The 1st – 8th June 2026 marks National Volunteers Week in the UK, and if you work in heritage or the arts (as I do when wearing my other hat), you’ll know that volunteers are the life’s blood of these sectors. Simply put, all the incredible places and events that are offered across the North, would not happen without volunteers, and these venues would not be half of what they are without the tireless effort of those who give their time for free.
English Heritage properties, such as Lanercost Priory (pictured), rely on volunteers to continue to operate.
So, this is just a short piece to say thank you to everyone who volunteers their time in some capacity or another to keep these places going. In his time my dad used to volunteer as a warden at Fountains Abbey for the National Trust, and now I work with volunteers on a weekly basis at Lancaster Grand Theatre. The work they do is essential and keeps these venues open and available to the public, whilst also ensuring their safety and enjoyment.
According to government statistics for the last year available (2024-2025), 17% of UK adults had volunteered at least once a month in the last twelve months, with 28% of UK adults volunteering at least once in the twelve month span. In geographical terms the North has less volunteers than the rest of the UK, but 15% of adults in the NW volunteered at least once a month, and 14% of adults in the NE did the same. Whichever way you slice it, this still equates to millions of people giving up their free time and effort to help organisations who simply wouldn’t exist without it.
All in all, thank you volunteers! And, if you think you’d be interested in volunteering, take a look at charities, arts and heritage centres, religious or health services, and other of the like throughout your community. I guarantee that they will be looking for volunteers, and will be delighted by your contribution, even if it can only be one hour every two months – every little helps, as they say!
As anyone who is a even-somewhat frequent visitor to my website and reader of my articles, you’ll know that sustainability is a regular topic and that the environment is very important to me. As far as I’m concerned, you can’t build your house securely if the land it sits on is on fire, so everything must be built on that solid foundation of environmental security and making space for nature. That being said, I try to look for small business and destinations that are trying to do their bit for a liveable and thriving world – one of the key ways we can all help in the climate crisis is by keeping our choices (where possible) local, and supporting small businesses closer to us.
As such, I am always happy to see when places I go to frequently are working towards making their businesses more sustainable and environmentally friendly. The Hideaway Huts in Northumberland are one of my go-to places when I want peace and quiet, and place to get back in touch with nature without the bustle of busy-ness that I get in cities or elsewhere. I’ve talked about just how peaceful they are before, and how amazing it is to go somewhere where, in the middle of the night, it’s just… silence. Wonderful.
Northumberland and Nature
“At Stanegate Hideaways we cherish our Northumbrian home with its dramatic scenery and the wildflowers, birds and animals which make this countryside so special…”
Of course, one of the key reasons to come to this part of the world is to get away from the hustle and bustle of city/town life, and reconnect with nature. As I write this, I’m actually sitting in one of the huts (as I’m going to an event in Hexham tomorrow!), and listening to the sound of the birds bedding down for the evening. Earlier today when I arrived there were long tailed tits flitting about in the trees in the paddock, and “Malcolm” the duck was sitting in his usual spot by the side of the pond, waiting for his lady friend… “Maud”.
I nearly always bring some walking boots when I come up here, just so I can go on a little bit of an amble through the public pathways, get into nature, and see what I can see. Last year I went on a short walk that ended up being about an eight mile round circuit around the back of Vindolanda and all the way up – the very long – Stanegate. Oh well! I got to see some wild roe deer and other wildlife that night. One thing I would love to see, from a safe distance, is the Northumberland native Adder. Adders are Britain’s only venomous snake and are extremely rare to see. They are very shy and will almost certainly have heard us coming long before we’ve spotted them (and therefore disappeared from view). If you are lucky enough to see one, it’s usually sunning themselves on a rock before going about a day’s business. Be aware, adders are danger noodles (even though bites to humans are extremely rare), and like all wildlife, should be enjoyed from a respectful distance.
Credit: Julie Smith
If you’re lucky, you might be lucky enough to see an owl in the paddock (captured in the wonderful photo above by Julie Smith), as well as other wildlife such as herons in the new wildlife pond, deer crossing the paddock (you’ll have to be very quiet and about at dusk/early in the morning to see these guys!), and any number of other species of British birds. I don’t know about you, but I could sit and watch the birds and wildlife for hours, just taking in the peace and quiet of the countryside and its beauty.
