bustling tourist crowds of the nearby Lake District, Grange-over-Sands has a relaxed atmosphere.

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Just a 12-minute drive away is the Lake District, a national park that attracts around 18.1 million people every year. Visitors can leisurely explore hidden gardens or stroll along the promenade, which offers views across the bay to Far Arnside and Silverdale.

The town’s sloping topography creates layered areas above the coastline, each offering a different place to discover. This means you can walk along a path directly alongside the town’s railway line, while looking down at the sunken Ornamental Gardens on one side and the marshland on the other, reports Manchester Evening News.

Nestled in the heart of the town is Hazelmere Cafe and Bakery, a delightful tea room that marries vintage charm with contemporary decor. During my weekend jaunt, it was brimming with customers relishing everything from traditional cream teas to light midday meals, writes Liv Clarke.

Proudly offering an extensive tea menu with every conceivable blend (upstairs you’ll find Dorothy’s Teas, a shop devoted entirely to tea), I chose the China Rose, a revitalising brew with a delicate rose undertone.

Given the cafe’s location, one dish not to be missed is the Potted Morecambe Bay Shrimps served atop toast. Despite never having sampled potted shrimps before (their look always put me off), they were surprisingly enjoyable.

We concluded our meal with a shared vanilla slice, boasting crisp flaky pastry, silky custard filling, and sweet icing – the perfect partner to the tea.

The cafe also features an onsite bakery, open from Monday to Saturday. Although it was shut during our visit, it typically presents a broad selection of freshly baked breads and over thirty different cakes each day, ranging from Caramel Shortbread to Yorkshire Curd Tart.

It’s the perfect place to grab some goodies to savour at home after your visit or to nibble on as you wander around Grange-over-Sands.

What you need to know

A trip from Greater Manchester to Grange-over-Sands can be done in roughly 90 minutes, whether you opt to drive or hop on a direct train.

There’s ample parking available at various spots, including the Main Street car park near the promenade, with fees starting at £1.90 for an hour. The postcode is LA11 6DY.

Hazelmere Tea House and Restaurant opens its doors every day from 10am to 4pm (no need to book), while the bakery shop is open from 7.30am to 3pm, Monday to Saturday.

Visitors are strongly discouraged from venturing onto the saltmarsh at Grange-over-Sands due to the presence of perilous quicksand.

Instead, they can savour the views from the safety of the promenade.

An iconic UK seaside town propelled to fame thanks to a popular TV show also used to be home to a huge Billy Butlin’s resort – which was flattened after just 30 years

An iconic seaside town previously home to a huge Billy Butlin’s resort now looks completely different – but there’s still a small reminder of what once was. While many Brits think the hit TV series Gavin & Stacey cast south Wales’ Barry Island into the tourist limelight, the town was already luring in swathes of holidaymakers back in its hey-day.

Situated in the Vale of Glamorgan in South Wales, Barry and its eponymously named island boasts a sweeping stretch of golden sand beach, cobalt waters and a recently refurbished seafront complete with restaurants, cafes, and colourful beach huts. But back in 1966, the town also featured a Butlin’s resort that had the capacity to accommodate 7,000 overnight visitors every single week.

According to reports, Sir Billy Butlin is rumoured to have been inspired to create his holiday camp business after his family was accidentally locked out of a B&B in Barry Island by the landlady. The all-inclusive complex – which consisted of 800 ‘no-frills’ chalets – featured heated swimming pools, a cable-car ride, a miniature railway, bars, restaurants, and even a Fish & Chip shop – and of course, the iconic Red Coat staff.

READ MORE: Huge £3.5m UK floating hotel abandoned and left to rot in the sea

But, similarly to the Butlin’s resort in Filey, business started dwindling when package holidays to destinations like Spain started becoming more affordable. Hindered by the ‘Benidorm boom’, Barry Island’s Butlin’s, located on Nell’s Point, ran for just 20 years.

It was then taken over by Majestic Holidays – and renamed The Barry Island Resort – but only managed to last a further 10 years. In its last decade of welcoming tourists, the Red Coat staff were forced to wear blue uniforms following threats of legal action.

But in 1996, following a storm that worsened growing maintenance issues, the entire site closed. Rows of once fun-filled cabins, swimming pools, and restaurants were left to rot for almost an entire year, when Vale Council bought the site for £2.25 million.

It was later sold to Bovis Homes and bulldozed to make way for a new housing estate as part of a £3 million regeneration project in the area. Now, the Butlin’s resort looks like any normal residential area – filled with new-build properties and green space.

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While Brits heading over to Barry Island for a weekend of sun and ice cream won’t be able to watch an iconic Red Coat show – or spend their days by the pool – they’ll still be able to find a tiny slice of nostalgia. This is because in 2014, a blue plaque was erected at the seafront garden to commemorate the holiday entrepreneur.

Former Red Coat Tony Collier told the BBC: “We couldn’t want for a better position in this lovely garden for the plaque. Hundreds of thousands of holidaymakers and staff came from all over the country each summer and Christmas, to enjoy the facilities offered on site, and the beautiful Welsh countryside on its doorstep.”

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A small town in western France has set a new world record for the largest gathering of people dressed as Smurfs, organisers say, with more than 3,000 participants counted over the weekend.

Landerneau, a town of 16,000 in Brittany’s far west, had twice previously attempted to claim the record from Lauchringen, a German town that brought together 2,762 Smurfs in 2019.

But on Saturday, the French enthusiasts finally broke through, assembling 3,076 people clad in blue outfits, faces painted, donning white hats and singing “smurfy songs”.

The Smurfs – created by Belgian cartoonist Peyo in 1958 and known as “Schtroumpfs” in French – are tiny, human-like beings who live in the forest.

The beloved characters have since become a global franchise, spawning films, television series, advertising, video games, theme parks and toys.

“A friend encouraged me to join and I thought: ‘Why not?’” said Simone Pronost, 82, dressed as a Smurfette.

Albane Delariviere, a 20-year-old student, made the journey from Rennes, more than 200km (125 miles) away, to join the festivities.

“We thought it was a cool idea to help Landerneau out,” she said.

Landerneau’s mayor, Patrick Leclerc, also in full Smurf attire, said the event “brings people together and gives them something else to think about than the times we’re living in”.

Pascal Soun, head of the association behind the gathering, said the event “allows people to have fun and enter an imaginary world for a few hours”.

Participants were relieved to have good weather, after last year’s attempt was hampered by heavy rain that deterred many from attending.