Sunday Mirror, Mar 7, 2004
BALLOONING IN LANCASHIRE
THE sky’s the limit this Mother’s Day when you take her up, up and away over the Lancashire countryside transported by hot air balloon. Lakeland Balloons in association with Best Western Barton Grange Hotel, Preston, will take you to the flight location and after the hour-long journey you’ll come down to earth where a bottle of bubbly awaits.
A night’s B&B at the Barton Grange Hotel which has an indoor pool and award-winning restaurant costs from pounds 42pp (two sharing) including breakfast. The Hot Air Ballooning Experience costs pounds 165 per person.
Details: 08456 340 557 or go to www.bestwestern.co.uk
ENJOY quality time with your Mum at the School House Cottage in North Stanford near Ashford, Kent. It’s part of a beautifully- converted old village school, so she’ll look out over rolling fields and hills. A three-night break from March 19 in the cottage, which sleeps up to six, costs pounds 192.
Pamper her further by booking her a Total Luxury Spa Day package at Utopia Health Spa near Hextable (01883 724 843, www.healthfarms- uk.co.uk). Head-to-toe treatments from vitality facial, back, neck and shoulder massage down to foot spa and leg massage are included for pounds 169 per person, as well as a two-course lunch in The Brasserie.
Details: Rent the School House Cottage by calling 08700 781 200 or go to www.country- holidays.co.uk
DRAMA IN STRATFORD
APPEAL to your Mum’s sense of the dramatic and take her to Shakespeare country to see Macbeth at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre on March 20.
Although officially sold out for this performance, RSC Short Breaks can still provide A-class tickets in a two-night break staying at the four-star Alveston Manor Hotel. Just a five-minute stroll from the theatre, this 16th Century country house is set in six acres of mature gardens. Two nights’ B&B plus one dinner and theatre tickets costs from pounds 158.50pp.
Details: 020 8758 4799 or visit www.rsc shortbreaks.com
CRUISE THE THAMES
TAKE Mum for a cruise down Old Father Thames on a three-night trip aboard the four-star Crown Classique with Blakes Boating Holidays, starting at Benson Waterfront Riverside Park near Windsor.
Be sure to moor up at Bray to enjoy the gastronomic delights at three Michelin-starredWEST END MUSICAL
restaurant The Fat Duck (01628 580 333). The Menu Du Jour costs pounds 32.50. Three nights’ hire of the Crown Classique which sleeps up to eight costs pounds 1,368 starting March 19.
Details: 0870 2202 498 (ref BTB27) or go to www.blakes.co.uk
MAKE a song and dance on Mother’s Day by taking her out on the town to a top West End show – from the roaring Twenties of Thoroughly Modern Millie at the Shaftesbury Theatre or the head-banging We Will Rock You at the Dominion.
Two-night packages with Virgin.com start from pounds 101 per person and include one night’s B&B at the four-star Marriott Maida Vale with tickets to Thoroughly Modern Millie or B&B stay at four- star K West Hotel in Kensington with seats for We Will Rock You.
Details: 0870 066 5522 or go to www.virgin. com/travelstore
MAKEOVER IN LEEDS
MAKE your Mum feel like a new woman by treating her to a Mother’s Day Makeover Weekend at 42 The Calls in Leeds – a hip designer hotel converted from a riverside corn mill. A Clarins Makeover Master Class for one person, one night’s accommodation for two sharing and a smoked salmon and champagne breakfast are included in the package which costs pounds 199.
Details: 0113 244 0099.
BREAK IN NORFOLK
HEAD to the seaside with your mother for lovely long beach walks on the Norfolk coast. Lavender Cottage in the tranquil village of Cley is an ideal base. Stock up on fine local produce at Picnic Fayre in Cley – Norfolk’s Deli of the Year. There are also plenty of good pubs and restaurants to choose from. A week at the two-bedroom property, taking in Mother’s Day, costs pounds 234 through Norfolk Cottages.
Details: 01603 871 872 or go to www.norfolkcottages.co.uk
RIDE THE ORIENT EXPRESS
STOP your mum in her tracks and surprise her with a Mother’s Day lunch to remember as you roll through either Kent and Sussex or Cheshire aboard the Orient Express.
The four-hour round trip on the British Pullman from London Victoria leaves at 11.45am. The Northern Belle leaves Liverpool at noon, and from Manchester at 1pm. Uniformed stewards will serve up a five-course lunch with champagne and present a small gift to your mother
lancashire balloon flights