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Stanegate and Sustainability
Over the years Helen has been working to make the Hideaway Huts and Stable Cottage more sustainable, and to link in with other initiatives in the area that promote environmentalism and green business practices.
The toiletries and washing products left for convenience are now refillable, as Helen is working on reducing the single-use plastic used within the business. Any of the toiletaries that are provided are provided by Out of Eden, a company found just over the border near Kirkby Stephen in Cumbria, and just over an hour’s drive away. The detergents and washing products used in the cottage and in the huts are all eco-friendly, making sure that no nasties end up in the water system, or is harmful to ecosystems.
The goody basket that is always generously provided by Helen on arrival is filled with her homemade baked goods and jams, or from local farms and makers nearby, in an additional effort to support the local economy. Even the artwork and photography on the walls is sourced from local artists and photographers!
One of the changes that Helen has made is putting in an electric car charging port at Stable Cottage, as well as an e-bike charger which itself is powered by a small solar panel and wind turbine. These have been installed by a local company from Haltwhistle called Intelligen Energy. Side note: Intelligen was founded in 2015, and their main mission is to make public use spaces (such as bus shelters) into spaces for solar power generation. Excellent plan as far as I’m concerned! Their being a local Northern company also gives them extra brownie points.
Anyway, back to the Hideaway Huts and Stable Cottage! The water in the cottage is heated by solar panels, and the light is provided – where possible – by low energy LED lighting.
“Our aim is always to support our local and rural economy, and we do our utmost to care for our environment whilst we care for you!” – Helen, Stanegate Hideaways Owner
Hideaway Huts, of course, doesn’t stand alone, and fits into a great (and growing) Northumberland eco-tourism network. Just up the road from Hideaway is the Hadrian cycleway, which is a 72 mile long cycleway, which avid cyclers can either tackle as a whole, or take on in chunks (see the map below and website). In the summer, in particular, the roads are often busy with cyclists.
There are also many businesses taking their eco footprint seriously, as the recent article with Vintage At The Tower, Corbridge illustrated, with Gayle the owner adopting ways of making her business more sustainable. Of course, the management of Hadrian’s Wall itself and the preservation of this incredible UNESCO World Heritage Site is determined by our ability to adapt to our changing climate. The monument will react differently to more extreme weather events, and these events will almost certainly dictate the way in which visitors can interact with the monument for years to come.
Do you know anywhere along Hadrian’s Wall that is making an extra special effort to be sustainable and environmentally friendly? Let me know by emailing bryony@thenorthishlass.co.uk so that I can add them to my map of sustainable destinations or small business!
Roughly equidistant between the cities of Carlisle and Newcastle, and in the heart of Hadrian’s Wall country, sits the pretty little village of Bardon Mill. The nearest towns (in size descending order) are Hexham, Haltwhistle, and Corbridge. As you approach the village by the main road, you’ll see signs which say “smoke,” which could be a little bit concerning, but actually it’s just the working pottery and it depends which way the wind is blowing (and whether they’re firing that day) as to whether the smoke is coming across the road. The little village is often overlooked because it is just off the A69 thoroughfare between two major cities in the North, but it is well worth a stop over (maybe for lunch?) if your journey allows it.
The village boasts a popular local pub The Bowes Hotel (named after the Bowes-Lyon family that were resident in the area from the 18th-20th century), as well as a community store and tearoom just across the road from the pub, if your mood is more scone than Sunday lunch. The village also has a large working pottery (Errington Reay) that has been going since 1878, where today you can go and watch the potters at work, or take part in workshop to learn a little bit about the art yourself. This is the only commercial pottery in the UK that is currently licensed to produce salt glaze pottery, which produces a slightly “orange-peel” like texture to the pots, as a coating of sodium silicate is formed when the pots are fired in the kiln. It did fall out of fashion due to concerns about the air pollution produced during the process, which is why Errington Reay only fires on certain days, at specific times, and in small windows, to keep the smoke at a minimum.
The location of the village means that it is only two miles away from The Sill, the hub of Northumberland National Park; two miles from Allen Banks (which used to be the grounds of Ridley Hall, see below) and Staward Gorge; two miles from Vindolanda; and only three miles from the wall itself. No matter what you’re in the mood to do in this beautiful part of the world, then Bardon Mill is a great place to do it from. This village truly is in the heart of Hadrian’s Wall country, so is a great hub and base to plan a day’s activities – come for breakfast in the tearoom, and set out from there!
Other historical landmarks include the beautiful Georgian Ridley Hall, about a mile away, and was once the northern residence of the Bowes-Lyon family (i.e. the late Queen’s Mother). Now however, it is actually the boarding wing of a nearby prep school (fancy!), and is used for weddings and functions on the weekends and school holidays when the students are not in residence. Sadly it is not open to the public (although they do host an annual Burns Night community Ceilidh, which seems like an excellent opportunity to get inside!), but you can admire the hall itself from a distance from the numerous walking paths and the roads nearby.
The village is connected to both Carlisle and Newcastle, as well as the nearby towns and villages, by an active trainline and bus services, so it’s very easy to get to from either of those larger cities. Centred around its community and celebrating its stunning location, Bardon Mill remains connected and welcoming to visitors, year round.
The thing about being vintage… it never goes out of fashion.
Before we truly begin, I think it’s probably important to understand exactly what vintage clothing is. It’s a word that gets thrown around a lot these days, whether correctly or not. By “dictionary” definition, vintage clothing is a piece that is more than twenty years old, but less than a hundred years old. Anything older than a hundred years would be considered an antique as, by its very nature, is likely to be a lot rarer. As such, what classes as vintage moves… it breathes… it’s not static, and as each year passes more items will be added to the vintage category whilst much older items fall off the other end into the realms of antique.
I love vintage clothing, and delight in spending an hour or two rummaging through a good vintage shop to see what treasures I can find. There are three major reasons why I am so excited by vintage clothing:
Style – When you find a really cool vintage piece that appeals to your sense of style, you can be relatively sure that, the next time you go out, you’re not going to see five other people wearing the same thing. It helps you build a unique look that is all your own, and also aids in building image confidence. It’s very easy to become comfortable living in generic clothing (and if that’s your bag, there’s nothing wrong with it), but it is amazing what a difference a few unique pieces can make in transforming your wardrobe. I have a vintage suede jacket, and I always feel a little more confident when I put it on because it’s a little bit different, it’s comfortable, it’s well-made, and it goes with a lot of things I already own.
Lance Reis for Unsplash
Durability – There’s no arguing with it; clothes were better made in the past (although as the vintage window creeps into the late 00s and 10s, vintage collectors are going to have to start being more savvy about how items were manufactured), compared to clothes that are made today and churned out by fast fashion giants (shudder). If you know anything about how clothes are made and compare a pair of jeans from the 90s to ones made today, the difference in fabric density, the stitching on the zipper, the hemming etc. etc. will be obvious to see. Some would argue that this general decline in quality is to help keep prices low, and perhaps that is true, but that leads directly to the next point…
Environment – Vintage clothing is better for the environment. Obviously. By not making new clothing and recycling old, you’re not using new carbon to create anything, you’re keeping fabric out of the waste pipeline, and you’re saving clothing from landfill. This is so important to me – we have so much wonderful clothing out there, available to us, and it’s just waiting to be discovered and loved again…
Of course, that is where Gayle Foster and her shop Vintage At The Tower in Corbridge comes in. I sat down with Gayle a couple of weeks ago to ask her some questions about owning a small business, sustainability, vintage clothing, and why it should be the future of fashion, as well as its past.
How long have you been at Vintage At The Tower, and what was it that inspired you to open a Vintage shop? Vintage at the Tower was first established in 2013 as a pop-up shop by myself and two other vintage sellers, as we sought to share the costs of running the shop together. By 2022 the other two dealers had moved on from the shop, and I decided to take over the shop solo.
What exactly can someone find at Vintage At The Tower? You have clothing and jewellery, but there are other treasures to find as well…? Yes, we sell all sorts of clothing and jewellery that I personally source. I specialise and focus on natural fabrics, but also on promoting and preserving British Brands such as Liberty, Barbour, Jaeger, Burberry… and many others! These clothing brands are to be found alongside gorgeous vintage costume jewellery, handbags, and accessories.
We have got a wide range of jewellery; both costume and antique jewellery, handmade with care and consideration, and selected for their style and uniqueness. They go well with any outfit, even your everyday, to elevate and add some style or whimsy, depending on your taste and what you can find! They also make great gifts, because they’re so unique. People aren’t going to have seen it anywhere else, and it means that you can find something that really speaks to an individual for a gift.
They’re thoughtful, stunning and personal, the sort of thing that says, “I saw this and just knew it was made just for you.”
My ethos is to elevate the every day, so I also stock a range of vintage homewares includes crystal glass, tableware, and kitchen paraphernalia. Plates and glasses don’t need to be boring, any more than a pair of trousers does. I want to enhance people’s every day lives by providing individual, stylish, and sustainable items that they will be able to use for many years to come.
Bryony: I am a huge fan of this ethos because, in my mind, life is meant to be lived. It’s meant to be fun and beautiful, cosy, and charming, and whatever other adjective you want to put on it. Wear the perfume just because, light the nice candles, put the fancy skirt on just to pop to the shops… why not?! I think if we consciously try to bring joy into our every day, rather than worrying that we perhaps shouldn’t do that, we would probably have a much more fun experience when simply going about our lives.
Where does your stock come from? (Or is that a trade secret?!) The stock for Vintage At The Tower is found in a wide variety of places, from fairs to markets, to selected online sellers, as well as other dealers who have items that appeal to my style. Here in the shop we also repair and restore old clothing and jewellery, and everything that comes in is cleaned, polished, and restored to a high quality, to ensure that it gets the new lease of life that it deserves. Sometimes all an item needs is some new buttons, or the lining of a jacket repairing, before it can be worn for many years to come!
I source a lot of my beautiful costume jewellery from Butler and Wilson, and have built up quite the range and collection over the years. I’ve also got some antique pieces of jewellery that are tiny works of art in their own right – made in the early 20th century, and of exquisite detail.
Bryony: I especially love the range of clip-on earrings to be found in the shop. As someone who can’t wear “regular” earrings, no matter what metal I’ve tried, it was amazing to find a shop with such a wide range of beautiful clip-ons to peruse. I think I’ve got at least six pairs!
What drew you to vintage in the first place, and what is your favourite era for vintage clothing? Are you a 70s officiando? Or is the current Y2K clothing movement floating your boat? I have always had an interest in vintage and pre-loved items, which probably began when I was young – dressing up in my grandma’s gorgeous clothes, and delving into her jewellery box. She was one of the major influences for me becoming a fashion student in the 1980s! My favourite decades for vintage clothing have got to be the Hollywood glamour of the late 40s and early 50s, when things like the Dior “New Look” came into it’s own, and stars like Hedy Lemarr and Audrey Hepburn were shining.
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Is any of the stock not vintage? If so, where does it come from? Do you try and use local suppliers and artisans? We produce our own range of handknitted accessories made from pure alpaca wool, that are knitted by a team of local ladies. I also make a point of upcycling and reusing old fabrics to make new items, such as lampshades, or customised denim jackets. It’s really important to me to do this, as it keeps old textiles out of the waste stream and out of landfill.
Bryony: Shockingly, each year, we Brits throw away 300,000 tonnes of clothing into landfill. If it doesn’t end up in landfill, it is also burned, another option which is terrible for the environment. This is a cost-cutting approach to disposing of clothes, at the expense of releasing toxic fumes to our environment on a mass scale.
Why is vintage clothing important to you? What do you wish the general public knew about sustainability when purchasing clothing? I have always been passionate about recycling and reusing as a way to protect the environment, and I see vintage as a great opportunity to achieve this. It has never been more important to be sustainable in our habits, and with enough clothing currently on this planet to clothe the next six generations, encouraging people to buy preloved and vintage clothing is essential.
You’ve worked to make the shop more sustainable; how have you gone about that? What changes have been made, and what changes would you like to make in the future? The Green Growth Programme, run by Small Business Britain, that I completed last year, was very interesting for me, even though I run a very sustainable business already, I have been able to implement even more changes to make things better. This has included switching energy supplier, changing up our packaging to be more sustainable, and being more aware of how we recycle the minimal waste that is created in store. I have also implemented a sustainability strategy to ensure that every area of the business is sustainable, and caring for a community and planet. Future plans for the shop involve installing solar panels, which is being looked into at the moment.
Something very interesting that we have started recently is our rental service on handbags, designer fashion, and Butler and Wilson statement jewellery. This works really well for our customers who want unique pieces for special events like prom, a wedding, or an anniversary event, and then it can come back and be used and loved by someone else. It’s a brilliant way of making sure that items go back into circulation and the environmental footprint is further reduced!
The European Union recently passed a law that companies can no longer destroy unsold clothing. Is this something you would like to see replicated in the UK? What sort of a difference do you think that it would make? The recent law change in the EU is a huge leap forward towards a more sustainable fashion industry, and I hope our government takes notice of the changes and acts accordingly. Next to the oil and gas industry, the fashion industry is the second highest polluter on the planet. One piece of vintage clothing purchased has seventy times less the environmental impact compared to a new piece of clothing. I want to encourage everyone to think about where their clothes are coming from, how and by whom they are made, and then seriously consider preloved when deciding where to purchase.
As you can tell, Vintage is very important to Gayle, and I can’t wait to see how she further develops Vintage At The Tower, it’s offering, and the sustainability of the shop. I know that I will be back, again and again, to see what’s new and find my newest piece!
Opposite the wonderful Roman Army Museum on Hadrian’s Wall, an exciting new project is in the offing. The ‘Walltown Wider Horizons Project’ aims to transform the seventeen hectare site of a former quarry and countryside park, found just outside of Haltwhistle, into a lively yet sympathetic tourist attraction for visitors to the area.
Key aims of the project are strengthen the connection of the local and visiting population with the incredible landscape, and to raise awareness of issues that are facing Northumberland National Park alongside the wildlife and communities that call it home. The project aims to make the park fully accessible to people of all needs, abilities, and ages, and is being delivered – in this stage at least – by Glenkemp Landscape Architects, the architects who were responsible for the building of The Sill.
Jonny Gios on Unsplash
I visited during the very first stages of the consultation of the project when it was occurring at The Sill a couple of weeks ago. This consultation aimed to capture the community and visitors thoughts and comments about the beginning of the project, and what they would like to see as outcomes of the project. Visitors were invited to put stickers on things they would like to see, as well as leave voice notes and memos about what the National Park meant to them when they were visiting. The artist, Charlie Whinney, who was behind the ‘Coming Home’ installation and exhibition following the illegal felling of the tree at Sycamore Gap, is also involved in the project.
For my part, I chose that I would like to see areas that are truly wild and have a deep connection with nature; places where it feels totally natural and away from the buzz of it all, such as forest bathing, bird hides, and places to observe the dark skies at night. But that is just what I would like from such a project, and I know that that is not what would suit everybody – some people will inevitably want a much more family-friendly attraction, with elements that will keep children amused when visiting. I hope that they can come to a decent mix, satisfying both elements (and more!) without jeopardising the satisfaction of either.
Either way, this is a project that is just at it’s very beginning, and I imagine it will be many years before it comes to complete fruition. I look forward to following along with the progress of the project and seeing how it goes!
Harry Potter & The Philosopher’s Stone @ Alnwick Castle, Northumberland
The most well known one of this list, and one on which Alnwick Castle has cemented itself firmly into global consciousness. The outside of Alnwick Castle Bailey and the lawns is the location for the famous “flying lesson” scene in the first Harry Potter movie when Harry (Daniel Radcliffe) discovers his talents on a broomstick, and the hapless Neville Longbottom (Matthew Lewis) loses control of his broom and comes back to earth with a bump. The scene also included favourite characters such as Hermione (Emma Watson), Ron (Rupert Grint), Draco Malfoy (Tom Felton), Professor McGonagall (the late, great, Maggie Smith) and Madam Hooch (Zoe Wannamaker).
If you want to experience some of the magic for yourself, you can take broomstick lessons at Alnwick Castle, where you’ll learn how to hold your broom, accelerate, brake, and turn around corners. Unfortunately, for safety reasons, the flying charm has been removed from visitor’s brooms.
This isn’t the only time that Alnwick Castle was used in the first two movies. The grounds around the Castle were used for exterior shots (notably when Harry and Ron crash into the Whomping Willow in the second film), and the Lion Gate was used an entrance/exit for Hogwarts Students on their way to and from the grounds and the path down to Hagrid’s Hut.
The Witcher @ Fountains Abbey, N. yorks
The Abbey was a major filming location for Season Two of the Netflix show, The Witcher. According to the abbey website, more than 250 crew members moved in for two months(!) in order to film the scenes for the high fantasy show. The nave was used for a dramatic night ritual scene, followed by a horseback rescue; a scene which involved a lot of fire. Many safety precautions and tricky filming tactics were needed, both to protect the cast and crew, but also to protect the UNESCO world heritage site. On a calmer side, the Georgian water gardens were used as palace grounds for members of the court to walk and scheme along the way.
Game of Thrones @ Hadrian’s Wall, Northumberland
Game of Thrones didn’t just use Hadrian’s Wall as a filming location because it fit the books, the location was in fact the inspiration for what appeared in the books. George R. R. Martin writes about a land divided by a wall of ice, guarded by a hardy and dwindling band of sworn soldiers. “Civilisation” (or so they think) is found south of the wall, whilst North of the Wall is full of untold dangers and wild people beyond the law. Sound familiar?
Toa Heftiba on Unsplash
As such, it was a total no-brainer when it came to using Hadrian’s Wall as the location for The North in Game of Thrones, and the location where the viewer is first introduced to Eddard Stark (Sean Bean), Robb Stark (Richard Madden), and Jon Snow (Kit Harington) in Episode one of Season One.
Game of Thrones was one of those TV Shows that made me wonder how one gets into location scouting for a production company or film shoot. Seems like a wonderful job to me…
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Peaky Blinders @ Ashton Memorial, Lancashire
My home town was all abuzz when we learned that Peaky Blinders, the TV show sensation predominately filmed at the Black Country Museum, was coming to film in one of the most famous buildings in Lancaster.
The production moved in for a week or so, and used the iconic Ashton Memorial as the location for an evening soiree that quickly descends into chaos due to the presence of Oswald Mosley’s fascist Black Shirts.
The exteriors of both Carlisle Castle and Bamburgh Castle were used as locations for the notorious Wentworth Prison in Season One of the historical fantasy Outlander. Both of these castles provided the backdrop for Black Jack Randall’s lair in the Scottish Highlands, from which he terrorises the surrounding area and nurses his obsession of Jamie Fraser.
Regardless of the fact that neither of these castles ever had major prisons in them (outside of the dank dungeons favoured by medieval lords who liked shoving hapless people in them from time to time), they both certainly provide a foreboding and intimidating backdrop for the show.
Gayle Foster, the owner of Vintage by the Tower in Corbridge, has been invited to the House of Lords as part of Small Business Britain. Gail has been dedicated to increasing the sustainability of her business, whilst also learning more about the environmental impact of running a small business, by taking additional classes.
As any regular readers of mine know, I’m really interested in sustainability, particularly when it comes to clothing, so it’s really exciting to find more business owners dedicated to increasing their sustainability. I love vintage clothing, and preloved clothing, because you can find items that are going to last and last and last, rather than be just thrown away after a few wears, or when a minor repair is needed.
Anyway, congratulations to Gail for the recognition of her hard work, and I hope she has a great time down in London!
Perhaps the most famous literary export from Northumberland, L.J. Ross currently lives and writes out of the market town of Hexham, and the DCI Ryan Series (beginning with Holy Island) is her most well known series. There are twenty-two currently in the series and more are planned for later in 2026. All the novels have titles of local places or historical sites; Sycamore Gap, Penshaw, Cragside etc.
I notice there is also a book entitled Reivers, and it just says “coming soon” – I wonder whether that’s going to be about Border Reivers/Jacobites etc. If it is, that’s right up my street! I love historical fiction and would devour that in an instant.
2. Guns In The North, P. F. Chisholm (ROBERT CAREY MYSTERIES)
Okay, so this one is a bit of a cheat. This book is set in Northumberland and Cumbria. When Robert Carey, grandson of Mary Boleyn and therefore a cousin to Queen Elizabeth I, embarrasses himself at court, he is sent to the edge of England to work in a job no-one really wants, and regain the favour of his cousin and Queen. Stationed in Carlisle, in what he assumes are the culture-less and lawless border regions (only one of those is partially true!) Carey soon becomes embroiled in a murder mystery that quickly blossoms into a plot around clan and family loyalties, and even treason against the crown itself.
Guns In the North is the name of the first compendium that was released, containing the first three novels; A Famine of Horses, A Season of Knives, and A Surfeit of Guns.
It’s honestly one of my favourite trilogies I’ve read, and I devoured this first compendium in the space of less than a week. As it stands, there are currently nine or ten books in the series, and it is unfinished… hopefully we’ll get the ending soon!
3. The Crow Trap, Ann Cleeves (VERA STANHOPE SERIES)
Played by the indomitable Brenda Blethyn in the ITV Adaptation of the well known novels, the Vera series puts the rough-edged detective up against the wilds of Northumberland as she seeks to solve crimes. There are eleven novels in the Vera series, with other short stories and novellas available as well. Ann has said the latest novel will be the last in the Vera series, with Brenda Blethyn also retiring from playing the titular character on television. Despite updates to the series coming to a close, the legacy of Vera will live on for many new readers to explore and enjoy for years to come!
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4. Vindolanda, Adrian Goldsworthy
Set in AD 98, twenty years before Hadrian begins to build his wall, and Vindolanda is on the edge of the empire, in a constant struggle to maintain control against the native tribes of Britain. It falls to Flavius Ferox, a Briton and Roman centurion, to attempt to keep the peace.
Adrian Goldsworthy is a Roman historian, working at various universities after graduating from the University of Oxford, before turning to writing and publishing full time. He has written several books, both fiction and nonfiction, about Roman Britain.
Vindolanda from above
5. The Secrets of the Rose, Nicola Cornick
Another historical fiction novel (of sorts), this one is set in the Coastal town of Bamburgh, where a present day author is writing the story of Grace Darling, but instead finds herself drawn to the story of another local woman, Dorothy Forster, who’s story emerges at the time of the first Jacobite Rebellion in 1715. Dorothy is caught up in the drama of the rebellion when she learns her two brothers are involved, and her family might be the holders of a talisman the Rose, which both sides believe could be the key to winning the conflict.
There’s few things in life that beat the smell and taste of freshy baked bread, out of the oven that day. Even better if you catch it when it’s been out for literally minutes and it’s still warm… I’m getting hungry just thinking about it!
That being said, we have some amazing bakeries and patisseries around the Northern counties, each bringing their own style, recipes, and flair to baking. Here are just three of some of the great bakeries to be found in our neck of the woods…
Lovingly Artisan, Kendal
Lakeland Food Park Crook Rd Kendal LA8 8QJ
I love Lovingly Artisan bread. Mum and I went up to Kendal a few weeks before Christmas and bought a selection of their bread (and a couple of pastries!), and it was extra specially yummy! One of my particular favourites was the Danish Rye Bread they had on offer – it was very dense, but delicious and filling. It was especially nice with soft cheese (try a local cheese like Ribblesdale Goat’s Cheese) and then a little bit of salmon on top. I had that one or two nights, with a salad, and it made for a light but filling tea.
Lovingly Artisan also have a very environment and farmer conscious way of making their bread, which I touched upon in my introductory article about them. I understand that they’re also undergoing a full renovation of their shop in early 2026, so I’m excited to see what the New Year brings for this wonderful bakery!
Grant’s Bakery and Patisserie, Corbridge
1 Market Place Corbridge NE45 5AW
Always a haunt of mine when I go to Corbridge, Grant’s Patisserie really makes me embody the epithet “like a kid in a cake shop” – their display of cakes and goodies certainly makes my eyes bigger than my stomach, as I wonder just how many of these delicious treats I can try in a short space of time. I’m going back up to that part of the world at the end of January, and will definitely be making a stop at Grant’s… lucky me!
I also really like their savoury options, as well as the cakes and buns that are available. Last time I was in for breakfast, I had a Croque Monsieur which was delicious – there was a small amount of mustard added into the bechamel sauce which gave it a little spicy kick. I also would recommend their savoury pasties which are a great buy for dinner.
Hazelmere Bakery, Grange-Over-Sands
Hazelmere Cafe & Bakery 1-2 Yewbarrow Terrace Grange-Over-Sands Cumbria, England LA11 6ED
I’ve been going to Hazelmere Bakery for years, as a special stop off on my way to Holker Hall. My nana especially used to love the cream teas at the café attached to the bakery, so I went here before I even moved to the locality. Personally, I tend to go to The Hazelmere (the café part) for breakfast, rather than afternoon tea, which is equally tasty and really hits the spot. The café is also dog friendly, so it wins extra brownie points in my book for that.
As for the bakery, they make twenty varieties of bread, and over thirty varieties of cakes, in house each day, whilst sourcing ingredients – where possible – from local suppliers. Whenever we head that way for breakfast, we make sure to stock up on fresh baked goods and other homemade items (they also produce jams, conserves, sauces, and teas), to have later at home.
“Here at The Hazelmere we know how important it is to keep things local.”
I love small local bakeries and food suppliers, and want to support as many as I can in 2026, rather than offering my hard-earned money to faceless food conglomerates who don’t care about food miles or local production. I think bringing our food production back (some of it at least!) to these wonderful hard-working establishments is so important, and our high-streets and towns are so much the better for them.
Which other bakeries should I explore in the North in 2026? Are there any really new ones (2023 or younger) that I need to find and shout about? Let me know, either in the comments, on social media (@thenorthishlass on instagram and TikTok), or by sending me an email to bryony@thenorthishlass.co.uk!
Whisper it quietly, but it’s nearly 2026. I know! Where did 2025 go to?! How does it feel like it’s gone so quickly? Anyway, with the new year nearly upon us, it’s often a time when people are thinking about new and exciting things they might like to do. Well… allow me to suggest a few hobbies or volunteering options you might like to take a look at as 2026 rolls in.
Volunteer for the National Trust or English Heritage
Two of our largest UK charitable institutions rely extensively on the help of their volunteers in order to keep their historic houses, beautiful gardens, and expansive wild spaces across the North open to the public. If you’re able to, volunteering for one of these institutions can be incredibly rewarding – my dad used to volunteer as a warden at UNESCO World Heritage Site Fountains Abbey (jointly run/owned by the National Trust and English Heritage), and spent hours up there, walking around (with our Labrador!) and helping guests. If looking after heritage (and potentially spending more time outside, if that’s a resolution you’re thinking about!) and being a part of telling the story of a place and its people, is something you’d be interested in, there are hundreds of properties and locations across the North at which to potentially volunteer. Check out the National Trust or English Heritage volunteering websites for more information.
There’s also many many many other amazingly charitable institutions that would love your help, if giving up a few hours of your time is something you think you might be able to achieve in the New Year. From the RSPB to the RNLI, these charities rely on their incredible volunteers to keep them going – so check out whichever cause you’re passionate about, and get involved!
Get involved with a local theatre company
Ever dreamed about treading the boards? Well, maybe 2026 is there year to try it! There are theatre companies in many towns and villages, and they’re always looking for new people to help stage shows – either to be in them, or to make them happen backstage. Just in my local area and the immediate vicinity there’s Lancaster Footlights (based at The Grand), MAODS (Morecambe Amateur Operatic & Dramatic Society), LADOS (Lancaster Amateur Dramatic & Operatic Society), Morecambe Warblers… the list goes on! If you’re interested in theatre, singing, dance, or getting involved backstage, then I guarantee there will be a company, charity, or organisation near you that will welcome you to their throng. And remember, if actually being on stage isn’t your thing, there are so many roles available backstage – from costume, to props, to chaperoning, to producing, to set building and painting – your skills are needed and very welcomed!
Get fitter with Parkrun or a community running/walking group
If it’s your resolution to try and do a bit more exercise in the new year, why not have a go at joining something like Parkrun (found in nearly every town and city across the UK these days, with 1381 locations!) where you can be part of a community to help support those goals? Even if you go along by yourself, you can feel as if there’s plenty of other people there with the same goal as you – to get outside and to do a bit of exercise. If Parkrun doesn’t sound like your thing, then how about looking for a community walking or hiking club? With a little bit of digging around Facebook, or dodging adverts on Google, you could find a group of likeminded people who will help you get out and about in your local area and further afield, making your goals more interesting, and more attainable in 2026.
Explore The North!
How about making your New Year’s Resolution this year all about exploring your local area, and finding the hidden gems, amazing places, and great local businesses that can be found there? I know that this is definitely going to be mine in 2026 – I want to find even more places across this beautiful area of the country and shout about it. We’ve got so much on our doorstep, whether you live in Morecambe or Malton, Ambleside or Alnwick, so go and explore what your local area has to offer. Perhaps make it a challenge? Try and find fifty places within fifty miles that you can visit, either by yourself or with family and friends, to really discover how beautiful and varied your local area can be!
Coming Soon: ‘Winter Foodie Feasts to keep your January delicious’ and ‘Best Northern bakeries I’ve visited (so far!).’Sign up below to not miss out on these articles and more!
